The Tale of the Guardian

14

She didn't know. Asha also didn't know that he was engage or something. She kept saying sorry and I told her it's okay. It wasn't even a big deal for me.

For 3 days, the Senior Casters let us train on our own. But instead of going into training rooms, we decided to train on our dorm.

"Oops! I'm sorry" it was because of this.

After that blond girl's show, everyone just treats me like trash. Even the lower levels throws water balls and fireballs at me and disguise it as an escaping mana.

I looked at the bruises I got this pass few days and realize they are healing slowly. Buti na lang din at hindi masyadong kita.

Actually, I could make them pay. I could easily chop their heads off or break their bones. But I realize it would be a bother, and the fact that my mana is not regenerating normally is also a problem. I needed to conserve mana as much as possible. Hindi din naman ako mag tatagal dito, I only have 2 and a half month left 'til I could go back in Minirva.

We requested Senior Caster Sofia to build us a Space Isolation barrier. She gladly did it for us and then she oddly started hanging out in our dorm.

"Do you want scrambled egg? Or a sunny side up?"

"Sunny side up akin, ate" I looked behind me and saw Asha. Kinukusot niya pa mga mata dahil bagong gising pa.

"Morning El" she hug me briefly and continued walking downstairs.

"Ikaw El?" Bumaba na din ako mula second floor ng dorm..

"A sunny side up too, Sen--" she glared at me.
"--ate"

I was really amused of how she could feels at home in the dorm that's not even hers. While it took me a week to adjust in this room. And she also told me to call her ate, she always give me a glare kapag namali ako ng tawag sa kanya.

After our breakfast, she sets up our Space Isolation and sits in the sofa while Asha and I trains. That goes on for 3 days and then the next sorting comes.

'Are you doing okay?'

'Hmm' I heard glitches when she talks.

'When is the next sorting again?'

'Tomorrow' I heard her sigh.

'I want to get you there as fast as possible, El. But the glitching portal that will pop up 2 months from now is the only way' napakunot ang noo ko.

'Don't rush, contacting me is a hassle for you too' their was a long silence from her.

'Then are you worried about something else?' I tilted my head nung natumbok niya ang iniisip ko.

'You entered Nightmare Dungeon before, right?' Then another silence.

'Ma?' I thought the mind link was cut off. I was ready to exit the bathroom when I heard her voice.

'Why are you asking about Nightmare Dungeon?'

'Well, someone just shares their experiences in that dungeon. I was just curious--'

'Don't ever think about entering that dungeon,  Ellie. Don't even get curious about it' now she's using that authoritative voice on me.

'Why? Tell me why shouldn't I get curious about it' she fell silent again.

This time, I am pretty sure she knew something about that dungeon. It was getting suspicious when she fell silent.

'Ellie' she warns me.

'Then tell me, Ma. So that I would understand' then the next thing she said made a buzzing sound on my head.

"AAHH! This is it, Ellie! Brace yourself since we're gonna be transferring to Level 1 and beat those four" she was really excited about this sorting.

Ganun pa din naman, all Levels gathered on the arena. May stage sa center at ang mana meter. Then they started calling Level 2 Casters. Napalingon ako kay Asha.

"Why aren't they calling Level 1?" She is in an all black outfit. She even braided her hair for this sorting.

"Oh? The dungeon raids are their tests.  Level 1 Casters at ang may CRS Casters lang kasi ang pwede sa dungeon raids. So they set it as their tests, pero pag first sorting of the year kailangan pa din ng level 1 mag participate sa first sorting. But kung may CRS badge ka na, then exempted ka na sa sortings" napatango ako.

"Asha Bellue" Asha waved at me.

"Don't used your mana!" She scream while she was being transported in the stage.

It was no doubt that she will be on level 1. She was supposedly in Level 1 in the first sorting if Ashly didn't interfere with the mana meter. After the mana meter turned white, she turned to look at me and wave her hands. She even mouthed 'See you in Level 1'. I just gave her a small smile.

"Ready ka na?" Napalingon ako sa tabi ko. He was smiling brilliantly at me.

"Hmm" and I just gave him a small smile.

"You okay?" Tumango ako. The Senior Caster is already calling another name.

"Are you really okay? Something's off about you" I chuckle a little to ease his suspicion.

"Can you hold this for me?" I handed him my bag.

He seems confused but couldn't say a word when his name was called. He was immediately teleported into the stage. Lumingon-lingon siya sa paligid, looking confused as to what to do with the bag. Sinukbit niya ang bag ko sa balikat niya para malapat niya ang dalawang kamay sa mana meter.

"Good luck, Arthur"

I whispered as I clenched my fist and the flasks in the bag burst. That flasks was from Ms. Norris and some of it also have my mana. I also made the bag invisible. Nanlaki ang mata ni Arthur nung lumingon siya sakin. I gave him a small smile.

"Level 1!"

I saw him in my Future Vision Spell, he got the lightest blue shade in the mana meter in this sorting. But it wasn't enough to be in Level 1. He did so great being in Level 1 on my other visions, and he train his hardest too. He just needed a little boost and I gave him that.

Before he was teleported in the chairs for Level 1 I waved my hand. Then the mana that burst from the flasks hugged him. One flick of my hand and the mana seeps into his body.

Pinunasan ko ang tumulong dugo mula sa ilong ko. And then I heard the Senior Caster called my name and I was teleported in the middle of the arena.

"Place your hands on the mana meter please"

I place my left hand. Nung napatingin ako sa upuan para sa level 1 casters, nakita ko 'dun yung fiancé ni Twilight at ang dalawa niyang kasama. I also saw ate Sofia who was standing beside Arthur and Asha that is motioning me to place both of my hands on the mana meter. My heart unusually aches. But then I place both my hands.

The mana meter lights up and when the light subsidies it showed the color of my level.

It was the darkest shade of blue.

"Level 2!"