Buried Within Solstice's Shadow

Chapter 1

Sam's Pov

I looked at my watch habang nakahawak ako sa manibela ng sasakyan ko. I'm on my way to the headquarters to train the newly recruited agents that was assigned under my supervision. The head of our corporation decided to cluster the new recruits depending on their strengths and capabilities to assign under the suitable superiors.

When I arrived marami na ang nakagrupo, they wore a tag with them to define their assigned groups for the training, sinalubong naman agad ako ng kaibigan ko matapos niya akong makita na papasok sa building.

"Sam, team A raw ang assigned sa'yo sabi nina Agent Warren" Sue uttered nang makalapit na siya sa akin habang tumango naman ako.

"Ikaw? anong team yung iyo?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"D eh, mga kailangan pa ng improvements, malalakas daw yung iyo, B yung kay Sho if curious ka" pang-aasar niya naman sa akin.

"mangilabot ka nga" I gave her a judging look as she laughed it off.

"what? siya at yung team niya yung makakasama niyo sa training today, by pairs daw yung team" ngumiti siya sa akin, hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pang-aasar.

Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at umalis na para lapitan ang magiging grupo under my supervision.

"Good morning, Junior Agents, are you all ready for training?" I asked with authority, but I made sure to show that I am quite friendly... I think.

They nodded and smiled in return as I guide them to the basement of our building wherein the training room is located, I tapped my access card on the card readers that was keeping the door locked and it opened slowly.

"This is our training room and I assume that all of you were given your access cards already for training?" ani ko at pumasok na habang nakasunod sila sa'kin.

"I'm surprised, lima lang kayo sa team A, good job everyone" I was about to say something, but someone arrived, it was Sho and his team. I gave a signal to my team to move sa corner ng training room since the training room was big, I'm sure Sho's team won't intervene with us.

Sho's Pov

"Can I borrow one of your access cards that was given by the head of the corporation? I forgot to bring mine" I asked my juniors and they lend it to me.

After tapping the card on the card reader, the door opened, and I gave the card back immediately before I forget. As we enter the training room I saw Samantha with her team but I couldn't care less anyway and continued talking.

"This training room is not only for combat, but you also have to keep in mind that this is a place where you show your strategies, techniques, strengths, including your weaknesses. You should be able to learn how to measure and use them wisely" I said while they keep on nodding their heads in agreement.

"Before I forget, My name's Shawn Oustin Li... but Sho is fine, your Senior Agent" I introduced myself so they would at least know me.

"Inside this training room there are also weapons for emergency, take note, for emergency only. I want you all to not expect that the training would be easy just because you were grouped next to team A, being strong doesn't mean you don't need any improvements" I clarified to the juniors and they agreed.

"good, shall we now start the training? since there are ten of you, I need five pairs and prepare for sparring" I uttered as I waited for them to find partners when we heard someone yelp in pain, it was one of Sam's Junior Agents.

I immediately approached them as Sam just looked at the Junior without any hints of concern.

"What happened here?" Sam ignored me as I rolled my eyes, typical Sam, she always has this resentment or whatever for me, I don't even know why.

I approached her Junior Agent that was now lying on his back, he hissed in pain and reached for his back.

"Don't interfere between me and my team, Li" Wow, last name basis, she doesn't even call me Sho.

Sam's Pov

"If you want to improve, you have to show me and everyone else here your strategies, capabilities and even weaknesses" ani ko.

"sus, 'di ko na kailangang gawin 'yan" pagmamayabang ng tinuturuan kong baguhan at tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay.

"excuse me?" sagot ko naman at lumapit sa kaniya.

Before he could say anything, in one swift motion, I turned around, bent over and grabbed hold of my junior's arm, using their own momentum against them. With a sudden pull, I yanked their arm downward, leveraging my strength to slam him forcefully onto the floor with a resounding thud as he yelped in pain.

"That's one weakness right there, gusto mo ba tulungan kita malaman kung meron pa?" I looked at him without concern and crossed my arms against my chest habang yung iba naman ay nakatingin sa kaniya at tila nagulat sa ginawa ko sa kasama nila.

"I don't tolerate arrogant and disrespectful behaviors in my team, matuto ka lumugar" I said while looking down at my junior that was now lying on his back as I heard footsteps coming towards us, I don't even need to check who it is because I know it's Sho.

"What happened here?" hindi ko na siya pinasadahan ng tingin at 'di ko na rin siya pinansin dahil alam kong maiinis nanaman ako sa kaniya.

He was about to approach the pitiful agent, but I decided to speak.

"Don't interfere between me and my team, Li" ani ko nang matigilan siya dahil sa sinabi ko.

"What do you want me to do? let your agent suffer when he is injured? he needs to be checked" sagot niya at sarkastikong ngumisi dahil sa sinabi ko.

"It's none of your business, learn to mind your own and just deal with your team, will you?" sabat ko naman sa kaniya.

"Actually, you know what? this is also my business, he is our corporation's agent, hindi ko hahayaan na ganito ang magiging trato mo sa mga baguhan" napailing nalang ako sa sinagot niya at hinayaan nalang siya.

"fine, go on, diyan ka naman magaling hindi ba? sa pakikialam" ani ko at tinalikuran siya.

"Juniors, I'll see you next time" matapos kong sabihin iyon ay umalis na ako at hindi na naghintay sa kung ano pa ang sasabihin nila.