Tantei High (Erityian Tribes, #1) | Published under Pop Fiction

Erityian Files #2: Christmas Crisis

Students, teachers and staffs were already crowding each shop in the plaza. Halos lahat sila ay nagpe-prepare na para sa Christmas. Kids were particularly interested with stuff made by the Technology department like flying boots, hologram games and other items I could not describe.

Isang linggo na rin ang nakakaraan nang magsimula ang pagbuhos ng snow. This time, hindi na lang ito hologram. According to Riye, the Medical department conducted trials to make the water stay in their crystalline forms despite this kind of weather. Lumamig din naman kahit papaano dahil gusto nilang i-mimic ang condition kapag nags-snow pero syempre, hindi pa rin kasinlamig tulad sa ibang bansa. Medyo sumakit nga ang ulo ko noong nag-e-explain na siya ng scientific terms tulad ng physics of chemical bonds daw sa snowflakes na hindi naman na-retain sa utak ko noong Chemistry namin sa high school.

Kabibili ko lang ng ingredients dahil balak kong gumawa ng cake. Dahil nandito na rin naman ako ay bumili na rin ako ng Christmas gifts para sa mga taong pagbibigyan ko. After that ay dumiretso ako sa dorm at naabutan ko ro'n si Tita Naomi. Ugh. Hindi pa rin ako sanay na hindi siya tawaging Mama.

"May gagawin ka ba?" tanong niya.

These past few days, madalas siyang pumupunta rito. Siguro dahil wala si Hiro sa kanila. He went to Shima to learn about his father's culture and background. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano siya makakapunta ro'n dahil sabi nila ay parang phantom island ang lugar na 'yon.

"Hmm, training po," sagot ko naman matapos kong ibaba ang mga pinamili ko sa lamesa.

"Ah. Kay Michiko?"

Tumango naman ako. I knew my weapon wasn't meant for close-range fights but I wanted to improve my combat skills. Noong sinabi ko 'yon kay Ma'am Michiko ay natuwa siya at ngayon ay siya na ang nagsu-supervise sa training ko.

Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa Latens Forest kung saan ako tine-train ni Ma'am Michiko. Ngayon ko nga lang nalaman na may cabin pala siya rito kahit na pinamumugaran ng mga mababangis na hayop ang lugar na 'to.

The Great Seven is a strange group. They are the most powerful people in the campus yet their personalities do not match their strengths.

'Is that a compliment?' biglang tanong ni Tita Naomi. Ugh. I still couldn't block her from reading my thoughts.

'Can I prevent you from doing that? I mean, your clan's innate ability of reading minds?' I asked but she just chuckled in return.

'Of course. You just need to train your mind. Your parents can both obstruct me from reading their minds.'

Napangiti naman ako. I already know that they are amazing but they never cease to surprise me with their superior skills. Sabagay, they were both born as leaders. Being able to conceal their thoughts from the Heren clan should be easy for them.

'Here comes the uncompromising one.'

Before I could react with her comment, I felt someone's presence approaching us with an incredible speed. Ang alam ko na lang, tumalsik na ako papunta sa katawan ng isang puno. The impact almost knock me out but I didn't have any time to assess the attack because I knew she'd be coming again.

"Oh! Nice defense!" she yelled from somewhere. "You're still conscious this time!"

Somehow, I managed to summon my bow and arrows within the time I felt her initial attack. But still, it wasn't fast enough to completely neutralize the impact. Naramdaman ko ulit ang paparating na atake at hinanda ko ang sarili ko. I placed my metal bow in front of me while scanning the surroundings. The first time we did this, I couldn't see anything because she was too quick for my eyes.