Excelium [Editing]

Kabanata 11

"Eto ano 'to?" pagtatanong ko kay Levine na nakahiga habang pinapakita sa kaniya ang libro.

"Hmmm that? That's Ladian. It's a very rare plant that can only be found in the Eastern Kingdom. It's exact location is unknown to man. It can cleanse darkness away from one's body who is possessed by a demon. In the ancient times, it is use for exorcism but today, no one use it because no one can find it" aniya at humikab. Umupo siya at nag-inat.

"Huh? Demon?" nagtatakang saad ko. Is that a metaphor or...

He sighed and reach for the grapes that is beside him.

"It's troublesome to be with someone who's from another world. Andaming tanong" aniya at sinubo ang ubas. Mabilis kong hinampas sa ulo niya ang libro. His face hit the table.

"Demons are very normal here, Zai" napatingin ako sa direksyon ng nagsalita and saw Papa walking towards us while carrying a tray with breads, coffee and milk, and my favorite apple. I'm not very used to calling him Papa, it make me shy but I'll still do it. Minsan nahihiya rin siya kapag tinatawag ko siyang ganoon. Pero kalaunan ay ngingiti na parang wala ng bukas.

"Really?" aniko at inabot ang mansanas. Kinagatan ko ito. It's sweet.

"There are three realms in this dimension, if that's what you call it. First, is the Heavian. It is believed to be the land of the gods but no one really knows if it actually exist. People believed that if they die, their spirits will live in Heavian. And second is Archodonia, the land of creation. A world that the gods created. And the last one is Hellias. The land of the demons." pagpapaliwanag sa akin ni Levine habang iniinom ang kape na inihanda ni papa. Kinuha ko ang gatas at ininom. It was surprisingly good.

"Demons occur a very long time ago. They are creatures who eats human flesh for food." Kinuha ni papa ang libro na hawak ko at binuklat ito pagkatapos ay ibinigay ulit sa akin.

"That's a demon" tinignan ko ito at napatitig dahil sa itsura nito.

"Ugly right?" nandidiri ngunit nakangising saad ni Levine. It is taller than man. Have long fingernails, sharp teeth, thin body and they don't have eyes.

"They don't have eyes to see but their other senses are above all. They can react with just a single sound, vibration, and sensation." pagsasaad sa akin ni papa at naupo na rin siya.

"It is the knights and generals jobs to eliminate those creatures. Also the students from the academy should participate in those kind of missions" pagdudugtong pa niya.

"Students?" Why would they let the students roam around to kill demons?

"When the demons occur, a rich man has built a school for children at your age could train and know the way of how can they protect themselves from demons. When you succeed in a mission, of course they will pay you. Students from that academy, can be knights when they finish their schooling. Ever since the school was established, the numbers of death per year is down to 20%" It was not a bad idea. In this kind of way, you won't have any problems about having heros to fight for your country every generation.

"The school was pass down to every man who is chosen by the headmaster." Pagpapatuloy ni papa.

"Like me!" Proud na saad pa Levine habang ang paa ay nakapatong sa upuan at nakaturo sa sarili ang hinlalaki. Papa sighed and looked at Levine.

"It's true. Levine is the 55th Headmaster of Excelium Academy. Believe it or not but Levine is actually a demon who was entrusted with the school" mabilis akong napatingin kay Levine noong marinig iyon.

"D-demon?" Gulat na saad ko. His features is far from what I saw in the book. Maybe it was another metaphor?

"Yes. Levine is a demon. But he surrendered himself many years ago. He was held in custody by the Union for 2 years. The council released him and let him study at the academy. He became the greatest weapon of the academy and have many achievements." Tinitigan kong maigi si Levine. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at hinawakan ang bibig at pisngi niya para makita ang mga ngipin niya.

"Aray! Mashakit Zshai!" pinakawalan ko siya at hinawakan ang baba ko. Natawa naman si papa.

"He doesn't look like a demon because there are demons who are born with a human form" pagpapaliwanag sa akin ni papa. Napatango naman ako.

"And what is the Union you are talking about" tanong ko.

"It is the council. Mostly, sila ang naninigurado na nasusunod ang batas na itinaguyod ng hari." Napatango naman ako.

Itinuon ko na lang ulit ang pansin ko sa libro at nagbasa-basa pero ang isipan ko ay puno ng mga ibang bagay.

Maybe the fact that Levine is a demon made me cautious of him when I saw him. I knew that he's dangerous but I didn't think that he was this dangerous. He's giving of a bad vibe but at the same time I am comfortable with him.

Hinawakan ko ang ulo niya at hinimas na parang sa aso. He looked at me confused. I gave him my devilish grin.

"I really wanted a demon as a pet when I was a kid"

Muntikan na akong matawa noong malakas siyang tumalon at napunta sa pinakasulok na bahagi ng silid. Para siyang si spiderman na nakadikit sa dingding. He was looking at me like he saw his nightmare.

I laughed at him and stuck my tongue out.

"Bleeeh~ too much for a demon" tatawa-tawang saad ko at nagpunta na lang sa sarili kong silid.

Levine's Point of View

Ever since I saw her, I knew. I knew that she wasn't normal. So I thought that maybe she was the kind of girl who is extraordinary. I was always putting my guard up when I'm with her.

Sinundan ng mga mata ko si Zai habang papasok siya sa kwarto niya. Her footsteps was quiet and light. That's one of the small details I knew about her when I saw her. She was not normal.

I was also shock to see her sparring with Yan. Yan is one of the guys that I acknowledge most because of his abilities in combat and strategy. Her speed and strength is unbelievable for a girl.

And most of all...

That bloodlust.

The moment she touched my head, I felt the coldness under my feet. My heart was pumping like crazy and fear was already inside my system. Her grin was playing in my mind over and over again.

That girl has a crazy amount of bloodlust within.

I calmed myself and sat on the chair. I looked at the glass of water in front of me. Yan smiled and nod. Ininom ko naman ito at hinawakan ang dibdib ko. Damn that bloodlust. My body can't forget it.

"Anong pakiramdam?" tanong sa akin ni Yan na tila naranasan na rin niya ang naranasan ko kanina lang.

"It was terrifying"