Excelium [Editing]

Kabanata 38

Nagdaan ang tatlong araw at patuloy pa rin silang pinag-uusapan ng mga estudyante. Sa masamang paraan.

Inaasahan na iyon ng bawat miyembro ng Kings. Wala rin naman silang problema sa kasalukuyan nilang reputasyon ngayon. Sa katunayan, natutuwa pa sila at tila buo na ang kanilang araw tuwing nakikita ang iritasyon sa mukha ng ibang estudyante kapag sila ay dumadaan.

Dahil rin sa masamang reputasyon ng kanilang grupo, pinatalsik mula sa student council sina Wein at Kleiv na naging presidente at bise presidente nito. Katwiran ng mga estudyante ay hindi nila mapagkakatiwalaan ang dalawa na pamunuan ang paaralan.

"Are you really sure about this?" tanong ni Axen habang naglalakad sila sa pasilyo ni Kleiv at Wein. Dala nila ang mga gamit nila mula sa opisina ng student council. Tumango naman ang dalawa na tila balewala lamang dito ang pagpapatalsik sa kanilang pwesto.

"You sure?" dagdag pa niyang tanong.

"Yes. Finally, we don't have to worry about paperworks, responsibilities and taking care of those hard headed students" nakangiting sabi ni Wein. Tumango tango naman si Kleiv. Diniretso na lamang ni Axen ang kaniyang tingin sa daanan at inilagay ang dalawang kamay sa likod ng kaniyang ulo.

"I always wondered how it feels to cut classes" biglang salita ni Kleiv. Napatingin naman ang dalawa rito. Axen laughed when he saw how serious Kleiv was when he said those words. Napailing na lamang si Wein at walang masabi.

"Oy~! Bilisan niyo! Sensei is already here!" nakita nila si Ace na nakatayo sa harapan ng pintuan na kanilang dapat na pupuntahan. Ang training facility ng Kings.

"Oh shoot" bigkas ni Axen at tumakbo na sila papunta doon. Pagkapasok nila ay bumungad sa kanila ang napakalaking puting silid. Ang taas ng kisame nito at may mga equipments rin na kanilang kailangan para sa kanilang pag-eensayo.

"You're late" nakatalikod sa kanila ang kanilang guro habang magkakrus ang mga braso nito sa kaniyang dibdib.

"S-sorry, Sensei" paghingi nila ng paumanhin. Ang iba nilang kasama ay indibidwal na nag-aaral ng espada.

"Hurry up and pick a sword. Get your fat asses moving" utos nito na mabilis naman nilang sinunod. Indibidwal silang tinuruan ng kanilang guro. Kapag may nakikita siyang hindi tama sa pagwasiwas mo ng iyong sandata, mabilis niya itong itinuturo upang matutunan at mahasa.

This brats have their own skills. I'm glad that I don't have to go back to basics for them to learn. That'll be a pain in the neck.

Zera is the least capable one of holding a sword. Her sword skills is just average, not something to be amaze about. But I think she's head and shoulders on other things.

Layn is also having a problem but he's not bad. Maybe he's too attached to his own weapon, the teddy bear that he always carry around. Seriously, it's getting creepy.

Ace also has his own style. His sword skill is pretty unique. It's like a royalties' sword technique. I've heard that he came from a very wealthy family so that wouldn't be a surprise.

And Wein, he's also good. I wouldn't expect less from him. Every slash of his sword is very well-thought and accurate.

Axen. I think he's relying on his instincts. It's a good thing actually. But he's holding the sword's hilt too short. Maybe he's used to using a knife or what. With his instinct and physicality, I think a knife is a better fit.

Then Jebal. He's putting many thoughts on his next move and he's improving rapidly. He has power and speed. I don't know what makes him motivated and focused but I had a hunch. Maybe it's the scene of how Zai killed a witch with only a sword.

Then next are those two. Kleiv and Vyann. Kleiv is a hardworking student so his skills and abilities are, by no means, bad. I'll bet that he always practice his swing to improve his skills. And also Vyann, Vyann is Levine's son so I would expect that Levine already taught him these kind of things.

Then there's Trois. The battle maniac. He's the only guy I know who is obsessed in battles and fights. And because of his obsession, it became a push for him to learn all the things about combats and all kinds of fights.

And especially, Zai. While I look at her, I can say that she already perfected her style a long time ago. Her sword is terrifying even though it's not formed with a special metal. She slashes it fast that you can't even see where it will move next. It is also more accurate than Wein. It is like she already knows where is the enemy's openings. I almost laugh when I saw her bored expression while slashing her sword on air. Her skills are not honed for just a year. It must have took a much longer time. Or is it natural talent that I see? Well, if I have to place my bet, that would be on Yan's daughter.

Hinayaan ni Sinner muna silang gawin ang mga iyon ng kalahating oras. He didn't let them rest and it only seems that they are not planning to stop anyway even if he told them to.

"Drop the swords and pick up the wooden ones." utos ni Sinner sa mga ito. Hinihingal na tumigil ang mga ito at kinuha ang mga espadang gawa sa kahoy na nasa gilid. Hindi flat ang blade nito, para itong maliit at manipis na kawayan. Ganoon ang hugis nito na may hawakan rin katulad ng ibang espada.

"Stand by your pairs when I call your names." anunsyo ni Sinner.

"Layn and Zera. You'll fight each other. Let me see how you two, who depends so much in your power, fight" nagkatinginan naman ang dalawang nabanggit.

"Wein and Trois. Let us see how accuracy and recklessness clash" tumingin si Wein kay Trois na tila tuwang tuwa.

"Axen and Ace. I wanna see how Axen's sword that base on instincts fight your clean technique Ace" nagkatinginan rin ang dalawa. Ipinakita naman ni Axen ang boyish smile niya at ngumisi naman si Ace na madalas nitong ginagawa kapag nagpapanggap na tila isang kahabol-habol na lalaki.

"Kleiv and Vyann. I want so see how your rivalry will push you each other forward" nagngisihan naman ang dalawa at tila dineklara na sa isa't isa kung sino ang mananalo.

"And the last one would be Jebal and Zai. Jebal already saw Zai's sword skills in action so I guess he's the best partner for now" walang salita na napatingin na lamang si Jebal kay Zai na deretso lamang ang tingin.

"I don't need the results. All I need to see is your own errors that we need to work on. I'm not expecting anything good anyway, mostly all of you are first years so don't expect anything better. Understood?" pagtatanong ni Sinner.

"Yes" pormal na sagot ng kaniyang mga estudyante.

Nagtungo naman sa gitna ang unang pares na nabanggit.

"Swords only are the available weapons" dagdag pa ni Sinner. Inihanda na ng dalawa ang kanilang sarili.

"Start" sa hudyat na iyon ay mabilis na nagsimula ang dalawa. Nagtama ang kanilang espada at naglabanan sa pwersa. Naging sunud-sunod ang kanilang mga atake. Malakas na ihinampas ni Zera ang kaniyang espada kaya naman ay parang tumalsik rin ang braso ni Layn pabalik. Mabilis na itinaas ni Zera ang kaniyang espada para sa susunod niyang atake.

Out of instinct, itinaas ni Layn ang kaniyang kamay.

"Tedd--" natigilan siya noong mapagtanto ang kaniyang dapat gawin. Kinagat niya ang kaniyang labi at mabilis na lamang na pinatid si Zera kaya ay napadapa ito sa sahig. Isasaksak na sana nito ang espada kay Zera. Itinaas ni Zera ang kaniyang kamay.

"Shiel---" natigilan rin siya dahil sa dapat niyang gawin. Wala siyang nagawa noong tumama na espada ni Layn sa kanya.

Natapos iyon ng ganoon at parehas nilang napagtanto ang sari-sariling pagkakamali at kakulangan. Tahimik silang yumuko at naupo.

"Huh? That's too fast" tila nanghihinayang na sabi ni Trois. Mukhang gusto pa nitong tumagal ang laban.

Sumunod na tumayo ay sina Wein at Trois. Nagtungo sila sa gitna at hinarap ang isa't isa. Seryoso ang ekspresyon ni Wein habang si Trois naman ay tila sabik na sabik.