Excelium [Editing]

Kabanata 62

"Sensei, Zai's not here yet?" Layn asked for the 16th time. Sinner sighed. He's standing on the veranda of the mansion while his arms are crossed. He's been standing there for two straight hours now.

Where did that kid end up?! It's already night!

"Sensei, we need to look for her" Layn said in a very worried tone. The others are also standing at the veranda, waiting for Zai to come back.

"Sensei!" Layn's face is covered with anxiety. He's hugging his teddy bear too tight and you can sense that he's restless. Trois was only sitting on the stair but his knees are moving up and down like he's really tired of waiting.

"This is really unusual. It's already night but she's still not back." Ace said and sighed. The other members are all in the living room and staring at them. Christa balled her hands into fist and bit her lower lip. That woman always give them cold shoulders and yet they still waste time to care for her.

She stood up and went outside. She flashed a smile and knock the door to get their attention.

"Everyone, let's eat first. The others tried their best to cook dinner." she said. The others nodded.

"Let's go and eat. Nothing will happen if we just stand here all night." Wein said and they had no choice but to follow him inside. Jebal and Axen looked back to Layn and Trois who is still waiting with Sinner. They just sighed and made their way to the dinning room.

"I can't take this any longer. Sensei, this is unlike Zai. Please give me permission to search for her." Trois stood up and faced Sinner. Layn also looked at him with full of determination. Sinner stared at them and looked at their faces like they are really rearing to go.

Since Layn met Zai, he's been really attach to her. Zai also adores him and she loves to pamper him like a little kid. Zai stood as Layn's sister figure.

While Trois is somewhat different from Layn when it comes to their connection to Zai. Trois is like a barbarian who only knows how to fight. I've heard from the others that Trois and Zai once had a duel before on Trois' request. It was a one-sided match. That defeat taught Trois how to respect Zai. He also ask her advices from time to time regarding his techniques and lacking ability. Zai is the first to earn his respect and trust. Among the team, these two have the deepest connection to the captain.

Hinarap sila ni Sinner at ginulo ang mga buhok. "Morning. We'll search for her if she won't return by sunrise." The two nodded and went inside. Sinner's serious expression came back and stared at the clear sky.

"Don't die, kid" he whispered and closed the door.

--

Zai jumped to a branch of the tree then to another. It's been an hour since she left the spot where she talked with the unknown witch about her kin. She is surprised when she heard that her kind is originally from this world but she accepted it. That's all she can do.

She looked to her right when she heard the sound of the bushes. She immediately hop to the branches of the tree until she arrived where she heard the sound. She hid herself behind the tree trunk and looked.

Sa baba ay nakita niya roon ang isang lobo na kinakain ang karne ng isang baka. Hindi ito normal na lobo. It was much bigger and it has two tails. Ang kulay nito ay puti at ang dulo ng mga buntot ay kulay itim. It was a sacred beast. Umayos siya ng upo at pinagmasdan lamang ito na kumain. This was the second time that she saw a sacred beast.

Mabilis siyang nagtago noong makarinig siya ng pagkabali ng isang tangkay. She can also sense presences in the dark. Maski ang sacred beast ay naalerto. It growled and looked around. From the bushes, men came out with swords, arrows and a huge cage.

The council?

A men shoot an arrow pero madali lamang iyong nabali ng hayop gamit ang mga kuko nito. Nagsunud-sunod ang pagpapatama nila ng palaso at madali naman itong naiilagan at nasisira ng sacred beast. Ngunit habang abala ito sa mga palaso, may malaking net ang bumagsak mula sa itaas. Napahiga ang sacred beast sa lupa dahil sa bigat nito. It shouted like a roaring wild animal.

"How dare you humans?! Release me at once!"

Zai's eyes widen when he heard a voice of a woman. She was certain that it came from the wolf. The men pulled the net to the cage but they had a hard time because the wolf is resisting.

"Release me humans!"

Isinuot ni Zai ang kaniyang maskara at binunot ang kaniyang espada. She jumped and the men immediately noticed her presence.

"Sino ka?!" Zai didn't answer. Just for a few seconds, the men's body fell on the ground. She cut the net and sheathed her sword. Tumalikod na siya at akmang aalis ngunit nagsalita ang lobo.

"Human, who are you?" she looked back and saw the wolf looking straight into her eyes. Tinanggal niya ang maskara na nasa kaniyang bibig at sinagot ito.

"Zai." the wolf was staring at her like she's clarifying something. The wolf raised from the ground.

"Killing your own kind... have you no heart? Answer me." you can feel the wolf's superiority. It was like a king ordering her to answer but Zai didn't utter a single word. "If that is what you want then I have no more time to spent on you. Just hear this young lady, that coldness may envelope you someday. Why do you not show the others what is hiding inside the cold shell?" the wolf turned it's back on her when she didn't say a single word.

"I shall remember your name." then the wolf run off. Zai turned around and run away.

She went back to the academy. She arrived at dawn. When she opened the dormitory's door, she found Layn hugging his knees while sitting on the couch. While Trois is hugging a pillow. The two looked at her.

"Zai!" they went closer to check her. "You're not injured... such a relief." Layn said and Trois nodded.

"See? There's nothing to be worried about." napatingin sila sa hagdanan at doon ay nakita nila ang iba. Madaling araw na ngunit gising pa ang mga ito. She could guess that they waited for her arrival. A small smile formed on her lips. She knows that she's not their ideal captain and she's strict like a military man but they still waited for her to come back. They still care for her despite her military-like leadership.

"Go to sleep." she said as she head to the hallway leading to the bathroom. But before she can enter the hallway, she stopped and looked down.

"G-goodnight..." they were surprised by what the girl whispered. She immediately disappeared from their sight.

"It's already dawn, dummy" they can't help but to smile. It was the first time that the captain greeted them goodnight. Especially with a shy expression on her face.

"Damn~! Why am I smiling? It was just a simple greeting" Jebal said. They all chuckled and went to their own rooms.