"Captain, the others are already in the training facility." saad ng isang miyembro kay Wein na abalang binabasa ang mga papeles na kaniyang kailangan ipasa sa opisina ng headmaster.
"Tell them to start warming up then proceed to sword practice. When I get back, I shouldn't see anyone slacking off, you hear me?" tumango naman ang estudyante at umalis na. Wein focused on the papers again and continued.
After finishing all the reports, he leaned his back on the backrest of his chair and sighed.
I couldn't believe that Zai can finish all these and still have time to help us training.
His face turned serious when he remembered the former captain of the Kings Dormitory. He stared blankly at the wall, still wondering why the girl suddenly disappeared, leaving her name tainted. He couldn't guess what is in the girl's mind. She was always unpredictable, so as Trois who is currently with her for some unknown reason. Those two were always mysterious and he could admit that he also have doubts.
Inayos ni Wein ang kanyang salamin at bumuntong hininga muli. Tumayo na siya at nagpunta sa pinto kasama ang mga papel na kakatapos niya lamang. He walked to the headmaster's office to submit the report papers regarding about their dormitory.
When he reached the office, he knocked. The one to open it was none other than Heister, Levine's secretary. "Oh, is that the report papers, Mr. Wein?"
Wein nodded and hand over the papers. He said goodbye before going on his way to the training facility. Papunta roon ay nadaanan nito ang isang bulletin board. He stopped walking and stared at the familiar posters on it.
It was the wanted posters of Zai and Trois. Dalawang buwan na mula noong mawala ang dalawa sa paningin ng mga tao. Zai was branded as a traitor and Trois is her accomplice. Wala rin silang kaalam-alam kung paano nasama si Trois dito. Ngunit kung iisipin ang koneksyon ng dalawa, maaaring si Trois mismo ang sumama rito.
"They posted it again?" Wein looked at his back and was quite surprised to see Levine. He did notice earlier that the Headmaster wasn't in his office. Mukhang kakagaling lamang nito sa opisina ng mga guro.
Levine went closer and removed the posters of those two. Pinunit niya ito at tinapon sa basurahan. Ngumiti si Levine sa kanya at inilagay ang hintuturo sa tapat ng kanyang labi. Wein nodded. Levine chuckled and went back to his office.
Wein also turned his back and continued walking to the training facility. Pagkarating ay nakita niyang nagkakaguluhan ang mga ito. But it wasn't the usual ruckus. The room is filled with tension.
"Sabi ng tama na eh! Hindi ba kayo nakakaintindi ha?!" sigaw ni Zera habang pumapagitan kina Jebal at Layn na pinipigilan din naman ng iba.
"Sabihin mo yan sa kanya Zera! Stop defending those two criminals, you bastard! They're criminals, traitors, they're outlaws!"
"They're not! I know them! They won't do this without a reason! You're saying those kinds of things because you don't believe in them!"
"Eh yun nga yung problema diba?! How can I believe them if in the first place they never told us anything?! They were fooling us! No one even know if they're siding with the demons! They could even be demons themselves!"
"What did you say?" Layn said, filling his voice with more anger.
"Now that I mention it, those two do act like demons" Jebal said with a mocking grin on his face.
All was surprised when Layn suddenly jumped at him and they both fell on the floor. Layn pulled his hair with his left hand and punched him.
"Ano ba?! Tumigil na kayo!" muling sigaw ni Zera. Kleiv grabbed Layn and pulled him away from Jebal. Tinulungan naman ni Ace na tumayo si Jebal.
"He was the one who--"
"Stop this nonsense." lahat ng mga mata ay dumako sa pinto and they were relieved to see Wein. Masama ang tingin nito sa kanila na nagpapakitang hindi nito nagustuhan ang kaniyang nadatnan. Naglakad ito patungo sa kanila. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop mentioning them? We don't know anything and it would be best if we stop talking about it. Stop fighting like some brats in the streets."
Jebal broke away from Ace's hold and walked to the door. Closing it with a loud sound that echoed in the huge room.
"Layn, you should also stop bumping heads with Jebal. We all are affected. Even him." Layn sighed and hugged his Teddy tighter. Admitting that he was also at fault.
"Now stop standing around and begin your warm up. 20 repetitions, 5 sets."
"Eh?!"
"Don't even think that I'm softer than the former captain. Begin."
Wein spent all his time helping them with their training. Making sure that every one of them doesn't slack off. It was almost dark when they finished. Lahat ay bumalik sa dormitoryo at naglinis ng katawan. Ngunit imbis na maligo katulad ng iba, Wein went upstairs.
He stopped in front of the former captain's room. He stood there for a few minutes before opening the door. Pagkabukas ng pinto ay bumungad sa kanya ang madilim na silid. Binuksan niya ang ilaw at sinarado ang pinto. He looked around, searching her empty closet, under the bed, her drawers but he couldn't find anything. Ito ang unang beses na pinasok niya ang kwarto sa loob ng dalawang buwan. Hindi rin siya nagtangkang buksan man ang pinto noon.
He sat down on the bed and it creaked because of his weight. Tinanggal niya ang kaniyang salamin at nilinis ang alikabok na dumikit dito. But he stopped when he saw something on the floor. He got off the bed and kneeled down to get a better view.
It was so small but he was lucky to see it, a small hole. Kinuha niya ang ballpen na nasa kaniyang bulsa at isinuksok ang dulo nito sa butas. He moved it upwards and he was glad when it moved. He was quite surprise to see a book underneath the wooden floor. Sa ibabaw ng libro ay naroon ang isang pares ng puting gwantes na may kasamang papel.
Wear these.
Katulad ng nakasulat sa papel, sinuot nga niya ang mga gwantes. It felt weird when it touched his skin. It's like his hands are numb. After wearing it, he grabbed the book and sit on the bed again. Binuksan niya ito at napansin ang isang papel na nakaipit sa pinakaunang pahina ng libro.
Inilagay niya ang libro sa kanyang tabi at binuksan ang sulat. Just like in the small note, it was Zai's handwriting.
I don't know who might be reading this by now. But if I'll guess, it would be you Wein. You're the only one I know who loves to stick his nose in my business.
By now, I might be a criminal and roaming around somewhere. That means, I can't come back here. I can't get the book that you have right now. If you read it, you'll know what it is but make sure that you're ready. You read that book, you step in my world.
I won't tell you anything. If you want, you can burn the book or give it to the council. The best decision would be giving it to Corum.
I have just one request and I'm not hoping for you to do it. Don't tell anyone about the book. No one. The only ones who knows its existence is me, Corum and you. If you want to let the students in the academy live, keep your tongue to yourself.
If you'll read the book, read it before the gloves burn. It'll burn in 10 hours after you wear it. Enough time for you to finish the book. Those gloves are the only things that can protect you while you're reading it. Those are the only things that I can make for you to have time to think about it.
Make a decision.
YOU ARE READING
Excelium II: Hunting Season
Fantasy[Book 2 of Excelium] There's no such thing as pure white in someone's soul. Such purity does not exist in a world full of living beings who seeks for almost everything, even a child desires plenty. Greed would grow from within even without you notic...
