Alkia Kingdom Reborn

Alkia 20: Dragon Island

Naglakad kami ni Silver sa loob ng town. Sky had something to do. Nakita ko sina Ice at Zero na nag-uusap.

Someone gently held my arm. I looked over my shoulder. It was Sky.

"Hi, wifey," he greeted. My heart fluttered when he called me with that endearment. It was actually sweet. Napalingon kami kina Ice nang wala sa oras dahil sa narinig namin.

"Marry me," seryosong saad ni Ice kay Zero. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya kinuha ang lakas ng loob upang sabihin 'yon. She looked so sure of herself. Her pet lion growled a bit.

Napansin ko naman ang antipatikong ngiti ni Zero. His arms were crossed over his chest too. Kanina lang ay nagtatalo sila sa isang bagay kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit napunta sa kasal ang usapan nila.

"Ligawan mo muna ako," pang-aasar ni Zero. Muntik na akong matawa. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Ice at inirapan niya si Zero.

"Ano ka? Nagpapakipot? Ako na nga ang nag-alok sa 'yo dahil mukhang torpe ka pa," she said.

We were enjoying their little argument.

"Mukhang madadagdagan na naman ang mga katunggali natin," bulong ni Sky.

I grinned. Ice and Zero would probably be a threat to us when it comes to couple ranking. Pero hindi naman kami nakikipagkumpetensiya. Gusto lang naming makalabas doon.

Zero laughed in amusement. "Whew! I don't know if I can handle you, woman," naiiling na sabi niya pero nakangisi.

"You don't need to. We just need to play. Be the best couple. That's enough. Halos lahat ay may partner na. Unless you have another woman in mind?" nakataas ang kilay na sabi niya kay Zero. Ngumisi ako.

"I don't have anyone to pair up with. But you don't know what you're getting into. Can you imagine me holding your hand? Kissing you?" Zero teased. "You should avoid nagging me," he laughed. Lalong humaba ang nguso ni Ice.

"Loner. And I don't mind kissing you. This is just a game," she said and blushed. "Why should I avoid nagging you? Dahil bababa ang intimacy level natin? We're not compatible because you want a silent partner instead of a nagger? At hindi po ako nagger," she said.

Mas lumawak ang ngiti ni Zero. "No. I don't want a silent one. Okay, you're not a nagger, and I don't dislike your straightforwardness. You actually amuse me. I'm just afraid that if you continue to amuse me..." he paused. Ice blushed. Hindi ko alam kung nakuha niya ang gustong sabihin ni Zero, but he didn't continue. Nagulat na lang ako nang halikan ni Ice si Zero. Zero was stunned.

"Huwag ka nang magpakipot. After we get out of this game, we don't need to see each other, so you don't have to worry," she grinned. Hinila na niya si Zero patungong katedral.

~~~

Handa na kami sa pagpunta sa Dragon Island. Nakausap na rin namin ang grupo nina Zero at Queen. They agreed. Mukhang may mga sandata rin silang ipinagawa sa master crafter. They also needed dragon ores.

I asked Fire to get a map for us. Malalim akong nag-iisip dahil sa inaasal ni Fire nitong mga nakaraang araw. May mga oras na naiilang ako sa kanya. Minsan nagseselos siya kay Sky. Minsan nag-aaway kami. Lately, he became more unpredictable. I already discussed this with Sky, and the organization was really controlling the players inside. He infiltrated the council and found a weakpoint where he accessed some parts of the system—a read-only blueprint of the game so he couldn't do anything to tamper it.

Naghihintay na kami ni Silver sa riverbank. I already equipped myself with sufficient items. I also changed the gemstone on my crystal bow. It already had the color of the rainbow. It was already time to go. Hinihintay ko na lang ang mga members ng Dark Fortress. Magkikita kami nina Sky sa main gates.