Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 25

"We'll meet here again in two hours. Make sure you arrive in time or I'll make sure you sleep by the hallway," saad ni Zai at tumingin sa dalawang nakasimangot lamang kay Trois, "You two, stop frowning and stop glaring at Trois. It wasn't his fault that you two passed out with just one blow on your abdomen. You should also lessen your arguments. Asta, Shane is most likely eleven years younger than you. Don't be provoked by him easily."

Asta sighed, "Alright. Sorry 'bout that."

Sinbad averted his gaze. Asta did only passed out. Rui some kind of exaggerated for a bit but if Zai heard that Shane almost got his life squeezed out of him, he don't know how the girl will act. He scoffed when he remembered the scene. Shane almost died with just one hit on his solar plexus. Of course, Shane also didn't knew his own condition. Sinbad just saved him from his embarrassment. Well, that's also reasonable. Shane is just a 15-year old kid so his body is not that developed yet and Trois has an unbelievable strength. He already knows that Trois' doesn't know how to hold back.

"Scatter." Zai said and in a blink of an eye, she disappeared.

Bumuntong hininga si Sinbad at lumabas ng inn habang kinakamot ang likod ng kaniyang ulo. Sinundan naman ito ni Rui. Shane also went out but headed to a different direction. Trois and Asta also disappeared without them noticing.

Sinbad glanced at Rui who is walking beside him. "Why didn't you come with Zai?"

Rui shook his head, "I can't get attach too much to her. I don't want to be a hindrance."

It was quite unexpected, he thought that Rui would be the kind of kid who loves to cling onto someone. It turned out that he also has self-restraint. It can be seen all over his face that he wanted to go with her but he chose not to.

Ibinalik naman ni Sinbad ang tingin niya sa daan, "I'm sure that Zai wouldn't mind. It seems that she's fond of you."

Muli namang umiling si Rui, "That won't do. I know that Zai is a strong person. When I first saw her, she looked so dignified and majestic. I don't want to erase that image nor change a single bit. She's a person who deserves no weaknesses. A bond with a weak kid like me will only hold her back."

Sinbad grimaced, "Aren't you thinking too much?"

"I am?"

"Yes, you are."

"I don't think so."

"A normal 9-year old boy wouldn't even care for something like that."

"Is that so? Then that's good. I can't afford to be ordinary if I want to stay by Zai's side."

"Geez. Zai picked up an odd kid."

Sinbad squinted his eyes and fixed the mask that is covering the lower part of his face when he noticed some bounty hunters coming their way. Napansin rin ito agad ni Rui ngunit umakto lamang siya ng normal. His face wasn't posted on a wanted poster. The government think of him as just a victim by Zai's team. No one even know his face.

Nagkasalubong lamang sila at mukhang hindi sila napansin ng mga ito. Rui looked around, mas aktibo ang syudad sa gabi at mapaghahalataan iyon sa dami ng nakabukas na tindahan at sa dami ng mga tao. There were so many bounty hunters roaming around as well. Napapansin nila ito sa mga kasuotan at mga armas na dala but they can't lower their guard down. Some might even be dressed as a normal civilian to fool them.

They looked at one facility when they heard some noises. There were men roaring and cheering inside. Nagtungo sila dito at ang bumungad sa kanila ay isang malaking silid. Maraming tao at karamihan ay mga lalaking may malalaking katawan. Sa gitna ng silid ay makikita ang isang maluwag na platform na kitang kita dahil mas mataas ito kaysa sa tao. May nakapalibot na mga bakal rito at sa loob ay may dalawang armadong lalaki. Parehas ng malubha ang sugat ngunit hindi pa rin tumitigil or more likely to say, they can't stop until one is dead.