Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 40

Ilang linggo na rin ang lumipas mula noong dumating si Zenlhoir sa bahay ng mag-ama. Kada umaga ay mayroon silang combat training na hindi niya inakalang mahirap pala. Tuwing titingnan niya ang dalawa na nag-e-ensayo ay hindi siya makapaniwalang sampung taong gulang pa lamang ang babae.

Zai's body was slammed on the ground as Alexander hold her down. She groaned because of the defeat. Muling tumayo si Alexander at pinakawalan na ang braso nito. Zenlhoir watched them as Alexander give her some of his opinions on Zai's current skills. Tumango naman ang babae at pinakinggan itong mabuti.

Mabilis namang napansin ni Zenlhoir ang mga peklat sa likod nito. Mayroon rin sa ibang mga parte ng katawan ngunit hindi naman ito gaanong kapansin-pansin. Kakaunti pa lamang ang mga ito ngunit tiyak siyang madadagdagan rin ito sa paglipas ng panahon.

Lumingon si Alexander sa kaniyang direksyon, "Zen, c'mon."

Tumayo naman na siya at nagpunta sa kinatatayuan ng dalawa. Nagsimula na silang mag-ensayo habang si Zai naman ay napagdesisyunang hawakan ang isang katana. Zen stopped because of worry. Dahil doon ay hindi niya nakita ang pagtama ng kamao ni Alexander sa kaniyang pisngi.

He fell on the ground as he hold his cheek. Alexander looked down at him, "Don't get distracted. Focus on the enemy in front of you."

He nodded, "Yes, Father."

He stood up again and dodged Alexander's next attack. Nagpatuloy ang araw nila na gano'n. Every morning, they have training. Then in the afternoon, Alexander do his job while the two of them do whatever they want.

Nagbabasa ng libro si Zenlhoir sa sala noong nakita niyang pababa ng hagdan si Zai habang bitbit ang mga libro nito gamit ang dalawang kamay. Mukhang papunta ito sa bakuran kung saan maaliwalas at tahimik.

Sinundan niya ito ng tingin habang patungo ito sa pinto. Sa gilid ng pinto ay naroon si Alexander at mukhang may kausap sa telepono. Must be one of his business associates. He opened the door without looking at Zai at nagpatuloy lamang sa pakikipag-usap sa telepono. Zai went out of the door and when she stepped out, Alexander let go of the door. Those are just one of the little gestures that Zenlhoir see everyday.

Lumipas ang isang taon at lalong naging komportable si Zenlhoir sa bahay ng mga ito. They don't really speak that much but they have this mysterious connection that even he can't fathom.

He was laying on his bed while browsing through his phone when his eyes squinted because of a foreign presence that he felt. It was inside their house. Mabilis siyang tumayo at binitawan ang cellphone. Binuksan niya ang pinto ng kaniyang kwarto at naglakad patungo sa sala.

Ngunit tumigil siya bago pa siya makahakbang sa hagdanan. Nagtago siya sa likod ng pader at sumilip sa senaryong nangyayari sa baba. Naroon ang isang babae na nakasuot ng isang mamahaling bestida. Her eyes are also sharp at mapaghahalataang isa itong sopistikadang babae. Zai was standing in front of her with a distance of two meters. Mukhang mas nauna nitong naramdaman ang presensya ng hindi inaasahang bisita na bigla na lamang pumasok sa kanilang bahay.

Zenlhoir squinted his eyes. Just by the woman's presence, he can say that she is a Hevrion. What is she doing to someone else's territory?

"You must be Alex's daughter," she started as she look at Zai's gray and emotionless eyes. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Zai sa itinawag nito sa kaniyang ama. "You look just like him."

"Do you have any business with Dad?"

The woman smirked, "Yeah. Where is he?"

"I'm not obligated to tell you about my father's whereabouts."

Mukhang hindi naman nagustuhan ng babae ang isinagot nito at bigla na lamang lumitaw sa harap ni Zai sa isang kisap-mata. Zenlhoir was about to approach them but he stopped when Zai glanced at him. Telling him to stop.