Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 42

It was a quiet night. Terribly quiet. Shaera poured some wine in her own glass as she stood in a dark room that was only illuminated by the moon. She seemed calm but her servants knew how enraged she is for the past few days.

Narinig nila na hindi naging matagumpay ang misyong ibinigay nito sa mga upper echelon. Hindi gumana ang dugo na ibinigay ng mga ito at dahil doon ay lumala ang masamang mood ng babae.

Shaera felt a presence appeared behind her and she already knew who it was. Ibinaba niya ang bote ng wine at inangat ang baso. "I hope you have what I want, Xhen. Or you dare to fail me as well?"

Ibinato ni Xhen ang hawak na device kay Shaera. Tila ba nagbato lamang ito ng darts sa direksyon nito. Shaera caught it with her fingers without looking at him. Pinagmasdan naman nito ang dugo and a smirk appeared on her lips when she saw the familiar dark shade of red. "Where did you get it?"

"From that girl. I wasn't able to bring her back because of some nuisances but I hope that you're satisfied with that." Xhen said as he squint his eyes on the woman's back.

Shaera's smirk didn't fade, "Good. You may leave."

Tumalikod na si Xhen at lumabas ng silid. Naglakad siya sa pasilyo at pinagtitinginan naman siya ng mga tagasilbi na naglalakad rin dito ngunit hindi niya ito binigyang pansin at sa isang iglap ay lumitaw siya sa harap ng isang pinto. Binuksan niya ito at pumasok. Mabilis naman niyang napansin ang mga pinsala sa katawan ng mga ito. He already knew that they got it from Shaera ngunit tila wala lamang sa mga ito ang natamo at umaakto pa rin ng normal.

"Boom! Talo ka! Akin na lahat ng 'to!" sigaw ni Cast at kinuha lahat ng pera na nakakalat sa lamesa. Gon groaned. Binitawan nito ang mga baraha at isinandal ang katawan sa sopa.

Dan is reading a book on the sofa and Garo is doing some push ups with his one hand despite all the bandages around his body. They can actually move freely. It must be because of Mallows.

Nagtungo siya sa isang lamesa kung nasaan ang mga gamot, gauzes, bandages at kung ano-ano pa. Umupo siya sa tabi nito at itinaas ang suot na damit, revealing his bleeding side. Gon whistled because of the sight. "Looks like they got you."

"It's nothing." saad naman ni Xhen at bigla na lamang ipinasok ang dalawang daliri sa loob ng kaniyang sugat. Gon immediately snatched the trash bin nearby and vomited.

Cast grimaced, "You're a big man yet you--"

"You don't just put your fingers in your wound! Xhen's head is just messed up!" mabilis na pagdepensa ng lalaki rito.

Tinanggal na ni Xhen ang kaniyang mga daliri sa kaniyang sugat at kasama nito ay isang maliit na metal. Itinaas ni Dan ang kaniyang kilay, "Ano 'yan?"

"Don't know and I don't f*cking care. It's painful." sabi ni Xhen at nagsimula ng linisin ang sugat.

Binabalutan niya ng bendahe ang kaniyang tiyan noong makarinig sila ng katok mula sa pinto. Bumukas rin ito at bumungad ang isang tagapagsilbi na bahagyang nakayuko ang ulo bilang paggalang. "Lady Shaera is asking for your presence."

Tumango naman ang mga ito. Muling isinuot ni Xhen ang kaniyang damit at sa isang iglap ay naglaho ang mga ito sa loob ng kwarto. They appeared inside a huge room where Shaera is. Sa sahig ay may nakaguhit na mga linya at mga salita na tila ba isang magic circle.

Dan sat on the floor, "How does this work anyway? The bodies appear just like that?"

Cast shrugged, "That's how we were revived."

"But how exactly does it work?" tanong muli ng batang lalaki.

Nagsimula namang magsalita si Xhen, "Only those people who has the closest connection to the blood will be revived. To explain it easily, it's like a family tree."