Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 45

"This is totally a scam. Don't you think so Feniel?" Feniel slightly grimaced with the king's question as they watch their guests eat the foods that were served before them. Escenier breathed in as he straighten his back and slightly cover his lips with his hand then he breathed out, "An alliance, advanced weaponry, and all the other things just for a single breakfast? Scam 'to."

Bumuntong hininga naman si Feniel, "You're just overthinking things, your majesty. Si Zenlhoir na mismo nagsabi kanina na kapatid niya 'yan, although they're not related by blood but still. Siguro naman mapagkakatiwalaan."

"Hoy Shane! Kapal ng mukha nito! Akin na 'to!" sigaw ni Asta habang inaagaw ang plato na may lamang isang buong manok.

"Anong makapal? Hoy! Kita mo 'yang bibig mo? Ilang manok na ba nakain mo ha?" saad ni Shane at muling hinatak papalapit sa kanya ang plato.

"Ba~ makaasta ka parang wala kang ginawa ah! May atraso ka pa kay Zai kung naaalala mo!"

Shane frowned and his eyes softened but he didn't let go. Tumigil lamang sila noong bigla na lamang nahati sa gitna ang manok. They glanced at Ero who continued eating with his knife and fork in hand. They both clicked their tongues and put their piece in their plates.

"Where's Zai?" tanong ni Rui.

"After eating, she went out of the dinning room with General Zenlhoir." sagot naman ni Sinbad habang hinihiwa ang isang karne.

"Bilis niyang kumain ah! 'Di man lang sinulit ang lahat ng 'to! When we start traveling again, balik na naman tayo sa inihaw na isda at kung ano-ano pang nakikita natin sa gubat." saad ni Asta at kinagatan ang hita ng manok.

Rui stared at all of the foods on the long table then he looked at the king, "This amount is unnecessary. Zai just asked for a breakfast in return, she didn't mean a feast."

Tumingin naman rito ang hari, "It's fine. Just eat. Make sure you eat all of it."

"Wait what?"

Zenlhoir watched Zai as she continue writing things on a sheet of paper. Suot nito ang madalas na ekspresyon habang nakatutok sa kung anumang ginagawa nito. Mapaghahalataang hindi pa rin maganda ang nararamdaman ng dalaga dahil madalas nitong pinapaliit ang mga mata para saglit na iklaro ang kaniyang paningin. Napapahawak rin ito minsan sa kaniyang sintindo habang nakatungkod ang kaniyang siko sa lamesa.

"Why don't you just stay here?"

"I won't." mabilis na sagot ng dalaga.

Zenlhoir clenched his jaw, "We can make arrangements here in Northernium and--"

"Just drop it, Zen. I'm not interested in staying here."

Umalis naman sa pagkakasandal si Zenlhoir sa dingding at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa kaniya, "Then let me come with--"

"I have no use for you," mabilis na tugon ng dalaga at tumingin sa kaniyang mga mata, "And you don't even wanna leave this place right?"

Natahimik naman si Zenlhoir dito ngunit pansin ni Zai ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito. "I'm fine. I'm old enough, I can handle myself. Your obligation to protect me is not needed any longer. What you need to do is here, isn't it?" Zai then went back on writing and drafting.

Zenlhoir smiled apologetically, "Sorry, Zai. About leaving you behind and alone, even now," he walked to where she is sitting and put his hand on her head, "I'm also sorry for that time. When I called you a--"

"It's fine. I grew quite fond of the word. I just wanted to tease you back in the inn. Isn't it nice to see your guilty face?" Zai smirked. Zenlhoir sighed but eventually showed a smile.

After spending some time in the office, Zai finally finished what she was doing. Zenlhoir assisted her back to where the others are. Nakita naman nila itong nakaupo sa mga sopa at nakahawak sa kanilang mga tiyan. Groaning because of some pain they are feeling. Zenlhoir glanced at Escenier, "You really are a dumbass. Why did you forced them to eat all of it?"

Akmang magsasalita si Escenier ngunit naglakad papalapit rito si Zai habang dala-dala ang nakarolyong papel. Ibinigay nito ang papel sa hari. Tiningnan naman ito ni Escenier at binuklat. Nakiusisa naman si Feniel, Ero, at Zenlhoir na hindi rin pinagkaabalahang tingnan ang ginagawa ng dalaga kanina sa kaniyang opisina.

Ero's and Zenlhoir's eyes widen then they looked at Zai, "Are you serious?!"

Nagtaka naman sina Escenier at ang iba dahil sa inakto ng dalawa. Zenlhoir snatched the large paper that has the size of a map away from Escenier's hand. "Zai! This is an M4 Carbine! Are you really sure you're letting us make this kind of gun?!"

Ero also stepped forward, "You're advancing their weaponry too much! Aren't you worried that they might use this against your country?"

Zai just stared at then with her usual neutral expression. "I don't mind."

"You could have just made a draft of a different kind of handgun. Not a rifle!" muling saad ni Ero.

Escenier grabbed the paper and snatched it away from Zenlhoir's hands, "Base from your reactions, I'm guessing that this is a fine gun."

"It's not just a 'fine gun', you dumbass. It's a semi-automatic rifle. Just a press on the trigger and it can release bullets one after another. It's more effective than handguns when you're fighting in a war." pagpapaliwanag ni Zenlhoir rito.

Naguguluhan namang tumingin si Feniel sa mga ito, "Wait, wait. What is a 'rifle'?"

Zai answered, "A gun, especially one fired from shoulder level, having a long spirally grooved barrel intended to make the bullet spin and thereby have greater accuracy over a long distance."

Pero tila lalo lamang naguluhan ang lalaki. Ero sighed, "Let's just say it is a 'fine gun'."

Escenier squinted his eyes at the girl, "You're not worried that we might attack Centrio with it?"

Zai shooked her head then stared at his eyes, "I'm not. I'm sure you're not dumb enough to do something like that. And also, if you ever do attack Centrio, I'll just give them a bazooka or--"

"Don't worry. There's no need to do that. I'll make sure this idiot don't do anything idiotic." mabilis na sabi ni Zenlhoir.

Escenier slightly grimaced because of confusion, "What's a 'bazooka'?"

"You don't have to know." sabay na saad nina Ero at Zenlhoir.

"Oh my, oh my. You kids seem cheerful today as well." sabi ni Mother Lilia na bigla na lamang lumitaw sa loob ng silid. Ngumiti ito sa kanila at tumingin kay Zai, "Are you ready to leave?"

"I just need to do one more thing," tumingin naman si Zai kay Escenier, "Give me a container."

"For what?"

"My blood is one of the conditions right?"

Escenier raised his eyebrow then turned his back as he wave his hand, "Don't need it." saad nito at umalis na ng silid. Feniel smiled and Zenlhoir just looked at Zai again.

"Make sure you'll take care of yourself."

"I know."

Zenlhoir smiled, "And also, if you meet Father, make sure you tell him I'm doing fine. Also tell him that I'm sor--"

Ngunit hindi na pinatapos ni Zia ang sinasabi nito at tumalikod na lamang, "Mother Lilia, let's go."

Lilia smiled and nodded. Tumayo na rin ang iba habang dala-dala ang kanilang mga bagahe. Zai looked back at Zenlhoir and showed a small smile, "I'm going."

Zenlhoir smiled, "Take care."

In an instant, they all disappeared.

***
Let's all relax first😂 Naglo-loading pa utak ko.