Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 56

"Oi Zai!" tawag rito ni Asta noong bigla na lamang ito tumalon pababa. Asta sighed and let her be. "Damn it."

Zai's feet landed on the wooden floor. Then she began to walk to where the boy is. Not minding the blue flame that spread on the deck of the boat. The flame even touched her sleeve but she didn't pay attention on it and just walked straight to the boy who is on his fours as he hold his head with his right hand.

He's yelling out of pain and he really seemed pitiful to look at but Zai didn't show any pity. The boy looked at her and glared. He seemed like a stray cat that will attack someone who'll approach him.

"Get away from--ugh!" suminghap na lamang sila Asta noong biglang malakas na sinipa ni Zai ang tiyan ng batang lalaki. His body flew to the side of the boat and his chest faced towards the floor as he put his hand on his stomach because of the pain. He's coughing and it seemed like he couldn't breathe.

But the good thing is, the fire began to subside. Bumaba naman na sina Trois at pinagmasdan lamang ang hindi kilalang batang lalaki. He's still coughing and he's having a hard time breathing. That's expected, Zai didn't hold her kick back.

Zai walked towards the boy. The boy slowly got up by using his knees and hands as stands. Sumandal ito habang nakapikit ang isang mata at nakahawak pa rin ang isang kamay sa tiyan nito. Noong makitang papalapit ang babae sa kaniya ay itinaas niya ang isa niyang kamay at nagsimulang mag-apoy ito ngunit sinipa lamang ni Zai ang kaniyang kamay. Hindi ito ganoon kalakas katulad ng una pero sapat na para biglang manghina ang kaniyang kamay at mawala ang nagsisimulang apoy. He continued to struggle on finding stabilization for his breathing.

"Hey Zai! Did you just kick his diaphragm?!" sigaw ni Ero at akmang lalapit na rito ngunit itinaas ni Zai ang kaniyang kamay para patigilin ito. Ero immediately noticed why. The boy doesn't want him to come any closer at all.

Zai loosened up the boy's collar and looked directly at his eyes, "Take deep and slow breaths, kid."

The boy winced and he did what he was told to do. Ilang saglit lamang ay naging stable na rin ang paghinga nito. Ero sighed in relief and Zai just stared at the boy's face. She put her hand on his head and slightly messed his hair up before standing up. She turned her back and walked away. Ero immediately walked to the kid when he suddenly vomited and lost consciousness afterwards.

--

The boy's eyelid slightly contracted when a ray of sunshine shone on his eyes. Binuksan niya ang kaniyang mga mata ngunit nanliliit ang mga ito dahil sa sinag ng araw. He sat up and looked around. He's in the nautical bridge of the boat, the small room where the helm is.

He saw an elf handling the helm. Nakatalikod ito sa kanya ngunit mukhang napansin nito ang kaniyang paggalaw. The girl smiled at him then she just looked forward again.

Bumukas naman ang pinto at pumasok ang isang middle aged man. Lumapit ito sa kanya, "How're you feeling?"

But Ero sighed when the boy just glared at him just like before. "You should stop that attitude of yours. Zai wouldn't like it. You might get your diaphragm severely damaged if you really push the wrong buttons." saad nito at umupo sa silya na katabi ng kaniyang hinihigaang maliit na kama.

The boy could feel the boat moving and that could only mean that they're not by the shore any longer. Mukhang napansin naman ni Ero ang pagkabahala rito, "We couldn't just leave you and trust you to someone back in Northernium so we took you with us. Since you are a stray anyway, Lin said she could help you get a home in Easternia if you'd like."

The boy eyed him first and when he realized that he is no threat, the crease on his eyebrows slightly eased up. Hinawakan nito ang tiyan na hindi na sumasakit. He really thought he was gonna die with just a single blow. Ero explained, "You got a hit to your diaphragm. The diaphragm is the main muscles in charge of your capability of breathing. Your muscle got stunned by the hit and it didn't function properly for a while that's why you lost your breathing stability. You're lucky that you're diaphragm didn't get torn. If that happened, you have to undergo a surgery," tumahimik lamang ang bata. Ero awkwardly chuckled, "I want to apologize in behalf of Zai as well. But you should reflect on what you did too. Zai loves kids but I guess you really annoyed her that time."

"I don't give a damn."

Ero sighed because of what the boy said then he seriously looked at the young lad, "I'm serious. You better keep your attitude in check. You're not with a bunch of kind people, kid. You're surrounded by criminals." saad nito at tumayo na. "You should already know from that one blow right? No one here would tolerate that kind of attitude and none of us will hold back. Think about your situation."

Ero went out of the room. Leaving him and Lin inside. Lin chuckled, "They say that but they were kind enough to not throw you out of the boat. They even cleaned you up."

The boy glanced outside the window where he can see the clear blue sky. It was no longer cloudy and it was no longer cold. He also saw a boy pass by the window, carrying some clothes. Criminals.. yet why are they carrying a kid around?

The door opened, revealing a silver haired boy. Rui smiled at him as he put his short suit down on the bed. Lin said she'll go out for a while and the boy just smiled and nodded. Tinitigan naman ito ng batang lalaki. Mukhang kasing edaran niya lamang ito. His eyes are silver like his hair and he really looks warmhearted. The boy thought: This kid won't last long in the streets.

Rui smiled, "The kimono suits you well. Black doesn't really suit me so I'm jealous that it can easily look good on you." komplimento nito sa kanya.

The boy then glanced at the black kimono he's wearing. "This is yours?"

Rui nodded, "Zai bought it but I only wore it once."

The black haired boy clicked his tongue when he heard the familiar name, "I'm going to make that woman regret what she did."

The boy immediately felt how the atmosphere changed. He glanced at the boy beside him and saw how sharp his gaze is. The softness in them is gone. The boy was shocked but for some reason, he felt like he shouldn't back away. He feels this unknown feeling that he shouldn't let himself lose to the boy's intimidating gaze. That's why he sharpened his gaze at him as well. "What? You have something to say?"

"Don't call Zai 'that woman' ever again." Rui said to him.

The boy smirked, "You're pissed just because of that?"

Rui clenched his jaw. He was about to say something back but the door opened. Revealing Zai. Zai glanced at Rui, "Rui, can you help Shane out?" Rui stood quiet but he eventually nodded and went out.

Zai then glanced at the boy, "What's your name?"

The boy stared at her first before he answered, "Claysen."

Zai nodded then looked at him with her usual plain expression, "Get your ass moving and come with me." saad nito at naglakad na paalis.

The boy was confused with her but he eventually got up and followed her. Nagtungo ito sa gilid ng barko at kinuha ang isang pamingwit. His eyes slightly widen when the girl just threw the fishing rod at him. Zai stared down at him, "Work your ass off if you want to eat." saad nito at umalis na.

Claysen clicked his tongue then looked at the fishing rod in his hand. He looked at the guy who is sitting on the side of the boat, fishing as well. His hair has a dark shade of pink at mukhang hindi rin nito gusto ang ginagawa. He's frowning as he waits for a fish to bite the bait. Claysen sat down near him after putting a bait on the hook.

Bonzo looked at him, "Get away from me."

The kid just looked at him with a dead pan expression, "I'm already two meters away from you."

"Create more distance!"