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Chapter Fifty-Six: Winter Solstice

-chapter fifty-six-
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"She wants the slayer and her companions in our guildbase."

"CAN ANYONE please explain why we're treated like prisoners?" tanong ni Voldmir habang nakakapit sa bars ng sasakyan.

We are inside a vehicle where the back looks like a box with barred windows. It was similar to the vehicles used back then to transport prisoners. At nasa kalagayan kami nila ngayon. Kaming nuwebe na inilagay dito at hinahatid papunta sa guild hall nila.

"Can you please shut her up," tugon ko kay Feyre na malamyang kumakanta.

"Nah. Don't you want a background music?" tanong ni Cord.

"It's depressing po..." sagot ni Minerva.

"Anyway," tumingin ako sa labas. "Where are we?"

"Northern Continent!" masayang sagot ni Ais.

"Yeah, I don't have time for your sarcastic remarks, everyone." I knocked on the small window that connects to the front. "Excuse me, pero bakit po parang mga nahuli kami?"

"Well, technically you are prisoners," sagot ng Cerami.

"How so?"

"First, you stepped into the guild territory without permission. And you will enter that cave - which is an authorized property - without notice."

I sighed. "I told you may quest kami for that cave. We're not gonna steal anything or... anyone."

Well, it's a lie because we're going to steal the key from the dragon in her nest.

Tumawa siya. "Para namang makakapagnakaw kayo do'n! One touch at anything and it'll wake the monster up! Ang guild leader lang namin makakapagtame do'n!"

Oh. Damn.

"At saka isa pa," sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin na wala ngang quest na hinohold do'n? It's a private territory of Winter Solstice!"

"Winter Solstice?"

"It's the largest guild in all of Arth, sis," sagot ng kambal ko na prenteng nakaupo sa tabi ni Cerami. "It has a member count of one thousand."

Nasamid ako sa sariling laway. Nakita ko ding nagulat ang mga kasama ko. One thousand? Tapos kami ilan lang? Pito dahil wala si Avi dito?

"Don't worry, Sol." tinapik ni Feyre ang kamay ko at nag-'approve' sign. "We're just short of nine-hundred and ninety-two more."

"At tingin mo madali lang hanapin 'yan, pusa?" salungat ni Hex.

"Ha!" Feyre scoffed. "You might not know Hex but I'm a very lovable person. I'm outgoing and funny and-"

"Has a charisma of less than fifty points po?"

At nagsimula na naman ang bangayan nila dahil sa pagsingit ni Minerva.

"And, don't forget the hundreds of dragons under our guild. You're waging war against a very formidable guild." dagdag ni Cerami.

"I'm not even asking for war, or even creating one. I just really need to go inside that cave," napakagat ako sa ibabang labi. "And save a friend..."

Our eyes met in the small mirror. "Sabihin mo na lang kay Asiana, our guild leader. Can't do anything to you and your friend."

She continued driving. Napatingin ako kay River dahil sa pagtitig niya sa'kin. I raised a brow and he just averted his gaze. Kumunot ang noo ko.