The Zero Curse

Chapter 3

"Parang nagsisisi na agad ako, ah," mahinang bulong sa'kin ni Exiquel habang nakatingin kay Zeke. His eyes were piercing right through her, and at some time, mine too.

Kakagising niya lang at medyo badtrip pa dahil hindi niya alam kung nas'an kami. Upon receiving the mission, we immediately flee from our hometown. Si Illeasalis ang nag-lead sa'min, dahil siya naman ang nakakaalam kung saan talaga pupunta.

"Who are you, child?" tanong ni Ezekiel. He tried so hard to sound intimidating, but the gentleness of his voice can't be erased.

Illeasalis turned back and created a bouncy effect with her short brown hair. She smiled sweetly at Ezekiel, and held out a hand. "Hi! I'm sorry for earlier! I am Illeasalis, a creation of Seraphin!"

At the moment, their hands met, Ezekiel suddenly screamed. Tila ba nasunog ang kamay niya, at kaagad din namang sumigaw si Exiquel. "Hoy! Anong ginawa mo sa Kuya ko?!"

"I just transferred some memories through our handshake. Tinatamad kasi akong i-explain mula sa umpisa. Don't worry! It won't hurt him naman— just a little lang."

Akmang susugurin na ni Exiquel si Illea, kaya't hinablot ko ang kamay niya. Her head snapped towards me, and she rolled her eyes afterwards.

"Trip na trip si Kuya Zekiel ng batang 'yan, ah. Batukan ko sana," singhal niya— more like, parinig niya kay Illeasalis. Napailing nalang ako. I'm sure she'll warm up to her soon.

Nang sa wakas ay umayos na ang pakiramdan ni Ezekiel, tinanong niya agad si Illeasalis. "There's a possibility that we might meet some enemies, right?"

"Wow, ang bilis niyang ma-gets ang sitwasyon," bulong sa'kin ni Exiquel.

I chuckled. "Well, he's not like you, Exiquel. But of course, I still like you more."

Sinilip ko ang reaksyon niya at napatawa lalo nang mamula ang pisngi niya— hindi ko mawari kung dahil sa galit o kilig.

Illeasalis cleared her throat before speaking, "Yes, that is why we need to be aware and observant. The reason why I also not discussed the plan to you verbally, is because some might be spying on us."

Spy? Napatingin naman agad ako sa paligid. I looked up a tree and saw a weird shadow. I'm sure it wasn't a shadow of leaves or branches, it does not take up its shape.

Napaatras naman ako nang biglang gumalaw ang puno. Exiquel was manipulating it, so she must have seen the weird shadow too. My eyes squinted when I saw no one, yet the shadow was still there, moving— escaping from us.

"Shadow manipulation," Ezekiel implied. Matapos niyang sabihin 'yon, nawala siya at naki-isa sa hangin.

"Nagiging damo ka ba, mi amore?" Masamang damo? She rolled her eyes as an answer, then sarcastically smiled at me.

Tumikhim namang muli si Illeasalis. "Hindi 'to ang time para mag-flirt."

"Can I kill, Illea?" tanong ko. She looked at me with a confused expression. Nginitian ko lang siya, at tumango rin siya agad.

"Just don't kill everyone. We need to have at least one or two of them alive."

"Roger."

The air suddenly crackled with force, as Zeke and the shadow man began to combat with each other. Napansin kong mas dumami ang presensya sa paligid, so I slowly formed a sword with my ice powers. At dahil hindi ko ganoong kontrolado ang mahika ko, napalaki ang gawa kong blade. Pinalagutok ko muna ang leeg ko bago tumakbo sa isang banda.

"Zero!" I stopped in my tracks when Illeasalis called me. Napalingon ako, ngunit hindi siya nakatingin sa'kin. She was looking up, so I did too. Napasinghap ako nang makakita ng napakaraming phoenix na papunta sa direksyon kung saan kami dapat tutungo. They were soaring with such brazen fire. Quiet yet powerful.  Their fires almost outshined the sun.