HIDDEN REIGN

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 12: 𝕻𝖔𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖆𝖑 𝕬𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙

"You pick first, Kianna. Choose your armament."

Eh?! A-ako?

All eyes are fixed on me. It's kinda intimidating, I'll say. I take a step forward, in front of the weapons Mr. Byun summons. There were lots of weapons, from a small kind of blades to staffs. I actually don't know most of it. I run my fingers through the table where the weapons are. There's this kind of blades that I am afraid of choosing. There's also bows, swords, and a staff. I don't think I can handle any of it. Something just caught my eye. Maybe I'll choose this.

Ha?

"Looks like, that weapon choose you." Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Mr. Byun na may halo ng pagtataka.

"That armaments are not just simply a tool. They're almost like a person. Some of them chooses their owner. There's no concrete explanation on how and why they do that. That armament might have the likings of you." He continues and smiled at me. Napatingin ako sa armas na nakatapat sa mga kamay ko. Is this really efficient for me? Oh well, let's just see.

As I grab the weapon, I was shocked to its weight. Is this really like this? Hindi ko na lang ipinahalatang nawiwrduhan ako sa bagay na 'to, at agad na bumalik sa pwesto ko. I looked at it again, inspected it. Nothing peculiar, it looks normal, except from it weights.

"Hmmm... who should choose next? Raphie, you wanna go?"

Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Raphie, he looks timid. Or is it because of his nature? Sa pagkakatanda ko ay mas active siya tuwing gabi, and it might be because of his ability, Darkness Adaptation. Walang sabi-sabi at naglakad siya papunta sa mesa. If I were him, I think I'll choose something small. A weapon that is good for hiding. As I observe, he's like an assassin. Hindi mo mararamdaman ang presensiya niya kung hindi ka mapagmatyag Iilang beses ko na ding nakakaligtaan na kasama pala namin siya. Napaka-tahimik niya na mismongang paghinga niya ay hindi mo ramdam. I was so engrossed observing him that I think he notice, since he suddenly turns to my direction. He intently looked at me, and for some reason, I can't take my eyes off him. He was the first to shake it off, and grab something.

"Did you..."

Gulat na napatingin ako sa gawi niya. Tinawag na kasi si Rainee na nasa kanan ko, at siya ang pumalit dito. Pero anong pinagsasabi niya. This is also the first time he talked to me. Magtatanong pa lang sana ako, ng bigla na siyang umalis. Pabalik na pala si Rainee. Hawak-hawak niya ang isang armament. This looks like bow, well because it has arrows.

"Crossbow. If it's what you are asking. And it is all written in your face." Sabi niya ng hindi man lang ako nililingon. Am I that easy to read?

"Calvin."

Tawag sa katabi ko. Napahalikhik ako dahil nakita kong mag-v-volunteer na sana si Khael, kaya nga lang ay nauhanan siya ni Mr. Baek. Calvin did go to the pile of weapons. I can tell that his inspecting it thoroughly. Just like my turn, a weapon just moves into its own accord. Napayuko kaming lahat ng biglang may lumipad sa direksyon namin. It's like a boomerang when it returns to Calvin's direction. Babalaan ko sana siya, pero hindi na pala kailangan. He easily catches it between his fingers.

"Looks like you'll get along well. That was a dangerous stunt." Mr. Byun said, giggling. Nakabusangot na bumalik si Calvin sa pwesto. I bet he didn't like the remarks of our professor.

"I am avoiding this thing, yet it chooses me. Di ata ako makakawala dito." Sabi niya ng pabulong. He's throwing a tantrum, huh? I just pat his shoulder. I'll ask him about it later. Gusto kong makita kong anong pipiliin ng iba.

It was Caitlyn's turn to choose, or the weapon will choose her. Walang anu-ano ay may kinuha siya. It does look like mine, but kinda, different. I don't know if it's just me, but she doesn't look like the person to care what's her weapon is.

"Khael."

"It's your time to shine." Sabay na sabi namin ni Rainee na siyang ikinagulat naming dalawa.

Sinamaan niya kami ng tingin bago siya naglakad, na siyang ikinatawa namin. He grabs the biggest weapon out there, or more likely, they choose each other. How can I say? He's walking towards the direction of the weapon, thus the weapon started to move.

"Looks like you have a mutual decision. Good choice, I must say." Mr. Byun says while smiling.

"You know, that looks cool with you. You're much cooler than usual." Sabi ni Rainee ng makabalik sa pwesto si Khael. I can say the same too.

"You look like reaping people." Side comment naman ng katabi ko. Hindi naman siya pinansin ng una, at diretso lang ang tingin. Irita pa din ba siya sa weapon na hawak niya? I should ask the reason later. He seems troubled about it.

"Lastly, Jasper."

Oh? Last na pala?

Everyone's eyes are on him. It looks like everyone's looking forward for it. Nakaka-isang hakbang pa lang ata siya ng biglang umangat ang isang weapon. A sword. It slowly goes in his way. Might be because he's a royal? He was about to grab it, when something crazy happens. Bigla-bigla na lang itong bumulusok sa direksyon niya. It's as if someone's holding it and about to stab him. But it just stops midair.

"Tss. This sword is troublesome. Who owns –."

Hindi natapos ni Mr Byun ang sinasabi niya at nakatingin lamang dito. He looks shock. Napatingin siya kay Jasper na ganoon pa din ang ekspresiyon. What might be the cause?

"W-would you mind if you draw a small amount of your blood?"

Gulat na napatigin kaming lahat dahil sa sinabi ni Mr. Byun. Why does he need it? Lumingon ako kay Calvin, hoping I can get an answer. But he just shrugs his shoulder.

"Blood compact, I think."

It was Raphie. And he's in our back. Damn this guy. Kung saan-saan sumusulpot.

"What do you mean by that?" tanong ni Rainee. She also doesn't know? I mean, I thought she's the kind of person that knows everything.

"Some weapons are ensuring that they will be use well. Hence, they need to perform some blood from the person they choose. To know they're intent. This talk is making me all tired. Would you mind if you let me rest here at the back?"

Napatango kaming apat, at nahiga naman siya agad. Hindi niya naman na kailangan pang mag-paalam. Tsaka hindi din naman siya mapapansin. His presence is so unnoticeable.

"I can't hold it any longer, the barrier would disintegrate. You must make your choice."

Narinig naming sabi ni Mr. Byun. His ability is some kind of barrier? Medyo nag-panic kami ng makarinig kami ng pagkabasag. At the same time of the cracking sound, we heard a wince. Hawak-hawak na ngayon ni Jasper ang kaniyang braso. Raphie, that we thought is at our back, already beside Mr. Byun. In his hands is the weapon he chose, in it is a small amount of blood. What the heck just happen?

"You—!"

"You'll be putting everyone's life in danger. You're so stubborn, your highness."

Walang nagawa si Jasper kundi ang tapunan ng masamang tingin si Raphie. I actually agree with Raphie. But how the hell did he did that? Considering that Jasper is so observant in his surroundings. Raphies stealth is on another level, huh.

Mr. Byun told us, that this is just our temporary weapons. A potential one. It is up to us, if we want to change it, nonetheless, this will be ours. We are its owner.  

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