-chapter twenty-

FINN

It's been five days.

Five days mula nang mapasok kami sa larong 'to na ang daan palabas lang ay ang pagtapos sa labing-anim na syudad. Currently, we're on the sixth one, the Magus City.

A sigh left my lips as I stared at the cloudless sky. Kamusta na kaya si Tita? Ang pamilya ni Gavin? Sina Renèe at Basti? I'm pretty sure they're all worried now, because we just disappeared, nang walang paalam o pagsabi. Natatakot na akong baka kung saan-saan na sila napadpad kakahanap sa'min.

I wonder how BBG are also handling things. Hindi joke ang pagkawala ng dalawang daan na tao. Outbursts and complaints are to be expected, but because of the contract we signed, this may be considered legal. Lalo na sa nangyayari ngayon sa mundo.

I wonder if BBG created this game as a preparation for what's about to hit Earth. Violence has blinded people. Amidst the beautiful seas and rich forests, something ugly blooms in the society.

Was this an escape or a ground for training?

"If you have time to mutter something under your breath, use it to increase your energy."

Napa-ayos ako ng upo nang marinig ang boses ni Caspian. Nakaupo siya sa isang bato at pinapa-apoy ang mga karayom. His weapon still amazes me. It's so advantageous. He can just kill you from behind with a hundred needles.

Napanguso ako sa hawak na kunai. Black shadows were emitted from the blade, stretching out and back in. The higher the power I've stacked, the stronger the shadows absorbed are. Still, I think needles are better.

"Your energy has to be higher so it can stay longer, lalo na't shadow ang pinili mo. Rather than power, it needs stability and longevity. That's what you need to focus on."

I pursed my lips, staring at Caspian's concentrated form. "I've been focusing on it for the past three days. Napakataas na ng magic energy ko. I can keep the shadows for almost a day already."

Bahagya siyang natigilan. Ang apoy na nasa itaas ng karayom ay sandaling nahipo ng hangin. When Caspian raised his eyes to meet mine, all the burning needles around him was blown.

"Ah. Do you want to fight?"

Napakurap-kurap ako sa kaniya. Kasama sa pagturo niya sa'kin kung paano nga ito gawin ay tinutulungan niya rin akong mag-train. He becomes my fighting partner when Depore is too busy cussing her chasms. Sa sobrang galing at lakas nito, kahit siya ay natatamaan at nasusugatan.

When I asked Caspian if it was possible, he nodded and said, "It can happen but it's rare. Sa mga tanga lang nangyayari 'yon."

Nang malaman iyon ni Depore, dumating ang gulo. Medyo natakot nga ako kasi baka sumabog na 'yong gubat sa ginagawa nila.

"Oi."

Nabalik ako sa katinuan nang maramdaman ang paglapit ni Caspian. He raised a brow at me, urging me to answer his question.

I hesitantly bit my lower lip. "Pero... hindi ka pa nananalo sa'kin."

Caspian's face hardened. Hala, may nasabi ba 'kong nakakagalit?

"Then I should just win this round, right?"

I nodded.

Caspian readied his posture, bending one knee and positioning his needles like claws. May hawak din akong kunai sa bawat kamay at buhay ang anino na nasa ilalim ng paa ko. There was a few seconds of silence, the cool breeze that passed by being the only warning.

In a blink, Caspian was gone.

Ngunit alam ko kung saan siya papunta. Nang maramdaman ko ang maliit na presensiyang bumubuo sa likod, I opened up the shadow under my feet and let myself be eaten. Caspian staggered, as his claws met air. Inilibot niya ang tingin para hanapin ako and his gaze eventually dropped to the shadow on the ground.

Fire erupted from his palms. However, before he can shoot it to the ground, my shadow parted from each other. Caspian traced its movements with lazy eyes. Napanguso ako. Kaya lagi 'tong natatalo kasi wala siyang gana.

Why did he even invite me to fight when he doesn't want to? I can just entertain myself.

The shadow materialized behind him, uncovering me. I was about to say something when I spotted an incoming blurry movement. Agad na nanlaki ang mata ko't napataas ng kamay. A clashing sound was created when my kunai met Caspian's needle claw.

Caspian's lip rose. "Your reflexes are really fast."

Nang mawala ang needle claw niya ay binawi ko rin ang kamay. I stared at Caspian's stoic face.

"That scared me." tugon ko.

"Why."

"You looked..."

Akala ko wala siyang gana at magpapatalo na lang. Nagulat ako nang makita ang surpresang atake niya. Was he waiting for it? Did he plan that from the very beginning?

"Scary?" Humalukipkip siya. "You weren't expecting that?"

Bahagya akong nakanguso nang umiling.

"You still won anyways."

Tumango ako. Caspian stared at me for a few minutes before sighing.

"Tara. I'll treat you." He adjusted his clothes. "It's your tenth win."

I perked up, eyes gleaming in excitement. Iniwas ni Caspian ang tingin sa'kin. Yey, ililibre niya ako. I've been managing the little money I have because Depore keeps on making me buy her foods. Joke niya lang pala 'yon na naseryoso ko at hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko mapigilan gawin.

Caspian and I had a bet too. It was his idea to make us serious over training. Whoever gets ten consecutive wins will be treated.

I followed Caspian as we walked in the forest. The quiet conversations and soft clashing of weapons can still be heard over the peaceful silence that surrounded the place. Noon ay sobrang tahimik nito, pero ngayon na sobrang gusto ng lahat na mamaster ang kanilang piniling magic ay isa na sa mga training grounds ang gubat. Speaking of,

I slightly pulled on Caspian's sleeve, letting it go after I got his attention.

"Si Depore?"

Caspian shrugged. "Baka may hinahabol na naman na daga."

Morphed Rat is a monster that frequents the forest. They're totally useless for city board quests and hunting, but they're a good fighting partner, lalo na kay Depore. Paborito niyang pasabugin ang mga dark chasms sa mga kawawang daga.

"Find her?"

Sumimangot siya. "Ayoko nga."

Mahina akong tumango. I guess its just us two then.

Not that I mind. Caspian is a great teacher. Marami siyang alam tungkol sa game. Compared to Wes and his strategies, he's more of an analyst.

The streets were busy. The late afternoon ambiance made people go out into the streets to talk or eat. Naglinya ang mga food stalls na binabantayan ng mga NPC. A plaza stretched behind the stalls, benches stationed at the corners. Ang city board kung saan may mga mini quests ay nakatayo din doon.

"Oh. They have takoyaki here."

Napalingon ako kay Caspian. Mataimtim siyang nakatitig sa isang food stall. Sure enough, that stall had a lot of japanese street foods.

Sumulyap sa'kin si Caspian. "What do you want to eat?"

Itinuro ko ang food stall na tinitingnan niya. Caspian's brows furrowed at parang sinususpetyahan niya ang desisyon ko.

"Do you really⁠—"

"Gusto ko takoyaki." putol ko.

Caspian stared and I didn't let my gaze waver. Eventually, he walked towards the stall and bought two servings. Para siyang kuyang nag-aalaga ng kapatid.

Kuminang ang mata ko nang makita ang dala niyang pagkain. I uttered a small thanks and ate the food with too much energy. Tagal ko na ding hindi natitikman 'to kaya sobrang sarap.

I was chewing when I spared a glance at Caspian. I looked questioningly at his untouched food while mine was already close to being empty. Akala ko ba gusto niya ng takoyaki?

Nang makita niyang tapos na ako ay inilahad niya ang hinahawakang cup. "You can have these⁠—"

"Oh my, what a surprise. Are you both having a date?"

Caspian and I both turned around after hearing a familiar voice. Sobrang pamilyar nga, pati ng tao, dahil nakatayo si Marcella sa likod namin at nakatingin sa takoyaki na hawak. There was a slight smirk in her face as she flickered her eyes between Caspian and me.

Behind her, Wes was standing with an unreadable look on his face. Mabilis ko ngang iniwas ang tingin sa kaniya dahil parang may displeased aura na nakapalibot. Dahil sa pag-iwas ko ay nakita ko ang pagtitig ni Marcella sa takoyaki na hawak.

I pointed at Caspian's takoyaki and at the stall where he purchased it.

"There." sabi ko.

"There?" tanong ng tatlo.

"Takoyaki is sold there."

Bahagyang nawala ang kunot sa noo nila. Caspian exchanged our cups instead, kaya may bagong serving ng takoyaki ulit ako, bago siya nagpaalam na bibili ulit. Wes continued staring. Hindi ko alam kung ano talaga ang atraso ko sa kaniya. Marcella just grinned, it's unusual to not see her hostility towards me.

"A date before the league, hm?"

Bakit ba panay siya salita ng date? Does she want to ask me kung anong petsa na ngayon?

Pero... "League?"

Umangat ang isang kilay niya. "You forgot? You'll complete the sixth city once you mastered a magic, and you'll complete the seventh city once you won the Magus League."

Ah. Oo nga, iyon ang nakalagay na instruction noon.

"The instructions for the league will be posted now. Here in the plaza, kaya marami ang tao ngayon." Marcella tilted her head as her smirk widened. "You should thank me. I was the first player to master a magic so the league could open up. I'm giving you a headstart now."

Really? Parang hindi naman ata.

I nodded. "Thank you."

Marcella frowned. "Kainis."

Akala ko ba dapat akong magpasalamat?

"Omg! Ito na siguro ang sinasabi nilang announcement tungkol sa league!"

"Shit, ayan na. Ilang araw na din tayong nandito kaya kailangan na nating magmove ng city!"

"Bakit ba kasi papapel-papel pa? Pwede namang magsystem message na lang para 'di hassle."

Napatingin ako sa mga taong nag-uusap at sa pagdami nila sa plaza. Marcella smiled and crossed her arms, eyeing me.

"Well, I'll be off now, Finn." she muttered my name with scorn. "I hope I'd get to fight you in the league. Tara na, Wes."

I stared at Marcella's retreating back and the quiet rage simmering off her. The players rushed over, mixing with each other and taking her off my sight. Bumuntong-hininga ako't tumingin sa stall na pinuntahan ni Caspian.

Natigilan ako nang hindi na pamilyar sa mata ko ang paligid. Maybe it was the avalanche of people or the suffocating crowd, but I couldn't see Caspian anymore.

Napaatras ako. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. Naninikip na ang dibdib ko dahil sa dami ng tao at ang walang-hanggan nilang pagdaan sa tabi ko. My breathing went heavy when I couldn't see an exit. If I can just escape this sea of players, I could breathe normally once again.

Napaatras muli ako't napalunok. I can't handle crowds. I have a deep fear of crowds. I don't like the amount of sweaty people that will touch me. The realization of being lost in a swarm of players makes me feel sick.

I was about to summon my shadow so that I can quickly get away when my foot stepped into someone's. Nanlaki ang mata ko't hihingi na sana ng tawad, nang isang kamay ang pumalibot sa pulsuhan ko.

Before I could process what happened, I was dragged out of the crowd and towards a spacious corner. A hand slowly caressed my back as I regained my breathing.

I clutched the front of my shirt, heaving. I huffed a breath and straightened. Doon lang tumigil ang kamay sa likod ko, at doon ko lang din naproseso na may tumulong pala sa'kin. I turned around only to stop and flush.

"Uh⁠—"

Wes hummed, leaning in to study my face. His eyes were unreadable like always. Bahagya akong napaatras dahil sobrang lapit namin sa isa't isa.

What is he doing here? Hindi ba't sumama na siya kay Marcella kanina?

-chapter end-