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-chapter ninety-seven-

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SOLACE

"Now, let's start the dance, shall we?"

NAPASIGAW AKO sa sakit nang tumama ang sugatan kong likod sa tali na pumapalibot sa buong ring. My eyes widened as Halcyon's sword followed suit, piercing through my right shoulder. Fuck. Ang sakit!

It didn't even take a second for Halcyon to appear, eyes glinting in interest. "Your beauty is even more astonishing when wounded."

Mga weirdo talaga ang pumapalibot sa'kin.

I huffed. Kinuha ko ang espada niyang nakatusok sa braso ko at mahigpit itong hinawakan. My sword's on the other side. He kicked it off of me a while ago. Kaya niya ako nadrive into a corner. Fucking monster.

Halcyon narrows his eyes at his sword that I'm holding. Black light is being emitted, with a shroud of sparking gold. Parang isang napakadilim na bagyong pinaghaharian ng kidlat. 

"How can you use my weapon?" kunot-noo niyang tanong. "Other players can't use another player's main weapon, right?"

Tinatanong niya ba ako?

Kung gano'n nga at dahil wala akong sagot, eh, sinugod ko siya. I slashed the sword to his direction countless times at ilang beses niya din itong kailangang i-counter. Worse, only the lightning element manages to scar him, dahil sariling element niya ang gamit ko. So it will only be absorbed.

Pina-ulanan ko siya ng sipa kasabay sa pagatake gamit ang espada. A certain blow to the stomach followed by a side-kick manages to send him flying away. Mabilis akong pumunta sa espada kong nakatusok sa lupa. Gold light simmered from it, travelling all through-out the ring, unconsciously seeking its master. It slowly dims as I grow closer at hinayaan ko ang kamay na hablutin ang hilt nito.

Ngunit, doon ko naramdaman ang malamig na metal sa leeg. The blade tightens against my skin, drawing out blood. Napakabilis naman ng lalaking 'to.

"Goodbye-"

Bago niya pa matapos ang nakakadramang pagpapa-alam ay umikot ako at inihampas sa katawan niya ang espada. He only had little time but he reacted against the attack with his other sword immediately. Halcyon grits his teeth as I apply even more strength. He pushes the blade against my neck further. On a spur decision, I bent down to take the blade on my teeth. Nanlaki ang mata niya nang makuha ko ito, lips bleeding but successful.

"That's insane, beautiful elf..."

Itinapon ko ang espada niya palayo. The grip on his sword weakens. Halcyon stops and gives me a smile, just in time for my sword to truly cut his body in a half. 

"REV, ARE you alright?" tanong ni Acrasia, munching her lunch over the table. 

The cafeteria is buzzing with people. Kahit dito sa 3rd floor ay napakaingay nila. We decided to eat at the cafeteria dahil sa bago nitong menu. Gano'n din ata ang plano ng mga schoolmates namin. Or maybe because the renowned singer, Reina, is here. 

"I warned you about the cafeteria crowd. Bakit kaya nagpakita ulit 'yan dito?" Rase wonders. Nakalean siya sa railings at nakatingin sa ibaba.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at sinulyapan ang baba. Reina stood in front of the large crowd, sweet smile on her flawless face and clothes as shiny as ever. Around her, her fans screeched and screamed. Grabe. Isn't that such a tiring task? I'd rather die than have those flock around me.

"You're having that face," napa-atras ako dahil napakalapit ng tinidor ni Acrasia sa mukha ko. "But you're surrounded all the time in game."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. My situation's not that bad. Feyre will roast every player before they can get to me. Nirvana and Cerberus are also too intimidating for them to come closer.

Binalingan kami ni Rase. "You know people are speculating that Reina is Solace. They say they have the same charms and beauty."

Hm... Well, if it's not the real me who'll be surrounded, I suppose mistaking Reina for Solace is nic-

"What?! No way! Not even close!" singhal ni Acrasia at tumayo. She walks behind me and squishes my cheeks. "Are you saying that Reina is comparable to our lovely Reverie, here?!"

"If a Reina stan ever finds you, you'd be dead." 

Binitawan ni Acrasia ang pisngi ko kaya napalingon ako sa bagong dating. Voldmir stands behind us, a tray in his hand and with the most emotionless face ever. Minerva is beside him with a cheeky smile in her face.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero sumasama na sila sa lunches namin ngayon.

"Reverie?" napabaling kami sa classmate kong nakatayo na ngayon sa dulo ng table. Jasmine stands there with two of her friends, Rachel and Jovan. Nakatitig ang tatlo sa'kin. "Ikaw ba si Solace?"

"Huh?" tumaas ang boses ko. Acrasia nudges me so I cleared my throat. "U-Uh. Hindi. Ano ba ang Solace?"

Rachel sighs. "I told you, Jas. Reverie never play games."

Now, Jasmine looks defeated. "Gano'n ba? Sorry. You really just look so much like Solace. Magkaiba lang siguro kayo kulay ng buhok at may elf ears siya."

I awkwardly laugh. They didn't take long and bid their goodbyes, although nagtagal ang titig ni Jovan sa'kin. 

"Hoy, senior high, respect me!" asik ni Acrasia.

Voldmir glares at her. "Kaugali mo si Feyre, you'll never get my respect."

"Kuya Voldmir says that pero palagi po niyang finofollow requests ni Ate Feyre." Minerva cuts in, a smirk in her face.

Napabuntong-hininga muli ako. Bakit ba sa'kin pa napunta ang mga pinalaking tao ni Feyre? Why couldn't it be Vesta or Priamos? 

"Rev." tawag ni Rase sa'kin. I raised a brow at her. "Patuloy pa rin ba ang headaches mo?"

Tumango ako. I've been having terrible migraines for weeks now. Nagsimula ata siya doon sa game sa Eastern Continent. I still can't recall what I remembered and now I'm having headaches often.

"Why don't you pacheck-up po kay Kuya Hex?" Minerva suggests.

Sinipat ko siya. "You only want to cause Feyre more trouble."

Minerva shrugs her shoulders and went back to eating. Saan ba nakukuha ng high schooler na 'to ang tapang niya?

FUCK.

NAPAHAWAK ako sa kahoy. I rested my head on my arms as I groaned in pain. Shit. Parang hinahati ang ulo ko sa dalawa. My head fucking hurts like hell.

"Papa, what is that?" 

Nakaupo si Papa sa harap ng tatlong computers. The first one was showing different letters and numbers, while the other two showed a scenery... a land? Different cables stretched from the computers to different outlets, modems, and even outside the door where I stood. 

"Papa...?"

Lumapit ako sa kaniya, avoiding stepping on the cables. Napatigil siya sa ginagawa at napatingin sa gawi ko. He sighed and took his glasses off. Papa's sleepless nights was evident in the bags under his eyes. Still, Papa gave me a smile.

"Reverie, do you want to watch Papap make a world?"

"A world?"

Tumango siya. 

"Like Earth?"

He smiled. "If that's what you want."

"Oi, Sol. Sol. Sol!" 

Napadaing ako sa biglaang pagsakit ng pisngi. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mata at nakita ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Feyre. She glares at me when I sat up.

"Anong trip mo at nagsleeping beauty ka sa gitna ng gubat?" Feyre huffs. "Tch. Kung hindi lang sa'min sinabi ng batang 'yon, 'di namin alam kung napano ka na."

"Bata?" tanong ko't hinimas ang pisngi na sinampal niya.

"Oo!" natigilan siya't kumunot ang noo. "Actually, it wasn't really the child who found you. Kasi sabi niya inutusan lang daw siya ng mama na sabihin sa'ming nahimatay ka sa gubat. Sino kaya nakakita sa'yo?"

Hm. Talaga... I can only think of one person who always manages to find me.

"Anyway, Sol!"

"Oh."

"Round mo na ngayon. Si Queen 'yong kaharap mo." sumama ang mukha niya. "Speaking of, nakakasuka ang name niya ha. At super cringe. Queen? Yuck. Like she's not even the strongest female player kasi ikaw 'yon, ha! Akala niya lang siguro! I bet she's weak."

Ngumiti ako. "Hindi ba't isa siya sa favorites ng mga tao na manalo?"

"Hello! Ikaw din kaya. Kung ako tatanungin mo, mas lamang ka ng isang milyon do'n."

"Kung ikaw lang naman ang tatanungin, wala nang fairness sa mundo dahil napakabias mo." kontra ko.

She mutters a 'tch' then ignores me. Napangiti ako. This brings back memories. Walking along the forest with Feyre beside me. Parang 'yong second meeting namin kung saan kinulit niya ako para lang gawin siyang party member. At talagang niligaw niya pa ako.

I smirked at her. "Oi, Feyre, paano kaya kung may ahas dito?"

Ibinalik niya ang ngisi. "You can't trick me with that now, Sol. May ultra-evolved Poro na ako para icounter sila."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Oh? Pero nandito ba si Poro ngayon?"

Poro is currently playing with Aslan in Vesta's care.

Bigla siyang nanigas sa kinatatayuan at lumapit sa tabi ko, making me laugh loudly. Nakatanggap tuloy ako ng batok dahil doon. 

"Bakit ka ba takot sa ahas when you're a poison element player."

Feyre glares at me. "It's different."

"Paano?"

"Basta! It's different." pinal niyang sabi. Feyre opens the door to the arena, and stares fall towards us. "Besides, it's not about the toxins. It's about how snakes will always find the way to bite you back and I-"

"You bite people's back all the time. You can easily betray other people, especially if they don't have your respect. Besides, snakes applies to real-life like how you exist in one."

Nanlaki ang mata niya. "Solace! Sinasabi mo bang isa akong ahas?!"

"I've never once mentioned the word 'ahas'."

"You compared us in one sentence!"

Hinampas ko ang braso niya. "Don't over-react. You're a cat, proven and tested. Isa pa, kahit ako pwede doon sa sentence na 'yon. Ahas na ba ako do'n? Ang point ko lang naman ay hindi mo kailangang matakot sa kanila dahil-"

"Dahil same family kami? Tanga! Felidae ang cat family at hindi Reptilia!"

"Wow, science."

"You know, you could have just said that they both produce toxins in game so they're similar." singit ni Hex sa usapan namin. The others stands behind him with an amused look on their faces. 

"'Diba, soro, napakasa-"

"But you decided to damage Feyre so I support."

"Tangina mong soro ka, ano sabi mo?!"

Voldmir chuckles. "Hindi pa talaga ako nasasanay makita kayong nagbabangayan."

Feyre and I usually go into senseless banters when together. Though, hindi iyon sing-intense ng bangayan nila ni Hex. Feyre has favorites, after all.

"Solace, you're expected inside the ring now. Queen is already there waiting for you, you know~?" Aisling says, smirking.

Oo nga pala. Sinundo ako ni Feyre dahil makaka-away ko na daw si Queen. Napatingin ako sa ring na nasa gitna ng arena. My face heats up when I realize na kanina pa pala kami pinagtitinginan ng mga tao. Did they hear my conversation with Feyre? Nakakahiya naman 'to.

Pumasok ako sa ring na namumula ang mukha. Nahagip ng tingin ko ang babaeng nakatayo sa harap ko. She's wearing a blue armor with a long white cape. Mahaba ang buhok niyang may violet streaks. Her whole stance is authoritative and regal. She is very fitting for her name - Queen. 

If I manage to beat her, I'd be the winner in the blue round.

When our eyes meet, she sweetly smiles. "Solace, the slayer. You gathered a lot of attention, even from your first day."

Dahan-dahan akong tumango. Even though her smile looks kind, I can feel something ominous from her voice.

Queen hides her chuckles in her palms as she look sideways. Kumunot ang noo ko. May nakakatawa ba? Bakit ba weirdo ang mga kasama at kaaway ko? Are all players supposed to be this weird? Wengya.

Nang ibalik niya ang tingin sa'kin ay may kakaiba na doon. It almost feels like she's staring at something she hated... detested. Nakakakilabot at nakakatakot ang pagtingin niya.

"I really really hate you, you know?" nakangiti niyang tugon. "You bewitched everyone with your charms. I really hate it when other girls are on top of me. When I'm much more prettier, wealthier and skilled than you. Tell me, who are you in the real world? I bet you're worthless compared to me."

Woah. What a change of attitude. Ngayon parang nakatingin na lang ako sa isang taong nagt-throw ng tantrum dahil sa sobrang jealousy. Her kind face and sweet smile is gone, replaced by an ugly expression. 

Itinaas ko ang espada. "I don't understand your anger."

"Of course, you wouldn't, you impostor. I can't help but wonder why they would associate my true persona with your character? I'm nowhere near that shitty face like yours."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Huh?! She's suspected as Solace in the real world? Wait-

Queen must have noticed my expression dahil mas lumawak ang ngisi niya. "That's right. What do you have for someone as famous as me in the real world? Solace, the slayer, the white elf goddess? What joke!"

Kaya ba Queen ang pangalan niya dito kasi Reina ang totoong pangalan niya? Now, I agree with Feyre. That seems a bit corny although it looks clever.

Shit. This is bad. Bakit siya pa ang nakalaban ko?!

Queen slashes her sword on the air and blue flames immediately covered the blade. A water element? Ice? She stares at me, eyes filled with hate and jealousy. 

"I've watched your battles, slayer. Give me your 100%. I'll be sure to break that pretty little face of yours."

I gritted my teeth as I let golden flames surround my blade. Gold and blue lights glow brightly in the arena, consuming all the air around us. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi niya dito at sumugod siya sa'kin.

Ah shit. This is really bad.

If people can hear us here, they'll confirm that Reina is Queen and not Solace. If another slip-up happens or Jasmine suspects me even more, or someone other than her even notices me and sees the resemblance, I'm fucked.

Ayoko ng atensiyon! Waaaah!

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-chapter end-

[NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW]:

Solace Vs. Queen. Totoo na 'to.

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