Chapter 06: Yule Arden

Hirasaya’s POV

Everess gracefully moved her hands in an upward motion. Sa ginawa niyang ‘yon ay madali niyang nakontrol ang tubig na nilalaman ng baso. It’s as if her hands have strings connected to the water that the latter obediently followed whatever movement Everess does.

She suddenly made some complicated gestures in the air and in just a blink of an eye, the water she’s controlling took its own form— a shape of the tower. Kasabay nang pagkuyom ni Everess ng kaniyang kamay ay siyang pagtigas ng tubig sa yelo. Hanggang sa maging kamukha na nito mismo ang tower-shaped crest ng mga Elders.

Binigyan niya kami ng tig-isa ni Kuro. Agad naman itong sinuot ni Kuro sa right-side ng caribou jacket niya habang nakangiti nang malawak. I examined the crest she gave us and I can’t help but be mesmerized with how on-point the details are.

Kapag pinapanood ko siya ay parang ang dali lang pero sigurado akong it takes great control to master this craft. No wonder why she’s considered a prodigy at such a young age.

“Are you sure we won’t be detected?” tanong ni Kuro while giving her a critical look. Kunwari pa siya na walang tiwala, ‘e pati nga sekreto ng kung sinong umatake sa ‘kin ay nagawa niyang ibulgar ng gano’n kadali.

Lumapit sa ‘kin si Everess kaya’t tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. She removed her crest at pinag-level ito sa suot kong fake. “Then let me ask you this… can you even spot their difference?” Sinagot niya si Kuro ng isa pang tanong, pride was evident on her tone.

“Hindi!” Parang bata na sagot ni Kuro. He raised his hands, as if he’s punching something in the air. Kuro was so excited that it was so obvious in his face. “I still can’t believe that we’ll be doing this. Sobrang cool nito!” dagdag pa niya.

I hugged myself while shaking my head. Siya pa itong pinakamatanda sa ‘min pero siya pa itong isip bata. Can’t he see that this so called ‘mission’ just screams red flag everywhere?

“Hindi pa rin ako sigurado na dapat natin itong ituloy,” sabi ko sa kanila. I’m already sounding like the kill joy type of person here. But I’m only concerned with our safety. Nakumpirma ko ito nang mapasimangot si Kuro habang mahina naman akong sinuntok ni Everess sa balikat.

Kuro, makiramdam ka naman! Everess is still a member of that highest organization. Madali lang niyang mapapaikot ang katotohanan sa oras na mapunta kami sa kapahamakan. And the mansion’s security was too high! Napakataas ng risk kung ikukumpara sa result na hinahangad namin.

“Oh, c’mon! If there’s a person who will need this the most, it will definitely be you!” sabi ni Everess habang diretsong nakatingin sa ‘kin. “Hindi mo ba gustong makakalap ng impormasyon sa mga posibleng makakalaban mo?” dagdag pa niya.

It was indeed a tempting offer… but the risk was just too high. Plus, the fact that Everess was volunteering herself to help us was too good to be true. I mean, she already helped us through giving a warning of my father’s condition. Ano bang nakikita niya sa ‘min at ganito na lang siya ka-interesado?

“Siyempre gusto ko! But Everess, what are your reasons for doing all of these? For helping? I doubt that there won’t be a catch.” Sinikap kong maging kalmado.

The atmosphere became heavy, I can feel it. Nang akala ko’y hindi na siya sasagot ay bigla na lamang siyang tumawa nang malakas. Grinning, she removed her camera that was hanging from her neck. Binuksan niya ito bago iabot sa ‘kin.

I raised my hands while giving her a confused look. I am looking for an answer, not her camera.

“Ano pang ginagawa mo? Just get it.” Everess shoved her camera into my hands. Saka ko lamang napagtantong naka-recording mode ito nang dahil sa mga numerong gumagalaw sa ibabang parte ng screen. The timer says its already recording for eight seconds.

She instructed me to get a video of herself. Habang nakakunot pa rin ang noo ay itinapat ko na lamang ito sa kaniya. Nagtanong lang ako pero ‘di ko naman in-expect na maging cameraman agad. Kuro even made a cameo by going at Everess’s back. Naka-peace sign pa ang loko while making silly faces.

“Everess, are you trying to change the topic? Because I’m sure it won’t work to me,” sabi ko habang sinasamaan siya ng tingin.

She just grinned at me while putting both of her hands at the back of her head. Binalik niya ang tingin sa camera at nagsalita na parang nakikipag-usap dito.

“Hello, mga tanda! As you can see, this is an evidence that I, Hirasaya, and this seal over here are working together,” sabi niya na parang wala lang sa kaniya ang maaaring maging consequence nito sa kaniya.

“And this is also an evidence that Everess told me I’m cute!” pagsingit naman ni Kuro kaya’t pareho naming siyang sinamaan ng tingin.

“So, kung balak niyo mang baliktarin ang situwasyon at ipunta lahat ng sis isa dalawang ‘to… then include me too! See, I even forged a fake version of our crest so they could get in. Cool, huh?” dagdag niya habang proud namang pinapakita ni Kuro ang crest niya.

“What if they’ll say that we’re blackmailing you?” sabi ko.

“No, they won’t. Besides, kailan pa ba ako nagpablackmail?” Itinuro niya si Kuro at sa simpleng ginawa niyang ‘yon ay nabalutan ng yelo ang buong braso nito. “Mga tanda, ako ang nagba-blackmail,” she proudly said before the ice on Kuro’s arms shattered into pieces.

The next thing I knew, we were already hiding at a corner near the Elders’s mansion. There were no guards at the gate. However, sabi ni Everess ay kailangan daw naming i-present ang tower-shaped crest naming sa sensor upang magawa naming makapasok. The gate doesn’t have a door though, tapos ang dali lang akyating ng walls.

“‘Wag kayong magpapalinlang d’yan. Dahil lahat ng walang crest na papasok ay automatic na magiging yelo. Sayang lang at ‘di ko ma-de-demonstrate. Mag-a-alarm kasi agad kapag nangyari ‘yon.”

“How can you be sure na hindi kami magiging yelo?”

“All you need is trust, geez. I was frozen many times just to perfect this craft. I’m sure the sensor won’t sense that your crest is fake.”

Napahawak na lang ako sa camera niyang nakabitin sa leeg ko. She let me wear it for me to make sure that she won’t delete our evidence. Hay, kung pwede lang sana na ‘yong crest na lang ni Papa ang kinuha namin ‘e ‘di mas madali ang lahat. But I just can’t go home yet… dahil hindi pa magaling ang mga sugat ko.

“Let’s go!”

Nauna na si Everess and she easily entered the vicinity. Kuro suddeny pushed me towards the sensor saying that ‘ladies first’ daw. Buwisit, sarap sapakin!

Mabagal kong itinapat ang crest sa sensor. The walls were covered with thick ice at tanging ang sensor lamang ang hindi. It was also shaped as tower and has the same size like my hands. It’s now or never anyway…

“Ano pang ginagawa mo? Pasok ka na!” sabi ni Everess.

Hindi ko namalayang nakapikit na pala ako. Nang muli akong tumingin sa sensor ay color green na ito, which only means I won’t be frozen. Saka lang nagtapat ng crest si Kuro nang maging successful ang akin. Kaibigan ko ba talaga ang isang ‘to?

“Keep watch of your scarfs, okay?” paalala ni Everess.

When I observed my surroundings, hindi lang pala kami ang may suot na scarf sa ibabang parte ng mukha namin. Everess told us that some members of the organization want to keep their anonymity, an advantage for a spy like us.

But even though we’re already in the vicinity, I am still on my guard. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nagawa pa naming makapasok dito. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi pa nagtatapos sa gate ang security measures nila.

The mansion has a three-story floor with a grand staircase at both sides. Our only path was at the center where the bridge is na pwede ng maging skating ring sa sobrang dulas. There was no other path below since it was already surrounded by bodies of water. More like a wide swimming pool. Lumalangoy rito ang iba’t ibang klase ng isda na hindi ko pa nakikita sa karagatan.

Natigil kami sa paglalakad nang hawakan ni Kuro ang braso ko. Bigla na lamang niyang itinuro ang isang lalaki na halos kasing-edad namin. He has a pure white hair just like anyone here, except that his hair has blue highlights. Samantalang ang kaniyang mata naman ay purong puti sa kanan at asul naman sa kaliwa.

“Hindi ba’t si Yule Arden ‘yan?” sabi niya.

Pinagsasabi nito? I’m not even familiar with the guy. This is the first time that I saw him.

“Uh, yeah…” si Everess na ang sumagot. She leaned on the railings of the bridge. Maybe

Kuro was asking her instead.

Nasa huling baitang ng hagdan ang lalaki. Now I’m wondering kung para saan ba ‘yang hagdan na nasa labas ng mansion? It only leads to the water, anyway.

He suddenly lifted his arms. Bakas sa mukha niya ang paghihirap na tila ba ay may binubuhat na mabigat. My mouth gaped after realizing that the water on the swimming pool was trembling. Balak ba niyang alisin lahat ng tubig sa swimming pool?

“W-woah…” Kuro gasped when Yule was able to lift HALF of the water in the swimming pool. But what surprises me the most was that we’re the only one who seems to have a care. Ang ibang tao rito ay busy sa kani-kanilang ginagawa.

Hindi ba nila napapansin na wala nang laman ang swimming pool nila?!

“Hmm… okay,” Everess said in a monotonous tone. Hindi ba siya namangha?

“Sino siya?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

Yule dropped his hands and the water went back to the pool with a splash. Bago pa man kami matilamsikan ay nagawa na itong i-freeze ni Everess sa ere.

“You can say that he’s an aspiring to be a member of the organization,” sagot ni Everess.

“I’m sure na makakapasok siya.”

“To be honest, I don’t think so. Kalahati pa lang nang tubig ang nakokontrol niya but look at him, he’s already exhausted.”

Yule was already on his knees while panting very hard. Ang hirap kaya nang ginawa niya!

“While the other aspirants can easily control ALL of the water in this swimming pool. They can even freeze them in the air,” dagdag pa niya.

That’s… terrifying.

“Kaya mo ba kami pinapapunta rito?” sabi ni Kuro at tumango naman si Everess.

“Yes… I want you to have an idea on how terrifying the Elders can be. That Yule guy over there? He’s still an aspiring member. Just imagine how more gifted the Elders can be.” Nagsimula na siyang maglakad patungo sa direksyon ng gate.

“W-wait! ‘Di pa nga tayo nakakapasok sa mismong mansion ‘e,” reklamo ni Kuro.

“We don’t have much time…” Itinuro ni Everess ang crest naming na malapit nang mag-melt. W-What the?!

“Nakapasa man tayo sa sensor pero ilang minuto lang din ang itatagal natin dito. This place has an enchantment which melts fake crest. Alam niyo naman na kung anong mangyayari pag wala tayong crest.”

Of course… we’ll freeze to death.

“Leader Eliseo! I want to be like you!”

Muli akong natigil sa paglalakad nang marinig ang pangalan ng posibleng umatake sa ‘kin. The voice came from Yule and he was talking to the man he called Eliseo. I already saw him Everess’s camera. But I never imagined him to have this intimidating vibe when you meet him in person.

“Hirasaya! Mas kailangan nating lumayo sa kaniya!” Kuro grabbed me in the arm as we tried to walk away casually.

“Everess, just how powerful this Eliseo can be?” tanong ko sa kaniya nang tuluyan na kaming makalabas sa mansion at makarating sa northern border ng Rozenhart. We were again facing the ocean.

Napatingin ako kay Everess nang hindi niya ako sagutin. She just walked towards the ocean.

Kapwa nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Kuro sa sumunod niyang ginawa. She extended her arms at her front before separating them. The next thing I knew, the ocean was already parted in half. Ilang segundo lamang niya iyong nagawa dahil agad din siyang bumigay.

“He can do that… for an hour.” Everess tried to catch her breath. “Afterall, he’s the leader of the Elders…” dagdag pa niya.

“L-leader? Hindi ba’t si Gregor ang leader?”

“Nah, the old man was just a figurehead.”

If what she’s saying is true, then our situation becomes more dangerous.

“But hey… the Elders were a bunch of cowards anyway.” Tumingin siya sa ‘kin nang diretso. “They wanted to remove the threat as soon as possible, bago pa ito makapagdulot ng mas malaking kapahamakan sa Rozenhart. That’s why they’re boring.”

Hindi naman siguro ako ang sinasabi niyang threat. I mean, I don’t even have a gift.

“Kung ako sa kanila, I’ll fight the threat as soon as it was able enough. But the fact that they’re already fighting while it’s still clueless… Man! What a bunch of cowards,” sabi niya habang naglalakad na palayo.

Nasa kamay na niya ang camera kaya’t agad ko siyang hinarang.

“Oy, chill! Don’t worry, you have a copy.” Itinuro niya ang kamay ko na may hawak na palang memory card. Just how fast can she be?

Tuluyan na siyang nakalayo at napabuntong hininga na lamang ako. Wala akong naintindihan sa kung ano mang sinabi niya.

“Hirasaya? Mauna ka na sa bahay. I just have some stuffs to do,” sabi ni Kuro at bigla na lang siyang tumakbo bago pa ako makapagtanong.

They’re all weird… and I’m still clueless.

Naupo na lang ako. The mansion is in the northern part too, pero medyo malayo naman na ito rito. Dito kami madalas magtraining ni Papa. But now, we can’t… considering the impending danger.

Makabalik na nga lang…

I was about to head on Kuro’s house when something caught my eye… an unconscious man. Linapitan ko ito and it was indeed an unconscious person. Iba ang kasuotan niya sa ‘min. Siguro ay halos kasing-edad ko lang siya.

Where did he came from? Did the ocean brought him here too?