Start Of The Finals

"Wake her up then." I heard an unfamiliar voice near me.

Tsaka ko binuksan ang mata ko. A white ceiling. A white bed. White walls. There's no mistaking it, nasa infirmary ako. Ano naman ang ginagawa ko dito? Ah yes, I remember. Nawalan nga pala ako ng malay.

I sat up, seeing pairs of eyes against mine. May isang lalake na naka lab clothes, beside him was Thane standing. I sighed. So, natapos na nga talaga ng mission. And I hope this would be my first and last mission. Dahil ayaw ko pang mamatay. Who knew doing missions like that could cost me my life.

Naisip ko tuloy ang sinabi ng mage.

"Your friend either lasts or not. He would either live or die. The decision should be make. Let him go. Death shall remain the opposite of life. Death shall remain inevitable. Dead shall not be revived."

She's making it look like I should be the one deciding to end his life. Hell, that guy was everything to me. He saved my life many times. Sino namang baliw ang kayang patayin ang taong mahalaga sa kaniya? Kung ayaw niya akong tulungan hahanap nalang ako ng bagong sulusyon. Death should remain inevitable? So ibig niya bang sabihin natural lang na mamatay ang lahat ng bagay na nabubuhay sa mundong to? Dead shall not be revived? It's as if Hoy is really dead.

"Seems like you finally decided to stop dreaming. You made me carry you all the way here. You should be grateful." Thane was back being the usual him. Bumalik siya sa pagiging peste niya.

"I didn't say you should do that in the first place."

"Oh would you rather that I leave you there then?"

"Enough you two. Thane, sabihin mo nalang na nag-alala ka sa kaniya and you there lady, just say you're thankful." Natahimik kami sa sinabi ng doctor. Yes, he's a doctor. That should be obvious.

"Well I'm outta here. I need to make a report, and you," Thane said pointing at me. "Get ready." Tapos nawala sa siya sa unahan ko.

Tumingin sa akin ang doktor habang nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong room. Puti talaga ang lahat. Anyway, ano ba ang ibig sabihin ni Thane ng 'get ready'?

"I'm Dr. Gru, Mira's acquittance. Wala siya ngayon eh, she's on a business trip or something." Didn't ask. "Sorry for saying even if you did not ask." Napatingin ako sa kaniya in suprised. His ability? Ngumti lang siya sa akin at tumango.

"Dr, since when was I brought here?"

"Yesterday. You were having a fever due to an alochol. Must be your first time." Alcohol pala yun? "You should get ready. You're all fine now. You're free to leave."

"Bakit po ba? May magaganap po ba?"

"Bukas na ang Finals." Finals? Ah! Yes, the final exam.

Wala naman takaga akong pakealam jan but I sort of promised Andrea I'll fight her at the final battle. That would mean kailangan ko munang matalo ang lahat na haharang sa daan ko papuntang final battle.

Later on, umalis na ako ng infirmary. Maraming nakatingin sa akin, which I was used to, pero may isang babae ang nakaagaw ng pansin ko. She was beautiful. Lahat din nakatingin sa kaniya. But she was wearing a white uniform and her red hair is swaying back and forth. She's wearing a yellow necktie. Napaka familiar niya. Ah, yes. That's right. She's Freya Leet if I remember correctly. Isa siyang Third Year, so what is she doung here in the First Department?

Anyway, nalaman ko kasi na ang first year ang kulay ng uniform nila ay itim and the ribbon is red. Second years wear white uniforms, pero instead of ribbon, they wear neckties pero red parin. Third ywars also wear white uniforms but yellow neckties. While the fourth year, they wear white uniforms and blue neckties.

Anyway back to the present. I continued walking through the halls habang tumigil ang iba para tignan ang napakagandang second year, they must be wondering the same thing. But she only gave them smiles. She saw me, nakita ko na medyo nagukat siya sa akin nung una but smiled. Then we walked passed by each other.

I don't know, but something's odd about her. I cans sense strong spiritual energy from her. She's feeling a little scared though for some reasons. Tumigil ako at tumingin sa kaniya, I was surprised when she did the same thing. We both looked at each other. That spiritual energy isn't like the others. It resembles those people from the island. And she's awfully familiar. There are only few people who can sense spiritual energies, and I'm one of those people.

"Have we met before?" Nah, I don't think so. I shook my head. "Well then," she frowned. "See you around." Then she took the path to the left. Papunta siguro siya kay Headmistress.

Dumating na ako sa room ko sa dormitory. The room changed for some reasons. Sa tatlong araw na wala ako, umiba na ang kwarto. Instead of having each of our rooms, naging tatlong kama na sa iisang kwarto. Saan ba ang dalawa? What the hell have they done? Ba't nagkaganito? Sinarado ko ang pinto sa kwarto ko, or sa kwarto naming tatlo, at pumunta sa kitchen.

Kumuha ako ng malamig na tubig mula aa ref at ininom ito. Looking at the window, kitang-kita mo ang mga ginagawang paghahanda ng mga estudyante. They're so fired up about that announcement from one month ago. Yes, it's been a month already. That would mean natatagalan narin ako dito. Here in the outisde world.

"Headmistress is calling for you." That should be Thane. Bigla nalang kasi siya sumusulpot out of nowhere.

"Ano na naman?" Tanong ko not looking at him. He sighed.

"New orders. Maybe." Napatingin ako sa kaniya. My eyebrow lifted.

"Ano?! Kakatapos lang ng mission ah."

"There's a bug difference between missions and tasks."

"Same differences."

"Just come."

Sa isang iglap, nasa harapan na kami ng office ni Headmistress. I shot Thane an annoying look anf he just smiled as he opened the door. Pumasok kami at doon nakita ko si Freya Leet, from White Brigade, may kasama siyang iba pang estudyante. Hanzel Grim from Reapers, Yazmina Mel from the Yurosian, Mike Thomson from Blacksage Army, and Sahara Matson from Sleberian Cross.

Bakit ba nandito silang lahat? At kung nandito sila, ba't naman ako nandito? Tinignan ko si Thane and he just gave me an I-don't-know look with a shrug.

"That's all for today then. Basta alam niyo na bukas kung ano ang dapat gawin. Remember, tomorrow is a big day. I expect no problems to occur then. You may all go now."

They all turned their heads sa aming dalawa ni Thane. For a moment, lahat kami napatingin sa isa't isa for some reason.

"Well, well, well....Thane. Been months since I last saw you. Busy kasi ako sa mga missions ko." Mike Thomson said with a wink.

"Hindi ko tinanong." The atmosphere in thw room was changing.

"Still cold as ever eh?" He said chuckling. Problema ba nilang dalawa? "Sisirain ko rin yang mukha mo sa susunod na mag away tayo. Traitors should always just—" si Thane? Traydor? Hindi na niya pinatapos ang sinabi niya nang hawakan siya sa balikat ni Freya.

"I suggest you both stop right now." Sabi niya.

"Wag kang mangealam White Brigade. Don't get too cocky because your group ranked second." Galit yata siya sa lahat dito ah.

"And don't get too carried away thinking a single talk would get your rank higher." Si Hanzel Grim na ang nagsalita. Seryoso tong isang to.

"Shut the hell up—" susuntukin na sana siya ni Mike nang si Thane na mismo ang sumalo ng kamao nito. They looked at each other intensely bwfore letting go.

"We are still in the office. Pay respect." Sahara said.

"Ahem!" Lahat kami napatingin kay Headmistress. "I thought I said I expect no problems to occur before the Finals?"

Tapos lumabas nadin silang lahat. Finally. I heard Headmistress sighed and took off her glasses. Kumuha si Thane ng baso sa kitchen at dinalhan siya ng malamig na tubig. She gave him a smile before drinking. Alam talaga ni Thane kung ano ang gusto ni Headmistress.

"Ke'ala, I heard everything from Thane. You got yourself a problem." I nodded. "Pero hindi ka nandito para pag-usapan yan. You are both here to receive new orders."

"Why am I involve again?"

"Because you're already involved in the first one. Nabalitaan ko na nakapasok na ang Black Clan sa isla. I heard from the Council na may binabalak na naman sila. They sent a letter to the council." May kinuha siyang black na envelope sa drawer niya at binigay sa amin. Thane opened the letter, walang laman ito. Pero may bakas ng dugo.

"They're threatening them." Sabi ko. Pero umiling si Headmistress.

"They're threatening both of you actually. That blood came from—"

"That guy I have killed." Si Thane na ang tumapos. How can he say that easily? Hindi okay ang pumatay. No matter how evil that peraon may be.

"Exactly. May posibilidad na hahanapin nila kayo and they sent that through the council so that it'll reach us." Napapahamak ang eskwelahan ng dahil lang dun.

"Any leads?" Thane asked.

"Actually yes. May nakuha silang impormasyon frim the man the Knights arrested. That man which Ke'ala fought." Ah, buhay nga siya. "Good thing you didn't kill him. He wasn't originally a real member. He admitted he was only kidnapped and was forced to join them and do things criminals do. Stealing information, murders, etc."

"Wala na siyang ibang sinabi dahil sa takot. But he did say na nandito ang Black Clan because there was this deal from some weird people. But their main goal is to steal all the relics found in this island."

"Ano bang meron sa mga relics na yan?" Tanong ko.

"Combining all seven relics can destroy the whole island, Ke'ala." Seryoso? Whole island? "And we still don't know where the rest of the relics are. They were scattered everywhere by my ancestors at walang nakakalam kung nasaan ito."

"Iyan ba talaga ang gagawin nila? Sirain ang buong isla?"

"I don't think so. May isang tao siguro na gusto nilang matalo. And in order to find the relics they are most likely to combime the relics here and sacrfice the whole island before doung their original plan."

"That's just a possibility from what that man said. Wala na siyang iba pang sasabihin. He's too scared to spill the beans." Dagdag pa ni Headmistress. Lahat kami natahimik.

"Then I just need to threaten him until he does so." Sabi ni Thane clenching his fists. "If revenge is what they want because I killed one if them, I don't care as long as they won't get the school involve." Galit niyang sabi.

"Death isn't the thing he feared." The Headmistress said. "May pamilya siya. That's why he won't spill the beans." I saw Thane's face softened. Naiintindihan ko narin kung bakit ayaw jung lalake magsalita. Seriously, that Black Clan is just too cruel.

"So, what's the new orders?" I asked.

"Ke'ala, join a group." Ha?!

"No. I'm not planning on joining one."

"Only the top five groups and their members could do missions outside the school. Your first mission was an exception. But you should join one of the five groups. Then, I'll tell you the plan."

Lumabas na kami ni Thane sa opisina ni Headmistress. Hanggang ngayon galit parin medyo si Thane. Naiinis siya sa sarili niya. But he doesn't regret killing that man. Dumerecho lang siya ng lakad.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ko. But he still continued walking.

"Balita ko dinala nila yung lalake sa Reil." Reil. Balita ko isa yang city isang oras ang layo mula sa Magnus Town. Don't tell me he's going to that man.

"Thane, you cannot threaten him, and hindi mo siya pwedeng patayin."

"I'm not." Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at tumingin sa akin. "I'll be back tomorrow." Then he disappeared. Teleportation.

"Training." Sagot sa akin ni Iyana nung tinanong ko siya kung ano ang nagyari sa kwarto. So, they were training inside of the room. Nasira ang kwarto kaya nilagay nakang ang mga kama sa iisang kwarto after a renovation. Wow. Just wow.

"We'll have the whole afternoon for ourselves today. Let's use that for some training." It was Andrea who said that.

"Since when did you two get so close anyway?" Tanong ko sabay kuha ng pagkain sa ref.

"We're not. Ang ibig kong sabihin tayong tatlo." Ha? Ba't naman kami sasabay ng training?

"There is a possibility that there will be a group battle and whoever wins will battle each other in the end. In other words," na gets ko na.

Kaya hindi niya na tinapos ang sasabihin niya. In other words kasi, each groups will fight other groups. And th last group ay maglalalaban laban ang mga myembro. But since Iyana is already part of the Sleberian Cross, it's up to me and Andrea ro fight.

"We have to win up to the finals round. I don't want ny reputation to be ruined." Sabi ni Iyana whilw yawning. Again.

"Since when did you care about your status and reputation anyway?" Tanong ni Andrea. Yan din nga sana ang itatanong ko eh.

"It's the Finals. It's only natural for me to do so. Myembro ako ng top group sa buong Academy. I can't loose."

And so we're currently here in the White Room. They both prepared themseleves while summining their weapons. At hanggang ngayon, hindi ko parin magawa ipalabas ang weapon ko. Looks like I gotta do some combat training today. Wala akong weapon and my ability is useless. I need to enhanced my combat skills because I'll be depending on it tomorrow.

"Keila." First time nilang tawagin ang pangalan ko at sabay pa talaga.

Napatingin ako sa kanila at nagulat ako nang barilin ako ni Iyana at tinapunan naman ako ni Andrea ng mga daggers niya. I kept on avoiding them hanggang sa malayo na ako sa kanila. Is this the training they mean?

"You can't summon your weapon. Your abiltiy is useless. So you'll have to depend on your combat skills. Correct?" Sabi ni Andrea. "Then you'll have to beat us both today."

"Then can't I just use any of your weapons." Napatingin sila sa isa't isa sa tanong ko.

"One thing, you can't touch any of our weapons." Ha? "I mean....I can't explain....Kapag hinawakan mo ang weapon ng iba, it will greatly affect your spiritual energy. So using it will drain you off. Kailangan mong gamitin ang sarili mong weapon but since you don't have one, juat don't use any weapons that are not yours." Iyana explained. I nodded. I see. So my plan to yse their weapons for tomorrow is off limits. Goodluck nalang bukas. Bahala nato.

Night came. Yes, finally, natapos narin ang training training na yan. Pinahirapan talaga ako ng dalawa. Siyempre naman matatalo ako no! It's two versus one! And two ability users versus one without any ability! Unfair. But I agree that I did improve a bit. Mas naging mabilis na ako and my attacks are getting stronger. My defenses are enhanced as well. Ano kayang ginawa sa akin ng dalawa?

Right now kakalabas ko lang sa bathroom pagkatapos kong maligo. Nauna kasing maligo si Andrea tapos si Iyana at ako ang nahuli. I saw both of them doing their own stuffs on their bed. Ako sa gitna. On the right is Iyana who's already sleeping, sa kabila naman ay si Andrea na nagbabasa. Hays. Bakik na naman sa walang pansinan.

Umupo ako sa kama at napaisip. Tomorrow I have to win, fight with Andrea, and get into a group. Wala naman talaga akong pake eh, nakakainis nga lang dahil sinabi ni Headmistress yun. May sinabi din siya sa amin sa huli na maging mapagmatyag and she told me goodluck. Looking at Andrea, I wonder if she tild her daughter that. I just got this feeling that something's wrong between the two of them. Well, it's not really my business.

Matutulog na sana ako nang tumingin sa akin bigla si Andrea.

"Tomorrow," I stared at her, waiting. "Tomorrow don't you dare loose until we face each other off."

The next day, all the students, kahit sa ibang department at ang nasa Middle School, lahat kami nandito sa may Arena. So bale lahat kami nakaupo sa parang bleachers kaso lang marble ang upuan namin kaya pala ang iba pati narin si Iyana nagdala ng unan para may pang harang siya sa likod niya. Katabi ko kasi siya ngayon at katabi niya si Andrea.

Sa gitnang ilalim, may malaking arena dito kung saan mdaw maglalaban laban ang mga estudyante mamaya. The bell rang at nakita naming lumalakad si Headmistress sa gitna ng arena. She smiled at all of us bago magsalita. Ang kaninang maingay ay tumahimik sa pagdating ng Headmistress.

"Greeting students, teachers, and staffs. I welcome you all to our Final Battle after one month start of the school year. This battle will judge you on which path you will choose in the future. So I give you all a goodluck. You'll need it." She bowed at pumalakpak kaming lahat, except for Andrea though.

"So students! Handa na ba kayong simulan ang pinakahihintay niyong battle?" Most of the students answered sa sinabi ni Mr. Grim. "Well then, let's get on with it!" Sabay hiyaw ng mga tao.

Ang malaking screen sa itaas ng arena ay biglang umandar. The first round is the Elimination Round. Ibig sabihin, may isang myembro ng grupo niyong tatlo ang magpri-prisinta sa grupo niya. At ang taong yan ang papasok sa first round. Napagdesisyunan naming si Andrea nalang ang bahala ng first round. Tumayo na siya at pagkatapos ni ilang minuto, nakita namin siyang papunta sa arena kasama ang ibang representatives. With her destructive ability, we could win the first round without any problem if the category is...

"Death Match." Sabi ni Mr. Grim pagtapos lumabas ang category sa malaking screen na lumilipad sa ibabaw ng arena.

As expected. The first round will be on our favour. Ang kailangan nalang gawin ni Andrea ay huwag matalo.

Andrea's POV

The category is what we had expected. Halata naman siguro na ang iba nagukat sa category. It's a Death Match, perfect category for elimination round. I can't loose here. Almost everyone expects me to win, at kailangan kong manalo. I want to win. At walang kahit sino ang haharang sa daanan ko.

"The rules are simple. Find the others, eliminate them until they disappear and before the time runa out, kailangan mong makakuha ng flag. Those who get the flags can move to the next phase." Mr. Grim said.

Lahat kami nandito nakakalat sa gitna ng napakalaking arena. All their eyes are on me. They are intimindated by my presence. Pero wala akong pake, bahala sila sa buhay nila. All I need is a flag and eliminate the rest who gets in my way.

Biglang umiba ang paligid ko. I'm in a middle of a forest. A virtual world, parang sa White Room narin. A single remote can change your surroundings and anything in it is almost real. Napapaligiran ako ng mga punongkahoy, everything brown and green. May konting liwanag din mula sa araw. I heard the loud gunshot of the arena, hudyat na iyon na nagsisimula na ang first round.

Hindi ko muna sinumon ang daggers ko. And I just walked throughtbhe forest following the sound of the running water nearby. Habang naglalakad, wala naman akong nararamdamang presensya malapit sa akin. Kaya nakarating ako sa may clearing kung saan open ang lugar at may ilog pa dito. The water was and cold and fresh when I took a drink.

The plan was to find a flag, pero wala akong makita. And looking above, makikita mo ang malaking parang crystal na nakatabin sa buong arena. I saw the time running. 55 minutes left. So in other words, we were only given one hour.

Suddenly, may biglang tumapon sa akin mula sa likuran ng spear. I dodged it backflipping on the stone t reach the other end of the river. Hindi ko siya makita. Sa huli, I saw someone emerged from the forest at hawak hawak niya na ang