Path Of A Fool

"13 seconds." Biglang wika ng Elite sa likuran ko kaya mabilis akong napatingin sa kaniya. I frowned. "It took you exactly 13 seconds to knock her down." I averted my gaze in annoyance at bumalik ang tingin ko sa nakahigang katawan ni Ellise, that girl who claimed to be member of the Rogues.

"Ano ang gagawin natin sa kaniya?" Tanong ko habang pinawala ko ang weapon kong scythe sa magkabilang kamay.

"You defeated her, so you decide." Sagot niya na wala manlang kaisip-isip. As expected of my so-called mentor.

"Well we can't just leave her here." At siguradong alam niya ito. "Can't we take her with us—"

"You must be crazy then."

"Then so be it." She smiled, giving up. Perhaps it was because of this guilt that I can't just leave this girl here.

I tried to reach out for her arm when I stopped midway, I was sensing another batch of emotions coming from the trees. Mabilis silang papunta dito. Are they being sneaky? Agad kong binalik ang tingin ko sa Elite na ngayon ay nakapukos ang mga mata sa kalayuan ng mga kakahuyan.

"It seems we're being surrounded." She stated the obvious, although malayo pa sila kung saan kami.

"We're just running around kung tatakas tayo. Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

Tinaas niya ang isang kamay niya at may madilim na liwanag ang nabuo dito. Then in one snap, something just fell on top of me. Nang kunin ko ito ay nalaman kong isa pala itong itim na cloak, except that energy is embedded so sophisticatedly well from the outside as well on the inside. It was warm when I put it on around me, at ganoon din ang ginawa ko sa nakahigang babae.

"These cloaks will keep us hidden, at least in this darkness." She replied as she covered her head with the hood, kaya ganoon din ang ginawa ko. She must have a massive energy, far than what I expect if she could create like these so easily.

I placed Ellise's arm around my other shoulder at dahil wala siyang malay tiyak na hindi niya ito mararamdaman. It's funny how she's too confident in killing the leader of the Elites when I could knock her down in ten—thirteen seconds. Pero ang bilis niyang gumalaw kanina, hindi lang siguro siya sanay na may mas mabilis pa sa kaniya.

Her movements are too sloppy despite the fact that she has nice figures and was obviously trained. Her strength could at least rival a ranked student back in the Academy but it doesn't seem to me that she had any past experience in fighting. Her decisions on every attacks are too immature. Is she really one of the Rogues? She's very much like me when I was first trained by my sibblings.

I used to believe talent alone can beat even those with experience in fighting, those who put in effort, ito yung kaisipan na may meron nung nakalaban ko si Ulio Argaine, that Exodus underling. I still remember his words as if it was yesterday;

"No matter what kind of inborn talent or power you have, once another person puts in effort, there's no reason for them not to surpass you."

I never expected his words would still live this long inside me, and to be honest, may punto siya sa sinabi niya. He was stronger than most of my past opponents, but it wasn't enough for him to rank up, na kahit anong gawin niya ay hindi makakaya ng pagsisikap ang nakatadhana na sa buhay niya. It was naive of me to think I could do anything with my power alone, when that power couldn't even help stop a friend.

I suddenly stopped walking at tumigil din ang Elite. Napatingin siya sa akin, nagtataka siguro. Pero may kakaiba akong nararamdaman, a mad sense of deja vu engulfed me. The scent of the salt under my nose, the cold breeze roaming the air, and the sound of the waves slapping the sands as if angrily.

"Dagat." I mumbled. "Nasa malapit tayo sa dagat." The Elite smiled as she brushed off the bushes blocking our way. At tama nga ako, dagat nga ang nakikita ko.

"You must be an islander if you managed to sense it under this distance."

Footprints were left when we started walking down these white sands. May mga malalaking bato sa bawat gilid ng dagat, and the waters hitting the rocks so aimlessly. May mga ulap sa kalangitan, pero sa gitna nito ay may maliwanag na half moon, illuminating the night.

It was such a beautiful sight, but for some reason I don't want to be attached to it. It reminds me of where I originally came from, as if pulling me back. At hindi ko inaasahan na malapit lang ang dagat mula sa facility kung nasaan kami kanina. Sa tuwing tumitingin ako sa dagat, may mga bagay akong naaalala, halos hindi ako makapaniwalang mag-iisang taon na simula nang pumunta ako dito.

"May hinihintay ba tayo?" Tanong ko.

"There is."

"Well it doesn't seem they'd be here soon." Sabi ko habang tinatanaw ang tubig.

"Because you're looking at the wrong direction." What she said confused me, but I said nothing in return. "And don't you think it's time for her to stop pretending to sleep?" I stared at the girl still clinging on me. Kanina ko pa alam na gising siya, hanggang kailan niya ba kami balak isahan?

"Tsk and you don't have to go along with it!" She angrily said at tinaboy ako, pero sa huli siya din ang napaupo sa puting buhangin.

She held her leg and glared at me. She has a broken bone dahil diyan ko siya sinipa kanina para hindi na makatayo. I forgot the fact that ninjas or assassins are practically just normal people, kaya wala silang spiritual energy na katulad namin, they only have skills which slightly surpass normal humans. In other words, they can't heal naturally like we do.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko at tinutok ito sa kaniya, she seemed surprise for a moment pero naghahanda na siya. Medyo lumiwanag ang kamay ko dahil sa pagpasa ko ng enerhiya papunta sa nabaling buto niya sa paa. She can't sense this kind of energy pero alam kong nararamdaman ito ng katawan niya, that's why she isn't reacting with violence.

Thus within a few seconds, binaba ko na ang kamay ko. Kung noon ay napapagod ako pagtapos kung magbigay ng enerhiya ngayon ah halos wala lang ito sa akin. Sobra ang pagtaas ng spiritual capacity ko na halos hindi na ako nahihirapan sa mga bagay na ginawa ko, take healing as an example.

"You're weak." The Elite suddenly said. Though I can't deny it. She's referring to the girl by the way.

"Ano naman ngayon?!" Bigla siyang napatayo at huhugutin na sana ang espada sa may beywang niya nang napansin niyang wala ito dito. "My sword...nasaan ang espada ko?"

"You mean that weak looking sword? I made my darkness eat it away." Horror was seen from the girl's eyes at hindi ko naman maiwasang mapansin kung paano sinusubukan ng Elite na mainis ang babae.

"How could you..? Alam mo bang ilang buwan ako nagtiis para lang mapagawa iyon sa isang sikat na blacksmith?!" She was already clenching her fists before I realised it.

"That sword broke easily the moment it came in contact with my own weapon, sa tingin mo ba talaga malakas ang espadang iyon?" I honestly asked.

"You're underestimating me."

"I am." Her eyes widened dahil sa sinabi ko.

I then averted my gaze and sighed. Hindi mali ang sinabi ko, dahil totoo ito. Para sa akin, ang mga taong natalo ko na ay mahihina, it's only natural to think that way because after all, it is reality. It gives me the feeling of superiority, and the will to keep going.

Siguro sa tingin niya ang sobrang sama ko ng klaseng tao, na mamamatay tao na ako dahil ako ang rason kung bakit ilang-daang buhay ang nawala, kung bakit nasira ang buhay ng karamihan. It might have been a different case if at least murdered the bad ones, pero pati mga inosente ay nadamay. The Western Territory suffered a great loss and shame because of what I did. To be alive after that is such a miracle.

"You're a monster." She whispered, pero naririnig ito namin ng mabuti. I only smiled bitterly.

"Apparently, I seem to be now." I returned her look with mine filled with seriousness. Upon hers, my eyes were reflected, glowing in bright blue, I suddenly sensed the racing of her heart, it was fear. Behind me, my black cloak was swaying, but my hood was never left open. I was completely making myself seem like a villain in front of her.

"Hindi ka ba kinakain ng konsensya mo?! Maraming buhay ang pumanaw at nasira dahil sayo! Nilagay ka lang sa isang facility para ikulong at hinayaang maging isang apprentice, hinayaan ka lang nilang mamuhay ng maayos matapos ang lahat mong ginawa?!" Her hands were trembling, not only fear, but as well as anger.

She's too angry na gusto niya akong mamatay, marami na siguro ang imahinasyon niya ngayon kung paano niya ako kagustong patayin, pero wala siyang magawa dahil alam niyang hindi niya ako kaya. Parang sinasabi niya sa sarili niya na mahina siya at gusto niyang lumakas dahil kinamumuhian niya ang pagkatao ko. That kind of anger na hindi nawawala until I get eliminated by her own hands.

"I wonder." I replied shortly.

I didn't want to admit na nasasaktan ako sa mga sinasabi niya, ayaw kong ipakita na bawat segundong nabubuhay ako gusto kong ibalik ang nakaraan, na sobrang pinagsisisihan ko ang ginawa ko. Tinatanong niya pa kung hindi ba ako kinakain ng konsesya ko? Ano ngaba ang alam niya sa totoong nangyari? Ano ngaba ang alam niya sa buhay at emosyon ko? Well this guilt is killing me! Is that what she wanted me to feel? To say?

Pero ano pa ba ang magagawa ko? If people think I'm a monster, that I'm evil, then so be it. Sometimes it's just so much better to let them think what and who you are than hurt yourself more in making them understand when they don't even want to listen and understand you in the first place.

"Ngayon iniisip ko nalang kung saan mo pa hinuhugot ang motibasyon para mabuhay. Hindi man ako ganoon kalakas para patayin ka, pero dadating din ang araw ng kamatayan mo, at tiyak na tatawa lang ako sa kinahantungan mo."

"Talking about others' death when you barely got out from one yourself." It was a voice I knew so well.

"So you came to join us huh?" Tanong ng Elite staring behind the huge boulder of rock.

"Obviously. I can't just leave her on her own now." Lumabas ang pigura niya mula sa malaking bato at nakatutok lang ang mga tingin sa akin.

"Silverrium." He sighed after I mentioned his name.

"Did you really think I'd rather stay with those blacks? Whether you like it or not, sasama ako kung saan ka man pupunta. If you don't like it, don't worry until I get enough energy to regain ny true form, hindi ko na kailangang—"

"Silv." I called him once again, cutting off his words. What's this? He looked like a kid pouting with his hands crossed. "I know. Whether you like it or not, you're my responsibility, so you aren to stay with me." And that was me saying I'm grateful he'd at least stay with me.

"And that's your decision now?" Tanong sa akin ng Elite. Siya nga pala ang sinusundan ko. Hindi siguro siya sigurado na sasama pa sa amin si Silverrium. After all, that kid is still a powerful monster, the leader of the Elites couldn't even kill him. In other words, he is dangerous.

"You're not actually opposing anyway."

"Wala akong magagawa kung iyan ang gusto mo Ke'ala." She sighed and gazed above the skies once again. "And our ship's here."

Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin nang sinabi niyang tumitingin ako sa maling direksyon kanina, pero ngayon nagagawa ko na. Nagulat ako nang makita ko ang isang malaking barkong lumulutang lang sa ibabaw, tinatakpan ang kalahating parte nito ng mga ulap pero dahil sa liwanag ng buwan ay kahit sino makikita ito.

Unti-unting bumaba ang malaking barko na ito sa may dagat, at pati ako ay napaatras nang bigla na lamang itong bumagsak, sending all the waves across the land. Nang ibalik ko ang tingin ko dito matapos punasan ang tubig na umabot sa mga mata ko, may isang mahabang hagdan ang lumabas mula sa barko. Then there was someone waving above the deck. Hindi ko siya gaano makita dahil sa layo.

"We're boarding." Paalala ng Elite at nauna nang lumakad. Tsaka naman sumunod sa likuran niya si Silv na nagmamadali din for some reason. Maybe he didn't want me the Elite to change her mind?

"What about you? Hindi ka ba sasama?" Tanong ko sa babaeng nangangalang Ellise.

"Huh? Sasama sa'yo? Don't joke with me! I will kill—"

"But I don't see you being able to do so with your current skills. Kahit anong kapangyarihan man ang makukuha mo, hindi ko ako matatalo." That's how confident I am right now. She gritted her teeh in anger as a result of my words. Naiiintindihan ko kung gaano kasakit ang katotohanang iyan, I've once experienced it myself after all. That feeling of powerlessness.

"I'm not like you who suddenly became strong, na alam na ang papel sa buhay simula nang pinanganak ka palang." Suddenly became strong? Alam na ang papel sa buhay? Oh I'm a God now huh?

"Then why not join me?" Her eyes grew wide upon hearing that. "Gusto mong patayin ako hindi ba? What's more better option than keeping a close eye on your target? Wouldn't that be easier than looking for me everywhere?"

"At bakit naman kita pagkakatiwalaan?"

"Hindi ko sinasabing dapat pagkatiwalaan mo ako. So what should it be?" Nararamdaman kong naguguluhan siya kung bakit ko ngaba ito ginagawa. Bakit ngaba? Pati ako ay hindi ko din maintindihan.

Tumalikod na ako at lumakad papunta s amay hagdan. Habang lumalakad ay nararamdaman ko siyang tahimik na sumusunod sa likuran. Of course she'd come, her target's right in front of her, she must be a fool kung hahayaan niya lang akong umalis.

The ladder was lifted up shortly afterwards nang nakatungtong na kami sa barko. Nakita ko sa unahan si Silv na umuupo sa ibabaw na maliit na mesa, and there's the Elite talking with that woman na kumakaway sa amin kanina.

Ngayong mas malapit na ako sa babae, ay nakikita ko ang buong appearance niya. She's wearing a full-set pirate clothing. May mahaba siyang grey na jacket na umaabot hanggang tuhod niya with small golden linings. She has a gun and a sword attached to the belt across her shoulder down surrounding her hips.

Blonde ang buhok niya, at nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Lumakad siya papunta sa direksyon ko at tinaas ang kaliwa niyang kamay, she smiled then. She's beautiful up close, at hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapatingin sa kwintas niyang kulay ginto, it was a double ring.

"I'm Athena, pleasure to meet you, Ke'ala Feyree." How is it possible anyway na ang tinatago kong pangalan ay ngayon marami na ang nakakaalam. It makes me think that there's something I've missed all along from getting all those information about the different factions.

"A pirate?" I asked as I took her hand. Bigla ko namang naramdaman ang paghigpit ng paghawak niya, almost breaking the bones in my left hand. I frowned. Hindi maganda ang mga memoryang mayroon ako sa mga pirata, in fact I still hate them. And it looks like I'll be having a hard time with her.

"No more, no less." I saw a smirk forming ger lips nang hinigpitan ko din ang pagkahawak sa kamah niya. She isn't holding back at all, so I don't see any reason why I should. She flinched a little nang may naramdaman na siyang sakit. Breaking bones isn't exactly my specialty but I won't let her off so easily. "You really are something." She said and sighed as I let go of her hand. So she was testing me?

"I sense massive energy surrounding this ship." She seemed rather surprise about that.

"You can even sense this type of energy huh? Malalaman mo rin." She smiled. "Minerva! Let's get going!" Sigaw niya at sa isang iglap ay bigla nalang gumalaw wng barko, moving along the waters.

"Minerva?"

"Ah Minerva ang pangalan ng barko. Minerva has a will on ita own which follows my order in exchange for my spiritual energy. Minerva is a technology." What she said reminded me of Laire.

"I'm surprise you aren't aware, Ke'ala." Bulong ni Laire sa isipan ko habang lumakad na palayo si Athena. "Sinabi ko na noon na isa akong Guardian. May limang Guardians ang mundong ito. Guardians are made of different ancient technologies at dahil sa sobrang lakas at delikado nila ay walang nakakakayang buhayin ang mga Guardians na ito. Plus, activating one would require large amounts of technology, more than you think."

"So this ship is one of you."

"Ship? No, this ship is not an actual Guardian." Napakunot na naman ang mga kilay ko. Wala akong maintindihan sa mga sinasabi ni Laire. Laire's a Guardian which holds all the information in this world. She said there are five of them, ano ba ang magagawa ng ibang Guardian? Suddenly, I became curious.

I didn't bother asking Laire anymore dahil alam kong magiging magulo na naman ang sasabihin niya. Lumapit ako sa may railing habang tumataas na naman ang barko, at first it wss rather slowly pero sa huli ay naging tuloy tuloy na itong pumaibabaw and just like that, I felt my stomach sank.

Mist started encircling our surroundings, pero may lumabas na liwanag sa bawat poste ng barko, lighting the dark skies. Dahil sa nabubuong mist sa paligid ay mahirap ng matunton kung nasaan ang buwan. It suddenly got windy up here, swaying my hood down.

"I believe I asked this before, pero saan ba talaga tayo patungo?" Tanong ko sa Elite na ngayon ay sa tumatayo lang sa tabi. I had to raise my voice a little dahil sa lakas ng hangin.

"Zyrendel. We're heading to Zyrendel Kingdom." Nagulat ako dito, pero hindi ito tumagal.

"We're running outside the country? At bakit doon?"

"Would you rather stay in Magnus when your death is being demanded? Pumayag man ang Council na maging apprentice kita, pero habol parin ng Western Saint ang buhay mo. You know the dispute between our government factions, righht?" I nodded.

"I get it. A direct battle between the Western Saint and the Council might occur if the Council would prevent the Saint from trying to kill me. Hindi din makagalaw ang ibang Saints dahil tiyak na masisira ang nabuong tiwala nila sa isa't isa. Since you're an Elite, labas ka sa mga restrictions ng isla since you are an independent faction in Magnus. That's why you can get involve and at the same time you can choose not to." She frowned. Bakit? May mali ba sa sinabi ko?

"Sometimes, the way you think can be a little scary. You always have your words right, as if alam mo ang lahat na nangyayari. But do remember I'm not keeping myself involve because I'm an Elite." Bumalik ang tingin ko sa mga nakikita ko sa labas. Although wala ako halos na makita dahil sa makapal na mist.

"Then why are you