CHAPTER 2
100 laps within the oval
100 push ups
Squat for about two hours
Just a basic training but everyone is tired already. Some of them can't move, they were crawling like a snake because they can't get up.
"Is this fucking real? Anong klaseng training to?"
"Argggh. Hindi ko maramdaman ang katawan ko!"
"Bakit kasi nagkasakit ang propesor natin? Eh di sana hindi tayo nagsasuffer ng ganito!"
"Tumahimik ka tol. Baka marinig ka ng propesor. "
Habang nahihirapan ang mga kasama ni Athena sa pagbangon, nanatili siyang nakaupo sa isang gilid at pinilit na pakalmahin ang sarili at indain ang sakit ng katawan.
This basic training is terrible for them.
100 laps within the oval
100 push ups
Squat for about two hours
At paulit-ulit na ginagawa iyon habang may nakasakbit sa balikat mo na bag at may laman na bato na tumitimbang ng 10 kilo. You are not even allowed to rest for the whole training.
"Athena kaya pa?" tanong sa kanya ni Ashley na nakaupo sa tabi niya na mahahalatang pagod na pagod.
She just nodded and drink the water from the bottle that her cousin's gave. The training is over but they are not allowed to go back on their home dahil may sasabihin pa daw ang propesor na kasalikuyang kausap ang isa sa mga propesor.
"Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kailangan ng ganitong training eh ang dapat pinagtutuunan ng pansin ay kung paano maiimprove ang mga skills natin sa pagsira ng mga curses. My magic was still on the average level and it was not enough para makabreak ako ng isang demonic curses." Mahabang daing ni Ashley pero hindi niya iyon pinansin. Nanatili siyang walang imik at saglit na pumikit.
"This is not usesless. " as she said on her mind and open her eyes after she heard her professor.
"Have some rest everyone. Tomorrow,we will go to the forest nearby. Ang tagpuan natin ay sa gate exit. Walang malelate. Dapat nasa gate na kayo ng 5:00 am. That's it for today. You can go home now. " sambit ng propesor at iniwan sila doon.
Nakahinga siya ng maluwag at hindi nagdalawang isip na humiga at hindi nagbalak na tumayo.
"Ashleyyy!!! Athena!!"
Hindi na nagbalak pa na lumingon si Athena para tingnan kung sino ang tumawag sa kanila. Ashley wave her hands while looking at the two people who's coming.
"Kamusta ang training mo Ashley? Sa nakikita ko ay ikaw lang ata ang nakagawa ng mga pinapagawa ng prof niyo ah!" Bentley look at her with a smirk but she just give him an cold response.
"Hahahaha. Nagawa naman namin lahat pero sa nakikita niyo, wala na kaming lakas para makatayo dahil grabe ang propesor na naghandle sa amin ngayon. " kwento ni Ashley.
"Ah talaga? Hahahaha. Ano na Athena? Karma yan sa ginawa mo sa akin nung isang araw! Hah!" aniya
"Psh. You're acting like a child Mr. Bentley and how many times that I've told you, it's not me."she said without looking at him.
Bumangon sya at tumayo na parang walang nararamdaman na sakit sa katawan.
"Hindi mo ako maloloko Athena."
Hindi niya pinansin si Bentley at tinanggap ang kamay ni Allen na nakangiti sa kanya. Kaya naman niya pero mas magandang makasiguro na hindi siya babagsak ng tuluyan kapag hindi siya nagpaalalay.
"Masasanay ka din sa ganyan pinsan."pagbibigay sa kanya ng lakas ni Allen.
"Psh. Basic. "she just answered that make his cousin's laughed.
"Hahahaha. Basic pala ha."nakangising sambit ni Allen. " Bentley, mauna na kaming umuwi. Ikaw na maghatid kay Ashley sa kanila. "paalam sa kanila nito.
"See you tomorrow, Athena!" ani ni Ashley. Binigyan niya lang ngbtango ito at kaunting ngiti sa labi.
Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong paglalakad, nakabalik na sila sa kanilang tinutuluyan ni Allen.
"Kaya ko nang maglakad papunta sa kwarto ko. Just bring me some food and pain killers in my room. " sambit ni Athena kay Allen at mag-isang umakyat ng hagdan papunt sa kanyang silid.
Mabilis siyang naligo at nagbihis. She put her dirty clother at the basket. Paglabas niya ng cr ay nakita niya si Allen na inilalagay ang mga pqgkain sa kaniyang side table.
"After you eat this, magpahinga ka na. Ang pagkakatanda ko ay pupunta kayo bukas sa gubat. "Allen
"Mmm. Thanks. " tanging sagot niya.
Umupo aiya at sinimulan na kainin ang pagkain na inihanda ni Allen. Hindi ito umalis hangga't di siya natatapos.
"Sa tingin mo ba magagawa mo lahat? Sinasabi ko sa iyo ito dahil nag-aalala ako dahil baka hindi kayanin ng katawan mo." panimula nito.
Hindi niya sinagot si Allen at tinuloy lang ang pagkain. Narinig niya na nagbuntong-hinga ang pinsan kaya napatingin siya dito.
"You have to be careful in your every actions, Athena. Walang ligtas na lugar at hindi natin maiiwasa---
"Just spill it, Allen." she cut off his words and give him a stare.
Umupo si Allen sa tabi niya at makikita sa mukha ang pag-aalala sa kaniya. Hindi niya masisisi ito dahil sa lahat ng pagkakataon na nasa panganib ang buhay niya, hindi siya nito iniwan.
His parents became her guardians when her parents die. Ang tinutuluyan nila ay ang kaisa-isang naipamana na aria-arian sa kanya ng kaniyang magulang.
10 years. Sa loob ng 10 taon, nanirahan siya at lumaking si Allen ang kasama.
At ngayon nasa tamang gulang na siya para magdesisyon ng sa kanyang sarili,Allen still never leave her. Nanatili itong kuya niya.
"You look so worried. I'm not dead so you don't have to show me that expression, it's fucking so weird. "Asar nito kay Allen
"Psh. Masama bang mag-alala? Alam mo naman na hindi kakayanin ng pamilya namin na mahirapan ka. It's not our decision to let you study and train. Kung hindi ka lang talaga nagmati---
"You know that this is meant for me. "
"No, Athena. We can--
"You don't have to worry. I can take care of myself. "she answered and give him a glimpse of smile.
Hindi na umimik pa si Allen. Lumabas siya ng silidni Athena na may malungkot na mata. Athena lay her body in the bed and close her eyes.
"Vera."
"I'm here Milady"
"Will you take care of my body?"
"You don't have to ask it, Milady."
"Thank you. "
After a minute pass, she felt her body was floating and her breathing became easy. All the pain that she's enduring the whole day starting to fade and gave her a satisfaction.
"You give me an easy night, my Vera. "
Hindi na niya narinig pa ang magandang tinig mula sa loob at ilang segundo lang ang lumipas ay nilamon na siya ng dilim.
5:00 am. Nasa gate na ang lahat. Binigyan na din sila ng professor ng mga guidelines na kanilang susundin.
"The forest is guarded by the lost souls. The skills and abilities you have will not gonna work because it was a nullified forest. Once we arrived, you have to be careful. You need to be prepared from what will happen."the professor warned them and it took them just a seconds to realize that it will be th first mission that they are going to do.
"Sir, is this part of our training? Bakit parang sinasabak niyo na agad kami sa ginagawa ng mga regular lifters?"tanong ng isa sa kanila.
"Oo nga sir? Just like what you've said, it is a nullification forest so paano namin masusugpo mga lost souls na iyon kung hindi nam---
"That's the reason why you are here. How are ypu going to face and solve this case? If you failed,it will mark to your record in our institution. How are you gonna stop them?"
Halo-halong emosyon ang nararamdaman ng lahat. May natatakot, kinakabahan, nagdadalawang isip kung tutuloy pa ba o hindi.
"Lost souls huh." She keep her heads down and fix her mask. Ashley saw her and then walk towards her. She greeted her and she just give her a nod.
" What do you think about this? Sa tingin mo makakalabas tayo ng maayos sa forest?Masasama ba talaga lahat ng nga souls? I mean, do we really have to consider them as a curse?"Ashley suddenly ask.
"Mmm. I don't know. It depend on how are you gonna handle them. "she answered.
"Really huh? Is that your opinion or what?"
"Kung sabihin ko ba na there's only a few amoung us will succeed, maniniwala ka?"as she said to Ashley.
"Psh. I don't know. Gusto kong umasang walang masasaktan sa gagawin nating---
"Let see. " she just answered.
Professor group them into three. Each of the group has already three members each.
"Choose the group you wanted to be with, Athena . "
She just nod and don't have a choice so she pick Ashley's group. Wala naman kasi siyang kilala kundi ito lang.
"Wahhhh! Hindi ka nagsisi na kami pinili mo Athena!" masayang sambit sa kanya nito.
"Psh."
"Hehehe. Ah oo nga pala, this is Sean and Leo."
Tumango lang siya at hinintay ang signal ng Professor kung anong oras sila papasok sa gubat na tinutukoy niya.
"Be careful guys. The first group who will able to comeback within 2 hours, I'll give you rewards. "sambit ng professor na pinagtaka nila hindi dahil sa rewards kundi sa nauna nilang narinig.
"This is not just a training day, this will be your first mission as new member of institution. If you pass this mission, we will give you the badge as a proof that you made it. "
"What? May tama ba ulo ng propesor na ito?"
"Training? Tapos mission? Baliw ata 'to"
"Bahala na! Mamamatay na kung yun ang kapalaran."
"I will not join you there. I will monitor you through my bugs that I connected in different areas of the forest. If you trap and can't see the exit, we will rescue---
"You don't have to sir." she cut off her words and walk towards the entrance of the forest.
"Are you sure, Miss Takahashi?"
"Mmmm. Lost souls are different to the demonic souls. They maybe a curse but they are harmless. "she said and give her group a signal to follow her.
They just continue in roaming the forest. The given time is enough to finish the task but she is aware that it won't be easy.
"Athena! Alam mo ba kung saan ang dulo nito?" tanong ng isa sa kasamahan niya.
"Hindi. "sagot niya
"Ha!!! Eh bakit naglalakad lang tayo at hindi gumawa ng plano kung paano tayo makalabas dito?" sambit naman ng isa pa.
"Plano? Hindi kailangang gumawa ng plano. The only thing we have to do is find the exit right?"
"How if we can't use our abilities and skills. This is nullifying forest just to remind you that we are not totally safe. "sagot sa kanya.
Alam niya na hindi magiging madali ang pinapagawa sa kanila. The forest is dark. The only lights that they can see is just a small glimpse from the flashlight that was given by the professor before they enter the forest.
Hinayaan niya na maglakad sa unahan niya ang dalawang lalaki at nanatili sila ni Ashley sa likod.
Napahinto sila ng paglalakad dahil may dalawang daan sa harap nila. Ang isa ay sa pakanan at kabila ay sa pakaliwa. Ang kanan ay maliwanag at ang kaliwang daan naman ay madilim.
They saw the other group choose the different way. The two guys from their group decided to follow but she stop them.
"Anong problema? Hindi pwedeng tumayo lang tayo dito at hindi--
"Sandali lang guys, parang may mali sa pinasukan nila. " sagot ni Ashley na pareho ng pagkakaintindi niya.
"Let's take this path." tinuro ni Almira ang kaliwang daan kahit kaunting liwanag ay hindi nila makitaan.
"Paano kayo nakakasiguro? Hindi ba dapat doon tayo? Nasisiguro kong doon ang exit!" hinawi nito ang braso ni Athena . Sinubukan niya ulit pigilan ang dalawa pero hindi ang mga ito nakinig.
"Susunod ba tayo?"tanong sa kanya ni Ashley.
"No choice but I'll not promise that we will not encounter them." she said to her and first to go on that way.
"Them? Sino ang tinutukoy mo?" Atanong ni Ashley na sumusunod lang sa kanya.
Hindi niya sinagot si Ashley at dumiretso lang sa pglalakad.
At sa kanilang saglit na paglalakad, they saw the other lifters are suffering from avoiding the lost souls. Pinalilibutan na ang mga kasama nila.
They were all tangled in the air.
"Arghhhh!!!"
"Let me go dumbassss!!!"
"Noooo!!! This is not what I want!!!!"
"Please help us!!!"
Pinagmamasdan lang nilang dalawa ang mga ito habang naririnig ang mga hinaing nila.
"A-akala ko ba hindi sila mapanganib? B-bakit inaatake nila ang mga kasama natin?"Gulat at hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Ashley sa kanya.
"They are harmless. They provoke them that's why lost souls attack them. " she said.
"Pero kung hindi nila ginawa yun, baka mas lalong manganib ang buhay nila. We have to do something, Athena. "
"Tsk. That's why I don't like to be part of any group." she said to Ashley who was still worried on seeing her rank mates.
"H-how? We only have an hour to find the exit and we're still here. We have to save them---
"Ashley. " tawag niya dito habang nakatingin sa mga nahihirapanng kasama. "Stop showing your emotions."she added.
"I-i cant. Seeing them in pain makes me--
"They will use your emotion as their strength. Lost souls love to see the people's emotion. If you continue to show any negative emotions, they will harm you and the worst thing may happen is to control your body. They will live inside your body until you die. " paliwanag ni Almira sa kanya na ikinagulat nito.
"P-paano mo nalaman? P-paano mo nasisiguro ang mga sinasabi mo?"tanong sa kanya nito pero hindi niya sinagot ito.
Walang takot na lumapit siya sa mga ito. They giving her a warning but she didn't listen. She take off her mask.Itinaas niya ang kanyang palad at mahinang binanggit ang mga salitang nagpalabas ng isang mahika sa kanyang palad.
Through my words, the punishment will be given. The lost souls will be vanish and swallowed by the lights given by the heaven. I, Athena Mirai order you to vanish and return to the place where you should be.
Her palm glow and some thread lights begin to tangled on the souls and slowly turn into dust. As he murmured a words again as everything is going smoothly until the last soul get vanished.
Ashley can't believe it. How it happen?
"This is nullified place. Paano siya nakagamit ng mahika niya?"tanong ni Ashley sa kanyang isip.
Athena put back her mask. Nilapitan niya ang isa sa kagrupo niya na kasalukuyang hinahabol ang hinga.
"Heal them Vera. "
"As you wish,Milady. "
Hindi pa nakakamove on si Ashley sa nakita niya ay muli na naman siyang napahanga sa nasilayan niya.
Nagliwanag ng mabilis ang katawan ng lahat ng kasama niya at bumalik sa dating lakas ang lahat.
Parang wala lang ang lahat kay Athena. Nilampasan niya ang mga kasama niya. Sa halip na bumalik at pumunta sa kabilang daan, pinili ni Athena na tumuloy na lang.
Kahit na nabibigla pa din si Ashley sa nangyayari, sumunod siya kay Athena. Nilingon niya ang mga kasama at sinenyasan na sumunod na lang din sa kanila.
Nakatungong naglakad papalapit sa kanila ang mga ito at walang umimik ni isa.
Kahihiyan ang nangyari sa kanila. Sila na mas mataas ang level ang dapat na nakacontrol sa mga umatake sa kanila pero ang katulad ni Almira pa ang nakagawa ng paraan na mawala ang mga ligaw na sumpang kaluluwa.
Ang pinagtataka nilang lahat, paano siya nakagamit ng mahika?
"Athena..."
"Just follow me and you'll be safe. "she said without looking at anyone of them.
Hindi na umimik pa si Ashley pero hindi niya inalis ang titig sa likod ni Almira. She was infront of everybody.
"Ashley, how close are you to her?"Sean who was one of them asks.
"She is Allen's cousin."she just answered and did not take her eyes off to Almira.She was still asking herself.
"Who are you, Athena... No. What are you, Ms. Takahashi?"
*******
End of Chapter 2