Chapter 5: Mission

Zero's Point of View,

While walking at the hallway, I felt the people around me getting tensed as they look at me. Kahit di ko sila tignan ay alam ko ang emosyon na pinapakita nila sa mga mukha nila. Pity.

I was in an exclusion for training when I was suddenly summoned by the Headmaster to go to the gymnasium. I have a rule to never be disturbed once I was training pero ipinatawag pa rin ako. It only means one thing. May pakiramdam ako na may masamang nangyari. Pero di ko pa rin inaasahan ang makikita ko pagdating ng gymnasium.

I could feel my anger burning each step I take.

Dahan dahan akong naglakad hanggang sa mapahinto ng makita na ang bagay na hinahanap ko.

I don't know how long it has been since the last time I saw them. Pero naalala ko pa rin ang nakangiti nilang mukha habang kumakaway sa akin habang ako naman ay nakasimangot na nakatingin sa kanila. Galit ako sa kanila sa pag-iwan nila noon sa akin para sa isang misyon pero sa loob ng lumipas na mga taon ay maraming beses na hinihiling kong makita ulit sila. But not even once I imagined to see them this way.

Nakakuyom ng madiin ang mga kamay ko habang nakatingin sa mga labi ng magulang ko. Beside them are the other dead bodies of Magic Phantoms. Sila ang kilalang grupo na binubuo ng mga malalakas na magic knights. But then... they were all brutally killed. I gritted my teeth. I'm sure it's that bastard! There's no other person capable of killing the phantoms other than him!

Is he that strong? I couldn't process how he can easily kill my parents like they are nothing. Like they were just insects he could easily pinched to deaths whenever he wants to.

Unlike the other family members of the magic knights who were crying miserably around me as they look at the dead bodies of their family, my face was void of emotions. I couldn't even feel the pain of my parents dying. My heart was numb to feel emotions other than anger. Gusto kong magwala at patayin ang mga taong may gawa nito pero malinaw na wala pakong kakayaning gawin yun. I'm still weak! I'm way too far in terms of strength and power compared to that monster! I still need to get stronger!

Napalingon ang lahat nang dahan dahang bumukas ang malaking double door ng gymnasium. Di pa man tuluyang bumubukas ay alam ko na kung sino ang dumating.

Ang malakas na presensya ng Headmaster ay bumalot sa buong paligid. Even those who were crying loudly a while ago, became silent.

Isang grupo ng mga tao ang nagmamadaling lumapit kay Headmaster.

"Wala po dito ang anak ko, ibig po bang sabihin buhay pa siya?" Umaasang tanong ng isang matanda.

"Yung tatay ko din po, wala dito."

Headmaster sighed heavily and shook his head.

"We found ashes on the scene. One of the ashes we tested matched with one of the phantoms. Malaki ang posibilidad na sinunog ang katawan ng ibang phantoms. Ang nadala lang namin dito ay mga bangkay na hindi sinunog for a reason we haven't known yet."

Hope disappeared on the people and they fell on the floor as they cried. The Headmaster could only look at them with sympathy. Our eyes met and he signalled me to follow him.

Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya. Palabas na kami ng marinig ko ang sigaw ng mga tao.

"Bakit nangyari to? Sino na ang magliligtas sa atin? Wala na ang Magic Phantoms!" Sigaw ng isa sa mga civilian na sinundan ng iba pa. Lahat sila ay puno ng takot at pangamba sa maaring mangyari ngayong wala na ang mga taong sumisimbolo ng pag-asa ng mga tao. Wala akong ibang magawa kundi ikuyom ang kamay ko.

***********************

When we arrived, Liam, Samantha, Red and Helena was waiting outside the office. They were all wearing sad faces as they looked at me.

Mabilis na lumapit sakin si Helena at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. She didn't say anything and just pat my back. I sighed and felt a little better. She really brings me peace everytime.

We all followed the Headmaster inside his office. Helena sat beside me while the three sat on the other chair across us. Headmaster looked at us seriously and motioned us to sit down. Nandito na kami sa kanyang office at hindi ko alam kung bakit niya kami ipinatawag. I could only guess that it was related to the tragedy.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Zero."

"They were dead for me for years. You have nothing to be sorry for." I coldly replied. Helena tightened her grip on my hands. While the headmaster shook his head and sighed.

Liam on the other hand, awkwardly coughed.

"As you all know. All the members of the Magic Phantoms was annihilated. Of course, except for the five people who left the group before including me."

May kinuha siya sa kanyang drawer at inilagay ang isang litrato sa lamesa. My blood instantly boiled the moment I saw the image of a kid. The only reason why my parents left me before.

"One of the retired phantoms sent a message that there was a survivor from the massacre and it was this girl." He continued and pointed the picture of the kid. I glared at the picture. How dare her survive while my parents died?

"Sino po ang batang yan? At bakit kasama siya ng phantoms?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Liam.

"What I'm more curious about is how she managed to survive from the attacks of the demons. She's literally a kid." Samantha commented.

"She doesn't look like this anymore. Wala kaming kopya ng itsura niya bukod dito dahil medyo confidential ang impormasyon tungkol sa kanya. But this was taken 13 years ago so she probably was about your age now, Helena and Samantha."

The two girls curiously looked at the picture.

"The Phantoms didn't died for nothing. They were able to save the girl. And this girl will be our last hope to defeat Xeno." Headmaster seriously stated.

I couldn't help but frown.

"The 15 members of Phantoms miserably died against Xeno and his men. Pano naman matatalo ng babaeng yan si Xeno?" I sarcastically asked.

Napasang-ayon ang apat sa sinabi ko. Of course. Natamaan ang pride nila bilang pinakamalakas sa henerasyon namin. They would be really skeptical on the girl's power.

Headmaster knowingly looked at me. "Ikaw ang unang nakaranas ng kapangyarihan niya Zero. Don't underestimate her. She's stronger than she looks."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. What does he mean?

"Anyway, I have a mission for the five of you. Kailangan niyong pumunta sa bayan ng Irca. Hanapin niyo siya sa madaling panahon at dalhin dito. Hindi tayo pwedeng maunahan ng mga alagad ni Xeno. As much as I would like to personally fetch her, I still have a lot of things to do. Remember, this mission is for the future of our people. I hope you will succeed in bringing her. You will be leader of this mission, Zero." He said and handed me the picture.

I was so tempted to burn the picture when I receive it in my hand but I stopped myself.

"You may go back to your dormitories to prepare your things. I want you to leave early in the morning. We don't have a lot of time to waste."

We all paid our respect and left the office.

"I can't believe we're out on a mission again." Liam excitedly said.

Samantha snorted.

"Are you excited to die? Demons are lurking everywhere, and here you are excited for a mission."

"I can't blame Liam, I'm excited for this mission, too. I can't wait to meet the girl that has been living with the Phantoms and survived the massacre." Red commented.

Gulat na napatingin ang tatlo kay Red while I looked at Red with curiousity.

"Wow! Totoo ba to? For the first time, nagsalita ka ng mahaba, Red."

"Oo nga, mukhang may nakakuha na sa wakas ng interes mo ah. Is it the girl?" Pang-aasar ni Liam.

Red just mysteriously smiled.

**********************

"Are you okay with the mission? She's the girl you hate right?" Helena asked when we were finally alone. Nandito kami ngayon sa kwarto ko sa Academy. Bilang pribelehiyo ng mga estudyanteng miyembro ng Gold section ay mayroon kaming sariling kwarto at kaming lima ay nakatira sa iisang building.

I sighed. Helena really know me well.

"I don't have a choice. I'll just quickly finish the mission."

Helena held my face and planted a kiss to my lips which I quickly answered. I pulled her closer to me so I could kiss her more. We were gasping when our kiss ended. Inayos ko ang buhok niyang bahagyang nagulo.

"I love you." I whisphered.

She smiled sweetly. "I love you, too. I have to prepare my things now"

Umalis na si Helena at naiwan akong nakatingin sa bilog na buwan sa labas. I lit my cigarette and smoke instantly spread in my room.

My hands unconsciously reached for the picture I put on my pocket.

"Why didn't you just die and accompany my parents? They left me but they never once left you! How dare you leave them dying and survive alone? Aren't you powerful?! Why didn't you save them?!"

Tear fell on my eyes. I glared at the kid who was smiling at the picture.

"You don't have the right to be happy!"

In an instant, the picture was turned into ashes but I don't feel any regret for what I did.