Rogue Wars Online

Chapter Seventeen: Dark Arts

-chapter seventeen-

FINN

"None of your business, Kai-ngit." Depore replied, rolling her eyes.

Sumama ang timpla ng mukha ni Kairo nang dumapo ang tingin niya sa katabi ko. He frowned.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito, tanda?"

Magka-kilala pala sila? Bakit kaya palaging may koneksiyon sa isa't-isa ang mga nakikilala ko? I'm a victim of such familiar coincidences.

"Siyempre, naglalaro." Depore's mocking stare became a glare. "Kapag ikaw nakita ko pang lumapit dito kay Finn, isusumbong kita sa Kuya mo."

"Tch." Kairo went back to his seat with a defeated face.

Meanwhile, Depore is celebrating her victory. Napamaang lamang ako sa kanilang dalawa dahil wala akong naintindihan. Mahina kong tinapik si Depore at magtatanong na sana pero nauna siyang magsalita.

"I'm his brother's fiancee."

Napaawang ang labi ko do'n. Ang liit nga ba naman talaga ng mundo. Depore smiled and slightly messed my hair. Hindi ko pa pala sila natatali.

"Don't worry. Hindi ka na no'n lalapitan. Takot niya lang masumbong sa Kuya niya at mawalan ng allowance." nakangisi niyang dagdag.

Tumango ako at mahinang nagpasalamat. May mga kinakatakutan din pala itong si Kairo. Mabuti naman. Akala ko kung ano lang ang sinasalihan niyang kalokohan o di kaya'y parati siyang 'G' sa mga plano.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating ang isang NPC. Her hair was braided into three layers and black orbs flew around her skirt. May isang hazy-black na coat na nagf-float sa likuran niya. Naglakad siya papunta sa gitna ng silid at pumwesto sa harap ng itim na bato.

I briefly wondered kung kakainin ba namin ito at may isisigaw kaming pangalan para magkaroon ng mahika.

"Greetings, rogue." came her monotonous voice. "This is the Cave of the Dark Arts, a special place for learning black magic. You can choose to master it or not, this will only serve as an orientation or a showcase of what Dark Arts is all about."

Tumango-tango ang mga players. Parang nateleport tuloy kami sa isang classroom na kakasimula pa lang sa isang bagong subject.

"As what the name implies, this magic centers around darkness, which is greatly assumed as evil. That doesn't mean you're all evil players, though. Here, you have to develop a certain connection with darkness. You have to be able to hide your presence in the shadows or use the dark to your will." ipinresenta niya ang bato. "Touching the stone will grant you Energy. This energy can be either of the five forces, and can be taken by touching their respective stone. Following that logic, this stone will give you Dark Energy."

The NPC waved her hands in the air, forming a smoke of black that followed her hand movements. Mukha itong isang anino na sumasayaw sa kamay niya.

"Dark Energy can be considered as your Mana. The higher it is, the longer you can keep using your magic. Kapag ito'y bumababa na, you have to stop or else you will burn out. If that happens, your body will be in great danger." biglang nawala ang mga anino nang pumalakpak siya. "How so? Because the energy feeds from your body. We installed a special system that connects the two. Whatever you eat and how much you've rested can affect your energy. Your training, also."