Curse of the Fallen Deity (Zarsothian Tales #1 | Volume 1 & 2)

Chapter 31: Interrogation

PAHIGPIT ng pahigpit ang hawak ko sa litratong nasa aking kamay habang tinatahak ang daan patungo sa infirmary. My breathing was as heavy as my footsteps. Kahit anong ulit ko na titigan ang litrato at suriin ito, hindi ako nagkakamali na si Milka nga ang babaeng kasama ni Demi.

That khaki dress that she wore the day we first met at that forest.

I cannot be wrong.

Hindi na ako kumatok nang makarating ako sa infirmary. I immediately came in and saw Demi lying on her back at the third bed.

Her eyes went on me while I walked towards her. Her hair was a mess and her leg, which I believe was the one I twisted, was wrapped in bandage.

"Doesn't it seem strange for the Supreme Student to visit me in this stupid place?" she asked, rolling her eyes on me. "What? Nandito ka ba para pagtawanan ako?"

Umiling ako. "No. I have something in my hand that I believe is yours."

Her forehead creased. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay ko. But I quickly hid it behind my back.

"But you have to answer me first," wika ko. "And I need you to be honest, Demi."

Her face was filled with confusion. Pabalik balik ang tingin niya sa kamay ko at sa mga mata ko na para bang balisang balisa.

"Do you know someone from Forthill?" I squinted my eyes. "Kaibigan o kakilala?"

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya. "Anong klaseng tanong 'yan?"

"Just answer it."

"I don't!" inis niyang sambit. "Well, except maybe you. There's a rumour that you're from Forthill, something that the headmaster is trying to keep us from believing. But the question is... why?"

"You can't really answer a question by another question." I sighed and took out the picture. Nilapag ko ito sa hita niya. "I just came here to give that to you."

Saglit siyang natulala. Then she took the picture and insert it in her pocket as quickly as possible. Na para bang isa iyong lihim na 'di dapat malaman ng lahat.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa reaksyon niya. What's with the photograph? And why is she acting weird?

Pero hindi na bale, I cleared my throat and at ngumiti ng peke. "Your leg doesn't look like it could heal in 30 minutes, so take your time to rest," huminto ako at hininaan ang aking boses, "And I don't know what you're going through but..." Natigilan ako. "Nevermind."

Ano espirito ba ang sumapi sa 'yo, Ara? You're about to comfort someone? What the fuck?

Nabalik ako sa reyalidad. Fortunately, she didn't respond, nor that her expression changed. Tumalikod na ako at palabas na ng infirmary nang bigla niyang tinawag ang pangalan ko.

"Ara..."

I turned around and looked at her.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagpatuloy. "Meet me at the back of the main building tonight, 8 PM. Tell no one."

'Yun lamang ang sinabi niya at binaling na ang atensyon sa kabilang parte ng silid. Napakunot na lamang ang noo ko nang nakalabas ako sa silid. Naglakad na ako pabalik sa training area namin.

As far as I know, Mortises and Mages aren't allowed to be together in one place. There have been and there will always be a line between the two. So how the fuck did Demi knew Milka?

I sighed heavily. Umiling na lang ako at muling tinuon ang atensyon sa hallway.

"Kung 'di siguro ako magsasalita 'di mo rin ako mararamdaman."