✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[09] Merlin

I was too preoccupied to even notice the crowd ahead of us. Sinadya kong magpahuli sa paglalakad para walang aksidenteng makabunggo sa kasama kong succubus.  

And to stop any assumptions, I'm not worried for her welfare. In fact, mas nag-aalala ako sa mga wizards at witches na mabubunggo niya. Vela was temptation given form, having a temper that might jeopardize my goal.

Beside me, I heard her whistle.

"This is quite impressive, wizard. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may campus at formal education pala ang mga katulad ninyo," mahinang kumento niya. Her dark eyes scanned the castle in front of her, towering over us like it was ripped out of a fantasy book. "Buong akala ko talaga ay nakatira lang kayo sa mga bundok at nagho-hokus pokus ng mga rabit."

Ano raw? Does she really think we're uncivilized magicians? Tsk!

"Quite bold of you to assume that."

"If you wanted me 'bold', we could arrange for that."

A teasing smirk graced her crimson lips.

I didn't take the bait. I know her nature well enough to distinguish an insult from a trick. I may be reckless enough to steal the grimoire, but not enough to summon a succubus without being prepared for whatever tricks she has up her sleeves.

Nang makapasok na kami sa dining hall ng Nightspell, kapansin-pansing nagsari-sarili na ang mga batches. Maingat akong umiwas sa maraming tao at pasimpleng umupo sa pinakadulong upuan. It was a good thing people were either stuffing food into their mouths or chatting with friends. I kept tugging at my collar, in hopes that no soul would notice the hickey this mischievous demoness gave me.

'Ayoko nang mag-isip ng paliwanag kung bakit ako nagkaroon ng ganito.'

I sighed and took a swing of the wine already served in front of us. Wala sa sarili kong nilaklak ang laman ng goblet at pinagmasdan ang paligid. On the other side of the table, a couple of chairs away from ours, Johannes was busy bragging about his top rank in magical analysis class. Manghang-mangha naman ang mga ka-batch namin sa mga kwento niya. He was easily the crowd's favorite, and even a few witches stopped their meals to listen to him.

I laughed at the irony.

Hindi nila alam na ako ang nagturo kay Johannes ng karamihan ng lessons namin doon.

I gulped down another goblet of wine and scanned the floor, in search of a particular professor.

"Bakit parang wala kang ibang kaibigan?"

Napansin kong nakatitig na pala sa'kin si Vela. Ni hindi ko naramdamang tumabi na pala siya sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. She still looked bored out of her mind, probably still pissed that I made her invisible and bounded her to me by a magical chain. Pero sa mga sandaling ito, mukhang curious din siya sa sitwasyon.

I shrugged and answered, "Revenge has a price to pay, and a normal life is one of them. Hindi ko hangad ang maging 'popular' sa Nightspell o bumuo ng maraming attachments. Those things will only weigh me down... The more connections you make, the more strings your enemies have to puppet you."

"Good point. But don't you get lonely?"

"I view loneliness as a form of independence, lambkin."

For the first time ever, she looked concerned. Bigla siyang sumeryoso. "There's such a thing as toxic independence, darling."

I know.

"I live for revenge, spent the last four years plotting a perfect plan, and used forbidden magic to summon you. What isn't toxic about me already?"

Napailing na lang si Vela, maya-maya pa, sumilay ang isang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

"You're unbelievable. Damn, if only the rest of the population of men were as honest as you... It'll save the world from all the masculine drama."

I smiled and handed her the goblet. Agad niya itong kinuha at inubos ang wine.

Still, even I was shocked at my own honesty. Kung sabagay, wala naman akong dapat itago kay Vela. With her, I can utter the deepest and darkest thoughts I have, even the ones I carefully tucked away. She's a succubus, Vela can't pierce through me with the same judgemental eyes humans have once upon a time.

Maya-maya pa, umakyat sa ginintuang entablado sa kabilang dulo ng dining hall ang isang propesor. His pointed nose and neatly groomed mustache was an eyesore. Hawak-hawak niya ang isang pilak na kopita at itinaas ito, a floating fork he conjured out of nowhere clang against the goblet. Everyone's attention transferred to him.

"A toast for our new blood! May you grow in Nightspell and serve Eastwood well!"

Sinundan naman ito ng maingay na pagsang-ayon ng buong dining hall. Cheers erupted, claps were heard, and compliments were given for the successful ceremony.

Not surprisingly, Vela noticed where---or to whom---my eyes were glued all throughout this chaos. Maya-maya pa, naningkit ang mga mata niya sa'kin.

"Hoy! Wag mo sabihing...?"

I filled my goblet and casually confirmed her guess, "The professor who raised the toast, his name is Professor Greco. And he's the one you need to seduce information from to fulfill our bargain."

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