Oktofinitum

Chapter 19

MID - ASSESSMENT PART 4

Lady Wendell was carefully trekking the soft and muddy ground. Kanina pa siya paikot-ikot pero wala pa ring nakaka-salubong na kahit anong elemento o kapwa kamag-aral na pwedeng pag-praktisan. Hay buhay, wala man lang thrill. She though internally with boredom, "Matulog na lang muna kaya ako sa taas ng puno? Tapos kapag eliminated na silang lahat saka na lang ako lalabas?" Isip-isip pa niya para hindi na mahirapan pa na talunin sila, "Huh! I'm so smart!" papuri sa sarili habang tatawa-tawang tinatahak ang maugat na daan. Nababaliw na siguro ako dahil kinakausap ko ang sarili ko sa gitna ng boring na larong ito. Survival, survival pa daming alam. Tss.

Napangiti siya nang napagtanto na mamasa-masa ang lupang dinadaanan ko ibig sabihin ay may malapit na anyong tubig sa aking kinatatayuan. Marahan niyang dinadama ang volume ng tubig sa lupa at napagtantong malapit na siya dahil palambot na nang palambot ng lupang tinatapakan. Maya-maya pa ay nakarinig na siya ng rumaragasang agos ng tubig nangangahulugang nakarating na siya. She trekked further trying to follow the echoes of the running water but stilled as the image of a shallow river emerged in her sight. Mababaw lang ito pero mabilis ang agos ng itim na tubig. Itim na tubig?

"What the hell happened her?!" Anger immediately welled within her as she saw how the polluted water causes death and decay in nearby plants that comes in contact with it, "Sinong hangal ang lumapastangan sa elemento ko?!" nanggigil niyang saad sa kawalan. Marahan siyang lumapit sa gilid ng ilog at inilublob ang kamay ko sa maitim na tubig nito upang tukuyin ang dahilan kung bakit nangyari ito sa tubig subalit nabigla ako nang may isang itim na anino ng mula sa tubig ang gumapang pa-akyat sa braso niya. Tila napapaso ay mabilis niyang iniahon sa tubig ang kamay pero nakarating na sa braso niya ito at mabilis na gumapang at pumulupot sa leeg, "U–ugh..." naramdaman niya ang agad na pagkaputol ng daloy ng hangin sa kanyang baga at unti-unting nagdilim ang paningin.

Meanwhile, Howling of the wolves echoed through the dark and gloomy forest which made Lady Jenny Mae cringe in fear and anxiety, "Where the heck am I..." She was clutching her hands together while making her way in the damp soil and huge tree roots and rocky ground, earnestly hoping she wouldn't encounter mystical creatures or dangerous animals within the forest. The thing she dislikes about the annual Survival of the Eigh is the fact that she's required to join because of her status as an Infinitus, usually healers like her are not included because they are after all healers, not fighters, "Asan na kaya sila..." Kabado niyang tanong na tila ba may kasama o kausap, napaka-dilim pa naman ng gubat na at napaka-mapuno. Despite the fact that the annual event is always held in the very same Forbidden forest, no one can really assure the safety of the students inside the barrier because the landscape of the forest seemed to be ever-changing. According to legends, the Forest was the lair of the most dangerous cosmo generis in their land, and it was bewitched to change all the time to ensure that no intruder could come in after the Conqueror attacked them during the Rebellion that unified the 7 Kingdoms.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagtahak ng maugat na daan nang bigla siyang makaramdam ng isang kakaibang kilabot. Lady Jenny Mae stopped in her tracks and immediately took her white jade dagger out in alarm. It's an heirloom that has been passed down to her from generation to generation that's why she always brought it with her. Ito lang din kasi ang armas na alam niyang gamitin, bukod sa mga acupuncture needles, hindi naman kasi pakikipaglaban at ang inaaral niya kung hindi ay paggagamot. Her eyes widened in alarm when she heard a gurgling groan from her somewhere. Agad niyang sinundan ang pinanggagalingan ng tunog at napagtantong galing iyon sa likuran.

She stilled and slowly turned around, "Wendell?" she uttered upon seeing a figure emerge from behind her, "Holy hell, it's just you!" she said in half-relief and half-annoyance. Pero kumunot ang noo ni Lady Jenny Mae nang hindi man lang siya kumibo o nagsalita, sa halip ay patuloy siya sa paglalakad sa patungo sa kaniya samantalang tinititigan lamang niya ito dahil sa kakaibang kilos niya, "W–what's wrong? Were you hurt? Do you need me to heal you?"