Excelium [Editing]

Kabanata 65

Zai woke up and looked outside the window. It was raining on a Saturday morning. Bumangon siya at inipit ang kaniyang buhok. She went out of her room and went to the kitchen.

She prepared the best breakfast that she can make. While doing so, she's wearing her usual pokerface that no one can fathom.

"Oh Zai. Isn't it Zera's turn to cook?" pumasok si Ace at kumuha ng gatas. Nagretiro na kasi ang matandang tagapangalaga ng kanilang dormitoryo kaya kailangan nilang pagsilbihan ang kanilang sarili sa panahong ito.

"It's fine. I didn't get to cook for dinner because of a little pest." Ace just smiled and went out with a glass of milk in his hand. After cooking, the others arrived at the table. They all looked sleepy and tired. She heard that they helped the teachers in dealing with some low ranked demons yesterday. So it's not surprising that they are all like dead batteries.

Inilapag na niya ang mga kanin at ulam sa lamesa. Pagkalapag niya ay tumingin siya sa orasan na nasa loob ng dinning room. Hmm... they should be arriving soon enough.

Umupo siya at nagsimula na silang kumain. It was the usual scenario. All of them are chatting and laughing while she was just silently eating and listening to what they say. It was like nothing happened yesterday. Ibinaba niya ang ininuman niyang baso at muling tumingin sa orasan. The long hand finally stopped at number 12.

May pumasok na mga lalaking nakasuot ng mga pormal na kasuotan sa loob ng dinning room. Lahat ay tumahimik at sila'y pinagmasdan. Luminya ang mga ito sa gilid ng pinto. Because of the silence, they can hear the sound of a staff hitting the wooden floor. Ang huling pumasok sa pinto ay walang iba kundi si Arnock. They were about to stand but Arnock stopped them and just showed a smile.

Zai wiped the side of her lips with a table napkin and stood. "Good day, Mr. Arnock. What can we do for you?"

"Someone has witness your fight with the intruder yesterday, Ms. Haines." Arnock looked at her with a serious expression and she already sensed that it isn't good.

"I'm not here to praise your bravery and heroic act. That someone also heard your conversation and it seems that you know some things regarding the demons and Gods that you need to tell us." Zai's pokerface didn't waver even though all eyes are already on her, full with curiosity in them.

"If you refuse to speak, be ready about the consequences. Not telling us any valuable information can be conclude as treason to our country. Now, come with me for your interrogation, Ms. Haines."

"There's no such thing. I know nothing of what you are saying, Sir." Zai defended with a straight face that'll make you believe her words but Arnock insisted.

"Don't tell such lies now, young lady. Those lies might cause your life." Zai just calmly closed her eyes and crossed her arms on her chest.

"I am telling the truth, Sir. Even though you torture the hell of out of me, you'll get nothing because I don't have anything worth telling for." Malakas na pinatama ni Arnock ang kaniyang staff sa kahoy na sahig pagkatapos marinig ang mga salita ng dalaga.

"Don't you dare cover up the truth! This young lady is telling the pure truth more than you!" then a girl walked in the dinning room. Zai smirked in her mind when she clarified the hunch in her mind.

"Christa...?" the others confusingly said her name. Christa was only glancing at her but she remained stoic.

"I heard it all. All about Avis' death and the demon's words telling that you know too much about the demons and the Gods, Captain." lahat ay tumingin sa kanya na may naguguluhang ekspresyon. Hinihintay ang kanyang sagot. But Zai remained silent. Instead of talking to Christa, she turned to Arnock.

"Say, Mr. Arnock, what do you plan to do if I really have the information that you are seeking?" she asked.

"They are valuable information for our preparation against the enemy. Ms. Haines, do you have no intention to tell us?"

"I told you, I---"

"Seize her." the three men in formal suits grabbed Zai's both arms and then suddenly slammed her body on the table with her hands behind her back. Nagsitayuan naman ang iba dahil sa ginawa ng mga ito.

"Hey! What are you doing--!" Ace exclaimed but Kleiv stopped him by holding his shoulder and shaking his head at him. That's when Sinner appeared in the scene.

"What's the commotion all about, geezer?" he asked while rubbing his hair as he walk to get a glass of water.

"I'll take custody of your student, Sinner." Sinner raised a brow while he's drinking in a glass of water and looking at Zai who is being pinned on the table.

"For what reason? Zai, did you do something illegal now?"

"She is keeping her mouth shut about the valuable information that we need." tumalim ang mata ni Sinner at ibinaba na niya ang hawak na baso.

"Is this how you treat a student? For your information, she is my responsibility as her teacher. I can't just let you take her away without my or the Headmaster's permission. Did that position of yours gave you a big head?" Arnock squinted his eyes at him while Sinner is just staring back at him with his hands in his pockets.

"The information that she holds is about the demons that we need to eliminate, and about the Gods that we need to know. That information can help us prevent the upcoming war with the pesky little demons" he told the last three words with a disgusting tone. Nilingon naman ni Sinner si Zai at tinanong kung iyon ba ay totoo. Zai answered it with a no.

"My student said no, then it's a no for you."

"Mr. Arnock" lahat ay napatingin kay Levine na bagong dating lamang. "I've heard from ny secretary that you arrived. What can we do for---" natigilan ito noong makita si Zai na nakadikit sa lamesa. His face turned even more serious. He gazed at the old guest.

"Mr. Arnock, what is your business with my student?" he asked professionally. One of Arnock's men answered his question. He was surprised but he didn't let it show.

"I see. Then I'll trust my student to you, Mr. Arnock." lahat ay nagulat dahil sa kaniyang sinagot. Vyann was about to stand up for a protest but Wein stopped his shoulder.

"That is a wise decision Levine--"

"But" lahat sila ay muling napatingin kay Levine noong pinutol nito ang pagsasalita ng matanda. "I want to be well-informed about her condition. Visitation is a must. Her safety and security will be your priority while she's in your hands. General Yan will surely meet you in court after I inform him about his daughter. Clarify if she truly knows something but as soon as your done, I don't want to see a single scratch on her body. If I did, be prepared Mr. Arnock. Demons will feast on your corpse."

Tumalim ang tingin ng matanda sa kanya. "Are you threatening me, Levine?"

Levine put on an innocent smile and said, "Of course not, Sir."

"Damn you, demon." Levine just maintained his tight innocent smile and chuckled. "Bring her" Arnock walked away and his men followed him with Zai. Zai passed by Christa who was just staring at her. A little smirk formed on her lips and she chuckled silently while shaking her head.