Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 63

Nanatiling nakatago sa likod ng counter sina Trois. The woman is beginning to cry at pinapatahan naman ito ni Shane. Saying that she should be quiet. Claysen is quiet as he peek to see what's going on as well. His eyes squinted when he heard some footsteps.

Ilang saglit lamang ay nakita na nila ang isang lalaki. Medyo malaki ang pangangatawan nito at mayroon rin itong peklat sa mukha. May kasama rin itong dalawang hyena na inaamoy-amoy ang mga katawan ng tao. Claysen's eyes widen when he glanced at the man's sharp eyes. Muling umupo si Claysen sa sahig noong maramdaman niya ang panginginig ng kaniyang katawan.

He stared at his shaking hand. He held it with the other and thought to himself as he press his teeth together: Stop shaking!

Just by looking at the man's eyes, you could feel how intimidating he is. His bloodlust is everywhere and just from a single glance, you can already see that he is very well-experienced in fighting. Claysen also saw how much damage his excelium caused. He'll die first before he could even put a scratch on him.

But when he glanced at Trois, he could see that he is feeling different. Excitement can be seen all over his face at tila ba hindi man lang ito nasisindak sa presensya ng lalaki. He is truly different.

No one could describe how much excitement Trois is feeling. He wants to get out there and challenge the stranger but he has to restrain himself. He looked at Shane and Claysen. Zai trusted them to him and he doesn't want to betray that trust. He has to calm himself down.

Muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa labas. May isang lalaking nakadapa sa sahig ang dahan-dahang gumalaw. Putol na ang kanang braso nito at halatang nasasaktan ito. Lalo lamang itong napaiyak noong makita ang nakahalindusay na katawan ng isang babae sa kaniyang harapan. Mukhang ito ay kaniyang nobya.

Ngunit natigil ito sa pag-iyak noong bigla na lamang siyang inangat ng estranghero gamit ang paghawak sa kaniyang kwelyo. Halata ang takot sa mukha ng lalaki habang nakatitig sa mga mata nito.

"Tell me where this girl is." saad nito habang pinapakita ang isang papel. Trois couldn't see what's on the paper because he's only seeing his back. But he has a hunch.

Mabilis na umiling naman ang lalaki, "H-Hindi ko siya kilala."

Bigla na lamang itong napasigaw sa sakit at kasabay noon ay ang paghulog ng naputol nitong binti sa lupa. The girl who is being comforted by Shane covered her ears. Maski si Shane ay gustong takpan ang kaniyang sariling mga tenga ngunit hindi niya ito ginawa. Kailangan niyang sanayin ang kaniyang sarili sa mga ganitong bagay. He's traveling with Zai and the others. He'll eventually witness something more horrible than this.

Lalong humigpit ang hawak ng estranghero sa kwelyo ng sumisigaw na lalaki, "Tell me.. tell me where is Zaivrin Hevrion hiding."

Natigilan naman sina Trois, Shane, at Claysen sa pangalang binanggit nito. They really expected that name but they just can't accept the fact that Zai is truly someone who is playing a big role in this battle. Kaakibat na rin nito ang madalas nitong pagharap sa mga malalakas na tao na gusto siyang patayin.

Shane clenched his jaw. Isang pangalan lamang ang naglalaro sa kaniyang isipan at 'yon ay ang pangalan ng diyosa na hinahanap ang dalaga. Ito lang naman ang pursigidong makuha ito. He gritted his teeth. What should we do? I'm pretty sure that he'll eventually find us here. That guy will also die if we won't interfere. What is the right decision?!

Trois continued to stare at the stranger's back as he come up with a decision. Pagkalipas ng ilang segundo ay nagsalita ito, "You two, stay here." mabilis na napatingin si Shane kay Trois noong magsalita ito.

Mabilis niyang hinawakan ang binti nito upang hindi siya makaalis. "Don't..! He'll kill you..!"

Trois chuckled, "I won't die." ngunit hindi pa rin binibitawan ng binata ang kaniyang binti. Trois looked down at him and saw how determined he is to keep him where he is. He's still wearing his spine-chilling expression as he look at Shane's face, "Let go of my leg, Shane." ngunit mabilis lamang na umiling ang binata at mas lalo lamang humigpit ang hawak nito.