Midnight Angels: The War

Chapter 43

'Into the Lion's Den'

"Back-up lang kami dun?" Tanong ni Lesis at tumango naman si Zia bilang sagot.

"How much pain can you take actually?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Lezo sa kambal nung malamang magiging shield sila ng Midnight Angels sa laban. Napangiwi naman si Lesis. "Takot ako sa sakit, bro." Pagbibiro niyang sabi pero tinapik ni Wesy ang balikat niya at tiningnan nila si Zia na nakayuko lang.

"A-Actually kaya kong sumalo ng isang buong barko. Kaya ko 'yun!" Lesis tried to save himself from his words earlier pero inangat na ni Zia ang tingin niya sa kanila at ngumiti ito. That one melting smile again.

"Good luck out there." Nakangiting sabi ni Zia at tumalikod na. Napabuga nalang ng hangin si Wesy at tsaka nameywang. He knew that smile. He knew that certain smile that Zia put on after thinking of another plan.

Another plan to bait herself so that others won't get hurt.

"Why are you such a goody-two-shoes, you little devil?" Wesy asked as he watched Zia walk away from them.

Wesy and the twins left after that, leaving Zia alone in the Kingdom. With her silk robe on, she walked the palace hallways, earning stares from everyone. It wasn't the first time that they saw the princess, but every time she shows herself to them still astounds them.

Pumasok si Zia sa meeting room at naabutan niya roon ang mga elderly Hunters na nag-uusap. Agad silang tumigil nung makita nila si Zia.

"Princess, what a visit." Nakangiting bati ng pinakamatanda sa kanila at inaya si Zia na umupo pero ngumiti lang ito at dumiretso sa harap niya. The other elderly Hunters were by the table, just looking at her.

"Avia, can I talk to you?" Mahinahong tanong ni Zia. The highest-ranked elderly Hunter froze a little. No one had dared call her 'Avia' before. Avia is the Latin word for Grandmother.

Nabigla rin ang ibang elderly Hunter sa tinawag ni Zia sa kanya.

"Yes, my sweet." Nakangiting sabi nito at pinaalis na muna ang iba pang elderly Hunter at naiwan silang dalawa ni Zia sa meeting room. Zia slowly walked to her, knelt in front of her at tsaka inihilig ang ulo niya sa hita nito.

The highest-ranked elderly Hunter froze again but a warm smile escaped her lips and gently stroked Zia's hair.

"What is troubling you, my sweet?" Tanong nito.

"Avia.." Paninimula ni Zia. "..I messed up my plans. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko." Ani Zia at sandaling pumikit habang dinadamdam ang kamay na humahaplos sa buhok niya.

"I thought becoming a Hunter would end the war. 'Yun naman pala, hindi na ako pwede lumaban laban kay Uno. I'm no longer part of their war anymore. I should've thought of that before dying." Ani Zia at mahina pang natawa sa sinabi niya.

"You know, we also promised your mother that we would return you to her pero parang hindi narin mangyayari 'yun. We kind of forgot the part that once you become one of us, you're gonna have to stay with us." What Avia said was the exact reason why Zia couldn't go home. Why she changed her plan and why she's stuck in the Kingdom.

Matapos niya kasing maging Hunter, ibig sabihin nito ay hindi na siya parte ng mundo nina Xy. Zia is no longer involved with Uno's war at hindi rin siya pwede lumaban rito, 'yun ay kung si Uno na mismo ang humamon kay Zia, dun lang siya makakalaban.