The Shapeshifter

PAGKATAPOS kong magpaalam sa mga ermitanyo, early in the morning, ay muli kong binagtas ang malawak na disyerto pabalik sa town ng Kal-Shushu. Momo is still not here para i-guide ako pabalik sa malayong town. Kaya ang isang no sense of direction na tulad ko ay kaawa-awang naliligaw sa malaking disyerto ng Markarth.

I swear; I saw this three-headed cactus kanina!

Patuloy pa rin ako sa paglalakad. After a while, sa 'di kalayuan, nakakita na naman ako ng cactus with three heads. Disappointed na naupo ako at kumuha ng maiinom.

I can't survive without you, Momo.

While looking in the vast area, wala akong makita na maaari kong silungan. I can't log off here. The place is filled with Boa (Desert Snake Monsters) and Cactuars (Moving Cactus Monsters). Well, I think mababa ang chance na makabalik ako sa town ngayong araw so I decided na magpa-level up na lang habang ine-explore ang lugar.

I hope Momo will come back soon.

While killing the mobs, nakarating ako sa isang green but stony field. I can finally see some trees and plants, malayo na sa itsura ng desert so I think hindi na ito sakop ng Markarth. Even the mobs ay napalitan na ng mga bear, wolf, and wildboar. Dahil ang mga ito ay aggressive, nagpahinga ako sa isang mataas na sanga ng malaking puno kung saan hindi nila ako maaabot.

I'm relaxing as of now and enjoying the cool breeze. It feels sooo good! Then I realized that I'd started to like the game. Everything feels so real, the sky, the surroundings, the people, the skills, and the magics are worth every dollar! However, a realism level of ninety-nine percent had its shortcomings as well such as the pain inflicted and most importantly, my growling stomach. I could only take what was left inside my pack which is the watermelons and, as I ate it, I wondered if puwede kong gawing lechon ang mga wildboar sa ibaba. Hmm... tasty!

A thunderous, bestial roars filled the air na nagputol sa aking lechon fantasy. My head turned to look at the source of the voices. It wasn't too hard to spot the targets.

"Unbelievable..." I muttered with an odd twist to my lips. Two monsters are fighting! Big black bear vs a white werewolf! This game is getting weirder and weirder!

I didn't need to move an inch sa puwesto ko para makita ang upclose fight ng mga ito because it seems that papunta sila sa aking direction.

The bear viciously attack the werewolf with its strength and sharp claws. The werewolf, however, is very quick at mabilis lang n'yang naiiwasan ang attack ng big bear. Ang moves nito ay tila pinag-iisipan. On the contrary, ang black bear ay malakas ngunit may pattern ang mga galaw.

Eating watermelon while watching a great fight, oh... this is life! Isang tough battle ang nangyayari because both beasts are strong. I think it's a battle of who is the most powerful beast, Vitality or Agility Beast?

In the end, the werewolf won the battle. Ngunit marami siyang natamong sugat.

"How long are you planning to stay up there, woman?!"

Nagulat ako sa narinig. Hindi pala mob ang werewolf, only the bear. Ang duguang werewolf ay nag-transform at naging isang bloody male elf. His face is very familiar! The arrogant Elf!

"You?! You're a werewolf?!" Dazzled. I blink my eyes alot of times.

"Obviously." Then he rolled his eyes. "What are you doing here?" tanong n'ya habang umiinom ng health pots.

"Enjoying the show?" And how did he know it was me? The last time na nagkita kami ay isa pa lang akong hamak na novice. Right now, I'm a full-fledged assassin and I'm wearing my scarf kaya mata ko lang ang nakikita sa aking mukha.

The Elf stands firmly yet with curious eyes. "I thought you're doing the legendary quest?"

I stared at him dumbfounded. "Legendary—What?!"

He closes his eyes briefly as he struggles to contain his temper. "The crying boy!"

"Ah! The mythical flowers..." simpleng sagot ko.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"What happens to your quest?!" he said through gritted teeth.

I told him what happened but I think he's not satisfied based on his reaction.

"Don't take me for a fool!" His expression has darkened.

"Look, it's hard to explain, but in the end, I got the three mythical flowers. I'm done. The end."

His face was a bit disappointed. He was about to leave me but I stopped him by grabbing the tip of his sleeve.

"What?"

"I... I'm kinda lost..." I tried my very best to crack a smile. "Can you help me get back to the town?"

"Right! You found the Cavern and Oasis that are both hidden and was not in Utopia map. And now you're saying you are lost?" he told me with disbelief saka tumalikod sa akin. "I'm done with this place anyway."

"Hey, by the way, how did you know it was me?" 'di ko mapigilang itanong.

"Stop bothering me or I'll leave you behind!"

Kahit nakatalikod, nakita ko ang kakaibang galaw ng kamay ng Elf na nagka-cast ng spell. Weird, may spell din pala ang mga thief? Mayamaya'y nag-transform siya at naging isang dambuhalang agila. The head and tail are white, ang katawan ay kulay black, piercing eyes, massive hooked beak, and powerful talons.

"Wow!" Hindi ko alam na may ganito ka-cool na job sa thief's race. Iyan ang hirap sa akin, hindi ko pinag-aralang mabuti ang laro.

Tumingin ito sa akin saka winagayway ang malalaking pakpak na tila pinasasakay na ako sa kanyang likuran.

"You want me to ride you?" Teka parang mali yung sentence ko, pero bago ko pa mabago ang gusto kong sabihin nagsalita na si Mr. Elf?

"Why? You want to walk? From here to Kal-shushu it will take you atleast a day..."

"No! No, thanks for the ride!" Mabilis kong putol sa sasabihin nito at excited akong sumakay sa kanya. Medyo nagulat ako at napakapit sa kanyang leeg nang magsimula na siyang lumipad.

"Behave woman. Don't take advantage of me."

I was momentarily embarrassed. Even though the Elf is in his Eagle form. Hugging his neck was equal to embracing him. The worst part was, I can feel his heartbeat in his strong warm feathery back. It makes me uncomfortable.

"This is amazing!" bulalas ko nang makita ang tanawin sa ibaba.

"Careful." Mr. Elf told me unenthusiastically.

"Can I hold onto you tightly? I'm not afraid of heights but I'm afraid of falling and dying."

"Then hold." He said flapping his majestic wings.

A moment of silence

"Woman.."

"hmm?"

"Not too tight. I can't breathe..."

♠♠♠

Thanks to the Elf, nakarating ako sa town bago magtanghali. Nagmamadali kami (more likely ako) na magpunta sa Tavern para kumain.

Baguette with milk cheese, green vegetable salad, steamy rice, pumpkin soup, and wild boar steak ang nakahilera sa aming wooden table.

"Finally, a decent meal!" Naglalaway ako habang tinitingnan ang mga mapang-akit na pagkain sa aking harapan. "Bon appetit!" And I ate my steak mouthful first.

"Eat slowly," sabi sa akin ng Elf with a look of disgust. "I've never seen a woman who eats like a pig."

"I'm just appreciating the food!" I muttered between mouthfuls. "Unlike you, who eats like a caterpillar?" banat ko kahit puno ng steak ang aking bibig. Napansin ko kasing vegetable salad lang ang kinakain n'ya.

"I'm a vegetarian," he said in a matter of factly.

What? A small, nervous, disbelieving giggle erupts from deep inside.

"Woman... I do believe your giggle makes my palm twitchy." Naramdaman ko ang pagsabog ng killing aura ni Mr. Elf sa paligid. Kasabay ng masamang pagtitig sa akin, iniunat n'ya ang mga naghahabaang mga daliri na may mala-maleficent na kuko.

A werewolf turning eagle-like him is a vegetarian? The idea was so preposterous! I bit my lip to stop it from turning into a full-scale hysterical laughter but failed miserably. I lie back flat on the wooden chair and surrendered myself to the laughter, laughing as I've never laughed before.

I see his lips quirked up. "Say, is my being vegetarian entertained you so much?"

"No, Mr. Vegi---err... Elf, I'm just surprised." I bit my lower lip at buong lakas na pinigil ang matawa ulit.

Isang mischievous grin ang kumawala sa aking mga labi dahilan ng pagkunot ng noo ng Elf.

"Ar—!"

I put a slice of my steak to his mouth nang magsimulang bumuka muli ang bibig n'ya. "Then it's your chance to taste meat!" I grinned at pinahiran ng table napkin ang kanyang mukha. "Even though it's like a replica in our world, this is just a game! Everything in here is all doozy programs," I explained quickly bago pa siya makapag-react at bago pa n'ya ako masaktan ng kanyang sharp nails.

Ang killing aura ng binata ay unti-unting nawala at tila napaisip, mayamaya'y nginuya na n'ya ang isinubo kong steak. "What's good about this tasteless food?" mahinang tanong n'ya.

"Its appearance?" sagot ko habang kagat-kagat ang steak sa aking bibig.

"So how did you manage to open the town quest?"

"Well, I just help the crying boy. Seems like no one's bothering to help him so I did."

He shook his head. "I couldn't talk to that boy, he just keeps on crying. There must be something in you that triggered the special quest." He sounds surprised and impressed at once.

I think deeply. Nakita ko lang ang bata sa second day ng game. Ano bang meron ako na wala noong first day? "Maybe because I have the golden flower? Dropped from Goldivah, remember?"

"There was?!" gulantang n'yang tanong.

Oops! I forgot. Hindi ko pala sinabi sa Elf na may golden flower na nag-drop mula kay Goldivah. The flower is made from one hundred percent gold so I assumed na 'pag ibinenta ko ito, marami akong makukuhang gold. I want to sell it and keep all the gold for myself. Nang malaman ko na hindi ito puwedeng ibenta, hinayaan ko na lang ito sa aking inventory.

Masama na naman ang mga titig ng Elf sa akin.

"I couldn't give it you, it's a... bonded item," I coughed.

[Bonded – Cannot be traded or dropped. Sometimes it can't be sold, depending on the bonded item.]

Mukha namang napaniwala ko ito. "Well, what's the story about The Waterfall Cavern?"

"The Waterfall Cavern is the location of the second flower. I needed to 'rescue' the boy's big sister that was trapped in a crystal pillar located in that cavern. I helped her, and in the end, I got the crystal flower."

Ang mga titig n'ya sa akin ay hindi na kinakailangan pa ng mga salita para sabihing interesado siyang malaman ang kabuuan ng quest.

"I got the last flower in the center oasis of Markarth," inunahan ko na siya. Alam ko naman na ito ang kanyang next question.

"You're speaking as if it was so easy. You know that it was the hardest quest in Thieves' Town." He heaved a sigh.

"I didn't say it was easy. In fact, it was very hard."

"You're obviously hiding something from me. There are many things I'd like an explanation for, such as how did you manage to find the secret locations and defeat bosses if there's any?"

"Ah..." Napatingin na lamang ako sa kanya habang malalim na nag-iisip. How will I be able to explain everything to him without mentioning Momo?

"What?"

"Are you gonna eat that?" ani ko sabay turo sa kanyang vegetable salad.

I feel that he was about to burst from anger, but he suppressed it and calmly replied, "If you're that happy eating tasteless food then go." Sabay abot sa akin ng kanyang salad.

Sa labas ng tavern pagtapos ng aming lunch bumungad samin ang mga nag gagandahan at makukulay na lanterns na nakasabit sa mga bahay at maliliit na establishment na nagpaganda sa overall appearance ng town.

"Why there are so many lanterns?" tanong kay Mr. Elf na nasa aking likuran.

"Tonight is the Spring Lantern Festival. First game event to celebrate 'The Fifteen day' of Utopia."

"Oh, anything good with this festi?"

"Few festival quests, free costume, festival food, fireworks and the highlight of this event, releasing lanterns to the lake."

"I see."

"You really don't know? Events like this are posted almost everywhere in the Utopia forum."

"Never been there. Hate reading those stuff."

"Then don't make me your information guy! If you want to know about the Festival then asked the 'Event Manager'. She's at the fountain." iritang sagot ni Mr. Elf sabay alis at iniwan akong mag-isa.