32 Distress and Distractions

"I meant to say Miss Virdjana, that aside from you, there are no longer anyone in the Eumythymn Clan that survived."

Virdjana's POV

"The most awaited Chronicle Play will begin momentarily." says the voice of an announcer, delivered across the Prestigious Academy of Arcacia, through the speakers.

"Keep an eye out for any suspicious-looking individual Milady." Ertune's voice snapped me back to reality.

I leaned backwards, away from the metal railings of the watchtower where Ertune and I are located. Tasked to keep an eye out for any suspicious people and catch them if they ever do the slightest weird behavior possible. It sounds strict, but that only shows how valuable the Chronicle Book is.

Ertune leans towards me, hands inside his pockets before uttering with utmost confidence, "in deep thoughts huh? I know that I'm quite good-looking, so you don't have to hide the fact that you're daydreaming of me Milady."

Pinagmasdan ko siya mula ulo hanggang pa, upang siguraduhin lamang na hindi siya ang nananaginip sa pagitan naming dalawa. Kidding aside, I really have no idea where he got his golden confidence from.

"Someone looks fishy down there Ertune." I lied nonchalantly.

"Huh? Nasaan? They'd get a beating from me, kung planuhin man nilang nakawin ang Chronicle Book." seryosong saad nitong Nature Enchant sa kung sino man.

There was really no one there, but that was one way to keep his attention away from me. I quietly hopped on the railings, only to summersault upwards and land above the watchtower. In this manner, I would still be able to do my job while keeping Ertune out of my hair.

"Huh? Virdjana? Virdjana bakit mo ako iniwan?" I heard him whine a few seconds after.

'That was close, good thing I'm still as stealthy as I used to be.'

I was afraid that he will catch me sneaking away from him, so I stayed quiet despite hearing his calls. From where I was sitting, the warm rays of the sun is unavoidable, and given that noon is approaching I'm afraid that I won't be able to take the heat for too long.

'I should have taken an umbrella with me or something.'

Sa kabutihang-palad, wala naman sa mga bisitang manonood ng dula ang umaakto nang kakaiba o kahina-hinala.

'Hmm, if it isn't the Fire Enchants bestfriends.'

Sa hindi kalayuan ay nakita kong magkasama sina Drago at Kadaski, iyan ay isa sa mga bagay na kailanman ay hindi ko ikagugulat. I told myself that I should just ignore them, but when they got a bit nearer, I noticed that they were actually enjoying eating ice cream together.

'Damn it, Virdjana, focus.' the food was really distracting me.

"Ohoho! Drago! Kadaski! Kumusta mga pre? Mabuti kayo nag-a-ice cream lang. Pahingi naman oh!" tawag-pansin ni Ertune sa dalawa.

'Sh*t.'

I have nowhere to hide from, and as expected when Kadaski and Drago looked at the direction of the watchtower they also saw me panicking from above. For some reason, I can't even calm myself down and unlucky me just really had to slip on a rooftile. I felt like my heart jumped out of my ribcage when I started falling from a high place.

Expecting a painful fall, I closed my eyes, however it did not happen and I found myself embraced by someone.

"Ayos ka lang? Anong ginagawa mo sa bubong ng watchtower?" tanong ng pamilyar na boses.

I was lost for words, not simply because Drago caught me on time, but because I was also receiving dagger glares from a certain hot-headed brat from behind with an ice-cream cone on top of his head- strawberry flavor. It looks pretty sticky.

Drago gently placed me down. Ertune also showed concern by jumping down from the watchtower with the help of a vine he summoned. "Andoon ka lang pala sa itaas? Pinagmukha mo akong sira-ulo Virdjana." remarked Ertune before laughing, showing that he was not mad when I ditched him earlier.

"And Aski? Wala bang nagsabi sa iyo na kinakain pati ang apa ng ice-cream at hindi ginagawang sombrero?" nagtatakang pahayag ni Ertune tungo kay Kadaski.

I noticed Kadaski's brows twitching, definitely out of annoyance. He removed the cone on his head, threw it in a bin, but he did not walk out, "explain Phantom."

"Oo nga Virdjana. Ano bang nangyayari sa iyo?" tanong ni Drago, pagkatapos ay lumapit pa ito sa akin at saka bumulong, "are you still thinking about what I said to you the last time?"

I flinched and glared at him, causing the red-haired to take a step back. "It was nothing. The save is appreciated, it's hard to activate flight in panic." sabi ko na lamang.

"Drago, I think you have to apologize to your bestfriend." I added, and that was when Drago finally looked behind him.

"Ay! Pasensya na Aski. Sa pagmamadali ko ay basta ko na lang na binitawan iyong ice cream, at pati iyong pathway ay na-damage pa." nahihiyang sabi nito.

Noon ko lang napansin ang marka ng mga sunog sa sementong daanan, at napagtantong mukhang gumamit si Drago ng apoy para mas mabilis na maka-dash patungo sa akin.

'He doesn't really need to go through all the trouble, I think Reggie would actually save me anyway.'

I felt concerned after that thought, because when I was falling down, he did not actually make any connection with me through telepathy. I would have gotten a serious injury to the head or worse end up dead if Drago did not save me on time. This thought sent sudden fear down my spine, but I shook it away. Reggie promised that he would always come to protect me.

"It's almost eleven. We should start making pair reports to Ma'am Jelina." spoke Ertune, as he activates his EHP to deliver our observations.

"You guys, didn't see anyone acting weird?" I asked, just so I would sound like I'm taking this Enchanted Elite stuff seriously.

"Aside from you? No, there's none." smirked Kadaski, who seemed to have finally returned when it comes to being a jerk towards me.

"Are you not planning to clean your sticky hair?" I retorted.

Kadaski frowned, but was interrupted immediately,"You-"

Drago clapped once in order to get our attentions, "the guards would soon take our place during lunch time. We have at least two hours before returning to post, so we can actually enjoy the booths in this area."

Free time huh? I think I would like to take a nap, got to start looking for a peaceful place - but surely I won't return to the Northern Wing anymore. I'll just sleep in my dorm room. Magsisimula na sana akong maglakad papalayo nang may dumapong kamay sa balikat ko, animong pinipigilan akong humakbang mula sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Found you Vivi! You won't say no to a little girl bonding with me right~?" says a cheerful eerie voice from behind me.

"R-Ruby... I was just about to take a nap-." but even before I could finish what I'm saying, I was indirectly blackmailed after reading her thoughts. She was thinking of telling the others of my past (of course, only the parts that she knew), to the others if I don't heed her request.

"I was just about to look for you. Is what I'm saying." I muttered against my will.

"Oh, such a sweetheart! Did you hear that Drago? Hear that Ertune? Vivi is about to look for me! Proof of our friendship!" Ruby excitedly claims while shaking the life out of me.

"We're pretty sure, she meant to say she's going to nap." the boys said in chorus.

"Nonsense! Now, off we go!" and there I was dragged from one stall to another.

Drago's POV

[FLASHBACK]

Nagtanong-tanong ako sa mga roaming guards kung nakakita sila ng isang 4th-year student na may Hall Pass, may mahabang itim na buhok, at matatalim ngunit malamig na tingin na napadaan sa labas ng gusali ng Senior Department.

Nagulat pa nga ang mga guwardiya sa paglalarawan ko dahil ang pag-aakala nila ay isa raw iyong ligaw na kaluluwa sa paaralan. Sadya raw nilang iniwasan ang 'ligaw na kaluluwa' sa takot na mapag-diskitahan sila at malasin sila - isa kasi ito sa mga paniniwala sa Arcacia patungkol sa mga ligaw na espirito.

Sa tulong ng mga guards ay nalaman kong nagpunta si Virdjana sa direksiyon ng silid-aklatan o ang Academy Library. Mangiti-ngiti kong tinahak ang daan, habang nag-iisip ng maaaring palusot kung sakaling magtanong si Virdjana sa kung paano ko nalaman kung saan siya nagpunta bako ko mabangga si Ruby.

Pareho kaming nagulat, at nang tatanungin ko na sana ito kung ano ang ginagawa niya imbes na manatili sa classroom at maghintay para sa susunod na asignatura, saka naman namin nakita si Virdjana at isa pang mas nakatatandang babae sa may pintuan ng silid-aklatan.

"Why are we hiding?" Ruby whispered in askance.

I whispered back, "I don't know either."

Nang matapos na ang pag-uusap nina Virdjana at noong babae na sa hula ko ay isang librarian o employee sa Academy Library ay bumaling ako kay Ruby upang itanong kung nakinig ito sa usapan ng dalawa.

"Oh, I forgot to do that. Hehe-, "then she went silent for a few seconds before raising her voice, "wait a minute, did you just assume that eavesdropping is casual activity for me?!"

"Ow! I'm sorry!" I groaned when Ruby punched my chest.

"Hello, you two." greeted a cold voice from behind us.

Ruby and I slowly turned to look at the person who appeared behind us like a ghost, and the level of her glares are surely much deadlier compared to her usual intimidating expression. Turns out, she was in a bad mood.

After Virdjana told Ruby that she would eat lunch with her, the Sound enchant quickly dashed to the cafeteria in order to reserve a spot for the two of them. Unfortunately, she lied in order to take me with her to a more private location.

It may sound something out of a romantic movie, but that was not the case. As expected, she began asking how and why was I following her. Knowing that she can read minds, I told her the truth about my mission. I made it sound believable enough that she won't need to read my mind.

Taking a deep breath, I said, "I'll tell you, but this is confidential. I'm on a mission. And the truth is that Master Yoto ordered me to stuck around you and observe you. You caught her interest that is why I have to report back to her every other day."

"....."

I seem to have rendered her speechless with my revelation, then she suddenly pushed me to a wall, while streams of air kept her from touching the ground and, making her a tad taller from me.

"Why are you telling me this?" tanong nito sa akin.

"Because, I mean you no harm. And I'm sure Master Yoto means you no harm too. Most of the Masters in the Council knows about your real identity so it's all for research purposes." I babbled with a defensive smile.

"Do I look like some kind of specimen that needed to be studied, Drago Arcedes?" Virdjana asks as she balls her hand into fist while enveloping it with a drill-like air magic.

I said 'no' of course, not to me, but perhaps to Master Yoto. I didn't dare mention that part and waited for her to response.

"Don't make me end you." she warned as she lets me go.

[PRESENT]

"Kadaski, free time, so should we grab lunch first? Sabay ka na rin sa amin Ertune." I stated with a friendly smile.

Alam kung may masamang dugo sa pagitan nina Ertune at Kadaski, kaya paminsan-minsan ay sinusubukan kong paglapitin ang dalawa. Sa kasamaang-palad, mabilis na makaramdam si Aski kaya agad itong sumimangot.

"Kailangan ko pang magbanlaw ng buhok ko dahil sa kagagawan mo. Mabuti pang mag-focus ka sa mission mo. At saka, napangakuan ko na sina Lizbeth na tutulong ako sa pag-set-up ng fireworks display." sabi ni Kadaski habang iwinawagayway ang braso bilang pag-papaalam.

"Ertune?" baling ko naman sa gang leader na ito.

"I'm going to make a serious move, so I think I'll be on my way." Ertune states before shrugging.

"Serious move? You mean Ruby-"

"Shut up dude. What if she hears you?" panicked the Nature Enchant.

"Alright, I'll keep my voice down, but how can you do that when she's dedicated in spending lunch hour with Virdjana?" I asked.

He went silent, cupping his chin as if he was thinking of a plan to be alone with Ruby. Then after a while, he glanced me and smirk, "you will play a key part to it!"

"How?"

Virdjana's POV

"Are you mad at me for ditching you last time?" I asked nonchalantly.

We were sitting on one of the benches in the Center Park nearby the event booths and food stalls, each of us holding two sweet dangos on a stick. Ruby chuckled before eating in silence.

"That's one way to say yes. If you're not going to say anything, I'll be leaving you here." I remarked, finishing the street food and throwing the stick on a nearby garbage bin.

Bago pa ako makatayo ay hinila niya ang braso ko, saka nag-pout at nagsabing, "how can you be so cold? After everything we did together?!" and the pink-haired Xercedes began to wail on the spot.

'Jeez, it's not even that much.'

"How could you be so mean? Didn't you know how long I waited at that seat waiting for you? I even got into a fight with one of our Seniors since they were trying to steal the spot! They didn't believe that I'm eating lunch with someone!" she narrates while in tears.

"You could have beaten them into a pulp." I commented in a disappointed tone.

"I did! In fact, I did knock them all out, then I was sent to detention!" Ruby said proudly, as if she wasn't crying a couple of minutes ago.

I looked away and whispered under my breath, "you're pretty cool but troublesome."

Without warning, Ruby suddenly pulled me back to sit on the bench, her eyes twinkling. "You think I'm cool?! You are forgiven!"

'I guess she only heard what she wanted to hear.'