Three wise men

Maaga akong umalis ng town at ngayon ay binabagtas ko ang isang malawak na disyerto. Kanina para akong nasa oven na bine-bake ng blazing sun. Mabuti na lang marami akong ration ng tubig. Because of soft sands na mahirap lakaran and extreme temperatures, mabagal ang aking paglalakbay. Ten and a half hours na akong walang tigil sa paglalakad. At ngayong magtatakipsilim na ay nagsisimula ng lumamig.

Ang lugar ay tama lang sa pangalan nito, maliban sa mangilan-ngilang sirang mga stone house at mga monolith, wala na akong nakikita sa paligid. No NPC, no Tavern, not even players.

"I'm tired..." agaw hininga kong sabi at humiga sa buhanging kinatatayuan ko.

Gusto ko sanang mag-rent ng kabayo pero may level restriction pala iyon. Ang horse ay available sa town ngunit ito ay for level forty-five plus only. I need to level more para ma-avail ito.

"I was walking for hours now. Momo, maybe you can hack the game and make myself fly?"

"No, Mama, that is wrong. You may get banned!" Said by the doll who loves to hack.

Kinuha ko na lang ang libro ng village chief at binasa ito. With my photographic memory, every page and every word of this book are now permanently recorded to my memory. After reading everything, I stored it away in the 'useless item' section of my inventory.

Ang pinakaayaw ko sa lahat, maliban sa small spaces, ay ang magbasa ng mga libro lalo na kapag hindi ako ang may-akda. Simula noong nag-resign ako bilang agent sa United Nation Special Operation Group o UNSOG at piniling maging isang normal citizen, naging hobby ko ang pagsusulat and as of now, ito ang aking bread and butter.

Ayon sa information ng libro, ang frozen flower ay hindi nalalayo sa location ko. So I packed my things and move on.

IN the midst of the abandon desert and wandering dunes, an island of lush, green life beckons me.

"It's an oasis! I think its somewhere here," sambit ko habang pinagmamasdan ang paligid.

"Mama's right!" pagsang-ayon ni Momo.

Tatlong ermitanyo ang sumulpot out of nowhere at nagpunta sa aking harapan. I think I'm on the right track.

"Girly, why are you in a place like this?" one of them asked.

This triggers the beginning of the quest.

Oops!

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto, this is the final quest in retrieving the last special flower, the frozen flower. Let's see, pumatay ako ng isang boss (not intentionally) with the help of a second job player at nakuha ang unang bulaklak, ang golden flower, (physically exerting!). The other one ay ang napakahirap puntahang cavern kung saan makaka-encounter ka ng mga high level mob (which I just used my stealth all the way to the cavern), ang pagharap sa old fairy at pagtanggi sa mga offer treasure nito para lang makuha ang crystal flower (emotionally hard!), at ngayon ay ang mga ermintanyo.

Napaatras ako. Baka mas mahirap na ordeal ang ipagagawa sa akin. "I don't think I'm ready for this." Saka ko tinalikuran ang mga ito.

May lumitaw na tatlong red warp portals sa aking dadaanan at lumabas mula rito ang mga Heavenly Armored Demon! I used my skill Spy on Enemy or SOE sa isa at tiningnan ang mob information nito.

Deadric, Level 99, Health 999999/999999

Special skill: Death Slash

Napalunok ako sa aking nakita at saka napaatras pabalik sa mga ermitanyo. I felt a shiver run down my spine. What the hell?! Level twenty-one vs three level ninety-nine?!

Nagtinginan muna ang mga matatanda bago nagsalita ang isa, nakakunot ang noo n'ya. "This is a sacred place. No one can see or enter here without the magic of the mythical flower. You are here to get the last mythical flower, aren't you?"

"Y-Yes, I believe so..." kabado kong sabi.

Pinaliwanag ng sa tingin ko'y pinakabatang ermitanyo ang paglabas ng mga Deadric sa lugar. Hindi ito aatake unless umalis ako sa lugar na ito ng hindi pa natatapos ang quest or nag-fail ako sa quest. For real?!

"Young Assassin, are you ready for your first riddle?" the younger hermit asked.

So the third quest is riddle. Sinubukan kong tanungin si Momo kung may alam siya sa mga riddle ng mga ermitanyo ngunit ito'y tahimik at tila nawala. I have no choice but to try and answer the riddles kaysa labanan ang mga level ninety-nine Deadric.

I breathed hard before answering, "Yes."

The Deadrics start to move towards me. One-stop at my back and the other two at my sides, they are pointing their sharp black saber in my neck.

The Hermit opened his mouth and asked. "I have seas with no water, coast with no sand, towns without people, and mountains without land. What am I?"

I frowned; at least there is no time limit to answer, right?! Matagal akong nag-isip, one wrong answer and I'm dead. I think deeply. Alam kong meron akong nabasa sa libro ni Chieftain just like this riddle, As my children become older, their minds become wiser. I've seen them draw my holy city in the sand, the vast ocean, the soaring mountain, and my majestic land.

"A map," bulalas ko nang maalala ang isang chapter ng libro.

The young hermit smiles and congratulates me for saying the correct answer. Naputulan ako ng isang tinik.

The Grumpy Hermit asked me if I'm ready for the second riddle. Oh, please! As if I have a choice?

"I'm rarely touched but often held. If you have wit, you'll use me well. What am I?"

Intelligence? Nope, can't be. Charisma? Nagsisimula ng sumakit ang ulo ko sa kaiisip. Sana nagbigay man lang sila ng choices!

Half an hour has passed, and I'm still stuck thinking about the answer to this stupid riddle. As time flies by, loads of answers kept coming on to my head. Then I saw the previous hermit, the one that asked me the first question sticking his tongue out, mocking me. But I didn't bother about that at all. I'm busy finding the answer in my head. Riddles are hard to solve and one must be a genius to figure it out. But sometimes, the answer can be right in front of your nose and even in the riddle itself. It depends on how much you open your mind to the possibilities.

After one hour, I still have no clue to the answer for the second riddle. Tiningnan ko ulit ang unang hermit. He is now enjoying eating watermelon, licking it like there's no tomorrow. Nagutom na siguro ito sa kahihintay na masagot ko ang second riddle. Kumalam na rin ang aking sikmura kaya napadako ang atensyon ko sa kinakain nito. Harvest from oasis, I presumed, then sa bibig nito na sarap na sarap sa kinakain. And sometimes, he's sticking his tongue out, licking the food, and gazing back at me na tila may gustong ipahiwatig.

No way.

I suddenly realized the answer is right infront me. The young hermit was giving away the answer. I just need to open my mind!

"Tongue?" I sputtered.

"Correct," emotionless na sabi ng pangalawang ermitanyo.

Napaupo ako as a sign of relief. Masayang ngumiti ang ermitanyong tumulong sa akin. Tumango ako rito tanda ng pasasalamat.

Isa na lang at matatapos na ang kalbaryo ko!

The last and the oldest hermit na nasa gitna ng dalawa ay ngumiti, look delighted. "What an intelligent lady you are, Young Assassin," papuri nito. "Are you ready for your third and last riddle?"

"YES!" Tumayo ako at ni-relax ang sarili

.

"Here it goes... Often I will spin a tale and I will never charge a fee. I'll amuse you an entire eve, but, alas! You won't remember me."

I cried. For the first time in forever gusto kong kumanta, because I know the answer to that riddle. Nagpapasalamat ako't nagbigay naman sila ng madaling riddle.

"It's a DREAM," confident kong sagot.

"That is correct, Young Lady. You have answered all the three riddles."

Lumabas muli ang mga black portal hindi para maglabas pa ng mga Deadric, bagkus upang higupin ang tatlong niluwa nito kanina. Naiwan kaming apat na nakatunganga sa lugar.

Ang mga ermitanyo ay nagpasalamat sa aking pagdating. Ang mga ito ay matiyagang naghihintay sa lugar na ito sa taong makakakompleto ng quest. Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng lungkot para sa kanila. Kung hindi ko tinulungan ang bata at naisipang pagalingin ang ina nito, ibig sabihin ay habambuhay na mananatili ang mga ermitanyo na naghihintay?

"Well, it's done, you guys are free. What will you do now?" tanong ko habang kinakain ang ibinigay nilang watermelon sa akin.

"We are restricted to go outside of this oasis," malungkot na sabi ni Givhani, the youngest hermit.

Malaki ang oasis ngunit napakaliit lang nito kung ikukumpara sa lugar ng laro. "Ah! I have an idea!" At kinalkal ang mga gamit sa aking inventory. "Just play with this!" Binigay ko sa kanila ang aking biniling Anglo-American fifty-two cards (nilalaro ko ito habang nagre-regen ng HP 'pag nagpapa-level up) kung saan puwede silang maglaro ng cards 'pag sila ay nabo-bore. I also handed them the old book na binigay sa akin ng village chief na sa tingin ko ay hindi ko na kakailanganin pa.

SYSTEM NOTICE!

Intimacy with the Wise Hermits has risen to 'Trusted Friend'. After your selfless acts of kindness to them, the Wise Hermits have complete faith in you.

The Hermits are prone to give favor to any of your requests.

After seeing the system notice, I can't help but smiled.

Tinuro ko sa mga ermitanyo ang mga alam kong larong baraha tulad ng tong-its, black jack at pusoy dos, mukha namang nag-e-enjoy sila rito. Since ang frozen flower ay lalabas at magre-respawn pa sa hating gabi, naglaro muna kami habang naghihintay.

Hindi ko namalayan ang oras. Nalaman ko na lang na hating gabi na nang magsalita ang tatlong ermitanyo.

"It's time," sabay-sabay nilang sabi at binaba ang mga hawak na baraha.

I followed them without saying anything. We stopped at the oasis lake, ang source ng water sa buong Markarth. Ito ay pinalilibutan ng mga magagandang halaman at mga puno ng niyog, kita rin dito ang napakagandang buwan ngayong gabi na nagre-reflect sa tubig.

Ang tubig ng lake ay nagsimulang magyelo starting from the center kung saan nakita ko ang glittering moon reflection sa lake.

"Amazing..."

Now the lake looks like a big skating ring. Ang hangin na malamig ay lalo pang lumamig.

"Look closer, Girly," sabi ni Dhala, the grumpy hermit, pointing at the center of ice lake.

I follow the hermit and look seriously sa direction ng kumikintab na part ng lake.

"The frozen flower!"

I walked easily sa nagyeyelong tubig ng lake at walang kahirap-hirap na kinuha ang bulaklak, but as I grabbed the flower, the ice collapses and turn to water once again, submerging myself sa tubig. Mabilis ang mga pangyayari, bigla akong nahulog sa malamig na tubig, almost drowned, at no choice na lumangoy pabalik sa buhangin.

SYSTEM NOTICE!!!

Nightingale has completed the 'Tough Nut to Crack Quest' that the Three Wise Hermits have given and for that they are willing to share their knowledge.

Nightingale acquired: Kal-Shushu perfect geographical map.

Nightingale's charisma has increased to 50.

Nightingale gain good reputation and becomes 'Noble'.

Nightingale has learned new ability: Dreamer. With this ability you can communicate with Kalkatoh when sleeping.

Nightingale acquired 'The Frozen Flower'.

Nightingale is now the landowner of The Mystical Oasis.

"What?! Owned the oasis?!" Shock is written on my face as I read my system notice. Halos sampung hectaria yata itong buong oasis.

"As I said before, no one can see nor enter here without the magic of the mythical flower. But you, Young Assassin, as the first and the last person who will hold the frozen flower will be the Lord of this place and does will forever appear for you," said Kalkatoh, the elder hermit.

"I get it, but I thought you guys are the owner of this place?"

"No, we're merely keepers of the oasis," Givhani said with a smile.

"Is there something bothering you?" nag-aalalang tanong ng mga ermitanyo habang nakaupo ako sa tabi ng campfire at nag-iisip, soaking wet at giniginaw.

I smiled gently sa mga matatanda and shake my head. "I'm just tired. I wanted to rest but Kal-Shushu is very far from here." I yawned.

"Then why not stay and rest here, Young Lady? After all, the oasis is yours," suggestion ni Givhani, at ngumiti silang tatlo sa akin. Oh, right, my first land! Hell yeah!

♠♠♠

Si Momo ang una kong hinanap nang magising ako. Hindi ko ito nakita sa aking tabi kaya agad akong bumangon at hinagilap ito sa buong bahay.

"Momo?"

Inabutan ko ang aking android doll kasama ang aking mga asong naglalaro sa sala. "Nandito ka lang pala. Ba't ka umalis sa game, Momo?"

"Momo think it's time to spend some loving moments with the dogs," sabi nito. "The dogs asked me if Mama can stroll them?" Ang aking mga Siberian husky ay excited na nagsitahulan.

Si Momo ay isang android doll na nagkaroon ng self-awareness. Noong una para itong batang walang tigil sa pagtatanong sa akin ng mga bagay-bagay sa loob at labas ng bahay. Hanggang sa ito ay natutong mag-update ng sariling gamit, ang computer. At minsan pinabibili ako ng karagdagang chips sa Techno Hub para i-upgrade ang sarili. Ito na mismo ngayon ang kusang bumibili ng kanyang pang-upgrade gamit ang phone at credit card ko.

"Let me wash my face first and then we will go."

Mega infrastructures, tall community buildings, city lights, and crowd noises, iyon lang ang makikita mo kahit saan ka pumunta at tumingin. Ito na ngayon ang mukha ng lungsod ng Caloocan City, Fairview.

"Mama, David called me and he said that I need to stay in his place," sabi ni Momo habang nag-i-stroll kami ng mga aso. Momo is riding one of my dogs.

I frowned. "Did he? Why?"

"David said that he needs Momo's specialty to do something for him."

Specialty, eh?! Natatawa ako habang iniisip kung anong specialty ang tinutukoy nila.

"I don't mind, you go and stay for the day at David's place." Isang masayang yes ang reply nito at saka umalis.