✿*:･ﾟ𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝕿𝖜𝖔: 𝕲𝖆𝖗𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖉 𝕸𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖆𝖌𝖊ﾟ･:*✿

Fastforward (Present) . . .

"What can you say about what you've now become, baby?" Masuyong tanong sa 'kin ni Ryfin.

We're here at the side of the precinct after we thirteen, headed to Countess Zelena's devoir. Hindi pa rin maalis sa 'king isipan ang in-anunsiyo ni Countess sa 'ming labin-dalawa.

We're now horoits and that only means we twelve are Countess Zelena's first chosen prowess heroes. It's a big duty and responsibilty for the twelve of us so I'm actually worried because I think it's too big for us to have that kind of responsibility.

"Perhaps, proud? I mean, yes I'm proud and happy that I am chosen, too, but I'm worried as well because we're new to this kind of stuff. Mabigat na responsibilidad ito dahil hindi lang hawak namin ang mga HCian na nandirito kung 'di sa buong HC, maging sa unibersidad natin," pag-amin ko sa sagot ko at napabuntonghininga.

"And not only that, I am the chosen leader of HC Heroes instead of Ate Klabie who does manage well when it comes to leading these kind of stuffs," dagdag ko pa matapos bumuntonghininga.

Naramdaman ko namang hinawakan niya ang kamay ko kaya napatingin ako sa kan'ya. Nagtama ang paningin namin at mula sa mga mata niya ay pumungay iyon.

"Don't be worried. I know you're already a great leader. I always have faith in you, remember that," malambing na aniya.

Ginantihan ko rin siya ng hawak sa kamay niya at nginitian siya ng matamis. At ng dahil lang sa simpleng assurance niya, nawala ang pangamba at pag-aalala ko ng gano'n-gano'n lang.

"Thank you, Ryf," sinserong pasasalamat ko.

"No worries, baby, I'm always here, I love you," malambing na tugon niya.

Inihilig ko ang ulo ko sa balikat niya, maging gano'n din siya sa 'kin.

After that day, we headed immediately to Countess Zelena because she would announce something important as what Maui told us.

"Ano po ang kailangan niyo sa 'min, Countess?" Tanong ko kaagad nang makapasok ako sa opisina niya.

Napansin ko ang pagiging seryoso ng countess habang nakatingin sa 'min.

"This will be your first ever mission, as what I've told y'all for the past months, enemies are starting to attack us. They used a very strange shot to inject those shape-shifter creatures you've been attacking and fighting for the past months to become more powerful and dangerous," panimula ni Countess Zelena.

"So that's why, they don't die quickly because of that strange shot," sabat ko.

"Yes, you're right, SC. Kuiper," she agree.

"And, what are we going to do now? How can we stop those creatures? They're shape-shifters too, right? So, I think it's harder for us to attack and stab them easily, we might get manipulated by them. Hindi rin natin sila makikilala kaagad," sabat ni Zieth.

'Yon din ang pinag-aalala ko. Baka dahil sa pagshe-shape-shift nila, hindi naman sila makikilala at mabilis lamang kaming mamanipulate, ang mas malala pa ay baka kami pa ang mapapahamak.

"What's the point of your abilities if the twelve of you don't have teamwork and y'all not use your unique skills and powers that you have? May I remind y'all that the twelve of you are monthly trained because of the monthly evaluations we have? Until now, you all are not used to your skills even when you're already trained? I already announced yesterday that the twelve of you are my first choice to be the first protectors and horoits of HC, so show me what you've learned and trained from the start," panghahamon ni Countess Zelena.

Natahimik kaming labin-dalawa dahil doon. I know she's right and I beg to agree. Kung panghihinaan lamang kami ng loob ay hindi namin magagawa 'to at madidismaya ang countess sa 'min. Parang 'di kami karapat-dapat na bigyan kami ng gano'n kaimportanteng titulo.

"Trust yourselves, horoits. You all already knew what you can do," pagpapatuloy pa niya.

Unti-unting lumakas ang loob ko na kaharapin ang unang misyon namin dahil sa sinabi ni Countess Zelena.

"Mission accepted, countess," sabay-sabay naming tugon patungo kay Countess Zelena.

Doon siya unti-unting ngumiti at pinagpapatuloy ang pagsasalita.

She showed a wide hologram with a flashed image of the map that we're going through.

"As you can see, in order to stop injecting those creatures with that strange shot, you must go through this pathway, the zodiacal forest, in which many of those creatures lives in. You need to find that one enemy who has that strange shot and bring it back in here to me. But beware of that enemy's henchmen, they're scattered around to protect that enemy you're targetting to," pagpapatuloy niya kaya napatango-tango ako.

"Me and my most trusted preceptors will going to guide you along the way and we'll warn you all using your HC signlets if there are enemies or roguants that'll going to attack the twelve of you," dagdag pa niya.

"Let your first mission begin," aniya.

Countess Zelena gave us combat suits to wear for the mission before we finally go towards our first mission with the help of the university's horoscope-like shuttle.

We, girls, wore an upper halter then wrist gloves, a lower high-waist pants and combat boots. Boys wore blazers, waist coat, long coat, breeches, gears, goggles, and flat boots. Iba't-iba rin ang mga kulay ng bawat suot namin. Mine was ruby, Ky was garnet, Ate Klabie was moonstone, Jalu was sapphire, Dyce was blue zircon, Nayi was diamond, Javey was yellow topaz, Cary was emerald, Tryx was peridot, Zieth was aquamarine, and Javin was opal in color.

Nang sa wakas ay nakarating na kami sa kagubatan na sinasabi ni Countess Zelena ay pinateleport kami para mapababa ng tuluyan sa lupa ng kagubatan na ito.

Pero nang makatapak kami sa gubat ay biglang nawala ang shuttle. Nagulat lamang ako ng bahagya roon pero pinanatili ko pa ring i-pokus ang gagawin namin para magwagi ang misyon na 'to sa aking pamumuno.

I motioned my hand to them to follow me and walk slowly towards the forest. Pinanatili ko lamang ang dahan-dahan naming paglalakbay.

Napahinto lamang ako sa paglalakad nang lumiwanag ng kaunti ang aking pulseras kaya napalingon ako roon at may red warning na logo sa hologram niyon. Parang may nakita akong nilalang na parang pupunta rito sa gawi namin kaya sinenyasan ko sila na gamitin ang kanilang kapangyarihan para hindi kami makita ng paparating na kalaban.

'Yong iba na hindi kayang maglaho ay nagtago lamang sa mga puno na malapit lang sa kanila.

Tama nga ang pakiramdam ko at gumawi nga rito ang nilalang na 'to na katulad ng sa 'ming pagtindig. Inoobserbahan ko lang siya para makahanap ng tiyempo at patayin siya.

Nang makahanap ako ng tiyempo ay pumikit ako at inuukit sa isipan ko ang susunod na mangyayari sa 'kin kapag kinalaban ko siya pero wala akong makita kaya kinabahan ako. Pinilit kong inuukit pero walang lumalabas na  kahit man lang isang guhit sa isipan ko.

Wala akong nagawa kundi ay pinorma ko na lamang ang ilalabas kong mga bola ng apoy sa nilalang na 'to.

Pinakawalan ko kaagad 'yon at sa kamalas-malasan nga naman ay bigla na lamang siyang nawala kaya kinabahan ako lalo. Where is he?

Napasalampak ako sa sahig ng may tumamang kung anong napakabigat na bagay sa likod ko. Hindi ko namalayan na nandoon lang pala sa likod ko ang nilalang na 'yon at mas lalo pa akong nagulat ng umiba ang hitsura at postura nito. Para na itong isang basilisko kung tignan.

I tried to make rings of fire using both of my hands but this creature always interrupted me and I can't freaking focus because of what it will going to do to me! Pumikit na lamang ako ng mariin.

Bago pa may mangyaring masama sa 'kin ay nakarinig ako ng makailang ulit na tunog punyal kaya napamulat ako ng mga mata. Nabigla ako saglit dahil nakabulagta na ngayon sa lupa ang nilalang na ito at nakita ko sa harapan ko si Ky na hawak-hawak ang punyal na siguro'y siyang dahilan kung bakit namatay itong halimaw na 'to.

"Siguro naman hindi na 'to mabubuhay ulit dahil makailang beses ko na itong sinasaksak," ngising aniya ngunit ngumiwi na lamang ako.

"Halika na kayo, pupunta na tayo sa destinasyon natin. Follow my lead," utos ko habang pinapagpag ko ang alikabok at dumi sa paanan ko. Bago pa naman din itong sinuot ko at ibinigay lang.

Finally, we're now in our destination and I immediately motioned my hand to silenced them and follow what I am going to do them.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ko sila tinignan isa-isa at saka nagsalita.

"Here's what we are going to do..."

Matapos ang pagpaplano namin sa magiging hakbang para mapuksa ang mga kalaban ay nagkatanguan pa muna kami at doon na kami naghiwalay ng landas.

I am the first one to walk towards it and immediately made a fire bow with an arrow. Pinakawalan ko kaagad 'yon ng magsimulang lumalapit sa 'kin ang mga kalaban pati na rin ang mga nilalang na 'yon.

That's what I'm going to do for our plan, I am going to disturb these enemies I'm facing and fighting at, I  want them to focus on me.

As I was busy shooting them arrows and making stuffs with my power to kill them, I quickly gazed through Zieth who was now on the main path towards the place where that person who have that strange shot was.

Maya't-maya ko silang tinignan isa-isa kung nakapasok na ba silang lahat habang pinapatay at pinupuksa ko ang mga kalaban. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng mapansing nasa loob na sila.

Pumikit ako ng mariin at tinignan ang maaari kong gawin sa madalian nilang pagpatay. Nang matapos ay tinignan ko ang mga kalaban at nakangisi saka ko sila isa't-isang nilalapitan para bigyan sila ng isang kahindik-hindik na abilidad na kaya kong gawin para mabilis silang mamatay. I tried many abilities I merely not used to and hopefully I was able to cope up with it comfortably.

Matapos ko silang ipinatumba ay kumaripas ako ng takbo papasok kung nasaan na ang mga kaibigan ko kanina.

Pero nagulat ako nang pagkapasok ko ay wala 'yong kalaban na nagdadala ng kakaibang shot na 'yon.

Lumapit ako sa mga kaibigan ko at tinanong ko sa kanila kung bakit wala rito ang pakay naming lahat.

May ibinigay naman sa 'kin si Nish na isang malayang dahon at may nakalagay roon na mga simbolong hindi ko maintindihan.

"Ano naman 'to?" Tanong ko sa kanila.

"We don't know either, Aez. But, let's report it to Countess Zelena, I think she knows what's the meaning of this symbols written on that leaf," ani Tryx.

Seryoso kong muling tinignan ang hawak kong dahon. What's the meaning behind these symbols?

But, I'm sure that it's from that enemy we're targetting. I didn't even know, actually, that enemy was a clever coward because of this garbled message he wrote in a piece of a dried leaf.

Symbols. . .

Dried leaf. . .

Garbled message. . .

Hmm, I'm sure there's a deep meaning and connection to that strange shot in these symbols.

✿*:･ﾟ━━━━━༺۵༻━━━━━ﾟ･:*✿

unedited.