Waking up in Another World

Chapter 15: The Crimson Crows (I)

Celine's POV

We entered the resto and I can already smell the delicious aroma of the served foods. Shet mukhang masarap nga.

Caelus pulled me towards a vacant table and we sat there. Bale nasa harapan ko si Caelus since pang dalawahan lang tong table na to.

"Good morning, what are your orders please?" a waitress said as she stood beside our table.

She handed us a menu and I looked at it. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita ko ang presyo ng isang pagkain lang, 25 pounds? the hell, mas mahal pa yon sa overnight stay ko?

"What do you want Celine? don't worry I'll pay" Caelus muttered that's why I looked at the menu again.

Hinanap ko yung pinakamura at saka itinuro iyon, "Etong Coho Salmon nalang"

Di ko talaga alam kung masarap yon o hindi pero yon kasi ang pinakamura, ayoko naman pagastusin si Caelus ng mahal, aba ang kapal naman ng mukha ko.

"Nahihiya pa ang puta, ano nga? alam kong yon lang pinili mo kasi mura, wag ako Celine" malakas na sabi pa niya kaya napaangat ako ng tingin.

Tangina naman neto, nakakahiya. Siguro iniisip netong waitress na katabi namin na nag-iinarte pa ako, bwiset na Caelus to, pwede namang hinaan.

"M-Malay ko, di ko naman alam kung ano masarap diyan" sabi ko pa saka napatungo. Ansarap sampigahin, nagtitinginan pa yung ibang mga customer samin kasi medyo malakas talaga yung pagkakasabi ni Caelus.

"Sige ako na ang oorder. We'll take 2 beef tenderloin, large oregon trout, veal scallopini at gusto mo ba ng mussels, Celine?"

Napailing nalang ako kahit di ko alam kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. Baka mamaya di pa masarap.

"Sige atsaka isang salade nicoise at fresh herb rissoto nalang. Para sa drinks, we'll have iced tea"

"Okay, I'll just repeat your orders, sir. 2 beef tenderloin, large oregon trout, veal scallopini, salade nicoise and fresh herb rissoto and the drinks would be an iced tea, is that all sir?"

Caelus nodded and the waitress smiled, "Got it. Please wait for 10 minutes" the waitress said before leaving.

Nasampiga ko ng isa si Caelus at nagtataka naman niya akong tiningnan habang hawak hawak yung mukha niya na sinampiga ko, "Parang tanga to, nananampiga ng basta basta"

"Puta ka kase, anlakas ba naman ng boses mo kanina. Isipin pa ng mga katabi natin napakahirap ko kaya yung mura pinagbibibili ko"

Napatawa siya atsaka nagsalita, "Ikaw kase nag-iinarte ka pa, sabing ako nga magbabayad"

"Aba malay ko ba, ang mahal pala dito di mo sinabe"

"HAHAHAHHA akala ko kasi alam mo na, may nakalagay kaya don sa labas na menu"

Napangiwi nalang ako at saka naupo ng ayos. "May sanrio ka?" tanong ko kay Caelus.

"Wala bakit naman ako magkakaroon non?"

"Aba baka nagamit ka non eh"

"Di ah, gusto mo ikuha kita?" he said that's why my eyebrows creased. "Akala ko ba wala ka?"

"Wala nga, pero pwede kita ikuha sa iba" sabi niya na inginuso pa yung table na medyo malayo samin. May nakita akong nakapatong na sanrio sa table nila.

"Nanakawin mo?"

"HAHAHAHHA parang?"

"Abnormal ka ba, bigla mo nalang kukuhanin?"

"Siyempre hindi, may magic ako remember? just watch and learn" he said and grinned.

"Air Manipulation" he chanted. Nagulat nalang ako ng biglang gumalaw yung sanrio sa table nila. Bigla itong nalaglag don sa table pero since maliit lang iyon, di siya nahalata nung mga babae na nakaupo don.

Unti-unting lumutang yung sanrio at saka nagtungo papunta sa amin. Caelus catched it and handed it over to me.

"A-Ang galing, pano mo ginawa yon?"

He created a basic sign using his hands and smiled proudly, "Since my magic is air, I can manipulate air at will. Air is a scattered particle which means that in every corner of this room, there is air. I just concentrated an enough amount of air in their table and controlled it towards me, that way, parang dinala lang ng hangin na kinokontrol ko yung isang piraso ng sanrio"

My mouth gaped in amusement. Ang lupet ng kapangyarihan niya...

"Anyway, alam mo nung muntikan na akong mapatay ng hounds sa forest, before pa ako makapunta sa Lullin Village, sayo ba nanggaling yung parang wind na wave?" tanong ko ng maalala ko yung scene na yon.

Napaisip naman siya bigla, "Yung sabi mong iligtas ko yung bata?" he asked and I nodded. "Oo sakin nga hehe. Maigi nalang umabot ako nung time na yon"

"By the way, bakit nga pala di mo nirereveal yung human form mo sakin dati pa? nung nasa mortal world tayo, bakit di ka nagtatransform?"

"I can't"

Nagtataka ko siyang tinignan kaya napa-explain naman siya, "As you can see, these two worlds have different atmosphere. One is filled with magic and the other doesn't. Parang nirerestrict ng human world yung magic ko, that's why I can't revert into this form"

"Eh bakit di ka nagtransform nung una palang? nandito na tayo non but you still remained in your cat form?"

"Hehe, baka matakot ka eh"

"Bakit naman ako matatakot?"

"Because I'm not an ordinary cat. Actually, I've thought of reverting back into this form a lot of times because of the circumstances... just like the hounds incident, if that guy didn't came to rescue us, I would have transformed into this form but he came just in the right time that's why it's not necessary for me to reveal my true form. I don't want to reveal it because I thought you'll be afraid at me and leave me alone. I-I don't want that... that's why if possible, I don't want to blow my cover pero dahil antanga ko, nalaman mo tuloy" sabi niya na napatawa pa.

"Why would you even think that I'll abandon you? for me, you're still Chubby no matter what form you inhabit" sabi ko pa kaya napangisi siya.

"Sus, crush mo lang ako" panloloko pa niya.

"Kapal naman ng mukha mo HAHAHAHHA"

"Excuse me, ma'am, sir, eto na po yung orders niyo. Eat well!" sabi pa nung waitress na dumating. May kasama siya tapos dala dala nila yung pagkain. They put it in our table and we thanked her for her service.

Napatingin ako sa mga pagkain at ang sosyal. Mamahaling restaurant nga talaga to, lahat nung mga pagkain ay magaganda yung design tapos ambango pa niya.

Medyo madami din siya at mukhang masarap, nagutom tuloy ako lalo.

We started eating at ansarap talaga, di tinipid sa ingredients. Di ko pa to natitikman dun sa mortal world kaya medyo peculiar pa rin sakin yung taste niya pero promise, ansarap.

"Hey, have you heard about the new dungeon?" sabi nung babae na nasa tabing table namin.

"Dungeon?" bulong pa ni Caelus. Mukhang naging interesado siya kaya nakinig siya lalo, chismoso.

"Narinig ko yan kay Gorde, what do you think, girls? shall we clear it?"

"Agree... madami tayong makukuha na rare items don, kung seswertihin baka makakuha pa tayo ng sacred relic"

Sinipa ko ng mahina si Caelus na busy sa pakikinig kaya napaangat siya ng tingin sakin. Parang tinatanong niya ako mentally ng 'What?' dahil napataas pa ang kilay niya.

"Ano yung dungeon?" bulong ko sa kanya kasi baka marinig kami tas sabihin pa nakiki-eavesdrop ako.

"It's a cave that you can clear. I'm sure you have heard of it when you're in the mortal world, I used to see those in online games in your world. Basically speaking, a dungeon is a cave full of rare items and if you're really lucky, you might find a sacred relic which is super duper rare"

"Sacred Relic?"

"It's a weapon that has an amazing property. Well, it varies depending on the weapon so I can't really explain or tell you what is this property that I'm talking about but think of it as just an additional ability of the one who will wield it"

"Ahhhhh, eh ano yung examples ng mga rare items?"

"Those are just stones and artifacts. They were usually sold at a high price, if you're lucky enough to find a super rare stone, it can be sold at about a million or even greater pounds. That's why most adventurers or even villagers look forward when there is a dungeon since this is a way for them to earn money easily" he said and my jaw dropped.

Tangina, million or even greater pounds? basically para lang siyang sa mortal world, kapag may nahanap kang rare artifact pwede mo siya ibenta kaso as far as I can remember illegal yon kasi owned daw yon ng country.

"Isn't that illegal?"

"Nope. All items in the dungeon are for everyone. Once you got hold of it, it can already be yours, siyempre kung di mananakaw" he said while laughing.

"Isn't that too good to be true? I bet there's a consequence for it"

"Of course, everything comes with a price. Yes, a dungeon is filled with rare items but there are monsters in there. Some can even be classified as rate s and s+ which you should especially stay away from if you don't want to die. Bale parang you can acquire rare items but in doing so, you should also be prepared in dying"

Nangilabot ako bigla, talagang wala ngang libre. You have to risk your life in order to earn a lot of money. Kung sakin yon, wag na lang, aba ayokong mamatay. Pano kung wala pa palang rare items don? sayang lang pagsasakripisyo ko atsaka kung mamamatay ka din naman, sayang lang yung makukuha mo.

"Anyway, ano yung rate s at s+?"

Napatawa nalang siya at saka napailing. "Wala ka talagang ka-alam alam dito? HAHAHHAHAHA, as you can see monsters are also classified depending on their strength. There is a rate d, which is the lowest, rate c, b, a, s and s+ naman which is the highest, bale ascending order yon. Based on your capabilities, I think ang matatalo mo lang ay rate d, pero nanganganib ka pa rin HAHAHHAHA. Do you remember the hounds? they are just rate d, but still you didn't stood a chance"

"Grabe ka naman saken, parang napakahina ko ah? sampigahin kaya kita jan?"

"Tch, warfreak ka talaga HAHAHAHA, pero, if possible, I wanted you to stay away from rate b and above. They're stronger and they can kill you if you're careless" he said and his tone changed?

Di ko maexplain pero parang mas nalungkot ang boses niya, "However, you shouldn't worry too much about it because I'm at your side" proud na sabi niya na itinaas pa ang biceps at saka itinuro iyon. Abnormal ampota.

"Anyway, san tayo pupunta next? yung rotten grove kung nasaan si Serena, di ko na alam kung saan papunta don. Nakalimutan ko na, alam mo ba Caelus?" tanong ko pa.

"Hindi din pero you shouldn't worry about it, alam ko kung saan tayo next na pupunta"

I looked at him in confusion, akala ko ba di niya alam? "San? sabi mo di mo alam?"

"Sa dungeon, duh?"

"Akala ko ba delikado don gawa ng mga rate chuchu na monsters? bakit pa tayo pupunta?"

"Wala ka bang tiwala sa kagwapuhan ko? basic lang sakin ang mga yon" mayabang na ani pa niya kaya napangiwi ako. Abnormal talaga, antaas masyado ng self-confidence.

We finished eating at kinapa na niya ang bulsa niya. Tinignan niya ako ng nanlalaki ang mata kaya nagtaka ako.

A realization hit me. Putangina, wag mong sasabihing wala kang pera.

"Nawawala yung pera ko---"

Sinipa ko siya ng malakas kaya napa-aray siya. "Tanginang to, wala din akong pera di ata kasya yung natitirang pera ko"

"Tumakas nalang tayo" sabi niya na napatawa pa. Tinignan ko siya ng masama, "Engot ka ba? hahabulin tayo niyan tanga"

Puta nakakaadwa. Anlakas ng loob magyaya wala pala siyang pera. "Excuse me, ma'am, sir, is there anything wrong? anyway, here is your bill" she said and put a tray with the receipt inside.

Napatingin ako don para makita ko kung magkano yung babayaran at tangina mo talaga Caelus.

Napalunok ako at saka nanginginig na kinapa yung bulsa ko. Pota, 328 pounds yung total. Gago ba tong si Caelus, 100 pounds lang yung binigay saken ni Sam tas nabawasan pa gawa ng nagcheck in kami sa inn. Pano kakasya to? bwiset.

Inginuso niya yung bill sakin at saka tinignan ako ng natatawa. Abnormal, pano ko to babayaran?

"Uhmmm, w-wala po p-p-pa---" nanginginig na sabi ko pa dun sa waitress ng biglang humagalpak ng tawa si Caelus.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA, you should have seen your face Celine HAHAHAHHAHA. I'm just kidding, here it is" sabi niya bigla saka ipinatong ang isang leather pouch sa table.

"That's 400 pounds, you can keep the change" sabi niya tapos kinindatan pa yung waiter. Namula bigla yung waiter at saka gumalaw galaw pa ng kaunti, kilig na kilig siguro.

Luh? anlandi.

"Anyway, alam mo ba yung dungeon daw around sa area na to?" Caelus suddenly asked the waitress. Kaya pala nagbigay ng tip, may kailangan palang itanong.

Mukhang di pa nakakaget over yung waitress kasi namumula pa siya pero umimik pa rin siya, "H-Hmmm, a lot of our customers have been talking about it"

"Do you know where it is?"

"I heard it's in southwest of Cresthill. You will pass a town first before going in there, I just don't know what's the name of the town but konti nalang ang lalakarin mo after lagpasan yung town" she said and Caelus thanked her. Umalis na yung waitress at namumula pa rin siya tapos kinikilig. Ampota, wag mong sabihin na nafall to kay Caelus?

Tinignan ko si Caelus ng nandidiri at napanguso naman siya, "What? selos ka ba? sige kindatan din kit---"

"Tanga" sabi ko saka siya sinampiga.

Natatawa naman siyang tumayo kaya tumayo na din ako. Just to be clear, di ako nagseselos ah? niloloko ko lang si Caelus na nakakadiri siyang kumindat bilang ganti sa ginawa niya kanina saken HAHAHAHHA.

We left the resto and we started walking. Hanggang ngayon, na-aamaze pa rin ako sa mga tao dito. Most of them are humans but there are also people who belongs to another race. But in spite of that, they still live harmoniously. Parang walang discrimination na nangyayari dito. It's as if they treat each other equally and that's one of the things that I like the most in here.

"T-Tulungan niyoko, p-parang awa niyo na!"

Napatingin ako sa harapan namin dahil may nakita akong babae na nagsabi non. Nalapit siya papunta sa mga tao na naglalakad tapos tsaka niya sinasabi yon. She's panicking and it's evident in her face.

Weird, ano bang nangyayare?

Pero walang napansin sa kanya. May ilang nailing kaya nalipat siya papunta sa iba pang mga tao hanggang sa makarating siya sa harap namin.

"I-Ikaw, I sense a strong aura coming from you! t-tulungan mo ako" sabi niya kay Caelus.

Nagtatakang tinignan siya ni Caelus at saka siya tinanong kung anong nangyayari.

"C-Crimson Crows are after me. I-I just need protection"

"Crimson Crows?" nakakunot noo na tanong ni Caelus.

"They are a group of people who assassinates and kill humans. I-I'm their target... my cargo has been attacked by them this morning and my guards were annihilated, I'm the only one who survived. Kaya parang awa mo na, t-tulungan mo ako... I-I'll give a compensation just protect me"

"Until when?" Caelus asked.

"Until I reached the town of Forstford!"

"Saan yon?" singit ko pa.

"A-Alam niyo naman siguro yung dungeon diba? Forstford yung pangalan ng town bago makapunta sa dungeon"

"Oh? sakto papunta kami don sa dungeon. Fine, we'll protect you" nakangiting ani ni Caelus at parang napanatag naman ang loob nung babae.

"Maraming salamat, I-I'll make sure to pay you after" she said and Caelus just nodded. Napahinga pa siya ng malalim at saka napabulong ng 'Thank God'.

Crimson Crows, huh? who the hell are they?