The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 029

“So you’re back,” Master Deborah greets. This time she’s the first one waiting on the border. “I thought you won’t be returning after that first encounter with the paraduno.”

“I need something to distract me,” I answer. “Where’s Nico?” I ask as I look around the area.

“He’ll be here soon. Don’t worry about that guy.”

“You had plans after this?” she asks.

“None.”

“You’re staying at Pablo’s inn, right? How was the old man’s funeral?”

I swallow and look away before answering. “Fine.”

“I hope you’re not using this training just to relieve your anger.”

“I’m not,” I answer.

My anger is not that shallow. As if conspiring against me, fate has taken my life, my friends, and now, it even took Master Orson. I don’t think I will be able to pardon something like that. However, I don’t have the strength to fight back. That’s why I’m here and trying to learn from one of the Quads.

A few moments later, Nico arrives. He ties his horse on the post and approaches us.

“Good morning. How are you?” he asks when he reaches us.

“I’m fine,” I answer.

Then his attention switches to Master Deborah and comments, “You’re earlier than me for the first time.”

I watch the two banter. Do all warriors act like this around Master Deborah? Or is it only Nico?

As before, it’s Master Deborah who opens the barrier of the zone. I check my buntot-pagi. I don’t use it since it’s primarily used for night creatures, but it’s better to be prepared, especially when we saw a paraduno last time. But instead of preparing my blessing, I take out my gunong. I haven’t learned how to use it, but it will be faster than activating my blessing.

However, we haven’t taken a few steps from the forest when we see a Banwaanon among the trees. It is looking at us from a distance but doesn’t do anything but observe. Like some of the other inhabitants of the forest, it is one of the harmless ones. Sometimes, it would even help the humans it likes.

Half an hour later, I look back at the Banwaanon, and it’s still there.

“Don’t even think about talking to it,” Master Deborah starts.

She’s referring to the ability of the Banwaanon for human speech. It is an intelligent creature that will hide unless it has some purpose. It c*cks its head to me and seems to come closer. However, Master Deborah looks at it, and it retreats.

“Smart creatures, but cowards,” she says.

Then we hear hoofbeats which I initially thought were horses. But then, when they come into view, I see half-human, half-horse monsters running from our right to our left.

“Now, we see a herd of Kabalans? But instead of vengeance, it’s just passing over us?” Nico asks. “What is wrong today?”

“Probably, Orson’s absence last week,” Master Deborah says. “That i***t takes care of the harmful ones and makes friends with the harmless ones. That little Banwaanon might have been following us because it didn’t see Orson last week.”

Suddenly, a grungy creature comes running after the Kabalans. It has thick, disheveled hair around its body. It has big, piercing eyes, twice the size of an owl’s eyes. Its whole body is the size of a grade-schooler kid with a hunchback. It was carrying a weapon, a large wooden one the shape of a bat. It’s called a Kurakpao. When it sees us, it stops running after the Kabalans and scrutinizes us.

“I don’t know why the Kabalans are running away, but this is some of the easier to defeat monsters,” Nico comments.

“If it attacks us, do the honors, Holly,” Master Deborah says. “Use this as your training. I’ll reserve my energy if ever we come across a high-level monster.”

However, I don’t want to attack the kurakpao. It’s small and only seems like an ugly, angry child with a weapon more prominent than its body. I know! I can just make it sleep. I kneel and touch the forest floor. As before, I call on my anito and feel the mist swirling around my hand. I open my eyes in surprise. Anitun Tabu is easier to reach this time. Why? Is it because of my practice and training the past few weeks?

I take a deep breath and think of the components of a sleeping potion. Once the ingredients are in place, I mix them together. However, before I even finish, it starts to spin around my palm. It’s hovering an inch from my hand. I look at the kurakpao.

“Just leave, and we won’t hurt you,” I say.

Master Deborah groans. “This is supposed to be training. Why the hell are you trying to communicate with it?” She took her kris out of its sheath. She presses on the hilt and takes an offensive stance.

The hairs of the Kurakpao stand to their end as if sensing Master Deborah’s plan against it.

“Just let Holly handle it. You’re too old for a kurakpao,” Nico says.

Master Deborah switches from her stance and approaches Nico. “You’re more and more arrogant.”

“It’s true. We are here for three things. One is to retrieve some new monster remains. Two, defeat the more dangerous monsters, and three, train Holly. We’re not here for your enjoyment.”

I thought that Master Deborah would hit him in the face, when instead, she smirks and says, “Really, why did I even think about getting you as my assistant.”

“Because I’m the strongest amongst the candidates,” he says matter-of-factly.

“See, the arrogance this guy has, Holly? Do you think you can teach this ass a lesson some time?”

“Holly has the skills, but she doesn’t have the strength to defeat me. Not yet.”

Master Deborah smiles and makes a shivering action. “Damn, I really wanna see you fight the little girl.”

As if being ignored, the kurakpao grumbles and then attacks. When it’s only a meter from me, I activate my transportation magic, and the kurakpao hits it, face first, and falls back, dazed and disoriented from the force of it. I approach it and pour the potion on my palm, instantly knocking it out.

“So it seems that you can use two magic at the same time now,” Master Deborah comments. “You’re getting much more skilled.”

“Still, she can’t defeat me. She’s all the skills but no strength.”

“Wait, Nico. You’ll see, she’ll defeat you before she even turns eighteen.”

“What should we do with the knocked-out kurakpao?” I ask.

“I know!” Master Deborah exclaims. “Let’s have a monthly showdown! You and Holly. I command you.”

To be continued...