The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 049

As Master Deborah suggests, I let my hair loose during my first day as a mage in the Quads office—to hide the hickeys on my neck. I even need to wear my long-sleeved robe just to conceal half of my arms. It’s good that my chest and tummy don’t need extra covering, else they’ll notice that I am hiding something. I already applied the medication on it early this morning, but it will take until tonight before it vanishes from my skin, even with my potion.

I stand in attention with the other graduates. No fresh deaths in the Academy either, which is a good sign, I hope. Cara already got her designation. She’s to help the farmers that live around the town center. As for Ethan, Al, Aicelle, and I, we are to accompany the warriors and mages outside the zone. Since the goal is to familiarize us and test our combat ability, we will be with other mages. It is a needed exercise to determine our designation.

Our mage leader, named Tomas Rivera, and his assistant, Edmund Taberna, are with us to ensure our safety outside the zone. Sir Tomas is giving us the rundown on how we need to behave outside, including being alert and not veering off course. Unlike us, he is not wearing a robe. His voice is clear, and his explanation is easily understandable. He’s warning us that we need to give our all on the exercise to determine our designation while waiting for the Scepter selections.

As he talks about the common monsters that can be found outside, my mind starts to wander on the weapon they are holding, which is mostly, small, like my gunong. In truth, Ethan has the biggest weapon, and Al has the smallest one since his focus is not on physical strength.

There are only six of us in the clearing, and the border is on our right. This is a different border gate from the one that Master Deborah and I have been using to train in the woods for two years. This particular gate has a warrior who’s constantly guarding it. While Sir Tomas is onboarding us, I notice that there are also warriors patrolling the area aside from the gate guard. They even have a modest shade house close to the border gate where the medallion trinket should be touched to open.

As if reading my mind, Tomas Rivera says, “This particular gate is the one most used by visitors in the western area of Benia. I’m sure you still remember your lessons on geography?”

We nod. Benia is primarily an agricultural and trading country. It is not as large as its neighbor, Caltra, but it’s blessed with an ocean on the East, mountains to the north, and forests all around. Caltra is southeast, where most of the warriors are. It’s the only place where farming is allowed outside the border. It’s the safer part because of the number of warriors stationed close to it.

In total, there are only five border gates. Two gates are on the northeast, which faces the ocean. One in the Sword’s area where farming and hunting are allowed outside the border. Then, this particular border gate which is the closest to the town center and all the mages on the Marahuyo Academy. And the other one is on the west, where Master Deborah, Nico, and I are using. It’s primarily used by those who don’t need processing and certifications—usually warriors and mages who are given the medallion trinket.

After the orientation, Sir Tomas ushers us to approach the gate. He talks to the guard and points at the four of us. The guard only nods as he glances at us from time to time. Sir Tomas gives him a couple of documents, probably our certification to leave just for this day’s training.

“Damn, I’m excited!” Ethan exclaims next to me. His hold on his favorite weapon tightens, and he makes a shivering act just to prove his point.

And I’m not. I’ve been outside a couple of times. And even if this is my first time, I’m sure it’s not excitement that I will feel. I look behind me to see both Al and Aicelle’s reaction. They are both calm and with straight faces. I wonder how they’ve been coping with the loss of Demetrio. He’s their close friend, and they’ve always been together, in group activity and all. And I’m sure that Demetrio will be one of the mages who’d support Aicelle with her plans if he’s still alive.

“We can leave now,” Sir Tomas says as the guard takes out his medallion to open the shield for us. I bring my own with me but I hide it together with my protection trinket. It will not do any good if either of them sees it.

“Are you all prepared?” Sir Tomas asks.

“Yes, sir!” We chorus.

The physical wall opens up, and next is the barrier that protects it. Sir Tomas is the first out, followed by Ethan and all of us. Sir Edmund is at the end to ensure none will surprise us from behind.

Once outside, I look around. This is a different view from the border gate I’ve used before. In front of me is still the forest that encompasses up to my left until it disappears as the wall curves. But on my right are mountains in the north. It’s a natural protection of Benia against humans, but what’s dangerous there are the monsters that inhabit it. That is why there are no border gates in that area, and the barrier is the densest in that it’s almost visible. In fact, when inside the wall and one looks outside to the mountains, they’ll see mountains that seem to be covered in fog. In actuality, it’s just the strength of the barrier in that area. Here, outside the border, the sky over the mountain is clear and covered in green vegetation. It’s refreshing to the eye; just don’t enter the actual forest if one doesn't want to chance upon a high-level monster.

“Take out your weapons and be alert to activate your blessing in a moment’s notice,” Sir Tomas warns.

We walk a mile into the forest, then another mile, but we haven’t encountered any monsters. Not even the common ones that usually inhabit the jungle close to the wall.

I try to recall if this event happened in my previous timeline. It didn’t. But I remember that Ethan, Al, and Aicelle went out of the zone while Cara and I were designated to the farms. After that venture, I remember that both Ethan and Al started to train hard, both their body and mind.

“That’s weird,” Sir Tomas says. He wipes his forehead with a small towel. It's noon, and it’s becoming hotter.

“Edmund, let’s set up there for lunch,” he orders and points at a couple of trees a few meters from us. They will offer a lovely shade. Unlike most of the forest around Marahuyo, the vegetation here is not as rampant, considering that we are at the foot of a mountain.

Sir Edmund just nods and proceeds to call on his anito. For the hours of walking and even before that, I haven’t heard a single word from him. Ethan said more words than him when he's not supposed to.

As I watch Sir Edmund, chairs and tables start to appear. It starts from a sprout of root from the ground and then pushes itself up until it becomes the height of a chair. After that, it mingles by itself to form a little platform for us to sit on. It’s a valuable blessing, and I wonder who his anito is. It’s a lot like Cara’s blessing.

Then, we take out our lunch and start to share with each other. Mine’s prepared by Aaron, Marahuyo’s beef steak—thin slices of beef marinated in soy sauce, calamansi, and onion. It is a perfect blend of sweet, sour, and salty flavor, a favorite in Pablo’s inn. He wanted to prepare the classic sinigang but mentioned that it would be hard to carry. So instead, he added vegetable lumpia with his unique vinegar as its sauce.

Sir Tomas glances at the meal I am distributing and comments, “At last! A mage who knows how to cook!”

I redden, and my friends snicker. They knew I’d rather stay in the library than study how to cook. I know the simple dishes because I create potions, but I never really bothered to teach myself the more complex meals.

“It’s my friend who prepared it,” I whisper.

I look at the meals my friends have. Those are bought from the restaurants surrounding the Quads office.

Al snorts. “Friend or lover?”

“Aha!” Sir Tomas smiles knowingly. “You’re in the age when you need to experience all the romance you can get. Enjoy it fully! If you become Scepters, you won’t have the liberty.”

“I’m not planning to become one,” I whisper again.

Sir Tomas frowns, and even Sir Edmund glances at me. “Aren’t you in this training because you qualify for the selection?”

Before I can answer, Ethan perks up. He starts to close his food container and gestures for us to do the same and keep quiet.

After returning my unfinished lunch on my rucksack, I kneel and touch the ground. Unlike before, I can activate my blessing without touching the soil. But this time, I need to touch it to feel the vibrations. Possibly, the sound of water or the sound of moisture on it?

“What is it?” Ethan asks.

“Animals running and then….” I frown. “Falling, shivering and then dying?”

What is this? I look at my friends and the two older mages. This is very familiar. I rack my brains to remember. I haven’t been reading a lot as I used to on my previous timeline, but it doesn’t mean that I have already forgotten what I’ve learned before.

I build the image of a book about monsters. Then, the part that scares animals away but still poses a danger to the humans. There are very few of them since most monsters ignore animals. Then, I filter it to monsters that appear in the day.

I break away from the soil and stand up. “It’s popo,” I answer.

“W-What?” Ethan asks. “Poop?”

“You should really learn your monsters,” Al answers and prepares himself. Then, like Aicelle, water appears around him while Ethan armors himself with his blessing.

To be continued…