SINJI'S POV:
"YOU CAN'T do this to me! I am your fiancé!" paghihisterikal ni Vivi habang kinakaladkad siya ni Griffin palabas ng opisina ni Kuya.
Bobita kasi.
Sukat ba namang magkwento kay Griffin habang nakabukas ang mini micro kaya rinig na rinig namin ang sinabi niya kung paano niyang dinukot si Sav.
Pabagsak akong naupo sa swivel chair ni Kuya at nasapo ang sarili kong noo.
"Kaya pala hindi pumunta si Sav sa CDC, nilipad na pala." Komento ni Calvin nang tuluyang mawala si Vivi sa harapan namin.
"Kuya, paano mo pala nalaman ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon?" usisa ko kay Kuya Luther dahil bago pa man makarating si Griffin sa sikretong lagusan ng HuPoFEL kung saan dumaan si Vivi, ipinatawag na niya kaming mga Elite Class sa loob ng kanyang opisina.
"I just know." Tipid na sagot niya na siyang ikinangiwi ko.
"What are our plans?" tanong naman ni Dezrail.
Lahat ng atensyon namin ay napunta kay Kuya Luther na ngayon ay nanatiling nakatayo pa rin sa gitna ng kaniyang opisina at mukhang pinapakalma ang sarili niya.
"Kuya..." tawag ko.
Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang binitawan ni Kuya at saka siya nakapamulsang humarap sa amin ngunit lahat kami ay kinilabutan dahil sa kislap ng kulay dugo niyang mga mata. Mas intense yon kaysa sa mga dating kulay na nakikita namin sa kanya.
"Pre, kumalma ka," ani ni Tandang Gun at saka siya naglabas ng syringe kung saan naglalaman ng likido na ginawa niya para kumalma si Kuya Luther.
"Kalmado ako, Thorndike."
"Bakit ganyan ang kulay ng mga mata mo? Parang papatay ka na ng tao."
"Oo nga Boss."
"We can't handle your anger if you go wild here. Let's get Saviel first before you spread terror-- aray!" sigaw ni Thud nang makatanggap siya ng batok mula kay Dezrail, Calvin at Trev.
"Tumahimik ka muna!" Sabay-sabay naming sabi kaya napanguso na lang si Thud habang hinihimas ang nasaktan niyang ulo.
"Edi don't!"
Inirapan ko na lang si Thud at saka muling itinuon ang atensyon ko kay Kuya Luther.
"Tama si Thud, Kuya. Bago ka magalit, kailangan nating masiguro na ligtas na si Saviel at walang ginawa ang Neoearth sa kanya."
"We can't be sure if that group didn't do anything to her. Fynrell, check all the abandoned buildings in the vicinity near your mall."
"Okay, I'll take care of it."
"Thorndike and Dirkshied, prepare Homare for me."
"Blas, inform all the HuPoFEL members to cancel all their missions and make themselves ready for the possible war we will bring."
"Martin, check all the CCTV cameras and gather the information about where LaRough brought Hyuga. Prioritize her absence from LazyGrace until she and LaRough meet."
"I'm already working on it." Tamad na sagot naman ni Rent.
Isa sa mga hinahangaan ko kay Kuya Luther ay mabilis umandar ang utak niya para pagalawin ang mga taong nasasakupan niya at nagpaplano agad ng mga dapat gawin.
"Creighton, Devoncourt, Cohen, and De Chavez, prepare all the weapons you can use to burn down that damn group."
"Sigurado ka na ba?"
"Yes. This is the last time I will face Neoearth and take back Hyuga where she should be."
"I thought you didn't care about her?"
Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa pintuan at naroon si Griffin na kararating lang mula sa dungeon.
"Sino rin ang nagbigay sa'yo ng pahintulot na sumabat sa usapan ng Elite Class?" singhal ni Thud kay Griffin.
Pumasok siya sa loob ng opisina at sinara ang pinto at naglakad siya palapit kay Kuya Luther at harap-harapan itong tumayo sa harapan ni Kuya Luther.
Walangya! Magiging narrator na lang ba ang role ko rito? Kasali rin kaya ako sa kwento.
"If Sav is of no value to you, why don't you just give her to me?"
Nanglaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Griffin at marahas akong napatayo mula sa kinauupuan ko ngunit pinigilan ako ni Senri at Reiden Grei sa magkabila kong braso.
Wow, synchronize yern?
"What do you know about me and Hyuga?"
"Apart from your daily fights, there's nothing else. You're just hurting her. At least I love Sav--"
"Kuya!" Tili ko nang umigkas ang kamao ni Kuya Luther at tumama yon sa panga ni Griffin kaya tumilapon ito at bumangga ang katawan niya sa pintuan.
"Pupusta ako kay Bossing." Biglang sabi ni Tandang Gun kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin ngunit naglabas na ito ng pera.
"Gun, ano ba!" saway ni Alanis.
"Kay Griffin ako, 5k!" ani naman ni Trevon.
"Kay Aqueros ako."
"O, palag na. Remminton, ayusin mo!"
"Oo nga. Sayang ang pera ko pag natalo ka!"
"Mga siraulo talaga kayo," sumusukong sambit naman ni Kastiel at hinayaan na ang ibang lalaki na kasama namin.
Nasapo ko na lang ang sarili kong noo dahil nasa seryoso na kaming sitwasyon ngunit nagagawa pa nilang pagpustahan ang kapatid ko.
Napaubo si Griffin dahil sa lakas ng impact ng pagkakatilapon niya mula sa suntok ni Kuya Luther at namilipit siya sa sahig.
"You have no right to lecture me about how I feel about Hyuga and you also have no right to love her! Only I can do it!"
Nasapo ko ang sarili kong bibig dahil hindi ko inaasahan ang mga katagang lumalabas sa bibig ni Kuya Luther. Hindi ako nangingialam sa relasyon na mayroon siya kay Sav basta makita ko lang siyang masaya ay ayos na sa akin 'yon.
Nakakaproud ka talaga, Kuya.
Itayo mo ang bandila ng Bloodfist, pero gusto kong subukan ang Sa'Ffin. Saviel at Griffin for the win!
Isang pagak na tawa ang pinakawalan ni Griffin at pinilit niyang tumayo mula sa pagkakalugmok sa sahig.
"No rights? Why? Do you own Saviel to stop me from doing what I want? After all, we've been together since childhood. I was his guard during the times when she wasn't allowed to go out of the palace."
"A-Anong ibig mong sabihin?" tanong ko kay Griffin.
Sumandal siya sa pintuan at nakangising hinarap kaming lahat.
"What Saviel wrote about the book she published is true and you've all read it, haven't you? She's a queen in the hidden empire of Japan and I'm one of her loyal soldiers. The only difference is, our empire's name isn't Aethoria."
"Oh my god! Seryoso ka?" bulalas ko ngunit wala akong nakuhang sagot kay Griffin dahil nanatili ang masama niyang tingin kay Kuya Luther.
Bastos ampota.
Bakit walang kinukwento sa akin si Sav?
Bwisit na yon!
"So she's not lying about the book she wrote where we're both the protagonists?" biglang sambit ni Kuya Luther.
"When did Sav lie to you? To all of you? Stop torturing Saviel. Let her go home to her own world and fulfill her duty as a noble-blooded."
"Tss, it's not up to you to decide that."
"Why do you have rights too? I've tried to force Sav to return to our country several times, but she chose to stay by your side because she knows she's happy with you, but all you're doing is causing her pain!"
"You don't know anything."
"Ganyan ka naman, di ba? Magtatago sa sarili mong emosyon at ilubog kami sa mga katanungan kung ano ba talaga si Sav sa'yo. Huwag kang duwag, Bloodfist!"
Marahas na naglakad si Kuya Luther palapit kay Griffin kaya tuluyan na akong kumawala mula sa pagkakahawak ni Senri ngunit si Reiden pa rin ang pumipigil sa akin.
"Montenegro, bitawan mo ako!"
"What can you do? It's between them, Sinji. Let them settle what's their problem to each other."
"Ano? Hahayaan mong bugbugin ni Kuya si Griffin?"
"Hayaan mong gisingin ni Griffin ang totoong Luther Aqueros, baby. Kailangan natin 'yon." Sabat ni Senri kaya nilingon ko siya.
"Paanong gising ba ang gusto niyo? Yung tipong basag na ang bungo ni Griffin bago pa natin mapakinabangan si Kuya Luther?"
"Just read the room, will you?"
"Bakit? May translation ba? Wala naman di ba!?" pamimilosopo ko ngunit hindi binitawan ni Reiden ang kamay ko.
Paglingon ko, hawak na ni Kuya Luther si Griffin sa kanyang damit at sinakal ito gamit ang isa niyang braso sa likod ng pinto.
"Don't test my patience, Remmington. I accepted you as a member of HuPoFEL because I see that you have potential."
"I didn't ask you to accept me because first of all, my only priority is Saviel and her safety while here in your territory! Second, I am a captain of the armed forces in Saviel's empire and I don't need your orders. Third, I also don't need the money you are paying me because I can't use it!"
Sana ibigay na lang niya sa akin ang pera niya di ba? Sayang din 'yon.
"Griffin, ano ba! Don't provoke him too much!" sigaw ko.
"Do you want to die?"
"Why don't you try!?"
Nagsukatan pa ng tingin ang dalawa kaya sa inis ko, kinagat ko ang kamay ni Reiden na nakahawak sa akin kaya nabitawan niya ako at lumapit ako kay Kuya Luther at Griffin at saka ako pumagitna sa kanilang dalawa.
"Kuya, si Sav muna bago ang away ninyong dalawa. Kailangan nating bumuo ng plano kung paano natin siya makukuha!"
Binitawan ni Kuya Luther si Griffin at umayos siya ng tayo ngunit ang kulay ng kaniyang mga mata na kulay dugo ay lalong nagningas sa galit habang nakatingin kay Griffin.
"Once I get Hyuga back, don't expect her to return to your beloved country!"
"You can't lock Saviel in your world because you live in different ways."
Tinalikuran kami ni Kuya Luther at bumalik siya sa kanyang swivel chair kaya napatingin ako kay Griffin.
"Bakit mo ginawa 'yon?" sinapak ko pa ang kanyang braso kasi wala lang, naiinis ako sa kanya.
Ngumiti lang si Griffin sa akin. "Mahal ko kasi ang best friend mo."
"Tsk! Men and their hearts. Dyan ka na nga!"
Hinawi ko si Griffin at saka ko binuksan ang pinto at nauna akong lumabas.
Nai-stress ako sa kanilang lahat!
GRIFFIN'S POV:
I FOLLOWED Sinji out of Bloodfist's office because my jaw hurt from his punch.
I left the Elite Class alone because we Middle Class are forbidden from seeing them in the same place. I was just being rebellious because I returned to Bloodfist's office after I delivered LaRough to the dungeon.
I didn't know that that woman was stupid and just kept telling stories, so we immediately found out what she did to Sav.
My jaw hurts from the hardness of Bloodfist's fist and I feel like my skull is going to crack.
I walked down the hallway to the elevator and when I reached it, I immediately got on and pressed the button for the second floor where the HuPoFEL members' rooms were.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Cold, Andrew, David, Asher, Astaroth, Sytry, Ruax, and Yakuji greeted me.
"You look a mess," Ruax said, which is why I got out of the elevator and faced them all.
"Tsk just got into a fight with Bloodfist."
"Griffin, are you really insisting on what you want? What if Boss completely buries you in the ground?" David asked me.
"I can't just stand there and watch. Sav is missing and is currently in the hands of Neoearth," I replied in annoyance.
"Is that why everyone with a mission is being canceled?" Drew asked innocently. "I was still in the midst of my mission when I received a message from here at HuPoFEL."
"Yes."
"What are we going to do?" Astaroth asked while leaning into his twin brother Asher's shoulders.
"All we can do for now is wait for Bloodfist's orders. They are currently preparing for the attack, and we will be the backup."
"I'm so excited for the war."
"Are you crazy? What excites you about war?" Cold snorted at Andrew.
"Why? We only went to war once with the Elite Class."
"Ewan ko sa'yo. Tara na nga!"
They just looked at each other and then decided to return to our rooms to prepare for a war that would take place between Bloodfist and Neoearth.
I don't care about the fight between the two groups. All I want is to get Saviel and return her to our country.
I took out the cell phone that was in my drawer and immediately called Yuki to send an army so we could get Saviel back.
"Griffin, what's the news? Are you and the queen coming back?"
"Yuki, send the Knights Order to this country. The Queen is missing and I need their help. A war will break out between Bloodfist and Neoearth."
"Neoearth? They're the group that tortured our queen when she was young."
"What do you mean?"
Yuki let out a sigh before answering me. "Griffin, long before you took your solemn oath as the Queen's royal guard, a shadowed tale unfolded - one the court dares not speak aloud."
My chest suddenly pounded because of the anxiety that was rising in me regarding the true identity of our queen.
"In those darker days, the King, driven by ambition or perhaps by fear of time's cruel march, offered Saviel to a secretive faction known as Neoearth. They were not scholars of mercy, but alchemists of madness, seeking to tame the very nature of life and death."
Does that mean that even before we were born into this world, the Neoearth group was already spreading terror?
"Their search was chillingly specific: children between the tender ages of seven and fourteen, vessels unshaped by the world, yet brimming with potential. And so, Saviel, chosen not by fate but by royal decree, was cast into their hands."
The terror crept deeper into me and it was as if I could see before me what Saviel had suffered at the hands of Neoearth.
"The experiment? A strange, luminous elixir - blue as the deepest ocean at midnight. It shimmered with unnatural promise, a liquid dream woven from science and sacrilege. Once introduced into the bloodstream, it wrought profound transformation. The eyes of the chosen would shift, their hues forever altered - an eerie mark of the drugs dominion."
Gun had already mentioned to me the elixir that Yuki was talking about because I had once seen the blue liquid that she was referring to. I didn't know that it was dangerous to humans.
"But the true gift, or curse, ran deeper still. The essence of that potion was immortality itself. Agelessness bound in flesh, the burden of eternity disguised as a miracle. And Saviel, unwilling yet unbroken, became the living proof that even royalty would barter innocence for power."
I felt like I was being stabbed in the back by the revelations Yuki said to me. I was sure what she was saying was true because she served Saviel before me.
"Is there a cure for that?"
"To my knowledge, Saviel crafts her own cure - it's why she walks the land where you are standing. The blood of Bloodfist is the key, the essence she needs to weave her healing and reclaim a life once lost to silence."
I scratched my forehead because it seems like they were really brought together by fate and there's no Griffin in their story.
"Thank you for telling me that information, Yuki. You can count on me to bring Saviel back to our country alive."
"You have the right to know about it because you are with Saviel. Her safety is in your hands and I believe you can get her out of the hands of Neoearth. Please don't let them wake up the sleeping monster inside Saviel. I beg you, Griffin."
My brow furrowed at Yuki's words. "What do you mean about the monster inside Saviel?"
"Saviel was created to be a weapon and to be used against Bloodfist when the time is right, and that time is today, Griffin. Saviel is a living deluge. Based on the information the Queen told me when she exiled the King, Saviel is a weapon created by the King to fight the queen in their own kingdom but he didn't get a chance to do it. That's why the queen chose to lock Saviel in her own room to avoid the calamity she brought."
My head hurts from all the things I know now.
"Be careful, Griffin. I'll also send the Knights Order to help you."
"Alright. Thank you, Yuki. You're a big help."
Yuki ended the call herself, so I just sat down on my bed, feeling weak.
I didn't know that Saviel had suffered so much at the hands of Neoearth and now I understand why Bloodfist wanted to end that group so badly.
I thought she just fell in love with Bloodfist so she couldn't come back to our country, but Bloodfist was the answer to all her troubles.
I just added to the problem.
'Sav, we can just get you home safely, that's fine with me. Even if you don't return my love, I know you'll be happier with Bloodfist. I'm willing to let you go so you can have peace in your life.'