Chapter 10

camp director
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Habang nagliligpit kami ng mga gamit ay hindi namin maiwasan ni Lexi na malungkot. We were already getting along with Master and she was good at explaining things. We still wanted to learn more from her but she was more needed in the Capital and as the Amazon Divian.
 
“Well, at least, she’ll be reinstated as a Spirit Master,” sabi ni Lexi.

“Yeah.”

“Are you not done yet?”
 
Napatingin ako sa bintana at nakasilip mula sa labas si Ryleigh habang si Yano ay nakatalikod.
 
“Sandali lang. Malapit na,” sagot ko.
 
Sumama silang dalawa papunta rito dahil wala naman daw silang gagawin at may gamit na sila ro’n sa Divine Camp since nags-stay sila ro’n occasionally. Buti na lang at pinagamit sa kanila ni Gavin ang isang praevala kaya hindi namin kailangang sumakay ng train at maglakad papunta sa Divine Camp.
 
We had one luggage each and they helped us load our things into the praevala. Yano was the driver and Lexi sat next to him. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama dahil dapat ay magkatabi kami pero hindi niya ako kinibo.
 
Wala akong nagawa kundi umupo sa likod, katabi ni Ryleigh. He looked asleep so I kept quiet. Pinaandar ni Yano ang praevala at pinanood ko lang ang paligid.
 
I fished out Phoebe's wooden tablet from my pocket and heaved a sigh. Ever since I marked her, this empty vessel had been my source of comfort. Siguro dahil nakita ko ang images nina Mama at Papa dati. 
 
I was reminiscing my childhood when Ryleigh's head suddenly fell onto my shoulder. Hindi ako nakagalaw dahil baka bigla na lang siyang magising. I was carefully adjusting my position so we would not get cramps when Lexi and Yano both turned around. I panicked internally, unsure of what to say and react. 
 
“Sorry," Yano softly said. "Please let him rest for a while."

“O-okay.”
 
I quietly sighed, relieved that he didn't think of anything, but Lexi was already looking at me mischievously and I rolled my eyes in return.
 
“This is the only time he can rest and sleep well," dagdag ni Yano.

“Bakit? Hindi ba siya natutulog sa gabi?” tanong ko.

“More like, he can’t sleep at night.”

“Bakit?”

"I’m in no position to tell you the story. Sorry.”

“Oh. Okay lang. Sorry rin.”
 
The trip was almost half an hour long. Nang nakarating kami sa bukana ng gubat ay ibinaba ni Yano ang praevala. Ryleigh was still asleep so I gently tapped his face until he slowly opened his eyes. Bigla naman siyang tumingin nang masama sa akin kaya napaatras ako at pagkatapos no'n ay lumabas siya ng praevala. 
 
Wow. He was really rude.
 
The silvanias guided us toward the camp and when we got there, we saw Lycus training Divians who were probably below twelve years old. Nakita niya kami at agad siyang tumakbo sa direksyon namin.  
 
“Whoa. Sabi ko dumalaw ulit kayo pero hindi ko naman akalain na pagkatapos lang ng ilang oras!”

“Hindi ba sa’yo sinabi ni Ms. Adrielle?” tanong ni Yano. “Sir Gavin told us she has already been informed."

“Ah. She just arrived. May kausap siya sa main cabin," he explained as he pointed at the largest cabin that was isolated from the others. 

“Sinong kausap niya?” tanong ulit ni Yano.

“‘Iyong magiging temporary director.”

“So the Spirit Masters will really return to Hydra.”

“Yeah. They said it was an order from the Divine General."
 
Lycus then led us to two cabins numbered 14 and 15.  Lexi and I went inside cabin 14 and started arranging our things.
 
“Tingin mo may tinatago si Papa?” tanong bigla ni Lexi habang nag-aayos ng kama.

“Oo," sagot ko. "Pero mukhang hindi naman niya sasabihin."

“Naba-bother pa rin kasi ako sa sinabi ni Bridgette."  

"Don't worry. I'm sure ginagawa nila ang lahat para protektahan ka."  

“I know, pero ewan ko ba. Masama ang kutob ko.” 
 
That worried me a little. Kapag kasi masama ang kutob ni Lexi, mataas ang chance na may masama talagang mangyayari. Siguro nakuha niya ‘yon dahil sa pagiging Seer ni Tita Aina.
 
“All Divians! Get out of your cabins! Now! 10! 9! 8!”
 
Napalabas na lang kami bigla nang magsimulang mag-countdown ang sumisigaw sa labas. When we got out of our cabin, several Divians were already running toward the place where Lycus was.  
 
“2! 1!” 

“You’re late,” said Yano. Nandoon na rin si Ryleigh sa tabi niya.

“Hindi naman kasi namin alam ang gagawin,” sagot ni Lexi.

“Well, at least lumabas kayo.”

“Bakit? May mangyayari bang masama kapag hindi?”

“Yup. You’ll run three times around the lake behind us,” sabay turo ni Yano sa likuran namin. 
 
Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Lexi dahil masyadong pamilyar ang routine na ‘yon. That was the training regimen we did with Master to boost our endurance and stamina. Napaisip tuloy ako binase ba ni Master sa training dito ang pinaggagawa niya sa amin.
 
“The Camp Director will announce something,” Lycus declared.  
 
The main cabin's door opened and a lady walked out of the doorway.  
 
No. A lady wouldn’t be enough to describe her. With her wavy, long, black hair; her soft facial features; and the white dress she was wearing, she looks like an angel or a goddess. So this was Adrielle, the Camp Director and a Spirit Master.
 
“Good afternoon, Divians," she greeted. "And to the new campers,” sabay tingin niya sa amin ni Lexi at ngumiti. My heart fluttered after seeing her beauty and her mesmerizing smile. “I am very sorry to inform you that as of today, I am stepping down as the Camp Director." 
 
Divians started murmuring, some asking if it was related to the Exorcist attacks, while others said it might be because of the Divine General. 
 
“I know this is sudden but I have to return to Hydra as a Spirit Master." More whispers. “As a Spirit Master, it is my duty to serve the Divine General and the people. The Spirit Masters are going back to Hydra because of some serious matters. As Divians, this should be a warning to all of you. You should train more. Be stronger, because this event may affect you. Understand?”
 
Pagkasabi niya no'n ay natahimik lahat ng tao. I could feel how everyone was holding their breaths.  
 
“Now, I want you to meet the temporary Camp Director."  
 
A middle-aged guy appeared behind her and I remembered Amos while looking at his rugged features. He bowed at Adrielle and stood at her side.  
 
“This is Lorgan, a friend of mine, and the temporary Camp Director.”
 
Lorgan nodded as he crossed his arms. He remained silent but I could feel his strong presence.  
 
“I want you to listen to him. I assure you that he’s more capable than I am when it comes to training Divians like you,” she said. “Now that I explained everything, I must leave. Goodbye and good luck.”
 
She bowed at everyone and the Divians bowed back so we did it, too.   
 
A praevala hovered above the main cabin. The whole thing was painted in white and I stared in awe as it landed beside the lake. Lorgan and Lycus escorted Adrielle toward the praevala and they waited until it ascended. 
 
“Sobrang ganda niya,” Lexi mumbled in awe and I agreed.

“They say that female Spirit Masters are beautiful,” dagdag ni Yano. “but Ms. Adrielle is on another level. She's breathtakingly gorgeous.”

“And they are right,” sagot ni Lexi.

“I am more interested in that Lorgan guy. He’s strong. He can train us perfectly just like Sir Gavin.”
 
I just noticed that he was really interested in fighting and training. He was having fun when he was challenged and his thirst for getting stronger was admirable.
 
Lorgan and Lycus returned in front of us. He stood proudly and his gaze was too intense that I had to step back.
 
“As your new director, my first order to all of you is to rest.”
 
Huh? Rest? Was that really an order?
 
Lorgan smirked. "Yes, rest for now, because starting tomorrow, we're going to train my way, and you will not have time to rest anymore. Dismiss!" 
 
Nanatili lang kaming nakatayo matapos niyang sabihin 'yon. Wow, that was so scary.
 
Nagsipasukan naman ang Divians sa kanya-kanya nilang cabins at naiwan kaming apat pati na rin si Lycus. Bigla naman siyang tumawa kaya napatingin kami sa kanya.
 
“Di na talaga siya nagbago,” sabi niya habang tumatawa.

“Lorgan? You know him?” tanong ni Yano.

​“Of course. He’s my father.”
 
Huh? What?

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