Tales of the Supremes 12 TALA'S CHOICE

Adasa knew that there were things he needed not to know, but he wanted, really wanted to know this one thing. 'Even if it just this thing. Only this one thing, Why me?' He thought.

To his disappointment, Tala didn't bother to explain. Instead, she pointed her sword and said, "Get ready!"

"Huh!" No other option, Adasa called out his Vermilion sword. A red dust-like gathered in front of him forming a sword. Adasa grabbed it with his right hand as it materialized.

Like the other, Adasa gust his heavenly energy and awaken his heavenly senses. He knew how Tala fought. Speed...One move...

Adasa take the first attack as he lunged towards Tala. A berseking energy gust through his swords. Tala take sideway and used her sword to attack Adasa's right shoulder. But, Adasa countered it as he send his heavenly energy to his right shoulder and a plate-size circle was formed. It takes the role of a shield. Adasa swung his sword as he made a center cut towards Tala. Tala avoided Adasa's sword in an inch distance and attacked his left shoulder. Adasa did the same trick as he send his heavenly energy to protect his left shoulder.

While Adasa lunged, Tala step back and grabbed the second pause of Adasa to attacked his knees, waist, wrists and feet. In the same manner, Adasa defend this part by sending his heavenly energy but some of the energy of Tala managed to pass through his shield. Adasa moved swiftly but Tala kept up with it.

A moment later, Adasa's sword emitted a shining red light as he felt a gushing of energy circling him. His inner energy and heavenly energy feels like it bursting.

"Holy Alabaster Twirls!" Tala shouted as she bursted a smooth white energy to her sword. She jumped high and swung her sword targeting Adasa's head.

Upon seeing the powerful might of the sword technique of Tala, Adasa instinctly bursted out almost all of his heavenly energy to defend himself from Tala's attack. A Dazzling red light surround and protect him from the attack but it cost him a lot of energy. Although feeling exhausted, a smile on his face can be seen. Adasa's resort of defending lead him to breakthrough to 3rd level of purification. He's dazed was broken by the feeling of cold metal resting at his throat. He saw Tala standing emotionless in front of him saying, "You lost."

Adasa just gazed at her with perplexed face. 'Tala knew that my energy was not stable. Her attack directed to the center points of the circulation of my energy to make it stable. She help me this time again!'

"Tala win!" The umpire announced. He continue, "I will now announce the standing of the top ten. 10th Odie, 9th Eya, 8th Siya, 7th Dose, 6th Aide, 5th Sadam, 4th Asul, 3rd Tris, 2nd Adasa and 1st Tala."

The 5th class top 10 were said to stand up in the center of the stadium. Head Araw walked towards them.

"Here are the token. Written on the token were the agreed reward." Head Araw passed the token to them from 10th rank to 1st. As he was in front of Tala he said, "As the first ranked student, here is the golden token." Head Araw waved his hand and the golden token was materialized in front of him. He hand it over to Tala. Tala clasped her first and bowed.

"I assume you all already have agreed to who'll descend to human world." Head Araw stated.

Everyone of them kept silent. They unconsciously gazed to Adasa when they heard no voice. Adasa was ready to take a step forward as he felt the gazes towards him, but he suddenly heard a soft voice beside him saying, "Yes, we did and I am the one who volunteered." He was surprised as he saw Tala saying that words with a smile. He don't know what to feel. As he gazed longer to Tala, he noticed something amiss with her action. 'She looks like exhausted.'

"That's settle then. You all can go now!" But before Head Araw continued to walked out, Tala said, "Wait Head Araw, I want to use this token now!"

"Oh! Then, what is your request?" Head Araw asked.

Tala inhaled before she spoke this words, "I, Tala, a Guardian, wanted to request of alternating the rewards of today's event!"

"How you'll do it then?" Head Araw was perplexed upon hearing Tala's words.

"I request, to the name of the golden medallion, the top 10 to 4 will be a diciple of the said Vice-heads instead of recieving their guidance. Instead of me, I want Adasa to enter the lake of life. That's all!" Tala raised the golden medallion waiting for the approval of the Head.

"As you wish!" Head Araw waved his scepter. A golden sphere of light was formed and it flew towards the golden medallion. The medallion shimmered. Tala loosened up her grasped to the medallion and it flew upward glimmering a golden light.

The token on the hands of the 5th class top 10 flew and shimmered above them as it look like attracted to the golden medallion. A minute later, the golden medallion vanished while the tokens came back to the owner. Oddie and the other nine looked it up and noticed the difference from before.

After confirming her request, Tala sighed in relief as her face turned pale and she slowly fall to the ground. Adasa saw how Tala was going to fall, so he extend his arms to catch the dizzied Tala. Tala saw Adasa catch her as she fall. She gathered all the energy she can and whispered to Adasa's ear. Adasa kept silent for a moment.

"Tala...Tala!" A worried voices was all she heard before she lose her consciousness.

Head Araw rushed towards Tala and was shocked upon seeing her condition.

"How did she end up like this?" He murmured.

Eya, who was the most worried in the group heard Head Araw words. "What do you mean Head Araw? What is her condition?" Worried Eya asked.

"Let's bring her first to the Physician Pavalion." Head Araw said grimly.

Seeing the anxiety of the Head, Eya can't help to worry about Tala's condition. Adasa's worry was no far from Eya either. He knew the reason of Tala's unwell condition or so he thought. He clenched his teeth feeling guilt.

...

At the Physician Pavilion, an old guardian was taking care of his garden full of herbs.

"Elder Lakandula, Head Araw seeks an audience!" Haba, his student, was panting saying those words.

"Oh? Where is he?" Elder Lakandula hastily asked.

"I...I told him to wait to the main hall." Haba said stutteringly.

"Take me there!" Elder Lakandula hurriedly step out from his garden and head towards the main hall with his student.

At the main hall, elder Lakandula saw the Head with a bunch of guardian behind him and a lying girl in the arms of a young man.

"Elder Lakandula pays respect to the Head and Vice-head." He clasped his fist and bowed. He also saw a phoenix behind. He didn't know what to say. He felt silent.

"This is sir Enix. The keeper of the holy blessed mountain-the forbidden mountain." Head Araw said.

"Ah. Elder Lakandula pays respect to sir Enix!" He then clasped his fist and bowed.

The Phoenix nodded in response.

"Elder Lakandula, can you help this little girl." Head Araw said anxiously.

"I will do my best Head Araw." Elder Lakandula ordered the young man to lay the girl on the bed of one of the room in the pavalion. He, then observed the physical condition of the little girl. What he saw was a too pale girl with her violet lips. She look lifeless. He then, feel her pulse. He heaved a sigh of relief upon feeling her weak pulse. Although it was weak, at least he knew that the little girl in front of him was not dead yet.

"Head Araw, what did this young lady did this days?" Elder Lakandula asked.

"Elder, she's a 5th class student. One of the top ten who competed today's event and reached the first rank." Head Araw explained what he know.

"Head Araw, the young lady exhausted her energy too much. It's a miracle that she still alive until now. Preparing and fighting for that competition should not exhaust her energy this much." Elder Lakandula was perplexed.

Hearing those words, Adasa was ready to take a step forward to explain but the words of Tala before she fainted ringed to his ears saying

"Keep it secret."

Chapter end