THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 241. HIS SQUAD

Tonight would be the third meeting since the first meeting. The second had been a one-sided meeting, and this one, well, it wasn’t a meeting because Sagiri was waiting for the team. After they left the college successfully on their own, it’s when Tsaka could pull some strings to make sure it was as if they never left and to tie up any loose ends and make their disappearance seamless.

Sagiri had not managed to stay at the war college for long during the second night, but he had left a written letter with cues for Kiuga to find it. It was much harder to meet the others the second time since they were having some compulsory night training. He had clearly said in his letter that he wanted a squad, but they had to be willing. Even if only Kiuga and N’varu showed up, he would still be grateful. Sagiri perched on the abandoned watch tower a couple of thousand miles away from college. That is where he was to meet with Kiuga and whoever showed up. The watchtower must once have been the first to welcome anyone who came through the southern gate, but now it stood abandoned and alone.

The night was silent, and it was now midnight, but not even a leaf had fallen. The night was still. Perhaps matching Sagiri’s anticipation. Sagiri had not slept or eaten well in the last three days, and a single nightmare was still driving him crazy whenever he closed his eyes. He had grown weary of waiting as rain started falling a few minutes after midnight, and he was not leaning on one post of the tower. It might have been abandoned, but it was still able to keep standing and cover him from the rain.

Was no one coming? Had they failed to make it out?

But then again, if one was incapable of evading the warriors on watch and breaking out of the college by themselves, then they were not worthy of joining his squad or standing a chance against Tatani.

He was beginning to doze off right after one when he felt the first presence a few thousand yards out. The person was moving soundlessly and as stealthily as possible. He stayed hidden, watching the tower from the shadows before he finally made an appearance. By his movements, it had to be kiuga. He stood at the bottom of the tower for a moment as if to make sagiri aware of his presence before moving back into the shadows. A few moments later, another presence arrived. Of course, Kaka Asakana. It was right to say that he and kiuga were sworn brothers now, and if one was willing to go, the other could naturally follow.

His arrival was silent, but Sagiri could smell the guy’s excitement and impatience. Kiuga stopped him, and they both melted into the shadows.

N’varu was the third to arrive, then Bukata and Zazarie, Ulekai the fearful was the sixth, followed by Maita and Banga. Zolinka was the last to arrive, and they were all hidden in the shadows. Sagiri could feel their eyes on him or just the dark tower.

His face could not help but pull into a small smile. He had not thought Ulekai and Banga especially could show up. Even Zolinka was quite a surprise. Maita’s arrival was expected, however. He was not going to let Kaka one-up him on merits. A chimera would never let an asakana outdo them. Squad 25 had grown strong together in Galka, and it seemed they were able to find a way to make it out of the college without getting caught. Sagiri’s heart swelled with nostalgia. Even so, a bitter-sweet taste filled his mouth.

This could be, no doubt, the last mission he was going to execute with his squad. This could very much be the last time they stood on the same side. Just how many goodbyes could he afford before he gave in to the nightmare that he could not escape from? He had not faced most of his squad ever since he went berserk, but he could not delay any further. He could feel Kaka’s impatience growing, and he knew it was time to make an appearance.

Sagiri walked to the edge of the thirty-foot watchtower and let his feet walk over the edge. He had gotten used to free-falling, and he enjoyed it now more than anticipating touching the ground. In those moments before he touched the ground, he was free. He closed his eyes and let himself feel the wind and last of the rain wash over him as the ground rushed to meet him. Ooh, to be free. Free from his sealed fate. Right when he was ten feet away from the ground, he twisted his body one to look down, then twisted twice more to magnify the short-lived freedom before he flipped and twisted his body through the air to land on his right foot and bent left knee before he stood his full height.

He did not leave a single dent on the ground this time.

"Show off," a voice joined a few moments later. It was Maita.

"Long time no see," Sagiri greeted as more shadows emerged from their hideout. It almost felt like old times.

"A greeting is not going to cut it." Zazarie snapped. It could seem he was not happy, the same with Bukata.

"Kiuga said you were about to commit suicide, and we should come to bid you farewell. I almost thought that fall was you taking your easy way out." Ulekai was beside himself.

What?!

"I said, he was going on a suicide mission, and it would be nice to say proper goodbyes," Kiuga defended. He must have lied to them to get them all to come.

"Tomato potato," Maita said.

"A tomato and a potato are not the same thing." Banga corrected him in a low tone. "So what have we gotten ourselves into?" Banga turned to Sagiri.

"We can’t talk here. I will tell you once we are out of the Tagayia collegium lands," Sagiri said after a moment.

"I know you were not planning to leave without us," a voice joined the group, causing the group to turn swiftly, getting into a defensive position of two out of habit.

"It’s the triplets again." Kiuga sighed.

"I thought this was a squad thing. Why are they here?" Kaka grew hostile.

"Well, we can’t let squad 25 of Galka Academy get all the glory," Nayira said. Sagiri turned to look at Kiuga. He was the only one who knew about the squad meeting point, and he was to relay the message to only squad 25.

"I swear on my good looks, I did not tell them," Kiuga swore.

"What looks?" Kaka groaned, raising his hand to smack kiuga but kiuga dodged.

"You do underestimate my beast and Pavire’s bird.’ Gavina said. The girls looked like they had come prepared and were even carrying war-equipped backpacks. It seemed the girls were not going to back down, and sagiri did not have it in him to argue with them. He was only asked to get his own willing team. He did not will it for the trio to come, but asking them to go back would be the same as talking to the deaf.

"See. I am innocent in this," Kiuga defended. A little commotion had ensued, and if it continued, they would be caught before they even made a step.

"Let’s just go for now," Sagiri said.

They had a lot to do. And there was no time to bicker.