[center][color=a0410d][u][b]Cabal Gropes Around For Something To Hold Him Steady And Realizes That He's Deaf.[/b][/u][/color][/center]
	Cabal's sense of balance was horribly off - unsurprising when your ear drums were ruptured, and yes, he [i]knew[/i] what ruptured ear drums felt like - and he struggled to get on his feet.

	He underestimated the girl. He had thought her simply a malevolent prankster, but in actuality she was an assassin of the Kataws. The ability to manipulate water while also being capable to sing the Song of Death common among all [i]sirena[/i] was proof. He hadn't heard of any other species that was similar to the Kataw, even in other countries. He had let his guard down, thinking he was the only one from his country here, and assuming that even if others did come, they would respect the neutrality of the Academy and avoid deadly conflict.

	He was wrong, and now he had paid for it.
	
	No matter, the Kataw girl would pay him back [i]three-fold[/i]

	As he got to his feet, he made slow steps towards the girl, and paused at the sight in front of him.

	She was in the arms of another girl, crying so piteously that it actually gave him pause. She looked so helpless and now that he had gotten a good look at her . . . so young. She was scared, scared beyond relief. No, this was not an assassin, or at least, not a very good one. She was simply someone who had little control over their own abilities. Why was she so afraid of him though? He hand't recalled doing anything to her . . .

	The young man stepped in front of her, and knelt to face level. He couldn't hear her, but she could hear him clearly. He spoke in their native language of Filipino. It was risky, since it meant exposing a bit of himself, but there was no creature of the Philippine Night that could be scared of their home tongue.

	[color=a0410d][i]"Patawarin mo po ako, Anak ng Dagat, hindi ko sadyang tatkutin ka,"[/i][/color] his words came out slowly, making sure that every syllable was pronounced right. [i][color=a0410d]"Akala ko inaapi mo yung klaklase namin. Naghingi lang ako nang paliwanag. Paumanhin, Anak ng Dagat, paumanhin."[/color][/i][hr]
[center][u][b][color=6ecff6]Suba Cries. And Cries. And Cries. And Stops. And Cries A Little. Then Really Stops.[/color][/b][/u][/center]
	She couldn't control herself and kept crying. She was never good at controlling her emotions; her brothers always said she was like the waves - they came and they went whenever they felt like it. Thinking about her brothers was a little comforting.

	She felt the warm embrace of someone, she couldn't tell who, and heard their voice in her ear. 

	It was so comforting, it reminded her of . . .

	[color=6ecff6]"Momma~!"[/color] she cried, gripping the other girl with all her - relatively little - might.

	She was aware that the Aswang boy was approaching, and cried harder, burying herself in the arms of the Siren as if to shield herself from Cabal.

	When he spoke, in their native language no-less, she started as the words that came out of his mouth was not a threat, but an apology. He was apologizing to her, because he thought she was bullying the other girl . . . what bullying?! She couldn't recall ever bullying anyone!

	Still wary, she gave him a nod, as if to acknowledge his words, and let him know that she understood. She was still terrified of course -- that wasn't going away any time soon -- but at least she [i]understood[/i]. So he [i]wasn't[/i] out to assassinate her . . . yet.  For now, she needn't fear for her life.

	The thought was so relieving she started crying again, before finally calming down.

	[color=6ecff6]"I-I'm okay now,"[/color] she told the girl she was clinging on, and getting to her feet. [color=6ecff6]"U-um, thank you very much, for, er, yeah. That was a bit embarrassing."[/color] She said with a sheepish laugh, before turning to face the teacher to apologize to her as well.

	Then her eyes widened as she realized that she had been in a class full of other people, and she had just [i]screamed[/i].

	[color=6ecff6][i]Oh no. What've I done![/i][/color]

	She began crying again.