The Curse of the Golden Eyes

Callista Lily's POV A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, and shortly my dad came in. Hindi ko maiwasang mapabuntong hininga. Kilala ko si daddy, hindi siya pupunta sa kwarto ko kung hindi importante ang kaniyang sasabihin. What would it be this time? "Callista," he said. Hinarap ko siya at agad nabasa ang kaniyang tingin. He'll ask me again, hindi talaga siya titigil hanggat hindi ako sumasang-ayon. Ilang segundo kaming nagkatitigan bago ako napabuntong-hininga at inilipat ang tingin sa labas ng bintana. "Are you here to ask me again? My answer will still be the same dad." Narinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga niya. "Callista. Walang mawawala kung susunod ka sa gusto namin. Ginagawa namin ito para rin naman sayo." Lumapit siya sa pwesto ko at tinabihan ako habang nakatitig ang kaniyang mga mata sakin. "Hindi lang ang kaharian ko ang pangangalagaan mo, Callista. Lightres is also waiting for you, waiting for their Queen." Hindi ko maiwasang matakot at kabahan. "Two kingdoms is too much, too much for me," I said. "Nandito naman kami. We will help you, we will guide you." napaiwas ako ng tingin at muling napabuntong-hininga. Ano pa ba ang magagawa ko? Kahit naman anong gawin kong pagtakbo at pag-iwas ay dadating ang araw na haharapin ko ang aking responsibilidad bilang anak ng hari at reyna ng dalawang kaharian. "Okay," I said. Kitang-kita ko ang saya sa mukha ng aking ama mula sa aking peripheral vision kaya nilingon ko siya and he was indeed happy. "Your mom will be delighted!" "But don't expect me to meddle with them, ayoko ng maingay daddy." he chuckled before pulling me for a hug. "Ikaw na ang bahala, all I need was your yes." bulong nito at mahigpit akong niyakap. No one would think that the dark King will be damn soft when it comes to his daughter. Well, he is, so much. Kumalas ako sa yakap at tinignan siya, "From what I heard the Lightres already started their class this morning." "Lightres is always open for new learners, Callista," I just responded with a shrugged. Nabaling ang tingin niya sa labas kaya sinundan ko ito ng tingin. He was staring at the small glimpse of light that came from the Lightres Kingdom. Does it even make sense? Sobrang layo ng Lightres mula sa Darkia but we can still see each other's glimpse. We can see their light, while they can see our darkness. "Magpahinga kana. I'll let Dalia prepare your stuff for tomorrow's trip." tumango lang ako habang nasa Lightres pa rin ang tingin. Hinintay kong mawala ang presensya niya bago naisipang i-lock ang pinto at kinuha ang isang cloak. I feel like roaming, which is rare. I just let my feet guide me and it brought me to the entrance gate of Lightres Academy—the biggest Academy among all the academies that exist here at Chantia. It was huge and enchanted, the typical image of a light Kingdom's Academy. Agad akong napalingon sa gawi kung saan nakatayo ang malaking gate dahil may naramdaman akong mga presensya. Mula sa malayo ay may naaninag akong mga bulto ng mga estudyante kaya agad akong umakyat sa pinakamalapit na puno.  Tapos na klase nila? Napunta ang gawi ko sa kalangitan at nakitang papalubog na pala ang haring araw. That fast? The gigantic gate started to split into two and seconds after the students started walking on their way outside the academy. Walang gana ko silang tinitigan habang masasayang kausap ang mga kasama nila. I can't relate, wala pa naman akong nakakausap except for kay daddy atsaka kay Dalia. Kapag may makakakita sakin they'll probably think that I am a creep, staring at me and observing their moves. Biglang kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko ng makaramdam ako ng presensya sa paanan ng puno. Inilipat ko ang aking atensyon sa isang lalaking mukhang may hinahanap sa baba ng puno. Base sa kaniyang suot, isa siyang high-ranked student. And what caught my attention was the pins he was wearing. A crown-shaped pin and numeral pin—1. He's part of royalty then? He stayed for a couple of seconds which made me annoyed. Ano ba kasi hinahanap niya sa baba ng puno? Ginto? Pera? Then he'll fail. I have to go home, hindi pa naman ako nagpaalam. Hindi naman siya nagtagal at naglakad na rin sa wakas. I hissed before jumping down and when my foot landed on the ground God knows how my heart almost jumped out because the guy was still standing a few inches away from the tree. Our eyes met. "I was right. I felt your aura earlier, who are you?" I had to tilt my head upward just to see his face because he was damn tall. I gave him a smirk causing his brows to crease. Sinadya ko talang iparamdam sa kaniya ang aura ko, hindi ko rin alam kung anong naisip ko but it just crossed my mind. I just gave him a tight smile and started walking away, "Someone you don't care?" I said before teleporting back to Darkia. After teleporting I found myself walking in the middle of a rayless forest. It is the only way before entering Darkia Kingdom, ito rin ang pinaka-madilim at pinaka-mapanganib na gubat sa buong Chantia. There were also rumors that when a light mage took a step inside the rayless forest, they could either get lost or bitten 'till death. "Where were you?" as I teleported from the forest to my room, my father was already sitting on a chair close by the window. I gave him a small smile, "Roamed around." He nodded, "Everything is already clear. All the stuff that you will be needing are already in your dorm, and lastly, you'll have a dorm mate." tumango lang ako at nagpasalamat. I am really doing it, ah? "Rest well, Callista," he said before walking his way out of my room. Hindi ko maiwasang mapabuntong hininga at hinayaan ang sariling mahulog sa higaan. Am I really doing it? I WOKE UP earlier than I thought. Excited? Hell no. I am standing on the balcony of my room, sighing. It was only 6 am but I am fully awake now, fully awake that I can even hear my tummy grumbling. Tsk, ang aga ko naman nagutom. Nakarinig ako ng mga yapak sa aking likuran pero hindi ako nagsayang ng oras para lingunin kung sino ito. Dalawang mage lang naman ang nakakapasok sa kwarto ko, it's either the King and my lady-in-waiting. "Princess Callista. The foods are already ready," perfect timing! "Okay," tanging sagot ko at naglakad papasasok ng banyo dahil hindi pa naman ako nakakaligo. And after taking a bath for almost 30 minutes I decided to go out. My uniform was already prepared, with shoes too. It has a white sleeved shirt with a tie on it covered with a black unbuttoned jacket and a black shirt. My eyes landed on the pin, it was the same pin with the guy I bumped into yesterday. Dinampot ko ito at ipinasok sa bulsa ng skirt. Pupunta ako bilang isang normal na estudyante, hindi isang princesa. Bagot akong lumabas at naglakad papunta sa dining area ng palasyo. Hindi ko maiwasang kunutan ng noo ng walang bumungad saking tao. Tapos na bang kumain si daddy? "Where's dad?" tanong ko kay Dalia. "He will be here in a moment, Princess Callista," hindi ko maiwasang mapangiwi. I don't really like hearing the word princess before my name. Too girly. "Good morning, dad," I said without looking behind. Sino pa ba ang nagmamay-ari ng malakas na aura? He chuckled, "Good morning, Callista." The dining area was filled with silence as we both were busy munching. Malapit na akong matapos ng biglang nagsalita si daddy causing me to smirk. "Be a good girl, Callista." "I won't promise, dad. If someone crosses the line, then forgive me." I heard him sighed, "Think before doing impulsive things, you are my daughter, a princess—not a murderer."