Latum Alterum (Under construction)

15

Nakaramdam ako ng excitement. In any moment now, makikita ko na ang mga presidents ng faction. May tumunog na buzzer, indication that the meet will start. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa audience hoping to see Mason, but I failed, parang maliliit na langgam ang tingin ko sa mga taong nasa bleachers dahil sa sobrang dami nila.

Napalingon ako sa likod ko when I felt someone is staring at me.

A girl with blue eyes and brown wavy hair.

She smiled at me, and I smiled back awkwardly.

"You have strong magic energy. I can sense it." The girl said while smiling. For some reason, I don't know what to say, I was about to say thanks when she spoke again. "I'm Zora, what's your name?"

"Daphne, Daphne Lennox." I waved at her at nanlaki ang mata niya. Okay?

"Lennox? As in Dylan Lennox? The previous court head and the one who fought a demon?" Hindi na ako nagulat na kilala niya ang kapatid ko, besides the news about my brother's death spread like wildfire sa buong capital.

"Yes, he's my brother."

"Sabi ko na nga ba eh, the moment I saw you kanina at naramdaman ko ang magic energy mo, I knew you are a big shot. So, what's your magic? Are you the same with Sir Dylan?" Zora asked.

I was about to answer her but then a bird, no, an eagle caught our attention and flew straight to the stage.

The eagle then turned into a woman, wait, I know her.

Astra Nightwind

She's part of the court and she is famous because she's the youngest member of the court and was already a supreme magic user at the age of 18. She is known as "Raven" as she holds the magic to control night and darkness.

"Good day, magic users! Another year means another set of talented magic users will be joining our factions. Before we begin, let me introduce to you the presidents of our factions." Napuno ng hiyawan at palakpakan ang buong hall at mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng excitement. I wish you were here, Kuya Dylan.

"The president of the top faction that has over twenty master gift holders and ten supreme magic-user, the leader of Dawnless, President Varvara Grice!" A woman with black curly hair appeared and there was nothing but cheers and applause.

Varvara Grice, the youngest among the four presidents. She was just 24 years old when she became the leader of Dawnless.

"Next up, the leader of Fourspire, the one and only, President Heath Vermillion!" Lumabas sa entablado ang isang matangkad na lalakeng kulay kahel ang buhok. Mas lalong umingay sa loob ng hall.

Sa pagkakaalam ko, si President Heath ang paborito ng mga tao dahil bukod sa malakas niyang magic, mas madalas siyang nakikisalamuha sa mga tao sa capital. Plus, he has this charisma and humor that everyone loves.

"You know, I heard si President Heath daw ay babaero, he tried to make a move kay Miss Astra eh pero syempre got rejected." Napatingin ako kay Zora na natatawa. I don't know if that's true at kung saan niya nakuha ang impormasyon na yon pero I laughed with her remark.

"Of course, the leader of the troublemakers, the one and only president of Hazerider, President Belladona Faust!" A middle-aged lady wearing a leather jacket walked up. Her blonde and blue eyes, it's Belladona!

Pati ako nakaramdam ng excitement, I remembered when I was still a kid, my brother told me that she was my mother's bestfriend. Alam ko din noon ay madalas siyang nasa mansion namin because she was my brother's teacher before. I mean, she personally trained

"Saang faction mo gustong mapunta, Daphne? Ako siguradong sa Hazerider ang punta ko niyan, lahat ng pamilya ko ay diyan nanggaling eh." Napaisip ako sa tanong ni Zora. Come to think of it, hindi ko rin naisip kung saang faction ko gusto mapunta.

"Last but definitely not the least, the leader of Pridewood, President Rill!" Medyo humina ang hiyawan at palakpakan. Inaabangan ko din ang pag-akyat ni President Rill sa stage but seconds after, there was still no sign of him.

Tinawag ulit ni Miss Astra ang pangalan niya and still no sign of the president.

Nagulat na lang kami ng may isang kidlat na dumaan at dumiretso sa stage-Wait, it's not a lightning, isang lalaki. Few seconds, a man in his thirties appeared on a wall. Kalahati ng katawan niya ay nakikita namin at ang lower part naman ay nasa loob ng wall ng stage. That guy, he just freaking appeared inside of a wall.

Just when Astra was about to talk, the people looked up to the sky, then there was a man, flying using a sword, I smiled.

It's Pridewood's leader, President Rill.

Nakarating na siya sa stage at agad na umupo. Nasa likod niya yung lalakeng parang kidlat sa bilis tumakbo at yung lumabas sa wall.

Napuno ng bulong bulungan ang paligid ko.

"They're here, the weirdos."

"Mas okay pang di ako mapili this year kesa mapabilang sa grupo na yan."

"Nakakatakot si President Rill!"

Now this is interesting, wala akong masyadong alam sa Pridewood. Tanging si President Rill lang ang kilala ko.

"What's with the whispers, Zora? Anong meron sa Pridewood?" I asked this girl beside me.

She smirked, "Pridewood only consists of eight members, kasama na si President Rill. Well, not that I know much but their group is full of weirdos, mana sa leader nila." Weirdos? More like an interesting group of magic users.

I don't care with the factions, ang mahalaga ay maging part ako nito. In that way, I would be able to train and improve myself.

I need to be better.

I need to be a supreme magic user.

Besides, it's the only way to get revenge.

The party started already at wala sana akong balak tumayo dahil hiyang hiya ako sa pangyayari (kahit ako lang naman ang may nakakaalam no'n) pero biglang tinawag nung EMCEE ang pangalan ko.

"Next is Ms. Skye Ariya Salem, one of the friends of our dearest Joan Sy."

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin kaya bago ako tumayo ay tinanong ko pa si Glenn. "Tanga, speech daw. Lutang ka ba? Kung ang exam bukas ang iniisip mo, 'wag uy. Hapon pa naman exam. Mag-enjoy muna tayo ngayong gabi." Napakalakas na naman ang boses ni Glenn nang sabihin niya iyon kaya naman natawa si Pat at nakitawa rin si Brian.

Walang hiyang Glenn. Papatulan ko sana kaso hinihintay na ako nung EMCEE. Agad na akong pumunta sa unahan sa may gilid dahil nando'n ang mic.

"Ohhhh, lahat yata ng kaibigan ni Joan ay magaganda." Nagtawanan naman yung mga tao kaya bigla akong nahiya at parang naestatwa na naman. Ano ba Iya? Lagi ka na lang bang ganyan?

Napansin naman ni Joan 'yon kaya tinawag niya ako. She mouthed the word 'Sorry' because she knew that I am not comfortable. Nginitian ko na lang siya. Birthday niya pero heto ako, pinag-aalala pa siya.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako sa naisip.

Nilapit ko na ang bibig ko sa microphone at nagsalita na.