The Reign of the Outlander

Chapter 7: About Fifteen Years Old

Amaris couldn't believe that time flew so fast. Altalune is about to turn fifteen years of age. Her beauty resembles that of her best friend, Mona, her biological mother. With long black shiny hair, heart-shaped lips, and has the height of a blooming supermodel in the Land of Beautiful, she'll surpass her mother's physical attributes.

Although she was still the same little girl she was brought up with, her desire to become one of the Mahika students never subsided. She's still longing for something that would never happen. That was what others would tell, but as for her, her guardian, and a mother who raised her, one day, they'll know how powerful Altalune. Only time could tell when that time would happen.

Now that she's turning fifteen years old, she can now walk freely in and out of the Mahika Academy. Not as a student, which she still dreamed of wanting to be one, but Amaris' shadow. It was never her choice. Amaris never force her to be with her all the time. Her guardian knew that Mahika Academy is the safest place for sons and daughters of the immortals, whether they were hybrid or pure ones.

One day, when she finished watering the plants and cleaning the backyard, she watches personally the students in the courtyard practicing their powers, using their magic and tricks, and releasing their powers. She was standing behind the wall of the academy. Her eyes glow. Her mouth opens wide. She even claps her hands, and everyone saw her, including Lune who was only standing behind professor Aliz.

"Hi, Altalune," she turned her eyes to Whizka whose walking towards her. "Come and stand beside me, so you can watch them closely."

"Right. Don't be afraid, Altalune," Aliz followed and grab Altalune's hand. She was timid at first, but eventually, she allowed Aliz to pull her in front of the other students.

"Everyone, listen up. I'd like to introduce this person to you," she was clinging into Altalune when all students come forward to listen, and look at her. "This is Altalune. She's an ordinary girl without superpowers or any super strength. But, she's a nice girl."

As soon as they heard Whizka's introduction, some students gossips about her. Others were even complaining as to why she was brought into the academy.

"Why is she here?"

"She doesn't have any tricks, magic, or even powers? How can they accept her?"

"Yeah, right. We risk ourselves entering the academy, then a girl like just appeared in front of us? Who is she then?"

"Is she an immortal or a hybrid one, professor?"

Altalune heard everything. All the assumptions about her are clearly stated. It was a slap on her face, but she ignored it. She just bowed, smiled, and greeted all of them in front of the professors.

"I heard that ten of you completed the challenge using your powers, your ability, and your strength entering the academy. And as soon as I heard how you all were able to complete your task, I became one of your fans. I was thirteen back then, and after hearing it, I'd wish to go on that path you take," her conviction and praises were commendable to some professors because she speaks from the heart.

"How can you survive if you do not have powers within you, Altalune?" A girl about ten years older than her emerged from the crowds, then ask her. Altalune could not give a reply. "See, you're just dreaming. You will never be one of us."

Whizka and Aliz felt guilty about introducing Altalune in front of their students. But, both saw and heard how Altalune responds to her statement.

"I may not be born like you or came from a well-known family of immortal, I can prove to you that being born without superpowers like yours is never a weakness. It was always my strength."

"Then, prove to us that you can!" A tall guy sitting above the tree jumps in front of her and challenges her.

"All right, children. It's time for you to return inside. Class dismisses."

Whizka felt that it's time to stop their arguments. They ordered all of them to return to the premises, leaving all professors behind. Whizka and Aliz were consoling Altalune, but disappointment is nowhere to be seen in the face of the girl who's turning fifteen years old.

"Now, what, Whizka?" an angry professor yelled at her.

"Now, what, Mr. Luka? What are you trying to ask?" Whizka also gives him an intimidating, or more like an authoritative, stare.

"How are you going to explain what happens? Do you think Alebun and Elia will from forcing Altalune to prove herself worthy of becoming a student here in Mahika?" Luka's eyes were blazing and Whizka matches his stare.

"I'm sorry, Whizka. I didn't mean to cause a drift to each one of you here." Whizka stop staring at Luka and turned her gaze towards Altalune. The girl was kneeling in front of her. Aliz and Whizka stop her from doing it. "What I wanted was to learn magic, become stronger, and move like ordinary students here in Mahika Academy. It was never my intention to create misunderstanding."

"You have made a mess, Altalune."

Everyone heard his voice. Altalune even felt his presence, but she never saw the owner of the voice. All she heard was Whizka's voice and Luka. The professors were listening to its next statement.

"Since it has come to this, Whizka must bring you to the place where hybrids managed to complete their challenges. Bringing you there will never change my decision, that even during the day you were born, I will never accept you as one of the students in Mahika Academy."

After hearing that voice, all professors keep silent. Whizka doesn't know how to react. She never expected that the Headmaster word ordered her to bring Altalune to the starting point of the challenges she gave ten years ago.

"Do you want to experience the challenges ten years ago, Altalune?" Whizka confirmed her decision.

"Yes, I do, Whizka," her answer speaks of her courage. She can't see sadness, or fear in her eyes.

"Do you think you can handle the heat swimming in the fiery pit of the volcano? Can you kill a giant? Can you stand with one leg on the tip of the Mountain of Dulo? Can you all of that?" Aliz tried to scare her, to stop her from agreeing, to refuse her to not continue, but the girl whose about to turn fifteen years old just said yes.

"Even without powers, Altalune?" Whizka is more worried than Aliz that she asked her again.

"I can try. There's nothing wrong in trying, right?" she smiled while giving a reply to Whizka.

"Then, it's settled. Go into the circle, Altalune. Everyone formed a circle, and I'll create an illusion of the challenges I gave to those who successfully completed the challenge. It's for Altalune to discover what it feels to be one of the challengers."

Aliza, Luka, and the rest of the professors followed Whizka's words. All of them formed a circle in front of Altalune. Then, Whizka close her eyes, and in a snap of a finger she released a thunder and lightning from her eyes. Lightning bolts poured tremendously in front of the girl, then Whizka and Altalune disappeared in front of them.

THE HEADMASTER saw everything from the fourth floor of the building. And since he was the one who ordered Whizka to challenge Altalune, he also created a small portal to each student rooms for them to see what's happening to Altalune. Alebun and Elia saw the portals in their room, and both of them watch Altalune with her first challenge.

AMARIS and LUNE heard everything. Both have the same hearing abilities. And both of them were not worried about Altalune. They knew that something unexpected is about to happen. They should not interfere. Not only that, but they believe in Altalune.

WHILE everyone is ready to watch the first challenge of Altalune in the Illusion World, created by Whizka, a silhouette of a shadow sent a message using a black smoke, slowly entering the portal inside its room. As soon as it enters the portal, it disappeared and reached its destination.

THE LIGHTNING BOLTS brought Whizka and Altalune in the Land of Hiwaga ten years ago. Whizka is inside the entrance of Hiwaga while Altalune is standing in front of the gate that she needs to decipher, her first challenge as a girl with no powers. Whizka is a bit worried, but she trusted Altalune's persistence and determination.

"The first challenge is in front of you, Altalune. You have fifteen minutes to find the entrance, and enter the land before heading to the next challenge. If you fail, you will never have the chance to return into Mahika Academy. Good luck, Altalune."

Altalune heard Whizka's voice, and heard her instruction. In fifteen minutes, she must find the entrance of the giant gate, as an ordinary girl with nothing to brag of. If she fails, she'll never continue on the next challenge, and the worst, she can never return to Mahika. She'll never be able to see Amaris... forever.