The Reign of the Outlander

Chapter 13: Amaris Plan

Five days later, Atalune went back on checking Mahika Academy, but its no longer visible from the forest she was looking at. It changed. The academy has been surrounded by thick walls. The gate was even locked and only the professors, and students were allowed to enter the premises. Amaris was even deprived of entering Mahika. On what ground or reason, only the Headmaster know.

She was standing from afar watching the tall gate of the academy when Whizka and Aliz saw her from the inside of the academy. The professors can feel the sadness in Altalune's eyes. She was not staring at them, but they can see that she was hungry for learning. If only they can help her, but they have no power to intervene to the Headmaster's decision.

Amaris saw clearly how Altalune was devastated. Her efforts of saving her and the academy were all in vain. She pitied Altalune, but at the same time, she was mad. The Headmaster she knew is not that heartless. She wanted to confront him, so she'll know what exactly the reason why he would not accept Altalune as student of the academy. In a snap of her finger, she disappeared behind the girl who was still looking at the gate of the courtyard.

"I knew that you'll see me here in my office, Amaris. Sit down and let's talk about your request. Is it about Altalune?"

He was brewing a cup of coffee when Amaris came up in front of him using her magic. Her glare wants to devour him instantly, but the Headmaster just smiled. After brewing his coffee, he walks towards his swivel chair and sat. Amaris' eyes followed him right through his seat.

"When did you become this heartless, Romano?"

For the last ten years, he heard once again his first name. And that was even called by the person he dearly loved. Amaris continued to stand while Romano take a gulp of his cinnamon brewed coffee. She watched him until he savored the coffee he made.

"You have no respect to me, Amaris!" His voice suddenly raise all of a sudden, but Amaris is not terrified. She remained unmovable, staring at him with dissatisfaction.

"Without me, this academy shouldn't belong to you at first, Romance. Remember that. I gave this academy for you to help those immortals, and hybrids to become powerful, including the weak. Am I right?" Amaris words slap his face hastily, recalling his past.

"What is the connection of your request to our past, Amaris? Why are you venting out all of a sudden in my office?" He stood up, stomping his hands onto his table.

"Because Altalune's wish was to be one of the students here in the academy. As much as I don't want my daughter to be part of your rules, I'd rather help her with my power."

"But, you are not the Headmaster, Amaris. You should know where your place is in my territory."

The disagreement seems uncontrollable in front of them. Both were compelling to each other's appeals. No one dared to stoop down to each level.

"I know where my place in this academy, Romano. You should also know how to distinguish between dreams, and loyalty. I have been loyal to Mahika ever since I decided to turn down the offer and gave it to you instead. You should know how Altalune dreams of becoming a powerful student in your premises. And you should also know that without her, this Mahika no longer existed four days ago with the intervention of those ugly monsters from the Land of Katatakutan."

Amaris take control of her anger. She did everything to share what she has in mind with Romano. He has been her friend since then, and she knew how weak he was before. She doesn't want to recall his past, or they'll end up hurting each other.

"I have said what I wanted to tell, Romano. Whether you tell me or not the reason behind of not accepting Altalune as student of this academy, I will never go back to teach in your territory."

Amaris has done her part. It's time for her to leave Romano's office. She turns around and was ready to put her pointing finger into her forehead when Romano speak.

"Can you at least tell me one thing, Amaris?" his voice was crackling. His hands were still clobbering on his table. "Do you still love me?"

The moment he asks those words to her, Amaris immediately put her pointing finger into her forehead and fled without answering Romano's question.

"Why can't you tell me your answer, Amaris! Why? Why are you doing this to me? Isn't enough that you hurt me for having a daughter from a man I never knew? Why?"

Unknown to Romano, Amaris never disappeared. She was still looking at him, unable to utter any words. She used her invisibility, so Romano could not see her. Furthermore, she wanted to console him, and tell him that she love him. That she never a married woman. That she still longed for their past friendships, and pure love. But, she can't tell. She has a responsibility on Altalune. She must do her best to help her. Likewise, she promised her mother, Mona, her best friend, that she'll take good care of her daughter.

"I still love you, Romano. I really do. It's not yet time for me to divulge everything about Altalune. I know you did your best to protect the academy and the students inside your territory, but I couldn't tolerate your heartless, and cold-hearted behavior towards Altalune, whose only wish and dream was to become a powerful individual without inborn superpower."

"Amaris! Come back!"

Romano has been shouting her name inside his office. He can yell and shout whenever he wanted because the room is soundproof, and no one from the next door, or outside can hear him shout, but he can see and hear everything outside. She was the one who made his office soundproof, and bulletproof for the past ten years. It was her way of protecting him. And he doesn't know any of that.

"Until then, Romano. If you don't want to accept Altalune, I'll train her. One day, you'll come and beg for my help."

Amaris left the room after saying goodbye, leaving Romano breaking some things in his office.

Amaris showed up in front of the waterfall where her best friend and her, including Edan before usually sneak out to relaxed. It was a giant waterfall she named Hiwaga. This is the only place where she can relax her mind, keeping herself away from all problems in Mahika, her desperation, her pleas, her longing, and her broken vow with Romano.

It was a parallel world of Hiwaga down under. The waterfall is endless. No one from the Land of Hiwaga and Mahika Academy knew the existence of Hiwaga Waterfall. It was Mona, her best friend, and Edan, her best friend's lover, also Altalune's father knew it exists. She sat like a Buddha on the edge of the mountain where she stood earlier and began meditating in front of the giant waterfall splashing her face, and entire body.

"My dear best friend, when are you going to return? How long will I have to wait for your arrival and confirm the existence of your daughter in Hiwaga."

Inside her mind, she started releasing her dilemmas. She was calling her best friend Mona in her mind.

"Do you know how hurt your daughter is? Do you know how determined she is for becoming a powerful immortal that she doesn't even know that she's one of them?"

Tears slowly running down her cheek whenever she pitied Altalune for not being recognized as the daughter of the immortal.

"She was able to open the gate in the Land of Illusion, swam into the fiery pit of the volcano, and even stood up with one leg in the Dulo Mountain just to prove that she can become powerful without releasing any powers. And she did all of that. Can you even see how powerful your daughter is, Mona?"

She continued talking to her mind about her best friend's daughter while her tears flowed unbounded. Her cracks showed her love for Altalune. She cared for her well-being.

"Now that Romano won't accept her as a student in Mahika, it's about time for me to train her with my knowledge. And I'll make sure that Romano will eat his reasoning for not accepting her. One day, he'll beg for help and I will turn down his offer."

After taking a stand on the last statement she mumbled in her mind, Amaris stood up, wiped her tears, and raised her head, facing the waterfall. And in the blink of her eye, she left Hiwaga Waterfall and returned outside the gate of Mahika from afar, where she left Altalune. The fifteen years girl was still standing behind a tree, watching the moves, and practices of the students.

UNKNOWN TO AMARIS, Mona heard her cries. She was standing on the edge of Laal Kingdom, watching her 8,000 feet below sea level on the parallel world of the Land of Hiwaga. She wanted to see her. Likewise, she misses her best friend, but it's not yet time to appear in front of her. A lot of things happening lately in the Laal Kingdom, that being a crown princess, and soon to be the next queen of her kingdom was her biggest priority for now.

"I heard you, Amaris. I missed you so much. Thank you is not enough for taking care of my daughter. Please be patient. We'll see each other soon. One day, I'll repay your kindness, benevolence, and love for taking good care of my daughter, Altalune, Amaris. I just can't leave Laal Kingdom."