The Reign of the Outlander

Chapter 6: Thirteen Years Old Altalune

As years go by, Altalune became conscious of her surroundings. Day by day, she was always on the lookout for students practicing in the courtyard. Every time the bell rings around noon or at mid-afternoon, Altalune's hearing is very quick to respond to the bell of the Mahika Academy.

Now, that she's thirteen years old, she particularly understands why she's not admitted into the school. As to why her guardian and so-called mother Amaris never mentioned to her that she's just an ordinary girl who has no inborn superpowers.

She's a few miles away from the courtyard, watching every magic she can see. Not one of them was able to see her from afar, except for Lune, whom she became her friend when she was just five years old. Whenever he sees her, he waved at her, making other students confused, and even curious about whom he was waving to.

Lune was ten years older than her. She never took the chance to be the first to approach her. It was Lune who was fond of her. There was never a day after knowing her name that he appeared in the backyard to watch her and her mother watering the plants, planting some flowers, and making some plots for new seeds.

As much as she wanted to ignore his presence, she could not because Amaris wants her to have a friend like Lune. He's kind. He was nice. Not only that, but he's intelligent. Friendly. That's all there is. That was all the things she knew about him, but never did he expose her powers in front of her. She just doesn't know why. And it does not bother her.

What she has been curious about as to why she can't enter the academy. One time, while she was sitting on the bench, taking a rest from watering the plants, and Lune visited her, she asked him a question. Out of curiosity, to be exact, was her reason.

"Hi, Altalune. Hello, Amaris. How are you doing?" He was waving at her mother, and when he turned his gaze on her, she fakes her smile.

"Hello, Lune. How's school?" Amaris responded. She also waved at her and returned to planting some seeds.

"Can I sit beside you, Altalune?" he smiled after asking her permission. Altalune just nodded. "Why are you sulking at this very hour? Is something bothering you?"

"Not exactly, but is it okay if I ask you a question?" she started the conversation, but she was very careful. She doesn't want Amaris to hear her asked Lune. "Can you promise me not to tell anyone, even to my mother?"

"Of course. When it comes to secrets, I am the master keeper. Go ahead, Altalune. What was it?" Lune is so proud of himself when it comes to keeping secrets.

"What do you think is the reason why I can't enter into the academy, Lune?" she asked straight to the point, making the guy unable to answer her right away.

Lune did not expect to hear such a question from him. But, he tried to answer her as accurately as possible, hoping that she'd understand what he wanted to convey.

"Honestly, Altalune, I don't know the answer. However, based on what I observe in the academy, all of us there, as students have inborn strength, magic, or superpowers," he paused checking Altalune's reaction, but only saw a bit of excitement, instead of being sad. "Did you know that before you can enter the Land of Hiwaga, you have to complete a task?"

"Really? Amaris did not mention that," she was amazed by what she heard and continued listening to Lune.

"It's true. And I'm one of those who passed the test. Whizka was the person in charge at that time. However, the challenges were only given to hybrid like us. And immortals just stand behind Whizka watching us all complete the challenges," his voice sounded unfair because only half-humans like them can accomplish the challenges before they were allowed to enter the Mahika Academy.

"Tell me more about the challenges, Lune," Altalune's excitement grow stronger, and she was hungry to listen to Lune's story.

"Well, if that's what you wanted to hear, I'll tell you the story. Are you ready?" Lune was able to divert Altalune's attention to the story behind their success in entering the academy, which is good because the thirteen years old girl temporarily forgets about why she can't enter the academy as one of the students.

"I do. I'm hungry for your next words, Lune."

Unknown to Altalune and Lune, Amaris used her power to listen to every conversation of the two. It was never her intention to eavesdrop, but she only did it on purpose, for her to listen to Altalune's feelings and thoughts. She heard Altalune's question, and even her secret to not disclose anything to her.

The moment Lune answered her question, she was relieved. And now that the question was diverted into the Land of Hiwaga, about immortal and hybrid children, she can now stop eavesdropping them. She'll leave everything to Lune, sharing a story of how he ended up inside the Mahika Academy.

Lune started telling Altalune a story about how he entered into the Land of Hiwaga, facing the challenges, successfully completing the task, and lastly, entering into Mahika Academy. He narrated everything to Altalune. It's his way of diverting her thoughts towards expecting another valid reason as to why she can't enter the academy.

Ten years ago, Mahika Academy, presided by its head, they announced to all pure immortals and hybrids like me, that the academy is now open and ready to accept them to learn and enhance their strength and powers. The Headmaster assigned a messenger to deliver all letters with the following content.

"As the head of the academy, I am inviting all of you to enter and learn about magic and superpowers. I will not change my rules. All pure immortals can enter immediately into the academy, while hybrid ones must complete a specific task. This may sound unfair, but rules are rules. If anyone is interested, you may proceed into the Land of Hiwagans."

Upon reaching the message to all immortals, ten of them came into the Land of the Hiwagans, waiting for the other ten from the half-humans to enter Mahika. The call for another ten hybrid individuals arrived at the footsteps of Hiwaga Land and the lady assigned by the headmaster was surprised that their numbers were unexpected.

To ensure that only ten can enter the Mahika Academy, the lady-in-charge decided to start giving them challenges. The first thing is to unlock the opening door of the entrance inside The Land of Hiwaga. More than twenty participants arrived outside, and were informed that their first challenge was to unlock the gate. I was one of those participants, Altalune.

Using each of our knowledge, strength, and powers, one by one we tried to find the secret to open the door. Fifteen to twenty were lucky enough to enter, while the rest failed and return to their hometown. The twenty children ages fifteen to twenty years old were greeted by the lady-in-charge. And as you know, it was my lucky day because I was able to decipher the entrance to enter inside the Land of Hiwaga.

"Welcome to the Land of Hiwaga. My name is Whizka. On behalf of the head of the Mahika Academy, ten of you will be qualified to join the immortals in entering the academy, and you'll get the chance to learn my magic, as one of your professor. All of you standing in front of me were able to unlock the opening of outside using your given powers. The gate was created to protect Hiwagans inside, and to unlock it, your heart must be pure. If not, you can never get inside the land."

Whizka, whose age were unknown, greeted us with a big smile formed on her lips. The remaining twenty were happily received inside. But, the joy in their faces were disturbed.

"Like I said, only ten were allowed to join with the immortals to enter Mahika Academy. Now, the next challenge will be, swimming into the fiery pit of the volcano. This time, you have to use your inborn powers to jump into the boiling waters of the volcano. Those who can survive the heat wins while those who did not, I'm sorry, but it's the end of your journey. I'll automatically let you return to your home unscathed."

After saying those words, we, as participants, saw Whizka's left eyes blink, and found ourselves standing in front of the lava inside the crater of the volcano. One by one, Whizka push us into the boiling lava. Every one of us struggled to stroke our hands and feet, but it was hard for us to handle the heat. We even forgot how to release our powers. Fifteen were able to go up from the lava while the other five, who failed to survive, Whizka sent them home in one snap of her finger.

The remaining fifteen, including myself returned to Hiwaga, and Whizka, with her powers, summoned one of the giant Cyclops in front of the hybrids. All of us felt the vibration of the giant running towards our direction. Hybrids are the term used for half-immortals, and half-humans like us, Altalune.

"That is your third challenge. Use your strength and powers to fight the giant Cyclops. You have to figure out how to kill it, or else, the giant will devour you, and you can never return to your homeland." Whizka was shouting and watching at us at the same time, giving the instructions.

The giant was quick enough to capture one of us, but one of the participants is way quicker, that he managed to jump higher and give the giant a huge blow on his face, releasing his captured. The other participants used their whips, swords, daggers, and even super strength to knock the giant out. I don't even remember what strength or powers did I used to kill the giant.

Whizka was impressed with the teamwork of the twelve of us, who knocked out the giant, but shook her head on those who failed. She sent the failures outside the gate as their penalty of not being able to understand what she meant on her third challenge.

"The last challenge is to test your strength. You have to balance yourself on that tallest, and pointed mountain of Hiwaga called Dulo. Standing on the tip of that mountain with only one leg, rest the final challenge. You have to remain standing on top of that mountain for one hour. Remember, only ten will be able to join the immortals to enter the Mahika Academy."

The thirteen remaining participants, including myself, again were not even given a spare time, a nap, or a bit of rest after those three challenges. Now, we have to face the last battle in the mountain of Dulo to stand using only one leg. One after another, all of us breathe heavily to survive the most difficult task. It took us ten hours to survive the final challenge, while the three who failed the last task returned to their land with a heavy heart.

"Congratulations to all of you. You have unlocked the door of the entrance. You all survived the fiery pit of the volcano, and managed to knocked out the Cyclops, instead of killing it. And completed the last challenge of standing on one leg on the mountain of Dulo. Now, allow me to bring you all, including the immortals, into Mahika Academy."

After completing the four challenges, I saw Whizka pointing her fingers above the sky, and a whirlwind portal was slowly opened, swallowing all of us twenty qualified participants to enter Mahika Academy. Then, the Land of Hiwaga immediately went up high above the clouds, and hid into a place where only the powerful can find.

"Wow. That was an amazing story, Lune. I never thought that you have faced those challenges. If only I was born with super strength, knew about magic, or has the ability to release powers, I won't be sitting here in the bench every day, and watch Amaris do her job as the keeper of the academy."

Lune saw her sadness. The excitement she had earlier was changed drastically, and now she's hiding his face in front of him.

"Altalune, it was never too late for you to discover if you have super strength or not. Maybe, your parents just hid your powers or sealed. We never know. Be strong. Do not be discouraged. Okay?"

After hearing those words from Lune, Altalune raised her head, stood up, and breathe heavily. "Right. If other's can, why can't I?"

Lune laughs on her quotes. Amaris even heard her, and she too smiled upon hearing her statement. Altalune laughed at her mistake, and the backyard were filled with laughter because of her. However, the thirteen years old girl was still hiding her desire to enter the academy. And her mind was thinking of a way of entering Mahika, as one of the students. She just doesn't want to give up.