CHAPTER 4
907 Words
Seraphine’s Point of View
One week. Isang linggo na akong estudyante sa lugar na ito, isang lugar na hindi ko pinili, hindi ko kilala, at hindi ako lubos na tinatanggap. Pero heto ako, nakaupo sa loob ng isang malaking hall na amoy lumang papel, alikabok, at nostalgia.
Ngayong araw nagsimula ang formal class na sinasabi nila, kung saan pwede kaming matuto sa mga bagay tungkol sa aming pinagmulan at kapangyarihan. Hindi naman ako matutulungan non eh.
“Aetherion doesn’t just train you to fight,” boses ni Professor Caelus, isang matandang lalaking ang buhok ay kulay abong ulap, umalingawngaw sa silid. “It trains you to understand the legacy you carry. You are not just descendants. You are the echo of the gods.”
Parang ang bigat na pasanin no’n.
Ang mga katabi ko na sina Lumina at Solene ay nakikinig, even Igneous sa kabilang row ay tahimik na nakikinig. Sa likod ko, naririnig ko ang pagbulong ng iba pa. Hindi ko kailangang tumingin para malaman. Ako ang pinaguusapan nila. Ako pa rin.
Hindi ba sila napapagod na pag usapan ang buhay ng iba? Naturingang tagapagmana ng mga Diyos at Diyosa pero kung makapagbigay ng opinyon ay akala mong walang pagkakakilanlan.
At ang mas masakit? Sa kabila ng lahat, hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano pagaganahin muli ang brilyante na hawak ko.
Wala pa ring kulay. Wala pa ring tunog. Just this faint hum in my bones when I sleep, like it’s calling for something I don’t understand.
“Gem Resonance,” Caelus continued, gesturing toward a gem floating above his palm, “responds to the intention of the bearer. Not emotion. Not lineage. Intent. You must want to protect, to change, to burn, heal and mean everything you'll do with your gem.”
Tumigil siya sa harap ng chalkboard. “Now… who here can feel their gem without touching it?”
Almost everyone raised their hand.
Except me.
My chest tightened. Slowly, I lowered my gaze, feeling ashamed.
“You,” Professor Caelus went infront of me and pointed me with his finger.
Syempre, ako na naman.
“Seraphine, is it? Mortal-born.” Hindi nang iinsulto ang tono ng boses niya, pero hindi rin comforting. “What is the nature of your gem?”
“I… I don’t know yet, sir.”
“Do you feel anything?”
“A hum,” I admitted. “Sometimes, like it’s breathing.”
He looked at me and paused. “Then, kailangan mong mapagaralan kung anong sinasabi nito. Or it will never answer.”
He walked infront of the board and picked up his things. “Class dismissed, everyone.”
Nang dumating ang hapon, pumunta kami sa Elemental Arena para sa combat simulation na sinasabi nila.
“Pair up,” instructed Professor Margaux. “One offensive, one defensive. No killing. No burning off eyebrows again.” She looked at someone. “Igneous.”
“Tsk. One time lang ‘yon.” Sagot pa ni Igneous.
“Sera, with me?” Lumina offered me with a soft smile.
Before I could answer, another voice cut in.
“No.”
Lumingon ako. Raven stood with arms crossed, face unreadable. “She pairs with me.”
What the hell?
Lumina blinked. “Raven—”
“She needs to learn to defend herself. Not always being protected.”
I wanted to say no, but I nodded instead. I took a deep breath and followed him.
We faced each other in the center of the practice ring. I could feel everyone's gaze at us. Do we look like a f*****g museum?
“Draw it out,” Inuutusan niya ako sa kalmadong paraan. “Focus. Call your gem, sera.”
“I told you before, hindi ganon kadali yon.” sagot ko sakanya.
“Just try.”
Huminga ako ng malalim, iniangat ko lang kanang kamay ko. I tried summoning something, I don't even know what am I summoning at this point.
Wala.
“I—”
Before I could finish, he attacked.
A small spark of flame zipped past my cheek—just enough to sting.
“Hoy! Ang duga mo naman.” I shouted.
“Real enemies won’t wait.”
Another blast. I dodged it, barely.
“Stop it!”
“Then make me.” Tinitigan niya ako na parang tumatagos ang init sakanyang mga mata.
Napaatras ako sa ginawa niya, nag iinit ang pakiramdam ko. My palm flared with a strange cold heat, different from his fire, and for a split second, a smoke of black mist rise from my wrist.
It reached toward him and and his flame stuttered. Then it vanished again, it's gone like a smoke.
Pareho lang kaming nakatayo, nakatitig sa isa't isa. Nakapako sa sariling pwesto, hindi ko alam anong gagawin ko.
Nagsalita si Raven, ngunit mas malamig at mababa ang tinig niya. “Hindi yon magic, sera. That was your instinct.”
“Hindi ko sinasadya—”
“You never will,” dagdag pa niya, umatras ito sa pwesto at tumalikod “Until it controls you, you should learn how to control it.”
That night, I sat alone in my room again. Sinubukan kong hawakan ang brilyante kong binabalot ng itim na usok.
“Tell me who you are,” I whispered. “Tell me what you want from me.”
Kaluskos sa bintana at ihip ng hangin lamang ang naririnig ko. Pero sa gitna ng katahimikan may nagsalita.
“Soon.”
- Writer
