The Unwanted Fate

Chapter Three

One week.

That was all the time I had to prepare myself for what might possibly be the worst decision my parents had ever made.

Or, technically, the best decision they had ever made for me.

Depende sa kung sino ang tatanungin.

For the past seven days, our house had been filled with boxes, clothes, books, and things I didn't even remember owning.

Apparently, studying at the Elarian Academy required more than just showing up with a bag and a pencil.

Who knew?

"Lenrae, did you pack your formal clothes?"

"Yes po."

"Eh, yung winter coats mo?"

"Opo."

"Eh, yung—"

"Ma."

Tumigil si Mama sa pag-aayos ng gamit.

"Ano?"

"Huwag na lang kaya akong tumuloy? Feeling ko mamimiss niyo ako."

Tumawa siya.

"Hindi ka na makakalusot."

"Wala ka nang nakalimutan?"

"Nakuha ko naman po ata lahat. Sigurado po ba kayong hindi niyo ako pinapalayas? Sa dami ng gamit ko, parang lumilipat na ako ng bahay."

She laughed before rechecking my things and returning to the other side of the room.

I sighed.

I still couldn't believe I was actually leaving.

Avelin has always been my home. I had never traveled far from it, aside from the occasional trip to nearby towns. The thought of living somewhere else—especially in Aurelia—still felt ridiculous.

Aurelia.

The kingdom everyone talks about.

The kingdom where the royal family that currently rules Elaria resided.

The kingdom where the Elarian Academy is located.

And apparently, my future home for the next few years.

I wasn't exactly excited. If anything, I was already tired, and I hadn't even left yet.

I picked up one of the academy documents from my desk.

ELARIAN ACADEMY — FIRST-YEAR ENROLLMENT

Just looking at the words made my head hurt.

"Still thinking about running away?"

I immediately looked toward the doorway. Alarkin was leaning against it with his arms crossed, wearing that stupid grin of his.

"Akala ko nga makakalusot pa ako kanina," usal ko.

"Halata nga. Baka may naisip ka pang escape route niyan, ha."

"Hindi na. Mukhang wala na talaga."

Tumawa siya.

"Makita mo lang talaga ang itsura mo."

Sinimangutan ko siya.

"Bakit ba andito ka na naman? School break niyo?"

He shrugged.

“Sus. Kunwari ka pa. Alam ko namang gusto mo lang akong ihatid.” ngisi kong sabi sa kanya na ipinagkibit balikat niya lamang.

"You know, you'll probably like it there."

"I don’t think so."

"Hindi ka pa nga nakakapunta doon."

"Sigurado na ako."

"How?"

"I have common sense."

He laughed and looked around my room.

"You'll miss this place."

"Hindi."

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Hindi?"

"I'll miss the coffee."

He laughed.

"Yung luto ni Mama, tapos yung daldal nila ni Papa."

"Obviously."

"Yung forest din."

"Uh-huh."

"Tapos yung katahimikan."

He smiled.

"So basically, everything except school."

"Exactly."

He stood up and walked toward my window.

"Still, you might find something you like there."

"I doubt it."

"You know the Academy isn't just about studying, right?"

"I know."

"Advanced Elaris training. Combat grounds. Field exercises. Students from every kingdom..."

"Ugh. Iniisip ko pa lang, nakakapagod na."

"You haven't even heard the best part."

"What?"

"You can learn what and how to control your manifestation properly."

I looked at him.

"I already know what my manifestation is."

He blinked.

"I think there’s more to it. You once told me exactly how my Elaris worked after watching me try doing it for five seconds, and it was even the first time."

Tsk!

"You're weird."

"You're annoying."

"Same thing."

"Not even close."

He laughed.

The next morning came far too quickly.

Lahat ng gamit ko nasa carriage na.

Mama kept fixing my clothes even though they were already perfectly fine. Papa was checking the carriage for the third time, making sure everything was safe.

And Alarkin was leaning against the carriage, looking far too entertained.

"You know," he said, "you can still run."

I glared at him. Gago talaga.

Mama hugged me.

"Take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will."

"Kumain ka nang maayos."

"Opo."

"Don't skip your meals."

"Yes, Ma."

"And don't get into trouble."

I paused. "Yes po."

Papa laughed quietly.

"Hindi tayo sigurado diyan." Tiningnan ko si Alarkin dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Hindi ako palaaway, alam mo 'yan."

Alarkin coughed.

"Sure."

Sinipa ko ang paa niya nang makalapit ako sabay pasok sa carriage.

"Bye, Ma. Bye, Pa."

"Take care, Lernae," Papa shouted as they waved at me while the carriage took off after Alarkin climbed in. Ang kapatid ko talaga ng maghahatid sakin kasi marami pa pala ang aasikasuhing trabaho ng mga magulang ko.

Nakakapanibago nang makarating kami dito sa capital ng Aurelia after entering the portal from Valedria.

The first thing I noticed was the landscape. Or, more accurately, the architecture.

Everything looked bigger, cleaner, and more polished.

The buildings were grander. The roads were wider. Even the streets seemed carefully designed to reflect the kingdom's wealth and importance.

After all, this was Aurelia - where the Imperial Center stood—the seat of the Emperor and Empress of Elaria. Although the five kingdoms governed their own territories, matters concerning Elaria as a whole ultimately passed through the Imperial Center.

And then I saw it.

The Elarian Academy.

I was already nervous as we approached the massive gates of the Academy. Actually, nervous wasn't even the right word.

I was terrified.

The academy stood beyond towering gates, surrounded by massive stone walls covered in intricate carvings that glowed faintly. The gates themselves were ridiculously huge—tall enough that several people could probably stand on each other's shoulders and still not reach the top.

And there were people.

So.Many.People.

The closer we get, the louder everything becomes. Voices overlapped from every direction. There were merchants outside the gates selling food, drinks, books, uniforms, and other things I couldn't even identify.

Students were talking loudly with their friends, dragging their luggage across the stone pavement, calling out to people they recognized, while carriages passed through the entrance one after another. Some wore the academy uniform, while others had different styles and colors, probably influenced by where they came from.

I looked down at myself.

A simple shirt and pants, covered by a black cloak.

Someone was arguing with a gate attendant.

Someone else was laughing loudly.

A group of students nearby was discussing some kind of Elaris competition.

I pressed my fingers against my temple. Sumasakit na ang ulo ko. This was exactly the kind of environment I hated.

Too loud.

Too crowded.

Too many people.

I glanced at Alarkin, who looked completely fine.

Sabagay. He had been studying in the capital of Valedria for years, so he was already used to crowded streets and noisy places.

Meanwhile, I had spent most of my life in Avelin, where the loudest thing you'd usually hear in the morning was a rooster.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm thinking of every factor that led our parents to decide to enroll me here."

He laughed.

"You're being dramatic."

It was a four hour travel time from Avelin to the capital of Valedria to reach the portal station that will take us to Aurelia. And just a few minutes to reach Aurelia using the portal.

The carriage stopped at the registrar station after we entered the massive gate. I gave my identity tag to the lady.

Lenrae Veyne.

There.

Officially entering the Elarian Academy.

I looked around once again and saw some students walking through the gates and I could tell just by looking at them that they clearly belonged to important families.

Expensive clothes.

People accompanying them.

Guards.

Servants.

The kind of people whose names probably appeared in the Daily Herald.

I immediately looked away.

Nope.

Absolutely not. I will never ever associate myself with anyone who will make me known at all. I would stay away from anyone who looked like they could somehow make my life complicated.

Most importantly—I would stay in the background. I would lie low. I would be invisible.

That was the plan.

"Lenrae Veyne?" tawag sa akin ng staff sa registrar.

"Yes."

She smiled politely.

"Welcome to the Elarian Academy. Your enrollment has already been confirmed. The class started a week ago but since you're a late enrollee, that is fine. Madami ding late enrollees this week. Anyway, I'll escort you to your assigned residence and provide your class schedule."

I nodded.

"Thank you."

Alarkin and a few of the staff followed us for a while, carrying all my luggage. We took a portal and arrived at the second floor of the east dormitory, stopping at room 201. The staff gave me some keys and a bracelet that will serve as an alternative key in case I lose the main key tsaka nagpaalam.

Binuksan ko ang room ko and well, mas malawak pa to sa room ko. Napailing na lang ako sa mga magulang ko. Siniguradong wala akong mairereklamo. There was a large bed near the window, a desk, a wardrobe, and a large bookshelf. It has its own kitchen, and bathroom. Its like a mini-house version.

"You'll be fine," my brother assured me as we entered. “Ang ganda ng kwarto mo. Mag-isa mo pa oh. Talagang naghanda sina Mama at Papa.”

Napasimangot ako. "I don't know why you're so confident."

"Because you're smarter than you think."

I gave him a look.

"Don't start."

"I'm serious."

He grinned.

"Just try not to get expelled during your first week."

Sinuntok ko siya. Tumawa lang at pilit akong niyakap. Kunyare sweet!

"See you during the break, Lenrae."

"Go home before you annoy me again."

"Love you too, Lernae."

I rolled my eyes.

"Bye, Alarkin."

He waved before exiting the room. I watched him leave for a moment.

Nilabas ko ang class schedule na binigay sakin kanina ng staff and remembered our conversation.

"You'll need to report to your assigned classroom tomorrow morning since you already missed a week of classes. Your instructors have already been informed of your late enrollment though."

There were several subjects listed.

Advanced Elaris Theory.

Manifestation Analysis.

Elaris History and Kingdom Studies.

Elaris Applications.

Manifestation Control.

Practical Elaris Training.

Combat Fundamentals.

Field Exercises.

I stared at the last three subjects.

Then I looked at the staff member.

"Required lahat?"

She smiled.

"All first-year students take them."

I slowly looked back at the schedule. "Great."

She continued, "Your practical disciplines will be held at the eastern training grounds. You will also receive individual evaluations throughout the term."

"Individual?"

"Your instructors will assess your control, application, physical ability, and adaptability."

I frowned. That sounded unnecessarily complicated.

I placed the schedule on my desk and sat down. I looked at it again.

Advanced Elaris Theory. That should be fine.

Manifestation Analysis. Probably fine.

Elaris History. Fine.

Elaris Applications. Still fine.

Then—

Manifestation Control. Hmm.

Practical Elaris Training. No.

Combat Fundamentals. Absolutely not.

Field Exercises.

I stared at the words for a long moment.

Maybe I could simply fake an illness.

I sighed.

So much for doing the bare minimum.