The Spirit Martial

Spirit 18

Napatingin ako sa labas habang nakasakay ako sa carriage. I saw some students wearing some uniform na pasakay pa lang sa kanilang mga sasakyan habang ang iba ay naglalakad lang.

“How I wish I could wear my uniform today too,” I whispered to myself at wala akong choice kung hindi napahinga na lang ng malalim.

Umiwas na ako ng tingin sa bintana at napatingin sa hawak kong papel na binigay ni Kali kanina bago kami sumakay. We all have different carriages, kahit pwede naman talaga sana na kaming apat sa iisa, talagang iniba-iba pa kami ng masasakyan. What’s ironic is that, yung horses namin parehong puti yung kulay pero yung tip ng buntot ay magkaiba. For instance, my horse has blue tip at yung sa kanila naman, iba rin pero parehong kulay sa suit nila. This is customized for us only.

I opened the paper and there I saw the rules mechanics of the entrance exam. As for the first part, our magic molecules should be measured and whatever number we get, I-rarank ata kami tapos we will undergo another part of the entrance exam.

The second part is our specialized type of magic. Wala naman silangsinabi kung papaano gawin ito but they will know kung para ba ako sa healing or attacking or defense or for poisoning. Well, honestly, I think I belong to the last mentioned. The name of my spirit speaks for itself. There is no way a Queen of Poison will be specialized for healing, how ironic would that be.

The third part is for our physical strength. We will be having a fight with the strongest instructor here for 2 minutes and we are allowed to fall down for only 3 times. According to this data given, walang studyante na umabot ng 2 minutes talaga kasi lahat ng nag entrance exam ay nadadapa.

The last part is the most cruicial part ika nga dito. The Spirit Compatibility Test. The school will be testing my compatibility to my spirit. I f the percentage is below 65, I cannot attend in this school. After that, ang compatibility naman ng spirit ko at ng partner ko ang isusunod, below 50 percent is not allowed. Kahit anong kagaling pa namin sa physical training or gaano pa ka-abundant ang magic molecules namin, kapag basgsak ang isa sa compatibility test, bagsak na talaga. Dalawa lang ang magiging choice namin, pumunta sa ibang country para mag-aral or hindi mag-aral but knowing Kailani, I’m sure hindi siya papayag na hindi makakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. He went to Gambier Island to look for a partner using his luck and he found it. As for me, there’s no way I’ll give up. This is my second life so I’ll make sure I’ll be living this life without regrets.

I closed the paper when I realized that the carriage stopped. I guess we’re here. The door suddenly opened at sinalubong ako ng butler na naka-bow down. I frowned at agad na lumabas sa carriage. What should I expect? Syempre napatingin lahat ng estudyante sa amin. I looked around and I saw Kali and the others na kalalabas lang rin. Hindi sila nakangiti kaya hindi na rin ako ngumiti. Do royalties really have to endure a poker face?

Nabigla ako nang may isang carriage na dumating na katabi ko lang. It was fancier than us. Binuksan ng butler ang pinto at lumbas ang isang lalaki na blonde hair at mattas rin ang buhok niya but itinali niya. His hair had strand ornaments which has black jewel. His royal suit is kinf of like ours pero black yung sa kaniya, but the color of his cape is white. Katabi niya naman ay isang lalaki na blonde hair din kaso hindi ito mataas. He was wearing an all white suit but his cape is black.

“The Prince of Southern Kingdom of Agartha, Felix,” Kailani said habang nakatitig sa blonde hair na mataas ang buhok at tumango ako.

“Yung katabi niya?” I asked.

“Partner niya. Just his brother, Flin,” he replied. Unique name.

In this school, age doesn’t matter. Whether you’re younger but you belong to the Elites, so be it. Age is not important in this school since this is run through ranks. Biglang napatingin sa aking direction su Felix and his blue eyes were mesmerizing. It is like staring into the ocean depths, too deep.

“I’ve met most of the royalties but ngayon lang kita nakita.” he said with a deep voice at lumapit siya sa akin. Di hamak na mas matangkad talaga siya sa akin. “By any chance, are you the partner of this disowned prince?” he suddenly asked with s mirk while glancing at Kailani. Should I tell him who I am?

“I am,” tipid kong sagot. I glanced at Kali at umiling siya. Is he telling me something? He suddenly opened his mouth he told me something without his voice. Based on what I understood, he told me the words, Spirit Martial, at umiling siya ulit. Maybe he is telling me to stop talking about my true identity. I glanced back at Felix and he was nodding and he was staring at my royal suit.

“Bagay naman sayo, kahit fake royalty ka kagaya niya,” he said while pointing at Nieve and he started laughing. I’m short tempered. Kaya ko nga na insultuhin ang reyna sa buong Agartha, siya pa kaya?

“So you found it funny?” I asked and he stopped laughing.

“Hayaan mo na Cygnus, ganyan talaga kapag makitid ang utak,” Kailani replied at lumapit siya sa akin.

“Greetings, Felix! Pagpasensyahan mo na ang kasama ko,” singit ni Kailani and he started grabbing Kailani palayo kasi alam niyang sisimulan niya talaga ang away. “Tumatahol talaga sila eh,” he added with a smile and this time, ako naman ang hinila niya palayo. “Lalo na kapag mga malalaki ang ulo,” he added again with a smile at pilit kong pinigilan ang tawa ko. I didn’t know Kali is this savage. I glanced at Felix and helooked pissed and he started gritted his teeth.

“Okay lang, principe kami eh, hindi naman kami inabandona at muntik na tinanggalan ng title,” biglang singit ni Flin at napatigil si Kali. Oh no, he’s mad. Biglang lumitaw sa aming harapan si Nieve na nakangiti at parang hinarangan si Kali sa kung ano man ang balak niya kasi ang daming tao na ang nakatinign.

“How about we’ll settle this in exams?” Nieve said calmly. “Kasi kahit anong sabihin niyo kay Prince Kailani or sa akin,” he added with a smile. A dangerous one. He tilted his head and that was the first time I saw Nieve’s emerald eyes glow and there was an icy aura around him. “Your spirits are still 5th in rank. My spirit is 2nd in rank despite of being sold. Prince Kailani’s spirit is 1st in rank despite of being disowned.” he added again. Actually, I think this is really bad now.

Bumitaw ako sa pagkahawak ni Kali at pumunta sa harap ni Nieve. Pilit ko siyang pinatalikod para umiwas pa ng gulo kasi Felix and Flin were pissed and I’m sure they are ready to unleash their spirit any moment from now.

“And this fake royalty?” Felix asked hoping na ako yung matatarget niya sa bullying.

“Last rank,” tipid kong sagot. I was expecting a laugh from them pero hindi sila umimik.

“Botanica? Like the previous spirit martial?!” Flin exclaimed with sparkly eyes. He must be a fan of my father.

“Who knows,” I replied with a smirk at tinulak ko na si Nieve palayo kasama na sina Kali.

Buti na lang at hindi sila sumunod pero pinagtitinginan na kami ng lahat.

“Umayos nga kayo,” I whispered at tumigil muna kami.

“They started it first,” Kali said.

“Kali, stop.” I whispered at napatingin siya sa paligid.

“Whatever, he might be the prince of Southern Agartha, but I’m the Prince of whole Agartha,” he said.

“Makitid rin pala utak mo,” sabi ko and Nieve chuckled.

“Tara na nga,” biglang sabi ni Kailani habang nakaturo sa bukas na malaking pinto.

Now that we’re talking here at the center of the school grounds, ngayon ko lang nakita ang buong style ng school. It’s more like a castle at ang daming studaynte. Ngayon ko lang rin lang na-realize na ang daming students at royalties kagaya namin.

“Are girls rare?” I asked.

“In this school? Yes.” Kailani answered.

“Most of them chooses to attend culinary or housekeeping schools because girls have lower amount of magic molecules.” singit ni Kali.

“By the way, I never knew that Agartha have kingdoms,” sabi ko.

“Hindi ko pala nasabi?” tanong ni Kailani.

“Kaya nga sinabi ko di ba?” sagot ko and he frowned.

“Agartha is too big to handle kaya nakadivide ito into 4 kingdoms. Of course its named by its direction- North, South, East, and West. Each have Dukes and Duchess too but for Prince Kali and Kailani’s case, their father is the one who divided the country so basically, they rule the whole Agartha. Some call them the true breed royalties.” Nieve explained.

“Then how about me?” I asked.

“Of course, the one and only pure breed royalty,” he answered with a smile. I know he was referring to me but I got the chills and goosebumps when I heard pure breed royalty. “But as for me, gaya nga ns sinabi nila, I’m a fake royalty- a lucky servant who got sold and is fortunate enough to be a compatible partner of a true breed royalty,” he added. It’s not that he’s fortunate, it’s his fate.

“You’re discriminating yourself too much, Nieve,” sagot ko. If you only saw how Kali looked at you, Nieve.

“You’re perfect as you are,” Kailani said with a smile.

“I don’t care what other people will say,” Kali said with an assurance tone.

Patagal ng patagal, pinapakita na ni Kali ang soft side niya sa amin. It’s the exact opposite when I first saw him. He was dark and cold but knowing him now, he’s such a precious young brother who cares about the whereabouts of his brother and his partner.

“Pasok na tayo?” yaya ko.

“Let’s go then,” Kailani replied at naglakad na siya.

Sumunod kami sa kanya papasok. Royalty or not, lahat ng students nag bow sa amin. Maybe because we’re with Kali and Kailani, the Princes of Agartha. Ang dalawang iyon lang talaga ang napakasuplado. It’s not like I like being bowed down by the others, ayaw ko talaga ng mga ganoong klaseng tao. Hindi nila alam kung anong maidudulot nito sa kalooban ng tao na inaapi nila.

This, as my second life, I know how it felt like.

And I don’t want the others to feel what I felt before because it’s painful and suffocating.

It will not only destroy the person’s dignity but it will also destroy the person’s soul.