Reborn: The Awakening

Seven

“Primo holds the power of Time and Space?” I asked Vergel and turned to Trese. “Are you sure you aren’t related to him?”

“Niece, hindi porke pareho silang galing sa Zero Labyrinth ay magkamag-anak sila,” singit ni Vergel. Trese just chuckled.

This fact explains what happened earlier. Primo must have manipulated time, which we couldn’t witness unless he does something about it, and stopped Laura from what she was planning to do—kill me, maybe? But she was strange earlier. Professionals like Mortal Seven wouldn’t act that hastily. She used her goddamn spiritual weapon just because someone interrupted her bad doing? Ridiculous.

“But you know, guys, something was really strange about Laura. I know that she’s a b***h and all that, but her actions earlier seemed off.” Pinagmasdan ko ang hitsura ng dalawa. Kanina pa tahimik itong si Trese, which was also strange! I didn’t like that strange things keep happening around me ever since I set foot in this Academia.

“She’s been like that ever since they came back. Emerald, too,” tugon ni Vergel. “Primo said so.”

“Right?”

“Yes. But that won’t save you from detention, my dear Niece,” Vergel said in a sarcastic tone. He was mad about the fact that his only niece was invited at the Detention on her first day.

“I’ll deal with it,” balewala kong sabi.

“Detention here is hell.” Bumuntong hininga siya.

Tumikhim si Trese. “Listen to your uncle, Lierre. Defying rules is the worst mistake that you can commit inside the Academia. Because they allow almost everything, they would never tolerate a single violation.”

“It was a self-defense,” depensa ko. Bakit ba ako ang ginigiit nila? Si Laura ang nanggulo.

“I know. But Laura’s friends reported you to the Detention office,” kalmadong paliwanag ni Trese. “And you were seen at the scene. Even I couldn’t defend you.”

“You could’ve just stayed away from that trouble, Niece. Or if you really want to fight, you could’ve at least scheduled a duel at Magi Arena!”

“I said it was a self-defense,” iritableng tugon ko sa kanilang dalawa.

I know that they were just both worried about me, but it wasn’t totally my fault. I didn’t expect Laura to went berserk!

Matapos akong nonstop na sermunan ni Vergel, inihatid na nila ako sa Krymmenos. He’s lucky that I’m used to Master Acius’ nagging all day, so I could tolerate his irritating sermons.

“Hanggang dito na lang kami,” Vergel said as he stopped ten steps away from my House. Yakap niya ang sarili niya habang pinagmamasdan ang mansyon. Mas lalo itong nagmukhang nakakatakot dahil madilim na at sobrang tahimik. Bakas sa mukha ni Vergel na hindi niya gustong nakikita ang Krymmenos. “I keep getting chills. Will you really be okay here?”

I rolled my eyes. “Leave. Unless you want to beg the committee to pull me out of this scary place.”

“I guess you’ll be fine,” mabilis na tugon niya at umakbay kay Trese. “Let’s go, dude.”

Trese smiled at me before Vergel pulled him away. “Now we have four.”

At first, I couldn’t fathom what he had said. But while I was heading to my room in Krymmenos, I remembered something that he said to me this morning.

“Three interesting students.”

Krymmenos had three interesting students, but now it has four. And so? I don’t get him.

Kinuha ko mula sa bulsa ng bestida ko ang susi ng aking silid. Binuksan ko ang pinto at muling pinagmasdan ang loob bago ako tuluyang pumasok. It was actually not that bad.

Maliit ang silid. Tama lang para magkasya ang isang single bed na nakadikit sa isang parisukat na bintana at isang parihabang study table na malapit sa pintuan. Mayroong nagkalat na mga lumang libro sa mesa at sahig, nakatupinh mga tela, at isang lampara. Sa paanan ng mesa ay isang trash bin at maleta na kanina’y basta ko na lamang binitawan doon. Sa kanang bahagi ng silid ay mayroong isang pinto. Sa labas no’n ay isang maliit na balkonahe na nakaharap sa Forest of Life and Death.

Since maalikabok at maagiw pa sa loob, kinailangan kong magpagpag nang kaunti at magpalit ng sapin sa higaan.

Naligo na rin ako sa isang makipot ngunit malinis na banyo na matatagpuan sa dulo ng ikatlong palapag. Lumabas ako ng banyo na suot ang napili kong asul na pyjamas mula sa dinalang maleta ni Vergel para sa ’kin. Malambot at komportable ang tela nito, ngunit binabalutan ito ng mga maliliit na donut bilang disenyo.

Pamilyar ang karamihan sa mga gamit at damit na nasa maleta. Naaalala ko na madalas kong paulit-ulit na suotin ang mga iyon sa Terra City. Paano nila nakuha ang mga ito? Ang ibang saplot ay ipinatong na lamang sa mga luma kong damit, halatang mga bago lang ang mga ito. Habang nagkakalkal ako ng gamit kanina sa maleta, mayroon akong  nakitang isang parihabang kahon na nakaipit sa mga luma kong damit. Itinago ko muna iyon sa ilalim ng unan ko at lumabas upang maligo. I was curious and nervous to open the box, so I tried to calm myself by taking a bath.

Palabas ako ng banyo habang pinupunasan ng tuwalya ang buhok ko nang mayroong sumalubong sa akin. Nahinto ako sa paglalakad at pinagmasdan ang lalaki.

“It’s our new housemate,” pagbati niya sa akin. Bakas sa mukha niya ang matinding excitement. “You stay at Room 31, right? I’m at 33.”

“Uh... am I supposed to be happy about that?” pigil ang inis na tugon ko.

Nangiti siya nang malapad. “Oh, dear. We held a humble welcome party in my room! Will you come?”

Bago pa ako makasagot ay hinila na niya ako papunta sa kanyang silid. When he opened the door, the light suddenly illuminated the whole room exposing two young ladies in party huts, holding balloons and plastic trumpets. Then a faint sound of confetti followed the trumpet noises.

The weird man smiled brightly. “Welcome to Krymmenos, Lierre Kingsley!”

Napangiwi ako. Muli ako nitong itinulak papunta sa harapan at pinaupo sa isang upuan doon. Binigyan nila ako ng party hut at pinahawak ng lobo.

Maya-maya pa ay nagsimulang kumanta ang lalaking humila sa akin dito at ang isang babae na hanggang balikat ang buhok at mayroong nahihiyang ekspresyon sa mukha, ngunit natuon ang atensyon ko sa isa pang babae na may abot-bewang na buhok at nagmamasid lamang. It was that woman that I helped earlier!

“Welcome to Krymmenos,” pagtapos ng lalaki sa awit niya gamit ang tono ng Happy Birthday, saka biglang sumulpot sa tabi ko ’yong babae at may dalang isang cake. Binigyan lamang ako nito ng isang ngiti. “Blow the candles, Lierre.” So I did, para matapos na ang kalokohang ito.

“How’s your first day in Magi Academia?” usisa ng babae na hindi makatingin nang diretso sa ’kin. Mukhang nahihiya pa ito.

I gave her a friendly smile. “Good. You are?”

“I’m Mika from Mount Blaze.” Even her name sounds timid. “We heard that you saved Frician from Laura. We really want to thank you in our own little way.” I almost laughed. This wasn’t little, hun. It was actually too much!

“Even I hadn’t stood up against Laura. She’s so mean.” Ngumuso ang lalaki nang sabihin iyon bago isinubo ang isang lollipop. “I am Elijah Haldens of Wind Palace, by the way. A member of Mortal Seven and Head of Krymmenos.”

Another idiot? Nangunot ang noo ko. “Then what are you doing in this House?” He was supposed to stay at the Mortal House, wasn’t he?

He shrugged. “Long story.”

Maya-maya pa ay kumain na kami ng mga inihanda nilang pagkain. Kinuha ni Mika mula sa akin ang towel na dala ko at isinabit sa likod ng pinto. Nagulat ako nang lumapit sa akin si Frician at inabot ang isang maliit na garapon na naglalaman ng asul na likido.

“Drink this. You’ll feel good as brand new again tomorrow,” sambit niya.

“Frician specializes in herbal medicines and potions. You should drink one when she says so,” singit ni Mika at naupo sa tabi ko.

“Thanks,” I muttered awkwardly as Frician handed me the medicine. I don’t usually receive gifts, so I didn’t know how to respond. Akmang aalis na siya nang hawakan ko ang braso niya kaya lumingon siya muli sa ’kin. “By any chance, did we meet before?”

Kumunot ang noo niya. “I don’t think we did.” I stared at her for a second to see if she was lying, but she wasn’t.

Binitawan ko siya. “I guess I was mistaken.” But I did see a glint of recognition in her eyes earlier.

Later that night, I went back to my room to see the mysterious box under my pillow. But the moment that I inhaled the air contained within the four-walled space, my hands trembled in nervousness. I can smell the familiar scent of wolves from the box, so I am sure that this is from Master Acius. I am also sure that he put this box in my baggage so I could receive it in discreet.

Before I could even get the box, the balcony door banged open and vomited a mad woman holding a long, bronze sword.

“Emerald?” naibulalas ko.

“I kept having nightmares,” she whispered. “This literally started right after meeting you.”

Kumunot ang noo ko. “What do you mean?”

“It will stop the moment you stopped existing,” she said before she charged towards me. Why do these stupid Mortals keep pestering me?

“God, Emerald, it’s almost dawn!” Umilag ako sa biglang pag-atake. She raised her sword and bellowed at me while I kept dodging. Then I noticed something—her eyes were the same as Laura’s when attacking me. Cold and blank, filled with bloodlust.

Sa pagkawala ko sa focus, hindi ko namalayan ang muling paglapit niya. Sinipa niya ako sa sikmura kung kaya’t bumagsak ako sa kama. Naramdaman ko na lang ang malamig na talim ng espada sa leeg ko.

“Okay, so what do you want?” tanong ko rito. She was not the Emerald who fetched me at Miss Aviel’s.

“Your life,” she simply responded.

I smiled and slid my fingers on her right cheek. “You need to pay a huge price for it.”

Naramdaman ko ang pagbaon ng talim ng espadang hawak ni Emerald. It was just a small cut, but I could feel the searing pain that tingled around my neck. I was pretty sure that that sword was her spiritual weapon.

“Uh... my blood is quite venomous.” Nangiti ako muli at hinawakan ang talim ng espada niya at buong pwersa na inihagis palayo. Humampas ang matalim na sandata sa pader habang patuloy naman sa pag-agos ang dugo sa palad ko. Umayos ako ng upo sa kama at tiningnan ko siya nang diretso sa mata, bakas ang pagkabigla rito. “Never do that again.”

Napaluhod siya at bumagsak sa sahig. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at nagpunit ng tela sa sapin ng kama ko. Binalot ko ang mahaba at malalim na hiwa sa palad ko, pasimpleng kinuha ang kahon sa ilalim ng unan, at tumayo upang maglakad palabas ng silid ko.

Nahinto ako sa pintuan nang marinig ang nanginginig na boses ni Emerald.

“It wasn’t me,” rinig kong sabi niya bago humagulgol ng iyak.

Napangiwi ako. “Fix yourself. I’ll fetch Elijah.”

Isinarado ko ang pinto at kalmadong naglakad sa mahabang pasilyo ng ikatlong palapag ng Krymmenos. Lumilipad ang isip ko sa kung saan. There’s just so much going on inside of my head.

Huminto ako sa tapat ng silid ni Elijah at walang pagdadalawang-isip na kumatok nang maraming beses. He finally came out when my fingers almost fall off my hands.

Elijah was wearing his blue, striped pyjamas which actually enlightened the mood. He irritatedly scratched the back of his head before facing me. I noticed that he was still wide awake, so I didn’t really disturb him, at least from his sleep.

“Sino ba kasing katok nang-oh, my gods, Lierre! Anong nangyari sa ’yo?” Elijah’s eyes were wide open while staring at my literally bloody appearance.

I scoffed. “Well, your Mortal friend surprised me a visit at my balcony. We had a quick friendly chat.”

Kumunot ang noo niya. “Laura again?”

“The other one,” tugon ko. “Don’t worry, she’s unharmed. You just need to tuck her in, since I won’t be sleeping in Krymmenos tonight. It’s practically morning, anyway.”

Nilagpasan ko siya at hindi na nilingon pa hanggang sa makababa ako ng hagdan at tuluyang makalabas ng Krymmenos. Idinala ako ng mga paa ko patungo sa madilim na kagubatan na nagsusumigaw kung gaano ito kadelikado sa mga estudyante. Napahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa kahon na galing kay Master Acius. Nandito ba ang sagot sa lahat ng mga katanungan ko?

Sa pinaka-unang puno ng kagubatan, kung saan nasisinagan pa ng kaunting liwanag ng buwan, ako sumalampak at pinagmasdan ang hawak na kahon. Walang nakasulat dito. It was just a plain red box that fits my hands perfectly.

Ilang beses akong bumuntong-hininga habang hinahaplos ang takip ng kahon, until I finally decided to open it. Wala akong mapapala kung patuloy kong ide-delay ang pagbukas nito. I was being a coward again-like always. You see, I am dauntless when it comes to any battles and wars. But I fear truth. Truth about my life, my past, about Master Acius, about everything. Kuntento na ako sa buhay ko ngayon. I am not happy nor sad; just living my life until I meet my end.

Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang takip ng kahon. I was surprised to see a mermaid necklace and a dark-stoned ring along with a small scroll. These stuff provide a familiar feeling in my gut. Longingness? Maybe.

Master Acius used to distribute scrolls when sending us to missions. They contain brief details about the target and the task itself. I knew it! Dali-dali kong binuklat iyon upang basahin ang mensahe ni Master para sa ’kin. I’m sure may dahilan kung bakit ako ipinadala nito rito.

Lierre,

The jewellery are yours. You were wearing them that day, but I confiscated them for they posed threat to others. I kept and studied them for a while, but I think it’s time to finally give them back to their rightful owner.

Whoever gave you these... I am sure they were someone who wanted to protect you. These are connected to your past, you see.

Use them wisely.

Acius

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang mabasa ang nakasulat. Glad to know that you are safe, old man. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga alahas na nasa kahon. They look good as new. No dents or anything. Makintab ang mga bato ng mga ito, but I noticed that there were liquids inside them. I could literally feel massive powers inside the stones-very powerful energies!

It was already morning, but I didn’t have the chance to sleep a wink. After picking my academia uniform in my almost empty, but messy room, I went straight to the bathroom at third floor, right at the end of the hallway, to clean up and get ready for my classes.

I took off my ocean blue pyjamas, which were covered with dried brown liquid and a strong metallic stench and washed my face down my neck which were splattered with dried blood before I went down the shower and cleansed every inch of my body.

After washing myself and my filthy clothes up, I finally opened the bathroom door to paved my way to my assigned lecture hall-and I really wished that it wasn’t up the clouds again. I’m sure they have a few classrooms down here.

“Morning, early bird,” Elijah greeted me as soon as I left the bathroom. He was still with his evening pyjamas while holding a white towel. He seemed tired and sleepy, but his smile didn’t fade. “I’m so sorry about last night.”

I shrugged. “Wasn’t exactly your fault.”

His eyes painted a light worry on his whole face. “Yes, but I’m quite close to Emerald. Trust me, she wasn’t herself ever since she came back from Terra.”

I just nodded as a response. I didn’t have the energy today to pretend that I’m normal just like anyone else—that I feel pity, guilt, or other weaknesses a human may feel. I am one of Master Acius’ well-trained assassins who only does what she’s told.

I do not belong here.