Chapter 6: The Magic Unveil

Chapter 6: The Magic Unveil

Nakauwi kaming walang nasugatan maliban sa mga kasama naming mga Scriven na sumuko.

Hindi ako nagmamayabang, pero napakadali lamang namin natalo ang mga Scriven. Masyadong malaki ang aking nagawa, nasobrahan ba ang aking imahinasyon?

Nakaupo kami ngayon sa harapan ni Master Lethal and he was shaken as well. Sino ba naman ang magaakalang, ang labanan ay hindi lilipas mahigit isang oras?

“Good job! You all grew and went too well. I'm so proid of you,” papuri niya saamin.

Ngumiti naman kami't tumawa, pero napansin ko ang pagkatahimik ni Navrick. Hindi siya tumitingin saaming gawi. Nanatili siyang nakayuko't nakasimangot.

What's his deal?

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nagfocus na lamang ako sa pakikinig kay Master Lethal.

“Sa totoo lang po, hindi po kami ang dahilan kung bakit natalo sila. Si Andre po,” sambit ni Leon.

Bugla ay nahiya ako.

“H-Hindi po talaga. Nagkataon lang 'yon, besides, tinulungan niyo naman ako. Hindi ko iyon magagawa kung wala kayo,” I humbly said.

“Huwag ka na ngang magpakakumbaba. Ikaw nga ang dahilan eh,” natatawang tugon ni Sera

Tumawa kami. Ang totoo medyo comfortable na ako sa kanila. Good thing, I managed to be with them. Hindi rin naman sila masama.

Master Lethal coughed.

Tumigil na kami sa pagtawa at sumeryoso na.

“Andre, you proved to us that you will be a useful higher-up student. I don't doubt you anymore sa kung ano ang magagawa mo, well, in the first place, I didn't doubt your skill,” Master Lethal remarked.

I don't know, but I feel soft as I heard those phrases. Nakakatuwa because they appreciated what I did.

“And by that, I will claim you as a higher-up student. Bukas ay i-a-anunsiyo ko na ikaw ay ganap na higher-up student.”

I feel suffocated as I recall the phrrase of Scriven. “I envy you kasi ang dali-dali mo lamang nakuha ang posisyong higher-up at ang dali dali mo lamang naging kaibigan ang mga higher-up.”

Yumuko at hinawakan ang aking ulo. Paulit-ulit ang mga salita na para bang umiikot saakin at kinakausap ako upang makonsensya ako.

Naririnig ko na tinatawag ako ng aking mga kasama. Hindi ako sumagot, sapagkat binabagabag pa ako ng mga salitang binibitawan ng Scriven.

“Andre, okay ka lang ba? Anong nangyari sa'yo? Magsalita ka,” Leon asked.

Namalayan ko na lamang na nakatulala na ako no'ng hinawakan ako ni Sera sa aking balikat.

“Huwag kang mag-alala. Narinig ko ang sinabi ni Scriven. Saksi ako sa hirap mo. Saksi ako na may ginawa ka para makuha mo ang posisyong higher-up,” Sera cheered.

“To tell you the truth, ikaw ang ang taong pinakanahihirapan na makamit ang higher-up, but you managed to get in,” Leon claimed.

I sigh. Clearing my throat. I closed my eyes and relax. Tama nga. Wala pa atang history na may kumalaban ng 4 higher up just to have the position. 

Ako pa lamang ang nauna.

“I'm in.”

—

Hindi ako makatulog. Binabagabag ako. Dapat ko 'tong paninindigan. Since, pumasok ako sa akademyang 'to. Palagi nalang ako nagiisip.

Lumabas ako saglit. Wala naman atang masamang lumabas. Pagbukas ko, sumalubong saakin si Kristine.

“Magandang gabi,” bati ko sa kaniya.

Ngumiti lang siya. Nakikita kasi galing dito ang buwan. Napakaganda nga naman nito.

“The Moon shines so bright. Napakagansa nito sa mata,” Kristine inhaled as she said that.

Totoo nga naman. Hindi na lamang ako sumagot pa at hinayaan ko na ang aking sarili na damhin ang liwanag na handog ng buwan.

“Andre, bakit ka nandito?”

“I can't sl—” she cuts me off

“ What I mean dito sa Alpheus Acadrmy. Do you really want to be in Higher-up student? What is your goal?” she questioned.

“I want to clean up the mess. I want to stop the war between Alpheus at sa mga taong galit sa akademyang ito,” I answered.

Hindi ko na sinabi ang pakay ko na gagantihan ang pumatay sa tatay ko. Si Veslasuir.

“I can't blame them. I hate this academy too,” she looked away from me

Mu eyes widened. I want to ask why, but it would appear that it is too personal. Is it a family matter?

Whatever it is. I hope she will overcome it. This Academy is too precious at anak siya ng nagmamay-ari nito. Just why?

Am I wrong that I found this Academy filled with goodness? Tama ba ako? o baka naman I am just assuming.

““Something happened. It is not my intention to bother you. I have my reason to hate this academy. No worries hindi naman masama ang akademyang ito,” she smiled.

She seems like reading my mind. Masyado ba akong obvious?

“Huwag ka nga lang pakampante,” may bahid na lungkot at galit ang kan'yang tinig.

At that moment, natakot nanaman ako. What is this school made of?

“Anyway, don't mind me. Babalik na ako sa kwarto. Masaya akong nakausap kita. Ikaw din matulog kana. Good luck nga pala bukas!” she turned her back at pumasok na siya sa kaniyang kwarto.

“Sige, paalam. Good night!” I greeted to. I don't know if narinig niya or not, but it doesn't matter, anyway.

Nanatili muna ako sa labas. Iniisip ko kung ano nga ba ang sanhi ng kaniyang galit? Ano ba ang akademyang ito?

I am frustrated at 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit ako pumasok at natulog. I don't want to stress myself over this thing.

—

Nandito na kami ngayon sa hall. Hindi masyadong karamihan ang mga estudyante sa Alpheus Academy kumpara sa mga estudyante sa labas.

Nakaupo ako sa harapan at nakikita ko sa mukha nila that they are wondering my existence sa harapan.

Nahihiya ako. Bakit ba nila ako pagtitinginan? Oo, alam ko namang weird, pero sana huwag naman ganito, huhu.

Si Sera at Kristine pa lamang ang nandito sa tabi ko. Saan na ba sila Leon at Navrick? Hinanap ko sila kung saan-saan.

At nakadating na sila, but their expression is too unusual. Wala ba sila sa moods? Pangit ba ang gising nila na parang mulha nila? Chos.

Umupo sila at hindi kami binati. Siguro nga masama. Ano nga ba ang nangyari? Puro tanong nalang lagi ang nasa isipan ko. Kahit ni-isa ay walang nasasagot.

Inilipat ko nalang ang pokus ko sa harapan. Maingay pa rin.

“We will now start. Please, lower your voice,” lamig na utos ni Headmaster Cleevan.

Talaga nga na nakakaintimidate si Headmaster Cleevan. Isang anunsiyo niya lang, wala ka ng boses na maririnig.

Tumayo na si Master Lethal. 

“Good morning, students,” he greeted.

“Good morning, Master Lethal,” pagbalik na bati ng mga estudyante.

“Clearly, the teacher announced you the reason kung bakit naparito tayo and that is we are going to announce the Official and new member of Higher-up,” Master Lethal announced.

Nagsimula na silang magbulungan.

“Sino nga ba? Iyan bang lalaki ang nasa harapan?”

“Hindi naman ata. Balita ko, hindi niya pa nagagamit ang kapangyarihan niya.”

“Totoo?”

Kalat na kalat ata ang pangalan ko. Expected na kasi noong hindi pa ako estudyante rito, the town was almost filled with my name.

“Higher-up student, please do stand up. When I call your name.”

Nagpatuloy pa rin ang ingay.

“Student, lower your voice or keep quiet.”

And they followed. Nakakabingi ang katahimikan. Handa na ako. Hindi na ako natatakot.

“Leon Stalburt. The Captain of Higher up. He is a strength converter. He can heal his comrades and himself as well. Furthermore, he can also evolve himself into rock, wood and such according to his will,” he introduced.

Seryoso? Ba't 'di niya ginamit during laban namin? It is too dangerous to use? 

Tumayo na siya at pumunta sa harapan.

“Next is, Sera Avery. She is a power manipulator and diffuser. She can control 4 powers simultaneously. Not only that, but she can also diffuse someone's magic temporarily, but it will use a lot of her stamina, but it's useful though.”

Tumayo rin siya. Ang daming pumapalakpak no'ng siya na. Sikat ata talaga si Sera.

“Navrick Eitenicy. He is Flame Bringer. He can turn himself into Fire without even burning himself.”

“Kristine Tempest. Daughter of mine. She is Matters Manipulator. He can manipulate things that have masses, plus the fact that she can control living things except Human.”

WHAT? May ganoon ba? Napaka-powerful naman niya ata, pero ba't hindi siya naging Captain?

Is rhat mean, she can control animals as well? Naoaka-kapangyarihan naman niya.

Hmm, I see. Alpheus Academy is full of surprises.

It's my turn now. Handa na ako. Sabi ko kanina, hindi na ako kinabahan, pero bigla-bigla ay lumilitaw ito.

“Now, I will gladly announce you the new crafting spell that fits in the slot of Higher-up. Yes, you are right,” bitin niyang anunsiyo

“He is Andre. He can use multiple magic. He can manipulate things that have masses. He can bring Flame. He can control magic and he can convert his strength into things.”

Tumayo na ako't pumunta sa harapan. During practice, nirereport ni Mr. Adrian ang nagagawa ko at totoo ang mga sinasabi nila, ngunit hindi ko pa ito kabisado.

Pumalakpak at nagulat ang mga estudyante rito.

“Alpheus Academy. These 5 persons who stood upon you are the person who are the higher-up stud—”

Master Lethal isn't able to finish his words dahil may sumapaw. He's a tall, Maangas, maputi and he has cool hair though.

Who is this man?

Mukhang nagulat at natakot ang mga kasamahan ko. They are higher-up? Kaya nilang talunin ito. Bakit ba sila natatakot?

“Russel?” Master Lethal called.

So, this man is Russel? Why are the students seem like they fear him?

“I found something suspicious. Why is he can join in higher-up without doing any process? Baguhan nga rin 'yan. Wala pang isang buwan and he acquired the position already?” He asked at nagsimula ulit ang bulongan.

“I even heard that he can't use magic, so why is he even in Higher-up?” he asked again.

He smirked. What's his deal? May problema ba ang taong 'to?

“Just so you know. We are not doing favoritism. He's doing the process. He even beat us in the battle,” Leon answered.

Bakit niya sinabi? Because of his answer, the students are frightened.

“Ginagago mo ba kami, Leon? How can a powerless man could be able to defeat you? Are you making up a story to cover him up? To avoid the unsaid secret of this academy to be unveiled?”

Bakir ba hindi ito naniniwala sa sinasabi ni Leon?

“Pero no wonder. Natalo nga kita sa labanan eh,” mayabang na tugon ni Russel.

SERYOSO? NATALO NIYA SA LABANAN SI LEON? AT BAKIT SI LEON ANG TUMAYONG CAPTAIN?

Leon looked away. So totoo nga?

“Master Lethal, sorry for this mess, but I want this man to prove to us that he deserved the position,” he apologized.

Master Lethal sigh. He seems like thinking about something. I'm sure this is a big mess.

“Alright. What do you want him to do?” Out of curiosity, Master Lethal asked.

Nakangiti siya habang tinatanong. Ewan ko, pero para siyang bumulong saakin na nagtitiwala siya saakin in inditect way.

“If ang sinabi niyo ay totoo na he beats the higher-up..

Tinagalan niya ang kaniyang susunod na wika. Umupo siya't nagsalita.

“Hayaan niyong kaming dalawa ang maglaban,”

Galit ko siyang tinignan. Are you underestimating me?

“Deal with me, Andre. Show us na mas deserve mo ang position over sa ibang estudyante rito,” he's provoking me. 

The crowds agreed.

I looked at my team and they smiled at me. Indirect way of saying “You can do this.”

Ngumiti na rin ako at hinarap si Russel. His face expression changed.

Akala mo ikaw lang ang magaling dito? I can and I will steal the spotlight, Russel. Hindi ako simpleng tao. May pangarap din akong dapat kong makamit.

“Jokes on you. Akala mo aatrasan kita? Angas mo pare. Ipaparamdam ko sa'yo kung ano ang pakiramdam ng natatalo.”