Strange Stranger

"Who are you?"

Mabilis na tumayo si Celestia at hinarap ang pinanggalingan ng boses na 'yon. Her heart was pounding nervously and her mind keeps on thinking that the dark witches had found her again.

But then she only saw a brown-haired guy sitting underneath the big tree, just near the pond. He's holding a rather thick book that makes Celestia winced. Mahilig din siya magbasa, but a single book as thick as that one makes her head hurt just by looking at it.

"Hey."

"Who are you?" Celestia asked thoughtlessly.

The guy just stares impassively at her, unresponsive.

"Nag-aaral ka rin ba dito?" She asked again.

The guy hummed, still not saying anything as he continued to stare at Celestia na parang kinikilatis ang pagkatao nito sa tingin niya.

"Pero bakit ka nandito?" She softly asked. "I mean, kasi diba summer na... and the headmaster said na lahat ng students umuuwi sa kanila kada end of school year..."

"That's true," the guy finally spoke. "Pero hindi muna ako umuwi this summer."

"Oh," she clasped both of her hands, unsure of what to say next. "Uh..."

"And you? I don't think I've seen you around the institute. Are you a transferee?"

"Ah- oo. Transferee... ako. Oo, 'yun nga," she chuckled nervously. Hindi niya alam ang isasagot sa tanong na 'yon dahil hindi naman nila napag-usapan ng Headmaster kung ano ang dapat maging cover-up story niya kapag may nagtanong.

The guy cocks an eyebrow, looking at her knowingly. They stared at each other for a few seconds, and only then did Celestia realize the guy has red eyes.

Strange, is what she thought about it. Though it actually looks good on him. His brown hair is soft and straight, fringes almost covering his eyes which is why she didn't notice when she's in the distance. And then his sharp jawline. For a moment, she indulges herself looking at his aristocratic features. She's the second guy her age that she met. The second good-looking guy she met if she's being honest. Ayaw man niyang aminin, but Theodore is a very handsome guy, what with his jet black hair, soft curls hanging on his forehead, high cheekbones, his tall and lean body, and that brilliant blue eyes-

A clearing of a throat pulled her out of her thoughts. Namula nang husto si Celestia when he sees the guy raising an eyebrow, a knowing glint in his red eyes.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ang dalaga. "Okay, fine. Not really a transferee. Pero I'll be studying here once classes start."

The guy just hummed, tapos ay ibinaling na ang atensyon sa binabasa.

Seeing that it was the end of their conversation, Celestia returned her gaze on the beautiful pond. She just stares at it, no thoughts in her head. Parang may magic iyong pond na nakakapagpakalma sa utak kaya parang walang maisip si Celestia kundi ang angking ganda nitong nakita niyang anyong tubig. All thoughts about her parents, the witches, and her fate no longer linger in her mind.

She's not entirely sure, but she assumes it's the pond's doing. Wala siyang maramdamang magic mula dito, but she can't think of a reason why she just feels so calm and peaceful as of the moment.

"It's calming, isn't it?"

Celestia almost jumped on her seat nang biglang may magsalita at sumira sa ilusyon niyang kapayapaan.

"Huh?" She dumbly asked.

"The pond. It's calming, right?"

She nodded at the guy, "Does it have magic?"

He shrugged, "Hindi ko rin alam. Walang nakakaalam kung anong klaseng pond ba 'yan, kaya 'wag kang lulusong diyan."

Ramdam ni Celestia ang pag-init ng pisngi niya nang marinig ang sinabi ng lalake. "H-hindi naman ako lalangoy!"

His lips twitch, a different reaction on his impassive face.

"Na-curious lang ako kung may nags-swim dito. Ang ganda kasi..." Celestia added, sounding defensive.

The guy just hummed again.

Celestia turned to look at him, a curious look on her face. Agad din namang napansin ng lalake ang tingin niya kaya muli nitong inangat ang tingin at nagtagpo ang mga mata nila.

"Spill."

"What?" nagtatakang tanong ni Celestia rito.

"You looked like you wanted to ask something. Go on."

Celestia flushed in embarrassment, though she asked anyway; "Can you tell me how classes works here? Since, you know, there's different magical beings studying here..." she mumbled shyly. "Kung ayos lang naman! May nag-tour na kasi sakin dito, kaso wala naman siyang in-explain about how the school run their classes. Tapos puro lang kami sagutan kaya parang wala rin akong naalala."

The guy looked at her for a moment, then he shut his book closed and beckoned Celestia to come closer. Agad namang sumunod si Celestia at umupo sa tabi nito, leaving some space between them. This close, mas naging malinaw sa kanya how dark the shade of red his eyes were. It's quite fascinating.

"You know how there's seven magical beings studying here, right? The werewolves, vampires, mermaids, fairies, angels, demons, shapeshifters and light witches. Dark witches have long been banned from this place because of the kind of magic they practice, kaya mga light witches lang ang pinayagan," the guy started explaining. "There's twenty-two classes in total-"

"TWENTY-TWO?" Gulat na tanong ni Celestia.

"Yes, twenty-two," the guy drawled, looking blankly at Celestia who just smiled sheepishly, and then gestured to him to continue. He cleared his throat before continuing. "As I was saying, mayroong twenty-two classes dito. Each being has to have twelve subjects. Classes are Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sundays are for leisure or completing whatever you need to finish. Meron din tayong Monthly Trip, which happens at the end of each month starting from September. June is the start of our classes. Students are allowed to go home during the Yule Season, and then babalik in January. April ang end of classes."

"Ten classes... how does that work?"

"So there's twenty-two classes right?" Tumango si Celestia rito. "Yung seventeen doon, mandatory i-take ng mga students, but it still depends on what being you are. The other five are electives, which you can choose in fourth year."

Tumango-tango si Celestia rito.

"So there's three kinds of classes. The Electives, the General Academics, and the Specialized classes. There are five Electives, eight General Academics, and nine Specialized. The General Academics, mandatory ang classes na 'yan, which means all Magical Beings are required to take it. Unlike Specialized classes where each nine subjects depends on the being."

Kumunot ang noo ni Celestia rito, "Like, a certain subject is only meant for Vampires or Werewolves or such? Ganon ba?"

"Precisely," sabi ng lalake. "Each being needs to take two Specialized classes. For example, mine are Infernal Magic and Astral Projection."

"Wait, Astral Projection? I know that! Mom taught me that!" Celestia exclaimed. "Can I take that class too? It's one of my most favorite among all the other subjects na tinuro sa'kin e."

"Again, it depends on what Being you are."

Celestia frowned for a moment, a pout on her lips, but she quickly schooled her features. "Paano ko pala malalaman kung ano mga Specialized classes ko? Tsaka, kelan ibibigay schedules?"

"The day before classes start. Once naka-register ka na sa system ng institute, kusa nang mapa-process 'yung classes mo."

Celestia nodded in understanding. "Paano nga pala 'yon? I'm seventeen years old na, and a transferee with no prior record in other schools. First years ba makakasama ko sa klase?"

Hindi agad sumagot 'yung lalake. His thick eyebrows were knitted into a frown as he thought about Celestia's question. Medyo kinabahan si Celestia rito, thinking na baka first years nga ang makakasabay. Hindi naman sa ayaw niya, pero nahihiya ito dahil malapit na siya maging legal age pero first year pa rin ang tine-take na classes.

"But are you taught? Like, homeschooled?"

"I am," sagot ni Celestia.

The guy hums, "Then I assume they will give you an

Academic Assessment to test your knowledge, para matignan kung kaya ka ng isabay sa yearmates mo. Ano bang mga classes ang itinuro sa'yo?"

Celestia was no genius, but she has a very sharp memory that it seems like an ability of hers too. Kaso nga lang, nagagamit niya lang 'to kapag kailangan. For someone with a sharp memory like her, she also has the memory of a goldfish. How is that possible, she doesn't know either.

"Potions or Alchemy, History, Healing, Arts and Crafts, Teleportation, Ethics and Law, Magical Defense and Warding," dire-diretsong sambit ni Celestia. "My father also taught me this one subject he calls Lunar Magic and Rituals, as well as Shapeshifting. Tapos ang mommy ko naman, tinuruan niya ako ng Blood Magic and Mind Control. Then Astral Projection, like what I told you awhile ago. And Runes? Something like that, although never ko na-master 'yon. Doon ako pinakahirap."

Nakita ni Celestia ang bahagyang paglaki ng mata ng lalake na ikinapagtaka nito.

"Bakit? May mali ba akong nasabi?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Celestia.

"No. It's just that-" the guy's face twisted a bit into something like a grimace, but he quickly smoothed his expression back to its impassiveness. "It's nothing important. Anyway, the first seven classes you mentioned? Iyon ang mga subjects sa General Academics."

Somehow, medyo in-expect na ni Celestia 'yon, kaya hindi na siya halos nagulat. "And I take it that the other classes my mom and dad taught me separately is the Specialized classes?"

"It is," sagot ng lalake. "Are they former students here?"

"Oo. Even my other relatives na katulong nila magturo sakin ng mga classes na 'yon."

"I see."

"Wait," biglang sambit ni Celestia, a frown on her face. "Sabi mo 'yung unang pitong klase na nabanggit ko ay 'yung General Academics, pero diba walo 'yon? Ano 'yung wala sa nabanggit ko?"

"Ah. Yes. I noticed that as well," sabi ng lalake. "It's Combat Training and Weaponry."

"They teach that here?" gulat na tanong ni Celestia.

The guy raised an eyebrow at her, "Among all the other subjects that you've been taught, nagulat ka pa na tinuturo rito ang pakikipaglaban?"

"Hindi naman sa ganon..." Celestia trailed off. "Well, ganon na nga. But I'm also confused bakit hindi tinuro sakin ng mga magulang at relatives ko 'yon? That could've been helpful."

Naalala ni Celestia ang sinabi niya doon sa antipatikong anak ng Headmaster, na hindi siya kailanman hinayaan ng magulang na lumayo sa bahay nila. She never experienced doing exercises, o kahit i-train siya i-defend ang sarili.

She wondered why, when they were taught about it in this very school.

"Maybe you have health problems?" the guy offered.

Celestia thought about it for a moment, "Health problems?" She muttered. "Hindi ko rin alam... I've never been properly checked as far as I know."

"You seemed sheltered, based on what you've told me."

"I am," saad ni Celestia. "And for some reason too." She quickly added, tone getting defensive.

Tumango-tango lang ang lalake, to her utter relief.

Just then, another bell rang loudly that made Celestia jolt from where she was seated.

"Ano 'yon?" kinakabahang tanong nito.

"Lunch time," sagot ng lalake. "I think it's your cue to return to the castle. And maybe you should go to the Infirmary after. The Healer there can give you a check up."

"Oh, right! Kailangan ko nga palang pumunta ng Infirmary after lunch. Salamat sa pag-remind!" She quickly stood up at aalis na sana, pero naalala niya na estudyante nga rin pala ang kasama niya rito at aayain niya sanang sabay na sila bumalik, but the guy is nowhere to be found.

Kumunot ang noo ni Celestia. She's not even far from where she was seated a while ago, and wala rin siyang narinig na tunog ng umalis. So bakit ang bilis nawala ng lalake? At bakit hindi niya narinig?

So strange.

She hurried her way back to the castle. She rolled her eyes once she saw that rude guy Theodore at the door. Their eyes locked, and his eyes hardened as he met Celestia on the way.

"Where the hell have you been?" mariing tanong nito. "I've been looking for you!"

"Did you?" sarkastikong sagot ni Celestia, tapos ay nilagpasan ito.

"You-" Theodore muttered a curse before trailing behind her. "Where the hell were you, you silly girl?"

"I'm not a silly girl," she hissed, glaring at him. "At kung hindi pa obvious, malamang sa forest! Kita mo namang doon ako galing diba?"

"What were you doing there?"

Celestia groaned, "Gusto kong makita 'yung greenhouse at 'yung pond, dahil my supposed tour sucked at his job, so I had to do it by myself. And thankfully, I've met someone there who actually explained some things about this school."

"I did my part very well. Sadyang mahina ka lang pumick-up," inis na sagot ng lalake. "And who is that someone na nagpaliwanag sa'yo about some things? Because as far as I know, tayong dalawa lang ang tao rito, except for the cooks. There are no professors or staff here at the moment, and they will only arrive a week before classes start."

"Then you're wrong. Dahil tatlo tayong estudyante na nandito sa castle ngayon," sabi ni Celestia.

Theodore raised an eyebrow at him, "And who might it be that's staying in the castle I didn't know of?"

"Si-" She abruptly stopped. Her eyes widened, lips parting in utter shock at the realization na hindi niya alam ang pangalan ng lalakeng nakausap niya sa forest. She didn't even remember asking his name! And she also didn't introduce herself...

"What?" Theodore impatiently asked.

"I... I don't know his name," mahinang sambit ni Celestia. "Hindi ko natanong."

"The hell," Theodore rolled his eyes. "Of course you didn't."

"I forgot, okay! I was engrossed in hearing about how classes work here!" Pagdedepensa ni Celestia sa sarili niya, but the rude guy just shakes his head and quickened his pace. Muling nag-init ang ulo ni Celestia at inis na sinundan ito papunta sa dining hall.