CHAPTER 1.1: SCHIZ ACADEMY

"Mom, are you really serious about this? Walang halong bawang?" 

After the accident happened to me last week, Mom decided to leave our house. And yes, biglaan ang gagawin namin. 

"Anak, babalik tayo doon sa tinitirhan natin dati at doon ka mag-aaral sa school malapit do'n." She patted my head and closed the compartment. "Let's go." 

Sumakay ako sa passenger seat at siya naman sa driver's seat. Pagkasuot namin ng seatbelt, kaagad niyang pinatakbo ang sasakyan. Napatingin na lang ako sa side mirror para makita ang bahay. 

Goodbye. 

What happened to me last week was very scary and traumatic. Paano ba naman, may apat na lalaki na nakasuot ng black long cloaks na kikidnap-in dapat ako. Buti na lang nakasigaw ako agad and Mom hurried to see what's going on to me. The real scary part is, that four men vanished suddenly. Parang bula! 

"Huh?" Bigla kasing niliko ni Mom ang sasakyan papunta sa gubat. Tumango lang siya at tumingin na lang ulit ako sa labas ng bintana. Wag mong sabihing sa gitna kami ng gubat nakatira? 

Kat*ngahan naman yata yun. 

"Mom, malayo pa ba?" 

"Malapit na tayo anak." 

"That's the fourth time you told me the same answer." 

"Because you only asks the same question." May point. 

Kasi naman, feeling ko nasa ibang bansa na kami. Jusko tanghali na oh! Nasa gitna parin kami ng gubat! I honestly trust Mom because she has strong sense of direction kaya imposibleng nawawala kami. Kung ako mag-isa, pwede pa. 

"Here we are." 

Right after she told three words, I felt something strange. Hindi ko alam pero may naramdaman akong kakaiba. Parang bumigat bigla yung pakiramdam ko at rinig na rinig ko yung pintig ng puso ko. Sh*t nasaan kami? 

Few seconds and a field of dandelions welcomed us. Wow. Para akong nasa isang paradise. There are also glowing insects on every flowers and I felt like I wanted to open the window. "Mom, can I open the window?" 

"Sure." 

I pressed the button and the window rolled down. Wow, ang presko ng hangin dito. Hindi gaya sa lugar namin. Inilabas ko ang kamay ko at may mga dumapong insekto rito na parang kinikiliti ako. 

Pero p*tek nasaan ba kasi kami? 

Iniliko ni Mom ang sasakyan pakaliwa at isang malaking pader ang natanaw ko sa windshield ng sasakyan. Stone brick walls are d*mn high at may malaking metal gate sa gitna. Magkaiba ang logo sa dalawang side na ipinagtaka ko. 

Malapit na kami at akala ko ay bababa pa si Mom para magtawag ng guard o ano pero kusang nagbukas ang gate. At doon ko nakita ang isang malaking kastilyo. Stone bricks din ang pader nito at sobrang laki nito! May garden din sa paligid at may malaking fountain sa gitna. Sobrang linaw ng tubig ah. Sana all. 

Inihinto ni Mom ang sasakyan sa may tapat ng isang mataas na staircase at nung lumabas ako ay nakita kong nakasara na ang malaking gates. Ang presko ng hangin dito! 

Nagpunta ako sa may fountain at nakitang may maliliit na nilalang doon. Para silang mga duwendeng sirena. Tumingin silang lahat sa akin at nagform ng isang bilog kaya inilublob ko ang kamay ko at dumikit sila rito. 

"Nakikiliti ako..." 

"Anak! Halika rito!" 

"Opo!" Tumingin muli ako sa mga maliit na sirena. "Bye bye muna mga cute na sirena. Next time ulit ah." Mukhang naintindihan nila ang sinabi ko kaya lumayo sila rito at doon ko na iniahon ang kamay ko. Habang palayo ako ng fountain ay inamoy ko ang tubig at sobrang bango lang sh*t! Parang pabango ng Chanel ah! 

Lumapit ako kina Mommy at doon ko napansin ang isang magandang babae at sampung butler sa paligid na bitbit ang . . . mga gamit ko! 

"Ang ganda niya Amber!" Kilala niya si Mom? "She looks like your twin. Bilib na ako sa iyo." Tumawa silang dalawa at tumingin sa akin ang babae. "Oh by the way, I'm Calla Mildred, headmistress of the Schiz Academy." Schiz? Nice yet strange name. 

"Ahrina Tantiana Regalia po," I introduced. "Nice to meet you po, Headmistress Mildred." 

"Address me as Tita Calla in informal situations but call me that in formal ones." 

"Sige po, Tita Calla." 

Mom patted my shoulder so I turned to her and she combed my hair. "So anak, dito ka na mag-aaral ngayon. Your Tita Calla will take care of you while I'm at work okay?" Ha? Seryoso si Mommy? "Tita Calla will protect you and tatawag ako every week to check on you." 

"Why every week?" 

"That's part of the security protocol of the school, Ahrina." 

Before the drama could enter the scene, Tita Calla spoke. "Amber, baka hinahanap ka na sa Chamber." Chamber? 

"Oo nga pala. May meeting kami ngayon." Mom kissed my forehead and smiled. "Good luck on your studies, anak. Call your Tita Calla if you need anything. I have to go now." 

"Take care, Mom. I love you po." 

"I love you too anak. Ingat ka rin." Before she could leave, she gave me a necklace. "Wear it always. Bye anak." 

I watched her went inside her car and drove out of the high walls of the school. Isinuot ko na ang necklace na may purple gemstone na pendant. Teardrop shape ito at may maliliit na gems sa paligid na kulay yellow, green, blue, white, black at red. Hindi ako jewelry analyst or whatever pero sigurado akong diamonds ang kulay yellow, green, blue, white, black at red na gems na ito. 

"Tara na?" I smiled to Tita Calla and we went inside the school. "So, welcome to the Schiz Academy, Ahrina." 

School ba talaga ito? This building is more like a royal castle than school eh. With its strange exterior and interior screaming elegance, royalty and power, I can't believe that this is a freaking school. The golden chandeliers are illuminating the magnificent hallway filled with corinthian columns and marble tiles and there are portraits at the walls too. 

We stopped at the middle of the field, causing my beautiful eyes see how grand and wide the school is. This godd*mn academy has its own not-so-big mall, two dormitories, stadium and of course, a very wide setback. 

"Let's go to your dormmates. Don't worry, I entrusted you to the most sane crackhead girls of the academy." Sane crackheads? Ano yun, mga baliw sa mental instistution na nakainom ng gamot nila? 

The dormitory is actually like a small cream-colored castle. May napakaaliwalas na lounge, malaking chandelier sa gitna at enggrandeng staircase. Umakyat na kami at nagpunta sa third floor. 

I feel like I'm a princess here! Dream come true 'to bes! 

A butler knocked at the wooden door with a signage 'Room 3025' and a young girl opened the door. Kaedad ko lang siya. She immediately smiled and bowed her head. "Good morning Headmistress Mildred!" She transfered her sight to me and smiled. "Oh hi! Siya na po ang bago naming dormmate, Headmistress?" 

"Yes, Ms. Davis." Tita Calla looked at me and smiled. "So, maiwan na kita dito Ahrina. They will take care of you and call me using the room telephone if you need anything." 

"Si mommy po?" Sorry po, nasanay kasi ako na palagi kong kasama ang aking mameh. 

"She'll call to me before she can call you. It's part of the security protocols of Schiz Academy to further protect the young magicians like you." Wait. Young magicians? Nakashabu ba ako? "You'll learn by the time you started taking classes. Your schedule is as the same as to Ms. Davis to accompany you everytime." 

"Thanks po, Headmistress." 

"Go inside now." Tumango na lang ako at yumuko bilang pagpapakita ng respeto. The butlers went out of the room kaya pumasok ako at isinara na ng babae ang pinto. 

The dormitory room looks very fancy and malawak rin. May tatlong pinto, small kitchen, and small living room. Oh, I like that flat screen TV. Ang tanong, may wifi ba rito? Baka naman mamaya, hindi ako makapag-YouTube, Viu, at Webtoon nito. 

"Marina! Lia!" She bombarded one door and went inside to it. "Nandito na yung bago nating dormmate!" 

"Huh?" 

"Nandito na yung bago nating dormmate jusko po!" Now, I understand why 'sane crackheads'. "Hinaan mo nga yang volume ng music mo!" 

Three girls went out of that room and looked to me. "Wow! Freesia, anghel ba ang nasa harapan natin ngayon?" 'Wag ka pong ganyan. Aware naman ako na maganda ako. Marami kayang nagkaka-crush saken. Pati fetus. 

"Teka, familiar siya." Huh? 

"Have a seat!" The girl who opened the door offered so I sat at the single seat sofa while them at the long one. "What's your name? And anong magic mo? Tsaka anong ability mo na rin?" 

"I'm Ahrina Tantiana Regalia. And magic? I don't know what you are saying." Magic and ability? Those are mentioned in fantasies—wait. Teka. Kakalma muna ako. 

Pusanggala mameh ko, saang paraiso mo ako dinala? 

"She has no idea where she is now." Mind reader! "By the way, I'm Lia Edwards. I'm a winged witch specializing in illusionary magic." Winged witch? Illusionary magic? Jusko Mameh ko, saang lupalop ng mundo mo ako dinala?! 

"I'm Freesia Davis, an ice mage and I can hear up to ten miles radius." Ice mage? Kaya niya kaya gumawa ng ice cream? 

"Last but not the least, Marina Copeland and I'm a floral mage so not that important." Binatukan siya nung dalawa pero tumawa lang siya. So . . . ano yon? "Floral mage ako and isa ako sa mga in-charge sa pagpapaganda ng mga bulaklak sa buong Magic World." 

Nasa Magic World kami ni Mom?! Naka-drugs ba ako? O nakahithit ng utot ng mga kapitbahay namin? 

"Pero syempre, my ability is telepathy kaya medyo high rank ako katulad nila. And yes, nasa Magic World kayo." Scary. "I know." 

"Regalia!" Lia exclaimed. "Kaya pala familiar siya. Anak ka ni Governess Amberleigh Regalia?" 

Tumango ako. "Governess?" 

Marina shrugged. "She doesn't know about Magic World. Kayo na magpaliwanag sa kanya, ayoko siyang pangunahan." 

"Perks." Binatukan niya si Lia at nagtawanan sila. Humarap si Lia sa akin at nagsimulang magpaliwanag. 

So, pot*ena. 

Magic World consists of eight countries which are Avenditia, Townland, Malifent, Svien, Enchantrie, Launa, Bourgland, and Demetria. The country where we are is Demetria and it has six large cities and one dark city removed from the country map. The six cities are Pireia, Hesperia, Cidae, Nyneve, Aurora, and the capital Antheia. Antheia is the largest city and it is announced as the capital for two reasons—first, the first great divine mage Geminid Schiz was born and died here and second, it is the center of the country which makes the transport to the neighbor cities easier. 

The Demetria has monarchial method of goverment, absolute monarchy to be exact. The whole country's leader is King Malachi and Queen Rosewell while the city's leader is Governor Sutton. Clap, clap! 

There is an unitarian conference made after the Enchanted War happened a millenium before and those members of the Committee of Peace and Power are the leaders of each city and the leaders of Schiz Academy. Freesia mentioned names which are Headmistress Calla Mildred, Headmaster Carob Mildred, Sir Collin Shallows—the Academy's applied magic trainor, Governess Amberleigh Regalia-which is my Mom, and Governor Sutton of Antheia. 

Now the one city removed from the country's map is the dark city of necromancers, Dreich. And it's because they are removed from the country now, monarchial goverment has no power over them that's why they have their own monarchy. The Dreich's leader is Headmaster Hades, a mage who uses dark magic—particularly soul extracting magic. 

Now, the Schiz Academy was built right after the Committee was formed and the Academy's main objective is to teach the young mages, witches or warlocks, and sorcerers and sorceresses to prevent an accident which will cause public panicking and destruction of infrastructures. Another clap clap. 

"So tara! Ililibot ka namin sa buong Academy!" Dear paa, good luck. 

Lumabas na kami ng dorm at mas lalo kong naappreciate ang fanciness ng dorm. Pagkalabas namin ay nagsimula na kaming maglibot. Mula sa mall at stadium hanggang sa napakalawak na hardin ng Academy. 

Pero may isang parte ng Academy na hindi na namin subukang pasukin, ang South Woods. Ayon daw kasi sa mga kwento, ang lahat ng mga pumapasok dyan ay hindi na nakakalabas pa at siguro'y dinadakip na ng mga necromancers. 

"Halatang galing ka sa mundo ng mga tao," salita ni Freesia sa akin at tinuro ang damit ko. 

Isang white ruffled blouse at black ripped skinnies ang suot ko ngayon at tinernohan ko ito ng isang pares ng white sneaks. Casual lang naman ang suot ko ah, and pare-parehas naman kaming apat na naka-jeans. 

Tumambay kami rito sa may garden at pinanonood ko naman ang parang mga koi sa malaking fishpond. May iba't ibang uri at kulay ng isda rito. And may sarili silang falls. Sana all. Sa banyo namin, yung bidet namin yun na rin ang shower. 

Matapos libutin ang buong Academy ay dumerecho na kami sa Dining Hall ng Academy. Pagpasok namin ay marami-rami na ring mga estudyante ang nandito. In fairness sa fancy interior ng Dining Hall ah. 10 star Michelin 'to saken. 

Buffet-style ang Dining Hall kaya pumila kami upang kumuha ng pagkain. Mabuti na lang at katulad din ng pagkain sa amin ang mga pagkain rito. Naupo kami sa isang four-seater table at nagsimulang kumain. 

"Si mom—I mean si Governess Regalia, anong magic niya?" Naisip ko lang bigla, kung may kapangyarihan si Mommy kagaya nila, bakit ako wala? 

Si Marina ang sumagot. "Si Governess Regalia ay isang light mage at ang ability niya ay summonation, isa sa pinakamalakas na ability. Kaya niyang gumagawa ng isang bagay, hayop, o mage, witch, warlock, sorcerer, o sorceress." Edi wow. "And hindi ako naniniwalang wala kang magic." Kaka-touch. 

"Dahil hindi ka makakaapak dito kung normal na tao ka lang," Freesia added. "Mula pa lang sa Secret Portal, haharangin ka na at tanging si Governess Regalia lang ang makakapasok." Weh?

Tumingin sa akin si Lia. "At kapag hindi ka nakapasok pero pinilit mo, dalawa lang yun. Malalaman ng mga tao ang tungkol sa Secret Portal or makukuha ka ng mga nagkalat na necromancers." 

Ayoko na, joke lang po. 

Ibig sabihin, may kapangyarihan ako? Pero bakit hindi ko alam? Bakit hindi ko maramdaman? Baka naman nagmamalfunction na ang senses ko? Or baka utak ko na. 

"That's for you to find out, Ahrina." Marina smiled to me, so as I.