MARINA COPELAND'S POV
When she said she is a Regalia, she mean it.
"Sutton." Sir Collin called after few seconds. Her dogs started barking—I mean, cheering for her. Sir Collin spoke again as Julianna went to her place. "Please select your opponent."
As Julianna smirked wider, nagkatinginan kaming tatlo nila Freesia and Lia. We all know whom she will call. "Regalia." Then everyone stared at Ahrina, including Sir Collin who looks worried. "I want to fight with Regalia."
Freesia gapped her mouth and was about to speak but Ahrina went first, with a smirk too. "Sure, Sutton. I will fight against you." Everyone cheered in excitement but not us six as well as Sir Collin.
Is she out of her mind?
Ahrina removed her cape and handed it to Freesia. She smiled to us three, a smile of reassurance, and t
AHRINA TANTIANA REGALIA'S POV The lights were off kaya naman the white ceiling was a bit grayish. Basing on the scent of the room, I can confirm that I'm at the Academy hospital. Oo, hospital. Not infirmary, not clinic. Hospital. Tinignan ko muna ang paligid and no one is here. Pero kamuntik na akong mapatalon pababa when I saw Crimson sleeping habang nakaupo. I don't know what kind of virus entered my system. I just felt sorry for him. Kaya naman, I patted his arm and nagising naman siya. "Hey.." He scratched his eyes first and stretched his arms a little bit. Cute. "You're awake. I'll call a hospital nurse. Wait for me here." I smiled and nodded. "Sure. Thank you." He smiled genuinely as he gripped the doorknob. "Always." And he went out. Okay, what was that?
Matagal na pala akong crush nitong ul*l na 'to. May pagka-torpe din pala ang isang 'to ano? Buti na lang at nasabi niya agad. Kasi the feeling is mutual naman! "I like you too, Crimson." Syempre joke lang! 'Di ko sasabihin 'yun, ano! On a serious note, he shouldn't be! Masasaktan lang siya... "Since we were kids..." I echoed. "But aren't you—" "I know. My answer is no, Ahrina. I don't consider this as puppy love," he stated, sounds so sure. "Ahrina, I'm going to court you. It is clear to me that Thoreau isn't serious which gives me the chance to breathe freely so I am going to court you with all my might." Shems, nababaliw na ako! Pero, is this really okay? Hindi niya alam na ako ang successor ni Headmaster Hades. Tumango na lang ako. After all, he wasn't asking for my permission. "Your choice, Crimson." 
And we both arrived at our class which is Mathematics. Crimson knocked on the door and opened it. Our teacher just continued writing on the board. Crimson kicked away a chair and placed me in front of a desk then he locked the wheel so the wheelchair will not move. As he sat down on the chair beside me, our teacher spoke. "I'm fully aware that Ms. Regalia is excused for the whole day but not Mr. Torren." He faced us. "Are you now her butler, Mr. Torren?" The f*cking h*ll? Ayos ng bibig ng teacher namin ah! Makalait wagas! "Sir—" "Instead of wasting your time and energy scolding me, just teach the class." Our teacher pointed at Crimson. "Report to the Guidance and Discipline Office later." And he turned his back to the whole class. My eyes widened and I faced Crimson. "Are you insane already, Torren?"
Times flies so fast kaya naman ngayong araw na kaagad ang Royal Annual Introduction of Successors. About sa punishment naming pito at pati na rin ni Julianna, will start after this event so in short, bukas. Kahit papaano, napakiusapan ko sila Tita Calla kaya naman pumayag sila. Agad kong isinuot ang stilettos na ibinigay sa akin ni Headmaster Hades. I scanned it for hundred times every night kaya sure akong wala itong kung ano. It's just normal stilettos. I next wore my beige gown na binili namin nung nagshopping kami nila Ate Scarlet. Gusto ko sana hindi na ako magme-make up ng gaano pero this three girls with me insisted dahil first time ko daw ito. We went to the Academy Mall yesterday and pinaglagyan nila ng highlights ang buhok ko. Kaya ayan tuloy, mukha akong neutral palette. "Lipstick time!" Lia exclaimed and pulled out my matte lipstick. "Siguradong mame-mesmerized ang lahat sa beauty mo b
In few minutes, dumating na ang Royal Family. As they walk to the middle where the red carpet is properly laid, we all bowed as a form of respect. I'm still bowing yet I was a bit surprised when I viewed everything like I'm not. I think I subconsciously did something. A young girl whom I presumed as Princess Perelia stared at me for a long before diverting his attention in front of her. I also observed them and saw how they walk, their facial reactions, and their appearances. And well, the Royal Family of Demetria are really a bunch of luxurious, highly respectable people. I raised my head as the people around me did and tumingin kaing lahat sa Royal Family na nakatayo na sa may dulo ng Hall. King Malachi pulled of his smile, a nostalgic one. "Good morning, leaders and successors. Today is the one hundred eighth celebration of Annual Introduction of Successors and I'm glad that all of the important personalities that the Roya
Kung inaakala niyong doon na nagtatapos ang lahat, then you're absolutely wrong. May Ball Night pa! After the speeches of every successors, pinatayo kaming lahat mula sa mga upuan namin at pinapunta sa medyo unahan. Tinanggal ang podium para makita kaming lahat syempre. Binanggit isa-isa ang mga pangalan namin at city or province na aming mamanahin at saka sabay-sabay kaming nagbow bilang closing of the ceremony. Prior to that, nagbigay ng maikling speech ang prinsipe at prinsesa ng Demetria na si Prince Walter and Princess Perelia. Si Prince Walter kasi ang Crown Prince kaya naman siya ang susunod na hari habang si Princess Perelia ay Crown Princess din pero magiging Duchess siya. After that almost four-hour celebration, nagpunta na kaming lahat sa Royal Dining Hall. Yung mga student guests, sa Royal Ballroom sila pinaderetso since doon magaganap yung Ball Night. &nbs
Tumango na lang ako at humawak sa kamay niya. Nagpunta kami sa may medyo gitna at nagsayaw na. Marunong naman ako magganito dahil naka-attend na ako ng JS Prom nung Grade 9 ako. Crimson held my waist tighter, pushing me closer to him. "Baby, I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I didn't mean to raise my voice on you." I smiled a bit and nodded. "I already forgave you earlier." "Still, I'm sorry. I promise I will tell you everything you need to know as soon as we return to Academy, okay?" I nodded again. "Promise 'yan ah." "Opo, baby, I promise." Sh*ta ka, Crimson. Bakit 'di ko kayang magalit sa 'yo ng matagal? "You cried earlier..." "A-Ah, wala ito.." "You cried because I was mad at you earlier?" Tumango ako. "Sh*t. I shouldn't have done that." He moved his left hand and cupped my
"Stop right there, Regalia." Oo, hindi talaga ako nakaalis ng Training Chamber. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, napakalaki ng TC kaya naman bago pa ako makahakbang tatlong metro mula sa pinto, sumara na ito. "Crimson save me! I'm at Training Chamber! Please!" I have no choice but to face them. "May kai—" Agad akong napahinto nang biglang iginalaw ni Princess Perelia ang mga kamay niya kaya naman isang malaking alon ang nabuo at pumunta sa direksyon ko. Dahil sa pagkabigla ko, hindi kaagad ako nakagalaw pero mabuti na lang, isang ice dome ang kusang nabuo kaya hindi ako nabasa. Nung nabasag na ang ice dome, agad na nagsalita si Princess Perelia. "Tell us, Regalia. What is your real magic?" "Wind," I answered right away. 'Yon naman kasi ang unang magic classification sa akin. "Liar." I w
Dalawampung taon na simula nang mamuno sila Crimson at Ahrina bilang Hari at Reyna ng kaharian ng Demetria. Dalawampung taon na ring payapa ang buong Magic World, malayo sa mga pangyayari noong nakahiwalay ang Dreich mula sa Demetria. Sa balkonahe ng kanilang kwarto nakatayo si Ahrina, tinatanaw ang makulay at payapang Demetria. Ilang segundo ang makalipas, yumakap mula sa kanyang likod si Crimson. "Penny for you thoughts?" tanong nito sa asawa at saka nagtanggal ng kanyang reading glasses. "Wala naman." Nanatili ang titig ni Crimson kay Ahrina. Sa huli, sumuko na ang kanyang asawa. "Oo na, namimilit ka na naman eh. I was just thinking if everything will stay like this. Yes, it's been twenty years but—"
A loud thud echoed in the whole Royal Palace, followed by a series of laughter. Eminence yelled, "Napakadaya ninyong lahat! Mga cheater!" Midnight, the Crown Prince of Demetria, just shook his head and smirked. "Lampa ka pa rin hanggang ngayon, Emy. Wala ka pa ring pinagbago. What happened to your Schiz-Torren blood?" "How dare you—" The fight was cut off as Ahrina threw the pink furry slipper to the four kids quarelling. "Hindi talaga kayo marunong makinig, ano? Eh kung kayong apat kaya ang sakalin ko isa-isa?" Twilight and Amethyst looked at each other and exclaimed, "Run!" "Oh anong nangyari rito?" agad na tanong ni Marina pagkarating sa Royal Garden kasama si Freesia at Thoreau. "In fairness, ang gulo ah. Royal Palace ba talaga ito?" "Tita Marina!" sigaw ni Amethyst at mabilis na isinumbong ang kanyang ina rito. "Inaaway kami ni
Things went very swift. I have gone so aggressive and that urge to kill this man I'm fighting against, I think, already controls my mind. I know this is bad because of the evil darkness gem but I don't have time for some self-control session. Gumawa ako ng isang wind tornado para sana itulak siya palayo. Kaso, nagulat ako nang biglang nasa unahan ko na siya kaya hindi ako nakagalaw agad. I felt a sharp blade cutted my skin on my neck. Biglang nanlabo ang paningin ko at nanlambot ang mga pakpak ko. Halos sumuka ako ng dugo pagkabagsak ko sa lupa. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nanghina. Nanlalabo na ang mga paningin ko at pakiramdam ko ay isang sagi na lang ay patay na ako. "Baby, baby," I heard Crimson panicked. "Baby, can you hear me? Please respond." I felt his warm hands on my skin. "Damn!" "She and the Mystic Stone must not be separated," Lia stated, touching
Less than an hour before the Midnight Sun appears everyone remains silent and the only thing we can hear is our heavy breathings. I'm still watching the surroundings from above here, especially the Dreich. There was a bit of fight happening at the border of Hesperia and Dreich. I have launched one thousand student magicians there to help the citizens escape and only fight when desperately needed. And yeah, hanggang ngayon, may mga lumilikas pa rin. Few minutes later, a light slowly enlightes the dark environment. It is the Midnight Sun. "Everyone, prepare," I announced to all of them. The rescue is still ongoing. Kailangang madala sila sa shelters bago tuluyang magpakita ang Midnight Sun. "Tita Ruby, what's the status there po?" "Malapit nang madala sa shelters ang lahat ng mga lumikas." "Sige po." Sa dami ng mga gustong makaalis na sa Dreich, tila ba maliit pa ang but
Madilim pa, pero mulat na mulat na ang mga mata ko. Yep, today will be a day where the most excruciating event that magicians never wished for will happen for in this special day: the infamous Enchanted War. I wore my black warrior outfit, almost the same as to what I wore during the finals of the Wielders of Charms. However, it has more purple designs and leather gloves. After tying my black leather knee-high combat boots, nagteleport na ako papunta sa rooftop ng Academy building to have my early warm up. Ayoko sa Training Chamber magpunta dahil madali lang ang access doon. Not like here na walang daan papunta rito unless you can walk up to the top of one of the Academy towers tapos saka ka tumalon. I summoned my magic staff and stanced to start training all by myself. I have mastered all the stuffs so a trainor for me isn't recommended by now. Kaya ko nang mag-ensayo mag-isa. This is as simple a
"Baby girl, wake up..." Though I feel like I'm sleep-deprived, kalmado akong bumangon at ngumiti kay Crimson na mukhang ewan. Oh man, he should be thankful dahil kung hindi lang talaga siya si Crimson, kanina pa bubog-sarado ang isang 'to sa akin. "Good morning, baby. Paano ka nakapunta rito?" "I sneaked in. Headmistress Mildred called them all except for me." "You asked her to do you a favor?" "Of course, no. Why would I do that? Everyone's busy for the second Enchanted War." Oo nga naman. Lahat kami ngayon ay pinoproblema ang mangyayari sa Enchanted War. Well, mas lalo naman ako kasi ako yung leader ng Academy para rito. "Okay. I'll go prepare now." "Sure. I'll wait for you." "Like how you waited for me to give you my yes." He frowned and shook his head. "Can't deny it, Torren. Tot
So people really thought that I betrayed them. Demetrians thought I betrayed Demetria. They really thought that I will join Dreich and not my own land. And those thoughts of them about me made them file a case against me. Dimwits. "And what happened to my cases?" "Upon hearing Dametreil Schiz's and Sorceress Halina's statements, Royal Family of Demetria announced those cases null and void. You were not guilty and fortunately as well, you weren't sentenced to three counts of death penalty." Mabuti na lang talaga. Three counts of death penalty ba naman ang kaparusahan sa tatlong batas na 'yun. I smiled at him. "I am really fortunate." Pagkatapos niya akong subuan, tumitig siya sa akin at ngumisi. "Ano?" "You're really fortunate?" "Hmm," I responded, nodding. "Hindi ba ako maswerte? I have all the useful connections in this world an
I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the familiar white ceiling and a warm thing cupping my left hand. I moved a bit and pushed myself to sit up without waking him. And I succeeded. Confirmed, nasa ospital nga ako ng Academy. What happened to me is still vivid in my mind and it still scares me until now, fearing that the same might happen not to me but to the others . . . especially Damaris and her family. However, nothing will happen if I let that nightmare control my mind and gone crazy. I have to develop new effective plans and execute actions for the better and to avoid what has to avoid. But then, as I gazed at Crimson who still sleeps soundly, I forgot about all the fears I have even just for a short span. I miss him. Sobrang na-miss ko siya. Alam kong mahirap paniwalaan pero siya ang pinakana-miss ko. I miss my Crimson. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko and faced him to caress his soft, black
Inabot ako nang dilim sa pagpapagaling kay Ahrina. Nawala na rin ang kanyang mga sugat at tanging mga marka ang naiwan. Mawawala rin ang mga iyon paglipas ng oras. Nagtagal ako sa pagpapagaling sa kanya dahil kailangan kong dahan-dahanin ang proseso. Maliban sa nag-iisa lamang ako, napakadami niyang sugat at mas lalong dadami at lalala ang kanyang sitwasyon kung ipipilit kong pabilisin ang paggaling niya. Nagpunta ako sa tabi niya at hinawakan ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. "Ahrina, malapit nang matapos ang lahat nang mga paghihirap na ito. Wag kang mag-alala, gagabayan kita. Kaya pakiusap, gumising ka na sa lalong madaling panahon." Pagkalabas ko ng silid, naroroon parin silang lahat at tahimik na lumingon sa akin. "Maayos na ang lagay ni Ahrina. Marka ng kanyang mga sugat ang naiwan pero mawawala din ang mga iyon. Natutulog parin siya nang mahimbing." "Magsabi ka nga ng totoo, Lia." Tumayo mula sa