"Night Shadow!" ani ng babaeng pamilyar ang tinig sa akin. Ramdam kong nagkakilala na kami before, pero kailangan kong makita ang kaniyang mukha para makasigurado. Mabigat ang loob ko ng marinig ko ang tinig na yaon. Hinanap ko kung saan nagmula ang tinig. Siya nga. Si Alice.
"Hindi niyo pa rin binago ang pangalan ng coven huh? Whittaker?" ani Prof. Beatrix.
"Opo, and I thought the name Night Shadow looks cool than Silver Moon." She eyed on us tauntingly.
"Aba, nanghahamon talaga 'yang Alice na yan huh." ani Verdana, akmang lalapitan si Alice ngunit nahila agad ito ni Stella at napigilan sa balak niyang gawin. I drew a deep sigh. Hindi talaga mawawala sa mga kahit anong klase ng schools ang mga so-called mean girls. Nagsalita muli si Prof. Beatrix upang i-check kung sinu-sino ang miyembro ng kanilang coven.
"Ah. I see..." ani Prof. Beatrix at nakita kong ito'y nagkibit-balikat. "So for Night Shadow, we have Alice Whittaker, Hyacinth Grey, Lucia de Sienna, Von Marcus Amaro, Wren and Crow Ravencraft, Yuan Ming, Eevie Nightingale, Carmilla Fontanelli, Violet Evergreen, Agatha Wizcon and Phoebe Ashton." dagdag nito.
Matapos niyang ianunsyo ang miyembro ng Night Shadow ay binigyan ng mga students ng masigabong palakpakan at pagbati ang bawat miyembro nito. Mukhang isa rin sila sa mga famous dito sa academy. Napalinga ako sa kinaroroonan ni Alice and she flashed a grimaced look at me. Hindi ko alam ang dahilan kung bakit iritado siya sa akin. Hello? Ngayon lang naman kami nagkakilala. Nagkakilala in an inappropriate and intense situation nga lang. Though she gave me that expression, I managed to smile back at her. Ngumisi lang siya sa akin at hindi na niya ako tiningnan dahil naka-focus na ngayon ang atensyon niya sa susunod na anunsyo. Narinig ko na may dalawa pang estudyante ang nagbigay ng pangalan para sa kanilang bagong coven.
"Twilight Flame!"
"Radiant Heart!"
Muling nagsalita si Prof. Beatrix, "Now, the two remaining covens are Twilight Flame and Radiant Heart!" After mentioning the last two covens, the Lunaireians gave them a big round of applause. Ibinigay naman ni Prof. Beatrix ang mikropono kay Mrs. Clementine, mukhang mayroon din siyang ia-anunsiyo sa amin.
"Lunaireians, we will allow you to have a 'one-hour' vacant time para magkakilala ng maigi ang bawat miyembro ng inyong coven. At exactly nine o' clock, we will resume the regular class. Your first subject will be Practicing Magics through Spell Casting with Prof. Emmiline. That's all, and have a good day." ani Mrs. Clementine. In just one snap of her finger ay nawala ang mikropono na hawak-hawak niya, ganoon din ang sound system na ginamit. Hindi na talaga kailangan ng mga maintenance dito sa eskwelahan na ito. Aanhin pa ang manpower kung may "magic" naman at hindi ka na mahihirapan pa sa mga gawain. Unti-unti ay naghuhulasan na ang mga students sa Lunaire hall, at mukhang susulitin na nila ang one-hour vacant na ipinagkaloob sa amin. I smiled unconciously as I took a glance of each Lunaireians' faces. I am sure, kung makikita ni Ina at Ama ang ganitong atmosphere ng academy ay matutuwa sila. I came back to my senses when someone poked my shoulder from behind.
"Mira, let's go to the pavillion. Malapit lang iyon sa Lunaire café." yakag ni Stella sa akin, habang ang mga kasama namin ay papalabas na ng hall.
"Okay." I said as I smile at her, when a guy with a husky voice called me.
"Hi Mira!" Luccas waved at me smiling. Sabi ko na nga ba eh, siya nga iyon. His voice is attractive and tingin ko naman makakasundo ko siya, but as friends. Nothing more, nothing less. I waved back at him with an awkward and uncomfortable smile. I still remembered what happened earlier. Nakakahiya. Narinig ni Loki at Rincewind si Luccas na kinakausap ako kaya bumalik ang mga ito sa puwesto namin. They looped their arm around Luccas' arms and they both pull him away from me. I tittered as they headed outside the hall. I heard Stella giggled and she turned her head to face me.
"Ang overprotective ng dalawang iyon sayo no? Crush ka ng mag-pinsan na 'yan."
"Huh? Hi-hindi naman siguro. We're friends. Si-siguro kasi, silang dalawa ang tumulong at gumabay sa akin dito sa academy kaya ganiyan sila." I said to Stella. I couldv felt that my cheeks blushed again in embarassment.
"Kahit hindi ko gamitin ang mind reading ability ko, nakikita ko naman sa actions nila na type ka nila based on how they treat you, Mira. Ganda mo girl! Haha" Stella patted my shoulders as she laughed. Hindi ko alam kung compliment ba iyon o sarcasm o pang-aasar. Then she added, "But let me divert the topic, to be honest Mira, I tried my mind reading magic on you for how many times. I can read some of your thoughts but then, may humaharang sa magic ko as I go deeper on your mind. Well, your mind seems to be protected by a certain magic too. Nawawalan kasi ng bisa ang magic ko, and that's really really weird. Sino ka nga ba talaga? Mira Luna Crescencia? I foresaw before na may babae na makakarating dito sa Lunaire and tama ang vision ko, Ikaw iyon. Pero bakit ganun? Hmm..."
Kinabahan ako sa mga sinabi ni Stella. I can hear my heart beats fast. Ngunit ang nakapukaw ng aking atensiyon ay ang sinabi niya na tila may magic na pumoprotekta sa isip ko. May kinalaman kaya dito si Mrs. Clementine, na sa simula pa man ay siya na ang nag-seal ng magic ko? I looked away from Stella at mukhang napansin din niya na napapa-isip ako sa mga binanggit niya sa akin.
"Huwag mo ng isipin Mira. May tamang panahon para malaman ang mga bagay-bagay, at sinasabi iyon sa akin ng mga bituin sa langit. Let's go! Naiwan na tayo rito." she laughed. No wonder her name suits her. Stella is for Star.
Stella and I walked and followed the others at the pavillion near Lunaire café, then we sat on the pavillion's benches, pero ako ay dumistansya muna sa kanila. Siguro mga ten steps away dahil gusto ko munang magmuni-muni. While they were talking with each other, my attention was caught by the beauty of the place. I closed my eyes and feel the fresh air damping all over me. Habang ninanamnam ko ang sariwang hangin ay may biglang bumulong sa akin, dahilan para mapamulat ako.
"Mira"
As I turned my head side-by-side to find where the voice came from, I caught Loki and Rincewind stealing glances on me accidentally. I gave them a warm smile and they both looked away from me. Ano ba ang problema ng dalawang 'to? Napakamot na lang ako sa aking ulo at bahagyang nakalimutan ko ang tinig na bumulong sa akin, nang biglang nagtanong si Stella.
"Guys, since we are now Silver Moons. Siguro hindi na natin kailangan ng initiation?"
"Of course, we knew your powers already." said Gwen while curling her hair. I maked a face secretly nang nagsalita sa Gwen. Ang arte niya kasi.
"How about Mira?" Gwydion asked. Nanlaki ang aking nga mata sa kaniya. Huwag niyo naman akong pagdiskitahan oh.
"Oo nga! That's unfair!" Calum raised his voice in a serious manner. Galit ba siya? Then he added, "Joke!" Napangiwi ang aking ngiti. That's a joke only, pero ang seryoso niya. Ano kaya ang nagustuhan sa kaniya ni Phyra.
"To be fair and square, I suggest that we should show our magic again para kay Mira. Makakatulong din ito sa kaniya during her stay here in Lunaire since she's new here." ani Zera in an emotionless tone habang binabasa pa rin niya ang kaniyang libro. Feeling ko namamawis na ang mga kamay ko sa kaba. Parang ako kasi ang apple of their eye, ako lagi ang nakikita at napupuna.
"Zera's right." Phyra said, then she showed off her fire magic on us through her right palm. "Kayo naman." dagdag niya as she gazed on each of us.
Inilahad nila ang kanilang mga palad except Luccas, Rincewind and Loki, samantalang ako ay nakatungo at nakatingin lamang sa aking kanang kamay. Nag-aalangan ako if I will do the same. Isa-isa na nilang ipinakita ang kanilang innate magic. Calum has the ability to manipulate water kung kaya't pinagalaw niya ang tubig from the water fountain beside the cafe. If I am not mistaken, hydrokinesis ang tawag sa ginawa niya. Biglang nagsalita si Calum.
"Actually, I can do anything with water at kaya ko rin magpalabas ng tubig out of my hands, same like Phy, kung kaya niya magpalabas ng apoy, tubig naman ang sa akin. Pero, I can do fire magic, hindi pa nga lang ako ganoon kabihasa." I saw Calum winked at Phyra and Phyra just rolled her eyes on him, making Calum chuckle.
I took a glance at Gwydion's and Gwen's palm. They have the same magic. They showed off the power of controlling and making something out of ice, since gumawa ng mala-Eiffel Tower na figure si Gwydion using ice, while Gwen is shattering the iced figure, his brother created, and whirling it around her palm slowly.
"Ice Creation Magic ang tawag sa ginawa ko, kaya rin ni Gwen ang magic na ito and, ice manipulator din kami. Kita naman sa ginagawa ni Gwen, diba?" Gwydion said as he formed a floating snowball on his other palm and threw it on Gwen, making Gwen's face covered up with snow. Gwydion laughed as I myself tried not to laugh and remain my composure.
"Buwisit ka kuya!" Gwen wiped her face with her bare hands then she gets a face towel that she had on her pocket as she glared on his brother. Mukhang gaganti pa yata ito kay Gwydion. I chuckled as I saw them quarreling. They looked cute since parang silang mga bata. Napukaw naman ang aking atensyon nang biglang umihip ang malakas na puwersa ng hangin na nagmumula kay Zera.
"Ramdam niyo naman diba? I'm an air elemental manipulator. No need for further explanation." Napangiwing ngiti na lamang ako samantalang ang iba ay napakamot sa kanilang noo at nagkatinginan na lamang, habang si Zera naman bumalik sa pagbabasa ng kaniyang libro. The way Zera spoke to us was blank, emotionless and a little bit serious. I think, it is because we interrupted her reading time.
Matapos niyon ay ipinakita naman ni Verdana ang magic niya sa amin. She asked Phyra to burn her left hand that made me shock. I saw Phyra shrug and in an instant, she burned Verdana's left hand using her fire magic. Verdana's face pictured a painful expression. Pinipigilan niyang maluha, so she bit her lower lip. She shook her head at Phyra telling her to stop. I was amazed when I glanced at her hand. Totoo ba itong nakikita ko? She can heal herself. Bumalik sa dati ang nasunog na kamay ni Verdana na parang wala lang then she whistled. Nagulat kaming lahat nang biglang gumalaw-galaw ang mga puno at halaman sa paligid namin. I remembered the fairytale, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" na kung saan, gumagalaw ang mga puno sa forest when Snow White fled into the woods. I gave Verdana an applause and my colleagues stared at me since they looked bewildered when they see me applauding Verdana in amazement. Kahit magmukha akong tanga sa ginawa ko ay ayos lang, I really appreciate her magic. Siguro dahil nature-lover ako and gustong-gusto ko ang kaniyang mahika. Verdana winked at me then she snapped her finger and a bouquet of rose popped up on her hand and she handed it to me. Kung lalaki ka lang Dana, sinagot na kita! My mind told me, but that's only a joke. I was wreathed in smiles when I heard Stella murmured a word, which caught my attention.
"Hail, Aquarii!" Nakita kong nagliwanag ang mala-mermaid na palamuti mula sa bracelet na suot ni Stella and something popped up. Tila isang maliit na action figure na sirena ang bumulaga sa amin. One of the twelve pendants of Stella's bracelet became alive, and we were astonished by her little friend's beauty. The action figure-like mermaid has a blue-green gradiant scales on her tail. She also wore a golden mini tiara and a pink tube made of pink pearls. Her breasts were covered by pink clam shells as its brassiere.
"This is my Summoning magic. I can do healing magic as well. Besides, alam kong alam niyo na may astral vision ako, since Eclair family is known for its prediction magic. Oo, kaya kong mag-predict through my dreams or sometimes, bigla-bigla na lang. Minsan, hazy ang vision ko at walang kasiguraduhan, pero 99% sa mga visions ko ay nangyayari." Stella said smiling genuinely on us.
"And I heard gumagawa ka ng potions? Is that true?" tanong ni Gwen kay Stella habang ako naman ay tuwang-tuwa nakikipaglaro sa celestial spirit na tinawag ni Stella.
"Yeah. I knew its unusual, and its very traditional, pero hobby ko na iyon. Hedge magic is fun." Stella said to Gwen as I glanced onto Gwen and I saw her nod and smirked. Attitude talaga 'tong babae na ito. I just rolled my eyes and return my eyes to Stella's celestial spirit.
"Ikaw hindi ba si Mira? Ako nga pala si Aquarii!" Aquarii reached out my hand and shakes it as her tail flapped. How cute! Napukaw ang atensyon ko kay Stella nang tinawag niya ako.
"Mira, alam kong natuwa ka kay Aquarii. She needs to return to her home now." Stella scratches her hair as she smiled at me. I nooded as my response to her. Then, I saw Aquarii was shining in golden light as she disappeared still smiling at me.
Apat na lang ang hindi nagpapakita ng kanilang mga innate magic. Ako, si Luccas, Rincewind at Loki. When I gazed my eyes with these three, halatang nagdadalawang isip pa ang tatlo na ipakita ang kanilang magic. Mukha naman na hindi naman sila kinakabahan, pero parang nagpapakiramdaman pa itong tatlong 'to.
"Do we need to show our magic to you guys? Kilala at alam niyo naman ang kakayahan namin, so why should we show it to you?" angal ni Luccas habang isinuksok niya ang kaniyang mga kamay sa bulsa ng kaniyang black pants.
"It's the initiation Luccas. Whether you and we like it or not, it's a norm." ani Gwen na mukhang nagtataray na.
"She's right Luccas, hindi por que kayo ang tinuturing na Big Three ng Lunaire hindi niyo na ipapakita ang magic ninyo sa amin. Kaya, sige na naman oh! Kala mo naman hindi tayo naging magkaibigan." Calum said demandingly as he poked Luccas' side and teased him. So, magkakaibigan pala talaga sila. Pero bakit hindi ko nakikita na nakakasama nila si Luccas? Something is fishy sa kanila.
Napabaling ang tingin ko sa kinauupuan ni Loki nang nagsalita ito. "All right. We'll do it."