Napabaling ng tingin ko sa kinauupuan ni Loki nang nagsalita ito. "All right. We'll do it."
His slight hesitation to show his magic was replaced with assurance and certainty that he will do it. Loki's expression went sedately, then he sighed and everyone was fixing their eyes at him, it seems that they were surprised slightly by his firmness as he blurt out those statement.
Nakaramdam ako ng matinding aura na nagmumula sa kaniya. Shit. The aura was calm and tranquil, pero bakit ang bigat-bigat nito sa pakiramdam. When I took a glance at his hands, I saw a fine particle of green dusts, it seems like it will form something out of it. Parang naghuhubog ng isang weapon ang mga mala-luntiang alikabok na lumalabas sa mga kamay ni Loki. Then, it flashed a strong, and luminous green light when the weapon was formed. Napansin ko rin na nagniningning ang singsing ni Loki, but this time, it was color green, unlike the first time we met sa mundo ng mga tao, wherein a shimmering blue light materialized from it, pagkatapos niyang talunin ang hell hound na nakaharap namin. Napatunghay ako ng biglang nagsalita si Loki.
"Art of Magical Weaponry. This was the ancient magic na tinataglay ng... ng pamilya ko." Loki said gloomily, as if a tear will fell on his eyes. There's something wrong with him at nahalata ko na iyon sa tono palang ng kaniyang pananalita. Kitang-kita ko rin ang pamamanglaw ng kaniyang mga mata nang binanggit niya ang kaniyang "pamilya".
Tumayo ako mula sa aking kina-uupuan ng hindi ko namamalayan. Hindi ko na rin alam ang gagawin ko nang makita ko ang lungkot na nakapinta sa mukha ni Loki. Parang may kung anong puwersa ang nagtulak sa akin upang siya ay lapitan. Then, I approached him and I grasped his right hand, caressing it unconsciously. Wala na rin akong pakialam sa sasabihin ng nakapaligid sa akin, sa amin. I poured all of my love and concern for him as I held his right hand even warmer and tighter. I want to do something. I want to comfort him with my advices. I want him to be happier. Gusto ko siyang ikulong sa mga bisig ko ngunit hindi ko magawa.
Tumunghay siya at bahagyang nagulat nang makita niya ako, ngunit hindi niya ito ipinahalata. Our eyes met, and locked with each other. Then, he gave me his sweetest and most genuine smile, and I saw his eyes shining too as he looked at me. Biglang nawala ng parang bula ang "moment" na sana namin ni Loki nang tumikhim ang iba pa namin mga kasama. Napabitaw ako sa pagkakahawak ko sa kanang kamay ni Loki at agad-agad kaming dumistansya sa isa't-isa. Siguro mga isang ruler lang ang pagitan. Then, I glanced accidentally at Gwen and what made me surprised was that, she was glaring at me. I bet she was pissed. What the heck? Sorry ka na lang girl! But, it was our moment. My lips quirked slightly, as I saw the face made by Gwen. Napatikhim na lang ako, maging si Loki.
"I think, that's all for today. Ipagpaliban muna natin ang initiation at ipagpatuloy na lang sa susunod na araw." Rincewind said in peevish tone. Tila biglang sinumpong ng kung ano man si Rincewind. Tantrums, literally.
"Is there a problem, bro?" pag-aalalang tanong ni Luccas kay Rincewind. Ngunit hindi ito inintindi ni Rincewind, sa halip ay tinitigan lang niya ako at si Loki. He looked at us with slight exasperation and blank expression drawn on his refined face. I was confused. Bakit ba siya nagkakaganito? Tumalikod na si Rincewind at bigla na lamang umalis ng walang pasabi. Sumunod dito si Luccas, at hinabol naman ito ni Gwydion. Sumunod na rin si Gwen, at bumaling pa siya ng tingin sa akin, saka ako inirapan at humabol na kayna Gwydion. Sina Calum, Phyra. Zera, Verdana, at Stella ang natira sa pavillion bukod sa aming dalawa ni Loki.
"Uy, guys ano ba nangyayari?" Verdana bewilderedly asked us.
"Love problem? Don't know?" Stella said ironically and intentionally. Then, she chuckled. "Tara na, bumalik na tayo sa room. We need to get back before nine o' clock and it's already 8:30 a.m. guys." dagdag ni Stella.
"Fine. " Phyra and Zera replied unethusiastically. Calum just gave us a shrug.
Nagkatinginan muli kami ni Loki, and both of us flashed a half smile with each other. Binaling na namin ang aming atensiyon sa mga kasama namin na naglalakad na pabalik sa aming classroom at sumunod na rin kami.
Lumakad na kami pabalik ng Lunaire hall. While we are heading back to our designated clasroom, Rincewind's image, with his expression on his face earlier popped up unexpectedly on my mind. Hay nako! I felt guilty sa mga nangyayari. Pero wala naman akong ginawang masama kay Rincewind. Ayokong magalit siya sa akin, since I referred him as one of my friends. Magulo na ang isip ko, lalo pa tuloy gumulo. I said to myself. But suddenly, I heard again this not-so familiar voice.
"Mira..."
Ang boses na ito. I am not mistaken, ito ang boses ng babae na nagpapakita sa panaginip ko. Nagpalinga-linga ako, dahilan upang makuha ko ang atensiyon ng mga kasama ko. Sakto lang na napatigil kami sa Lunaire's botanical garden. Lalong lumakas ang boses ng tumatawag sa akin, making my heart thumped as if something hard pressed against it, dahilan upang mapahawak ang kanang kamay ko sa aking dibdib.
"Mira... Mira..." The voice became loud and clear into my ears.
"Mira? What's wrong?" ani Loki na tinapik ang balikat ko. I was startled, and for a second I stared at him dumbfoundedly.
"Hey." He poked my forehead, dahilan para bumalik ang consciousness ko na tila dinala ng hangin.
"Huh. I... I mean, nothing's wrong."
I smiled again at Loki at bago ko man ibaling ang atensiyon ko sa muling paglalakad ay nahagip ng aking mga mata ang malaking lawa na nasa gitna ng botanical garden. Sa kabilang ibayo naman nito, there was a small but mysterious house. No. But, a cabin specifically. Mukhang luma na, ngunit parang may naninirahan doon, because the lights were turned on. Tingin ko, sa lawa nagmumula ang tinig na yaon, at baka matulungan rin ako ng kung sino mang nilalang na nanunuluyan doon.
Nakarating na kami sa Room L-2 of Spell Casts and Witchery Building. Pagpasok pa lamang namin ay nagmistulang mga artista ang dating namin. May naririnig ako na nagbubulungan at kinikilig na mga babae--witches. Malamang, sina Loki ang pinaguusapan nila. But some of the witches glared at me. It seems the regulars hate me after all. I ignored them and continued to walk up straight. Then, Verdana spotted a nice place. We took our seats in a large round-type table. Our place was near at the windows, and I can feel the fresh breeze coming from the outside.
Ang buong Silver Moon coven ay magkasama sa iisang table. Katabi ko si Verdana, Gwydion, Stella at Calum. Beside my seat were Rincewind, and Loki. Medyo awkward, lalo na kapag naaalala ko ang nangyari kanina sa may pavillion, tapos katabi ko lang sila. Katabi naman ni Loki si Luccas. Beside Luccas were Gwen and Zera. Napapagitnaan naman ni Zera at Calum si Phyra. We were sitting in a circular manner, since round-typed table ang aming lamesa. Ganoon din ang "style" ng mga kaklase namin na mas nauna pang dumating sa amin. Particularly, ang tatlo pang grupo na nabanggit ni Prof. Beatrix sa morning ceremony. Night Shadow. Twilight Flame. Radiant Heart.
Fifteen minutes had passed, bigla na lamang lumagabag ang pintuan. I threw my eyes to the door, and me as well as my classmates were surprised, when a lady in jogging pants and sweat shirt came in.
"Good morning Lunaireians!!! I will be your professor for Practicing Magics through Spell Casting subject. Do I need to introduce myself since Ms. Beatrix told you what I will be handling you in your first period class?"
"N-no, Prof. Emmilline." We answered in low-key and in chorus. So, she was Prof. Emmilline. Medyo may pagka-gangster type kasi ang tono ng pagkakatanong niya sa amin. She was quite intimidating. And. In some aspect. Astig. Apparently, hindi naman siya katandaan. I thought she was in her thirties. She seems strict in some ways, but her voice says not. She has a long, red-streaked hair, and it was braided nicely. Bumagay rin sa kaniya ang thick, rounded and golden eyeglasses na suot niya.
"Are there any absentees today?" Prof. Emmiline asked us again in her "astig" tone. We just shooked our head, as if, "No, there were no absentees-thing like" response to her.
"Well, that's good! Dahil magkakaroon tayo ng pre-assessment today." Prof. Emmiline said, grinning.
Verdana nudged my elbow. "Ano kaya ipapagawa niya sa atin, wala pa naman tayong notes, hindi ba Mira?" she said in a soft and quiet voice.
I shrugged. "Hindi ko alam, Dana. Siguro, hintayin na lang natin ang instructions niya."
"Hindi kaya, pasiklaban ng magics ang magaganap?" Gwydion interrupted. Sa pagsabad ni Gwydion, I saw Verdana's face turned hot-red. Nang makita ng aking mga mata, Gwydion's hand was wrapped around Verdana's shoulder, habang naniningkit ang mga mata ni Gwydion sa pag-iisip. I giggled and nudged Verdana's elbow. Nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Verdana nang bumitaw agad si Gwydion sa pagkakaakbay sa kaniya dahil kinausap naman ito ni Calum. Love is in the air talaga.
Then, I felt someone else's arm brushed against mine. Oo nga pala. Katabi ko lang si Rincewind. Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang bigla siyang tumikhim.
"May problema ba, Rincewind?" I asked.
"Wala..." He replied quickly in a low tone voice, while he was not looking at me. I could tell that he was still annoyed. Siguro dahil sa nangyari sa pavillion. I don't know, but something was bothering him. "Ang overprotective ng dalawang iyon sayo no? Crush ka ng mag-pinsan na 'yan." Shit. Bakit ko ba biglang naalala ang mga sinabi ni Stella. Mira. Don't assume too much. Kalma. Ginulu-gulo ko ang buhok ko upang malimutan ang dapat kalimutan.
Naramdaman ko naman na nakatuon ang mga singkit na mata ni Loki sa akin. He was pouting when I took a glance on him. He's even cuter than before. And. It made my heart fluttered in happiness. Unconciously, I chuckled.
"Uy, anong nangyayari sayo nababaliw ka na ba?" tanong ni Calum na ikinagulat ko. Nandilat ang mga mata ko sa kaba. Hindi ko alam kung joke niya ba ito, but it made me nervous. Kaya hindi ako agad nakasagot sa tanong niya.
Then, Phyra interrupted,"Baka may iniisip lang siya. Let her be." Thank goodness at nariyan si Phyra. My savior! Muli kong narinig ang tinig ni Prof. Emmilline at naghihiyawan ang mga kasama namin sa loob ng silid.
"We will have a death match trio!" Prof. Emmilline announced energetically.
What? Tama ba ang pagkakadinig ko? D-Death Match? My body stiffed. My heart raced due to nervosity. My hands were shaking. I was experiencing this "mixed emotions" thing right now. Baguhan pa lamang ako sa Lunaire. Oo, I am the lost daughter of their Queen. Lost and Had Been Found to be exact. Pero kakayanin ko ba ito?
"Let's have a draw lots para walang samaan ng loob kung sinuman ang makakasama ninyo sa grupo." Prof. Emmilline moved her eyeglasses and smirked.
"Then, let the show begins!"