Virdjana's POV
"Showtime day!" sigaw ng isang sophomore na estudyante, na nakasuot ng dilaw na blazer.
May identity ang mga estudyante dito sa Prestigious Academy of Arcacia. Kulay berde ang para sa mga freshmen, dilaw sa sophomore, pula sa Junior High at kaming Senior ay kulay asul. Ang tawag ng iba ay showtime day dahil dito nagpapakita ng aura ang bawat estudyante na siya namang naglilipat ng katumbas na kapangyarihan at kulay sa kapa.
Hinayaan ko si Reggie sa kuwarto ko dahil alam kong hindi niya gustong magliwaliw dito sa akademya.
Ayaw niya nga akong mag-enroll dito, at talagang sumang-ayon lang sa akin ang pagkakataon ng kusa na akong ipinasok ni Master Shin sa paaralang ito.
Sabi pa sa akin ng guardian ko, guguhit na lang daw siya kay sa naman panoorin niya akong maglibot-libot sa lugar.
Mukhang mga 4th-year students lamang ang mag-u-undergo ng activity na ito, but students from the younger levels are also looking forward to see what their seniors' cloaks would look like.
Sa hindi kalayuan ay nadatnan ko si Drago na nakatayo malapit sa pintuan ng classroom. Nakasuot siya ng headphones at mukhang nag-e-enjoy sa kung anumang musika ang pinakikinggan nito.
"Wala ka bang balak pumasok ng classroom?" bigla namang tanong ni Kadaski na sumulpot na lang galing sa kung saan kay Drago.
"Susunod ako." maikling sagot ni Drago kay Kadaski saka ngumiti. Mukhang binasa ni Drago ang mga labi ni Kadaski kaya siya nakasagot, tumango naman si Nueva at saka nauna nang pumasok.
"Kuya Drago, she's here. Over there!" sabi ng isang babaeng estudyante na nakasuot ng pulang blazer.
Natigilan ako ng malaman kong ako pala ang tinutukoy ng estudyanteng 3rd year. Kumaripas na nang takbo ang 3rd year at naglaho na lamang ng parang bula. Mukhang invisibility ang kakayahan nito.
I looked at Drago, he smiled at me quite charmingly before beginning to trudge to my direction.
"I'm Drago Arcedes, the guy from yesterday. What's your name?" he asked, stretching his hand forward to initiate a handshake.
I stared at his hand and wondered why the hell would she want to shake hands with a thief. Oh right, he has no idea about that part. He's probably thinking that this formal introduction is a must.
"Virdjana Phantom Assassin." sagot ko at nang makikipag-handshake na sana ako sa kaniya ay biglang pumagitna si Kadaski Nueva sa aming dalawa.
"Drago! Marami pa tayong pag-u-usa... pan" nawala ang malaking ngiti sa labi ni Kadaski nang lumanding ang tingin nito sa akin. "Bakit mo siya kinakausap?" tanong ni Kadaski kay Drago.
"Nakikipagkaibigan." maikling sagot ni Drago, halatang nalilito sa ikinikilos ng kaibigan niya.
"Kaibigan ka na kaya ng lahat ng nasa classroom." dahilan naman ni Kadaski.
"Kadaski, why are you acting weird today? That's rude. Ah, by the way this is our new classmate Virdjana Phantom Assassin" natatawa pahayag ni Drago kasabay nang pagtapik niya sa balikat ni Nueva.
'These two smell like trouble together.' I thought to myself.
"Yeah, I know her more than you do. So, take my word for it and don't get too close to her." said Kadaski in a warning tone.
"Don't worry Nueva, I have no plans of forming close bonds with anyone anyway." I said scoffing, as I enter the room first.
Pumasok na si Professor Edric kasama ang dalawang estudyante na may dala-dalang white cloaks. "Morning children." he greeted.
"Morning sir." my classmates chorused.
"I believe you know about today's occassion. The day where every fourth-year students could get to unleash their hidden strengths and even unlock new opportunities, your hard work from middle school until now would finally pay off and after your graduation you could get out there, find a job that best suits you depending on what skills and abilities you excel at the most!" mahabang pahayag ni Professor Edric.
"Of course, except for our lovely transferee student, Miss Assassin, it's a different case." Professor Edric explained with a shrug.
Nakakuha tuloy ako ng kakaibang mga tingin at bulungan, dahilan para titigan ko si Professor Edric.
'Hmm, it might be because I've never really attended school all my life?' I sarcastically pondered while continuing to listen.
"Malamang ay naguguluhan ang iba sa kung bakit ko iyon nasabi tungkol kay Miss Assassin, dahil ayon sa kaniyang guardian ay home-schooled siya mula sa bayan ng Physicia. That makes her a... Restovakian." nakangiting paliwanag ni Professor Edric.
Another oohs and gasps followed that slightly irked the hell out of me. But it's not like I have plans in revealing my real origin yet, it has never benefit me in a good way. Home-schooled? Physicia? Any other fabricated lies?'
"So, Miss Assassin must I teach you how to unleash your aura so that the cloaks could manifest it?" Professor Edric asked me.
"I'll just watch... sir." I answered in monotone.
"Is that so? Alright then. Okay let's start, Ruby Xercedes" panimula ng aming guro.
Tumayo naman si Ruby at dumaan pa sa bahagi kung saan malapit sa akin at pinagtaasan ako ng kilay.
'Wow, bruha talaga.'
Pumuwesto ito sa harapan kung saan isinuot sa kaniya ng assistant student ni Professor Edric ang isang white cloak. Mayamaya ay pinaramdam niya na ang aura niya sa amin.
It was pretty calm at hindi ko iyon inaasahan sapagkat ang ugali niya ay... medyo magulo. Then the white cloak turned purple, it also have an embroidery of a pink lines at its edge.
"Creation Arts, Miss Ruby. Congratulations~." sabi ni sir Edric at pinalakpakan naman siya ng ilan. May ilang pumalakpak at hindi ako kasama sa kanila.
"Next is Ertune Merdinia." pagtawag ni sir.
Sa pagkakatanda ko isa siyang nature manipulator. Tumayo na siya sa harap saka nag rock n' roll sign pa sa mga barkada niya. His aura manifested into the cloak in the color of ferns.
"Congratulations Merdinia, Ranger, Botanical Research and Beast Research, marami kang pagpipilian." pag-i-isa-isa ni Professor habang pumapalakpak.
Napansin kong pinagtawanan siya ng mga kabarkada niya. Nainis si Ertune at padabog na bumalik sa kaniyang upuan.
"Lizbeth Torres."
Naglabas na ng aura si Lizbeth, na naging dahilan ng kaunting pag-angat ng lahat ng mga gamit sa classroom.
'Anong nangyayari?'
Yumanig sa loob ng classroom at lahat kami ay bigla na lang nagsilutangan at ngayon ay nakadikit na sa kisame. I tried to break free but it was impossible.
"Support at Military. Thank you miss Torres." pagpapasalamat ni sir.
Pinakawalan na kami ni Lizbeth mula sa puwersa kaya dahan-dahan na kaming bumaba ulit sa sahig. Lizbeth smiled at everyone, especially at Drago.
'Wow, wow, napansin ko pa talaga iyon?'
Marami pang sumunod pagkatapos ni Lizbeth at tinamad na akong pakinggan pa ang mga pangalan nila. However, it was a different matter when Kadaski and Drago's name were called simultaneously.
"Okay sir!" Nakangiting paglapit ni Drago.
Isinuot na nang mga assistant ni Sir Edric sa dalawang lalakeng ang mga white coats at saka humakbang paatras.
"Boys, show us what you got." excited na sabi ni sir.
Naghawak-kamay ang dalawa at pumikit. Nagsimulang tumahimik ang buong klase, na-curious tuloy ako sa magiging resulta kasi sila lang naman sa lahat ang naka-isip na maghawak ng mga kamay.
Pagdilat nila ng kanilang mga mata, umaapoy na ang kanang mata ni Kadaski at kaliwang mata naman ang kay Drago.
"What is that?" Naitanong ko sa sarili.
"Legend says, those kinds of eyes are the eyes of the Madoka Dragon, a powerful Fire dragon that can burn half of the world's size and can destroy minor dimensions.
It has a more specific explanation in books...but the weird thing is. In the books, it says that there could only be one owner of the Madoka Dragon, I'm confused." napabaling ako sa kanan kung saan lumulutang si Reggie.
Muntikan pa akong mapa-igtad dahil for the first few seconds nakalimutan kong piling tao lang naman ang maaaring makakita sa kaniya.
"I see. Interesting." bulong ko sa sarili.
Nakita kong matching ang coat nila dahil parehong may tatak ng itim na dragon ang kanilang likuran ngunit ang pinagkaiba ay pula ang mata ng kay Drago at asul naman ang kay Kadaski.
"Impressive, both of you could be Dragon Researchers, Military, or Archaeologists." anunsyo ni Sir Edric.
"Alright, miss Virdjana Phantom Assassin. That's a long name." he joked and chuckled.
Tumayo na ako at nakasalubong ko pa silang dalawa, nag-apiran sila sa harapan ako bago maghiwalay at bumalik sa kaniya-kaniyang upuan.
"Release" Sabi ni Professor Edric.
Nagsimula na akong mag-release ng aking aura. Palagi ko naman itong ginagawa sa tuwing nagbibigay ako ng babala sa ibang tao. Hindi lang nga nito gaanong naaapektuhan ang mga matatanda.
"Ano kayang kalalabasan ng kulay ng coat niya?" Tanong ni Jeffrey, isang Striker type.
"Siguradong magiging kahihiyan ang kalalabasan niyan. Hindi mo ba alam na hindi siya gumamit ng kahit anong ability noong linabanan niya kami? Kayo ayon, animong isang daga na sumuko na lang at nagmaakawa." parinig ni Ruby saka nagtawanan yung mga bruha niyang alipores.
"I have so many questions." narinig kong bulong ni Kadaski nang nadaanan ko ito.
I took a deep breath. I never really tried this before, but everyone made it look easy. Unlike the others, I did not close my eyes, I hate letting my guard down. Others who finished manifesting their auras into the cloaks either used their ability with closed eyes, and others talk about what they wanted to be out loud.
"Are you having a hard time Miss Assassin?" Professor Edric asked with a concern tone.
Fuck. I can't do either of those things. If Master Shin wrote that my origin village is Physicia and I'm a Restovakian, then it means that using my element is a no-go. And talking about what I wanted to be in the future is something I never gave an ounce of thought in the past.
"Vi, your knife-work." I heard Reggie's voice in my head. "Try it."
I glanced around the room, and just followed the first thing I could do. I grabbed my knife and began swinging it around, on my palms, across my fingers, from hand to another. I was in deep concentration.
"Woah?!" gulat na mga reaksiyon ang natanggap ko.
Pagtingin ko sa aking cloak ay wala na itong bakas ng kulay puti at sa halip ay naging itim ito. Hindi pa man ako pinatitigil ni Sir Edric ay mabilis kong ibinalik sa bulsa ang patalim. "That's all I could show you."
"That's all? Miss Assassin I've never seen that style before!" exclaimed Professor Edric.
Should I say thanks? I was about to 'try' thanking the professor when the glass windows shattered causing my classmates to either jump out of fear, scream and turned speechless.
"Looks like you ended up applying slicing wind magic at the end." teased Reggie in my head.
"Let me do the honors, Miss Assassin congratulations, your cloak says that you met the requirement of being an Executioner - a title given to someone that could rival and defeat the powerful Dark Casters that causes chaos through and through in this world." Sir explained.
'Say what now? I felt like romanticized stories like that always gets a bad ending.'
Nagpalakpakan naman ang ilan sa mga kaklase ko, kasama na roon si Drago at Ertune.
"Ain't this title the greatest?" laughed Professor Edric. "Hear that? That's the bell. Enjoy the rest of the day."
Nagsimula ng magpayabangan ang mga kaklase namin samantalang hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na kwalipikado akong maging isang Executioner. Bakit kasi ang sama naman pakinggan? Tahimik kong pinagtawanan ang titulong nakuha ko.
"Hey Virdjana~ Bakit mo inalis ang coat mo? Maganda naman ah." napalingon ako sa nagsalita na naging dahilan para matigil ako sa pag-iisip.
"Why the frowning face?" tanong ni Ruby habang nakahawak ang dalawang kamay sa kaniyang beywang at nakangiti nang nakaloloko.
"I found dirt standing in front of me." sagot saka tumayo nang maayos.
"What did you say?" iritadong reaksiyon ni Ruby, ngunit hindi ko na ito sinagot at lumabas na.
Sa Cafeteria ay naghanap ako ng magandang puwesto kung saan makapag-i-isa ako. Napaka-loner ng datingan ko dito, panindigan ko na. Nang matapos ang Cloak Declaration ay nag-kaniya-kaniya na kasi ang mga, uhh... kaklase ko.
"Hey Virdjana." tawag-pansin ng boses ng isang babae.
I was too lazy para mag-angat ng tingin kaya tinanong ko siya habang nakatitig ako sa mesa na wala namang order.
"What is it?" I asked boringly.
"Angat-tingin naman oh si Ruby ito." she introduced herself.
"I don't know any gemstone." I stated.
"Geez what a cold attitude. That's the reason you're so intimidating girl!" Ruby remarks, as she even fans her hand forward as if she was a friend who's kidding around.
"Ha-ha-ha I know right~." I said sarcastically.
"Magsalita ka nga ng matino, hindi ka makausap ng maayos eh." pagsisimula niyang mag-reklamo.
"What can I do? That's me." isa ko pang hindi daw matinong sagot. Sa lagay kung ito na nabobored ay hindi ko na alam kung paano ko kinakayang kausapin at tapatan ang kadaldalan ng babaeng ewan na ito.
"Okay, let's have a deal. And this the really my purpose." her voice turned serious and with that, it caused me na tingnan siya.
"I need you in my gang." Ratratang sabi niya sabay yuko.
"Gang huh? That Troublemakers gang of yours?" I asked as I was now playing with my dagger again.
"Oo, may laban mamayang alas-dose sa gym. Dapat pumunta ka dahil naipangako ko na sa kalabang grupo na matatalo namin sila!" determinadong saad niya.
"I didn't even say Yes." taas-kilay kong pahayag.
"And you're not saying No either. Hey, I know it was a bad start, but we girls should always look out for each other righttt?" giit nito.
"Tama ka, nice offer sisikat ko, makikila, at hahangaan ng lahat." I said while nodding and faking a cheerful tone.
"I guess it is settled then." she readied her hand for a deal handashake. Tumayo na ako at hinawi ang ilang buhok sa aking mukha, tiningnan ko ng matagal ang mga kamay niya, halatang nangangawit na siya.
"I'll pass. I'll give you an advice though, show no mercy to your enemies." I told her, smirking before walking away as I juggle my dagger at the tip of my pointer.