Chapter 3
The First Royal Encounter
Its a four hours travel until we arrive at the southern boundary kung saan tinayo ang Academy. Its part of the Eraphilia Kingdom. Nakikita ko na ang malawakang kakahuyan at bundok ng Kaharian. Sa mismong kaharian ay madadaanan din ang town nito ngunit malayo ang palasyo sa mismong paaralan dahil nasa magkabila ang daanan nito.
Nagpatuloy ang aming byahe kasama ang apat na Aspers Knights na nasa unahan at apat naman sa likuran. My mother was a paranoid and even want a dozen of Knights when its already enough to have some of the royal guards.
Royal guards are different from the Aspers Knights. Ang mga royal guard ay nagbabantay sa palasyo na pinunuan ng maraming Aspers Knights. The Aspers Knights are like leaders and Special Knights that are more advance in training and magic. And only the Eminent Kingdom has this kind of special forces. Habang ang Royal guards ay hanggang palasyo lang. They are also wealthy and previlage enough but nothing compaired to the Aspers Knights. May mga Aspers Knights din na nagkakalat sa buong bayan ng Eminent to ensure the safety of the Eminent Kingdom but Aspers are very rare, most of the guards that make sure the safety of everyone are the Town's Knights na isa sa mga humahabol sa akin.
Kalahating oras pa bago ko nakita and mataas na bakuran ng Academy. The golden gate stand firm far away yet it still scream class and high. I know theres a lot of powerful people inside the Academy so I'm too excited to explore it.
Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating din kami sa bakuran. Sa labas nito ay may tatlong Knights akung nakikita na siguradong tauhan ng Academy at dalawang tao, isang babae na nasa 30's at isang lalaking sa tingin ko'y hindi lang nagkakalayo ang kanilang edad. I glanced at them as they bow there head to pay a respect to me. Napabuntong hininga ako, for sure they are some of the high ranks inside the Academy yet they are trying to do this when I already ordered to not give me such etiquettes inside the school. I'm just a student in her crash out the royalty.
"Maligayang pagdating Mahal na prinsesa!" Bati ng dalawa.
"My name is Bethany, the School Guidance and this is Head Master Eliote," she smiled at me kaya ngumiti din ako pabalik.
"Salamat sa paghatid sa kanya, pumasok na tayo sa loob at maaari din kayong magpahinga muna bago bumalik sa Kaharian ng Eminent." Saad ng babae at ngumiti doon sa mga Aspers Knights na walang imik at bahagya lang yumuko bilang respeto. The head master faced the gate and chanted a spell and it magically opened. I guess its some sort of magic.
Agad bumukas ang dalawang naglalakihang gate na may taas na 40 feet. Agad namangha ang aking mata ng nakitang napapalibutan ng naglalakihang mga puno at mga bulaklak doon. Theres an only path that lead the way until the school building. The pathway was made of stones at sa gilid doon ay mga lamps na napapalibutan din ng mga bulaklak. At sa unahan ay magkabilang baricade siguro para iwas na din sa kung anong klaseng mga hayop doon na aatake.
Nagpatuloy kami sa pagpunta doon, both of the school staffs ride the horses as they guide the way. Kaya binusog ko na lamang ang aking mga mata sa tanawin. It really amazes me when I saw new environment.
Mga sampung minutong pagpapatakbo ng karwahe ay natanaw ko ang tila isang palasyo din na paaralan. Nagliliwanag ito at napakalawak din nito.
"Mystic Academia," basa ko sa naglalakihang letra na nakaukit sa itaas ng gate. Hindi ko na tuloy mapigilan ang excitement ng papalapit na kami dito.
"Mahal na prinsesa, alam po namin ang request ng Hari kaya hindi po tayo dadaan sa mismong main gate ng paaralan. We will take the other gate, exclusive for emergency purposes." The head master said as I nodded at him.
Humarap si Miss Bethany sa akin at binigyan ulit ako ng ngiti na nagbibigay ng comfort sa kinakabahan kung puso. Kahit gaano pa kalaki ang excitement na nararamdaman ko, kinakabahan parin ako sa maaaring mangyari.
Pumasok kami sa sinabi nitong gate na emergency purposes only. Nakita ko ang mga naglalakihang mga gusali ng pumasok kami sa loob, ngunit huminto ang karwahe ng nasa likod na bahagi na kami.
Binuksan ng isang Aspers Knight ang aking karwahe kaya lumabas ako. Now, I realize I was wearing one of my simpliest gown but it still screams royalty. What a stupid outfit for trying to hide your identity Laurine.
Lumapit ang kasamang mga Knights ng dalawa at kinuha ang aking mga gamit.
"Put her baggages in the royalties dorm-" hindi ko pinatapos si Bethany sa kanyang utos.
"Wait!" They glance at me, "I would like to request one of the commoners students dorm."
Kumunot ang noo ng Babae ngunit nananatili naman ang expressionless na mukha ng head master.
"But your highness..." she trailed off when she saw how serious my order is. She sighed and glanced at the head master.
"The King ordered to do what the princess' request, let her choose her dorm Bethany." Ngumiti ako sa head master bilang pasasalamat. Bethany sighed then nodded.
"Atleast let me put you in with the high ranking commoner your highness." She said, siguro wala ng masama doon kaya tumango lamang ako. She sighed in relief.
"Girl's Dormitory, Room 307," bahagyang yumuko ang mga Knights at umalis bitbit ang aking mga gamit.
"Lets get inside the office Your highness," Bethany was still using some formalities.
"Please Miss Bethany, just call me Laurine. I want to hide my identity." I smiled at her, mukhang hindi pa siya comportable sa naging request ko pero wala siyang nagawa. My father said that they must grant my request in hiding my identity.
"Okey then, L-Laurine." Now, thats better.
Pumasok kami sa Head Master's Office, agad pumunta si Master Eliotte sa kanyang upuan at umupo habang may kinuhang mga papel.
Agad naman akung umupo sa isa sa mga upuan malapit sa kanyang desk while Miss Bethany was standing behind the Head Master.
"Laurine right?" The head master asked.
I nodded.
"We already process your files. You'll be in Class A, with the high rankers and royalties." Well, it seems I'm not be able to avoid the royalties.
"But yes of course, may ibang mga subjects ang mga royalties kaya may mga klase lang kayong magkakapareha. But for your subjects as a royalty cause I believe you don't want to be with them right?"
I nodded again.
"Next two weeks there will be a ranking, it will determine what class you should take or there's a change in the students schedule, but same class. Hopefully you will give as a satisfied result."
"You will do the high rankers subjects and as for the royalties subjects, I will let you deal with it after the ranking." Tumango ako sa sinabi ng Head master. Mukhang mapapasabak pa yata ako dito.
"What element you will use Laurine?" Tanong ng head master.
"Water element Sir," he nodded and write it down.
"Ayaw mo bang gamitin ang ibang kapangyarihan mo? Its not good to sustain the other elements you have your highness, its better to work them too." Nag-aalalang sabi ni Miss Bethany.
"Okey lang po. I already mastered them, and mas lalo ata nilang malalaman kung gamitin ko ang iba kung kapangyarihan na galing ako sa Eminent."
She nodded when she do realize it will uncover the truth.
"Okey then, we have a new water element in the class then. Welcome to the Mystic Academia princess."
After the meeting inside the office sinamahan ako ni Miss Bethany sa kanyang office. She offer to let me borrow some clothes first na hindi makaagaw pansin. Dahil alam kung makikilala nila ako na isa sa mga royalties dahil sa suot kung gown.
Binigyan ako ni Miss Bethany ng isang dress na hanggang tuhod. It was a flowy dress with printed flowers at the tip of it. May belt then ito kaya medyo hapit sa beywang na parte. I also wear the sandals she gave me.
"Now thats better." She smiled.
"Do you have some glasses? To uhm, complete my look?" Agad itong pumunta sa kanyang desk at may hinahanap, then she found a glass that I know its perfect for my outfit.
"Its a fashion glasses. Hindi sasakit ang mata mo dito," My lips formed into 'o' as I examined it.
Agad ko itong sinuot habang nakadunghay lang ang aking buhok. Sa bilog na frame nito ay sigurado namang hindi nila mapapansin ang aking mukha.
"I have some suggestion Laurine." Saad ni Miss Bethany.
"Emerald eyes are known for Grandeur Clan, and I think you know that?" Damn, I forgot about my eyes.
She smiled as she give me a small box with two round weird things that I didn't saw before.
"And this is?"
"Its a contact lens, from mortals. It hides the true color of your eyes." Namamanghang napatingin ako sa loob doon.
"How do I wear this?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. And I really regret why in the first place I try to hide my freaking identity. Damn Laurine, what a stupid move of yours.
Maluha-luha pa ang aking mata pagkatapos isuot iyon ni Miss Bethany sa akin. Its stings and weird in the eyes but she said I will get use to it. This is torture.
"Do I really need to poke my eyes while putting this?" Reklamo ko, she chuckled as she nodded.
"Yes, and its your idea your highness." Napasimangot ako. Mukhang hindi na siya natatakot sa akin at hindi na niya pinapakinggan ang utos ko na huwag gumamit ng formalities. She told me that she will only use that card when there are people around.
"Kailan magsisimula ang aking klase?"
"Bukas, you need to take a rest first. Your uniform are already sent in your room so hindi mo na kailangang kumuha sa registrar. All you need to do right now is get your identification pin."
Tumango ako sa kanyang sinabi.
"Sasamahan ka ng ating School's Student President."
Kumunot ang aking noo.
"A what?"
Hindi natuloy sa pagsasalita si Miss Beth ng may kumatok sa pintuan.
"Oh, I guess his already here. Come in," saad nito kaya napabaling ako sa pintuan.
Bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa doon ang isang binatilyo na may suot na red coat at black neck tie. There's a pin in his left chest. It was made of gold with a blue stone.
"Miss Bethany," he said.
"Shawn! Finally. Meet Laurine Willson, our new student."
Bumaling sa akin ang lalaking may striktong mukha. He had a blue eyes and a clean cut hair. He had a broad shoulders that you will mistaken him for one of the Knights dress in a student uniform.
"Laurine, this is Prince Shawn Aquilire, the School's Student President."
Napalunok ako habang tumitig ito sa akin. His blue eyes is really captivating and his aura screams a royalty too. I really thought I can avoid the royalties today, but it seems today is not my luck.
He offered his hand as he faced me.
"The name is Prince Shawn. Its nice to meet you Laurine."
I looked at his hand waiting for me to received it. Kaya tinanggap ko ito.
"Laurine, its nice to meet you too."
Now, don't tell me I will encounter more royals when I went outside? Damn, what a lucky day.