Chapter 14
The Rankings I
Mabilis lumipas ang panahon ng hindi ko namalayan. After five days the royalties are back. I also asked Miss Monday to keep it a secret and try to explain my situation to her with Miss Bethany. Buti nalang at nakinig ito. She said that it was unfair to others sapagkat hindi ko sila ka level, I must face more challenging classes than the Class A has. I know she was right pero I'm not ready yet, I was just starting and I already told her I will take the royalty classes after the rankings. She agreed.
Kay Miss Bethany ko lang din kasi nalaman na Miss Monday is one of the teachers who handles the royalty subjects kaya agad niya akong nakilala. She was surprised that the only heir in the Eminent was already in the academy.
Today is the official start of the rankings. Some of the student are prepared, even Viv. Pero ako ay hindi pa. I don't know what tricks should I use later at baka magaya doon sa test na ginawa ni Miss Monday. Hindi pa nila pwedeng malaman kung sino ako.
"Laurine!" Sigaw ng isang tinig kaya napabaling ako doon. Prince Harith was running towards me. Hindi ko ito napapansin sapagkat magkaiba na ang ibang schedules namin.
"Hey," saad ko na lamang dito. He panted then sighed.
"Lumabas ka ba gamit ang portal?"
I stilled when I heard what he said. Damn, may nakakaalam naba na lumabas ako? The event in the town? Fuck! May nakakilala na ba sa other identity ko?
"Nakuha mo na yung weapon mo?" Napakurap-kurap ako dahil sa idinugtong niya. His forehead creased eyeing my reaction.
"I think its a no then?" Saad nito.
"A-Ah yes. Hindi ko pa pala nakuha. I was waiting for you actually." Saad ko na lamang kahit ang totoo ay totoong nakalimutan ko na. After the incident in the town ay nawala na iyon sa isip ko lalo na't medyo naging maingat ako dahil may isa ng guro na nakakaalam sa identity ko. I can't risk going to the town alone.
"Oh, we can grab it later after the rankings." Harith said seriously. Napaisip tuloy ako, siguro kung makakapuslit kami paalis mamaya? Why not? I miss my weapon and I really need it. Lalo na sa combat lessons ko.
"Okey, see you later then." Saad ko na tinanguhan lang ng prinsepe. Umalis na ako doon at dumeretso sa clinic. Kailangan kung puntahan si Viv bago pumunta sa arena. I went inside and saw some of the healers come go and forth. Tila busy sila sa araw na ito.
"Excuse me," tawag ko sa isang naka-uniform na estudyante ngunit sa tingin ko ay healer din.
"Ano po yun?"
"Alam mo ba kung nasaan si Viviene?" Napakurap-kurap pa ito bago may itinurong daan. I gave her my gratitude bago pumasok sa loob. I saw my friend busy reading some labels and arrange some potions.
"Hey," mahinang saad ko at tuluyan na talagang pumasok.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Hindi ka ba maghahanda sa rankings?" Tanong nito at binalingan lang ako ng sandaling tingin bago nagpatuloy. Napakunot naman ang aking noo dahil sa kanyang sinabi.
"What do you mean? Akala ko ba pupunta tayong dalawa?" Naguguluhang tanong ko sa kanya.
Napahinto naman ito at ibinaba ang potion na dala.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Healers are not part of the rankings in the arena." Saad nito.
Now that makes me more clueless of what was happening.
"Then saan kayo magrarankings?" Tanong ko sa kanya.
She smiled, "Here. We're going to treat all the students who will get injured in the arena. Healers have levels in healing ability too. The result of our ranking is base on the healing ability we have in terms of mending someone Laurine."
Oh, that's describe the commotion outside. Maraming healers ang busy sa labas.
"May mga teachers din ba na mag-oobserve dito?" Takang tanong ko din na ikinatawa nito.
"Yep, and also Mrs. Hamilton will be here."
I winced. "I'm glad she's here then." Saad ko na mas lalo niyang ikinatawa.
"I really wish to see you doing your performance in Arena! This is my first time seeing your ability," nakasimangot na saad nito. Oo nga naman pala. Hindi niya pa nakikita ang kapangyarihan ko kahit sa subject ni Miss Monday. She continue to make us practice in the illusions for the mean time. I guess trying to buy time too dahil iba ang kapangyarihan ko?
"Hindi ka ba pwedeng pumuslit kahit saglit?" I pouted. She chuckled then took a sit beside me.
"I really wish too pero ayaw ko namang bumagsak sa rankings nuh!"
Napatango-tango nalang ako sa kanyang sinabi. How I really wish she was there. Wala pa naman akung ibang kaibigan aside from her.
"Balitaan mo ako kung anong nangyari sa rankings ah? But then for sure Prince Zach will have the first place." She smirk na agad kung ikinasimangot. Ganyan siya kalakas?
"Palagi bang nangunguna si Zach?" Takang tanong ko sa kanya.
"Well, as far as I can remember yes. Pero palagi naman eh. He's the most powerful student in the academy afterall." She shrugged her shoulders at bumalik na sa pag asikaso sa mga potions.
Napakunot naman ang noo ko doon. If she was right then that means Zach really hold back when we we're fighting in the school garden last time?
Na-excite tuloy akong tignan ang prinsepe kung paano niya pinapalabas ang kanyang kapangyarihan.
"I need to go Viv. Its almost time." Saad ko nito. She went back to me and hugged me gently.
"Good luck! Fighting!" She said trying to cheer me up na agad kung ikinangiti. I was wondering, if I introduce myself as a royalty, maging kaibigan ko kaya ang babaeng ito?
Napailing nalang ako at tuluyan ng umalis sa clinic pagkatapos magpaalam kay Viviene. It take me long to find the arena dahil medyo malayo-layo ito sa clinic. May mga nagkakalat na estudyante na sa loob. I know arenas are known for fighting and dueling, but the arena in school is nothing compared to the arena in the west. Kung saan may dinaraos na mga paglalaro na ang mga kalahok ay galing sa iba't ibang kaharian. It is a replica from that arena but a little bit smaller. Ngunit alam mong tanyag din ito because of the interior designs around it.
Napabaling ako sa mga upuang okupado na kaya naghanap agad ako ng bakante. I was in the middle of searching for a seat when someone called my name.
"Laurine!" Malakas na sigaw ni Hailey hindi kalayuan. She waved her hand and gesture for me to come forward.
Napakagat tuloy ako sa aking labi nang napansin ang mga mata ng ibang estudyante na nakasunod sa akin. I even saw Lavender with her friends gave me a deathly glare.
"Laurine, come here!" Nakita siguro ni Hailey na nagdadalawang isip ako kaya tinawag niya ako ulit. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi ko sundin ang mahal na prinsesa. If I will ignore her everyone will assume that I was being a bitch against princess Hailey. Ako na nga itong pinapansin ng isang royalty tas ganito pa ako kung makaasta. Bakit ba naman kasi sa lahat ng tao at ako pa ang nakita ng prinsesa?
I sighed as I took my steps towards her. Nakita kung kasama niya ang isa pang babae na royalty na madalas kung nakikitang kasama niya rin. Harith was there too with Cleiford ngunit hindi ko nakikita si Shawn at Zach. Well, that's a good news.
"Dito ka umupo Laurine!" Maligayang saad ni Hailey habang tinapik ang katabing upuan niya na bakante. Nagdadalawang isip man ay tuluyan na akung umupo doon. Harith greeted me while the Prince of the sky just nodded at me.
Napatingin din ako sa isa pang prinsesa. She skeptically eyed me for a minute before she smiled.
"Hi, its nice to finally meet you. My name is Princess Celestine." Saad nito at inilahad ang kamay. Nagdadalawang isip man ay tinanggap ko ito at nagpakilala na din sa aking sarili.
"Laurine, Your highness." Saad ko.
"Oh, no need for formalities actually. Its good to meet another elemental user fron Wristhevale." Napalunok tuloy ako sa aking narinig. First, Shawn ask me if I was part of the Willson clan in his kingdom ngunit buti nalang hindi ko na iyon kailangan pang sagutin. It really freaks me out if someone will mention about the Water Kingdom dahil sa tingin ko ay malalaman nila ang sekreto ko.
Tumawa lang ako ng hilaw kay Princess Celestine at tuluyan ng umupo sa tabi ni Hailey ng nakitang magsisimula na ang ganap.
"Good day student of Mystic Academy!" Agad naghiyawan ang mga estudyante dahil don. "Today we will witness the powerful Alodynes born in Austreville as they will show their magical powers with a fight!"
Napakagat ako sa aking labi ng narinig ulit ang hiyaw. It seems that they waited for this, ngunit wala pa akong ideya sa kung anong mangyayari sa loob.
"I can't wait to know my rank," maligayang saad ni Hailey na nginitian ko na lang din.
"This is your frist time right Laurine?" Tanong ni Princess Celestine.
"A-Ah, yes. My first time." She smiled at me.
"Good luck then!" Hindi ko alam kung mamomotivate ako sa sinabi niya o mas lalong kabahan.
Agad akong bumaling sa harapan ng nakitang may tumayo na doon. Some of the students cheer at may iba namang tahimik lang na nanonood. I saw a girl, I think its from class A, standing in the middle of the Arena. May humihiyaw pa ng bigla nalang may isang shield na bumalot sa gitna kung saan nakatayo ang babae. Its like a glass, a barrier para hindi masaktan ang mga nanonood.
"Oh, she's in your class right Laurine? The Telekenesis girl," sambit ni Hailey habang nananatili pa din ang mata sa harap. Now that she mentioned it, it seems that the girl looks familiar.
Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari pero bigla nalang nag-iba ang paligid ng babae sa loob. It seems that she's in the battle field yet its like a forest. Agad natahimik ang nasa loob ng arena at piniling manood na lamang.
Something growled in the corner so I squint my eyes trying to look what is it ngunit lahat kami'y nagulat nang may biglang malaking uso ang pumunta sa babae. Someone yelp but all of our attention remain with the student.
Agad itong umatras at agad pinalitaw ang mga bato sa kanyang paligid. Now, that was cool. She can control anything around her.
The bear groaned in pain ng tumama ang ibang mga bato sa katawan nito but its not enough to stop it. It launch forward toward the girl ngunit agad niyang naharang ang isang trunk kaya natigil ang uso sa pag atake sa kanya.
The girl pant then touch the ground. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin niya ngunit naramdaman nalang namin ang pagyanig ng lupa.
"Damn, she will raise havoc there." Hailey commented while smirking.
The bear growled trying to launch forward ngunit nang humakbang ito patungo sa babae may mga naglalakihang mga bato na galing sa ilalim ng lupa ang biglang lumitaw kaya natamaan ang uso. It stumble back and another stone went to the bear, and another. The bear shriek in pain at tila mas nagalit ito. Akala ko yun na iyon pero hindi tumigil ang estudyante. Her eyes shines when she raise her hand, lahat ng mga batong matutulis at mga trunks ay nagsilipadan sa ere. The girl gesture her hand forward at agad umatake ang mga iyon sa uso na ikinulong nang naglalakihang mga bato na lumitaw galing sa lupa.
The bear did not expect the attack. It shriek in pain trying to get away from the Telekenesis girl's attack but sadly hindi ito nakawala at tuluyan ng binawian ng buhay.
Napayuko ang babae at napahawak ito sa kanyang bewang. Hindi namin napansin na may kalmot pala ito. So this is where the healer will came. Agad nawala ang barrier at nagsihiyawan naman ang mga estudyante. A screen above beep at nagpapakita iyon ng isang numbers running from zero until it stop in 32.
"Quinee Jamshid, Level 32. Rank 78!" Some of her friends cheered at her. Ngumiti lang ito ngunit ngumiwi agad at hinawakan ang kalmot ng uso. Agad namang may mga knights na dumalo dito at siguro'y dadalhin ito sa clinic.
"Not bad," kumento lamang ni Celestine at napatango-tango pa.
"Buti nga tumaas na yung level niya. Last ranking she was level 30." Kumento din ni Hailey.
Napakagat naman ako sa aking labi ng nakita ang mga pangyayari. Kailangang ipapamalas ang mga kapangyarihan para malaman ang iyong level right? Kailangan ko bang ibuhos lahat? Or... damn this is complicated. Sana pala humingi ako ng pointers kay Miss Monday o kaya kay Miss Bethany.
"Next fighter! Princess Celestine Delacroix!"
"Omg! Go Celestine!" Cheer naman agad ni Hailey. Some of the students cheered because damn, it is given. She's a royalty kaya naman big deal ito sa iba.
Agad namang tumayo si Celestine, void with any emotions. Mahirap basahin kung ano ang kanyang iniisip sapagkat bigla itong bumlanko. Ganyan ba talaga siya?
"Anong level pala ni Celestine last ranking?" Tanong ko kay Hailey na nasa aking tabi.
"Oh! She's level 64! Rank in third place!" Maligayang saad naman ni Hailey na ikinalaki ng aking mata. Damn, anong klaseng mga halimaw ba itong mga kakilala ko?
"I'm excited to know your level Laurine! Show us what you've got!" Hailey said while giving me a devilish grin na mas lalong nagpapakaba sa akin.