Under The Moonlight

Chapter XIV

(Above is an example of a Mana Arts. Photo not Mine)

Siessylt Andreana Georgianne Griffiths' POV

Six Months later~

"YOUR HIGHNESS, you should wear the pink dress, it suits to your pink hair."

"Hindi, Kamahalan. Iyong kulay berde para bagay sa inyong mga mata."

"No, the pink one."

"Berde."

"Pink."

"Berde."

"Pink."

At nagpatuloy sila sa pag-aaway kung anong kulay ng dress ang isusuot ko. I sighed at them arguing.

My birthday is in two days or one day nalang pala. Gabi na ngayon eh. Daddy wanted to have my birthday as grand as possible. Hindi lang siya isang birthday party na puro mga bata ang a-attend, this party is a banquet designed as a birthday party (sa tingin ko). 

Kasi naman, ng makita ko kung saan ihe-held ang party, nalula ako. Akalain mo bang sa ball room ng Rose Palace ito ihe-held. Ang size lang naman ng ball room ay kasing laki ng isang football field. Ilang mga tao ba balak na inbitahan ni Daddy. Sabi niya pa na masyadong maliit na celebration lamang iyon. Ang ball room ay extension ng Rose Palace, nasa may likurang bahagi ito ng palasyo kaya naman hindi ito nakaka-distract sa view ng palasyo.

Daddy planned this party ever since the first time he met me. Sabi din niya na para itong pormal na ipakikilala niya ako sa buong mundo bilang isang Griffiths, the First Princess of Griffiths Grand Duchy. And even though I said to him that I was not from the main family, he said it is okay. That he married my mother as a second wife, so I was part of the main family.

Sa una ay hindi ako pumayag, sino ba naman ang papayag na isusulong ka kaagad sa maraming mga tao sa edad na apat. But since the process was ongoing and the invitations were sent already, wala na din akong nagawa.

Even Lady Minerva said that it was fine because I learned my etiquette from her and that I would be fine. Pati na rin professor Aristaeus at Headmaster Andino ay ganun din ang sabi. Syempre lahat na sila inin-courage ako kaya pumayag na lang. Tatlong araw lang naman iyon eh.

"I wiil wear the white one." Saad ko sa kanila.

Natahimik naman si Irisia at Sammy habang natawa na lang si Helen. Ang dalawa kasi ang nag-aaway sa kung anong kulang ng damit ang isu-suot ko. It is just  a dress why would they make a commotion for it.

"But, Your Highness, there is a dress code, green, pink, or black. You can't be wearing white." tutol ni Irisia. 

Ugh! She always sticks to rules. I smiled at her. "But this is my birthday, I can wear anything right?" may halong pa-cute na din para payagan.

"Ugh... Yes, you can wear whatever you want." pagsang-ayon niya habang nakapikit ang mata.

My smile grew wider. "Thank you!"

Para naman silang nasilaw at tinakpan nila ang mga mata nila. Parang may narinig din akong bulong mula sa kanila.

"The Princess is good at making use of her beautiful face. Its killing me."

"Oo nga. Parati ka na lang napapa-oo ng prinsesa."

"What?" tanong ko sa kanila.

"Huh? It's nothing. Goodnight Your Highness." at umalis na silang tatlo sa kwarto ko. 

Naiiwan akong mag-isa sa kwarto. They are acting weird again. Tumayo mula sa pagkaka-upo sa vanity mirror at tumungo sa kama. Napaka-busy ng araw na ito. Naririndi na ako sa palagaing pag-aaway ni Irisia at Sammy sa kung anong susuotin ko. 

I was busy staring at ceiling when I felt Kenneally emerging from the side again. Isa sa mga magandang nagyari sa mga nakalipas na mga buwan ay ang pagiging sensetive ko sa mana. Dahil na rin sa mga turo ni Headmaster Andino at sa mga late night training namin ni Kenneally. Even the old Headmaster has felt my fast improvements, kaya naman nitong nakaraang dalawang buwan ay tinuturuan niya na ako ng mga complicated mana arts, pati na rin si Kenneally ay mas dinaggan ang oras ng training namin.

My manners are improving fast na natatameme na lang si Lady Minerva kapag name-morya ko na ng madali ang mga itinuturo niya. Then again this is all connected to my growth in controlling mana, my mind palace is expanding in a steady way kaya naman easy nalang sa akin ang mga memorization. Even the bright young professor Aristeaus is amazed. 

Well, alam ko naman na matalino talaga ako.

"Why are grinning like a mad man?" 

Napabaling ako kay Kenneally ng marinig ko ang salita niya. I stopped my imagination and I sat up properly. We were training again today, I almost forgot.

"What's for today?"

She stared at me before sighing then she neared me. "We're attempting to control the shadows today." 

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya. "But I still have a year before I turn five!"

She tilted her little head to the side. "Yes, I know that."

"You knew! Then why?"

She neared me at inilagay niya ang isa sa mga front paw niya sa noo ko. "Your mind palace has grown near the required level for controling the shadows. I will just test if you can control it or you still need more training." tinanggal niya ang paw niya, "It will be okay if you can't do it now. We still have a year."

Ehhhh! Ano ba yan, bakit ngayon? Sa totoo lang talaga, hindi talaga ako confident sa pagiging 'Lady of the Moon' ek-ek na iyan. That is why I've been avoiding the topic everytime Kenneally opens it up. 

"Bu--!"

"Now, you just need to recite this phrase." then she wrote something in the air and it materialize.

Ang mga spell na isinasalita ay ang ancient language ng mga taga-Madrazo. It is a lost langauge and only Mana Users and historians can understand and use the Materua. 

"Wait, aren't I gonna get to learn a mana circle for this Mana Art?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you about that." tinapos niya ang pagsu-sulat, "Mana Arts for the lady of the Moon don't need mana circles. Your whole existence the mana circle, you just need to recite the phrase and it will be just like ordinary Mana Art." she smiled, her canines saying hello to me. "No one has ever identified a Lady of the Moon ever since it's first existence."

Nangilabot naman ako sa mga sinabi niya. Talaga lang, 'ha. Kapag ako nabuking, naku talaga.

"Now, Siessylt, recite the phrase."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Please, not you, too."

"What? It is a good name, and besides it suits you."

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nag-focus na lang.

First, I draw the sorrounding mana to my mana core, then I refine it. Once satisfied, I directed mana to my tounge to get the most power and started reciting the phrase.

"sancta lux lunae,

concede, nulli potestatem refrenare umbras lucis tuae,

licet hoc audiatur,

umbra temperantiae. "

Tapos nun ay agad kong kung naramdaman ang pagkawala ng mana ko mula sa mana core. D*mn, this Mana Art consumes more energy than I expected.

Tiningnan ko ng mabuti ang paligid ko, lahat ng mga shadows ng mga furnitures ay unting gumagapang papalapit sa akin. 

"Woah!" manghang sabi ko.

I did not expet this.

Then I felt everything became muted and everything went black.

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P.S. 

Hello! Sana po nagustuhan niyo ang chapter na ito :)