Soulstone Academy

Chapter Thirteen: Rank

Iniwan ko sila doon na masama ang loob.

Nang makabalik ako sa training hall ay ang last pair na ng mga average ang naglalaban. I saw Tamara resting in one of the benches, a towel wrapped around her neck as she gulped down water. Lalapitan ko na sana siya kung hindi ko lang napansin ang pagtaas ni Andreas ng kilay sa'kin. Suplado!

"Ba't ang tagal mo namang maghugas ng kamay, Raven?" Giovanni immediately asked when I sat down. "Pumuslit ka sa Awanggan para kumain 'no?"

"I am not like you, Giovanni. Nasiraan lang ng ilaw sa loob."

"Nasiraan?" sabay na tanong nilang dalawa ni Damon.

Umirap ako sa pagkakunot ng noo nila. "Oo, nasiraan. Broken. Black-out. Pero agad din namang bumalik so no problem... Bakit parang nakakita naman kayo ng multo? What's wrong?"

Damon's face was oddly serious. "It's nothing. Huwag ka na lang ulit pumasok do'n."

I was very curious and confused at their reactions, but I have always known that curiosities normally courts danger, so I dropped the topic. Hindi na rin naman talaga ako babalik doon, even for investigation. I don't want that to happen to me again.

"Okay." simpleng sagot ko. "Whatever," saka binalingan si Azriel. "I found Beatrix in the restroom, AA. Mukhang natalo siya ni Tamara."

Isang tipid na ngiti ang isinagot niya. "Yes. Tamara was able to beat her. She was more cool-headed this round so she was able to use her soulstone well."

Napangiti ako doon. That's good. That means she won against her fears.

Habang pinapanood ang nasa arena ay hindi ko mapigilang maalala ang nangyari kanina.

Waited? Waited for me? Wala akong natandaan na iniwan para maghintay sila sa'kin. At sino naman ang tumawag sa'kin na 'my child'? As far as I know, my parents doesn't have any magic like that. Sa sobrang pangamba ko kanina, hindi ko na naintindihan ang iba pa nilang sinabi.

Marahas akong bumuntong-hininga. Nastress na ako sa nangyari kanina at baka mga siraulong multo lang 'yong nagpaparinig. Actually, if it's not harming me one bit, hindi ko naman kailangang malaman 'yon 'di ba? Imposible rin naman na bumalik pa ako do'n dahil hindi ako tanga para ipahamak pa ang sarili ko... so, I think this problem is just solved.

"Are you really alright?" mahinang tanong ni Azriel.

Seryoso ko siyang hinarap. "Do I look ugly?"

He gave a firm shake of his head.

"As long as I'm pretty, I wouldn't be not alright, AA." I smiled.

Nang bumaba si Matteo ay inikot ko ang tingin sa paligid. There's even lesser students now at marami sa kanila ang kabilang sa House of Blades. I guess the other houses' curfews has started. Umalis na din sina Eva at tanging sina Tsukishima, Helios at Dawn na lang ang nakaupo sa mga elites. There's also another girl who I have never seen before, even though her bright and attractive red-orange hair is too eye-catching.

Without any word, I stood up from my seat. I preferred to lean on the railings. Mas malapit ako sa match ng seventeen students, ten who won the last round and the seven who got the high scores. When Tamara entered my line of sight, I made a small wave. Nginitian niya ako bago umepal sa tabi niya si Griffin na nagniningning ang mata.

"Why are you here?"

I glanced at the female who decided to stand next to me. I don't know her but she's from my house. Her gray eyes were shining in delight. From the moment I saw the glowing orange bracelet in her wrist, I knew I hated her. A soulbearer.