Cladonia Academy

Prologue

FAMORA

I yawned as I sweep the floor in front of my hatter shop early in the morning. Itinali ko na lamang ang mala-gintong kulay kong mga buhok para mas komportable akong makapagwalis rito. I rubbed my eyes dahil sa antok ko.

Halos wala akong tulog kagabi dahil sa karami rami kong tinatahing orders galing sa mga kliyente ko kahapon. This hatter shop is from my dad's. Ibinigay niya itong negosyong ito sa akin simula 'nung pagkamatay niya. I'm all alone in this shop but I still got decent money and supplies for me to live and I am saving up to improve my shop.

Napatingin nalang ako sa kumikinang na puting kastilyo sa 'di kalayuang distansya sa lugar na ito. The structure of the castle mostly have gold roofs and the structure is also made of marble.

This town is called Salsiarra and it is a part of Lemore Kingdom's border land, and that castle is not the Palace, but a school.

An Academy called Cladonia. People doesn't want to go there. Hindi namin hinihiling na makaapak sa lugar na iyan. That Academy is pretty infamous in the whole Vyke, this world itself. They say, that place is like a dungeon and some says it was a torture ground for students who manifested their abilities.

I am lucky enough that I am a powerless being so I don't have a chance to take a step in there. Well, most of us in Salsiarra doesn't have an ability or powers. We're all in here living our peaceful life being protected by them, the Cladonians.

"Mornin', Famora." Napabalik ako sa sarili kong mundo nang narinig kong bumati si Marchioness Frederick sa akin, kaya lumingon ako nito at tumango saka binatian din.

"Morning." This noble man sometimes visits here to buy hats for his sister. His sister loves fashion and doll herself up.

"Kanina ka pa ata nakamasid sa Academy. What's wrong?" Tanong nito sa akin habang nakatingin din sa Cladonia Acdemy at napailing nalang ako. "Nothing in particular. It's just funny how that school looked so beautiful in the outside but scary in the inside." Sabi ko nito and he looked at me then laugh.

"Scary? Not at all." Sabi nito kaya napailing ulit ako. "Pero narinig ko na nakakatakot daw riyan! They even said that students fights dragons in there just to have credits and high grades!" I exclaimed and he froze for a second.

"Well, that is true. Cladonia indeed use that kind of methods for our school activities." Sabi nito kaya napasinghap ako at nabitawan ang walis kong hawak.

"Th-That is scary!" Utal kong sambit sa kaniya at napatawa naman ito saka inayos ang kalo na suot nito. "Well, for the students there like us who wants to have higher grades and credits, we call that an opportunity and we love fighting." Sabi naman nito kaya napatakip ako sa bibig ko.

"W-Well, was it true that the rumor about the students were a bunch of warfreaks real?" Tanong ko nito at humalakhak ito kaya yumuko ako na nakanguso dahil sa hiya. I shouldn't have asked him that.

"It is Famora. Well, most of them, but I hate wars. Nag-aaral lang ako riyan para makakatuto kung paano ko mapoprotektahan ang pamilya ko, at kayo. Ikaw na rin." Sabi nito kaya napangiti naman ako sa pambobola nito. Nakita ko itong may inilabas sa bulsa niya at tiningnan ang pocket watch nito.

"It seems that I am late for my exams. I gotta go Fam. See you in a bit." Pagmamadaling sabi nito at lumakad na papaalis habang bitbit ang newpaper at cane niya.

He's heading back in there huh? What exactly is that school? I'm kinda curious now.

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I stretched my arms as I finished the last hat I decorated. It's already 11:06 and the only light I have to see is my candle that almost burned out.