Archimage: Taste of Death (Archimage Series #1)

Chapter Eight: The First Class

"Oh." Mahinang sambit nila Raiden nang makita nila na may nakabangga kay Lyon.

"Sorry, Prince Lyon."

Lyon immediately heard the apology of the little girl when he turned around. Nakayuko ito at parang nahihiya siyang tignan si Lyon.

Pero imbes na magalit si Lyon, he just smiled kahit na hindi iyon nakikita ng batang babae.

"It's okay, are you hurt?" Lyon asked worriedly dahil baka nasaktan din siya sa pagkakabunggo.

Agad na umiling ang batang babae at tumalikod ito. She started to walk while Lyon stared at her back. Naglakad ito papunta sa staircase ng mga freshmen. Pero isa ang napansin ni Lyon, wala itong kaibigan na kasama. He somehow felt sad for the girl, dahil parang nakikita niya ang kaniyang sarili sa babae. Ganyan din kasi si Lyon dati bago sila naging magkaibigan ni Raiden.

"Tara na, Lyon."

Napatigil lang siya sa pagtitig sa hagdan ng freshmen nang naramdaman niya ang akbay ni Raiden. Tumango ito sakanya, kaya nagsimula na silang maglakad papunta sa staircase ng juniors. Pero habang umaakyat siya ay hindi niya mapigilang tumingin ulit sa hagdan ng mga freshmen. It's like there is something that was inviting him.

Pagkarating nila sa taas ay nakita nila ng gintong pinto sa pinakadulo ng corridor. May kasabayan sila sa pag-tahak ng daan pero nang makita nila si Lyon ay nagbigay daan sila sa prinsipe ng Bahazar.

Napabuntong hininga si Lyon nang ginawa iyon ng mga archimages. He doesn't want to have a special treatment from the others dahil hindi naman siya naiiba sa iba. It's just his title. Iyon lang. Raiden and Jackson felt awkward too since the others were glaring at them. Jealousy and confusion were evident in their eyes.

Lyon breathed in relief when they reached the golden door. Pati rin sila Raiden dahil hindi nila nakaya yung mga masasamng tingin na natanggap nila sa iba. Jackson opened the door at nakita nila kaagad ang carpeted floor. They slowly went inside, nauna si Jackson at nahuli naman si Raiden.

When they got in, they can't help but to be amazed with their common room. The ceiling was high too and they saw a silver curved staircase to the northern part of the living room. May fireplace din sa loob at may nga couches din. May chandelier din sa taas na gawa sa crystal. There were no archimages inside the living room because the others were in their rooms already while some were still outside.

"You all look stupid. You should go up to look for your rooms."

Napatigil sila sa pagtitig sa kanilang common room nang marinig nila ang boses ng isang babae. They all looked down and saw a girl with strong features having a small face, thick eyebrows, almond eyes, sculptured nose and thin lips. As Raiden laid his eyes on her, he knew that it was Elora. The girl that amazed Raiden. He became petrified when he realized that Elora was standing right in front of him.

"O-okay. T-thanks."

Nauutal si Raiden dahil sa kabang nararamdaman niya. He doesn't know why but he is sure that Elora's effect on him was different.

Elora rolled her eyes. She doesn't care if the Prince of Bahazar is right in front of him. She thought of them as idiot archimages dahil palagi na lang sila napapatigil kapag pumupunta sa ibang lugar. Elora noticed that. She didn't wait for their answers anymore and just passed through them.

A quick silence ensued inside the room pero nawala lang iyon nang pumasok na ang ibang archimages sa loob.

"Tsk, you were stuttering earlier. This was the first time, Raiden." Isang malokong ngiti ang ipinakita ni Jackson sakanya kaya sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Raiden bago ito naglakad pataas.