Aethergarde Academy

I. The Hallmarking Day

Pinatutugtog na sa TV ang pambansang awit, ang Lupang Hinirang. Nang matapos ito ay biglang lumabas ang blankong color bars at walang iba kundi isang matinis at nakakarinding tono.

Nadama ko ang paghigpit ng hawak ni Mama sa kamay ko nang sa wakas ay nag-umpisa na ang opisyal na anunsyo.

BROADCAST SYSTEM 9/1

This is an official announcement of
the nation's broadcasting system.

Saluēte!
Beloved citizens of this country, this day signifies the commencement of the Annual Hallmarking Day.

The youth of this nation,
teenagers who are 18 or are turning
18 this year, regardless of their birthmonth, are all required to undergo the special examination sanctioned by
the national government.

This is mandatory.

Failure or defiance of a qualified individual to participate shall result to perpetual banishment or exile from the country. Any further crimes committed, succeeding his/her exile, shall be subjected to death penalty.

Henceforth, all establishments, premises, and social gatherings shall be closed or postponed.
All citizens are strictly advised to stay inside their homes as the Hallmarking is in progress.

This is the declaration of a national lockdown. The order will be effective until further notice.

༻♛༺

Nagpalakad-lakad ako sa loob ng kwarto ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero hindi ako mapakali. Para bang may parte sa isip kong sumisigaw at takot malaman kung ano ang magiging resulta ng Hallmarking.

"Anak."

I flinched as I heard my mom suddenly call me. "Ma naman, ang bata-bata ko pa para atakihin sa puso. Hinay-hinay naman sa jumpscare!" biro ko habang nakahawak sa dibdib ko.

Sumandal si Mama sa doorframe ng kwarto ko at napahalukipkip ng kanyang braso. Tinignan niya ako mula taas hanggang baba na para bang hinuhusgahan ang praning kong pagkatao. "Eh pa'no? Nag-ooverthink ka na naman. Parang naghihintay ka na agad ng resulta, eh wala pa ngang trials!"

Aba! Kung si Albert Einstein ang pasimuno ng Theory of Relativity, ako naman ang in charge sa Theory of Advance Thinking.

"Advance ako mag-isip," sagot ko na tila proud pa habang tinuturo-turo ang utak ko.

Napailing na lang si Mama, tila natatawa sa ka-praningan ko.

Seeing my mom laugh like this made me realize how much I just want to live a normal life. I just want to be able to go to college, study in my dream university, and finish as a doctor of medicine. Gusto kong makapagtrabaho at makabawi sa kanila ni Papa.

I want to spend my time with Raiden too. I want to be there when he grows up. Gusto ko na nandiyan lagi ako sa tabi niya para ipagtanggol siya, lalo na sa school dahil ipinapangako kong tatapusin ko ang kinabukasan ng sinumang mambubully sa kanya. Subukan lang nila, at baka gustong nilang pagsamahin ko ang noo, ilong, at nguso nila nang matikman nila ang tunay na 3-in-1.

Plus, I want to be his wingwoman kapag nagbinata na siya, and he will tell me all about his crushes and future kaharutan.