An improvement exam done every first week of the month,
Are you ready or are you not?
A flame is about to be rekindled,
Don't try to get close or you might be burned like a moth.
Kabanata 9
---
Aeresthelle
Every first week of every month, Odyssey High helds a very unique exam for all the students.
This exam serves as a way to know the student's improvement here in Odyssey High.
Nandito ako ngayon sa classroom and the usual happens, ang mga gifted branch ay tahimik samantalang ang nagpapaingay sa silid ay ang mga napapabilang sa cursed branch. Ang iba ay dinala ang kani-kanilang mga baby dragons samantalang ang iba ay hindi. Kagaya ko, si Radiant ay gustong matulog sa room ko kasi napagod daw siya kahapon and he said that he needed to rest to gain strength. Humingi siya ng pasensya saakin dahil hindi niya daw ako masasamahan ngayon pero sinabihan ko siya na ok lang at baka maistorbo ang kanyang tulog kung sasama siya saakin dito sa classroom.
Talk of the school pa naman ang stunt na ginawa niya kahapon.
Anyways, pwede rin naman siyang makipag-communicate saakin sa aking isipan. Aniya, "We are connected to each other because you are my guardian."
Napupuno rin ng enchantments sa loob ng silid. May ibang lumilipad, nag te-teleport, or nagpapaulan ng tubig sa classroom. Samantalang ako? Eto, nanonood ng ginagawa ng nasa unahan ko.
I always noticed her. She has an amazing enchantment. Kaya niyang i-portray o gawing buhay ang mga nababasa niya sa mga libro and right now, as of this moment, she projects one of the scenes of the book before her very eyes. Parang nanonood siya ng mini T.V. and I find it interesting. I don't know if that is her enchantment or maybe not.
The scene portrays a woman running away from a war with a baby in her hands.
"Great isn't it?"
Nabigla ako ng lumingon ito saakin. She gave me a smile and she laughed lightly nang tinitigan ko lang ang cute niyang mukha. She has this brown chinita eyes na kapag ngumingiti siya ay nagiging singkit lalo and it's cute. Yeah, cute.
"This scene was inspired by the late Queen, Elina Santia Castianelle when she was chased by the scythes, basically the enchanters who are against by the law."
Huminga muna siya ng malalim bago siya muling nagsalita, "Unfortunately, she died when she gave birth to the twins."
"W-what about the baby?" I asked. I don't know why my voice quivered for a bit.
Malungkot siyang ngumiti saakin, "The baby she was carrying, died in the war. Queen Elina barely survived when she returned in the Kingdom, crying and mourning, with the dead child in her arms. It was said that it was the fourth child of the King and Queen of Mauritius Kingdom but no one saw Queen Elina being pregnant so it was a lost case. Uptil this day, the Kingdom still mourns for the lost of a royalty. A baby girl born a royalty, a princess."
Taken back with the tragic ending of her story I asked with a shaky voice,"What is the name of the princess?"
"No one knows." It was only a whisper but I heard what she said.
Tahimik ang namayani saaming dalawa at siya ang unang nagsalita, she smiled as she offered me her hand, "My name is Soraya Delivance, gifted branch. You can call me Sora. I'm basically known as the summoner. "
Nagdadalawang-isip kong tinanggap ang kamay niya, ngunit sa huli ay tinanggap ko rin. Her hands were gentle and warm, "Aeresthelle Zira." Tipid kong sabi at binigyan siya ng tipid na ngiti.
"You should smile more Miss Aeresthelle Zira. You look even more beautiful when you smile." She said and she let go of our hands.
For a gifted branch member, she sure talks a lot.
Our conversation was cut short when Professor Shia entered the room. Naging tahimik ang silid nang pumwesto siya sa gitna.
Tinignan niya muna kaming lahat and I noticed her eyes linger on mine before she spoke, "I am here to tell you that as you all know, every first week of the month, Odyssey High helds a special exam or training as you all call it. It's specifically held for us to know how much you've mastered your enchantment. You still have two weeks before the exam will start so I wish you all the best of luck and may you all do your best." She smiled at us warmly.
"Make me proud."
●
I am here in the garden, sitting under the tree shade that protects me from sunlight.
I recalled what Professor Shia said earlier. Two weeks na lang at magsisimula na ang exam and even if I don't say it out loud, I am nervous.
Bago pa lang ako dito sa Odyssey High at hindi ko pa alam kung paano isinasagawa ang exam na tinatawag nilang 'improvement exam'.
I stared at my bare hands as I layed in the warm grass. I smelled the earthly scent of soil and the refreshing scent of nature. Itinaas ko ang kamay ko sa kalangitan na parang may inaabot.
As I stared at my hands I can't help but wonder everything at once.
What branch do I belong?
Did I make the right decision to join Odyssey High?
What really is my enchantment?
Is it a gift?
Or a curse?
I sighed. Maraming nangyari ngayong araw na ito na hindi ko maipaliwanag. Litong-lito na ako sa mga nangyayari.
7:00 A.M, April 13
I woke up by the sound of the alarm clock I brought here in school.
Umupo ako para patigilin ito. Tinignan ko muna ito bago inabot para patigilin ito. Nang maabot ko ito ay kinuha ko ito ngunit nabigla ako sa nangyari. Nabitawan ko ito and I stared, shocked, at the clock still ringing on the floor.
The clock just melted in my hands. Well, the part of the clock that I touched, melted.
Kahit nabibigla ay inabot ko itong muli at nang mahawakan ko ito ay tuluyan na itong natuos na parang kandila at maya-maya ay naging abo. Tinitigan ko lang ang kamay ko na hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nangyari.
What just happened?
Napagpasiyahan kong ipagbalewala na lamang ang nangyari kaya bumangon na ako sa higaan at tumayo.
Pumunta na ako sa banyo para maligo. Binuksan ko na ang shower and as I expected, a part of it melted. I stared at the water before stripping out of my clothes.
I suddenly felt very hot. And tipong init na parang hindi mawala-wala. Dali-dali akong pumunta sa shower at naligo ngunit mukhang ang tubig ay nagpa-init lamang lalo sa pakiramdam ko. I know I am getting flustered by this sudden heat at hindi ko alam kung paano ito papatigilin.
It feels very hot. Very very hot.
Napagpasiyahan ko na lamang na umalis na sa banyo pagkatapos kong maligo upang magbihis. I felt glad nang hindi malusaw ang uniform at sapatos ko.
I still feel very hot kahit nang umalis na ako sa kwarto ko and the scrutanizing stares of the enchanters didn't help at all.
Tumingin na lang ako sa sahig habang naglalakad kaya may nabangga ako. Mabuti at nahawakan ako nito sa kamay bago ako nahulog sa sahig.
Nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang mapagtanto na hinawakan niya ang aking kamay kaya agad ko itong binawi ngunit mahigpit ang kapit niya. Inangat ko ang tingin ko sa enchanter na nakasalubong ko. I am scared to see him or her melting. Yes, I am scared.
Hindi ko inaasahan ang enchanter na nabangga ko.
As I stared at his eyes it seemed that time passed us by but we are stuck and frozen, staring at each other's eyes.
He was still holding my hand.
His blue eyes is so mesmerizing I found myself drowning into it.
I found myself drowning into Prince Kaizer Leovanni Castianelle's eyes.
And suddenly, the heat that I felt earlier vanished and all that was left was the feeling of his warmth seeping through my soul.
---
BlackenedLight