Hindi ko maialis ang paningin ko habang natatanaw ng mga mata ko ang isang bahagi ng pader ng Frethurna. The Kingdom where I grew up but the kingdom that stole my freedom. Those memories were still fresh in my thoughts kahit apat na taon na rin ang lumipas simula no'ng umalis ako ro'n.
I held my sword's sheath tight and and sighed. If it weren't for that notorious criminal organization, hindi sana ako makakalabas. But I never went back home since then.
Narinig ko ang mga kaluskos sa damo sa likuran ko ngunit hindi ako lumingon do'n. Alam ko na kung sino ang dumating.
"Lady Elle, it's been a while," pagbati niya sa 'kin.
"After so long, what makes the Knight Grand Cross, my father, interested in me again? Hindi ba siya masaya na wala na ako ro'n?" deretsahang tanong ko.
"Lady Elle, he sent me here to deliver his words for you."
Words, huh? Tinalikuran na nila ako at ngayon, guguluhin nila ang katahimikan ko? They should've just forgotten that I existed in the first place.
"This is connected to your mission, here. But he wants to talk to you personally," dugtong niya.
Mission?
I smiled bitterly as my heart seemed squeezed.
4 years ago, pinakawalan na rin nila ako sa mula sa vault na 'yon. I thought my life would ever be just sword training or etiquettes na akala ko, hindi ko rin magagamit.
Others might find those criminals a threat but for me they gave me hope. Dahil wala namang may alam na anak ako ng Knight Grand Cross sa Frethurna Kingdom, they gave me a quest. A quest na siyang nagputol sa koneksyon ko sa kanila.
But that freedom was a mere illusion. I was never been free. Nakatali pa rin ako sa kanila. They could just summon me back and make me follow their orders. . . Their orders to eliminate the members of that organization one by one.
And just recently, I found out na nakapasok na ang iba sa kanila sa Astraine Academy, a prestigious noble school at Astraine Kingdom. One of the great five Kingdoms. And no doubt, because of their alliance 14 years ago, the Knight Grand Cross would send me there to work for Astraine Kingdom.
. . . to find out what they're up to and what will they gain for entering the Academy.
"The Knight Grand Cross ordered you to be present in a family dinner."
I gritted my teeth. Family, huh? When did that person consider me as family in the first place? They saw me as monster that took lives. After all, do'n naman talaga ako magaling. . . a killing machine, to be exact.
"Why don't you just report to him na missing ako ilang araw na?" suhestiyon ko saka humarap sa nakaluhod na knight.
I really didn't have the gut to face them.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," aniya.
Tumango ako saka iginala ang paningin sa mga punong nasa likuran niya. Wala naman sigurong nakasunod sa kaniya. But if there were, they would surely drag me against my will pabalik sa household namin.
"Why don't you suggest to send a better person for the job, then? Hindi ba't ayaw niyo naman sa magic ko?"
He shook his head. "You are the best person for this."
I held the hilt of my sword using my empty hand and draw it. I pointed it on his neck close to his chin. One move, he would lose her head but he didn't flinched.
Nakahanda na siya.  "Dear knight, will you still say that if you're not breathing?"
"I'm willing to die in your hands, Lady Elle," malamig niyang sagot.
"Sigurado ka na ba-"
"White Rose. . ."
White Rose. Only those who live outside the borders call me like that.
Inagaw ng isang matandang lalaking may suot na itim na balabal ang paningin at atensyon ko. Although he stood straight and kept himself from shivering in fear, I drew fear from his gazes.
He was one of the villagers.
Sa labas ng limang malalaking kaharian, may mga nakatira rin.  They knew me better than my own father.
I withdrew the sword and returned it on its sheath. "What brings you here?"
"May mga kawal ng kaharian ng Frethurna sa bayan."
I smirked.
So, the Kinght Grand Cross already figured out that those villagers were attached to me. And to think that they used them as a threat against me. . . what a shame in the name of a great knight?
Alam na niya sigurong wala siyang magagawa kung tatanggi ako. He knew I could take the lives of his men so he used those who matters to me.
[You see those smiles, Elle? Protect it. Do everything to protect it.] Kung hindi lang 'yan sinabi ng pinakauna kong butler, I wouldn't treasure those villagers. And as respect, I won't fight back.
"Dear knight, is this how they play now? Pero sige, sasama ako sa inyo but if may malaman ako na may nasaktan sa kanila kahit isa, you know what to sacrifice. The Knight Grand Cross knows that as well."
~~~
Tahimik akong nakaupo sa isang upuan sa harap ng dining table. I avoided exchanging gazes from anyone here and breathed slowly to keep their attention away from me.
Kahit kailan talaga, hindi ko pa rin ramdam na parte ako ng pamilyang 'to. Saka isa pa, what a joke. This wasn't a family dinner at all.
Sa dulo ng lamesa, nakaupo ang Knight Grand Cross. Sa kabilang dulo naman ay ang hari ng Frethurna, si King Breven Silverpsy. My four older siblings were here too: Livia, Sethron, Lara, and Rythro. And the most unexpected guest of all was the King of Astraine, King Astro Cataclys.
My calculations were right but I missed this part. Hindi ko naisip na pupunta mismo ang hari dito as if his kingdom was safe already. Napasok na nga ng organisasyon na 'yon ang akademya ng kaharian nila.
"Aren't you putting your kingdom at risk, Your Higness," binasag ni Haring Breven ng Frethurna ang katahimikan habang nakatingin kay Haring Astro.
"I have faith with the Crown Princess," tanging sagot nito.
Astraine Kingdom's first woman to have the title as the heiress to the throne, Crown Princess Reiza Cataclys.
"If you say so, then,  let me get straight to the point. I invited you to personally introduce our best assassin, Ellevythrane Flamarie. She's only 19 years old but don't worry, she's best in this field."
Ikinuyom ko ang kamao ko sa ilalim ng lamesa pagkatapos 'yong sabihin ng Knight Grand Cross. He didn't even address me as his daughter. At pinakulo niya pa ang dugo ko sa sinabi niyang 'best in this field'.
"But isn't she too young for the job?" Hindi man ako nakatingin, ramdam ko ang titig sa 'kin ni King Astro.
Sa ilalim ng mesa, sa kandungan ko, ikinuyom ko ang kamao ko. I haven't experienced a proper life.
Marami pa silang napag-usapan pero hindi ko na 'yon binigyang pansin hanggang sa matapos ang dinner. Isa lang naman kasi ang patutunguhan ng lahat ng 'yon, pupunta ako sa Astrauine Academy.
As everyone left the dining area, I went directly to ghe Knight Grand Cross' office na walang katao-tao maliban sa 'ming dalawa. He just brought me back here to make me hate him so much.
"I know you're already aware," aniya.
"What?! Pagkatapos ng ilang taong pagkulong at pagpapaalis niyo sa 'kin, you'll just address me as an assassin. At gagamitin niyo ako para sa alyansa niyo?! " I exclaimed kaya umalingawngaw ang boses ko sa buong office niya.
"Yes. Kapalit naman no'n ay kalayaan mo," sagot ng ama ko.
I turned speechless. I clenched my fist as my heart beats wild and my throat dried up. Hindi ko naman kasalanan na ganito ang naging gift ko. It wasn't also my fault that I was born this way.
They could have eliminated me when I was still a kid but they just made me suffer. Pero siya'ng Knight Grand Cross. Hindi siya gagawa ng kasunduang hindi niya tutuparin.
"How would you assure na tutupad kayo sa usapan?" tanong ko.
"It's a Royal Decree," sagot niya.
A royal decree? Ibig sabihin nakialam na rin ang mahal na hari sa bagay na 'to. Malapit nga naman sila sa isa't-isa kaya hindi na ako magugulat pa. But if this was the case then I never have an option to begin with.
It'll take a head to defy King Breven Silverpsy. The Royal Family of Silverpsy was known to be the greatest sword magic wielder. No one would even dare to say no to our Crown Prince. . . never to the king.
"Then, what should I do?"
"Ipapasok ka ni King Astro sa Astraine Kingdom but your name remains as Ellevythrane Flamarie. Not a noble lady. Not the daughter of the Knight Grand Cross. But a fully pledged assassin and spy," sagot niya.
Napangiti ako habang nakipagpalitan ng titig sa kanya but neither of us flinched. Hindi naman bago sa 'kin 'yan. I never used the family's surname anyway. Neither he called me child nor addressed me as his daughter.
"What should I do if I got contact with the spies?"
"Eliminate them. You should not let one of them live. And gather informations as many as you can. . . we need to end their crimes already."
I see. To end a crime is to use the same. Crime for a crime.
"Hindi ba nila itatago ang pagka-spy nila? It must be different from outside the borders," saad ko. Even though I will protest here, wala na akong pagpipilian. They would never listen.
Umiling-iling ang ama ko. "Those who aim to hurt others without hesitations won't cover their identity."
"Elle, listen. You should keep your mission to yourself. Wala kang dapat pagsabihan na kahit sino. Also, avoid the famous five of that Academy. King Astro will prepare you needs," dugtong niya.
"Five?"
"Yes. They were strong enough that everyone inside Astraine Academy fears them."
"Oh, so 'di na pala kailangang pumunta pa ako ro'n."
He sighed. "No. You also have to keep an eye on them without getting involved directly. Sabi ko nga, malakas sila. They might be plotting something."
"Why would they? Hindi ba't kaalyansa natin ang Astraine Kingdom?"
"It's suspicious for the enemies to easily infiltrate a huge academy just like that. But make sure, hindi ka mapapansin ninuman and stay away from the Five Colors of Rose hangga't posible."
Just like that, I accepted the mission in exchange for the freedom they offered.
I am to catch spies, again.
For only one reason. . .
The reason that I aimed for so many years. . .
I just need freedom.
________________
[The existence of Seetherion, the tale, circulated around the world and had been passed down from generations to generations but was bound to be forgotten.
It said that Seetherion is a twin planet of a world that ran advanced technologies. Ang kaibahan, mahika ang nagpapatakbo sa Seetherion.
Five Kingdoms also existed that maintained its peace for centuries. And each kingdoms built their own academy. But the most known and prestigious of all was 'Astraine Stein Academy' named after Astraine Kingdom.]