Ellevythrane's Point of View
Lima? She must be referring to the Five known students of this academy. Dahil sa misyon ko dati, marami akong naririnig tungkol sa kanila. They usually don't communicate with normal students and once they are out, we must be careful of everything we say and do.
Hindi ko makuha kung bakit nakakapasok ang mga espiya kung andito naman sila but I should do as what the King requested.
"How rude of me? Dapat alam natin ang pangalan ng isa't-isa. I'm Pearl Arcayde. I will love it if you'll address me as Pia. 20 years old. I'm an Ice Magic wielder. Chairperson din ako ng Pearl Club," nakangiti niyang pagpapakilala.
"Ellevythrane Flamarie. Elle for short. 19 years old. I'm a Healing Magic wielder," pagpapakilala ko rin.
"Healing? Ibig sabihin sa healing class ka nag-enroll?" tanong niya na halos malaglag na ang panga.
I nodded. "Yes since related naman do'n ang magic ko saka isa pa, it's a pleasure to save lives."
Kung hindi lang gano'n ang tingin nila sa 'kin, then I could've became one of the greatest healers.
"Alam mo bang matindi ang kompetisyon ng mga estudyante sa Healing Class? Bullying. Inferiority complex. Lahat ng 'yan nando'n," aniya.
"Ayos lang. Wala lang naman lahat ng 'yan 'pag may nailigtas kang buhay," sagot ko.
My butler told me how important life is, before. Kaya, sabi niya hasain ko raw ang panggagamot ko. I did it secretly along with my swords training.
"Tama ka, naman."
Yumuko ako sa kanya saka ngumiti ng bahagya. I talked to many people before and placed different masks on me. I couldn't afford to make a mistake here.
I shouldn't trust anyone. Maaaring nasa malapit lang ang mga espiya.
"Thank you for the conversation, by the way. Pero tingin ko kailangan ko pang maghanda dahil may gagawin pa ako mamaya."
I didn't waited for her response and entered the room that matched my key letter. Pagpasok ko do'n, bumungad sa 'kin ang silid na may nag-iisang bintana na natatakpan ng makapal at manipis na kurtinang kulay asul. There was a single cabinet with 2 doors above and three drawers.
May pintuan din na may nakalagay na karatula. A bathroom.
I gazed on the bed wherein a black sheath and a black hilt were placed on top of the blanket. Napangiti ako saka agad na kinuha 'yon.
"I thought, mag-iisa ako. Kasama pa rin pala kita." Niyakap ko ang espada na kasama ko ng apat na taon.
Atleast they let me have it.
Ibinaling ko ang paningin ko sa espada at may tali ito sa hawakan nito. Do'n may nakataling papel. I unlaced it and opened it.
'Orders from the King.
I allowed you to have your sword but you can't bring it with you outside during unnecessary times nor anyone can know. You shall only use that if the situation calls. Have a nice stay.'
Hindi na rin masama.
Nang ibaba ko ulit ang paningin ko, may katabing papel ang mga nakatiklop na kumot. I placed the sword on the bed saka kinuha ang papel. 'Do's and don't-s.' I flipped the cover, revealing the next page at sinimulan kong basahin.
________________
Paglabas ko ng silid, wala na si Pia sa dormitoryo kaya lumabas na lang ako mag-isa. I just went out on my own as if I toured myself.
The sky was reddish already at malapit ng gumabi. I got distracted reading the rules and regulations of this academy. Hindi tuloy ako makakapag-libot ng matagal.
'Curfew starts when everything turns dark.' Nakasulat 'yan do'n.
The best time for the spies to move freely dahil lahat ng mga estudyante ay nasa dorm na nila. No hindrances. No obstacles.
Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang napansin kong wala ng mga estudyante kahit hindi pa naman gabi. The hallway was empty. Silent. And, creepy. Tila ba may mga matang nakatingin sa 'kin.
Siguro mas mabuting bumalik na lang muna ako sa dorm. I'll just continue gathering routes tomorrow para kung sakaling may mangyari na hindi maganda.
I was supposed to move when I sensed something cold on my neck.
"Don't turn around," sabi ng lalaking sobrang lamig ng boses. It was cold and soft but not enough for me to shiver. "Haven't you read the rules? Malapit ng mag-curfew. Before the sun sets, everyone should return to their dormitory and so do you."
"I thought when everything turns dark," sagot ko.
"What a nerve. You really talked back to me," aniya.
"N-no. I apologize. I-"
"Ahhhhhh!" Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita ng umalingawngaw ang boses ng isang babae sa buong hallway. That was the same scream of those people whom I stole lives.
"You hear that? I'm not soft as you think. You'll die here, too."
I cleared my throat but didn't made an obvious movement. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magic niya and the thing was he just came without me noticing it. Ni hindi ko alam kung kailan siya dumating. Also, I didn't bring my sword with me.
"Do you have any last words?" tanong niya.
"Yes."
"Then, what is it?"
"I-I'm just a new student and-"
My eyes caught of an arrow made of stones rash towards my direction. So I closed my eyes.
I was supposed to say I wanted freedom. But perhaps this was the freedom I must've received a long time ago.
Ngumiti ako ngunit may narinig akong nag-clash sa harapan ko at wala na ang malamig na bagay sa leeg ko. I opened my eyes and a guy stood before me, holding his place. May hawak siyang espada na kulay gray ang hilt.
I raised my gaze on his head and his ash gray hair were like silver glittering in my eyes. Nakatalikod siya kaya nakita ko rin ang rosas na guhit sa balabal niya.
"Don't move or I'll kill you," aniya.
That rose. He must be. . . one of the Five. I was just warned not to get involved with them directly pero heto, nasa harap ko ang isa sa kanila.
Gray hair. Gumagamit din ng espada. He must also be a shadow magic wielder. The First Prince of Astraine Kingdom. Prince Thrystan Reivous Cataclys.
"While the sun is up, you can do whatever you want except to kill. But when the sun has set, it is our playground," seryoso niyang saad.
Playground? Ibig bang sabihin, kung lumabas kami sa gabi, they'll kill us because we're just their toys? Ito kaya ang dahilan kung bakit kinatatakutan sila.