Cassy's Point of View
AFTER minutes of falling into an endless darkness, I saw a ring of light. And as seconds pass by, it grows bigger and bigger until it became a blinding light. Tinakpan ko ang mata ko gamit ang aking kamay. At nang mawala ang liwanag ay bumungad sa akin ang Oakland, ang Capital City ng Phantasm. The whole place has this european vibe, including the structures and climate.
Sa Central Market ako napadpad kaya kaagad na sumalubong sa akin ang ingay galing sa mga tindero at tindera at mga mamimili. I can also smell the aroma of newly baked pastries and bread, plus the scent that the flowers from the flower shops emit.
As I took a step forward, normalis people started looking at me. Those who were doing something stopped just to look at me. Normalis are those humans who posses no mana or commonly known as magic. They are wondering why I am wearing such clothes, which is my school uniform. Great.
I ignored them and roamed around. I need to find a jewelry shop where I could sell this blood ruby. At ilang minutong paglalakad lang ay nakita ko na ang hinahanap ko. Kaagad akong pumasok at bumungad sa akin ang kumikinang na loob ng shop. Jewelries everywhere. What a great view, but I don't appreciate it. I am not into this kind of stuff. It's boring.
I saw a green creature at the counter. It has long pointed ears, big and round yellow eyes, and half of human-size body length. Isang merchant elf.
"Anong maipaglilingkod ko sa 'yo, binibini?"
I ignored his smirk and flirty eyes. Damn this elf. Inilapag ko sa harapan niya ang blood ruby, dahilan para magningning ang mata niya. Halos tumulo ang laway niya habang nakatingin sa ruby. Merchant elves are good in distinguishing authentic jewelries by just using their naked eyes. They are also good in choosing the best material in making clothes, accessories, weapons, and equipments. And lastly, they are naturally perverts. Well, all kinds of elves are pervert.
Akmang hahawakan na nito ang ruby nang bawiin ko.
"How much does it costs?"
Saglit na tumigil ang elf para mag-isip. "Fifty golds and ten silvers!"
Ibinalik ko sa bulsa ko ang ruby. "Masyadong mura. This blood ruby came from the lair of the Ruby Dragons. My mother got this during her venture. In short, this blood ruby is a first class precious gem. If that's your price, then ibebenta ko na lang ito sa iba."
"S-Sandali! Magkano ba ang presyo mo?"
✂----
BITBIT ko ang isang brown stringless bag na naglalaman ng two hundred golds at fifty silvers. Papunta na ako ngayon sa isang boutique para bumili ng mga damit.
Matapos niyang ilapag ang mga damit, sapatos, at iba pang accessories ay pumili na ako. I chose dark-colored clothes, because it really suits my personality and being. Matapos kong makapagbayad ay lumabas na ako at kaagad na naghanap ng masasakyan. Though I am stubborn and a brat, sumusunod naman ako sa sinasabi sa akin ng magulang ko.
Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at ilang sandali pa ay tumigil sa harap ko ang isang karwahe na hila-hila ng isang argoe. Argoes are four-legged black creatures with only one eye and a swirly horn in the middle of its forehead. Aside from being used as a mode of transportation, they are also useful when it comes to dairy products. They produce the best quality of milk.
"Saan po kayo?" tanong sa akin ng isang normalis na kutsero.
"Holy Grail Academy," sagot ko bago pumasok sa karwahe. "And don't you ever dare ask what's obvious. I'll go there to enroll," sambit ko nang mapansing magtatanong pa sana siya. Napailing na lang siya bago mahinang nilatigo ang argoe at nang umandar na ang karwahe.
Napasandal ako sa upuan at napatingin sa labas. Hindi ko naman maiwasang maikuyom ang kamay ko. I hate going back here. I hate it.
'Kung marunong ka lang sanang magtimpi, e 'di nasa mundong iyon ka pa,' my subconscious mind said.
Well, what can I do? I am a short-temperd badass brat who hates stupidity. It's an innate trait I inherited from my parents. So, I can do nothing about it. At isa pa, gusto ko rin ang ganitong ugali. People tend to avoid me, which is quite good, kasi ayaw ko ng maingay.
"Nandito na po tayo."
Natigil ako sa pag-iisip at inihanda ang sarili ko. Kumuha ako ng isang silver at iniabot ito sa kutsero. "Keep the change." Lumabas ako at hindi na pinansin ang pagpapasalamat niya. Well, it happens na ten coppers lang ang pamasahe. And one silver corresponds to one hundred coppers. And one gold corresponds to a hundred silvers. That's the currency of this continent.
I stared at the wide and towering wall made of solid metallic bricks. On top of the wall are three small house-like structures that serves as the control room to open and close the three gates of academy. At the middle of the wall hangs a signage 'Holy Grail Academy' which is made of luminous metal that absorbs light from the sun, and during nighttime, the absorbed light is converted into an energy that causes the signage to emit a neon yellow light. And this won't be achieved without the help of alchemists, people who specialize in making potions, weapons, and inventions.
Inilagay ko sa isang kamay ko ang mga supot na dala ko. Lumapit ako sa pader at itinapat ang kamay ko. Purple-colored lines appeared on the wall, connecting with each other until it became a magic circle. Pagkatapos nito ay may lumitaw na neon blue hologram-still an invention of alchemists-kung saan nakalagay kung ano ang pakay ko sa academy.
I touched the the first set of words which is, 'Enroll'. Pagaktapos kong gawin iyon ay may lumabas na hologram ng isang babaeng may shoulder-length na buhok at nakasuot ng white suit.
"Good day, I am Mary! Just fill up the form which will pop out after this message, and get ready for your two set of exams: the written and practical. Your written exam will determine the class you will enter, and your practical exam will determine your classification. Good day, and do your best!"
Pagkatapos ng mensaheng iyon ay may nag-pop out na isang blank form hologram. Matapos kong i-fill out ang form, which only asks for my basic information like name, age, and parent's name and occupation, ay bumukas ang gate at lumabas ang babaeng nasa hologram kanina.
"Hi, good day! My name is-"
"Mary. Yeah, I know," putol ko sa sinasabi niya, dahilan para mapatawa siya.
"Right. I am so sorry," aniya. "Let's go?"
Pumasok na kami sa loob ng academy. The academy's structure looks like a castle with two wings: the left and right. The dominating color of the academy is silver and gold. Napatingin ako sa mga estudyante.
Girls are wearing white long sleeves topped with black blazer with purple linings, a black cloack, an above-the-knee black skirt with a purple line on its tip, and a pair of black knee-length leathers boots. While boys are wearing black suits with purple outlines, black cloak, white slocks, and black leather boots.
"This way, please."
Natigil ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Mary. Right. She's still here. And I still need to do the tests.
Sumunod lang ako sa kaniya papunta sa isang building na nakahiwalay sa academy. Pagkapasok namin ay bumungad sa akin ang isang oval-shaped arena. At sa dulong bahagi ng arena ay may mga dummies. May mga tao rin sa loob na sa tingin ko ay mag-e-exam din. I think they are more than twenty.
"Okay, since you are already aware of what a written exam is, I'll explain to you how practical exam works," sambit niya bago itinuro ang isang colorless magic circle sa gitna ng arena na ngayon ko lang napansin. "That magic circle will determine what type of mage are you. And those dummy will determine your strenth or so called class."
Pumunta siya sa harapan at tinawag ang iba. I think kasabay ko lang din sila. Maybe the came from the other side of the wall, since this academy is located at the center of Oakland.
"Are you all ready?"
Ngumisi ako bago itinaas ang sleeves ng aking suot na damit.
"Ready as hell."
Cassy's Point of ViewIt's been two weeks since that evaluation, at ngayon ang simula ng second semester ng klase. I happened to be lucky at nagkataong malapit na palang matapos ng first semester nang gumawa ako ng kalokohan. My mother also came here, but for a short period of time. She just came here to give the academy all the documents needed for my enrollment. Huminga ako nang malalim bago muling sinulyapan ang aking sarili sa salamin. I really love the uniform. It suits the power I possess. I also love the cloak. Nang makontento ay hinila ko na ang maleta ko palabas sa apartment na pansamantala kong tinuluyan. Sa wakas. Makakaalis na rin ako rito. I'm so sick of my loud neighbours. Kamuntik ko na ngang pasabugin ang buong apartment na ito,
Cassy's Point of ViewTHE moment I entered this room is the moment I knew this is the punishment I get from all the bad things I have done in my whole life. Well, technically, I hate being around with people, but I am still expecting na marami-rami ang classmates ko, kasi iyon naman ang expected normal setting ng school."Good morning!" a girl with blonde hair tied into pigtails, energetically greeted while waving with a big smile plastered on her face. "Morning," I responded before I took the very last seat, which is far from them."Why are you sitting there?" tanong ng isa pang babae. She has this long wavy black hair. Her voice's too soft. So Angelic. "Sit beside us."
Alleyn's Point of ViewTHE moment I saw the strongest section is the moment I knew that my good day is over. The Ruby-S. The section located at the uppermost part of the academy, where there are only four students. Sila ang suki namin sa pambubully, dahil parang insulto raw kami sa kanila, dahil pareho raw ang bilang namin. At isa pa, nandidiri daw sila sa mga mahihinang gaya namin. I really don't understand why there are people who feel superior towards other.And since we are weak and powerless, we can do nothing about it but to let them bully us until they're satisfied."Well, well, what do we have here? A new laughing stock, ey?" Merilla, the strongest Midde among the students, said while looking at Cassy.
Cassy's Point of ViewI WOKE up and went to our classroom early. This always happen to me whenever I get too excited. Well, what can I do? Nangangati na akong makalaban ang babaeng iyon. I wonder how did she manage to be in that section. That Lovelace I saw during the enrollment is stronger than her, but I heard that she was in the Gold-A."Good morning, Cassy!" masiglang bati sa akin ni Sapphire. "Good luck mamaya! May the Divine God bless you." Tinanguan ko lang siya dahilan para ngumuso siya. She sat beside me and stared at me. "Ang sungit mo talaga.""I know.""Yo, Cassy!" tawag ni Cristof na kakarating lang. "Do your best later."
Evagne's Point of ViewILANG araw na ang lumipas matapos ng petmalu na labanan---ay hindi pala. Hindi iyon matatawag na labanan dahil hindi man lang naka-atake ang kawawang si Merilla. Ay, sandali, bakit naman ako maaawa sa halimaw na hinayupak na bully na iyon? She deserved it! Naks, nakapag-english din sa wakas. E, kasi, e. Dapat lang talaga sa kaniya iyon, at nang maranasan naman niya ang nararanasan namin sa tuwing binu-bully nila kami. Bakit ko ba siya iniisip? Bahala na nga siya. Magahahan na akong pumasok.Ngayong araw ay excited ang tiyo niyo na pumasok, hindi dahil sa makikita ko ang crush ko, ha, dahil wala naman akong crush. Mataas ang standards ko, 'no! Excited ako kasi araw ng Biyernes ngayon, meaning lalabas kami ng academy dahil sa subject naming Exploriat. Pupunta kami sa ibang lugar kasama
Evagne's Point of ViewILANG araw na ang lumipas matapos ng petmalu na labanan---ay hindi pala. Hindi iyon matatawag na labanan dahil hindi man lang naka-atake ang kawawang si Merilla. Ay, sandali, bakit naman ako maaawa sa halimaw na hinayupak na bully na iyon? She deserved it! Naks, nakapag-english din sa wakas. E, kasi, e. Dapat lang talaga sa kaniya iyon, at nang maranasan naman niya ang nararanasan namin sa tuwing binu-bully nila kami. Bakit ko ba siya iniisip? Bahala na nga siya. Magahahan na akong pumasok.Ngayong araw ay excited ang tiyo niyo na pumasok, hindi dahil sa makikita ko ang crush ko, ha, dahil wala naman akong crush. Mataas ang standards ko, 'no! Excited ako kasi araw ng Biyernes ngayon, meaning lalabas kami ng academy dahil sa subject naming Exploriat. Pupunta kami sa ibang lugar kasama
Cassy's Point of ViewCassy's Point of ViewJUST as what I thought. Pero papaano napunta ang isang ogre sa lugar na ito? This is too far from their usual habitat. At isa pa, kung may ogre na namamalagi rito, nalaman at nakita na sana ito ng academy. Darn, paano ba talaga napunta rito ang halimaw na 'to? Na-alerto ako nang humakbang ito palapit sa amin. Kaagad kong iniharang ang magkabilang kamay ko para protektahan ang mga kasama ko."Stand back, idiots, I'll handle this one."Alleyn took a step forward and held my wrist. "You're sealed, Cassy, it's too risky. Let's just run and ask for some help."Inalis ko ang kaniyang kamay. "Run? Where? Where do you want to run, Alleyn? We have nowhere to run, because we are lost in the first place.""Bahala na kung maligaw tayo, basta ang importante ay makalayo tayo sa ogre na 'yan," sabat naman ni Evagne,
Sapphire's Point of ViewVIOLET, skinny, scaly, and slimy monsters called lures are everywhere. Hindi ko maiwasang manginig sa takot by just looking at how sharp their nails and teeth were. Ni hindi ko magawang magbiro, dahil maging ang partner in crime kong si Evagne at sumisiksik sa akin."Do'n ka nga! Hindi kita mapoprotektahan!" saway ko rito. Ngumuso ito at inirapan ako. Mabuti na lang talaga at bumalik na siya sa dati. Akala ko ay matutulala siya at manginginig. Na-trauma na kasi siya sa mga ogre na iyon. Ang mga halimaw na iyon ang sumira ng kaniyang pamilya."Hindi naman ako nag-e-expect na protektahan mo ako, e. Sumisiksik lang ako sa 'yo para in case na may lumitaw na lure sa harap natin, ikaw ang unang makain tapos makakatakbo ako!"Mabilis na l-um-anding ang kamao ko sa ulo niya. "Walang hiya ka! Ginawa mo pa akong pain!""Tumigil na kayong dalawa riyan,"saway sa amin