The Midnight Academy

Chapter 35

"-- So you came from a very wealthy family?" he asks between the story I've been telling him. Mag-uumaga na at nandito pa rin kami sa ilalim ng malaking puno habang kinukwetuhan ko siya ng buhay ko sa labas ng sektor. "What is it like?"

Napabuntong hininga ako. "Hindi ganoon kaganda. Living a life like a princess is no thrill and certainly not so meaningful as it may seem."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. His long lashed brown eyes listens intently to my soft words. Muli akong nagsalita, "Kaya nga napagpasyahan kong maging isa sa mga elite fighters ng eskwelahan namin. Kung sa Midnight Academy, matuturing kaming parang Royals, the Elemental Academy's warriors. That's why I landed a mission here in the sector."

"Kung isa ka sa mga Royals sa lugar nyo, living here as a normal student must've been hard for you," ani nito, his eyes of concerned looks.

I laughed. I remember the girls giving me a hard time. I remember everyone looking at me as a lowly person. And most of all, I recall being betrayed by the student body in our last combat. They accused me of something I didn't do which became the perfect opening for the Headmaster to seize control of me. I should loathe them, hate them through the bones. But with Priam by my side, all my anger and fury melts into forgiveness.

"I remember the times you defended me from the mean girls. As the school's King, I wonder at what cost did it leave you protecting me." Paniguradong may kapalit ang pagligtas niya sa akin sa mean girls. Bilang kumakatawan sa hari ng eskwelahan, he needs to set an example and portray the role of an authoritative King through asserting dominance. I am sure the the Headmaster laid his iron hands on him, for being a weak example, for letting my insolence slip away.

He looked at me gently and smiled lightly before replying, "Belive me, Sandra. It was all worth it."

I continue on with my story. I do not want a piece of my life left hidden from him. "As the Elite fighters, lumalabas kami ng Academy upang malutas ang mga lokal na krimen sa Elemental Region. But this one--" napatingin ako sa kaniya. Without this, I wouldn't have met him. I wouldn't have been freed from the weight I was carrying. "I have no regrets on joining the regimen tasked in Sector C."

"Pero para saan ang misyon ninyong ito? This is beyond the bounds of Elemental Region, let alone sa eskwelahan ninyo."

"We believe that the Dark Queen extends her ambition to rule not just within your sector but to all three Regions as well."

I continue on. "Besides, we also believe there is a growing dispute between sector C and Elemental Region."

"How can you say so?"

"Maaaring ang Region ko ang pagbintangan na gumagamit ng ipinagbabawal na mahika. The forbidden magic used by the Dark Queen."

"I understand," napatango ito at para bang prinoproseso ang mga sinasabi ko. "But does your family knows you're here, preserving peace between Regions, spying on the most secured Academy?"

The atmosphere suddenly dimmend at the mention of my family. "The days I've spent in our mansion in mundane. Because there, no matter how strong I am, I remain powerless. I have no voice, no opinions and everything is already laid out for me. It's like they've prepared an identity for me.

"You see, I was no one. Except for the times I cherished with my grandfather. Siya lamang ang nag-iisa kong kakampi. With him, everything seemed possible, atleast that's how I felt."

"And your grandfather? Did you leave him behind your Region?"

"No!" I splurred out. "I'd never do that."

"You might already have a glimpse of who my favorite person is," I say teasingly.

He chuckled probably thinking I was pertaining to him. But still, he looks at me with curious marvelling eyes.