Celestial Academy: Unveiling Destiny

Chapter 23

Seraphina's POV

Namayani ang katahimikan sa loob ng opisina ni Headmaster habang hinihintay namin siya. Gaya ng sinabi niya kagabi, kakausapin niya kami ngayon. Kasama pala namin si Flynn ngayon, sinamahan ko siyang pumunta sa healer kanina. Ang hirap nga niyang pabangunin kaninang umaga, ayaw pa akong pakawalan kaya at the end, halos isang oras siyang nakayakap sa akin hanggang sa siya na mismo ang kusang humiwalay.

I heard the door open at the back of the Headmaster's table. He came out while holding fractured shards. It was a tangible, crystalline fragment. What is that?

"Ano 'yan, Headmaster?" tanong ni Catherine na halatang nagtataka.

"This was found around the Academy," he said as he put it down. Tinitigan ko ito. The crystals shimmer with an inner light, and the light inside them pulses in a rhythmic pattern, like a heartbeat.

"This came from the barrier around the Academy, at isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito: humina na ang barrier gaya ng sinabi ko sa inyo kagabi," seryosong pahayag ni Headmaster, but I can see through his eyes that he is worried. Nanatili kaming tahimik habang hinihintay ang susunod niyang sasabihin.

"I need your help, everyone. I will send you on a mission." I can see the excitement on their faces lalo na kay Arisson. He really does love missions, huh.

"I need you to find someone. Siya ang makakatulong sa atin para ibalik ang lakas ng barrier, dahil nararamdaman kong nagsisimula na ang inaasahan nating gyera. Kailangan nating protektahan ang Akademya laban sa kanila." I can see how much he cares for the Academy.

"Nakausap ko ang council kagabi. They want you to move as soon as possible."

"Council?" Hindi ko napigilang maibulalas. Napatingin silang lahat sa akin.

"The council is composed of seven people from the four kingdoms, iha. Sila ang nagpapatupad ng mga batas at nagbibigay ng parusa sa mga lalabag nito," mahinahong paliwanag ni Headmaster. Are they important people? Napansin niya siguro ang pagkalito ko kaya nagpatuloy siya.

"They hold authority almost similar to the Kings and Queens dahil nasa kanila ang pabor ng mga mamamayan." So for short, they have the power to defy the royalties... Why do I smell trouble from them?

"So let's go back. Catalina is the name of the person you will find. Dati ko siyang sekretarya. She left twenty years ago. Wala akong balita kung anong nangyari sa kanya o kung nasaan siya, but a few weeks ago, nagpakita siya sa panaginip ko and she told me where she is." Nakita ko ang pagkislap ng kanyang mga mata nang banggitin niya ang pangalang Catalina. Akala ko puro responsibilidad lang ang nasa isip niya mali pala ako. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from blurting it out.

"Nasaan siya, Headmaster?" tanong ni Sebastian.

"She's in the mortal world." Parang tumigil ang mundo ko sa narinig ko. N-no...

"Eh doon kami pupunta, Headmaster?! Omygosh, I'm excited!" boses ni Wendy ang narinig ko pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Nanatili akong nakayuko. By just hearing the name of that horrible place, my blood boils. That world is full of pain, lies, and suffering. I learned that the hard way through experiences that left me deep scars.

"Oo, at bukas na kayo pupunta. You don't have to worry kung maligaw man kayo, you have Miss Seraphina to help and guide you. Am I right, iha?" He knows I once lived there. Paano? Hindi ko rin alam. I felt their eyes on me pero hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin. I don't want them to know how much I despise that place.

"OMG! Nakapunta ka na doon, Sera?" I clenched my hands over the edge of my shirt. Tumango ako sa tanong ni Arianna. I couldn't find my voice to speak.

"Our mission will be much easier, then," dagdag ni Elijah. I thought no one noticed my weird behavior dahil ipinagpatuloy lang nila ang pag-uusap without asking anything else. But I was wrong. I felt Flynn's large hand hold my trembling one. With that touch, the trembling stopped. I lifted my head to meet his eyes. His gaze was gentle, comforting, not questioning.