Lumina Academy: Light and Shadow (Realm Series #1)

Chapter 16: Returned

Chapter 16: Returned
 
Clara Odette White
 
As long as I wanted to laugh at their faces, I stopped myself. They are too shocked upon knowing that Ingrid Genevieve Taylor was the daughter of Tita Ington and Tita Vienne. I know that for a long time but I didn’t said anything to them kahit minsan ay nagiging-topic namin ang bagay na ‘yan.
 
I’m not in the right place to tell them about that but I am thankful because finally, they already know that she is one of us—one of the daughters of royalties. But up until now, I am still wondering why she was put in Betas—why the academy itself put her in Betas.
 
Genevieve’s power is just the same as ours. I mean, she also has powerful guardians and is good at combat but she is too lazy to learn. Before, Gen, Lara, and I are training our elements and summoning our guardians. I also know that Lara is the summoner, not just the electric cats siblings but all supreme guardians but I just shut my mouth up.
 
Again, it is not my business to tell.
 
Besides, I don’t want her life to put in danger. But just like Gen, I am wondering why she was in Betas—why they are in Betas when they should be in Alphas. Hindi naman sa kinu-kwesyon ko ang akademya but they really deserve to be one of the Alphas! But yeah, ranking is coming at sigurado akong mapupunta sila sa Alphas.
 
I am confident with that…
 
I learned that it was Lara when the time that I heard her voice and I assumed that it was her first day but it was ruined. I was so worried about them but I can’t see them because her guardians forbids anyone to visit them while they are unconscious. But now, seeing them already fine makes me feel relief.
 
That’s good…
 
“Y-You are…” hindi matuloy-tuloy ni Gwen ang sasabihin habang nakatingin siya kay Gen.
 
Mayroon kaming sariling lamesa mula sa mga hari at reyna kaya malaya kaming nakakapag-usap ngayon. But right now, they still can’t believe of what they learn kaya hindi ko mapigilang mapa-iling na lamang. I wanted to talk to Genevieve too but I stopped myself from doing so.
 
This is torture…
 
“Damn… I can’t believe!” It was Kaizer at parehas lang sila ni Gwen na hindi talaga makapaniwala. Habang si Jacob at Rielle ay nakatitig lamang sa kaniya—hindi rin makapaniwala.
 
“Stop doing that…” lukot ang mukha ni Gen habang tinitignan si Jacob at Rielle. She sigh first before looking at Gwen and Kaizer. “You’re making me uncomfortable,” she continued kaya naman sabay-sabay silang nagtikhiman bago inayos ang mga sarili.
 
“Sorry…” they said in unison which made Gen nod.
 
“It’s okay… I understand you pero masyado naman na kayong AO,” saad niya na ikina-simangot naman nila.
 
Nagprotesta naman sila ngunit nabaling naman ang atensyon ko ng marinig kong nagsalita ang katabi ko. “You okay?” It was Azriel na mukhang nahalata ang kinikilos ko. Nilingon ko naman siya at tumango lang ako at bahagyang ngumiti para hindi na siya mag-usisa pa. 
 
Maya-maya pa ay nagsimula na ang birthday party ni Kuya Logan at ang late celebration ng anniversary ng academy kaya tumahimik na kami at in-enjoy ang party. But… why do I feel that there’s more surprises?
 
***
 
The party went well and I can say that we enjoyed it. Gen is still adjusting while I am just quite enjoying the party. Pero, ang akala naming tapos na ay hindi pa pala. The emcee said that this isn’t just a birthday party and late celebration of the academy’s anniversary but there’s more kaya lahat ay naghihintay.
 
“Ano na naman kaya ‘yon?” It was Jacob and when I look where the kings and queens are, I saw them waiting for it too.
 
Why… I can feel the tension all of a sudden?
 
Kuya Logan is with us now and we are all clueless about this aside from Kuya Logan, Lucas, the kings and queens—even Gen and Azriek. Hindi ko lang alam kay Aiden dahil malay ko ba diyan. Mahirap siyang basahin pero ngayon ay halatang nag-aabang din siya.
 
“Before this night ends, we have to welcome someone first…” sabi ng emcee kaya nakuha nito ang atensyon naming lahat.
 
Welcome someone?
 
“Just who’s that someone?” It was Kaizer na halata sa mukha ang kuryosidad at pagtataka—lahat kami ay nagtataka.
 
“Just listen, you jerk,” sagot naman ni Gwen dito bago muling itinuon ang tingin sa stage.
 
Lumapit naman ang former King and Queen na si Mother Queen Diamond and Father King Maximus sa emcee na may malawak na ngiti. Napatayo naman kaming lahat at yumuko bilang paggalang sa kanila. Even the Kings and Queens. Seeing their smiles… I think I already have an idea…
 
“We can see the curiosity in your eyes, everyone…” it was the Mother Queen and she sounds happy. “She has been gone for seventeen years but now… she came back,” the Mother Queen said and I heard gasped from those immortals that realized what the former queen is talking about.
 
“It can’t be…” I heard Arielle said and I can imagine her shocked face.
 
“Yes, everyone! The first Princess is finally here! Princess Lorraine Jade is finally back!” Anunsyo nito at tumingin sa hagdan na nasa likod lamang nilang mag-asawa. Sinundan namin ang kaniyang tingin at maya-maya pa ay may nakita na kaming pababang babae na kamukhang-kamukha ni Queen Emerald.
 
“Princess Lorraine Jade.”
 
***
 
Third Person’s Point Of View
 
Tahimik lamang ang mga hari at reyna habang hinihintay ang paglabas ng unang prinsesa. Nang lumabas na ito ay saya ang nararamdaman ng mga imortal ngunit sila ay hindi. Galit ang kanilang nararamdaman dahil sila mismo ang nakasaksi sa paghihirap ng kanilang kaibigang si Emerald. 
 
Iniisip nila na dahil sa kaniya ay nawala ang nag-iisang babaeng anak nito. Kaibigan din nila si Jade ngunit ng malaman nilang nakipagsabwatan ito sa mga rebelyon ay tila nakalimutan na nilang kaibigan nila ‘to.
 
Lahat naman ay iniisip na traydor siya, dahil kung hindi siya nakipagsabwatan sa rebelyon ay sana kasama nila ngayon ang anak na babae ni Emerald at hindi na dapat nangyari ang digmaang tumapos sa madaming buhay.
 
But Queen Cardelia—the mother of Princess Clara—Lady Vivienne, and her husband, Lord Ington are smiling at Princess Jade while looking at her—feeling happy for her. They are happy that she finally came back and never in their life that they get mad at her because of what she did.
 
Since it is only Lady Romina who can accompany her in the mortal realm until her daughter turns at the right age, all they can do is to visit her and check how are they. Queen Cardelia, together with Lady Vivienne and Lord Ington lived in the mortal realm dahil gusto nilang samahan ang prinsesa.
 
When Princess Jade reached the stage, all elementalists gave her a round of applause. These immortals has no idea about the tension between the princess and the royalties—lalo naman sa ginawa nito. Minabuti nilang itago dahil kamatayan ang ipapataw sa kaniya oras na malaman ito ng nakararami.
 
Princess Jade smiled a little at everyone as she can feel the stares of the kings and queens. But despite that, she stood firmly and confidently. She feels nervous but she didn’t let anyone see it. After seventeen years, she’s here again—facing the crowd as the first princess of Luminaria Kingdom—as Princess Lorraine Jade.
 
Her mother and father hugged her but she didn’t say a word. She won't know what to feel right now—especially that her daughter will face these people and will introduce her as the princess of their kingdom. Never in her life that she readied her daughter in this kind of thing because she only wants her to live her normal life—like an ordinary immortal and away from being royalty.
 
She knows that her daughter is not ready to have this kind of life. She tried to give her a normal life but she guess that her life will never be normal for she is the princess of Luminaria kingdom—she is one of the royalties and it never changes even how she tried. She doesn’t want to go back here but she has a responsibility that she should face and that’s the academy.
 
“I am beyond happy that my daughter is finally back…” the Mother Queen said and her face is telling how happy she is. Immortals are happy too upon seeing the first princess. “But… I was more beyond happy upon knowing that she had a daughter…” what the Queen Mother said made everyone gasp—including the king and queens, even the princes and princesses.
 
“What the…” they don’t know what to say and they can hear murmurs from the immortals.
 
They are all shocked—the royalties are feeling different emotions, especially, the princess’ twin—Queen Emerald. She’s holding her husband’s hand tightly—King Lorcan as she waited for her twin’s daughter. When she learned that Princess Jade has a daughter she can not believe it.
 
Mayroon siyang mga haka-haka ngunit pinutol ‘yon ng kaniyang ina. She thought that it was her daughter but her mother said it’s not and there’s a valid explanation that she didn’t know until now. She badly wants to know the reason—she can’t wait anymore for her peace of mind.
 
“She… has a daughter?” It was Queen Azalea—the queen that had never been mad at the princess too because she believed that she has her reason why she did that thing.
 
“I want to introduce you, my daughter…” Princess Jade took a deep breath—feeling hesitant to call for her daughter.
 
“Interesting,” King Zaiden—the father of Prince Aiden and husband of Queen Azalea mumbled while also waiting.
 
Kaibigan niyang matalik ang prinsesa kaya hindi siya galit dito at hindi siya naniniwala na isang traydor ang kaibigan niya. Kilala niya si ito at hindi siya gagawa ng delikadong bagay kung walang dahilan. Ipinakikita lamang niya na wala siyang pakialam sa nangyayari ngunit naniniwala siya sa prinsesa na mayroon itong dahilan.
 
Princess Jade sigh before finally introducing her daughter to everyone. “Meet my daughter… Princess Hope Lorelei Lara Sapphire!” Upon hearing the daughter of the first princess, they waited for her to come out and show herself to everyone.
 
 And when the princess showed herself—kung saan din lumabas ang unang prinsesa—hindi nila mapigilang mamangha sa taglay na ganda nito. The princess just looks like her mother… she looks like a goddess in her gold gown and when she smiled a little, their jaw just dropped and they can’t take their eyes off of her.
 
“S-She’s—what?!” It was Queen Keeva—the mother of Prince Kaizer—and she can not believe of what the princess’ name was.
 
While in Alphas’ table, they can not take their eyes off of her too. If Princess Jade and Queen Emerald are already beautiful, the princess that they are looking at right now is beyond beautiful! The princess’ is now walking down and all eyes are on her—even her grandparents are looking at her with administration—they wanted to hug their granddaughter so badly.
 
But while watching the princess walking, they heard what Princess Gwendolyn said. “S-She’s the one who gave Azriel’s address!” The princess said and they all look at her before looking at Azriel who’s now smiling while looking at the princess who’s now walking towards her mother.
 
“Yes… we know each other,” the prince said and he just heard gasped from the princesses. “We’re friends,” dagdag pa niya at alam niyang pagkatapos nito ay uulanin siya ng katanungan ng mga prinsesa—including Prince Kaizer and Prince Jacob.
 
But what Prince Azriel said made Prince Aiden look at him sharply. He doesn’t know why but he has no control over his body which is new to him—he has no control over his body when it comes to that lady—the lady that he met in the zoo before and he can’t believe that she’s also one of them not until that day happened. He didn’t feel anything from her before but he guess that her mother hide her aura that’s why he didn’t feel that she is also an elementalist.
 
‘That strawberry monster is also a princess, huh?’
 
***
 
Lorraine Jade Watson
 
I’m nervous…
 
I am feeling nothing but nervousness. I am nervous, not for myself but for my daughter. I know that she wasn’t ready yet but she has to be ready—she has no choice but to be ready. Parang pinagsisihan kong hindi ko siya inihanda sa ganitong bagay. I was busy giving her a normal life kahit naman alam kong napaka-imposible no’ng mangyari.
 
My daughter will never have a normal life.
 
After my introduction to her and after she nervously greeted my parents, I told Mina to fetch her and go straight to my room here in the palace. I know that my daughter is so nervous kaya kailangan niya munang magtungo sa aking silid. We’re both nervous—Lara is nervous to face my family and the immortals, while me…? Deep inside me, I know the reason why I’m so nervous.
 
Now the party is over by my nervousness is still here and that’s because my mother told me to go in royal living room with Mina and my daughter. Alam kong hindi lamang sila ang nando’n—all royalties are there too kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan. If it’s only me who will face them ay ayos lang sa akin ngunit kasama ko ang anak ko…
 
I’m now heading to the royal living room alone dahil mamaya pa susunod sina Mina at Lara na baka sunduin ko rin. I am with my servant but I am too nervous to even talk to her and she can feel it that’s why she kept her mouth shut. Nakaka-ilang buntong-hininga na ako ngunit hindi talaga mabawas-bawasan ang kabang nararamdaman ko until we reached the royal living room.
 
Cecelia opened the door for me and I entered—facing all of them after seventeen years. I have no emotion when I faced them only Azalea, Cardelia, Vivienne, and Ington are the ones who’s giving me a welcome look that’s why I smiled at them a bit. Their children are here too and they slightly bowed at me before I look at my mother who’s approaching me with a small smile on her lips.
 
“Mother…” I said before she holds my hand and I can’t help myself but miss her warmth.
 
Seventeen years… seventeen years I’ve been longing for my mother’s warmth, her voice, her smile—everything about her. While I was suffering in silence, I am also looking for her but… she wasn’t there. I wanted to cry badly in her arms—I wanted to hug her while I was crying because of pain but I rather chose to leave than stay here.
 
I am being emotional right now while looking at my mother but I calm myself. This is not the right time that I will get emotional. I promised that I won’t cry again because my suffering is done but my problem isn’t done yet and I am here to face them—finally facing them. I won’t be a coward anymore, for my daughter… for everyone.
 
“Welcome back, Jade!” It was Azalea who hug me first and she’s smiling at me brightly.
 
I hug her back before Cardelia and Orion welcomed and hugged me next. I hug them back while smiling at them—lalo naman ng niyakap din ako nina Viv at Ington. Clara hug me too and I just remembered her, my daughter, and Ingrid and I hope, they will finally fix their problem –now that Lara is now finally here.
 
I am smiling a little bit at them at hindi ko na namalayan pang ini-interrogate na pala ako ng mga magulang ko habang nakaharap sila. “Anak, would you explain to us why you are a Watson? Why you and your daughter’s last name is Watson?” My father asked me at hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit niya nalaman ang tungkol diyan.
 
I saw how shocked are they when they heard that and it is better if I will tell them. I took a deep breath and looked into my mother’s eyes who knows the answer before looking into Lorcan’s eyes… just like my man’s eyes. I can feel their curiosity, especially, when they noticed that I am looking at the current king of this kingdom. “Because my husband is Lorcan’s twin…” the king frown before I continued. “Lancelot Watson, the cursed twin of King Lorcan,” I saw how shocked he is when he heard it from me. Then I smiled at him sadly. “Yes, you heard it right… Lancelot Watson is my husband… and my child’s father,” my sad smile remains before looking at my twin who is a bit shocked because of my revelation. “And it’s not true that I’m in love with him, because the truth is, I’m in love with his win at dahil nakikita ko siya sa kaniya, ‘yon na ang inakala ninyong lahat.”
 
I am only in love with my husband…
 
***