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

Chapter 17: The Royal Families

Chapter 17: The Royal Families
 
Third Person's Point Of View
 
The royalties want to meet the first princess’ daughter and they are waiting patiently for her. Princess Jade fetches her daughter while they are waiting in the royal living room. No one wants to talk—the royal living room is silent while waiting for them to arrive until they heard a voice from outside.
 
They heard a sweet, gentle, and tender voice that made them look in the door and wait for them to enter. Her voice was giving them something—especially, to the prince who’s calming himself after he heard that voice again.
 
“Pagkatapos po ba nito uuwi na tayo? I badly want to sleep na po and I want strawberry too, Mimi!”
 
The prince can’t stop himself from smiling upon hearing the last words that the owner of the voice said. ‘She’s really a strawberry monster.’ He shook his head before calming his nerves again and playing cool in front of everyone. He doesn’t want them to notice him while he’s acting weird.
 
“We will go home later, sweetie…”
 
Until the door open and they saw their friend—Lady Romina entered the room who did a curtsy before Princess Jade entered the room who faced them with a serious face. “Please, don’t scare her…” the princess said while looking at them before she sigh and look behind her. “Come one, sweetie. They’ve been waiting for you…” now, the princess’ tone is sweet while looking into her daughter softly.
 
She knows that her daughter is nervous that’s why she smiled at her pouting daughter who now looks sleepy. She mention her to face the royalties and that’s what she did. Princess Lara didn’t look at them until she stood up straight and gave them a small but gentle smile. She doesn’t know what to say—she’s feeling anxious while facing the leaders of this realm until her grandparents—the former king and queen of Luminaria Kingdom approach her.
 
“Finally…” her grandmother held her cold hand. “My granddaughter…” Mother Queen Diamond is looking at her tenderly in the eyes before she gently touched her granddaughter’s cheek. “I am your grandmother… call me grandma, our princess…” she said and she was teary-eyed.
 
“Honey, don’t cry…” Princess Lara look at the person who talked at sakto namang napatingin din ito sa kaniya. “I am your grandfather, young princess… I am your grandpa…” King Maximus is also looking into his granddaughter’s eyes gently and he feels beyond happy upon finally seeing his granddaughter. They hug her earlier but they were not given a chance to introduce themselves to her.
 
Princess Lara smiled at them before saying, “Nice to finally meet you… grandpa and grandma…” she was a bit shocked her grandmother hug her but she hugged her back while her grandfather kissed her on her forehead.
 
‘This feels good.’
 
While Princess Jade seeing her parents and daughter hugging, tila mayroong humaplos sa kaniyang puso. She feels happy while looking at them and she knows that her daughter had been looking for grandparents’ love and now it’s here, she is happy for her child.
 
Nang binatawan na ng kaniyang mga magulang ang kaniyang anak ay siya namang narinig niya ang boses ng kaniyang kaibigan—it was none other than Queen Azalea. “Oh, deities!” The queen went to Princess Lara before coping with both of her faces. “You’re more beautiful than your mother and auntie!” The queen exclaimed and it made Princess Jade chuckle. “Anyway, I am your Tita Azalea but it is better if you will call me Mommy Azalea!” The queen said again which made Princess Jade chuckle—so does her daughter. “Oh, deities! Even your laugh sounds good!” The queen was looking at Princess Lara with admiration and she suddenly hugged her.
 
Upon seeing her mother—Prince Aiden can’t stop himself but sigh, even his father before they look at each other and shook their heads. He knows his mother and she will never leave the princess if no one will get her away from her. ‘Perks of being a queen—she can hug her and touch her every time she wants…’ He only watches his mother until there’s a thought coming across in his mind which made him smirk.
 
“Nice meeting you po…” Princess Lara smiled at the queen na ikina-tili naman nito.
 
Ngunit sa susunod na tanong ng reyna sila natigilan. “Do you already have a boyfriend? Kung wala, I have son! He’s single and you two look good together! I won’t let any other woman to be his lover other than you!” Hindi silang lahat makapaniwala sa sinabi ng reyna—lalo naman ang prinsesa.
 
Princess Lara unconsciously look at where the queen was sitting earlier at tila pinagsisihan niya ang kaniyang ginawa ng magtama ang mga mata nila ng isang prinsepe. The prince that looking at her intently and from the eyes that look at her right now, this was the one that she’d been feeling—‘An intense stare from the prince of fire…’
 
“Luh, ayos ka lang, Zaza?” Naputol lang ang titigan nila ng prinsepe ng marinig niya ang boses ng kaniyang Nana.
 
Queen Azalea pouted at her before looking at Princess Jade. “It’s just okay with you, right?” She asked while still pouting. Princess Jade chuckled at her before shrugging her shoulder. “I like her for my son!” The queen said before hugging the princess again and whispering in her ear. “I can feel my son has interest with you and you know what? This is the first time that he came interested in woman,” the queen look at the princess—na bahagyang naka-awang ang labi dahil sa kaniyang narinig—and winked at her.
 
“Hey, Zaza! Are you pregnant?” Tila natigilan naman ang lahat dahil sa naging tanong ni Lady Vivienne—lalo naman ang asawa ng reyna at ang anak nito.
 
“Oh… may kapatid na po ba si Aiden?” It was Prince Kaizer—the cousin of Prince Aiden and he was smirking at his cousin.
 
The queen faced everyone before saying, “No, I’m not! It’s just that, Princess Lara is too beautiful to resist!” The queen answered which made Lady Vivienne and Queen Cardelia chuckle.
 
“Hey, Lara, nice to see you again,” saad naman ni Queen Cardelia—Princess Clara’s mother habang nakangiti ito sa kaniya.
 
Inagaw naman ng reyna ang prinsesa sa kamay ng kaibigan at niyakap ito. “Hello, po, Tita Car-Car…” the princess said while smiling widely.
 
Her uncles—King Orion, and Lord Ington and her auntie—Tita Viv hug her too and greet her before they go back to their places until she heard her mother talked. “Anak, I want to introduce you to the kings and queens of this realm—together with the princes and princesses,” panimula ng unang prinsesa at nilahad ang unang hari at reyna na ipakikilala niya. “Queen Amara Williams and King Henrry Williams, the king and queen of Waltern Kingdom and their twin, Princess Arielle and Prince Azriel,” parang nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Princess Jade dahil nakita niyang nakangiti ito sa kaniyang anak. 
 
Bahagya namang yumuko si Princess Lara sa kanila at hindi niya maiwasang magtama ang mga mata nila ni Prince Azriel. He's smiling at her widely kaya nginitian niya rin ito pabalik and everyone saw it—especially Queen Azalea who pouted at her husband but the king only smiled at her and kissed her forehead.
 
“And this is Queen Gweneth Clifford and King Atticus Clifford, the king and queen of Aerwind Kingdom and their daughter, Princess Gwendolyn Elizabeth,” nakangiti din ang mga ito ng magtama ang mga mata nila kaya ngumiti din ang prinsesa pabalik sa kanila bago yumuko upang paggalang sa hari at reyna.
 
Gano’n lagi ang ginagawa niya sa tuwing pinakikilala siya ng kaniyang Mimi sa mga royalties. Kinakabahan talaga siya ng sobra dahil hindi basta-basta ang mga na sa harapan niya and this is her first time meeting a royalties!
 
“Queen Keeva Morrison and King Charley Morrison, the king and queen of the Blight Kingdom and their son, Prince Kaizer Charles,” her smile didn’t leave her lips. “Queen Marielle Johnson and King Jamison Johnson, the king and queen of Laeves Kingdom and that is Prince Jacob Miller, their son,” both Prince Kaizer and Prince Jacob wave their hands at her.
 
“Queen Cardelia Odette White and King Orion White, the king and queen of Wynyard Kingdom and Princess Clara Odette,” ngumiti naman siya ng malawak sa Tita Cardelia niya pati na kay Princess Clara na ikinagulat ng huli. “Princess Charlotte Jones and Prince Cameron Jones and their son, Prince Christopher Avis,” tango lang ang natanggap niya kay Chris kaya nginitian niya ito ng tipid.
 
“Prince Ington Taylor and Princess Vivienne Taylor, and your partner in crime, Princess Ingrid Genevieve,” kinindatan naman siya ng Tito Ington niya na ikinatawa niya ng mahina. Nakangiti naman ng malawak sa kaniya ang mag-ina. “And last, Queen Azalea Smith and Zaiden Axel Smith, the king, and queen of the Phyron Kingdom and their son, Prince Aiden Axel,” she stared at the last royal family but her eyes turned to the prince but suddenly, a memory crossed in her mind.
 
“Wait… that prince of fire! He’s the one who interrupted me in picking the fake tulips flower in the zoo before! Bakit ngayon ko lang siya namukhaan?!’
 
She noticed how this man looked at her in a way that he is the only one can say. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang klase ng tingin sa kaniya ng lalaki, basta ang alam niya lang ay malalim siyang tinititigan nito at nalulunod siya sa paraan ng pagtitig nito sa kaniya. Ngunit napaiwas siya ng tingin ng maalala niya ang ginawa niya no’ng huli nilang pagkikita.
 
‘I won’t do that again! Nakakahiya, self!’
 
Nabaling ulit ang tingin niya sa Mimi niya ng magsalita ulit ito. “And I want you to meet your auntie, and uncle with your cousins—your auntie, Queen Leilah Emerald and her husband, King Lorcan and their sons, Prince Logan Tourmaline, and Lucas Aquamarine,” wika nito at ngumiti naman ng bahagya si Princess Lara sa kanila.
 
“Nice to meet you po…” the princess said before looking at her auntie who looks exactly like her mother and her uncle who also looks exactly like her father.
 
“Welcome to our family, our granddaughter…”
 
***
 
Hope Lorelei Lara Sapphire Watson
 
Mimi and I slept in the palace and we had our first breakfast with them before heading to the academy. Nana and Gen went straight to the academy after Mimi introduced me to the royal family. I am still adjusting because all of these are new to me and my grandparents are so gentle to me while my auntie is a bit aloof to me while her husband?
 
Hmm… he approached me earlier—welcoming me to the family.
 
Ngunit saglit lamang ‘yon at umalis na siya kaagad and while my cousins? No, comment. Kaagad naman kaming umalis ng palasyo pagkatapos kumain. Magkaiba ang sasakyan namin sa mga pinsan ko at sinabi ni Mimi na intindihin ko na lamang sila. It’s not a problem with me if they won’t like me it’s just that… I really wanted to have a cousin…
 
When we reached the academy, I went straight to our room but all eyes were on me. I am used to it though because I am receiving those kinds of stares way back when I am still studying in the mortal realm but still, I don’t like the attention that I am getting from them. Buti na lang at narating ko na ang kwarto namin at bumungad sa akin si Gen na kumakain pa lang.
 
“Hindi ka ba papasok?” Tanong ko dito ng makalapit ako sa kaniya.
 
Nilunok niya muna ang kinakain niya bago ako sinagot. “Papasok ako, ‘no! Hindi lang ako kakain sa dining hall. Alam kong kumain ka na, eh,” wika niya bago ako niyayang kumain kahit kasasabi niya pa lang na kumain na ako.
 
“Where’s Merlia and Titiana?” I asked while looking around. Sumabay kasi sila kay Gen pauwi dito kagabi, eh.
 
“Room. Sleeping,” she answered before I nodded.
 
“Bihis lang ako,” saad ko at pumasok sa kwarto upang mag-bihis ng uniform.
 
Nakita ko naman sina Merlia at Titiana na natutulog sa kama kaya naisipan kong i-summon na sina Zephyr at Sarafina. But they sleep too beside Lia and Tati before I went to walk-in closet to change my dress into uniform. Naligo naman na ako kaya magbibihis na lang. Hindi pwedeng mag-absent ngayon dahil isang beses pa lang akong pumapasok.
 
Pagkalabas ko ay naligo na rin si Gen kaya lumabas muna ako ng kwarto at kumain ng strawberry. Pero natigilan ako ng maalala kung kanino galing ‘to. How to forget that memory?! Bumuntong-hininga na lamang ako bago iniling ang ulo. At least I have a lot of strawberries! Nakahihiya man but yeah, at least I have a lot of strawberries!
 
“Hmmm! Ang tamis, huh?” Kinain ko pa ang isa and I was satisfied again! “This is yummier than the other strawberries!” Pwera biro, mas masarap talaga ito sa ibang strawberry na natikman ko!
 
Bukod sa malaki ito, mapula, matamis, at masarap—parang may iba pa itong lasa na hindi ko mapangalanan. Pwede ba ‘yon? Whatever! Basta mas masarap ang strawberries ng prinsepe ng apoy na ‘yon—mas masarap ang strawberries na bigay niya kaysa sa una kong mga natikman.
 
Pero hindi talaga ako sure kung saan niya ba talaga ito ibibigay.
 
Huh! Hindi naman niya ako hinabol no’n para bawiin ang strawberries niya, eh! Basta sure akong sa akin ‘to! Pero malapit ko ng naubos… humingi kaya ako ulit sa kaniya? Pero nakakahiya! Hindi naman gano’n kakapal ang mukha ko, eh! Kung itanong ko na lang kaya sa kaniya kung saan niya binili ang mga ‘to? Hmmm…
 
Nakaramdam naman ako ng hampas sa braso at kasunod no’n ay ang boses ng epal kong kaibigan. “Hoy!” Bakit ko ba kaibigan ‘to? “Kumakain ka na naman niyan!” Sunod niyang wika kaya sinimangutan ko siya.
 
“Eh, ano?!” Masungit kong sagot sa kaniya na ikinatawa naman niya bago sinubukang kumuha ng isang presa ngunit mabilis kong ini-iwas ang kamay kong may hawak nito. “Bumili ka,” I said flatly before eating one.
 
“Damot mo talaga pagdating diyan! Hmp!” Saad niya at sumimangot pa ngunit dinilaan ko lang siya.
 
“Bumili ka!”
 
“Ikaw lang din naman uubos!”
 
“Ay, talaga!”
 
“Hmp!”
 
Maya-maya pa ay nagtawanan na lang kami bago ko siya inalukan. Kumuha naman siya ng isa at kinagat ang presa ngunit napatigil siya. “Huh? Ang sarap naman nito!” Wika ni Gen bago tinitigan ang hawak niyang presa.
 
“Syempre!” I proudly said before eating one again.
 
“Saan ‘to galing?” Natigilan naman ako sa tanong niya at ng tignan ko siya ay busy’ng busy siya sa kinakain niya.
 
Anong isasagot ko?!
 
“Ewan ko…” sagot ko bago sinubo ang buong strawberry.
 
Hindi ko naman kasi talaga alam kung saan niya ‘to kinuha, eh!
 
“Ang sarap, eh!” Wika niya kaya inalukan ko siya ulit ngunit umiling siya. “Ayaw ko na kahit gusto ko pa—” huh? “—mamaya may gayuma pa ‘yan!” Bigla naman akong nabulunan dahil sa sinabi kaya mabilis siyang kumuha ng tubig at inabot sa akin.
 
Ininom ko naman ito kaagad at hinihingal na napapikit. Walang hiya! “Hoy, ayos ka lang?” Tanong ni Gen habang hinihimas-himas ang likod ko.
 
Huminga naman ako ng malalim bago muling uminom. “Yeah…” sagot ko bago ulit kumain ng strawberry na parang walang nangyari.
 
“Ano bang nangyari sa ‘yo?!” Tanong niya ng may pagtataka kaya tinignan ko siya.
 
“Excited akong lumunok, eh!” Asik ko na ikina-ikot naman ng mata niya.
 
“Huwag kang masyadong PG-PG diyan! Ikamamatay mo talaga!” Saad niya na ikinanguso ko naman habang kumakain. “Tsaka, dahan-dahan nga sa paglamon ng presa! Mauubos mo na naman yang dala mo no’ng nakaraan, eh!” Saad niya na ikinatango ko na lang.
 
Kahit alam naman niyang hindi ako titigil kalalamon ng nito hanggat mayroon akong nakikita.
 
Napatingin naman ako sa wall clock at nakitang maaga pa ngunit paniguradong kumakain na sila sa dining hall. Maaga akong nagising kanina dahil sabi ni Mimi ay maaga kaming babalik dito. Nagpaalam naman ako sa kaniya na hindi kami kakain ni Gen sa dining hall at oo, sinama ko na siya dahil kilala ko na ang kaibigan ko.
 
“Lara, punta tayo sa Garden of Hope!” Biglang yaya niya naman sa akin kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya.
 
“Garden of Hope?” Tanong ko dito.
 
Umupo naman siya paharap sa akin habang nakangiti ito. “Yes! And you know what? Ang Garden of Hope ay may nakaka-interes na istorya,” panimula niya at halata sa mukha niya ang saya. “They said that we have this called myth goddess, the myth goddess of this realm,” tila nakuha naman no’n ang interes ko kaya nakinig ako ng mabuti sa kaniya. “Myth said that when deities created this academy—the most powerful institution of this realm—there’s a garden that our myth goddess’ favorite place. It was her favorite place here in academy—beautiful trees, flowers—beautiful and magical different plants will be seen there and a breathtaking scenery—a total paradise. It was the most beautiful place here in academy at ang mga iba’t ibang nilalang na nagmula talaga dito sa academy ay alagang-alaga ang garden na ‘yon.
 
“No one can step their feet in that garden other than our myth goddess and those individuals na gusto niyang patungtungin sa garden niya. It became more beautiful because of her—pinagaganda niya ang sarili niyang garden at kasama niya ang mga nilalang na galing sa academy na mag-alaga dito. Just like what I’ve said, it was the most beautiful place here in the academy but it’s not just that but it’s also a sacred place where only the myth goddess is allowed to enter there. Magical flowers are there but you know what the most beautiful among them?” Her eyes were sparkling while she looks like dreaming something.
 
Ano naman kaya ‘yon?
 
“It was the golden flower!” She said at hindi ko mapigilang mapataas ang kilay. Golden flower? “The golden flower that only you can make it glow…” she said at ang huling niyang sinabi ay tanging bulong lamang.
 
She also knows—Gen and Odette also know about that because way back when we’re still young, mayroon na lamang biglang lumitaw sa garden namin na isang golden flower and when I touched it, it glowed and Mimi saw me holding that golden flower and told the three of us about the legend of golden flower na mas pinalinaw naman ng mga guardians ko.
 
When Mimi learned that I am the summoner of all supreme guardians, mas lalo siyang naging protective sa akin and she told me that she has no plan on teaching me anything about magic because she wanted me to live a normal life—like a normal person. But when I accidentally summoned Aslan inside of our house, that’s when she learned that I am the summoner of all supreme guardians.
 
That’s when she started to train me—Mimi and Nana trained me together with my guardians. Palagi nila akong pinag-iingat at mas lumala ‘yon ng malaman ni Mimi na kaya kong pailawin ang golden flower and I tried the golden flower’s power before which is to heal and I did it. Arang also confirmed it to them kaya naman doble ang pagbabantay sa akin ni Mimi at Nana no’n at hanggang ngayon.
 
And with the help of that flower… I could revive my father…
 
Ngunit alam ni Mimi ang kakayahan ko ngunit ni minsan ay hindi niya sinabi o binanggit sa akin ang patungkol sa bagay na ‘yan and I also can see in her eyes that she don’t want me to revive my father. I just don’t know her reason but should I try… right?
 
“If the myth goddess only allowed to enter her garden, then bakit ka pa nagyayayang magtungo do’n?” Takang tanong ko sa kaniya.
 
“Hindi naman sa mismong garden niya tayo magtutungo. Sa garden na malapit sa Garden of Hope,” sagot niya. Sana nilinaw niya, ‘di ba?! “Pero alam mo ba, Lars? Sabi-sabi nila na wala na daw buhay ang Garden of Hope at halata mo naman mula sa labas nito na wala na talagang buhay ang garden na ‘yon—na wala na ang ganda nito,” nalungkot naman bigla si Gen kaya naman nahawa ako. I’m done eating strawberries kaya ang focus ko ay na sa kaniya na. “No one knows why and the earth fairies that came here in academy tried to revive the garden but nothing happened. No one knows kaya pinabayaan na lamang ito and they believe that only the myth goddess can revive her own garden. Ngunit kahit wala na ang ganda nito ay hindi pa rin pwedeng magtungo do’n. For the people of this academy, Garden of Hope was still the most beautiful and sacred place here in academy… and it will never change.”
 
***