Realm Series #1
Lumina Academy: Light and Shadow
She's holding the most powerful guardians--the summoner of supreme guardians. She's the person that they've been waiting for--for she is the summoner of all-powerful guardians who will help the immort...
Days passed at bukas na ang rankings kaya maingay ngayon dito sa academy. Parang festival din daw dito kapag malapit na ang rankings kaya ang buong paligid ay makulay but this year was more alive than last year since other realms will visit our academy and everyone are being ready and excited. Even the central is alive and ready because for sure, students from the other realms will go down and visit the central.
Usually, sa tuwing gabi ay tahimik na ang academy but now, everyone is awake and the academy was open, so, every student can go outside freely but they still have to list their names, so, that the academy can monitor them—whether they already back or still outside of the academy’s premises. But even the academy was open until the ranking ends, students still know their priorities and that’s to train before the ranking starts.
If you really want to improve, then train harder. The academy haven’t announced what would be the ranking’s rules or whatsoever. Everyone are still waiting for the announcement and we all can’t help but feel anxious. Iniisip ko naman na baka ia-anunsyo nila oras na nandito na ang ibang taga-realm kaya medyo matatagalan pa and all we have to do is to get ready.
“Labas muna tayo, Lars!” Napatingin naman ako kay Gen ng magyaya siya—ulit. “Ano namang gagawin natin sa labas?” Takang tanong ko bago muling bumalik sa ginagawa.
I’m putting a lot of plastic containers of strawberries in our ref dahil mayroon na namang nagpa-deliver. Ilang araw na ‘tong nangyayari—after we went to Dark forest to rescue the sorceress that Mimi and Nana’s friend. Hapon ‘yon nagsimula ng mayroong nag-deliver ng strawberries sa dorm namin at ng tanungin ko naman kung kanino galing ay sinabi naman ng fairy na hindi daw niya alam.
I was curious ngunit hindi ko naman siya mapipilit kung hindi niya talaga alam. I just told the fairy to tell my thank you to whoever that person is and the fairy said he will try. Halos araw-arawin ng kung sino man ang magpa-deliver ng strawberries sa dorm namin ni Gen at halos ito na nga lang ang laman ng ref namin.
Hindi naman ako nagsasawang kumain ng strawberries at kapag ito ang pinag-uusapan ay tila hindi ako nabubusog. Lalo na at masarap ang strawberries na idineliver—dini-deliver dito sa dorm namin. When it comes to strawberries, I can’t get enough of it. Halos ito na nga lang ang kainin ko buong magdamag kung hindi lang ako sinisita ni Gen.
I’m addicted to it!
“Papasyal tayo! Ipapasyal kita dahil simula no’ng dumating ka dito ay hindi ka pa nakapapasyal sa labas,” rinig kong sagot niya.
Humarap naman ako sa kaniya pagkatapos ko sa ginagawa habang mayroon akong hawak na isang pirasong strawberry. “Sige, pero kailangan muna nating dumaan sa palasyo. Our grandparents are asking for our presence pala,” saad ko na ikinatango niya naman and she looks excited.
Both Odette and Genevieve are my cousins and I am happy that they are not just my cousins but also my best friends. However, we haven’t talked about our problem yet and I wanted to fix it as soon as possible. I already miss Odette—I already miss the three of us hanging out and doing silly things.
Genevieve became my cousin since her grandmother and grandma Diamond are sisters while Clara’s mother and my father are siblings and I just learned about that when I met Tita Cardelia again way back in Luminaria palace.
“Anyway, mom and dad will going to fetch me later and I will come back here tomorrow morning,” she stated while pouting.
I see, tanging ako, si Lia, Tati, at ang magkapatid lang ang makakasama ko mamayang gabi. “Then you should take a shower now while I will change my clothes,” I said and she nodded excitedly before running towards the bathroom.
Kaliligo ko pa lang kaya magbibihis na lamang ako. I went to our walk-in closet and chose what to wear. I am into soft colors—especially, color pink which is my favorite color. Hindi naman din ako masyadong mapili ng iso-suot as long as it’s not too revealing and I won’t wear such clothes since I’m not yet eighteen. Also, it depends on my mood what kind of clothes I will wear but right now, I wanted to look girly.
I chose to wear the white flower top na ang sleeve ay hanggang sa siko ko and a pink cute skirt. I tucked-in my top and curl the end of my hair. Mahilig din ako sa mga hairclips kaya naman kumuha ako ng dalawang hairclips na design ay pearls na bagay sa suot ko ngayon. Left side ang hati ng mahaba kong buhok at nilagay ko ang hairclips sa kaliwang bahagi—tulad ng ayos ng buhok ko no’ng pinakilala ako sa palasyo ng Luminaria.
I didn’t put anything on my face since my lips are naturally red and I have a rosy cheeks. My long eye lashes are naturally curl at maayos naman din ang kilay ko. Inayos ko na lamang ang buhok ko ulit bago ko napag-pasyahang pilian ng damit si Gen. I chose the pink top with collar and the sleeves are see through and a high waist white short na ruffled sa ibaba. Gen is addicted to bags kaya pinilian ko na lang din siya nito.
We will wear white sneakers but hers is high cut and since Gen is also addicted to ribbons, I took the white ribbon—panali ng buhok dahil mahilig din siyang magtali ng buhok. When her outfits that chosen by me are ready, lumabas na ako at sakto naman din ang pagkalabas niya. Tati and Lia were busy with their own businesses just here inside of our room while the siblings are sleeping.
“Wow, naman! Mas lalong dadami ang titingin sa ‘yo niyan!” Saad niya kaya napa-iling na lamang ako.
“I already chose your outfit. It was on the center table,” I informed her and she thanked me before going to the walk-in closet.
Sinuot ko naman ang sapatos ko bago lumapit sa akin ang dalawa—Lia and Tati. “Are you going to visit the palace first?” Tati asked while looking at me while Lia was just flying in front of me.
“Hmmm… baka gumala muna kami ni Gen pero hindi ko lang alam. Dadaan muna kami kay Mimi,” I said and she nodded before I heard Lia talked.
“I am already expecting that your grandparents won’t let you go back here immediately. Baka do’n ka na patulugin at bukas na pabalikin,” aniya kaya naman napatingin ako sa kaniya bago tinapos ang ginagawa.
“Hmm… I agree,” tanging wika ko bago ako tinawag ni Gen.
Sumunod naman sa akin ang dalawa at nakitang tapos ng magbihis si Gen at mag-aayos na lamang siya. She wanted me to bun her hair ngunit inagaw ‘yon ni Lia at Tati kaya wala na akong ibang nagawa pa kung ‘di ang hintayin silang matapos. Nagtungo ako ref at kumuha ng strawberry—wala namang bago—at kumain muna habang hinihintay sila.
Hindi ako magdadala ng bag dahil ang ID ko lang naman ang bibitbitin ko. Wala naman kasi akong cell phone—nasira no’ng niligtas ko ang prinsepe ng apoy kaya baka mamaya ay bibili ako. Wala naman daw pinagkaiba sa mortal realm at sa magic realm pagdating sa mga gano’ng bagay. Nadagdagan lang ng magic ang sa amin, ‘yon lang. I also tried once the food here ngunit naninibago pa ako sa ibang pagkain nila dito ngunit mayroon na akong mga nagustuhan.
Maya-maya rin ay tapos na si Gen kaya tinapos ko na rin ang pagkain ko. Dala ni Gen ang magical pouch niya kaya nilagay ko do’n ang isang plastic container na may lamang mga strawberries bago nagpaalam kina Lia, Tati, at sa magkapatid. Tutungo muna kami kay Mimi upang magpaalam at alam naman na niyang bibisitahin namin sina grandma at grandpa dahil siya rin naman ang nagsabi sa akin.
I can see students that going out too and they are being hyper today. Ang gaganda ng mga bihis nila at lahat sila ay patungo sa central kagaya namin ngunit may iba ring mas piniling mag-ensayo at manatili sa academy kaysa gumala. Habang naglalakad kami ay napatitingin sila sa direksyon namin ngunit hindi namin sila pinansin ni Gen dahil nagda-daldalan din kami.
“Ano ba ang dahil kung bakit ka susunduin ng parents mo?” Tanong ko dito.
“Royalty thing, Lars. Pinagpaalam na rin ako nina mommy kay Tita Raine,” sagot niya na ikina-tango ko naman.
“Kung gano’n, wala rin ang Alphas dito ngayon?” Tanong kong muli at nakita ko siyang tumango.
“Yeah… and I think, ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit ka pinatatawag sa palasyo niyo,” aniya na ikina-isip ko naman.
“Ano naman ba ang ginagawa do’n?” Hindi ko mapigilang kabahan ng slight dahil sa sinabi niya. Kung ‘yon nga ang dahilan kung bakit ako pinatatawag ng grandparents namin ay hindi ko mapigilang mag-panic.
Ano namang alam ko sa royal-royal na ‘yan?! “Fine dinning yata ‘yon. Basta mag-dinner ka kasama ng isang royal family din and have some conversation,” she answered and I got more curious.
“Para saan naman ang bagay na ‘yon? Hindi ba’t close naman ang mga royalties?” Nag-aral naman ako ng etiquette pero hindi ko pa rin naman maiwasang kabahan dahil mga totoong royalties na ang makahaharap ko!
“Yes, they are close pero parang tradition na nila ‘yon—natin para na rin ipakilala ang kanilang mga anak—close man sila o hindi. Mas mainam pa nga sa kanila kung close na ang mga anak nila, eh, lalo na kung babae at lalaki,” sagot niyang muli at mas lalo akong na-curious.
“Why?”
She smirked at me first before answering, “They have that kind of tradition—if that’s really the royalties’ tradition—for them not just to strengthen their friendship and to make their children turn into close friends but also…” we stopped from walking and we faced each other. “… to look for their children’s partner,” she continued before she chuckle.
“Ano?!” Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan at parang ayaw mag-sink-in sa utak ko ang paliwanag niya.
“Tss,” we continued walking as she continued explaining too. “Sabi ni mommy, dahil daw sa tradition na ‘yon ay do’n sila nagka-develop-an ni daddy. It was like, their parents tried to be a matchmaker—they became a matchmaker. Kung hindi daw dahil sa dinner na ‘yon ay hindi pa sila mag-uusap ni daddy, kaya sa madaling salita, kung lalaki ang anak ng royal family na ka-dinner niyo ay ibig sabihin lang no’n ay pasimple nilang tinitingnan kung bagay ba kayo o hindi—kung magpapatuloy ba kayong mag-uusap o hindi pagkatapos ng dinner at higit sa lahat, kung magkakatuluyan ba kayo o hindi,” paliwanag niya. “If they noticed that you two are becoming close to each other, kayo at ang pamilya mo at siya at ang pamilya niya na lang ang magpapatuloy sa pagdi-dinner hanggang sa magka-develop-an kayo—hanggang sa magkaroon kayo ng feelings sa isa’t isa, tapos ay magiging kayo hanggang sa ikasal na kayong dalawa at magkaka-anak and live happily ever after!” Mahaba niyang paliwanag at unti-unti namang pumapasok sa isipan ko ‘yon.
“Parang hinanapan lang nila ng magiging asawa ang mga anak nila, gano’n?” Tanong kong muli na ikina-tango naman niya.
“Yes! But sometimes, nobles—the position next to royalties are requesting whoever the royal family they want to request to have dinner with them but it depends on the royal family that were requested if they will accept the invitation or not. Kaya minsan, kapag bigla-bigla ka na lamang pinatawag sa palasyo niyo ay ibig sabihin lamang no’n ay mayroong gustong makilala ka o maging asawa ka ng anak nila o ‘di kaya ay kaibigan. Malalaman mo naman kung nobles ang nag-request, eh, dahil hindi biglaan kapag royalties—they have specific dates while nobles have none,” paliwanag niyang muli kaya napa-isip na naman ako
“So… isa sa mga royal family ang maaari kong makaharap kung sakali mang ‘yon talaga ang dahilan kung bakit ako pinatawag at ikaw din…?” Pagkukumpirma ko na ikinatango-tango niya.
“Nakuha mo!”
Napatango-tango naman ako ng maintindihan ko. Ngunit kung ‘yon nga ang dahilan… sinong pamilya naman ang makahaharap ko? Hindi ko naman mapigilang mapabuntong-hininga at nagsabay pa kami ni Gen na tila pareho ng iniisip. Tahimik na kaming naglalakad hanggang sa makarating na kami sa office ni Mimi.
I knocked first before the door opened itself at ako na ang naunang pumasok. Unang bumungad sa amin ang sofa set before I look around. Floral ang design ng walls ng office ni Mimi at white ceiling. There’s chandelier too and on my right side is a bookshelves na mayroong katabing malaking bintana while on my left side, there are a lot of picture frames hanging on the wall at mayroon pang white table do’n na mayroon ding mga nakapatong na picture frames.
Carpeted ang floor at ng tumingin naman ako sa harapan ay nakita ko ang table ni Mimi and there she is, sitting on her swivel chair. Napatingin naman ako sa likod niya na kung na saan ang veranda at nakalihis ang puting kurtina kaya pumapasok ang liwanag na nagmumula sa araw. Her veranda’s door was glass—ang na sa likod niya ay buong glass kaya kita ang labas mula dito at minsan na akong tumambay sa veranda niya.
“Hi, Mi.”
“Hi, Tita Raine.”
Sabay naming bati ni Gen kay Mimi at ngumiti sa kaniya. Mimi smiled at us too before she stood up. “Come and sit first,” she said and went to sit on the single chair kaya umupo naman kami ni Gen sa mahabang sofa na kaharap niya. “Are you now going?” Sabay kaming tumango ni Gen bilang sagot kay Mimi.
“Opo.”
“I see. But I advise you to go to the central first before heading to the palace before six PM. Sa palasyo mo na lang din hintayin ang sundo mo, Ingrid,” saad ni Mimi bago siya tumingin sa akin. “And you, sweetie, will have fine dining too just like Ingrid, however, I can not company you because of the event here tomorrow. I have to help your headmaster and other staff for tomorrow’s event,” she stated and look at me apologetically.
I smiled at her—assuring her that it’s okay. “I understand, Mimi. But, why do I have to attend fine dining?” Tanong ko and pouted a bit.
Bahagya namang natawa si Mimi bago tumingin kay Gen. “I bet you already told her, yeah?” Gen nodded at her before Mimi look at me again. “Don’t worry, ‘nak. Everything is going to be alright, so, you don’t have to worry about anything. All you have to do is to have dinner with them,” she told me but I am now nervous.
It wasn’t the answer that I am expecting. Hmp!
“Sino po kasama ko?” Kung hindi siya ang kasama ko, sino? Pakiramdam ko kasi ay hindi rin ako masasamahan nina grandma at grandpa… tapos parang imposible pa kung ang hari at reyna pa mismo dahil may mga anak din sila.
Napansin ko namang natigilan si Mimi bago siya nakasagot. “I’m not sure, sweetie. Your grandparents didn’t tell me…” she answered before she smiled at me a bit. I just nodded at her before she spoke again. “You will going to sleep there too at bukas ka na ulit babalik dito—so are you, Ingrid,” ngumiti si Mimi bago siya tumayo. “I guess, you have to go now para madami kayong mapuntahan. Just be careful, enjoy, and good luck for tomorrow…”
We thanked Mimi before saying good bye to her again. After that, we left her office and went outside the academy. There are students who are summoning their air guardians para makatipid ng pamasahe while the others choose to commute—so are we. Mayroong mga busses ang nandito pero walang mga gulong but they are flying. Automatic din ang pinto na mafo-fold pataas.
Kaiiba rin ang hugis nito—hugis ng tren na hindi kita ang loob. Walang bintana at tanging sa unahan lang mayroon but Gen told me na makikita pa rin namin ang labas kapag na sa loob na kami—in short, may bintana ngunit hindi lang kita sa labas. Naghintay naman kami hanggang sa mayroong humintong bus sa harapan namin kaya kaagad kaming pumasok.
Mayroong tatlong baitang ng hagdan at sa kanang bahagi naman makikita ang isang bagay na kung saan mo isa-swipe ang ID mo para sa pamasahe. Gen gave me my ID bago kami naghanap ng mauupuan. The bus interior is similar with an ordinary bus—no, magkaparehas lang talaga at tanging lang labas lang ang pinagka-iba. May compartment sa itaas, ilang pares ng upuan, at mga bintana.
Napili namin ni Gen ang malapit sa pinaka-dulo na ang likod namin ay ang madami ng upuan. Nang nakaupo ako na katabi ay bintana ay napansin ko ang harapan—ang likod ng upuan na mayroong screen—it was like a gadget—like an iPod and when I look around, I saw the other students na sakay din ng bus na ginagamit ito.
“Gen, what’s the use of this?” I pointed the screen in front of me.
She looks at the screen that I am pointing to before answering. “It is similar to a tablet or an iPod. You can search there the places here in central that you can visit, can buy, look for accommodation, restaurants or any activities that available here in central. But if you already know those, you can play games, listen to music, or watch movies,” she explained and I can’t help but feel amazed.
“That’s cool,” I only said before touching the screen and looking for the best places here in central.
“I know right!”
Gen was also helping me to look for places or whatever comes to our mind until the bus stop in one of the bus stop pero sa pangalawa pa daw kami bababa. It took us thirty minutes to reach our destination and the first thing we do was to eat and after that, we rest first before heading to the mall for me to buy a cellphone and since Gen and I only have a short time para maggala, ay hindi na namin sinayang pa ang mga oras namin.
Gen and I went to arcade before we decided to go to the beach. Madaming din ang mga nandito at mga nagsi-swimming pero may part dito na walang mga nagtatampisaw sa dagat kaya do’n kami nagtungo. We took a lot of pictures before playing on the shore and collecting a lot of seashells. Tumambay pa kami ng kaunti do’n until it’s already five o’clock that’s why we decided to go on the palace now.
***
Left was Ingrid’s outfit while right was Lara’s
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