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

Chapter 37: Warm Welcome

Chapter 37: Warm Welcome
 
Naglalaro ngayon si Caelum at wala akong balak lumabas dahil bukod sa na sa pinakataas ang kwarto ko ay tinatamad din ako. I was eating strawberries at namomoblema ako kung saan ko ilalagay ang mga strawberries na madami-dami pa rin. May bago pa ngang delivery kaya nadagdagan na naman. Kahit malakas akong kumain ng strawberry, kung masipag naman magpa-deliver ng strawberry kung sino man ‘yon, talagang hindi ko mauubos ang mga ‘to.
 
Should I buy a mini-refrigerator? 
 
Si Gen naman ay hindi ko alam kung na saan na dahil simula ng ihatid kami sa kaniya-kaniya naming kwarto ay hindi ko na siya nakita pa. Our things are already here the moment when Gwen left me here in our room. Nandito na rin sina Lia, Tati, Fina, at Zep na kaagad namang inayos ang mga gamit namin. I already transferred Caelum in his crib and he’s still sleeping until now.
 
“I suggest, you buy a mini-refrigerator for your strawberries,” I heard Lia say while looking at my strawberries that still look fresh.
 
Hindi naman talaga mabilis mabulok ang mga prutas dito ngunit tila kaiiba ang mga strawberries ko—especially, the strawberries that Ate Tale gave me na kaagad kong naubos. There is something in her strawberries that I love but sadly, naubos ko na. Pero masarap din naman ang strawberry na idini-deliver sa akin—nagpaliligsahan ang strawberry ni Ate Tale at ang strawberry na idine-deliver sa akin but if I will choose between the two, I rather choose nothing. Both are delicious and I love strawberries!
 
“Yeah… I think I should.”
 
Kinuha ko naman ang phone ko at hinanap ang online shopping app na pina-download pa sa akin ni Gen. I search for mini refrigerator and also ordered five pieces of magical pouches para magkasya ang kahit anong ilagay ko sa mini refrigerator na in-order ko na rin. It said that it will be delivered tomorrow morning and I also called Services Office to inform them about my order and they will be the one who will handle about it.
 
Services Office was a handful job since hindi lang naman ang about sa mga in-order ng mga estudyante ang mga inaasikaso nila kung ‘di marami pang iba. Then I just heard earlier that the Occupation Building changed their name into Commission Office. Sa tingin ko nga ay kaiilanganin ko ng kumuha ng trabaho and I will surely do that one of these days. I have to work now since I already have Caelum and day by day, mas lalo siyang lumalakas maggatas.
 
Kagigising ko lang and when I woke up, it’s already dark outside. It’s already dinner time and I know that they are preparing for our dinner and I wanted to help but I am too lazy to go down. Kung bakit naman kasi na sa mataas ang kwarto ko! I can’t even use my teleportation at ayaw ko namang maparusahan ‘no! All I have to do right now is to endure it. Siguro naman hindi na gano’n kataas ang magiging kwarto ko sa manor ng Alphas, at saka, mayroon ng elevator kaya less hassle.
 
Minutes later, I received a message from Gen that telling me to go downstairs because dinner is almost ready. Wala naman na akong nagawa kung ‘di ang tumayo. I look at myself in the mirror—a simple jogging pants and a white oversized T-shirt. I tied my messy hair before looking at myself again. Lihim naman akong napatango-tango bago pinuntahan si Caelum sa kaniyang crib na tulog na tulog pa rin. I kissed him in his forehead before looking at the baby sitters of my baby.
 
“I’m going downstairs,” I said and they only nod at me.
 
Pagkalabas ko naman ng silid ko at tumapat sa hagdan ay napasimangot na lamang ako. ‘Wag pairalin ang katamaran, please lang! Nakanguso akong bumaba ng hagdan habang pinakikiramdaman ang buong dorm and I just figured out that they are already downstairs. Binilisan ko na lamang bumaba at inubos na ang kinakain kong strawberry. Makaka-kain pa rin naman ako ng dinner kahit ang dami ko ng kinain na presa.
 
“Oh, Lara’s here!”
 
Napatigil naman ako sa paglalakad patungo sa kusina ng marinig ko ang boses ni Arielle at ng lumingon ako sa kaniya ay sakto namang hinila niya ako patungo sa kusina. Odette said that Arielle was the eldest among the ladies—the princesses but she doesn’t want to be called ate that’s why they are not calling her like that. All princesses, except me and Gen, are already sophomore. Odette and Gwen are just the same age like us—I mean, I am turning eighteen this year—but they are advance—thanks to their power.
 
“Lara, come on! Dinner is ready!” She is excited—I could see that through her face and I can’t help but giggle silently. Nakapasok kami sa dining room and I found them inside. Naghahanda na sila ng pagkain and there are a lot of food—heck! A lot of seafood! “We learned from Clara that both of you and Ingrid love seafood that’s why we have a seafood party right now!” Rielle said and I think, I just felt a hand caress my heart. “It came from our kingdom and fresh from the sea!” She added and she’s beaming even more.
 
“DINNER TIME!”
 
Nakalapit kami sa kanila at sakto namang tapos na silang maghanda at inagaw naman ako ni Odette kay Arielle at pinaupo malapit sa pinaka-ulo ng lamesa. She sat beside me at nagulat ako dahil may lalaking umupo sa kaliwa ko—the head of the table at ng tignan ko ito ay si Aiden pala ‘yon. I am facing Kaizer, next to him was Jacob, Lucas, then Christopher, and Azriel. Aiden was facing Kuya Logan. While beside me was Odette, Arielle, Gen, and Gwen.
 
“This is our dinner to celebrate and give a warm welcome to the new members of Alphas, Ingrid, and Lara!” Saad ni Jacob habang nakatayo at may hawak na baso ng orange juice.
 
Naghiyawan naman ang mga maiingay bago nila sabay-sabay na banggitin ang salitang, “CHEERS!” Kinuha naman nila ang mga baso nila kaya gano’n din ang ginawa ko bago ito inangat. Then we started to eat—I am happily eating because, duh! It was my favorite!
 
***
 
Tapos na kaming kumain at hinihintay na lang ang mga lalaki sa sala dahil i-interview-hin daw nila kami. Na sa pinakadulo ako ng sofa at katabi ko lang si Gen dito. Sa kabilang sofa naman ay sina Rielle, Gwen at Oddie na kaharap namin. The princes are the ones who do the dishes while the princesses are only sitting pretty until they arrived and sat on the carpeted floor.
 
“Let’s start!”
 
Umayos naman kami ng upo ni Gen habang nakaharap sa kanila. Gwen, Rielle, and Odette are sitting on the long sofa while, Kaizer, Christopher, and Azriel sat on the carpeted floor. Kuya Logan was sitting on the single chair near Gen and beside him was Lucas that sitting on the armchair and lastly, the prince of fire who was sitting on the single chair near me.
 
“Hmm… ano ba ang itatanong natin sa kanila?” Rielle was thinking until her face brightened up. “Oh! This question is for Ingrid!” She said while smiling brightly. “I am always wondering what’s your guardians and abilities are since I already know your elements—water and ice,” looks like it wasn’t just Rielle who was wondering because I could see from Gwen, Kaizer, Jacob, Azriel, and Chris that they are also waiting for Gen’s answer.
 
“My guardians are eagle and calygreyhound, while my abilities are super strength and enhanced hearing,” she answered and I could see amusement in their eyes.
 
“Calygreyhound?!” Gwen exclaimed. “That’s one of the second-ranking guardians!” She added while still feeling shocked.
 
Second ranking guardians—next to supreme guardians, my guardians.
 
Kung na sa akin ang lahat ng supreme guardians, na sa kanila naman ang mga second ranking guardians and yes, Aiden has two second ranking guardians. The guardians will be the one who will choose their summoner and he was chosen by two second ranking guardians. Mayroon ding mga anak ang mga guardians ngunit depende kung pipiliin din nila ang anak ng summoner ng magulang nila.
 
“Cool!”
 
“So, you two are both freshmen?” Jacob asked and Gen and I both nodded. “But you, Ingrid, was advanced too, right?” Gen nodded again before she explained to them.
 
“Oo—I mean, not that advance like others,” she was talking about Lucas, Christopher, Gwen, and Clara that are all sophomores now even when in the first place, they should be freshmen like us. “I have advanced classes last year even I am not yet in the secondary level. They offered me to take classes like yours but I declined—just like how I decline to be part of Alphas,” she explained, and just like earlier, I heard gasped from them.
 
“The hell! It means, Alphas ka dapat kahit no’ng simula pa lang?!” Rielle was shocked—they are looking at Gen unbelievably because of what they heard from her.
 
“Uhm… yes. Hehe…” napakamot pa sa ulo si Gen bago ngumiti ng alanganin sa kanila. “Dapat sasabay ako sa inyo—for me to be advanced too but I know that Lara will transfer here someday that’s why I chose to wait for her. I also declined—I mean, I asked the headmaster to put me in Betas since I know that being one of the Alphas was a handful one. Mahina pa ako ng mga panahon na ‘yon, I mean, I still am, and since you are always giving a lot of missions, I was hesitant that’s why I asked the headmaster to put me in Betas. I just don’t want to be a burden to you, that’s why…” Gen explained and I can feel her embarrassment but she doesn’t have to feel that way…
 
“Ingrid… you don’t have to feel embarrassed. At saka, who told you that you are weak until now?” Gwen smiled at her while the others nodded while there’s smiles on their faces—making Gen feel better.
 
“No one shouldn’t feel ashamed just because they are weak… we have different cases—some are already powerful, some are still on their way to that level, and some are still looking for their courage. Therefore, you shouldn’t feel ashamed that you are weak because all of us are one. It’s just a matter of time and on how you believe in yourself,” hindi ko naman mapigilang mapangiti dahil sa narinig mula kay Christopher and I just silently chuckle when I saw how the prince look at my best friend.
 
“Thank you…” I look at Gen and saw her red cheeks and I just wanted to laugh but I stop myself.
 
Self-control…
 
“Wow, pre! Saan galing ang mga salitang ‘yon?!” Kaizer was looking at Christopher unbelievably while the others just chuckled. Christopher only roll his eyes on him before looking at Gen again na malikot ang mga mata ngayon.
 
“I agree with Chris though…” saad naman ni Azriel. “We have different cases. Mayroon ngang malakas kaagad ngunit iilan lamang sila—usually, I believe that those persons are the deities, the sacred one, and those chosen. The rest, we experienced the weak phase of our lives before we became stronger. Madami muna tayong pagdadaanan bago lumakas, ang iba, masasabi mong mabilis ang prosesa ngunit ang iba naman ay hindi and that’s what makes us different,” he added and I chuckled when they gave him around of applause. Azriel only shook his head before looking at me, “How about you, Lars, why you are in Betas when in the first place, you are the summoner of the electric cats?” He asked.
 
“Oo nga naman! I have been thinking about that too! The academy knows who’s who—I mean, alam na alam niya kung saang section ka ilalagay and knowing that you are the summoner, why you are in Betas?” Curiosity was all over Kaizer’s face and they are all waiting for my answer.
 
Hindi ko naman mapigilang tingnan si Gen and she thumbs up at me when our eyes met. I took a deep breath before deciding to answer them, “I, ahm…” I cleared my throat before remembering how I became Betas. “I asked headmistress too to put me in Betas—” if Gen’s reason was valid… malayong-malayo naman ang sa akin. “—because I was trying to be unseen—and yes, I was also supposed to be part of Alphas in the first place too but since I was trying so hard to be invisible, I refused. I actually want to be either one of the Deltas or Gammas but I found out that Gen was one of the Betas that time, so, yeah…” I explained and they are already looking at me in disbelief.
 
Sinira nga lang ni Zep ang plano kong maging invisible…
 
“Seriously?”
 
Ngumiti na lamang ako sa kanila ng alanganin bago ngumuso hanggang sa narinig ko ang boses ni Azriel. “Tsk! Pwede ba? Just accept my Lara’s explanation!” Pagtatanggol niya sa akin at akmang ngingiti na sana ako sa kaniya ng makarinig na naman kami ng isang napakalakas na kidlat.
 
“AIDEN!”
 
I looked at him and saw him leaning his back on the sofa while his eyes are closed but I noticed how he frowned at kahit na nakapikit siya ay kitang-kita sa mukha nito na naiinis siya. Bakit ang gwapo niya…? Napaiwas na lang ako ng tingin ng bigla siyang nagmulat ng mga mata and he almost caught me looking at him! Shameless lady! At talagang I find him gwapo, huh? Eh, ang gwapo niya naman talaga! Mas gwapo pa nga yata siya sa mga lalaking deities, eh! Napailing na lamang ako bago bumuntong-hininga.
 
My eyes turned to Gwen and heard her clicking her tongue while shaking her head. “Naku, naku!” She was looking at me and Gen before darting her eyes to Kuya Logan that was just silently listening to us. “Kapag naging headmaster ka, Kuya Logan, ‘wag kang papayag sa gano’ng paraan, ha? Kahit ano pang dahilan ‘yan!” Sumimangot pa talaga siya. “Nagsa-suggest lang ako but half demanding!” Dagdag pa niya na ikinailing na lamang namin.
 
Prince Logan Tourmaline—the prince who wasn’t the next king of Luminaria kingdom because he will be the one who will be the next leader of the academy. Kailan lang ng lumabas ang tanda na siya ang napili ng mga deities na susunod na mamumuno ng akademya—next to my mother and he will take over the throne once the time comes—once the sign from my mother disappeared. Tanging ang pamilya lamang namin ang mayroong kapangyarihang mamuno ng akademya—tanging sa amin lang mamimili ang mga deities kung sino ang susunod na mamumuno.
 
When Mimi told me that, I thought that it was Kuya Logan who will be the next king, but it turned out that he wasn’t. He is the future headmaster and I think, Lucas will be the crown prince. Buti na lang may mga pinsan ako… Kuya Logan was in the final level of secondary level and it’s up to him if he will take tertiary level—the remaining two years. Wala namang magiging problema kung hindi niya ite-take ‘yon—wala namang magiging problema kung hindi namin ite-take ‘yon. It wasn’t that necessary but it will still help you to become stronger and have a high rank someday that’s why there are a lot of students who want to take those remaining two years.
 
“Ito namang prinsepe na ‘to, hindi na nadala ng paiyakin niya yung anak niya!” Inis na wika ni Kaizer na ikina-init naman ng pisngi ko.
 
“Hala, oo nga! Baka magising si Caelum!” Saad naman ni Gwen kaya napatingin naman sila sa akin ng mayroong pag-aalala. Even the prince of fire was looking at me in panic—na ako lang yata ang nakapansin—at tila na-realized niya ang kaniyang ginawa.
 
“Don’t worry about him. May nagbabantay sa kaniya,” sagot ko bago sila nginitian. Napatango-tango naman sila at tila nakahinga ng maluwag—lalo na ang prinsepe ng apoy na halata ring pinagsisihan ang kaniyang ginawa.
 
“Bro, payong kaibigan lang ha…” I heard Jacob said at lahat kami ay napatingin sa kaniya at nakitang nakatingin siya ay Aiden na nakataas ang kilay ngayon. “Stop scaring your son dahil mahirap magpatahan ng bata! Maawa ka naman sa asawa mo!” He bluntly said at tila nasamid naman ako ng sarili kong laway.
 
“The hell, man!” Sari-sarili silang kumento habang ako naman ay hindi alam ang sasabihin—kung may dapat ba akong sabihin.
 
“Oh, bakit? Totoo naman, ah! May mga maliliit pa akong kapatid at alam ko kung gaano kahirap mag-alaga, ‘no!” Katwiran naman ng prinsepe na ikina-iling ko na lamang ngunit sinang-ayunan ko ng palihim.
 
Totoo naman… kaya salamat kina Lia at Tati…
 
“I heard from my twin that you were the reason why he was freed—you, Ms. Ford, and headmistress was the one who saved him…” natahimik naman kaming lahat dahil sa sinabi ni Rielle at pabalik-balik na ngayon ang tingin nila sa amin ni Azriel. Halo-halo ang kanilang reaksyon—mayroong mga nagulat sa rebelasyon, at ang iba naman ay mga nagtatanong.
 
I thought, Azriel already told them what happened—why he was freed but I guess, I don’t have a choice but feed their curiosity. Lahat sila ay nakatingin sa akin at naghihintay ng sagot kaya huminga ako ng malalim at umayos ng upo. I looked at Azriel first before he nodded his head and smiled at me. I looked at them again and they are really waiting for my answer at tila gusto ko na lamang irapan si Azriel dahil ipinasa niya pa sa akin ang responsibilidad na ‘to.
 
Napapikit naman ako ng mariin and decided to show them what happened instead of only telling the story. Sa pagmulat ng mga mata ko ay biglang naging itim ang paligid at maya-maya pa ay na sa ibang lugar na kami. The place where I met him. Dahil sa nangyari ay bigla naman silang napatayo sa gulat and since they realized that we are at the Dark Valley, they readied themselves and almost summoned their weapons.
 
“WHAT THE HELL?!”
 
They are agitated while some of us are not but I still decided to explain what’s happening now. “Relax. We are in a trance. I wanted to show you what exactly happened,” I said and they all look at me—bewildered, and when I said all of them, that’s includes the prince of fire and the Watson brothers.
 
“Who are you really…?” Jacob asked me suspiciously but I know that he was joking.
 
I only shrugged and said, “I am Lara,” pagsakay ko na ikina-iling na lamang sila. The setting changed—the library to our house in the mortal realm and I saw myself facing Nana and Mimi until I heard their voices.
 
“We have to help someone…” it was Mimi while Nana nodded.
 
“Who?”
 
“A prince that has been caged in the dungeon for how many months now. Someone just informed me and I am determined to help the prince,” Mimi said again—explaining to me who was curious that time.
 
Tahimik lamang silang nanonuod until the setting has changed again. Napunta naman kami kung saan nakakulong si Azriel—sa dungeon ng palasyo ng mga rebelyon and there’s a lady that wearing all black—which is me—that was running in hurry. I remembered that Mimi and Nana told me to go where the prince was while they are taking caring the enemies. This is also the first time that I went to the magic world, ang kaso nga lang, sa Dark Valley pa ang una kong napuntahan.
 
“Where the hell are you?”
 
I didn’t stop looking for him until I found him. Na sa pinaka-dulo siya at madami ang bantay kaya napalaban ako. At that time, I was already good at combat however, enemies were still able to harm me ngunit malayo naman ‘yon sa bituka. After I am done with the enemies, I freed Azriel who was unconscious at that time but I still manage to help him stand until my necklace—the golden moon embracing the sun—suddenly shined and that’s when I ended the trance.
 
Pili lamang ang pinakita ko sa kanila because there are things that they shouldn’t know. It’s only between me, Nana, and Mimi. ‘Yon lang naman ang pinaka-mahalaga at bahala na si Azriel na mag-kwento sa kanila kung ano pa ang nangyari sa kaniya ng naninirahan siya sa mortal realm. That’s all I can show to them. We came back to reality at lahat sila ay tahimik—tila malalim ang mga iniisip and I just let them be.
 
Maya-maya pa ay nagsalita naman si Rielle—ending the silence. “Then… how he became a doctor in mortal realm?” Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya ng dahil sa tanong niya ngunit hinayaan kong si Az ang sumagot sa kakambal niya.
 
“The owner of the hospital is also a elementalist and he learned that I can heal, so, he hired me. Ngunit ang mga kagaya lang din nating mga imortal ang mga ginagamot ko sa hospital niya,” sagot niya na ikinatango ko naman.
 
Dahil mayroon ding mga naninirahan na kagaya namin sa mortal realm ay hindi na nakagugulat ang bagay na ‘yon. Ngunit ang pagpiling manirahan sa mortal realm ay hindi lamang basta-basta. Madami pang proseso ang dapat isagawa bago tuluyang manirahan sa mortal realm. That’s because it wasn’t our world anymore and mortals doesn’t know anything about our existence. It wasn’t forbidden for the mortals to know about us, however, keeping our real identify from them means safety—not just for us but for the mortals too.
 
They shouldn't know about our existence.
 
“And like what I’ve said to you, to Mommy and Daddy—Lara, Tita Raine and Tita Mina are the one who helped me and lifted me up,” pagpapatuloy ni Az na mayroong ngiti sa labi. “Sila ang nag-alaga sa akin hanggang sa maging okay na ako at kaya ko na ulit harapin at makisalamuha sa iba. Pero naninibago pa rin ako dahil sa bagong lugar na ang ginagalawan ko…”
 
“Kung gano’n, bakit hindi ka bumalik dito kaagad?” Tanong naman ni Chris kay Az na ikinangiti naman ng matamis ng huli bago lumingon sa akin.
 
“Kung umuwi ako kaagad, then I wasted the courage to get to know and be friends with Lara—my savior, and my hope…” sagot niya na ikinataas naman ng kilay ko at akmang aasarin nila si Az ng bigla na lang kaming nakarinig ng limang sunod-sunod na tunog ng kidlat ngunit kumpara sa mga nauna kanina, mas malakas ang hampas nito na may kasama pang pagkulog. Kasunod naman no’n ay ang aura na tila galit na galit at gusto’ng manakit.
 
“Aiden!” Singhal nilang muli at ng tignan ko ang prinsepe ay nakita kong nakatingin ito kay Azriel ng masama at madilim rin ang mukha nito.
 
Nakita ko namang itinaas ni Az ang dalawang kamay na parang sumusuko habang nakangisi na parang nang-aasar na nakatingin kay Aiden na tila kaunti na lamang ay sasabog na. Napapaano na naman ba siya? Ang hirap talagang espelingin ng prinsepe na ‘to kahit kailan! But what he did earlier made me worried about my son but I trust Lia and Tati that they would take care of my baby while I am here.
 
“Masyado kang halata, peri, tsk!” Napatingin naman ako kay Jacob ng dahil sa sinabi niya na ikinangiti naman nila, pwera sa amin ni Gen na nagtataka.
 
Napailing na lamang ako at napatingin kay Gen ng kinalabit niya ako. Nakita ko naman siyang itinuro ang taas ng dibdib niya habang nginu-nguso ang dibdib ko kaya hindi ko mapigilang sundan ang tinuturo niya. Napansin ko namang nakalabas na pala ang kwintas ko kaya agad-agad ko itong itinago sa loob ng damit ko. Kung hindi pa napansin ni Gen na nakalabas ang kwintas ko ay hindi ko pa malalaman. Hindi ko man lang napansing nakalabas na ‘to.
 
“Where did you get that?” Lahat naman kami ay napatingin kay Lucas na siyang nagsalita at tila natulos na lamang ako sa kinauupuan ko ng nakita ko siyang nakatingin sa akin—Lucas and his brother are both looking at me with different emotions that can be seen from their eyes. “Your necklace… who gave that to you?” He asked again when I didn’t answered him.
 
I am now frowning because of the emotions that I could read from them but I still manage to answer him. “Mimi gave this to me when I turned seven…” I said at nakita ko na lamang kung paano mawalan ng emosyon ang kanilang mukha.
 
Did I say something wrong…?
 
Pero maya-maya pa ay naramdaman ko na lamang na umiinit ang birthmark ko and I already know what’s next kaya dali-dali akong tumayo at tumakbo patungo sa aking kwarto ng walang lingon-likod. Buti na lamang at nakalugay na ang buhok ko but I still tried to cover my birthmark with my hand while I run away from them.
 
I heard them calling me but I have no time from looking back. I am in a hurry because in just no time, my birthmark will glow and I can’t afford to let them witness it. Mimi told me that I shouldn’t let anyone else see my birthmark—only Gen and Odette know about it but they promised that they won’t tell to anyone.
 
Kahit na sa pinaka-mataas na floor ang kwarto ko ay mabilis pa rin akong nakarating at do’n ko hinayaang umilaw ang birthmark ko. Sumandal ako sa likod ng pintuan at ipinikit ang mga mata at nakahinga ng maluwag and that’s also when I just heard what Kuya Logan said from here—thanks to Titiana’s ability.
 
“Lucas, your birthmark is glowing…”
 
***