HEALER (Completed)

Chapter 14

EVERY STUDENT was summoned in the Battle Arena as per ordered by the Headmistress herself and the Council. Battle arena is a place used only for every big events that were held in the Academy. Malaki ito. Sa sobrang laki ay kaya nitong i-cater lahat ng estudyante dito sa Academy.

"Over here Ate!"

Chantria heard that familliar voice. Medyo nahirapan pa siyang hanapin ito dahil sa dami ng mga estudyante na naririto sa Arena.

May naka-reserve na upuan ang mga ito sa kaniya. It is a seat in between the twin.

"Muntik ka ng ma-late ate," Rose said to her the moment she sat down in her seat.

That's true anyways. At dahil diyan ay muntik na din siyang di papasukin ng mga Guard sa bungad ng Arena. Hindi niya alam na ganito pala ka-strict dito. Sana man lang may nag-inform sa kaniya.

"Don't mention it," nasabi nalang niya dahil may nararamdaman siyang kunting pikon kanina sa Guard. Sarap sapakin.

"Anyways, thank you ate sa napakasarap na breakfast," nakangiting sabi naman sa kaniya ni Lily. "The best talaga kapag may ate sa dorm. Para na rin kaming may nanay."

Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin. "Nanay ka diyan. Gusto mo paluin din kita ha?"

Lily just chuckled. "I'm just kidding. But seriously, we're grateful for having you as are Ate."

And that made her heart rejoice but she kept it inside.

"I agree. Hindi ko na masyadong naho-home sick dahil parang kasama na rin namin si Mommy," Rose added.

"Ang drama niyo," aniya. "Parang hindi na kayo nasanay sa akin. You're mom taught me how to cook right? Kaya natural lang na magkaparehas luto namin."

Napatango-tango ang mga ito.

"Group hug."

Pero dagli siyang tumanggi. She's not still used to this kind of treatment.

"KJ." The twin said in chorus.

Nagtaka naman siya ng biglang naging wild ang crowd. Tinunton niya ang tinitingnan ng karamihan and it's them, the Royals. The Princes and Princess of different Kingdoms are here and leading them is a woman in forties.

"Is she the Headmistress?" Naitanong niya sa kambal. May kakaiba kasi dito kaya hindi niya mapigilang manghula.

She looks very regal and has this authoritative presence. An empowered woman indeed.

"Yes," Rose answered. She's right.

Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin niya sa mga ito. She saw how the Royals went to their respective seats and left the Headmistress alone in the platform. Maybe she have something to say to them. That's what she's thinking of.

THE HEADMISTRESS remains silent. She didn't utter even a single word. She's just standing while staring at the crowd.

Dahil dito ay nagsimula na ring maging tahimik ang lahat. Tila nahawaan na niya ang mga ito sa katahimikan na bumabalot sa kaniya. They were obviously intimidated by the silent treatment that the Headmistress is giving to all of them. May kakaibang kapangyarihan rin na bumabalot rito.

"Good morning."

Finally. She said something much to the delight of the crowd. Nakangiti na rin ito. Malayo sa kung ano ito kanina.

"Today is the freshmen's 50th Leveling Test, and I expect nothing less from you. I hope you live up to my expectations. Good luck and have fun."

After that short speech, the Headmistress went to her seat, in the place where the Royals where comfortably seated. This is what she calls a special treatment.

In less than two minutes, someone appeared in the stage and introduce himself. He will play an important role for this event, being an MC. Bukod sa pagpapakilala nito sa mga judges, ito na rin ang nag-inform sa lahat kung ano ang format at mechanics ng Leveling ngayong school year.

"To test the overall capabilities of every freshmen, he/she will have to defeat his/her opponents. Ang kakalabin ng bawat isa ay nakadepende sa mga judges. They will be the one to choose your opponent so expect an interesting sets of battlers. Moreover, the winner will have the luxury to get a high level while those who fail will unfortunately be lose their chance to stay here in the Academy. In short, they will be forcefully expelled in the Academy."

Student's can't help but to gasps hearing the format and mechanics of this event coming from the MC himself. Mas mahirap ito ngayon kung ikukumpara noon. Paniguradong kawawa rin ang mga magiging talunan pero siguradong magiging maganda rin ang mga labanan dahil nakasalalay na rito ang kapalaran nila dito sa Academy. Tiyak na walang magpapadaig ng ganun-ganun lang.

"Silent students dahil papunta palang tayo sa pinaka-exciting part." Tumahimik naman muli ang mga estudyante. "Those students who will win the battle will then advance to the second phase of this event. In this phase, student's real power was expected to be measure through that Ball of Light as we can see above." Napatingin naman ang lahat sa bolang Krystal na nakalutang sa itaas. Pamilyar ang mga matagal ng estudyante rito pero ang mga baguhan palang ay hindi kaya naman pinaliwanag rin ito ng MC.

"That ball of light is the tool that will measure your power level. But wait, there's more. The judges' score in the previous phase will be added to it. So what are we waiting for. Let the Leveling starts now!"

Isa-isa ng tinatawag ang bawat estudyante. Pares-pares na ang sumasalang sa entablado at tulad ng inaasahan ay naging madugo ang labanan.

Kapwa walang nagpapatalo pero sa huli ay may nanalo at may natatalo. The only difference is that, those who lose, suffered the most. Natalo na nga sila, nawala pa ang kanilang pagkakataon para makapag-aral sa Akademya.

While every students were called, Chantria was just seen watching the show with an annoyed face. Sobrang tagal bago siya tawagin. Gustong-gusto niya ng makipaglaban pero mukhang matagal pa siya.

Ang pagkayamot niyang ito ay pansin ng kambal kanina pa. Ni hindi na nga siya ng mga ito kinakausap dahil natatakot ang mga itong mabunton sa kanila ang pagkayamot nito. They tried earlier but they failed. Nakatanggap lang sila ng nakamamatay nitong mga tingin at hindi na nila gustong makaranas pa niyon.

"Chantria Dionne Selvestre."
The MC finally called her name.

Agad sumilay ang ngisi sa labi nito at sinumang nakakita niyon ay nakaramdam ng takot. They viewed Chantria as an angel based from her innocent and Goddess-like appearance but there something in her that made them afraid of. Tila may demonyong nakatago sa mala-anghel nitong pagkatao.

Chantria exude surreal beauty. Medyo lowky lang siya kasi freshmen palang. Kulang pa sa hype dito sa Academy pero maituturing na ng ilan na siya ang pinakamaganda sa mga kababaihan rito sa Academy. However, everyone was already aware of what she's capable of based from the incidents that happened in the cafeteria. Kalat na kalat na iyon sa Academy.

Despite the stares that everyone gives to her, Chantria remains calm and composed as she walked down the stage. She even tied her hair while walking and she looks so cool right now. Para siyang isang respetadong nilalang na kailangan yukuran ng mga naririto.

When she finally stepped into the stage, her opponent follow through and it's a very familiar woman. Nagulat siya dahil tila hindi ito naaayon sa dapat mangyari pero sino ba naman siya para tanggihan ang hamon ng bruha. Ngumisi na rin siya kalaunan.

Guess who she is?

Well, she's the Queen Bee, Jona Kerstine Hemlock.

"You want round 2, then be happy, because i'll give that to you."

TO BE CONTINUED