A Thousand-Year Old Prophecy

10: Central Cloud

Days quickly passed.

Somehow, umayon naman lahat sa plano ni Nyssa. Hazel's life was quite easy as Anastasia's family easily bought na may matinding karamdaman siya at hanggang maaari ay kailangan nilang iwasan na makasalamuha ito. The family physician did well too. Mukhang sobra sobra ang suhol na ibinigay ni Nyssa dito upang pagtakpan ng maigi ang Miss niya.

That almost made Hazel complacent.

Hanggang sa mabilis na lumipas na ang dalawang buwan at hindi pa rin nakakauwi si Nyssa. She was starting to worry, of course. Pero dahil wala namang naghahanap sa dalaga, she was still somehow safe.

Then one day...

Hazel just came from her quarter ng masalubong niya ang iba pang mga maidservants na kasamahan niya. Agad niyang tinanong ang isa sa kanila and that person said na this is the time of the year na nagbubukas ang portal mula sa Central Island upang sumundo ng mga estudyante ng Central Cloud School of Astrals.

This is the school for cultivators. If one wants to have in-depth understanding about cultivation, then this school is for them. Kaso, pili lang ang mga nakakapasok dito. Only those talented will be invited. But not because you are invited does it mean ay pasok ka na. There is an initiation before that.

One has to pass that in order to be a certified student of Central Cloud.

And since it opened the portal sa mismong residence ng Meng, it means the Central Cloud has their eyes on some talents within the clan.

And of course, that made everyone curious. Bukod pa sa ideya na makikita nila ang ilan sa mga kilalang tao mula Central Cloud.

They gathered sa bukana ng Meng residence kung saan agad nakita ni Hazel ang portal na nakalutang sa ulap. Maya maya lang ay isa isa ng lumabas ang mga susundo sa mga future students ng Central Cloud.

The first one to appear is Brock. He is the leader of the council of Central Cloud. Kasunod niya ang co-third years niya na sila Raqie at Andy. Following them are the second years na sila Naomi at Drax.

The rest after them were the new recruits from another family.

"So this is the Meng Residence?" Masiglang tanong ni Naomi.

"Yep. Our last destination." Andy said with a sunny smile.

Among the five of them, sila lang dalawa ang mukhang approachable.

As the leader, Brock looks tough. Si Raqie naman ay mukhang bugnutin dahil na rin sa pagkakakunot ng noo niya. At si Drax ay mukhang tuod sa poker face niya.

"Wow, they look really strong."

"Of course. They are the top students of Central Cloud. What do you expect?"

Hazel heard the people around her talked.

Bigla namang nagsara ang portal.

"Alright. Time to do our jobs." Brock said at agad na silang pumunta sa Common Hall ng Meng Residence, leaving the new recruits to wait there in the entrance.

***

"Senior Alexandra, it is nice to see you here." Bati ni Brock pagkakita kay Alexandra.

Of course, she was also an old student of Cebtral Cloud. And she was really an outstanding one when she was in there. Brock, Raqie and Andy were still in their freshmen years when she was in her last year as the leader of the council. Kaya naman kilalang kilala siya ng mga ito.

"I should be the one saying that, Brock. You seemed to grow well. Council leader in your third year? Not bad."

"I am just grateful for the professors' trust."

"Of course."

Even Alyanna and Arianna couldn't help but to admire the exchange between Alexandra and Brock. The younger one was obviously full of respect towards Alexandra. And somehow, everyone in Meng residence felt pride because of that.

"Oh well, have something to drink and eat first habang kinakalap pa ng mga tauhan namin ang lahat ng mga talentadong kabataan ng Meng Residence." Sabi naman ni Czar. It was indeed good to have these guests lalo pa nga at lumalabas lalo kung gaano kahangahanga si Alexandra noong nasa Central Cloud pa ito.

Of course, as father, it was still his pride to have daughter as Alexandra.

"Don't you need our list?"

"Unfortunately, iilan lang naman ang mga talentado sa pamilya namin at the moment. Kaya naman kahit kami ay alam na namin kung sino sino ang mga nasa listahan niyo." Napapailing pa si Alexandra.

Well, one that really disappointed her was the fact na wala sa listahan na iyon si Anastasia. If she was only undamaged, she would be surely included there.

Maya maya lang din naman ay nagsidatingan na ang mga kabataan ng Meng residence.

Walo silang naroroon at sakto lang sa bilang na nasa listahan nila Brock. Mukhang eto nga lang ang mga talentadong kabataan ng Meng. Some families were really like that. They really knew their youths at kapag nagpunta na sila sa residence nila upang sumundo ng mga magiging estudyante ng Central Cloud ay nakahanda na sila.

Without checking their names, they all went back to the entrance of Meng residence, joining the other recruits.

"Eh? Why is the portal not yet opening?" Naomi asked.

"Nagkaproblema na naman kaya ang portal?" Kunot noong tanong ni Raqie.

"I will check." Prisinta ni Andy na agad na tumawag sa Central Cloud upang icheck kung may problema ba sa portal.

"Was there a problem with the portal recently?" Alexandra asked.

"Yes. Months ago, the school was having a problem connecting with the portal. Seems like something had happened to the void."

Nagkatinginan sila Alexandra at Brock and an understanding passed between them. As one was the previous leader of the council and the other was the current, they both knew some things na tanging nakakataas lang ng school ang nakakaalam.

And as the portal is technically a small part of void that they are borrowing, iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nun. The real owner of the void finally appeared again.

They were both thinking that when Andy reported again.

"Wala naman daw problema ngayon sa portal, sabi ni Adam. It should be opening now if we have gathered the correct people."

Napahinga na lang ng malalim si Raqie.

"Then let's go and check the list."

***