Storm Academy: Tale of Falsities

Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12: Trip

"They'll hold the annual visit tomorrow! Excited na ako makalabas dito!" Calla immediately said after the door opened. Dumiretso agad siya dito sa ward at umupo pa sa sofa. She's still in her uniform, meaning she went here immediately after classes.

"Annual visit? Saan?" Tumayo ako sa kama ko at umupo sa isang monoblock. Nakahiga kasi ngayon si Calla sa sofa. She occupied the big sofa so as the patient, I had no choice but to sit on the monoblock chair.

"Sa Boulderville. We'll check the kids there and hold a food drive for the whole town." Napatingin ako kay Calla. Check the kids? May problema ba sa Boulderville?

"What do you mean check the kids? May mga sakit ba sila?" Tumayo si Calla at binatukan ako. I glared at her and she just glared at me back.

"Their abilities kasi. Choosy ang academy, if you're not rich, you can only enter here if you have a rare ability," Napatango ako. I knew about that. "Although, that's not the end. Only ten out of a hundred of them can officially enter the academy." Nangunot ang noo ko. Paano ang ibang mga bata?

"You're so oblivious about this world. Here's a quick crash course!" Umupo ng maayos si Calla at nagpatunog pa ng leeg at kamay na parang sasabak sa isang laban. Umubo-ubo pa si Calla bago nagsimulang magsalita.

Apparently, there are two towns here in this realm. Boulderville and Aurora Novellina. The town of Boulderville is where the people who doesn't have a 'luxurious lifestyle', as per Calla, lives. Ang mga nakatira doon ay nagta-trabaho, nagtitinda, o gumagawa. May maliit ding paaralan doon upang mag-turo sa mga bata. Pero hindi tulad dito sa academy, the academy there isn't as modern and great as this academy. Kung baga, it's an alternative school for people who couldn't afford going here.

May oportunidad ang ibang bata na makapasok dito sa eskwelahan na ito. But it only goes for the kids with rare abilities. Namely healing, elemental, mind manipulation, and psychokinesis. They'll take a written assessment and a physical one to test who has the witts and power to enter this school as a scholar. Of course, everybody wants to enter here. Makatapos ka lamang dito, marami na ang oportunidad na pwede mong kuhanin.

Aurora Novellina on the other hand, is the 'luxurious lifestyle'. Mansions and castles are built there to accommodate the upper hands. Doon nakatira si Calla at boring daw doon. Lahat ng mga bata ay parang mga barbie sa sobrang aayos.

"Naaalala ko lang kung paano ako tinuruan mag-hawak ng tsaa, kinikilabutan na ako," anya ni Calla. I guess I'm lucky that I lived quite comfortably and did not have to endure those things.

The food drive is literally just a truckload full of food that we'll give out to everyone. Everyone isn't allowed to use their abilities.

Alam niyo ba, narinig ko lang 'to kay Calla dati. Etong necklace na suot suot namin ay isang multi-purpose accessory. It's basically our leash. Pwede nitong pag-bawalan ang isang tao na gumamit ng ability nila at may tracker din ito upang malaman kung nasaan ka.

Naalala ko yung pagpunta ko sa Lake of Birth. I winced nang marealize na baka ay alam pala nila na pumunta ako roon. The necklace also acts a translator. Syempre hindi naman lahat ay pare-pareho ang language. This necklace is great and not at the same time.

Sinong may gustong may tali sila? Even dogs don't.

This food drive lasts for the weekend. Kalahati ay pupunta roon ng Sabado, at ang kalahati ay Linggo. Sabi ni Calla ay pareho kaming bukas pupunta kasama ang mga ate ko. Naiisip ko pa lang na makakaalis kami dito sa academy ay natutuwa na agad ako. I'm excited to roam around this realm for the first time. I've been trapped behind this school since I stepped on this world. Syempre ay sino ang hindi matutuwa sa gano'n.