Sorciere Academy: Bewitched

Sorciere 1: Lifestone

"You are already destined for something great..."

ERIS

I stood in Zithea's largest courtyard, wearing my simple robes and dress and trinkets that my poor family could afford while waiting for the initiation ceremony to start.

We were divided into two groups—the males and the females. Nakapila ako sa hanay ng mga babae na suot ang kanilang naggagandahang mga kasuotan. Some of these girls were actually wearing precious gems and beautiful trinkets in their hair and some of their robes were decorated and painted with intricate embroideries. It was easy to tell which of us were rich and which of us were unfortunate.

Everyone was here to wield and claim their lifestone. But this didn't stop the girls from showing off their pretty faces because this courtyard belonged to the king. And who knows? What if the crown prince suddenly visits the initiation? It was also an opportunity to be noticed by him.

But I was not interested in the crown prince. Sa ngayon, lihim kong hinihiling na sana hindi ako ordinaryong tao katulad ng aking ina. I wanted a useful lifestone. I hoped I was blessed by an ability—even just the Forest—to grow crops and turn these into a bountiful harvest or even produce therapeutic potions and concoctions that I could sell in the market.

I wanted a better job to support my weak and sickly mother. Kaming dalawa na lang ang magkasama sa buhay. I never had the chance to know my father, but my mother told me that he was already gone.

At the front of the courtyard, seven Sorcieres stood on an elevated platform. Currently, they were the most powerful and influential Sorcieres. On the other hand, on the Warlock's side, seven powerful Warlocks also stood on another platform, dignified and well-dressed, which represented the different categories of magic they were classified in.

They could create normal lifestones for the participants to touch. Isa itong maliit na hiyas na kulay kahel. Kapag hinawakan na ito, mag-iiba ang kulay ng lifestone kung may taglay na abilidad sa mahika ang humawak dito, pero kapag isa lang itong ordinaryong tao, hindi magbabago ang kulay ng lifestone.

Once the lifestone was created, the owner must secure the lifestone into a pendant and wear it as a necklace. Lifestone represents the life and abilities of each individual. No one could steal it unless the owner was willing to give it away. And if a lifestone was given away, the former owner was giving the receiver the permission to do whatever he wanted with that lifestone. If he destroyed the lifestone, the former owner would be destroyed as well. The new owner could also cast spells on that lifestone and the former owner's life could easily be controlled.

I didn't understand why some people were willing to give their lifestones away. Giving a lifestone away is equivalent to losing one's life. I don't think it's worth it. And it is idiotic.

Napansin ko na nagsimula nang umusad ang pila. My hands were clasped in front of me as if I was praying to the gods to give me a useful lifestone. My mother said that the gods really existed and sometimes, they dwelled with us humans because they favored and loved us, so I hoped they heard my silent prayer. I hope for a better fate.

May ilang babae na masaya sa nakuha nilang lifestone, samantalang ang ibang babae ay umiiyak dahil normal lang silang tao. Kumakabog ang dibdib ko habang unti-unting lumalapit sa platform.

Hear me. I can't go home without any good news.

Nang umakyat ako sa platform at humarap ako kay Lady Viola na nagtataglay ng itim na lifestone, biglang kumabog ang dibdib ko. Why do I have to face someone who can control the Dark? They were considered the most powerful but also the most dangerous. They even had the power to raise the dead if they were familiar with that spell.