SURIZE
June 18, 2196

Malakas akong napabuntung-hininga nang maalala ang lahat ng nangyari kanina. Everyone's attention was toward us, but I didn't want it nor need it. Kaya naman sa halip na magpatuloy na makinig sa mga bangayan nila, kaagad akong nagwalk-out at pumunta kung s'an man. 

The solitude that I've always valued in my life was gone— and even if I know that I just have to accept it, I still find a hard time. Anyone would if they're in my situation. From the most hated to the most loved Heidi Laquisha.

Footsteps sound from behind me. I glance over my shoulder and saw my "brother," Lowell nearing me. Napansin kong malaki ang binigay na daan ng mga taong nakatambay sa kaniya, tila ba'y takot na takot na makalapit o makadikit man lang sa kaniya. Dahil d'on napagtanto kong kami palang ni Lucifuge ang nakakalapit nang gan'to sa kaniya.

"What brings you here, Lowell?" I asked him, through telepathy. Wala na namang problema ngayon kung magsasalita ako nang malakas. Nasanay lang din ako na hindi nakikipag-usap sa tao.

"I'd hoped to encounter you again..." he says, handing me over something— an envelope with shallow engravings, forming a fancy symbol which is rather familiar because of its similar designs with the carriage we have ridden earlier.

"...to give you that letter of invitation from the house of Surize. They are also the ones who administer and facilitate the academy. Marami ka ring matututunan sa kaniya."

I nodded and muttered a 'thank you' to him. Napatingin ako sa likod at harap ng envelope. There was a seal made from wax, and anyone could tell it was paid to be carefully made.

The house of Surize was one of the four houses that govern the four regions under the order of the Kingdom. Kung tama ang aking pagkakaalala, ang House Surize ay namumuno sa rehiyon ng Threga. Sila rin ang pinakamayaman sa mga namiminang diyamente o anumang mga batonghiyas. The Surize's are also known to be the right-hand of the King.

Maingat ko namang tinanggal ang seal at napansin kong tumatahak na palayo ng landas ang mga paa ni Lowell. I called his attention through telepathy, so he looked at me once again.

I gave him a quick glance before speaking to his mind again. "Come closer, hindi ko gusto ang atensyon na nakukuha ko. If you're here, they're far."

He scoffed and shook his head before crouching to level my face. "If you don't want them flocking around you, then do something that would prevent them to do so. Just a tip. Hindi naman maaaring lagi-lagi nalang akong nasa tabi mo," he silently said.

Hindi ko naman na napigilan ang kaniyang pag-alis. Muli na naman akong napabuntung-hininga nang mas lumapit ang mga estudyante. Pinigilan ko naman ang pag-irap ng aking mga mata at nagtungo nalang sa isang sulok upang basahin ang nakasaad sa liham.

Surprisingly, there were no letters written. Sinubukan ko namang hawakan ang unahan ng papel, nagbabaka-sakali na biglang may mga lumabas na letra o kaya nama'y may bubulong sa'king isipan ukol sa laman ng liham.

Oh, but I was a fool for doing that. Hindi ko namalayang isang babae na pala ang nasa harap ko. Her pink eyes looked at me as if she was judging me but her lips told me otherwise. She had a calm and soothing aura, but why do I feel like it's a mask— a façade of her true personality.

"Wala namang nakalagay sa liham. Ginamit ko lang 'yan para matunton ko kung nas'an ka, at ginamit ko na rin upang malaman ang kapangyarihan mo."

My brow shot up. My powers? Napalunok naman ako at sinubukang tantyahin ang kaniyang hitsura at ekspresyon. Paano nga kung nalaman niya ang kapangyarihan ko?

"But I didn't get to know your powers. Wala naman akong kapangyarihan upang manghula n'on." She sighed and held out a hand. "I'm Aeryn Eve of House Surize. It's nice meeting you."

Tumango naman ako, at nanatili akong maingat lalo na sa presensya niya. Hinawi naman niya ang kaniyang blonde na buhok, at napansin kong may mga gray highlights o strands 'yon.

"Again," dagdag n'yang salita kaya't mas lalo akong kinabahan. Halos nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko at hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot sa kaniya. Again? Ibig sabihin n'on ay nakita niya na si Heidi sa personal noon.

Regardless of the situation, I managed to smirk and raise may hand to shake it with it hers.

"Forgive me, Aeryn. Perhaps I forgot that we have met before," sagot ko. Tiningnan ko siya diretso sa mata at sinubukang pasukin ang isipan— basahin ang mga naiisip niya.

Minsan ko lang 'to ginagawa 'pagkat alam kong kinakailangan nito ng matinding konsentrasyon at enerhiya. But I don't have a choice, hindi ako maaaring mahuli lalo pa't unang araw ko palang dito. Napapikit naman ako nang saglit at sinubukang pakinggan ang mga sinasabi ng isipan niya.

She doesn't look like she was when we were young.

My eyes opened and I smiled at her sweetly. "Ah, I remember you now. You don't look like how you were, then."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips, and she nodded. "Perhaps we've changed apperances. Besides, bata palang tayo n'ong nagkita tayo."

Tumango naman ako at kinuha ko na ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak sa kaniya. Tinuro naman niya ang daan sa'kin bago nagsalitang muli. "Anyways, I'm here to tour you around and give you some knowledge about the Academy. Do you mind if I lead the way?"

Umiling naman ako at sinubukang ngumiti kahit na maliit. Marahan naman siyang tumango at nagsimulang maglakad. Sumunod nalang ako at binalewala ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. Ang akala ko ba'y hindi pa nakikita ng iba si Heidi?

"Hindi na kita naabutan sa Academy entrance, at ang naabutan ko nalang d'on ay ang tatlong unggoy. Hindi ko nga akalain na pati pala si Lucifuge ay sasalubongin ka rito." She glanced at me and gave me a small teasing smile. "Kung sabagay, you are his bethroted. He would not miss this chance to finally see you."

Napansin kong sa labas kami ng building tumungo, at bumalik kami malapit sa entrance.

"The building that you entered are where offices and team rooms are found. Ang alam ko'y may sariling office ka rin, pero pinapaayos pa ng admin and staff."

"What's my office for?" tanong ko. 

Napasulyap naman siyang muli sa'kin at napangiti. "That will serve as your room too. It's a privelege for being a lady under the House of Calafiore. Even your brother, Lowell, has his own room."

I nodded as a response and continued following her. She was leading me to the back of the building. From afar, I saw a stage with iced statues, sealing a mystical and golden flame-like within. There was a huge throne in opposite sides, and that was only when I've realized that this is a huge chessboard. The statues are the chess pieces.

"What's that for?" I asked.

Nagulat naman ako nang natawa si Aeryn at binigyan ako ng tingin na tila ba sinasabi niyang... "Seryoso ka ba?"

"We really played that game before, Heidi. Don't you remember?" she asked. Bago sumagot, sinubukan ko ulit basahin ang utak niya.

Ako lang ba ang hindi makalimot n'on? Sabagay, ako pala ang natalo n'on.

Tumango naman ako at maliit na ngumiti. "I think I do remember winning against you."

She frowned and pouted at me. "Hindi mo naman kailangang i-sampal sa'kin. But true, it was unforgettable. Ako dapat ang mananalo r'on dahil wala ka nang iba pang piyesa."

"Your queen was gone, but you replaced it with a pawn. Who knew that a mere pawn could change the entire game," dagdag niya at ngumisi pa.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngunit tila pinapatamaan n'ya ako. Jeez, baka naman hindi. I'm sure she doesn't know I'm not the Heidi she knew. That I am like a pawn from the land of Fall.

"Perhaps pawns are true players of the game. If they move on their own and use wisdom on their moves, they could be powerful."

"And if they are brave enough to cross the borderlines," makahulugang aniya kaya't napatingin ako. Hindi ko namalayang nakatitig na rin pala siya sa'kin— mali, nakatitig.

"Am I right, Heidi?" Tanong niya pa, tila nang-aasar.

I nodded and didn't respond anymore. She knows something, I'm sure of it. But why doesn't her mind speak it? Tila ba kinokontrol niya ang sinasabi ng kaniyang isipan. I tried reaching more of her thoughts, but I couldn't.

"Let's head to another place, Heidi. I'm sure gusto mo pang makita ang iba." Sa wakas ay nalihis ang usapan. Naglakad siya patungo sa silangan at sa daan ay may mga nakita pa akong iba't ibang gusali.

There was a cafeteria, a library, an open training area. Cabins for normal students and some weird statues and artifacts. Hindi niya na kinailangan ipaliwanag sa'kin ang mga 'yon 'pagkat obvious na naman.

Tumigil lang siya sa isang tapat. Narinig ko nanan ang bugso ng mga alon at bigla ko lang naalala ang huling nangyari sa Fall. I shook my head and looked ahead the moment Aeryn spoke.

"This is the Arena."

There, I saw an area with floating seats or chairs up in the skies, as if it was sitting on clouds. The arena was sandy, and it had some pillars arching near the floating seats.

"That's where the battles are usually held. Dito sa Academy, hindi kami nagfo-focus sa mga pag-aaral o klase. Besides, our world revolves around magic. But if a Celestine would like to be architects or some sort, then they are sent to another educational institution where they focus on knowledge and innovations."

Napatango naman ako, at nakuha agad ang sense ng kaniyang sinasabi. Muli ko namang sinulyapan ang arena, ngunit napapikit ako nang tila sumakit ang ulo ko. Isang malakas na tunog ng ugong ang dumaan sa'kin tainga, at tila ba may mga naririnig akong salita. Hindi ko naman maintindihan 'pagkat nagpatong-patong ang mga boses na halos nawawala na rin sa pandinig ko ang boses ni Aeryn at ang ingay ng tao.

I felt someone grab one of my shoulders, so I was caught off guard and moved it away. The sound of clashing swords and screams made me seeth my teeth in pain.

"Heidi!" In a snap, the words and voices were gone. Still, I could feel my lips shiver. Hindi ko namalayang napaluhod na pala ako at inaalalayan ako ni Aeryn. Napalunok ako at pilit na kinalma ang sarili ko.

"Are you okay?" Tanong niya kaya't napatango ako nang mabilis at tumayo na rin.

Muli na naman akong napalunok sa takot ngunit sinubukan kong itago 'yon. Pilit akong ngumiti sa kaniya bago sinabing, "I'm fine. I think I just need some time to adjust. Masyado ata akong nabigla dahil ngayon lang ako nakalabas."

Of course, it was a lie.

Kailangan ko lang kumalma dahil nangyayari na naman ang pinakakinatatakutan ko. The manifestation of my power.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Character added:
Aeryn Eve Surize by maireve

Thank you for reading!