Hinila ni Georgia ang cloak ko papalayo sa kanila, nadala naman ako kaya naman kumunot ang aking noo. "Huwag mo ng patulan, hindi ka nila titigilan," sabi niya at binitawan ang aking cloak. "Isuot mo na yan."

Kaagad ko siyang sinunod. Mas maayos na rin pala 'pag suot itong cloak, protektado ang balat ko't walang makahawak saakin.

Ibaba ko rin sana muli ang hibla ng aking mga bangs nang biglang magsalita si Georgia, "Hayaan mo nang ganiyan ang buhok mo, mas tatangkain ka nilang hawakan if you'll stay weird," sabi nito habang hindi nakatingin sa'kin.

Wala ring ka-emo-emosyon ang kaniyang boses. Napaisip naman ako roon, at mukha namang tama siya. If a person seems or acts different, attention is drawn.

Napansin ko namang doon pa rin pala kami patungo sa kastilyong pinuntahan ko kanina. I think it's the main building here. There's quite a lot people right now. May ilan pang nagmu-muni-muni muna sa may tulay.

"Hindi lang naman ako ang bago rito, 'di ba?" Tanong ko kay Georgia.

She nodded. "Oo. Ang iba ay mas maaga nakarating dito. Ikaw lang ang pinakahuli. Sinakto mo bang sa mismong araw ng pasukan pumasok?" Tanong niya bigla, pero hindi ako nakasagot. Hindi ko rin naman kasi alam na gan'on pala ang sitwasyon.

Mukha namang hindi na siya naghintay ng sagot dahil hindi niya na ako nilingon at nagdire-diretso na papasok sa loob ng kastilyo, paakyat sa ikalawang palapag. Nagawa kong umakyat nang matiwasay ngayon nang 'di tumitingin sa aapakan.

Naglinga-linga naman si Georgia, hinahanap ang pupuntahan. I read her lips. Jupiter. Napaisip naman ako kung ano ang Jupiter, the biggest planet, right?

My eyes immediately find the biggest after Sun. Isang ikot lang ng paningin ko, nahanap ko na agad. Maybe this is what Master Sven told me. . . na madali kong makikita ang mahika dahil sa imahinasyon ko.

Nauna na ako roon at si Georgia naman ngayon ang sumunod sa'kin. Mukha namang hindi ako nagkamali dahil hindi niya ako pinuna.

I only stopped when she tugged my cloak, and when I glanced over at her, her gaze went beyond me. Hindi ako ang tinitingnan niya nang masama.

"Ano'ng proble—" Naalintala ang pagtatanong ko nang tila kidlat siyang pumunta sa mismong harap ko't tinapat ang kanyang patalim sa likod ko.

I held my breath with the sight of the weapon, and suddenly, I felt something dripping on my shoulder. Blood.

But I was more surprised when a hand from the back appeared near my shoulder. It was almost touching me!

Napabalikwas ako't mabilis na lumayo, at nakita ko roon ang lalaking. . . wala naman kanina. I'm certain I didn't see him. Tumutulo na ang dugo mula sa kanyang daliri dahil sa pagkahiwa ni Georgia ro'n.

"Curiosity kills the cat, Gaza. Don't try to," mariing banta ni Georgia. Binaba na niya ang kanyang kamay, at tinago nang mabilis ang patalim.

The man answered while smirking mischievously, "But satisfaction brings it back. Just checking out if the gossips are true, Alas."

He brushed his light blue hair with his other hand, and looked at me with his black eyes. Napatingin naman ulit sa kanya at naalala ang dugo sa'king cloak. Bigla akong nahirapan huminga.

He vanished to thin air, as if he was never here. Nag-aalala naman akong tiningnan ni Georgia. He knew him. Gaza. Wala sa sarili akong napatingin sa mga kamay ko't bahagayang nakahinga nang maluwag nang makita ang gloves.

"Sino siya?" Tanong ko.

"He's Michael Gaza," she answered. "I couldn't tell if you're lucky or not to see him. Bihira siyang magpakita. After all, Camouflage ang kapangyarihan niya." Pinaikot niya ang kanyang patalim at binalik sa maliit na sheath sa likod ng kanyang pantalon.

Nagpatuloy siyang naglakad na parang walang nangyari, so I also tried to brush it off too. Pumasok na kami sa Jupiter, or what they call the Phoenician Hall. Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa hitsura ng loob. There were mirrors around the whole hall. It was confusing to see where the end is.

Pinikit ko naman ang mata ko sa pagkalito sa loob. When I opened my eyes again, I focused more to what was the real vision, not the reflections. Doon ko napansing may four long glass tables sa loob. Each table had a different light glow, alike to the houses.

Lumapit kami roon sa gold ang kulay. I guess this is where I belong now. Suddenly, I noticed golden flowers blooming in the middle. Ito ata ang nagbibigay ng marahuyong hitsura rito sa mesa. I see that the golden glow and mists come from those. For a second, I wanted to touch them— lalo pa't gumalaw 'yon at mas lalong nag-bloom ang ilan. I suppressed the urge to do so.

So I turned my attention to something else, back to the mirrors. Napansin ko naman biglang may nakatingin sa'king lalaki. His brows were furrowed. Hindi ko mawari kung nagtataka o masama lang ang tingin sa'kin.

He had white hair and pitch-black eyes. To my surprise, his eyes turned red for a moment. . . or was I mistaken?

Nanatili kaming magkatinginan hanggang sa nagulat ako nang may halos dumapo na kamay sa'king baba.

Napaiwas naman ako at tinaasan ng kilay ang babaeng gumawa no'n. Tumingin din naman siya sa mismong mata ko at biglang nangningning ang kanya.

"You have golden eyes," she said in a surprised manner.

"Yes, what's the matter?" tanong ko sa kanya't napaiwas ng tingin sa kanyang mga matang hindi tumigil sa pagtitig sa'kin. I only glanced again when she started talking again.

"The matter is. . . Your eyes are so beautiful. Oh-em-gee! Those are my dream lenses. I would love to have those, but not that I don't love mine," she said while fluttering her sky blue eyes and flipped her golden hair curls.

"I am Summer Knight, the dashing witch of Phoenicia aaaand! Your angel," pagpapakilala niya't naglahad ng kamay sa'kin. She smiled sweetly, and extended her arms more.

Nagulat ako nang bumulong si Georgia sa'kin, "Babaeng babae ang babaeng iyan, pero hindi ka naman mapapahamak sa kanya. I'm just warning you." She only leaned closer to me to do that, and after she returned sitting properly.

Tumingin ako sa kamay ni Summer. Nakangiti pa rin siya at hindi man lang binaba 'yon, kahit ilang segundo na ang nakalipas.

I sighed and smiled a bit before introducing myself. "Eris, half demon and angel. You must not touch me," banggit ko't inilingan ang nakalahad n'yang kamay.

But she rolled her eyes at me and chuckeled. "Oh, Eris! You have fabulous gloves. I'd die for that! C'mon use those to have a friendly handshake with me. Won't you? Pretty please?"

So she knows I have that power. She has a point. Sabi naman din ni Georgia, hindi ako mapapahamak sa kanya. Nagaalinlangan kong itinaas ang aking kamay.

Tumingin ako rito at kinabahan. Ibabalik ko na sana ang aking kamay sa ilalim ng table ngunit kinuha niya ito at nakipagkamay sa'kin.

"See, I'm alive! Nothing happens as long as your fab gloves are with you. Toodles!" she said and waved her hand cutely at us. She also blew a kiss at Georgia, which made Georgia's nose scrunch.

Marami-rami pa siyang nilapitan, at hanggang dito, naririnig ko ang boses niya. Her name suited her well. Summer. She reminds me a ray of sunshine. Well, I honestly don't like summers.

Natigilan lang siya— kaming lahat nang may liwanag na sumilaw sa paligid. When the light faded, so did some of the mirrors. Sa isang side nalang ang nanatili, while the rest became fiery red velvet walls.

I turned to where all heads turned. Kay Headmaster Gaiael pala. Sinundan namin siya ng tingin hanggang makarating siya sa front-center.

"Good evening, dear Phoenicians," bati niya at bagaman gulo-gulo, bumati ang lahat pabalik. "Welcome to the freshmen." All applauded.

"Today is our first night together as we open a new school year. We are gathered here to reintroduce our Castles or Divisions, those which serve as your family in the Academy." Kasunod ng mga katagang 'yon ang hiwayan at palakpakan, but it was more evident on the other tables.

"I call on," he started. A drum roll was heard around the area, though there was no drum beater.

"The Fiery Wings!" Lahat naman ng nasa kabilang dulo'y tumayo. They screamed aloud, and some raised red banners, blew fire, sparked red fireworks, and had a chant.

"Apoy, apoy, umaapoy! Tuloy, tuloy ang daloy! Kapoy, kapoy sa pag-apoy!" Marami naman sa kanila ang natawa sa sarili nilang yell. I chuckled too because of their competitiveness but unseriousness.

"The Zealous Tears!" Ang susunod namang table ang tumayo't pumalapak. Wala silang chant kagaya ng wings, pero napansin ko ang mga kulay-pilak na face-paint na equal sign sa mga pisngi nila.

"The Eager Eyes!" Oras naman ng katabing table namin. They stood up, but instead of claps, one of them signalled, then everyone of them made their courtesies. I saw Rowsella there, and almost all of them exuded authority, dominance, and elegance.

Georgia whispered to me, as if she had read my mind. . . or did she? "Karamihan sa kanila ay mga royalties, knights, o nobles." Ah, kaya pala.

"And. . . The Ashes!" Akmang tatayo na ako, ngunit walang gumawa sa'min noon at nanatiling nakaupo.

Napansin ko ring mas kaunti kami kumpara sa iba, and that made me wonder how this castle division works. Mukha namang in-expect na ni Headmaster ang mangyayari dahil nagpatuloy na siya.

"Kaya ko kayo pinatawag dito ay dahil ngayon ko rin ipapakilala sa inyo ang mga pinaka-makapangyari—" naputol naman ang sasabihin ni Headmaster Gaiael nang bigla kaming nasilaw sa ilaw na nagmula sa ibabaw.

Mula roon, bumaba ang isang lalaki na may hawak ng thunderbolt. "Am I late?" He asked randomly as he brushed his blonde hair and winked with his blue eyes.

"No, Zeus. You're early," sagot ni Headmaster Gaiael. Oh, so he's Zeus. Nagtagpo silang dalawa, at nag-apiran sila at hinimas pa ang likod ng bawat isa.

"Am I missing something?" A girl asked, who came from nowhere. Hindi ko siya napansin! Mukha siyang si Ariel ng Little Mermaid but realistic ang features niya. She has tan skin, bright red hair, and sea-green eyes. Her gown was pink that it really reminded me of the Little Mermaid movie.

Napahiwalay naman si Zeus kay Headmaster Gaiael, "My, my, Ariel. What a beauty," he said, seducingly.

Ngumisi naman si Zeus ngunit biglang umirap si Ariel, at nilagpasan na si Zeus. Ang ilan nama'y napatawa sa kanila.

Once again, another appeared out of nowhere. She had shiny curls, and she seemed our age. Ang porma niya pa nga ay very. . . aesthetic. Ripped jeans, at naka-cropped top pa. "Hey, Grandpa," tawag niya kay Zeus at bumelat.

"Althea!" Sigaw naman ni Zeus na parang galit. "I told you don't call me grandpa!" So, Althea must be a demigod? She just called Zeus, 'grandpa.'

Umirap naman 'yong Althea bago lumapit kay Headmaster Gaiael. "You should start, Headmaster Gaiael. Hindi na raw po dadating ang iba ngayon. Sa mismong klase nalang raw po sila," sabi ni Althea at nag-bow. Sa kanya bago kumaway sa'min.

Napa-tango naman si Headmaster at tumingin sa'min. He returned to his modulated and authoritative tone. "Phoenicians, they will be your instructors for the year. This is a special year, for we have them. That is why, give it all, Phoenicians!"

Napatalon naman sa tuwa ang iba, at ang lahat nama'y pumalakpak. Hm, I never thought I'd be able to experience this.

Regardless, I know. . . I just know that I belong here.

Phoenix Academy
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Votes and comments are highly appreciated. Thank you for reading!