"Kinabahan ako sa'yo kanina, Raven! Napakasungit at strikto pa naman ni Prof Dong!"

I pursed my lips at Eva's exclamation. I didn't really feel afraid or tense when being questioned, but their reactions tells me that I should be more... nervous?

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at ipinuwesto ang bag sa hita. Tamara did the same, although she was less concerned. Kumikinang ang mata niya sa paghanga sa'kin. One look and I can already see that she's not used to being a rebel, so doing disrespectful things like this are foreign to her. Iyon nga lang, imbes na mainis o magalit, she's amazed.

"You slept in his class!" manghang sambit niya.

"Wow. Old news, Tam?" sarkastikong sagot ko.

"No one's ever slept in his class before dahil matinik siya sa mga recitations! Did you know that he called your name for five times already?" humagikhik si Tamara. "Tapos tinanguan mo lang siya after na parang magtropa kayo!"

"I don't think you should encourage such behavior." komento ni Dawn na nakatayo sa harap namin. "Your sleeping may be uncontrollable, baka pagod ka sa trainings niyo, and your refusal to answer can be understood, since you don't know the answer. But at least, you have to be respectful. Your behavior was rude."

I challenged her stare. "Are you part of some council? Bakit mo 'ko pinagsasabihan ng ganiyan?"

"Yes, I am part of the governing student group. But even if I am not, I would still scold you for lacking some manners. This is not your house, Tempest, you need to follow rules. And one of those is being respectful."

"Wala naman siyang ginawa para umakto ka ng gano'n, 'di ba?" Solana gave a slight shrug. "You can just go and apologize."

I haven't said a genuine sorry all my life.

Namataan ko ang paglabas ng iba naming kaklase. They gave me glares and judging looks, my name leaving their mouths in an ugly manner. I've heard their insults from the folks of Alora before so it wasn't new. Just the usual black sheep and wild princess of the Tempest family. The untamed girl with an unfiltered mouth who punches with rigor.

"Their judgments are expected." ani Dawn. "Not a soul in this walls have behaved as you."

"If you're so against my behavior," there was a sarcastic tone in my voice. "Bakit nandito ka pa?"

"I can be friends with you while not tolerating your bad habits. Pwede mo pa namang baguhin ang ugali mo."

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. How confident, really! I've been like this for eighteen years and nobody has ever changed me. Not even my own family.

"That won't happen. I don't want to change."

Dawn smiled. "Let's see, then. Ah, by the way, our physical education subject meeting will be postponed 'til Friday. Ang alam ko ay may kinabi-busyhan si Ma'am Zara sa ngayon. Are you also our classmates for Soul Arts? Subject for three to four-thirty?"

I only gave a brief nod while Tamara answered verbally, "Yep! Alam niyo ba kung nasaan ang room na 'to? Dito kasi ang Strategical Assessment namin."

"Strategical Assessment?" kunot-noong tanong ni Solana. "Ano 'yon?"

"Baka house subject nila, bes! Hindi naman sila 'gaya natin na magical students, they're potential soldiers!" pagsagot ni Theus.

"Ang gara, Raven! Parang ang sarap at angas pakinggan!" Eva exclaimed beside me.

I smiled and was about to respond when Helios approached us. Dumako sa kaniya ang mga atensiyon namin pero mukhang hindi naman siya nabaguhan dito. Sanay na atang lagi tinitingnan.

"The elites are excused in the last subject. We have a meeting." tanging anunsiyo niya bago umalis.

"Iyon na 'yon?" bulalas ni Theus nang mawala sa paningin namin ang lalaki. "Ang suplado suplado talaga ng lalaking 'yon! Nako!"

Naalala ko ang pagbigay niya ng notes kanina. I don't think he's suplado or cold, talagang awkward lang siya when it comes to social interactions.

Pero may ibang nakapukaw ng atensiyon ko. "Elites? What's that?"

"You asked about some council kanina, 'di ba?" nakangiting sagot ni Solana. "The Elites are a group of twelve students who are tasked to govern the whole student body. Napipili sila tuwing Selection Ball. Two top students from every house 'yon. Kami ni Eva ang mula sa House of Spring Brook, si Theus at Kam mula sa House of Psyche," tukoy niya doon sa lalaking lagi niyang karibal sa class participation. "Tapos itong si Dawn at Tsuki sa House of Ocean Moon."

"Tsuki?" kumunot ang noo ni Tamara. "Iyan ba ang second son ng Nuray?"

Tumango sila. Nuray? That family has a royal bloodline but they come from the neighboring country, Gareth. Ang alam ko din ay magkasundo ang mga ito sa Villareal noon ngunit natapos ang pagkakaibigan nila 20 years ago.

"House of Beasts has Margot and Bryant, while House of Wind has Henri and Sawyer. Sa House of Golden Sun naman sina Fei at Helios." dagdag ni Theus. "It's easy to categorize us from other students because our capes have our house colors and not the usual white."

"So you make rules?" tanong ko.

"Academy rules are already established and they follow outside principles." si Dawn naman ang sumagot. "Creation of new rules can be promoted to us. It will undergo various processes and screening. Tinitingnan din namin kung kailangan ba talaga siya. But the final word resides in our dean. Kahit na maganda at gusto ng lahat, kung hindi niya tatanggapin, mapapa-walang abiso iyon."

"Not even your president? Or the royal family?"

"The dean has more power than any council members, royal bloods, or even the Academy scholars in Ukiyo. In this place, he rules. At sa isang tanong mo, the Elites have no president."

Ngumuso ako. No president but that boy exudes too much authority and leadership. Akala ko naman siya na ang student council president kung sa mga normal na eskwelahan.

"I thought he was your president..."

"Helios?" tanong ni Solana saka tumawa. "We just respect him because he ranks as the strongest soulbearer in this academy. But there's no specific roles inside the Elites. We govern over our houses and controls the rules inside the academy. We make sure that the students follow them and punishes those who don't."

Punishment, huh? I know four of the Elites so maybe I can have a more magaan na punishment? Suhol na kung suhol? I laughed evilly in my head. Ano na lang kaya ang iisipin ng mga estudyante 'pag nalaman nilang nagpapasipsip ako?

Oh... What about when I finally wear those forbidden colors inside this sacred walls? What a sacrilegious act brought by the Tempest' Miss.

"K-Kinakabahan ako sa expresiyon mo, Raven." bulong ni Tamara sa tabi ko.

I gave her a smile. I just can't contain my excitement, that's all. I've always liked the existence of rules. It tempts me to break and disrespect them. The reaction that my action will later cause often brings me joy.

"What about the House of Blades?" tanong ko makalipas ang ilang sandali.

Nagkibit-balikat si Dawn. "Well, you're a newly formed house so your elites may be appointed at the upcoming Selection Ball." magtatanong na sana ako nang pigilan niya. "Since we don't have a next subject and your questions aren't ending, can we head to the library? Para sa assignment natin sa History."

Sumang-ayon ang mga kasama ko kaya sumama na lang din ako. Ah, the classic question asked in our history class. Is good and bad really symbolized by the colors they mostly represent? Is light at all times good, and darkness always evil?

What a fucked-up question, if you ask me. Hindi man ako matalino, pero alam ko naman na hindi dapat basehan ang kapangyarihang 'yon para maging mabuti o masama ang isang tao. Dahil sa ganiyang pag-iisip, naging ganito na ang lugar namin. Black and red are forbidden just because they symbolize evil, and the night is shortened because the sun is worshipped.

The birthland of magic refusing the darkness of it. What a joke.

"Papalapit na rin pala ang Selection Ball, 'no! Just two weeks away!" nae-excite na wika ni Eva. "It's a very wonderful party, Raven. Madaming pagkain tapos makaka-suot ulit tayo ng gowns. Our families can also visit!"

Dahan-dahang napawi ang ngiti niya nang taasan ko siya ng kilay sa huling sinabi. Theron is the only name that excites me about my family coming. Baka maaga akong makipagkamayan kay kamatayan kapag nakita ko do'n si Daddy.

I hope they ignore the party just like how they ignore me most of their lives. Right now, I don't want the attention I've been begging for since I was a child.

"And... sa Friday pa naman 'yon, Raven. We can spend the whole week in the Ukiyo Foundation Fair Week!"

"Bakit ang haba?" reklamo ko na nagpatawa kay Theus.

"Just call it foundation week. Si Eva lang naman ang salarin kung bakit ganiyan kahaba." he said, rolling his eyes.

"It's a pity you won't see your parents, Tamara." biglang sabi ni Dawn na kumuha sa atensiyon ko. "Will they be busy again?"

"Mm." nakangiting tumango si Tamara. She probably noticed my curious expression because she turned to me. "They'll be busy guarding the academic grounds during the party."

I groaned at that. "I hope our house will also be expected to protect the academic grounds. Mas gugustuhin kong gumala-gal sa labas kaysa magparty sa loob."

Sabay na tumawa si Solana at Theus sa sinabi ko.

"Wait, really? I would have bet that you're a party-goer, Raven." natatawang komento ni Solana.

"I do enjoy parties, but not when the guests piss me off."

"Who are those guests so we can already have them blacklisted?" ngising tanong ni Dawn.

Bahagya akong nagulat sa tinanong niya. I never expected that sort of question from her.

Marami-rami na ang estudyante nang makarating kami sa library. There were students laughing silently in the floating tables. May mga seryoso namang nagbabasa sa second floor. We occupied one of the large tables in the third floor. Normally, we wouldn't gather attention because most of the students are too focused, but my heels were the only noise inside the library. Kaya kahit ang mga winged creatures, a ball-like head with whitish fingers, na nag-aayos ng mga libro ay napapasulyap sa'kin.

"Ngayon lang ako nakapasok sa library na pinagtitinginan ng marami, girl!" mahinang bulalas ni Theus nang makaupo kami.

"Walking around the academy with Raven has already made me used to it. Kahit saan kami pumunta, may mga lumilingon talaga." ani Tamara sabay hagikhik. "A week from now, they'd already be used to that sound."

"You really take too much attention." komento ni Dawn na naglalabas na ng mga libro.

"I enjoy the attention." I eyed the winged creatures who brought the book to her. "What are those?"

"Oh. Them?" tumango ako nang ituro niya ang isa. "They're called Sylphins. They're sentient creatures who pledged to serve the library. Inaayos nila ang mga libro dito at tinutulungan ang mga estudyante sa paghahanap."

I followed another Sylphin as it fetched books for Eva. Ngumiti siya sa'kin. "Elites have their own Sylphins."

Ngumuso ako at tumayo. How lucky.

"You can just use ours if you want to get something, Raven." ani Eva.

I waved my hand dismissively to refuse their offer. Pumunta ako sa mga bookshelves at pinaglandas ang daliri ko sa mga libro. Ayoko namang magbasa, gusto ko lang gumala-gala.

I enjoyed flipping the pages of a colored storybook when I was a child, but when I grew up, binura ko ang pagbasa sa aking mga interes. In my teenage angst years, reading meant losing. Reading meant following the rules set of our family, and abiding with my father's merciless desire to train us as his weapons. At dahil din naman sa pag-ayaw ko ay nabibigyan nila ako ng atensiyon.

Napahinto ako sa naisip at mahinang tumawa. Pinaglaruan ko ang librong nasa harapan. What a dark twist of my thoughts and another reminder of how pathetic I could be. My parents love each other, and until now it holds true. But the love for their children has twisted into something of greed. Daddy was busy in forging Ellis' as a perfect student, and Mommy was always teaching Flair about beauty, marriage, and whatever. When Theron came and my older sisters led their own lives, they spoiled my younger brother with so much love and attention.

Napapaisip na lang ako minsan kung bakit hindi ako kailanman nabigyan ng gano'ng atensiyon, kahit isa lang sa kanila.

"Pathetic, Raven." I breathed, pushing the book back.

Aalis na sana ako nang may kumuha ng libro. Normally, I would ignore whoever it is but the next words were directed at me.

"Talking alone and calling yourself pathetic? I wouldn't expect that from a fierce girl like you."

The voice sounded familiar that it caught my interest. Kapareho ng boses niya ang nagpatigil sa laban ko kay Giovanni.

I turned around, my brow instantly raising at the stranger. He was a man, tall and lean. His dark blue hair was a bit long that it almost covered his brows. Nakasuot siya ng salamin at may tipid na ngiti sa labi. His uniform was dark blue, meaning he's from the House of Ocean Moon. At mula sa cape niya na hindi puti, he's a member of the Elites.

"Tsuki." I tested his name on my tongue.

He tilted his head, the corner of his lips pulling upwards. "You know me." It wasn't a question.

"Binanggit ni Solana ang pangalan ng mga Elites kanina."

"You're friends with her," tatango-tango niyang tugon. "Interesting."

Nang wala na siyang sinabi pa ay humanda akong maglakad paalis. "But you're not so excuse me-"

My graceful walk-out was stopped when he pulled my wrists. Hindi naman masakit dahil medyo maluwag ang pagkakahawak niya, pero hindi niya rin ako hinayaan na makawala. I turned to him coolly, disinterest evident on my face.

"This book..." ipinakita niya sa'kin ang pinaglalaruan kong libro kanina. "At first glance, hindi ko akalain na maganda ang taste mo sa books. But this... this is a good read."

"Yeah." I dragged the word out. "I played with it thoughtlessly. Hindi ko nga alam ano title niyan."

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. He laughed as he let me go. Are all boys in that elite group weirdos?

"That's so Raven of you." he simply said.

I gave a small smirk. I love that phrase.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang ibigay niya sa'kin ang libro. The brown, dusty book felt heavy in my hands. One look and I'm already tired from imagining that I have to read this. I came here for the bugbogan, not to practice my bookworm talents.

"But, try to read this one. It might help you understand our world." dagdag niya.

Binasa ko ang title ng libro, 'The Souls Within Us' ang tawag doon. Written by someone named Sarienne and Ryuu. Nandoon ulit ang half sun-half moon na mismong crest ng academy, but the sun was shrouded in darkness and the moon beamed with light. Quite the opposite but perfectly fits the picture. An odd pair.

Nang i-angat ko ang tingin ay nawala na si Tsuki sa harap ko. Hindi ko na masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin ang pagkawala niya at ibinalik ang libro. The people here should find other victims. Sadly, I don't let my curiosities get the best of me.

Pinagpatuloy ko ang paglalakad sa mga bookshelves. The Sylphins that flew past couldn't help but glance my way. Kapag nagkakatinginan kami ng small, adorable creatures, ay ngumingiti ako. They aren't responding to my warm greeting but it's not like I was expecting one anyway.

Tumigil ako sa History section. There were a lot of books discussing the origins of our magic and the creation of the first soulstone, stories of the two humans who fought with magic, tales of the betrayal of humans against the divine rulers, and worshipping words for the gods who made this world. All of them were so boring na binasa ko lang ang description sa likod at ibinalik ang libro.

Heavens, Raven! Pagdating sa bookhunting, wala nang mas tatanga pa sa'yo.

I was about to move to the next aisle when a movement caught my eye. Agad kong itinago ang sarili at sumilip sa taas ng mga libro. Someone stood in front of a shelf, looking both ways, probably inspecting if someone's watching. Pagkatapos ay may limang libro siyang pinull-out. After pressing the large book at the middle, the bookshelf moved to open. Tumambad ang isang metal door na agad niya ring binuksan.

Nang makapasok ang tao ay lumapit ako sa bookshelf na bumalik na sa ayos. I eyed the books used to open the secret passageway. Sa taas ng shelf ay may nakalagay na restricted section and there was another door at the other end of the shelf. Ngumuso ako at bumalik na sa mesa. Whatever that person was up to, hindi ko naman business 'yon.

When I rejoined my group, I found Dawn giving me a quizzing look. Hindi ko na siya pinansin at umupo sa tabi ng Tamara na nagsusunog ng kilay. I remained nonchalant in the middle of their brainstorming, the littlest bit interested about studies and academics.

If may voting ng worst student dito sa school, I may be a potential candidate.

We used the time alloted for PE and breaks inside the library. Dalawang beses na akong nakatulog at tambak na ang libro ni Dawn nang umalis kami. Our room for the Soul Arts subject was larger and spacious. Mga five meter siguro ang distance ng bawat desks kaya kung mayroon mang written exam, I can already see my grades as bagsak.

Like before, I took the seat near the windows. Hindi ko nakuha ang pinakalikod na upuan dahil may pamilyar na tao nang nakaupo doon.

"AA!" I greeted, grinning brightly. Tipid na ngiti lang ang isinagot niya sa'kin. "I'm glad we're in the same subject."

"Ako, Raven? Glad ka din ba na makasama ako, kasi glad na glad akong kasama ka!"

Inilipat ko ang supladang tingin kay Griffin na nakaupo na pala sa tabi ko. The frowning Tamara who was supposed to take that seat had to sit in front of him. Nahagip rin ng tingin ko si Giovanni sa likod ni Griffin. Nginisian niya lang ako nang magtama ang tingin namin at 'di na nagsalita pa. At our mathematics class earlier, hindi rin siya nakipag-usap, which was a bit odd for the sarcastic bastard.

"I'd be glad if I didn't see your face." diretso kong sagot kay Griffin.

Tumawa siya na parang bumanat ako. "Nakakakilig talaga lahat ng sinasabi mo. Pwede bang panagutan mo na 'tong feelings ko, sa'yo?"

Ang mga malalapit na estudyanteng nakarinig ay napatawa, habang nilingon naman siya ni Tamara na lukot ang mukha. "Nakakasuka ka, Griffin."

Ngumiwi ang lalaki. "Don't puke on me, please. But if it's Raven I'd be assisting, go on!"

Sinulyapan niya pa ako nang sinabi 'yon pero nilipat ko lang ang tingin sa unahan. Sakto namang pumasok si Helios na dinaanan ng matalim na tingin ang banda namin bago naupo sa may unahan. I pursed my lips, watching his large frame. Sure, he isn't blocking anyone because he's at the sides, but hell if he's not getting attention. At least eighty percent of the female stares were directed at him.

Sunod na pumasok si Tsuki and I almost rolled my eyes at the familiar classmates I'm going to suffer with in this class. Nang makita ako ay agad siyang ngumiti at kumaway.

"Raven, hi!" sigaw niya na para bang hindi kami nasa iisang classroom lang. He surveyed the seats around me, pouting when he didn't see any vacancy.

Hindi ko nasagot ang pagbati niya dahil may nahuli ang mata ko mula sa field. It was Andreas and Paham talking seriously. May sinabi ang matanda na nagpagalit sa batang guro, then his eyes travelled to our room. He looks really pissed with his closed fists and furrowed brows.

"Hala! 'Di ba siya 'yong pasaway na anak ng Tempest? Why is Tsuki associating with the likes of her?"

Ibinalik ko ang atensiyon sa mga kaklase nang marinig ang magandang pangalan ko sa marumi nilang bibig.

"At may gana pa talaga siyang i-ignore ang nag-iisang Tsukishima Nuray!"

Mas magugulat kayo kung dalawa pala sila. E'di may impersonator o impostor na ang lalaking 'yon.

"Akala naman niya kung sino siyang maganda."

"Oh, but I am beautiful." nakangiti kong tugon sa malapit na babaeng nang-insulto sa'kin. She's sitting beside Griffin and she jumped when I responded. "Ask your seatmate if you don't agree." sabay turo ko kay Griffin.

Nakangiti namang tumango ang lalaki. "Wala talagang makakatalo sa confidence mo, Raven. At 'yan ang mas nakakapagpaganda sa'yo!"

Napapairap ang ibang babae. I chuckled, sitting straight when the professor for our Soul Arts entered the room.

His eyes landed on me, or the guy behind me, before speaking, "Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Kiernan, your teacher for the subject of souls and magic arts. I believe our class will be exceptional, with the addition of a forbidden magic in these four walls. For the first time, we will be tackling about dark magic again."