Etherial

Official

Saglit na katahimikan ang pumagitna sa aming dalawa bago ito binasag ng malakas na tawa ng headmaster. And again, I felt insulted. I felt looked down. Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko sa inis. I contained my emotion to keep my cool. I took his insulting and degrading laugh as a challenge.

“You don’t need to prove your worth, milady. Your etherial attribute says it all. A noble with such low power is nothing but a disgrace to their family. With the current level of your etherial attribute, you cannot summon a powerful etherial spirit, and with that you can never become a noble worthy of leading our clan.”

Humigpit ang pagkakakuyom ko sa aking kamao. Kahit ilang beses ko ng narinig ang mga katagang iyon, hindi pa rin talaga ako sanay. Those words still pierce through my heart—the very reason why my clan despises me, why everyone in the clan wants to banish me.

Even though father is aware of how low my power is, he still acts like he’s not bothered at all. Pero alam ko, higit sa lahat, siya ang pinakaapektado. My father only wants what is best for me. That is why he provided me everything. He became too overprotective. He even hired various teachers that would help me improve my etherial attribute, but it’s still useless. My power remain unchanged.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, headmaster. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” matigas kong sambit bago mabilis na nilisan ang silid.

Pagkalabas ko ay isinuot ko ang hood ng itim na cloak na suot ko at inilugay ang kulay abo kong buhok upang itago ang mukha ko. Yumuko rin ako upang hindi gaanong makita ang namumula kong mga mata.

For eighteen years, I have been training my heart to absorb those painful words, yet I am still hurt. I failed myself again.

But I promise, as I spend my days in this academy, I will be better until I am already worthy of bearing the Runebraid name.

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MAG-ISA kong binagtas ang daan pabalik sa school grounds. Doon ay nadatnan ko ang dalawang attendants ko na naghihintay sa akin. Nang makita nila ako ay agad silang lumapit at nagtanong kung may kailangan ba ako.

Umiling lang ako bago mas itinago ang mukha ko sa ilalim ng hood. I don’t them to see me crying again. Ayokong kaawanan na naman nila ako. I am done with it. Pagod na akong kaawaan ng mga attendant ko.

“Guide me to my room,” mahinang sambit ko na agad naman nilang sinunod.

“Yes, milady.”

Tahimik naming binagtas ang left wing ng academy kung saan naroroon ang girl’s dormitory. One of the protocols of the academy is to stay here until the class semester ends. This is to ensure that students will be safe and will solely focus on studying and honing their etherial attributes and etherial spirit summons.

Matapos ang ilang minutong paglalakad ay nakarating kami sa dormitory. Ang unang bumungad sa akin ay ang dalawang grand staircase ng academy na siyang nagkokonekta sa tatlong floors ng gusali. Sa gitna ng malalaking hagdan ay ang malaking chandelier na puno ng mga kandila.

“In what floor will I stay?” tanong ko habang humahakbang sa hadgan.

“In the second floor, milady,” sagot ng isa kong attendant.

Napangiti ako sa sinagot ng attendant. I am glad that my father granted my wish. Dahil kung hindi, my uncle would probably throw me at the third floor where most nobilities stay. And of course, nandoon ang mga pinsan ko na labis-labis ang disgusto sa akin.

“We’re here, milady,” sambit ng attendant bago tumigil sa harap ng isang pinto na may number nine.

Tumango lang ako bago binuksan ang pinto. Tutuloy na sana ako sa pagpasok nang mapansin kong dalawa ang kama sa silid. I quickly turned around to face my attendants. Agad nilang nakuha ang ibig kong sabihin kaya patakbo nilang tinawag si Rosa. Habang hinihintay ko sila ay tinungo ko ang aking kama.

The bed is ordinary but decent. Paniguradong mahihirapan akong mag-adjust nito, but I have to.

Ilang minuto lang ay dumating na si Rosa. Sa likod niya ay ang dalawang attendants na tumawag sa kanya. They were all catching their breaths. It seems like they ran their way here.

“M-Milady,” hinihingal na sambit ni Rosa kasabay ng pagyuko niya. “My apologies. I forgot to inform you that you will be sharing your room with another student. This is in accordance to the academy’s house rules.”

“Okay,” sagot ko na lang. Wala rin naman akong magagawa. Baka kapag nagreklamo ako ay gawin pa ni uncle na dalawa ang kasama ko. “You may now leave. Tell my father to never do anything for me anymore. Tell him to let me stand on my own feet.”

“As you wish, milady.”

Nang tuluyan silang makaalis ay humilata na ako sa kama pero dahil naninibago ako ay hindi ako mapakali. My room is way too small. Back in the castle, my room is thrice as big as this. Napailing ako. I shouldn’t be complaining. How could I ever prove my worth kung hindi ako lalabas sa comfort zone ko?

Bumangon ako at iginala ang paningin sa buong silid. There are two beds. Each bed has its own side table which also serves as the study table. Between the beds is a big glass window. Mula sa bintana ay tanaw ko ang kagubatang nakapalibot sa academy.

“I am bored,” naibulong ko bago ako umupo sa aking kama. Wala na akong maisipang gawin.

Then the ritual of summoning crossed my mind. Agad akong tumayo at pumunta sa gitna ng kwarto. I positioned myself. Tuwid akong tumayo at ipinikit ang mga mata ko. Dinama ko ang pagdaloy ng etherial particles sa aking kaugatan.

“With the blessings of Ether vested upon me...” I began chanting. I can feel the rush of my blood all over my body. Warm and cold sensations dominated my veins. “Being of great power, heed thy call of your master.” The intense feeling I feel is exhausting. It’s draining my energy in a fleeting manner. “Cross the Ether, and serve me forever.” As I finish chanting the summoning spell, I fell on my knees and began panting.

The glowing runes written in a circular form on the floor are still visible, an indication that the summoning ritual reached the Ether and is still waiting for a response from any spirit residing there. However, since the ritual is done away from the Spirit Tree—the bridge that connects our realm to the Ether—it is impossible to summon any spirit.

Nang makabawi ako ng lakas ay agad akong humiga sa aking kama para makatulog nang maaga at makaipon ng lakas para bukas.

I need to conserve as much energy as I could. For tomorrow marks my quest for power and recognition.