Etherial

Forced Summon

NAPALUHOD AKO nang kusang bumigay ang mga tuhod ko dahil sa pagod at kawalan ng etherial particles sa katawan. I failed controlling the etherial particles inside me again. It’s been three days since the provisionary class started and I don’t see any improvements at all.

“Controlling the amount of etherial particles is not only important in summoning a spirit, please bear in mind that it is a lifelong skill that would help you sustain the materialization of your spirit outside your body,” ani ng prinsipe habang naglalakad palibot sa aming lima.

Tiningnan ko ang mga kasama ko. Dalawa sa kanila ang nananatili pa ring nakatayo, an indication that their control is improving.

“Spirit consumes the etherial particles inside our body. And if we can’t control the amount of etherial particles we release, spirit may consume all of it in a short period of time,” paalala sa amin ng prinsipe habang patuloy siyang naglalakad. “Even the person with the strongest etherial attribute can run out of etherial particles in a minute if they know no control.”

“Professor, I can’t take it anymore. I need to rest,” ani ng isa sa mga kasama ko.

The prince just nodded in response to avoid disturbing the others.

Pinagmasdan ko ang dalawang kaklase ko. The runes on the floor surrounding them continue to glow brighter as they finish the chant.

Mahina kong pinisil ang magkabila kong pisngi bago ako muling tumayo at sumubok ulit. I then began chanting the summoning spell, eyes closed.

“Always remember that control is everything. Every movement of your spirits, every attack, and even the level of their strength relies on your control over the etherial particles inside your body. In a battle, the one who can always win is the summoner who can sustain the materialization of their spirit longer.”

The voice of the crown prince echoed inside my head as I focus on controlling my etherial particles while chanting the summoning spell. I can feel the rush of etherial particles inside me—the cold and warm sensations that make you feel like standing in a blizzard of burning snow.

As I continue chanting, I could sense the continuous draining of my energy. Every word seems to be sucking every bit of strength I have. I wanted to rush the chant so I won’t run out of etherial particles, but I know it would be impossible. And thinking how others managed to improve their control frustrates me even more.

“Take it easy,” the crown prince said in a warm and comforting voice said before I felt his warm hands holding mine. “Don’t rush, Olivia. Stay focused.”

How can I even stay focused if you’re this close and you’re even holding my hands?!

Because of what the crown prince did, I lost my focus. Hindi ko na natapos ang chant dahil hindi na ako makapagsalita nang maayos. Instead of etherial particles, what surged inside me were butterflies and tingling sensation.

Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko mula sa prinsipe at yumuko. “I am sorry, Professor. I lost focus.”

Ngumiti lang siya bago inilagay sa likod niya ang kanyang mga kamay. Then he motioned me to follow him. We went to the corner of the room, far enough from my classmates. Then he motioned me to sit on the ground.

“I’ve been observing you for days now, Olivia, and I finally got to pinpoint the reason why you keep on running out of etherial particles,” panimula niya bago umupo sa tapat ko. “You can never learn how to control etherial particles if you can’t control your thoughts first. Your mind is clouded by thoughts, right?”

Hindi ako nagsalita dahil alam kong tama siya. Tumango lang ako bilang tugon.

“I advise you to let go of those thoughts. I don’t know what you’ve been through, but if you want to journey, let all those ties loose,” aniya bago tumayo. “I won’t say anything unrelated to class again. Now, it’s up for you to decide whether to consider my advice or not.”

Pinagmasdan ko lang siyang maglakad pabalik sa mga kaklase ko. I was left thinking of what he has just said. I don’t know if I could take his advice since those thoughts are with me ever since my clan knew of my etherial attribute. Those thoughts are the roots of my thirst for power and recognition. I cannot just simply let go of them.

Natapos ang klase namin na wala pa ring pagbabago sa akin habang ang dalawa kong kasama sa klase ay susubukan na ang summoning bukas at ang natitira pang dalawa ay paniguradong magiging handa na sa summoning sa susunod na linggo.

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HABANG naglalakad ako pabalik sa dormitory ay hindi ko maiwasang mapalingon sa magkabilang gilid ko. I feel like being watched. Kanina pa ito magmula nang lumabas ako sa classroom. And it’s not that I am scared that someone would actually attack me, since the academy is highly guarded, it’s just that I hate this uncomfortable feeling.

Binilisan ko na lang ang paglalakad ko para makarating ako agad sa dormitory. Pero ilang hakbang pa lang ang aking nagagawa ay napahinto na ako nang humarang sa akin ang isang dambuhalang dragon.

Its crimson eyes stared at me intensely as its crimson tail completely blocked the passage.

Napailing ako bago tumalikod para harapin ang master ng dragon. “Reveal yourself, dear cousin,” walang gana kong sambit bago muling binalingan ang great spirit na si Aries. “You can stop staring at me like that, it won’t work anymore.”

The dragon gnarled at me before lying on the hallway while keeping its intense gaze on me. Napairap ako. Mana talaga ang spirit na ito sa master niya—hostile and stupid.

“Well, well, who would have thought that I’ll be seeing you here, my worthless cousin?” Asralyn showed up with three girls following her.

“What do you want from me, Asralyn? Get straight to the point. I still have things to do which are more valuable than talking with you,” naiinip kong sabi.

I wanted this conversation to end as soon as possible. Hindi ko magawang matagalan ang nakakabwisit na mukha ng pinsan ko. Kung pisikal na lakas lang ang labanan, I could knock her out without even sweating.

Imbes na sagutin ako ay hinarap niya ang tatlong babae na nasa likuran niya bago ito tinanguan. Pagkatapos no’n ay agad na lumapit sa akin ang tatlo at mahigpit akong hinawakan. Sinubukan ko silang itulak palayo pero dahil na rin sa rami nila ay hindi ko nagawa.

“Take her.”

Iyon lang ang sinabi ni Asralyn bago nila nilagyan ng busal ang bibig ko, piniringan ang mga mata, at tinalian ang kamay. I continued struggling but it’s useless.

Hindi ko alam kung saan nila ako dadalhin, pero isa lang ang nasisiguro ko, hindi maganda ang kalalabasan nito. I know how Asralyn hate me. That is why I couldn’t point the extent of how evil could she be when it comes to me.

Hindi ko alam kung ano na naman ang rason kung bakit niya ito ginagawa. Wala akong maisip na dahilan.

Ilang minuto rin nila akong kinladkad hanggang sa marahas nila akong itulak dahilan upang sumubsob ako sa lupa. I winced in pain when I felt a cut on my cheek.

Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko sa galit. Hindi ko ito mapapalagpas. Once I get away with this, I’ll hunt these three girls and will make sure they’ll pay. I will show them how bad it is to mess up with someone they don’t know.

Basing on their actions, they don’t exactly know who I am. Ang alam lang nila ay pinsan ako ni Asralyn.

They want to cling onto people with power? Then I’ll show them what power really is.

Ayokong ginagamit ang posisyon ko para sa sarili kong interest, pero ibang usapan na kasi ito. I am not a saint to let this pass. Hinding-hindi ko sila mapapatawad. Kahit na sabihin pa nilang hindi nila ako kilala kaya nila ito nagawa, paparusahan ko pa rin sila.

“Free her,” utos ng pinsan ko bago inalis ng mga tagasunod niya ang tali sa kamay ko, piring sa mata, at busal sa bibig. Pagkatapos ay mabilis silang bumalik sa likuran niya.

“Asralyn, how clever of you to use innocent people to harm me,” sabi ko at hindi maiwasang mapangisi. “Don’t think they can get away with this.”

“Do what you want with them, I don’t care,” mabilis niyang sagot bago lumapit sa akin at sinampal ako.

Napaawang ang bibig ko dahil sa hapdi ng pagkakasampal niya. I could even still feel her palm on my cheeks.

Masama ko siyang tiningnan pero tinaasan lang niya ako ng kilay. Tatayo na sana ako para sampalin din siya nang biglang humarang ang buntot ni Aries.

“Wanna fight back?” nakangising tanong niya bago hinimas ang kaliskis ng spirit niya. “Try it if you can.”

Huminga ako nang malalim para hindi ako lamunin ng galit ko. Alam kong alam niyang hindi ko magagawang isumbong siya sa ama ko kaya ganito na lang kalakas ang loob niyang gawin sa akin ang kahit na anong gusto niya.

Matalim kong sinalubong ang mga titig niya. “What’s the reason this time, Asralyn? Why are you doing this to me?” matigas kong tanong.

“You should have stayed in the castle, Olivia. You should have stayed there and continue living in the shadows. Accept the fact that you can’t lead our clan,” matigas din niyang sagot. “Failing the whole clan is enough. Go back while you haven’t failed yourself yet,” nakangising dagdag niya. “Save yourself from shame.”

“You can’t send me home, Asralyn. I will stay here and prove myself worthy,” puno ng paninindigan kong sagot. “Now, tell me, what’s the exact reason for all of these? Alam kong hindi ‘yon ang tunay na rason kung bakit mo ito ginagawa. Come on, tell me. And don’t be shy to show how angry you are. All of us here know how monstrous you are.”

“You...” puno ng panggagalaiting sabi niya bago niya itinapat sa akin ang kamay niya. Black etherial particles started to materialize on her palm. “You can’t take away the crown prince from me!” sigaw niya bago tuluyang nabuo ang itim na bola ng etherial particles sa ibabaw ng palad niya. “You can’t take him away from me!” Malakas niyang ibinato sa akin ang ginawa niyang bola ng itim na etherial particles.

Dahil sa reflexes ko na na-train ng ilang taon, ay nagawa kong iwasan ang atake niya. At nang tumama ito sa lupa ay nagdulot ito ng malakas na pagsabog. She’s freaking insane! She really wants to kill me this time!

How could she use an advance technique on me?!

“Every time His Highness and I talk, all he ever say to me was there’s an interesting student he has on his class and her name was Olivia Albilon,” she said, gritting her teeth while forming another ball of dark etherial particles. “Albilon, huh. May lakas ka pa talaga ng loob na gamitin ang apelyido ng namayapang asawa ng clan head?!”

She threw another attack on me, at gaya ng nauna ay nagawa ko itong iwasan. And that seems to have pissed her even more.

With a swift move, she managed to close our gap and held me on my neck. “Why don’t you just die?” mariin niyang sabi bago niya hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa leeg ko. “You want to prove your worth to the clan? You can’t even summon a spirit you damn, failure. You’re that obsessed with proving yourself? Come, come!” she angrily said and dragged me somewhere.

I struggled to free myself from her grip but she was so powerful.

Marahas niya akong ibinalibag kaya sumubsob ako sa lupa. Nang iangat ko ang mukha ko ay bumungad sa akin ang Spirit Tree. Doon ko lang napagtanto na sa Sanctuary pala nila ako dinala.

“Now, prove your worth, cousin. Summon a spirit!” sigaw niya sa akin. “Summon a damn spirit!”

Tumayo ako at inayos ang sarili ko. I faced her fearlessly. “I won’t.”

“You won’t or you can’t? Remember the time when all the noble children were invited to the royal castle to summon their spirits? You’re the only one who failed. The only one! You’re not just a failure to the clan; you’re a failure to the Kingdom of Nossec!”

“Shut up!” sigaw ko pabalik sa kanya. Kuyom-kuyom ko ang magkabila kong kamay sa galit. Gusto kong sumabog. Gusto kong lumaban, pero nakakainis dahil alam kong matatalo rin ako. “Shut up, Asralyn,” madiin kong sabi. “You want me to prove myself? Fine, I’ll show you.”

“Do it then,” mapanghamon niyang sabi bago ako tiningnan na para bang isang malaking biro ang sinabi ko.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago hinarap ang Spirit Tree. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko bago sinimulang bigkasin ang chant.

“With the blessing of Ether vested upon me.” Spirit particles began to surge my body. “Beings of great power, heed thy call of your master.”

After uttering the second phrase, I could already feel the strain on my body. My knees are already trembling and there’s this searing pain welling up inside me. I could feel the burn of the warm sensation and the freezing bite of the cold sensation in my veins.

“C-Cross the Ether, a---” Hindi ko pa man natatapos ang sinasabi ko ay bumulwak na ang dugo sa aking ilong at bibig. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag. Just a couple of words and I am done.

Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at nakita ang pagliliwanag ng runes at ng Spirit Tree. “—a-and s-serve me forever,” pagtapos ko sa chant bago muling bumulwak ang dugo sa aking bibig na ikinasanhi ng pag-ikot ng paningin ko.

At bago ako tuluyang mawalan ng malay ay may narinig akong lalaking nagsalita mula sa aking likuran, “Ganging up on one girl? How pathetic can you be, Asralyn? No wonder why the crown prince does not pay you any attention.”

Pagkatapos no’n ay naramdaman ko ang pag-angat ng aking katawan bago ko muling narinig ang boses ng lalaki. “I’ll make sure you’ll pay for this.”