Etherial

A New Start

RAMDAM KO pa rin ang tila tinutusok ng milyon-milyong karayom nang ako ay magising. Sobrang bigat ng pakiramdam ko, at tila umiikot ang buong paligid. Sinubukan kong gumalaw pero napangiwi na lang ako nang kumirot ang ulo ko. Parang binibiyak sa sakit. Tila lantang gulay rin ang buong katawan ko.

I scanned the whole place, and discovered that I am not inside the dormitory. Hindi rin ito ang infirmary ng academy dahil magagarang gamit ang narito. The whole place shouts red and gold. Even the soft, canopy bed I’m on.

Napunta ang atensyon ko sa may pinto nang marinig ko ang pagbukas nito. And there, I saw my father with dark circles around his eyes. And when he saw me, his eyes gleamed before he dashed his way to me. He held my hand, put it on his cheek and started crying without saying anything.

“F-Father...w-why are you crying?” I asked, wondering what could be the reason for his tears.

Umiling lang ang ama ko bago hinalikan ang likod ng palad ko. Then he sat down at the corner of my bed, wiping his tears with his free hand.

I, without knowing anything, stared at my father with questioning eyes. I wanted to ask him a lot of things, but I couldn’t move my lips as badly as I want to. My body feels so drained, as if it was completely sucked out of life.

“Olivia, let’s go home,” my father said out in the blue, with worry all over his swollen eyes. “I can’t afford to lose you, too. You’re the only family I have. Losing you is death to me,” he added before he started shedding tears again.

“W-What happened?” Halos pabulong kong tanong dahil sa kawalan ng lakas. I badly want to know everything, and I hope my father would tell me.

Right after hearing my question, my father looked at me with sharp eyes before heaving a sigh, maybe to calm himself. I could sense his intense anger. No, I could see it in his eyes.

“You almost died summoning a spirit,” matigas na sagot sa akin ng aking ama bago bahagyang humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko. “Prince Sarkin told me you were forced to summon a spirit by Asralyn.”

Nang sabihin iyon sa akin ng aking ama ay nag-iwas ako ng tingin. I am at fault, too. Masyado akong nagpadala sa emosyon ko at pinatulan ang hamon sa akin ng pinsan ko. It’s my fault. I brought this to myself.

“I will no longer let you return to the academy. We will go back to the castle. I will hire as many people as you want to teach you everything you want to know,” my father said with finality as he stares at me with determined eyes. “Hate me, I don’t care. I don’t want seeing you again in this state. You’re too precious to me, my daughter. I value you more than anything else...more than my life.”

I completely understand my father. I get where he is coming from. But this is not just right. This doesn’t feel right to me. I don’t want to forever live in his fence. I want to live with my own light guiding my path. I am so fed up living in the shadows.

I stared at my father with disapproving eyes. I shook my head, saying no as loud and determined as I could.

“Let’s not argue about this, Olivia. I know what’s best for you,” mariing sagot ng aking ama bago tumayo. “Healers will come to help you recover your stamina. After that, we will leave,” dagdag niya bago mabilis na lumabas.

I clutched my hands in frustration. Mariin akong pumikit at kinagat ang ibabang labi ko. Why can’t my father understand me? Why can’t he see that I am not just doing this for my own, selfish goal, but for his good, too? I don’t want other nobles question his worth as the current head of the Runebraid Clan anymore. I don’t want them doubting his ability and power just because he has an incompetent daughter. I am so sick of it.

Ilang sandali pa ay dumating na ang healers na sinasabi ng aking ama. Three people in white robes outlined with gold entered the room. At the left side of their chest shines the nebular-colored dragon emblem, the emblem of the royal family.

Wait, royal family?

Muli kong tiningnan ang buong paligid, and that’s the time when I realized that I am inside the royal castle. Mas lalo lang dumami ang tanong na gumugulo sa akin. How did I manage to end up here? Who brought me here?

Tatanungin ko sana ang tatlong healers pero hindi ko na itinuloy nang makitang nagsisimula na silang balutin ng puting etherial particles. Sa likod nila ay ang tatlong identical spirits—golden orbs with white seraphim wings.

The spirits emitted a golden light as the etherial particles from the healers transfer to me. A warm, comforting sensation seeped through my skin, revitalizing my stamina. The healing process lasted for minutes before they stopped. They bowed down and left without saying anything to me and giving me a chance to raise a question.

I tried moving my body and was glad to find out that I can completely move without feeling any pain.

Babangon na sana ako nang muling bumukas ang pinto. Agad akong napatingin sa pumasok at agad na napayuko nang makita ang second prince ng Nossec. “Prince Sarkin,” magalang kong sambit habang nakayuko.

“No need for formalities,” agaran niyang sagot bago ko naramdaman ang paglubog ng sulok ng kama.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nagkasalubong ang mga mata namin. The second prince’s eyes are opposite to the crown prince. His eyes were as deep as midnight and so as his hair. He got the queen’s eyes and hair, while the crown prince got the king’s.

“Don’t just stare at me,” saway niya sa akin bago pilyong ngumisi. “Well, I usually get that kind of stare wherever I go. What can I do? I am so handsome that my looks could rival the gods,” he said with full of narcissism.

I stared at him weirdly, eyebrows arching and almost meeting. And when he saw my expression, he frowned, puffing an air.

“Now you’re looking at me like I am sort of a weirdo,” kunot-noong sabi niya bago inayos ang mahabang buhok niya. “Women are indeed a maze,” aniya bago pinag-krus ang kamay sa dibdib niya. “Aren’t you going to ask me how the hell did you end up here?”

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero hinarang niya ang kamay niya sa mukha ko. “No need to ask. I’ll tell you everything,” nakangising sabi niya bago tinaas-taas ang kilay sa akin. “I’m so cool, right?”

I want to roll my eyes and tell him to leave me alone. But since he’s a prince, I can’t do that. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang tiisin ang narcissistic na prinsipeng nasa harapan ko.

“I was the one who brought you here,” panimula niya. “I don’t know where to bring you, so I decided to bring you here. I thought you’re just a commoner with nowhere to go, but when I saw your onyma, it turns out that you’re the daughter of Lord Arthur Runebraid.”

He stared at me with disbelief and disappointment. “Why did you let that b***h overpower you?”

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa aking narinig. “Your Highness, please refrain from using such vulgar word,” nakayukong sabi ko.

“I told you, let’s forget the formalities. Let’s speak our hearts out. I am so sick of being so formal. Let me speak however I like,” naiinis niyang sabi bago winagayway ang kamay niya sa mukha ko. “And stop calling me such honorific. Call me Sarkin,” dagdag niya.

Tumango lang ako dahil sa pagkabigla sa pag-uugali ng prinsipe.

“Now, answer me, why did you let that b***h overpower you?” ulit niya sa tanong.

Hindi ako sumagot. I stared at his eyes and he just gave raised his brows at me.

“Can’t you talk?”

Yumuko ako. “My apologies for not answering, Your Highness. It’s just my reason is too personal to disclose.”

“Fine, fine. I won’t force you. But let me tell you this: when that b***h bully you again, do not talk back nor slap her. Fight with your fist. That b***h only acts that way since she has Aries to protect her. But if ever you’ll caught her unguarded, punch her face and aim for her eyes or lips.”

Napaawang ang bibig ko. How could a prince be so vulgar and violent?

But I like his suggestion. But I still think it’s inappropriate for a noble to do such thing.

“Or maybe you can train your spirit,” saad niya dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kanya. “What’s with that weird look again?”

“I don’t have a spirit,” sagot ko.

“Are you high? Did the healers use too much etherial particles on you?” kunot-noong mungkahi ng prinsipe bago tumagos ang tingin sa likuran ko. “Then what do you call that two-tailed fox sleeping there?”

Sinundan ko ang tingin ng prinsipe. There I saw a small ash gray fox with two gradient ash and dark blue tails, sleeping under the table. What caught my attention was the pentagram mark on its forehead. At nang mapansin nitong nakatingin ako sa kanya ay nagmulat ito ng mata at tumitig pabalik sa akin. Its dark blue, glowing round eyes meet my gaze.

‘Master...’

A feminine voice echoed inside my head. But I am completely aware where it came from. That fox just talked to me and called me master!

“You see, that spirit is weird,” komento ng prinsipe. “Right after bringing you here, that spirit materialized on its own. And you know what’s crazier? It hasn’t dematerialized yet. It’s been on its physical form for days!”

Napatingin ako sa prinsipe. “What do you mean for days? How many days have I been asleep?” tanong ko.

“Six days,” sagot niya sa akin. “And be grateful that you managed to wake up,” he added before his expression softens as he look at me. “You almost died because you forcefully performed the summoning. The lack of etherial particles in your body caused your life force to be consumed instead.”

Napayuko ako. Mukhang maraming nadamay sa ginawa kong katangahan.

“Thank you,” sabi ko kasabay ng pag-angat ng tingin ko. Tinitigan ko ang prinsipe at nginitian. I gave him the sweetest smile I could give. “Thank you for saving me.”

Kitang-kita ko ang pamumula ng tainga at pisngi ng prinsipe. “D-Don’t mind it. I-It’s just so uncool to let those assholes beat you up. Y-Yeah, that’s right.”

Muli akong ngumiti bago tiningnan ang spirit ko. I motioned my hands to call her. At mukhang naiintindihan niya ang iniisip ko dahil tumalon ito papunta sa kama at humiga sa hita ko. masuyo kong hinagod ang balahibo nito at hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang maramdaman kung gaano ito kalambot.

Nang tingnan ko ang prinsipe ay nakangiti itong nakatingin sa akin. Pero agad ding nag-iwas ng tingin.

“Prince Sarkin Lothe Nossec, I, Olivia Runebraid, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will forever remember your kindness and be forever indebted to you,” puno ng galang at sinsesiridad kong saad.

Napangiwi ang prinsipe bago umiling. “Your formality is giving me chills. I get it already, you’re thankful.”

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang pananalita niya. Ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya. “With that, I would like to excuse myself, Prince Sarkin.”

“Excuse for what?”

“I will now go back to the castle with my father,” sagot ko at hindi mapigilan ang pagkalungkot.

Labag talaga sa kalooban ko ang desisyon ng ama ko. Pero wala na akong magagawa kundi ang sumunod.

“Oh, regarding that matter, I forgot to tell you that I’ve already talked with Lord Arthur and convinced him to let you continue studying at the academy,” sabi niya na siyang ikinabigla ko.

“Did I hear you right?” nanlalaking-mata kong tugon at hindi mapigilan ang pagsilay ng ngiti sa labi.

“Yeah. I’m so cool, right?” nakangising sagot ng prinsipe habang tinataas-baba ang magkabilang kilay.

Dahil sa tuwa ay nakalimutan ko ang agwat sa pagitan namin ng prinsipe at bigla ko itong nayakap. “Thank you so much, Your Highness!”

Mukhang nabigla rin ang prinsipe sa ginawa ko kaya naitulak niya ako palayo. Kitang-kita ko ang muling pamumula ng tainga at pisngi niya.

“Y-You d-don’t need to do that!” hindi makatinging sabi niya bago tumayo at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa pintuan. At bago siya tuluyang makalabas ay narinig ko pa siyang bumulong, “That’s so uncool, Sarkin, you asshole!”

Nakangiti akong umiling sa inasta ng prinsipe bago binalingan ang spirit ko na nakatingin sa akin. Then a name suddenly popped inside my head.

Kinarga ko ito at hinalikan sa noo. “Did you hear that, Sunne? We can still study at the academy. Let’s train and work hard together, okay?”