Etherial

Unanswered

HINDI KO maipaliwanag ang kabang nararamdaman ko habang inihahanda ang sarili ko. Parang nauubusan ako ng hangin. My lungs couldn’t keep up with my pounding heart. Beads of sweat start to form on my forehead. And I could feel the faint trembling of my hands and knees.

Huminga ako nang malalim para kahit papaano ay kumalma ako. Pero wala itong epekto. Fear, hesitation, and doubt started to cloud my mind. Nawawala ako sa sarili ko by just thinking about all the things I went through before I got here.

“Kalma!” malakas na sabi ni Reslyn bago hinampas ang balikat ko.

And with that simple gesture, I came back to my senses. Naroon pa rin ang mga negatibong emosyon na pilit akong hinihila, pero mas nangingibabaw ang determinasyon ko. I can’t fail this one. This is first step in achieving my goal.

Nilingon ko si Reslyn. Karga-karga niya ang etherial spirit niya. Nginitian ko siya at pinasalamatan. Tumango lang siya sa akin bago nagpaalam na mauuna na siya sa labas at doon na lang maghihintay.

Nang makaalis na siya ay muling tinawag ng professor ang atensyon ko. He instructed me what to do during the summoning. Tumango-tango lang ako kahit alam ko na kung paano iyon gawin.

I am confident that I can pull this off. I’ve been practicing this for years. I have been preparing myself for this moment.

“Kindly start as soon as you’re ready, Miss Albilon. Please bear in mind that there are still students waiting in line,” paalala sa akin ng professor bago ito lumayo sa akin.

Tumango lang ako at hinarap ang Spirit Tree. I could feel it. I could feel the overflowing amount of etherial particles inside the tree. I could feel the power it holds. I could feel the lives residing at the other end.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago yumuko at pumikit. I then positioned myself to start the summoning.

“With the blessings of Ether vested upon me...”

After chanting the first line, I was taken aback by a strong, pulling force that seems to be coming from the Spirit Tree. I could feel the rush of etherial particles inside me, circulating all around my body.

“Being of great power, heed thy call of your master,” I continued, trying to suppress the draining force welling up inside me.

After chanting the second line, I felt the wind embraced me. The warm and cold sensation enveloped my whole body like a thin cloth of fire and snow.

I could feel the decrease on my strength. My knees are trembling hard. The pulling force continues to get stronger, sucking every inch of my strength and etherial particles. I think any minute from now, my body will fall if I will not finish the chant.

So I took a deep breath and pulled myself together. I am almost done. I am almost there. I can finish chanting the summoning spell. Just one more line and I can start my quest for power and recognition. Just one more line and I could start proving to my clan that I am worthy to be their next leader.

“C-Cross the Ether, and---” Natigilan ako nang may maramdaman akong mainit na likidong umagos mula sa ilong ko pababa sa labi ko. I could taste the rust of iron. This is not good, I am reaching my limits already.

I was about to finish the chant when my knees gave up. But before my body fell, I managed to chant the remaining words, “—serve me forever.”

Right after finishing the chant, I thought I was going to hit the ground, but what welcomed me was a soft and warm surface. Out of curiosity, I opened my eyes, and what I saw right before me has taken me in awe.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at napaawang ang bibig ko sa pagkabigla at pagkamangha. Right before my eyes is a never ending sea of stars and celestial bodies from various sizes and colors. And I am standing on a massive nebular cloud.

After a few moments, runes started to appear, surrounding me and the nebular cloud. It soon emitted a luminous light, giving more light to the already vibrant place.

“Master...” A soft, calming, feminine voice echoed in my head. And from there, I knew it’s the voice of my spirit.

Napangiti ako dahil sa tuwa. Napanatag ako. All the negative emotions I felt before I began the summoning vanished in a snap. I did it. I summoned an etherial spirit!

“Miss Albilon! Miss Albilon!”

Napakunot ang noo ko nang marinig ko ang malakas na pagtawag sa akin ng professor na nag-facilitate ng summoning. I turned around to look for him, but what I found was a blinding ray of light followed by a strong gravitational force that pulled me into a never ending darkness.

Napasinghap ako bago marahas na bumukas ang mata ko. Unang bumungad sa akin ang kumikintab na mga dahon ng Spirit Tree. Kasunod ay ang nag-aalalang mukha ng professor.

“Are you okay? May nararamdaman ka bang masakit sa katawan mo?” sunod-sunod nitong tanong bago ako inalalayang makaupo.

“What happened?” tanong ko bago hinawakan ang ulo ko dahil sa biglaan nitong pagkirot.

“You passed out. It seems like you ran out of etherial particles.”

Pagkasabi niya n’on ay agad akong napatingin sa Spirit Tree pero nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makitang umiilaw ang runes na nakapalibot rito, an indication that the summoning was successful.

“I see,” tumatango kong tugon bago iginala ang paningin ko, trying to look for something. “Where is my etherial spirit?” tanong ko at nagsimulang magbulungan ang mga estudyanteng nakasaksi sa nangyari sa akin.

“Miss Albilon, I am sorry to tell you this, but it seems like you failed to summon an etherial spirit,” mahinang sagot ng professor kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. I saw pity on his eyes as he meets my gaze.

“What do you mean by failed? The runes and Spirit Tree are glowing, an indication that the chant was done successfully, right?” saad ko habang tahimik na humihiling na bawiin niya ang sinabi niya. I can’t fail this one or else it will only prove that my clan was right—that I am useless and unworthy of leading them.

Umiling ang professor. “Yes, the chant was successful; however no one answered your call, Miss Albilon. No single etherial spirit,” sagot niya at binigyang diin ang mga salitang huli niyang sinabi. “But don’t worry; the academy will not kick you out. I saw your potential so I will recommend you to be in the provisionary class until you successfully summon an etherial spirit. By then, that’s the only time we will be able to assign which echelon you belong.”

----

HINDI KO alam kung ilang oras na akong nakatambay sa likurang bahagi ang academy. Right after hearing the result, I ran away as far as I could. I ran away crying all my pain and disappointments. Binalak pa akong sundan ni Reslyn pero pinigilan ko siya.

I want to be alone. Ayokong makita niya akong ganito kadurog. Maaawa lang din siya sa akin gaya ng palaging ginagawa ng mga taong nakapalibot sa akin. Buong buhay ko, awa lang ang natatanggap ko mula sa mga taong nagmamahal sa akin.

Pagod na akong tumanggap ng awa. Pagod na pagod na ako. I want people to see me without pity. I want people to see what I am capable of. I want to prove them that I am also strong; that I can stand on my own.

Pero sa nangyari sa akin sa summoning, mukhang imposible nang makita ng mga taong nakapalibot sa akin ang gusto kong ipakita. Mas lalo lang nila akong kakaawaan. And I hate it.

I have never been this disappointed and hurt. Totoo nga ang sinabi sa akin noon ng pinsan ko na walang saysay ang pangarap kong tatanggapin nila ako at kikilalanin bilang head ng clan dahil hinding-hindi iyon mangyayari.

Indeed, greatest pain and disappointment comes from failing your own self.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago pinunasan ang mukha ko. I could feel how sticky my face is due to my dried up tears. My eyes are surely swollen for crying for an hour or two. My body is also hurting all over.

I guess it’s time to head back to my room and rest. I still have a class to attend tomorrow. This is the only string of hope I can hold on to. Sapat na siguro ang oras na inilaan ko para ilabas ang sama ng loob ko.

Habang hinahanap ko ang daan pabalik sa dorm ay may narinig akong nag-uusap hindi kalayuan sa kinaroroonan ko. Hinanap ko ang pinagmumulan nito at natagpuan ko ang sarili ko papunta sa garden. Ang una kong napansin ay ang hilera ng puting mga rosas na pinapalibutan ang malaking fountain ng academy.

“Your Highness, why won’t you accept my love?”

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ko ang boses ni Asralyn, ang pinsan ko na nag-iisang anak din ng headmaster. She's on her second year. Siya rin ang nagsabi na walang saysay ang pangarap kong tatanggapin nila ako at kikilalanin bilang head ng clan dahil hinding-hindi iyon mangyayari.

She’s the clan’s favorite and their candidate to be the next head of the clan. She has an immeasurable amount etherial attribute. And she is one of the members of the clan that hates me so much. She wants the position, too. She wants it badly to the extent that she even tried to harm me before using her spirit. Pasalamat siya at hindi ko sinabi sa ama ko ang ginawa niya.

Masyado na kasing lumaki ang ulo niya. She thinks she can win anything since everyone considers her as one of the noble prodigies that were able to summon an etherial spirit at such young age. At hindi lang basta-bastang spirit ang na-summon niya, it’s one of the twelve great spirits, Aries.

“Lady Asralyn, I only see you as an ally; a member of the Runebraid Clan,” malamig na sagot sa kanya ng lalaking kausap niya.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangisi. She just got rejected. Serves her right.

Pinagmasdan ko nang maigi ang lalaking kausap ng pinsan ko at nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat nang makilala ito. He’s Prince Caelan Roux Nossec, the crown prince!

Natutop ko ang bibig ko. The confidence of my cousin to confess her love to a crown prince! Grabe, ang kapal ng mukha. I can’t imagine the extent of her ambition for influence and power.

“If you have nothing more to say, you can head back to the dormitory. I would like to be alone,” saad ng crown prince sa malamig na tono.

“Y-Yes, Your Highness,” nakayukong sagot ng pinsan ko bago patakbong umalis. Pero kitang-kita ko kung paano sumama ang tingin niya sa prinsipe. I even caught her clutching her hand just to control her anger.

I know her well. She’s just holding it in. Mamaya, kapag wala ng nanonood, she will surely explode like a bomb. She will displace her anger to anything or anyone she sees that she deems inferior to her. That’s how rotten she is inside. She got corrupted by her own power and inflated sense of self.

Nang makitang kong tuluyan nang nakalayo ang pinsan ko ay binalak ko na ring umalis. Pero napasigaw na lang ako sa gulat nang makita ang isang nagliliyab na higanteng dragon na matamang nakatingin sa akin. Its golden eyes were glued at me. Hindi ako nakagalaw sa takot at pagkabigla. How come I didn’t notice it?

“Leo, how many times have I told you to never scare the students?” dinig kong sambit ng prinsipe bago siya lumabas sa likuran ng etherial spirit. Bahagya siyang yumuko sa harapan ko. “My apologies. Did my spirit frighten you?”

Hindi ako nakasagot. I was stunned by the presence of the etherial spirit and the crown prince’s charisma. Ang una kong napansin sa prinsipe ay ang kulay araw niyang buhok at mga mata at mapupulang labi na kay tamis kung ngumiti. Those were his greatest assets.

In a snap, I got conscious about how I look. At nang medyo kumalma na ako ay agad akong yumuko para magbigay galang. “N-No, Your Highness. I was just stunned by the presence of such powerful spirit.”

“Is that so?” tanong niya bago bumaling sa spirit niya. “Leo, change form,” utos niya.

Nebular orbs circled around Leo before his body begins to glow. I saw how his body shrunk into an adorable, fat, round sun-colored dragon with a burning tail. Its piercing golden eyes turned into a pair of adorable round, sparking eyes.

“Basing from you reaction, I can say that you like Leo’s current form,” nakangiting sabi ng prinsipe.

Hindi ko mapigilang mamula. “Y-Yes, Your Highness. I find his current form adorable.”

“I’m glad you do since most of the students still find him intimidating in this form.”

“Your Highness, I think it’s normal for the students to react in such manner since your spirit is no ordinary. He’s one of the twelve great spirits, the tsrongest one to be exact,” nakayukong sabi ko.

“Well I guess you’re right,” pagsang-ayon niya.

“Your Highness, my apologies but I need to excuse myself. I still have a pile of things to do,” nakayukong paalam ko bago umatras ng isang hakbang.

“Oh, yes you may.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” tugon ko bago humakbang palayo sa kanya at tuluyang tumalikod. Aalis na sana ako nang tawagin niya akong muli.

“Before you leave, milady, may I know your name?”

Hinarap ko siya at magalang na nagpakilala. “My name is Olivia Albilon, Your Highness.”

Tumango siya at ngumiti sa akin nang pagkatamis-tamis. “Olivia, one more thing: you can stop addressing me such honorific. Inside the academy, we are all equal. There are no nobles nor commoners, but purely students alone.”

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. I even felt butterflies in my stomach. Tumango lang ako at bahagyang yumuko bilang tugon dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. Pagkatapos ay tumalikod na ako at tuluyang umalis.