Etherial

Provisionary Class Professor

MAAGA akong gumising upang maghanda para sa unang araw ko sa provisionary class. I am trying my best to be as optimistic as I could. Hangga't kaya ay iniiwasan kong mag-isip ng mga bagay-bagay na makakapagpababa ng kumpiyansa ko sa aking sarili.

"Good morning!" Napatingin ako sa kabilang kama nang marinig ko ang boses ni Resha. She's still in her pajamas. "Why are you so early?"

"Because this is my first day?" alanganing tugon ko sa kanya habang isinusuot ko ang itim kong cloak. "Ikaw, bakit hindi ka pa nag-aayos?" dagdag ko sabay ngiti.

"Mamaya pa ang klase ng second years," sagot niya bago niyakap ang unan. "By the way, 'di ba kahapon ang summoning and echelon designation ng first year? How was it, sa anong echelon ka?" excited niyang tanong.

Nawala ang ngiti ko bago muling hinarap ang repleksyon ko sa salamin. Inayos ko ang kulay abo kong buhok. Kitang-kita sa kulay pilak kong mga mata ang tamlay na dala ng lahat ng nangyari kahapon.

"So, how was it? I've heard na may limang estudyante raw ang napabilang sa provisionary class," aniya kaya napatingin akong muli sa kanya.

Five. There were five of us. Akala ko ako lang. Somehow, I feel a bit better that I am not taking the provisionary class alone.

"Oh, that," sagot ko at tiningnan siya nang diretso sa mata. I flashed a smile. "Yes, there were students who were advised to be in the provisionary class, and I am one of them."

Nanlaki ang mata niya sa narinig bago napabangon sa kama. "Seryoso? Why did it happen?"

"No one answered my summon," simpleng sagot ko bago naglakad palapit sa pinto. "Sige, aalis na ako. I don't want to be late."

"If you need help, you can approach me. Though nasa silver echelon lang ako, but I am already on my second year. I can teach you what I have learned so far," alok niya bago ko pa man mabuksan ang pinto.

Nilingon ko siya at nginitian. "Sure, I'll consider it. Thank you, Resha," sagot ko bago tuluyang lumabas ng kwarto.

Pagkababa ko sa ground floor ng dormitory ay nadatnan ko si Reslyn na tila may hinahanap. At nang mahagip ako ng mga mata niya ay agad siyang lumapit sa akin. Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mga mata niya.

"Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?" tanong niya habang sinusuri ang katawan ko. "Nawalan ka raw ng malay kahapon?"

"Okay lang ako, Reslyn. Wala kang dapat ipag-alala. Thank you sa concern," nakangiting sagot ko. "Nga pala, sa anong echelon ka napabilang?" I asked, trying to divert the discussion since I am starting to feel down again.

"Sa silver echelon ako. Pero kung base lang sa etherial attribute ko at sa power level ng spirit ko, mapupunta ako sa copper echelon," aniya.

"Ha? Anong ibig mong sabihin?" kunot-noong tanong ko.

"Well, mababa kasi ang etherial attribute ko at ganoon na rin ang power level ng spirit kong si Youme, pero nang malaman ng professors ang kayang gawin ni Youme, ayon, sa silver echelon ako napunta," nakangising sagot niya.

"Ano palang ability ni Youme?" curious kong tanong.

"Sabi ng professors, kabilang daw sa hypnotic type si Youme. Pero hindi pa nila matukoy kung ano ang eksatong ability niya. Isa rin sa rason kung bakit ako nasa silver echelon ay para matulungan nila akong i-assess ang ability ni Youme," paliwanag niya bago napatingin sa palad niya. "Gustong-gutso ko nga siyang i-summon ngayon para makasama ko siya pero mahigpit na i***********l ng professors na i-summon ang spirits 'pag hindi kinakailangan," malungkot niyang dagdag.

"Yes, it's because etherial spirits consume their masters' etherial particles. Summoning them during unnecessary times would only waste the summoner's etherial particles. At sa kaso nating mga studyante, bihira lang sa atin ang kayang i-sustain nang matagal ang spirits natin," dugtong ko sa sinasabi niya. "Isa pa, kasama mo naman si Youme palagi, eh. Remember, a summoned spirit resides inside it's master's body. Youme and you are one, Reslyn."

Ngumungusong tumango si Reslyn. "Alam ko. Gusto ko lang kasi siyang makasama nang matagal dahil ang cute niya. Pero sige na nga, makikita ko naman siya mamaya sa klase. Kumain na nga lang tayo!"

"Better," sagot ko bago nagsimulang maglakad palabas ng dorm.

Pagkarating namin sa cafeteria na nasa left wing din ng academy agay ng dorm, ay dagsa na ang mga estudyante, lalo na sa ground floor.

"Kung pwede lang sana sa second floor," bulong ni Reslyn bago ako hinila para pumila.

I agree with her. Kung pwede lang sana kami sa second floor, hindi sana ganito ka-crowded ang ground floor. Pero anong magagawa namin, the second floor was made solely for the nobilities only. Makakatapak lang ang mga commoner doon kapag may permiso.

Though I can enter that floor without any permission, given that I am of a noble birth, huwag na lang. Makikita ko lang ang mga pinsan ko roon. At isa pa, hindi ko gusto ang atmospher kapag nagsama-sama ang lahat ng nobilities. Imbes na mag-enjoy ka ay mapi-pressure ka na lang dahil bawat galaw mo ay may mga matang nakatutok.

"Olivia, maghanap ka na lang ng mapupwestuhan natin. Ako na ang kukuha ng pagkain natin," sabi ni Reslyn na agad ko namang sinunod dahil hindi pa ako sanay sa ginagawa ng pangkaraniwang mamamayan ng Nossec.

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PAGKATAPOS naming kumain ni Reslyn ay naghiwalay na kami ng landas. Nagpaiwan siya sa left wing dahil nandoon ang copper and silver echelon classrooms. Habang ako naman ay binagtas ang mahabang hallway papunta sa right wing kung saan matatagpuan ang golden echelon classrooms.

I was informed last night that we will be taking the provisionary class in the golden echelon classroom. This is one of the reasons why I woke up early-to find our classroom and avoid any encounters with any noble students, especially with my cousins.

Probably by now, the news about me, entering the academy has reached all members of the clan. And certainly, they are throwing fits right now. They are against the idea of me, enrolling myself at the academy.

They do not want me to tarnish the reputation of the Runebraid Clan. Lalo na sa generation ngayon kung saan may nakapag-summon na naman ng isa sa twelve great spirits. In the history, there were only two in the clans who did it. And it's Asralyn, the summoner of Aries; and my father, the summoner of Scorpio.

That's the reason why as of now, the Runebraid Clan is the most powerful house next to the royal family who happens to have summoned the strongest spirit, Leo. They may only have one of the twelve great spirits, but the levels of their etherial attributes are incomparable.

The presence of three great spirits in the kingdom of Nossec made the kingdom popular and a threat to the neighbouring kingdoms. However, the King is not fond of war and invasion. He only wants peace. He will only wield his sword to defend the land.

Such a good king, isn't he? Sayang at hindi siya kayang tularan ng ibang nobilities, lalo na ng karamihan sa angkan namin. Kahit ang kabaitan man lang sana ng hari ay tularan nila, lalo na ng headmaster at anak niya. That would surely bring me peace.

Nang mahanap ko ang classroom ay agad na akong pumasok. Pero sa pintuan pa lang ay natigilan na ako nang bumungad sa akin ang cute version ni Leo. Lumipad ito palibot sa akin habang winawagwag ang nag-aapoy niyang buntot.

And when I realized why Leo is here, agad kong iginala ang mata ko sa loob. And there, standing at the center front of the room is the crown prince. He's wearing the academy's uniform. White long sleeves, red tie with, black pants and boots, and black cloak. With his clothes, his hair and eyes that mirrors the blazing sun, seems to be literally burning.

"Good morning, Olivia," bati sa akin ng prinsipe.

Agad kong binawi ang titig ko. I bowed down to pay respect and to hide my burning cheeks. Did I just stare at His Highness?'

"Good morning, Your Highness...I mean, Prince-"

"Call me Caelan," putol niya sa sinasabi ko kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. "I told you, inside the academy, we are nothing but students. We are neither nobles nor commoners," dagdag pa niya bago lumapit sa akin at ilahad ang kamay niya. "I am Caelan Roux Nossec, nice to meet you," aniya bago ngumiti nang pagkatamis-tamis.

Hindi ako agad nakagalaw. I was completely stunned! May kung anong kiliti sa tiyan ko na nagpapalala sa panginginit ng pisngi ko.

"Do you hate shaking hands with people?" tanong ng prinsipe sa akin kaya bumalik ako sa wisyo.

Mabilis akong umiling. "N-No, C-Caelan," nag-aalangan sagot ko dahil hindi ko alam kung ayos lang bang tawagin ko siya sa kanyang pangalan. "It's just happened that you're the one I am going to shake hands with."

I heard him chuckle before he held my hand and made me shake hands with him. "I told you, we are all equal inside the academy."

Kung kanina ay sobrang init na ng mukha ko, ngayon, pakiramdam ko ay umuusok na ito. The prince's hand is so soft and warm. And the moment it touched my hand, I felt a sudden surge of electrifying sensation all throughout my body.

"O-Oh, okay," sagot ko, trying to stay composed as hard as I could. I don't want the prince to feel that I am uncomfortable with his presence. "N-Nice to meet you, too, C-Caelan."

A warm smile flashed on his face after hearing my response. "That's what I want to hear," aniya bago binitiwan ang kamay ko at bumalik sa harap ng classroom. Sumunod naman sa kanya si Leo at dumapo sa balikat nito.

Ako naman ay tulirong naghanap ng mauupuan habang hawak-hawak ang kamay kong hinawakan ng prinsipe. I could still feel the warmth of his hand on my palms, and it's making my heart thump.

Nang makaupo na ako ay halos hindi na ako gumalaw. I am so conscious about myself that I assess even the movement of my eyes.

"Good thing that I already know one of my students," sabi ng prinsipe nang naging tahimik ang buong paligid.

"Y-Your students?" pagkaklaro ko, dahil baka iba ang pagkakarinig ko.

Tumango siya bago ngumiti. "Yes, what could be the other reason why I am here?"

Nasapo ko ang mukha ko. Gosh, I am so embarrassed of myself for asking such a foolish question. I want to disappear right now!

"O-Oh, yeah, right," I responded, followed by an awkward laugh.

Pagkatapos ng usapang iyon ay naging tahimik na naman muli. At tahimik din akong nagdasal na sana huwag na akong kausapin ulit ng crown prince. Ayoko ng ipahiya pa ang sarili ko. Good thing at dumating na rin ang apat pang kasama ko sa provisionary class na ito.

At gaya ko ay ganoon na rin ang pagkagulat at pagkamangha nila nang malaman na ang crown prince ang magtuturo sa amin.

"Since everyone is here, let us start our class," panimula ng prinsipe bago kami nginitian. "I am Caelan Roux Nossec, but you can call me Professor Caelan or simply Caelan. I do not want you to call me any honorific since we are inside the academy, where everyone is equal. Is that clear?"

"Yes, professor," sabay-sabay naming sagot.

Tumango ang prinsipe bago muling nagsalita. "You may be probably wondering how did I end up being your professor," he says as he walks at the center aisle of the room. "That's because I have nothing to do yet. The professors told me that they have nothing to teach me anymore and that I am already qualified to graduate, but refused their advise since I am just on my third year. I still have one more year before I could complete my education." Muli siyang bumalik sa harap at umupo sa kanto ng lamesa. "I don't want any special treatment. I want to complete my education just like how other students do. So, instead of doing nothing, I asked the professors if I could help them educate the first year students. And when I heard that there are students who were put in the provisionary class, I asked to be their professor."

I can't help but to admire the crown prince more after hearing everything he have said. Namana niya ang kabaitan ng hari.

"But that doesn't mean that I also have the power to decide whether you can stay or not," aniya isa-isa kaming tiningnan. "I am only given fifteen days, excluding the weekends, to help you summon your spirit right. If you fail to summon your spirit within fifteen days, the academy will have to kick you out. But don't worry; I'll do my best to help you. I'll share every helpful tip I know. So, let us all do our best."

Fifteen days. I only have fifteen days to summon a spirit. I don't know if that's enough days, but I have to try my hardest. If I still fail, ako na mismo ang magsasabi sa ama ko na hindi ko deserve ang pamunuan ang buong clan. Ako na mismo ang magsasabi sa kanya na si Asralyn na lang ang piliin bilang susunod na clan head.

"Now, here's how our class will go..." ani ng prinsipe bago nagsulat sa board. "For five days, we will focus on controlling the amount of etherial particles you release during the summoning. In this way, you can finish the chant without running out of etherial particles. Then for the next ten days, we will have an alternate schedule: summoning, etherial particles control, rest, and the cycle continues until you summon a spirit."

Pagkatapos niyang magsulat ay humarap siya sa amin. "But if you think you can already summon a spirit within the first five days, tell me, okay? The earlier you summon a spirit, the earlier you will be designated to an echelon. Got it?"

"Yes, Professor!" sabay-sabay naming sagot sa sabik na tono.

"Okay, let us begin the first lesson."