The Lady Knight

LEVELING (Part I)

Devon Pov

After 1 Week

Ipinatawag ang lahat ng freshmens dito sa Magical Arena kaya nandito kami at kanina pa rinding-rindi sa malakampanang boses ng mga estudyante dito na kay lakas kung tumili. Kahit takpan ko ang aking mga tenga ay naririnig ko pa rin sila. Mababasag na yata ang eardrums ko kapag nagpatuloy silang ganito. Kay sarap tahiin ng mga bibig nila para lang tumahimik ang buong lugar. They're so noisy and i want them dead right now. Just kidding.

"SILENCE!!!"

Parang may dumaang anghel sa sobrang tahimik matapos umalingaw ang malakas na sigaw na iyon mula sa isang lalaki na hindi pamilyar sa akin. And he's there, located at the central stage, standing calm and composed . Partida pa dahil natural voice lang ang ginamit nito, walang microphone. Paano pa kaya kapag meron?

Who is he?

"Headmaster" Kimberly said as if she read my mind. Mind reader kaya ito?

Napatango nalang ako ng malaman na siya pala ang Headmaster nitong Academy. Well, no doubt because his presence is so intimidating and his voice earlier is very damn scary. Moreover, his magical aura is so profound and in a different league. Mapapalunok ka nalang ng ilang beses kung sakaling makakaharap mo siya. I tried to scan his body as i try to gather and see through his private and personal data and i was shocked knowing his background profile.

I didn't used this ability of mine often because it's very exhausting if i used it from time to time. The longer and the more often i used it, the more energy it consumed in my body.

Name: Theo Hanz Mystique

Age: 25 years old

Kingdom: Elemental Kingdom

Siblings: Prince Ezekiel Lydon Mystique and Princess Kate Gabrielle Mystique

Parents: King Windyl Ruiz Mystique and Queen Milan Denise Mystique

Magic: Fire and Ice Magic

Secondary Ability: Time Manipulation and Explosion

Status: In a relationship with Eunice Candice Striker- Council President

"I can't believe it" tanging nasabi ko nalang pagkatapos kong pasukin at alamin ng walang pasabi ang private information niya. I know it's not nice to invade someone's privacy but i just can't stop myself to do such thing because of my damn curiousity. "H-He's the Older Brother of Prince Ezekiel"

"How did you know that?"

Napalingon naman ako sa aking mga katabi ng pinukol ako nito ng mapanuri nilang mga tingin. I gulped but still, i managed to hide my emotions perfectly.

"Ah wala" i lied. My abilities and my magic was badly needed to be kept in secret. Ayokong may makaalam nito kahit sila pa ay mga kaibigan ko. Hindi sa hindi ko sila pinagkakatiwalaan pero ayoko lang talagang baliin ang sinumpaan kong pangako kay Pops. 

 "Magkamukha kasi sila" pagbigay rason ko nalang. "Same na gwapo at hotties"

My eyes was just so amazing than i could even imagine. Kaya nitong malaman ang lahat ng impormasyon sa isang tao at walang nakakapagtago dito. I can easily tell whether you're an enemy or some sort of spy just by analyzing your personal data. This ability is just a low level skill that my eyes can do and i know it can do more that what you and i expected.

The second thing that my eyes can do is hipnotism which is the least thing that i use. Hindi ko gusto na ginagamit ito pero when i needed it the most, i activated it with no hesitations.

And last but not the least, the ability to see the future movements of my opponent which i usually used in a battle. I can't name it until now because i can't chose a name suited for its ability. Wala rin naman din akong maipangalan sa mga mata ko dahil pati rito ay wala akong alam na babagay na pangalan nito.

It's not important after all. Name is just a name. What matters to me is its uses and value of it when i am in a battle or in a life and death situation. Aanhin mo ang kay gandang pangalan kung wala namang maitutulong sa'yo. Let's just leave it unknown like how i made my magic unknown to everyone.

"I strongly doubt that, baby"

Napapitlag naman ako sa aking kinauupuan ng may narinig akong boses sa aking isipan. That voice is so familliar and there's only one person i have in mind. "I'm more handsome and gorgeous compare to my brother"

And after hearing that voice again, i am now sure who's the owner of that voice.

"K-Kiel" gulat-gulat na sabi ko sa aking isipan. Yes. It's him. The one and only, Elemental Prince. But why he's talking to me right now?

"Good morning baby" he said sweetly that made me smile. Napalinga-linga naman ako sa paligid at hinahanap kung nasaan ito.

"Where are you?" I asked him.

"Miss me?" Otumatikong tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko ng marinig iyon. Napawi din ang ngiti ko pagkatapos marinig iyon sa kaniya.

"Miss my a*s" mataray na sabi ko sa kaniya.

"I miss your a*s" uminit ang pisngi ko ng narinig iyon. Perverted Prince.

"Bastos" i said.

"You're the one who started it, baby" at ng marinig ko iyon sa aking isipan ay alam kong nakangisi ito ngayon. Ang yabang talaga.

"At kasalanan ko pa. Bweset ka. Bye" i immediately block him in my mind. That jerk never change.

What do you expect in less than a week, he'll change. Oh come on Devon. Be mature. Maganda ka nga kaso marupok naman. At dumagdag pa talaga ang isipan kong ito. Mga sakit sa ulo.

"What's with that face?"

Hindi ko nilingon si Liah ng magtanong ito muli. Blanko ang aking mukha dahil ayokong pati sila ay madamay sa inis ko.

"Don't mind me. Mag focus nalang kayo sa laban niyo" i seriously said and then i become silent. I'm just not in the mood on having a nice conversation with them. So instead of being rude to them, i just decided to keep my lips shut.

Liah pov

Pati kami ni Kimberly ay naging tahimik na rin. Who wouldn't be if Devon look so pissed without me knowing the reason behind it. Her face is dark and her eyes is sharp and i can't stand looking at her. Nakakatakot pa siya ngayon kompara sa training namin isang linggo na ang nakakalipas.

"Good morning Magical Students. Are you ready!!" Puno ng energy na bati ng MC sa lahat. Hyper lang.

Naghiyawan naman ang mga estudyante ngunit kaming tatlo ay nanatili pa ring tahimik. Nagsitayuan pa ang mga ito pero kami'y nanatiling nakaupo. Nahawaan na kami ni Devon.

"May i call in Mr. Striker to formally open this event"

Hindi nagtagal ay bigla nalang may sumulpot na lalaki sa tabi ng MC na pati ito'y hindi mapigilang magulat sa pagdating nito. Dahil sa gulat ay ang lalaki na ang humablot sa microphone na hawak ng MC na mukhang hindi sanay na maghintay kahit ilang segundo lang. Time is gold siguro ang motto nito. Every seconds are important to him.

"Good morning students"

Hindi ko alam kung mabubuhayan ako ng loob sa pagbati nito dahil sing lamig ng yelo ang boses nito. "By the power bestowed upon me and by the responsibility that was given to me by the Council and the Headmaster, I am Lucas Timothy Striker, the SSC President, formally open our 40th Annual Leveling. Good luck to all of you. Thank you" mahabang litanya nito na sinundan ng pagkakaroon ng fireworks display sa kalangitan.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang aking sarili na patuloy itong purihin sa aking isipan. Kung noong una ay hindi ko ito ma-appreciate, ngayon naman ay hangang-hanga ako sa kanya. He has this confidence and authority that makes him more deserving to his position. He's aura as well is oozing with leadership and i gave him around of applause for having that in him. He's so young and i think he's just 20 years old by now but here he is, carrying such heavy responsibility in his shoulder being the SSC President of this Academy.

Natagpuan ko nalang ang aking sarili na pinapalakpakan ito dala na siguro ng paghanga ko sa kanya. Pero correction lang, hindi ko siya hinahangaan dahil crush ko siya. Takot ko lang na baka masaktan muli ako. 

I will never fall in love to someone again at sa crush iyan nagsisimula kaya timeout na pag meron ng nararamdamang kakaiba. Kaya naman agree ako sa kasabihan na "Prevention is better than cure"

Kimberly Pov

"Ms. Jackson and Ms. Milan, please go to the battle field. I repeat, please go to the battle field"

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ako tumayo at naglakad patungo sa battle field. I felt the numerous stares that the crowds are giving to me but i don't mind it. Mas focus ako sa laban dahil ayaw kong matalo.

Nakataya dito ang pamilya ko at maging ang pagkakaibigan namin ni Devon dahil hindi ko kayang pakiharapan muli siya kung sakaling matalo ako. She's the one who trained me to reach this level of power that i have right now and i don't want to disappoint her. She instilled us her skills and knowledge about how to properly used our magic to its fullest and it's a shame on me if i lose.

Never!! I will never lose this time.

Pagkatapak ng aking mga paa sa bilog na battle field sa gitnang bahagi ng arena ay otumatikong nagkaroon ng kulay dilaw na barrier dito. Mukhang ayaw nila kaming paalisin hanggat walang natatalo sa amin. I look like a prison who's seeking for freedom and the only way out is to defeat my opponent.

Yumanig na rin ang lupa na aming kinatatayuan at hindi nagtagal ay nagkaroon ng isang parisukat na stage sa gitna. Diyan kami maglalaban at sigurado ako diyan.

"Battlers, please be reminded that once you will be thrown outside of that stage, you will automatically be disqualified. So be careful and fight wisely"

Napangiti naman akong nagtungo sa stage dahil kating-kati na ang kamay ko para makipaglaban. Epekto siguro ito ng isang linggo naming pag-eensayo dahil mas na-expose kami sa isang matinding training kaya naman ngayon ay naghahangad kami ng maganda at mahaba-habang laban.

At ng tuluyan na akong nakatungtong sa entablado ay kaagad kong nakita ang katunggali ko na confident na confident at nagagawa pa talagang kumaway sa mga audience ma akala mo naman ay maraming fans. Wala ngang nag-cheer dito para suportahan ito sa laban namin.

"Ready battlers"

I saw her stop at her stupid act as her eyes finally darted on me. She's now serious. Gone her smile and twinkling eyes. She's now taking our battle seriously than i expected.

Bring it on b***h.

"In count of three"

Kaagad kumuyom ang aking kamao at mas tinalasan ang aking pakiramdam dahil gusto kong subukan sa laban kung ano ba talaga ang resulta ng physical training ko. Babangasan ko talaga ang mukha niya at hindi ako nagbibiro.

"1...2....3.. Fight!!!"

Tatakbo palang sana ako papalapit sa kanya ng mapansin kong hindi ko maigalaw ang aking katawan na para bang napako ako sa aking kinatatayuan. What the hell is happening to my body? Nanlalaki ang aking mga mata na tiningnan ang aking kalaban na may nakapaskil na matagumpay na ngiti sa labi nito. I found the culprit.

"Shadow Sealing Technique: Caught in Act"

I don't know but i chuckled after hearing that. Now i know why i can't be able to move my body. She's a shadow manipulator and she simply controlled and caught my shadow to prolong my movement. Such wicked tactic but this kind of weak attack will never work on me. Mayabang na kung mayabang pero nagsasabi lang naman ako ng totoo.

But that's not the reason why i let out a soft chuckled. I just found the name of her technique very funny. Caught in Act. Nevermind guys. Let's just leave it like that. It's her technique by the way. She has the right to what name she will give to her skills and techniques and that's obviously out of my business.

"I'm so tired" sabi ko at umaktong naantok na iniunat ang aking kamay sa itaas at humikab pa."I slept late last night" I just want to show her a bit of what i am capable of doing right now.

Pigil ang tawa ko ng makita ang gulat sa mukha ng katunggali ko. She's must be so shocked because i managed to escape on her shadow sealing technique just like that. Nagagawa kong gumalaw kahit na kinokontrol niya ang anino ko.

"H-How did you do that?" Gulat na tanong nito.

"Oh that? That's nothing. Don't mind what i did" sabi ko rito. "That's pure physical strength"

Her eyes widen, wider than before. Pero kaagad rin na napalitan ng galit at inis niya sa akin. I already expected this kind of reaction from her. She's angry because i just made her felt so weak which was true anyway.

"b***h!!" She shouted to me angrily.

Napawi kaagad ang mapaglaro kong ngiti ng marinig ko iyon sa kaniya. I really hate that word because i'm not a b***h. I prefer calling me brat rather than calling me b***h. Matalim ko rin siyang tiningnan at nakita ko ang takot na naka-rehistro sa pagmumukha nito.

"Ang ayoko sa lahat ay ang tinatawag akong b***h!!" Galit na galit na sinabi ko at marahas na ibinagsak ang kaliwa kong paa na naging dahilan para magkaroon ng bitak ang stage pero ang mas nagustuhan ko ay ang pag-angat ng ilang bloke ng lupa sa paligid ng stage na aming kinaroroonan. I even release a powerful aura that was enough to broke that into pieces.

"I told you it's pure strength but you didn't believe me" i seriously said and then i slowly walk towards her. Nagkakaroon ng bitak ang stage sa tuwing inihahakbang ko ang aking mga paa. Ramdam ko ang malakas na kapangyarihan na dumadaloy sa aking katawan at gustong-gusto ko ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. I felt like i was born again as an empowered woman, different from who am i before. Nagiging malakas na rin ang ihip ng hangin kaya nagagawa nitong liparin ang aking mahabang buhok paitaas.

"Shadow Web: Trap of Spider"

I just smirk when she tried to trap me with her shadows in a form of a spider web. "Useless"

Tulad ng una ay tinakasan ko lang ito na parang wala lang. It's weak that's why. What do you expect from me? That i will act like i am having a hard time defeating her even the truth is not? Mas lalo akong na-eexcite sa mga nangyayari at maging ang mga mata ko ay mas lalong tumitingkad ang kulay nito.

Nakita ko ang pag-atras nito habang patuloy nitong ginagamit ang kakayahan niya para patigilin ako. That's useless because she was just wasting her energy and magic. Her shadows can't stop me anymore. Why don't she just yield already? Baka sakaling pagbigyan ko pa siya. Note the word "Baka Sakali". Pag-iisipan ko pa kasi.

"Shadow Ball"

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad kahit na nakikita ko ang pagbuo nito ng napakalaking shadow ball sa palad nito. Lumaki ito ng lumaki hanggang sa tuluyan na iyong maging sobrang laki.

"Stop!!" She shouted but i act like i didn't heard that from her. Napapansin ko rin na tila nabibigatan na ito sa ginawa nitong shadow ball dahil unti-unting bumabaon na rin sa lupa ang mga paa nito. Nagsisilitawan na rin ang ugat nito sa braso. "I Said STOP!!"

''Make me" mapanghamon kong sabi sa kaniya.

"Then DIE!!!"

As what i had expected, she throw that shadow ball of hers toward my direction but i just punch it with my bare knuckle as it instantly explode like a freaking bubble. Yes, it was big but no matter how big it is, it was still powerless to me. Walang kuwenta ang laki niyon kung hindi naman kalakasan ang magagawa niyong pinsala sa akin. Thanks to the profound aura around my body, i remained unscratched even that shadow ball exploded in front of me. It just blown my hair but not my body.

"Ay sumabog" painosente pang sabi ko at umaktong gulat na gulat sa ginawa.

Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ng mga manood pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. I'm so focus on my battle and i don't give a damn on them. Ang tanging kaya lang naman nilang gawin ay ang tumili.

"I think i need to finish this" i seriously said and then i form a huge arm made of vines that came from the deepest ground of this world.

"Vine Knuckle: Mighty Fist of Earth" i chanted as i poured some of my magic on my gigantic arm just to make it even more powerful and deadly.

"H-Have mercy on me" napangisi naman ako sa sinabi nito. Kitang-kita ko ang takot nito na ikinangisi ko lang. She's on the verge of crying too but i'm not that kind right now after she called me b***h. I will be b***h then like what she requested to me. "Please. Suko na ako. Ayoko na!!"

Tiningnan ko lang ito at pagkuwan ay nginitian. Iyong ngiting mala-demonyo.

"Bye" i just said before i launch my attack, burying her deep in the stage.

Pagkatapos ay walang emosyon na tiningnan ko ang walang malay kong katunggali na kasalukuyang naliligo sa sarili nitong dugo. Yes, i am not kind but only to those who didn't deserve my kindness.

TO BE CONTINUED