Kabanata 1: Phantasm

Cassy's Point of View

AFTER minutes of falling into an endless darkness, I saw a ring of light. And as seconds pass by, it grows bigger and bigger until it became a blinding light. Tinakpan ko ang mata ko gamit ang aking kamay. At nang mawala ang liwanag ay bumungad sa akin ang Oakland, ang Capital City ng Phantasm. The whole place has this european vibe, including the structures and climate.

Sa Central Market ako napadpad kaya kaagad na sumalubong sa akin ang ingay galing sa mga tindero at tindera at mga mamimili. I can also smell the aroma of newly baked pastries and bread, plus the scent that the flowers from the flower shops emit.

As I took a step forward, normalis people started looking at me. Those who were doing something stopped just to look at me. Normalis are those humans who posses no mana or commonly known as magic. They are wondering why I am wearing such clothes, which is my school uniform. Great.

I ignored them and roamed around. I need to find a jewelry shop where I could sell this blood ruby. At ilang minutong paglalakad lang ay nakita ko na ang hinahanap ko. Kaagad akong pumasok at bumungad sa akin ang kumikinang na loob ng shop. Jewelries everywhere. What a great view, but I don't appreciate it. I am not into this kind of stuff. It's boring.

I saw a green creature at the counter. It has long pointed ears, big and round yellow eyes, and half of human-size body length. Isang merchant elf.

"Anong maipaglilingkod ko sa 'yo, binibini?"

I ignored his smirk and flirty eyes. Damn this elf. Inilapag ko sa harapan niya ang blood ruby, dahilan para magningning ang mata niya. Halos tumulo ang laway niya habang nakatingin sa ruby. Merchant elves are good in distinguishing authentic jewelries by just using their naked eyes. They are also good in choosing the best material in making clothes, accessories, weapons, and equipments. And lastly, they are naturally perverts. Well, all kinds of elves are pervert.

Akmang hahawakan na nito ang ruby nang bawiin ko.

"How much does it costs?"

Saglit na tumigil ang elf para mag-isip. "Fifty golds and ten silvers!"

Ibinalik ko sa bulsa ko ang ruby. "Masyadong mura. This blood ruby came from the lair of the Ruby Dragons. My mother got this during her venture. In short, this blood ruby is a first class precious gem. If that's your price, then ibebenta ko na lang ito sa iba."

"S-Sandali! Magkano ba ang presyo mo?"

"Two hundred golds and fifty silvers. Take it or leave it."

✂----

BITBIT ko ang isang brown stringless bag na naglalaman ng two hundred golds at fifty silvers. Papunta na ako ngayon sa isang boutique para bumili ng mga damit.

Nang makahanap ng boutique ay kaagad na akong pumasok. Sinalubong ako ng isang babae. At kaagad na tinanong kung ano ang mga tipo kong damit. Sinagot ko lang siya ng, "Give me all the clothes and accessories that fit my size. Then I'll choose."

Matapos niyang ilapag ang mga damit, sapatos, at iba pang accessories ay pumili na ako. I chose dark-colored clothes, because it really suits my personality and being. Matapos kong makapagbayad ay lumabas na ako at kaagad na naghanap ng masasakyan. Though I am stubborn and a brat, sumusunod naman ako sa sinasabi sa akin ng magulang ko.

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at ilang sandali pa ay tumigil sa harap ko ang isang karwahe na hila-hila ng isang argoe. Argoes are four-legged black creatures with only one eye and a swirly horn in the middle of its forehead. Aside from being used as a mode of transportation, they are also useful when it comes to dairy products. They produce the best quality of milk.

"Saan po kayo?" tanong sa akin ng isang normalis na kutsero.

"Holy Grail Academy," sagot ko bago pumasok sa karwahe. "And don't you ever dare ask what's obvious. I'll go there to enroll," sambit ko nang mapansing magtatanong pa sana siya. Napailing na lang siya bago mahinang nilatigo ang argoe at nang umandar na ang karwahe.

Napasandal ako sa upuan at napatingin sa labas. Hindi ko naman maiwasang maikuyom ang kamay ko. I hate going back here. I hate it.

'Kung marunong ka lang sanang magtimpi, e 'di nasa mundong iyon ka pa,' my subconscious mind said.

Well, what can I do? I am a short-temperd badass brat who hates stupidity. It's an innate trait I inherited from my parents. So, I can do nothing about it. At isa pa, gusto ko rin ang ganitong ugali. People tend to avoid me, which is quite good, kasi ayaw ko ng maingay.

"Nandito na po tayo."

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip at inihanda ang sarili ko. Kumuha ako ng isang silver at iniabot ito sa kutsero. "Keep the change." Lumabas ako at hindi na pinansin ang pagpapasalamat niya. Well, it happens na ten coppers lang ang pamasahe. And one silver corresponds to one hundred coppers. And one gold corresponds to a hundred silvers. That's the currency of this continent.

I stared at the wide and towering wall made of solid metallic bricks. On top of the wall are three small house-like structures that serves as the control room to open and close the three gates of academy. At the middle of the wall hangs a signage 'Holy Grail Academy' which is made of luminous metal that absorbs light from the sun, and during nighttime, the absorbed light is converted into an energy that causes the signage to emit a neon yellow light. And this won't be achieved without the help of alchemists, people who specialize in making potions, weapons, and inventions.

Inilagay ko sa isang kamay ko ang mga supot na dala ko. Lumapit ako sa pader at itinapat ang kamay ko. Purple-colored lines appeared on the wall, connecting with each other until it became a magic circle. Pagkatapos nito ay may lumitaw na neon blue hologram-still an invention of alchemists-kung saan nakalagay kung ano ang pakay ko sa academy.

I touched the the first set of words which is, 'Enroll'. Pagaktapos kong gawin iyon ay may lumabas na hologram ng isang babaeng may shoulder-length na buhok at nakasuot ng white suit.

"Good day, I am Mary! Just fill up the form which will pop out after this message, and get ready for your two set of exams: the written and practical. Your written exam will determine the class you will enter, and your practical exam will determine your classification. Good day, and do your best!"

Pagkatapos ng mensaheng iyon ay may nag-pop out na isang blank form hologram. Matapos kong i-fill out ang form, which only asks for my basic information like name, age, and parent's name and occupation, ay bumukas ang gate at lumabas ang babaeng nasa hologram kanina.

"Hi, good day! My name is-"

"Mary. Yeah, I know," putol ko sa sinasabi niya, dahilan para mapatawa siya.

"Right. I am so sorry," aniya. "Let's go?"

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng academy. The academy's structure looks like a castle with two wings: the left and right. The dominating color of the academy is silver and gold. Napatingin ako sa mga estudyante.

Girls are wearing white long sleeves topped with black blazer with purple linings, a black cloack, an above-the-knee black skirt with a purple line on its tip, and a pair of black knee-length leathers boots. While boys are wearing black suits with purple outlines, black cloak, white slocks, and black leather boots.

"This way, please."

Natigil ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Mary. Right. She's still here. And I still need to do the tests.

Sumunod lang ako sa kaniya papunta sa isang building na nakahiwalay sa academy. Pagkapasok namin ay bumungad sa akin ang isang oval-shaped arena. At sa dulong bahagi ng arena ay may mga dummies. May mga tao rin sa loob na sa tingin ko ay mag-e-exam din. I think they are more than twenty.

"Okay, since you are already aware of what a written exam is, I'll explain to you how practical exam works," sambit niya bago itinuro ang isang colorless magic circle sa gitna ng arena na ngayon ko lang napansin. "That magic circle will determine what type of mage are you. And those dummy will determine your strenth or so called class."

Pumunta siya sa harapan at tinawag ang iba. I think kasabay ko lang din sila. Maybe the came from the other side of the wall, since this academy is located at the center of Oakland.

"Are you all ready?"

Ngumisi ako bago itinaas ang sleeves ng aking suot na damit.

"Ready as hell."