EDITED VERSION

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Althea's POV

"Let's go. Keep quiet, okay?" Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay hinila na ako ni Lydia palabas ng dorm. I can't believe we're sneaking out in the middle of the night. Isn't this against the rules?

"Where are we going?" tanong ko nang mapansing papunta kami sa main door ng Academy. Madilim na ang buong paligid at tahimik na sa unang palapag. Maingat kami dahil baka marinig kami ng guards.

Hindi ako sinagot ni Lydia at tinakbo namin ang kahabaan ng open field sa labas ng Academy hanggang sa makarating kami sa gubat kung nasaan ang Crystal Falls. Magtatanong pa sana ulit ako nang maaninagan ko si Kurt, Kristian, Cath, at Isaac na nakatayo sa harap ng Falls at para bang hinihintay kami na mas lalong ipinagtaka ko.

"Okay, what's going on?" nagtatakang tanong ko. Tiningnan naman nila ako na para bang ako lang talaga ang walang idea sa nangyayari.

"Nakalimutan mo na?" Nakataas ang kilay ni Kurt at tiningnan ako nang masama. Seriously, what's going on?

This is our first time being complete again because of our busy schedules. Lalo na si Isaac na namumuno na sa Magical University. He trained for almost a year and Mrs. Zecharia declared him as a leader a year ago kaya bihira na siyang makapunta rito sa Academy. Habang si Kurt naman ay namumuno na rin dito sa Alexandria Academy. As the only heir of their family, he has the responsibility for the position.

Sa loob nang mga taon na lumipas, marami nang nangyari. But we're still here.

Nilapitan ako ni Isaac at bumulong sa akin, "Today is the day when you fell from the Crystal Falls and we saw you. Ang araw na nakapagpabago sa buhay mo." At pagkasabi niya no'n, nagsiliparan ang mga makukulay na paru-paro sa paligid. Ang mga 'yon ang nagdala sa akin sa lugar na 'to.

Three years. Tatlong taon na ang lumipas magmula nang bumalik akong muli rito sa Academy, pero parang kahapon lamang ang lahat. Lahat ng masasaya at masasakit na memorya, unti-unting bumuhos sa akin ngayon. Ang pagkakalaglag ko sa Crystal Falls, ang pagsali ko sa 23rd Tournament. All of that were worth it. Those memories built me. Kung sino ako ngayon, ay dahil sa mga napagdaanan ko.

"I want to spend so many years, with you, Althea," Isaac whispered on my ear. My heart started to beat so fast that I can barely breathe. Mas lalo pa akong natigilan nang lumuhod siya sa harap ko.

"I-Isaac..." I tried so hard not to sob but I can't help it. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko nang mga oras na 'yon. Our eyes met and my mind was in a daze that moment.

"Will you be my girl forever, Althea Genovie?" tanong niya. Napatakip ako sa aking bibig at napatingin kila Cath. Nakangiti sila sa akin habang hinihintay ang isasagot ko.

"Y-Yes!" pagkasabi ko no'n ay dahan-dahang sinuot ni Isaac ang diamond ring sa kamay ko at bigla niya akong niyakap.

"You made me the most happiest man alive, Althea," he uttered. I smiled and wiped away my tears. Everything were surreal. Me being engaged with Isaac. Him, being the ruler of Magical University. Kurt being the owner of Alexandria Academy. Lydia and me, taking care od the students while training. Kristian, he's helping Kurt. And Cath being a supportive girlfriend to Kurt.

Habang tinitingnan ko sila ay bigla akong nangamba. We're too happy right now. But what comes after this? another pain? Another heartbreak? Hindi ko na alam. I don't want this to end.

*****

Isang linggo na magmula nang araw na nag-propose sa akin si Isaac. Isang linggo na rin kaming hindi nagkikita. We're too far away from each other anyway. Gustuhin ko man na lagi siyang makita, mayroon pa rin kaming responsibilidad na kailangang unahin.

As the leader of Magical University, kailangang doon manirahan si Isaac kaya't bihira siyang mapadpad dito sa Alexandria Academy. And to make myself busy, I train students and help them to develop their strength and power.

Pagkalabas ko ng dorm ko ay dumiretso kaagad ako sa office ni Kurt. He summoned me for an important matter. I wore my casual attire. Black boots, black leather pants and a plain white loose shirt. Nilugay ko ang buhok ko, just like how Isaac want it.

Tuwing may makakasalubong akong mga estudyante ay binabati nila ako. It took a while before I got used to it.

Nang makarating ako sa opisina ni Kurt ay nakaupo siya sa harap ng wooden table niya. Nakaupo naman sa harap niya si Lydia kaya maa lalo akong nagtaka. I sat down in front of her.

"Hey, something came up?" I asked them. Iniabot naman sa akin ni Kurt ang isang envelope kaya kinuha ko 'yon at binuksan. Mayroong mga files doon na lalo kong ipinagtaka. "What's these?"

"Have you heard that Mrs. Athena and Mrs. Zecharia made a partnership and bought a land here in Magic World?" tanong ni Kurt. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Lydia. We're both clueless about that. "They gave the land to Isaac and he asked for my permission to build a new school there."

"A new school?" gulat na tanong ni Lydia. This is probably a good news. I heard that Magical University is getting overpopulated as well as Alexandria Academy, so building a new school can solve that issue.

Kurt sighed. "However, maraming kalakip na responsibilidad ang pagpapatayo ng bagong eskuwelahan. We need a leader like us who will rule that Academy."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Nagkakaroon na ako ng ideya kung bakit kami nandito ni Lydia pero gusto ko pa rin makasigurado. "So, you mean? One of us will be the leader?" tukoy ko sa amin ni Lydia.

Tiningnan niya kami. "Yes. Both of you are qualified for the position of being a leader. But, we'll resolve this through a tournament--"

"What?!" sabay naming asik ni Lydia. I thought tournament was no longer implemented? Sa mga nakalipas na taon, itinigil na ang tournament sa tulong ni Isaac at ni Kurt.

"Listen," muling sabi ni Kurt. "Yes, we'll be having a Tournament. Pero hindi na siya katulad nang dating tournament. This year will be different."

"Althea and I are teammates?" tanong ni Lydia.

"Unfortunately, no," he answered. "Magkaiba kayo ng grupo. Ang team ninyong dalawa ang maglalaban sa Tournament. Kukuha tayo ng mga estudyanteng nag-stand-out sa training natin at siyang magiging members ng grupo ninyo. The winner will be having the position as the leader."

Napangiti si Lydia at mukhang handa na siya. Pero ako, nanatiling tahimik. I don't even know if I'm qualified to be a leader. I'm not as good as Isaac when it comes to leading.

"W-What if I can't handle this?" nag-aalala kong tanong. What if I became a disappointment? I don't want to fail this, I don't want to fail them.

Lydia held my trembling hand. "You can. Remember when we fought inside the Realm of Monsters? You managed to find us and save Isaac. You can handle this one."

"But I don't want to be a failure," I said. Pareho nilang hinawakan ang kamay ko. They were looking at me as if what I said will never happen.

"Have you forgotten? We're team Alexandria Academy, nothing can shake us. If Isaac was here, he'll surely scold you for being a pessimist." Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti. Atleast I have them, and nothing else matters.

"Besides, wala pa rin namang talo sa ating dalawa 'pag nagkataon. Kapag nanalo ang grupo mo, makakasama mo kami sa pagtaguyod ng bagong school. And, vice versa."

Binigyan kami ng susi ni Kurt na sa tantya ko ay susi ng training room. "Lydia's group will be called Lethal, which means deadly. And your group will be called Dauntless or also means brave." Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa pangalan ng mga grupo namin. Napag-isipan itong mabuti. Gano'n din ang magaganap na Tournament. Looks like Isaac and Kurt really took care of this.

"Let's see who'll win then." Lydia looked at me and offered her hand for a handshake. I smiled and Kurt laughed at us. Malugod ko 'yong tinanggap at tuluyan na ngang magsisimula ang panibagong tournament.

"This is one of the reasons why Cath, Isaac, and I chose the both of you to become the leaders. I know you're capable for this," Kurt spoke highly of us. Sitting here inside his office, it all feels surreal. Sino ba'ng mag-aakalang mababago nang ganito ang buhay namin? For a moment, I thought magics and powers are only possible inside fairytale. But when fate played a trick on me, all the impossible became my reality.

If someone will ask me if I'm ready, maybe no. Maybe yes. It's been so many years already, but I admit, the memories of the past are still here. It imprinted something in me that I will forever cherished. My past made me brave.

I became brave to try new things. Hindi katulad noon, na may limitasyon ang mga bagay para sa akin. I was too comfortable on my comfort zone that I've forgot, there's a life waiting for me beyond the wall that I built between people and myself.

I have a lot of flaws and mistakes in my life. But that makes me who I am. Being Althea Genovie-Saavedra is something to proud of. So, yes. I'm ready.

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