"The world is cruel, my princess," a familiar voice whispered, "but you can choose to be good amidst the bad."

I dreamily looked up to his chiseled face and wrapped my tiny hands on his neck. "I want to be good, dad."

The man caressed my back as he tightened the hug that I initiated. He smelt like fresh grass and wood, yet it was so pleasing to my nose.

Kumalas siya sa yakap at lumapat ang labi niya sa noo ko. Then he whispered, "Daddy loves you, Aurora."

"Ara? Is that you?"

"Belacour, wake up!"

"Oh my god, Ara!"

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon mula sa matigas kong kinahihigaan nang sabay-sabay na tumakbo sa kinaroroonan ko ang mga pamilyar na mukha ng mga Arcane. They stopped right in front of me, panting, and their faces were filled with worry and confusion. They looked fine, no blood, no bruises.

"Hey, are you okay?" Napaangat ako ng tingin.

Why is Genesis here? Tumawag ba sila ng back up?

"Speak, Ara. May masakit ba sa 'yo?" he asked. Halos magsalubong na ang mga kilay niya sa pag-aalala.

"Stand up." Nabaling ang tingin ko sa kamay na nasa harap ko. Carwell just intervened and offered his hand. Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata at muling tumingin kay Genesis.

"I'm fine," I said and stood up. Lihim akong napangiwi nang biglang humapdi ang mga sugat ko, but I tried my best to not show them that it hurts. "Let's go."

"Hey," pigil sa 'kin ni Shaye. "Alam kong mahapdi ang mga sugat mo," she paused and looked at Carwell, "Let's rest for a while."

"We can't," singit naman ni Snow. "Or else, aabutin tayo ng gabi rito sa gubat."

"Why are you so inconsiderate?!" Napalingon ako kay Shaye dahil sa biglaan nitong pagsigaw. Actually, hindi lang ako. Lahat kami ay napalingon sa kanya.

"Chill..." bulong ko at tinapik ang balikat niya. "May point naman si Snow. 'Tsaka I'm perfectly fine." Tipid ko siyang nginitian, of course peke 'yun. Mukhang naniwala naman siya sa ngiti ko at huminga ng malalim.

"Okay," she said. Sinamaan niya pa ng tingin si Snow na halos patayan na rin siya sa kakatitig.

"Kapal ng mukha," Snow uttered.

Irap lamang ang sinagot ni Shaye at nauna nang maglakad kasama si Rhysan at Third. Sumunod na rin ako sa kanila at sumabay sa 'kin si Genesis. Magkasabay naman sa likuran sina Snow at Carwell.

"You're such a liar." Napakunot ang noo ko sa biglang pagbasag ni Genesis sa katahimikan. Ako ba ang kinakausap niya?

Luminga-linga ako sa paligid, 'tsaka muling tumingin sa kanya. "Me?"

"I know you're not okay," aniya. He's not even looking at me. Focus lamang ang mga mata niya sa mabatong daan. "Stop acting like it didn't hurt."

"Kung feelingera lang ako, baka isipin kong may gusto ka sa 'kin," walang emosyon kong sambit.

Rinig ko naman ang pagtawa ni Rhysan sa unahan namin, including Carwell's grunt. Gano'n ba kalakas ang boses ko?

"I said this before and I'll say it again — hindi kita type." He chuckled and glanced at me. "I'm just concerned."

Napakibit balikat na lamang ako. Okay, sabi niya 'e.

"Oh, by the way." Huminto ako sa paglalakad at kinuha ang supot sa bulsa ko. "The seeds," wika ko at inabot ito sa kanya. "Ingatan mo. Halos isugal ko na ang buhay ko para sa litseng 'yan."

"You're not gonna die," he said. This time, lumingon na siya sa 'kin, direkta sa mga mata ko. "That's not who you are. Death can't recognize you."

My chest spasmed with pain as though it was stabbed by tiny needles. Hindi ako umiwas ng tingin kay Genesis, kahit kita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko na naunahan na kami nina Snow sa paglalakad.

I don't understand.

Bakit kumirot ang dibdib ko sa sinabi mo, Genesis? Why are you so mysterious?

"Do you know me?" wala sa sarili kong tanong. Basta na lamang lumabas sa bibig ko.

He smiled halfheartedly and tapped my shoulder. "Let's go. Naiwan na nila tayo." At nauna na siyang naglakad.

I clasped my cold hand on my chest and felt the throbbing pain it continuously gave. Why does he seem so familiar?

THROUGH the help of the portals, we arrived quickly to the entrance gate of Forthmore Academy. Mas madali ang pag-uwi namin kaysa sa pagpunta roon, which is quite understandable given the forest we need to pass through by foot.

The academy's clean lawn welcomed us as the massive gate slowly opened. I could vividly see the silhouette of Boris and the other professors, some of them were clapping. Students were also standing, cheering, most specifically cheering for Genesis, Third, and Carwell.

From the right side of the professors were the other members of the Arcane rushing their way to us. Nang makarating sila at isa-isa nilang niyakap ang isa't isa, excluding me, of course. Tahimik lamang akong nagmasid sa gilid habang ikino-congratulate ng mga estudyante ang Arcanes.

I crossed my arms as I saw Boris' figure approaching my direction. He grinned and clapped dramatically while staring at me. Wala namang pakialam ang ibang estudyante rito.

"The one who deserve the credit wasn't congratulated," he said, nakangiti pa rin at huminto sa harap ko. "Genesis told me what you did. I'm proud to be your headmaster."

I scoffed and smiled sarcastically. "Correction, headmaster ka ng paaralan na 'to. I did not study here that long. There's nothing for you to be proud of," wika ko.

"I'm looking forward to who you'll become in the future, Ara," aniya. Luminga siya sa paligid at napahinto nang dumako ang tingin niya sa mga estudyanteng nagtatawanan. "Looks like they're having fun. Magpahinga ka na lang muna."

Tumango lang ako at nilagpasan siya. Parami ng parami ang mga estudyanteng nagkukumpulan habang naglalakad ako pero pahina rin ng pahina ang boses nila. My vision started getting blurry, almost like the school was spinning, but I continued to walk. My legs felt wobbly, my ears were in heat, and slowly, from my position, I felt my body collapsed.

"The Supreme student collapsed!"

"Aurora!"

What happened next was a mystery, yet I could hear the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder at the mention of my name.

"AURORA? Where are you?!" shout a tiny kid who exactly looked like the male version of me. "I'm gonna find you!"

"You can't!" I responded and covered my face with my palm.

The boy laughed. "You're not supposed to talk! This is hide and seek, come on!" The sound of his footsteps draw nearer to me, and before I could run, he appeared right on my face. "Boo!"

"Paris!"

"Paris?"

"Who's Paris?"

I groaned as the light from the window went straight to my face. Who the hell opened my window? Even with my eyes half closed, I immediately rose up from bed and looked around.

Nagtagpo ang mga kilay ko nang mukha nina Carwell, Shaye, at Genesis ang sumalubong sa 'kin. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Oh, wait—

Kinusot ko ang mga mata ko at paulit-ulit na umiling saka muling tumingin sa paligid. White walls. Wires. Apparatus. Wide windows.

I'm in the infirmary.

"What am I doing here?" tanong ko sa kanila.

Shaye stood up and held my forehead. "Wala na siyang lagnat. Geez, you were unconscious for 2 days!"

Napahawak ako sa sarili kong leeg. Normal lang naman ang temperature ko. Ano bang nangyari?

"Why? What happened?" I asked, staring at them in confusion.

"You collapsed right after we arrived." It was Carwell who answered.

Mas lalong nagulo ang utak ko. I collapsed? I don't remember exactly. Hindi masyadong malinaw ang naaalala ko. The effect of medicine, perhaps.

Hindi na ako nagtanong at muli na lamang humiga. Tumagilid ako patalikod sa direksiyon nila, 'tsaka ipinikit ang mga mata, pero kaagad din akong napamulat nang biglang may kumatok ng napakalakas sa pinto.

The door creaked open when someone unlocked it. "Good afternoon, Headmaster," said Genesis.

"Good afternoon. Is she awake?"

"Yeah, pero mukhang hindi niya naaalala lahat," boses ni Carwell.

"It's normal. Her temperature was so high that the head healer had to give her strong medicine. It affects her memory of the recent events temporarily," Boris explained.

I mentally nodded. I was right. Medicine.

"Ara, I know you're listening," muli niyang sambit. "May masakit pa ba sa katawan mo?"

Tinikom ko ang bibig ko at hindi sumagot. Hindi ko alam pero wala akong ganang magsalita o kahit mangbara. Gusto ko lang mapag-isa.

"I see," ani Boris as if may nakuha siyang sagot mula sa 'kin. "Anyway, I came here to announce that the general knight sent you, the Arcanes, an official invitation from the palace, as ordered by the king himself. Kapag maayos na ang lagay ni Ara, pwede kayong maghanda ng gamit bukas dahil sa makalawa pa ang alis niyo. You deserve it all," he paused and the door creaked again together with his footstep. "I shall go now. The king expects all of you, especially you, Ara." And the door slammed shut.

"I'm looking forward to it," Shaye whispered behind me. Oh, yeah. She's Carwell's cousin, and Carwell is the king's nephew. They're related.

Nauumay na ako sa pagmumukha ng hari na 'yon. Paano ba ako makakagalaw kung dikit ng dikit sa 'kin ang mga Arcane, lalong lalo na si Shaye?

I mentally rolled my eyes. Whatever.

"I have to go now, Ara. Bibisitahin kita mamaya," said Genesis.

Tumayo ako at humarap sa kanila.

"No need." Saka ko mabilis na hinablot ang mga wires na nakakabit sa balat ko. I swifty transformed in my shadow form and headed outside. Hindi ko na pinansin ang mga estudyanteng nakasalubong ko na nagbubulungan tungkol sa 'kin at dumiretso na sa Prime Gardens.

As soon as I reached the center of the garden, I went back on my human form, held my knees together and leaned over. Hinayaan kong tangayin ng hangin ang nakalugay kong buhok at hindi nag-abalang ayusin iyon. The chirping of birds were singing in my ears yet none of the good things here in this garden brought answers to my questions.

I don't understand. Ang gulo ng utak ko.

Why am I having those dreams? Those dreams that I buried for too long?

Why do I have to remember them?

That traitor and that coward.

I looked up and held my face. Natigilan ako nang mapagtantong namamasa ang pisngi ko.  What's happening to me? For a long time after one decade and a half, ngayon lang muling tumulo ang mga luha ko.

"Akala ko hindi umiiyak ang isang Belacour."

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang magkabilang pisngi ko saka lumingon sa likuran. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"The Prime Garden is for the Arcanes. That should give you enough reason why I'm here." He sat two meters away from me, pero hindi niya tinanggal ang tingin niya sa 'kin.

"Stop staring," malamig kong sambit.

"It's weird," he said, "it's my first time seeing a strong woman like you crying alone."

Umiwas ako ng tingin at hindi sumagot. Ayaw kong sumagot. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat maramdaman, pero nangingibabaw ang galit ko. Galit sa sarili.

"Your power is driving the trees wild," aniya ulit. "Look up."

Tumingala ako. He's right. So much of my emotions, pati ang payapang garden na ito ay nadadamay.

"Leave. I want to be alone," I whispered.

"You can't command a royal just like that."

Nilingon ko siya at sinamaan ng tingin. "Wala na bang natirang hiya sa katawan mo?"

"Magyayabang ako kahit kailan ko gusto," aniya. Tinaas niya pa ang baba niya at tinignan ako na parang isa akong maduming tao.

"Mukhang tama nga ako, all royals are arrogant," sambit ko. "Kahit kailan hindi ako yuyuko sa mga katulad mo, Carwell."

He smirked. "If you say so."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Padabog akong tumayo at magwa-walk out na sana nang bigla rin siyang tumayo at hinawakan ang braso ko.

"Stay," he said. "Aalis na ako."

Sarkastiko akong napatawa. "Pagkatapos mo akong bulabugin dito, aalis ka kung kailan aalis na ako? Ano bang trip mo?"

He looked around as though checking if someone's watching us. No'ng masigurado niyang wala, muli siyang tumingin sa 'kin.

"Well, at least you're not crying now."

I gave him a confused look. "What?"

"To see you crying is weird. If you are seen like that by those people who look up to you, they might lose hope as well," he said. "Everything that I saw will remain a secret."

And he let go of my arm and walked away.

What was he talking about?