ANOTHER day has gone by and as usual, the tower is as boring as ever. I feel like I'm being imprisoned in a sense of endless peace. Peace is not the best thing for me, and will never be. I prefer being chaotic. Chaos means death, and death... is my expertise. 

Nakakabagot na magmukmok sa kwarto araw-araw. It has been three days and geez, my hands are itching to do things! Things that mages aren't allowed to do. 

I toured around the whole campus and Shaye was the one who accompanied me. It was my request, for I don't like Caelum's presence. He's too conceited just because he's the head council and the king's nephew! As Shaye said, classes will start three days from now. That means, sooner, I'll be sitting in my assigned seat, listening to some typically boring discussion. 

 I let out a huge sigh. Tumalikod ako sa bintana at sumandal dito. Tumingala ako sa kabilang pader ng aking kwarto. My eyes locked with the diamond-shaped wooden clock hanging. It has two moons lined vertically, one on the upper part and the other was on the lower part. On the center is a tiny metal stick pointing at the middle of a curved line carved between the two sides of the two moons. 

It's nearly nightfall. 

Umayos ako ng tayo at naglakad patungong pintuan. Tahimik akong lumabas nang hindi nag-abalang ilibot ang tingin sa ibang bahagi ng dormitoryo. That Snow is still pissing me off. Though, I know that she's not worth a damn. 

As soon as I got out of the dormitory, evening serenity welcomed me. The leaves from the blooming bushes were turning from green to yellow-orange, which mirrored the last golden ray of the setting sun. 

Muli akong napabuntong hininga bago nagpatuloy sa paglakad. Hindi pa man ako nakakalayo ay may tumawag sa 'kin. 

"Belacour!" 

I turned around and saw Caelum running towards me. I raised my eyebrow, trying to ask him what he needs.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked while fixing his messed up tie. 

"It's none of your business," I replied, not looking back at him. I'm quite busy staring at the thick book he's holding. Halatang luma na ito dahil puno ng alikabok.

Napansin niya sigurong nakatingin ako rito kaya'y itinago niya ito sa likuran at tumikhim. 

"Maggagabi na, hindi ka na pwedeng lumabas," he stated with authority. 

Umiling ako. "You can't tell me what to do."

He jerked his head before speaking. "Why? What do you want to do?" 

"You're so nosy," I blurted and narrowed my eyes.

Ang pakialamero ng lalaking ito. Just because he's the head council, he thinks he can control everyone. Besides, the curfew time is five hours from now. Masyado lamang siyang pabida. 

Tumalikod na ako at muling naglakad pero agad ding napahinto nang mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang palapulsuhan ko at hinila ako pabalik.

"What?" I asked, wearing a bored look.

"You can't go wandering around at night," mabilis niyang sagot. 

Binawi ko ang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak niya at inilagay iyon sa aking beywang. 

"And why is that, Mr?" I raised my left eyebrow. 

Napaismid siya sa inakto ko at bahagyang natiligan. He stared at me for a second as if he's trying to find the right words to speak. Ibinalik ko ang titig sa kanya pero mabilis siyang umiwas ng tingin. He blinked twice and moved his left hand backwards. And it only means one thing — may tinatago siya o may tinatago ang akademyang ito. 

I smirked when he can't seem to talk back. Mabilis kong ipinikit ang mga mata at sa pagmulat ko ay tanging si Caelum na lamang ang makikita sa aming pwesto. He looked around trying to catch sight of me. Nang dumako ang tingin niya sa direksyon ko ay ipinilig niya ang ulo at ngumisi. 

He surely is a royal. Even my shadow form can't deceive him. 

"You really think you can hide from me, huh?" aniya at inilaro ang dila sa gilid ng pisngi. 

I moved towards him through the gentle flow of the wind. For a moment, I saw his eyes turned orange again, so was the glow on his fist. Just like the first time. 

Umikot ako sa kinaroroonan niya nang hindi gumagawa ng kahit katiting na ingay. As I circled him, he, too, was staring at me — staring at my shadow. 

"I'm warning you, Belacour." 

I let out a sarcastic laugh. What does he think of me? A child who cowers to a stupid person's threat? 

"Sorry to burst your bubbles, Carwell, but I was not threatened," I playfully said. 

Hindi siya sumagot, bagkus ay nanatili lamang itong nakatitig sa gawi ko. I went back on my human form and marched towards him. His hazel eyes met mine, like how the radiant sky meets the ever so dark valleys. I am not so sure but I felt something prickled on my fingertip, the same thing I felt on my chest. 

What just happened? 

Binawi ko ang tingin at nagsalita, "So, you're a royal." 

"And you're a Mortis," pahayag niya na may bahid na kayabangan ang boses. 

Mortises. Humans that are born in a family of mages but were not gifted with any powers. Most of them are thrown to Forthill — the island where I came from. 

Hindi pa rin siya naniniwala na may kapangyarihan ako, even though he just saw me on my shadow form. Ang tigas din ng bungo ng lalaking ito.

"I'm not so different from you," I replied. I was born in a powerless family, but what separates me from them is that I am a mage. 

Carwell grunted as though my statement was a joke. "I can't even feel your power." 

But he saw it, didn't he? Stupid man.

"Perhaps, you're way too weak to feel it," I sneered. 

"Insolent brat," he blurted and clenched his jaw. Napangisi ako sa nakita. Ang dali lang pala galitin ang lalaking ito. He's too expressive. His emotions make him vulnerable. And that's the best weapon I have against him. 

"IT was twenty years ago, the tragedy that marked the history of Zarsothia — when all has fallen," I read aloud, flipping the parchment to the next page. May mga malalabong litrato na nakadikit dito. I traced it with my fingers and to my surprise, it prickled again. Napatingin ako sa aking hintuturo at napakunot ang noo sa nakita. 

Blood. My fingertip is dripping with blood. 

I don't remember any fights that may have caused this. It's not that alarming but the book that I'm currently reading is somehow giving me a sense of connection. Hindi ko alam kung bakit at paano pero sa tingin ko'y may tinatago ang librong ito. Is it a coincidence that Carwell happened to have this book? 

Yes, it was the book I saw Carwell was holding. The hundred-year-old-looking book was full of dust, there were even cobwebs trailing on its spine. The circle I performed while I was in my shadow form was intended to steal the book. It just so happens that Carwell was dumb enough not to notice it. 

Isinarado ko ang libro at humugot ng hininga. It's getting colder than it already was, which means the night is getting late. Humilata ako sa kama at napatitig sa kisame. If only I can just go in and out of this academy, my mission could've been done by now. 

Twenty years ago, when all had fallen. What does it mean 'all had fallen'? 

I shook my head and covered myself with my cozy blanket. Bukas ko na dapat isipin iyon. I glanced at the wooden clock hanging on my wall and sighed. It's past midnight. 

I was about to close my eyes when a noise of what seemed like a collision of swords broke the solemn silence. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon at mabilis na tumayo. Dumungaw ako sa may bintana at inilibot ang tingin sa paligid.

My eyes narrowed as I saw silhouettes from afar. Sa hugis at postura nito, masasabi kong lalaki sila. Who the hell are they? 

I turned my back from the window and grabbed my black cloak. Trying not to make any sound, I tiptoed out of the dormitory and headed to the grounds, to where I saw those men. Napakagat ako sa labi nang yumakap sa akin ang malamig na paligid. Even if I have my cloak on, the coldness of the night still penetrates my body. 

I hugged myself and walked to the direction of the noise. It's a good thing that the two moons are lighting my way, pero kahit naman wala sila ay nakakakita pa rin ako sa madilim. 

Isiniksik ko ang sarili sa malalabong na mga halaman. I tightened my grip to the hem of my cloak as I felt my eyes turned silver. I can no longer see my body, even my cloak is gone. Not even a single soul can see me now.  Smirking, I moved closer to the silhouettes.

Paulit-ulit akong napakurap bago napagtanto ang bagay na nangyayari sa harapan ko. Mistulang sumikip ang balat ko sa buong katawan kasabay ng pagtayo ng aking mga balahibo. 

In front of me were three men holding a long sword. Nakatutok ito sa leeg ng hubo't hubad na babae na kaedaran ko lamang. Her body was full of bruises, and she's even coughing blood. My eyes went to the piece of cloth on her wrist, the last sleeve worn on her body where a green badge was attached. 

She's a Jewel. 

Judging from her appearance, the blood, the nakedness — she has been sexually harassed and tortured to death. 

Napayukom ang kamao ko. This is one of the reasons why I despise men. They're always up for pleasure even if it means defying the rule of nature. Hayok sa pansariling kaligayahan. 

Muli akong tumingin sa mukha ng babae na puno ng dugo. Kumabog ng mabilis ang dibdib ko nang mapagtantong nakatingin ito sa akin. Her eyes were pleading, begging for help. And for a moment, I saw her smile. A timid smile that did not even reach her teary eyes.

She's staring at me intently as if I am visible. Paano niya ako nakikita? 

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. She reminds me of someone I know from the past. Someone who suffered the same fate as hers. Someone who died and was forgotten... She reminds me of myself. 

Ipinilig ko ang ulo at bumalik sa normal kong anyo. I know I am cruel at some point and I'm the last person who'll give strangers a damn, but I can't let this pass. 

Hahakbang na sana ako palabas sa aking pinagtataguan nang may kung sino mang nilalang ang humila sa akin. I tried to get myself off his grip but I failed. Hinayaan ko na lamang ito na hilain ako palayo ngunit ang mga mata ko'y nakatitig pa rin sa papalayong pigura ng mga lalaki, and in a blink, they vanished. It could be, they teleported, made themselves invisible or cast a spell. Whatever the truth is, iisa lamang ang nakumprima ko. Totoo ngang may tinatago ang akademyang ito. 

First, the king. Now, the academy. I never knew my journey could be this exciting. 

"I told you to not wander around at night! What were you thinking?!" galit na sigaw ng lalaking humila sa akin. 

Napaismid ako sa lakas ng boses nito. Bakit ba niya ako binabawalan na lumabas? Dahil sa sekretong tinatago nila?

"Why does that upset you?" I asked, raising my left eyebrow. "Is there something about this academy that students aren't allowed to know?" 

Bahagya siyang natigilan at napatitig sa mga mata ko. Hindi ko mabasa ang kanyang mukha pero alam kong nagkakagulo ngayon ang isip niya. 

Humakbang ako papalit sa kanyang kinaroroonan. "Why, Carwell? What is Forthmore Academy's secret?" 

"No," paulit-ulit siyang umiling. "There is none." 

I smiled — a sarcastic one. 

"You can't fool me, Carwell," ani ko gamit ang malambot na boses. Kahit kailan, hindi niyo maloloko ang isa ring manloloko. 

"Think what you want to think, Belacour," he said and glared at me. "Classes haven't started, and yet you already broke a rule. One more rule-breaking and you shall be punished." 

Muling sumilay ang mapaglarong ngisi sa labi ko. Changing the topic, huh? He's way too easy to read. Sa mata niya palang, alam ko ng balisa siya sa kaloob-looban niya. Such a bad liar.

Mess with me, Carwell. Be part of my plan.