Chapter 10
Another Responsibility

MGA ilang wirdung kaisipan na rin ang nasabi ng Professor na 'to sa amin na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin namin alam ang kaniyang pangalan. Paulit-ulit lang naman ang thought ng kaniyang mga sinasabi. At isinusulong niya talaga ang hustisya para sa pagkamatay ng limang elementalists.

"They formed this alliance to protect the whole Magic Dome from the wickedness and snares of devilish Lorics. They formed an association to cater the needs of some indigent Lorics in terms of defense," muli na naman niyang saad.

Yes. These five elementalists have an alliance. The Natural Alliance Kung naalala niyo, ito ang nabasa ko mula sa libro na Famous Organizations and Associations in Magic Dome na nakita ko sa mini-library sa aming dorm.

Hindi lang sila tumutulong sa pakikipaglaban sa mga masasama. Tumutulong din sila sa ibang mga bagay katulad ng pagkontrol sa panahon, pagpapalago ng mga halaman at iba pa na pwede nilang magamitan ng kanilang lore.

"But how come someone has the guts to kill them. What is the motive?" dugtong niya pa sa nauna niyang sinabi.

Napapansin kung hindi kumportable si Melina dahil sa pangamba na nararamdaman. Marahil ay natakot siya sa sinabi ng Professor tungkol sa pagiging malaya ng suspek. Ang limang natitira naman ay all-ears sa sinasabi ni Professor at parang sinusubukan din nilang bumuo ng sagot sa mga tanong ni Professor.

Ako, hindi naman sa hindi ako interesado sa mga sinasabi niya. Sadyang alam ko na talaga ang mga 'yun.

"Wala ba siyang balak magpakilala?" rinig kong bulong ni Vitani sa kaniyang sarili. Kanina ko pa rin 'yan iniisip.

"Again Reapers, fame can bury you six feet below the ground. So why would I introduce myself?" sabi niya.

Huh? Hindi ko masyado makuha kung ano ang nais niyang sabihin.

"I don't want to die from the hands of the culprit. I don't want to die,"

Ngayon nakuha ko na. Hindi siya nagpapakilala dahil ayon sa kaniyang weird mindset, kapag magpapakilala siya ay malaki ang tiyansang maging sikat siya. At kapag maging sikat siya, posibleng patayin siya dahil sa kaniyang kasikatan. And that was a senseless, weird thought.

"But professor, your still prone to becoming famous," tumayo ako saka sinabi ito.

"And how exactly would that happen?"

"You said you're not telling others what your name is. And that's pretty unusual. Unusual things are... prominent. You could be famous from being unknown," sagot ko sa kaniya.

"Child, how can you be famous if you're unknown. It's like complimenting a mute for having a nice voice," malumanay niyang tugon sa sinabi ko.

Hindi niya naiintindihan kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin. Naiinis na ako dito. Lahat ng sinabi niya ay alam na alam ko na, nabasa ko na. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa akong nalalaman na bago.

Nanatili akong nakatayo nang may biglang kumatok sa nakabukas na pinto. Napatingin kami sa direksiyon ng pintuan. Doon, nakita naming nakatayo si Professor Slouch.

"Good day Professor!" bati ni Professor Slouch sa kay Professor.

Pati ba siya hindi din alam ang pangalan niya?

"Good day Professor Slouch! Anything?" bati din ni Professor Unknown.

"Umm. Someone. I need someone. Mister Scamander?" nakita din naman ako kaagad ni Professor Slouch nang hinanap ako ng kaniyang mga mata dahil nakatayo pa rin ako.

"Yes Professor?"

"Come with me. I need to talk to you about something," sabi niya sa'kin saka muling bumaling kay Professor Unknown.

"Professor, would you excuse Mister Scamander for a moment?" pahintulot niya.

"O-of course. Of course. No problem," sabi naman ni Professor Unknown na may kasama pang hand gestures.

Sinuot ko na ang bag ko at saka naglakad palapit kay Professor Slouch. Nang dumaan ako kay Professor Unknown ay nagpaalam muna ako sa kaniya.

"Thank you Professor!" pasalamat naman ni Professor Slouch.

"Anytime!"

Napansin kong magkasalubong ang mga kilay ni Vitani habang nakatingin sa akin. Alam kong kung anu-ano na naman ang pumapasok sa isip niyan. Kung anu-ano na namang konklusiyon ang nabubuo niya siguro.

Mamatay ka kakaisip diyan.

"What can you say about your Loriciology Professor?" tanong sakin ni Professor Slouch nang magsimula kaming maglakad.

"He's weird," maikli kong sagot.

"I guess he didn't introduce himself,"

Tumango naman ako habang nakataas pa ang kabilang dulo ng aking bibig.

"It's not him if he is going to. And he's really unknown. Nobody knows who he is. Really," paliwanag ni Professor Slouch.

Wait what? That's... incredible. Now he's interesting for me, intriguing, mysterious.

"But maybe it's just the nature of being a Loriciologist,"

Iwinaksi ko na sa aking isipan ang propesor na iyon. Ang sumunod namang pumasok ay kung bakit ako pinatawag ni Professor Slouch. Ngunit tinatamad akong magtanong. Hihintayin ko na lang na makarating na kami sa pupuntahan namin.

"By the way Mister Scamander," muli niyang pagsisimula ng pag-uusap. "What's the Wisest Theory that you said earlier? Is it a theory of The Wisest Wizard?" tanong niya at saka mahinang tumawa dahil joke niya ang huling pangungusap. It's not funny at all.

"Umm. Bukas lang po Professor, para po sabay kong masabi sa inyo at sa mga kasama ko," pakiwari ko. Tumango-tango naman siya at nagpatuloy lamang kami sa paglalakad.

"Okay. Anyways, Professor Hamilton wants you to be the representative of the school for the upcoming Quizard Bee," sabi naman ni Professor Slouch. Hay salamat at sinagot na rin kung ano ang tanong ko.

"Quizard Bee?"

"Yes! That's a very exciting competition for acads enthusiast Lorics. Professor Hamilton will just discuss further details later," paliwanag ni Professor Slouch.

Karagdagang gawain na naman. Umakyat kami sa staircase at mabuti na lang dahil hanggang pangalawang palapag lang kami. Nakakapagod kung sa mas mataas pang palapag kami aakyat.

"Professor Hamilton is the Sophomore Coordinator of Grim. He's a Professor in Magic History Field," paliwanag naman ni Professor Slouch.

"Eh bakit po freshmen ang kinuha niya para sa competition? Pwede naman pong sophomore, junior o senior," tanong ko. Nagiging madaldal na ako.

"Juniors and Seniors are not allowed to join any contest anymore. And he believes that you are better than anyone from the Sophomore Students,"

Ganun na ba ako katalino?

Hanggang sa nakarating na nga kami sa office ni Professor Hamilton. Pagpasok namin ay naabutan naming nagsusulat si Professor Hamilton. Lumangitngit ang pinto nang buksan namin ito kaya narinig ni Professor Hamilton at napatingin siya sa amin.

"Oh. Professor Slouch. Good day! Take your seat. Take your seat," alok niya sa amin ng dalawang upuan sa harap ng kaniyang mesa.

Bata pa siya. Siguro sa mga early 20's 'yung age niya. Parang fresh graduate nga eh.

"So, this is Mister Scamander?" tanong niya kay Professor Slouch saka tinuro pa ako.

"Yes Professor. He's the one you are looking for," sagot naman ni Professor Slouch.

"I am Professor Henry Hamilton. Nice to meet you Mister Scamander," naglahad rin siya ng kaniyang kamay sa akin. Dahil professor siya, tinanggap ko ang pakikipag-handshake niya.

"Drape Scamander," tugon ko saka ngumiti, na medyo pilit.

Ano kaya lore nito? I really want to know the lore of every Loric I know, and if possible, every living Loric.

"When was the last occurence of the Super Blue Blood Moon?" biglaang tanong ni Professor Hamilton.

Nagulat naman ako dahil dito at hindi ako nakasagot agad. "What?" tanong ko na lang. Baka nagjo-joke lang siya sa akin.

"He is just trying you Mister Scamander," paliwanag naman sa akin ni Professor Slouch.

"Uh. Umm," sabi ko at nilibot ang aking paningin upang alalahanin ang sagot. "December 30-, December 30, 1982," sagot ko.

Dahil doon ay tumango-tango si Professor Hamilton kay Professor Slouch at pinindot ang hawak niyang timer. "Good. Nasagot mo nang hindi pa nauubos ang 15 seconds. That would be great,"

So inurasan niya ako?

"Professor, usually what is the coverage of the questions in the competition?" tanong ni Professor Slouch.

Okay lang naman kung marami. At least marami akong malalaman.

"From Freshmen Acads, Sophomore, Junior, to Senior Acads. In short, lahat," so hindi siya in short, lahat eh. "Don't worry, we still have three months before the competition," dugtong pa ni Professor Hamilton.

Sinabi ko ngang okay lang sa akin kung madami. Pero hindi ko naman sinabing ganito kadami.

"Professor, umm, I trust Mister Scamander but, can he manage this?" alalang saad ni Professor Slouch at tumingin sa'kin, naghihintay ng kompirmasyon ko.

May tiwala raw sa'kin pero kinuwestiyon pa rin ang kakahayan ko.

Nag-isip muna ako kung ano ang sasabihin ko dahil ayokong maging show-off masyado. Pero alam ko naman na kaya ko.

"I'll try, Professor," I answered.

"Actually Professor Slouch, inaabangan ko na talaga si Mister Scamander kasi nakita ko sa Primary School Background niya na lahat ng nasalihan niyang academic competitions, siya ang nanguna. That's why I decided na siya ang maging representative ng school for Quizard Bee," Professor Hamilton explained.

He's right. Noong nasa Primary School pa lang ako, ako palagi ang kalahok ng school namin sa mga paligsahan at katuald nga ng sinabi niya, ako palagi ang nananalo.

"But lessons in Middle School are different from lessons in Primary School," ani Professor Slouch.

"Yes Professor they are different. Pero how come nasagot ni Mister Scamander ang tanong ko kanina? It is not yet discussed in Primary right? Maybe you forgot,"

Tumingin naman sa kisame si Professor Slouch na parang may inalala. "Oh, yah! I forgot," pagkumpirma niya saka ngumiti.

"That means, Mister Scamander have studied in advance already, right?" si Professor Hamilton at tumingin sa'kin.

Bahagya naman akong tumango para sagutin siya. Nag-advance study naman talaga ako. Who knows? Baka mas marami pa akong nalalaman kaysa mga propesor na kaharap ko ngayon. Biro lang.

"Okay. So I guess, Mister Scamander has really the potential to win this competition," sabi pa ni Professor Slouch nang nakangiti.

"And I will adjust our training schedule para makalaan siya ng oras sa pagre-review," sabi pa ni Professor Hamilton.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "Training schedule?"

"I'm one of your advisers for the Grand Magic Tournament, Mister Scamander," sagot naman ni Professor Hamilton sa akin.

Tumango naman ako habang bumibilog ang bibig.

"So, let's discuss the Quizard Bee," sabi naman ni Professor Hamilton.

"Only one representative for every division is allowed to join the competition. At ikaw nga ang napili namin,"

"There will be 50 questions divided into three modes – Relax, Suspense, and Mindblowing. 20 questions for Relax Mode, also 20 for Suspense, and the remaining 10 for Mindblowing," dagdag niya. A typical quiz bee.

Nakikinig lamang kami ni Professor Slouch. Napansin ko, bakit parang inferior ata si Professor Slouch kay Professor Hamilton?

"Although the questions are not really relaxing, since it's the easiest mode, it was called Relax Mode. During this mode, you will be provided a board and a pen for writing your answer. Each question, you will be given a 15 seconds span of time for you to think and to write,"

"The competitor with the lowest score after this mode will be eliminated and only the five remaining will proceed to the next mode,"

Okay that's good.

"On the next mode, the Suspense Mode, is a buzzer type contest. Ibig sabihin, magpapauna-unahan kayo ng mga kalaban niyo sa pagsagot by pressing the buzzer,"

"And two competitors will be eliminated after this mode. The Top 3 will fight in Mindblowing Mode,"

"In the Mindblowing Mode, there will be no questions from the judges. Instead, you are the one who will make the questions for your opponent. Magtatanung-tanungan kayong tatlo,"

That's exciting.

"Kung sino ang unang makapagbigay ng maling sagot ay siyang magiging third placer, ang pangalawa ay of course ang second placer, and the remaining would be the champion," mahabang paliwanag ni Professor Hamilton.

"So ngayon pa lang, you need to make your questions already. And as much as possible, the hardest," dagdag naman ni Professor Slouch.

"I know you can do it Mister Scamander. Last year, we didn't reach the final mode. But now, I am hoping that we can," sabi ni Professor Hamilton.

"Here's the references na kailangan mong pag-aralan," turo niya sa tatlong stack ng makakapal na mga libro.

"Umm. Ipapahatid ko na lang sa dorm niyo," tumango naman ako. "You can go back to your class now. Don't forget for our training this afternoon," pagpapaalala niya.

"Thank you very much Professor," ani Professor Slouch.

"Yes. Yes Professor. Thank you very much too. Mister Scamander. I know you can do it," baling sa akin ni Professor Hamilton.

Nginitian ko lang siya saka lumabas kasama si Professor Slouch.

"Farewell, Professor," pamamaalm ni Professor Slouch.

"Farewell,"

I heaved a heavy sigh pagkalabas namin ng office ni Professor Hamilton. This would be very tiring. Hindi ko aakalaing ganito na kabigat ang mga gawain ko kahit freshmen palang ako.

***

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