𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓

I smirked when the guy in front of us threw a needle. Walang kahirap ko itong sinalo't inipit ang maliit at matinis na karayom sa pagitan ng dalawa kong mga daliri. Agad ko itong tinapon pabalik sa kaniya. The needle pierced to his right leg, and I immediately saw him in pain.

I see a glowing violet color emitting from the needle. I was right. The needle has a wolfsbane. Agad na bumagsak ang lalaki sa sahig pero hindi man lang natakot ang kaniyang mga kasama.

"How does it feels to taste your own medicine?" Pangungutya ko. Agad namang lumingon sa gawi ko si Thunder. I stared back at him.

He opened his palm, and balls of wind came out. Lumawak ang ngisi ko. I see that he's more prominent in wind but how come he can use ice? Wind and the power of ice? That's odd.

"I wonder if you're used to it." I said as I dodge another ball of faint fire. "I mean. . . Kahit ako naman ay pinagbintangan ka ring ang kambal mo." Humalakhak ako.

Tinaas ko ang laylayan ng palda ko't umikot para iwasan ang isa pang bolang apoy. Tanging isang blankong tingin ang binato sa akin ni Thunder. I remained smiling. It's really cool that I can converse with the Academy's so called top one. I wonder what he's thinking, he seems like emotionless. Isang tingin lang ang tugon niya sa lahat ng sinasabi ko.

"Sa likod mo!" Brio shouted. May lakas ng loob pa akong tawanan siya dahil sa boses pa lang ay halatang kabado siya't natataranta. Easy peasy, if he thinks that I'm easy to defeat, honey he's wrong.

Dalawang lalaki ang magkabilaang umatake sa gilid ko ngunit nagawa kong hawakan ang mga pulso nila. I smiled sweetly as I grip their wrists tightly. Hindi sila bumagsak dahil pinalutang ko ang mga katawan nila. Everyone shouted.

"Four down." I playfully said like a referee in my own battle.

However, I noticed something odd. These men don't have shadows.

Looks like I nearly forgot that we're in a public place. Before I could make my next move, I saw a thin golden smoke in the air. The smoke immediately chained my wrists. Lumingon ako sa gawi nila Brio at Thunder at nakita kong animo'y nakaposas din ang kanilang mga kamay.

"Stop the commission, students! You are getting out of hand!" A tall guy appeared in the middle. He made some gestures, and that's when I felt our chains tightened. Nanatili akong nakangisi. The thing that I noticed from him is her jet blue hair, and tan skin.

"Mr. Thunder. I can't believe that I will see you in a situation like this! Alam mo ba'ng tumakbo pa ako mula guidance para lang i-report ito kay Miss Silva!" The guy's baritone voice echoed. Nagsiyukuan naman ang lahat. Judging from his presence, and posture, I can tell that he's from the guidance office.

Thunder, and Brio bowed their heads. While I, Scarlet Auburn Embers displayed a mocking smile. Nagawa ko pang makipagtitigan sa lalaking dumating. Few inches taller than me, but I can raise my chin higher.

"So you're the trouble maker." Prangkahan niyang saad sa akin. Instead of getting insulted, I just laughed it. Bakit ako magagalit? Totoo naman ang sinasabi niya.

"I don't know what happened," he made a paused.

"I thought you said that I'm a trouble maker? What happened here is simple, a trouble." I shrugged my shoulders.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ko dahil may nakita akong namumuo na animo'y halo-halong kulay sa palad niya. It resembles the color in a rainbow. Kumurap lang ako saglit at nakita kong tinapon niya ang tila makulay na buhangin sa mga lalaking nasa harap namin.

Moments later, we heard a screeching sounds coming from men. Humiyaw ang mga manonood sa amin dahil tila natunaw ang mga lalaki. Kahit ako'y nangunot na ang noo. What in the world just happened?

"Panoorin niyo muna kung ano'ng mangyayari." The guy scoffed. I stared at the silver pin in his left collar, and read what's written. It was his name; Rowan.

Lumingon ako kay Thunder pero mukhang pati siya ay walang ideya kung ano ang nangyari. I looked next to Brio thinking that maybe he knows that it's somehow a magic item but he has the same expression with Thunder.

The men who attacked us started melting like ice until their bodies was nowhere to be found. Humakbang ako upang titigan ang bagay na natira sa damo. But Rowan gestured me to stop. Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay. Why? Is he hiding something?

"Look," he made a paused again. He bended his right knee to see what's on the ground. Sunod niya itong pinulot at tinaas para ipakita sa aming lahat. He's holding a white paper-stick man.

"Whoever attacked you is using ancient magic." May diin nitong sabi.

"Ancient magic?" Magsalubong na kilay na sambit ni Thunder. Tila may halong pagkalito't kaba ang pagbanggit niya.

"Ha? Ano!" Napakamot sa ulo si Brio. Mukhang siyang problemado dahil sa sinabi ni Rowan.

"These papers are just substitutes. The guys that you fight with are nothing but empty clones," Rowan warned us. Salubong ang mga kilay ko. Wala akong naiintindihan. I feel dumb.

I paid attention to them because even Brio looked shocked. Looks like they're talking about something I didn't know. Gusto kong matawa sa sarili ko. So this is the consequence of skipping class.

"All students, please come back to your classes! Ako na ang bahala sa lahat ng kaguluhang nangyari ngayon! Kakausapin ko si Madam Silva!" Tila namamaos niyang sigaw. He started singing his hands in the air. 'Di ko maintindihan kung ano'ng ginagawa niya. Mukha siyang tanga.

"Kayong tatlo. . . Sumama kayo sa akin." His voice instantly changed when he looked at Brio.

I turned my back at them. Una sa lahat ay wala sa isip ko ang magsayang ng oras. Instead of going to school, and study various things that are useless in real life situations, I would rather skip class, and go in my favorite tavern.

However, as I stepped once again. I noticed Rowan's dusts wrapped around my feet. Sa huli ay napangisi ako. I could turn this Academy into ashes but I'm kind.

"I said, three of you," may diin nitong sabi. Kahit hindi ako nakatingin sa kaniya'y ramdam kong nakatingin siya sa akin. Lumingon ako sa kaniya habang nakangisi.

"Yeah. Whatever. Baka hindi ka makatulog kapag hindi ako sumama sa inyo." Nakangisi kong sambit habang nakabulsa ang mga kamay.

Kahit ang dalawa kong mga kasama na halatang nagtataka ay wala ring magawa kun'di ang sumama. I raised a brow when I noticed that Brio keeps on looking at me. While Thunder can't look straight into my eyes.

Well, looks like I have no choice. I wonder how will I waste my time this time?

"We all know that ancient magic was buried with the White Protectors." Rowan said in a baritone voice.

Humikab ako habang nakasunod sa kanila. Ako ang nasa dulo't likod. Pinagkrus ko ang mga kamay ko. I looked around. I thought that he's going to bring us to the guidance council but we were wrong. We don't recognize this room.

Parang mahabng daan ang nilalakad namin. The interrior screamed pitch black, and wooden architectural designs. There were even gigantic shelves facing each other. I can even see paintings curved with writing that I couldn't read nor recognized.

Napapalibutan ng mga malalaking sanga ng puno ang gitnang bahagi ng silid. Cool. What an amazing room he has. He told us that he wanted us to see some ancient items, and discussed about ancient magic.

"This is my office. Hindi lang alam ng publiko." Isang buntong hininga ang ginawa niya na para bang napapagod na kakalakad.

"Ano 'to? Ang ganda!" Brio exclaimed like a happy kid. May pinulot siyang singsing na nakapatong sa isang lumang mesa.

"Huwag mong hahawakan 'yan at kung baka sino ang matawag mo!" Natatarantang saad ni Rowan at nagmamadaling binawi sa kamay ni Brio ang singsing.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko nang titigan ko ang singsing. It looks old. It's a silver one with a white diamond crystal on the middle. Wala namang nagawa si Brio kun'di ang ngumuso.

''Sino'ng matatawag?'' Brio raised his palm.  Sumiksik naman sa gilid niya si Thunder upang titigan ang hawak niyang singsing.

''Give that to me. I know that you love magic items but that thing is not a simple magic item that someone can wear.'' Ramdam ko ang pagbabanta sa boses ni Rowan kaya naman ay ngumisi ako. Nilapit ko ang katawan ko kay Brio.

''What's that? Looks cool,'' I whispered. Binaba niya ang singsing para makita ko. The back of the ring has an ancient curving as well.

''Pst. May nabasa kang ganito? Parang simple lang naman na singsing.'' Kunot na kunot ang noo ni Brio at agad namang umiling si Thunder bilang tugon.

''Ibalik mo na ang singsing. I'll cleanse it so your imprint won't be left.'' Kalmado ngunit may diin ang boses ni Rowan. Natawa ako dahil sa narinig.

''Grabe ka naman! Ginawa mo naman akong may sakit!'' Bulaslas ni Brio. Nakangisi lamang ako habang nanonood sa kanilang dalawa.

Ang totoo ay hindi naman ako interesado sa singsing. Galawin na lahat ni Brio kung ano'ng gusto niyang pulutin. It doesn't concern me. Hindi ko rin ikakamatay. Natatawa lang ako dahil sa reaksyon ni Rowan. He looks anxious.

''The moment you dropped a blood here, the humanity will be wiped off it less than one second. . . '' Rowan said. Tumaas ang kilay ko. The moment I titled my head, and the ring flew somewhere. Napahiyaw na lang si Rowan dahil sa nangyari. Humalakhak ako't lumingon sa gawi ko si Thunder.

''What?'' I smirked at him. Hindi man lang siya umimik kaya naman ay nagkibit balikat na lang ako.

We heard few anxious screams from Rowan. Seconds later, he started sprinkling dusts somewhere. Nagpapapadyak siya sa tuwa nang makita niya ang singsing at pawis na pawis siyang bumalik sa akin. Mukha siyang basang sisiw.

''I told you to be careful. . . You don't know what you're dealing.'' Hingal niyang saad kay Brio.

Napailing na lang ako at sumunod sa kanila. They started talking about ancient things and more. Panay lang ang hikab ko dahil wala naman siyang pake sa pinaguusapan nila. However, something caught my attention. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at lumingon sa gilid.

"That's a sacred relic." Rowan stated before I could even touch the statue. It's a big statue of a fat cobra with three heads adorned with glitters. Their eyes are designed with rubies. Hindi ko na ito hinawakan at tinitigan na lang.

"I heard you love snakes, and all reptiles," Rowan said, and it's not even a question. Nagpatuloy ang kaniyang paglalakad habang panay ang papuri ni Brio sa mga nakikita niya. Humalakhak ako dahil para siyang bata. No wonder why he acts this way, he loves magic items.

"Yeah. It's better than snakes that talk, walk, and you mingle with in your everyday lives." Tinagilid ko ang ulo ko at agad siyang nanahimik.

"Are you a silver tongue?" Rowan said. Sunod akong napahalaklak. Hindi ko alam kung nananadya ba siya o sadyang tanga. Why would I waste time wearing a magic item to communicate with animals If I'm a silver tongue?

"You should ask Brio." Ngisi kong sabi kaya agad namang nanahimik si Brio kakasalita sa harap. Tumingin siya sa akin habang nakanguso.

"What?" I mouthed. Inirapan niya ako. I wanted him to slip but never mind. I'll be kinder these days.

"What about Brio? Ikaw ba ang sinasabi nilang transferee?" Napuno ng kuryosidad ang boses ni Rowan. Tahimik lamang si Thunder habang nakatingin kay Brio. I wonder how they knew each other? Binalita lang ni Caius sa akin na balak nang mag-aral ni Brio. I never thought I'll bumped into him here in Imperial Academy.

"M-may sinasabi sila tungkol sa akin?" Alalang sabi ni Brio habang nakahawak sa dibdib.

"Yeah. Everyone says that you're the top one's friend." Rowan responded. Tinitigan ko silang dalawa.

Every time I look at Brio, I always caught Thunder looking at me. Imbes na umiwas ng tingin ay ngumisi ako sa kaniya. Kung hindi rin naman siya iimik sa akin ay makikipagtitigan na lang ako. This guy maybe not talkative, and loud as Brio, I know he observes a lot.

"How about you?" Alam kong ako ang tinatanong ni Rowan. Tatlo lang naman kaming kausap niya.

"I don't need to introduce myself. We met a lot of times inside the guidance office." Ngisi ko at nanahimik siya saglit.

"Since when you started liking reptiles?" He asked. Nagkatinginan kami ni Thunder. Maybe he wanted to ask the same thing.

"Since birth." I shrugged. Lahat sila ay lumingon sa akin na para bang nagtataka. Natawa na lang ako sa reaksyon nilang tatlo.

"Totoo 'yong kuwento ni tandang Caius?" Brio asked. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay habang nakangisi.

"Yeah. So you're two were talking about me?" I crossed my arms. Nanahimik naman ang dalawang kasama namin.

"I was adopted by a single old man. He said he found me lying beside a dragon's egg." Walang pag-aalinlangan kong sabi. I don't know who my real parents are. And I don't want to know.

"A dragon's egg?" That's the first word that I heard from Thunder. Tinitigan ko siya dahil mukhang may gusto siyang sabihin. Sunod silang nagkatinginan ni Rowan.

"Dragons are extinct creature. Some believes that they are just hidden in an unseen place. We don't know." Rowan commented. Brio remained silent. Siguro ay hindi niya alam kung ano ang pinag-uusapan namin kaya tahimik lang siya.

"I don't know. That's what Caius told. So I believe that Dragons saved me. And reptiles are my friends." Nagkibit balikat na lang ako.

"How about you, Thunder? I heard that you got an A in all your performances. Is wind your strengths?" Rowan asked. Huminto kami sa harap ng isang glass shelf. Malaki ito't puno ng mga makakapal at malalaking aklat. The books look old. Tinitigan ko si Thunder at hinintay ang susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Ice." Tipid niyang sabi. Lahat kami ay napalingon sa amin.

"I'm interested," I said. This time all of them looked at me instead. But my eyes are only looking at Thunder's face.

"I can manipulate fire easily," I made a paused. Humipan ako sa ere't sa isang iglap ay isang maliit na apoy ang lumitaw. It was only a faint fire because I couldn't burn this place. "But now I'm interested in manipulating ice." I smiled.

It doesn't stop there because before he could answer, I offered my hand. And swears that tomorrow, I will deal with Thunder, and his twin.