Changes Upon Returning

Their scent in this room is still around, it's weird, but it's nostalgic how I keep remembering them. Bukas ang bintana, pero halos walang liwanag ang pumapasok. Malinis din ang kwarto dahil sa ilang araw din akong hindi pumupunta dito. How could I? It's kind of unfair staying in this room without them around, but I guess that was just an excuse on how much I want them here.

Walang tunog akong naririnig dito which is unusual, but I'm getting used to it. Only the sound of my footsteps rang across the room as well as my yawns. These days, my stamina has improved a lot, kaya hindi narin ako medyo napapagod—ah no, that's a lie, I still get tired like all the time pero hindi na ganoon kalala.

Pumunta ako sa kitchen at binuksan ang cabinet, doon sa ibabaw ay nakita ko ang maraming maliliit na jars ni Keila na may mga label na jasmine at vanilla teas. She really loves them for some reason, nag umpisa lang ang pagkahulig niya dito nung unang veses niyang pumunta sa bahay. We usually serve these teas for guests, although we barely drink then ourseleves. Kaya marami din ang binigay ko sa kaniya.

It's kind of a waste how she left them here behind. If she was going to leave, sana dinala niya nalang ang mga ito, dahil wala namang iinom dito sa kanila. Who knows baka bigla nalang siyang bumalik dito at pagkagising ko sa umaga wala na sila. I sighed.

I grabbed one small jar of vanilla tea at nilagay ang isang kutsara nito sa isang teacup then poured a hot water in it, as well as cream. Keila dislikes having cream in her vanilla, but I prefer than just having a simple vanilla tea. I yawned before drinking a whole cup of it, it was hot against my tongue, but it was indeed relaxing.

Pumasok ang malamig na hangin ng umaga sa bintana, the sound of turning pages was heard, kaya napunta ang direksyon ko dito. May isang libro sa ibabaw ng desk table ni Andrea sa tabi ng higaan niya. There were three beds, at sa gitna talaga siya, she said she liked it that way. I even remember the time we both argued for that same position, but I gave it up knowing how stubborn she is.

Lumapit ako dito at nakita ang maliit na picture frame, it bears a photo of the three of us the night after we finished the reports kung bakit nasira ang dorm room namin nung unang beses palang naming nagkita-kita, it was a must for students sharing a room to take a picture, ewan ko ba sa school rules.

We never did smile on this photo, we still hated each other then. Pero hindi ko alam na tinatago papa ito ni Andrea hanggang ngayon. We were sure naive back then, bata pa kaming mag-isip, we thought th world was easy, akala namin magiging maayos din ang lahat kung may kaonting problema man.

Really, the two of them...they're just too unfair. Leaving me behind here, at siguro sa aming tatlo ako lang ang may pakealam sa relasyon at pagkakaibigan namin. Maybe I was the only one thinking we were close friends after all, even though I regard them as my only friends, the way they left just like that hurt me...no, I felt betrayed by that certain fact.

Andrea wanted to be stronger, alam ko ito una palang, kahit hindi niya man sinabi sa akin, hindi niya man inamin sa akin ang mga iniisip niya, I've always knew she was havung a hard time, I've always knew she was tired of people around her, which led her to seek for higher power, which lef ger to join Exodus. I was too observant, kaya alam ko ang mga bagay na ito.

I was partly blaming myself, I saw this was coming, I kind of knew from the very beginning of this possibility, but I ignored it. I'm not ignorant, ayaw ko lang talagang gumawa ng mga nakakapagod na bagay, stuffs like comforting her. I just didn't want to break that certain like between the three of us, where no one asks about each other's past or secrets, or something like that.

May mga sarili kaming buhay na tatlo at kahit malapit man kaming nagkakaibigan, kahit magaling man ang teamwork naming tatlo, kahit na para sa iba naiiintindihan namin ang isa't isa, we all know those weren't the case at all. Our friendship, well...we were neither close nor far away from each other. I'm not saying we didn't care about each other, but I'm not saying we cared too. It's like we cared but we nust showed that we didn't because we didn't want to complicate our relationships more.

Like the fact that Andrea and Keila have that insecurities between each of them but I didn't meddle. Like the fact that Andrea feels inferior to the both of us but I didn't say anything. And like the fact that Andrea felt like I was underestimating her every time we fight bt I didn't dare explain anything. Hinayaan ko lang siyang mag-isio ng kung anong gusto niya, hinayaan ko lang silang maging ganoon dahil naniwala akong magiging ganoon padin naman kaming tatlo, na magkakasama.

But if I had known it would be something like this, then in the first place I should have meddled with their lives more. That way malalaman ko ang nakaraan ni Keila, malalaman ko kung bakit niya tinulungan ang Black Clan noon, malaman ko kung ano ba talaga siya, at higit sa lahat, I could have been by her side at difficult times.

And I could have reached out to Andrea, I could have pulled her out of her darkness, I could have told her she had us when no one did, na nandito lang kami when she gets tired of everything being against her. Yeah, sounds cliche, but it was the truth. That's what it feels like to have friends.

Pero hindi eh. Wala sila dito. Nakikita na ng lahat bilang isang kriminal si Keila, nakikita na ng lahat na kalaban si Andrea, nakikita na ng lahat na...na ang gulo gulo na ng buhay namin. Maybe I was the one who betrayed them instead—no, we all betrayed each other. No one crossed that line when one of us should have, siguro naghihintay lang kaming may isang gagawa nun, waiting to the point where it became like this.

Bigla kong pinailalim ang frame nang may biglang kumatok sa pintuan. Nakikita ko din sa orasan na pasikat na ang araw, that would explain the light creeping in through the windows, illuminating everything.

"Iyana, handa ka na ba?" Boses ito ni Thane. That's right, we're heading to Enchant Woods, elves usually inhabit those lands, pero dahil sa Exodus napipilitan silang magtago. Just mentioning that name makes my blood boil, nagagalit ako na dahil sa kanila ang gulo—mali, bakit ko ba sila sinisisi? It's as if I'm blaming Andrea too.

Mabilis akong pumunta pabalik sa kitchen at hinugasan na ang baso, tapos ay ibinalik ito sa cabinet kasama ang jar ng vanilla. Then I went to get my purple cloak na nakasabit sa likuran ng pinto. I wasn't wearing my usual uniform, well after all pupunta ako sa isang misyon.

Nang binuksan ko ang pintuan, nakit ko na hindi lang si Thane ang nandoon, pati narin si George. We met in the eyes at first, pero sabay din naman kaming umilag. I forgot to mention that this guy is actually one of my possible fiancés. And yes, he's a son of one of the Council members.

Sa tatlong possible candidate ay siya lang ang nagpakita nung party noon kung saan sumama sa akin si Andrea, reason why I sill haven't met the other two. Alam ko namang ayaw niyang ma-engage sa akin, and I don't want to either. I can't get happily engage yet with people important to me out there causing trouble.

Lumakad na kami papunta sa office ni Headmistress. Dahil sa mdyo malapit lang naman ay hindi natagalan ang paglalakad namin. Kaya ilang minuto ang nakalipas ay nasa unahan na kami ng pintuan niya. Thane opened the door revealing the ranked students at ang mga leaders ng iba't ibang groups.

Pero nagulat akong makita na kompleto na ang mga rnaked students, bumalik siguro sila agad sa mga sarili nilang quests para lang sa mosyon na ito, dahil kalaban na namin ang Exodus ngayon. Pamilyar ako sa ibang ranked students, but there's someone in particular who I dislike.

"Iyana!! Long time no see!" Sigaw niya sabay takbo papunta sa direksyon ko at niyakap ako ng mahigpit, my feet even barrly touched th ground because she's lifting me up!

"Ah I'm tired and dealing with you only made it worse, Angela." Wika ko sa kaniya finally letting me go. Yes, she's Angela, the rank 1, the leader of Sleberian Cross. Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ako palaging tinuturing na bata, and honestly it's annoying.

"Huwag mong sabihin yan, na miss kaya kita!" She exclaimed, pinching both of my cheeks.

Nakikita ko namang natatawa ang iba habang ang ibang sanay na ang wala lang. Ugh this is why I've always disliked having her around. Ahad kong kinuha ang mga kamay niya sa mukha ko at binayayaan siya ng masasamang tingin.

"Akala ko ba nasa isang misyon ka? Halos isang taon ka ding nawala."

"Awee na miss mo ba ako?" Well I can't say na hindi ko din siya minsan iniisip, but it doesn't count like 'missing her' at all. "Matagal ko nang natapos ang misyon, I just suddenly and quickly returned to my hometown until Headmistress called me about this mission."

"And Exodus? Black Clan? Umalis lang kami ng Academy pagbalik namin ganito na agad ang nababalitaan namin." Sulpot ng babae sa likod, which I realised was Sahara, the ranked eight.

Nandito din ang ranked four, si Cedric Gaile. These people have always been the main support of the SC, kaya natural lang na nandito sila. The ninth position is still empty though dahil ayaw umadvance ni Hana.

"It's such a pity that Andrea had to convert to the enemy, I knew she was always that strong, but I guess she turned so weak that simple words from the enemies changed her ideals." Biglang uminit ang dugo ko sa sinabi ni Cedric.

Matagal na kaming magkaaway ni Cedric, dahil ito sa katotohanang ranked four siya at ako seven, he had always wanted to advance but he couldn't dahil hindi niya ako kayang talunin, until I gave him the chance by surrendering dahil napapagod ako nung mga oras na iyon. Thinking back, that was the start of his odd behaviours toward me.

"Tumahimik ka dahil wala kang alam." Seryoso kong salita, clenching my fists in anger.

"At kumakalat din ang balita na naging malapit mong kaibigan si Keila Willar, that person they now call a 'monster'. Seriously, this is too much Iyana. Your friends with people like them? An enemy and a criminal, baka sa susunod hindi lang isang lugar ang sisirain nila, baka pati buong isla na—" hindi ko na siyang hinayaang ituloy pa ang sasabibin niya because before he even realised it, a gun was already pointed at his head beside him.

"Hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na ipaputok ito hanggang sa wala ka nang maisip na sabihin."

"Ah this is the first time I've seen you act so angry, Iyana. Are you really affected by those worthless people? Mas matagal mo kaming nakasama, at ni isang beses wala kaming nakikitang expresyon diyan sa mukha mo."

"Worthless, you say?" I was about to pull the trigger when suddenly, I saw Thane's nail passed by his cheeks causing it to bleed at ang yelo ni President biglang bumalot sa buong kwarto. Lahat ng ito ay nangyari sa isang iglap lamang an pati ako ay nagulat. But none in the room took the iniative to break the silence.

"That's enough." Hindi ko napansin na pumasok na pala si Headmistress sa kwarto, and the moment she stepped unto the room, the ice broke apart disappearing as well as Thane's nails.

Ramdam ko ang ganito kalakas na enerhiyang bumabalot sa buong lugar, because every single student in this room have an energy equivalent to at least a dozen of people's energy combined. Binaba ko na ang baril ko at pinawala ito sa kamay ko. What Cedric said still makes me mad whenever I think of it. Pero may punto at katotohanan din naman ang sinabi niya. So why am I angry?

It's simple, nagagalit ako dahil ayaw kong binabastos ng kahit sino ang mga kaibigan ko lalo na at hindi nila alam ang buong kwento. Kahit nga ako, walang alam kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari. All I know is that...there were problems that I shouldn't have ignored.

"Have you all grown so distant that your views of each other have been clouded?" Tanong ni Headmistress sabay upo sa upuan niya, may malaking transparent na bintana sa likuran niya kaya nakikita namin ang sumisikat na araw, and her penetrating glare piercing through every single one in this room.

"We apologize to Headmistress for our rudeness." President stated while bowing, kaya sinunod din namin ito isa-isa.

That's right, this is how we should always act towards the Northern Saint. We are all her loyal subjects, others may betray her, pero hindi namin pwedeng gawin ito. We can't, not because we're afraid of death, ito ay dahil sa umpisa pa lamang na tumungtong kami sa posisyon na ito, we have already sworn our lives for the sake of the Academy, the students, the Northern Territory, and most especially, for the Headmistress' sake.

Matagal-tagal narin simula nang nagtipon-tipon kami ng ganito. Years ago, the Sleberian Cross is still incomplete dahil sa mga pumanaw na myembro which caused each of us to drift apart, but not so long after that, ay nakompleto din ang SC, except for the ninth position though.

We've always seemed to be informal in front of the Saint before, but that's only because we have forgotten our positions then. Ngayong kompleto na kaming mga ranked students at mga leaders ng apat pang grupo, we have to act like soldiers dedicated to follow orders, to complete missions.

"Raise your heads," she commanded and we followed. "Alam niyo lahat na isa itong top-secret na misyon." Tumango kami sa sinabi niya.

Leaders created the five groups, Sleberian Cross, White Brigade, Reapers, Blacksage Army, and Yurosian. Pero alam kong si Headmistress mismo ang nag-utos sa mga dating lider ng bawat grupo ng bumuo nito. It's because she needed them. Mukhang wala man akong pakealam noon but thanks to Keila's insights, I managed to investigate deeper and found some interesting facts.

Matagal ng may nabubuong hindi pagkakaunawaan ng Council at Saints simula unang panahon pa lamang dito sa isla ng Magnus. The Knights have sworn their loyalty to the Council alone dahil sila ang mas nakakataas, kaya walang magagawa ang mga Saints kung hindi umasa sa Elite for support. But the Elites have always been an indipendent organization, so they're always neutral.

Kaya kailangang bumuo ng mga Saints ng puwersa from the potential future leaders of Mganus, at kami itong mga studyante from the four different Academies across the country. In other words, the Headmistress needs us to execute orders, and that means we're also against the Council.

It has also been bothering me what Keila warned me before concerning my engagement. Hindi ko makita ang punto niya, and honestly even now naguguluhan parin ako. But the moment I met up with George on that party, napagisipan kong imbesigahan ang mga pinaplano ng ama ko.

"Lucky? I don't know how you view things in your own perspectives, but I don't see her lucky at all Andrea. Iyana, I hope I'm just overracting but I feel like you're being used as a pawn here and I know I shouldn't involve myself but as a friend I don't want you to be treated that way."

Naaalala ko ang sinabi ni Keila noon nang sinabi ko sa kanila ang tungkol sa engagement ko. I didn't ask for more of what she meant dahil ayaw ko silang madamay sa sarili kong mga problema. But after what she said, I got curious and investigated.

Nagulat ako sa nalaman ko, I almost couldn't even believe it, but my information is always top-notch among the others that even if I had investigated it twice, what I found was still the same.

Matagal ko ng alam na ang Klein Family ay sikat at kahit sino ay alam ang pamilyang ito, it's also very rich and reputable. Since the ancient times, other noble households have already fallen dahil narin sa mga pagbabagong naganap dito sa Magnus, except for the Klein. This Family had only fortified their bloodline and continued their legacy since then, at walang makakapagpatumba ng pamilya na ito.

Magnus was originally a country ruled by the Royal Family, but they are one of those families who have fallen over these centuries, leaving only the Klein to remain standing. Dahil dito, unti-unti nang nawawasak ang bansa, leaving the Family no choice but to rule themselves. But it was weird how everything's falling apart at mas lumalakas lamang ang impluwensiya ng Klein.

I thought it was weird at first, but after a thorough investigation, I found out that all noble households as well as the Royal Family fell because of the Second Great War. Kung ang unang digmaang pandaigdig ay naganap laban sa mga Leos mula sa Kingdom of Leomer o tinatawag ngayong Fallen Kingdom of Leomer led by Denaricus with the help of the Cursed Bloods, ang ikalawang digmaang pandaigdig naman ay naganap ilang taon matapos ang una, now the world led by Denaricus against the Cursed Bloods.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari kung bakit bigla nalang naging magkaaway ang Cursed Bloods at ang mundo noong unang panahon despite the help they gave against the most powerful Kingdom of Leomer in the past, but the world won and the Great Decline of Cursed Bloods happened soon after. Kahit ngayon akala ng mundo ay wala ng natitira sa mga kakaibang mga taong ito, but there are a few people I know who has this blood.

Freya Leet, the leader of White Brigade, George Dwelt, the ranked fifth, and Keila Willar, someone totally unknown who just suddenly made a name for herself in this entire country. How do I know they are Cursed Bloods? Kaonti lang talaga ang nga taong makakasense ng mga kakaibang enerhiya, pero isa ako doon. The energy was unfamiliar, thus I investigated at ito ang nalaman ko. Alam din ito ni Headmistress.

Magnus was once a country with several Cursed Blood around, at natumba ang bansa dahil sa natumba din ang Royal Family which members are Cursed Blood, even most noble households are one. Denaricus had planned all of it from the very beginning so that he could rule Magnus because he knew it was impossible to rule the world. Marami siyang mga ideals at librong isinulat tungkol sa mga philosophies niya na magiging maayos lang ang mundo kung wala ang mga unordinary which are Cursed Bloods.

Now why didn't the Klein fell when the country was in ruins? It's because Denaricus was the sole Head and the Master of the Klein Family from that time, of course he wanted his legacy to continue. Denaricus is a genius, a prodigy, the way he thinks is just exactly like Keila, he was a dictator, kaya alam niyang hindi din magtatagal ang pagiging lider niya ng Magnus reason he built several businesses, partnered with several countries, and instilled fear in people for them to follow us until now. Siya din ang naghati-hati ng mga territories, the North, South, East, and West.

He did such a thing so that rebellion can be appeased at para mas lumakas ang Magnus. But Denaricus didn't only fortified this country, he also made the seperation of territories its main weakness. It's almost like he had a powerful vision na nakikita niya ang lahat or he is simply that calculative. He didn't want to shame his household kaya walang pagdadalawang-isip niyang ibinigay sa bansa ang kalayaan nito.

Thus there came the Council system, where seven Council members rule the island and the Four Powerful Saints lead each of the territories. Inasahan lahat ito ni Denaricus, but he soon took his life after he passed on his household to his eldest son. Since then wala talagang nakaalam kung ano ba talaga ang binabalak niya. Now centuries have passed at dito parin ang Klein, buhay parin ito and it's only getting more and more powerful, how is that even possible and why? It's almost impossible for a noble household to remain alive after several hundreds of years.

Although over these years, may mga bagong noble houses ang nabuo dahil sa yaman at ang nagawa nila sa bansa, but none could even get closer to our family's prestige and honour. Ang mga bagong noble families na ito ay tinatawag na Néos Evgeneís (evienis).

But back to the earlier problem, nagulat akong malaman na may kapangyarihan ang Klein laban sa Council mismo that we could even rule this island if we wanted to, but there's something that keeps the Klein by the sidelines sa loob ng ilang taon, a reason why we couldn't be more but mere nobles. The West Mages Association as well as the power of Saints. Hindi nakagalaw ang Klein sa loob ng mahabang panahon and only focused on making the household more powerful.

But what's making this household move now? Why the sudden engagement with th options of the son of a member of the Council, a prince from a faraway Kingdom, and as well as the son of the Prime Minister from that same Kingdom? Hindi ko maintindihan. I'm not someone who can think so well and accurately just by having these kind of information, I'm only an observer.

"Then Iyana, you and your team will help evacuate the elves around the area and absolutely must lead them out of the Enchant Woods." I snapped out nang tawagin ako ni Headmistress.

That's right, we received an order last night to intercept and stop the Exodus from extracting the important resources na matatagpuan lamang sa Enchant Woods. Nagpadala kasi ang Headmaster ng South ng Letter of Notice asking for assistance. Marami na ang elves na nabalitaang namatay and most are still missing inside the woods.

"Aren't I supposed to be one of the ranked students leading against those Exodus people?" Is she doubting my skills? Alam niya ang totoong ability ko, at tiyak na alam din niya ang makakaya ko—

"Your stamina problem will only get in the way Iyana, I do not want any interference to the plan."

"Headmistress—"

"Iyana, I hope you won't disappoint me." I pushed back my annoyance at tumango na lamang.

"I won't." Aling misyon ba ang binigay niya sa akin na hindi ko nakompleto? Pero iba na ito ngayon, we're dealing with Exodus here and she's telling me to just sit by.

Hindi din nagtagal matapos ang ilan pang usapin ay lumabas narin kami ng opisina ni Headmistress. Hindi ko parin maintindihan kung bakit nagung ganoon ang desisyon niya, it bothers me knowing I'm being left behind. Pero kung iisipin, I think I might know why.

Lumiko ako sa hallway at napansin ko agad ang mga yapak ng paa na sumusunod sa akin. Hindi ko na kinailangang tumalikod para malaman kung sino ito. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon lang siya bumalik, but I hoped she didn't. Because I know for sure she's going to mess everything up and leave again.

"Iyana!" She called my name, and due to her annoying voice, it echoed along this empty hall. Tumigil ako at bigla nalang siyang kumapit sa magkabila kong balikat mula sa likuran.

"Can you please stop treating me like a kid, Angela?" Seryoso kong tanong, and she sighed.

"Stop being angry." She said once again pinching my cheeks.

"I'm not angry, I'm just upset. Ito ang unang beses na binigyan ako ng ganoong trabaho ni Headmistress." Tinapik ko muli ang kamay niya pero tinulak niya ako sa pader, locking me in her arms.

There was something behind those pure blue eyes, at habang tinitignan niya ako ng mga nito, hindi ko mapigilang maalala si Keila. Same blue eyes, except that Keila's were paler. Umiba bigla ang palabiro niyang ekspresyon, she looks serious, and this side of her is what I treat special. Because this is the only side of her that only I know.

"You knew why Headmistress did that. Don't fool yourself, Iyana." She whispered at nilayo ang mukha niya. Bumalik na sa dati ang ekspresyon niya at ngumiti.

Of course I knew why Headmistress did that. She wanted to cut my lingering attachments to her daughter, and to do so hindi niya pinapayagang magkita kami. Is that why I'm upset? It's almost as if she knew her daughter will be there for sure.

"Angela," tawag ko sa kaniya at nagsimula ng maglakad.

"Hmm?" She followed.

"You haven't met Andrea yet, have you?"

"Marami ang narinig ko sa kaniya mula dito sa Academy at pati narin sa labas, but I haven't personally met her. Bakit? Maganda ba siya? Malakas? For you to take interest in her, tiyak na malakas siya."

"Were you tasked to kill the enemies?"

"We were."

"Kung makikilala mo nga siya, malalaman mo ang sagot sa tanong mo."

"Ehh? Hindi mo manlamang ba ako bibigyan ng impormasyon? Like ang mga kahinaan niya and such."

"You seriously need to ask?" I yawned. "Hindi ba rank one ka?" I'm saying she could easily defeat anyone facing her regardless of how strong the other person is. Kahit ako ay tiyak na matatalo kung magkakalaban kami, that's how powerful she is.

"How would I know? Ang tagal ko kayang nawala! Tapos pagbalik ko dito may nangyayari na palang ganito."

"You didn't have to come back if you don't want to. For you to come back after a year and half, mukhang may ginagawa kang importante." I took a glance at her before turning to another hall, at nakita ko naman siyang sumeryoso.

"Can I tell you something, Iyana?" Tumahimik siya bigla matapos ang tanong na iyon. And after a few moments of silence, I answered.

"Why are you even asking me? Kung may sasabihin ka, sabibin mo."

"Something important came up, and I don't think I'd be able to stay here for long."

"That sounds really serious."

"It is. Now I've been told to find someone."

"May maitutulong ba ako?" I'm not someone who would volunteer for help, but when it comes to this girl, she's an exception.

"I'm honoured Iyana Klein herself wants to help me!" She chuckled. "Pero ito ang isang bagay na hindi ko pwedeng hayaang pakealaman ng iba."

"If you say so."

Binuksan ko ang isang pintuan which leads to the lobby. Sa ibabaw ay may malaking crystallised chandeliers na kumikinang sa bawat pagatama ng sumisikat na liwanag ng araw. Dahil sa mga purple cloaks nila ay hindi sila mahirap na matunton.

"Looks like the three of you are ready enough." Wika ko para makuha ang kanilang atensyon. Isa-isa naman silang tumayo at humarap sa akin.

"Ate Iyana!" Cassie called my name.

"In this mission, I'll have you call me Captain." Dahil ako ang Captain ng squad na ito. They all nodded in unison. "Our team is obliged to make sure the eleves could safely evacuate. Isa din sa misyon natin ang hanapin ang mga natitira pang elves sa loob ng Enchant Woods. Since our main objective is to help and find, we must absolutely avoid contacts with any of the Exodus if necessary."

"Naiintindihan namin." Sandra replied.

"Eh? Are middle-schoolers even allowed in missions? May nga grupo ba sila?" Tanong ni Angela eyeing the tree.

"Yes, we are middle-schoolers and we don't belong in any groups yet. May problema ka ba dun?" Reina said glaring at the latter. I sighed.

"I don't, but as the student leading this Academy, I should."

"Student leading this Academy? Ah ikaw siguro yung tinutukoy nila sa tuwing sinasabi nilang 'The Return of the Ranked One'. So how does it feel? Leaving the Academy behind and finally showing up when a trouble sprang up then leaving once again pretending to be the hero of the story who had left a legend. Is that how you want things to turn out?" Ngayon hindi ko na maintindihan kung ano ang nangyari. I didn't know Reina could be this angry at Angela.

Pero totoo din ang sinasabi niya. While most students adore our ranked one here, there are those who hates her more than anything else. Hindi ako sigurado kung bakit pero, palaging wala si Angela dito sa Academy at kung babalik nga siya ay tiyak na may malaking problema na naman kung saan kailangan siya, dahil alam ng lahat kung gaano siya kalakas, and yet it's still a mystery even now what's her ability.

That's why everyone who hates her calls her the 'Faked Hero' of Magnus Academy. Everyone at least have a title, right? Like how I was called 'Petite Gunner' back in middle school. Pero sinigurado kong patay na ang mga salitang iyan, with the power of Klein, inflicting fear is easy.

But that's not Angela's case at all. Walang nakakaalam kung saan siya nanggaling at kung anong pamilya ang mayroon siya. And she's been keeping everything a secret ever since she was in middle school. Kaya wala din siyang magagawa sa mga rumours na ito, because however people think of it, that's her reality. What we don't know is her 'personal reality', ang tunay na katotohanang nanggagaling talaga sa kaniya.

"You seem to know a lot about me, Reina Heil. But sad to say, mukhang wala kang mapupuntahan sa mga impormasyon na nakalap mo sa akin kung wala kang alam kung sino ngaba ang kinakaharap mo."

"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm saying how I can kick you out of this mission right now because of my authority."

"Subukan mo—" Sandra stopped Reina from summoning her weapons leaving another set of glares towards Angela. The latter onmy smirked.

"Tumigil na kayong dalawa. Angela, stop arguing with a kid." Although I do understand kung bakit siya nagagalit and cannot do anything about it. "At ikaw naman Reina, sumusobra ka na. Anyone would notice your change in behaviour. Sabibin mo kung ayaw kong sumama sa misyon na ito." This time, sa akin na napunta ang masasamang titig niya.

"It was you who needed my help in the first place dahil walang may gustong mag-team up sa'yo! Not after the mess your own teammates have created!" Wala akong reaksyon sa mga salitang sinabi niya. Nagagalit siya. Sobra.

"It is the truth when you said walang may gustong mag-team up sa akin. But I could easily order anyone around to become one kung gugustuhin ko. Pero ayaw kong maging kasama ang mga taong walang tiwala sa akin at sa mga taong hindi ko pinagkakatiwalaan."

"Kaya sinasabi mong pinagkakatiwalaan mo kami? But how can you be so sure na pinagkakatiwalaan ka namin?" Cassie asked. I smiled and roughly placed my palm atop her right shoulder. I don't want to admit it pero magkasing-taas lang kami pagdating sa height.

"Because you say and show your discomfort, anger, and hatred plainly in front of me without faking them. I rather have subordinates who can honestly tell their opinions than subordinates who rather play the plastic game with me."

"Oh shut up. Halika na at baka mahuli pa tayo." Reina led the other two out of the lobby palabas kung saan naghihintay na ang iba.

"Since when did you start caring about other people, Iyana? And since when have your attitude improved?" I yawned.

"It's troublesome, but I have to say things to encourage them." Sagot ko at nagsimula nang maglakad. Muli na naman siyang natawa.

"You say that, but it's pretty obvious you mean it. You really have changed Iyana, that sometimes it's too surprising."

"Well sorry about that. Pero may mga bagay na kailangan king gawin and to do so I have to change myself. Because everyone's trying to change."

"Everyone huh? I was hoping that you would still stay the same kahit magbago man ang iba. Ah back then I probably believed you wouldn't."

"Disappointed?"

"I am."

"Hindi karin ba nagbabago Angela? Don't you think it's time to drop that act?"

"Act? Ano naman ang pinagsasabi mo?" She smiled.

Siya na ang nagbukas ng pintuan, at sa pagbukas niya, maraming studyante ang naghihintay doon. All the ranked students pati narin ang mga leaders ng bawat grupo ay nandito. We all wore same purple cloaks, at kumpara sa natural na bilang ng mga studyante, kaonti lang kami.

Of course, Headmistress only chose those strong enough to defend themselves against Exodus. At sa buong misyon na ito, iisa lang ang objectives naming lahat. That is to unveil some Exodus hidden secrets. Kaya hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal kami mawawala sa Academy. This could take at least months, at hindi kami pwedeng tumigil hanggang sa mawala na sa litrato ang Black Clan at Exodus sa Magnus.

"Looks like everyone's here. Shall we get moving," Freya then crossed her arms with an unusual smirk. "Angela Feyree?"

AN: I know, I know, ngayon lang ako naka-update!! Grabe kasi, naiwan ko ang phone ko sa locker buong weekend! But anyway, please enjoy reading! Sisiguraduhin kong mas maaga ang next update this week.