"HAHAHAHAHA easy-easy" sabay tangal nang kamay ni Xabara sa leeg nito.

Xabara puts a lot of strength but the guy just shrove her hand like nothing. Xabara can't understand her feeling lately she was angry but when he touches her palm it was so sweet and warm. She becomes comfortable all of the sudden.

"I'm not here to warn you or threaten you rather. I'm here to protect you".

His words made Xabara's embarrass.

"Who are you?"

"Syzygy Quence of Lavera Kingdom"

She narrowed her eyes because of the thought that they are their kingdom's mortal enemy but on the second thought she needs to be friendly because of the misunderstanding her father did.

"So your Kingdom already knew that I'm found" she stated it with annoyance in her voice.

Syzygy caressed her hair as if he always do that to her. Xabara shove his hand and he hissed and looks away.

"Hindi pa depende kung sasabihin k-"

"Don't! Please"

Syzygy look at her seriously and nod.

"Of course I won't. If it cause you harm of course I will never. I told you I'm here to protect you." then she smiled to her. "I know where to find that flower come with me"

She felt relieve hearing his words she stood up and followed him.

"Dito ka sa tabi ko bakit lage ka nalang sa likuran ha!" singhal nang lalake sa kanya. Nagulat naman si Xabara sa turan ng lalake dahil feeling close kase.

"Ba't parang galit ka pa?"

"Don't follow them at the back stand beside them mukha kang inaapi!"

"Tsk I w-will next time pero sinusundan mo ba ako?"

Lumapit naman siya sa kilid ni Xabara at hindi pinansin ang tanong nito. Habang naglalakad sila hindi maiwasan ni Xabara ang mapasulyap sa lalake at pag-aralan ang mukha nito.

"Ang gwaaapo niya"

Syzygy chuckled.

"What?" tanong niya rito.

"Nothing"

Umirap na lamang sa kanya si Xabara at binaling ang tingin sa nilalakaran.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Sa office ng Headmistress she's the only person who owned that kind of flower"

"Paano mo pala nalaman kung sino ako?" mahiwagang tanong sa kanya ni Xabara.

"I know all of you so can't hide anything from me"

"What do you mean?"

Tinignan siya ng ilang segundo sa mukha bago bumaling ulit sa nilalakaran.

"Paano nga?" pangungulit nito

"Nothing"

Xabara frowns until they got to the Headmistress door.

"You stay here or else they'll see you" ika ni Syzygy.

"Makikita ka rin naman ha kaya tayo nalang dalawa"

"Tayo nalang?" nasa himig nito ang pang-aasar. Hindi iyun nakuha ni Xabara agad ngunit ng makita nito ang pagtaas ng gilid ng labi ng lalake alam niyang iba ang ibig sabihin nito.

"Wangya ka! Umalis ka na nga ako na lang"

He chuckles. 

"Tawa ka pa mautot ka sana" aakmang bubuksan ni Xabara ang pintuan ngunit nahawakan na nito ang kamay niya bago pa mabuksan ang pinto.

"Let me, that flower is the rarest flower to find and only the Headmistress have it here kung ayaw mong maglakbay sa kanluran makinig ka sa akin. I'll snatch the flower for you so please stand outside in the building at hintayin ako roon."

"What? Baka pagalitan tayo!"

"They can't if we won't get caught but surely I won't I can do invisibility ikaw kaya mo ba iyun"

Nasa tinig nito ang panghahamon at pagyayabang kaya umirap sa kanya si Xabara. Natawa nang bahagya ang lalake at ginulo ang buhok ni Xabara.

"Cute"

Tinampal ni Xabara ang kamay nito sa ulo niya at naglakad palabas sa building habang nakabusangot pa rin ang mukha. Meanwhile, Syzygy opened the door slowly when he saw that Xabara is nowhere to be seen in the hallway. He saw the Headmistress looks at his way but couldn't see him. The Headmistress stood up and look at the hallway as Sy took the flower and run before the headmistress close the door.

Habang nakatayo si Xabara hawak ang ilang piraso ng bulaklak na kinuha niya kanina biglang may humigit sa kamay nito.

"Sy ikaw ba iyan?"

Ngunit takbo lamang sila ng takbo habang ang kamay nito ay parang balahibo na nakatayo sa hangin. Humihingal naman siyang tumayo at tinignan si Sy na nagyon ay nagpakita na.

"Na-kita ka b-ba?" hinihingal na tanong ni Xabara ngunit imbes na sagutin ay pinaupo siya ng lalake sa upuan at binigyan ng tubig.

"Saan galing ang tubig?"

"Kinuha ko rin sa opisina"

Lumaki ang mata ni Xabara at napalunok.

"Nababasa mo ang isip ko?"

Imbes na tumango ito ay tumawa lamang at inabot sa kanya ang bulaklak na Middlemist Red. Masayang tinanggap iyun ni Xabara.

"Thank you" masayang ika nito sa kanya ngumiti naman siya rito pabalik.

"What others do you need?"

Ngunit umiling lamang si Xabara sa kanya at nakangiting bumaling sa kanya.

"I know where to find the others but thank you"

Tumango sa kanya si Syzygy at tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. Hinawi muna nito ang ilang buhok ni Xabara na nagulo dahil sa pagtakbo nila.

"I'll go now I'll see you when you need me"

"Ha? Aalis ka na?"

His heart pound and inside in his head his cursing for leaving her but that's what he needs to do in order to see her again. Namula ang mukha ni Xabara ng matanto nito ang kanyang sinabi.

"I-I m-mean alis ka na!"

Natawa nang malakas ang lalake at ginulo ulit ang buhok ni Xabara.

"Don't worry I'll find ways to see you goodbye for now Xabara".

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyun ay tinalikuran na niya si Xabara. Palayo na nang palayo ang lalake hanggang sa hindi na siya matanaw. She doesn't know why but her heart feels heavy and tired.

Tumayo na rin si Xabara at bumalik sa dorm nito. Wala pa sina Savanah at Emily sa kwarto nila kaya napag-isipan nitong matulog muna dahil sa pagod na nararamdaman nito. She skips her Honing subject again but she isn't worried dahil tamad ang guro nila sa asignatura na iyun at siguradong pinabayaan lamang ang mga estudyante sa ground upang mag-ensayo mag-isa.

As she trying herself to take a nap she's planning what to do on how to get a blood from Rachel. The last ingredient she needs is a blood that has the smell of lotus flower but then her unconsciousness consumes her.

AT THE MORNING Xabara woke up with the same prank made by Savanah and Emily. Tawa pa rin ng tawa ang dalawa habang nakabusangot siya. She take her shower and eat breakfast with them when a knock made them face the door.

"Good morning" magiliwing ika ni Alice saka bumaling ang tingin kay Xabara. "Xab e-inform lang kita na lahat ng freshmen ngayon ay sa Honing Ground para magpractice dahil sa Monday na ang levelling ninyo"

"Don't worry Alice feeling ko magiging Rank 3 agad si Xabara" mahiwagang batid ni Savanah maging si Emily ay hindi maiwasang tumango nang may kahulugan.

"Waaaaait tell me is it you Xabara who sneeks out everynight? Akala ko guni-guni ko lang iyun e"

"Mahirap pala pag may kaibigan kang matatalino"

"Hehehehehehe" saka siya tumango.

"Buti hindi ka pa nahuhuli"

"Iyun nga ang sabi namin sa kanya"

Tumawa na lamang si Xabara dahil hindi rin niya alam kung bakit hindi pa siya nahuhuli kung tutuusin kasi ay maingay nito magensayo dahil sa ilang failures at practice na ginagawa niya.

Hinatid nila si Xabara sa Ground Hone bago sila pumunta sa kanilang klase.

The Ground Hone is huge closed place were students hone their abilities. Xabara who disguised herself as a witch took her wand in her purse. She saw the others starting to practice. Some shift from human to wolves and even in shapes. She saw a girl strangling her neck because she couldn't breath and Xabara saw the one who did it smiling so creepy.

"She's using aerokenisis manipulating the air, wind, and even gas" Gabrielle said standing in her side.

Hindi niya ito pinansin at naaliw sa kanyang nakikita. At the corners of the Ground Hone are different metal equipments for physical activity to enhance their strengths. Those were the vampires, knights and werewolves do their practices.

She looks at Gabrielle who has a pair of huge dumbbells holding in one hand. Habang ang isang kamay ay hawak ang isang kettlebell weights. 

"How strong could he be?"

Gabrielle looks at her before he went to the other corner where a resistance loop is waiting to him so Xabara also turn her back and went were the witches freshmen are.

"Hi" bati ni Xabara sa mga ito.

"Hello" ika nila saka bumalik sa pageensayo.

Napakamot na lang si Xabara dahil hindi nila siya pinansin ulit at bumalik sa sariling ginagawa. She took her books and practices her spells. Xabara's use spells through speaking rather than thinking the words and molding the wand because words are so powerful but not everyone knew it.  Xabara put the book in her front and lift it with a known spell the easiest thing a witch can do.

She heard chuckles and laughs at the back where other witches are. They look away when she is about to look at them some were whispering how weak and newbie she is. The witches boost their using spells in her front making stones, lifting, and throwing it to the walls. Some amaze of that girl did while others laughing to her secretly.

Xabara can do better she knew that but she'll never degrade a person's ability even it's the tiniest spell a person only know. She also came from wee to who she become now. She knew herself that's she's strong and can mold greatness but she will never boost and dishonor others.

Xabara stood up and went on other space and continue practicing.

VOTE, an COMMENT po thank you.
Syzygy pronounce as [c-z-gee]