"You are already destined for something great..."

ERIS

I stood in Zithea's largest courtyard, wearing my simple robes and dress and trinkets that my poor family could afford while waiting for the initiation ceremony to start.

We were divided into two groups—the males and the females. Nakapila ako sa hanay ng mga babae na suot ang kanilang naggagandahang mga kasuotan. Some of these girls were actually wearing precious gems and beautiful trinkets in their hair and some of their robes were decorated and painted with intricate embroideries. It was easy to tell which of us were rich and which of us were unfortunate.

Everyone was here to wield and claim their lifestone. But this didn't stop the girls from showing off their pretty faces because this courtyard belonged to the king. And who knows? What if the crown prince suddenly visits the initiation? It was also an opportunity to be noticed by him.

But I was not interested in the crown prince. Sa ngayon, lihim kong hinihiling na sana hindi ako ordinaryong tao katulad ng aking ina. I wanted a useful lifestone. I hoped I was blessed by an ability—even just the Forest—to grow crops and turn these into a bountiful harvest or even produce therapeutic potions and concoctions that I could sell in the market.

I wanted a better job to support my weak and sickly mother. Kaming dalawa na lang ang magkasama sa buhay. I never had the chance to know my father, but my mother told me that he was already gone.

At the front of the courtyard, seven Sorcieres stood on an elevated platform. Currently, they were the most powerful and influential Sorcieres. On the other hand, on the Warlock's side, seven powerful Warlocks also stood on another platform, dignified and well-dressed, which represented the different categories of magic they were classified in.

They could create normal lifestones for the participants to touch. Isa itong maliit na hiyas na kulay kahel. Kapag hinawakan na ito, mag-iiba ang kulay ng lifestone kung may taglay na abilidad sa mahika ang humawak dito, pero kapag isa lang itong ordinaryong tao, hindi magbabago ang kulay ng lifestone.

Once the lifestone was created, the owner must secure the lifestone into a pendant and wear it as a necklace. Lifestone represents the life and abilities of each individual. No one could steal it unless the owner was willing to give it away. And if a lifestone was given away, the former owner was giving the receiver the permission to do whatever he wanted with that lifestone. If he destroyed the lifestone, the former owner would be destroyed as well. The new owner could also cast spells on that lifestone and the former owner's life could easily be controlled.

I didn't understand why some people were willing to give their lifestones away. Giving a lifestone away is equivalent to losing one's life. I don't think it's worth it. And it is idiotic.

Napansin ko na nagsimula nang umusad ang pila. My hands were clasped in front of me as if I was praying to the gods to give me a useful lifestone. My mother said that the gods really existed and sometimes, they dwelled with us humans because they favored and loved us, so I hoped they heard my silent prayer. I hope for a better fate.

May ilang babae na masaya sa nakuha nilang lifestone, samantalang ang ibang babae ay umiiyak dahil normal lang silang tao. Kumakabog ang dibdib ko habang unti-unting lumalapit sa platform.

Hear me. I can't go home without any good news.

Nang umakyat ako sa platform at humarap ako kay Lady Viola na nagtataglay ng itim na lifestone, biglang kumabog ang dibdib ko. Why do I have to face someone who can control the Dark? They were considered the most powerful but also the most dangerous. They even had the power to raise the dead if they were familiar with that spell.

But she was one of the popular Sorcieres with a gorgeous face. If someone didn't know her background, well, he would surely fall in love with her in an instant. A black jade was pinned on her hair while wearing a black robe and long dress with white butterflies embroidered on it.

"Are you ready?" magaang tanong niya. She asked that in a kind voice and maybe that was also the reason why she was respected by everyone instead of being hated.

Kinakabahang tumango ako. Kumumpas ang makikinis niyang kamay sa hangin na tila may isinusulat siya roon. I felt the surge of magic coming from her as a small orange lifestone slowly materialized in the air. Ngumiti sa 'kin si Lady Viola.

"Go ahead. Touch it," she encouraged me.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay na hinawakan ko ang lifestone na nasa harap ko. Ipinagdadasal ko na sana magbago ito ng kulay. Mariin akong napapikit bago ko muling iminulat ang mga mata at tiningnan ang kulay nito.

Struck with disappointment, I could only stare at the lifestone stuck at its orange color. My eyes already turned misty when I suddenly sensed ripples of invisible forces coming from it which were channeled to my body. The lifestone turned red to blue to green to golden brown to white to gold to black and my heart almost burst from the excitement. Did the gods finally answer my prayers? Which category was it?

The final color the lifestone suddenly turned to was silver. My lifestone's color was silver but it wasn't indicated in any of the listed magic category in Zithea. I could only gaze at it with utter confusion.

Napansin ko ang pagsasalubong ng mga kilay ni Lady Viola nang sumulyap ako sa kanya.

"It's silver," mahinang saad niya.

"Ano pong ibig sabihin nito?" nag-aalalang tanong ko. My worried gaze was fixed again on my silver lifestone.

Umiling si Lady Viola. "It must be a different category. Sa ngayon, magpalista ka muna sa likod para makapag-enroll ka sa Sorciere Academy. We're not sure yet since you're the only one in history who received a silver lifestone. Maybe it is related to ice? Let's see when your classes start. We will trouble you to experiment with your ability from time to time. And go straight to the jewel maker for your necklace after enrolling. And remember, never give your lifestone away."

Marahan akong tumango. "Salamat po."

Tumango siya sa 'kin at nagmamadali akong pumunta sa likod upang magpalista sa Sorciere Academy. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa dahil kakaiba ang kulay ng lifestone ko. Hindi ko rin alam kung mapapakinabangan ko ba ito. Pero sana naman.

Maging ang mga staff ng Sorciere Academy ay nagtaka sa kulay ng lifestone ko pero wala akong narinig na kahit anong komento mula sa kanila. Sinabi lang nila na magpapadala sila ng sulat sa 'kin tungkol sa opisyal na pagpasok ko sa Sorciere Academy.

Dumiretso ako sa mga jewel makers na nag-aabang sa gilid ng courtyard. Isang matandang lalaking nakasalamin ang tumingin sa lifestone ko.

"Silver?" kunot-noong tanong niya nang makita ang hawak kong hiyas. Tumango ako nang tumingin siya sa 'kin na tila pinag-aaralan ang itsura ko, mula ulo hanggang paa, pero hindi na siya nagkomento pa at nagsimula na sa paggawa ng pendant na paglalagyan ng lifestone ko.

"You have an interesting lifestone," saad ng lalaking biglang sumulpot sa tabi ko.

Salubong ang kilay na nilingon ko siya. Hindi siya pamilyar sa 'kin pero napansin ko ang suot niyang black lifestone sa gintong kwintas na suot niya. He wore an elegant pendant despite his ordinary tunic and trousers matched with a worn-out hat. I couldn't clearly see his face.

Hindi ako nagkomento dahil hindi ko naman alam kung maganda ba ang hatid ng lifestone na ito.

"Ito na, hija," saad ng matandang gumawa ng pendant ko kaya nawala ang atensiyon ko sa lalaki. Nagulat ako sa magarbong gintong pendant na ginawa niya.

"Pero hindi ko po ito mababayadan. Hindi sapat ang dala kong salapi. Pwede po bang simpleng pendant na lang ang gawin ninyo?" nahihiyang tanong ko.

"Hindi mo na kailangang bayadan 'to. Dahil kakaiba ang lifestone mo, ibibigay ko na ito nang libre," nakangiting saad ng matanda at ipinatong na sa kamay ko ang gintong pendant at kwintas.

"Ah. Nakakahiya naman po. Babayadan ko na lang po kung magkano ang dala kong salapi," saad ko. At ibinigay sa kanya ang kaunting salaping pilak na dala ko. Hindi naman siya tumanggi at hinayaan na lang akong magbayad. "Maraming salamat po," masayang saad ko. Inilagay ko na sa pendant ang silver lifestone ko at isinuot ang gintong kwintas nang may ngiti sa labi.

I feel so lucky today. I have a feeling that this lifestone brings good luck. And this is all I need now.

***