"A fruit of someone else's sin..."

ERIS

It was already nightfall and I needed to go to the dining hall before seven PM to eat. Kahit dalawang taon na ako sa lugar na ito, hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang mamangha sa paligid. Old willow trees planted in straight lines were all over the academy's premises. I liked how their leaves swayed along with the wind's relaxing whistles and how the leaves glowed with magic and little blinking lights every night to guide everyone's path.

Sorciere Academy had two divisions: the Sorcieres and the Warlocks. The Sorciere division could be found on the left wing of the huge castle-like building—the academy's main building which was called the Sorciery Manor—while the Warlocks were situated on the right wing. In the middle part of the Sorciery Manor, there was an enormous dining hall and function halls where we could all gather together—whether Warlocks or Sorcieres.

Outside the Sorciery Manor, there were dormitories for the Sorcieres and Warlocks to stay in. On the left part of the land of Sorciere Academy, the Sorciere Courtyard was found while the Warlock Courtyard was on the right.

On the back of the Sorciery Manor, just a few meters away, we could find the courtyards dedicated to the Masters and Mistresses—the Starlight Courtyard.

There were a lot of places to check in Sorciere Academy—the mazes, enchanted forest, the lake of dreams, the willow park, and many more. But some of these were restricted areas especially if we still hadn't reached the required year and magic ability. And of course, most of these were places I was not allowed to go to because I lacked the magic abilities.

Although the Warlocks and Sorcieres had separated divisions, we still had common classes in our third and fourth year here, especially lessons concerning magic wielding and magical or physical combats. They said we must learn teamwork. We must learn how to support each other particularly if we were sent out to missions with the Warlocks and vice versa.

Magic is complicated but I long to wield it. I know there is magic within me. I just can't call it out. I just don't know how to draw it out of my system.

Pumasok ako sa magarbong entrance ng Sorciery Manor. The hallways were lighted by bright and huge golden chandeliers and the ceilings with grandiose arches and old murals were too high to reach unless we used our magic brooms. Unfortunately, I couldn't fly because magic brooms weren't responding to my calls. The ceiling was painted with intricate designs and figures which showed the history of Sorciere Academy and the origin of magic. There were also huge and glamorous paintings hanging on the walls that amazed me every time I passed them.

I headed straight to the double door made of old redwoods which was now open to everyone. My ears were suddenly filled with the student's cheerful voices and loud chatters inside the great dining hall. Hinanap agad ng mga mata ko sina Gianna at Faena. Sila ang tanging mga kaibigan ko sa paaralang ito. Although they also ranked low in class, they could at least wield magic unlike me.

Kumaway sila sa 'kin nang makita ako. They saved a seat for me. I'd been spending more time on studying magic spells because that was the only thing I could do to make up for what I lacked.

Nagmamadaling naglakad ako patungo sa mesa nila. Ipinagdadasal ko na sana walang makapansin sa 'kin. Madalas nakatago ang lifestone ko sa loob ng damit ko kapag pumupunta ako rito upang hindi ko makuha ang atensiyon ng kahit na sino. The last time I caught someone else's attention due to my unique lifestone didn't end really well. I was humiliated to death.

Nakahain na ang pagkain sa mesa at umupo ako sa bakanteng silya. Vegetable salad. Grilled pork. Rice. Sweetened apple. A pitcher and glass of water.

Akmang susubo na ako nang mapansin kong inililibot nina Gianna at Faena ang kanilang paningin sa iba't ibang parte ng dining hall.

"Sinong hinahanap n'yo?" kunot-noong tanong ko.

Impit silang napatili na tila kinikilig. Their eyes twinkled when they turned to me. "Kanina lang dumaan sa table na 'to ang anak ng hari. Hinahanap namin kung saan siya nakaupo." There were two princes studying here and they were siblings.

"Sino sa kanila?" tanong ko kahit hindi naman ako masyadong interesado. Malaki pa ang problema ko ngayon. I couldn't bother with someone else's life.

"Si Sage Rhodes, ang crown prince!" matinis na sagot ni Faena na hindi maitago ang kilig. "Ang gwapo. Grabe!" Sage Rhodes was already in his fourth year—his last year in the academy.

"Inaabangan ko nga baka biglang sumulpot si Shad. Grabe! Kapag nakita ko siya buo na talaga ang araw ko!" kinikilig namang saad ni Gianna. Shad Rhodes was Sage's brother and yes, they were considered the biggest celebrities of this academy.

Napailing ako. "Kumain na nga lang kayo." Nilantakan ko ang pagkain dahil naalala ko na kailangan ko nga palang dumaan sa Starlight Courtyard upang makita ang ibang Mistress.

"Bakit? Hindi ka ba kinikilig sa kanila?" kunot-noong tanong ni Gianna pero nagsimula na rin sa pagkain.

Malalim na bumuntonghininga ako at tiningnan ko si Gianna. "Tingnan mo nga ako. Mapapansin ba ako ng mga 'yon? Wala na nga akong kakayahang gumamit ng mahika, hindi rin ako mayaman. Kahit isang sulyap, hindi ako pag-aaksayahan ng panahon ng mga 'yon, 'no," nakangusong sagot ko.

"Grabe ka naman. Parang nadamay na rin kami sa speech mo. Alam mo, Eris, kung kaya mo lang sanang gumamit ng mahika, ikaw sana ang top sa klase natin. Ikaw sana ang magiging Reine Sorciere ng year natin. Imagine? Kakaiba na nga ang kulay ng lifestone mo, matalino ka pa tapos may mahika? Siguro mauungusan mo si Mira," saad ni Faena na halatang disappointed.

"Hindi 'no. Magaling si Mira. Wala akong panama sa kanya."

"Magaling pero mukhang mayabang," pagtatama ni Gianna.

"Baliw! Baka may makarinig sa inyo. Patay pa tayong tatlo," naiiling na saad ko.

Nagkibit-balikat sila at tahimik na ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain. We were being ranked in this academy and the most promising and strongest Sorciere and Warlock would be awarded as the Reine Sorciere and Rei Warlock respectively—equivalent to queen and king.

Last year for our batch, Mira Gearin and Shad Rhodes brought these titles home.

Matapos kumain, nagpaalam na ako kina Gianna at Faena upang pumunta sa Starlight Courtyard. Habang naglalakad sa gilid ng kanang bahagi ng Sorciery Manor, tinitingnan ko ang silver bracelet tattoo na nasa kanang kamay ko. I didn't feel anything special about this tattoo but there was a comfortable presence which I couldn't explain.

But I secretly prayed there was something special in this silver bracelet tattoo that could solve my problem with magic. Mistress Armina said she sensed magic in my tattoo so hope secretly sprouted in my heart.

Naalerto ako nang may biglang tumalon na itim na pusa mula sa kanang bahagi ko na tatama sana sa katawan ko. I automatically shielded my body from it with crossed arms and jumped a step away to avoid it. My reflexes were already trained to be cautious and guarded this way. Although I lacked magic, I was not weak physically.

Matalas ang mga paningin na bumaling ang mga mata ko sa kaluskos na nagmula sa masukal na halamanan. Isang lalaki ang lumabas mula roon at tila hinihingal. He was a student so I loosened myself a bit. Tumayo ako nang maayos.

"Damn! Bakit ang bilis mong tumakbo, Willow?" hinihingal at iritadong tanong niya. Nang akmang huhulihin niya ang itim na pusa, tumalon ito palayo at nagtago pa sa likod ko. Saka lang napansin ng lalaki ang presensiya ko. Nahihiyang napakamot siya sa ulo. He was wearing a blue robe with a blue lifestone.

"Ah. Pasensya na sa abala. Maaari ka nang tumuloy sa pupuntahan mo, binibini," nag-aalangang saad niya. His brown eyes were apologetic. Marahan akong tumango. Naglakad ako palayo pero sumunod sa 'kin ang itim na pusa at ikiniskis pa ang katawan sa binti ko. The black cat even let out a soft innocent purr.

"Willow, patay ako kay Shad nito. Hindi na ako nakikipaglaro. Bumalik na tayo," kinakabahang saad ng lalaki. Nakaamba na siya upang hulihin ang pusa.

"Anong nangyayari, Rick?" tanong ng isang malalim na tinig ng isang lalaki. Hindi ko napigilan ang paglingon sa kanya. Hindi ko akalaing makikita ko nang malapitan si Shad. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya nang makita ang itim na pusa habang patuloy na ikinikiskis ang katawan sa binti ko. His hazel eyes inquisitively looked at Rick. He was wearing a black robe and his skin is a bit tanned. His firm jaws complimented his well-defined face and brown ash hair.

"Bakit nandito si Willow?" muli niyang tanong pero napangiwi si Rick.

"He suddenly ran this way," nagmamadaling sagot ni Rick. "Paano mo nalamang nandito kami?"

"Obviously, I can sense the presence of my familiar," seryosong sagot ni Shad at bumaling ang tingin sa 'kin. "And who is she?"

Familiar? According to the rumors, he had a powerful familiar. But I didn't expect it to be a black cat.

"Hindi ko kilala. Mukhang napadaan lang siya rito," sagot ni Rick.

Salubong ang kilay na naglakad siya patungo sa 'kin. Tila natulos ako sa kinatatayuan. Kailangan ko bang lumuhod sa harap niya dahil isa siyang prinsipe? Hindi naman siguro, 'di ba? Napansin ko ang suot niyang lifestone. It was black and was kept in an elegant gold pendant. Tila pamilyar ito sa aking paningin ngunit hindi ko matandaan kung saan ko ito nakita.

"Anong problema, Willow?" seryosong tanong ni Shad sa familiar niya.

Willow just let out a soft meow and walked gracefully to Shad. Binuhat naman siya ni Shad at hinimas ang malalagong balahibo nito. Ngumiti lang si Shad sa familiar niya bago bumaling ang atensyon sa 'kin. Nagkakaintindihan ba sila? "Where's your lifestone?"

"Ah..." Wala sa sariling inilabas ko ang lifestone ko mula sa loob ng damit ko kahit nahihiya. Napatitig siya sa silver lifestone ko.

"Oh, it's you. Name?" He probably heard something about my silver lifestone.

"E-Eris...Eris Gromov," nag-aalangang sagot ko. Tumango siya bago tumalikod.

"Umalis na tayo, Rick," saad niya at naglakad palayo.

It's nice to see you again.

Natigilan ako sa tinig na narinig ko na tila nililipad ng hangin. It was Shad's deep voice.

It's nice to see you again? But I didn't remember seeing him before.

***