Chapter 5

Alleyn's Point of View

THE moment I saw the strongest section is the moment I knew that my good day is over. The Ruby-S. The section located at the uppermost part of the academy, where there are only four students. Sila ang suki namin sa pambubully, dahil parang insulto raw kami sa kanila, dahil pareho raw ang bilang namin. At isa pa, nandidiri daw sila sa mga mahihinang gaya namin. I really don't understand why there are people who feel superior towards other.

And since we are weak and powerless, we can do nothing about it but to let them bully us until they're satisfied.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A new laughing stock, ey?" Merilla, the strongest Midde among the students, said while looking at Cassy.

Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko nang makita ko kung paano tingnan ni Merilla si Cassy na parang laruan. Hindi ko maintindihan, pero the moment I saw her, I felt a sense of familiarity. It was like my subconscious mind recognizes her, and I have this urge to protect her from any harm.

"Merilla, please, huwag mong idamay si Cassy rito," Cristof said. Inunahan talaga niya ako sa dapat kong sabihin, 'no?

Tinaasan ng kilay ni Merilla si Cristof. Inutusan niya ang dalawang kasama niya. Si Smith, isang fire wielder, at si Sasha isang lightning caster. While Raven Phalion, the fourth student, on the other hand, is nowhere to be found. Unlike these three, that man doesn't often show up. Kung hindi lang namin siya nakikita tuwing exams, masasabi naming isa siyang kathang-isip lang.

"Get that weakling," turo ni Merilla kay Cristof. Akmang lalapit na sana ang dalawa sa lalaki nang biglang tumayo si Cassy hawak ang dalawang baso ng juice.

I thought na ibubuhos niya iyon sa dalawa, but to my surprise, ibinato niya iyon. Nabasag ang mga baso nang malakas itong tumama sa ulo nila Smith at Sasha at tuluyan silang naligo sa orange juice.

Everyone gasped, including us. Hindi kami makapaniwala sa ginawa ni Cassy. She just messed with them. At gustuhin man naming tulungan siya ay wala kaming magawa. Isang pitik lang nila ay siguradong tumba na kami. Nagsimulang magbulungan ang lahat, telling how dumb Cassy to mess with Ruby-S.

"You bitch!" Smith exclaimed as red sparks started coming out from his hands. Ilang sandali pa ay nag-apoy na ang mga ito. Bahagya kaming napalayo nang maramdaman kung gaano ito kaninit.

"I'm not a bitch, jerk," malamig na sagot ni Cassy bago mabilis na kumilos at sinipa ang mukha ni Smith. Hindi inasahan ng lalaki iyon kaya natumba siya sa lamesa.

"Sequelae of fulgur, vocationem tuam audire, de hoc patet iter ad caelum," Sasha chanted as threads of lightning started coming out from her staff. "Lychnus Impluo!"

I was amazed by how Cassy dodged all the strikes of lightning coming from Sasha's staff. Sasha was about to chant again but Cassy managed to go near her and held her staff. I saw fear on Sasha's face as she stared at Cassy's eyes.

"R-Remember the rule! W-We shouldn't do any damage at the academy's prop-" Hindi natapos ni Sasha ang sinasabi niya dahil biglang tinakpan ni Cassy ang bibig niya bago siyang buong puwersang inangat nito at marahas na ibinagsak sa sahig.

"What the! Napabagsak niya si Sasha nang gano'n-gano'n lang?" hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Evagne. Kaagad naman niyang tinakpan ang bibig niya nang makitang napatingin sa gawi namin si Merilla.

Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng tuwa at pagka-proud. I mean, like a mother getting proud of her child's achievement.

"You dare to humiliate my friends in front of many students!" sigaw ni Merilla bago niya inilabas ang kaniyang wooden staff na may disenyo ng nakapulupot na puting dragon. At the mouth of the dragon, which happens to be the tip of the staff, is a big round orange gem. "You'll pay for this." Fire and ice started materializing from the tip of Merilla's staff. Some students even moved away to save themselves from any harm it would cause.

Nakita ko ang pagngisi ni Cassy. And at that moment, she looks very scary. "Then make me," mapanghamong sambit niya.

Merilla was about to hit her when Smith stood in her way. "Let me knock this bitch out, Merilla. Pagbabayarin ko siya sa pagsipa niya sa akin at sa pagpapahiya niya kay Sasha."

Merilla put her staff down. "Okay. Don't hold back and teach that girl a lesson."

Dahil sa sinabing iyon ni Merilla ay nagsitakbuhan ang lahat ng tao palabas. Maging ang crews at cooks ng cafeteria ay lumabas din.

"Let's go!" pangdadala sa akin ni Evagne. "It's dangerous here!"

"I won't leave her. Dito lang ako. Cassy stood for us. Pinagtanggol niya tayo," I spoke. "At sobrang maiinis ako sa sarili ko kung tatalikuran ko ang taong nagtanggol sa akin."

"I'll stay, too. She saved me," pagsang-ayon ni Cristof.

Nakamot na lang ni Sapphire at Evagne ang mga ulo nila bago tumigil at tumabi sa amin.

"Hindi ko lubos akalaing mapupunta ako sa ganitong sitwasyon," nakangusong sambit ni Sapphire.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko kina Smith at Cassy. I can feel the intensity and the weight of the atmosphere. Maybe it was due to Smith's power. He's using the full power of his mana. He's really serious of not holding back! Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko dahil sa pag-aalala.

"Ready, bitch?" Smith asked.

Cassy flash a sly smile before a luminous purple magic circle appeared from where she was standing. Purple mist with black threads of lightning started coming out from her body. And on her right hand forms a small ball of purple mana surrounded by threads of lightning. "Why don't you find out, jerk?"

Mabilis na gumawa ng napakalaking fireball si Smith at inihagis niya ito sa kinaroroonan ni Cassy. "Burn!"

Cassy raised her right hand in the air and threw the attack she formed. "Let's see."

As their attacks collide, a moment of silence happened before a loud explosive sound was heard and a strong impact was released, pushing us away.

Tumama ang katawan ko sa pader, at iyon ang huling natatandaan ko bago ako mawalan ng malay.

PAGKAMULAT ng mga mata ko ay bumungad sa akin ang office ni Headmaster Hioner. Kaagad akong kinabahan dahil alam ko na ang mangyayari. Kaagad akong umayos ng upo at nakita kong katabi ko pala sina Cassy, Evagne, Sapphire, at Cristof. At sa kabilang sofa na kaharap namin ay sina Sasha, Smith, at Merilla.

"Since everyone's awake, I'll tell you the reason why you are called here," panimula niya. "I am sure that I never failed to remind you the rules we are implementing. And one of those is to never destroy any academy's property. If you happen to find yourself in a conflict towards other students, you can always go to the arena to settle it down," he calmy said. "But what did you do?!" singhal nito na ikinagulat naming lahat.

"Ay, matandang hukluban!" naibulalas ni Evagne dahilan para masiko siya ni Sapphire. Mabuti na lang at hindi iyon pinansin ng headmaster.

"Now, as a punishment for violating the rules," pabitin niyang sambit bago tiningnan kami isa-isa. "You will be having a battle in the arena. And everyone will witness it."

Tila gumuho ang mundo ko nang marinig ko iyon. And I am sure that Sapphire, Evagne, and Cristof are feeling the same.

"These people beside me have nothing to do with it," biglaang sambit ni Cassy. "As a headmaster, you should execute proper judgement."

"Cassy, what are you doing? Huwag kang sumagot!" pasimple kong bulong pero parang hindi niya narinig.

Nakita kong napangisi si Headmaster sa sinabi ni Cassy. "I like the way you talk. You remind me of someone I used to know."

"I don't like the way you talk. You remind me of someone I used to hate."

Tumawa nang malakas ang headmaster bago naiiling na hinarap si Cassy. "Tell me your name and how do you want to solve this issue."

Sinalubong ni Cassy ang mata ng headmaster nang walang kahit na anong kaba. She remained still and calm. "I am Cassy Aguilar of Copper-E, and I want to resolve this issue by challenging that girl..." she answered pointing Merilla. "... of Ruby-S to have a one-on-one battle with me."

"You want to fight me?" Merilla laughed in surprise. "Are you joking?"

Tiningnan siya ni Cassy sa mata. "I am serious. Have a battle with me and I'll give you a taste of my power."

Merilla smiled in amazement. "Okay! When?"

"Tomorrow."

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