Game 1 - The Candidates

"Lore Academy." Fee thought. "Asan ba kasi 'to?"

Kanina pa siya lakad ng lakad sa may highway. Ang galing rin naman kasi ng nagpatayo ng school na ito. Sa kalagitnaan pa talaga ng isang bundok? Sa kalagitnaan ng kagubatan?

What's worse, she only had this drawing of a map. Gawa ng Papa niya, and she wanted to slap herself. Why the heck did she asked her Dad for a map? Aside sa hindi ito lumalabas ng bahay, hindi pa ito marunong magdrawing. The only thing drawn in the piece of paper was a big square on top of a curve. May arrow na nakaturo sa curve at may nakasulat sa tabi nito. Mt. Celestine. May isa pang arrow dun sa malaking square at may nakasulat rin sa tabi nito. Lore Academy.

Tapos wala pang ibang tao na mapagtatanungan niya.

Buti nalang, isang sling bag lang ang dala niya. She was told that her uniform and everything else that she'll need for her entire stay were already there. Napasimangot siya sabay kuha sa isang sulat.

That congratulatory letter.

"Kung hindi lang talaga dahil sa rule number 1, hinding-hindi talaga ako pupunta dito!" She tried ripping the letter but it won't. Enchanted paper probably made from a tree at Olympus.

Napasimangot siya. She hated Olympus, kaya nga nagpasya silang mag-ama na hindi dun tumira, but she hated the people living there more. Argh, not people. Gods and goddesses, are they.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. Susuko na sana siya. Tatawagan nalang niya ang Tito Hermes niya at magpapahatid when a pink sports car passed her. Nasa 120 kiloometer per hour siguro ang takbo nun. She almost tripped because of the side pressure when it passed.

Pero mas nakuha nito ang attention niya nang biglang itong huminto at umatras papunta sa kanya. The car's window rolled down and she wasn't even shocked to see one of her so called 'family' driving that car. She actually had a hunch that it was her.

As usual, the girl looked elegant with her curly blonde hair and blue eyes. Her face was covered with light make-up, though kahit walang make-up, maganda naman talaga ito. She was wearing a hot pink sweater kahit na ang init-init. Hindi pa siguro nito nare-realize na nasa isang tropical country sila.

"Oh, if it isn't dear Hephaeia." The girl said with an accent. "Where's your ugly Dad?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. That hit a nerve. Did this girl just called her Dad ugly?

"Are you that poor that he can't even afford to give you a ride? Oh wait, right! You live in a forest nga pala! Walang car dun, diba?"

Pumikit siya at humugot ng isang malalim na buntong hininga. This girl is one of the reasons why she doesn't want to involve herself with her family. Masyado itong maarte at mapangmata.

"If you don't have anything good to say, Freya, then get lost." Fee told the girl.

"Ugh," Freya grunted and looked at her spitefully. "Like I'd spend another minute with you."

And like that, humarurot na ito paalis. Napailing nalang siya saka naglakad ulit. Seeing Freya going straight, the school's probably just ahead. She just hoped that it's not that far anymore. Napapagod na rin ang siya.

It took her twenty minutes to finally see the entrance. Isang malaking bakal na gate. But the thing that peaked her curiosity the most is the fact that Freya was still there. Standing at the front of the gate, looking so pissed off.

Unti-unti siyang lumapit dito.

"I need my car inside. Marami akong luggage!" Freya barked at the guard na mukhang bouncer.

"Hindi nga po pwede ma'am. Rules po ng Academy." Giit nung guard.

"This is not happening!" Freya stomped her feet. "You don't know who am I, do you?"

Uh-oh, is she going to use her powers? Fee thought.

"I am Aria Freya Love. Now, open that gate, you commoner."

"Wah, she did use her ability." Nasabi nalang ni Fee sa sarili niya.

But the guard didn't budge at all. Tiningnan niya lang si Freya mula ulo hanggang paa saka tumingin sa kanya

"Anong kailangan mo dito?" Tanong nito kay Fee. Magkasalubong ang dalawang kilay nito. Pero hindi nakasagot si Fee. Hindi dahil sa mukha itong galit o dahil parang bouncer ang katawan nito kundi dahil hindi man lang ito tinablan ng fascination ability ni Freya.

Tiningnan niya si Freya na mukhang nashookt rin sa nangyari.

"Magkasama ba kayo?" Tanong ulit nung guard.

Agad naman siyang umiling.

"Naku, hindi po!" Sabi niya kay Kuya guard. She saw how Freya turned to her. "Hindi ko nga po siya kilala eh."

Tumango naman si kuya guard, "ID?"

Kinuha agad niya ang ID sa sling bag saka pinakita sa guard. Nang maconfirm nito ang ID, agad nitong binuksan ang gate. Nagpasalamat siya dito at pumasok na.

"Wait! Papasok rin ako!" Sigaw ni Freya.

"Miss, bawal nga ang sasakyan sa loob."

---

Hephaeia Dragwood

Iniwan ko si Freya doon sa gate. Sigurado akong mas-stress lang ang brain cells ko dahil sa kanya. She was never been the type of person I'd get along with. Besides, we both carry the same emotions as our parents.

That's why I'm pretty sure that as much as I hate her guts, she hates mine too.

Lore Academy. I thought it was only built at the top of Mt. Celestine, pero mali ako. I never expected it to be the whole mountain. Nasa tuktok nga lang ang entrance.

I've passed too many trees, pero hindi ko parin nakikita ang main building. Ang now, I'm stuck in a crossroad. The main road is now cut into five different roads. So, which one should I choose?

Wala namang mga road signs na pwedeng gawing guide. I never saw a map when I entered either.

"Fee?" My thoughts stopped when I heard someone call my name. Agad ko 'yong nilingon and found a different version of Therese, Tito Hermes' daughter. Black kasi ang buhok niya na dapat ay rainbow, though her eyes were still green.

I nodded to acknowledge that I recognized her.

"Wow, it has been three years and you still look so… ordinary." Hindi ko alam kung maoofend ba ako o ano sa sinabi niya, pero since wala naman akong naramdaman, siguro hindi. Sanay na rin kasi ako.

They've been mocking my father since the world began. Ano namang pinagkaiba namin, eh anak niya ako?

"Thank you, Therese. I'd take that as a compliment." Sabi ko nalang.

She smiled awkwardly. Siguro na realize niya na may problema talaga dun sa sinabi niya.

"So… you received a letter too? You're here after all." Therese said. I shrugged and looked at her. She looked like an ordinary human wearing a white sailor uniform paired with blue half-thigh length skirt.

"Asan nga pala ang dorm?" Pag-iiba ko sa usapan.

"Ah, it's just way ahead. Sabay na tayo, inaantay ko nalang ang iba pang KG candidates na tulad mo ay freshman rin."

Tumango ako. Of course kasali dun si Freya. Tsk. Baka abutin kami ng gabi sa arte nun.

"May iba pa bang freshman? Sino?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"Well, there's Eris, Apollo and Srex. Kasabay natin sila papuntang dorm… wow, speaking of the devils."

Sinundan ko ang tingin ni Therese at nakita ko nga ang tatlo. Apollo Sunspot and Lampyris Hunt were still close; they're holding hands while walking. Well, they're twins after all. Apollo took almost all of my attention because of her straight blonde hair and red eys, plus her strawberry printed summer dress. Eris, on the other hand, wore a simple white shirt and short shorts. She also cut her previously dark green waist length hair to shoulder length, and her eyes were the same color as her sister.

And then there's Srex. Freya's a headache but this one's worse. Srex Knucklehead, a guy with spiky red hair and dark brown eyes. His get up was like a rockstar. Yung tipong hindi na siya nagsuot pa ng pangloob ng damit, at dretso na siya sa blazer. Nakikita yung katawan niyang matipuno na may six pack abs.

Pero walang akong paki doon. He's still worse than Freya.

May tig-isang back pack na dala ang kambal habang si Srex ay wala.

"Hi, Therese!" Bati ni Eris kay Therese saka siya tumingin sa akin. "Long time no see, Fee! Kumusta ka na?"

Therese waved at them and I somehow managed to fake a smile.

"I'm okay, Eris. How about you two?" I asked pertaining to the twins. I don't like our family but these two, I can tolerate.

"Okay lang rin kami, Fee." Si Apollo ang sumagot sa akin. "How long has it been? Three years, right? The last time we saw each other was back when Tito Zeus held a party for Aunt Hera."

Tumango ako.

Ah, that farce.

"Sino na nga lang ba ang hinihintay natin?" Tanong ni Eris.

"Ah, si Freya nalang." Sagot ni Therese. Nagkatinginan ang magkambal. Srex seemed too occupied to care. And I don't care.

"We saw her, you know. I mean, we passed her on our way here." Sabi ni Apollo sa amin. "Mukhang mabigat."

"She was carrying two big luggages tapos may handbag pa siya." Dagdag pani Eris.

Wow, so nagpasya siyang iwanan ang sasakyan niya sa labas? That actually surprises me.

Tiningnan ko si Srex.

"Hindi mo siya tinulungan?" Tanong ko. Well, there parents are literally 'close', so nagbakasakali akong baka close rin sila. But Srex only shrugged and looked at me bored.

"Why would I?" Sagot niya sa tanong ko as if it doesn't concern him at all. Tumango ako. For the first time, I totally agree with him.

Naghintay kami kay Freya ng halos isang oras bago niya marating ang kinaroroonan namin. She was full of sweat and even though she's beautiful (because she really is) she looked so haggard.

"Why didn't you help me?!" Agad niyang tanong sa kambal. She even eyed Srex.Tapos tumingin naman siya sa akin. "Why didn't you help me convince that f*cking guard? Kung tinulungan mo sana ako, nakapasok na sana yung kotse ko and I wouldn't be this haggard!"

"Why would I?" I used Srex words to answer Freya. She was speechless. I could see how pissed she was. "Besides, ni hindi nga gumana ang Fascination mo kay kuya guard. What do you expect I could do?"

Hindi na siya nakasagot pa dahil kinuha na ni Therese ang atensyon namin.

"Okay, that's enough." Sabi niya sabay palakpak ng dalawang beses. "Since you're already complete, let's go to the dorm, okay?"

Nagsitanguan kami. We started walking again only to hear Freya's loud grunt.

"Can somebody help me with my luggage?!"

Tiningnan namin siyang lahat tapos ay bumalik na rin sa paglalakad. Being ignored, I could hear Freya cussing and grunting.

Wow, 'yan ba ang natutunan niya sa ibang bansa?

We took the first road from the right. Ilang minuto pa nga ay naabot na namin ang dorm. Kung hindi nga lang dahil sa bagal ni Freya maglakad habang hila-hila ang gamit niya, ang limang minutong lakad nagging dalawampung minutong lakad.

Therese opened the gate of a building. Mukha itong monasteryo. Tapos, sunod niyang binuksan ang malaking pinto. Bumungad sa amin ang malawak na silid. Sa gitna ay mayroong isang malaking staircase na nahati sa dalawa, ang isa papunta sa kanan – ang isa sa kaliwa, sa may kalagitnaan.

And on those staircase stood people I knew. Lahat sila nakasuot ng uniform ng Lore Academy.

Sa pinakamataas na bahagi ng kaliwang staircase ay isang binatilyong may gintuang buhok at mata. Creux Skyflakes. Opposite was a guy with dark blue hair and green eyes. Eidon Seabrass.

Medjo mababa sa kanila naman ay nakaposisyon ng magkabilaan ang dalawang babae. Ang nasa kanan banda ay isang babaeng nakabun ang pilak na buhok at may matang pilak. May suot rin itong eyeglasses. Amethyst Wit.

On the left side was a woman with long curly brown hair and eyes. Veira Princess. She's literally a princess.

And on the centre was a guy wearing a black jacket and a hood. His green eyes shone even brighter because of his choice of clothes. I vaguely remember him since he doesn't really involve himself with others. Pheles Underworld.

"Okay guys, let me introduce you though you probably know them." Sabi ni Therese. She started with Srex, Apollo, Eris, me, then Freya.

So they are my co-candidates, huh?