2 I. New Country, New School

"Err... Kuya?" tawag sa akin ni Pietro na animo'y sinesenyasan ako na kumibo at magsimula ng daloy ng usapan. Kulang na nga lang at itulak niya ako para lang masigurado niyang napapansin ko ang mga hampas niya sa likod ko.

As expected, approaching the opposite sex has always been difficult for him.

After the night when we were officially selected for this mission, we were immediately asked to land on El Gazveth's northern bay to meet the transportation that will usher us to the borders covertly. The second we loaded the truck was when we've got to face the women who have our futures on their palms. My brother being the shy type he is around girls tried to urge me to talk to them, but I couldn't care less. That's why the whole trip was deafening silence, so to speak.

It was only now that we're here to the temporary residence our godfather prepared that we have the chance to converse with them openly. Personally, as much as possible, I don't want to get involved in either of them. I just want this mission to be done without hurdles and return to the field like I am supposed to. I'm a special officer. What am I doing here in the country of Prailia living in a highly secured house with two women I don't even know about? It's almost like a luxury for someone who should be fighting on the frontlines of war.

Eventually, Pietro gave up on me and decided to take the burden of doing the introduction for all of us. "Pardon my elder brother's behavior. He's Elcid and I'm Pietro. We're the officers assigned to the both of you. I know that asking your identities is forbidden, but we would appreciate it if you can at least tell us something about yourselves. After all, we're not certain how long we'll live together." Pahina nang pahina ang boses niya habang mabilis at dire-diretsa niyang sinabi ang mga salitang ito sa kanila. Halos hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang mapangisi dahil kitang-kita rin ang pagtagaktak ng pawis niya at ang mahigpit na pagrolyo ng kamao niya sa kaba. Agad naman niya akong pinanlisikan ng tingin.

I lifted both my hands to surrender to his stare. Helplessly, I backed him up. It's no good bullying him further. I guess there will be no harm to at least be aware of even a portion about these people. "He's right. Alam na namin na Alicia and Lara Edelweiss ang gagamitin niyong mga pangalan at magpapanggap kayong magpinsan. The task is already difficult as it is since we don't even know what you hold about this war, so if you please," I said, trying to be as polite as possible.

Nang tingnan namin sila nang masinsinan, kapwa nakatitig lang sila sa amin na para bang wala silang naiintindihan sa kahit anong pinagsasasabi namin. Could it be? Being foreigners is a given. However, I assumed that they should at least understand the common tongues. In that case...

"I hope you can call me Allys. Mas komportable ako sa tawag na 'yon. Marunong ako sa ilang gawaing bahay kaya maaasahan niyo ako sa pagtulong. Hindi ako mabilis makatulog at panay pagbabasa lang ang ginagawa ko sa libreng oras ko." The girl with a platinum blonde hair stepped forward with her hands clasped. You can see in her eyes that she's a little uncertain about informing us these details, considering the wavering movements of her pupils.

Even so, I've felt the sincerity and candor between her words. It was never easy to tell stuff about yourself especially to a stranger. I've seen a lot of cases of those privileged subjects that our comrades have to guard as their assignments. They were either acting as if they're so entitled or they're wary about the people who are ready to risk their lives for them. And yet, somehow, behind those black pair of orbs, it seems like there's something more lurking and being hidden.

"Kuya? Kuya, hello? Earth to Kuya? Nandito ka pa ba? Sorry, mahina signal ng kuya ko."

Mabilis naman akong nauntag sa malalim kong pag-oobserba kay Alicia at agarang pinadapo ang palad ko sa likod ng ulo ng kapatid ko. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay nang akmang aalma pa siya at d'on lang siya napasuko sa isang tabi. "Well then, how about Miss Lara?"

I might haven't talked to them beforehand, but I swear this one is more secretive and mysterious. Like someone who killed hundreds and is playing hide-and-seek with those who want to uncover the truth.

Nagdadalawang-isip siyang humakbang paabante at saka kumapit sa braso ni Alicia na para bang ikamamatay niya kung wala ito sa tabi niya. Hmm. Hindi maipagkakaila na malaki ang pinagkaiba nila base sa tindig, tingin, at postura pero... pero tingin ko ay matagal na silang magkakilala. Kung anuman ang tinatagong pagkakakilanlan ng dalawang 'to, paniguradong magkakonekta sila sa isa't isa.

Just you wait. I'll slowly unveil those identities without you revealing me.

That way, it won't be considered a breach of the contract, will it?

"I prefer doing the cooking. I'm a bit clumsy, but please don't let Allys work so much. Please don't let her get hurt in any way! And uhm..."

Sumulyap ng tingin sa akin si Pietro na tila ba nabigla sa pagtaas ng boses ng dalaga sa sandali na 'yon. Pinagkibit-balikat ko lang ang alanganin niyang tingin sa akin at pinagmasdan kung gaano dumikit si Lara kay Alicia na para bang tungkulin din niya ang pangalagaan ito. Hindi kaya isang tagapagsilbi ang isang 'to? O magkapatid sila?

Whether I like it or not, I can't help but be engrossed with curiosity about who they really are.

Hindi ko kasi lubos maisip kung bakit gustong itago ng gobyerno ang dalawang ito kung sa katotohanan ay maaari nilang madiktahan ang resulta ng digmaan sa pagitan ng Imperyo ng Silvestriana at ng tatlong kaharian sa kanluran. Habang tumatagal, hindi na rin makakaiwas sa gulo ang Alliance. Lalaki at mas lalawak lang ang patayan at kaguluhan.

"Don't worry, Lara! Hindi naman kayo nandito para maging katulong. We are your temporary guardians so that's our responsibility. Hindi nga lang marunong magluto si kuya pero ako na ang sagot sa problema mo! Hehehe!"

I watched my brother scratching his nape, acting so bashfully. No doubt, he can't have a girlfriend. Kung anong kinahusay at kinaasintado niya sa baril ay siya namang kinapalyado niya sa babae. Napapailing na lang ako na nagtungo sa may mesa upang kunin ang mga uniporme, ID, at bag na gagamitin naming lahat para mamaya.

My eyes focused on Pietro's identification card. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay hindi siya masaktan sa problema ng mga nakatataas. Ngunit imbes na intindihin ang negosyo ng pamilya, mas pinili niya na samahan ako sa militar at isaalang-alang ang buhay niya araw-araw. This kid...

Dahil mag-aalas otso na rin ay hindi na namin nagawang makapagpahinga tutal kani-kanina lang din kami dumating mula sa ilang milyang pinanggalingan namin. Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad papunta sa Rosseta University, isang prestihiyosong eskwelahan para sa mga nais matuto ng mahika at iba pang klase ng salamangka.

"The four of you will transfer there as second year students. Wala kayong masisita sa seguridad ng paaralan. Kami na rin ang nagpadala ng mga papeles niyo sa kanila, malamang sa malamang peke ang mga nandoon kaya mabuting kabisaduhin niyo para walang magiging aberya."

As per the order, that's what we've done for the whole trip a while ago, memorizing those fabricated data about us. That only strengthens my suspicion about this task since the military can't even coordinate with a well-known university such as Rosseta despite its formidable reputation and capacity in magic and technology.

Anong mayroon kina Alicia at Lara na tanging ang militar at gobyerno lang ang maaaring makaalam?

"Kuya, tigil-tigilan mo na ang pag-ooverthink. Mukha naman silang mabait 'e." Pietro nudged beside me, his look concentrated on the walking blonde and the curly brown-haired girls in front of us.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. "Hindi lahat ng ginagwardyahan ng militar ay mababait. Hindi ba't may ilang kaso na mga kriminal ang pinapabantay sa atin?"

Bigla ang unang rumehistro sa kanya bago siya agresibong napailing-iling. "Don't speak like that! They're very well-behaved. I bet they're aristocrats," he confidently told me.

"What made you think that?"

Bahagyang mas lumapit siya sa akin at itinuro nang pasimple ang mga mata niya. Sa gesturang 'yon ay doon ko napagtanto ang ibig niyang sabihin. "Hindi ko kaagad nabanggit sa'yo subalit may gumagamit sila ng glamour na siyang nagkukubli sa totoo nilang itsura. Pinakamalakas ang mahika sa mga mata at buhok nila."

Mata at buhok...

He then shrugged his shoulders at me, leaving me to think the rest. So much for stopping me from overthinking, eh? Well, what do I expect from him, him who possesses the Iris. No such magic and enchantment could conceal their nature from the ability of the Iris. Especially from the variation of this ability my brother has.

Now that I mentioned it, Prailia is not much different from El Gazveth. Perhaps, being in the same continent really did the part. Compared to our country, we have no reigning monarchy to govern the nation ever since the world war that killed the last royal family of El Gazveth six hundred years ago. Almost every corner of the streets has the flags of a Mockingjay spreading its wing while the sun behind it shines in seven directions— the coat of arms of the royal family. There were even shops that sell merchandise and portraits of their monarchs.

Now that's amusing, talking about tradition and history, huh.

Sandamakmak na ang mga tao sa siyudad sa maagang oras pa lamang pero hindi mo maalmahan ng kakulangan sa disiplina o kaayusan. Hindi man karamihan ang mga guwardiya na umiikot, bakas naman sa mga mata ko ang mga nakakabit sa kamera sa kung saan-saan. Mayroon ding mahikang bumabalot sa kalsada na siyang sumisinsin sa mga plaka at laman ng mga dumaraang sasakyan dito. Napaangat na lang ang isang panig ng labi ko. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit ito ang napiling taguan naming apat.

"Nandito na ba tayo?" tanong ni Lara na maya't maya ay hindi mapakali sa ayos ng mahabang buhok ni Alicia. Does she have a sister complex or something? Or she's merely obsessed with her hair?

Putting that aside, I already caught a glance of the crowd in front of a huge gate made of gold and pearls. That's quite extravagant, I see. But what is extravagant if not to be used for the university where the royal family members are studying?

"Yes. We're here. I'm just sort of wondering why some students wear uniforms of fainter blue color." I really hate a place where I don't know the rules about it. It gives me a suffocating feeling and impression that I don't belong to.

Alicia looked around and then she pertained at me. "Haven't you heard? All magical universities run a system that separates those superior and inferior in power. They call them Mizar and Alcor, the stars in Ursa Major. Mizar is the brighter twin while Alcor has fainter light. Whether you are either of any of them gets decided by the three Rosetta stone replicas up there," she explained as she points her finger to the large stones placed atop of the long stairs.

What the hell...

And here I thought na makakalimutan ko na ang pagpunta sa mga grotto sa bansa namin. Kung kakalkulahin, aabutin ng mahigit isang daang hakbang para makaakyat. Tradisyon o hindi, wala akong balak mapagod, utang na loob. This is quite harsh for someone like me who never really attended a school. Everything is so new to me. These people, the culture shock... I can't believe I have to experience them after I insisted being homeschool-ed when I was young.

Pietro stared at me in concern. "Okay ka lang ba, kuya?"

I patted his back in response. "It's alright. It's just stairs."

Kalaunan ay dumagsa ang daloy ng mga estudyante nang buksan na ang malalaking tarangkahan ng eskwelahan. Hindi natanggal ang mga katanungan sa isipan ko sapagkat maliban sa kulay ng uniporme ay may iisang simbolo na gawa sa magkakaibang materyal rin ang mga necktie at ribbon. May iilan na gawa sa pilak at may iba namang may gawa sa ginto. Para saan ba ang mga ito?! Hindi ko na maintindihan?! Bakit may mga ganito?!

Shit. Binabawi ko na. This is not amusing at all!

"Kuya, easy-han mo lang. Lumalabas 'yung kapangyarihan mo. Wala tayong pambayad kung sakaling may matamaan ng mga kidlat mo."