Chapter 31: Academy Archives
"What is your ability?" asked the Light Enchant.
Virdjana's POV
"Time for class students." bungad ng aming guro mula sa may pintuan.
"Good afternoon Ma'am." we greeted.
Class proceeded, and ended after an hour and a half. I tried my best to participate, and to focus on the lessons, but knowing that I have an opportunity to learn about what remains a mystery for the majority regarding Hurricania Village by using the Chronicle Book, I was torn between taking the opportunity or simply letting it be.
"Psst, Virdjana, so are you gonna tell us your ability now?" whispered Laylah.
I frowned before raising my hand.
"Ma'am, may I go to the bathroom?" I asked our subject teacher.
"Sure, go ahead Miss Assassin." she replied and nodded at me.
"You got to spill it sooner or laterrrr." pahabol ni Laylah bago tumawa.
A chance to explore the academy.
Nang makarating na ako sa isang bahagi ng tahimik na hallway ay nagpakita si Reggie sa tabi ko. Mukhang nagpipigil ito ng excitement at mukhang mas eager pa ito sa gagawin kong pagnakaw sa Chronicle Book kung ikukumpara sa akin.
"We're finally doing this!" Reggie gleefully says before spinning around me.
"I am merely curious." I told Reggie.
"You're planning to steal that book and go to Hurricania alone right? Well, technically I'm with you, so it would be the two of us." Reggie remarked with a smirk, "I knew that deep inside, you don't like being held on a contract against your will and to study in a school where Restovakians are being discriminated."
"You sure are talkative as always." I commented before veering to the right where the direction of the Academy Library is located.
Reggie was right with his first statement, but the second one I doubt it, I do want to study in this school and the bullies are not much of a problem.
"Here we are. The Archives." Reggie states with a grin. He passed through the wall like he was air itself, and I followed him through a particular vent.
We were now walking around the shelves of books, but none of the books that starts with Letter C, says Chronicle Book.
"Not here." I told Reggie.
"At wala rin dito." sabi ko naman sa kaniya.
"It could be written in old language." Reggie suggested, and goes ahead to the other shelves written in foreign languages, he is pretty much talented when it comes to that. He can definitely read in multiple languages since I heard him speak some before and he was also the one who taught me how to speak in both the Arcacia Dialect and the Arcane Language.
"But I don't think they would place such an important book in plain sight." I mumbled under my breath.
"Hello there, dear student. What book are you looking for?" a voice beamed from behind me.
Liningon ko ang may-ari ng boses para lamang makita ang isang babaeng nakasuot ng librarian uniform, at Shein ang nakasulat na pangalan sa name tag nito. Agad kong sinenyasan si Reggie na bumalik sa kuwintas upang hindi siya maka-agaw-pansin.
"Nothing in particular. I was just looking for something nice, I meant good to read." sagot ko naman habang sinusubukan pang pakalmahin ang sarili dahil sa pagka-bigla ko kanina.
"Every book is unique. What genre do you prefer? I will help you search for it." sabi ni Librarian Shein sa akin saka ngumiti.
"History. I am interested in Historical books." I half-lied. I hate historical books, but I'm not totally lying since I am looking for the Chronicle Book.
"My word. Bibihira na lamang ang mga estudyanteng totoong may pakialam sa kasaysayan ng iba-ibang tao, bagay o lugar. Maaari mo bang ikuwento sa akin kung paano ka nahilig sa ganoong mga libro?" pagtatanong nito.
Her question caught me a little off guard, should I make something up or tell her something with a sprinkle of truth? I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. What's wrong with me?
"Are you perhaps planning to lie to me?" she asked with a mysterious glint from the corner of her eyes, "because if you are, then don't even try. I have power over the truth after all."
"Power over the truth?'
Nonetheless, she is not a mind-reader, nor a telepath, however I can do that. I remained silent, focusing my mana on my head. I began to read her mind within the growing silence between us.
Surprisingly, she jumped three meters away from me, placing two fingers on her forehead as a small glow occurred at its tips. Did she predict that I was planning to read her mind?
"You're a naughty lady. I'm lucky that your ability to read minds doesn't activate automatically. It requires you to focus for a few seconds, and you need to be nearby your target in order to do so. Am I right? Miss Virdjana Phantom Assassin?" she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
I grit my teeth out of annoyance. Who is this woman? And if she knows who I am, could it be that Master Shin talked about me at some point? That is possible though, it's probably normal to share information like that with other employees of the academy, like a gossip or something.
"It surely would be rude to not introduce myself. I'm Librarian Shein, but others also knows me as Master Shein." then she winked at me.
A Master? What in the actual heck? I kept on bumping into them one by one lately. I'm wondering if they're actually after me or something. If so, I would be in trouble in ways more than one.
I was half-panicking while overthinking, so I summoned an Aerial Blade on my right hand just in case this woman is an enemy. However, my action seemed to have surprised Master Shein, and she was quick enough to pin me on the ground.
I groaned.
"I am certain that I have caused a misunderstanding between us Miss Assassin, please disperse your blade." she asked of me calmly.
I hesitated for a few seconds, but when I met her eyes, I could see the confusion on her face. "Let me go first." I demanded under my breath.
"Alright." she responded and did let me go without any sign of remaining hostility.
"Now, explain what you're doing in the library during this hour." Master Shein asked while dusting her pencil skirt.
'Was that her real concern?'
"I'm looking for a book." I answered.
"That is quite obvious. Then I'll ask you why you're doing it discreetly. Are you perhaps looking for something sensua-"
"No. Not that. I am not looking for that." I immediately responded, blushing.
Master Shein chuckled and began walking forward. I was confused at first, but then she looked at me and it seems she wanted me to follow her, so I did, but of course without letting my guard down this time.
"I know you're not lying when you said that you're looking for a Historical Book, but given that you can't seem to find the book in the section of shelves meant for Historical Books. I presumed, you're looking for something older, or confidential?" Master Shein asked.
"I think so." I stated while continuing to retrace her footsteps.
Dinala niya ako sa may kadilimang bahagi ng library, at habang tumatagal ay lalo lamang dumidilim ang dinadaanan namin. Masyado namang malaki ang silid-aklatan na ito!
"Here we are. The Archives." saad ni Master Shein habang tinuturo ang isang bricked wall sa harap namin.
I stood in confusion.
"Ah, pasensiya na." with a cast of three magic circles, the wall slid to the right revealing a secret passageway.
"Oh. Alright." then I started descending down the stairs, I even picked up a sconce with three lit candles in it along the way to help me see in the dark.
Out of nowhere, Master Shein began to laugh, and I, as a normal person looked at her in confusion while being creeped of her sudden laughter.
"Don't tell me. that you lead me here just to get killed or something." I asked with a disturbed expression.
"No, of course not." this time, Master Shein was the one wearing a defensive expression on her face. "I apologize for that. I was just merely amused that you were not surprised to see secret passageways. Perhaps the rumors about homes of Eumythymns being filled with traps, lures and surprises is true."
"Master Shein," panimula ko, bago sumandal sa dingding ng passageway, "I don't remember telling you I'm a Eumythymn nor the fact that I hailed from Hurricania." I spoke as I try to calm my temper.
"Yes you didn't Miss Assassin. I was able to confirm that you are when you created that Aerial Blade earlier," she remarked before winking, "it was an easy clue."
Bigla akong napa-facepalm sa sarili kong katangahan, so I basically did reveal my origin just by activating that one spell.
"Are you perhaps worried about your identity as a Eumythymn?" she asked.
"I am." I answered truthfully, "you have no idea what I had gone through all these years." the second part, I whispered under my breath.
"Do not worry Miss Assassin, the academy is honored to have someone like you here. You're skilled. You could be one of the greatest Enchants of Arcacia." she spoke in warm tone, "but I am confused as to why you're hiding such a great fact."
I can't help but suddenly scoff at her last sentence, "the same confusion I got when I learned that even information about Hurricania is scarce and the stories were based from a collective belief fabricated through the years. The people needed to know what truly unfolded."
She went silent, she studied my expression and looked at me with seriousness. That was when I realized that I said something I'm not supposed to.
"You're after the Chronicle Book, aren't you?" Master Shein questioned after a few seconds.
Kadaski's POV
Kagaya ng inaasahan ay hindi na bumalik pa ng klase si Phantom. Natapos na at nagtaka ang lahat ay hindi na ito bumalik sa aming Art class. Ano pa bang aasahan mo mula sa isang magnanakaw?
Tinanong ako ni Ruby kung alam ko raw kung saan nagtungo ang 'bestfriend' niya, at bago pa ako makasagot ay nagbago ang isip nito at lumapit kay Drago.
"I think she headed to the library." said my red-headed bestfriend without wasting a single second of breath.
"Really? Thanks! I have to lend her my notes, and she'd probably find me more charming." grinned the Sound Enchant before hopping out of the classroom.
"Hey! We still have another class!" I shouted towards the pink-haired Xercedes heir, but I just got ignored.
"You're not coming with us?" Drago asked me.
Bigla akong pumihit sa direksiyon ni Drago nang nakataas ang isang kilay. Seryoso ba siya? Nang makita ko siyang ipinapasok ang mga notebook niya sa bag, tumayo at tumapat sa direksiyon ng pintuan ay nakumpirma kong seryoso nga siya.
"Come with you to stalk that untrustworthy woman? You wish." pagrereklamo ko.
"Ano ka ba naman Aski. Alam kong attach ka na kay Virdjana, pero huwag mo namang ipahalata." pang-aasar nito sa akin.
"Drago, for the last time, I am not interested in that cold asshole." I remarked annoyingly.
"Sure. I'll take your word for it. I'm going now. I'm excused in classes anyway, and the only reason I attended this class was because Virdjana attended it too. If she's not returning, I'm fetching her..." that was Drago's last words before leaving the classroom.
Pagkatapos ay nahanap ko na lamang ang sariling naka-upo at nakasandal ng animong walang pakialam sa mundo, nakatitig sa pisarang kasalukuyang mag-isang nagbubura ng mga nakasulat rito.
"Psst, hey Aski! Aski! Kadaski Nueva I'm calling your name." the voice of Lizbeth brought me back to reality.
"Ano?" I grumpily responded.
She rolled her eyes at me before responding. "ignoring your tone and facial expression, I have to ask for your opinion about the booths our class is going to pass to the Student Council for the Chronicle Play event. The class was torn between a classroom movie theater or a firework display."
A firework display? That sounds fun.
"The second one? I'd like to see you how childish everyone could get once it starts!"
Siyempre, kalokohan lang naman iyong response ko kay Lizbeth, pero mabuti na iyon dahil hinayaan niya na ako nang makakuha na siya ng sagot at iyon ay pagkatapos niya akong hampasin sa braso dala ng pagka-asar.
Ipipikit ko na sana ang mga mata ko para makapag-relax sa natitirang minuto ng free time namin bago ang sunod na klase, nang makatanggap ako ng mensahe mula sa aking EHP.
Agad kong hinugot ang mini-microphone upang maka-connect sa tawag na nagmumula kay President Zeky. Kulay pula ang screen ng EHP kaya malamang ay isang itong distress or emergency call.
Wala na akong inaksayang oras at agad na binuksan ang bintana bago tumalon palabas ng silid-aralan.
"President? Anong problema?"
[It seems like we have another set of intruders in the school grounds. I'll explain the details once you get here.]
"Another set of intruders? Are they the same black ninjas that raided the academy a week ago?"
[Yes. Yes, they are- buckl... ashdk.. you... me-et... signa-]
Naputol ang tawag, at hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala para kay Zeky. Mabuti na lang at nakapag-padala siya ng lokasyon bago siya nag-disconnect - ang Northern Wing Forest. I should definitely call for back-up, and so I informed the a few roaming guards to come with me.
I was able to gather seven, but being able to convince authorized guards to come with me is no easy feat, I am only able to do this because I have showed them the badge as a proof that I'm a member of the Enchanted Elites and I also had to allow them to hear the call that occurred between myself and President Zeky.
When we arrived at the mouth of the Northern Wing Forest, enormous roars could be heard from afar, hinting that there are monsters lurking around the area.
"Enchanted Elite, sir, your orders?" asked one of the guards with me.
"Plant sleeping spells in the mouth of this forest to make sure that no monsters would try escaping to the free fields." I told them.
"Consider it done. Everyone move!" said the one with the most experience of the seven.
"I'll be entering now. EHP interruptions are common in this area, so if I don't get out after 20 minutes, don't follow me and instead inform the Masters." I stated seriously.
What could have happened to President Zeky?
Virdjana's POV
"You're after the Chronicle Book, aren't you?" Master Shein questioned after a few seconds. "I'm informed that you're a member of the Enchanted Elite, so could this be related to the Chronicle Play? That's still a week away." Master Shein stated before continuing to descend down the staircase.
"If I'm dumb I'd probably indulge those questions, but it seems to me that you are trying to avoid the subject about the mysterious downfall of Hurricania." I stated as I continue to follow the Librarian.
Master Shein turns to the right only to open a door using the key - her name tag, which she scanned through a small crack nearby the doorknob, "and with your response I came to conclude that you came for the book for personal matters. Unfortunately, if you plan to borrow it, that would not be possible for now."
"Who would have known that the Master holding the power of preventing people from lying, would also prevent others from knowing the truth." I stated as I felt annoyed with what she had told me.
"Miss Assassin, please watch your tone. There are reasons why some truths are needed to be hidden, and some lies are needed to be told." Master Shein quotes with a warning smile.
Why does these Masters kept on doing that? They purposely intimidates me so that things would go their way, whatever their reasons might be, this act is pissing me of.
To my surprise, the door that Master Shein led to a room where the only book stored in it is the Chronicle Book . The ancient book created by the ancestors of the Veniceum Clan is placed on a pedestal. The books' cover was made of golden-plated leaves, with small flattened flowers as decorative pins around its thick rim. Once Master Shein approached the book, it automatically opened and greeted us.
"How can I help you, young ones?" questioned the voice of the book.
"What a flatterer!" laughed Master Shein.
It's a bit weird, how Master Shein was interacting with this ancient thick thing.
"Which events in the City of Arcacia would you like reminisce?" the Chronicle Book proceeded to ask.
Lumapit ako sa Chronicle Book, at agad na itinanong kung mayroon itong tala ng mga pangyayari sa bayan ng Hurricania isang dekada na ang nakalilipas, espisikong kaganapan ng nangyari pag-atake ng mga SGN at ang biglaang paglaho ng mga Eumythymn Hunters.
"In order to reminisce, bring me to the village of Hurricania." echoed the voice of the book.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Master Shein at halata sa kaniyang pagmumukha na hindi siya sang-ayon na dalhin sa malayong lugar ang Chronicle Book. May sense naman talagang panatilihin ito sa kamay ng akademya kung ang pakay nila ay protektahan ang Magical Item na ito.
"I'm guessing you won't allow me?" I asked before chuckling unhappily.
"Miss Assassin, you have no idea how lucky the school is to have you. I already said that, but even without the book the void history of your clan can be dug out from the dark with the help of your memories." said Master Shein, facing me and placing a hand on my right shoulder.
"But that's not why I needed the Chronicle Book." I responded as I fold my arms under my chests.
I know exactly what happened in that 'void' history moment, well, at least the aftermath of everything.
She raised a brow, waiting for a response from me.
"I need to know where my people are taken." I told Master Shein.
Master Shein closed the Chronicle Book and began leading me out of the secret room, up the stairs and out the secret passageway.
"You must have been heavily traumatized." Master Shein said once the passageway was closed.
"What are you talking about?" I asked out of confusion.
"I meant to say Miss Assassin, that aside from you, there are no longer anyone in the Eumythymn Clan that survived," and that statement of hers felt like a punch to my chest.
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