Weirdos I: The Crystal Monster

Chapter 10: Signs

Spells is one of our major subjects. First period namin 'yun sa hapon. Sikat ang Emerald hindi lang dahil sa Weirdo Course nila pero dahil na rin sa iba pang subjects na ino-offer dito. Kaya naman ang lahat ng graduates nila ay hindi lang basta magaling sa paggamit ng weirdness pero pati na rin sa iba pang fields ng magic.

At gaya sa 'kin na walang kwenta ang weirdness ay kailangan kong bumawi sa ibang subjects. Ito lang ang paraan para makapasa ako kahit ngayong sem lang.

Final exams lang ang meron sa Emerald. Pero pinaghalong written at practical test 'yun. Dapat ay makita nila ang improvement mo sa practical subjects lalo pa sa Weirdo Course mo. Dahil kung wala silang makitang pagbabago, expelled ka na mula sa Emerald. 'Yun ang paraan nila para masala ang pinakamagaling sa lahat ng magagaling.

At ano naman ba ang aasahan mong improvement sa weirdness ko? I'm telekinetic and I can create force fields. 'Yun lang.

Halimbawa, Jack can control ice. Ang magandang improvement na pwede niyang ipakita ay kung kaya na niyang humawak sa mga bagay nang hindi 'yun nagye-yelo. O kaya naman ay kaya pala niyang kumontrol ng tubig. Kailangan na makita ng panel ang ini-angat ng ablilidad mo.

Kaya naman ngayon pa lang ay kinakabahan na ako para sa finals.

"Today you are going to learn one of the most basic charms that you can use. It is the shield charm. Now, who can give me the definition of that spell?" tanong sa 'min ni Professor Ozzelus, the Spells Master of Emerald.

I raised my hand timidly.

"Yes, Lunaria?"

"A shield charm is a kind of magical barrier that blocks not just physical objects but spells as well. It can also deflect spells," sagot ko.

"Excellent. Now, what do you think is the major difference between your force field and a shield charm?" tanong niya.

"Uh... Force fields can't deflect spells?" I said.

"Correct. Force fields can only block objects and spells. The strength of a force field depends on its caster so there is a danger of breaking if the field was too weak. Shield charms, on the other hand, can't be shattered by physical objects but can be destroyed by powerful spells," Professor Ozzelus said.

"The word is simple. Please repeat after me. Protectus."

"Protectus," the whole class chorused.

"The gesture is like this: Open your hands in front of you and flick it sideways quickly as you recite the spell. If you are successful, a shield charm will likely to be conjured," sabi pa niya.

Professor Ozzelus made a swiping gesture with his hand and the tables and chairs disappeared with our bags.

"Don't worry. I'll return them after the lesson. Hurry up," sabi niya nung nagbagsakan kaming lahat sa sahig.

He then assigned us to work in pairs. Agad ko namang kinuha si Jack. Si Faye naman ang naging partner ni RB.

"Professor Ozzelus is really cool," sabi ni Jack nung nakahanap na kami ng pwesto sa room.

"Yeah. He's really famous. He worked for the NMLEA for a few years before accepting the teaching job here in Emerald. I can't understand why he's teaching Spells if he's an illusionist," sabi ko naman.

"He's the Spells Master of this school. Hindi siya magiging ganun kung hindi siya magaling. Anyway, let's conjure some shield charms now," sabi ni Jack.

But our task was easier said than done. Kalahating oras na ang nakalilipas pero wala pa ni isa sa amin ang nakakagawa ng kahit isang disenteng shield charm man lang.