Phoenix Academy

Chapter 31

Naramdaman ko ang konsensya ko, at kaagad kong natatandaan ang mga nangyari. Minulat ko ang mata ko at dahan-dahang tumayo upang hindi mahilo.

Tiningnan ko ang paligid, at napansing nasa isa akong gubat. I can hear water streams from far away and the sun was still shining brightly here. I haven't gone out for long pero sapat na siguro ang oras para mapansin ng iba na nawawala ako.

Nagulat ako nang lumipad ang mga dahon mula sa sahig at mabilis akong pinalibutan, almost covering me from everything. Halos hindi rin ako makagalaw sa lakas ng hangin, kaya't sinubukan kong gamitin ang kapangyarihan ko. Argh, bakit ayaw gumana ng kapangyarihan ko? Pero gumagana naman ang pandinig ko.

"You can't use your magical powers here, Georgia. Mananatili ang bilis mo, ang matalas mong paningin, ang lakas mo at ang pandinig mo but anything beyond that is off-limits. It's safer that way." Safer for me, or this person?

I scoffed. "Who are you to disable my powers?"

Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita, "Mayroon kang makikitang dalawang fountains dito. One in the left side of this forest, and the other found at the opposite The left side is called Fountain of Lethe, from the river of Lethe, the forgetfulness. Then, the right side is where the fountain of Mnemosyne, from River Mnemosyne, the memory, is found. You'll need to drink water from there—"

I cut her off as she continued on and on, leaving me confused. "What the heck? Are you telling me to do those?" Ba't ko naman gagawin 'yon?

"Think about it, Georgia. How do I know that there's a prophecy coming? Kakampi ako, kung kalaban ako, sana kanina ka pang napahamak habang natutulog ka. I am Mnemosyne, the Titaness of memories. Sundin mo nalang ang sinasabi ko," wika niya sa'kin, gayunpamang hindi ko siya nakikita.

I looked down. Hindi ako ganoong pamilyar sa mga diyos o diyosa, and it's my first time hearing her name. Mnemosyne. Pero, I think there's no more other choice than to follow.

"After drinking water from the two fountains, hayaan mo lang na dalhin ka ng sarili mo sa isang kweba. Enter that cave, and I'll help you with the rest," muling sabi niya sa'kin then the leaves started bursting out.

This time, para na naman akong napadpad sa ibang lugar. I can see a way either sa left or right. Mukhang eto ang sinasabi niya. Ngunit saan nga ako unang pupunta?

Tinahak ako ng aking mga paa patungo sa right side, to the fountain of Memory. The way here seems to be colorful, at nakakarinig pa ako ng magandang musika from afar. Ladies singing beautifully while I walked further and further.

Napasapo naman ako sa'king noo nang bigla kong maalala ang mga masasakit na nangyari saken. Habang naglalakad ay mas lalong sumasakit ang mga ala-alang dumarating sa'kin. "Mnemosyne," I gritted my teeth from the agonizing pain. 'Di ko nalang namalayang naluluha na pala ako.

"You're a disgrace to the royal family of Vampires, Georgia." That... I remember being thrown away from the Voltaire Castle. Then, also from the heavens. "I'm sorry, Kaye, but the angels couldn't risk to allow you here. Your blood is impure... we never know what may happen."

Even the mortal world didn't accept me. Hindi man ako magsalita, marami na silang nasasabi. I sighed. I never belonged in any abode or realm. Walang tumanggap sa'kin. I was really not an angel, a vampire, a mortal. I was no one.

"Welcome to Phoenix Academy, Georgia," and now, nawala na lahat ng masasakit na ala-ala. Phoenix Academy became my home, the only place I could run to. Isa akong Phoenician na may misyon, to find the prophecy, the phoenix and peace.

Finally, nakita ko na rin ang fountain. Nawala ang magandang musika at mga kanta. I could only hear memories of my own. Lumapit ako roon sa fountain, ignoring the screams of my memories.