The Orphic Secret

Chapter 6

THE NEOTERICS

Umalis na si Sirius, at hindi na ako na-randomly attack ng mga Neoterics. I guess they're just worried and anxious about me being new to the Faction.

"You sure you're not his girlfriend? I rarely see Sirius with anyone."

Napairap naman ako. Ang kulit naman! Lahat ba ng Orpheus may lahing makulit?!

"I'm sorry for your shoes, I'm going to replace it with another."

"K, thanks," sagot ko. Though, mas comfortable nga kapag naka-apak! Parang nasa bahay ka lang!

"We're in the middle of the school year. Bakit bigla kang napadpad dito?" tanong niya.

Napanguso naman ako, "Sinundan ko lang ang Kuya ko rito. Mahabang story, basta tinutulungan ako ng Academy hanapin kuya ko."

Gosh! Do I need to explain this to everyone I'll be meeting? Nakakaloka naman. Hindi ba pwedeng i-broadcast ko nalang sa buong Academy, or 'di kaya may isang talakera na mag-broadcast para sa'kin? Tutal d'yan naman magaling iba. Mag-spread ng mga rumors! Sana lang kapag nag-spread sila, sabihin nilang maganda ako!

We finally entered the headquarters. I looked around and noticed that the motif here was light blue and white. Sobrang linis ng paligid, at marami ring mga computers.

Ni hindi nga kami tinapunan ng tingin ng ibang Orpheuses. Sobrang serious nila.

"Hayaan mo na sila. We're actually strengthening the portals and barriers. Kami rin ang nagmomonitor ng mga drones," paliwanag ni Astraeus.

If that's the case, bakit hindi niya alam na may bagong student? Kanina may napansin akong drone na sumusunod sa'kin eh.

"Astraeus!" tawag ng isang babae.

I squinted my eyes to study her appearance. She's tall like me, and her body is also slender like mine. Her jet black hair is short, and her eyes are orange— like the sun.

Huwao, sana all may eyes na parang araw!

"Oh! There is she! She's Exiquel Four Bellisima! Our newest Faction member," she smiled brightly at me. Ah, she must be the one who was drone-watching me.

Nadala naman ako ng ngiti niya at ngumiti na rin. "I heard you survived the system error?" tanong niya nang hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti sa bibig.

Tumango naman ako.

"Congrats!"

Luh? Achievement ba talaga 'yon?

"I mean, congrats for being part of the Neoteric Faction!" bawi ng babae.

I smiled shyly. 'Yon naman pala, eh. "What's your name?" tanong ko.

"I'm Asairis Topaz," pakilala niya at naglahad-kamay. "You can call me Iris."

"What should I call you?" tanong niya pa.

"Uh... Four," sabi ko kahit na ang tawag na sa'kin ng iba ay Exiquel. Well, bahala na sila.

"How old are you na ba?" Iris asked. She's really talkative and bubbly!

"I'm eighteen. Kayo ba?" tanong ko.

"Nineteen," maikling sagot ni Astraeus.

"Sixteen!" Iris squealed. Napaawang naman ang bibig ko. She looks matured for a sixteen year old.

"Anyways, we'll tour you around the Neoteric Headquarters!" sabi niya. Bahagya naman akong napayuko nang may dumaan na drone sa ibabaw ko.

I looked around and studied the surroundings. Bale nasa second floor kami, then sa first floor mas maraming tao. There was a circular post in the middle and then it was filled with holographic screens.