Ethereal Academy: Beyond the Silence

“Avaleigh Gonzales!” The sharp, angry call of the teacher echoed through the classroom, jolting the girl awake from her peaceful nap at the back.

Startled, Avaleigh almost fell from her desk. Laughter erupted from her classmates, but for Avaleigh, the shout felt as though it had been screamed directly into her ear through a microphone even though the teacher stood far away. Her extraordinary hearing always made loud voices unbearable.

“Stop laughing!” the teacher barked. “You, Ms. Gonzales, answer the problem on the board!” Still half-asleep, Avaleigh rose calmly.

She wasn’t nervous; she understood the teacher’s anger, but she had no reason to be afraid.

The teacher frowned, surprised at the girl’s composure. Without hesitation, Avaleigh walked to the blackboard, glanced at the advanced Physics II problem, and began to solve it. The problem was lifted straight from a Chemical Engineering board exam.

Yet, Avaleigh’s hand moved swiftly, chalk scratching across the board. The classroom grew silent, only the outside noises and the quick strokes of chalk filled the air. Avaleigh was no ordinary student. With her sharp memory, unmatched logic, and love for books, whether science, mathematics, documentaries, or even mysteries she was a walking genius.

Since entering school, she had held a full scholarship and never finished a year without highest honors. Within minutes, Avaleigh had filled both blackboards, using every space efficiently. At last, she circled her final answer, placed the chalk down, and returned to her seat as if nothing had happened. She could feel the stares of her classmates.

Irritated, she snapped, “What?”

Frightened, they quickly turned their eyes to the front, where Teacher Fernandez kept shifting her gaze between the blackboard and her laptop. Finally, the teacher looked at Avaleigh with curiosity. Solving such a problem was nearly impossible even for graduating college students, yet Avaleigh had done it with ease.

“Stand up, Ms. Gonzales,” Teacher Fernandez said seriously.

Though still drowsy, Avaleigh stood. “Since you answered the problem in detail, I won’t ask you to explain your process. But… have you encountered this problem before?”

“No, ma’am. It’s my first time,” Avaleigh answered honestly.

“Alright,” the teacher replied, still unconvinced.

Rumors often circled Avaleigh accusations of cheating, whispers of unfair advantage. But every time, she had proven herself by answering impromptu or advanced questions flawlessly.

“Ma’am, is her answer correct?” one student asked.

“Yes,” Teacher Fernandez admitted. Excited chatter filled the room.

Admiration replaced mockery; Avaleigh’s brilliance, once again, could not be denied. After class, Avaleigh was about to leave when she was stopped by her General Chemistry teacher.

“Ms. Gonzales, can I have a word with you?” Confused, Avaleigh followed her to the faculty office, where a few other teachers, including her adviser, were present.

“Our school just received a letter from IMSO,” Teacher Fernandez began.

“You’ve been chosen as one of our representatives.” The International Math and Science Olympiad. Avaleigh had only ever watched it on television. Now, they were asking her to compete. Instead of excitement, unease filled her chest.

“Ma’am… I’ll have to ask my parents first. We might not have the budget,” she lied.

“You don’t have to worry about that. As our top scholar, the school will shoulder everything,” the teacher reassured. It felt like they were cornering her.

“I’ll think about it,” Avaleigh replied. The teacher frowned. Most students begged for opportunities like this. Avaleigh’s hesitation only made the faculty more curious. Later that evening, as Avaleigh approached their small home, her sharp hearing caught her parents’ voices from meters away.

“What should we do?” her mother asked anxiously.

“I don’t know. We can’t sell the farm,” her father muttered. Sell the farm? Avaleigh froze, her heart racing.

“We can’t, Fernan. We’ve already lost the animals. Don’t let them take our land, too,” her mother’s voice cracked, close to tears.

“I’ll find a way,” her father insisted.

“Please, don’t do anything reckless again,” her mother pleaded.

When Avaleigh stepped inside, both parents quickly pretended nothing had happened. Her mother cooked while her father hid behind a newspaper. Avaleigh forced a smile and did the same, pretending not to know.

“As always,” she thought.

“Oh, anak, how was school?” her mother asked.

“Fine,” Avaleigh replied simply.

After dinner and a bit of small talk, she excused herself to her room. But when her parents finally fell asleep, Avaleigh quietly opened her father’s cabinet. Her hands trembled as she unfolded a contract. A loan agreement. If they failed to pay, their house, land, and every possession would be seized. The debt: two million pesos. Their entire property was worth only half of that. Even if taken, her family would remain in debt. Avaleigh quickly returned the document and shut the cabinet, her chest tight with worry.

Avaleigh’s POV

“Lizario Enterprises…” I typed the company name on my phone. A family picture appeared.

But one face captured my attention.

Arwin Lizario. Youngest son. IMSO Champion, 2024.

Unlike the rest of the family, his information was scarce. A mysterious young man. For years, I’d overheard my parents whispering about debts. Once, our farm had thrived. But a man had tricked Father, and in one blow, our land and livestock were mortgaged.

To save at least our home, Father had borrowed from Lizario Enterprises. The farm was gone; now, the company demanded payment. I’d been tutoring privately, saving what I could, but it wasn’t enough.

And then I remembered the IMSO.

The next day, I asked Teacher Fernandez directly, “What are the prizes for the contest?”

“Certificates, a trophy, guaranteed admission to any university of your choice… and a cash prize. Two million for the champion, one million for first runner-up, five hundred thousand for second place.”

At that moment, I made up my mind. “When is the contest?”

“First week of September. You have two weeks to prepare.”

“I’ll join,” I declared.

The news thrilled the school. But that same day, Avaleigh received news that shattered her.

“I’m sorry. Mrs. Fernandez didn’t make it. She lost too much blood...” the doctor said gravely.

Avaleigh stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the scene before her. Her father knelt beside her mother’s body, shoulders shaking violently, hands clutching at nothing but air and despair.

The body of her mother was a map of violence, dark bruises streaked across her arms and legs, handprints blackened on her neck, deep gashes scarred her skin. Bones jutted unnaturally beneath the torn flesh, and the sheer brutality of the attack made Avaleigh’s stomach twist. She had seen blood before, but this… this was different.

This was final. “Why… why didn’t you save her?” Fernan’s voice broke, trembling and raw.

Every word was laced with grief, but Avaleigh knew the question was aimed at her, sharp and accusing. Her chest tightened.

She had tried, oh, how she had tried, but it hadn’t been enough. “I… I’m sorry,” she whispered at last, the words catching in her throat.

Tears spilled over, burning down her cheeks as the dam she had held inside finally gave way.