[3RD POV]

No one said anything, but everyone knows what their answers are.

They want to know.

Joker can't hide her smirk. It's a knowledge that she's grateful to know, despite detesting her gift. Pasimpleng napalunok nang malalim si Law, hindi nawawala ang tingin sa kaharap. He had the courage to talk, even though he knows that it will feed Joker's ego.

"Yes . . . " Hindi siya umiwas ng tingin, bagkus punong-puno pa ng katanungan ang mga mata niya. "Tell us, tell us about the Judge."

Curiosity to a being that is unknown, to a being that they didn't know existed, to a being that they haven't met.

"Very well, I'll first tell you a fairytale," Joker started. "A forbidden love, that started it all."

Joker made it sound like it was really a fairytale. Pero sa loob ng isipan niya, ibang ang nasa imahinasyon niya.

"Three decades ago, a Portugal stood at the top of the Gifteds," ani Joker.

Naningkit ang mga mata ni August. "It's Principal Bora, right?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

Nakangising inangat ni Joker ang hintuturo niya at iginalaw ito. "Close, but no."

A portrait of a woman, with a long layered red hair. Joker's imagination of her moves in stop motion, as if it's really a picture book for kids.

"It was his first child, his daughter— Acidalia Ven Portugal. Also known as his favorite child." Bilog na bilog ang mga mata ni Joker habang nagkekwento, ang dalawang dulo ng labi niya ay hindi bumababa.

"Other than the great Principal Helena, Acidalia was the only other woman I purely admired."

They are all intrigued, hearing new information. Acidalia was someone they've never heard of. Even August, who was Helena's secretary, or even Law, who has a close connection to the Portugals through Helena and Scarlet.

Joker imagined Acidalia. Eyes with a same color of a gem, pinkish red like ruby, beauty that par a Goddess that suits the meaning of her name well, Aphrodite. She resembles her late mother so much. Attitude that is so bright, brains that exceeds to everyone. She's not just the strongest woman in her generation, she's the strongest gifted.

"Acidalia was a beast. She can split the sky with her bare hands, can tame savages with a look from her eyes, and can speak to souls with the breathe from her mouth." Joker's look changed. "So, it was no wonder. A beast can attract other beasts as well."

Another reflection popped in her mind. This time, it was a man. A man with a long black hair with golden eyes that can penetrate anyone. Two moles under his left eye, lips with a shade of cranberry. 

"Cruxian Le Saloer," may pait na pagbigkas ni Joker sa isang pangalan. "The greatest criminal of his generation, the one who ruled the Underground Association for three decades."

Tila bumigat ang tensyon, biglaang kumulog at bumagsak ang ulan kahit walang senyales ng ambon. Rinig na rinig ang pagbagsak ng mga ulan sa kalesa, pigil hininga ang mga nakikinig. Napasinghap si Law, namimilog ang mga mata.

"O-Oi, oi. Don't tell me . . ."

Joker's smirk confirmed his suspicion. 

"Indeed, the two beasts of their century— the two strongest gifted in their time, both fell in love at each other." She then chuckled. "Ironic, right? Acidalia was the next in line to be the successor of her father, but she fell in love with their greatest nemesis."

Napailing siya. "Pag-ibig nga naman."

She scoffed, "Of course, Bora was furious. He couldn't accept it. But also blinded with love, Cruxian begged for his blessing to have the love of his life. He did everything . . ." Naging mapait ang ekspresyon ni Joker, hindi niya tinago ang pandidiri. "Even ratting out the organization."

Pasimpleng humigpit ang kamao ni Joker, hindi mapigilang mairita sa nakaraan na tapos na. She's a snitch, she knows that herself. She herself is also a rat, a traitor. But she's a big hypocrite as well, for that reason, she despises Cruxian for selling out the organization he was suppose to rule.

"It had a huge impact to the org, it was almost our demise." Mapanghusgang tinignan ni Joker ang mga batang kasama niya. "Too bad it didn't happen, right?"

Law secretly clicked his tongue.

"But a father's love, is still the greatest among them all. Bora knew he can't stop Acidalia anymore. Kahit labag sa kalooban, wala siyang nagawa kung hindi tanggapin ang relasyon ng dalawa." Napatingin si Joker sa mga kuko niya, parang kaswal lang ang kinukwento. "Of course, their family didn't fully accept them, but what could they do? It already happened, it's already done."

"It wasn't long before Acidalia gave birth to another beast on her generation."

"Miss Xilah," ani Lemon.

Joker snapped her fingers. "Bingo. What do you expect? That monster came from two of her kind as well. Acidalia gave birth to the Venus, who inherited her gift. Could you believe it? She carried her for 10 months! Hindi tumigil sa pagkuha ng mga misyon si Acidalia kahit buntis, at nagkataon sa pangsiyam na buwan niya, nasa kalagitnaan siya ng mahalagang misyon."

"That bitch delayed her childbirth because she's on a mission!" Joker laughed. "What a menace!"

She crossed her arms. "Of course, it was no different with the Judge."

A scenario appeared on Joker's mind. A place filled with golden roses, underneath a tree is Acidalia. "Also at the middle of a mission, she gave birth."

"At the Deity's forest, where the Gods' lived before. The day of creation, born with a perfect blood combination, at a perfect day, at a perfect place. I spotted the Ophiuchus, the rarest constellation." Joker's tone changed, she was too focused on her imagination, her eyes started sparkling as she use her gift. 

"The perfect being, almost like created by the Gods, the Judge was born!" Wala sa sariling napabuka ang dalawa niyang kamay. She's really amused, she's blushing, breathing heavily.

For a knowledgeable being like Joker, the existence of the Judge is beyond reality. It exceeded the expectations from a normal person— from a normal gifted.

August, Lemon, and Elroy were disgusted by her expression. But on the other hand, Law has a serious look on his face, he has a question in mind. Pero nagdadalawang isip siya kung itatanong 'to o hindi.

Pero sa huli, nanaig pa rin ang hinahanap niyang sagot. Naunang bumuka ang bibig niya bago lumabas ang mga salita.

"Then . . . why him?" tanong niya na nakakuha ng atensyon ng lahat.

Nawala sa pagkahibang si Joker at napababa ang mga kamay. Kasing bilis ng pagkurap ang pagbabago ng ekspresyon niya, napababa siya ng tingin at hindi siya umimik kaagad.

"Miss Xilah was exceptional as well, she's also a child of the two strongest gifteds from their generation. She's also favored by the Gods." Naningkit ang mga mata ni Law. "So . . . why him? Why is it the Judge?"

There was a sudden silence. Law's question became everyone's questions as well.

Indeed. Why was it the Judge who's chosen by the heavens? Was it because of his gift? Was it because of his personality? What made him special, when his sister, was entitled as well?

"You're right . . ." mahinang sagot ni Joker. "The Venus is an exceptional gifted as well. Born with the blood of a Portugal and a Saloer, with a perfect gift."

"Then, was it really because of the Judge's gift that makes him special?" tanong ni Elroy.

The rain continued pouring. Under Joker's face that is looking down, a smirk formed.

"You don't understand," she answered. "It isn't the Judge's gift that makes him strong and special. It's him, himself."

Joker's orange eyes with red spirals greeted Law's. Not a smirk, not a grin. Just a smile, a smile that creeped everyone in the carriage. 

"The Venus is also special, but she lacks something. The Judge was born with a perfect blood combination . . ."

"At the perfect place and time . . ." Biglaang kumidlat, tumama ang repleksyon nito sa bintana.

"And was the blessed one among the two gifteds who were born as twins."

CHAPTER 71
Blessed one