Kara's POV

I knew it.

That volcanic eruption was her first breath.

"Cesia?" tinawag ko ang babaeng tila hindi naniniwala sa narinig niya.

But everyone heard it. The voice that caused the earth to rumble belongs to no other than the titaness of the earth.

"Can you do something with the crowd?" I asked.

She pursed her lips and nodded.

Ang gulo-gulo kasi. Lahat sila nagsisigawan kaya hindi kami magkakaintindihan dito. The refugees are running everywhere while screaming.

Napatingin ako sa itaas.

Trev was forming a wind sphere and trapping a huge amount of ash inside. While Seht was busy blasting off the rocks and debris.

Dapat mailipat na lahat ng refugees sa Academy. Ngayon na.

Biglang tumigil ang mga refugees at napatingin sa babaeng nakatayo sa likod ko. I followed their gaze and I saw a demigod opening her eyes that are as vibrant as the moon in a starless sky.

She sighed.

Napansin ko ang mga refugees na dahan-dahang tumungo sa platform. Batch by batch, they all managed to get safely inside the Academy's premises.

"Ayos." puna ni Chase pagkatapos sumakay ang huling batch ng refugees sa platform.

"Anong 'ayos'? Hindi mo ba narinig ang boses ni Gaia? Gising na siya." Ria snorted.

"Good thing the barrier is holding up. Dapat bumalik na tayo." pinagpag ni Seht ang shirt niya na nabalot ng dumi.

Bumagsak si Trev mula sa itaas. I noticed his hands turned pale because of the wind sphere he was holding for a long period of time. "We will leave the Academy after thirty minutes." anunsyo niya.

"Isn't that too early?" Dio gave him a questioning look.

"We could be early but never late." his tone seemed darker than usual. "Gaia is awake."

His last statement made me shiver.

Not even me, a daughter of Athena predicted this would happen. Akala ko may specific schedule ang pag gising niya but no. Pinili niya talagang magising in a surprising way... and time.

Siguro nag ce-celebrate na ang mga anak niya sa lair nila.

"If we don't come to them, they will come to us." unang naglakad si Trev sa platform.

Nagtinginan nalang kami at tumango. Sumunod kami sa kanya at sumakay sa platform.

Totoo ang sinabi niya. Sila ang pupunta dito pag hindi kami ang pupunta sa kanila. We are not risking the Academy and the lives of the refugees. Mahirap na kapag gagawin naming battlefield ang Academy. We have a lot to lose then.

"Sino ang matitira sa Academy?" tanong ni Cesia.

Priority niya talaga ang mga refugees...

"May mga Beta at Gamma naman. We can trust them." sagot ni Ria.

Nakita ko ang reaksyon ni Cesia nang marinig niya ang sinabi ni Ria.

"Paano kung maulit na naman yung nangyari sa Beta?" halatang hindi siya komportable sa magiging sitwasyon ng Academy pag wala kami.

Ria took a few seconds before responding. "We can hire Chase to be our messenger. It just takes him like.. a minute to go back and forth."

"Ayy-tangina. Ano? Kung ikaw nalang kaya. Tutal, nagiging ibon ka naman." pag-aangal ni Chase.

"Ikaw ang anak ng Messenger of the Gods dito." Ria gave him a fiery glare.

"At kilala ring magagaling na messengers ang mga ibon." Chase snapped back.

Trev cleared his throat.

"We will be assigning Kia and Heather in charge of the Academy." he suggested saka nya tinignan si Cesia to assure her.

"Salamat." she gave him a subtle smile.

"ayy pak... may ganon.." narinig kong bulong ni Thea.

•••

In-adjust ko ang shield na nakakapit sa kanang braso ko. Ito ang pangalawang beses ng paggamit ko nito ever since the first war.

Dati ko pa alam na magagamit ko ulit ito sa isa pang digmaan.

And right now, it felt unusually heavy as if nakikisabay sa bigat na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

"Any orders?" tanong ko nang tumigil si Chase sa harap namin.

"Approved na nila ang gagawin natin. Kaso nagkaroon ng saglit na conflicts.. dahil ayaw ng amazons at huntres na manatili lang dito. Gusto nilang sumama." napatingin si Chase kay Cesia na agad umangat ang ulo pagkatapos marinig ang balita ni Chase.

"Pero okay naman. Tayo lang ang pupunta sa mga giants at maiiwan ang buong Academy sa kamay ng mga amazons at huntres." dagdag niya.

Good. They should be safe.

Pumasok si Thea na napakadumi ng damit. Para siyang naligo sa pinaghalong lupa at oil.

"You smell terrible." puna ni Seht.

"Ahh.. Eh ikaw kaya gumulong sa ilalim ng generators?!" inis na sagot ni Thea. Padabog siyang naglakad sa kwarto niya.

My eyes stopped on the girl biting her lower lips. Halatang nag-aalala siya...

"Hey.." I rest my hand on her shoulder. "The refugees are gonna be okay."

Tumango siya.

How can I keep her calm if she can feel what the refugees are feeling.

Habang hinihintay si Thea, napag-usapan namin ang mga dapat gagawin just in case something goes terribly wrong.

"In short, no one dies. Okay?" sambit ni Ria.

Lumabas si Thea na basang-basa pa ang buhok at di nakasuklay. Nevertheless, nasa kamay na niya ang kanyang weapon and she looked ready to go.

"Dorm. Vacation Mode." Chase made the order and the whole place dimmed. Lumabas na kami at tumungo sa harap ng academy kung saan may naghihintay na isang aurai.

Pumatong kami sa platform kasabay siya. "We prepared two cars for your journey." she instructed.

Katulad ng sinabi niya,dalawang kotse ang naghihintay sa'min pagbaba namin sa platform.

"Kerensa sends you her prayers. Good Luck Alphas." the aurai gave us a gentle smile. I can read her actions at masasabi kong hindi siya optimistic nang masabi niya iyon. She's scared as hell.

I was about to get inside the car when I noticed Cesia staring at the Academy floating above us.

"Cesia." I called her attention. "We need to go now."

She looked back at me with her bright purple orbs. "Masama kasi yung pakiramdam ko eh."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?"

Nagbuntong-hininga siya at tinitigan ako.

Suddenly, she voiced out a command with an unusual strong pull. "Walang magtatangkang traydorin ang Academy. Kung meron man.." huminga siya ng malalim. "lalabas ng barrier at tatalon dito sa lupa."

She closed her eyes and opened it once again revealing a brighter pink color. "Once you betray me.. magpapakamatay kayo."

Hindi ko naririnig ang mga boses sa itaas but I know full well everyone's body just clicked automatically after hearing her will.

"Tama na 'yan Cesia. Dapat na nating pumunta ngayon na." pumasok si Dio sa pangalawang sasakyan saka sinarado ang pinto.

"Girls. Nagmamadali tayo!" naiinip na sabi ni Ria.

I sighed.

There's no stopping Cesia when she unleashes her abilities to protect others.

It's good news, isn't it?

But not for the rest of the realms.

For once she releases everything...

There will be no stopping her.