FIFTY-ONE

POWER OF THE BLACKSMITH.

AND THIS is Cyclopes. As they say, Cyclopes were gigantic, one-eyed beings with enormous strength. Originally, there were three of them: Arges, Steropes, and Brontes; capable blacksmiths, these were the sons of Uranus and Gaea and the brothers of the Hecatoncheires and the Titans.

They were imprisoned by Cronus but released by his son Zeus, for whom they forged his famous thunderbolt as a sign of gratitude. However, at a later time, poets spoke of a different type of Cyclopes, a race of dim-witted and violent one-eyed shepherds dwelling in the caves of the island of Sicily.

The most famous among them was Polyphemus, the Cyclops who fell in love with Galatea and was eventually blinded by Odysseus.

Jacinta was intrigued and blinking as she peered at the Cyclopes with whom Conleth was currently speaking. They differed more from what the book stated. Iniling na lang niya ang ulo niya at patuloy pa rin siyang namamangha sa mga nakikita niya.

"Cyclopes..." Jacinta pondered, "It can be literally translated as "round-eyed," but many authors feel that it is derived from a much older word which originally meant  "sheep thief."

Biglaang sumama ang timpla nitong Cyclopes habang hawak nito ang metal. Napaurong na lang si Jacinta at tiningnan si Conleth and let out a silent laugh.

"That's how Cyclopes always act." Conleth explained, "It's nothing new."

'Di alam ni Jacinta kung hindi ba siya pinagkakatiwalaan ba siya ng Cyclopes na kausap ni Conleth or he simply despised her for several reasons. Those single eyed gave Jacinta a look and gripped his metal when he attempted to shatter it.

The cave's shadow has moved with his rage, as if he is warning you not to approach him. He appeared to be a predator who owns this realm and no one can touch it.

"Don't assume that your beauty will be enough to trick me. A lady with your level of beauty is deadly." Cyclopes hissed at her.

Napaturo na lang si Jacinta sa sarili niya, "Eh?"

"Don't act like you don't know! Conleth was previously duped by a gorgeous woman as Aphrodite's wrath. Because of that—"

Cyclopes was warned by Conleth, "Hey, she doesn't need to know about that." Embarrassed, he massaged his hair and felt sorry for Cyclopes, who had to vent his rage on Jacinta simply because she was attractive.

This wasn't her problem to begin with. And this is his own issue to resolve. So, may the Goddess offer him courage—the strength to face all of this.

Cyclopes appeared to be stoic. He clearly indicates that he doesn't care about Jacinta at all. Walang paraan para maniwala 'to sa kanya, anuman ang gagawin ni Jacinta. He tosses some rocks behind him, at napakalakas ng pagkabagsak niya sa bato. Nagsimula siyang magpukpok ng bato pagkatapos niyang alisin ito.

Jacinta couldn't help but smile at Cyclopes' stern demeanor, despite his hatred for her. If Conleth wasn't here, she felt certain she'd be dead meat.

"There are different kinds of Cyclopes, you know. So you don't have to worry about that guy at all."

Jacinta nodded and she grabbed her book out of nowhere and began reading, "Yes, you're right. There are three Cyclopes. Arges, Steropes  and Brontes."

"The sons of Uranus and Gaea, they are some of the earliest gods to ever spring into existence, born shortly after the Titans, and just before the Hecatoncheires – both of them their brothers."

As expected of her. Wala nang masasabi si Conleth. Si Jacinta ay isa sa pinakamatalino na estudyante sa Phanteon Academy, at siya lang ata ang may kakayahang makipagkumpitensya sa anak ni Athena. Yes, you mean his sister. He was forced to study with her after she started this conversation, and he didn't mind it at all.

"In time, however, the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires were released from Tartarus by the only one of Cronus' children not to be eaten by him at birth: Zeus.

"Zeus did this at the advice of Gaea, who had informed him that he wouldn't be able to depose Cronus without their help. True to Gaea's words, the Cyclopes played a crucial part during the Titanomachy."

Studying can help him. Conleth spent the remainder of his life surrounded by documents and books, and being up in a strict environment, he had no choice but to do this. And he's one of the few Demigods who wished to put an end to the war.

"You know a lot, don't you!?"

"Of course. I spent the most of my life staring at them while Cyclopes attempted to construct Zeus, Poseidon And Hades' primary weaponry."

"Which is?"

"Namely, not only did they side with Zeus in his war against the Titans, but they also forged Zeus' mighty thunderbolt, along with a trident for Poseidon and a helmet of invisibility for Hades. With the help of these weapons, Zeus and his party emerged triumphant from the Titanomachy, banishing the Titans to Tartarus once and for all."

Jacinta agreed, feeling even more impressed after discussing this with Conleth. She became more immersed in the topic and flicked the page, moving her fingers on the book as she read it. "Zeus had become the ruler of the world, the Cyclopes could dedicate themselves fully to their talents and chosen line of work. They installed themselves in the forges of the divine artificer Hephaestus (under the volcanic Mount Etna in Sicily), and, under his direction, they went on forging Zeus' thunderbolts in addition to fashioning pieces of some of the other gods' equipment (Athena's armor, Ares' chariot)."

"Yeah. Because Cyclopes were also believed to have built numerous monumental works all around Greece and Italy. Some of the most famous buildings attributed to them were the immense walls of Tiryns and the Lion Gate at Mycenae."

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

A STEADY STRIKE was observed in the cave. The Cyclopes were putting his best to make something from the rocks, which Jacinta didn't expect. Sobra siyang namamangha habang pinapanood niya 'to. Cyclopes then gave her a look.

"Don't think I've forgotten what you did to Conleth, little girl, just because you value my stories! Remember this!" He hisses at her. Jacinta could sense the wrath as if she were being swept away by the cave's thunders.

"Ah, right. I almost forgot about it. After we annihilated the scientist, I grabbed all of the metals that I could obtain."Agad na ipinatong ni Conleth ang malalaking pira-pirasong metal sa harap nitong Cyclopes and sets it down on the table.

"This is..."Cyclopes seemed amused by the metals he had acquired. Nagtaka si Conleth sa inasta nitong si Cyclopes. Natahimik 'to ng saglit and then hurried over to him.

"Where are these metals from? Conleth, may I also ask about your mission? Has it made any advances?"

Conleth simply gazed intently at the metals, now confused by what Cyclope had been telling him. They only needed to take the Hephateus metals that the scientist had taken, right? O baka naman may iba pang may nangyayari dito na 'di niya alam.

Conleth looked at Cyclopes as he placed his hands on the table and tension between them suddenly increased. "Are you saying by infiltrating the House of Mudned?" Conleth asked. "And figuring out where my father is?"

"Indeed. The only one who can respond to those is you. In order for me to construct this, you must decide that you have to understand that others must also confront their own challenges before you can assist them. You're being too kind to yourself!" Cyclopes went on.

"What did he mean?"Jacinta looked in, wondering about the two of them.

Ang katotohanan na nakaharap na naman siya kay Jacinta ngayon ay nagdulot ng higit na pagkabalisa sa Cyclops. Sa katunayan, 'di niya alam kung paano makikipag-usap sa isang tao na katulad niya. Noong panahon na 'yon, naloko si Hephateus kay Aphrodite, at 'di na 'yon maaaring mangyari kay Conleth.

"Will you take care of that guy? He's too weak when it comes to attractive women. Especially Aphrodite's daughter who broke his heart!"The Cyclopes protested.

"I asked her to end our relationship, magkaiba 'yon."

With a heavy sigh, Conleth covered his face and said, "And I don't need you to tell her that, okay? It's embarrassing enough already!"

Jacinta stared at him, worried, and pouted, "You and Isabella were lovers?"

"This is part of Aphrodite's wrath. She envied my mother's beauty, and seeing how gorgeous I was, she intended to destroy my heart using Isabella."

Conleth turned aside, unable to believe he had to speak up about this. This was something he had never done before. Isn't Jacinta absolutely special? He shoved such ideas aside and stared at Cyclopes.

"The aim is to remove my father's realm from Mudned? He entrusted it to me; I couldn't have shared this struggle with anyone." He described it to him. Yeah, it's always been like way. Siya'y hindi humihingi ng tulong kahit kanino. Lalo na sa isang sitwasyon kung sa'n siya lamang ang may kakayahang gawin 'to.

"I believe you can do it, Conleth. You always have my vote. "But you're missing the point of this test," Cyclopes remarked. "Trust in your comrades."

Cyclopes then throws a metal-created note to Conleth. There is lava that engraves the metal. It was Hephateus's message to him.

⸎⸎⸎⸎

❝My child, Conleth. I'm proud of your strong will. I'm sure that by reading this, you've obtained the metal required to make your own hammer. You are confined by your own self-doubt; believe in what you can do. Only you can make something worthwhile. I leave the weapon in your hands to end the battle.❞

The chains were suddenly surrounded by chains. Jacinta steps back, her aura as bright as the moon, and she detects something in the chains. One of her skills is to perceive people's actual selves. And she can feel all of the feelings that the hammer conveys.

"Lord Hephateus wanted to tell you..." Jacinta gazed at Conleth, "The emotions that you should carry with the hammer. Because understanding your true feelings will make you stronger."