『SKYLER』

Ah…

Why did no one tell us about this fucking event?

Loud and endless chants rang into my ears as the students chanted with all their might in order to perfect the cheers they’ve made to outshine the others. The entire arena trembled, and the excitement lingered in every demigod present for the beginning of the Grand Olympian Games.

“Step back, take notes, we’ll take the show and run, forget all the other trashy sections! Hail to Zeus, the mighty warrior! Hail to Zeus Section, the mightiest section!”

“Shaking in their sits S-C-A-R-E-D we’ve got ‘em scared, shaking in their sits! Primus, Zeus, Hades were S-C-A-R-E-D because the best had arrived! Poseidon has arrived!”

“You think you bad? That’s so so sad! You think you’re hot? We say you’re not! You think you’ll score? We say ‘No more!’ You think you’ll win? Say, come again? You think you’re uptown? We’ll take you down! Hades Section will take you down! Down! Down!”

“Goodbye, five hundred thousand drachmas, Aizen.” Xian grimly glanced at Aizen and lightly tapped its shoulder, making Aizen glare at him.

“Celine…” ani ni Aizen habang nandidilim ang paningin sa kanya. “Why didn’t you tell us about this fucking event?”

Celine pointed to Serena, who was giving us a peace sign while smiling awkwardly, “Sabi niya kagabi siya raw ang gagawa.”

“I’m sorry…” Serena apologized.

“Guys, chill. Bawi naman tayo sa mukha, ayos lang kahit wala tayong pang-cheer.” Hindi ko alam dapat pa kaming ma-comfort ng mga salita niya o mainis na lang pero… ‘yong pangalawa ang pinili ni Aizen.

Inis na kinuyog ni Aizen si Phoenix dahil sa walang kuwenta nitong hirit. Buti nga sa’yo. Mabilis na tumigil sina Aizen at Phoenix nang may maramdaman kaming isang kakaibang lamig sa paligid namin. At sa isang iglap, ang buong arena ay nabalot ng isang manipis na globong gawa sa isang yelo na nagpatahimik sa lahat.

Haha… seriously?

“Primus Section for the win! Wieeeee!” Celine cheered.

All of us were left dumbfounded. To be honest, I don’t know what should I feel after witnessing the dumbest combo of these two. Magpinsan nga sila, parehas pangit ang trip sa buhay.

“That’s dirty, Ice!” I heard Nicole shout from the Zeus Section’s bleachers. “And Celine, that’s the ugliest effin’ cheer one could chant!”

And because of her bashful remarks, the crowd laugh at them. The thin sheet of ice covering the arena became a speckle of icy dust, raining on the arena and bringing a wintry touch to the crowd.

As the crowd grew enchanted by the scenery, a loud high, pitched screeching sound caught our attention until we laid our eyes on the middle of the ground. Mr. Panther appeared with a mocking grin on his face.

“May the gods bless us all, along with your hearty effort, demigods.” After his opening remarks, a loud gong of cymbals and drums accompanied him. “And, of course, I would like to congratulate Ms. Salvante for her wonderful and captivating cheer. Let’s give the Primus Section a round of applause for snatching the fourth place in the cheering competition.”

Wow… that’s the calmest yet most insulting statement I’ve ever heard from his mouth.

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HADES SECTION: 10 points

ZEUS SECTION: 8 points

POSEIDON SECTION: 5 points

PRIMUS SECTION: 1 point

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Sue sardonically laughed and shouted, “Wow naman, Mr. Panther, nahiya ka pa talagang gawin na zero.”

“May naririnig pa kayo?” Pang-asar na imik ni Mr. Panther, ngumisi ito’t pinakpak ang kanyang mga kamay. “At bago tayo tuluyan na mag-umpisa sa unang event… Ako nga pala si Panther, ang opisyal na host para sa Grand Olympian Games. At kasama ko ang ating Head Master na si Garet Christopher Lockser maging ang founder ng Demigods Academy na si Alexis Lancaster-Lockser.”

“Gago. Ipakilala mo rin ako!” Reklamo ni Tito Jackson.

“At pati si Jackson.”

“Tangina—”

Tito Jackson failed to fully utter his curses when Papa pulled him into his designated chair. At the side of the stage, three chairs serving as the are for the judges were located, meaning that they would become the official analyst and judge for the entire event.

“And now, the Battle of the Wits must begin!”

“Light… paki-perfect naman para may points tayo,” nakangiting sambit ni Phoenix saka siya mahinang tinulak pauna. Sinamaan lamang siya ni Light ng tingin bago siya tumungo sa loob ng arena kung nasaan ang iba pang contestant.

A holographic hourglass suddenly appeared in front with a sixty seconds timer above it, along with it was a gigantic blank screen below it. And in front of every contestant was a blank computer-like table where they could write their answers.

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If you cut its head,
two more grow back.
Which animal is being described?

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“Am I the only one being annoyed with Mr. Panther right now?” Ice asked, brooding.

“Nope. I want to tear his face right now.” I heard Sue reply. Girls are scary.

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This man,
according to legend
designed the labyrinth of King Minos.

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Nagulat na lamang ako nang biglang sumigaw si Aizelle, “I know! I know! That’s easy—”

“Sana all hindi na bobo,” pagputol ni Sue sa munting kaligayahan ni Aizelle. Usisera for the day ba ang ganap ni Sue ngayon?

Mahinang tumawa si Celine saka hinampas ang likod ni Sue, “Ganyan talaga pag-alagang Light. Si Phoenix kasi nag-aalaga sa’yo kaya bobo ka e.”

“Gago ‘to! Hindi na nga nag-uusap sina…”

Nang makita nilang nawala sa mood si Aizelle, agad na tumahimik sina Celine at Sue saka binaling ang kanilang atensyon sa stage. I heaved a sigh. That topic is forbid by Phoenix, he reminded us that when Light and Aizelle weren’t present and she shouldn’t be mentioned carelessly.

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There was one tree in Athens,
It was considered sacred.
Which tree was it?

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“Pst, Sky!”

Lumingon ako sa bobo na kumukulbit sa ‘kin saka umimik, “Ano ‘yon, Aizen?”

“Anong sagot?” He asked. But before I could even utter the correct answer, a screeching sound once again rang into my head.

“Ehem! Please refrain from answering the questions, may it be a whisper or not. One of the contestants has the blessing from Echo. Thank you!”

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Every nine years,
this monster required seven maids
and seven youth to be fed to him.

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“Matalino na ba ako dahil mas alam ko ‘yong sagot kaysa kay Phoenix?” Tanong ni Xian.

Mahina kaming natawa dahilan upang bumusangot sa amin si Phoenix, bumulong siya sa amin at sinamaan kami ng tingin, “Kung ang tagalog ng lights ay ilaw, bakit napakabobo mo?”

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He stole the fire from Zeus,
And taught its secrets to Phroneus.

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“Oh! That thief is a Titan like me!” Celine stated, squealing.

Ice looked at her cousin and cleared her throat, “And was thrown to the Caucasus…”

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Wild, unruly bird-winged maidens,
sometimes pictured as ugly hags.
They stole food from the seer, Phineas,
as a punishment from Zeus.

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“Throwback sa adventure noong pagliligtas kay Tita Alexis—”

“Hindi ka naman namin kasama noon,” sambit ko dahilan upang hindi matapos ni Aizen ang sasabihin niya. Saglit akong sumilip kay Aizelle at Phoenix na kasama ko noon, ngunit tila parehas silang walang balak magkomento dahil kasama rin namin si Light noon.

Noong panahong close na close pa sina Aizelle at Light.

“Bakit ba? E, sa informed akong nakalaban niyo ‘yon e.”

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These three mysterious old hags,
who controlled the destiny of
all living beings from birth to death.
They spun out each life as a thread
and cut it at the moment of death.
even the supposedly immortal gods
were afraid of them.

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“Hmm… interesting,” Serena mumbled. We all unknowingly looked at her because she seemed serious while looking at the question being asked at the moment.

Celine lightly tapped her shoulder, “Anong iniisip mo?”

“The gods are scared of them. Yet, the gods are also afraid of the slayer. Do you think… those three know who might the slayer maybe?”

“But that slayer is just a myth.”

Serena smiled, “So are we.” She’s really scary and unpredictable whenever she’s acting seriously.

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Orpheus went into the underworld to rescue who?

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Wala sa sarili akong napatingin kay Ice nang makita ang tipid na ngiti sa kanyang labi, “My favorite love story…” bulong niya.

“Akala ko pa naman story natin ang favorite mo…” pabiro kong bulong sa kanya.

“Mayroon na bang tayo?” Ngisi niya sa akin saka tumalikod. Gago, mapanik!

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Who was the goddess of the rainbow?

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“Oh! I just remembered, have you seen the message ko noon sa’yo?” Riley asked Ice.

Ice nodded, “Yeah, the time when my dear cousin looks so pitiful inside the dungeon.”

“Aba, gago ka ah!” Sambit ni Celine saka pinisil ang dalawang pisnge ni Ice dahilan upang magyelo ang mga daliri niya. What a bonding.

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Whish Naiad who lived
on the island of Ogygia kept
Odysseus imprisoned for 7 years?

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“Sky, ex-fiance mo!” Sigaw ni Aizen na may paghampas pa sa balikat ko.

Sinamaan ko lamang siya ng tingin at nang mapansin ko ang nagtatakhang tingin sa amin ni Ice ay saglit akong natawa at ngumiti, “Yeah… she is.”

Wala pa lang tayo ha. Ito ang ganti ng isang api.

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It was the sacred mountain,
home of the muses.

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“Phoenix, have you ever gone there?” Xian curiously asked, making Phoenix shake his head.

“And for the last question…” Mr. Panther announced. The crown suddenly grew rowdy as the last question appeared.

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Who was the goddess of retribution?

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Celine and Serena suddenly whistled playfully while eyeing Sue. Aizelle and Ice began to tap her shoulder out of nowhere, making Sue grimace at them.

“Okay lang ‘yan, Sue. Past is past,” pabirong sambit ni Celine.

“Anong past? Wala kaming past ng anak no’n!”

Tumango-tango lamang si Serena, “Tanggap ka pa rin ni Phoenix kahit anong mangyari.”

At bago pa muling makapagreklamo si Sue, umalingawngaw ang palakpakan sa paligid kasabay ang malakas at nakabibinging tunog ng symbals.

“Before I announce the scores, please be reminded that the first place will receive 10 points, while the second place will have 8 points, the third place will obtain 6 points, and the fourth place will receive 4 points.”

“So, bakit 1 point lang kami sa Cheering Competition?!” Sigaw ni Phoenix.

“Dahil hindi cheer ang tawag do’n!” Sigaw pabalik ni Mr. Panther. Umismid siya’t muling binalik ang atensyon sa mismong event saka ngumiti, “The Primus Section got a perfect score, while Zeus Section made two mistakes. On the other hand, Poseidon Section received 7 points, and Hades Section made five mistakes.”

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ZEUS SECTION: 16 points

HADES SECTION: 14 points

POSEIDON SECTION: 11 points

PRIMUS SECTION: 11 points

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“Aizen… ambagan na lang kita sa drachmang ibabayad mo kay Dylan,” bulong ni Xian kay Aizen.

Aizen curiously eyed Xian, whose face cannot be read as of the moment, “Bakit naman?”

“Wala lang…”

“Break for 30 minutes! And get ready for the next event—The swimming competition!”

#