We've been walking in this forest for hours. The stupid goat said that we should stick together because inside the Dim Forest was another forest pero hindi ko maisip kung gaano siya katanga upang yumakap sa braso ko. Hindi niya rin maramdaman ang masama kong tingin sa kanya. I languidly looked around, the deeper the forest – the narrower it gets. I removed Jackson's hand to mine.

I can smell the rich scent of leaves. As I touch the tree, its skin immediately detaches to the body, and another layer of skin appeared; the new layer was glistening with the vibrant color of peach. I noticed that the forest was beginning to glow, and as I looked up, the leaves were glimmering with the hues of roses. Some leaves started to fall, and as it made contact with my skin, the leaves transformed into a cloud of dust.

"Shit! This world is still full of surprise," Alyssa mumbled. My fingers were suddenly covered with a sticky golden thing. "Is that honey?"

"That is not honey, Alyssa," Freya said. Nagulat ako nang hablutin ni Freya ang kamay ko't inamoy ang dagta ro'n. "This is vanilla,"

"Adik ka, girl? Mukhang honey 'yan!" Alyssa argued. Savannah suddenly scooped on the tree and tasted it.

"Vanilla nga," Savannah said.

The aroma was a vanilla flavor. I was about to call Glifford when I suddenly twisted my lips while looking at him; he was already doing his job. Mas lalo naman akong napangiwi nang mapansin na tumutulong pa si Jackson sa pagnanakaw nila. Akala ko ba ay taga bantay siya rito or something like that?

"Hoy!" I called Jackson. Tumunghay siya at ngumiti sa akin na parang isang tanga, "Aren't you a guardian of this forest or something?"

"Ha?"

"Hatdog," Alyssa suddenly said. "Just kidding, balik na ulit kayo sa inyong usapan,"

Balik napapaligiran ng mga tanga ang isang matino na tulad ko?

Suddenly, I felt a menacing aura from the forest, and from the dark part of the forest, silhouettes began to appear one by one and were narrowing our escape route. Glifford pulls Alyssa and Savannah to his back while Freya spread her wings and fly above us; her majestic wings were the only thing that was lighting our path. I was carefully analyzing the silhouettes when Jackson suddenly screamed.

"OH MY GULAY! MAY MULTO –"

"Excuse me, Jackson? It is supposed to be 'Oh my Demigods', scream and do it again!" I want to facepalm because of Alyssa's remarks. She should be scared at times like this, but she seems calm and composed.

"OH MY DEMIGODS! MAY MULTO –"

"We are safe as long as we..." Alyssa stopped talking and crooked when Jackson began to run in circles. He pulled his sword at parang tanga na winasiwas ang kaniyang espada sa hangin. Jackson slashed one of the silhouettes. I wanted to laugh because he looks like a scared goat.

Alyssa began to pull my shirt frustratingly, "Now, we are dead meat because of that stupid goat,"

We were filled with a tremendous aura; the silhouettes' eyes began to show one after another. They were leering at us as if they are ready to release their wrath. "Alyssa..." I called.,,

"They are the guardians of this place. They are guarding something precious," Alyssa said.

She frustratingly bit her lips—the silhouettes march towards us. The cold and eerie feeling began to surround us, and I unconsciously closed my eyes when I felt something cold on my body. And when I opened my eyes – Glifford and the others were nowhere to be found. I don't know if getting lost is a good idea. I am still inside this peculiar forest, and all I can see are the gigantic trees around.

I halted when I felt an eerie presence. I carefully looked behind and noticed a glimmer at the back of a tree. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papunta ro'n, iniiwasan ko na tumunog ang mga tuyong dahon sa aking paanan. I slowly rested my back at the trunk. I even tilted my head to see a glimpse of the mysterious light.

And to my surprise, it was the woman whom I saw on the Achaea. In her front, holographic screens are projected in front of her. She was analyzing the waves and pressing it. I can't help but be amazed by her very presence. It was my first time seeing such an elegant blessing as if it was made for her.

The light suddenly turned into red, and an alert noise suddenly occupied my ears as I hid. I nervously bit my lower lip when swords came flying in my direction. Some of it pierced through the tree, and all of a sudden, the beautiful woman was already standing before.

"Hi?" I mumbled. She languidly looked at me and rolled her eyes.

Her soft, light brown eyes were glimmering as I looked at it. But my eyes were pleased by her gorgeous face along with her one of a kind salmon hair.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla siyang tumalikod sa akin saka siya naglakad palayo na parang hindi man lamang ako nakita. I followed her, but she didn't budge to look back. I know that every demigod is different, but I can't help but see her as the biggest mystery.

"I'm Garet. What's your name?" I asked politely.

Kahit isang tingin ay hindi niya ako tinapunan. The woman was completely ignoring my presence. I looked around when I noticed a menacing aura. It was different from the atmosphere that monsters are emitting. My eyes laid off to the ground; the roots were thicker than their usual sizes, the scent of mulch is more substantial than before, and even the leaves are no longer turning into glittery dust.

I halted when I heard a sound coming from my side, and using my peripheral vision— I saw how the roots were moving secretly. Mabilis kong hinabol ang supladang babae, balak ko sana siyang balaan nang bigla na lamang kumapal ang ugat na dahilan upang mahigit ko s'ya.

We were both surprised when we stumbled on the ground. I held the grumpy woman tightly, covering the back of her using my hands while rolling on the moisty ground. Pababa ang gulong namin, the roots were hiding this trap upang mahulog sa patibong nila ang maliligaw sa kagubatan.

We stopped when my back mightily kissed the colossal rock, lumayo naman siya sa akin na tila diring-diri siya sa akin. "Salamat, ha," I irritatingly said.

"It was your fault," She stated. I groaned when I carefully stood up and noticed that trees no longer surround us.

The vicinity was no longer surrounded by darkness. An enchanting lake was in our front; it was shining as if the moon was beneath the lake, and the blue hummingbirds were dancing and singing around it. It was so magical that the specks of dust coming from the leaves earlier were going to the lake. In the middle part of the lake, stone and on top of it were crystal with red shades.

"If you're hurt, then drink the water," She whispered. Naglakad s'ya palayo sa akin at umupo sa tapat ng lake.

I can't help but smile. Tumabi ako sa kanya at ginawa ko ang sinabi niya. The water was sweet; it was ten times sweeter than the vanilla earlier. The pain from my back slowly disappeared.

Lumingon ako sa kanya at napansin kong pinapanood niya ang lake at ang bagay na nasa pinakagitna niyon. "How did you know—"

"I'm using my brain,"

I wryly smiled. Is this woman secretly telling me that I'm not using mine?

"What is your name?"

"Why do you keep on asking my name when you already know it?" Once again, I smiled wryly. I can't argue with that. I know that her name is Alexis, based on Alyssa's information.

"So, who's your godly parent?"

"I won't tell it. I hated that goddess that I don't like mentioning her name," I can feel resentment in her voice. Even though she was hiding her hand, my eyes can see how she clenches it.

"Must be Hera, she's one of the hate—"

"She's not the only goddess that can be hated." Her voice was firm, but I can't help but be captivated by her eyes. "Stop talking to me,"

"Then you should probably stop answering my questions," I smirked.

She can't be Aphrodite nor Hera's daughter— her blessing was unusual. She can be a minor god's daughter, but she's oozing with a powerful aura that belongs to the major gods. If she could just tell me her godly parent is ay sana hindi sasakit ang ulo ko.

"Stop looking at me,"

"You're interesting," She suddenly smirked at what I've said.

Her eyes were still locked on the lake but I can see the amusement on her eyes. I am a vocal person pero ngayon lang yata ako nahiya sa pagiging straight-forward ko.

"So, what will you do, Lockser?" She mockingly asked. She even tilted her head just to look at me in the eyes.

I smirked. "I will chase you, Alexis,"

She softly laughed. Para itong musika sa aking tainga, ngayon ko lamang napapansin na iba ang epekto niya sa akin. She once again focused her attention on the lake. "You'll just get tired of chasing someone like me,"

"I didn't know that chasing my new found dream will be tiring,"

Akala ko ay magugulat s'ya sinabi ko ngunit nang muli siyang humarap sa akin ay nginisian niya ako.

"You won't get tired, huh? Then let's see,"

I smiled. "I will chase you until you're tired of running away from me, Alexis,"

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