PHOENIX.

"She's not your queen!"

"I can't... I can't fight him..."

"Phoenix..."

"You fucking gave birth to a king vessel. You, bitch."

I was stunned for a moment. This thing... This tragic memory of my past is now a fuckin' nightmare. In my facade, the most gorgeous being and the most hideous one were standing. Their eyes were locked to mine.

I was about to utter something when the scene changed. I am back in the forest, in my front were my friends and two silhouettes of our enemies. It must be the Son of Morpheus who was playing now with my mind and the Daughter of Euterpe.

Hindi ko magawang maigalaw ang katawan ko. Nakahiga ako't nasa harapan ko sina Sue. Hindi ko marinig ang sinasabi ni Ice ngunit nakikita ko ang kabadong mga mata ni Sue habang nakatingin sa 'kin.

My heart suddenly skipped a bit. Dahan-dahan na nilapit ni Sue ang sarili while she was pouting. But she was about to back-off when Ice pushed her to me.

Fuckin' soft lips.

Sue's eyes grew wide. Masamang tingin ang pinukol niya kay Ice. And they started to argue things that I couldn't hear.

And things started to get blurry again. I was standing in the middle of endless darkness. All I can see is black. A golden light suddenly shimmers in front, it was blazing and radiating.

It's the sun.

"Wake up, Phoenix."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Sol. Your father sent me to wake you."

"I want to see her again." I pleaded.

"I will not allow it," Sol said. She has the voice of a woman and her voice was firm as if she wouldn't allow any of my upcoming requests. "You have to wake up, your highness. The world will still need you."

"But I want to see—"

"You should stop looking back to the past, your highness."

"Sol, how can I see her—"

"It's been seven years, your highness. She's already gone. Wake up and soon you'll need to shine for the moon." It was the last words I heard from her.

"Oh, Gods! He's waking up!" I heard someone said. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko. Nakita ko ang nakangiting labi ni Sue habang tinatapik ang balikat ko. "Fuck, you scared the hell out of me."

"Why are you crying?" Ice asked. She looks puzzled so do I. Hinawakan ko ang pisnge ko and I realized that tears are streaming down my eyes. I am crying.

"It's nothing." I answered. I will need to shine for this woman, huh?

Tumayo ako't nakita kong bagsak na sina Dylan at Nicole. And they are even tied in a tree with a chain made from ice.

Nauunang naglakad ang dalawang babae. I was just watching their backs while walking slowly, "What did you saw?" I tilted my head just to Sky giving me a puzzled look.

I shrugged, "I saw something hideous. How about you?"

"I saw a drunkard." Sky laughed and then he smiled, "Though, it was good to see him even if it's a dream."

"We are both unlucky that we wouldn't be able to see our mothers." I bitterly smiled.

He suddenly tapped my shoulder, he was looking in our front with a sad smile, "At least you saw yours." he said. Pinanood ko lamang siya sa pagsabay kina Sue.

At least I saw mine, huh?

Too bad, I wished that I didn't.

Ice and Sue were still arguing. Pumagitna sa kanila si Sky who was rolling his eyes while grumpily stopping them. Hindi naman naimik masyado si Ice pero kapag nagsalita na siya sobrang sapul talaga. Gano'n siya kalupit.

The rain started to pour. I saw Ice making an ice umbrella and that made both Sky and Sue awed.

When I saw Sue's eyes twinkling, I wryly smiled. "Don't you dare, Sue Alexandria Clarkson," I warned.

Puro katangahan ang laman ng utak niya. At alam kong gagawa rin siya ng payong gamit ang blessing niya. Kung gaano kalupit si Ice gano'n siya katanga.

At nang nakakita si Sky ng kuweba ay napagdesisyonan namin na sumilong do'n.

Sue was eyeing Ice suspiciously, it was like Sue wanted to ask something but she was trying hard not to speak.

Napansin 'yon ni Ice. May kinuha siya saglit sa bulsa niya't inabot kay Sue ang isang strawberry. Really? Nasa bulsa niya talaga 'yon? Seryoso lamang ang mukha ni Ice hanggang sa tumingin siya sa amin ni Sky. Inabot niya rin sa 'kin ang isang strawberry.

Tinitigan niya muna si Sky bago niya 'to bigyan. Parang labag sa loob niyang bigyan si Sky, hindi ba dapat ay sila ang nagkakasundo dahil compliment ang blessings nila?

"Thanks." I mumbled.

"Salamat, Yelo." Sky smirked. Hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi mapairap dahil nag-uumpisa na naman sila. Nakita ko ang pagngisi ni Ice nang kainin ni Sky ang strawberry, "Putangina, Yelo." Sky said with disgust.

Napangiwi ako nang tumingin sa 'kin si Ice, she was waiting for me to eat the strawberry. "You—You want me to eat this when I clearly saw Sky's reaction?"

"Yes." She beamed.

Nakita kong nakatingin sa 'kin si Sky habang nakahawak ang isa niyang kamay sa bibig niya. Nagpipigil sa pagsusuka. He was giving me a fucking thumbs up while trying hard not to cry.

Putangina, anong meron sa strawberry na 'to?

I gulped first before munching the strawberry.

PUTANGINA.

Putangina talaga. Sana hindi makabawas sa kagwapuhan ko 'to.

"Fucking hell. Bakit mo nilagyan ng vial 'to?" I asked. Putangina, sobrang pait talaga niya. Hindi pa bagay sa texture ng strawberry yung lasa.

She scowled, "At least I treated you." hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa kasi binahagi niya ang paborito niyang strawberry or what.

Ice walked out while clicking her magic cube, it was one of Master Garet's invention. It enables us to put anything inside without worrying about heavy luggage. Nilabas niya ang isang tent at pumasok do'n.

Nagpaalam naman si Sue na magluluto sa pinaka entrance ng cave kaya naiwan ako kasama si Sky. Nakamove on na ako sa lasa pero siya ay nangangasim pa rin ang mukha.

"Bakit hindi ko uminom ng tubig? Para kang tanga d'yan, Sky." I scowled.

"Then, hand me a bottle of water."

"Dude, may tubig ulan naman—"

"Tangina ka. H'wag ka na umimik. Nandidilim ang paningin ko sa'yo." He glared.

I cleared my throat, "What do you think of Ice?" I whispered. His face suddenly became serious and tilted his head so he can see mine.

"Well, she's a mystery." Sky said.

"She loves both turtleneck and strawberry," I said. Napansin ko kasi na lahat ng sinusuot ni Ice ay laging taklob ang leeg niya. So, maybe the cold bothers her and she's just lying about not being bothered by it. "Her beauty is enchanting. No hard feelings, dude, but she's way more beautiful than Aphrodite's daughter that you're head over heels."

Akala ko'y magagalit siya sa 'kin, "Dude, matagal na 'kong naka-move on. And what you said was true. She's way more beautiful."

"I don't know but for some reason, it feels like she's Aphrodite's daughter because of her beauty." I shrugged. But she's Artemis' daughter— The huntress vibe is within her and even the blessing of the moon is in her.

"You're the sun, she's the moon." He whispered.

"Are you jealous?" I joked.

"Why would I be? Wala naman akong gusto sa yelong 'yon."

"But you love the Ice talk. Ngayon lang kita—"

"Isang imik pa na purong katangahan, Phoenix. Hindi ka na sisikatan ng araw." He grimaced. I awkwardly laughed and run out of the cave.

Sue gave me puzzled looked when she saw me panting, "Problema mo?" she asked.

"Sky is beginning to be like Zeus—" The sky suddenly roared. Hindi na ulit ako magbibiro tungkol kay Zeus ang lakas naman ng pandinig. Sue laughed.

"Gawa akong fandom. Sali ka?" She asked.

"Ha?"

"Yelo and Langit shippers!" She squealed. Napangiwi ako sa 'kanya. Mukha siyang bata habang naghahalo ng niluluto niya. "Bagay kasi sila. Hihi." and there you go, the witch laugh.

"Akala ko mas bagay tayo?" I joked. She squinted her eyes and playfully punched my arm. Haha, just as expected hindi niya seseryosohin ang sinabi ko."Joke lang."

"Ano pa bang bago?" She said. The air was filled with awkward silence. Tumikhim ako at nagsalita muli,"Fountain of Prophecy—"

Her eyes widened while looking at me, "Hala! hindi pa natin nadadala si Ice sa Fountain of Prophecy!"

"Lagot tayo kay Madam Stone. Bakit ba kasi nag-aya ba kayo sa Belster?" She added. I laughed while looking at her reaction.

It is a tradition in the Demigods Academy that whenever a student joins the academy, that student must immediately go to the Fountain of Prophecy. Not just because of the prophecy but also to identify the owner of the Crystal Blue Eyes. The holder of The Great Prophecy.

But from what I heard, they wanted to kill the owner of the Crystal Blue Eyes. And I find it unfair, hindi naman kasi niya pinili na siya ang maging holder ng Great Prophecy, so why kill someone who just wanted to live?

I felt water being splash in my face, "Bakit tulala ka kay Sue? Kanina pa kitang tinatawag ah." Sky asked. He was holding a cup and he's the suspect.

"Tangina mo."

When the rain ceases, the sky was clear again. "Let's go, guys." I was about to march out of the cave when I saw Ice giving me a puzzled look.

"Where are you going?" Ice asked. She was serious. Pansin ko rin na nagtatakhang nakatingin sa 'kin sina Sky at Sue kaya pakiramdam ko mali ang lumabas.

I stretched my hands upward and started to do jumping jacks. "I— I'm exercising." I awkwardly said.

"Stop with your exercise. Nasa entrance na tayo ng Mount Seraphyl." Sky smirked. Nakita ko ang palihim na pagtawa ni Sky bago siya tumalikod sa 'kin. Ang yabang ng pota. Edi ikaw na matalino, pakainin kita ng libro d'yan e.

Sinuyod namin ang madilim na kuweba. Ginawa nila akong human torch dahil ako ang nagbibigay liwanag ngayon sa kuweba.

"Aray!" Sue groaned. Nasa unahan kasi siya at feeling niya saulo niya ang daan.

"Nadapa ka?" I asked.

"Genius. Hahawak ba siya sa noo niya kung oo?" Sky jeered.

"Nauntog ako sa pader dito." Sue said.

"It is not a pader—I mean, wall." Ice said, she lightly slapped her mouth and because she was standing next to me I heard what she whispered, "Argh. Why do I keep talking like that bitch?"

Nawala ang atensyon ko kay Ice when Sky touches the invisible wall. Words suddenly appeared.

Μπορώ να σέρνω, μπορώ να πετάξω, έχω χέρια αλλά όχι και πόδια ή φτερά. Τι είμαι εγώ?

It was written in greek.

I can crawl, I can fly, I have hands but no legs or wings either. What am I?

"Time." Ice answered.

The invisible wall faded. Bumungad sa amin ang hourglass. It was floating in the air. Magic dust was surrounding and was glistening while they are encircling the hourglass. The cave suddenly glows. And when I turned the ceiling was suddenly filled with the glowing patterns of the constellation. It was like we are in the galaxy.

The golden specks of dust inside the hourglass were pouring down slowly.

Lumakad kami palapit sa hourglass. All of a sudden the place became eerie, the magic dust around the hourglass suddenly moved and went to us.

It wasn't just a magical dust. It was a stunspore.

"Kingina." Sky said and the last thing that I heard before I lost consciousness.

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