I could hear the faint ticking of the clock from afar. I felt like I was drowning, even if I wasn't. Just before succumbing to the darkness around me, I quickly opened my eyes.

Minutes before sunrise, my nightmares started haunting me.

"Chaos exists everywhere... it lurks within the shadows..."

"Will you tame it or let it control you?"

Napabangon ako sa higaan at agad na napatingin sa orasan na nasa tabi ng kama ko. There's one hour before we leave.

One hour. I have one hour to prepare myself for the new world I would be entering.

Minsan kailangan ko pang ipaalala sa sarili ko na hindi ako nabibilang dito. May sarili akong mundong kailangan uwian.

The continuous ticking of the clock continued to echo in my mind. It was like an endless record player which wouldn't stop.

Sa inis ko ay bumaba nalang ako at naglakad papunta sa hardin bago umupo sa isang upuan doon. The sun was not up yet but the sky had swirls of beautiful colors. Orange, yellow and red.

I saw a peculiar butterfly flying in the horizon. It looked so free, so serene. Maganda ang kulay nito. Purple and black.

I sighed, releasing the stress I was under. The sunrise will mark the start of my new beginning and though I'm hesitant, I need to face the reality of being a half-blood because at the end of the day... I will not be able to escape it. 

"What are you thinking about, child?"

Napatingin ako sa likod ko at nakita ko ang isang babaeng nakatirintas ang buhok. With every step she took, I could see the ground shake gently but despite this, I did not feel like I was in danger.

"Mira."

"You're already up," sambit niya nang makita ako. She was still in her night gown like me, but she looked beautiful regardless. "What are you thinking about?"

Silence engulfed us. Ang tanging narinig ko ay ang pag-upo niya sa tabi ko. I could feel her gaze, and I knew she wouldn't stop questioning me until I speak.

"I'm scared, Mira," pag-amin ko. I did not like confiding my feelings to someone, but in this moment, I feel like this is the best option I have.

"Hm? Scared of what?"

"I'm going to enter the world I have always feared. I have to go to the academy by myself... without you. I don't know what to do when you're not with me," bulong ko sa maliit na boses, nahihiya.

I saw her lips tug upward, something she doesn't do quite often. "Gods, I forget you're still a kid," sagot niya. Palihim akong napasimangot dahil sa tinawag niya sa'kin.

Seriously? Kid? Mukha ba akong bata?

Malakas ang simoy ng hangin. Sa bawat hampas nito sa balat ko ay gumiginhawa ang pakiramdam ko. To think the wind would give me comfort.

Mira broke our silence. "Sol... do you know why demigods like you are born?"

Tahimik akong umiling. "Within you is crimson blood, a symbol of your divinity. Demigods, even mortals, are born for a reason, a purpose..."

Napatingin ako sa kanya at nakita kong nakatingin din siya sa'kin. Nandoon lang ako, naghihintay sa susunod niyang sasabihin. "A purpose you are bound to fulfill."

Lalong lumakas ang hangin na tila hinehele ako. "And that is?" tanong ko.

She smiled at me. "That is for you to know... and when you finally do, you will become someone powerful... because you finally have a reason to live."

Napatigil siya, parang malalim ang iniisip. "But that will only happen if you return to the place you really belong to." She gazed at the sun that started to rise in front of us. "And that place is not here. You are a demigod, Sol, and this is not where you're supposed to be."

Tumaas ang araw at tila nagbigay ito ng buhay sa mga nakapaligid ko dahil lumiwanag ang mga ito sa paningin ko. The trees, the sky, this realm... it seemed brighter in my eyes.

"So if you finally have the courage to go back, my dear..." Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko at tila nawala lahat ng problema ko.

"Remember that I will always be with you no matter where you are. Instead of escaping your fears..."

"Embrace it, Solstice."

Bahagya akong ngumiti at sumandal sa balikat niya. Alam niya lagi kung anong mga salita ang kailangan kong marinig. "I'll... miss you."

As a warrior, she proved to me how fearless and how wise she was by how she chose to let me go and grow on my own.

"You will grow into the demigod you were born to be, child. Trust me."

"Remember..." She patted my head. "Elpis, the spirit of hope, will always be your guide."

I aspire to be like her someday.

Someone full of wisdom... and someone brave.

۞۞۞

"Ganda mo, Sol."

'Yan ang unang narinig ko nang makarating sa labas ng bahay. The sun has risen, and the sky looked so bright. Ibig sabihin nun... aalis na kami.

Nagulat pa nga ako dahil nandito na pala ang kotse. It would've been okay if it was a normal car, but no. It was a literal limousine.

I wore the uniform the school provided alongside the letter. Hindi kasi nakakabili ng uniporme sa Olympian Supplies. I heard the school provides it themselves. Buti nalang dinalhan kami nina Amari ng uniform.

It included a white collared shirt, a black vest and skirt with golden linings, and a black ribbon tie with a purple gem in the center. Nakabutones ang vest namin kaya hindi masyadong kita ang panloob ko. Sa kaliwang bahagi ng vest ay nakalagay ang simbolo ng paaralan na isang pakpak.

My hair was decorated the same way it always was. It was swirled into a braided crown.

Nasa harapan ko naman si Ali na nakasuot ng uniporme, katulad nung sa'kin. Ang pinagkaiba lang ay nakapantalon siya at imbes na ribbon, necktie ang sa kanya. Nandito na rin sina Amari na pareho ang suot. Lahat kami ay may pin sa kanan na bahagi ng uniporme. Letrang 'E' ang nakalagay.

Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin nun? Earth? Elysium? Ah, teka baka Elysi-

"E stands for the Elysian Class." Napatigil ako nang marinig ang binulong sa'kin ni Amari. Gulat akong napatingin sa kanya pero nakita kong nagbabasa siya ng isang libro.

Oh my demigods. Hindi naman siguro multo ang bumulong sa'kin, noh?

Dahil sa takot, napabaling ang atensyon ko sa isang lalake na lumabas mula sa limousine. He looked like he was in his forties. Lumakad siya palapit sa'min at una niyang binati si Mira na nandito rin. "Good day, my lady." Tinanguan lang siya ni Mira pabalik.

Humarap naman 'yung lalake sa'min. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata niya nang masulyapan niya kami pero napangiti rin siya pagkatapos. "Good day, Elysians. Fancy seeing you here in the mortal realm."

Napakunot ang noo ko. Elysians? 'Yun ang tawag sa mga estudyanteng nasa Elysian Class, diba? "David, please take care of them for me," sambit ni Mira.

"Of course, my lady. Now, shall we go?"

Kinuha niya ang mga bagahe namin at isa-isa niya itong nilagay sa likod ng limousine. I was amazed at the fact he could carry five bags at the same time. Para siyang magician.

Nakita kong pumasok na sina Amari sa loob. Sumunod si Ali na tiningnan ako bago pumasok.

"We'll be waiting," he mouthed.

Doon ko napagtanto na tinutukoy niya ang pag-uusap ko kasama si Mira. Nakausap ko na siya kanina kaya medyo ayos na ako... pero alam kong hahanap-hanapin ko pa rin siya. 

I just want to talk to her for the last time in a while.

Napaharap ako kay Mira na nakatingin na sa'kin. "You really can't go with me?" agad na tanong ko. Napangisi siya. Well, she's from the greek realm too, so why can't she?

"You're cute, but I can't. I still have business here. Don't worry, I will see you soon. I'll make sure of it."

Her words comforted me. Kahit hindi ko siya makakasama pagpunta doon, makikita ko naman siya balang araw.  That was enough for me.

Napangiti ako bago yumakap sa kanya. She did the same. During all those years together, we weren't affectionate, but I could feel how much she cared for me.

Masarap din pala siyang yakapin.

My parents left me when I was a child, but at least I had her.

And I will always be thankful.

Humiwalay na ako sa kanya. "Goodbye, Mira. See you soon."

"Farewell, child."

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papasok sa sasakyan habang kumakaway sa kanya. Nakangising kumaway siya pabalik.

Kay Ali ako tumabi. Nakita ko ang pag-ngiti niya sa'kin kaya gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

"Everyone ready?" tanong ni sir David. Napatingin ako sa kanila at nakita kong tumango sila kaya tumango nalang rin ako.

As the vehicle started to move, I looked back to see Mira who was gazing at our leaving limousine.

Bakit parang... naiyak siya?

"So if you finally have the courage to go back, my dear..."

I hated myself for being a demigod.

Ang tanging gusto ko lang naman ay makasama ang totoong pamilya ko. Mamuhay nang payapa at masaya kasama sila. Ngunit dahil isa akong kakaibang nilalang... hindi ko magawa 'yun.

"Remember that I will always be with you no matter where you are. Instead of escaping your fears..."

Napatingin ako sa langit.

Tama nga siguro ang sinasabi nilang maliwanag ang araw. Dahil habang binibigyan niya ng buhay ang paligid ko...

"Embrace it, Solstice."

Unti-unti rin itong nagbigay ng bagong pag-asa sa'kin.

Napangiti ako.

Habang palayo nang palayo ang limousine sa bahay namin, nag-away ang utak at puso ko kung lilingon ulit ako kay Mira.

Sa huli...

Pinili kong hindi lumingon.