SOLEIA'S POV

Pagod akong napaupo sa sahig ng silid-aklatan. Sumandal ako sa isang bookshelf at huminga nang malalim. Mabuti na lamang at humina na ang hangin at wala na rin ang babaeng nagsasalita sa utak ko.

What in the realms just happened?

"Soleia!" Narinig ko ang isang boses. "Ayos ka lang?"

I closed my eyes in relief. Bakit sa lahat ng pagkakataon na nagiging mahina ako, ikaw ang laging nandoon? "I'm fine, Tazyn."

Napanguso siya nang makita ang kondisyon ko. "Anong nangyari sayo?"

I sighed before trying to stand up. Luckily, Tazyn was there to help me. "Wala, nadapa lang ako," pagsisinungaling ko. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang sabihin sa kanya ang nangyari.

Agad niyang kinusot ang mata niya kaya napagtanto kong naiiyak siya. Holy Hades...

"Tazyn!" I panicked. "W-what- why are you crying-"

Suminghot-singhot siya. "Nasaktan ka eh. Ayaw kong nakikitang nasasaktan kayo."

I felt guilty. I should really be careful next time!

Nginitian ko siya at pinunasan ko rin ang mga luha niya. "Don't cry, Tazyn." For some reason, I hated the way her tears fell from her eyes. "We still have class. Sige ka, papanget ka," pang-aasar ko.

Mabuti nalang talaga at kahit papaano ay napatawa ko siya. "Gusto mo bang gamutin kita?" tanong niya. "Sinasabi rin kasi sa'kin ni Talia na lagi siyang ayos pero..."

Pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya at agad akong sumang-ayon sa gusto niya. Oh for Hades' sake, I think I'm getting bewitched by this adorable demigod.

Katulad nang dati ay kinuha niya ang palad ko at itinapat ito sa palad niya. Lumabas ang isang matingkad na ilaw mula sa kamay niya at naramdaman ko kaagad ang ginhawa na dulot nito.

"Thank you..." saad ko. "Daughter of Apollo." Katulad nang lagi niyang ginagawa, nginitian niya ako bilang tugon.

Hinatak niya ang kamay ko. "Saan tayo pupunta?" Wait, I haven't even researched about the Olympians yet!

"Malapit na kasi ang Demigodly Class natin eh. Baka naghihintay na sina Headmistress Adhira kasama ang iba," paliwanag niya. Napatango-tango nalang ako.

I guess I'll just have to continue my research next time...

Napahinga ako nang malalim. Patuloy akong binabagabag ng nangyari kanina. Habang tumatagal, mas lalo akong nagiging kuryoso sa pagkatao ng nightingale.

Are they referring to me? Am I the nightingale? But how?

"Soleia..." Nagsimulang magsalita si Tazyn. "Sigurado ka bang ayos ka lang dito sa Elysium Academy?" biglang tanong niya. I was caught off-guard.

I pursed my lips before nodding. "Oo naman. Paminsan-minsan, namimiss ko si Mira, pero ayos lang. Kasama ko naman kayo eh."

Is Mira okay? I wonder how she is.

Nakakatawang isipin na sa sandaling nagkakagulo ang isipan ko ay siya ang unang naiisip ko.

Namimiss ko na siya. Gusto ko na siyang makita.

"Tara na, Tazyn. Baka malate pa tayo."

۞۞۞

"As you are all aware, I am the headmistress of this academy. My name is Headmistress Adhira. I’m a child of Zeus, just like your fellow student, Raven."

Nasa training field ulit kami ngayon at excused muna si Cole sa mga klase namin dahil nagpapalakas pa siya.

Napatingin ako kay Raven na tahimik na nakikinig kay Headmistress Adhira. Seryoso ang mukha niya, katulad ng kina Haze at Amari.

Grabe, parang walang saya sa katawan 'yung tatlo.

"For today's training session, I want to assess the abilities you have. In order to do so, I want you to defeat the daemons I have created." Seryoso ba siya? Daemons? "We will do it in pairs since I know that one of your members has yet to unlock her ability."

Daemons are creatures with wings on their backs. They also have sharp claws that could pierce anyone.

The headmistress gave me a knowing look, so I looked away. I couldn't handle the intensity of her stares. "First pair, Amari and Raven. Power of the sky and wisdom, step forward."

I heard snickers from everyone, but what caught my attention was the moment Raven scoffed and Amari rolled her eyes at him. Despite that, they continued to walk towards the middle of the training field.

While watching them, I suddenly glanced over at Tazyn. I didn't know why, but she looked scared.

"You better not hit me with lightning again." Narinig ko ang banta ni Amari.

Napansin ko naman ang pagngisi ni Raven. "Only if you don't slice me with that sword of yours," sarkastikong tugon nito. "For Zeus' sake, I might die before I would be able to strike you with lightning."

Ako lang ba o ramdam ko ang tensyon sa pagitan nila?

"On my mark, you must attack," sambit ni Headmistress. "Before we start, I must remind you not to ruin any fields today..." paalala niya sa aming lahat. "And I'm especially talking about the both of you." She eyed the two demigods in the center.

Umiwas ng tingin ang dalawa.

Headmistress Adhira snapped her fingers as lightning rumbled from the heavens. Kasabay ng tunog ng kidlat at kulog ay ang paglitaw ng mga daemons.

Nakakatakot sila. Mukha talaga silang halimaw. "Attack."

On her signal, lightning struck the ground, killing five out of fifty daemons in an instant. At the same time, the earth shook from Amari’s punch.

Remind me not to anger these demigods.

I almost found myself sitting on the ground but thankfully, a flower sprouted beneath me to cushion my fall. "Thanks," I said.

"Welcome!" sagot ni Callie bago muling humarap sa unahan.

My eyes widened as I saw that nearly half of the daemons were already down, and only less than a minute had passed. "Wow," I exclaimed.

Nakatayo lang ako sa gilid, namamangha sa kanilang bawat galaw. It was precise and exact, as if all their moves had been rehearsed.

As Amari knocked down each daemon with her sheer strength, Raven followed up with lightning strikes that instantly burned them to death.

Brutal.

"What are you doing?" Raven shouted when he saw Amari surrounded by the remaining daemons, yet she stood her ground. "Move, you demigod!"

Nakita ko ang ngisi sa mga labi ni Amari. "Don't you trust me?"

The remaining daemons ran towards her, exuding a killing intent, yet she remained unmoving. Suddenly,Anari summoned a shiny sword and thrust it into the ground, creating a powerful earthquake that threw the daemons off guard.

"Ugh, my butt hurts," I heard Talia groan as she just stood up after falling. "Ang sakit ng pwet ko," bulong niya, natatawa.

Seeing what Amari had done, Raven immediately punched the ground with his fist while unleashing his lightning. Sa huli, ang mga daemon na nasa lupa ay nakuryente at napahandusay.

"Still got it, you two," pagpuri ng headmistress. Doon ko lamang napansin na naubos na pala nila ang mga daemon. Amari's attack finished them off. "But next time, no arguing," sermon niya. "Got it?"

The two silently nodded while casually exchanging glares.

"Next is Mavi and Tazyn. Son of Poseidon and daughter of Apollo, come here."

Nakita ko ang palihim na paglunok ni Tazyn. Kinakabahan ba siya?

Maglalakad na sana silang dalawa nang mapansin ko ang paghatak ni Tazyn sa uniporme ni Mavi. "What's the matter?" bulong ni Mavi.

"A-ayoko... a-ayoko na..." Namumula na ang mga mata ni Tazyn kaya nagsimula akong mag-alala.

Lumingon siya sa'min, nanghihingi ng tulong. "K-kaya kong labanan ang lahat, wag lang 'to, Mavi..." Suminghot-singhot siya.

Lumapit na rin sina Amari at Raven kay Tazyn, at agad itong napansin ng headmistress. "What's the matter, dear?"

Talia rushed to her twin's side, trying to console her. "I'm so sorry, my love," aniya, malambing ang kanyang tinig.

"I-I hate daemons," basag ang boses ni Tazyn nang magsalita siya. "Hindi ko rin po alam kung bakit pero... pakiramdam ko ay mamamatay ako 'pag nakikita ko sila."

A look of realization dawned on the headmistress' face, as if she just remembered something. "I apologize, Tazyn. I'm... so sorry. I didn't remember."

Ang sakit sa ulo. Wala akong maintindihan.

Sumingkit ang aking mga mata habang pinagmamasdan ang eksena sa harapan ko. Naiwan akong nag-iisa, tinatanaw silang lahat na pinapakalma si Tazyn.

Nasa isang sulok ako, hindi alam ang gagawin. Tumingin ako kay Tazyn, hindi kumikilos kahit isang pulgada, dahil sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan... parang ako ang magpapalala sa sitwasyon.

I hate seeing her cry.

As time passes by, more questions just seem to appear in my mind. I came here to learn about myself, but why do I feel like I'm not finding anything at all?

Naghalo-halo na ang aking mga emosyon sa hindi ko maintindihang dahilan.

Hindi ko namamalayan na may isang luha na palihim na tumulo sa aking mata. Agad ko itong pinunasan bago pa ito mapansin ng iba. I didn't want to cry in front of anyone.

Bago ako makaalis, narinig ko ang isang pamilyar na tinig.

"Why are you crying..."

Napatigil ako.

"Soleia?"