SOLEIA'S POV

Kailan ba ako titigilan ng mga boses? Kapag tuluyan na akong nabaliw sa kanila?

Sa totoo lang, nakakapagod na silang pakinggan.

"Free time na natin, 'di ba?" tanong ko kay Raven habang naglalakad. Tumango siya.

"I'm just gonna give this to Miss Elliana. You go ahead," sambit niya. Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ko at umalis nalang. Napabuntong-hininga ako.

Ano pa bang aasahan ko sa mga anak ni Zeus?

Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at patuloy na naglakad. Pupunta ako sa library para magbasa. Maghahanap ako ng impormasyon.

Hindi pa man ako nakakalayo, may nakasalubong na agad ako. Na naman?!

"What in the realms-" Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makaharap ko ang aking nabangga.

"Goddess Athena..." Dali-dali akong yumuko bilang pagbati. Hindi ko itinaas ang aking ulo dahil natatakot ako. Ayaw kong makasalubong ang mga mata niya.

"Soleia." Athena called my name in the softest way possible, as if I meant something to her. And maybe... maybe I did.

Mira...

"I know you were there." Napatigil ako sa mga salita niya. "You heard everything, didn't you? That night... you saw us."

I nodded silently, feeling the weight of her gaze. She removed her helmet, and in that moment, the weight of reality sunk in. Siya nga si Mira.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "I would have understood. Even without anyone to look after me, I would've been okay."

I didn't want to give in to my selfish desires. The thought of Amari waiting for her mother alone was a heavy weight I couldn't shake off.

I know too well the ache of longing for someone who never arrives.

"I'm so sorry," bulong ni Athena, bahagyang basag ang boses. "I never wanted to cause you pain, child."

I shook my head, desperate to convey my feelings. "I'm the one who should apologize… for taking you away from Amari. Because of me, you didn't get to see her grow up. I'm so sorry." A lump formed in my throat. "I really am."

Her fingers wove gently through my hair, a soothing touch that felt far more maternal than anything I'd ever known from a warrior. "You don't need to apologize, Solstice. I recognize my shortcomings as a mother. I know wasn't meant for that role."

Pero kahit ganoon, nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sayo. Salamat dahil inalagaan mo ako, isip ko.

"Thank you… for caring for me anyway."

"Even goddesses make mistakes, Athena," I replied softly. "But right now, I want you to be a mother to Amari."

You can return to your true daughter now… because what you gave me was beyond what I could ever ask for.

Ayaw ko nang maging makasarili.

"I am proud of the woman you’ve become," Athena said with a warm smile. "And I believe your mother feels the same." Sana nga.

I returned her smile, holding on to that hope.

"I'm sorry for taking up your time. I just felt that it was important to tell you…" Muli niyang isinuot ang helmet niya. "I have no regrets. To care for you was a blessing."

With a gentle pat on my head, she began to walk away. "The purpose of our lives is to be happy, young one." I watched her figure gradually shrink in the distance. "Find your happiness. You deserve it."

Napangiti ako.

"Thank you… Mira," I whispered, hoping the wind would carry my words to her.

I wish for your happiness too.

"After all..." I laughed lightly. "You deserve it just as much."

۞۞۞

Nakarating na ako sa library at nagulat ako nang maabutan ko sina Amari. They're trying to analyze the book.

"Sure ka bang walang nang nakalagay dito? Can you still call this a book, my love?" Pinigilan ko ang aking tawa nang marinig ko ang boses ni Talia.

"Para siyang libro na walang impormasyon," dagdag naman ni Tazyn. "Saan ba nahanap ni Soleia 'to? Wala pa akong nakikitang ganito."

Amari's eyes squinted. "The book looks old. I think it was created almost a decade ago," she commented.

Tahimik akong lumapit sa kanila at una akong napansin ni Talia. "Soleia, my love!" Agad siyang tumayo upang batiin ako. "Kasama mo ba si Callie? Hindi ko pa siya nakikita mula kanina."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Wala pa pala si Callie?

"Nasaan na ba kasi siya-"

Nasagot ang tanong namin nang bumukas ang pinto ng silid-aklatan. Iniluwa nito si Callie na hingal na hingal. "Tubig! Pahinging tubig, bilis!"

Binigay ni Tazyn ang kanyang bote na puno ng tubig. "What did you do?" tanong sa kanya ni Amari. Hindi nakasagot si Callie dahil halos ubusin niya na ang bote ng tubig.

Callie breathed for a few seconds. "The Olympians-" She breathed again. "Nakipagchikahan pa ako sa kanila," she said. Agad na umikot ang mga mata ko.

"Ang daldal talaga ni Apollo, noh? Manang-mana 'yung anak niya sa kanya."

Binatukan siya ni Talia. "Just shut up. Tulungan mo kami rito, darling!" Hinila kaming dalawa ni Talia paupo.

"Tingnan mo 'yung librong 'to. Anong masasabi mo?" Pinakita ni Talia ang libro kay Callie.

Saglit na napaisip si Callie. "Hm, mukhang libro. Bakit ba?"

Talia pouted. "Sabi ko naman sa inyo, wala ring masasagot si Callie!"

Amari shushed the both of them. She faced me. "Where did you find this book, Soleia? Did someone give it to you?"

I recalled the first time I found the book. I found it in this library. Nahanap ko ito dahil kay...

Tama!

Nahanap ko ito nang dahil kay Zae.

"Zae," I said. "Do you know a student named Zae?" I asked. I saw the confusion in their faces except Callie's. There was a hint of recognition in her eyes.

"Zae..." she whispered. "Parang pamilyar 'yung pangalan na 'yun."

Sa kabilang banda, umiling naman sina Talia. "Wala naman kaming kilalang estudyante na Zae ang pangalan. Ano'ng itsura?" tanong ni Talia sa'kin.

"He has black hair and golden eyes, if I'm not mistaken."

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ni Callie dahil sa sinabi ko. "Kilala ko na siya!" sigaw niya. Pinatahimik siya ng librarian kaya napatakip siya sa kanyang bibig.

Kilala ni Callie si Zae? Paano?

"Sinagip niya ako sa mga kalaban. Tanda niyo ba 'yung unang laban natin kay Medusa? Siya ang tumulong sa'kin," she revealed. "Kilala niya nga ako eh."

Sandali akong napaisip. Zae...

Sino ka ba talaga?

"Pogi siya. Akala ko nga na magiging future jowa ko na siya kaso..." Callie snickered. "Mayabang."

Amari clicked her tongue. "This is a mess. Medusa's probably out there, planning an attack, while we're here, confused."

"If only there were more words on this book..." she whispered. "The only content this book has consists of a single name, a quote, and a dedication."

Bahagya akong nagulat. Nung huli kong nabasa ang libro ay wala namang nakalagay maliban sa isang quote. Wala rin akong pangalan na nabasa.

"Ano'ng nakalagay?" tanong ko. Amari further examined the book before answering me.

"It's not exactly a name but a nickname. All I can deduce is that this book was made for someone."

Saglit akong napaisip bago ko inagaw ang libro mula sa kanya at ako na mismo ang nagbasa.

Secrets of the Chosen
From Rox.

"To see the future, you must be able to predict it. Open your eyes, and the truths buried within history shall emerge from the shadows."

To you who dares to read this forbidden letter, you now bear the weight of my final wish before I vanish into the abyss.

Save this realm. Save us from an unseen fate.

I have faltered, but your journey remains unwritten.

I entrust you with my secrets, whispered only to those who are worthy. They will unfurl in their own time, revealing the depths of their power. May the winds of fortune guide you as I bestow upon you my blessings.

I have faith in you...

My Elysians. You are my chosen ones.

Kinilabutan ako sa nabasa ko na halos mabitawan ko na ang libro. "Whoever wrote this knows us," sambit ni Amari. "Is this book for us?"

Natahimik kaming lahat. Sino si Rox?

"Come to think of it, parang may kilala akong estudyante na may palayaw na Rox," saad ni Tazyn.

"Who is she, my love?"

Tazyn sighed. "That's the thing..."

"She was so mysterious that almost no one knew her real name."

Napasimangot siya. "Ang alam ko lang ay matagal na siyang patay."