SOLEIA'S POV

"Callie."

Tahimik akong lumapit sa kanya kinabukasan. Akmang titingnan na niya ako nang mapagtanto niya kung sino ako kaya bigla siyang umiwas ng tingin, tila nahihiya.

"Callie, kausapin mo ako," bulong ko. "I want to say sorry-"

She gritted her teeth before looking at me. "Huwag kang magsorry sa'kin, Soleia. Hindi mo kailangang magsorry."

"But-" She glared at me, making me stop.

"Ako ang kailangang humingi ng pasensya..." Lumapit siya sa'kin. Her eyes glowed green and a second later, a forget-me-not flower appeared in her hand. "I really want to say sorry to you, Soleia."

She gave the flower to me before flashing a smile.

"Hindi ko sinasadya ang mga sinabi ko sa'yo kahapon..." she whispered. "I know you got hurt, and you're probably mad at me right now."

Nginitian ko siya. "Hindi ako galit sayo, Callie. I'm disappointed, but I'm not mad at you."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Hindi ka galit sa'kin? Bakit? Dapat nagagalit ka sa'kin!" sigaw niya. Biglang tumaas ang isang kilay ko.

"You'll have to try harder to make me mad."

What I said is true. I get irritated, especially when I'm with Cole, but I've never actually felt angry. I hold myself back from getting angry because things wouldn't end well if I lost control over my emotions.

Tanda ko pa ang laging ibinibilin sa'kin ni Athena nung bata pa ako.

"The purpose of our lives is to be happy."

"Bati na tayo?" tanong ni Callie sa'kin. Tumango ako. "Sorry talaga, Soleia. Babawi ako sayo, promise! Gusto mong pumunta sa mall?"

I shook my head hesitantly. "Sorry, pero hindi ako pwede ngayon eh. Mag-eensayo ako kasama si Headmistress Adhira," sagot ko. Sa kabila ng lungkot na dumaan sa mata niya, nginitian niya lamang ako.

"Sige, ayos lang..."

Although I hesitate to admit it, I didn't want to be with Callie at this moment. Her presence made me uneasy, and the way she was looking at me added to my discomfort.

"I'm sorry," ani ko bago ko siya iniwan sa loob ng dorm. Kumaway siya sa'kin bago ako tuluyang nakalabas.

Nang makalayo ako sa kanya, huminga ako nang malalim. I definitely feel better.

Today was Thursday, which meant there were only a handful of classes. Many students were outside, either playing in the fields or hanging out in the shopping center.

Agad kong binati sina Lianna at Aelia nang makasalubong ko sila. Matagal-tagal na rin mula nang huli ko silang makita. "Oh my magic! Why, isn't it the prettiest demigod I've ever seen!" magiliw na sambit ni Aelia sa'kin. 

Bahagya akong umiwas ng tingin.  "Maganda rin kayo..." bulong ko. Hindi pa rin ako sigurado sa dapat kong sabihin tuwing may magsasabing 'maganda' raw ako.

"Saan ka pupunta, ate? Nakita mo po ba si ate Callie? Gusto ko po siyang makausap at makalaro ngayon eh," tanong naman ni Lianna.

Lianna's vibrant red hair and Aelia's striking silver locks certainly drew attention, causing many eyes to focus on us. My midnight blue hair didn't help the situation either.

We were attracting way too much attention.

"Callie's at the dorm. Iniwan ko muna siya roon kasi mag-eensayo kaming dalawa ni Headmistress Adhira. Kayo? Saan kayo galing?"

Aelia smiled wickedly. "I just discovered something crazy..." she whispered. "Amari talked to me, but I can't tell you about it just yet."

Kinausap ni Amari si Aelia?

"But soon... Ngumiti siya, tila nasisiyahan. "You'll definitely find out!"

Binatukan siya ni Lianna. "Huwag mo na siyang pansinin, ate Soleia. Hindi ko alam ang nangyayari d'yan." Umikot ang kanyang mga mata. "Uuna na kami, ah? Ingat ka po!" Kumaway pa siya sa'kin bago niya hinila si Aelia na nasa tabi niya.

A corner of my lips tugged upwards. Hindi ko inaasahan ang samahan nilang dalawa.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa marating ko ang pintuan ng dating training room nina Headmistress Adhira.

As I was about to step inside, something caught my eye - a butterfly gracefully landed on my ring.

It's one of my butterflies...

With a flutter of its wings, it seemed to call me. Intrigued, I decided to follow it.

I followed the delicate flutter of the butterfly until we reached the garden.  The energy in the air felt charged, almost electric, as if something important was about to unfold.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong paglalakad, napatigil ako nang marinig ko ang dalawang pamilyar na boses. Sina Amari at Callie.

Agad akong nagtago sa likod ng isang puno. Siniguro kong napapalibutan ako ng mga anino para hindi nila ako makita.

"Where's Callie, Medusa? Where is Demeter's daughter?" I heard a voice demand.

Si Medusa?

Kay Amari ang narinig kong boses. I recognized her voice instantly, filled with determination.

"Demeter's daughter?" Medusa sounded sarcastic. "Oh, do you mean that green-eyed demigod? I tossed her aside."

I felt a chill race down my spine. This could not end well. The faint scent of danger hung in the air like a storm brewing on the horizon.

Kinuyom ko ang aking mga kamao at pinilit kong kontrolin ang sarili ko. Huwag ka munang magpapadala sa mga emosyon mo, Sol.

"Tell me where she is, or I'll kill you!" banta ni Amari kay Medusa.

The tension between them was palpable, and I felt the urge to jump in. But I needed to be careful. One wrong move might give away my presence.

"Me? You think a mere demigod like you can threaten me?" Medusa laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "You should know your place, daughter of Athena! I will get my revenge for the agony they put me through! Your mother's ideas mean nothing here!"

Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of Medusa's true form beginning to shimmer through her disguise. I could sense the danger deepening, the snakes slithering closer, ready to strike.

"Bring Callie back!" galit na sigaw ni Amari. "Two wrongs don't make a right, Medusa! They never will!"

Two wrongs don't make a right. Those words echoed in my mind.

"You think your so-called justice gives you the high ground? You know nothing of the darkness I've faced! The gods use you just as easily as they use me!" ani Medusa. Napabuntong-hininga ako.

I was about to make my presence known when Medusa unleashed another wave of threats. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang tensyon sa buong lugar.

"You're the daughter of a renowned goddess known for her strength and wisdom, yet you can't even defeat me," pang-aasar ni Medusa. "I guess strength is nothing without wisdom, after all."

"Hindi pa tayo tapos, Medusa." Amari's attacks were calculated and dangerous, hitting Medusa with ease and precision.

"Try to hurt me, daughter of Athena, and let's see what happens to Apollo's little sunshine." Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya.

Si Tazyn ang tinutukoy niya, hindi ba?

Aatake na sana ako nang tumingin si Amari sa direksyon ko. Bahagya siyang umiling at sumenyas na magtago ako. Kinuyom ko ang mga kamao ko.

Right. Calm down, Sol.

I was alarmed when Amari looked into Medusa's eyes, and her body slowly started turning into stone.

Kumunot ang noo ko. She looked into Medusa's eyes on purpose.

"Game over." Medusa started laughing wickedly.

But as she reveled in her supposed victory, I caught sight of a spark in Amari's eyes. The corners of her lips tugged upward as she looked at me, forming a smirk just as her body began to petrify.

Napangisi ako pabalik.

I emerged from the darkness, the shadows swirling around me like a cloak. My fingers tingled as I unsheathed my feather blades and started playing with them. 

With an elegant flick of my wrist, I summoned my butterflies. "Sigurado ka na diyan?" pang-aasar ko pabalik kay Medusa. Napalitan ng gulat ang mukha niya.

"Don't worry, Amari," I mouthed, my voice steady and soothing despite the chaos around us. My gaze locked with hers, and her smirk grew wider as the stone started to engulf her.

"W-what-" Nagsimulang mabulol si Medusa sa kanyang mga salita kaya lalo akong nasiyahan. Halos sira na ang hardin kaya nagalit ako.

"Let's continue your little game, Medusa."

And as I hurled my feather blades towards her, chaos ensued.

Our plan was working.