Reign's POV

Sobrang tahimik ng Academy simula nang makabalik ang Alphas. Noong nakaraang linggo pa, pero hanggang ngayon wala pa rin akong nakikitang isa sa kanila.

Mayroon namang ibang mga estudyanteng nakapagsabi na lumalabas sila para mag-attend ng classes kahit binigyan sila ng school ng isang bakanteng linggo, pati na rin ang Beta at Gamma.

The Academy deployed sixty students and ten of them didn't come back, including one Alpha.

Narinig ko rin mula sa nakauwi kung gaano kalakas ang pwersa ng huntsmen. Halatang pinaghandaan nga talaga ng mga ito ang pagsali ng Academy at demigods sa digmaan, dahil alam nito kung ilang tauhan ang ipinapadala para salubungin o i-ambush sila.

May mga armas din sila, at kagaya ng sinabi ni Paige, nagpakita ang iilang leading fighters ng huntsmen na mayroong mga kapangyarihan.

While I'm on my way to meet with the class representatives, Paige is currently managing the preparation of the funeral rites of the fallen, alongside Vine and Nero, children of Dionysus, both Alphas.

Napatigil ako pagkatapos makita ang isang lalaki na nakatayo lang sa tapat ng pinto ng conference room. Nakaharap siya rito, tila nagdadalawang-isip kung papasok ba o hindi.

Hinintay ko lang kung anong gagawin niya, at nang makita siyang humugot ng malalim na hininga sabay angat ng noo, namuo ang isang malungkot na ngiti sa aking labi.

Minasdan ko kung paano siya napahawak sa pihitan ng pinto. Pinaghanda niya ang kanyang sarili na pumasok, ngunit kahit anong higpit niya sa pagkakahawak nito, hindi niya nagawang buksan ang pinto.

Dahan-dahang lumuwag ang kapit niya sa pihitan, saka bumagsak ang kanyang kamay.

Napagtanto kong hindi siya gagalaw kaya lumapit na ako sa kanya.

"Let me," sabi ko kay Luke dahilan na mapalingon siya sa'kin.

"But you don't have to join the meeting, you know?" Huminto ako sa harap niya. "Huwag mong pilitin ang sarili mo kung alam mong hindi mo kaya."

Ngayong nakalapit na ako sa kanya, kapansin-pansin ang pagkawala ng dating mabigat na hangin na dala ng kanyang presensya.

"Pwede ka nang bumalik-"

"I told them," bigla niyang sabi. "I told them to watch their backs and not underestimate the enemy before we were dispatched."

Ilang segundo akong napatitig sa kanya.

"Alam kong nangyari na ang isa sa kinatatakutan mo, Luke, dahil pareho lang din naman tayo," sabi ko. "Takot din akong mahiwalay sa mga miyembro ng class ko kung responsibilidad ko ang protektahan sila."

"Dahil paano ko nga ba sila mapoprotektahan, matutulungan, kung hindi kami magkasama, diba?" Binigyan ko siya ng isang mapait na ngiti. "Pamilya ko rin sila, eh, at hindi lang sa Academy."

"Pero sana hindi mo isipin na wala kang nagawa," dugtong ko. "Sana hindi mo sinisisi ang sarili mo."

"As expected from someone who excels in Auraic Studies." Pinaningkitan niya ako. "You really know what to do and feel amidst chaos inside you, don't you?"

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. "Kunwari hindi ito ang unang beses na pinuri mo'ko."

Napayuko siya sabay tawa nang mahina. "Reign..." Inangat niya ang kanyang tingin sa'kin. "You must be one of the most annoying people I know, and your class."

I chuckled lightly. "Not denying it."

"You and your mischief of a team," aniya.

Kumibit-balikat ako.

"How?" usisa niya. "How'd you keep them in line?"

Letting out a relieved sigh, I replied. "I don't."

Tumango-tango siya at napayuko ulit. "Reign, I-"

"Okay lang." Nginitian ko siya. "Isa sa mga responsibilidad natin ang katawanin ang kapangyarihan ng class natin, Luke, kaya naiintindihan kita kasi gawain ko rin ito."

"Sa kagustuhan kong ipaalala minsan kung sino ako, nakakasakit din ako ng iba," sabi ko, nang alalahanin ang nangyari noong pinakitaan ko si Henri ng aking kapangyarihan at dahil dito, nasaktan ko ang mga aurai at mga estudyante na nakapaligid sa'min. 

"Kulang nalang talaga ipagsigawan ko kung sino kami ng class ko." Natatawa kong salaysay. "But it just seems like introducing yourself these days is not enough to tell others who you are."

"I know we only want the same thing." Napatingin ako sa saradong pinto. "And that's to reach the standards that our founders have set when they were still students."

"They did," sang-ayon niya. "They have set the bars so high, I was starting to think it's impossible."

And we all feel the pressure to reach it, pagtatapos ko sa sinabi niya. Especially us, the representatives and leaders.

"Most especially to you, Reign," aniya. "You are their descendants' leader."

"Most especially to me," nagagalak kong sabi.

"I wonder if you have already found rest, Omega." I could almost hear the tiniest bit of concern in his voice. "Because I feel like you have never."

"Don't worry." I smiled at him. "I sleep a lot, kaya nga parati akong late, eh."

He took a deep breath and nodded.

"Shall we?" Sinenyasan ko siyang pumasok.

Binuksan niya ang pinto. "After you."

Tinanguan ko siya saka pumasok na ng conference room kung saan sinalubong ako ng tatlo pang mga lalaking estudyante at isang babae.

There was Rhys, president of the Beta Class, son of Harmonia, goddess of harmony, and seated beside him was the Beta's vice president, Merlin, son of Hecate.

There was also Third, president of the Gamma Class, chief warden or the main keeper of the temple of the Holy Trinity, which are the gods Chaos, Time, and Destiny. At nasa tabi niya ang kanilang vice president na si Aila, isang oracle mula sa temple of Apollo, at ang pinakabatang high priestess sa buong mundo.

Sinundan nila kami ng tingin ni Luke hanggang sa magsiupuan kami.

"We have expected a lot of casualties," pagbubukas ni Rhys ng meeting. "But certainly not deaths."

To be surrounded by them feel like meeting with the world's leaders even though we were only students, because each one of us carried our own heavy atmosphere.

"Where did we go wrong?" tanong ni Merlin.

"We've underestimated the knowledge of the enemies," sagot ni Third. "-and their numbers."

"If one Gamma equals five, one Beta equals twelve and one Alpha equals twenty, then they have us countered well," dagdag pa niya. "They seem unlimited."

Sinundan ito ng ilang segundo ng katahimikan.

"Knowledge and power," sambit ko. "Since we've recently just discovered that some of them are also in possession of supernatural abilities."

"Any prophecies, Gamma?" tanong ni Luke kina Third at Aila.

Nagpalitan sila ng tingin bago magsalita si Aila.

"Sa ngayon, wala pa," sagot niya. "I have slit my own wrists, Luke, to force summon messages from Apollo but he hasn't given any."

"Chaos," sabi naman ni Third. "Chaos is the only thing I've interpreted from my dice. Nothing has changed."

"We're left for ourselves, aren't we?" ani Rhys. "Not even the gods will listen to us."

"What are we doing now?" tanong ko.

"Naturally, we've increased offering to the temples," sagot ni Third. "But we've also increased callings in hopes that we can contact a deity that's willing to help us."

"As for the Beta." Tinignan ako ni Rhys. "We've requested that they spend their vacant time training and preparing."

"My members are still in deep mourning," Luke also answered. "But I also asked them to spend more time training, if they think they can."

"Meanwhile..." I added. "The Omegas are put on reserve." Nginitian ko sila. "But you know we're always willing to break the rules to help, so feel free to stop by the dorm if you need anything."

Nabalot ulit ang buong silid ng katahimikan, hanggang sa magpakawala ng isang malakas na buntong-hininga si Aila.

"May isa sa'kin," sambit niya. "Isa sa mga oracles of Apollo ang namatay."

Sabay na bumagsak ang aming mga mata sa mesa.

"And she died protecting others from an ambush," sabi niya.

"We've also lost someone close." Rhys smiled bitterly. "He was a son of Eurus."

Eurus, was one of the Anemoi, gods of the winds.

Napatango-tango ako. "Let's not make the same mistakes, again."

Saktong bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Zack na may dalang folders.

"Yo," bati pa niya sa'min bago naglaho sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

Ginamit niya ang kanyang kapangyarihan para mag-distribute sa loob lamang ng isang segundo.

"Alis na ako, nakakasakal kasi rito." He gave us a salute before going out of the conference room. "You're welcome and Gods bless."

After Zack left the room, nagsalita na ako.

"Inside are the reports from the last deployment and..." A subtle grin formed on my lips. "The latest status of the students currently deployed in other countries."

"Starting now, our class is going to do the dirty work for you," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanila. "We will steal, kill and stay open to what you want to do."

Rhys smiled. "Thank you, Reign."

"Paano kung malaman ito ng Academy?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Aila.

Natawa ako nang mahina. "My classmates work with authorization from me, so I'm willing to take one for this team."

"Pero kung ayaw niyo..." dugtong ko. "Pwede ko namang ibalik ko ang latest status reports."

"A bad influence, indeed." Napailing si Merlin nang buksan ang folder. "And a very powerful one at that."

"Alright, Reign, you got us," ani Third. "I believe you have already seen the latest reports?"

"It's in the last pages," sagot ko at sabay-sabay nilang binuksan ang folders.

"I've also consulted Paige." Nilingon ko si Luke. "-and Sophia, to help highlight the details worth noticing."

Kumibit-balikat si Luke at itinuon ang kanyang atensyon sa files.

"So, here's what we noticed..." I leaned on the table and clasped my hands. "The huntsmen have an unexpected amount of ambush against the troops, which means they like surprises."

"Thanks to the Alphas who were able to destroy one of their bigger facilities, we now have knowledge about the location of the smaller and still hidden ones."

"We're going to execute surprise attacks?" tanong ni Luke.

"Oh, no." Umiling ako. "We're going to surprise them by not surprising them."

"My dad taught me how to implement my own unexpected blows in the face of a smart enemy," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanila. "And that's what we're going to do."

"We are going to execute a feint, kung saan ipapakita natin na kulang ang kaya ng mga grupo ng estudyante natin," tugon ko. "Let's ask them to act obviously affected by the loss of lives."

"And let's have majority of them look for the bigger facilities..." I snickered. "While we land blows on their numerous smaller ones."

"Mmm." Tumango-tango si Luke. "It's what we could do with what we have for now."

"I have already asked the Academy to secretly send more students, and they are leaving after the funeral," sabi ko sa kanila.

"Alright," ani Luke. "I'll issue a plan of attack on their bigger facilities, as pretend."

"While we take care of the consecutive strikes on the other smaller ones," dugtong ni Rhys.

"And when the huntsmen figure out our plan, they would have already lost a considerable amount of men and supplies." Tinignan ko si Rhys. "You have my trust to strike as quietly as you can?"

Both he and Merlin nodded.

"Our priority for now is to lessen their numbers," saad ko. "Restrict them, at the same time gather information about them."

"We first want their organizations' name, demigods." Nginitian ko sila. "And we will, get it."

Namuo rin ang mga determinadong ngiti sa kanilang labi.

"I'll have one Alpha accompany the smaller groups," kampanteng tugon ni Luke. "And I believe they will all be composed of students?"

"Kayo na ang bahala kung anong plano niyo sa pag-atake," sagot ko.

Natawa nang mahina si Third. "You're going to make the founders' men, an option, Reign?"

"Oh, they'll be fine." I waved my hand. "I'm just going to play with their forces for a little while, and knowing them, they'll come to know what I want to do."

"Let's not lose hope, then," ani Aila. "Since Hope lives in the Academy, like literally."

Sabay kaming natawa sa sinabi niya. 

"Dinig ko nadungisan 'yang kamay mo sa isa sa mga laban, Aila," sabi ni Rhys.

"Teka, ano bang iniisip mo na ginagawa ko sa laban, Rhys?" aniya. "Tumayo lang ako sa gitna habang nagpapakawala ng mga propesiya?"

Lumiwanag ang aking mukha. "Nakalaban na kayo?"

Nilingon ako ni Rhys. "Luke, Aila, and I."

"Oh..." Tapos, tinignan ko si Luke. "I heard you won the biggest battle, yet."

Umangat ang magkabilang kilay niya. "Yet?"

"We haven't received word to fight against the huntsmen." Matamlay kong sabi. "Ipapadala nga siguro kami sa mga misyon pero sa tingin ko hindi para sa huntsmen, kundi sa ibang problema."

"Okay lang 'yan, Reign, top student ka pa rin," paalala sa'kin ni Third.

I looked down on the table, defeated.

Pero gusto ko ring lumaban...

"Speaking of students, how's your new member, Reign?" tanong ni Merlin. 

"Doing fine, I guess," sagot ko. "Nasa classroom siya ngayon kasama yung iba, nag-aaral ng Language and Communications."

 "Cancelled nga rin pala ang classes mamayang hapon, 'no?" ani Aila. "Para sa funeral."

"The fallen..." bulong ko.

At sabay kaming napabuntong-hininga habang nakatulala sa mesa.

"Let's get that organization's name," saad ni Rhys. "And carve it on a grave."