Heshiena's Point of View

When we arrived at our designated room, halos bumagsak na sa sahig ang panga ko dahil sa paghanga. The room is spacious, and the ceilings are tall. The design were castle-like. Sinamahan pa ng malagintong mga upuan. Here I am, still in awe.

Nang mapansin kong naiwan akong nakatayo malapit sa pintuan, nahihiya akong umupo sa available seat. Pinagigitnaan ako nina Violeta at Nkri. Tahimik lamang ang lahat, habang si Ace naman ay walang pakundangang nakatingin sa disenyo ng buong classroom.

Dumaan ang ilang mga minuto, narinig ko na ang mga inis na asik ni Chrysos at ang mga sunod-sunod na pagbuntonghininga ng mga old Anostatos. Lagpas na sa oras ang hinihintay naming guro. Hindi na ba papasok ang history teacher namin? My shoulder instantaneously dropped because of the thought.

Excited pa naman akong makinig sa history ng school at iba pa.

My mood quickly lighten up when I heard a click-clacking sound of a shoes coming to our direction. Mayamaya pa'y may pumasok na aurai na sobrang pamilyar ang hitsura. Diretso ang mata niya sa kinaroroonan ko't umiling-iling.

Gusto kong magmura ngayon dahil sa hiya. Siya 'yong aurai na sumalubong sa amin. At nakasagutan ko pa noong unang araw ko rito sa academy.

"Good morning, class. I am sorry for being late. There are things that need to be settled before coming here," she sincerely apologized. "Since nadagdagan ng anim na estudyante ang class na 'to, please let me introduce myself. I am Meriam, the headmistress of my kind here in the academy and your history teacher," she added.

Naglakad-lakad siya sa gitna habang tiningnan kami isa-isa. "We will discuss the history of this school first before jumping to the twelve Olympians. Ang old Anostatos ay alam na nila ang tungkol dito dahil halos rito na sila lumaki." Nakangiti niyang wika.

Tahimik kaming lahat na nakikinig sa susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Imitheos Academy was established around 1990's. It was built under the hands of Poseidon himself, with the assistance of Hephaestus. The school is located above the water, and under the school, Poseidon's realm resides. This means, the school is connected to Poseidon's palace located under the water." Huminto muna siya sa pagsasalita at tinignan muli kami isa-isa.

Habang ako naman ay hindi mapigilang humanga. Our school was connected to my father's palace located under the water. Ibig sabihin, ang dahilan kung bakit parang nakalutang ang paaralan ay dahil sa palasyo sa ilalim ng tubig.

"Tsk," rinig kong walang ganang asik ni Chry.

Nilingon ko siya. Naka-cross ang kaniyang mga braso na tila parang antok na antok. Subalit, napaiwas kaagad ako ng tingin nang makita ko siyang nakatingin sa akin nang masama. Ang sungit.

Miss Meriam made a fake cough before continuing. "The purpose of this school is to protect every demigod away from the monsters. The academy has its three types of students such as Anostatos, the direct descendants of major deities. Mesi Magna, the direct descendants of a minor deity. Lastly, Chamilos Magna, the chosen mortals to be protectors of god's temples, seers, healers, or a member of the four cities."

Napatango-tango ako sa sinabi ni Miss Meriam. But, I am still curious kung ano'ng meron diyan sa apat na siyudad. What I mean is, ano'ng role na ginanapan nila sa realm na 'to.

"Way back the old days, these cities are called tribes. Pero nang unti-unting nag-e-evolve ang mundo, it affects everyone, of course. Nag-improve ang mga shelters, from nipa huts hanggang sa mga naglalakihang mga gusali," she continued.

"What are these four cities?" Napailing ako sa tanong ni Ace. Mukhang hindi nakikinig kahapon sa claiming ceremony. Or perhaps, nakalimutan niya lang.

"Okay, good question. These four cities was created after the academy was built. They are also a chosen mortals with pure hearts to receive a gift of elemental abilities from the four Olympian deities. These four cities are Fotia City, Gi City, Aeras City and Nero City. Are you familiar with the four elements?" Matapos niyang sagutin ang tanong ni Ace ay kaagad niya itong sinundan ng sarili niyang tanong.

"Yes, Miss," rinig kong sagot ni Nkri na katabi ko lang.

Namutawi ang matamis na ngiti ni Miss Meriam. "Can you name those elements?" Miss Meriam asked her.

Nakita kong tumayo si Nkri. "Those are air, fire, water, and earth," she answered confidently.

A proud expression quickly plastered upon Miss Meriam's face. "Very good," she praised her. "Fotia City are the chosen mortals who have been given the power to manipulate fire. The word Fotia is derived from the Greek word which means their representation. The deity who blessed them was Hephaestus himself for he is the god of fire and blacksmith. The leader of this city is no other than Miss Fatima, the daughter of Hephaestus."

Napatango uli ako nang mag-isa matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Miss Meriam.

"Next in line is Nero City. The members are chosen mortals who have been given the power to manipulate water. The name is derived from the Greek word which means their representation. It is said that there are two types of power they possess, some of them can manipulate water and some of them have the power of ice manipulation. This city is considered a perilous one. They were blessed by Poseidon himself, and Miss Aqua, daughter of lord of the sea, was given the leadership position to manage the city."

Napataas ako ng aking kamay, dahilan para maramdaman ko ang mga tingin nila.

"If Miss Aqua, the academy director, who is the one taking care the city?" Curious na curious kong tanong dahilan para ngitian ako ng guro.

"Good question," sweet smile still plastered upon her lips. "Miss Aqua's daughter is the one who was assigned to watch over their city. She's the general, it means the second position who has the merit to handle such great responsibility. Her name was Jelly, but she goes by the name in the academy as Elly."

Tinanguhan ko si Miss Meriam. Napatingin kaagad ako sa taong nagtaas ng kamay. Kanina pa siya tahimik.

"If Elly is the general, and she's given the privilege to study in the academy, how can she still protect her city while she's studying?" Mavros asked.

Miss Meriam let out a sigh. "Well, I don't have a clear answer for that. But, it's her duty to protect them. Just like what I've said earlier, the school was located above the water which means the location of Nero City isn't that far from here. They are dwelling at the edge of the sea."

Nakita kong tumango ang lahat matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Miss Meriam.

"Next would be Gi City, the favored mortals who had given the power to manipulate boulders, sands, plants, or anything that related to earth. The name of their city is derived from the Greek word which means earth. They were blessed by Demeter, the goddess of harvest and agriculture, herself. And Miss Rocky, daughter of Demeter, is the leader of the said city," pagpapatuloy na pagtuturo ni Miss Meriam.

Patuloy lang kami sa pakikinig sa kaniya. Habang ako naman ay hindi maiwasang humanga sa lahat ng mga binitawan niyang diskusyon.

"Lastly, the Aeras City. They are the favored mortals who have been given the power to manipulate air. The word aeras is derived from the Greek word which means the city's representation. They were blessed by none other than Zeus, the lord of the sky and the king of the gods, himself. The leader here is Miss Sky, his daughter." Nakangiti pa ring sabi ni Miss Meriam.

Nagtaas ulit ako ng kamay. "Bakit nagkaroon ng apat na siyudad sa mundong 'to, Miss Meriam? What I mean is, what is their role to this realm?" I asked.

"They are the one who will protect every borders and ensure that no one will invade our realm," sagot naman ni Miss Meriam sa tanong ko.

Naglakad ulit siya pabalik sa lamesa niya. Subalit, saktong pagkalapit niya roon ay siyang pagtunog naman ng bell. Palatandaan na tapos na ang klase niya. This means, ang next subject namin ay ang Understanding the Self.

"Before I leave, for new Anostatos, please do research in advance about the Olympians. That's all for today, thank you," saad niya saka lumabas na ng classroom.

"Whoa! Vacant!" Biglang sigaw ni Fuego nang makalabas si Miss Meriam. Nag-stretch pa siya as if kagagaling lang niya sa isang matinding trabaho. Eh nakaupo lang naman kami. "Napaka-boring talaga ng history subject kahit kailan," dagdag niya. Sinamahan pa niya ito ng pag-iling ng kaniyang ulo.

Vacant? Kumunot kaagad ang aking noo dahil sa pagtataka. Sabi nila Understanding the Self ang kasunod na subject ng History?

"Wait." Napatingin sila sa akin. "What about the next subject?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

Tiningnan nila ako ng hindi makapaniwala. Dahilan para mas lalo akong nagtaka. "Hindi mo ba nabasa sa schedule mo, Heshiena?" tanong sa akin ni Blei.

Binasa ko naman 'yong schedule na ibinigay sa akin, pero wala akong nabasa na may vacant kami after ng history subject. Dali-dali kong kinuha ang printed schedule ko sa dala-dala kong handbag. Nang makuha ko ito, nagulat na lamang ako nang hablutin ito ni Chrysos.

I looked at her in disbelief.

"What do you think you're doing?" May inis sa boses kong tanong sa kaniya.

Segundo ang lumipas hindi siya sumagot. Nakatitig lamang siya sa printed schedule ko na hawak-hawak niya. Then a disappointment quickly plastered upon her face.

"Heshiena got an old schedule. That is why she's unaware," saad niya't ibinalik sa akin ang papel.

I heard Violeta's sigh. "Seriously." Iling-iling niyang sabi. "I'll send a complain to the office of aurai. But for now, let's go shopping!"

Puno ng pananabik na sabi ni Violeta. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang excitement ng lahat. Habang ako naman nadadalawang isip kung sasama ba ako.

"I'm in!" Excited din na sigaw ni Ace. "Basta libre niyo." He then laughed devilishly.

Nahinto lamang siya sa pagtawa nang sapakin siya ni Chrysos sa ulo. Seryoso? Wala akong dalang pera.