Heshiena's Point of View

The moment when everything went silent, literally silence, the deities face turned to fear. Kahit sa sarili naming boses, hindi namin marinig. As if the world suddenly in mute for a couple of minutes. Majority of the deities left in hurry.

Habang ang mga demigods naman ay naiwang nagtataka. Kahit na ako ay ganoon din. The chthonic deities were acting really weird. Except with Persephone. Even Hades was smiling the whole time when Miss Aqua mentioned that the Olympians can't attend for some reasons.

And there's that feeling of discomfort earlier. Eyes that are watching me.

I am pretty sure those weren't from Olympians. I felt them enormously powerful as if a colossal entity is ready to swallow the cosmos in whole. That was the feeling that absorbed all my energy to dust.

Everyone couldn't help themselves to yell in surprise when a loud bang echoed across the sky. As if a huge boulder or some kind of asteroid from outer space crashed against the planet. And there's that feeling like the world is tearing apart.

Because of that loud bang, the students hurriedly get out from the chamber. So did I. Magkasama kaming lahat na lumabas ng Anostatos. Others were shocked in fear. Mavros' forehead furrowed. And Chry's face remained calm, but determined.

Pagkalabas namin, namayani ang sunod-sunod na pagsinghapan ng mga tao. The sky is in black plain. No stars, no clouds, and no moon. Causing everyone to fear, and confused at the same time.

Nagsigawan ulit ang karamihan nang muling nag-echo ang napakalakas na pagsabog. There are some jumped in surprise, and there are others can't resist themselves but teared up. Umigting ang tenga ko nang marinig na palakas nang palakas ang paghampas ng mga alon sa dalampasigan.

Malamig na hangin ang humampas sa aming mga balat.

The cold isn't normal. As if there's winter storm coming. I don't know if everyone heard what I heard. There are distinct howling voices in the air. Mas lalong lumakas ang singhapan ng mga tao nang biglang tumaas ang tubig ng dagat.

Napaatras ang lahat sa takot.

What the hell is happening?!

Everyone panicked. The waves of the sea meet the heavens, threatening the land to be swallowed by the tides. Causing everyone to fear for their lives. Others remained calm. I was quick to ball my fists and gritted my teeth.

Pinalutang ko ang aking sarili. When I realized I am already feet high, I looked down. Hanggang ngayon ay napapa-panic pa rin ang mga estudyante.

"Calm!" my voice echoed, causing everyone to follow what I just said.

Ang mga sumunod na nangyari ay tumingala sila sa kinaroroonan ko. I hummed. Much better. Hinarap ko ang napakalaking alon na papabagsak na sa lupa. Before the tides could swallow the land in whole, I stopped it by controlling it.

Napangiwi pa ako nang maramdaman ko ang bigat nito. Pero kalaunan naman ay gamay ko na, hanggang sa dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang napakalaking alon pabalik sa pinanggalingan niya.

Nagsigawan ang iba nang tumalsik ang tubig papunta sa school ground nang bumagsak ito. Karamihan sa kanila ay basing-basa. Hindi nakaligtas ang Anostatos, dahilan para sumalubong sa akin ang naiinis na mukha ni Chry.

"I am sorry . . ." I whispered, but I am sure everyone heard it.

A sigh of relief escaped from my mouth when the sea return to normal. But even the sea returns to how it was, rain starts to poured down. Tumingala ako sa kalangitan. Muli na naman akong nasindak nang maramdaman ko ulit ang pares na mga mata.

"Who are you?" I asked absentmindedly.

Walang sumagot. Sa halip ay patuloy ko pa ring naramdaman ang mga matang nakamasid lamang sa akin. Chills race down to my spine, not because I am cold because of the rain, but because of the feeling of peril.

"You have to prepare for what's coming, Heshiena," he suddenly said. Napatingin ako sa kaniya. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo. "The Titaness of Oaths and Hatred is demanding a compensation for the secret that the Olympians kept for nineteen years," dagdag pa niya.

Titaness of Oaths and Hatred?

"What secret?" I asked.

He looked at me. And his eyes immediately went straight to the ground. Tila ba'y parang nagda-dalawang isip kung dapat niya ba akong sagutin. He heaved a sigh, and once again looked at me in the eyes with so much sadness and regrets.

"You."

The memory of my last interaction with Poseidon flashed in my mind. Ito ba ang ibig niyang sabihin na dapat akong maghanda sa paparating?

Titaness of Oath and Hatred . . .

I met her once when I made an oath. She's in the abyss. A black river that connects to the underworld. I don't know what exactly, but she definitely had something to do with what's happening right now.

Kahit na masakit man aminin. But Olympians had a greatest contribution to the aspects of human life. I don't know what exactly, but again, this also had something to do with my existence.

Bumaba na ako sa pagkakalutang.

Nadatnan ko ang mga Anostatos. Some of them smiled. Pero may karamihan sa kanila ay nakakunot ang mga noo. Lalo na ang dalawang anak ni Athena. As if like they're trying to decipher of what's happening.

Chry remained silent. Naglakad siya pauwi ng cabin. Lahat sumunod. Nang dumating ang lahat ay tahimik pa rin kami. Hanggang sa nakapasok na kami lahat sa kwarto. I didn't think twice to take off my clothes. And went straight to the bathroom.

Tapos na ako sa pagligo, pero nakatitig pa rin ako sa salamin.

Hanggang ngayon ang lakas pa rin ng ulan. Isang mabigat na buntonghininga ang aking pinakawalan. And decided to put some clothes on by snapping my fingers twice. A purple dress with thin fabrics appeared.

I couldn't even praise myself how I looked good in this dress. Because something clouded my mind. Hindi mawala-wala sa isipan ko ang mga matang nakatitig sa akin hanggang ngayon. Pair of eyes that felt so near yet so far.

Habang naglalakad sa hallway na ito, hindi ko mapigilang mapailing.

Dahil sa mga pangyayaring hindi namin mahanapan ng sagot, hindi natuloy ang event. We didn't get the chance to light the boat and flying lanterns. Sabi kasi nila, to honor the big three, may flying lanterns para kay Zeus. At ang boat lanterns naman ay para kina Hades, at Poseidon.

Ilalagay namin ang mga lanterns sa tubig, at ang alon na ang bahala dalhin ang mga ito sa destinasyon. North for Hades, and south for Poseidon. Too bad, hindi namin ito nagawa. Kasisimula lang ng event, nag-alisan na agad ang mga minor deities. The chthonic deities are the ones who calmly left the realm.

There's something about them, I am sure.

Pagkababa ko ng second floor, tamang-tama akong nandito ang lahat. Nakita ko pa si Mavros na nasa veranda, mag-isa, nagpapaulan. Tiningnan ko si Nkri, at itinuro si Mavros. She shook her head twice, a sign that Mavros wanted to be alone.

Habang si Chry naman ay kalalabas lang ng kusina. When others felt my presence, napatingin sila sa akin.

Majority of them smiled.

Pero mabilis din 'yon napawi. At muling bumalik sa kaniya-kaniyang mundo. Lahat ay tila wala sa sarili. Some were staring at the floor, holding a cup of coffee . . . or a tea. At tila malayo ang iniisip.

Lumabas sina Fuego at Erin sa kusina nang sabay. Mabilis akong nagpasalamat kay Fuego nang abutan niya ako ng tasa na may lamang kape. Napapikit pa ako ng mata nang naamoy ko ang bango ng ambrosia.

It smells honey.

Nabalik sa reyalidad ang lahat nang tumikhim si Chry. And looked at her immediately, waiting for what she's about to say. She heaved a sigh before doing it.

"The hell just happened," she made an inside comment. Everyone agrees. "I am already here in the academy long way before you all arrived. Pero ngayon lang ito nangyari."

Natahimik ang lahat. Tila nag-iisip ng posibleng rason. Ngunit nahinto ang lahat nang magtaas ng kamay si Nkri. Nabaling ang atensyon ng lahat sa kaniya. Pandalian akong tumingin sa veranda.

Mavros is still there, as if contemplating something.

Or probably just my imagination.

"Yesterday . . ." Tumingin siya kay Chry, Ace, Blei, Blaze, Dash, sa iba, at huli, sa akin. Mabilis kaming napatango sa ibig niyang iparating. "I overheard Miss Aqua, and Chiron talking about Olympians, and Olympus in particular."

Kumunot ang aking noo.

"Sabi ni Chiron, kaya hindi nakatanggap ng responds ang academy sa mga Olympians ay dahil sarado raw ang Olympus." Napasinghap ang iba. "Chiron said, this never happened before or even in the beginning when Olympians came to rule the cosmos."

Everyone remained silent. Letting Nkri speak all by herself.

"Miss Aqua asked Chiron if this is all because of Kronos . . . again." Everyone's eyes grew wider in surprise, and in fear. "It is one of the possibilities. But Chiron insisted this might be connected . . ." Tumingin siya sa akin, " . . . to you."

I sarcastically chuckled. "Great." But I was quick to calm myself. "Apparently, my father, Poseidon, said I must embrace myself for what's coming. On that note, baka tama rin si Chiron."

Napatango si Nkri sa sinabi ko.

"But," Nkri said in a low voice. It's as if she is conflicted, and it's the first time we saw it. "Chiron mentioned that the majority of the monsters that attacked the academy last time were working under Hecate."

Blei, and others immediately agree.

Tumingin si Nkri sa mga mata namin. "The underworld might be turning their backs against us," she whispered, and worriedly looked at Mavros in the veranda. "I am not saying I am agreeing to what Chiron said, but it's potentially true after what he mentioned."

"Hades is despised by the Olympians," Chry commented. "That's one of the reasons why he doesn't have a throne in Olympus."

Nkri and Blaze nodded.

"Chiron mentioned that Hades might be plotting a revenge against the Olympians." Nkri raised both of her hands and made a sign of apostrophe, "given," using both of her hands' index and middle finger, "of what happened twenty five years ago."

Everyone's face cracked in confusion. So as our forehead furrowed. Hades plotting a revenge against the Olympians because of what had happened twenty five years ago? What the hell was that?

"My guess, it's connected to you." She pointed at me, "and that girl named Melis in some way."

After that little conversation, everyone agreed to rest. Sinubukan kong lapitan si Mavros kanina, pero napansin kong tila mabigat ang iniisip niya. Therefore, I give him a space he deserves. Bukas ko na lang siya kausapin.

Everyone saying good night to each other. At nginitian ko sila bago ako pumasok muli sa kwarto ko. Pagkapasok ko pa lang unang napansin ng mata ko ang bagay na nasa lamesa ng powder area ko.

Nilapitan ko ito, at kinuha.

I gasped when I realized what this is. A golden apple. Who in the hell put it here? Sa pagkakaalala ko, noong paglabas ko kanina wala pa ito rito. Pinagmasdan ko ng maigi ang mansanas. There I noticed, may nakaukit na 'family' at 'weakness' sa harap at sa likod.

Mabilisan akong muling lumabas ng kwarto, nagbabaka-sakaling may iba pang nasa labas. At nang matanong ko sila. But when I got outside, so as everyone.

To our surprise, everyone got golden apples in their hands.