Erin's Point of View

If it wasn't for Fuego, matiwasay kaming nakarating sa syudad ng Fotia. I am not even surprised since this is the city where the favored mortals of the blacksmith god live. Of course, they kind of shared the same abilities.

Hindi namin alam kung saan kami pupulutin kung wala siya. Sabi niya kasi, may dalawang daan patungo rito. On the left path, we saw a forest with colorful leaves. But Fuego says never be deceived of what we saw. Because that forest was filled with Stymphalian birds.

From what I remembered; they are a group of monstrous birds.

They devoured humans, and had beaks made of bronze. Their feathers were sharp and metallic and could be thrown against their prey. While their dung was poisonous.

Though, I never saw one. But I wish to never see them in person. Dahil alam kong bad news lang sila.

So basically, that path is dangerous. And the other was just a river that needs to cross. Therefore, doon kami dumaan gaya na rin ng sabi ni Fuego. Ang pagdating namin sa aming destinasyon ay mas lalong napapadali.

"Wow, ang daming tao ah," I commented the moment we arrived at the carnival.

Wala naman kaming magawa sa araw na 'to. Kaya napagdesisyonan ng grupo na maglibot-libot sa syudad. Nang marinig naming magbubukas daw ulit ang peryahan, dumiretso kaagad kami rito.

Biglang dumaan sa isipan ko si Ace.

There's no doubt he would've loved this place.

Or I was the only one thinking that.

"I am pretty sure you helped them build this one." Marahan kong siniko ang lalaking nasa tabi ko.

He was smiling every second while glancing everyone. He seems proud of himself. Lumingon naman siya sa akin nang nakangiti pa rin. He then nodded as a response.

"Wow!" Dion commented in amusement. "You really did help build this?" Hindi pa rin makapaniwala niyang tanong.

I couldn't help it but smile. So did Fuego.

Dion never waited Fuego's response. "Tama nga ang naririnig ko. You can do anything with your hands. As expected from the child of Hephaestus."

The three newcomers agreed. Fuego scratches the back of his head.

"Thanks, man."

Nang mabuksan na ang gate ng carnival, kaniya-kaniya na ng takbuhan ang mga tao sa mga rides na gusto nilang sakyan. Mga booth na gusto nilang puntahan. At sa mga food stalls na gusto nilang subukan.

Tinignan ko ang apat.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Yumi's left eyebrow gradually raise. Aresa, on the other hand, was looking at me suspiciously. I couldn't help but awkwardly scratch the back of my head.

"You guys are allowed to have fun, you know."

Aresa clicked her tongue. Dion and Seilo smiled. Yumi remained neutral. Seilo was so excited he immediately rushed towards the stall which sells seafood. But Yumi was faster to stop him from leaving. Dion's shoulder disappointingly fell to the ground.

"We're not here for leisure," madiing wika ni Aresa. Her gaze becomes sharper. "Mission," she uttered.

"And we're not familiar with the place," dagdag na saad ni Yumi. "Baka mas makadagdag pa sa sayang sa oras kapag nawala kami."

Fuego and I looked at each other. An awkward chuckle from the both of us then follows. But Fuego immediately nodded enthusiastically. Naglakad siya papalapit sa unang food stall na gustong puntahan ng dalawa.

"Sticking together, right?"

He never got a respond from Yumi. Aresa only heave a sigh. To be followed by shaking her head. Habang ako naman ay nanatiling tahimik sa isang tabi. Walang nagawa ang dalawa, sa halip ay sumunod na lamang. Ang kaninang pananabik ng dalawa ay tila bumalik.

We were about to order when an explosion echoed.

Nabalutan ng sigawan ang paligid. Nagkatinginan kaming lahat bago tumakbo sa pinanggalingan ng pagsabog. Nahirapan pa dahil sa raming mga taong nakasalubong namin. From the looks of it, mukhang sa ferries wheel nanggaling ang usok.

Seilo disappeared in an instant.

So as Dion, leaving a faint smell of grapes.

Fuego's face was serious. And never think twice to face his both palms to the ground. He burst himself into the air using the flames. Me, on the other hand, spread my wings and gradually flapped them to lift myself.

"Show offs." I heard Aresa commented before I flew to follow the three.

Of what I greeted me left me speechless. Napatakip pa ako ng kamay ko sa bibig. And my tears never hesitated to fell upon my eyes.

"I'm sorry . . ." I murmured under my sobs.

I softly gasped when I felt Aresa and Yumi's presence behind my back. I heard Aresa clicking her tongue as if she's disappointed in herself.

Napatingin kaming lahat kay Fuego nang dumating siya. Inilahad niya ang kaniyang kaliwang kamay para makita namin ang bagay na dala-dala niya. My forehead furrowed in confusion. Napagtanto kong hindi rin ako, pati rin sila.

"This is not an accident," he said. Tumango ako, naghihintay sa susunod niyang sasabihin. "This." The moment his eyes looked down at the thing on his palm, we followed. "This is a bomb made out of ichor."

My eyes gradually grew wider in surprise.

"Made of what?"

Fuego patiently looked at the three who were clueless. Yumi, on the other hand, seems to understand what ichor means.

"Ichor is the golden blood of the gods," Fuego precisely responded. "Back to this thing. Apparently, the moment I received blueprints of different invention ideas from Fotia City, I stumbled upon the design of a bomb I believed could annihilate one thousand to three thousand people."

Sumikdo nang malakas ang puso ko. Why would Fotia City tried to invent a weapon that could possibly wiped out a thousand of people.

"I reached out to Miss Fatima regarding that blueprint. And said . . ." Fuego paused, looking at us one by one. "She answered me that before she sends it to me, dumaan daw muna sa kaniya ang mga ito. And didn't stumble upon the blueprint I mentioned. But we made a mutual decision to tear the blueprint down and pretend we never saw it."

Aresa scoffed. "We could use that bomb as well against the enemies, right?"

Fuego nodded. He stood straight and let her know that he never regretted a single thing regarding the decision he made.

"I understand your point, Aresa," he coldly replied. "But I am logically thinking that if we push through that design, there are people that might take an interest in using it in a wrong way," madiin niyang saad.

"I don't want to take an advantage of my talent for evil or something that can harm the innocents." Madiin niyang wika habang seryoso ang ekspresyon niya sa mukha.

Sandaling namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming anim. Natigil lamang ito nang sunod-sunod ang pagsabog. This time around, it seems like it's coming from different directions. Umalingawngaw ang samu't saring sigawan.

"Seilo and Erin, go find Miss Fatima. Question her of everything that is happening right now. If she refuses to give you answers, use force." Fuego ordered.

Seilo and I never hesitated to nod as a response. As usual, Seilo disappeared in a snap of a finger. I shook my head in the process. I was about to fly when the person Fuego ordered us to question appeared before us.

"I can hear through fire," she said. Seilo came back within seconds. Me, on the other hand, couldn't help but be amazed by her ability. "And I know what you guys are thinking. We are in a civil war."

Mabilis akong napatakip sa bibig dahil sa gulat.

Seilo and the others left to help the innocents evacuate since Aresa was so eager to fight against the enemies. Fuego and I remained where we were with Miss Fatima.

"I never approved that design, Fuego. They secretly have been sending you that blueprint believing you will side with their cause." She said it with a heavy heart. "I've been eyeing them but beyond my belief, I didn't expect them to attack at the opening of the carnival."

Biglang sumeryoso ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. And I immediately noticed that there's a fragment of anger and sadness in her eyes.

"Fotia City has been struggling to wear off that superiority complex among its own people." I gritted my teeth in anger. "Discriminating against each other. Comparing each other's abilities, even of how they look."

This time, I couldn't hold myself but turn my palm into fists. Walang pinagkaiba ang mundong ito sa kinalakihan ko.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Fuego's eyes immediately fell on the ground. Tumingin sa akin si Miss Fatima. Habang ako naman ay matapang na sinalubong ang nagbabaga niyang mata.

"Most of my father's favored mortals are the ones who were born with disabilities. Some were because of their skills and love for invention." Hindi pa rin niya iniiwas ang tingin habang binibitawan ang mga katagang 'yon. "Imagine yourself in an argument with a person with a disability. And when you lack an argument, you insult that person for how he looks." She clicked her tongue.

Mabilis kong nakuha ang ibig niyang iparating.

This is where the favored mortals who suffered with discrimination, fought back with a harsher vengeance.

Words are very powerful.

Just like what Hera did to Hephaestus. Just because she couldn't bear the sight of him and his deformed legs, and she wanted this reminder of a failed quarrel with Zeus to disappear, so she threw him off Mount Olympus.

Why is it hard to accept everyone's differences?

So, love could grow.

"Do you know who they are?"

Miss Fatima didn't think twice to nod.

"My cousin."