Heshiena's Point of View

Binaybay namin ngayon ang daan pabalik sa ilog.

Kung saan namin iniwan ang kotse. The moment we exited, the hill moves as if hiding the city from anyone's sight. It's been three days since we left the academy. Thankfully, natapos na rin ang misyon ng grupo namin sa Aeras City.

Hoping na ganoon din ang iba. Because we agreed to see each other at Nero City.

Medyo excited na rin akong makita ulit sila.

"Thank you," pagpapasalamat ko sa water nymph.

She really fulfilled her promise. I was about to smiled at her when I noticed she was staring at me dead serious. Umiling ako. No, it's more like a worry stares. Kinabahan ako nang hawakan niya ang mga kamay ko habang hindi pa rin binibitawan ang mga titig niya sa akin.

"Danger," she whispers like a calm stream of a river. "Mother monster." Tears gradually welling up in her eyes. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. "Don't go to Nero City, my goddess."

After she left me with a cryptic message, she vanished into the streams.

"Ano'ng sabi ng water nymph?" Hindi nagdadalawang isip na tanong ni Chry nang makapasok ako sa kotse.

She then brings the engine back to life.

Tumingin ako sa labas habang umaandar ito. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Chry constantly peeping from the rear view mirror as if waiting for my answer.

Nasa likuran na kasi ako nakaupo, katabi ni Mavros.

"Nothing."

Ace's shoulder dropped who was patiently waiting for my response. Chry remained suspicious of me. Mavros, on the other hand, remained silent as usual.

Silence dominated between us four.

But it didn't last long when I saw a woman with colorful hair staring at me. Her hair is similar that to a rainbow, I believe.

She was sitting under the tree bearing with golden apples. Kumunot ang aking noo. Sinundan naman ito ng mahinang pagsinghap.

Bigla ko na namang naalala noong nakatanggap kaming lahat ng golden apples. As far as I can remember, may mga salita pa 'yon na nakaukit sa mga mansanas.

"Child of the night." Kahit na malayo siya, ang lakas-lakas ng boses niya sa tenga ko. "Beware." My forehead furrowed even more. "Golden apples."

Child of the night, beware? Is that what she meant?

"Who are you?" I tried my best to communicate with her.

I heard her sighed. "A goddess just like you." She surprisingly responded. "I am the handmaiden and the personal messenger of the queen of the heavens." My eyes grew wider in surprise.

"What is your business with me?"

Why would Hera brought me with her personal messenger? Ano ang pakay niya?

"The queen didn't ordered me to see you." She emphasized. "We are." Hindi ko kaagad nakuha ang gusto niyang iparating.

We are?

What does that even mean?

"What do you mean "we are", goddess of the rainbow?"

She didn't answer.

"Don't you feel us?"

Instead, she responded me with another question. I scoffed in disbelief. Pero dahil sa tanong na 'yon, pinakiramdaman ko ang paligid. There I felt eyes watching over me. Countless eyes that send weird chills down my spine.

Tumingin ulit ako sa labas ng bintana ng kotse.

There I saw rainbows in the sky.

"We are frightened of what is to come." Her voice gradually cracked as if trying to suppress the emotion. "Everyone across the entire realm."

My heart skipped a beat.

"Keep the spirit of hope within each and every one of you . . ." Her voice slowly fading out, ". . . especially you, alpha goddess. We believe you will." The last words felt like a whisper directly to me.

"What did you say?" The three of them simultaneously asked.

Kumunot kaagad ang kanilang noo sa pagtataka.

"What happened?" ang tanong ko sa kanila.

"I heard Ace whisper something," Mavros was the first one to respond. "Something like keeping the spirit of hope," he added.

Nagulat ako sa huli niyang sinabi.

"What?" Ace questioned in utter disbelief. "I didn't say it. I heard you whispering that word instead!" Ace exclaimed.

Napatingin ako pabalik kay Mavros. Si Chry naman ay tila binalot ng matinding pagtataka.

"What the fuck is happening?" Chry cussed without breaking her attention in front of her. She pointed to Ace. "But I heard you whisper those words, Ace."

Those are the words that Iris said before she vanished. Mas lalo akong naguluhan sa mga nangyayari. But at the end, I heave a sigh.

"We're probably tired." I ended their confusion. The three of them agreed by only nodding. "Get some rest." I advised. "And Chry—" Mabilis kong iniwas ang mata para tignan ang magandang tanawin sa nadaanan namin, "if you want to rest, just ask Mavros to drive."

The only response I got from her was silence and piercing stares behind me.

Muli na namang sumagi sa isipan ko ang interaksyon ko kanina kay Iris. That water nymph as well telling me words that are cryptic. Kahit na noong papunta pa lang kami sa Aeras City, may dalawang tao akong nakita. And both of them were saying things I couldn't understand.

What these minor deities were trying to tell me?

☽ ♆ ☾

Surprisingly, kararating lang din ng iba.

Dali-dali akong lumabas ng sasakyan. And Nkri greeted me with a tight hug. Pero mabilis din akong kumawala nang makita sina Dash at Blei na may bandages sa katawan.

"What happened?" I asked. "Are you guys okay?" puno ng pag-aalala kong tanong.

They both smiled at me as if telling me to not worry. Behind them, napansin ko rin na ganoon ang kalagayan nina Erin at saka Seilo. I could feel the others are worrying for the four of them.

"Mabilis kaya 'tong gumaling!" Seilo jokingly responded.

Nabalot ng tawanan ang lahat. For heaven's sake, I miss them all so much. Ngumiti na lamang ako. Blei caressed my back. Dahil dito medyo napanatag naman ako.

Despite of that, Nero City's gate were made out of ice. On our right side, makikita namin ang dagat. And I believe this connects to the academy.

Nang makapasok na kami sa syudad, sumalubong sa amin ang babaeng may kulay asul na buhok. Her eyebrows and eyelashes were as white as ice. And her tantalizing blue eyes kept on falling from the ground.

"My name's Elly," she introduced herself. I heard gasps from the others. "That's right, I am Aqua's daughter." She smiled. "On behalf of her, I would like to welcome you all to our humble abode. Please feel at home."

"Thank you."

Napatingin siya sa akin. She immediately bend her knees to pay respect.

"The pleasure is ours, patron of demigods."

Nginitian ko siya.

While we were following Elly wherever she may take us, all the citizen bowed before us. Habang ako naman ay ini-enjoy ang sarili sa pagtingin-tingin sa magandang syudad nila.

Halos lahat ng mga bahay nila rito ay nakalutang lamang sa tubig. From afar, may maliit silang port na hula ko'y ginagawang daungan ng mga naani nilang seafoods. Ang pamamaraan ng pananamit nila ay naayon sa kasalukuyan.

Ganoon din naman sa Aeras City. But with the higher ranks, they wore different way of clothing. Mostly were wearing robes. 'Yan din ang napansin ko sa suot-suot na damit ni Elly.

Elly stopped in front of a giant clam shell that gaping. May umaapaw pang tubig sa clam shell na ito. Kapansin-pansin din ang nakatayong bahay sa gitna. Umiling ako. I would love to call this one as a castle since it's too big for a normal house.

Hanggang sa makapasok kami sa loob, lahat kami nakanganga ang bibig.

The interior designs is in line with the city's identity. Wala akong ibang masabi kundi napakaganda. They really think thorough with the designs they desired.

And that is what makes each city unique of their own.

Lumipas ang oras, wala namang ibang nangyari kundi ang pakikipagkamustahan sa isa't isa. Kinukuwento rin namin ang mga pinagdaanan sa kaniya-kaniyang misyon.

Their usual banters, laughter, and their catfights are the highlights of this reunion. Mas lalo lang umingay dahil kina Seilo at Aresa. I chuckled when the two seem don't recognize when to stop.

I hope this kind of bond, it won't be the last.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Chry constantly shaking her head as if annoyed with the two. My heart skipped a beat when I greeted her eyes. Bumalik na naman sa alaala ko ang bagay na 'yon. A dream of her when she was a kid blowing that man's head felt like haunting me.

And how she wickedly smiles when blood touches her skin.