ZEUS' ISLAND

I was too shocked with the thought that Zeus is my mentor that I didn't even notice that the Olympian Ball already ended. Nothing much happened. Hindi ako makapagsalita, at hindi rin naman ako kinausap ni Zeref... he was serious.

Hinatid ako ni Zeref pabalik sa new cabin ko. Zeus' street or village? Though, dalawa lang kami na nakatira roon. His cabin was in front of mine. Nagulat pa nga ako nang malipat na pala ang ilang gamit ko rito. How fast.

So, the day came again. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin, kaya't matapos kong mag-ayos, lumabas nalang ako ng cabin ko.

Then— 'di pa ako nakakalayo, nagbukas din ang pinto ng cabin ni Zeref. Napalunok ako nang makitang naka-sweatshorts palang s'ya at manipis na white shirt. What the Olympus! Mukhang kagigising n'ya lang dahil magulo pa ang buhok n'ya, at nanliliit pa ang mga mata niya.

"Good morning," I greeted, though it almost sounded like a question.

Kinusot n'ya ang kaniyang mata bago magsalita, "Where are you headed?"

I really hear that Master's voice in him. Either, he must have a reason why he's hiding it, or it's not really him. Tuluyan siyang lumabas sa cabin niya, at tumingin sa paligid.

"I'm going to... look for breakfast?"

Tiningnan niya ako na para bang nagbibiro ako. "We'll take breakfasts at Zeus' island. Hintayin mo nalang ako. Saglit lang."

Nagtaka naman ako. Zeus' island? So, ibig sabihin may kaniya-kaniyang isla ang mga Diyos dito? Sampung minuto ko atang hinintay si Zeref. Lumabas siyang naka-jeans at black shirt.

"Sorry if you waited long." Hindi naman, ten minutes lang naman? "Anyways, we'll go to the plaza to teleport to Zeus' island."

Nauna na s'yang maglakad kaya't binilisan ko dahil malalaki ang hakbang niya, habang ang akin ay... maliliit. Cons of being short! Maya't maya niya akong nililingon para matingnan kung nakakasabay ba ako sa kaniya.

Finally, after a very long walk, nakarating kami sa plaza. Napansin kong sa palibot ng malaking platform sa gitna, mayroon ding maliit na bilog na platforms sa gilid. Maraming nakapila doon sa iba, ngunit doon kami nagtungo ni Zeref sa walang pila.

I almost paused when I heard some gossips.

"Oh my Gods, si Zeref!"
"Wait, why is he with that new Semideus? Teka... bagong mentee siya ni Zeus?"
"So, bale dalawa na silang mentee ni Zeus ngayon! So lucky n'ong new girl! Mentee na nga ni Zeus. Kasama pa ni Zeref!"

I guess being Zeus' mentee was... rare? Tiningnan ko ang platform na pinuntahan namin. May lightning symbol iyon at mayroon ding greek letters ng pangalan ni Zeus, Ζεύς.

"Mauna ka nang tumapak sa platform. I'll go follow you after. Just have to make sure, you'll be teleported there," he nonchalantly said. Ipinamulsa niya ang kaniyang kamay, at tinatanguan ang ilang Semideus na tumatawag sa kaniya. Sana all, famous.

Tumango nalang din ako, at tumayo sa platform. Naramdaman ko ulit na nata-transfer ang kaluluwa ko sa ibang lugar. I think I have to get used to this feeling, usong-uso ata 'to sa Olympian World, eh.

After a short while, namulat ako sa ganda ng paligid. It was a small island, but it was surely majestic. May malaking templo, at may lake rin. It seemed peaceful. There were lots of eagle flying around. Ngunit nagtaka ako nang tumigil sila, as if time stopped. The water stopped flowing too. It's as if I stopped breathing, and there was complete silence.

"Xynthea," kaagad akong lumingon dahil akala ko si Zeref 'yon. It had the same voice with the master. Parehas din sila ng boses ni Zeref, pero hindi sila magkamukha. Nagkunot-noo ako.

He smiled. His hair was white like mine. Mayroon din s'yang lilang mga mata. He looked a little weak. Sobrang payat niya, tila hindi napakain nang ilang taon. And I am not joking!

I shivered when he spoke. "Congratulations on becoming a Semideus, my child." Masama rin siyang ngumisi, at napalunok ako nang lumapit siya sa'kin.

"I'm sorry, but I don't... know you," wika ko.

He frowned. "You know me, child. Ninakaw lang nila ang mga alaala mo. You've known me for a long time. Trust me, Xynthea." Is he that Master? Pero bakit parang pakiramdam ko'y hindi.

"The prophecy has spoken. You. I'm telling you this because I care. Your life is in danger, the ones you trust are going to be the ones who will kill you. Join me and I will save you from disaster. Trust me, grandchild," sabi niya. Grandchild?

"Hindi ako naniniwala," wika ko, kahit na medyo napapaisip din ako. I know nothing about my past, so I shouldn't just trust anyone.

"Hahayaan na muna kita rito, Xynthea. Hindi magtatagal, babalik ka rin sa'kin, at tutulungan mo ako sa plano ko, sa plano natin. Remember me, Xynthea."

Bigla nalang s'yang nawala sa paningin ko. Lumipad na ulit ang mga agila, at nagsimula na rin akong huminga ulit.

"Xynthea," the same voice called me. Kabado akong lumingon, at napaawang ang bibig nang makitang si Zeref lang pala 'yon. It still scares me on how they have the same voice. Isa pa, sino 'yong Master? Is it one of them, or is it another person again?

"You look... scared," Zeref acknowledged. Ngumiti nalang akong maliit, at umiling.

"Wow, aga!" Napalingon naman kami kay Zeus na hindi ko alam kung s'an nagmula. May mga kasama rin siyang servants? I think. Woah, looks like a breakfast picnic! Tinago ko nalang ang takot mula kanina.

"These are the finest food you'll ever eat, Xynthea," biro ni Zeus, though hindi naman ata joke. Mukha namang totoo. "While you eat, I'll tell you the creation of the Olympian World."

Nagulat ako nang alalayan ako ni Zeref paupo sa picnic blanket. Binigyan niya pa ako ng unan. I just muttered 'thanks,' and he just nodded. Nagsimula na rin s'yang kumain, at inirapan pa ang kaniyang ama. Kumain nalang din ako nang magsimulang mag-kuwento si Zeus.

"N'ong una, there was only Chaos, the void or emptiness. Then out of the void appeared Erebus, the unknowable place where death dwells and the said darkness, and Nyx or Night also emerged. Lahat ay empty, silent, endless, dark. Matapos, Love was born bringing along the beginning of order. From Love emerged Light, followed by Gaea or Gaia, the earth.

Erebus slept with Nyx, na nagbigay buhay kay Ether, the heavenly light, at Day, the earthly light. Then, mag-isa ni Nyx ginawa ang Doom, Fate, Death, Sleep, Dreams, Nemesis, at lahat ng bagay na makikita mo halos sa dilim.

Meanwhile, Gaea gave birth to Uranus, the sky. Uranus became Gaea's husband, surrounding her on all sides. They produced the three Cyclopes, the three Hecatoncheires or the Giants, and twelve Titans, the men or Gods before us.

Kaya lang, naging malupit na asawa at ama si Uranus. He hated the Hecatoncheires and imprisoned them sa mga tagong lugar sa earth. This angered Gaea and she plotted against Uranus. She tried to get her children to attack Uranus and overthrow him. All were too afraid, except the youngest Titan, Cronus.

Gaea and Cronus set up an ambush of Uranus as he lay with Gaea at night. Nagtagumpay naman sila, at hinati-hati ni Cronus si Uranus.

Cronus became the next ruler. Pinakasalan niya ang sarili niyang kapatid na si Rhea. He ruled for many ages; however, Gaea and Uranus prophesied that Cronus would be eventually overthrown by a son. Para maiwasan 'yon, Cronus swallowed all of his children as they were born. The children are Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon. Rhea was angry at the treatment of the children and plotted like what Gaea did against Cronus. Sa pang-anim na anak, nagtago na si Rhea at iniwan ang anak niya to be raised by nymphs. To conceal her act, inuto niya si Cronos nang bato 'yong pinakain niya.

This child is Zeus. Me! Then I defeated him, and brought him to Tartarus."

He looked at us. Zeref looked uninterested, while I remain listening. He smiled. "Hanggang diyan nalang muna. May tanong ka ba?"

Nilunok ko ang tinapay na ningunguya ko, "Cronus. He's the titan of?"

"My father?" he asked and chuckled. "He's the Titan of Time. Tick tock, tick tock."

The Semideus
by lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

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