reference video and image above. to make it more imaginable. :) ctto

ORACLE OF THE DEAD
ZEREF's POINT OF VIEW

Circe chanted a spell to break the magic barriers of the opening of the labyrinth-like temple. May stairway na patungo sa crypts, or underground stone chamber.

"Creepy naman," sambit ni Diane.

Indeed, it was creepy. There were skulls around, and only few torches were lit. Napangiwi ako nang mapansin ang nakakaliyong amoy. I immediately covered my nose with cloth, and they did the same.

Nanlamig ako dahil na rin siguro sa mga ligaw na kaluluwa na hindi ko naman nakikita pa. Hindi pa sila nagpapakita.

Circe raised her wand, and the butterfly symbol on the tip of it suddenly came to life. It became a black butterfly with red glow.

"Lead us to the Oracle of the Dead," mahinang wika ni Circe sa paru-paro.

The butterfly and the sorceress led the way.

There were some unrecognizable whisperes that filled our ears. Maya't maya kong tinitingnan ang mga kasamahan ko upang mabantayan nang ayos. The girls, of course, were frightened by the whispers. Except for Diane, she looked bored.

Bahagya akong tumigil nang makakita ng phantom-like sa dulo ng pathway na 'to. There was a pool of blood beneath it. Then, I looked to the other side, and almost cursed when I thought I saw Xynthea.

Where might she be now?

Slowly, the phantoms and shades showed themselves to us. There were also skeletons, bones, and corpse. These have probably not passed the rivers to the Underworld.

"Semideus."

Naningkit naman ang mata ko nang marinig 'yon. Tumingin ako sa kanila, at narinig din nila 'yon.

The butterly stopped moving, and it also stopped glowing. It returned to the wand's tip. Have we already reached the Oracle? Pero pakiramdam ko, onti palang ang nalalakbay namin.

"Have you not heard of the rules upon entering the Nekromanteion?"

I turned to Circe, at halatang nagtaka siya na tila hindi naiintidihan ang sinasabi ng kung sino man. Umiling siya sa'min, at tinaas ang wand niya. Her white hair glowed.

"There are no such rules—"

"We have established a new one after you, Necroamacy Queen, have sent Odysseus here. Every word we utter must have a price. We have been punished by the Gods for uttering the future."

Now, I remember. Circe sent him here to seek the future by the means of the shade of Tiresais— a blind seer.

"What are the rules?" I asked.

"Ah, mentee of Zeus. Do you... want to know the future, or would you rather know the past?"

The unknown voice chuckled. It lingered more to our senses. I could feel goosebumps all over. Napahawak ako sa leeg ko nang tila may malamig na kamay na humawak d'on.

"Or would you want to know who you really are, Zeref?" Pahabol niya. Dito naman ako mas lalong nagtaka. Who I really am?

"Do not listen to it, Zeref," suway sa'kin ni Irish. She closed her eyes, as if readimg all energy around.

She flinched when a soft screeching sound echoed through the crypt. She must have heard it aloud. I looked at Diane who was also shutting her eyes.

"Daughter of Iris. Daughter of Artemis. Ah, two lovely souls. You must not hear the harks of the dead."

Natigilan kami nang malakas na lumindol. Small rocks fell from above, blocking us from going any further to the pathway.

"I am the Sorceress Goddess. Why must you forbid us?!" pagalit na wika ni Circe.

More whispers of the shades filled our ears, a white fog-like roamed around all of us. Pinaglalaruan ba nila kami?

"The rules are simple as this, Semideuses."

Napapikit ako nang mariin nang makarinig ng isang malakas na iyak ng babae, but it must be a shade— not a real mortal.

"Death in exchange for the Oracle of the Dead."

Then, silence stretched all over. After a short while, almost all shades around uttered the phrase repeatedly. Death... in exchange for the Oracle of the Dead?

Someone among us must die to obtain the Oracle? Kaya ba kami pinadala ni Cronus dito? Dahil wala siyang isasakripisyo?

But... he can easily get a mortal to sacrifice! Everything is getting more confusing. Why must he send us here? Is it because of the Oracle or something else?

"None of us should die. Maaaring patibong lang 'to ni Cronus," ani ko.

"Zeref," I immediately turned when I heard the voice of my late mother. Why is she here? Why isn't she in the Afterlife? Or is this an illusion?

The voice of the unknown man returned, "One death for you to seek the truth and the future, Semideuses. The other Oracles would not see this. This is something that only the Oracle of the Dead knows."

"One death?" tanong ni Diane. She smirked and shook her head. "Then I will gladly give my life."

"As expected by the brave daughter of the Huntress. Are you sure now, my dear?"

"No," matigas naming wika ni Llyr. No one must die. It is pointless.

Diane smirked more, "Chill. I was ready to die the time I knew I am Artemis' daughter. Time must come where I have to return her powers, and it must be now. This must be Fate."

Nanliit ang mata ni Aster. "Diane? Are you crazy—"

Her sentence was cut by Diane's sudden question. "When must I die? Should it be now?"

"Diane," I almost uttered in a growl. Hindi niya ba 'to pinag-uusapan.

"Whenever I decide to, daughter of Semideus. But rest assured, not now."

"Deal," mabilis na sagot ni Diane. Marahas naman siyang hinila ni Llyr nang akmang maglalakad siya.

Marahas din namang tinabig ni Diane ang kamay ni Llyr. This time she looked serious.

"Apollo told us to obtain the oracle. Cronus might go here to obtain this too. It is Fate. Sigurado akong sinadya na 'to ng tadhana. I am meant to die, and Artemis will be back once I am."

"You don't have to do this," malambing na wika ni Aster.

"Then who will?" sagot niya pabalik. Wala ni isang nagsalita sa'min. "Who will? Whose death will be more beneficial? It is mine. Bukod sa makukuha niyo ang oracle, babalik na rin si Artemis. This is my decision, mga pare koy."

She stepped forward. The cries of the shades went quiet. A strong energy overpowered the atmosphere of the Nekromanteion. It must be Diane's. It was preventing us to move and stop her.

Llyr and Gideon was already cursing her. While I remain looking at her bravery and selflessness. She didn't show any fear for her own death. She has accepted that she was meant to die.

This only proves that broken vows have heavy consequences. For Artemis, the death of her daughter is that consequence.

"We shall mark you ours, daughter of Artemis."

"Oh, go! Bilisan n'yo," natatawang sambit ni Diane. "Siguraduhin niyong matino ang ibibigay niyo, ha. Hindi ako papakamatay 'pag hindi yan matino."

Woah, how can she even joke in this situation?

A symbol of a skull lit up and glowed  in Diane's hand. The mark. Tiningnan niya 'yon, at sinabing, "Cool naman pala, eh. 'Wag niyo ako masyadong biglain. Let me protect my loved ones before I completely die."

"Please," habol pa niya. This time it sounded more convincing.

"Then you shall die protecting your loved ones."

The Semideus
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

:)

Thank you for reading!