XYNTHEA
ZEREF's POINT OF VIEW

"Where is Xynthea?" tanong ko nang mapansing wala na siya sa tabi namin.

We are now in Tartarus. I realized that this is a memory from the 19th of June. I was with Gideon, Aster, and Diane.

Hades turned to us, then looked around. Wala nga siya. Wala si Xynthea, pero ni hindi ko nga naaalalang kasama namin siya rito. That only means she was really removed from our memories.

"Thanatos," tawag ni Hades.

"What?"

"We must find her. Never let her near Cronus," sagot ni Hades. Nagkatinginan naman kaming mga Semideuses.

Nakaalis na si Hades at Thantaos, at akmang hahanapin na rin naman si Xynthea nang biglang may tumawag sa'min.

"Semideuses," a soft voice called. We all turned to the direction of the voice. It was an unknown face, but we acted like we knew her.

"Metis," bati ni Aster. Metis? The one that my mother mentioned. I watched her closely, and she resembled both Athena and Xynthea.

She was covered with a cloak, and then she quietly walked towards us.

"The Olympian Gods knew," bungad na wika niya.

"Alin?" tanong ni Diane. "That Xynthea is your daughter with Zeus?"

What? We already knew it back then? Tumango si Metis sa'min, "Yes. They overheard my conversation with Mnemosyne. I have to go, but please... please help me protect her. The Olympians are already on their way here."

Bago siya umalis, may binilin pa siya. "Then if you survive, go to Mnemosyne, and she will know what to do. Please do your best."

Nawala na siya, at nilabas na agad ni Diane ang espada niya. "Ibig niyang sabihin, dapat nating kalabanin ang mga Diyos."

My eyes squinted. So, this was it. This was the reason why Gideon almost died. Then, blurry memories passed through. We were able to delay the Olympians from killing Xynthea, and we escaped them— wounded and out of energy. It was chaotic.

Gideon was left. Pinarusahan siya ng sarili niyang ama, Hephaestus. Hindi malinaw ang lahat ng nangyari, so I guess Mnemosyne's only returning the memories that are important.

That was also the moment we first met Irish and Llyr. Irish helped us escape and move to Mnemosyne's island, and Llyr protected and healed us.

But it seems like they've forgotten about this too.

Nakita naman namin si Mnemosyne. She was still okay and healthy-looking here, like a real Titaness. Mukha namang nakuha na niya agad ang nagyayari, at pumasok sa loob ng templo.

We all followed her inside.

Wala naman sa wisyo akong nagsalita. Tss, of course this is a memory. Everything I'll do will be out of my present will.

"What shall we do, Mnemosyne?" tanong ko.

Mnemosyne turned to us, "You must listen carefully, Semideuses. There was a misunderstanding, and it is too late to fix it."

"What misunderstanding is it?" Damon asked.

The Titaness sighed, "Xynthea is not a prophesied child. The second child must be a son, not a daughter. This only means that she is not a threat. She is not someone who could overthrow Zeus."

Napasinghap si Aster, "Then... she might be killed for a wrong accusation!"

Tumango si Mnemosyne, "Exactly. That is why we need to erase her from the memories of others because we have no time now. Kung makakalimutan siya ng lahat, magkakaroon tayo ng oras to prove that she is not a threat. She will be safe from then on."

"Hindi makikinig ang mga Olympians sa kahit anong paliwanag. As long as they see a threat for their reign, they will eliminate them. That is reality."

"What should we do?"

Umiling naman si Mnemosyne. "We just have to protect her until I completely remove her existence."

A loud bang suddenly stopped us. Then, we heard Metis' screams.

"Cronus, no! This is not our plan!"

I heard a voice similar to mine. "Tch, Metis. Did you seriously believe that I will do it?"

Lumabas kaming lahat at nakita namin si Cronus na buhat-buhat si Xynthea. My eyes squinted when I noticed ichor dripping from her neck. There was a deep wound. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang mapagtanto 'yon.

Did... Xynthea die before?

Napakuyom ako sa'king kamao, ngunit lahat kami'y hindi makagalaw. Cronus must have stopped time. Sinubukan kong gumalaw, ngunit hindi ko talaga kaya.

I saw a dagger in the other hand of Cronus. He really did harm her. He must have deceived her! Kayang-kaya naman siyang labanan ni Xynthea, pero bakit parang hindi siya nanlaban?

Did he trick Xynthea using his voice? Maaaring pinaniwala niyang ako 'yon, kaya't hindi siya nanlaban. After all, our voices are the same. Cronus could easily pretend as me, basta ba't hindi niya ipapakita ang mukha niya.

"She's dead." One of my hands suddenly moved because of his statement.

She's dead... then how come is she alive now, in the present time?

Cronus turned to me, "Don't try to move, Semidues." Hindi niya siguro alam na anak niya ako— na ako ang papatay sa kaniya.

None of us spoke. Lumapit siya sa'min at nilapag niya si Xynthea sa lupa. She was pale, and I carefully studied her breathing.

She really wasn't breathing. Anger filled within me. Pinikit ko ang mata ko para hindi na siya makita. Nanginig lang ako, at pakiramdam ko hindi ako makahinga sa kung ano mang dahilan.

Surprisingly, a tear fell in my eye. She was dead. She is someone from my past, and seeing her dead must have hurt me. I can actually feel the pain— even if I lack memories of her.

Even if everything is unclear.

"She will be the key for me to reign once again, Semideuses. She will be the one to unseal me again. She will be my greatest weapon."

Nang imulat ko ang mata ko, masama akong tumingin kay Cronus. He wore a mischievous that I badly wanted to break. Nag-igting panga ako. My body badly wanted to move and shove my hand over his face.

Bumigat ang paghinga ko lalo, at nanginginig na ang kamay ko sa galit.

How will Cronus make Xynthea a weapon if she is dead? She must not be dead, right?

Cronus made an hourglass out of his hands. The sands of the hourglass didn't move.

"Once I am released again, this hourglass will begin. Once the last grain falls, time will be frozen. Everything will be under my control."

Napasinghap ako nang lumutang si Xynthea sa ere. Cronus moved his hands above, as if he was controlling something inside her.

"I will bring her back from the dead through manipulating the time inside her. I purposely killed her to revive her with my own power— in order to be in control of her."

What? Is that possible? Returning the past state of someone without having to turn back everyone's time? Katawan lang ni Xynthea ang babalik sa oras, ngunit hindi mismong oras ang babalik?

Then... she will be alive, but in reality she is dead. Her soul is dead.

Kaya ba siya laging nahihimatay, at nanghihina? And is that also the reason why she doesn't have a thread?

That was also why my mother said that she must be dead. She belongs to the dead, after all.

But what keeps Xynthea alive?

Then in one snap of Cronus, Xynthea opened her eyes. Her colour turned pale, her ash brown hair became silver, and her violet eyes, gray. She looked lifeless, but she was breathing.

Cronus smirked, "Life in exchange of life. Mortals will die first, and the gods will follow. Xynthea will be the one to make that prophecy true."

Malakas na humangin, at nawala na sila sa'ming paningin. Bumalik na kami sa realidad. Nagkatinginan kaming lahat.

Mnemosyne sighed, "A dead brought back to life must be back to the dead."

The Semideus
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

🤪 sana gets niyo. More revelations to cOme!

Votes and comments are highly appreciated. Thank you for reading!