Thea's POV

"Pupunta tayo sa templo ni Mnemosyne kung saan binugbog sina Kuya Seht mo," sabi ko kay Arah nang iatras ni Seht ang kotse sa isa sa mga parking space. "Diba, Seht?"

"Yeah, right." Pinatay na ni Seht ang makina. "That was the time when you decided to ignore us the entire mission."

Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa labas nang mapagtantong sobrang tahimik. Kotse lang namin ang meron sa harap ng nakasaradong ospital, at wala na akong nakikitang ibang mga tao. Hindi naman nakakatakot tignan ang lugar dahil sa maaliwalas na kalangitan, pero hindi ko rin naiwasang kutuban na multo ang pinunta namin dito at hindi kasal ng mga kaibigan ko.

"Mag-g-ghost hunting ba tayo rito?" tanong ko. "Seht naman! Ang sabi ni Cesia makakapasok tayo agad sa templo, eh!"

Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Seht. "You don't feel it?"

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Ang alin?"

"You'll have to step outside," aniya, saka lumabas.

Narinig ko naman si Arah na sumunod sa kanya.

Napatitig ako sa aking harapan nang mapansin ko ang mga bintana na gumalaw nang kaunti. Dagliang naglaho ang buong gusali sa paningin ko kaya't napakurap-kurap ako. Pinigilan ko lang ang sarili ko na kusot-kusutin yung mga mata ko kasi naka-make-up na ako, eh.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at nalamang nasa gitna kami ng syudad, pero walang signal.

Ibig sabihin, sobrang kapal ng mist?

Napasigaw ako nang makarinig ng mahihinang katok mula sa labas, ngunit wala akong nakita sa aking paglingon.

"Hala, gago." Nagsimula na akong kabahan. "Seht!" sigaw ko at luminga-linga. "Arah!"

Tuluyan na nga akong napatili nang biglang bumukas yung pinto at bahagya akong napapikit dahil sa matinding liwanag mula sa labas.

Yumuko si Seht nang nakakapit sa pinto. "I told you to step outside."

Tinulungan niya akong makalabas ng sasakyan at napasinghap pagkatapos makita ang maraming katao na kalalabas lang din mula sa mga kotse nila. Sinarado ni Seht ang pinto sa likod ko at inayos ang mahabang skirt ng gown ko habang ako naman, nanatiling nakatayo, sa gitna ng sobrang lawak na kaparangan.

Pakiramdam ko tuloy nag-teleport ako sa ibang bansa dahil sa malaking ipinagbago ng aking kapaligiran.

"Puta-" Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa purse ko. "Tangina?!" sigaw ko dahilan na mapatingin ang ibang bisita sa'kin.

Isang lumilipad na chariot ang unti-unting lumapag sa lupa at pumarada sa may unahan. Mula rito, bumaba ang isang matangkad at napakagandang babae. Napasinghap ako dahil sa suot niyang puting gown na gawa sa literal na yelo. Kasingkulay din nito ang buhok niyang napapalamutian ng kulay asul na mga diamante.

"Is she really that beautiful, father?" Lumabas ang usok mula sa kanyang bibig nang magsalita siya.

Umingay ang puting kabayo na siyang humila ng chariot bago nag-anyong isang lalaki na mas matangkad pa sa kanya.

Lumiwanag ang aking mga mata nang matandaan ang hitsura nito, pagka't isa siya sa gods na nakita kong tumulong sa'min laban sa rebel deities.

"Boreas?!" pabulong kong sigaw. God of the North Wind and Winter?!

Inayos ng god ang lapel ng suit niya. "I'll let you see her for yourself."

Kusang bumigat ang aking panga nang mapagtantong ang babaeng kasama niya ay walang iba kundi ang anak niyang si Khione, na goddess of snow.

Tumingala ako pagkatapos makarinig ng mga pagaspas at nakita ang iilang chariots na paikot-ikot sa ibabaw namin.

Bigla akong nanghina sa mga babae't lalaki na nakasakay sa mga ito.

Napaatras ako. "Uuwi na ako..." Umikot ako. "Uuwi na ako!"

Nagtangka akong bumalik sa loob ng kotse nang harangan ako ni Seht. "Thea? What's wrong?"

"Seht!" Nagpapadyak-padyak ako. "Hindi pwede 'to!"

"What?" aniya. "Why?"

"Sampalin mo nga ako!" sigaw ko sa kanya.

"Huh-"

"Sampalin mo ako!"

"No!" Napasigaw na rin siya. "What's wrong with you?!"

Isang portal ang lumitaw sa likod niya at mula rito, lumabas ang isang babae at lalaki na magkahawak ang mga kamay.

Napaatras ako nang makilala si Hypnos at ang asawa niyang si Pasithea.

"H-Hindi ako nananaginip?" Nanlalaki ang aking mga mata nang tignan ko si Seht.

"What- why would you even be dreaming?"

"Kasi bulag ka ba, Seht?!" Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang balikat niya. "Napapalibutan tayo ng deities!" Niyuyugyog ko siya. "Pero wala tayo sa digmaan!" 

"What did you expect?" Binaba niya ang mga kamay ko. "You do know that Mnemosyne invited every deity that fought with us during the rebellion, right?"

Napatakip ako ng bibig at umiling-iling.

"Apparently, the titan goddess deemed today as the official celebration of the realms after the rebellion."

Ria's POV

Fire from my wings quickly spread and engulfed my whole body, taking shape of a red dress the moment I shifted back to my human form and step foot on grass.

I continued to walk alone until a figure flew past above me, blocking sunlight for a moment. Sinulyapan ko si Chase na lumitaw sa aking tabi at sinabayan ako sa paglalakad patungo sa napakalaki at kumikinang na templo.

Itinupi niya ang kanyang mga gintong pakpak at nakita ko kung paano ito tuluyang naglaho ilang segundo bago niya ipinalipot ang kanyang braso sa aking beywang.

"Ganda ng misis ko, ah..." puna niya.

I snickered.

Ngumiti siya habang nakatuon sa aming harapan. "Lagi naman."

When Cesia told me that Mnemosyne offered her temple as a venue, I didn't expect the titaness to create an entire domain in the middle of the city. Gods know how massive this trance-like reality is, because I swear with my own eyes that the grassland where the temple stood reached beyond the horizon.

The power of the titan goddess of memories...

Napailing ako, hindi pa rin makapaniwala, kahit nasaksihan ko na ang tunay niyang kapangyarihan noong binisita ko siya sa templo niya bago siya maglaho.

Napangiti ako.

Noong inutusan niya akong patayin ang oracle na nag-traydor sa kanya, ngunit hindi ko nagawa.

I took pleasure in taking my time inhaling the refreshing wind that surrounded the temple. Somehow, the calm atmosphere reminded me of both the bride and groom.

Well, everything reminded me of them.

The clear blue sky... the tranquil winds... the warm and soothing light that seeped from the clouds and gently touched the ground...

It was... "Heavenly," bulong ko sa sarili.

"I wonder how many guests there are..." mahina kong puna nang makita ang mga mortal at imortal na nagtitipon-tipon sa labas ng templo.

Light beautifully reflected on the shiny marble of Mnemosyne's temple. I tilted my head to the side to take a peek at the luscious garden partially hidden behind it. It was wide enough that I could see a few of the tables and chair scattered in the middle of large archways decorated with different-colored roses.

I saw a woman dressed in a floral gown stand in awe at the sight, before turning around and smiling at us.

It was the goddess Demeter, who slowly waved her hand above the ground below her.

Chase and I, and a few others, stopped on our tracks when dandelions sprouted from where she stood and spread across the surrounding meadow of the garden.

Persephone appeared behind the floating dandelion petals wearing a sparkling green and purple dress. She raised both her arms and looked up as she summoned a rain of rose petals within and around the garden.

Napayuko ako nang nakangiti.

Like every one of us, they both looked delighted.

"Ria!"

Nabaling ang aking atensyon kay Thea na tumakbo sa'kin suot ang nababahalang ekspresyon sa mukha.

Agad niyang kinuha ang kamay ko at hinila ako. "Mabuti nalang talaga at nakita ko kayo!" Clearly, she was panicking. "Hindi ko kayang pumasok sa templo! Inunahan na nga ako ng kapatid ko, eh! Kaya sabay na tayo!"

Tinignan ko si Seht na napakibit-balikat. "Says she feels small surrounded by deities."

Tinapunan ko ng tamad na tingin si Thea. "You, an Omega, who saved the realms, including the deities, feels small around them?"

"Ah, basta!" Umiling-iling siya. "Tara na!"

Habang hatak-hatak ako ni Thea papasok ng templo, nilingon ko si Chase. "Can you check if the rest of us are already inside?"

Tinanguan niya ako, bago maglaho.

Ilang sandali pa'y sinalubong niya kami sa may pintuan ng templo. "Andito na silang lahat," pagbibigay-alam niya. "Nasa kaliwang corridor ang kwarto ng bride, tas nasa kanan naman ang sa groom."

Binigyan ko siya ng isang manamis-namis na ngiti. "Thanks, baby."

Nginitian niya rin ako. "Puntahan muna namin si bro," paalam niya. "Hindi kasi ako nakarinig ng ni isang kulog simula nang dumating tayo. Baka nahimatay na pala 'yon."

Hinatid ko sila ng tingin ni Seht na papalayo sa'min nang mapansin kong hindi na kami gumagalaw ni Thea.

Nilingon ko siya na nakanganga habang nakatuon sa aming harapan, kaya napaharap na rin ako, at kagaya niya ay napabukas ng bibig pagkatapos makita ang kabuuang loob ng templo.

My eyes widened with astonishment as I saw the long benches arranged into two columns. Decorated with woven fabrics and white ribbons, it looked earthly. We were surrounded by vases of different sizes and flowers of different kinds, as well as classical sculptures.

Tumingala ako.

Large neutral-colored curtains loosely hung across the ceiling, and paintings from the renaissance period lined either side of the temple walls.

The place was beautifully overcrowded with flowers and timeless pieces of artworks.

I almost shed a tear when the corners of my lips almost reached the heavens.

Cesia...

She wanted her wedding to be classical, vintage... in honor of time, and beauty.

And it was perfect.

Napatakip ako ng bibig nang maramdaman ang pagtulo ng isang luha.

In front of me, the aisle sparkled with gold and silver mist, and on the other end, a wooden arch decorated with flowers and dried strings stood on an elevated platform that had a short staircase in the middle.

Ako na naman ang napahawak ng mahigpit kay Thea. "I-It's beautiful," naiiyak kong puna. "Just like her."

Kara's POV

"Heavenly!" Aphrodite exclaimed and approached her daughter with open arms.

Sinalubong naman siya ni Cesia ng isang mahigpit na yakap.

Meanwhile, her dad and aunt calmly walked in and did not forget to greet me before turning to face their one and only.

"Ayos lang ba ang gown mo?" usisa ng auntie niya. "Nakakahinga ka pa naman, diba?"

Cesia chuckled softly, but then gasped with surprise when an aurai tightened the lace of her corset which will serve as her undergarment, along with a silk skirt.

She needed a corset and an underlayer of skirt because her dress was made out of thin and layered lace fabric. Though I haven't seen it on her yet, I had this feeling that she will look like a lost goddess in the woods once she wears it.

"T-Teka-" She held her stomach. "M-Mukhang hindi na-"

"Cesia!" nag-aalalang sigaw ni Art na may halong tili.

The aurai quickly apologized and loosened it.

Cesia let out another laugh as another aurai gently flapped her wings to lift itself up and fix her hair.

"Have you seen the garden?" Aphrodite clasped her hands. "It looks amazing!"

Umiling si Cesia nang nakangiti. "Di bale, makikita ko rin naman mamaya sa reception." Saka niya ipiniling ang kanyang ulo sa gilid. "Pa, dumating na ba sina Thea at Ria?"

As if on cue, Thea and Ria entered the room. Napatayo ako pagkatapos makita ang namamaga nilang mga mata.

"What happened?" nag-aalala kong tugon.

"Sorry-" Ria sniffed. "We got overwhelmed on our way here."

Aphrodite then commanded a few aurai to give them a retouch.

Natawa ako nang mahina at napailing, bago maupo sa paanan ng higaan.

"Kara," sambit ni Cesia dahilan na mapatingin ako sa kanya. "Okay ka lang?"

Nginitian ko siya. "I am."

Her eyes focused on me, before it drifted down to my stomach. Napangiti siya rito bago iangat ang kanyang tingin. 

"Okay," aniya.

I didn't let out a sigh of relief. I was not afraid of her knowing in the first place. She could see everything, but also feel everything, and she knows better than to gasp loudly or make an obvious reaction.

Whatever good did Trev do in his past life that he was destined to marry this girl in his current life...

"Let's not overwhelm the bride..." Cesia's father spoke with genuine care and deep concern for her daughter. "-since she's still occupied."

Cesia gave him a grateful nod.

"Easy for you to say, Gabriel," reklamo ng auntie niya. "Ikaw lang naman kasi ang sasalubong sa kanya sa gitna ng aisle at sabayan siya sa paglalakad."

Bumulong-bulong siya. "I'm her pillar, you know."

"And I'm her mother," sabat naman ni Aphrodite.

"I raised her."

"I gave birth to her."

And their argument is exactly why only Gabriel will get to walk Cesia on the aisle.

Hinatid ko ng tingin sina Gabriel nang magpaalam na sila para salubungin ang patuloy na nagdadagsaang mga bisita. I offered to go with them and help greet the guests, especially since I knew some people from the Academy were invited, but they insisted I accompany the bride this whole time.

Two aurai excused Cesia from us and pulled her behind a room divider.

Kaye entered the room wearing a brown sequined dress. "Sorry, di na namin nakayanan." She giggled. "We needed to sneak a peek at the groom."

Nakahawak siya sa braso ni Matilda na napangiti rin. The oracle wore a long pastel yellow dress and had dandelion petals on her hair, which meant they had the time to not only visit the groom's room, but also the gardens.

"We took a stroll," Matilda calmly said once she noticed my inspecting gaze.

Napakurap-kurap si Kaye habang nakatuon sa'min. "I think dad and Hector are here." Saka niya mahinang hinatak si Matilda. "Let's go meet them!"

"But Kaye, I want to see the bride-" Bigla siyang napatigil, at gano'n din si Kaye.

The smell of honey and roses filled my senses as I slowly turned to Cesia who stood with her back against a mirror.

And while the aurai were still busy fixing the hems of her skirt, we continued to stare at her in silence.

It was undeniable that we were looking at not only a goddess, but the living embodiment of beauty itself.

Nginitian niya kami, at kasabay nito ay ang pagliwanag ng aming mga mukha.

Naramdaman ko ang panggigilid ng aking mga luha nang matagpuan ko ang aking sarili na humahakbang papalapit sa kanya kasama yung iba.

Cesia wore a white dress with swirling patterns of lace. Its neckline was shaped like the top of a heart and on her shoulders, loosely hung her sleeves. Everything about her dress was sensitive to the atmosphere. It moved when the gentlest breeze passed us, especially her long flowy skirt that resembled a thin white waterfall.

Napapikit ako nang marahan niyang hawakan ang aking mukha at tinuyo ang luha kong hindi ko namalayang nakatakas pala.

"Kara..." sambit niya.

Nakakunot ang aking noo nang mapangiti sa kanya. "You're as beautiful as always..."

I was reminded of how I looked at her with awe when we fought against Gaia, and she fell from the heavens... and when she revealed herself from the horizon, to win us the rebellion.

Ibinaba niya ang kanyang kamay at isa-isa kaming tignan nang namamasa ang mga mata.

She was the happiest, and we were too, for her.

"T-Tangina ang swerte ni Trev-" Naluluhang sabi ni Thea habang nakayakap kay Art na humihikbi. Sa tabi nila ay si Ria na napakisap-kisap bago umiwas ng tingin.

Tinignan ko ang aurai na nakatayo sa likod ni Cesia at sinenyasan siyang ibigay sa akin ang korona ng mga bulaklak na nasa kamay niya.

She gladly gave it to me and took a step back, bowing her head.

I walked around Cesia, slowly taking in how beauty could be this timeless. I stopped behind her, and in full view of her golden hair that dripped in waves against her small back.

And like a monarch carrying the heavy responsibility of naming an heiress, I gently lowered the crown above her head.

Bahagya niya akong nilingon. "Thank you..."

My eyes trailed down to the long train that was attached at the back of her skirt. It seemed as if clouds touched the floor behind her, and I know that it will follow her too, in every step she will take.

"Hello, my favorite demigod."

Sabay kaming napalingon kay Persephone na pumasok nang nakasuot ng malapad na ngiti. Behind her, an aurai handed her a bouquet of flowers that she delightfully passed to the bride.

"Thank you, Persephone," ani Cesia nang matanggap ito.

The goddess eyes' glimmered with pleasure. "You look lovely..." She lightly ran her fingers on the side of her hair. "But even lovelier under the stars..."

Her palm glowed bright as small sparks appeared to cover Cesia, forming an invisible veil. 

No fabric. No lace. Just small stars that glittered around her.

"Astraea made it..." Persephone said. "-for the selfless demigod who gave up a wish in order to bring light to the realms, when there was nothing but darkness."

Astraea, a goddess of justice, a maiden that lived amongst the stars, and the constellation Virgo...

"She sends her regards, Cesia, and she watches from the heavens..."

I took a deep breath and let out a pleasant sigh.

Everything for you, Abigail Young.

Cal's POV

Nakakunot ang aking noo habang nakatingin kay Chase na umiiyak habang nakayakap kay Dio.

"Amputa-" Humikbi siya. "Akala ko talaga tatandang mag-isa 'tong bro ko, eh!"

Dio looked bored while rubbing his back.

"Cairo."

I turned to face Trev who buttoned the ends of his own sleeves. He wore an all-white suit and took long tall strides as he walked towards me.

"Have you seen her?" he asked.

Umiling ako.

"I want to see her." 

Lalabas na sana siya nang harangan siya ni Seht sa may pintuan.

"You can't," sabi nito sa kanya. "Not yet."

Trev grimaced. "Out of my way, son of Apollo."

Seht held his head higher and crossed both his arms on his chest. "You'll have to make me."

"Stop it, you two," Dio spoke with authority. "Cesia specifically said that no fighting is allowed on her wedding day."

Tumigil sa pag-iyak si Chase at humiwalay sa kanya para makiusisa.

"It is also my wedding, Dio," paalala ni Trev sa kanya.

Dio shook his head. "Still, that doesn't mean you can do anything you wa-" Hindi niya natapos ang kanyang pangungusap nang makarinig kami ng malakas na kulog mula sa labas.

Umangat ang aking magkabilang kilay.

Before tension could grow inside the room, I chuckled.

Niwalang-kibo ko ang mga singhap nina Chase at lumapit kay Trev sabay hawak sa balikat niya. "It's almost time, Trev." I gave him a gentle tug and patted his back. "She'll be in front of you before you know it."

Because that's what usually happens.

Or at least that's what happened to me when I married Art.

For some reason, happier days turn out to be shorter, and at the end of the day, it feels like everything happened in a blink of an eye.

Trev sighed. "Can you check up on her for me?"

Tumango ako.

I took a step back and summoned darkness to surround me until I could see nothing. Before I could shiver with extreme cold, my eyes landed on a group of girls gathered in the middle of the room.

At the center, was a girl draped in white.

Nakapamulsa ako nang suriin siya at yung mga kasama niya.

I risked being seen in doing so, but not one of them, not even my wife, noticed me. They were all too distracted.

Napangiti ako, bago umikot at humakbang papasok sa anino ng isang sulok.

"She's fine," sabi ko kay Trev nang makabalik ako sa harap niya.

He looked down and nodded his head.

"Kuya!"

All his worries seemed to fade when two young girls ran to him for an embrace. He held their heads and pulled them closer.

Yumuko si Trev. "Where's mom?"

"Tell me why I passed by the twelve Olympians just now." Pumasok sa kwarto ang isang babae. "Your father and grandfather including."

Nginitian niya si Trev bago ilipat ang kanyang tingin sa'kin. "If it isn't my half-brother..."

"Silice," bati ko sa kanya.

"Girls," She called for her daughters. "Say hi to your uncle."

"Hi, uncle!" sabay nilang bati sa'kin.

I smirked at Trev who returned a cold harsh glare. 

As of this moment I wanted to kick his face and force him to look up to me and call me the same, because why not? I was his uncle.

"Kuya! Sure ka po ba na sure din si Ate Cesia sa'yo?" tanong ng isa sa mga kapatid niya sa kanya.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at sinulyapan sina Dio na napalingon din, nagpipigil ng tawa. 

"Sabi ni Treasure di raw po kayo bagay!"

"Really?" Napakunot ng noo si Trev. "Treasure?"

"Di ka naman kasi god kuya, eh!"

Silice laughed. "We stopped by the bride's room," aniya. "They were smitten by how beautiful she looked."

"Kuya Sky!" Her sister tugged on his suit. "Kumikinang si Ate Cesia!"

A knowing smile drew across her brother's face. "She always does."

I took a deep breath and letting it all out, crossed my arms against my chest.

Habang nakamasid sa kanila, nilunok ko ang namumuong luha sa aking mga mata, at saka napangiti.

Love and long live, Sky Dios Austria.