Heshiena's Point of View

I slightly groaned while my eyes still closed. Rinig na rinig ko ang sari-saring ingay ng kuwarto. It's quiet busy. There are sounds of steel clacking against each other. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mata. My eyes met an aurai checking up on me.

Tinignan ko ang aking paligid. Most of the colors are plain white. I'm in the clinic, I quickly concluded. Napalingon ako sa kaliwa ko. Doon ko nakitang may dalawang ibon sa bintana. I even slightly closed my eyes to not blinded by a sunrays breaking through the open window.

"How long have I was unconscious?" I asked the aurai.

"Since yesterday, my lady," she respectfully answered.

Tinanguhan ko naman siya bilang pagtugon. After that, lumabas na siya ng aking kuwarto rito sa clinic. Couple of seconds later, bumukas ulit ang pintuan. I silently gasped when I saw Mavros walking in. My eyes grew slightly wider when he give me a smile that he rarely show.

Habang ako naman ay tila umatras ang dila ko. Habang ang dibdib ko naman ay parang tangang kumabog. I saw his both ears flashed in red. And I could say the same thing with my face. I silently thanked him for faking a cough to break the awkward silence between us.

"Sabi ni Doc. Hange puwede ka na raw umuwi," parang naiilang niyang sabi sa akin.

I nodded him as a response. Matapos marinig ang sinabi niya ay dahan-dahan akong bumaba ng patient bed. He was also quick to assist me. I didn't complain. Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang gawin 'yon sa akin.

"How do you feel?" He suddenly asked when we finally got outside of the clinic after we both thanked Doc. Hange.

Nagpakawala ako nang malalim na buntonghininga. I was unconscious since yesterday. Doc. Hange said that my body were new for this. But I am disappointed I wasn't able to manipulate whatever the abilities I inherited from Poseidon.

Nandoon na 'yon eh. I felt the power racing in my veins, trying to escape from its jail. And today's Sunday. Bukas na bukas na mangyayari ang fight examination na sinasabi ni Sir Michael.

I don't want to fail. Not in my vocabulary. But after what had happened yesterday, it seemed I was going to experience failure in terms of academics for the first time. I couldn't use my abilities. I couldn't defend myself. I don't know how to counter the attacks of my opponent.

I used to be good at things despite of my bitter life. But now, I don't know what the hell is happening to me. It seemed like the universe dislike my existence. Tila ba'y hindi ito natutuwang nandito ako sa mundo.

Bumagsak ang aking balikat. This feeling. I hate it. Palagi na lang. Ano ba'ng nagawa ko sa mundo upang kamuhian ako nang ganito? Am I going to suffer for eternity?

Muli na namang nagbabadya ang luha sa mata ko. Pagod na pagod na ako. I've tried my very best. I know patience is a virtue. But my eighteenth years of existence are keep on haunting me. I've tried to think the brighter side, but the world won't let me.

There's a time that when I excel at something, something bad is going to happen. When I am attached to someone, death seems to follow me wherever I go. When I tried to make friends, hate is what I get.

"You can't stay in one place."

"Fight for yourself."

Napasinghap ako nang bumalik na naman sa aking isipan ang mga salitang narinig ko kina Sir Michael at Mavros. I gritted my teeth. Sir Michael has a point, I can't stay in one place. Hindi ako puwedeng manatili sa isang kulungang puno ng masasamang alaala.

And even Mavros has an absolute point. I have to fight for myself. Kailangan kong lumaban sa kabila ng pinagdaanan ko. Kasi kapag hindi ako lalaban, mananatili na naman ako sa kulungang walang katapusan, walang bintana at tanging kadiliman lamang ang nananaig.

I have to move forward. I have to continue the life that is given to me. Kahit na si Poseidon lang ang kilala kong tunay na parent ko ay sapat na 'yon. At least, I have now a name of my father. Isa pa, nandiyan naman si Katarina o si Amphitrite na puwede kong i-consider bilang ina.

Hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataong ibinigay mo sa akin, queen of the seas.

"Heshiena?" Nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang tawagin ako ni Mavros sa pangalan ko. "You okay?" nag-aalala niyang tanong sa akin.

I smiled. "Yeah," I sparingly answered. "Let's continue our training." Nagulat siya sa sumunod kong sinabi. He even looked at me with his questioning look.

"I can't waste any time, Mavros. Bukas na ang fight examination natin. I have to prepare myself. Plus, I felt my power yesterday that seemed wanting to escape from its jail," I said. His face suddenly lightened up. Seems intrigued. "But let's start with the basics first, is that alright?" I asked.

He scratched the back of his head, tila nahihiya. "Yeah, I should have done that yesterday. I'm sorry," his voice sounds guilty.

Binigyan ko siya ng isang matamis na ngiti.

"You just wanted to help. You don't have to be sorry," wika ko.

☽ ♆ ☾

I heaved a sigh when a familiar sound of sea waves crashing against the shore rang in my ears. I picture out the imagery of the ocean, and whispered my intentions to my heart. Ginawa ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko huwag lang ako mawala sa pokus.

I gasped in surprise when I felt the power racing in my veins back and forth. It's the same feeling I had felt yesterday. It's overwhelming.

"You felt it?" I heard Mavros ask. I silently nod as a response. "Don't lose it. Now try to perceive your intentions with that power. Because the essence of our power is connected to who we are." This is what I like with Mavros, he never loses his patience in teaching me what I needed to learn.

It's just surreal to me that someone stood beside me to help me to the best of his ability. I am not used to these things. Or perhaps, this realm is different to where I grew up.

"After that, try to manipulate that power."

Muli akong nagpokus. The more how I deep to concentrate, the more the power become heavier in my chest. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag. I remained focused and just let the power come to me. While my eyes still closed, a smile quickly plastered upon my lips when I heard the sound of water coming towards my direction.

It was followed by horses neighing.

Dahil dito ay mabilis kong iminulat ang aking mata. There I saw four horses made of sea water. Mas lalong lumaki ang ngiti sa aking labi nang makita ko ang hitsura nila. They were transparent obviously, but they are all pretty.

"Not surprising," Mavros suddenly said. Pero nanatili pa rin sa labi niya ang ngiting tila'y proud na proud. "Water blast," he added.

I was quick to agree on that because this is what Blei did a few days ago when us girls confronted Erin. As far as I can understand it, for me, water blast is an ability that can blast on a specific target area in the shape of horses.

My senses came back when I heard and realized one of the four horses snorted right in front of me. Sumilay ang matamis na ngiti sa aking mga labi. Dahan-dahan kong inilapat ang aking kamay sa mukha ng kabayo.

To my surprise, he quite anticipated my touch. I chuckled when the horse suddenly licked me on my right cheek. My eyes grew wider when I realized it's been a long time since I've felt this happy. I scoffed and just shrugged my shoulders.

"That's an offspring of Poseidon right there." Napalingon ako kay Mavros nang marinig ko siyang magsalita. There I saw a genuine smile plastered upon his lips. "Let's see if you can make them blast," he added.

I looked at him unsure of what I just heard from him.

"Don't worry, we're not animal abusers," he said. "They are made of your power, Heshiena. The water follows your command, therefore, use them for a good cause," dagdag niya.

Pagkatapos marinig 'yon ay muli kong tinapunan ang apat na kabayo. Tinitigan ko lang sila dahil hindi ko alam kung paano. I once again concentrate. This time, I didn't close my eyes instead I put my intentions to my heart.

Tumingin ako sa paligid.

I gasped when I realized. Hindi ko gustong sirain ang mga kahoy na nandito. They are way too beautiful to be destroyed. Tumingin ako sa malawak na dagat. And the academy is few inches away from where we are, I guess it's okay to make them explode at the place where they come from.

Naglakad ako patungo sa tubig dagat. Diretso lang ako hanggang sa naapakan ko na ang tubig. Muli na naman akong napasinghap nang mapagtantong medyo malayo na ako sa dalampasigan. Tumingin ako sa naapakan ko.

It's still water, but it's as if I was stepping upon a cement floor. Sa sobrang hanga ko ay hindi ko mapigilan ang sariling tumakbo hanggang sa napunta ako sa pinakagitna ng dagat. I am not drowning! And the confidence that seem sleeping within me started to building up in the surface.

"Woo-hoo!" I shouted at the top of my lungs when I felt the feeling I almost forgot.

It felt great. It felt good.

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang luhang kumawala sa aking mata sa sobrang saya. "Woo-hoo!" I shouted once again. And was quick to use the waves to speed myself.

When I was speeding up, the four horses were behind me. A wide smile was also quick to plastered upon my lips. Added to the first ability I discovered, it seems like I have the ability of water transportation using the sea waves.

"I am the queen of the world!" I shouted, but then was followed by thunder and lightning. I rolled my eyes when I understood it. "Or not," I said nervously. Then it stopped.

I scoff in disbelief. Panira ng moment. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag. I continued enjoying myself. Tumingin ako sa tubig. There I saw in the reflection of myself, smiling widely. Forgetting all my burdens for a new self-discovery.

I slowly bend down to touch the water. When I finally reached my finger on it, my body suddenly turned into water. I laughed in surprise when I realized what kind of ability I discovered just now. Water mimicry.

Hinayaan ko ang aking sarili na ganoon ang ayos nang ilang segundo. Lumingon ako sa aking likuran. Nakita ko ang apat na kabayong hanggang ngayon ay nakasunod pa rin sa akin.

Ikinumpas ko ang aking mga kamay dahilan para lagpasan nila ako. At ilang pulgada na ang layo nila sa akin ay saka ko naman sila pinasabog.

When the four of them exploded, ice poured down from the explosion. I can manipulate ice too?! Sa sobrang hanga ko sa aking sarili, ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata.

At ramdamin ang kakaibang pakiramdam na 'to na ngayon ko lang muling naranasan. I raised both of my arms, and face my palms upon the sky.

Without losing the smile on my face.