Heshiena's Point of View

Hanggang ngayon ay nakanganga pa rin ang bibig ko dahil sa malaking dome na nakalutang sa tubig. There is even a bridge connecting to the academy. Pagkagising namin itong malaking dome ang bumungad sa amin. It was floating in the surface few inches away from the academy.

We all are wearing our golden fitted fighting suit. Lulan kami ngayong lahat sa isang lumilipad na malaking chariot. The chariot have a total of six winged horses. Chry, on the other hand, is the one who drive the chariot.

Couple of minutes later, the very top of the spherical dome slightly opened for our chariot to enter.

Humanga kaagad ako sa sobrang dami ng mga estudyanteng nandito. Punong-puno ang mga upuan. When our chariot landed at the center of the dome, all of them cheered. My face quickly grimaced when I felt the pain in my ears.

"Anostatos! Anostatos!" and there they continued to cheer for us.

I scoff in disbelief. Damn, this is a big deal. Couldn't stop myself but swear. I can't believe that our fight examination is a big deal around here. The students even anticipated this kind of event. And the thought that the whole academy is watching me fight gives me a great amount of anxiety.

I roamed my eyes around the dome. And my eyes grew wider when I saw Katarina waved at me. Katabi pa niya si Poseidon. Because of that, mas lalo akong kinabahan para sa sarili ko. The four city leaders were also here. Even the Council of Elders.

I give Katarina a smile before averting my eyes. I bit my lower lip to restrain the nervousness that starting to building up. Halos hindi rin mapakali ang mga mata ko dahil sa sobrang daming matang nakatingin sa akin.

Napunta ang mga mata ko sa sahig.

But out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed there were people in the water. I gasped for air when I realized that they are the nereids. Sa pagkakaalala ko'y isa silang Haliad nymphs. Therefore, that makes them minor sea goddesses.

Katarina or Amphitrite also mentioned that she is a nereid. Basically, ang mga nandito ay ang mga kapatid niya. The nereids, individually, they represented various facets of the sea, such as salty brine, foam, sand, rocky shores, waves, currents, and the various skills possessed by seamen.

The fifty nereids and their brothers, nerites, are the children of Nereus and Doris. Sa nabasa ko tungkol kay Nereus, anak siya ng isang primordial god of the sea, si Pontus. Habang si Doris naman ay isa sa mga three thousand oceanids, anak ng dalawang titans na sina Oceanus at si Tethys.

The nereids are particularly associated with the Aegean sea, where they dwelt with their father in the depths within a silver cave. Their freshwater cousins are known as the naiads. Nereids are the matrons of sailors and fishermen, coming to the aid of men in distress and fighting perilous storms.

Additionally, they take care of the sea's rich bounty.

They are often accompany Poseidon in his court. Together with the tritones, they formed the retinue of Poseidon. Napatitig ako sa kanilang mga hitsura. The nereids had a beautiful long flowing hair dark as midnight.

Ganoon din ang mga nerites, pero ang kaibahan lang ay hindi ito mataas. They also had sea-green eyes and gossamer white dresses that billowed around them in the water. I was quick to stood firm when I saw teacher Michael take a two step forward.

Maging ang lahat ay tumahimik nang makita nila si Sir Michael.

"Who's excited?" Sir Michael asked in excitement. Dahil dito muling nagsigawan ang lahat. "Anostatos' fight examination has already been part of our academy's history. Kung saan magpapakitang gilas ang mga Anostatos sa pamamagitan ng labanan," he added.

Nakita ko siyang tumingin sa trono nina Poseidon at Amphitrite. Maging doon sa apat na city leaders, at sa council of elders. Nahagilap din ng mata ko ang pagbaba ng tingin niya.

"Same as last year, we were joined by lord Poseidon and lady Amphitrite!" he announced. The crowd once again cheered. May iilang pang sumisipol. "Maging sa apat na city leaders at council of elders. We were also joined here by the nereids and nerites!"

Umalingawngaw ang malakas na palakpakan. Nakita ko pang kumakaway sa aming lahat ang mga nereids at nerites. Muli akong napatingin sa kinaroroonan nina Poseidon at Amphitrite nang makaramdam ako nang pares na mga matang nakatingin sa akin.

There I saw Chiron standing few inches away from them. Nang magtama ang aming mga mata ay ngumiti siya sa akin. At ang sumunod niyang ginawa ay ang pagtango sa akin.

"Alright!" Natigil lamang ang ingay nang muling magsalita si Sir Michael. Habang ako naman ay animo'y mawawalan ng kaluluwa sa katawan dahil sa sobrang kaba. "This fight, there's no winner or loser," nagsimula na itong magpaliwanag.

"The performance they provide would be the basis of their grades." Kaagad akong napatango sa paliwanag ni Sir Michael. "The first one who can draws first blood indicates the battle is ended," huli niyang sabi.

Dahil dito ay namayani ang bulong-bulungan. Habang ako naman dito sa kinatatayuan ko'y kinakabahan pa rin. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang makakatapat ko mamaya. And I don't know how will this turns out. Despite everything I've learn, fear still embracing me.

"First pair are Blei, daughter of Poseidon, and Erin, daughter of Eros!" Naghiyawan ang lahat nang marinig ang inanunsyo ni Sir Michael ang unang maglalaban. "Let the fight examination begin!"

The moment Sir Michael shouted those words, the dome suddenly shook. Napatingin ako kay Poseidon. Siya lang naman ang divinity na kayang maka-generate ng pagyanig sa lupa. Napunta ang mata ko kay Mavros nang kalabitin niya ako sa balikat.

At napagtantong nasa standby platform na ang iba. Tinapunan ko ng tingin sina Blei at Erin sa huling pagkakataon. I mouthed them good luck before excusing myself from the center of the dome.

Nang makarating na kaming dalawa ni Mavros sa standby platform ay umupo kaagad kami sa dalawang available na upuan. Hanggang dito ay magkatabi ulit kaming dalawa. Tumingin ako pabalik sa sentro ng dome upang subaybayan ang susunod na mangyayari.

Blei and Erin's eyes were filled with determination. Dahilan para mapabuntonghininga ako sa inggit. I wish I had that kind of spirit. My forehead instantaneously furrowed when an odd wind suddenly brushed against my skin.

Kakaiba ang hatid nito sa akin. Tila ba'y bumubulong itong dapat akong tumingala sa kalangitan. There I saw the moon beaming beyond the sky. Mas lalo akong naguluhan dahil umagang-umaga may buwan.

But I couldn't restrain myself but to smile.

Muli na namang nabalik ang tingin ko sa sentro ng dome nang biglang tumunog ang malakas na putok ng isang baril. Saktong pagtingin ko ay nakita kong kaagad na nag-summon ng bow and arrow si Erin.

She quickly aimed her arrow to Blei. Couple of seconds later, walang pag-alinlangan niya itong binitawan. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Blei moved her jaw, a sign that she gritted her teeth before manipulating water shield to deflect Erin's arrows.

She may be deflected those arrows, but her eyes grew wider when it suddenly exploded. Dahil dito ay napatilapon si Blei sa impact nito. Napangiwi ako nang bigla akong nakaramdam ng sakit kasabay ng pagbagsak ni Blei sa sahig.

Mas lalong nadagdagan ng determinasyon ang mata ni Blei na manalo. And I quickly understands why. Our father, Poseidon, is here witnessing this event. She don't want to lose in front of him. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pressure.

Nakita ko namang ikinumpas ni Blei ang kaniyang dalawang kamay. She manipulate water and turned them into horses. When she pointed her index finger to Erin, the four water horses aggressively charged.

Erin was about to render herself invisible when the explosion from the water horses preceded her plan. Napasinghap ang lahat sa nasaksihan. Me, on the other hand, groaned in pain silently when my ear suddenly rang. I saw Erin reach her ear at the same time I reached mine.

"What the hell is happening?" bulong ko sa aking sarili. "Where is this unknown pain coming from?" bulong ko ulit.

Hindi naman nagtagal ay nawala kaagad ang sakit. Blei and Erin looked at each other in the eye. Ikinumpas na naman ni Blei ang kaniyang kamay. And summon a sword made of water. Habang si Erin naman ay nag-summon din ng espada. But it glowed in gold.

Katulad na lamang sa mga arrows niya. I heard the audience gasped.

When they both are satisfied exchanging death glares to each other, sinugod nila ang isa't isa. I saw Blei hold her sword tight. As they met at the very center of the dome, their clashing blades echoed. The audience was silent.

Nakita kong nagsilakihan ang mata ni Blei sa gulat nang bigla siyang sikmuraan ni Erin sa tiyan niya. Blei did cough twice, but she's quick to recover herself. My mouth fell half-open in admiration. Mabuti na lamang at walang dugong lumabas sa bibig niya nang umubo siya.

My eyes grew thrice wider when I saw Erin quickly aimed Blei's neck. She even smile devilishly, it's as if victory is already on her side. Little did she know, Blei instantaneously ducked to let Erin's blade passed above her head.

Wala ng sinayang na oras si Blei kaya sinipa niya si Erin sa parehong tuhod nito. Sa sobrang lakas nito'y nabitawan ni Erin ang hawak-hawak niyang espada. She even fell her knees upon the ground. Habang ako naman ay napangiwi na naman nang maramdaman ko ang sakit.

I reached my knee to caressed it. Dahil doon ko naramdaman ang sakit. I quickly gritted my teeth and my chest won't stop pounding rapidly. Nakadikit na naman ba sa akin ang malas? I gulp when I felt something clogged my throat. It's as if preventing me to breathe normally.

Bakit ako nagkakaganito? Bakit ako nanghihina?

"Heshiena, you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong sa akin ni Mavros.

I didn't bother to glance at him, instead I just nodded as a response. Subalit napalingon ako sa aking likuran nang maramdaman ko ang pares ng matang nakatitig sa akin. There I saw Chry, crossing her arms while staring at me.

The way she stares at me it's as if she's trying to decipher me through my soul. Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin pa't ibinalik ang aking tingin sa sentro ng dome. I heave a sigh. The moment Erin was weak, Blei used this as an advantage to slash her on her shoulder using her water sword.

I saw Erin's face grimaced when she felt the pain. Habang ako naman ay nakaramdam din ng matinding hapdi. Napahawak ako sa aking braso. I felt the pain, but it didn't bleed the same as Erin's.

Dahil dito mas lalo akong naguguluhan.

"Blei draws the first blood!" I heard Sir Michael shouted in proud. Sumunod naman ang malakas na hiyawan ng mga nanonood. "That would be all for the fight between Blei and Erin. They both impressed me."

Blei's water sword disappeared, and rush towards Erin. Inalalayan niya ito't humingi ng tawad. Erin just smiled and told her not to worry. It's a fair fight. I saw Blei manipulate a water orb. Dahan-dahan niya itong inilapat sa sugat ni Erin.

Napasinghap ako nang makita kong unti-unting naghilom ang fresh cut wound sa braso niya. It did surprised Erin as well. Pagkatapos ay naglakad silang dalawa papalapit sa amin. The others congratulated them, me, on the other hand, remained silent.

Tumingin ako sa kinaroroonan ni Poseidon. Tinablan kaagad ako ng matinding kaba nang makita ko sa mga mata niya kung gaano siya ka-proud sa kinalabasang unang laban. I instantaneously bit my lower lip. I wonder if I will make my father proud later the way Blei did.

"Next pair would be Zuki, son of Apollo, and Mavros, son of Hades!"

When Sir Michael announced the next pair to match, my eyes went straight to the person who seated beside me. I mouthed him good luck. He nodded as a response. Rinig na rinig ko rin ang sunod-sunod na bulong-bulungan.

Nang marinig ko ang isa sa pinagbulong-bulungan nila'y napasinghap ako. Kaagad akong sumang-ayon. Zuki, the son of Apollo, who had the ability to manipulate sunrays. And Mavros, the son of Hades, who had the ability over darkness. It is literally light versus darkness.

This is indeed interesting.