Heshiena's Point of View

I don't know how many times I gritted my teeth and balled my palms into fists. Hindi ko na rin alam kung gaano kalakas ang pagkabog ng aking dibdib. Tila ba'y nabingi na ako sa sobrang lakas nito. Panay lunok din ako ng laway dahil kung ano-ano'ng mga ideyang pumasok sa isipan ko. I can't stop myself from worrying about everything that's going on right now.

Nandito kaming lahat sa living area, lahat kami tahimik.

Chry was summoned to the office. Maging ako naman. But I immediately declined and let Chry do her things. Ayokong iwan ang mga taong nandito lalo na't nagkakagulo ang paligid.

"Domains . . ." Lahat kami napatingin kina Nkri at Blaze nang sabay silang magsalita.

Nagpakawala ng malalim na buntonghininga si Nkri. "The domains of the Olympians are in disarray. They are the rulers of every aspect of human life, right?" Everyone nodded. "Do you guys remember what I told you few days ago?" muling tanong ni Nkri.

Namayani ang katahimikan. Tila inaalala ang mga sinabi niya noong nakaraan. I silently gasped in surprised when I realized what she meant. May sinabi siya noong nakaraan tungkol sa mga narinig niyang pinag-usapan nina Miss Aqua at saka ni Chiron. Nagpakawala ako nang marahas na pagbuntonghininga nang maalala ang isang parte kung saan sa akin na naman nakaturo ang mga posibleng dahilan sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

"Ah, tungkol ba roon sa mga narinig mo kina Miss Aqua at Chiron?" pagkukumpirma ni Dash.

Nkri hummed in agreement. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Mavros' forehead furrowed in confusion. He then looked at me. Napalunok ako ng laway.

Pagkatapos niya akong tignan ay ibinaling niya ang kaniyang atensyon kina Nkri at Blaze. Maging ang dalawa ay napalunok ng laway.

Since they couldn't resists Mavros' intense stares, Nkri told him everything. Inaasahan kong magkakaroon ng violent reaction itong si Mavros matapos marinig ang assumptions tungkol sa pagta-traydor ng underworld laban sa kapayapaan ng realmo. Sa halip ay walang kaemosyon siyang nagkibit-balikat.

Subalit ang lahat ay naghihintay sa magiging komento niya.

A sigh of defeat came out of his lips. "If my father was scheming behind the academy's back, I would immediately know. I have ears and eyes in the underworld. Hindi lang si Hades ang may gano'n," he said. "Kapag may malalaman man ako, sasabihin ko kaagad sa inyo."

Everyone once again nodded. Muling namayani ang katahimikan sa aming lahat. Pinapakiramdaman ang isa't isa. At nakikinig sa lakas ng patak ng ulan sa labas. But not for long when a loud horn of a conch shell rang inside the academy's premises.

"It's been a while since we heard that horn," Fuego commented.

Blei and Zuki instantaneously agreed. Kaming mga baguhang Anostatos ay nagtataka kung para saan 'yon. This is actually our first time to heard that horn.

"What does it mean, by the way?" it was Ace who asked.

At the same time, nagniningning pa ang kaniyang mata sa sobrang pananabik. Me, on the other hand, doesn't feel good. Tila ba'y ang dating nito sa akin ay may masamang ibabalita sa amin ang akademya. Or I could be wrong.

"It means, we are all summoned to the claiming chamber," Zuki was the one who responded to Ace's question. "It can be either good or bad news. But given to what's happening right now, expect the worst," he added.

Karamihan sa amin napatikhim dahil sa sinabi niya. The four new additional Anostatos were remained silent. I understand what it feels. Nag-a-adjust pa sila sa bagong environment. It is so unfortunate that they arrived at the realm where everything are in chaos.

"Ace . . ." rinig kong pagkuha ni Seilo ng atensyon ni Ace na kanina pa dada nang dada. "What kind of goddess is Lady Heshiena again?" Napangiti na lamang ako sa tanong niya.

Lahat kami ay papunta na sa chamber. Medyo marami ang mga nakasabay naming estudyante. But as usual, tumatabi sila sa daan para kami ay pararaanin.

"She's the goddess of moonlight, the sea, the patron of demigods, and the protector of the realm of half-bloods," rinig kong sagot ni Ace. It was then followed by a chuckle. "She's beautiful, right? Parang ako lang, gwapo."

Mahina akong napatawa sa huli niyang sinabi. Sinundan ko naman ito ng pag-iling. Kahit kailan talaga. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Chry's forehead furrowed in disbelief. She's here, yes. Nagkasalubong kaming lahat sa pasilyo. And since papunta na kami sa chamber, hindi na lamang siya bumalik sa cabin para magbihis.

Mas pinili na lamang niyang sumabay sa amin.

Seilo scoffed and made a pose. "'Wag ako, pre. Mas gwapo yata ako," ang hirit pa nito.

Aresa pointed her open mouth as if she was disgusted by what she heard from Seilo. Dion just shrugged and rolled his eyes. Ace pouted with tears gradually welling up. Chry clicked her tongue. Sa inis niya ay kinaladkad niya si Ace gamit ang damit nito palayo sa kanila.

"Idiot," I heard her commented.

Anostatos is an unending group of troublemakers. The personalities are so diverse. I guess that is what makes us unique.

Time went so fast.

Everyone are now settled with their designated tables. May isang satyr na lumapit sa table namin at sinabihan akong umupo sa throne chair ko rito sa chamber. But I quickly declined. My family is here in this table. Kapag doon ako uupo, ako lang ang mag-iisa.

Nahinto lamang ang lahat sa pagbulung-bulungan nang bumukas ang pintuang kasing taas ng dingding. Iniluwa roon si Miss Aqua, habang si Chiron at Teacher Michael ay nakasunod sa kaniyang likuran. I was expecting all four of Anosteros to be present. But I guess may ginagawa rin ata sila sa respective cities na pinamumunuan nila.

Nang magkasalubong ang mata namin ni Miss Aqua, hindi siya nagdalawang isip na iyuko ang kaniyang ulo bilang paggalang. Tila napansin din nina Chiron at Teacher Michael ang ginawa niya ay sumunod din ang mga ito.

I slightly nod to greet them back.

Nang makarating silang tatlo sa platform, napansin naming gumalaw ang dibdib ni Miss Aqua pababa. A sign that she sighed before stating the reason why we were summoned. Nawala ang aking atensyon sa platform nang mapansing kong tumabi sa akin si Chry. She looked at me as she usually did. But behind those stormy blue eyes there's a trail of fear lingering. It's as if arguing with her whether she show it or not.

I closed my eyes for a couple of seconds. Inabot ko ang balikat niya't tinapik siya. She was caught off guard. Sumunod naman ang marahas niyang pagbuntonghininga.

"All of you were summoned because . . ." Lumunok muna ng laway si Miss Aqua bago ipagpapatuloy ang gusto niyang sasabihin. She then cleared her throat. "Given of what's happening right now, the aspects of human life are seem in disarray." Namayani ang bulung-bulungan. "And we all know who are the major rulers of these domains," she added.

"The Olympians!" Someone shouted in the crowd.

Miss Aqua nodded agreeing to the student who responded. "That's righ―" The director's words was interrupted by a sudden gust of cold wind. Wala namang bintana ang chamber na ito.

Namayani ang pagsinghapan ng mga estudyante nang mabalutan ng mists ang sahig. Unti-unti ring dumilim ang paligid. I immediately gritted my teeth and balled my palms into fists. Napatayo ako sa pagkakaupo nang mapansing pakapal nang pakapal ang mist.

"Heshiena . . ." a voice of an old women meet my ears. Tila narinig din ng lahat nang tumahimik ang paligid. "The goddess whose mortal name was Chantara Sabrina." Chills instantaneously race down my spine.

I stood firmly. "Who are you?!" matapang kong tanong.

"We control the thread of life for every living thing from birth to death," a distorted voice echoed in the chamber. Habang ako naman ay napaisip ng malalim. Destiny. My eyes grew wider when I realized who they are. "We were summoned by you!"

I scoffed. I didn't even do anything to summoned them. Nakaupo lang naman ako't nakikinig sa mga sasabihin ni Miss Aqua.

"Hush now, cursed one."

Natuptop ko ang aking labi nang marinig kung ano ang itinawag nila sa akin. The anger within me gradually resurface. Momentarily, they appeared before me. Threads are now floating in the air. Tinignan ko ang mga hitsura nila.

They looked . . . ugly old women. They were severe, inflexible and stern. The three of them were wearing a black robes, and a crown on their heads. At the right side, she carries a spindle or a roll. At the left side, she carries a huge pair of shears. While in the center, holds all the threads. Seems like she's the allotter.

The chills doubled when their eyes glowed in white. And they spoke simultaneously:

"The bearer of the curse will be the compensation
of the moon and the gods fabricated action.
An oath to keep with a final breath.
Astray souls can lead to ruin,
or even death.

Fifteen Supreme must answer the call.
Forestalling the world to fall.
Two days and one night.
Preparing to fight.

Alpha, who have the golden eyes.
She, the goddess, is the beginning
of everyone's demise."

After that, the moirai just disappeared like a bubble. Bumalik na rin ang dating liwanag dito sa chamber. Nawala na rin ang makapal na mist sa paligid. The only thing that the fates left behind are everyone's mouth fell wide open. And not long before they disappeared, eyes are on me now.

Me, on the other hand, couldn't find words to utter.