Chry's Point of View

I was observing Heshiena since we've left the academy. And she was seeing things that we can't see. Ngayon, nakatitig siya sa repleksyon niya sa tubig ng ilog. Even the water nymph was looking at her with furrowed forehead.

"Heshiena?" it was Mavros who called her attention.

Pero hindi siya lumingon. It's as if she was taken aback of whatever is happening to her. Nang kalabitin siya ni Mavros ay napasinghap siya sa gulat. Sinamahan pa ito ng paglaki ng kaniyang mga mata.

"Are you okay?" puno ng pag-aalalang tanong sa kaniya ni Mavros.

Her eyes immediately fell to the ground. I squinted my eyes. Is there something she is not telling us? Without looking at Mavros, her head moved upside down as a response.

A weird-ass breeze suddenly brushed against my skin. I could feel how ponderous the vicinity is. Nabalik ang aking atensyon kay Heshiena nang marinig ko siyang tumikhim.

"The water nymph said, there's a volcano behind . . ." Itinuro niya ang maliit na bundok na nasa harapan namin, "this hill," she finally completed her sentence.

Tumango kaagad ako sa ibig niyang iparating. Volcano signifies fire, although they only spit lava. Wala namang mawawala kung susubukan naming puntahan ito.

Sa mga oras na ito, tinatahak na namin ang daan papunta sa bulkan. We've decided to leave our car at the river side. The water nymph promised Heshiena that she would watch over the car until we got back.

Thankfully, there's a trail between these two hills. Dahil kung wala, wala kaming magagawa kundi ang akyatin ito. I silently gasped in surprise when lightning flashed before our eyes. And a loud thunder dominated the sky.

Napatitig ako sa mga ulap kung saan ko nakita kanina ang kidlat.

I squinted my eyes. I have the feeling someone manipulated them. Because after the Big Three Offering all the domains that associated with the major deities seemed to have faded. I don't know how exactly, but I am pretty sure something happened to the Olympians.

Nahinto lamang kami sa paglalakad nang makarating kami sa paanan ng bulkan.

There I realized, the volcano was surrounded with these hills. Basically, pinagitnaan ito. A long silence prevailed. I gritted my teeth. Maging ako ay nagtataka rin. My eyes never hesitated to rolled when Ace squealed in fear.

"Now w-what?" utal-utal pa niyang bulong. Pero sapat na para marinig namin siya.

Napaalerto ako sa aking kinatatayuan nang biglang kumilos ang mga malilit na bundok na 'to. The entrance was gradually sealed. I turned my palms into fists while gritting my teeth.

Is this a fucking trap?

Mukhang hindi lang ako ang napaalerto pati ang mga kasama ko. Hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lamang ang nagbanggaan ang aming likuran. We glance each other in the eye for about a couple of seconds before turning back our attention of what happening right now.

Napansin ko namang sabay-sabay kaming napatingala sa kalangitan nang makarinig kami ng pagaspas ng pakpak. A flying carriage that pulled by a four pegasus is coming towards where we are.

On the horizon, the tower peeking through the clouds is quite remarkable. Kanina hindi ito nagpakita. Mukhang tama ang tinahak naming daan. And the answers to sphinx's riddles are indeed our ticket to Aeras City.

When the carriage landed, it caused a strong gust of wind.

The horses' eyes immediately pinned straight to Lady Heshiena.

Kapansin-pansing dahan-dahang naglakihan ang kanilang mga mata. Sinundan nila ito ng pagyuko ng kanilang ulo bilang paggalang.

Well, Poseidon is associated with horses as well.

It's more likely, horses would immediately recognize their patron's children.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Heshiena smiled so sweetly. Naglakad siya papalapit sa mga kabayo. The moment she touched them one by one, they will close their eyes at the same time.

Nabaling ang aking atensyon sa dalawang taong lumabas ng karwahe.

One had waist-length white straight hair. And the other had short hair with a black highlight. From the bottom, they were both wearing baggy pants but with different colors. They were also wearing brown leather ankle boots.

At the top, nakasuot sila ng kulay berdeng vest. Wala silang suot sa ilalim nito, sa halip ay proud na proud pa nilang in-expose ang kanilang mga braso. One more thing, napansin ko rin ang feathery cape na nakasabit sa mga braso nila.

Ace's eyes gleam in admiration.

Mabilis nilang inilagay ang kanilang mga palad sa kanang dibdib. Habang nakaharap sa amin ang mga palad nila. Sinundan naman nila ito ng pagyuko ng ulo. After a couple of seconds, inangat nila ang kanilang mga ulo't sumilay ang kanilang ngiti sa labi.

They both signaled us to enter the carriage. Nauna na akong pumasok. Huli naman si Mavros. I saw how Heshiena's forehead furrowed in confusion.

"Hindi ba kayo papasok?" nagtataka niyang tanong sa dalawang nagsundo sa amin.

Namutawi muli ang ngiti sa kanilang mga labi. The other one met Heshiena's gaze with his head held high.

"We are favored mortals who have the ability to manipulate air, Lady Heshiena," he respectfully responded. "Of course, we are capable of flight." Tumango na lamang si Heshiena sa sunod nitong sagot.

And awkwardly smiled.

Naramdaman ko naman ang pagkataranta ng dalawa. Napansin ko naman ang pawis sa kani-kanilang noo. Nakita ko rin ang paglunok nila ng laway.

Habang ako naman ay nanatiling tahimik sa tabi. Those hills that hide the volcano are their way to be notified that they have visitors. It's clever. In that way, it would be easier for them to know that an uninvited guest tries to invade the city.

Volcanoes indeed signify the fire. Even Hephaestus' Roman counterpart was named Vulcan. And air's complementary element is fire. Maybe that's how the clue connects all the dots.

Ace giggled in excitement when we passed through the clouds.

From where I am sitting, pumasok kami sa isang napakalaking arko. Perhaps, this is the entrance to the city. Even myself I couldn't refrain myself from admiring the establishments. Sa bawat dulo ng gusali nila ay matutulis. Tila ba'y walang mga rooftop.

And all the color combinations are silver, sky blue, and white. May napansin akong kahoy na may kulay puting dahon, pink, at blue.

It never took us a half an hour to land.

Nauna ng lumabas si Ace sa karwahe sa sobrang pananabik. Kanina, nauna akong pumasok. Pero sa pagkakataong 'to, huli akong lumabas.

As soon as I got out, my eyes were met by the enormous castle.

But Imitheos Academy is twice the size of this one.

Iginala ko ang aking mga mata. The city was covered with clouds. Makulimlim ang lugar pero nakabukas naman lahat ng mga ilaw. There are numerous carriages flying back and forth. Rinig na rinig ko ang ingay ng mga batang tila naglalaro.

As usual, Ace was looking at everything. Mabilis akong napailing nang mapansin ang luhaan niyang mga mata.

But I can't blame him. Maganda naman talaga ang syudad nila. Heshiena chuckled when Ace giggled in excitement. Dinuduro pa niya ang dalawang griffin na dumaan. Ako naman ay inis na naglakad papalapit kay Ace at kinaladkad siya pabalik.

Mabilis na kumunot ang aking noo nang mapansing may umuusok sa hindi kalayuan.

"Storm Winds . . ." I heard the other one whisper. 

Kaya ba kumidlat at kumulog kanina dahil sa mga storm winds? What the hell is happening? 

Apparently, nakatingin din sila sa tinitingnan ko. Napatingin kaagad ako sa dalawa nang sabay silang bumuntonghininga. Pero hindi sila nagdadalawang isip na umiwas ng tingin. 

It was then followed by clearing their throats. And an awkward smile gradually plastered upon their lips. From my peripheral vision, I saw Mavros skeptically looking at them. 

"Welcome to Aeras City!" sabay nilang saad.