NOTE: The version of Arachne's story mentioned here is the version I have read somewhere. It is possible that you will read a different version from what you know so I am giving you a heads up. Anyway, enjoy reading and have a good night!  

WEAVERS

Ajax Draven's POV 

"Arachne, the weaver who dared challenge Athena's weaving."

If I remember one version of her tale correct, her skills were second to none, but she boasted her weaving and did not take Athena's warning seriously. She ended up challenging the four stories the goddess weaved that tell the punishment to those people who think they were equal to the gods, those who are prideful. She weaved four stories, too, telling the unjust punishments given by the deities without good reason. Ang mas malala pa, mas maganda ang gawa ni Arachne kaysa gawa ni Athena. Kaya ayon, nagalit ang diyosa. Isinumpa siya ni Athena na maghabi ng walang kulay na thread. Ang pangit pa, naging gagamba siya. Kawawa naman siya.

It was a good story about pride and humility, if you ask me. Destiny always has ways to make those who can't keep their feet on the ground kneel.

"Ang laki ng gubat na 'to. Paano natin mahahanap si Arachne?" Lumingon-lingon pa si Aidan sa mga puno sa paligid namin habang naglalakad.

Nimbus hooted before shifting from his owner's shoulder to mine. I looked at the bird as he blinked. Is he telling me something? Kailangan ko rin bang kumisap katulad ng ginagawa niya? Parang sira naman 'tong si Nimbus. Matapos nito ay pumikit siya nang matagal, nang magmulat siya ay nag-iba panandalian ang kulay ng mga mata niya. Ah...

Natawa ako nang ma-realize kung anong gusto niya na gawin ko. Nakita kong napatingin sa direksyon ko ang isa. Naiiling na pumikit ako at in-activate ang life string-seeing ability ko. I wonder what the color of their life string is. Kung kulay ginto ang sa demigods at kulay puti at pula sa mga mortal, anong kulay kaya ang sa mga creatures sa mythological realm?

Pagmulat ko, mayroon akong nakitang anim na puti at dalawang gold na string mula sa kaliwang parte ng gubat. Huh? Bakit walo? Binilang ko ulit ang mga string para masiguradong hindi ako namamali sa pagbilang. Tama naman, walo. Pero bakit walo? Hindi ba ay pito lamang ang biktima? Ibig bang sabihin ay kulay gold din ang kulay ng life string ni Arachne? Wala naman kasing ibang string na narito sa gubat bukod sa string ng mga kasama ko at sa walong string mula sa ibang direksyon.

Ang talino ni Nimbus. Muntik ko nang makalimutan na may ganoong ability ako. Walang hiya, daig pa ako ng kwago.

"Guys, I think I know where they are." Tumingin silang lahat sa akin at kumunot ang noo, naghihintay ng sunod kong sasabihin.

"Follow me." Pumunta ako sa unahan at pinangunahan sila sa direksyon. Activated pa rin ang ability ko kung sakaling magbago sila ng pwesto. "There are eight of them—two demigods and six mortals. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit walo at walang ibang kakaiba sa walong 'yon."

Hindi ko alam kung nagtataka ba sila kung paano ko nalaman iyon, pero wala namang nagtatanong kaya hindi ko na lang sasabihin.

Ilang minuto pa ng paglalakad ay nakarinig kami ng paglagaslas ng tubig. Hindi ko alam kung falls ba 'yon o ilog, pero ang sigurado ko ay may malapit na tubig mula sa kinatatayuan namin.

"We're near. Be alert."

Nang marating namin ang talon ay may walong tao kaming nadatnan na nakaupo sa malalapad na mga bato, naghahabi gamit ang kulay puting sinulid. Lahat sila ay pare-parehas na nakasuot ng puting dress na magkakatulad. Ang mga buhok nila ay kakulay ng telang hinahabi nila. Halata rin sa mukha nila na wala sila sa sarili nila. Nakatingin lamang ang mga ito sa kamay nila na para bang iyon lamang ang mahalaga sa kanila. Ibig bang sabihin nito ay isa sa mga 'to si Arachne?

Pinagmasdan kong mabuti ang life string nila. Wala namang kakaiba sa mga 'to. "Hindi ko alam kung sino sa kanila si Arachne. Hanggang sa location lang talaga ang kaya kong alamin."

"Ang cool talaga ng ability mo! Pwede ka nang maging tracker. Paano mo nagagawa 'yon?"

I only answered with a shrug because I don't know if I should tell them about my ability at all. Baka hindi pwede, magalit pa si Thanatos.

Is there any way of knowing which of them was the cursed weaver? Parang ang hirap naman kasi dahil halos pare-parehas lang sila ng ginagawa. Wala rin namang kakaiba sa kanila. Walang hiya naman.

"Let's approach them and observe if there's anything strange and notable within them."

Sinunod lamang namin si Deion at nilapitan sila. Sinubukan silang kausapin nina Dillon pero parang nasa trance sila dahil parang wala silang naririnig at dere-deretso lamang sa ginagawa.

Paano kung kilitiin na lang namin sila sa tagiliran? Kung sino ang tumawa ay tiyak na si Arachne. Siya lamang naman siguro ang may pakiramdam sa paligid niya sa mga oras na 'to.

Nang makalapit kami sa kanila ay napag-alaman kong pare-pareho silang may kulay itim na buhok at kulay green na mga mata. Tanging sa features lamang sila nagkaiba. Ano ba naman 'yan.

Natigilan ako nang maalala na kulay green din ang mata ng mga gagamba at itim din ang buhok nila. I turned to their direction once again. Even the slightest color difference within their eyes and hair can definitely tell which of them is the cursed weaver.

Looking at their life strings, a question suddenly popped inside my head, making me shift to where my colleagues are. "Guys, is Arachne a goddess? Or was she a demigod?" I blurted out, making their heads turn towards me.

"She was once a mortal," sagot ni Dillon. Iyon naman pala. Pwede palang i-cancel out na ang dalawang demigod sa list.

Itinuro ko ang kinaroroonan ng pangatlo at pangwalong babae mula sa kinatatayuan ko. "Then those two are not Arachne."

"You sure? How can you tell?" Tiningnan ko si Aidan at nagkibit-balikat. "Just trust me, bro."

"Let's observe their eye and hair color of the six remaining lady. Search for slight differences. Check for weird or unusual movements. Arachne is the only one aware of her surroundings," utos naman ni Deion habang kumukuha ng ilang hibla ng buhok mula sa isang babae gamit ang espada niya.

Katulad ng ginawa niya ay kinuhanan din namin ang iba pa habang ang dalawang babae ay tinitingnan ang mga mata nila. Nang mahawakan ko ang buhok ng isa ay nandiri ako. Bakit parang malagkit? Pinagmasdan ko ito at nakita ang ibang texture ng buhok niya.

Sinenyasan ko sila na lumapit sa kinaroroonan ko at sinabi sa kanila ang kaibahan ng buhok. Idinikit ni Aidan sa buhok ng babae ang mga hiblang kinuha mula roon sa iba. "This is definitely the darkest among the six," sabi niya.

"She has the darkest eye color, too," pagbibigay-alam naman ni Aliyah.

Mula sa kamay ni Aidan ay lumabas ang Azarin. Itinaas niya ito nang balutin ito ng kulay orange niyang magi vigor. "There's only one way to know. Azarin: Fire wheel—"

Bago pa man niya matapos ang sword art ay umalingawngaw ang isang matinis na boses sa loob ng gubat, kasunod ng paglabas ng mga gagamba sa paligid. Tila ba isang tela ang bumagsak mula sa katawan ng pang-apat na babae at inilabas nito ang isang maputing-maputing babae na may kulay pula at itim na mahabang buhok. Nang lumingon ito sa amin ay napatalon ako patalikod. Ang pangit!

Naging anim ang mga mata nito at tumubo mula sa tagiliran niya ang anim pang mga kamay. Mayroon na ring mga balahibong tumubo sa mukha niya. Ang mga ngipin niya ay naging mga pangil na. Kasabay nitong nabago ang malaki niyang bibig at ang dila nitong humaba. Gagamba ba 'to o ahas? Unti-unti na ring naging visible ang kulay itim at green nitong mga ugat dahil sa pagnipis ng balat niya. Parang kaunti na nga lamang ay makikita na ang organs niya sa loob ng katawan. Mas kadiri pa siyang tingnan kaysa sa mga totoong gagamba e.

Arachne screamed before she ascended using her web, then the spiders charged towards us. Eliora screamed as she closed her eyes, her sword appearing on her hand. She started running while her hand moved to kill the spiders on her way. She looks like a scared kid that is really dangerous.

"Don't space out—so careless!" Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses at nakita ko sa likod ko si Deion na magkasalubong ang kilay na nakatingin sa akin. Sa sahig ay nakita ko ang nasusunog na katawan ng gagambang halos kasinglaki na ng ulo ni Deion.

"Sorry!" sabi ko at tsaka tumakbo papunta sa mga kalaban habang binabalot ang espada ko ng vigor.

"Take care of the spiders, I'll deal with the spider lady."

Tinanguan lang namin siya at sumugod sa iba pang kalaban. Ang papangit talaga ng mga alagad ng demonyong 'to. "Sword of Thanatos: Death blade." With one huge swing, ten spiders ended up on the ground.

Thick webs suddenly wrapped around my feet and pulled me hard, making me drop to the ground, front facing the ground. I groaned when my chest hit the rough forest floor. I forcefully flipped my body while I was being pulled. I tightened my grip on the sword and let vigor run over it. Then, I slashed the webs pulling me. When I completely got rid of the string, I saw the webs that remained covering my shoes emitting the familiar smoke I saw a while ago. Shit, this is poison! I will die.

Numerous spiders went charging towards my direction, bearing their sharp fangs. I'll kill them first before removing the webs. The spider venom is more lethal intravenous than the inhalation of its vapors. Pero kahit anong mangyari, delikado pa rin ang dalawang bagay na 'yon.

"Guys, don't let their webs get to your clothes, you'll inhale poison!" I warned.

I heard nothing but painful shrieks, splashing waves, and the crackling sound of burning flesh. Light is occasionally going in and out of the forest because of the daughter of Artemis and the daughter of Apollo. When I looked at them, they're already finished, and no spiders were left inside the forest, except Arachne.

"Just leave the forest, Arachne, or die," banta ni Deion.

"Poor child of Zeus, I am immortal, didn't your sweet daddy and grandmother teach you?" Arachne's voice is painfully high, almost like it was piercing through my ears.

Without sword art cast, a flash of lightning appeared out of nowhere. It was so fast that I almost didn't see it. When I looked at the other side, Deion's back was facing us, blade dripping bluish-green blood. Arachne's head was now on the ground, separated from her body that is still standing.

A blazing fire came out of the Azarin and went to the spider lady's head, burning it like a piece of dried leaf. Ganoon lamang ba 'yon kadali?

Nasagot ang tanong ko nang kumuyom ang kamao ng babae. Unti-unting gumapang ang laman mula sa leeg nito hanggang mabuo muli ang ulo niya.

"Ay gagambang gala! Bakit buhay ka pa?" nandidiring tanong ni Aidan.

"I told you, I am immortal."

"Why are you doing this? Bakit hindi ka na lang sa mga gagamba mo makipaglaro? Bakit idinadamay mo pa ang mga inosenteng taong 'to?" Aliyah wielded her sword, ready to attack.

"Where's the fun in that? Those spiders weren't really fun to weave with. They make such disgusting pieces of artwork." She answered nonchalantly before webs sprouted from her eight hands.

I quickly dodged and used my blade to cut it. I leaped and raised my blade before falling behind her. I slashed my sword but she stepped aside, making it only a graze wound. However, she screamed like she was in pain. When I looked at the wound, there was no blood dripping. Instead, there is a black mark that makes it look like it was burnt.

She eyed me with her sharp eyes before attacking me relentlessly. Tinanguan ko lamang ang mga kasama ko habang binibigyan sila ng oportunidad para umatake. One of us must play bait.

Sa katangahan ko, natalisod ako sa ugat ng isang malaking puno na hindi ko napansin. "Tanga!" komento ni Arachne at binugahan ako ng venom.

Gumulong ako papalayo sa atake niya dahil hindi ako pwedeng tamaan nito. Ang venom na 'yon ay parang acid din kapag tumama sa balat. Lahat ng mga idinudura niya sa akin na lason ay sinusunog ang anumang tinatamaan nito. Kadiri talaga ang gagambang ito. Tinawag pa akong tanga!

Nang tumigil ito sa pag-atake ay sinalubong ko ang mga mata niya. Nakita ko sa likod niya si Eliora na binabalot ng puting liwanag ang espada. Tinanguan niya ako bago ito itinaas. "Nahara: Sun slash!" From above, a sun's ray hit her sword and when she slashed the blade to the spider's body, the ray scattered and hit Arachne's head.

A lightning gash followed, and four of her arms fell to the ground. The other four fell not long after, when a sharp wave of water splashed over here. Then, her thighs were cut when a slash of fire hit it, followed by a string of mist.

"Draven, her head, now!"

I eyed the lady when a flash of purple string suddenly appeared before my eyes. It was the white string that I saw a while ago, revealing its true color. Seems like demons have other color of life strings, too. The dull, black sword in my grasp glowed the bright color of my father, porphyry. Then, I raised it in front of my eyes, the handle glowed, and I felt a harsh heart beat.

"Sword of Thanatos: Death blade, double swing." I swung the blade and aimed for her neck where her life string was attached. The light shone brighter as it touched her flesh. Everything happened slowly when the blade came in contact with her life string.

Nang maputol ang pisi ay nawala ang kulay lila nitong kulay at bumalik sa kulay puti. She was once a mortal, after all, and I guess it did not change.

Her body fell to the rough ground with her head. Then, they slowly burned. When I looked at her wide eyes, I saw how Athena turned a beautiful lady into something hideous, a spider. It was far from her almost perfect features, it was awful. Then, the goddess looked satisfied, with her chin held up high. Arachne smiled sadly, and a tear left her eye before it closed completely.

I was almost carried away by her sadness, but I remembered that she brought it upon herself. Behind her body, the lady I saw in her eyes appeared, fading. She looked at me and mouthed, "Thank you," with a warm smile. "Thank you for ending my suffering."

Pride is not a bad thing, but manifesting it and forgetting respect earns you suffering. As the saying goes, everything always comes with a price.

⚔