THE KISMET'S HEX

Ajax Draven's POV

As soon as he said those words, Ares charged towards us. It was so fast that I almost did not see it coming. I only heard a loud clanking of swords, followed by a strong force created by the impact of the collision.

When everything came to sight, I saw three swords restricting his from reaching me. Halata sa mga mata ng diyos na hindi niya nagustuhan ang nangyari. He swung his sword again. This time, I prepared the azrael for an attack.

"You have no place in this realm, you cursed child!" I felt a pang on my chest when I realized what he had just said. It was like everything that's happening makes sense now. I don't know why but it feels like I only believed everything they were saying now that I've heard it directly from the mouth of a god. They were trying to bring me down because I am the cursed child? Bakit ako? Anong kasalanang ginawa ko? Hindi ko naman hiniling na mabuhay sa mundong 'to, pero bakit parang kasalanan ang mabuhay ako?

"I will free you from your sin...living. Die!" Then, he plunged directly at me. My senses heightened as my vigor covered my whole body. With all the strength I have, I met his attack with my sword. He has this overwhelming strength that made me step my other foot back. His red vigor covered the whole court as his eyes looked intensely at me. I can feel shiver running all over me. Para bang sinasakal ako ng vigor niya, at para bang inuubusan niya ako ng hanging malalanghap.

Dillon tried kicking his foot, but he just quickly deflected her, making Dillon step back. A blinding light shone from Eliora's sword. It was so strong that it also made me close my eyes. Then, I saw Aidan positioned on the god's back, sword flaming. Dillon's sword is now covered in water looking as sharp as icicles. Ang anak naman ni Zeus ay nasa tabi ko, nakatutok sa diyos ang espada niya na binabalot ng maliliit na kidlat.

"We don't want to fight you, Ares," seryosong sabi ng katabi ko.

Nakarinig naman ako ng isang halakhak mula sa kanya. "Mga hangal! Kung inaakala ninyong makikinig ako sa mga hamak na mortal na katulad niyo, nagkakamali kayo!" Pumadyak siya nang malakas sa sahig at para bang nagkaroon ng lindol dahil sa pag-alog ng paligid. Binalot ng kulay pulang usok ang ginto niyang espada at nang tumingin siya sa akin ay napagtanto ko kung anong gusto niyang gawin.

"Guys, watch out!" Ares struck his sword on the ground, and a strong repelling force pushed us away from him. Before he could move, I quickly enveloped myself with my father's vigor. When I felt that he's about to come in my direction, I prepared for an attack. I looked at Deion, and when he nodded, I held my sword tightly.

"Azrael: Death whip." Then, a string followed the movement of my sword's hilt. Ares plunged into my direction, and with another forceful blow, he struck my sword. I took his attack with my sword and looked at his burning eyes. As seconds pass by, his strength on his sword is getting heavier. He is not moving, but the intensity of his vigor is moving all around me. It is suffocating. He is asserting his dominance, but I let my vigor surround my body. It was just the right amount to ward off his vigor away from me.

"Deion, now!" Ares was about to swing his sword one more time, but he was late to realize that my attack had completely bound his sword with mine. Then, a lightning gash passed by us.

Golden blood started dripping from the god's arms to the floor. Deion's sword is now pointed at Ares' neck, blade almost touching his skin. Then, Aidan's flaming blade is now pointing at his back, and the other two point their swords on each side of the god of war.

A loud croak echoed inside the courts as a golden light flashed from above. "Ares, the King calls you." From the heavens, another god descended. He has these curly, blond locks and golden eyes. On his head lies a golden wreath, and on his back hangs a quiver full of arrows which seems to be made of light.

"Damn you, Apollo, hindi pa ako tapos sa mga hampaslupang ito!" sigaw ni Ares na dumagundong sa paligid. "It is Zeus who sent me. This is, afterall, your fault, you reckless deity. Stop bullying the mortals!"

Ares cursed before he was covered with light. When he vanished, the suffocating feeling covering the whole place was gone instantly. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil doon.

"Papa!" Eliora ran towards her father like a kid. Ngumiti naman sa kanya si Apollo at hinimas ang buhok niya. "You guys did well stopping Ares. That god is so hot-headed."

Tumikhim ang judge at yumuko, kasabay ng minister. "I came here personally to deliver the news from Zeus, as well as the prophecy." Matapos nito ay tumingin siya sa akin. "The birth of death births a curse, and the life of the vine costs the life of men, but the death of the dead is life." His voice rang in my ear like he wanted me to engrave it in my memory.

"The moirais were forbidden to give birth to a child belonging to a mortal. It was a rule to refrain the fates from tampering with the fates of the human beings, to preserve the balance, and to avoid conflict with the flow of time. Most importantly, it was to avoid the curse rewarded to Moirais should they conceive a child...the kismet's hex." Where are we going with this? Why were the moirais suddenly brought up?

"However, Atropos gave birth to a child...death. For years, she lied about the existence of her cursed child, telling everyone she killed it with the mortal parent. However, the curse seems to manifest up to this date. Atropos did well keeping her child hidden from the compass. Death is alive, and as long as they breathe, the world nears its destruction." Teka...

"The prophecy spoke to me. Death possesses an insignia. It is a black flower engraved on the back of the child. It was the only clear thing that the prophecy wanted me to see. The one who bears it is the bearer of the curse, a curse ever so destructive and inevitable. It was an unforgivable sin which demands death to whoever bears it. It is the only way we can stop the upbringing." A tap from my back made me realize that I have held my breath for a long time now. "Breathe."

"Now, if Mr. Ajax bears the curse, on the 13th of the last month, his body will be the sacrifice. The God Zeus chooses the safety of both realms." Nang matapos siya sa pagsasalita ay binalot siya ng isang gintong liwanag. Nang mawala ito, naglaho kasama nito ang wangis ng diyos.

Matapos nito ay inutusan nila akong tanggalin ang pang-itaas ng damit ko. Hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit hanggang ngayon e ako pa rin ang mainit sa mata nila. Bakit ako pa rin? Hindi ba't si Thanatos naman ang tatay ko? At tsaka si mama...siya ang tunay kong ina, hindi ba? Hindi pa ba sapat sa kanila ang ebidensya na nagagawa ko ang responsibilidad ni Thanatos?

Sa pagkakaalala ko, wala rin akong ganoong marka sa likod ko. Alam ko ito dahil palagi kong nasisilip sa salamin ang likod ko. Kaya mayroon akong kumpiyansa na hindi ako ang cursed child, kung ibabase ito sa deskripsiyon ng diyos. Tsaka wala naman ako noong insignia na sinasabi niya kaya kahit papaano ay naibsan ang kaba ko at ang mga isiping bumabalot sa isipan ko nitong mga nakaraang araw.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Kailangan kong patunayan na hindi nga ako ang death na tinutukoy nila—

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang katahimikan ng paligid nang tanggalin ko nang tuluyan ang damit na suot ko. Iminulat ko ang mata ko at nakita ang lahat na natigilan. Maging ang Stellars ay nakatayo lamang at nanlalaki ang mga mata. Ilang sandali pa ay nabasag ang katahimikan.

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig nang maintindihan kung ano ang nangyayari. Lumabas sa likod ko ang isang salamin, at mula roon, nakita ko ang isang itim na bulaklak na nakaukit sa balikat ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano at kung kailan ito napunta sa balikat ko. Pero sigurado ako na wala ito noon.

The court was filled with rage. Karamihan sa kanila ay sumisigaw na at galit na nakatingin sa akin. Nakatanggap ako ng mga mura at masasamang mga salita mula sa mga tao sa paligid ko.

Nawalan ng lakas ang mga tuhod ko kaya't wala akong nagawa kundi ang mapaluhod sa matigas at malamig na sahig. Napayuko na lamang ako. Para bang gumuho ang mundo ko at nag-uunahang tumulo sa mga mata ko ang mga luhang hindi ko alam na kanina ko pa pala pinipigilan. All this time, I was believing lies about myself? Akala ko pa naman ay unti-unti ko nang nakikilala ang katauhan ko bilang isang demigod, pero bakit parang bumalik na naman ako sa umpisa? Bakit parang hindi ko na naman kilala ang sarili ko? Sino nga ba ako?

Kaya ba nagpapakahirap silang pabagsakin ako simula nung pumasok ako sa mundong 'to? Ma, hindi mo naman ako sinabihan na malas pala ako sa dalawang realms. Ma...hindi ba talaga ikaw ang nanay ko? 'Thanatos, Thanatos, sagutin mo ako! Hindi ba ikaw ang tatay ko?'

'P-pa, please, answer me...' Tears continued flowing endlessly from my eyes as I called for my 'father'. Ito na naman ang tadhana, pinaglalaruan na naman ako. Nagmumukha na naman akong tanga sa paniniwala sa mga nasa paligid ko.

Ilang minuto na ang lumipas ngunit patuloy pa rin sila sa pagbabato ng mga salitang nakakadurog ng puso. Tumigil na ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko ngunit tuloy pa rin ang pagbuhos ng mga hinanakit nila. Wala na akong ibang nararamdaman. Everything feels empty, unfamiliar, and uncertain. For the second time, here I am, feeling like a stranger to my own self.

The sound of the gavel being pounded made me look up tiredly. I saw the symbol of justice weighing on my side. It means that it still favors me. Pero ano nga bang magagawa nito kung iyon na ang utos ni Zeus?

"This has been the disciplinary hearing of Ajax Draven on the case of the murder of Arachne. The final verdict, detainment starting today, 15th of September year 2021 until the 13th of December the said year. The punishment, death." Every word Mrs. Wayland said struck me like swords. It was followed by the sound of the gavel that seemed to be a sound of death for me.

Kung totoo ngang katapusan ng mundo ang kapalit ng buhay ko, at kung ganito rin naman kagulo ang lahat, hindi ba't mas mabuti pa nga kung tanggapin ko ang hatol ni Zeus?

Deion kneeled in front of me and held my chin up. I met his eyes, who at this time, is full of confusion and disbelief. He looked at me like he wanted to get me out of here. But among any other emotion, I saw worry in his eyes. "K-Kidlat..." I called, voice breaking. I can't find the words to say. I could only cry in front of him. I really don't care now if the others see me breaking.

Deion pulled me closer to his chest and hugged me tight. "Don't cry, Aji. Please, don't cry," he gently said while caressing my hair. "I would do anything I could do. I promise. Everything will be fine."

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