Descendants of the Gods

Chapter 19: Silver

KASDEYA ARGYROS' Point of View

Pagkabalik ni Arges sa harapan namin, may dala dala na siyang isang box.

Kumunot ang noo ko. May kalakihan ang kahon sa kamay ni Arges. It's rectangular in shape and black in color. May kulay silver itong clasp. I try to guess what could be inside it.

It's definitely not a sword or a bow and arrow. Imposible ring pistol ang laman nito. Judging by the size and width, the only weapon that can perfectly fit in this box is a knife or something similar.

Nang buksan ito ni Arges sa harapan namin, doon ko nakumpirma ang hinala ko.

"It's a dagger." I point out.

Pinagmasdan ko ang patalim sa loob ng kahon. It's a silver straight dagger with an onyx hilt. May maliliit na batong nakapaligid sa hawakan nito. There are engraved symbols on the center of the blade of what I think are celestial bodies, like clusters of stars.

Tumango si Arges. "Yes, but it's no simple dagger. This one is made specifically for you."

Bumuga ako ng hininga. "How would you know that it's for me? Ngayon lang ako bumisita rito at hindi pa ako nagpapagawa ng weapon. So why—"

"Someone ordered this for you." Tinaasan niya ako ng dalawang kilay. "Before you were even admitted in this school, Mrs. Franchesca Alastor asked me to make this for you."

I blink. Alastor? Franchesca? That Franchesca that threatened to kill me?

"Yung asawa ni Sir Calix na kasama niya kahapon sa office. Anak siya ni Hecate," Sagot ni River sa tanong ko. Akala niya siguro ay hindi ko pa kilala ang babaeng yun. She turns to Arges. "Sigurado ka talagang si Ma'am Franchesca yung um-order? Why would she ask you to make Kasdeya a weapon?"

Ramdam ko ang intensidad ng titig sa akin ni Reinn. I wish I can give her a smug look or something to rile her up, pero nalilito rin ako. I thought Franchesca hates me.

Kulang nalang ay masunog ako sa mga tingin at salita niya. Kaya bakit siya magpapagawa ng weapon para sa akin?

Arges deadpans. "I have one eye but I'm not blind, girl," Masungit nitong sambit. "And do you think I would know why she asked for this? Tanungin niyo siya mismo. Kahit dati pa naman ay weird na ang demigod na yun."

Reinn scoffs. "Is it a Hecate thing to be weird and strange all the time?"

"Maybe. Wala naman akong masyadong alam sa mga anak ni Hecate. Sa totoo lang ay baka ang rason kung bakit nahulog si Sir Calix sa babaeng yun ay dahil sa ka-weirduhan niya." Arges starts to gossip.

Kinuha ko na ang dagger sa kahon bago pa sila magdaldalan. Maiba pa ang usapan. I don't know what that woman is up to or what she wants but I don't trust her. Nag-ingat rin ako na baka delikado ang dagger pag-hinawakan ko.

But when I touch the hilt, nothing weird happens. Akala ko pa nung una ay kinulam ang dagger para saksakin ako paghinawakan ko.

When I lift it with a tight grip, biglang umilaw ang mga constellations sa patalim. I gasp, the thought of it being a trap is still not leaving my mind.

Arges laughs at my reaction. "You might be suspicious of what Franchesca wants from you but trust my work, demigod. I would never make a weapon that would harm its holder. Now let me show you how it works."

He begins to instruct me. Duda pa rin ako sa binigay niya na dagger pero naisip kong na kung may masama mang mangyari sa akin dahil dito, gagamitin ko nalang ang mga unfinished weapons sa paligid at tusukin ang nag-iisa niyang mata.

"Hold the dagger in the air. Let go of it while it's still there."

Nalilito man sa kung bakit gusto niya itong pabitawan sa akin ay sumunod pa rin ako. I slowly uncurl my fingers around the handle and when I finally let go completely, the dagger doesn't fall.