050- THE CURSE OF ACHILLES
PENELOPE
"D-Did we lose him?", kabadong tanong ko kay Aeo na nakasilip ngayon at minamasdan ang paligid ng kwebang pinagtataguan namin.
"I'll scout the area. You stay here with Valyria. I'll be back.", paalam niya bago ako tumango at niyakap ng mahigpit si Valyria na nakasiksik sakin.
"B-Big sister? W-Why is that scary man following us? I'm scared.", I felt Valyria's embrace around me tighten as her little mellow voice trembled in fear. I immediately hushed her as I kissed her forehead.
"We won't let anything happen to you, Valyria. Your big brother and I promised that we'd take care of you from now on, right?", I smiled at her, referring to Aeo as I hugged her tightly. Napapikit naman si Valyria habang nakasandal sakin.
Aeodysus and I went back to Crete where we retrieved the artifact from the labyrinth during the Olympian Tournament because I promised during that time that after the fulfillment of the second prophecy, I'll be back for Valyria, the five-year-old semideus daughter of Bellona, the Roman goddess of war.
I want to raise her in our care since from what I observed, the Roman semideuses had rougher ways when it comes to training and combat compared to us, Greeks. I really couldn't risk the possibility of Valyria growing up like that asshole son of the Roman god of war na si Altair. Imagine that? Napakadelikado.
Nang pabalik na kami ni Aeo sa academy habang dala si Valyria---crossing the hundred-hectare Willow woods beyond the academy's barriers, the three of us were startled out of our senses when a gloomy-looking man draped in an ebony-black cloak stopped us from our tracks. His face concealed with a strange mask kaya hindi namin nakilala ang mukha nito. He was about to take a step towards our direction when we ran away in alarm and out of impulse before he could even approach us.
"Let's go. I managed to trick him into going west. We need to leave before he finds out and follows us back to the academy. We have to warn the others.", I nearly jumped out of my wits when Aeo suddenly appeared infront of me while catching his breath.
Kinuha niya si Valyria mula sa pagkakakarga ko as he held her tightly. We immediately fled from the cave and trailed the Eastern part of the Willow Woods until we finally reached the Gardens of Aphrodite.
"W-Wow! Pretty!", manghang sambit ni Valyria habang yakap-yakap si Aeo na siyang kumakarga sa kanya ngayon. I smiled while staring at the two of them.
"You look good with a kid.", hindi ko alam kung ba't nakuha ko pang magbiro. Napatingin naman si Aeo sakin as we crossed the sacred gardens and he gave me a cheeky smirk.
"I bet I'd even look better with 'our' kid, Pen.", my cheeks flushed red at his response as I instantly turned my gaze away from him at mas binilisan ang paglalakad. Narinig ko pa ang mahinang tawa niya sa likuran ko.
I didn't expect him to pull a stunt like that. Is the son of Hephaestus really like this?
"Let's just... hurry back to the academy.", I instantly brushed the topic off, knowing na nakikinig si Valyria sa'min. Ano nalang ang papasok sa isipan ng bata pag-nagkataon.
"As you wish, daughter of Hermes.", I heard Aeo mockingly speak behind me as I pursed my lips together.
We hurriedly crossed the Gardens of Aphrodite. If only I could amplify my ability of speed towards Aeo and Valyria, kanina pa sana namin narating ang academy.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Prophecy of Fates
Fantasía"You are fated to end the reign of the gods." After discovering the appalling truth behind her birthright, Ahlkria ends up in a position far from the reality she once lived-in and believed. Exploring places where she thought to have only existed in...
