070.2- HIS STARS WILL BURN FOREVER
"You're like us.", rinig kong sambit nung babaeng nasa harapan ko habang nakatitig silang lahat sa leeg ko kung saan kasalukuyang tumutulo ang isang mainit na likido mula rito. I see. It must be bleeding from her sword's blade earlier.
"Metallic red blood. A semideus. Tell us, tresspasser, you are the offspring of which deity?", the woman asked before withdrawing her weapon against my throat. Lahat sila ay hinihintay ang sagot ko. Kaagad ko namang pinunasan yung dugong tumulo mula sa leeg ko bago nagsalita.
"Retribution.", I answered with a straight face. Some of them gasped as the others even whispered to each other while throwing glances at me. Mas lalo namang tumalim ang tingin sa'kin nung babaeng nasa harapan ko. I'm betting she's their leader.
"A daughter of the goddess Nemesis. Why have you crossed our lands?", she asked with a tone of warning. I stood my ground.
"You're the hunters of Artemis, aren't you?", I confronted. Nagkatinginan sila sa harapan ko, enough to confirm that I was right. Halatang-halata naman sa mga postura at kilos nila. That's why the girl I shot earlier told me that they were the guardians of this forest. And why she was so skilled with the bow too. Most importantly, the symbol of the lunar crescent on their foreheads confirmed everything.
"We are, but you haven't given me an answer yet, daughter of Nemesis. What is your purpose for coming here?", she asked again.
"I'm here to hunt for something. I do not know what it is yet, but you need not to worry, for I swear to the River Styx that I am not here to bring harm upon your tribe.", I answered her, giving assurance. Nagpalitan ulit silang lahat ng titig as if communicating silently with each other before I heard the woman infront of me, sigh.
"Very well, since you spoke the oath of Styx, we will take your word for it. I only have one more question left."
"What is it?"
"We were able to witness your way with the bow earlier, and to our surprise... it closely resembled ours. Not just anyone can imitate our form when shooting the bow. How was that possible for you?", nagulat ako sa tinanong niya. I've always handled a bow that way ever since I started training with different weapons when I was younger. My dad was the one who taught me. But maybe...
"It's because I also carry the blood of Artemis. It was an immanent skill, I suppose?", I answered truthfully. At least, iyon ang pagkakaalam ko. Halos umapila naman silang lahat.
"That's impossible. You do not bear the Lunar mark. The only ones who can inherit the Greek goddess of the moon and hunt's ichor are those who swore the oath of maidenhood and chastity to her as an official hunter. With that, we are sealed with the emblem of the lunar crescent on our foreheads.", the woman infront of me---the leader of the hunters explained. Hindi ako sumagot.
"If you truly are who you say you are, then how were you able to inherit our patron's ichor?", she asked me with suspicion again. Of course they'd be suspicious, dahil hindi naman pwedeng magkaroon ng anak yung mga hunters ni goddess Artemis kaya hindi ito napapasa sa kung-sino lang.
"I thought you only had one more question left?", sarkastikong tugon ko sa kanya. She sneered.
"Do not test the limits of my patience, daughter of Nemesis."
"Alright. I was kidding! How was I able to inherit the goddess Artemis' ichor, you ask? Actually, I'm trying to find the answers to that as well. I guess that's why I'm here.", I answered truthfully, making her forehead crease due to suspicion.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Prophecy of Fates
Fantasy"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...
