Thieves of Harmony

50' The Invitation

The calming sound of the waves woke me up. Ramdam ko rin ang sikat ng araw na tumama sa'king nakapikit na mata, kung kaya't dahan dahan ko itong minulat.

I looked around pagkabangon ko, nasa tabing dagat ako. Tiningnan ko naman ang aking mga daliri, at napabuntong-hininga ako nang mapansing naroon pa ang singsing ni Hera.

I am now in my body. Bahagyang sumakit ang ulo ko dahil sa samu't saring memorya at kaalaman na nakuha ko. But what matters is that I now know what I am.

Pinikit ko ang mata ko at ginamit ang aking abilidad na pakiramdaman ang paligid. I felt one presence near me, and I immediately teleported there.

Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Apollo, hanggang ngayon pala ay nagmamasid siya sa'kin. "What do you want?" Kaswal na tanong ko sa kaniya.

"so, alam mo na pala. Mukhang nahuli ako," natatawa niyang sabi.

I tilted my head, and smirked, "Does it scare you?"

Tumango agad siya, "Yes. Knowing your intentions here in the Olympian World. Sisirain mo ang mundo."

I rolled my eyes at him, "For your information, kayo ng ama mo ang sumira sa universe noon. Hindi mo ba alam 'yon?"

Nanliit ang mata niya sa'kin, "What do you know?"

Huminga ako nang malalim at humalukipkip, "Zeus will make everything vanish, including mortals and Gods. Matitira ang mga nasa side ni Zeus, but then, mawawala rin sila because no one will believe and worship them."

Apollo squinted his eyes on me, "Anong gusto mong iparating?"

Nag-kibit balikat ako, "Hindi ko alam. Basta 'yan ang mangyayari. Hayaan mo nalang muna akong mag-isip kung ano bang gagawin ko."

The truth is, I'm still confused on what to do. I came here for revenge, but my existence is telling me otherwise.

Apollo nodded, "If it is your wish, but I'm not a patient man, Melizabeth." He looked at the sun, and spoke, "I will leave you alone now, Lady."

Naramdaman ko ring nag-ilaw ang aking singsing. Marahil, ito'y hudyat na babalik na ako, at nakapasa ako sa test ni Hera. Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang test ni Hera, but I guess, I passed?

I closed my eyes as bright light enveloped me. Nang imulat ko ang mata ko, nakita kong nasa tapat kami ni Hera. Nakabilog kami, at napansing kinse nalang kami. Paunti na nang paunti ang applicants para maging Semideus.

Ngayon palang, sigurado na akong makakabilang ako sa mga magiging Semideus.

Hera spoke, "Fifteen passed my test." Isa-isa niyang tiningnan ang mukha ng fifteen na nakapasa. Tiningnan ko rin sila at nasiyahang naroon pa si Castor, Pollux, Harmonia, Penthesilea, Autolycus, and Asclepius.

Naglaho na rin ang mga singsing na nasa amin. Hera spoke again, "The last battle would be a merged test by the three Gods- Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades."

Ngumisi si Hera, at binigyan kami ng tig-iisang envelope. Wala pang nakalagay, but it was sealed with the symbol of Olympus.

"You are invited to the grand Olympus Ball. Kasama riyan ang ilang mga demigods, and some elite mortals from the mortal world. Sa ball, kailangan mayroong God na mag-caclaim sainyo to be his or her apprentice. If it happens, then you are automatically a Semideus.

The Gods have this strong connection for someone's soul, and he or she therefore decides to make him or her an apprentice."

Ngumiti pa muli si Hera, "I wonder whom among you will be my apprentice.

You are given a month to prepare for the ball. Be in your best gown, and shall the Gods choose you."

Akmang aalis na siya, pero bigla siyang humarap at medyo tumawa, "Please, don't forget your weapons."

Harmonia squealed, "Oh my gosh! Our last battle is a ball! I can't wait!"

"Harmonia, ang ingay mo. Nasa lupain pa rin tayo ni Hera, calm yourself," saway sa kaniya ni Autolycus.

Lalapit sana ako sa kanila, pero bigla akong nilapitan ni Asclepius, "I can smell my father's scent on you. Nagkausap ba kayo?"

I pouted, "Yes. We just talked. How the underworlds can you smell it? He did not even touch me."

Nagkibit-balikat siya, at medyo inakbayan ako bago lumapit kina Harmonia. Naroon na rin si Castor at Pollux. Habang si Penthesilea naman ay nasa kabilang grupo. Mga hindi ko kilala ang kasama niya, perhaps mga mortal.

"Kanino kayo magpapatahi ng damit niyo?" Tanong ni Asclepius.

Kaagad namang sumagot si Pollux, "Maybe we can ask our mortal mother. Balak namin ay umuwi muna sa mortal world for two weeks, I guess."

Tumango ako at sinabing, "One month is too long. Wala akong gagawin."

"That's enough," sabi naman ni Lycus, "They also need to prepare. It's the biggest event of Olympus."

Gumusot ang mukha ko at nginisian lang ako ni Lycus, "Why? Wala kang gagawin for a month, darling?"

Umiling agad ako. Wala naman talaga akong gagawin, but maybe plan plan plan think think think plan think.

"Kung ganoon, sumama ka sa'kin," sabi niya at mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi niya. Nagtaas kilay naman kaagad ako, "Saan naman?"

"To visit you-know-who," sagot niya. Alam ko na kaagad kung sino ang tinutukoy niya, it was Melinoe. He wants to visit her, but I wonder how. At bakit gusto pa niya akong isama.

"Magpapaalam muna ako," sagot ko.

"Kanino ka naman magpapaalam, Melizabeth? You're not anyone's apprentice yet," takang tanong ni Castor.

"Sa'kin," nagulat ako nang biglang nagpakita si Thanatos sa'min. His stromy eyes met mine, and he looked darkly at Autolycus.

"She's under Circe's training, at under ko rin ang bawat trainee ni Circe. It's rightful that she asks permission from me," mariing sabi ni Thanatos.

Autolycus scoffed, "Then I'll ask Circe to let her come with me, Thanatos. I'm sure she'll let me."

Mukhang sasagot pa si Thanatos pero umiling agad ako, "Hindi na. Ako na ang magpapaalam. Kailan ba 'yan? Magtatagal ba 'yan?"

"Just a day or two with you Melizabeth. Kahit kailan, just tell me," sagot naman ni Lycus at napangiti, his golden eyes shimmered.

Tumango ako, "Sasamahan nalang kita kapag day-off ko ng training with Circe."

I glanced at Thanatos, and he clenched his jaw. Iniwasan niya ang tingin ko, at hindi na muling umangal pa.

Gusto ko ring sumama kay Autolycus, because I want to seek an answer to one question...

Out of all applicants here, siya lang ang hindi ko nakita aa war sa Olympus, and I wonder, why?

Katulad ko ba siya?

Lycus replied, "Thank you, Melizabeth."

Thieves of Harmony
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!