Oculus of Time

Mirrors

Ria's POV

Sa pagkakatanda ko, hindi ako nandito para i-briefing ng Goddess of Memories.

Natanggal ang aking atensyon mula kay Mnemosyne dahil pinaligiran kami ng usok na unti-unting nag-anyong mga salamin.

"Are these..." Inikot ko ang aking paningin. "Memories?"

Tila pinalibutan ako ng mga eksena sa buhay ko na nangyari na. Mga ala-ala ko noong bata pa ako, hanggang sa makilala ko ang Alphas.

"Your memories reflect who you are." sabi niya. "Always remember that."

Napasingkit ako nang may na-realize ako.

Maybe that's why one of their powers is to summon mirrors and create duplicates of other beings.

Because memories are the reflections of the past.

"The realms of time, you remember?"

Tumango ako. "The past, present and future."

"There's one more." aniya, dahilan na magtaka ako. "There's another one that binds the three."

Matagal-tagal ko siyang tinitigan. Wala kasing pumapasok sa isipan ko. As far as I know, there are only three realms of time, kagaya ng sinabi ni Art sa'min dati.

Nagulat ako nang biglang nag-iba ang kapaligiran. Sa isang iglap, nawala na kami sa templo at natagpuan ko nalang ang aking sarili na nakatayo sa gitna ng dati kong bahay.

"My domain." Nginitian niya ako. "Is where the past, present and future meet."

"Memories reflect the past, create the present and spark the future." dagdag niya. "Do you know how powerful that makes me?"

Napahakbang ako paatras nang biglang lumiwanag sa kinatatayuan ng titaness. Inangat ko ang aking braso para takpan ang mga mata kong nananakit dulot ng matinding silaw.

Pagkatapos, dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang aking braso na mabilisan namang bumagsak sa gilid ko nang makita ang babaeng nakatayo sa aking harapan.

The moment I looked at her, I regretted it because my knees immediately felt weak.

A woman stood before me wearing a long chiton made out of melted mirrors. It was flowing downwards, like water falling endlessly. Her black hair was adorned with stars, as if it was made of the galaxy and on top her head was a crown made of mirror.

Napasinghap ako nang mapaluhod ako dulot ng mabigat na hangin na pinalibutan ako sa sandaling sinulyapan ko siya.

She wasn't even saying anything, nor ordered me to kneel. But her presence was already enough for me to know how inferior I am to her.

Nanlalaki ang aking mga mata dahil sa pinaghalong sindak at pagkamangha. Pakiramdam ko isang malaking kasalanan ang makita ang isang deity na katulad niya.

My mortal eyes weren't worthy to even get a glimpse of her.

I can't stop staring at her but at the same time, I wanted to look away.

I can feel fear eat me alive when her shadeless but reflective eyes bore on mine.

To think that I raised my voice at her earlier...

She was radiating different emotions, like how memories bring out the best and worst out of people.

Wala siyang ibang ginagawa kundi ang tumayo lamang sa aking harapan at pagmasdan ako na nasasakal sa kapangyarihan niya.