The Prophecy of Fates

CHAPTER XXXVIII: Το τέρας της Αιθιοπίας

038- THE ETHIOPIAN SEA MONSTER

AHLKRIA

"Don't worry Ahlkria. I won't hurt them---but then again, to tell you the truth, it would all depend on your answer.", the goddess Circe's mockery was even more evident now that we're inside her temple here on the Island of Aeaea.

After the confrontation that happened between me, the goddess Circe, and Theo earlier, her personality began to alter again. That's when I realized why she was called as the most unpredictable Greek goddess. Literal na hindi mo mahuhulaan ang mga susunod niyang gagawin o maiisip. She forcefully brought all of us to her temple and imprisoned the other members of the Delta Team on her dungeon. Meanwhile, she locked Theo on a separate cage while he was still chained as she placed the cage just beside her throne. To my surprise, she didn't even do anything to me. Hindi rin niya ako iginapos but instead, she told me that she wanted to talk about something important. An errand. At iyon ang pinag-uusapan namin ngayon...

"Are you finally willing to listen?", the goddess Circe grinned at me while crossing her legs, sitting on her throne. I really hate her tone of ridicule. But it would be too risky if I'll make a move now on my own. I'm at a horrible disadvantage. The gap between our attributes and mastery over spells are far too great. Mahirap mang aminin pero kanina palang ay alam ko nang wala akong laban sa kanya sa sitwasyon na toh. She has plenty of aces up her sleeve. And I couldn't even manipulate some of my attributes skillfully without losing control of myself.

"Before that, I'd like to ask you this first. If I accept this 'errand' of yours, and let's say, I manage to complete my task. What can you offer me in exchange?", lakas-loob na tanong ko sa kanya na ikinangisi niya. She scoffed before answering...

"Freedom. In-exchange for the freedom of the entire Delta Team. And by 'entire', that would include Theoddeus as well. Freedom from my temple... The freedom to explore and leave this island and be on your way. You'll get all the benefits from the situation Ahlkria. I can guarantee it. So, are you interested?", her offer's tempting. In fact, it's too tempting. Wala akong tiwala sa kanya.

"How can I assure that you're not trying to trick me?", hamon ko dito as I gave her a threatening glare. Tinawanan niya naman ako nang ilang sandali bago sumeryoso as I saw her raise her right hand and showed me her long, black nail on her index finger.

"I swear to the River Styx. I'm not trying to deceive you Ahlkria.", she suddenly cut a cross sign on her chest, right above where her heart is located using her sharp nail as I saw how the cut glowed gold from her ichor.

"Once a deity swears to Styx, he or she can never go back on his or her word, my dear Ahlkria. If you still won't trust me, then I can even recite the Oath of Styx right before you, just to prove myself.", napakunot ang noo ko nang sumeryoso na ang boses niya ngayon. Judging from her tone, she couldn't possibly be lying right? Well then, I better not regret this.

"What kind of errand is it then? I'm listening.", turan ko. Tumango naman siya sakin. She suddenly conjured a spell that allows her to create holographic images and showed me an image of the whole island.

"I want you to retrieve something from the argosy.", the goddess Circe declared as she conjured an image of some sort of a large Greek galleon. Nanliit ang mata ko habang pinagmamasdan ito. She continued explaining as more images made out of her magic flashed and it started to move like she was telling a story.

"The argosy---the hero Odysseus' ship called as a Homeric Galley. It's a ship that Odysseus and his men used to get here on my island. Unfortunately, it sank at the bottom of the Moontides.", and with that, my eyes widened when she mentioned the Moontides. Sumingit ako sa pagsasalita niya.