The Last Elysian Oracle (Soon to be Published under PSICOM)

A Message

It would be better though.... Kung ako ang dahilan ng ngiti at mga tawa niya.

What the hell.

What the hell am I thinking.

Umiling na naman ako. I can't be serious right now.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Napansin kong ang tahimik nila. 

Tumigil ang mata ko kay Trev na hindi pa bumabalik ang kulay ng mata.

Napangiti ako.

One thing that Trev hates is being ordered. But forced to follow a command? He's gonna go crazy.

A few sparks emit from his body kaya dumistansya si Cesia sa kanya. Pati na rin si Chase.

Tahimik lang kami.

Not until a lightning hit our table.

It was our cue to run for our lives.

•••  

"Sa tingin ko dito dumaan si Mayethrusa.. through here and then there.." tinuro ko ang corner ng room kung saan may butas sa pader.

"But how did she manage to create a hole though?" tanong ni Ria habang maigi itong sinusuri. "Alangan namang may acid spit siya?" dagdag ni Chase.

Matagal na sumagot si Ariethrusa..

"actually, she does." sumingkit ang mga mata niya. "It is our only ability. She can spit fire, I can spit ice." halatang may inaalala siya habang sinasabihan kami tungkol sa mga katangian at kakayahan nilang magkambal.

"But I made all these walls enchantment proof..." nagtataka niyang sabi.

"Let's not talk about how she escaped. Let's talk about where she's heading." sumandal si Trev sa pader habang nakapamulsa.

"She's heading to the city." maikling sagot ni Kara na kakapasok lang.

"May nakita kaming trails sa baba ng Arcadia. May binilin rin siyang dugo. Mukhang masakit ata yung pagbaba niya." dagdag ni Art bitbit ang gintong bow and arrows niya. Katabi niya si Cesia na nakatitig sa butas na ginamit ni Mayethrusa para makatakas.

"Based on my calculations, she has just arrived.. but where where would she seek shelter though?" she asked.

Nakayuko lang ako waiting for a voice that might answer her question and get us going.

We need to find her before she leaves any permanent damage. Malaki ang syudad kaya dapat alam namin kung saan kami magsisimulang maghanap sa ahas na yun.

Biglang nagpakita sa Chase sa harap namin.

"Bagong balita. A huge snake is wreaking havoc in the city. Inside a village.. just now."

Napangiti ako. Answers.

I looked at them still occupied. Lahat sila malalim ang iniisip.

"we should go.." I said clasping my hands.

"We should..." tinignan kami ni Trev "right now.." una siyang lumabas sa chamber. Agad akong sumunod sa kanya.

Alam kong pagod na rin sila. Palagi nalang kaming lumilipat. From one place to another.

Ako nga rin eh. But we were trained to do this. To endure different adventures and missions in just a week.

Pagkatapos kunin at ayusin ang laman ng bags namin, dumiretso na kami kay Ariethrusa para magpaalam.

Binigyan niya kami ng dalawang vials ng ambrosia. Saka siya nagpatawag ng alagad para ipahatid kami sa destinasyon namin.

Lumisan na kami sa Arcadia.

Napagdesisyunan nalang namin na doon sa syudad kumain. Like I said, we shouldn't waste time.

I was half asleep when I was woken up by the sudden halt of the car.

Nakatanggap ng masasamang tingin si Chase na nagmamaneho.

"aw anak ng- Sino ba yang babaeng yan?!" minura ni Chase ang babae na naka white robe, nakatayo sa gitna ng kalsada.

She is not a mortal. Halata sa suot niya. We can't see her face clearly kaya lumabas kami.

"You almost killed me." sabi niya habang pinapagpag ang maputi niyang robe.

"Tsk. Ba't nasayo ang staff na'yan? Ninakaw mo ba 'yan?" agad nag react si Chase.

Nagpoker face lang yung babae.

Tinanggal niya ang hood niya.

Only now did I realize she has blonde hair. A bit older but has this... Youthful glow.

"You should know demigod na hindi lang ang ama mo ang may ganitong staff." sagot niya.

"What are you doing here?" nakakunot-noong tanong ni Kara.

"Watch your words. You are talking to a goddess here." nakapameywang siya.

Goddess...

"I'm delivering a message to someone. Hermes got sick... or did he? Nakakainis ang lalaking yon. I'm doing all his work for him. Nakakapagod din ano? Who does he think he is-" napagtanto niyang nasa harapan niya kami kaya tumigil siya.

"You're here because?" tanong ko.

Mukhang alam ko na kung sino siya. Base sa staff niya at sa rainbow hairpins niya.

Everything about her screams rainbow. Pati yung dress niya. Proud ata.

"Oh children. I'm here to tell you that Hermes is sick and he wants to... -uhh.. Tell you..." mukhang nakalimutan niya ang mensahe.

With a wave of her staff, nag appear ang letter sa harap niya.

"Right. He wants me to tell you that.. What the underworldly penmanship is this?!" reklamo niya habang sinusuri ang letter.

"You're wasting our time." ani Trev.

"Go and you will face my wrath." banta niya kay Trev.

After a few seconds, mukhang na gets na niya ang nakasulat.

"Okay... Hermes needs you stop by his mortal lair. That's it." sabi niya saka ibinulsa ang letter.

"He already knows where. Bye." tinuro niya si Chase bago naglaho leaving a rainbow path.

Pumasok kami sa van.

"I don't like her already." narinig kong sabi ni Ria sa likuran.

"I like Iris! Because I like rainbows!" nakangiti si Art habang nilalaro ang plushies niya.

Anong kailangan ni Hermes at pinatawag niya kami?