The Legends of Olympus artwork: "The Chief of the Orion Organization and His Right Hand" will be available to get as a photocard freebie of the Olympus Academy I Gift Sets.
Vance's POV
Where the fuck was Grey?
On the way to the lake, my foot steps were as heavy as the bombs that kept on exploding all around the Elysium's barrier.
No one knows how long the barrier will stay, and how much it can take, but I know it won't be too long after hearing the sounds of explosions start to echo louder, stronger, within the protected realm.
Flocks of birds have been frantically circling the sky, not knowing where to go. And among them, a red flaming bird was trying to gather the realm's residences in one spot.
And Raphael...
Yumuko ako sa tabi ng lawa nang nakaluhod ang isang tuhod, at dinama ang tubig gamit ang aking mga daliri. Kumawag-kawag ang aking panga, nang alalahanin kung kailan ko huling nakita si Raphael.
He's supposed to be here.
Marahan kong hinagod-hagod ang aking mga daliri habang nasa ilalim ito ng tubig.
"I can't find him," Paige spoke from behind.
My lips were tightly pressed when I turned to her. I dried my hand, and stood on my feet wearing a bad-tempered expression.
Because where else would that demigod be if not here in his realm that needed him?
My sister and I exchanged the same glance. And behind the darkened sky, her ashened eyes dimmed from a certain thought that we were both thinking at the same time.
"I'm going to kill them both," saad ko.
Paige let out a silent sigh.
"Go tell Reign," utos ko.
"She's occupied with fortifying the barrier," aniya. "Says she won't allow a single stain touch a leaf."
Wala sa sarili akong napatingala sa langit kung saan napalitan ng apoy ang dating sumasabog na liwanag sa ibabaw ng barrier.
Great. They're throwing fire now.
Every ball of fire that landed a blow on the barrier released a burst of flames that spread on the clouds, turning them red for a few seconds.
"Haunting," puna ko sa trahedyang nagbabantang bumagsak sa kinatatayuan namin.
"It is," Paige was looking up at the sky, as well. "They want to destroy the realm, but Reign's not letting them enter."
"You think what Mom saw back then was scarier?" tanong ko nang mapatingin ulit sa langit. "When she was in the future, and the gods made the sky their domain-"
Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil sa biglaang pagbagsak ng malaking apoy sa mismong ibabaw namin. Yumanig ang lupa dulot ng bigat nito, at nahagilap ko ang kaunting apoy na lumagpas sa ilalim ng mga ulap, ibig sabihin nagawa nitong pasukin ang barrier.
"Vance," sambit ni Paige.
Squinting my eyes and clenching my fist, I prepared to meet the first attack from outside the barrier. And for the next few seconds, I waited with my sister for the first crack to open.
But it didn't.
Unti-unting bumukas ang aking palad.
It only cracked but never broke, because a streak of light filled the crack, and it glowed gold, filling in the gap.
Napalunok ako.
From the crack of the barrier that's now mended, came a burst of golden light that radiated across the sky and covered the barrier with another layer.
"The twins are protecting Reign?" pagsisigurado ko.
"Yes," sagot ni Paige. "They're staying close to her while she's maintaining the barrier, and they are gathering enough ember and ash to summon our giants."
We weren't given the first command yet, but- "It seems like her first order is to defend-"
"It is," kumpirma niya. "She asked me to ready myself and take over protecting the barrier after her."
Napatango-tango ako. "Elysium cannot fall." Nilingon ko si Paige na nakatuon pa rin sa itaas. "We cannot let it."
Sinalubong niya ang aking nangangakong tingin. "It won't."
Napabuntong-hininga ako saka humarap sa kanya. "So, have you already thought of anything?"
"I need to tell you something about Reign," aniya.
Umangat ang isang kilay ko.
"She's lying."
Napaurong nang kaunti ang aking ulo sa pagkabigla. "She's lying?"
"She says she does not want to let the enemies come, but she's..." Kumunot ang kanyang noo imbes na tapusin ang kanyang pangungusap.
"She's what?" nangunguryuso kong tanong.
"She's..." Napatuon siya sa malayo.
"It's the first time your doubting your own senses," I remarked. "What's up?"
"She looks like she wants to face them..." mahina niyang sabi. "Desperately."
Nagkasalubong na rin ang aking kilay sa pagtataka.
"It looks like she actually wants them to break the barrier and fight..." Umiling-iling siya. "Her."
Matagal-tagal akong napatitig kay Paige, at ilang sandali pa'y di naiwasang napangisi. "Yeah, nothing's changed, Paige." Natawa ako nang mahina. "You know how Reign is when she's threatened."
"She wants to finish them off right away, but she knows she can't," dagdag ko. "Because she also wants to protect the realm."
"That's the thing," sabi niya. "With every decision she has to make, she's splitting herself."
"You're worried," I noticed, from the tone of her voice.
"Who will hold her together, Vance? Because he's not here." She gently shook her head again. "The one who I thought is capable to tether a tempest is not here. He is, instead, the one triggering the storm-"
"We can hold a storm, Paige," giit ko.
"But not Reign," ganti niya. "And you know that."
I chuckled lowly. "And here I thought you trusted her enough to not doubt her."
"I'm not..." She sighed, defeatedly. "I'm just wondering what would happen..."
"Right." I nodded to agree, even though I wasn't, really.
"And you need to survive this war," dagdag pa niya. "I have something to talk to you about."
"And what would that be?" usisa ko.
"Henri and Hecate..." sambit niya. "They said something to her, and we need to figure out what they meant."
"Ah..." Unti-unting namuo ang isang determinadong ngiti sa aking labi. "Something to look forward to."
She snickered. "What's a sister gotta do if not give her brother a little push to the edge?"
Pinaningkitan ko siya. "What do you mean I have to go over the edge?"
"I have a feeling the barrier will break," pagbibigay-alam niya. "I will need you over the edge."
Unti-unting lumuwag ang pagkapihit ng aking mga braso hanggang sa bumagsak ang mga ito sa magkabilang gilid ko.
"We really have no choice but to fight them here?" tanong ko.
"Give them the battlefield, but take the victory," sabi niya. "Give and take."
"Give..." pag-uulit ko. "But take more of what you have given."
Her brow twitched, wanting to raise.
"Stay safe," paalam niya. "And keep watch."
"You too," sagot ko.
She gave me a glance to bid farewell, before stepping into a trance where her body slowly turned invisible as she entered, leaving at last a glint of white from the edges of her white cape.
I scoffed. "Show off."
Bella's POV
"Hindi pa rin nasisira yung barrier..." puna ko habang nakaupo sa dulo ng talampas na kinaroroonan ng templo ni Cronus. "Ang galing..."
Tsaka, nasa'n na kaya si Raph?
'He won't be here,' sagot ni Isa sa aking isipan.
Sinabi niya sa'yo?
'No, I just know.'
"Dito muna ako..." sabi ko sa kanya. "Baka kasi bumalik yun, ih-"
'He's an enemy, Bella.'
Sinabi niya rin sa'yo?
'If he was, an ally, why is he not here to protect his realm?'
Di ko rin alam. Kumibit-balikat ako. Baka naligaw yun-
'Bella.'
Nangangapos ang aking ngiti nang gumuhit ito sa mukha ko. "Alam ko..." bulong ko sa sarili. "Umaasa lang naman ako, ih..."
Maingay akong bumuga ng hangin. "Paano kaya natin mapapatay yun? Eh parang imortal naman din yun..."
'Let me.'
Humagikgik ako. "Okie."
Mula sa lupa ng Elysium, inangat ko ang aking tingin sa langit.
"Ang gandang tignan..." Napangiti ako rito at tinawag si Spooky na nakaupo rin sa tabi ko. "Tignan mo Spooky, oh!" Dinuro ko sa kanya ang isang bulalakaw na tumama sa barrier dahilan na yumanig ang buong realm. "May wishing star!"
"Ah, di pala-" Sunod-sunod na nagsibagsakan ang nag-aapoy na mga bato sa barrier. "Meteor shower pala! Dami na nating pwedeng i-wish, Isa! Spooky!"
'You could've killed him when I told you about the veils.'
"Di ko naman alam na kasama pala siya ni Henri nu'n, ih," depensa ko sa sarili. "Akala ko pareho lang kami na gustong patayin yung council."
Napansin ko ang pagbukas ng langit kaya muling bumalik ang liwanag sa Elysium. Nawala na rin ang mga pagsabog.
"Hmm?" Luminga-linga ako sa buong tanawin. "Napagod na sila?"
Kasunod kong nakita ang malaking anino na dahan-dahang dumapo sa lupa. Napakurap-kurap ako rito, at nagtaka lalo na't dahil nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang bigat mula sa itaas.
Tumayo ako, at nilabas ang aking mga katana sa magkabilang kamay.
Tumingala ako nang nakakunot ang noo.
Unti-unti na namang nandilim sa Elysium, dahil sa makapal na mist na tumakbo para paligiran kami. Nagmistulang kumot ang kadiliman nang takpan kami nito, hanggang sa wala na akong gaanong makita.
Mula sa baba, narinig ko ang ingay ng natatakot na mga kaluluwa.
Pagkatapos, sinundan ko ng tingin ang nag-aapoy na ibong siyang natirang liwanag para sa'min. Umikot-ikot ito at hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala sa tuwing naglalaho siya ng kaunti mula sa paningin ko.
Humihigpit ang pagkakapalipot ng mga daliri ko sa mga espada ko sa tuwing dumadaan siya sa makakapal na ulap at natatakpan nito.
Ang dilim-dilim na nga tapos- "Zack naman, ih," reklamo ko. "Ang layo mo..."
Paano ko siya mapapatay gamit ang sarili kong mga kamay kung sobrang layo niya sa'kin at malapit siya sa mga kalaban na nasa labas lang ng barrier?
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Tsk."
Mas gusto niya atang mapahamak siya sa kamay ng mga kalaban namin, ih! Sisirain niya yung pinangako niya sa'kin na ako lang papatay sa kanya!
'Men,' sabi ni Isa. 'They will always find a way to betray you in one way or another.'
Kasunod na lumiwanag ang aking mukha nang makita ang ibon na lumilipad papalapit sa kinaroroonan ko, nag-iiwan ng mga pulang kislap sa landas nito.
Bumaba ang kanyang lipad patungo sa'kin at nang daanan niya ako, masigla akong tumalon mula sa talampas at lumipat sa kanyang likod nang nakatukod ang isang kamay sa balahibo niyang kulay ng kumakapal na apoy.
"D'yan ka lang muna, Spooky!" Kinawayan ko si Spooky na iniwan ko.
"Ayos na mga pakpak mo!" nasisiyahan kong puna kay Zack, pero mas lalo akong nasiyahan sa lamig ng hangin. "Yay!" Saka ako magaang naupo sa malambot niyang likuran. "Sa'n punta natin?"
Napakapit ako nang bigla siyang humilig patagilid, at ipinakita sa'kin ang kumpulan ng mga kaluluwa-
Napatigil ako.
Kaluluwang sundalo?
Napasinghap ako. "Marami tayo?!"
Habang nasa himpapawid, nakarinig ako ng matinis na ugong, at papalapit sa'min, ngunit bago pa ito lumakas nang todo, mahina akong napatili nang lumagapak ito sa barrier na lumiwanag ng ginto.
"Ano naman yun?" tanong ko.
'Bella...'
"Hmm?" Kumisap-kisap ako.
'Glitters...'
Saka ko lang napansin ang maliliit na kinang na nahulog mula sa itaas. "Glitters nga!" nananabik kong sabi.
Pero teka.
Nanahimik din agad ako.
Sa'n naman galing 'to?
'The barrier won't hold it,' ani Isa.
Ang alin?
'Whatever this mist is...' sagot niya. 'It is too heavy.'
"Huh?" Hindi ako gumalaw sa kinauupuan ko. "May nakapasok na na mist mula sa labas?"
HIndi pa nasagot ni Isa ang katanungan ko nang makita ko ang maliliit na kinang na nagtipon-tipon malapit sa mga espirito at inikutan ang mga ito.
Naglaho ang dalawang katana sa mga kamay ko at nag-anyong pana na gawa sa anino. Itinaas ko ito, at nang hatakin ang tali, uminit ang balat sa aking braso kung saan lumabas ang liwanag na gumapang upang mamuo ng isang palaso.
Itinuon ko ito sa mist sa ibaba.
Papakawalan ko na sana ito nang makarinig ako ng ingay mula sa kabilang dako, sa may maliit na gubat.
Sa sandaling lilingon ako rito, mabilis, at walang-ingay na dumaan sa harapan ko ang isang kidlat.
Lumipas ang ilang segundo at nagsilabasan ang mga ibon na nagtatago mula rito.
Tumigil din sa paglipad ang phoenix na sinasakyan ko, at bahagyang umikot paharap dito.
Anong meron do'n?
Grey's POV
"You have it?" Reign asked.
"No," sagot ko. "I came back as soon as I found out about the attack."
"From whom?" usisa niya.
A corner of my lips lightly raised. "Hecate was expecting me," sagot ko. "You know how the gods are."
"You had one job," she said, and the shadows across her face darkened her already grim and disappointed expression.
"Je suis désolée, ma belle," I apologized. "No mission will stop me from wanting to protect you."
Hindi siya sumagot at patuloy akong binigyan ng nadidismayang tingin.
"You can release it, now," tugon ko. "The barrier."
"I can still hold it," she insisted.
"You are not this realm's protector, Reign," paalala ko sa kanya. "You do not bear the responsibility of saving Elysium from a war we could not avoid."
"We came here, in the Underworld, to save Hedone," dagdag ko. "Not the Elysian Fields."
Bumagsak ang kanyang paningin. "Raphael..." mahina niyang sambit. "Nakita mo ba si Raphael?"
I shook my head.
And she laughed.
She laughed painfully. "Kuya..." Humibi ang kanyang labi bago siya muling mahinang natawa, at nanghina rin ang pagkisap ng kanyang mga mata. "Sa tingin mo ba babalik siya?"
It was a question I was not prepared to answer.
"Paano nila nagagawa 'yon?" kunot-noo niyang tanong, hindi makapaniwala.
"I can't answer that, Reign," sabi ko sa kanya. "And you won't find the answers here. Because we're here to fight them, not ask."
"Since when?" aniya. "Since when have we given them the power to choose where to start a war? And not answer our questions?"
"We're losing, aren't we?" Guilt must have formed a lump in her throat as she had a hard time swallowing it. "And it's all my fault, because I let the enemies get a head start?"
Ako na naman ang marahang natawa. "Why don't you let me hold the barrier?" Lumapit ako sa kanya at magaang hinawakan ang namimigat niyang balikat. "And tell me when you're ready."
She didn't respond, not moving an inch.
"We didn't get to choose the place." I gently squeezed her shoulder. "But we can still choose when to start and end this war."
"And I will hold the barrier for you, until you're ready, Reign," I promised.
"Ready to what?" tanong niya.
"To do whatever you feel like doing," sagot ko. "We can go now and escape. End the war at this moment, or we can..."
Kung saan-saan dumako ang kanyang mga mata, hindi alam kung anong sasabihin, anong gagawin.
"But Elysium..." pabulong niyang tugon.
"Qu'est-ce que tu veux, Reign?" I asked.
'What do you want to do, Reign?'
She pursed her lips for a moment, and murmured, "A lot more." Her voice threatened to break. "I could've done better."
Bumitaw ako sa kanya. "Reign..."
"Kuya..." malambot niyang sambit. "Galit ako sa kanya, pero mas galit ako sa sarili ko kasi hawak ko na, eh, hawak ko na yung mangyayari, at kaya ko na sanang pigilan 'to." Huminga siya nang malalim at naaawang natawa sa sarili niya. "Kung nakinig lang ako sa council-"
"Hey." I called out softly to her, to avoid startling her upon waking her up from being too invested with her frustation. "Remember what Mom always said about the past?"
Her gaze fell silently.
"She said not to linger too long or you'll get stuck," paalala ko sa kanya. "You're mad and that's okay, but it is not okay to stop yourself from healing."
Yumuko ang kanyang ulo.
"And I am only going to say this once, ma belle, so listen..." Hinawi ko ang hibla ng buhok na naalis mula sa likod ng kanyang tenga nang ibaba niya ang kanyang mukha. "Regrets exist for a reason, and sometimes it's to remind us that there are certain things we cannot control, no matter how hard we try."
"Why don't you give in your hurt to time? Hmm?" suhestyon ko. "Let time heal you, as it always has to everyone."
"And the reason why you're feeling this way is because you're always in a rush," mahinahon kong sabi. "You want to heal quickly but you can't."
Her eyes glimmered against the dark. "Because who will protect you then if I'm still wounded?"
"You easily gave Henri the order to protect the Omegas when you were still wounded." Nginitian ko siya. "Though it hurt my pride as your older brother, I am willing to forget what you did."
"Let me hold the reins today." My smile widened with anticipation. "So you can do whatever you want."
Umangat ang kanyang tingin sa'kin.
"You always ask us not to doubt your power..." tugon ko. "I figured out it's time we ask you the same."
Matagal-tagal niya akong tinitigan, nagdedesisyon.
"Fine," sagot niya, di kalaunan. "I will let you take control but only this time- if," she emphasized. "And only if you promise me one thing."
"What is it?" tanong ko.
"Please don't make so much mess out of this war," pakiusap niya. "It's already as problematic and chaotic as it is."
Napangisi ako. "I promise."
"Kuya, seryoso ako," aniya.
I chuckled lightly. "Ako rin."
Ash's POV
My hand played with the ash floating around my fingers while waiting for my sister from the other side of the mountains.
"Hi, Ash!"
I turned to Bella who sat on the phoenix's back. They stopped beside the shoulder of the ash giant where I stood.
"Hello, Bella." I greeted back.
Sumilip siya sa baba.
"Tumangkad ata yung giant mo, ah," puna niya.
"And yet it's still not enough to protect a realm as big and as wide as Elysium..." dugtong ko. "No one knows how many enemies are waiting outside the barrier."
Humagikgik siya. "May mga sundalo rin naman tayo, ih! Kaya wag kang mag-alala! Mauubos din natin sila kahit ga'no pa 'yan karami." Pagkatapos, luminga-linga siya. "Si Amber nga pala? Saan?"
As if on cue, the ground rumbled from deep below. The temperature started to rise, and the noise of rushing rocks resounded across the realm.
From behind the mountains in front of me, a hand, made out of molten rocks and ember emerged from land. Its palm was as huge as a palace and it held on to the mountain as it lifted the rest of its body to stand on its two feet.
Napaatras kami sa papalaking hugis sa harapan namin at dahan-dahang napatingala sa higanteng gawa sa bato ang katawan at yari sa kumukulong putik ang dugo. Mas malaki ang higanteng ito kung ikukumpara sa akin at muntik nang maabot ng ulo nito ang tuktok ng pinakamataas na bundok.
My sister's ember giant was twice as big as mine and its lava body brought a bit more light to the realm, casting a shadow and a blood red glow on the land.
Not long, our attention was caught by the deep low sound of the barrier that has started to break.
The dark fog from the outside quickly entered and lowered itself to surround us.
"Calm down, everyone!" An unidentified man's voice echoed from below. "I have dispatched all the soldiers to every direction!"
I didn't bother to glance at the spirits and the army Elysium could offer. I was more occupied at watching how the barrier pulsed with light, slowly turning into a cracking glass.
The once invisible layer that's protecting the realm has now turned into pieces of large shards of glass, as big as islands, and they never fell to the ground. They all stayed in place.
"Zack! Du'n!" May tinuro si Bella na bahagi sa lupang natakpan na nang maitim na usok, at agad namang rumesponde si Zack at dinala siya patungo rito.
Kasunod akong napatingin kay Amber na magaang inilapat ang kanyang mga paa sa kabilang balikat ng higante kong gawa sa abo.
"Kambal." Katulad ko, nakatayo rin siya rito.
"You outdid yourself this time," puna ko, tinutukoy ang higanteng gawa niya. "Just make sure it won't quickly break apart."
"Tsk!" She sneered. "Ako pa?"
Somewhere close, a brewing storm growled with the lowest but loudest crackles, though it did not come from the sky, but from the ground.
"Psst." Sinenyasan ako ni Amber na lumingon sa direksyon ng babaeng lumabas mula sa gubat, dala-dala ang napakabigat na presensya.
Presensyang hindi ko lang naramdaman, kundi malinaw ring nakikita, pagka't sa bawat apak ng kanyang paa sa lupa, nag-iwan siya ng bitak sa kanyang landas.
Nagpalitan kami ni Amber ng blankong tingin bago muling tinignan ang demigod na hindi nabigo sa pagparamdam ng presensya niya sa bawat ibong nagsiliparan, bawat halamang yumuko, at bawat matang agad tumuon sa kanyang gawi.
"Putangina..." I heard my sister say to herself. "Kanina pa 'yan galit, eh, kasi sa dinami-raming lugar na pwedeng idamay, Elysium pa."
Reign, the demigod who we continued to stare at, walked in an unusual calm. She didn't frown nor were her brows furrowed. Instead she seemed a bit relieved... and ready.
Her eyes still look tired, and she still carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. But her horizontal gaze and vertical spine was as straight as an unbending pillar, a testament of what she was and what she will always be in a battle: the leader, a symbol of strength.
And just like that, all my worries disappeared.
She stood commanding, but also pleasing, because she never stiffened. All this time, her face and body were relaxed, and the people around her couldn't help but also feel the same.
Paanong hindi luluwag ang aming mahigpit na paghinga kung kahit ni isang kibot ng kaba o takot, hindi niya nagawang naipakita?
Sa mata naming lahat, kampante siya, kaya kampante rin kami.
Pero mas may alam pa rin kaming mas nakakakilala sa kanya.
Alam naming sa likod ng nakabukas niyang mga palad at magaan niyang ekspresyon, may bagyong namumuo, at naghihintay kung kailan niya ito papakawalan.
Mahinahon siyang sinalubong ni Paige.
Nagpalitan sila ng mga salita, bago kami panandaliang sinulyapan ni Reign.
"What do you think she wants us to do?" I asked my sister.
"Aba malay ko," sagot niya. "Wala rin akong marinig, eh-"
At the north, the barrier finally broke after a piece of it fell on the sea. Water rushed as high as a building and behind the wave, came in men and women dressed in all black.
Some ran on water, while some were flying and some also rode their own horses and machines.
They reached land where they were met by a few soldiers and my heart skipped a beat after seeing the difference between their numbers and ours'.
One soldier fought against at least three enemies.
But I stopped counting, the second I noticed Vance who stood in the middle of it all and fought on water, clashing his sword against everyone who tried to pass him. He was wet immediately from sweat and blood, and from the splashes of water around him.
His hands were filled but his grip of his sword never loosened.
"I believe that's our cue," I said, and commanded my giant to sprint towards the North, racing with another giant on my left, and a phoenix on my right.
In front of us, a black ocean spilled, threatening to invade the realm.
But it wasn't just all people in leather armors.
My head slowly raised high as I looked down on the creatures that entered the realm. Some of them had claws and tentacles. Some had multiple arms and feet, and were as big as cyclopes.
The strange-looking creatures varied in shapes and sizes, and they may look like they are of different species or belong from different realms, but I already knew that these animals, each a weapon of mass destruction, belong to one race of monsters created by the organization.
"Gago- ano naman 'yang mga yan?!" sigaw ni Amber.
Pinaningkitan ko ang mga ito. "Hybrids."