Ria's POV
"How are they?" tanong ko sa aurai na may dalang pagkain at patungo sa camp ng mga refugees.
"May iba po na hindi pa nagigising.. pero may binigay naman si Doc para sa kanila." sagot niya.
I gave her a smile and nodded. "Good. Thank you."
Tinignan ko ang aurai na sumama sa mga kasamahan niya na katulad niya, ay may dala ring pagkain. They flew their way down to the camp just below the Academy.
Recently, Iris sent a message stating that the rebels have taken over the Underworld. Their force is slowly gaining strength. One proof of it is what happened earlier today.
Nawalan ng malay lahat ng descendants ng night-driven deities. Kasali na ang iilang refugees.
The Great Mother of the Underworld is active. What a great time to be alive.
Syempre sisingit si Nyx para suportaan ang mga anak niya. Add up Cronus and Gaia and it is a complete nightmare for all the realms.
Naglalakad ako sa corridors habang gumagawa ng mental list sa mga barriers na tatahakin namin.
First, kailangan naming puntahan ang lair ng mga giants at talunin sila.
Second, we have to face those so-called leviathans. Giants who were made to counterattack our abilities.
Third, figure out how to go back home and plan about the final war.
Fourth, hope that something bad does not come up because fuck this shit. Pagod na ako sa mga unexpected catastrophies.
I feel like everytime something happens, it turns out to be worse!
The good thing that only happened is the fact that may alam na kami sa posibleng lungga ng ma anak ni Gaia. Particularly, those blind ones.
I sighed.
And then there's Cesia.
Nakita ko nga ang mga mata niya and Gods know what is really with her. She just goes from a normal demigod to a... complete mystery.
They say that shade of violet was her true eye color at nakatago lang ito sa layer ng dating kulay ng mga mata niya. Ibig sabihin, someone tried to hide her true nature.
Which is confusing as fuck.
Why would someone try to hide it anyways? At saka... if that color is default, at hindi pa siya nakaranas ng full divination, then what does that make her?
Siguro nga.. that explains why her basic abilities are more than just the average powers of a demigod.
And that supports Kara's hunch. Na may iba pang deity si Cesia.
But who is it?
Ginulo ko ang buhok ko.
I tried my best to not overthink it dahil malaki ang posibilidad na mababaliw ako dito. Atleast not before the war. Ayokong maging pabigat sa Alphas. The very least they would want is a crazy woman.
Pumasok ako sa dorm at saktong lumabas si Trev mula sa kwartong sigurado akong hindi kanya.
I was weirded out at kung saan-saan lumilipad ang imahinasyon ko as to why he was in Cesia's room but my eyes drooped over the ambrosia he was bringing so I just shrugged.
I heard he had ambrosia delivered from the council for her. How he got the council to send ambrosia? Wala akong alam and in this case, mas mabuti ang hindi na makialam.
"She really swept you off your feet. Didn't she?" natatawa kong sabi.
"The principal summoned you." he informed me, effortlessly dodging my comment.
Tsk. Gusto ko pa namang pag-usapan silang dalawa ni Cesia. But oh well.
"Bakit?" kumunot ang noo ko.
Nagkibit-balikat lang siya.
"Thanks." I said before darting off.
Dumiretso ako sa office at nakita si Sir Rio at Sir Glen na may pinag-uusapan.
"I'm sorry pero pinatawag daw ako ng principal?" tuluyan na nga akong pumasok at sinarado ang pinto.
"Yes. We were looking for you." Sir Glen gestured me to sit so I did.
"You are aware that the giants have improved their senses than usual. Kaya't hindi nakakalapit ang mga huntres at amazons within a closer radius." I already know what he was telling me so I just snapped out of it.
"Go directly to the point. What does this have to do with me?" I raised a brow.
They both sighed.
"Kailangan mong pumunta sa lugar na'yon at tignan kung anong meron. You will be the one to report what's happening in there." tinuro ni Rio ang lokasyon sa mapa.
It's somewhere in the middle of the Philippines. Akala ko nga nasa ibang bansa sila but then they were much closer than we expected.
"Fly across that area and return tomorrow before your watch reaches noon." he dismissed.
Tumayo na ako. I made my way to the door.
"Don't let anyone know where you're going to avoid mishaps. Understood?" dagdag niya.
I didn't bother to look at them and simply got outside the office.
Bumaba ako sa lupa gamit ang levitating platform para hanapin si Heather. Nakita ko nga siyang naglilinis ng mga palaso sa labas ng tent niya.
Agad siyang tumayo nang makita akong papunta sa kanya.
"Ria." bati niya sa'kin.
"Hey." we embraced each other with a quick hug.
"Why are you here?" nginitian niya ako.
"I just wanted to ask how many troops are currently investigating the giants' territory?" napatingin ako sa mga huntres a amazons na kasalukuyang binabantayan ang camp.
"I only sent three huntres while Kia opted for one amazon. You know, to minimize the scent. Mahirap na."
Napa 'oh' ako.
Akala ko talaga atleast isang troop ang pinadala nila. I guess I was expecting too much.
"Why'd you ask?" she eyed me with curiousity.
Napangiti ako. "Wala lang. I might want to visit and take a look at it."
"Really?" she clasped her hands. "Tell me when so that I can accompany you. Just don't go there alone okay? That would be a reckless thing to do."
Natawa ako.
A reckless thing to do.
"The giants are creatures not to underestimate Ria." paalala niya.
Tumango ako. "I know, Heather. I know."
Lilipad lang naman ako. I'd be out of their sight and senses. Saka, saglit lang naman. Titignan ko lang talaga kung anong meron. Kung ilang giants ang nandoon...
I looked at my watch and sighed.
Tomorrow before my watch reaches noon. Well then. I need to go... after a couple of minutes.
Ayon sa pagkakaestimate ko, I will have to fly for a whole night to get there.
"Heather. Una na'ko." paalam ko sa kanya.
"Alright. See you." bumalik siya sa pagkakaupo at pinagpatuloy ang dati niyang ginagawa.
Nasa camp ako nang mapansin ko ang isang bata na may malapad na ngiti at tumtakbo patungo sa direksyon ko.
"Hiiii!!!!" kumaway siya.
"Hey there." yumuko ako at ginulo ang buhok ng batang lalaki. Siya yung nakausap ko dati. I was even able to give him a small weapon.
"Tignan mo po ate oh!" he sheathed his dagger.
"Who made that?" may leather cover na kasi ang dagger niya. It was tied around his waste.
"Binigay po ni kuya!" sabik na sabik niyang sagot.
Umm. Akala ko siya lang ang nakaligtas sa pamilya niya?
My brows met. "Kuya?"
A gust of wind stopped abruptly behind my back.
"Mmm!" tumango-tango siya. "Kuya!" may tinuro siya sa bandang likuran ko.
I sighed and stood up.
"Chase."