Astral Academy: Servants of Gods & Godesses

Prologue

I am now staring at the big golden door in front of me. It has this unique and elegant greek design that in one look you will think that who ever made this spent his whole time and effort just to make it this perfect. Above this you can see the carved name of the school.

"ASTRAL ACADEMY"

Sa gilid naman ng pinto ay nakaukit ang labing tatlong mukha ng diyos at diyosa na pinaniniwalaan at sinasamba ng mga taga Olympia. They are Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hestia, and Dionysus.

I looked around me and saw the other students bringing their own things and who are obviously excited and telling the stories on how they were chosen. Why are we here, anyway?

I was busy washing the dishes when suddenly my grandmother called me.

"Hera, maaga kang matulog ngayon. Halika at aayusan kita bago matulog." my lola told me and the she grabbed the combed

"Bakit, La? Anong pong meron?" I ask out of curiosity because she really never care if I sleep early or not and also she was dressing me up!

"Balita na sa buong kaharian na ngayon ang pagpili ng mga diyos at diyosa ng kanilang magiging tagapaglingkod" napataas naman ako ng kilay dahil sa sinabi niya

"Tagapaglingkod? Tagasilbi nila? Ganon po ba?"

"Nagkakamali ka Hera, Apo. Ang ibig sabihin non ay kung sino man ang mapili ng mga diyos at diyosa ay mabibigyan din sila ng abilidad na meron ang kung sino man pumili sa kanila. At kapag napili ka ay isa ka sa magpo-protekta sa kaharian sa ngalan nila. Naiintindihan mo ba?"

"Paano po sila pipili? Baba sila dito ganon?"

"Sa panaginip, iha" she said while smiling

Napatango naman ako sa sinabi niya. I heard rumors about someone being chosen and then they were trained but I don't care that much about it then. But now, I want to know more about it. I don't even know that their way of choosing is through dream, I thought they will come down here.

Kaya pala—I just realized that the school that Olympia Kingdom has, was built to train the ones chosen by the gods and goddesses.

"Kaya sana apo...mapili ka dahil dekada ng bibilangin bago mamiling muli ang mga diyos at diyosa"

"Pero, La—dito lang ba namimili ang mga diyos at diyosa?" I asked

"Sa pagkaka-alam ko, Hera...namimili din sila sa ibang kaharian upang protektahan ang kanilang kaharian maliban na lamang sa isa—ang Tartaros" she said and fear was evident to her voice when she said that.

Yeah, I understand her. Tartaros is known to be the place where different kind of monster lived. They only believed in one god in that is Hades the god of underworld.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at hinintay na lang na matapos si Lola. After that she said that she'll leave for moment to get something. Hindi naman nagtagal ay dumating siya dala-dala ang isang puting bestida.

"Isuot mo, apo! Sigurado akong bagay sayo ito! Binili ko yan kanina sa pamilihan!" She excitedly said and gave it to me

"La, kailangan ba talaga to?" I asked while staring at the dress

"Oo naman, apo! Aba, hindi biro ang makakaharap mo kung sakali! Kaya magbihis ka na doon dali! Malapit na ang oras!"

Hindi na ako pumalag nung itulak niya ako sa banyo dahil sigurado ako na ipipilit niya rin naman sa akin ito. Lumabas na ako sa banyo pagkatapos kung isuot ang dress.

Hindi ko aakalain na maganda pala ito. The dress was sleeveless and it was almost plain white if not for the cute floral design at the hem of the dress. It also fits my body-shape which I prefer.

"Ang ganda mo, apo! Tamang-tama lang pala ang nabili ko!" she said while clapping her hands

I just chuckled because I find her cute being excited. I looked at myself in the mirror, my hair was styled in a lose braid which made some of my front hair fell off, the dress hugged my body well which shows of my figure, and my face is not as pale as before because of the lip color that my grandma put.

"Sige na, apo—mahiga ka na! I-kwento mo sa akin kung sino ang pumili sayo!" she excitedly said then helped me lay down in my bed.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at unti-unti ng pinikit ang aking mata. Hindi naman ako nahirapan na makatulog siguro dahil na rin sa pagod.

When I opened my eyes, I am now in the garden. Nilibot ko ang aking paningin at namangha ako dahil sa ganda ng mga namumulaklak na halaman. But I stopped when I saw something,

I walk slowly—trying to not scare away the creature. When I got the better view for the creature, my jaw dropped when I saw that it was a peacock... spreading it's tail widely. I was mesmerized by the beauty of it's tail. Para akong nahihipnotismo na hawakan yon at haplosin para mas ma-appreciate ko yung ganda.

Hahakbang na sana ako ng may bumulong sa kaliwa kong tenga mula sa likod.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" said by the woman's voice

Tumango naman ako at nanatili paring nakatingin sa peacock sa takot na baka mawala ito kapag inalis ko ang tingin dito.

"No matter how beautiful it is—don't touch it's tail unless you want to be poisoned"

I can feel that the woman started to walk to my front. Now, I can see her clearly. A woman with a beauty of a goddess is now smiling at me. She's wearing a dress that the usual goddess wear, with her different shining gold jewelry, and a crown that screams power.

"It's nice meeting you, Hera" she said it with elegance and graciousness

"You are the goddess Hera" I said while looking at her with admiration

She chuckled na mas lalong nagpatulala sa akin.

"It's awkward calling others with my name. Anyway, I think you already know why you are here?" Ngayon naman ay seryoso na ang boses niya.

Tumango naman ako sa kanya. Napansin ko ang paglapit ng peacock sa tabi niya pero ngayon nakababa na ang kanyang buntot.

"I've chosen you to be my servant to protect your kingdom in my name"

Niluhod ko ang isang paa ko bilang respeto at pagtanggap sa kanyang desisyon.

"Hera, I am Hera, goddess of marriage and queen of goddesses have chosen you to be my servant who will protect her kingdom at all cost. Accept my sacred animal and powers as I gave you my blessing to be my rightful and trustworthy servant." she chanted while my head is still bowed down.

In my peripheral vision, nakita ko na parang naging bolang ilaw ang peacock hanggang sa unti-unti itong lumapit sa akin at pumasok sa loob ng katawan ko.

Nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang lakas at hindi maipaliwanag na pakiramdam na unti-unti dumaloy sa akin katawan. Pinikit ko lang ang aking mata hanggang sa mawala na ang pakiramdam na yon. I opened my eyes and I can feel that it glowed for a moment.

When I raised my head Hera was not there anymore. I looked around but there was no signs of her. Pinikit ko na ulit ang mata ko para gumising na ako. When I opened my eyes I saw lola holding my hand while watching me.

"Kumusta, apo? Napili ka ba?" she asked hopefully

Nilibot ko muna ang paningin ko at doon ko napansin na umaga na pala. Tumingin ulit ako kay lola na hanggang ngayon ay naghihintay parin ng sagot ko.

Unti-unti akong ngumiti sa kanya at tumango. She sighed in relief and her eyes becomes teary before she hugged me. Napansin ko na medyo masakit ang braso ko at nakita ko ang tattoo na ang design ay kung ano ang desenyong nasa buntot ng peacock.

Napangiti na lang ako dahil totoo ngang napili ako. Pagkatapos ng tagpong iyon ay walang tigil si Lola sa pagtatanong sa akin tungkol sa nangyari.

Napabalik ako sa kasalukuyan at napaayos ng tayo ang ibang studyante ng unti-unti ng bumukas ang pinto.