The Semideus

Chapter 11

THE FIRST MISSION

I didn't know how to feel about that. Time stopped earlier. Could it be Cronus? Pero kagaya ng sabi ni Zeus, nasa Tartarus siya. Then who might it be?

"Anyways, here in Zeus' cabin, you don't train," kaswal na wika ni Zeus. Napataas kilay naman ako. Then... what's the sense of this! Akala ko ba training?

"You're a Zeus mentee, ibig sabihin magaling ka na!" What the Olympus?! "Right, Zeref?"

Tumingin naman ako kay Zeref na tumango lang. Mukhang iritang irita na s'ya. Sinulyapan niya ako habang nakataas ang isang kilay, "I didn't train. I just learned through missions. Don't worry too much, you have me, the greatest Semideus here." He put on a playful smirk on his lips.

Feel ko nanikip dibdib dahil d'on. Ibig sabihin sasabak ako sa missions nang hindi trained! Oh my Olympians! Hindi naman ako puwedeng umasa kay Zeref... Paano kung... pa'no kung....

Zeus chuckled, "Yeah speaking of missions—" DON'T TELL ME MERON NA? "— may special mission para sainyo. Though hindi ka puwedeng makasama rito, Zeref. Ikaw lang, Xynthea. May kasama ka namang iba sa ibang Cabin. Malalaman mo rin mamaya kung ano 'yon."

"Bakit hindi ako kasali?" Tanong ni Zeref. Eto na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Pa'no na ako kapag hindi kasama si Zeref?!

"The Olympians think you'll mess up with this mission. This is important, son. Maya-maya'y pupunta na rin dito ang makakasama—" napatigil naman siya nang mapatingin siya sa malayo. Tumingin din si Zeref d'on at kaagad na kumunot ang noo.

I turned to what they're looking and saw Diane, Aster, and Damon. Sila ang makakasama ko?

"Bakit ang mortal na 'yon ay puwedeng sumama?" marahas na tanong ni Zeref. Mortal? Si Damon? Si Diane? Hey, that's rude. I am a mortal too!

"He's responsible unlike you?" wika ni Zeus. He waved at the three, and Aster waved back. Diane smirked at me, while Damon was giving sharp glances at Zeref.

Nang tuluyan na silang lumapit. Pumalakpak si Zeus, "Good to have you all here!"

They all greeted Zeus politely. Napansin ko ang nagtatakang tingin ni Aster kay Zeref, pero may ngiti pa rin siya sa labi n'ya. Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Zeref.

"You're here," wika ni Aster.

"Obviously." Nahihiya namang tumawa si Aster dahil sa sagot ni Zeref. Damon scoffed, "H'wag mo na kausapin 'yan, Aster. Aalis din 'yan maya-maya."

"Who says I'm going anywhere, mortal?" marahas na tanong ni Zeref kay Damon.

Tumikhim naman si Zeus. "Alam niyo na naman siguro na kayong apat, maliban sa'yo Zeref, ay maaatasan sa isang misyon." Tumango naman silang tatlo, at padabog namang binaba ni Zeref ang bote niya sa picnic table. Hala, attitude!

Tumayo ako nang naglakad sila d'on papunta sa templo. Sumunod na rin si Zeref sa'min kahit hindi naman siya belong. Char!

"Hindi niyo siguro napapansin, ngunit isang Olympian Goddess ang nawawala," panimulang wika ni Zeus. Nakita kong natigilan si Aster. I turned to Zeref, na mukhang nagtataka rin. Nawawala? Is that possible?

"Your mission is to find her. No specific details where, pero kapag nahanap niyo s'ya, isang malaking addition 'yon para sa competition sa Greatest Semideus ngayong taon. Kaya hindi ka rin puwedeng sumali sa kanila, Zeref. Ikaw na laging nanalo sa mga nakaraang taon."

"I'll still win this year," confident niyang sagot.

Competition to have the title of the Greatest Semideus? Ano namang may'ron d'on?

"Alam niyo namang lahat, maliban kay Xynthea, na ang mananalong Greatest Semideus ay makakatupad ng isang kahilingan n'ya. May it be powers, immortality, or whatever," paliwanag ni Zeus.

An idea entered my mind. If ako ang magiging Greatest Semideus, maaari kong hilingin ang mga memorya ko! That's great! Na-excite ako bigla para sa misyon na 'to.

"Artemis, Goddess of Hunt and Moon, is missing. It's been months, at kahit kaming mga Diyos ay hindi siya makita. We have no time to look for her again, kaya inaatasan na namin kayo."

"How can we possibly find her, Lord Zeus?" tanong naman ni Aster.

Nagkibit-balikat si Zeus, "Maybe do a research or something?" He chuckled a bit. "You could ask your father, Aster. Hindi nga rin naming alam kung narito ba siya sa Olympian World o sa Mortal World."

"Ano ang huling ginawa ni Artemis bago nawala?" tanong naman ni Zeref.

"Who knows?" wika ni Zeus. "Alam naman natin kung g'ano siya kailap, Zeref. We really don't know how long she's gone, pero ilang buwan na n'ong napansin namin. That's why Artemis' mentees are under Ares' for now."

Tumango naman si Damon, "Indeed. I noticed it, too."

"Malamang. Alagad ka ni Ares, eh," asar na wika ni Zeref. Ang pilosopo naman pala n'ya! Masama s'yang tiningnan ni Damon, pero iniwas n'ya rin kalaunan.

"I'm afraid if Artemis isn't found, the moons will soon cease. Unless we hail another Goddess of the moon, pero imposible rin dahil walang anak si Artemis. She's a virgin goddess who swore to the river Styx. No one inherits her power over the moon. All we have to do is find her," paliwang pa ni Zeus.

Diane scrunched her nose. "It seems like an impossible task for me. We're mere Semideuses—"

Zeus cut her off. "It was Pythia, the Priestess of the Oracle of Delphi, that decided that the four of you will find her. Malaki ang tyansya na makita niyo siya, kaysa sa'min. It is what the oracle speaks."

Oracle of Delphi? It utters prophecies that are meant to happen. Halos wala pang prophecy na nababali. Bukod d'on kailangan gawin kung ano ang sinasabi ng oracle dahil mas magiging matagumpay kung susundin. And we, including me, are chosen by the oracle?!

Hold on! What does finding Artemis have to do with me?!

The Semideus
by lostmortals
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