The Semideus

Chapter 3

MEDUSA & ARACHNE

The next thing I knew was I teleported to a new place. Tiningnan ko ang paligid at wala akong kasama na kahit sino. There was an endless sea around me. I realized I'm in a remote island. The sea. Bigla na namang sumakit ang ulo ko as if may naaalala ako.

Hinawakan ko ang puso ko. It was beating very slow again. I shut my eyes, and breathed deeply. You're going to be okay, I told myself. This happens to me always. Minsan, bigla nalang akong naghihina o nahihimatay, pero kapag naman nagigising akong muli ay ayos na ulit. I just hope that I won't suddenly faint in the midst of the battle.

I'm physically weak, that is why I always strive to be emotionally strong.

One man whistled from afar. I turned to its direction. I saw a bronzed-skin man with shaved hair. His eyes were amber colored. Halata ang batak ng kaniyang katawan sa kaniyang putting damit. Halatang halata rin ang mga scars niya.

"Mortal!" he greeted.

I almost raised an eyebrow. Kung makapagsalita s'ya, akala mo hindi rin s'ya mortal? It's obvious he's a mortal like me. Or maybe he's a Semideus.

"I'm Damon, Ares' apprentice. Ako ang na-assign para magbantay sa'yo para sa susunod na test. Congratulations, by the way," pagpapakilala niya at ngumiti. Ningitian ko rin siya. But... Ares' apprentice? The God of War? No wonder he looked like someone from the military or army.

Napawi naman ang ngiti niya nang hindi ako magsalita. "Hindi ka ba magpapakilala, mortal?" Oh, I didn't know that he was expecting me to introduce myself. Akala ko ay kilala na n'ya ako.

Bago pa ako makasagot ay biglang lumakas ang alon at hangin, dahilan kung bakit ako napatalon.

He sighed deeply, "Well, I guess we have no time. You will be sent to sleep using Hypnos, the god of sleep's potion. Morpheus, the god of dreams will be entering your mind. Lahat ng makikita mo pagtapos nito'y panaginip lang. All you have to do is get away from the dream, and remember not to sleep or die inside your dream, mortal."

I squinted my eyes on confusion. Dreams? How am I supposed to get away from a dream?

"May limited amount of time. Kapag hindi ka nakalabas sa panaginip mo sa loob ng isang oras, hindi ka na makakapasa sa Semideus test," dagdag pa n'ya. I pouted as I look at him play with an hourglass in his hand.

"Paano naman ako makakalaba—" bago ko pa matapos ang sasabihin ko'y napalibutan na ako ng pink smoke. I coughed hard. Masyadong matapang ang amoy ng gas. Is this Hypnos' potion?

Unti-unting nawala ang potion at namulat ako sa parehong lugar— except that it's dusk, almost night time. Nawala na rin si Damon. Wait, I'm in a dream already?

I roamed my eyes in the island. I heard crickets and some birds. Sana naman ay wala nang ahas dito. My eyes caught a glint of a shiny blade buried by the sand. Tumaas ang kilay ko, is it a sword?

Lumapit ako roon at 'di nga ako nagkamali. Kinuha ko 'yon at mahigpit na hinawakan. Bakit kaya may espada sa panaginip ko? Don't tell me may mga monsters din dito? Gosh!

"Hays, paano ba ako makakalabas sa panaginip na 'to?" I sighed.

Napatigil ako nang makarinig ng agos ng tubig mula sa paloob. A nightingale sang. Sinundan ko ang pinagmulan ng tunog na 'yon. That song seems familiar. I looked up at the nightingale.

Muli na naman siyang lumipad palayo. Mas lalo ring lumakas ang tunog ng agos ng tubig. Is he guiding me towards it? Sumunod nalang ako, at pinutol ko ang ilang bush para makadaan.