Embracing Chaos (#1)

37 | Stained

AURORA'S POV

"Aurora, snap out of it!" Naramdaman ko ang aking pagkatumba nang may tumulak sa'kin. Nagpapalit-palit ang aking tingin kay Tazyn at sa patay na daemon sa harapan ko.

"Tazyn..."

I'm sorry for being too scared, I wanted to say, but the words were stuck in my throat.

I was too ashamed. I'm a protector of the academy... but why can't I protect anything?

"Wag kang matakot, Aurora..." Lumambot ang ekspresyon sa mukha ko nang marinig kung gaano kalambing ang boses ni Tazyn.  "Nandito ako. Tutulungan kita." Inabot niya ang kanyang kamay sa'kin.

Nagdalawang-isip ako saglit, pero sa huli, tinanggap ko ito.

"Naiintindihan ko ang nararamdaman mo," nakangiting sambit niya sa'kin. Wala man akong sinasabi sa kanya ay tila alam niya na ang mga salitang kailangan niyang sabihin sa'kin. "Ayos lang matakot, pero kailangan din nating lumaban paminsan-minsan."

At sa sandaling 'yun, naalala ko ang sinabi niya sa huling training namin kasama si Headmistress Adhira.

"I hate daemons. Hindi ko din po alam kung bakit pero... pakiramdam ko mamamatay ako pag nakikita ko sila."

Nagawa niyang patayin ang daemon para sa'kin... kahit na natatakot siya sa mga ito.

Palihim akong ngumiti bago lakas-loob na humarap sa kanya.

"All you need to do..." She beamed a smile as bright as her. "Is awaken the sunshine within you."

Tazyn's eyes glowed bright pink as she summoned her weapon. Kumunot ang mata ko nang makita ko ito. A lyre.

Yet just like her, I gathered up the courage to summon my butterflies.

Shaking, I steadied my breathing and faced the crowd with a determined look on my face. Wala nang mamamatay. Sisiguraduhin namin 'yun.

"Relay this message to the students," utos ko sa isang paru-paro na nagpahinga sa daliri kong may suot na singsing. "Leave immediately. Hide if you must. The Elysians will take care of this." Inulit ko ang sinabi ni Amari sa'kin kanina.

The butterfly flapped its wings as a sign of agreement before flying away.

"Are you ready?" Tazyn asked me. I smiled in return. My smile was faltering bit by bit, but I tried my best not to frown.

Elysian na ako, at ayokong masira ang reputasyon nila nang dahil sa'kin. Ayokong isipin ng iba na may mahinang miyembro ang Elysian Class. Ayokong maging mahina sa harapan ng mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong namin.

Tazyn started to play a calming tune using her lyre. Pink swirls of light started to surround her until it slowly scattered around the place.

Ito ang kapangyarihan niya...

"Hear my heed and hear my calls," she said, slightly strumming the lyre. "Save yourselves before our legacy falls."

Our legacy... Elysium Academy.

It was as if the demigods were hypnotized by Tazyn's command and like their body had a mind of its own, they quickly evacuated the area with Callie, Talia and Amari protecting them.

Blood stained the grounds of the academy.

I sighed before pulling out two feather blades from my uniform. Inikot-ikot ko muna ito sa mga daliri ko bago ko ito itinapon sa direksyon ng dalawang cyclopes na papalapit kay Tazyn na patuloy sa pagtugtog.