SKYLER.

I stayed silent. Tita Freya and Light were talking when a timer appeared in my front, it was a mustard-colored holographic screen. I looked at the others and noticed that none of them were able to notice the timer.

The time wasn't starting.

00:60:00

"Sky, may problema ka ba?" Aizelle asked.

I pointed the holographic screen in front, "Nakikita niyo ba 'yan?"

"We can't," Master Garet stated.

I bit my lower lip and sighed, "May oras. An hour, I think it's connected to what's happening right now."

I stole a glance at Ice's direction, a timer was also placed on the top of her head. It was the same timer that was in front of me.

Master Garet tapped my shoulder and gestured the group to come closer, "Let's split into groups. Sue will with us, we will watch Aicelyn. Sky because you can see the timer, I think you're the one who can stop the curse using the 'time' and bring Light, Phoenix, and Aizelle with you."

"How about us?" Aizen asked.

Tito Glifford cleared his throat, "Riley will lead your group. The three of you will travel in the Underworld, stop the Reapers, and Titans."

00:59:50

I blinked. Time began to tick. "The time is ticking,"

00:59:40

"You should go," Artemis said. She suddenly snapped her fingers and a portal appeared in front. "Go, Skyler. And please acknowledge her." She whispered before pushing in the portal together with Aizelle and the others.

And with the speed of light, we arrived outside the premises of the Demigods Academy. "Venyr, let us in," I mumbled. The Sphinx roared. The golden gates of the Demigods Academy slowly opened, we were teleported in the Cerxes.

Nang lumingon ako sa mga kasama ko'y agad akong tumango at matuling na tumakbo papasok. Walang kahit isang estudyante ang nakikita ko ngayon sa lugar, siguro ay dahil oras ng klase ngayon at mahigpit ngayon ang mga centaurs kumpara noon.

I heard raspy howling above us together with a strong current of wind, the rain began to pour and the ragged clouds started to darken.

"Sky, those are Harpies." Phoenix pointed above. Harpies are known as the Hound of Zeus, they are mythical monsters that have the face of a female human and a body of a bird. Their cinnamon wings were gorgeous, unlike their faces.

They were flapping their wings that made us run away from them. My eyes widened when Aizelle tripped which made us stop. Ampota. Ang lampa talaga ni Aizelle. The Harpies made a strong flap, some of the feathers separated from their wings and it soared in the air.

I bit my lip as I made a massive shield made of water to slow down the feathers. They were soaring the air like a dart, a single feather weighs tons and it can pierce through right someone's body.

Aizelle summoned her Legendary Bow, she immediately counted the feathers coming in her way. A large magic circle appeared beneath, Aizelle releases the arrow and as it soars in the air, it multiplies.

When the feathers and the arrows met, the sky suddenly lit up, the shades of yellow seizes the whole sky like fireworks in the middle of the daylight, and specks of dust began to fall.

00:50:12

The time is ticking fast. Alam kong fifty minutes pa ang oras na meron upang iligtas ang isa pang founder ng Demigods Academy ngunit alam kong gagawa si Zeus nang paraan upang hindi namin maligtas si Alexis. He might be the Ruler of Olympus, some might think highly of him but this was his idea, his curse.

And saving her life will save Ice too.

We need to get the hourglass first before we could enter and released her at the Fountain of Prophecy.

"Ayaw tayong palagpasin ng mga birdie na 'to." Phoenix mumbled. The Harpies were surrounding us, leering and howling at us.

Ni hindi ko mabilang kung ilan ang nakapalibot sa amin ngayon. Aizelle was doing her best to deflect every feather they are releasing in our direction.

"Zeus' dogs were really persistent." Light mumbled. I heaved a sigh. Staying here means wasting our precious time.

"They are not Zeus' dogs," Phoenix stated. He was looking intently at the Harpies, "They are Zeus' birdies."

Aizelle suddenly rolled her eyes, "Fuckin' leave."

"Excuse me, Aizelle?"

"Fuckin' leave, Phoenix. Ayoko na marinig ang mga bastos mong mga biro."

"Wow. Hiyang-hiya ako sa miracle mo—" Phoenix wasn't able to finish what he was saying when I pulled him. Light and Aizelle cleared the way out for us.

And when we got out. We immediately run our way to the Hades Hallway, above it was Madam Stone's office. At katulad ng hinuha ko'y nagkaklase ang mga estudyante. Nagtatakhang tumingin naman sa 'kin si Mr. Panther dahil wala atalaga dapat kami rito at agad niya rin nakita si Phoenix na balak sirain ang kisame kaya't lumabas siya sa classroom.

"And what do you think you're doing, Stanfield?" Mr. Panther asked.

"Ah, shortcut?" Phoenix answered.

I awkwardly laugh when Mr. Panther glared at him, "Be a good student and use the stairs." He gestured the stairs nearby.

"We need to go," I mumbled. Hinigit ko si Phoenix palayo at tinahak namin ang hagdan.

"Boomer. Fastest route na 'yon."

"And you'll startle the other demigods."

"At least makukuha natin ang hourglass, mas mabilis pa."

"Phoenix—"

"Dude, I'm just kidding."

"Forty-five minutes. Faster, Phoenix." I mumbled.

This timer shit is like a freaking time bomb, the moment it hit zero means goodbye.

"Sky."

"What?"

"Hindi ka ba nagtatakha kung bakit ikaw lang ang nakakakita sa countdown?"

"I'm also curious," I said.

Phoenix halted. "What if the two of you have a deeper connection?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"What if Alexis is your—"

A loud screech echoed in the hallway. I covered my ears and saw Harpies in front, blocking the way towards Madam Stone's office.

I summoned my sword and Phoenix did the same thing. Feathers were flying towards my direction, I deflected it using my sword. I gritted my teeth when it made a heavy impact on my sword, those feathers were really deadly.

Two Harpies plummet to my direction. They were flapping their wings way faster than the others, my eyes turned wide when their wings became steel.

One of them passes through me and cut my cheek. The other was about to sink her nails at my shoulder when I docked and covered my top with a shield made from the water that I was secretly gathering.

Once again, I gathered a massive amount of water to prison them yet they were able to get out of it. The time is running out, we need to finish this quick.

An indescribable heat suddenly emerges. It was burning my skin and it evaporated the water that I was gathering, the Harpies around me began to fly away. They were screeching and leering at my back and when I looked behind I saw Phoenix. He was burning his shirt and even the door and the walls near were melting.

Phoenix's amber eyes were glimmering along with the magic circle beneath him. "Leave this to me,"

"Thanks." I whispered.

I galloped and used one of the Harpies to jump away from them. And when they were about to follow me, the ceiling in front melted and blocked the only way to follow me.

00:20:49

That fight ate a bunch of the time. I opened the office and a cozy room welcomed me. Rinig na rinig ang bawat yabag ko dahil sa katahimikan sa loob ng silid na ito. Ginala ko ang aking paningin ngunit wala kahit isang anino ng hourglass ang nasilayan ko.

Nang lumapit ako sa lamesa niya ay napansin kong walang kahit ano ang makikita ro'n. Not even a single button for a secret passage. A mysterious goblet captivated my attention, wala itong kahit anong laman at nang hawakan ko ito ay nakadikit ito sa lamesa. I tried rotating it and it did.

At my side, a secret door opened. I was stunned when I entered the hidden room, it was covered with vines; the ceiling, walls, and even floors. The path was narrow and single light was radiating the place. At the end of the hidden room was the hourglass, huge branches were hugging the hourglass.

And when I touch the hourglass, specks of dust began to dance around me.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko habang pinapanood ang oras sa 'king harapan. Mabilis ang nauubos ang oras, inalis ko ang aking kamay sa hourglass at bumalik ang ito sa dating takbo nito.

At paano ko naman dadalhin ang hourglass sa fountain kung ganito? Kapag hawak ko bumibilis ang timer at kapag hindi naman, sinasayang ko lamang ang oras.

I tried to use my blessing yet it did the same thing as when I was touching it.

Using my barehands, tinanggal ko ang mga sanga na nakapalibot sa hourglass at iniiwasan na mahawakan ito. Lumingon ako sa nag-iisang lagusan palabas sa sikretong silid na ito at mabilis kong itinakbo ang hourglass.

I jumped through the window, it was the only exit that I could use. Phoenix melted the hallway earlier and there is no longer a way out in that path.

00:10:47

With my eyes close, I was waiting for the impact of meeting my body kissing the ground yet I felt my body floating— flying in the air. Nang buksan ko ang aking mga mata ay nakita ko ang nakakainis at nakakadiri na ngiti ni Simone.

"Alam ko ang amoy mo, bossing."

"I'll just pretend that you didn't say that,"

"Speed of light! Talon na bossing. Iligtis mo si Madam!"

I curiously looked at Simone. I was about to speak when he flapped his wings making me forcefully jumped. Nakaramdam pa ako ng nginig sa 'king tuhod pagtapak ko sa lupa.

00:03:09

I entered the Fountain of Prophecy. The timer stopped moving, I looked around and saw the drastic changed inside.

The place was covered with ragged clouds, the glass floor beneath me was glowing with every step I take that should only happen at the stairs. The whole place was covered with golden shades, it was soothing in the eyes.

I looked up and saw the galaxy. The stars were dancing at the midnight blue ceiling, clouds of dust were falling as they dance and when the dust touches the ground, it was blooming like a Bluebell Flower.

I was awed by the view that I forgot my real mission. I almost curse when the hourglass became a cloud of dust, it slowly joined the stars dancing above and coated them. The shimmering stars began to illuminate the shades of gold and silver, the flowers that bloomed earlier floated and was slowly making an arch.

I waited for a few seconds until it became a portal, my eyes softened when I saw a beautiful woman coming out of the arch of flowers.

She halted when she saw me. Tears began to fill her eyes as she looks at me. She was gaping while covering her mouth and I remained standing in my place.

Different emotions were written all over her face, she slowly walked to my direction with her tears streaming down. Hindi ko alam pero nalulungkot akong makita na umiiyak siya. Hindi kaya ng puso ko na nakikita kong ang mga luha niya.

I was caught off guard when she pulled me and hugged me tightly. Tears suddenly build up at the corner of my eyes, she was giving me a huge impact.

"My little Skyler,"

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