"A greater purpose is waiting for you..."

ERIS

When I turned to my mother, I noticed her weak state. Her beautiful face was now void with blood and thin. Certainly, she was not feeling well anymore. Nahihirapang umubo siya at sumenyas na lumapit ako. Nag-aalalang dinaluhan ko siya at umupo sa gilid ng kama. Nanginginig ang mga kamay na hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko at marahang pinisil ang mga iyon.

"Eris. Hindi na ako magtatagal. Kailangan ko nang umalis. Ingatan mo ang sarili mo anak. Hindi na kita mababantayan," nanginginig ang tinig na saad ng aking ina. Namamasa na rin ang kanyang mga mata hanggang sa hindi na mapigilan ang pagpatak ng mga luha.

Maging ako ay nagkaroon ng bikig sa lalamunan. "No. You'll still live longer than this. Hindi pa kayo maaaring umalis. Magpagaling kayo, Ma. Hindi pa kayo kukunin sa 'kin. Hindi ako papayag," mariing wika ko.

"She's already long overdue. She must leave now," singit ng lalaking nakatayo sa gilid ng kama.

Masamang tingin ang ipinukol ko sa kanya. "Sino ka ba? How do you know that her life is already overdue? Are you a god?" galit na tanong ko. Hindi ko na naiwasan ang pagtaas ng boses. Hindi ako papayag na mawala sa 'kin ang aking ina. Siya na lang ang natitira kong pamilya.

But the guy only chuckled heartily. "Your attitude is just like your Mom's. What a stubborn kid."

"Eris, huwag kang magsalita nang ganyan sa ama mo," nahihirapang saad ng aking ina.

Napaawang ang mga labi ko. "Ano pong sinabi n'yo? Ama? Tama po ba ang narinig ko? Ama ko siya?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. I turned to the guy who looked like he was just in his mid-thirties.

Imposibleng ama ko siya. Ang bata pa niya! Is this a prank?

Nang matiim ko siyang pagmasdan. He only smiled at me as if he was confident that he was really my father. I just noticed his ethereal form with eyes full of wisdom and matureness. I could tell that he was not human. Kinabahan ako. Was it really possible that he was my father?

"I'm a god, Eris. An immortal god," sagot ng lalaki upang sagutin ang tanong na nabuo sa isip ko.

Natutop ko ang aking mga labi dahil sa gulat at namilog ang mga mata. "Impossible...I thought gods don't meddle with human affairs. I thought...no," I fiercely said. Bumaling ang naguguluhang tingin ko sa aking ina.

"He's a god," my mother confirmed.

"Which god?" wala sa sariling tanong ko. Hindi ako sigurado kung dapat ba akong matuwa o matakot sa nalaman.

"The god of death, Hel," he answered.

"P-paano?" naguguluhang tanong ko. How did they meet? Wasn't this forbidden? For a god to have an affair with a human? I looked at the god of death—accusing.

Alanganing nagpakawala ng matipid na ngiti si Hel. I couldn't still call him Dad. And how should I address a god? Could I even call him my father?

"It's a long story, Eris," alanganing tugon ng aking ina.

Bumuntonghininga si Hel. "It's complicated," he answered. "I came here to collect her soul when she was still twenty-nine. She was a normal human being but for some reason, she knew how to avoid my death reapers. So I checked her out because she piqued my interest. She could no longer evade me because I'm a god but she pleaded for her life. She said she couldn't leave her family yet. She came from a noble family but her family was accused wrongly and she was destined to die that time. So I pardoned her because I was moved by her bravery and stubbornness. She said I could take her soul when she already redeemed her family's dignity. But she failed. She was put in exile here in this small town.

"I looked after her because when I pardoned her, she was already my responsibility. Dahil kapag nalaman ng ibang gods ang ginawa ko, siguradong mapaparusahan ako. I hid my presence and her presence in this world. Although I knew humans weren't immortal and they could age, I still fell in love with her. We fell in love with each other and you were born from our mutual love. You're a powerful human and a half-god so the gods sensed your presence—before I could even put a silver bracelet tattoo seal on your right hand. They discovered everything about this affair. I was put in exile for twenty years to atone for my sins and so that the gods can pardon you and your mother. They let you grow as a normal human. And today, I'm finally free, so I must collect your mother's soul and go back to the Underworld."

They did have a great love story but my mind was still in a mess. "Which noble family? And what about me? Maiiwan akong mag-isa rito?" nag-aalangang tanong ko. He was my father—a god. I was a half-god. My head throbbed. I felt a little dizzy with this sudden revelation.

"Even though you have the blood of god, you are still mortal. You have to stay here and fulfill your purpose. Don't worry. I'll see you again. But I'm not sure if you'll be flattered if I come back here to collect your soul," he joked but it was not funny at all.

Masamang tingin ang ipinukol ko sa kanya. Mahina lang siyang tumawa dahil sa reaksiyon ko pero bahagyang sumeryoso rin. "Since you're still a mortal, you will age and you are meant to die. Unless you are promoted to be an immortal god in your lifetime then that's a different story."

I had a chance to become an immortal god? Mas lalong sumakit ang ulo ko dahil sa narinig. Wala sa hinagap o sa pangarap ko ang maging isang god.

"And the noble family your father refers to is the direct descendants of the original monarch of this kingdom—the Gromov family. We were wrongly accused, and my family was punished and killed, and I was thrown in exile because they couldn't kill me. Because Hel protected me. The Rhodes family took over the throne thirty years ago. But I think it's better to stay away from trouble because of your god blood. Hindi mo kailangang ipaghiganti ang pamilya natin. Just live a normal life," mahinang paliwanag ng aking ina.

Wait! I needed time to absorb the origins of my bloodline now. Napahilot ako sa sintido ko. I am a half-god. I have royal blood. And today, Hel would collect the soul of my dearest mother. These were just too much. Then I remembered another problem.

"Wait! How about my silver bracelet tattoo? Are you going to lift the seal?"

"Oh. That one. Since you're studying in Sorciere Academy and you'll be alone in this journey, I will lift the magic seal," seryosong sagot ni Hel. Mas lalong naging seryoso ang tingin niya sa 'kin na ikinabahala ko. "But you have to remember some things. I can't be here to remind you always. And you know, the gods can't intervene with human affairs. So I can't help you even in your dying days. This decision also came from the other gods. And this will be my last intervention. Will you hear the conditions?"

Wala sa sariling tumango ako. I couldn't be useless especially when my mother could no longer stay by my side. I must be strong on my own from now on. And I still had too many questions in my head—about my mother and my bloodline.

"Alright. First, I will lift the seal that binds your magic, but your silver bracelet tattoo will stay on your wrist to cloak that magic. No one will be able to detect your magic aside from yourself to hide your identity. Since you're a half-god, some greedy and jealous human beings will surely want to have you and will come after you. You have precious blood, Eris. You must choose wisely who to trust. Second, we can't interfere with your business as a human but we have the right to punish you even if you're still alive. Humans only receive their punishments after death but for your case, we can punish you anytime you cause trouble to us gods. Third, whatever you do, you can't use my name or any gods. You are held accountable for your own actions and decisions. We are a separate identity. You have free will. I hope you won't become greedy. Do you agree with these conditions?"

I thought there was nothing wrong with these conditions so I nodded decisively. He smiled kindly at me like a father would. "You're still young but I believe in you. Come, child. Let me see your wrist," he said but his voice sounded older now than he appeared to be.

Nag-aalangang ipinakita ko ang aking silver bracelet tattoo. Magaang dumampi ang mga daliri niya sa aking pulsuhan. I could feel a force being lifted from it but it didn't hurt at all. It was actually relaxing. At dahil dito, hindi ko rin napansing tapos na pala siya sa ginagawa. Well, it was actually anti-climactic. Hindi man lang ako nasaktan. Pero may kakaiba akong naramdaman. I could feel magic running through my veins now and I was actually excited to try it right away.

He chuckled softly and messed with my wavy purple wine hair, treating me like a child.

"Now, say your farewell to your mother. We don't have much time left. We can't stay here anymore."

Muling bumalik sa 'kin ang reyalidad. Nabalot ng lungkot ang mga mata ko. Muling bumalik ang bikig sa lalamunan ko na tila hindi ako makahinga. "Kailangan na ba talaga niyang umalis?"

Marahang tumango ang aking ama na seryoso ang mga mata.

Marahang pinisil ni Mama ang aking mga kamay habang nakangiti na puno ng pagmamahal. "I have to go now, Eris. Take care of yourself. Mahal kita at hindi kita malilimutan kahit saan man ako pumunta."

Nabasa ng luha ang magkabilang pisngi ko. Wala akong masabi kaya hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi at niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit habang nakahiga siya sa kama. I'm not ready yet. This is so sudden.

"Alam kong kaya mong harapin ang lahat ng pagsubok, Eris," she comforted me.

"Mahal din kita, Mama. Hindi kita malilimutan. Kung masaya ka sa pupuntahan mo, magiging masaya na rin ako para sa 'yo," naiiyak na saad ko.

My mother kissed my forehead. "It's time, my precious child. Someday we will meet again," she uttered her last words and closed her eyes. I saw her soul being extracted out from her body that made me sit up straight. Maybe the god of death was letting me witness this.

A beautiful, young soul came out and her face looked like she was just in her late twenties. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen with her bright red hair and purple eyes which I also inherited from her. Tumabi siya sa aking ama at matipid na ngumiti sa 'kin.

"Goodbye, Eris."

Nagsalita naman ang aking ama. "I will give you these gold bars which are stored in this storage bracelet because I can't let my child suffer from poverty. Spend these wisely. I know you humans can create your own dimensional storage through alchemy and magic but this one is better because it came from a god," he said with a proud grin. I was not even sure if he was joking or what. Wala sa sariling tinanggap ko ang silver jade bracelet na ibinigay niya.

Before they totally disappeared in thin air, he gave me a final reminder.

"Remember. Humans are greedy, jealous, and envious in nature. Some seek more power than what they are allowed to. You have to be careful, Eris. Some humans are black-hearted too. And you're not named Eris for nothing. It means chaos. We will be watching from the Underworld, Eris."

When I blinked, they were already gone from sight and all that was left with me was my mother's old and cold body. I bit my lower lip. Although I knew where my Mom was going—that she was happy and alright—I still couldn't help the longing and grief in my heart. I still cried my heart out.

It seemed I would return to Sorciere Academy sooner than expected.

But this time, with magic and secrets.

***