The Majarlican Demigod

3. The Beginning Of The End

The Majarlican Demigod

Chapter 3: The beginning of the end

The cafeteria here in the dorm is different from the one on campus— instead of a regular table and counter, we have many long tables, more fine dining set up. You could see candles and fruit decorations on each table and giant chandeliers on the ceiling. A yellowish wall with a brown accent makes the ambiance quiet and peaceful. There were large paintings, antique vases, and indoor plants to touch up the look. The food is on catering style which is fancy for me, I mean you won't get this type of dinner at home.

"Is this a restaurant or what?!" Talia blurted out. "It's luxurious!"

"Where would you like to sit, ladies?" Hans asked.

"Let's sit there!" Talia pointed to the table on the right side, nearby the food service. Then we walked to it. I noticed that our classmates were also at that table.

"They looked exclusive to me. Who are those guys?" Talia whispered to us.

"They are the Pandoras. Grandchildren of the late Col. Pandora, he's also my grandfather's friend." Hans said. "The girl with straight long black hair is Lady Hasmin Pandora– a half mutant who goes through a wall like a ghost. The other girl with wavy brown hair and a very bright complexion is Lady Heavenly Victoria Pandora Admeirre, who has healing tears is the daughter of the new military commander. And that guy in the center is the only son of Col. Pandora's middle child, Lord Randall Pandora, who is also one of the elemental commanders in our class— he can control earth, like rock, soil & minerals."

"Wow!" Talia silently screamed. "That family is cool! They must be wealthy."

"Indeed, Talia," Hans answered. "But, isn't Lady Althea's family cool? I mean, they are literally family of rule makers, and her grandfather is Duke of the West."

"I know," Talia said. "But I never heard of this Pandoras before, and besides, they look the out-of-my-league type."

"Alright," Hans said.

Then there's another group of three came to this table.

"Hi!" the most beautiful one greeted the Pandoras. "Can we join you?"

"Sure!" Hasmin replied.

"Who is that other girl?" Talia asked in awe of the other girl.

"That's Lady Ninna Adorre. She's the daughter of the Minister's assistant, and her mother is also a maestra for the minors. And she's made self rich because of her skill— her tears become pearl when it dries." Hans said.

"No way!" Talia is really amazed. "Is she a mutant?"

"She's one of the supernatural group," Hans answered. "She's the Centralis' Muse for an obvious reason."

"Very beautiful." Talia looking at Ninna.

Hans gave me a look. I don't know what he's trying to signal on me. Then someone took a seat beside me.

"Zup, Brye!" Hans greeted the person next to me— Brighton.

"Good," he answered.

I noticed that most people are now looking at this table. That's weird.

"Hello!" The guy who looked like Brighton greeted as he seated on the other side of the table.

"Talia, Althea, this is our classmate Brighton's younger brother Raphaelli Franz who happens to be my cousin." Hans introduced.

"Hi, Raphaelli! I'm Talia." she greeted.

"Just call me Elli." He warmly smiled.

Another set of guys took the seat in front of us. Among them is Hamilton, the thug dodgeball captain, with three other younger guys who look like dodgeball players.

"Where's Juliano?" Hamilton asked.

"He's with his sister Zera. Probably closing the stall." answered a skinny tanned guy beside him.

"I see. Thanks, bro!" Hamilton replied.

This thug is a head-turner as other girls are waving at him. They have a bland taste. I just saw those girls with Ninna waved at him, and he waved back.

The bell rings for our dinner. So we fall in line and get to the service to take what we would like. Once we have our food, we can start eating since we only got two hours in the dining area, we cannot wait forever for each person to have their turn.

What can I say? The food here is generously served for everyone, and it's all organic and tasty. They might have used Special Skill to keep this fresh straight from the farm since the only one here in Centralis is 10 miles away. Most of the servings are chicken, beef, vegetables, and root crops. They don't use palm oil, or maybe I just can't taste it. More likely, they use olive oil or vegetable oil. No fried food, only steam boiled or with sauce and baked. Very healthy.

We finished our food fast because we could not talk until, we finished what was on our plate. Then one by one, people exit the dining hall. I'm a slow eater, so I feel the thinning of noise due to the absence of people. Talia is slowing down to wait for me. Hans and the rest of the people are already out except for the Pandora Ladies.

Another bell rings-- Meaning we only have an hour left. If we do not finish in the next 30 minutes, we will join the dishwashers, and no one likes that, so I tried to finish all these on my plate.

As soon as I've finished, Talia and I went out to do another slow walk.

"I will not take as much food like that again. I'm gonna vomit!" Talia said. "But the food is so good."

"You're right, Tal." I said, "I thought I could not finish, but glad I did."

"I made the right decision to study here!" She said, slightly laughing.

"You're odd," I said.

"And the odd is with you," she responded. Not a good pun, though.

"Did you hear that?" she suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

We listened closely to the sound coming from the roof in the girls' dorm. The person is using a loud speaking device. I looked around as the sound grew louder and louder... It's a voice coming from a girl, humming an unknown lullaby. People were falling asleep to the ground, even Talia.

She yawned, "My brain is full of oxygen." she said as she lay down to the ground.

The bench park is now full of sleeping people. A few flying and levitating people went up to stop the mysterious voice, but they all fell from the roof, they weren't dead, but they were sleeping too. Why am I the only person not being affected? Should I fake being asleep? I tried to fall down too, like ugly acting, and rolled under the bench.

"Well, well, well." A guy talking... He seemed to be walking around with headphones in his head. I think it prevents him from hearing the sound of that mysterious girl. "Centralis is going down now!" He shouted and then devilishly laughed.

I closed my eyes so my acting could be convincing. Who are these people, and why would they like to end Centralis? This is scary. The girl stopped singing then some people woke up right away.

'What happened?' question echoes in the park. I crawl to get out under the bench.

"What are you doing there?" Asked Hans, who obviously just woke up too.

I stand up, "I dunno." I denied in a sleepy tone of voice. "I really don't stay in one place when I sleep."

"That's very weird," he said. Then he tried to wake up Talia.

"She's a deep sleeper. We might be needing ammonia to wake her up." I said.

Hans looked my way, then the loud bell rang, it rang for about 3 minutes. My eardrums almost broke. Thankfully, it awakened the sleeping people.

"Who the hell sang?" Talia asked, scratching her eyes.

"We're just about to find who the hell those people are," I said.

"You mean, two girls were singing?" Hans asked.

I slipped. Shocks.

"No. What I mean is —that person is. I'm sorry. My head went through a lot just this day, so my words mixed up." Hoping this alibi would work for them.

"I see," Hans replied. What a relief.

"Announcement!" The megaphone alarmed, "All students should be in their respective rooms now! There will be inspections. Thank you," then it repeats two times more.

We went to our respective rooms. Obviously, people still have an aftershock of what just happened. The girl has a particular fatal skill, and the other person looks to me like an enemy. They must be allies or something.

I was writing my homework with the only lampshade because we have to turn off the lights at night. I felt sleepiness as I reached the minimum word allowed in the essay, then I looked at it.

"This should be good to go," I said while yawning.

"Althea!"

Did someone just call my name?

"Althea..." this time, I looked around.

No one is here except for me. Is that the mysterious girl?

"Althea, my dear, come here and see me." it's a familiar voice... I'm scared, but I take the courage to check it.

Slowly, I walked towards the faux balcony. No one's there too. I sat on the bed, then on the mirror facing it, "Althea!" a woman on the mirror. She looks like my sister but the older version. "How are you?" She asked.

I dazed at her unconsciously. Mixed emotions stirred up inside me with some flashback in my head of my younger sister crying as she vanishes from our sight and the drama of my father defending her to the Wests.

"What do you want?" my voice is shaking.

"I know I owe you an explanation, my child, but I do not hold much time in my hands right now. Please hear me out, my dearest one. I'm here to give you a warning." she replied.

"For what?" I asked.

"The son of Ares has found its new vessel, and it's a mortal from Kingdom Majarlika." She said. "He has two potential minions from Premiera de Academia Centralis. The first one will fail, but the second one will be more powerful and exhaust all of his resources to rule the Centralis. Then, they will eliminate all of the other people and recreate Kingdom Majarlika as the refuge of all evil."

"Why don't you warned the others instead? I mean, you're a goddess. They will listen to you. Why are you telling this to me as if I can do something about the son of Ares?" I asked her.

"Because only a demigod can defy another demigod, and that is you," she responded.

I looked on the side. "How can beat a powerful demigod? I can't do it. Let the others do it." I told her.

"The end of Majarlika is coming, but don't worry, my dear one, you can do it, and soon, we will be reunited."— did she just say end?

"What do you mean the end?" I asked.

"I have to end this conversation. I love you, my little one."— my mother said, and she was gone from the mirror.

She vanished from my sight again like she did when I was still a kid. I felt tears touching my face. Somehow I miss her, but mostly I despise her. She never told me why she had to go, so I have a lot of questions.

With only a few memories I have with her, I hardly knew my mom and the feeling of having one. It's unexplainable how the entire West family hates her. The clock that hangs above the study table says it's past the 10th in the evening. I tuck myself to bed so I can prepare for the next day.

(To be continued)