The flames on Rakta's coffin roared as it consumed all its contents in the process. The babaylans all knelt, as they prayed to the supreme goddess Kan-Laon, while at the back, some of the elders of Tundun were preparing how the kingdom should move now that its Datu was dead. Silence engulfed the Hall, broken only by the crackle of fire and the faint sigh of smoke curling toward the darkened rafters.
Mayari, who stood in front, once again tasted the salty tang of her eyes' waterworks. The scene of her and Rakta's last moments still haunted her. "What-ifs" consumed her thoughts as she watched her father's coffin get engulfed by the pyre. Her breathing got heavier; her mind did its job, and it tried to rationalize how a mindless beast managed to kill her father. Berberokas are strong, have the intelligence to trap their prey, but compared to her father, that beast is a smart as a toddler throwing a tantrum.
Moving further down the hall, Governor-General Yizmael Sandoval intimately gauged the room. He gently scratched the growing stubble on his jaw as his eyes roamed the hall. He noted everyone's reactions, movements, and postures. He saw one of Tundun's elders, Kuyo, beside Mayari. On the left side, Aslon was with the other elders, his eyes red and tired. Yizmael couldn't help but give a faint smirk.
When the burning reached its conclusion, the head babaylan, Ada, took a porcelain jar and, with practiced ease, began to collect the dust left by the sacred ritual and put it all inside. The younger babaylans bowed in front of the jar as they retreated away from the vessel. Everyone in the hall, save for the other Iberian officials, bowed their heads as they said their final prayers for the departed Datu. But when the Iberians saw the Governor-General also inclined his head low. One by one, each of them awkwardly followed, like a theater in their final rehearsal.
The whole ritual spanned two hours. Before the burning ritual, the Elders gave their final words for the Datu, eulogy, as you call it in your world. Mayari ordered several soldiers to search for her Maharlika, Salimbay. Meanwhile, within the Great Council Chamber, the ten most influential maginoo of Tundun convened. The space left by Rakta was pressed the air, it's almost suffocating.
Each Elder waited for someone, someone to break the silence. Each of them breathed heavily as if the air inside the chamber were thick as blood.
The silence was broken by a voice: "It is time we set the date for Ginoong Mayari's coronation," said Kuyo, seated at the right end of the long, oval table.
Most of them nodded; one of them spoke up. He had long brown hair and a tail like a monkey. "I agree with Elder Aslon," he said, looking around at his fellow elders. "The throne cannot be left without a datu."
"I second Elders Kuyo and Jubal," said an elderly woman. She was about three feet in height, and her ears were large and pointy. She shifted her gaze to Elder Aslon, who was sitting at the other end of the table, adjacent to the Datu's seat. "What can you say, Grand Elder?" she added, waiting for Aslon's opinion.
Aslon's sharp eyes swept the whole chamber. His thin hands were steepled in front of his mouth. He sighed deeply as he closed his eyes and said, "I agree too, but..." He stood up and walked around the chamber, his wooden sandals tapping on the floor. With all eyes glued on him, Aslon stopped gazing outside the palace through a large rectangular window. He exhaled and put his hands on his back. "We cannot put the Putong na Ginto on Princess Mayari's head... at least not until everything's clear."
They all asked Aslon about the meaning of his words. Aslon walked back to the table and gently placed a single rugged earring on it. It had a crescent moon pierced with a kampilan. The earring caught everyone's attention.
"Wait..." said the three-foot-tall woman, "Isn't this Datu Rakta's house emblem?"
"Yes, it is, Elder Aldana," Aslon answered, his tone heavy but with a tinge of softness, as if unsure whether his words needed to be heard. He lowered himself back into his seat, his eyes blank while staring at the ornament on the table. "My maharlika will tell you how that earring came into my hands."
The elders whispered to each other, their eyes curled and filled with confusion. The large wooden door opened, and from it, Marahuyo entered. Her back was straight as a tree trunk, while her tail waved like a river flowing.
Aslon spoke once again. "This is Marahuyo, my maharlika," he said, turning to Elder Jubal. "As you can see, she's also an Ikugan, like our very own Elder Jubal."
Marahuyo bowed her head and greeted everyone, "Good afternoon." She proceeded to explain, "I was one of the search parties that roamed the jungle of Nakubli when the Datu failed to return at the expected time. Thanks to one of our baylans, we located an area where a large explosion seemed to have happened." She paused, gazing at the earring. "And there... we saw that earring and..."
"And what?" one of the elders asked. He had a huge stature, around nine feet tall. "What else?" His voice rushed, as if hating the fact that Marahuyo had ended things with a cliffhanger.
"We also saw the princess' maharlika at the site."
"Salimbay!?" Kuyo asked, his voice carrying a tone of surprise and disbelief.
"Yes, Elder Kuyo," Marahuyo answered. "She was unconscious when we found her, and she was wearing peculiar clothing."
The elders tried to rationalize things, suggesting that maybe Salimbay had been with the Datu, but there were no palace records or reports that she was with him.
"There's another thing that I found strange," Kuyo cut in. "A trace of Nu from a Berberoka was sensed by our baylans at the place where Datu Rakta died."
"A Berberoka?" they asked, trying to clarify.
"Yes, a monster that's supposed to live near bodies of water." His tone went deeper.
"Why would a monster like that be in a jungle like Nakubli?"
The question seemed to choke everyone inside the room. After a few more seconds, a voice broke the silence.
"I don't like where your words are heading."
Aslon leveled his eyes with Kuyo's and asked him, "Do you have a better explanation, Elder Kuyo?" He turned once again to the other elders. "I know that this is hard to believe, but at this time, we need to set our emotions apart. As the Grand Elder, it is my job to make sure that Princess Mayari is capable and without any suspicion." He exhaled, his tone heavy with reluctance. "I would like to call Princess Mayari for an inquiry."
Upon hearing this, Kuyo was no longer able to contain himself. He tapped the table and pointed his finger at Aslon. "Elder Aslon! I won't let you disrespect the Princess—" Before he could even finish his words, a kampilan was already pointed at his throat.
"I won't let you disrespect my lord like that, Elder Kuyo." Her voice landed heavily, as if making the room itself smaller for the elder.
"MARAHUYO!" Aslon shouted with urgency, "Lay down your sword!!" the Maharlika quickly stepped back and apologized.
Aslon lowered his head to a bow and asked for forgiveness for his Maharlika's actions. His face was hidden from everyone for a while. Then his cracked voice made everyone know why, "My fellow elders... I know these things were all hard for us. To suspect the daughter of our very own Datu was not something I enjoy." He wiped his eyes with his wrinkled hand and faced everyone. His eyes red, and traces of tears still noticeable, "However, as Elders of this kingdom... we must do what is right."
One by one most of the elders nodded, seeing this, Aslon asked Kuyo for a favor. "Elder Kuyo, can you accompany me? I wanted you to lead this inquiry. Princess Mayari might be more at ease answering questions from someone she knew better." Kuyo gave him an approving look and both of them prepared for what's to come.
After the deliberation, Mayari was summoned beneath the palace for questioning. When she received the letter, part of her knew that no was not an answer the council would accept. The hall along the way was dark, with only the flickering light of the flames to guide her.
The room itself was not that big. Mayari stood in the middle, her face red from the simmering emotions she was trying to contain. After a few more minutes, the door opened. Aslon and Kuyo entered, together with two guards.
"Ginoong Kuyo. Ginoong Aslon," Mayari said as she bowed, feigning respect.
The three of them sat down after returning the gesture to the young princess. Kuyo then began the procedure.
"Princess Mayari, perhaps you're wondering why we called—" Before he could finish, Mayari interjected.
"You suspect me of my father's death."
The two elders stiffened.
"Yo–you're right, Princess..." Kuyo answered.
"Tsss, not that really difficult to know when THESE FUCKERS PRACTICALLY SHOUTED IT TO THE WHOLE FUCKING PALACE!"
Kuyo quickly gestured for Mayari to calm down. Then Aslon tried to assure her that what was happening was just a simple questioning, nothing more. However, Mayari roamed her gaze around the small brick room, and in typical Mayari fashion, she noted,
"Simple questioning? Bitch, please..."
Aslon knew the rumors about Mayari's tongue; he had even once heard her curse in the hall a couple of years ago. But still, hearing her up close was a different experience. He begged for forgiveness, saying that this was just part of the procedure.
Mayari rolled her eyes and told them to bring their evidence. Aslon did so—he placed the same earring on the small table in the middle. Mayari's eyes were fixed on the earring. Both elders noticed the shift in her expression.
"You seemed surprised, Princess," Aslon prompted. "We found this in the area where Datu Rakta died... together with your maharlika."
"Salimbay!?" Her eyes widened, her words catching mid-breath.
"Yes, Princess," Kuyo replied, his voice resigned and filled with confusion as well.
Mayari shifted her gaze to Kuyo. "Where is she!? Is she alright?"
"She's fine, Princess," Aslon answered for his fellow elder. "However, we wanted answers. Salimbay, your maharlika, wouldn't be there unless commanded by you since she's sworn fealty to you. Unless..."
Mayari's eyes shone with fury as she began to understand where Aslon's words were heading next.
"Unless what!?"
"Unless she had her own grudge against the Datu," Aslon continued. "I'm sorry, but Princess Mayari, we cannot continue like this. We need your explanation."
Kuyo reassured Mayari that Salimbay was fine. However, due to the nature of the events, she was currently detained in one of the cells. Once again, they asked her. Mayari exhaled deeply and, with an exhausted tone, answered, "Like I told you before, I don't know how the hell my earring went there. I've been searching for it too, a few days ago."
Aslon leaned forward and asked, "Can you tell us where you were the past few days when the Datu was away?"
"Alone in my room."
"Alone..." Aslon repeated, his tone low, deliberate. "In your room. Can anyone confirm that?"
"Of course! You can ask Lara," Mayari answered.
"Your aliping namamahay?" Kuyo clarified. "Princess..." he hesitated. "We're sorry, but her testimony cannot be accepted since she, too, has sworn fealty to your house."
The air tightened around them. Mayari's hands clenched into a fist, "This is bullshit!" she burst out, her voice breaking the room's fragile calm like a blade against stone.
Aslon's tone came a little sharper this time, "Princess Mayari, should I remind you that you are in the presence of two Elders! I suggest you control your words and act like a Maginoo that you are."
Kuyo saw the brewing tension between the two and interjected, "Princess, I know that you're mad. But you must also understand. Elder Aslon is just doing his job."
Aslon lowered his head and spoke, now in a calmer tone. "I apologize for raising my voice, Princess." He paused for a bit, then, with a sterner tone, he continued, "But as Elder Kuyo has said, I am bound by the law. If you cannot give us a proper explanation, we will have no choice but to detain you."
"Detain!?" Mayari's brows clashed like twin blades drawn in defiance. "Me? Detain?"
"Yes, Princess Mayari," Aslon replied evenly. "Even you are not beyond the reach of the law." He rose from his seat, the chair's scrape echoing through the room, and started toward the door
"YOU SONS OF BITCHES CAN ALL GO TO FUCKING HELL!!" Mayari's voice almost cracked. Kuyo meanwhile, signaled for her to just calm down.
Mayari did so; she steadied her breathing, trying to calm the storm in her mind. She counted from one to ten, and then she spoke. "You know."
Aslon stopped mid-step, still facing away from the princess. Mayari smirked and continued, "Curious?" Mayari's tone was filled with sharp mockery.
Aslon sighed and let the princess proceed, still not facing her. And so, Mayari explained her theory, "Maybe," Mayari went on, "there's THIS person who entered my room while I was gone. He stole one of my earrings while the ONE who ordered him or HER was busy arranging the events of how he planned to kill my father." A smile tugged at her lips. "And then, at the right moment, the THIEF joined the very first responders, just so he or SHE could plant the 'evidence' you're all talking about…"
Aslon turned towards Mayari and offered a faint smile, "Ginoong Mayari, as much as I refuse to dignify responding to your theory... I wanted to ask you one thing." Aslon's eyes met Mayari's, both trying to read each other, "How will your theory explain Salimbay's presence on Nakubli?" Mayari went silent.
"Your theory doesn't account for that one, right?" Aslon pressed further, "Unlike yours, our theories were based on gathered evidence." He then proceeded to walk outside.
They left the room to go to the Maharlika, Salimbay, or should I say, Given? You have already seen what happens next. And so, we will now move forward to the present, giving the reins to Given Grace, that poor child who's still unsure if this is a dream or reality. Soon, she will find out the difference between bleeding in dreams and bleeding in reality.
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It's really irritating when you just wanted to pass a subject, then suddenly find yourself in an unknown place. Like what the hell Ma'am Sanchez! We paused, Mayari pants like a horse chasing its breath after a very long run. But girl, we have only run for about half a kilometer, maybe even less. The trees look like pillars of wood, while the moon... well, it looks pretty, maybe prepping to turn full moon for the next few days. A choir of crickets sings with Mayari's panting, as if an orchestra of tired bodies. Good thing that the moon is this bright, we don't need any flashlight now.
"Are you ok?" I asked Mayari.
"Ok?" she repeated, "The fuck does that mean?" she says with her trademark trash mouth.
"I mean, are you alright?" I say, trying to clarify things. To be honest, I find it stupid to ask a frail-looking woman who's almost out of breath if she's ok, but well. I think it's just the decent thing to do.
I'm fine..." She says, her words seem to come out from the grave itself. "I – I just need to – ca – catch my breath – a – little..." she adds while her hands are pressing against a tree.
I lean on the same tree while trying to assess the state of my dobok. Damn it, it's all dirty now, and the lines on the sleeves are almost torn up. Mom's gonna kill me if she sees this. I place my palms on my head, trying to drown the longing for home. I just wanted to freaking finish grade 12! How the fudge did I end up here!? I looked around, tall trees and grasses. What even is this place!? Jurassic Park!?
We hear footsteps after a few moments. Lights begin to appear in our direction, slow at first, then growing clearer. Holy shit. They are here. I grab Mayari and pull her down with me. Four men holding torches move toward us. We are crouched low, hidden in the tall grass. The only good thing right now is that mosquitoes do not seem to exist in this world.
"Anything? Did you see anyone?" one of them asks. They have swords and what looks like a shotgun. Wait. No. That is a rifle, I saw it in COD once.
"No, crap. We are dead if we do not find them."
"This is all Tales' fault."
I step back a little and, of course, there is a dry branch behind me (Classic). It snaps under my foot. Mayari looks at me. The guards all turn their heads toward our direction.
Nice job, Given. You're truly a once in a lifetime genius. They start walking toward the grass where we are hiding. Their steps slow and careful. Then they suddenly stop and swing their torchlight to the right.
"Hey! Who are you!?" they shout. "What are you doing in this forest!?"
We turn and try to peek at what is happening. A boy walks toward them. I cannot see him clearly yet, but judging from his build, he looks like about our age. He rais his hands. Slowly, the moonlight catches his face. He has a silver hair, that reflects the moonlight like a mirror. He is smiling, the kind of smile that looks like he is messing with them.
"Hehehe, chill up dudes," he says. Huh? dude? "I am just a traveler from Pailah."
"Du -due?" one of the guards repeats. "Wait, from the kingdom of Pailah?"
"Yes, yes, hehehe. I am looking for my master. Maybe you have seen her?" He steps closer to one of the soldiers. "Black hair, about this tall..." he gestures a height as tall as him, probably like me, 5'7 feet. "She has a –." He does not get to finish his sentence as one of the guards slams the butt of his rifle into his stomach. He drops to his knees, and they start kicking him.
"Spy!" they shout as they keep kicking him.
"Ouch, ouch, ow, chill up men, aw," he groans. Who is this guy? And the words he is using, the way he talks. Is he like me?
Mayari squeezes my hand, then slowly rises a bit. "Giben, let's go," she whispers.
"Hah? But what about him?"
"He's probably a spy. What is someone like him doing in this forest at this hour?" She pulls me gently. "Hurry."
Shit. I just follow Mayari. We walk quietly, hunched low, moving away from the guards. They keep kicking the boy even as we slip farther and farther from them.
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Mayari and Given slipped farther into the forest. Unfortunately, the entire palace had already been alerted to their escape. Another squad of soldiers was now combing through the woods, hunting for the two of them.
Back in the area where they had nearly been caught, the boy from earlier stood alone. The forest around him had fallen eerily still. Unconscious guards were strewn across the ground like discarded dolls, their bodies twisted where they had fallen. These were the same men who had been kicking and stomping on him moments ago. The torches they carried lay extinguished in the dirt, smoke curling weakly upward as if afraid to rise.
The boy slowly tilted his head to the sky, and the moonlight caught the edge of his smile. There was not a trace of urgency in him, only a chilling calm, as though the violence at his feet was a daily routine.
"Damn it... Master's gonna kill me for sure…" he muttered as he stomped at one of the unconscious guards. He wiped the blood from his cheek and stepped onto the head of one of the fallen soldiers. "You really had to test me, didn't you?"