Three figures were standing still on a mountaintop seemingly overlooking the busy place.

"Really?" Salina asked Da.s.s.

Da.s.s gave an affirmative answer.

Da.s.s deeply breathe before he takes his step.

Wearing robes, the three figures weren't recognized at all.

They continued their way ahead without disturbance.

They sneak in at Sada's residence.

...

Sada gloomily waiting for news at his study room felt cold winds at the window that was opened from outside.

There are only two possibilities who will enter from it, it was either Salina or the black-clad men.

But what he saw was three figures wearing hoods.

Sada became alert, but something in his heart felt longingness as he looked at the figure in front of him. Two figures stood behind of that hooded one in front of him.

He stood up warily and asked, "Who are you?"

The figures behind first unveiled their hood.

They were Salina and her subordinate, Second. Before he could ask the result, the man in front of him unveiled his hood which made Sada almost felt on to his knees.

"Da...Da.s.s." Tears dropped at his wrinkled face.

He closed his distance to him, wanted to hug him tight. His movements were as slow as a turtle.

Streaks of tears also fell on Da.s.s checks. He ran to his grandfather and hug him tight.

"Grandfather, I'm sorry. I almost made you a bad person," his tears didn't subside.

"No... no... it's the fault of your grandfather. It's my fault. Sorry I didn't able to protect you." Sada's tears stopped as he felt the comfort at the shoulder of his grandson.

He eyed the two to thank them but they already out of his sight.

...

Lakan Family, North Gate

Datu Lakan stood in a high elevated platform. "Ladies and gentlemen, I commended you all for putting all your best effort for this compet.i.tion. Though not everyone will be chosen, no one could deny that you became part of one of the greatest and fiercest compet.i.tions in the history of our Family.

"As your Datu, you're effort will surely be recognized."

The partic.i.p.ants cheered up.

They all knew the meaning of 'recognize'. It's just mean a thing, they will be rewarded!

The Datu decorated his face with a smile hearing their cheerful att.i.tude. He waited for the crowd to silent before he continued his words. "Now, I will announce the top three group who will he admitted to the Eastern Integrated School."

His words made thumping sounds on each partic.i.p.ants heart.

Without further delay, he said, "The rank three groups was the group eleven who almost obtain a flag. The rank two groups were group three who obtain a flag."

Group three was the group led by Dilaw.

These two groups were invited to the stage.

"The rank one was the group..."

The drum was played three times before the Datu continued, "Seven!"

As the group seven walked to the stage, different kinds of emotions on the face of other partic.i.p.ants surfaced.

Sada felt pride in their achievement. In the first place, all he care was just to pa.s.s and be admitted there, but who knows that they will take the first rank.

Cite and Sul knew how hard the compet.i.tion is, but they didn't think that it was really hard for the other group who have the possibility to have been kicked out of the forest.

The group received recognition from their Datu and the elders as well as from the representative students of the Butuan Kingdom.

When everything was said, Datu Lakan dismissed them all except for the top three groups.

Datu Lakan gave the stage to Kalipsi.

Taking the opportunity to talk, Kalipsi opened his mouth, saying, "We are happy that everyone did their best of this compet.i.tion. Now that each group is settled, we will set off three days from now. Within those days, settle everything you needed to settle and meet us in this place before the sun rises. Understood?"

"Yes!" Each partic.i.p.ant in the top three groups simultaneously replied.

"Good." Without any more to say, he gave the stage to Datu Lakan for his last words.

...

At a distant place

Datu Sub visited the temple of the Babaylan. He was led to the farthest room of the temple where the Head Babaylan was doing her rituals.

Inside the room was emptiness. Its face wall was closed but its back wall was opened wide.

It is believed that the messenger of the heavenly creature does not want to be seen, that's why their altar was built that way.

Outside the wall facing them, was decorated with freshly picked flowers and leaves. Candles stood erect, lighted.

The Head Babaylan was dancing gracefully following the rhythm of the winds.

No one dared to disturb her even Datu Sub just stood 20 meters away from her.

Her white dress followed her steps as she dances with the utmost care and heart.

Suddenly, the winds seemed to stop in a second. No one noticed it except for the Head Babaylan.

The Head Babaylan stopped her movement and kneeled in front of the room. She coughed blood as she forced herself to kneel.

The Datu, as well as her disciples, felt worried, but no one dared to step forward when they heard the Head Babaylan, saying, "Don't come."

After a minute, the Head Babaylan pa.s.sed out.

...

The stars twinkling at the dark sky.

Each partic.i.p.ant already heads home to prepare for their journey three days from now.

The representatives of the Butuan Kingdom sneaked out to their respective room towards the North gate.

"Ready?" asked Tala.

Kalipsi and Uno nodded as their confirmation.

The three silhouettes vanished from the darkness.

Who knows how much time they were running, Uno felt tired already.

Just as he about to reason out for them to rest, he heard the voice of Tala.

"We're here," her deep voice whispered in the ears of the two.

Over their eyes were vast flatten rocks.

Uno and Kalipsi couldn't help but glance at Tala seemingly confused.

Tala didn't explain. She grabbed their wrist and pulled them into the flatten rock.

Instead of seeing the vast flatten rock over their eyes, Kalipsi and Uno saw an unimaginable seemingly palace-like hall.

Kalipsi and Uno, unuttered, follow the footsteps of Tala whilst fancying the silver pillars that was intricately carved with symbols they didn't understand.

At the end of the hall, instead of seeing a long high back chair, a table stood. Lying on it was like a diamond as big as a baby's fist.

Beside the table were two sculptures seemingly guarding the diamond. It was a human-like statue, but with wings!

This piqued the interest of Kalipsi and Uno, but they suppressed their emotions to walk ahead of Tala.

Tala paced was neither slow nor fast. She was surveying the place and digging information at her mind about the place.

Unfortunately, there's nothing she can remember. 'Well, I haven't gone here after all.' She thought.

Just as she was about to close her distance to the altar, the statues moved.

These statues looked directly at the trio!

Kalipsi and Uno felt s.h.i.+vered down their spine.

Not only the statues looked at them, they even cleared their throat!

Though afraid, Kalipsi and Uno didn't waver to stood up side by side with Tala.

They took a fighting stance. This earned a laugh at Tala.

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The duo simultaneously glanced at Tala as they wrinkled their brows in puzzlement.

"No need to fight. We are not here to cause trouble." Tala explained. Her voice was low. Just enough to be heard by the two.

Kalipsi tilted his head towards the statues seemingly saying, 'How about them?'

Tala patted his shoulder. "They are made by guardians. They will not cause harm to those who don't have malice."

Just as Uno was about to open his mouth, the statue on the left side echoed its voice. "Humans, what are your reasons for coming here?"

Tala clasped her fist and said, "Pardon our intrusion. We came here for inspection of this place."

Kalipsi and Uno also clasped their fist.