“Please tell me more about the Tigmamanukan, uhm… Your Majesty.” I hesitated. Everything still feels so unreal. Am I really talking to the queen of the fairies? “I only vaguely remember the word, but to be honest I don’t know anything about the bird you mentioned… and I know how important it is for us to return to our world.”

“That’s really unfortunate, my dear.” The queen shook her head slightly. “I understand that with the recent advancement with human technologies, humans tend to focus ahead of them and perhaps they also tend to overlook the past, those that shaped them into who and what they are today.”

The queen placed her dainty fingers on the rim of her glass and traced it slowly. “I suppose it can’t be helped, a world such as is no longer a remnant of the past for humans but rather a figment of their imagination.”

Has the Queen been in our world? I would never have imagined hearing the words, ‘advancement’ and ‘technologies,’ coming from such an ethereal being like the fairy queen. A smile mixed with a tinge of bitterness lingered on her blood-red lips.

It was not too soon after when the queen directed a sweet grin towards me. “Ah, forgive me. It appears I was being melodramatic about things like an old being. It’s also been a while since I last spent time with humans. It can get refreshing as well.”

I stared at the queen with a blank face, unsure of how to react to her odd antics. I ended up returning a slight grin, “No, it’s okay.”

The queen’s long lashes were pushed upwards as her eyes widened slightly. Her hands quickly clasped onto mine. When I looked into her eyes, it was as if stars started falling out of them, “I knew you’d be very understanding! You’ve really grown into a great woman now! I can’t believe you were a small tomboyish kid before.”

“Oh, thanks.” I said awkwardly.

I decided to redirect the conversation as the queen, who was acting like she forgot her social status, was starting to act really strange. “I am sorry to interrupt but what was it about the Tigmamanukan that you wanted to tell me, Your Majesty?”

“Goodness me! I am such a chatterbox, aren’t I?” The queen sighed in relief. She excused herself and stood up by the window, looking at the spectacular lake. After a few moments, she looked back towards my direction, “Where were we? Ah. The Tigmamanukan. As you may already know, Tigmamanukan is a mystical bird, with predominantly blue feathers. They are often luck-bringers especially to those whom they deem to have a pure heart. Seeing the mystical bird can also signify changes, just like how it ushered the age of humanity when it pecked the bamboo plant open which released the first humans, Malakas and Maganda.”

“I see, but how exactly do we find it?”

“You and Andres need to head to the woods once more. You will find the Tigmamanukan there.”

“I… I don’t know if I or if we can do it. Is there anything else that we need to know, please?” I feel like I’m grasping at straws here. Everything is still unclear.

The queen slowly walked towards me before flashing a mysterious smile. Crisp translucent wings with elaborate patterns glimmered with light suddenly unfolded out of nowhere, leaving me awestruck. “I have given you all that you need to know, my dear Isadora. Now it will only be up to you to pass the trial that the diwata has set upon you. I wish you and Andres the best of luck.”