Those who may come, those who may go

The ever-lustrous lake of Laya is home to the mythical creatures that every tale would tell by mouth or by scripture. Tales to preserve or tales to instill fear—regardless of what the reason may be, these mythical beings existed because of how impactful a tale from the mouth can be. It can be tantamount to how mortals are worshipping deities; the more followers they have, the more powerful they become.

Hence, the more mortals tell the tale, the more of these mythical beings shall exist.

It also became a place where a lone serpent god inhabited for moons and so, eventually, adopted several mythical beings to be protected from any divine castigation. Tales would tell that Laya is part of the lower realm, a frightening and dangerous area for all beings that ever live, but in reality, it is a mythical lake filled with mythical beings.

Amidst that peaceful scenery, the serpent god glared at the reflection from the waters, where it showed two joyous gods, namely Sidapa and Libulan, as they enjoyed their time together at the Lunar Village. Through his "Seeing Eyes," which are said to be envied by many deities, he was able to see wherever Libulan went, whoever he may be.

It is a divine ability bestowed on beings like Bakunawa that can be compared to Bathala's "All-Seeing"; the only difference they have is that Bathala can see everything from far and beyond, while the serpent can only see things that he has been to.

"Oh, Chosen..." Bakunawa whispered tenderly as he saw Libulan smiling with children, his fingers caressing the water's reflection. He knew, to himself, that he couldn't be anywhere near the moon god anymore, not after what he chose to do.

To deny one's purpose is to deny one's fate; you are seeking an unfathomable end, serpent.

Bakunawa could only wince at the voices he heard when he did not consume the moons as intended—no malice, no ill intent, yet they always sounded firm and final. He accepted the idea that he could only watch Libulan from afar like before, quiet and guarding, but then, the god of death showed up out of nowhere in Libulan's life, and this, for him, is a threat he cannot comprehend.

A threat from what exactly?

"Does Father secretly love the moon god up in the heavens?" Tiyanak asked innocently from the serpent god's lap while he looked up to Bakunawa. He is a mythical cursed infant who was aborted by his mother and later thrown away without any prayers to offer.

"Nosy little child," Bakunawa could only say, gently tickling Tiyanak, who giggled upon the touch.

The serpent god found him on his way to Laya and took the infant with him as he prayed for the poor child to become one of his companions. Thus, he was named Tiyanak, from the root words for stomach (tiyan) and child (anak); tales about him would exist that he attacks pregnant women out of anger and resentment towards his mother.

Though that in itself is a way to scare women when roaming around at night alone, for Tiyanak could not even leave the sanctuary of Laya, since he is under the protection of the great serpent god.

"Tiyan, what made you ask him that?" Nuno chuckled as he took the mystical child off of Bakunawa's lap and onto his own.

"That is the same look humans make when they want to have a child!" Tiyan proudly answered. Nuno could only awkwardly smile, uncertain what to say about that.

"How about you go and play with others for now? I will need to talk to your father." Nuno, the king of all Duwendes and master of trickery and illusion, has been alongside the serpent god for a long time now, as he serves as the advisor and overseer of the lake whenever the master is away. He is also the guardian of Tiyanak and other younger creatures.

Tiyanak only nodded as he went and played 'bato-bato-pik' with Sigbin, a mythical dog-beast whose head was twisted terribly. He used to scare away the trespassers of his previous forest by how he looked, but ever since mortals received divine protection from their deities, Sigbin could not overpower their faith. He retreated far away from the village, and then he found Laya and the serpent god, who accepted him with open arms. His physical appearance changed into a doglike form without a tail, but his head is still twisted upside down as his trademark.

His human form is around the 30s of an average mortal, and a pack was formed under his leadership, and they are considered the hunters of Bakunawa's pandemonium.

"His Grace (a title they gave the serpent god after realizing he is, after all, a deity still) seems to fancy this certain god instead of actually swallowing him alive, ripping his skin off before gobbling up his innards," Kapre whispered to Sigbin as he puffed a thick, black smoke beside him, earning a cough from the latter.

"That... you did not have to describe it that way," Sigbin awkwardly said as he arranged the stones for Tiyanak to play with.

"What? I am only stating the truth," Kapre puffed.

"Then just keep it to yourself, eh?" Sigbin awkwardly chuckled.

Kapre is a mythical giant who lives on Baletes, or trees that resemble his tall and huge figure, and every time he is around, it is believed that a group of fireflies will surround the area as a sign that he is nearby. Tales about him say that he likes to drink, smoke, and loiter around.

"But I do get the feeling. He rarely joins the hunt nowadays," Sigbin chuckled as he played some games with Tiyanak, "and it explains why we have little food for the next moons to come."

Kapre laughed along with Sigbin as they watched the master of the lake frowning at the waters, where he could see Libulan and Sidapa together, laughing and having fun.

"I wish I could hunt."

"You only know how to mess around, so no, thank you."

"Why you—"

A shriek from above caught their attention: a winged lady with half of her body missing arrived at the place with a few harvested goods on her bayong, an item that mortals use to put their things in. Nuno pointed out where the lady's other half was hidden; it was behind the bushes, well-kept and protected.

"Many thanks, Tandang Nuno. For always taking care of my other body whenever I have to go somewhere far," she spoke with gentleness as she patted Tiyanak's head and gave him a stick with lead and some form of cloth for him to get busy at. It brought joy to the mythical cursed child since he had no other beings to play with other than them; he always dreamed of being able to write his name or draw the family he has right now.

"Thank you, Aswang! I like this a lot!"

"I am glad you liked it; they no longer write on leaves but on a cloth that can last for ages. Now, off you go; your elders will be talking about something important now."

"Okay!"

"Tiyan... the manners."

"I mean, opo!"

The rest of them only smiled in fondness as they watched Tiyanak run towards the forest to play or draw on his newly brought cloth, and then after that, they returned their gaze to their master, who was still glaring at the reflections on the lake.

"Welcome back," Bakunawa greeted her without looking, his eyes still fixated on the moon god.

"Why, thank you, dear," Aswang smiled before she noticed Bakunawa wasn't really looking at her, so she looked at the rest to ask some questions, but they just said 'the moon god', and Aswang understood immediately.

"Well, aside from that big old lump by the lake, I heard news about certain odd occurrences in the neighboring villages," Aswang sighed. "Still no sign of Barang, even if Kulam is already looking for her," she added.

"She is stubborn, but she will come back, I know so," Nuno believed, nodding to himself.

"I wonder if Kulam has found it yet, though. It is the only way we can help the great serpent, and it needed to be hidden in the realm of mortals," said Aswang, a shapeshifting creature that has grotesque features and is believed to be able to divide her body, leaving the other one in a safer place. She used to attack mortals and feed on them, but Bakunawa took her in to avoid any severe punishment from the heavens again. Her motherly appearance would sometimes fool the mortals, but it is something that Bakunawa adores about her.

Aswang became his mother figure, yet Bakunawa rarely addresses her or talks to her since the serpent god is always away for his own business (the moon god). Though in mind, the serpent god has high respect for this mythical, shapeshifting creature.

"We will be able to find it; we only need to believe in her," Nuno reassured them.

"I surely hope so," Aswang sighed.

"Why in the underworld are we even sitting here, watching that old fish frowning and being grouchy at the lake?" Tikbalang groaned, having had enough of the scenario as he checked on his hooves, then looked back at the serpent god again, displeased by how annoying he looked right now.

"He finally found the heart to love, and he still doesn't understand what he feels," Nuno snorted.

"Love? I don't recall him being capable of love." Tikbalang cringed a little at the thought of it.

The Tikbalang, it may be hard to believe, is the right-hand companion of the serpent god, meaning he is almost as powerful as their master, and he was even granted a wish to become the god of the stallions if and only if he gets to marry the right one for him. His physique is strongly built, his speed is inhumanly fast, and he can shapeshift his limbs akin to mortal flesh but never his head. Only his one true love can break the curse that has been bestowed upon him.

Everyone in his sanctuary is cursed, including the serpent god himself.

"Says the one with the head of a horse!" Tiyanak suddenly came out of nowhere, defending his father immediately.

"Shut up, you orphan." Tikbalang dismissed him.

"W-why you! Ugly horsehead who doesn't have anyone to love him!"

A moment of silence it was.

"That's it, I'm drowning you alive by the lake."

"Kapre! Do something! They tend to shift into their grotesque form whenever they fight!" Aswang panicked and pulled the giant beast, who shrugged his shoulders, completely uninterested.

"They are old enough," he puffed.

"Aren't we all old?" Sigbin laughed, sighing after seeing that Tikbalang had no plans of stopping, so he decided to stop them instead.

"Enough of both of your—no using of teeth, Tiyan! Do not dare to kick him in the face, Balang!"