Meanwhile, the serpent god had enough of whatever he was seeing that he shut his eyes closed and plunged himself into the water. He could not understand where this overwhelming sensation was coming from, but he disliked the fact that Libulan was no longer only for him to see.

Grunting in annoyance at the image of the two gods, he shifted into his serpent form, resting his head over a rock deep down in the lake. He did not even notice his companions were already clawing at each other, for he was too distracted and preoccupied.

'I should eat him now,' he tried to convince himself, but later he shook his head in frustration whenever he remembered how Libulan looked whenever he fell asleep on his chest. Everything tends to be serene whenever he is with Libulan, like every part of him would subside and forget what he was meant to be.

A monster to fear, someone that should be despised and neglected for all the wrongdoings he had done for the last moons of his existence. It almost felt like being immortal was a cursed blessing he did not want to have anymore.

He felt like he did not deserve to live this long.

"Your Grace, we have an urgent message from our keepers in the forest," Serena interrupted their master's alone time, earning a glare from the serpent, but he was so preoccupied with his thoughts in that moment that he did not notice he was scaring the Sirena.

The Sirenas are known for their lullabies that lure fishermen to the lake, a tail that resembles a fish, and their upper torso that resembles a mortal woman that can woo anyone. They feed on souls while the body is either buried deep below the ocean or fed to the barracudas.

"What is it now?" Bakunawa asked, tone softened, while poking the bubbles he makes with his sharp claws, and Serena started fidgeting, afraid that their master might not like this news, but she had to tell him; otherwise, he would put them all in danger.

"S... someone has passed through the mist."

To him, it was not that alarming, but the fact that his companions considered this an emergency means that it is not someone they could handle. Better yet, it may be one of his kind.

A deity.

"I will see to this myself at once," Bakunawa commanded, to which Serena nodded, and then he swam back to the shore to greet the others.

Fortunately, Sigbin was able to subdue Tikbalang and Tiyanak from the fight, but it was still obvious that the two were still glaring at each other.

"Father!" Tiyanak cried, running towards him as he hid behind the serpent god, who let him be, and he looked at the others for answers. Nobody said a word, thinking that their master might have been disturbed by the fight.

"Did you feel that?" The serpent god raised a brow at them as he carried Tiyanak into his arms, and the moment he said that, their senses became heightened. They did not notice the presence a while ago since they were busy watching Tikbalang and Tiyanak fighting.

Everyone was suddenly ready to defend themselves any moment now.

"Serena told me about the situation, and why did not any single one of you report to me about it?" Bakunawa squinted his eyes at them, and all they could do was look away.

"Balang? Balang!" Sigbin broke the awkward silence by being surprised to see Tikbalang was no longer beside them.

"He must have felt the intruder; guard everyone and hide if you must. Do not come out unless I say it is safe," Bakunawa told them as he disappeared into thin air, hoping to reach Tikbalang in one piece. He worried that the mist was no longer strong enough to keep away any deities.

But it was a bit strange, like how could a mortal get lost in a place where he perfectly hid?

Bakunawa caught sight of Tikbalang's silhouette, speeding up to reach him; his eyes turned into slits as he called out to him.

"Balang!" he growled upon seeing the glimpse of his right-hand companion and a shadowy figure in front of him that he could not see.

He sped up his flight and was about to reach Tikbalang until he hit his head on an invisible barrier, causing the serpent god to stumble back.

"Great, the secret is out," Balang sighed in exasperation, watching his serpent god rub his jaw from the pain.

"I didn't mean to! I never thought that you were a friend of my friend!"

"You? Friends? Really."

Bakunawa regained his composure before he heard a familiar chuckle that made his senses tingle—a comforting one yet alarming at the same time.

No, it cannot be...

"Chosen One..." Bakunawa whispered under his breath as he slowly gazed upon the moon god until his eyes dilated, knowing Libulan was indeed in front of him right now.

Tikbalang noticed how their master looked upon the moon god; he scoffed a bit before he eased up himself to clear any misunderstanding between them.

"I was once saved by the Chosen One's mothers, the moon priestess goddess and the moon warrior goddess, when I was on the brink of death in the mortal realm. They took me home to the Moon Palace, gave me care and shelter, and spent most of their time with the Chosen One here before I decided to leave, since I am no deity like them," Tikbalang narrated while Libulan nodded by his side. Bakunawa could only blink, doing his best to digest how and where these two had met in their lifetime.

"I remembered that I could call you whenever I needed help, so I did! Also, reading does help a lot in times of need," the moon god chuckled, teasing Bakunawa as he gave the horseman an offering as a sign of gratitude.

"I am uncertain of what your preference is, but please, help yourself." The Tikbalang received dozens of edible flowers, newly harvested crops, and newly caught fish for him to feast on later.

"You are still the same. I am truly grateful for your gifts always." Tikbalang bowed slightly and sighed in annoyance, crossing his arms as he stood between the jaw-dropped serpent god and smiling moon god.

"I may need to leave you both; my master here has a lot to ask in mind." Tikbalang gave Bakunawa a look, making the serpent god look away in a little bit of embarrassment.

"Oh, leave us be," Bakunawa groaned as he slapped Tikbalang's back, shooing him away, to which the horseman gladly obliged.

"You... came," the serpent god nervously said, gently removing the flowers resting on Libulan's shoulder, before he retracted his hand to himself.

"Yes, I couldn't wait to see you, and you have not come back after the ceremony. I have so many things to tell you! I made a new friend, too!" Libulan excitedly chirped as he walked around Bakunawa, while the serpent god was forever lost in a trance.

Tikbalang returned to the lake, and as expected, everyone wasn't hiding; they were eagerly waiting for Bakunawa and Tikbalang. However, only Tikbalang came back. They immediately approached him, looking at him as if they were expecting an answer from him.

He only let out a snicker.

"He won't need to watch him grouching by the waters no more, is all I can assure you." Tikbalang laughed boisterously, implying it was the moon god who came, and the rest laughed along with him.

"My, my. My heart almost fell back there," Aswang sighed as she chuckled.

"I am fascinated by the fact that you are acquainted with a moon god," Tiyanak clapped, almost sarcastically, and Tikbalang noticed it, so he lifted Tiyanak in the air and told the others that he would drown the child by the river for real this time.

They tried stopping him from doing so, despite the fact that their peals of laughter echoed through the place, but no one would ever hear them.

Tales about them might be frightening and gruesome, but behind those images that the tales created, a family was born, and they are forever grateful for the existence of the serpent god.

A god whose name was missing for ages.

A god whose existence is a threat to the whole realm.

A god that bears the title of devourer of the moons.