In one of the most beautiful islands and progressive banwas, the one who seems to never have any progression is the dreamer Tanashiri. He was named after his beautiful mother who died because of some unknown illness while his father went missing while exploring a new territory. Rumors in the barangay said that his father was enchanted by a diwata and was lost in the wilderness.

                  Tana was left alone in the kubo that his father built for them. For a time he was lonely and don’t know how to go on with his life. He was lonely. Every night he looks outside their window and look up at the sky. Wondering if his father is still alive.  He promised to himself that he will become a warrior and he will find his father in the wilderness. He came from the Maharlika family but there’s no one to back him up. Everyone is too busy to attend to themselves, the Hierarchy in their land is very conspicuous. If there’s no one to guide him, he might end up becoming an Alipin.

                   After six months of warfare Datu Kilat came back and ordered to bring him to their house and declared that he will personally guide him. Tana was stunned to hear the order of the Datu. Who wouldn’t? He became an orphan but suddenly he have a powerful guardian. Everyone would definitely envy him. He felt like Bathala had took pity on him and given him opportunity to advance. With new found strength, he vowed to become a warrior like his father to protect the land and to pay the Datu for his generosity.

                  Tana is already past his coming of age ceremony and first training of warriors. Normally young men at the age of 12 is already blessed by their family and the Chieftain to become a warrior. But he’s already 16 and Datu Kilat never mention about bestowing this calling on him. He felt anxious about it for no reason. So the moment he was given a chance to have an audience with Datu Kilat he immediately mention it to him.

“I’m sorry Tana, but I can’t give you a calling as of the moment. I hope you enjoy the privilege of being a part of my house and rest yourself from worries and hard work.” Datu Kilat said with his usual cold visage. Which was feared by everyone, but for Tana, Datu Kilat is actually being soft on him.

He is too conservative to inquire why he wouldn’t. He could’ve whine about why not? His friends had been bestowed with a wife and a sword. While he was being pampered in the Datu’s residence. It’s as if he was a binukot being hidden in the residence and wasn’t allowed to step on soil. Now that he think about it the Datu just gifted him a pair shoes and silk from the traders of Han. Only the Maginoo usually was able to afford to wear such fancy clothes.

Tana felt conflicted about this treatment, he wants to be a warrior, he wants to fight and own a Kampilan. But when he looks at his forearms he pity himself for having a weak looking body. Can he even be able to hold a Kampilan without stumbling upon his feet? He even have a body as slender as a woman. It’s unpleasant for him.

“I need to train myself…”

He easily got over being upset of the Datu’s response to his inquiry. He went by the coast and look for Lontok, his friend to ask him to help him train secretly and build his body into a warrior type. Lontok and the rest of the young men were resting in a kubo and was busy gossiping about something.

“Did you see the Datu’s wife? She’s so beautiful!”

“I did! Her eyes are as pretty as the lush green of the forest!”

“I wonder which banwa she’s from….She has a rare appearance, almost looks like a diwata…”

When Lontok notice Tana’s presence, he silence their friend who mentioned the word Diwata. It’s a taboo for them, especially how the elderly spread the rumor that Tana’s father was spirited away by a Diwata.

“You’re here Tana, how’s your audience with the Datu?” Lontok asked. He already know that Tana had plans to talk to Datu Kilat and ask him why he wasn’t bestowed any calling.

“It was fruitless…” Tana muttered.

“Oh…” Lontok could only respond blandly. He knows that Tana felt left out in this Banwa. He’s already past the age where young men were supposed to trained as a warrior. He’s from the Maharlika family but no one was interested in taking him in.

Lontok would’ve wanted to convince his family to take Tana but his family’s status is lower than Tana. His family don’t want to impose and too they are too modest to think they are allowed to raise a son of a noble warrior. He was just glad that the Datu declared that he will take Tana under his wing. But Tana’s news about the Datu not giving him a calling is a bit disappointing. He’s being left behind by the rest of the young men in their banwa. His heart aches for Tana being a man and a son of a noble warrior not being allowed to hold a kampilan is like an eagle without its wings. Lontok sigh and decided to change the topic.

“Oh my bride made a new sets of jewelries from the gold they gathered yesterday, look! I asked her to made one for you! It’s supposed to be a gift for your coming of age but you didn’t held one, so I decided to just give it to you.”

Tana looked at Lontok and felt his mood slipped down… Lontok’s bride is from a timawa class who do well in gold business. They catered to Noble families of different banwas and creates the most beautiful jewelries and decoration. Tana laid down in the kubo after he received Lontok’s gift. He played the necklace on his hands and let the sun glare hit it and procure a sparkling glow.

“Lontok, you got engaged at twelve and now you’ll be having a second wife. The Datu who have been lone for two decades is also finally having a wife. Why those elders keep postponing mine? I’m already sixteen…” Tana said with a very downcast voice.

“Maybe the elders were preparing someone very suitable for you!” Lontok tried to make his voice enthusiastic as he can.

“Suitable huh… I can’t wait to have a bride so people would stop mocking me.”

‘I heard them say I look too delicate to be a husband…’ Tana added in his inner thought.

“I’ll become a warrior and give her all the treasures and tributes I will earn…” Tana looked up in the skies as if challenging the heavens. That no matter what hardships they throw at him he will definitely change his life. He won’t allow this setbacks to kill his spirit. He will create a loving home just like his parents and they will live in peace in their banwa.

‘I’m in control…’ that’s what he thought.

But there are things in this world that’s definitely not within our control. After his day cessation of activities he went back to his residence bestowed by the Datu within his palace. Because of his dejected feelings he resign early to bed and sleep faster than ever. Tana fell into a deep sleep that he starts to have a dream that will change his life.

Immediately darkness overwhelm his tired mind and body.

“No…”

“Hmm..”

“It’s painful…”

Tana felt cold hands touching him. He tried to open his heavy eyes and saw cold black hands caressing his head. Those golden nails and golden cracks on their skin shines in the darkness. He can hear the rustling of the leaves and the bone chilling wind in his skin. He struggled to break free from those cold hands he stumble on the ground. He open his eyes and looked up. A bloody moon covers the skies… a voice echoed in the air, he looked behind him and saw the Datu hugging his wife. He had never seen the face of the Datus’s wife but in his dream he can clearly see her face. That beautiful face everyone was curious about. Her eyes glowed conspicuously in the dark. Their eyes met that sent shivers on Tana’s body. He felt like it’s hard to breathe…

‘Is she glaring at me?’

“Do not touch my child… Tanashiri…” she said with the most beautiful and cold voice.

‘What do you mean whose child?’ he wants to answer but there’s no sound coming out of his mouth.

He felt another chill on his kin and his eyes was drawn to other direction. A smiling man whose face he can’t clearly see appeared. That vague appearance slowly getting clearer, he was dragged into a different scenario and found himself choking a young man. He was startled but he can’t withdraw his hands away for the young man’s neck.

‘Huh… who is this?! Why is he smiling?’

He felt goosebumps seeing the young man grinning while being choke by him. The red moon illuminated on his side and sees more details on his position. His sweat dripped down his chin and all over his body. He found himself on top of a handsome youngman, his hand choking him. And he doesn’t have any control of his body. He can feel his hand tightening its grasp to young man’s neck. He wants to stand up and run away but cannot. He was soaked in tears and sweat trying to fight the flow of his dream. But he doesn’t stand any little chance.

“WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?!” He screamed but he can’t even hear his own voice.

‘Why am I choking a boy?!’

The boy underneath him looked at him with those golden eyes…

‘Those eyes… like the Datu’s…’ he thought.

The young man’s handsome face was stained with blood. Behind him is all red…red flames reflect on his eyes.

“Everyone died… I killed Tanashiri.” Tears fell in that handsome face while declaring he had killed Tana. He laugh but his face was full of despair, guilt and sorrow. 

Tana seeing the young man’s expression felt an inexplicable pain. Not a physical pain but a pain that makes him shed tears too. He can feel his stomach churning from this scene. The next thing he realized he was dragged again into another scene…He was standing not being able to move. A red veil covered his face.

‘I can’t move my body, somebody… if it’s a nightmare, please wake me!’ he plead in desperation but no voice comes out from his mouth. A single tear drop on his unmoving body behind the veil.

He was more terrified when the red fog slowly cleared, he saw his own body. Bleeding by the neck.

‘Why am I seeing my own body bleeding? Am I still alive? There’s too much blood!’

“I killed Tanashiri, the son of Datu killed the babaylan! Ahahaha!” he heard someone yelled and lunatic laughter echoed in the space.

The laughter makes Tana shiver. He’s soul started to shake, he is being overwhelmed by fear, despair and all negative feelings. It’s too much… the laughter continued to echo…

‘No! Stop! Stop laughing! I don’t wanna hear!

“Hahhahahahaha”

‘No stop it!’

Laughter echoes…

‘Shut it!!!’

He screamed with all his might till his voice echoed and overlaps the wicked laughter….the ground shakes and the red fog starts to blur his vision.