Thunderous applause wrapped the entire Palace, as well as every street of the Capital. At last, the new Datu of Tundun had been installed. The maginoos of Tundun, coming from different races such as the Ikugan, Kalanget, and several Agta, joined together in praise. Along with the clashing of their palms were the heavy gazes of several blue-blooded Iberians. Some observed in silence, while Yizmael smiled as he drank his wine, conversing with several elders of the Council.
As the applause slowly subsided, Sula lifted his chin and took a deep breath. He stepped down from the polished wooden pedestal toward the blue-blooded Iberians. One by one, he reached for their hands and greeted them. He had already prepared himself for this moment. Even so, he could not stop his teeth from grinding when he spotted Yizmael in the distance. After what Yizmael had done to Marta, the purple marks on the girl's neck, seen on her corpse one day later she 'helped' Yizmael go to the bathroom were permanently etched into his mind.
Aslon noticed the expression on his son's face and, like a good father, moved quickly to approach him. "Sula, my son..." the old man whispered, "control yourself... I know what you are thinking." Aslon smiled as he gently guided his son toward the Governor-General. "You are a Datu now. Every move you make will always have consequences for our people," he added.
Sula took a deep breath and placed a smile on his lips before shaking Yizmael's hand. Yizmael smiled and clasped the young man's hand. "Congratulations, Datu Sula!" the Governor-General greeted him.
"Thank you, Governor-General," the young Datu replied.
"Thank you for attending and for blessing my son and the new Datu of Tundun, Governor-General," Aslon interjected.
From a distance, an Iberian from a wealthy family silently observed the scene. Beside him stood Aslon's youngest son, Masala. The Iberian smiled and asked,
"Is your older brother always like that?"
Masala turned to him. "W–what do you mean, sir?" he asked. The man had long golden hair, fair white skin like his fellow Iberians, and chocolate-colored eyes.
"That," he said while smirking, nodding toward Sula as he shook hands with Yizmael, "always letting your father leash him."
Masala's brow furrowed, and the corner of his lips twitched slightly. "And your point is?"
"Hahahaha, nothing really, it's just..." The man leaned close to the young boy's ear and smilingly whispered, "Your brother's actions? That's the very reason you're still slaves in your own land." He chuckled again and walked away toward the drinks. Waving back at Masala, he added, "Oh, by the way, give my regards to Mayari when you finally find her quote and quote corpse."
Masala estimated that the man was roughly the same age as his brother, around twenty to twenty-five years old. Moments later, another man draped an arm around Masala's shoulders.
"Hey, who are you staring at?" the man asked.
"Kudo..." Masala said upon seeing Marikudo beside him. "That Iberian..." Masala replied, glancing back in the man's direction.
"Ahhh, him..." Marikudo's expression noticeably turned serious. "That's one of the blue-blooded. Edil Evangelista is his name. Why?"
"Nothing... just strange."
Marikudo laughed and patted Masala's back. "You're not the only one who thinks that. From what I hear, he's the youngest of the Evangelista children, your typical family rebel."
Back to Sula. After finishing his laborious handshake with Yizmael, a woman approached him quietly. She had sultry eyes and a slender body wrapped in red and gold garments. Her red baro was made of pineapple fiber, cropped just above her navel, revealing her narrow waist, while her fitted skirt highlighted the curve of her hips. Even the Iberians were staring at her, especially when they caught her scent. A fragrance like amber, intoxicating and heavy, clung to the air around her.
She slowly circled Sula like a shark stalking its prey. Sula merely stood still, watching her.
"Hmmm... so the rumors are true," the woman said as she stared intently at him. Her full red lips curved into a smile. "The new Datu of Tundun really is handsome," she whispered, never breaking eye contact. Her voice felt like the caress of expensive silk.
"Th–thank you," Sula replied. "And you are?"
The woman stopped, her gaze sharpening as it met his. "Tala. Second child of Datu Sikalak of Puliran."
Sula quickly straightened his posture upon hearing this. "I–it is an honor to meet you, Lady Tala."
The celebration continued at Aslon's estate. Darkness had already swallowed the sky, yet the mansion remained filled with laughter and the glow of lampposts.
"Masala!" Marikudo called loudly after his cousin stepped out of his room and into the courtyard. "Hahaha, that looks good on you, so that's the Arbikizer uniform?" he asked after noticing Masala's attire.
"Ah, yes..." Masala replied. The lamppost lit Masala's light-blue uniform, lined with gold at the edges.
"How's soldier life?" Marikudo asked.
"It's fine," Masala answered.
The smile on Marikudo's lips slowly faded. Once again, reality struck him, his cousin was barely seventeen, yet already a member of the armed forces, a full-fledged soldier. All because the boy wanted something from his father.
"Kudo!!!" a familiar voice called out.
Marikudo turned to see his uncle Aslon standing behind him. "Elder As—" Aslon did not let him finish and pulled him into an embrace.
"How have you been, Kudo? I'm sorry I couldn't attend to you earlier at the palace."
"It's alright, Uncle," Marikudo replied quickly.
After that, Aslon guided him toward Sula and the other nobles of Tundun. Masala, meanwhile, quietly lowered his head and forced a small smile.
While he stood there with his head bowed, a hand tapped his shoulder. "Be patient with your father, my boy," Kuyo said.
"Elder... g–good evening," Masala greeted him.
The old man smiled and replied, "Your father has many things on his mind..." Masala knew this. Even so, the ache in his chest refused to fade.
"Bueno..." Kuyo tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. "I heard you have another assignment tomorrow?"
"Yes, sir. We're heading to the shores of Kubiz, then moving toward Isla Puting Bato." Masala replied as he touched the sleeve of his uniform. "There have been reports of terrorists on that island."
"Penumbra?" the old man asked.
Masala shook his head before answering. "Another group, sir, but we don't have much information yet."
Amid the noise of the celebration, and despite the cold treatment he received from his father, Masala happily recounted his experiences to Kuyo, his missions as an Arbikizer. As he spoke, a smile slowly formed on his lips, because at last, aside from his older brother, there was someone else who had given him attention.
Under that same sky, in the town of Kubao, a gathering was taking place. Rebels were busy preparing their weapons, some stolen, some improvised. Behind the house, Bay-an stood quietly, staring up at the new moon. Wan stood beside him, holding a bag of peanuts.
"What do you think will happen to us in the future?" Bay-an asked, his gaze still fixed on the sky.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine tomorrow," Wan replied as he chewed on peanuts.
"Heh, that's not what I meant," Bay-an shot back quickly. "I'm talking about our land... the future of my comrades, my friends in the movement, and the people we're fighting for."
"Hmmm..." Wan scratched his head before continuing. "Honestly, I don't really care about the politics of Tundun, or whatever happens to your country."
Bay-an immediately shot Wan a sharp look at those words. Wan noticed and quickly added, "Relax, curly-top. Before teach left, she ordered me to help Mayari—and if helping her means freeing Tundun..." he smiled before continuing, "then I'm with you."
Bay-an burst out laughing at Wan's answer. "Hahahaha! I like you, Wan. Unlike the maginoos or the others, you're direct, no beating around the bush." He said this as he gave Wan several hard pats on the back.
After that, Bay-an lowered his head. Sorrow was etched on his face. "To be honest, I feel ashamed..." His voice was now soft and restrained, unlike his usual tone. "It's humiliating that we're placing our hopes on—and asking help from—children like you."
He rubbed the Bakal na Pira on his hands. "I was eight years old when my parents died. I escaped from polo several times until I met the Supremo three years ago." Bay-an's eyes looked like shattered glass. "Now I'm twenty-four years old..."
He looked at the other rebels, each preparing what they would use tomorrow. "Before you joined us, Toto was the youngest in the movement. Eighteen years old..." Bay-an's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding as tears flooded his eyes. "Children like you shouldn't be fighting or dying in wars."
Wan silently watched Bay-an. "I'm also tired of seeing my people enslaved in our own land..." Bay-an forced out each word, heavy with emotion. Wan said nothing—he simply placed his palm on the rebel's back.
From the window of the fortress, Kario quietly watched the two as he gently rubbed the scar on his hand. A calm smile appeared on his lips, though sadness was still evident in his eyes.
"Supremo..." a man said as he hurried into the room.
"Kuroy, is everything ready?" Kario asked the young man.
Kuroy's body bore the marks of hard labor. He stepped forward, the lamplight revealing his brown skin and sharp, chocolate-colored eyes.
"Yes, Supremo. Everything is ready."
"Good," Kario said. "Tell everyone to rest. Tomorrow, we'll gather downstairs to listen to Dayang Mayari's plan."
"At once." Kuroy bowed and left the room.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Given, Agustin, and Mayari were resting. Agustin was examining a stick he had picked up earlier on their way to the fortress after Mayari's meeting with the Penumbra.
"Tin, what are you doing there?" Given asked while eating bread.
"Uh—ah..." Agustin dropped the stick after Given suddenly spoke.
"Hey, are you okay?" Given approached and picked up the stick the boy had dropped.
Mayari sat quietly in the corner of the room, sketching on a large piece of cloth. Only the lamplight illuminated them.
"It's just that... the one with you... Ag—Agni," Agustin said. "He's a baylan, right?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah... he's a baylan... he can do magic," Given replied, clearly not knowing much herself.
"What's his path?" Agustin asked.
"Huh? Path?" Given echoed. "I don't know where he's planning to go either."
Mayari choked on her drink upon hearing that answer. "For gods' sake..." she muttered. She stood and approached the two. "Agni's path is Hubog."
"Hubog?" Given repeated.
"He can alter the things around him and shape them into whatever he wants," Mayari explained. "But he also needs to know how to do it manually."
"Ooooh..." Given immediately started thinking. "So he can make guns too, as long as he knows how to make them by hand..." Then she asked again, "Why doesn't he just turn the Penumbra's equipment into guns?"
"Giben, there are only about thirty rebels in this fortress," Mayari replied. "Agni would die of exhaustion before he could even make ten rifles or guns." She sat beside Agustin. "Besides that, their materials are limited. You can't make something out of nothing."
Given could only nod at Mayari's explanation. Mayari then noticed the shame in Agustin's eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked gently.
"Y-yes..."
"What are you thinking about?" Mayari asked.
"I... I want to be like him too," the boy whispered, his head sinking onto his thin shoulders.
Mayari noticed the envy in his voice. She stood and knelt in front of Agustin until their eyes were level.
"Agustin, do you know the first Rajah of Ma-i?" she asked.
"Huh... yes... the great Lakan Lam-ang."
"That's right," Mayari smiled softly. "Many say he was the strongest baylan in history—the Dambana of Lord Kan-laon, her avatar here on Ma-i." She placed her hands on Agustin's shoulders. "Just like you, he was also a slave at the beginning."
Agustin's eyes slowly lit up. Given remained silent, listening closely.
"If the great ancestor could do it, then you can too," Mayari added.
"R-really?"
"Let's try," Mayari said. She stood with Agustin. Positioning herself behind him, she guided his right hand.
"First, calm your mind. Feel your surroundings. Feel the air entering your nose and leaving through your mouth. Imagine there's a light in your chest, and as you breathe, imagine that light growing stronger."
Agustin followed the princess's guidance. Moments later, he felt a slight warmth in his hand. Mayari noticed a faint orange glow forming around the boy's hands.
Mayari's brows knit together. Orange? she thought. She looked at Agustin, who was now smiling. "Guhit?" she murmured.
"M-my hand feels warm..." Agustin said.
"That's Nu responding to your call," Mayari said with a smile.
"Does that mean..."
"Yes. You're also a baylan. With proper training, you'll learn how to use Nu."
After that, sadness filled Agustin's eyes. He lowered his head again, staring at the floor.
"My friends..." he whispered. "Before the Iberians took me... they burned our village they kept on yelling things like payments for land..." He bit his lip, his eyes struggling to hold back tears. "They killed my lolo... and mama... papa..." His voice trembled and broke. Given had already begun to cry. "Papa tried to remove the Bakal na Pira from his hands..."
Agustin stared at his own hands. "After that... he made big ice that hit some of the soldiers..." The tears finally spilled. "But then... my father's body suddenly burst into flames... they said it was a curse if the iron was removed..."
The princess took a deep breath, her fists clenched tight. Moments later, the boy could no longer hold it in, and a loud wail filled the room.
"MAMA!! PAPA!!"
Given could no longer stop herself either; her sobbing grew louder. Mayari knelt once more and embraced the child.
"MAMA!! PAPA!!" Agustin's words were drowned by Mayari's embrace as she stroked his back.
The princess inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stop her own tears. She wiped the tears from Agustin's eyes.
"Don't worry... I'll make sure they all pay," Mayari promised, her eyes burning with determination for the day ahead.
The next day, at sunrise, the rebels gathered together in the fortress hall. All of them waited for what the young princess would say. Some wore pieces of armor stolen from fallen soldiers, while others were clad only in patched-together battle gear.
Mayari spread out the map she had drawn the night before. It showed the layout of the Kubiz camp—the terrain, and the positions of the soldiers based on Wan's account.
"Listen to me, friends," Mayari said, her voice calm and filled with confidence. "This is your first battle with me. I thank you for your trust." She looked each of the rebels in the eyes, one by one.
"Supremo, Tata Islaw, Bay-an, and Kuroy... I will divide our force into five groups. There are thirty-five of us in total, so each group will have seven soldiers—except for Tata Islaw's group, which I will assign ten."
She looked at the Supremo, then turned toward Wan. "According to Wan, there are fifty soldiers in the camp. Earlier, I sent him back to the camp to confirm this."
Mayari turned to Islaw. "Tata, you will lead the tiradores, the archers. The success of this plan rests on you."
The old man swallowed. "I will do everything I can, Dayang."
"Bay-an, Kuroy, you will position yourselves on opposite sides of the camp entrance—Bay-an on the right, Kuroy on the left." Mayari pointed to their positions on the map.
She paused again. "Some of you may be wondering where I will be while all of this is happening." Several of the rebels nodded.
"I will serve as the bait." A wave of murmurs spread through the camp at Mayari's words. Even Kario and Agni were startled.
"What do you mean, Dayang?" Kario asked quickly.
"I will be with Agni, Wan, and one more rebel. Don't worry," Mayari assured him. "This is how the plan will proceed."
She pointed again at the map.
"The separated ravines of Kubiz serve as natural barriers. There are ten guards stationed on each side of the ravine. Tata, divide your group into two teams of five. After that, silently eliminate them. Once you give the signal, we will charge into the camp."
"I want you to be our eyes from above. Shoot whoever you can hit."
"Dayang, despite my age... I thank you for your trust. You can rely on me!" Islaw promised.
Mayari nodded and continued. "While we assault the camp entrance, we will pretend to be losing and then retreat outward. When we retreat, and as they pursue us, that's when you charge."
She looked directly at Kuroy and Bay-an.
"We will surround their group. From above, Tata Islaw will assist in finishing off more soldiers inside the camp and those chasing us. Even though they outnumber us, they will surely be shocked by our ambush."
After this, she turned once more to Kario. "Supremo. While all of this is happening, I want you to rescue the slaves inside."
Kario was visibly confused by the young princess's words. "Huh? Wait a moment, Dayang. Are you sure? This is your plan, wouldn't it be better if they saw you as the one who saved them?"
"Supremo," Mayari replied, "most slaves and citizens of Tundun see you as terrorists because of Iberian propaganda. I want to break that."
She paused and made sure everyone could hear her next words. "Besides... you are Penumbra's leader."
Kario closed his eyes several times. "I-if that is what you want, Dayang... I will do everything I can."
"Thank you," Mayari replied. "Remember this: they outnumber us, and you must always assume that at least five of them are baylan. That is why we need to be careful."
"In our group, only I, the Supremo, Kuroy, and Agni are baylan. The rest of us have Bakal na Pira like Bay-an. That is why I want all of you to be cautious."
Mayari looked back at the map. "We will carry out the attack this noon, when the sun is at its highest."
"This noon!?" many of the rebels exclaimed.
Kario then spoke up. "Dayang, wouldn't it be better if we attack at night?"
"No. If we attack at night, we will be at a disadvantage. We do not know the terrain well enough."
Mayari's gaze sharpened as she addressed everyone. "Listen carefully. Based on Wan's observations, these soldiers are new arrivals to Ma-i. They are not yet accustomed to the heat of Tundun at midday. We can use that, especially Tata Islaw's group."
"Is the plan clear?" Mayari asked.
"YES, DAYANG!" the rebels answered in unison.
After that, they departed from Kubao one by one, heading toward Kubiz. Mayari also designated the location where she and Kario would regroup after the battle. This was where Given and Agustin were sent directly.
As they walked away, Agni approached the princess and asked, "Were you serious about what you said earlier? About wanting many to see Penumbra as saviors, not terrorists?"
Mayari smiled before answering.
"That's true, but rescuing the slaves from polo is only one way for me to get what I want."
"And that is?" the soldier asked.
"To gain the full trust of the Penumbra." Mayari's eyes filled with determination as she walked toward her very first battle.