After encountering the dark creature, the six friends sat together in the tree house in silence. They are having a hard time taking in all the things that happened. Knowing any minute, more monsters might appear to attack, or worse, the dark creature appears again.
Cafra: "Do you guys think we can win next time we fight these monsters? Especially the other one who looks far stronger than the aswang."
Ric: "Yeah. That one looks way too strong. I don't think we can defeat that guy even if we all work together. We couldn't event handle his presence. I hope we never see that monster ever again."
Arja: "We will be dead if we ever see that monster again."
Erlo: "We dont know for sure, but we have to be prepared."
Gil: "Guys, remember what drove off that monster? It was like a barrier made of light, and it forced the monster to retreat."
Cafra: "Ohh. You're right. I wonder what kind of power that was. It would be awesome if we learn how to use something similar to that."
Amon: "Yeah. I also noticed that the monster said something when the barrier appeared. Something about Solaris Sanctum?."
Erlo: "Solaris Sanctum could be a place, and he's referring to whoever lives in that place."
Cafra: "If we can figure out where that place is, maybe we can ask their people to train us so we can have a chance against monsters like last night."
Kael: "But the problem is, we don't know where to start looking. And the dark creature opened a portal to escape. For sure it leads to some kind of base where they live. We don't want to end up there."
Arja: "What if we ask some elders? Maybe they know something about it? I mean they were the ones who started scaring us about Aswangs when we were little. We didn't know they exist until we encountered one."
Erlo: "We can ask your grandpa, Cafra. Remember he used to tell us alot of stories?"
Cafra: "Yeah. We can. Let's go to my place."
They all went to Cafra's house. His grandpa, sitting on a rocking chair with a newspaper covering his face, dozed off.
Cafra: "Grandpa! Wake up!"
Grandpa: "What?? Can't you see I'm sleeping. You guys need to leave and old man alone."
Cafra: "But.. Grandpa.. We just want to ask you something."
Arja: "We want to ask if you know something about Solaris Sanctum."
Grandpa: "Now. now. Who told you about that thing?"
Erlo grabbed Arja and whispered to his ears.
Erlo: "Don't tell him we encountered and aswang. Especially that dark creature."
Arjo: "Okay. Got it."
Arjo: "So.. We just heard someone talk about it. But we didn't hear much about it so we thought you would know something about it."
Grandpa: "Ohhh. Hahaha. It is one of the myths from stories that was passed down each generation. It's an old tale."
His tone and face changed. Quite serious and leaned in to tell them clearly.
Grandpa: "But. If you heard about these Aswang attacks lately. If it is really true, that means these myths that you guys hear from us old people could also be true. Including the Solaris Sanctum."
Cafra: "So you do know something about it? What is it exactly? Can you tell us a story about it grandpa?"
Grandpa: "Sure. If you guys are so eager to know then I'll tell you everything I know about it."
Arja: "Thanks grandpa."
Grandpa: "There is not much about the story of Solaris Sanctum. People say its made up to balance the stories about the Aswangs. You know, if there is Bad, which is the aswangs. That means there has to be a Good, and that is the Solaris Sanctum. It is a place where all the Diwatas reside."
Gil: "So they are natural enemies?"
Granpa: "You can say it like that. But nothing is said much about it. Because you know in our culture, we have different religions. And most people are focused on that so they ignore the existence of Diwatas. They believe it is their religion that saves them from any kind of evil and Diwatas are just a story for the young ones."
Cafra: "So you mean, there is not much information about Solaris Sanctum."
Grandpa: "You are right. But like I said, if these aswangs really do exist, then I'm pretty sure that diwatas also exist."
Cafra: "Well, thanks for telling us something about it grandpa."
Grandpa: "You're welcome. Go on now. I'll be taking my nap. And try to stay home when its dark. Those aswangs might get you guys. Hahaha."
Erlo whispers to everyone
Erlo: "If only he know that we already fought a couple of aswangs."
Ric: "Shhh. You want him to get a heart attack?"
The night fell, and Cafra and his friends are at their usual spot. Suddenly, the air shifted, heavy, tense, cold. A faint crack sounded in the shadows, then a rift of darkness tore open. Dozens of Aswangs crawled out of the portal like unleashed beasts, they scattered in every direction, onto the streets, roofs, alleyways. Their eyes burned red, and their shadows stretched unnaturally long across the ground. The boys reacted instantly.
Cafra: "Guys! get ready!!"
Cafra's bamboo sword crackled to life, lightning crawling across its surface. He dashed forward, slicing through the first aswang, the blade leaving a silver arc of light behind it. Another leaped from behind, Cafra spun along with his blade, slashed the creature and burned its flesh. But for every one he cut down, two more replaced it. like it is never ending.
Erlo inhaled sharply, flames spiraling around his hands. He hurled a fireball striking an aswang in the chest. It exploded in a burst of fire, sending burning shards falling to the ground. He threw one after another, sweat started dripping down his face.
Erlo: "Damn.. I'm heating up too fast."
Gil slammed his arm into the ground, the earth forming around his fists like a natural gauntlet. He punched and incoming aswang, the impact sends it crashing through a parked tricycle. Another jumped onto him, he caught it mid-air and crushed its skull with a stone clad swing. But his gauntlet was slowly cracking as more creatures were circling.
Gil: "Guys! They're surrounding us!"
Kael crouched low, with his bamboo straw he fired rapid water bullets, each one strong enough to punch holes through the aswang's limbs. One creature's arm flew off. Another leg torn apart. But Kael's breath grew short.
Kael: "I'm running dry, like literally!"
Arja slapped his hand against a fallen piece of wood, it's surface began steaming with volatile fire energy. He loaded it into his slingshot and fired. *BOOM!* A cluster of aswangs was thrown into the air from the explosion. Arja prepared another, but this time touching a stone and flinging it with quick flicks of the wrists. But there were too many targets.
Arja: "There's too many of them, my wrists are going numb."
Amon spreads his arms and sent a slashing gust forward. Two aswang torso split open. He swept his arm again, forming a blade shaped burst of wind. But the creatures learned quickly, some crawled low, some moved in zigzags, some leaped from rooftops.
Amon: "They catched on quick. I couldn't hit them all."
Ric inhaled deeply, and thrust both palms outward. And invisible shockwave blasted forward, throwing aswangs back like ragdolls. He turned, fired another, then another, but his chest tightened, breath growing shallow.
Ric: "I'm running out of breath, I might pass out."
More aswangs poured out. Dozens becoming hundreds around the town. Houses were torn open. People fled in all directions. Screams echoed everywhere. The six fought until their knees grew weak, until their powers flickered, until their hope began to crumble. Kael barely dodged a claw, Gil's stone gauntlet starts to shatter. Erlo dropped to one knee. Arja's hands were shaking too much from all the detonating. Amon's wind gusts turned weak, Ric fell back, gasping for breath, and Cafra's lightning blade, started to dim. They were losing. They were outnumbered. A swarm of aswang was about to jump them, then, a pure blinding radiance appeared, a portal opened. Every aswang screeched, their skin burning under the sudden purity of the light. From within the glow, a silhouette stepped forward. A girl. Young, calm, eyes glowing with a celestial brilliance. She raised her hand, and the light spread across the six. It wrapped around them like a veil, shimmering, warm, strong, and invigorating. Their wounds closed, their breath returned, their exhaustion vanished. Their power surged.
Mysterious girl: "This is all the help I can give for now. Fight. And protect your people."
Cafra's blade roared with thunder. Erlo's flames burned hotter and brighter. Amon's wind sharpened like steel. Ric's air pressure became heavier. Arja's explosives ignited in bright spirals. Kael's water blasts turned piercing. With their renewed strength, they charged together, pushing the aswangs back, driving them away from the remaining survivors until the last one dissolved into the shadows. When it was all over and calm, they approached the girl.
Erlo: "Who are you?"
Mysterious girl: "I am Faricah, I am from the Solaris Sanctum. We are guardians of your world. We are forbidden to fight directly, but we may assist warriors who rise to defend humanity."
Her gaze turned to Cafra.
Faricah: "And you. the bearer of Sandipa's core. You are destined to face Val'Zhemyr. His rise will bring the end of light itself. You must go on a quest, learn how to use your powers, it will be the key to defeat him."
Cafra felt the others looking at him. He swallowed hard.
Gil: "Wait. wait.. Where is all this coming from? Who is this Sandipa? and Val'Zhemyr?"
Erlo: "Can you at least tell us something about it? Because we are very confused right now."
Arja: "Guys, I think she can also tell us how we got our powers. She knows alot about what's happening."
Faricah: "Okay. I will answer all your questions. But before we do that. Let's go somewhere safe."
Cafra: "But... What if.. I am not capable of defeating this monster? I mean, I am just a normal person who accidentally found this stone.. What if it's meant for someone else?"
Faricah: "You shouldn't doubt yourself. You finding that stone is no accident. The stone chose you."
He turned to his friends with a sad look at first, but then changed to being determined.
Cafra: "Okay. but if I am going to leave, somebody has to stay. Our home town needs protection. For sure more attacks will come, and somebody needs to defend our people."
Erlo placed a hand on his shoulder.
Erlo: "Go, Cafra, We'll hold things down here."
Arja: "Don't worry about us. We're stronger than you anyways. ahaha."
Kael: "We'll keep training to get stronger."
Gil: "If things get really bad, we'll come help you."
Amon: "We know you can do it."
Ric: "We can handle things here. And like Gil said, if you need help, we will come for your aid."
With a final nod, Cafra stepped beside the mysterious girl, walking out, slowly disappearing. And they began their journey that would pull them towards Val'Zhemyr himself.