First Cultivator of the Philippines

As we settled back into the bus, the hum of the engine and the murmur of idle chatter filled the air. I leaned toward Jose, lowering my voice to a whisper. "What do you know, Jose? And how did you do all that back there?"

Jose glanced at me, his usual calm demeanor masking any surprise. He paused for a moment, as if deciding how much to reveal. "In time, Jiro," he said, his tone steady. "All in time. For now, just know that I'm here to help."

Before I could press him further, Emilia chimed in. Her sharp, confident voice cut through the conversation like a blade. "You're not exactly normal either, are you, Jiro?" She leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze making me uneasy.

I stiffened. "What are you talking about?"

"You're gathering qi," she said matter-of-factly, her voice quieter now but still commanding. "I've seen people do it before. Back home in England, we call them practitioners. But that's not all. You move differently, like someone who's trained."

I tried to deflect, but she wasn't having it. She smirked, a hint of pride flashing across her face. "I should probably introduce myself properly. I'm Emilia Pendragon, a knight from the lineage of King Arthur. My family has guarded his legacy for centuries. We came here looking for the legendary sword, Excalibur."

Her words left me stunned. Knights? Excalibur? It felt like something straight out of a novel.

Jose interrupted, his tone a little sharper now. "Emilia, maybe this isn't the time for grand declarations."

Emilia shrugged. "He was bound to find out eventually. If he's involved in all this, he has a right to know."

I opened my mouth to ask more, but someone from the back of the bus broke the tense silence. "Alright, no more horror stories from now on! That was way too creepy for me!"

The class laughed nervously, the comment easing the tension that lingered after our harrowing encounter. Most of them had no idea what really happened, chalking it up to nerves or overactive imaginations. But I couldn't laugh. My thoughts swirled with Emilia's revelations and the looming sense of danger.

The words of a phrase I once read echoed in my mind: If you look into the abyss, the abyss looks into you too.

I leaned back in my seat, watching the dark road ahead through the bus window. Something was coming, something far worse than what we'd already faced. And somehow, I knew I was right in the middle of it.

~~~~~

In the dense, shadowy forest, a ferocious battle unfolded far from the bus's view. The eerie wails of the Black Lady echoed through the air, mingling with the guttural growls of the Kapre. Standing in defiance of them both was the towering figure of the Tikbalang, his horse-like face illuminated by the pale glow of the moon.

The Black Lady glided forward, her dark, spectral form exuding malice. Her voice dripped with venom as she hissed, "Why do you protect them, creature? What allegiance binds you to those mortals?"

The Tikbalang snorted, his glowing eyes narrowing as if silently mocking her question. Without a word, he reared up on his hind legs, his powerful hooves crashing down with enough force to split the earth beneath him.

The Kapre, leaning casually against a gnarled tree with his ever-present cigarette dangling from his lips, chuckled. "You don't talk much, do you, Tikbalang? Or are you too proud to answer?"

The Tikbalang let out a loud, defiant neigh that echoed like a war cry through the forest. His muscles tensed as he squared off against the two supernatural beings. Then, with deliberate disdain, he raised one long arm and extended his middle finger at them, a gesture that left the Black Lady seething with rage.

"How dare you!" she shrieked, her form rippling with fury. Dark tendrils of shadow shot out from her, aiming to ensnare the Tikbalang.

The Tikbalang dodged nimbly, his movements surprisingly agile for his size. With a swift twist of his body, he summoned a gust of wind that disrupted the shadows, scattering them like smoke. He followed it with a powerful strike, stomping the ground with such force that shockwaves rippled outward, causing the Kapre to lose his balance momentarily.

The Kapre scowled, taking a long drag from his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke that formed into a massive hand, reaching out to grab the Tikbalang. The Tikbalang countered with a sharp, resounding neigh, releasing a concentrated blast of energy that disintegrated the smoky appendage.

The battle raged on, neither side willing to relent. The Black Lady hovered in the air, her dark eyes fixated on the Tikbalang. "Why do you side with them? Answer me!"

The Tikbalang, still silent, snorted again. With a swift motion, he stomped the ground once more, sending a burst of golden light surging toward the two enemies. The light forced them to retreat momentarily, shielding themselves from its intensity.

In the brief pause, the Tikbalang stood tall, his gaze unwavering. The message was clear. He wasn't going to let them near the humans, no matter the cost.

As the Black Lady and the Kapre regrouped, the Tikbalang's ears twitched, catching the distant sound of the bus's engine fading into the night. His defiance had bought enough time for Jiro and the others to get away.

The Black Lady sneered, her form flickering with irritation. "This isn't over, beast."

The Kapre chuckled, tossing his cigarette to the ground and crushing it underfoot. "We'll see how long you can keep playing the hero."

The Tikbalang simply neighed again, his middle finger raised high in unyielding defiance as they disappeared into the shadows, leaving the battlefield eerily quiet once more.

As the professors organized the check-in process, I noticed Jose slipping away discreetly after receiving his room key. Something about his expression told me he had unfinished business. Meanwhile, the rest of us lingered in the lobby, marveling at the opulence of the Avenue Plaza Hotel.

The students were busy chatting, taking selfies, and exploring the space. Emilia, however, excused herself quietly, heading towards the elevators. My curiosity piqued, but I decided not to follow there was enough on my mind after everything that had happened earlier.

Jose entered his room, locking the door behind him. His face, usually calm and collected, now showed signs of worry. He pulled out a small, intricate device that resembled a compass but glowed faintly with symbols. Pressing its center, the device emitted a holographic projection of a middle-aged man with a commanding aura.

"Sir," Jose began, his tone serious, "I'm reporting the events from earlier. We encountered a Black Lady and a Kapre near the bus stop. They were accompanied by several Tiyanaks. It seems they were specifically targeting our group."

The hologram narrowed his eyes. "Were there any casualties?"

"None. We managed to rescue the missing student and retreat safely. However…" Jose hesitated before continuing. "I suspect these attacks are linked to the energy signature in the Bicol region. It's growing stronger."

The man on the other end of the projection nodded thoughtfully. "Continue your observations. Ensure the safety of the civilians. And Jose…"

"Yes, sir?"

"Watch over Jiro. There's more to him than meets the eye."

In a separate part of the hotel, Emilia was seated by the window of her room. She held an ornate, gold-embossed mirror that shimmered faintly in the dim light. As she gazed into it, the surface rippled like water, revealing the face of an older woman with a regal demeanor.

"Grandmother," Emilia greeted, her voice steady but respectful.

The woman's piercing blue eyes softened slightly. "Emilia. What news do you bring?"

"We've arrived in Naga City, close to the source of the energy. But earlier, there was an attack by the local entities. A Black Lady and a Kapre."

The older woman frowned. "And your group? Did anyone sense your true purpose there?"

Emilia shook her head. "I don't think so. But there's a boy, Jiro. He's… unusual. He was able to sense the entities far earlier than anyone else. And his strength it's growing rapidly. I can't confirm yet, but he may be tied to the energy."

"Keep an eye on him," her grandmother instructed. "The Sword of King Arthur must not fall into the wrong hands. Your mission is of the utmost importance, Emilia. Remember, you are not just a knight but a Pendragon. Fulfill your duty with honor."

"Yes, Grandmother," Emilia replied, bowing her head slightly as the mirror returned to its normal state.

She placed it down and sighed, glancing out at the city lights. Her thoughts lingered on Jiro. Just who was he, and why did he feel so… significant?

Back in the Lobby

I didn't see Jose or Emilia again that evening. As the keys were distributed and we all headed to our respective rooms, I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was happening behind the scenes. All I knew was that the deeper we ventured into this journey, the stranger and more dangerous it would become.