The sun hung high over the skies of Tundun at midday. Along with it came the surge of people arriving from other towns across Tundun, clad in colorful clothing, their faces filled with excitement. While many were heading toward the capital, others moved alongside Mayari's group, traveling away from the city of Nilad.
Mayari wore a hooded garment. Even though there were only a few soldiers actively searching for her in the area, Agni convinced her it's still better to take precautions.
"It feels like there are more people than yesterday…" Given said as she watched the crowd pour in, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"All of them are heading to Nilad to witness the coronation of the new Datu tomorrow," Mayari said, the weight heavy in every word she spoke. She had gone pale, and her breathing was labored. "Damn them all…" she muttered.
Given couldn't help glancing in every direction as they walked. Moments later, a traveler accidentally bumped into her.
"I'M SORRY—I'M SORRY!!!" Given bowed repeatedly in front of the man she had collided with. The man said it was fine, but she kept apologizing anyway, sweat continuously dripping from her forehead.
When Mayari noticed this, she immediately walked over, grabbed Given, and pulled her away from the traveler.
After another kilometer, they stopped briefly at a panciteria. Thanks to the event scheduled in Nilad the next day, the place was packed—along with the other restaurants and carinderias lining the road to the capital. Laughter and the noisy chatter of gossiping Tunduvans filled the air.
One of the servers approached Mayari. She was a small woman, about three feet with long ears.
"Good afternoon, brothers and sisters," she greeted them, her voice high-pitched and soft. Given instinctively stepped back and uttered, "Tiyanak…"
"That's a kalanget," Agni whispered back to her.
"Damn girl, they're not abandoned babies..." Wan added while chuckling.
Given thought to herself, "So there are tiyanaks here!?"
Mayari immediately asked for a table for four. Once seated in the far corner of the eatery, she began counting the money she had left. They sat on a long wooden bench, similar to the ones in front of and behind them. Given remained standing, quietly observing the people inside.
Her eyes nearly popped out of her head at what she saw, creatures as tall as posts to her, and others like Marahuyo, with feathers and monkey-like tails.
"Giben!" Mayari hissed loudly under her breath. "For fuck's sake, sit down!"
"S–sorry, sorry… it's just—kind of weird—I mean, different," Given said.
"Damn it, you're the only weird one here because of how you're acting," Mayari snapped again. "You look like a rabid dog looking for something to bite!"
"Hey, hey, calm down," Wan cut in. "Seriously, you're one step away from biting Given's head off."
Agni almost smacked Wan for the way he spoke to Mayari, but he also understood that the princess had crossed a line. "The boy is right, Princess," he said. "Are you alright?"
Because of what the two said, Mayari slowly came back to herself. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Giben…" Her voice was lower now than before. "I guess I just have too much on my mind…"
Given only nodded. Meanwhile, Agni called over a server. A woman nearly eight feet tall approached them. She had dark brown skin, thick lips, and heavy brows. Given could barely breathe at the sight of her.
"What will you be having?" the woman asked in a deep voice.
"Pri—Maya—Ma-May…" Agni stammered. "W–what would you like?"
Mayari smiled and said, "Um… I'd like bihon, uncle, and some nilaga."
Wan nearly got goosebumps hearing Mayari's suddenly meek childlike voice, as if she were just a normal teenager being treated to a meal. Even Given looked visibly unsettled.
"Oh, Wan, what do you want?" Mayari added.
"Huh? Oh—uh… I'll have menudo, afritada, and fried chicken," Wan replied.
"My sister here will have the same," Mayari added.
The agta bowed and said their food would arrive in twenty minutes. Before leaving, the server placed a glass of tea in front of each of them.
The moment the agta walked away, Mayari's smile vanished. She turned to Agni.
"Captain, for now, you'll pretend to be my uncle. Wan, you'll be my cousin—Agni's son." She then looked at Given. "And Giben… you'll be my elder sister." Mayari's gaze sharpened as she stared into nothingness.
"We'll keep this up until we find Penumbra."
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to block out the noise around them—the chatter of people talking, the rumble of carriages outside, the clinking of utensils.
A moment later, she opened her eyes.
"We need to find members of Penumbra as soon as possible," Mayari said.
Agni nodded, but he couldn't help asking, "Do you have any idea how we're supposed to do that?"
Mayari pulled out the documents Kuyo had given her the last time they met. Agni took them and began reading.
"According to the reports gathered by the palace," Mayari said, her tone thoughtful yet precise, her eyes fixed on Agni, "Penumbra currently has around two thousand members."
She continued, "But do you also know that their numbers only started growing after Iberia exposed their group? Why do you think that happened?"
Agni adjusted his seat, digging through his thoughts for an answer. Meanwhile, Wan continued picking his nose while waiting for the food. Given stayed silent, listening. When Mayari saw that Agni had no response, she shared her theory.
"I think that at the beginning, they were very strict about who they let in. They did everything they could to keep Iberia and Tundun from discovering their growing movement." She looked down at her hands.
"Because of that, they were selective about who they accepted."
Mayari took a sip of tea. Her eyes sharpened, as if every word she spoke were a piece of a larger puzzle.
"But when the government of Tundun and Iberia uncovered their group, their numbers didn't shrink—instead, they grew even more."
Agni tilted his head. "Wait—what does that mean?"
"It means they had no choice," Wan cut in. "They had to lower their standards… basically, they were forced to accept almost anyone into the group."
Shock registered on the faces of the three as they absorbed Wan's observation.
"Y–you're right, Wan," Mayari said. "They need people—lots of people, and as quickly as possible."
She took another sip of tea, her gaze fixed on Wan, who was now slumped over the table.
"At present, Iberia has more than a million soldiers stationed across Ma-i. Four hundred thousand of them are in Tundun alone. So, if they want to stand against Iberia, they need far more soldiers."
"Even if it means compromising the security of their own group…" Agni added, finally understanding Mayari's point.
"Exactly," the girl replied.
She swept her eyes across the entire panciteria, memorizing every face, making sure no one was watching them. Only then did she continue.
"More than that—whether people admit it or not—many slaves, timawa, and even nobles are already exhausted by Iberia's rule. Because of that, it's easier for Penumbra to persuade more citizens to join them." Mayari paused as the agta arrived carrying their food.
"Thank you," Mayari said with a smile so wide her eyes nearly closed.
The agta bowed and left. Wan immediately grabbed a bowl and a plate and started eating.
"Well, as I said, Penumbra's numbers grow almost every day. And it wouldn't be surprising if there were at least one Penumbra member in every town of Tundun."
Mayari smiled and pressed her palms together in front of her lips, as if in prayer.
"What is it, Princess?" Agni asked in whisper.
"What that means," Mayari said, an almost ironic curve to her smile, "is that their leader—or anyone among them—knows nothing about politics."
"Wait—how did you come to that conclusion, Princess?" Agni asked, his brow furrowed.
"Think carefully, uncle," Mayari said, her mind sounding like a machine slowly heating up. "In the three years since Penumbra was formed, how many times did they send secret messages to my father? Either to ask for support or to offer it?"
"The Datu never mentioned anything like that to me." the captain replied.
"Exactly."
Mayari took a sip of broth before continuing. "Both my father and the council of elders despised Iberia. My father often opposed several of Yizmael's policies. And yet, he was forced to endure some of Yizmael's ways just to keep Tundun quiet, to prevent Iberia's cruelty toward the enslaved Tunduvans from becoming even worse. And to not give those fuckers an excuse to enforce harsher policies."
"Like a performer at a carnival," Mayari said, "my father walked the edge of a blade to protect Tundun."
Agni's eyes reddened as he listened. This was exactly how he had known the former Datu, Rakta. Mayari continued.
"But Penumbra doesn't understand this. All they see is the present. They don't understand that war isn't just about numbers. It's possible they were blinded by their desire to free Tundun. They don't realize that it's not only about who is stronger."
Her voice hardened.
"They also need to know when to pause. Waving Tundun's banner will mean nothing if its future becomes even darker in the hands of people like them."
"So, why didn't your father just ask them for help?" Given asked.
Mayari answered immediately. "It's simple. What do you think would happen if Iberia found out that the Datu of Tundun himself was conspiring with the people they label as terrorists?"
Given thought for a moment. "Chaos?"
"Exactly. They would force my father out of his position and tighten their grip on the Tunduvans even more. Even if some of them understood this, they would never think of my father as an enemy. And yet, they even dared to fight against my father.
Mayari clasped her hands together, fingers interlocked, as if trying to pull her scattered thoughts into something clear and resolute.
"They lack knowledge. And planning…"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Because of that, things will be easier for me. It will be easier for me to use them."
"Because of that, things will be easier for me. It will be easier for me to use them…"
The moment I heard those words, chills ran down my spine.
What the hell? Is this Mayari's villain arc? I went back to eating my menudo. It was good—though a bit heavy on the garlic.
I looked at Mayari. If looks could kill, she would've already murdered everyone here. We continued eating. After so many days in this world, this was the first proper meal I'd had. Sure, Hiraya's sinigang was fine—but girl, this tasted like home. Damn it. This afritada tasted like my mom's.
I paused, trying to pull myself together. My hands started to shake as I bit my trembling lip. I took a deep breath, forcing myself not to cry.
After our meal, we continued our journey toward Cubao. By the time we were back on the road, afternoon had settled in. It was hot, and incredibly dusty, probably because of all the people heading toward Nilad.
We smelled like paksiw, my goodness—but I'd take this over having my life constantly at risk any day.
It felt like the province. A few houses scattered around, tall grass lining the bumpy road, and the smell of carabao poop intensified—which wasn't exactly pleasant, but somehow deeply nostalgic.
As we walked, the crowd suddenly parted. Agni pulled me to the side while Mayari grabbed Wan.
"What's happening!?" I asked.
Then I saw it—a parade.
Two rows of soldiers marched past, probably heading toward Nilad. Their uniforms were red, unlike the green ones I'd seen on others. And behind them…
Wow.
Carriages—straight out of a fairy tale. Brown, with silver and gold linings. Then I caught a glimpse of the man inside. And GIRL. Why are the men in this place like this? I mean—Agni is pure daddy energy. Masala is a hot boy-next-door type. Wan… well, I ship him with Mayari.
But this one?
This one looked like someone I'd want to wake up next to every morning. Sharp jawline. High cheekbones. And oh my God—his hair was long, tied back, draped over his shoulder.
"Girl…" I whispered to Mayari. "Who is that?"
"Lord Marikudo…" Mayari whispered. "The only son of the Datu of Binuangan."
"Wow, he's even more handsome in person than in those sketches," one woman whispered. "Yeah, it must feel amazing to sit on his lap…" another added.
The women nearby whispered among themselves—purely scandalous. Their clothes were Maria Clara–style modest, but their behavior was straight-up Toni Fowler. Their cheeks were flushed red, like matchsticks ready to strike.
"Cousin of Sula and Masala," Mayari added. Well, that explains the good genes.
Mayari lowered her head as the carriage passed in front of us, probably trying to hide her face. All the soldiers wore boots, looking more modern than the ones I'd seen around Tundun. They had machete-like swords at their waists and long guns slung across their backs.
The parade passed, and we continued walking. After about forty minutes, I approached Mayari. "Hey, are we still far?"
She was drenched in sweat. Her lips were dry. "Just a little more…" she replied between breaths.
My feet hurt too, but among the four of us, Mayari looked closest to collapsing.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She just nodded, leaning on the stick she'd picked up earlier. It was obvious she was barely holding on. Agni tried to get us to stop and rest, but Mayari refused.
"Hey, are you really okay?" Wan asked her this time.
"Y–yes…" Mayari replied.
"Really? You look like a single gust of wind would knock you over," Wan said, offering to carry her—until Mayari shot him a dagger look that made him stop immediately.
We managed to walk another kilometer or so when we saw a figure by the roadside, emerging from the grass. The figure whispered, "Help…"
The voice was weak, barely audible. A few seconds later, a child stepped out of the tall grass, skin and bones. His body was covered in scrapes, and his skin was peeling.
I immediately ran and handed him my water bottle. At the same time, Mayari crouched down to speak to him.
"Th–thank you…" He said weakly.
"What happened to you?" Mayari asked.
"I–I ran away… from the Iberians…"
Agni supported him, pulling the boy against his shoulder. He looked about seven years old.
Agni's eyes widened. His hand glowed with silver light as he instinctively pulled a sword out of the earth itself, scanning the horizon for any sign of pursuit.
Shit. That was cool. I noticed the ground had caved in where he'd drawn the sword.
"What do you mean?" Agni asked.
"They–they took me… from our house…" the boy drank again, like it was the first water he'd had in days.
"Polo?" Agni whispered. "How old are you?"
"E–eight…"
"Fuck," Agni muttered.
Mayari massaged her temple, running a hand through her messy hair.
"Those bastards…" she said.
"This is against the law," Agni added.
"And who are you supposed to report that to?" Mayari snapped at him. "You know this is happening, don't you!?"
Agni lowered his head, almost ashamed. "You're right, Princess… even though Iberian law states that only those aged sixteen to forty may be taken for polo…"
He paused, staring at the boy. My heart cracked every time I looked at him, especially now that I was starting to understand what kind of hell he'd escaped.
"Even children as young as seven are being taken," Agni continued, grinding his teeth as he let the sword crumble back into the ground.
Mayari looked at the boy. Then she smirked. She tried to hide it—from Agni, from the boy, from Wan... but I saw it. That tiny smirk.
"Child," Mayari asked gently now, her tone soft, "what is your name?"
"Agustin… Agustin S–Sumuroy," he said.
Mayari turned to Agni again. "We can use this," she hushed. "Agustin, do you know where the camp you came from is? And how many Iberians are there?"
Agustin lowered his head, cheeks red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, miss… I don't know how to count," he whispered. "But I know where it is. The soldier who took us said it was in Naktam… near the sea."
Mayari turned to Wan, and he immediately understood.
"Alright. I'll handle it."
Wan turned to the boy. "Oi, where exactly is the camp?"
Agustin pointed in the direction. Before Wan left, Mayari told him to be careful and to meet us in Cubao later. Wan grabbed a piece of bread and sprinted off in the direction Agustin indicated, disappearing from sight.
Agni carried the boy as we continued walking toward Cubao. I kept glancing at Agustin. I couldn't imagine losing your parents at such a young age, then being forced to work. His bruised hands. His cracked lips. My knees felt weak just thinking about it. I remembered our AP teacher back in junior high talking about the suffering of Filipinos during the colonial era. I'd brushed it off back then.
But now—seeing one in front of me—I couldn't stop the tears.
It was already dark when we reached Cubao. There were lots of mosquitoes, but the air was cool. The smell of carabao droppings reminded me of the province back in Pampanga.
While waiting for Wan, Mayari asked Agni to make something she could write with. Agni nodded. He picked up a stick and worked his magic again. His hand glowed silver as the stick transformed into a thick pencil.
Damn—it still looked cool. Even Agustin looked impressed. Mayari took it and wrote something on a wooden placard. Agni frowned and asked if what she was writing was meant for Penumbra.
I tried to peek, but it was useless. I couldn't read it anyway. Was it Baybayin? Or… Alibata? Alabama? I had no idea. Something like that.
"Agni, leave this in the park at the center of Cubao," Mayari ordered.
"But Princess, will they be able to read that?"
"Yes. Definitely," Mayari replied confidently. "Penumbra are loyalists of Tundun's culture. They'll know how to read Kulitan."
Agni tried to argue, what if Iberians saw it and grew suspicious? But Mayari immediately shut him down, saying that the only people left in Cubao were—her words—"the scraps," since it was a small town anyway.
Agni nodded and left. Meanwhile, we headed to what looked like a small motel to rest. At last. A soft bed. Finally.