Back in Dumaguete, Glad called an emergency council meeting.
"I need to tell you something," she announced. "Something I just learned. And it's going to sound insane."
"We're supernatural creatures," Lakay Ambo said dryly. "Insane is our baseline."
"Anino is not a cat."
Silence.
Then Luningning said carefully, "Anino... the cat? Your cat?"
"That cat. He's been with me for fifty years. Protecting me. He's—" She took a deep breath. "He's my supernatural father. He transformed into a cat after I was turned."
More silence.
Then Congressman Diomedes spoke. "Glad, have you been sleeping enough? The burnout—"
"I'm not crazy. Anino, show them."
Anino, curled on the council table, looked up.
Then he shimmered.
Transformed.
And stood before them as the ancient man Glad had met in Siquijor.
"Holy—" Lakay Ambo fell backward.
"Impossible," Luningning breathed.
"Very possible," Anino said calmly. "I am Anino—a name I chose because I lived in shadows. I am also Anselmo, once a kapre, now something else entirely. And I am Gladys's father."
"Kapre?" Glad stared. "You're a kapre? But kapres are huge! Tree-dwelling! Smoke-cigars!"
"I was, once. But protecting you required a different form. I gave up my size, my strength, my nature—to become small. Unnoticed. Close."
"Why?"
"Because I loved you. Because I failed to protect you once. I would not fail again."
Glad's eyes filled with tears. "All this time. All those years alone. And you were there."
"Always."
The council sat in stunned silence as the story unfolded—the witch's attack, Anselmo's transformation, fifty years of silent guardianship.
"We need to know more," Congressman Diomedes said finally. "This enemy you mentioned—who are they?"
Anino's face darkened. "A creature called the Ibwa. An ancient aswang—older than any of us. She orchestrated Glad's turning. She wanted Glad for something. A purpose I still don't fully understand."
"The Ibwa," Luningning whispered. "I've heard stories. She's supposed to be a myth."
"Myths are often real." Anino looked at Glad. "And she's coming. Soon."