The beam from the hanging moon serves as the only source of light in the middle of the dark forest of Banahaw. The chirping songs of crickets filled the air following the battle between Wan and Nemo. Not far away, the scattered body parts of dead soldiers lay still. Soldiers who, only moments earlier, were determined to capture Mayari.

  “Follow me, girl.” said the woman who had saved Mayari's life.

  Mayari didn’t move right away. Her eyes lingered on the scattered bodies of the soldiers who had sought her capture, her chest felt heavy as she clenched her fist tightly, nails biting into her palms, as her thoughts ran wild, “This is my fault.” She thinks If she hadn’t run, maybe these men would still be alive, returning home to their families instead of lying lifeless on the ground. Despite of what happened earlier, she knew that they were only following orders. Her jaw trembled as she forced back tears, her resolve hardening as she turned to Alita. With a deep breath and every ounce of strength she had, she lifted her servant and followed the woman into the dark, leaving the dead behind but carrying their weight in her heart.

  Before long, her labored breathing became evident. “W-wait,” she whispered in exhaustion, “s-sorry...” She was struggling, but she refused to let go of the maharlika on her shoulder. The woman approached her and took the wounded Alita.

  “I'll take care of her.”

  “Thank you,” Mayari replied gratefully.

  “Anyway, let's keep moving.”

  They resumed their walk, and although Mayari's feet ached terribly, she forced herself onward. Her soles felt as though they were on fire, and stabbing pains shot through her side as they ran. Never in her life had she experienced such exhaustion. In truth, everything that had happened to her last night and now was completely new. But despite it all, she had no choice but to push it aside and press on.

  “Don't worry. We're close,” reassured the woman.

  They traveled for more than six kilometers, although they had to stop nearly a dozen times because of Mayari. Upon seeing the tent, the young noble felt relief washes over her. They finally reached a temporary shelter, a small tent set up by the woman and Wan just the other morning.

  The woman entered the tent and gently placed Alita on her bed, while she dumped Wan's body on the mossy ground. Mayari followed her, after catching her breath. Then the woman stepped back outside, softly chanting, “Shadow of Sinukuan, divine and strong, wrap me in your arms where I belong. Shield me from foes, let none draw near, in your embrace, I’ll have no fear.” White light glows from her hands as mirror-like veil covered the tent and the nearby land.

  “You’re also a baylan?” Mayari asked, seated on the grassy ground, her breathing still heavy.

  “Yes.” The woman reentered the tent, “For now, we're hidden. The incantation's effect will last a day.”

  “A whole day?” Mayari asked in surprise. “Most baylan in Tundun can only keep a spell like that going for about two hours.” She glanced gratefully at her rescuer. “Thank you for saving us. May I know your name and why you're here in the forest?”

  “Hiraya. And that dimwit passed out on the ground is my student, Wan.” She lit a tobacco and put on a shirt, then pulled out two bandages from a small clay pot. “Here.” She tossed one to Mayari. “Wrap that around your friend, then use this.” She handed Mayari a banana leaf bark. “It helps wounds close quickly.” Hiraya also began tending to Wan's injuries.

  “And, here's this.” She tossed a small bottle with tablets to Mayari. “Give her one of these.”

  After they cleaned and dressed the wounds, Hiraya sat down, lighting another tobacco. Mayari lay on the grassy floor, stealing glances at the woman who had saved them. In the warm glow of the lanterns, she could see Hiraya's face more clearly. She noticed that Hiraya didn't seem to be from Ma-i, though she didn't look Iberian either. Her features were foreign, but Mayari couldn't pinpoint her origins. Moreover, the woman's beauty was striking; she guessed Hiraya to be somewhere between thirty to fourty years old.

  “Don't worry, I'm not Iberian,” Hiraya remarked after noticing Mayari's stare. “Id ab atalah?”

  Mayari sat up, her brow furrowed. “ha?” She shook her head, almost as if to erase her own question. “Never mind. I'm sorry... but I need to know what are you doing in Banahaw?”

  “We're travelers headed to the Capital. Just so happened that nightfall caught up with us in these woods.”

  Mayari kept her doubts hidden, her gaze steady, unwilling to betray her mistrust of the woman. Hiraya exhaled a cloud of smoke from her tobacco. “And you, chick...who are you?” She took another hits, eyeing Mayari. “Judging by the fabric you used for your wounded friend, you must be of noble birth. And her clothes? Definitely something a maharlika would wear. So, who are you really?”

  Realizing there was no point in lying, Mayari replied honestly, “I am Mayari of Tundun. Daughter of the late Datu Rakta.”

  Hiraya's eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, you serious?”

  Mayari was taken aback by Hiraya's sudden change in tone. “Yes... But right now, I'm a fugitive from the palace. They're accusing me of my father's death.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Achtup... so you really are a noble?”

  “Yes.” Mayari shifted, and stood up. “Binibining Hiraya, I want hire you as my guardian, I can pay you once I reclaim my throne.” Mayari glances at Wan's wounded and battered body, "And by the way, shouldn't we put him on the other bed?" She asked.

  “I'd already heard that the datu had passed by the time we entered Tundun. But honestly... I have no plans to meddle in your family issues.” She sat down and rested her feet on Wan's chest, “And about this fool, nah, lying on the ground suits him better.”

  “What?” Mayari was once again thrown off by Hiraya's casual language. She shook her head, dismissing her confusion at Hiraya's nonchalant and borderline cruel attitude towards Wan. “Anyways, don't worry. Once I return to the palace and avenge my father, I'll pay you generously.”

  Hiraya paused, mulling it over. “Hhhmmm, I'll think about it. For now, get some rest. You look like you're on the verge of collapsing.”

  Mayari tried to sleep, though rest refused to come. Her thoughts churned, unable to process the chaos that had turned her life upside down in a single night. Once the daughter of a powerful Datu, she was now a wanted criminal, her name tainted by accusations of treachery. If not for the two strangers who had saved her, she would likely have been another casualty of the mercenary Nemo's blade.

  Elsewhere, the Banahaw forest stirred with activity. A group of men in blue shirts moved through the dense grasses, their lamps casting flickering light against the trees. Dawn was only an hour away, and the faint glow of morning began to seep through the canopy as they pressed on.

  “HE'S HERE!” one of them shouted, drawing the others over. “Sir! Sir! Can you hear us?” they whispered urgently, tapping Nemo's blood-soaked face. One of them quickly checked for a pulse and exhaled in relief at the faint heartbeat beneath his fingers. Without hesitation, they hoisted Nemo onto a cart and began the frantic journey back to the Capital for treatment.

  At the hospital, the doctors moved with precision, their hands steady as they worked to stabilize the unconscious mercenary. Blood had dried in thick patches across his body, the deep gash on his side hastily sealed by charred flesh where Nemo had cauterized the wound himself. After what felt like hours, one of the doctors stepped out to address the woman waiting nearby. His voice was calm but firm. “He's out of critical condition,” he said. “It’s a good thing he managed to sear the wound shut… otherwise, he wouldn’t have made it. But his condition is fragile…” The turned to Nemo, “any strain and those stitches will rip right open.”

  With a small nod, the doctor left, the door clicking softly behind him. The room fell silent save for the faint hum of medical equipment. The woman approached Nemo’s bed, her eyes scanning his pale, face. His chest rose and fell weakly, a shadow of his usual strength. She brushed a hand against his arm, her touch hesitant, almost reverent. The faint smell of singed flesh still clung to him, a reminder of the brutal fight that nearly claimed his life. Her lips tightened, a mix of worry and anger flickering in her gaze.

  “You idiot, why do you always do this to yourself?” the woman murmured, her voice soft but strained. Her wavy hair framed a slender, triangular face, her round eyes shimmering with the threat of tears. “I’ve never seen you like this before...” she whispered, anger and worry trembling in her voice. “Who did this to you?”

  “Heh, hehehe...” A faint laugh broke through her tears. “Are those tears for me?” Nemo's weak voice dripped with sarcasm.

  “Damn it...” Nieves gasped, her face flushing a deep shade of red.

  “Hahaha, good to see you too, Nieves.” Nemo replied, smiling at her.

  Far from the sterile quiet of the hospital, the Banahaw forest buzzed with life under the fierce midday sun. The aroma of cooking food drifted through the air, mingling with the earthy scent of moss and trees. Slowly, Mayari stirred, blinking against the bright light streaming into the small tent. The rich, savory fragrance pulled her from sleep, grounding her in the present. Rising carefully, she glanced toward Alita and felt a wave of relief as she noticed the faint color returning to her companion’s cheeks, a stark contrast to her pale complexion the night before.

  “Don't worry, your little Maharlika will pull through.” Hiraya's casual voice cut through the quiet as she set a pot of sinigang down on the small, circular table in the tent. “Creatures like her don't usually die so easily.”

  Mayari's relief slipped into a faint frown as she caught Hiraya's words. “'creature like her'? Hold on... you know?”

  Hiraya grinned, clearly amused. “Oh, I saw the small gills on her side when I was changing her bandages. She’s a hybrid, isn’t she? Half-human, half-Magindara, right?” She ladled some broth and a tender piece of meat into a bowl and held it out toward Mayari, who took it cautiously. “It's been a long time since I last saw a hybrid like her,” Hiraya added, lighting a tobacco and taking a leisurely puff.

  As she raised the spoon to her mouth, Mayari hesitated, studying the bowl's contents. The sinigang broth was sour yet savory, and the meat practically melted as she tasted it, tender and rich. She found herself enjoying it but remained cautious. “You're right,” she said slowly, “Alita’s mom was a Magindara, and her dad was human. Their relationship was forbidden, so they fled to the lands together fifty-one years ago.”

  “Well, thanks to her Magindara blood, her wounds are healing fast.” Hiraya said.

  Mayari's eyes scanned the tent, noting its contents with interest. Books were scattered on a table, two backless stools stood in one corner, and there were two neatly folded wooden cots nearby. But something caught her attention.

  “Wait...” She looked back at Hiraya, who was still puffing on her tobacco. “Where's your student? Where did he go?”

  Hiraya's expression remained unreadable as she took another puff, her gaze steady. “Haven't you figured it out yet?” she murmured, locking eyes with Mayari in a challenging stare. “Where do you think I got the meat for the sinigang?”

  Mayari's eyes widened in horror. She dropped her spoon and shot up from her seat, hand covering her mouth, words stumbling out in disbelief.

  Just then, Hiraya burst into laughter, a full-bodied, unstoppable laugh that filled the tent. “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Look at your face! I wish you could see yourself!” She shoved a small mirror in Mayari's hand, her laughter still spilling out. “WAHAHAHAHA!” droplets of tears escaping Hiraya’s eyes.

  Realizing she'd been tricked, Mayari's cheeks flared with both irritation and embarrassment as she watched Hiraya wipe tears from her eyes, still chuckling. “What the... what's going on here?” she demanded, annoyance wrapping her voice.

  As her laughter finally subsided, Hiraya shook her head, still grinning widely. “Relax. You're not eating my idiotic student. I don't want you to get stomachache,” she teased, though there was a glint of sincerity in her eyes. “He's outside, looking for medicinal herbs for your friend.”

  Mayari huffed, half-relieved, half-irked. “But his injuries were worse than Alita's last night.”

  “Don't worry about him,” Hiraya replied with an amused smirk. “He's hard to kill. Like a cockroach, you can stomp on his head, and he'd still crawl away.”

  Mayari raised an eyebrow. “What's that supposed to mean? Is he... like Alita?”

  “Not even close…” Hiraya said with a mysterious grin, smoke curling around her words. “That man... he's a different kind of beast.”