Chapter 24 – Rion Rayong

In the middle chaos of the aswang and the other creatures fending off the frenzy attacks of this new breed of manananggal, time crawls to a halt as Juan dives into the mind of this evil. Juan cannot see anything but darkness. He feels heavy water pulling him from side to side as he hears cries of babes and swords clashing fill the void. Then a flash of images fills the empty void, sword lodge on a stone, giant lizards whose size grows beyond the tallest trees in Antrian, dragons that fly over the heavens above and a lot of images of fire and smoke fills the empty void.

Juan can feel the pull of these memories but he needs to concentrate and find the consciousness of Rayong and separate their connection from the anito. Juan believes that if he can split their bond, then the Bakunawa's control should also weaken the mananaggal power.

After what Juan felt like an eternity falling into a pool of darkness with memories he finally lands on a flat surface where the memories of Rayong fly about like flags waving with their memories of voices echoes in the eternal void.

Juan looks around and cannot find Rayong here. Juan summons his sword and etches a runic symbol on the platform an emergency exit if he needs a quick getaway. Juan knows this all too well: whenever he read minds of people, like when he tries to read the mind of Jasmine when they first meet, Juan always etches a runic symbol on the center of their mindscape so he won't get lost.

Juan then looks over the horizon and sees flags of memories. Tall waving structures taunt him to go inside. Thou he is a curious man, he will need to act quickly as can only spare so much magic. Juan sees a large cloud hovering over a flag where it shows a kid playing with three more by the meadows.

"Ah, there you are." He whispers as he deduces the cloud by the flag is the anito and the consciousness of Rayong is hiding over that memory. Juan runs toward the flag and leaps into it. It felt like he slams his body into a pool of water and came out on the other side on a picture picturesque meadow of yellow sunflowers and tall grass. There Juan cannot do anything but watch as he is reliving the memories of Rayong younger day.

"Hey Baldy!" a kid called Rayong. Rayong turns and he closed his fist ready to fight back but he sees five more kids backing up the bully. The bully keeps railing on him. Rayong knows he shouldn't fight as his parents taught him not to but his friends always remind him that there will be a time that no one can save him, he needs to learn to stand up.

"I knew that Baldy won't fight back! His courage is like his hair, dead!" The bully and his friends laugh but Rayong cannot take it anymore. Rayong charges forward and delivers and mean left hook, punching a tooth off the bully. The other kids then pilled on Rayong. He puts up a decent fight by dodging and weaving their attacks but 10 arms flying is not a fair fight against one.

He is backed in a tree, tired and out of breath. The bully stands up and spit off the blood from his cheek. "You done it, Baldy! Let's see if you can escape this time!" the bully was about to deliver their punch but then a girl delivered a dropkick onto the bully's chest. "HEADS UP!" Another voice yells from behind the tree. Two more kids appear and they pushed the other kids away from Rayong. One kid got with the brown autumn curly hair and the other one with the golden locks of blond.

The dark-haired girl pulled Rayong up and the other two kids returned to their side. "And this is how you welcome a new kid on our block? What a bunch of losers!" The girl said.

"Lancelot, let's take two kids at a time. Then let Morgana and the kid take the last two" The kid with the brown hair said.

"I can even take on three they look weaker than the new kid." Lancelot smirks. The bullies helped up their leader up. "Get them and make sure we let them know no commoners are allowed here!"

"What's your name, new kid?" Morgana asked him and he replied, "Rion, my name is Rion". He stands up and the four of them charge against the bullies.

"Huh? Did he just say his name is Rion? I thought it was Rayong?" Juan asks himself as he observed the four kids beat up the bullies. Despite being outnumbered, Lancelot and Arthur manage to hold the other kids while Morgana and Rion fight together. Bonding other this mess, Juan felt that Rion treasure this moment and he feels the connection he made with his friends. A bond was formed and these four became best friends.

Then Juan sees a glimmer of light within the memory. "AHA! There you are!" Juan reaches out for consciousness of Rion but red lighting snaps back at Juan; severing his connection from this memory. Juan is thrown off the flag and back to the platform where other flags of memories stand in the distance.

The Bakunawa is aware of Juan's presence and looks like either is willing to give up. The dark cloud from the flag with the meadow picture moves into another flag where the picture on it shows a sword on stone. Red lighting rains from the cloud and prevents Juan from getting near the flag.

Juan then leaps and transforms himself small as a frog and manages to dodge the incoming lighting. None of the lighting hits and he manages to get inside the flag. Juan hurries and tries to look for the consciousness of Rayong or Rion. Still confused about the name, Juan dives into the memory of this one.

There Juan sees himself as Rion again but this time he feels taller. He washes his face by the water basin and there Juan sees Rion is now a bit other but still a kid - a teenager. Rion hurries downstairs of their home and there his father and mother are excited to greet him.

Both are very proud that their son decided to become a doctor. His dad will be preparing him for new teachers so he will be ready when he takes the exam and be approved as a medical student in the capital. His mom asked what lead him to this decision and Rion hug both of his parents and replied to cure the incurable and to be a healer to the needy.

His father shed a tear. "I couldn't be happier to see his son decide to be a doctor!". His mom hugs his son tighter "I hope this isn't about finding a cure for my disease? I want you to be you and not because of my circumstance"

Rion smiled and replied that he is inspired by his father and wanted to become a doctor to save everyone, not only his mother. Then a knock on the door is heard; Rion opens the door to see Morgana, Lancelot, and Arthur.

"Rion! Let's go! The line already opens! Merlin has opened up the site again. Let's go to see who can pull the sword!" Morgana giggles as tries to restraint his excitement

Lancelot pulls Rion from his home and waves at Rion's parents "This year we will try to pull the sword. Maybe Rion can pull the sword and be our King!"

"Don't worry sir and madam! We will have him back by the end of the day! We promise!" Arthur apologizes for their rudeness but Rion's parents understand them and let them go. The four hurried across town and to the grass plain where the sword is lodged on a stone.

Over the distance, they see Knights of Camelot have made a perimeter of 2 acres around the sword. The Knights are tall towering guardsmen of brass with their armor reflecting the sun giving them an illusion as a bronze statue that protect the lone sword in the middle of their formation.

They are being led by the Magister Merlin as they welcome any citizen of Ruks-Bel for the yearly attempt to pull the sword from the stone. Camps from different races and rulers within Ruks-Bel gathered around the perimeter.

The kids arrived and are easily distracted by the different banners and flag that flies above them. Thou the flag of Camelot still wave with its insignia a sword pointing downwards to the ground. The kids fall in line that stretches like a snake across the field. Each person got 30 seconds to pull the sword and if they fail to pull it, they are requested to leave and let the next person take a shot from it.

Lancelot brags that he never tried to pull it before but he thinks he can pull it one go. Morgana assures the group that she will able to pull the sword, be the queen to Camelot and lead this nation to glory. Rion says that he ever got the sword; he wishes that it has the power to cure the incurable and rid the world of all that is to plague them. And Arthur just wished that it would give Ruks-Bel the change it needs to be one.

As the line gets moving and they got close to the sword they can hear the crowd roaring as they cheer on the people who try to pull the sword. Merlin, using his magic, made his voice loud as thunder and reminds the people legend of the sword.

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In a large imposing voice, slow yet caring like a father telling his babe a story he reminds the people of the legend of the sword:

"In ancient times, the world was ruled by lizard folks. They enslaved all the races and birthed to creatures of horror like lizards that can crush mountains with their feet and dragons. Then one day a sword fell from the sky and by chance a man named Uther Pendragon found it. The sword gave him unparalleled strength that outmatched any creature he faced. With his new power, he led a rebellion against the lizards. With that sword, he united Ruks-Bel, with his council of mages they freed the enslaved, and with his knights they push back the lizards. The war was won when they sealed the lizards away, underneath the earth. At the end of the war, Uther Pendragon founded the Kingdom of Camelot, the capital of this continent, and united Ruks-Bel.

Under his rule, Ruks-Bel arrived in its golden age and at the peak of this greatness a vision came to him in his dreams - the descendant of Pendragon will break the sword and will allow darkness to spread. The sky turns red as Camelot burns to cinders and Ruks-Bel will be swallowed by the seas. Uther took this vision seriously that he didn't sire any children fearing that one of his descendants will destroy us.

He made two plans to ensure that this will not come to pass: first, he asked the Knights of Camelot and Mages will work together to ensure Camelot stay safe and unite the land as much as possible. If ever evil does come, his mages and knights will be there to stop them.

Second, at the near end of his life, Uther impales the sword to this stone. At that moment, he gave up his crown and announces that anyone that can pull this sword will be the next crowned ruler of Camelot."

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Rion's eye flashes with excitement every time he hears this legend. His mind goes crazy as he cannot imagine the power that the sword can do and hopes if he got the sword, he can use its magic to heal his mom – a doctor for the people! Lancelot laughs and scoffs that if even he won't get the sword, he will ensure to be the best fighter with or without it. Morgana imagines herself as the queen that unites this war-torn continent. And Arthur hopes that the sword won't be pulled as he is always scared that the darkness that Uther Pendragon saw is long gone.

The day turned into a hot afternoon and finally, they are almost at the sword. One by one they see people of all kinds pulled their hardest, but like the other people since the last days of Uther, none have pulled it.

Finally, they arrived at the sword. Rion comes first. Heart pounding with fear and excitement, he walks slowly to the sword and placed his hand on the grip. He looked at the knight beside the sword and nods. The knight began to count. At this time, he felt he is the strongest man in the world and pulled the sword will all of his strength but to no avail. The knight finished counting and asked Lancelot to take the turn on pulling. Lancelot pulled too but nothing happened. He shrugs it off with his swagger but Rion knows that Lancelot's pride crumbled that day.

Morgana takes the stage and grips the sword steadily on her hand. Lancelot and Rion cheered her on. She nods at the knight and she pulls the sword with such pressure that Rion can even see her face turn red. Then a creaking sound was heard as the sword moved from her strength.

"Brother! Lancelot! Rion! The sword I made the sword move! I am chosen!" The crowd that was rowdy turned silent as they anticipate if this girl can finally do the impossible. Her friends and are the only ones who filled this place with their shouting for her success. Merlin seeing the event, hurried to the side of the sword to personally see what's happening.

"Did a minute already passed?" Merlin asked the knight but the soldier was astonished and replied that he lost count when the girl manages to move the sword a little bit. Merlin then allows her to pull more than 30 seconds as long as she can pull it. Determined more than ever, Morgana pulled.

A minute passed, more and more people on the line demand her to stop pulling as nothing is happening. Then even the crowd began to ask Merlin to stop and let the line continue. Morgana begged to let her pull as she manages to do so before. Her friends also asked Merlin to let her but he declined them as it's almost 10 minutes but nothing happened.

"Maybe it was a nudge. Nothing more, nothing less." Merlin said to her friends and then she turned to Morgana. "Child let it go. I am sure that was just a nudge. Nothing more, nothing less"

"No, I can do it! I made it moved and I can do it give me more time!" Morgana begged. Merlin shakes his head and asked her to move. Merlin grabs Morgana's shoulder to pull her from the sword but then a jolt of lighting zaps from Morgana's shoulder to Merlin shocking him in the process.

Morgana shouts not to touch her when she is close to victory. Merlin stunned seeing a young girl a prominent magic user and a potential queen agreed to give her one more minute. Morgana in desperation pulled.

Her hands turning red, her skin began to tear and her arms began to tire. Rion approached Morgana and he placed his hand on her arms. Lancelot and Arthur asked her to stop but she won't let up. Her glory, her fame, the right to rule is by her hand. By as Merlin finishes counting, he asked Morgana to move and let the next one pull the sword.

Morgana was about fall to the floor but was caught by Rion. Lancelot leads the way while Rion and Morgana followed behind. Arthur seeing his sister failed, decided not to pull the sword and just goes with his sister.

"Hold on, young man. You're next in line. You will leave the sword without trying? "Merlin asked and Arthur replied that since his sister isn't worth it, then he is not too. Merlin then rebutted that Arthur waited hours and hours to pull the sword and he will just give up when he is so close to it?

Arthur returns to the sword and said: "Thank you Merlin but just like my sister, I am sure that I would just nudge it at best." Arthur and put his hand on the grip, he looks at Merlin "You don't need to count, I will make a pull and that's it. See?"

The crowd fell silent once again. Merlin and the knights in awe. Rion with eyes wide. Morgana was shocked and Lancelot with glee breaks the silence and yelled the biggest yes he ever done. Arthur look at his hand was beheld on he just did, he manages to pull the sword.

Merlin shaking tries to keep his composure. He summons the strength to speak "Young man, the sword can you hear its name? Speak its name! The name of the sword is given to the Magister by Uther as proof that whoever pulled the sword is no mere coincidence and is chosen by the sword. Each Magister has passed the name from one generation to the other! Only then I can know that this is no mere fluke."

The crowd yells and asked what his name is as they are curious about the child who pulled the sword. Arthur paused. A strong gust of wind flowed to grassy plains. The hot summer air was blown away with a cooler breeze as it passes over them. He can hear the voice from the sword as close to his heart. He looked up Merlin "Excalibur. I am Arthur who pulled Excalibur from the stone."

Merlin's face turned into glee. He pulls Arthur's arm in the air and shouts "All Hail King Arthur Pendragon!"

The crowd responded in an astonishing roar of cheer and happiness. The day has arrived to unify Ruks-Bel is upon them. But at this point, Rion can see the face of Morgana is not happy. As she leans on him, he can feel her breathing. Her face turned sour and he can hear her muttering "Thief. That was my rightful claim."

A bright light then appears from Excalibur; the same light that Juan saw before. He tries to reach it but from the crack where the sword was lodged dark clouds emerge and push Juan back with a tremendous gust of wind. The gust was so strong that he was blown away from this memory and back to the same platform that he began with. The cloud disappears and is nowhere to be seen in the mindscape of Rayong. All the flags are waving across without any guard from the Bakunawa.

"So this is how you want to play huh?" Juan is getting angrier that Bakunawa's influence is disrupting him getting to Rayong's consciousness. Thou low on magic he is willing to use what he has to save the aswang and the other kidnapped victims out of the cave.

Juan multiplies himself and instructs them to leap across different flags in an attempt to find the consciousness of Rayong within. This way Bakunawa will be forced to reveal his location and if ever he will relocate to another memory, one of his illusions will be there to anticipate and hopefully get the consciousness within.

Thru his illusions, Juan sees the memories of Rayong like a flood of information rushing. He sees that Rion trained to be a doctor and several years later after Arthur claimed the throne of Camelot. Kingdoms across the Ruks-Bel will not bend their knee to a kid and contests his rule. Arthur to solve it peacefully and negotiate but a lot of kings and queens turn their back on him challenges Camelot.

War is at hand and the different monarchs now all wanted the same thing, Excalibur. They believed that defeating Arthur in battle or in a war will prove their strength and doing so the right to rule Ruks-Bel. The sword that was a symbol of unity now is now the cause of war between different kingdoms.

Lancelot trained and became the best knight of Camelot. His glory is high as his pride, but he remained a good friend to them. In response to the growing attack on Camelot, Arthur and Lancelot founded the Knights of the Round Table, a brotherhood among the best Knights in the continent to rise against the kingdoms that disrupt the peace. He became their leader amid battle. But when a battle is unable to be won, Arthur will always be there. Wielding Excalibur and turning the tide in their favor.

Despite the army that Lancelot commands and the power that Arthur has, they refuse to destroy any kingdom that challenges them and instead prompts them to surrender or be annexed.

Morgana became a student of the arts of magic under the tutelage of Merlin. Morgana wishes to be somewhat of a ruler of Camelot but if she cannot become its ruler, she will thru magic and maybe someday replace Merlin as the new Magister. She became resentful of Arthur after his ascension.

She still claims that she nudges the sword to lose and Arthur just manages to pull it at his turn, robbing the glory she deserved. Arthur and Morgana don't see eye to eye often but when they do they always ending up arguing. Despite their issues, Morgana stayed true to her brother and works with them in uniting the kingdoms under Camelot.

Rion became a student of medicine. He aspires to become a doctor to prevent his mother's ever-growing sickness. Most of the time he sees Lancelot and his men after or during their battle. After years of experience, he manages to become a great doctor but none of his skills manage to cure his mother and as the years go on her sickness gets worse. Rion looked for the cure in all places, for shamanistic herb mixtures, magic from Morgana's tome and even Excalibur does not elevate the pain. Rion's guilt started to weigh on his feeling and mostly doubt if he can ever save his mother. "What kind of doctor am I if I can't save the person I love" he utters this sometimes whenever his attempt to cure his mother fails.

Juan felt a stinging sensation. He knows how Rayong feels; the hopelessness to see their loved one slowly being torn apart but something that they cannot control. Juan's sadness and experience over the loss of his family links with Rayong's.

"Rayong, I feel you but we walked different paths. What lead you to cross borders from Ruks-Bel to Antrian? How a doctor did became this creature of the dark." Juan ponders if he would end up like him if not for the Chronicler's Ritual of Power.

Juan envisions war. The flag of Camelot is overhead as he sees Arthur and his legion knight charged into battle as they defend their land. Blood and bodies fill the street and Rion is always there to pull the injured from death's grasp. One war was so great that it shook the earth and awaken a dragon sleeping on the mountain the divides Antrian and Ruks-Bel. Morgana and her leagues of mages swoop into action to defeat the dragon. As the years pass on the people Ruks-Bel is still divided if they are to honor the old prophecy of the sword. Bandits and warlords took advantage of this turmoil. The depraved became more desperate and turned to the darker arts of magic and created their factions. The cycle of war, hopelessness and

Suddenly one of Juan's illusions was shot by electricity before it disappears. It was watching the memories of Morgana and Rion together at the place where Arthur pulled the sword.

"Gotcha!" Juan runs towards the flag where his illusion was shot. Juan approaches the flag of memories and there a cloud of red lighting surrounds it. Juan mocks the cloud and yells that it cannot keep Rayong consciousness away from him.

"Illusion, mind reading, and combat skills. What are you? You don't look like any mage or warrior that we faced before." Bakunawa's voice echoed.

Juan enters a stance as he readies to battle the cloud. "Well, does the Chronicler ring any bell?"

"Ah, the pesky kid. Yes, I heard rumors that she is back but what does it matter?" The cloud asks as it slows its pace swirling. Juan then signals one of the illusions to leap into the flag as he engages Bakunawa and attempts to distract him long enough to let his illusion seek out the consciousness of Rayong in this memory. As the illusion enters, Juan works with his wits and charm.

There Juan's illusion sees the memory thru Rion's eyes once more. Under the night, Rion sees Morgana by the stone where Arthur pulled the sword. Morgana pulled Rion closer to the stone and asked Rion to place his hand over it and asked him what he feels.

Rion felt a tingling sensation over the rock. Curious, Rion looks over the crack on the stone and there he saw a white thick smooth surface. "This is where you felt the strange magic source when you were scrying?"

"Thou hazy I saw a round table with seven figures sitting around it. Then a flash of light and the mountain that divided Ruks-Bel and Antrian emerged. The mountain has cracks on it, thru it dragons and other monstrosities came out. I turn around and saw Camelot in ruins. Then a man taps my shoulders and he led me to this place. He points to this very rock and said that the sword is the only tip of the power to save Camelot and the true power lies beneath the stone." Morgana replies.

"Can we open this? There something wedge inside this. It's something white? Like a skull?" Rion exclaimed. Morgana cast a bolt of magic and the stone cracks open. There Rion and Morgana see a white cylinder with a dragon design where it encompasses the cylinder. The dragon got wings and has porcelain smoothness to it.

The both of them inspect the item and nothing to be out of the ordinary until when both of them touch the item. They cannot put it into words but they understood the object implored them that the doom of Camelot is upon them and it can only save them.

"What are you?" Morgana asked. She raises her arm with magic prepared to destroy the object if it poses any threat. The object then absorbs the magic from Morgana's hand and the dragon on the object's eyes glow. Both Rion and Morgana heard whispers around them and it says "More we need more and I will provide you power more than you can imagine."

"Prove to us now that you are a use for us." Morgana demands that object. The dragon glows and red lighting shots out and hits Rion's hand. The wound and scars that Rion have after many operations have disappeared in an instant.

"I can provide power to the powerless but I need magic. . ." the voice fades and Rion and Morgana are stunned to see this.

"This place that changed my life for the worse will change it again for the better." Her voice turned bitter. Her face is full of resentment and anger. She holds on to the object and hugs it. "Rion, you know what this means right?"

Rion was stunned by the sight he witnessed. The item healed his hands. He shakes and he thinks to himself that this can potentially heal his mother. "Morgana, this thing can heal my mom. It can cure her!" he hugs Morgana and the idol. He cries with joy as finally can have a way can cure his mother. Morgana's expression changes and agreed to test it out.

Rion and Morgana ride out to Rion's estate where his mother is resting. When they arrived, Rion's mom was sound asleep in her room. Morgana pulls out the idol and feeds it some of her magic and once it got its fill of this magic, the idol gave a red flash of light and hit Rion's mother. Rion holds his mom and hears her breathing improving. Her frail and frizzled hair of white was revitalized with a silky glow.

Her cold skin breathes life with warmth. Rion began to cry as he sees his mother's condition began to improve. At this moment, Morgana smiled and thought of the possibilities that the idol can give her: power, respect, and maybe just maybe give Camelot the peace they need and unite this continent under one banner. He turns turned the idol and asked what it is. The idol whispers in their ears with a whisper "I am Bakunawa."

Flash! The light shines across the room. Juan leaps and catches the light. "FINALLY!" He shouts and the memory fades into nothing and just a white emptiness fills the area.

There Rion sits on his chair, humming to himself while reading a book. Juan coughs to make his presence know. Rion puts the book down on his lap and smiles at Juan.

Juan cautiously approaches Rion. "Excuse me, Rion?" he asks as he cannot believe this clean-looking man is the same man he is fighting outside.

"Ah, yes. I am Rion or Rayong when the locals of Antrian called me. And you are?" Rion calm asks. He snaps his fingers and a chair materializes beneath Juan. Rion invites Juan to take a sit and have some chat with him. Juan accepts his offer and sits "My name is Juan, guardian of the Chronicler."

Rion's calm expression changed. He is surprised to hear a guardian is here in his consciousness. "I am honored! But I do need to ask, what seems to be the issue? I thought I was doing well: curing the sick as I made my pilgrim across Camelot and towards the mountains that divide our continent and now into Antrian."

"Curing the sick? Rion your kidnapping and killing innocent people!"

"I do not do such a thing! I assure you that my associate, Bakunawa, has given me the power to heal. I healed my mom, my citizen and I just want to spread his word and share his blessing."

"Rion, what I see out there is death! I am come here to stop you and your legions but after what I saw from your memories, I think there is another hand at play. Can we resolve this more peacefully?"

"Preposterous! Death? I am saving people from death!" Rion raises his hand to the empty sky. Then the sky shows his memories of healing people and saving them from death. The idol gave him extraordinary magic that allows him to such feats. He and Morgana changed Camelot and together with Arthur and Lancelot they finally united the warring kingdoms and bring peace to their continent.

"Juan, these are my memories." Rion waves his hand a shows memory of him flying above the mountain region and landing on Antrian as he gained swan-like wings to fly. "These memories are no illusion as they are me."

"I know, Rion. I have seen your childhood. From the moment you met your friends and the moment you save your moment your mother from her sickness"

"Then you should know I am not lying!" He waves his hands again and the vision above shows Rion assimilating himself after curing villagers of their sickness. The villagers asked his name but they can't pronounce the last few letters of his name. Instead, they called him Rayong as it is easier to roll off the tongue. In time, the villagers became his new followers and soon he transfers his power Bakunawa to them. One by one they traveled across different villagers and spread the word of Bakunawa and hoping that his mission of healing will unite them too.

"I only wish that Antrian will also prosper and with the power of Bakunawa I can achieve that. Maybe someday that mountain that divides our lands will be nothing but an obstacle and Bakunawa will be the bridge that unites us."

Juan raises his hand and showed his palm to Rion with long fresh cuts on it. "Rion, since I am just an invader and you graciously let me into your mind, can I at least show you my memories too?"

"Yes, you may. Please cast them above."

Juan cast magic of green hue. The green vapor surrounds the empty white sky and then his memories soon come to life. Rion sees a lone man standing in the cold mountain. A powerful snowstorm surrounds the man as thunder crackles above the dark sky. As the lighting hits the ground, the light flashes to reveal a large balete tree as large as a mountain in the middle of the land. Second lighting strikes the ground and its flash reveals an army of frost giants marching towards the man. The lone man stands vigilantly. He beats his chest and recites his prayers. He lifts his spear and hurls to the giants. The spear impales multiple giants and destroys the formation. The man yells a deafening war cry and charges against the incoming army.

"That's you Juan? Wow . . . frost giants. Wait! You're from the south? My father's books tell a land where there a continent down there whose inhabitants have frost giants!" Rion eyes amaze as he sees Juan's life is full of adventure. The memory of Juan moves from war from the frost giants to elves, to dwarves, to fire demons. Then the memories skip and show Juan settling down with his wife and three children. But the vision turns dark and all Rion can hear are the screams of Juan's children begging for them to save him and the lamentation of his wife beside him. Rion keeps quiet but he can see a tear on Juan's cheek. Then a voice can be heard; one speaks softly and one speaks in a gurgling voice. A vision of Juan's hand and a quill signs a contract but before the vision plays out Juan skips it.

The next vision shows Juan traveling the world from one continent to another. Rion seems excited to see and all these new things that he wishes to see for him. Juan shows beautiful vistas and scenery and he attempts to forge a bond with Rion thru his pain and want to protect this world.

"You see that Rion?" Juan asked. "This is our world; the world that me and the guardians sworn to protect with our lives." Then the vision changes and back to the time when the Chronicler and the guardians are eating their dinner with Tsunade before their battle with Orochimaru. "These are my friends, Rion." The vision changes and Juan shows the battle that took place. The yokai and the giant snake they battled. "And we battled like no tomorrow."

Rion is inspired by the things he sees but he asked: "And what does have to with me?"

The vision changes and show a statue of the anito where a serpent-like creature is decorated with it, being used for a sacrificial ritual where blood is being poured over it then Juan changes the vision of his memory where the aswang and he are fighting the group of manananggal outside. Then he switches his vision to the manananggal's leader – Rayong.

Juan explains that he and the other guardians are scouring Antrian, looking for the traces that kidnap people. Juan was the first to discover that a group of manananggal was to blame and the victims are being sacrificed to an anito with the same idol that he and Morgana used.

Rion is shocked. He remains motionless and speechless for a while on his chair. His hands curl up and yell that this is wrong. Rion accused Juan of the illusion to trick him. "NO! This impossible! I am in control of my body and there is no one using me. I came here on my own and healed the sick." Rion stands up and he angrily accused Juan of lies.

"Then show me, Rion, what are the last things you saw in the last few minutes what were you doing." Juan stops casting his memory and Rion promptly showed his. The vision he shows Rion with the villagers eating in a cave with their food fruits and bread. Then they offered thanks to Bakunawa by prayer. And after eating their meal, they heard a noise by the cave entrance and saw a group of boar break thru the entrance and started rummaging their food supply. In the last vision, he has shown that he was being pinned by a board and two of the villagers were on their way to help him.

Juan shows his version side by side to show Rion that isn't the case. He showed everything that happened within that cave. He showed his palm to Rion and even let him touch the wound. "This is true Rion. I am not lying and if anything, Bakunawa took over your body and twisted you in some creature of the night. You are not aware of it because he is in you." Juan put his hand over Rion's shoulder "Let me help you Rion and I will make sure that Bakunawa is . . ."

Before Juan can finish his words he was blasted away by large magic from Rion. Light as intense as a burning fire and bright as the sun. Rion radiates with so much magic that it caught the attention of the Bakunawa.

"Juan!" The Bakunawa realizes that Juan somehow founds the consciousness of Rion, attempts to fly back to the memory but a group of Juans attacked him. Lighting rains but the Juans dodges and flips with dexterity and are forming a shield to prevent the Bakunawa to enter.

"I will hear no such lies Juan! Do you see this power? Do you see any blemish of darkness within this? Does this radiant power came from the suffering of others?!" Rion raises his hand and a ball of pure magic forms. He hurls it at Juan and it manages to hit him square in the chest.

"Rion! Stop! You are being used!" Juan pleads. Juan feels that this short adventure in Rion's memory, he gets to know this person. He knows that this doctor just wants to do good but he needs to get to him without killing him or at least severing his consciences from this body for a time and destroy the anito.

Rion hurls another ball of magic but this time Juan slices it with his sword. "Rion! Please listen. The Bakunawa is controlling you! Let me help you see the truth!" but Rion won't listen and prepares another ball of magic. Juan dashes forward and dodges the barrage of attacks from Rion. As he gets closer to Rion, he leaps into the air and tries to grab him but he simply teleports away and blasts Juan with magic.

Juan rolls to the ground groaning in pain. Rion flies over him and points his hands while charging his magic. "Juan, to believe I almost bought your story. Now tell me what are you? Aswang? That makes sense as these boars suddenly attack us. Or maybe a Kuwig? I heard stories of shape-shifting men that can turn to boar but having psychic power is a new thing.

Juan lies on the ground exhausted from all the magic he used. One more blast from Rion and it will eject his mind back to his body. He knows that he doesn't have enough magic to return to Rion's mind a second time. The room brightens intensifies and Rion's monologues his speech about how Bakunawa gave him a new purpose. He became a better doctor than he was before and maybe the best doctor that this world has ever seen.

The room became too bright that Juan cannot even open his eyes. The intense heat that the magic ball Rion conjures makes him shiver; and at that moment, Juan realizes he reaches his limit. Juan laments his inevitable defeat.

"Damn it. Thor was right, being passionate is my downfall and now this cost you this mission. . . " Juan grips his sword back at the inn, his sweat drips like crazy and his breathing becomes heavier to a point that he is catching his breath. He tries to open his eyes but can only see the shadow of Rion flying with the ball of magic above him. He also feels his illusions just outside this memory are being decimated by Bakunawa.

Juan still believes that Bakunawa somehow corrupts Rion into this being. Maybe when he and Morgana unearthed the idol from the ground? Is there anything that he can do to redeem Rion from this madness? And just like Rion, Bakunawa monologues and mocks the illusion of Juan.

"Your charm might buy you time Juan but I assure you that your petty words and magic help you. I got a hold of Rion's body and mind. Twisting him to a perfect servant of mine was easy for a guy like him."

One of the illusions stands up and speaks for Juan "You prey on a man who is lost and vulnerable? I fought your kind before and we manage to beat your sorry ass back to – "a bolt of lightning hits the illusion and disappears. Then other continues were the one left off "– to whatever hole you came from."

The storm crackles with Bakunawa's laughter "And you are to stop me? A low-life guardian from the Chronicler? Know this Juan; the world is my playground. As long as there, weak men, I will be there to be my playthings. For every peaceful life, I will be there drinking their blood to the last drop. And where there is shadow, I will be there to make them do my will!"

All of the illusion stops and looks at each other. They all looked confused.

"What? Too dumb to understand what I said?" Bakunawa continues to mock Juan. But this isn't the case, the illusion started to laugh and point at their fingers of Bakunawa's stupidity.

"You fool!" All of the illusion yells and laughs in unison. Juan back at Rion smiles and finally, found it. Juan summons the last of his strength – the time to strike is now! He opens his eyes and aimed for Rion's shadow. He throws his sword at it and it stabs the shadow.

In an instant, Bakunawa from outside the memory and Rion both screamed in pain. Rion falls to the ground as Bakunawa from outside slowly dissipates into a mist. The shadow beneath Rion squirms and tries to run but the sword of Juan pins it to the ground.

Juan walks toward Rion to assist him. He reaches for Rion but there was no response from him but his cries. Rion turns to Juan with tears in his eyes. "Juan? I am sorry. I am sorry!" he cries in his arms. "HE MADE ME DO IT!" Rion cries and begs forgiveness from the crimes he committed.

Juan knelt and pans over the shadow. Juan deduced that the shadow clouded Rion's mind. Bakunawa was influencing his action, taking control of his body and turning him into his perfect puppet. Rion cries and explains that when Juan stabbed his shadow, all the vision that he showed to Juan turned into to gruesome scene of gore and guts. He stopped sobbing and holds out his hand.

"Juan, you saw my memories but I believe you haven't seen what I just saw, the things that went thru as he controlled." Then a glowing ball of light appears above his palm. "Take this – my memories of atrocities." Juan slaps Rion's hands away.

"And for what? So I can feel justified to kill you? Rion, this is your life. Your body! Fight for it!"

"But I am weak! Can't you see that he easily controls me?!"

Juan stops and utters a familiar word that Rion identifies with immediately "Doctor. That's why your father was proud of you. Your mother loved you more than anything in this world. You saved countless lives during the war. You made sons and fathers be with their family and help them escaped death countless times. The world is cruel and will never be fair. All men have good intension but even the best of us can turn into our something worse."

Rion is in tears. He tries to grasp what is left of his sanity and willpower. "Tell me what can I do to redeem myself?! I cannot go on like this!" Rion started to panic and realized that if he ever came to, he will be in a body of a vampire-like creature and it's lower half missing.

"Fight back. Fight back against the world that did you wrong. Fight back against the monster that made you do it. Fight back till the demon at your mind is at your mercy." Juan clasps his hand with Rion and he points out his sword.

"Bakunawa. He is stronger than me." Rion's voice trembles in fear. Still unsure of himself but Juan keeps pushing him on.

"But we are stronger Rion." Juan's reassuring conviction waved Rion's heart. The white room they are in began to paint itself the earth. Then a sun above them appears with a blue sky.

"Atta boy! The painter is back! Show this bastard who's the boss." Juan keeps cheering on Rion. A world comes to life; the trees springing back to life, a huge grassy plain emerges around them. Then a crowd comes cheering on. The earth shakes, a large slab of stone entomb the shadow and leaving Juan's sword on top of it. Birds can be heard flying above and then a wizard appears before them.

"Come child! Pull the sword." Magister Merlin opens his arms as he asks Rion to step forward.

Juan can see Rion is back as a child and behind him his friends, Arthur, Morgana, and Lancelot.

"Go be a doctor Rion and save this world!" Juan cheered on. Rion takes the steps toward the sword.

Finally, Rion comes with his heart pounding with fear and excitement, he walks slowly to Juan's sword and placed his hand on the grip. He looked at Juan beside his sword and nods. Juan didn't count but instead nods and smiled at him. At this time, Rion felt he is the strongest man in the world and pulled the sword will all of his strength.

Juan realized that the consciousness of Rion is now dreaming. He is glad that his inspiration manages to push Rion but he is worried that once he pulls the sword, Bakunawa will be back to get Rion back and he won't enough magic to support Rion. He just wishes that his will is enough to drive Bakunawa back.

In one motion Rion pulled Juan's sword and the crowd goes wild! His friends, Juan and Merlin all cheered for him! Then dark cloud emerges from the stone slab and swirls with fierce winds.

"JUAN! YOU WILL NOT TAKE HIM AWAY!" Bakunawa summons red lighting and prepares to strike.

"You! How dare you make a mockery out of me! You will never take me back!" Rion bravely stands with Juan's sword in his hand.

Bakunawa laughs. "You and what army? After all these years, you are just a kid still looking for a cure for a sickness that will never be cured."

Juan tries to back Rion up by conjuring swords for everyone in this dream to fight with Rion but as he stretches his hand, not a spark of magic comes out.

Rion didn't flinch. He holds the sword, Rion wields the sword with all his conviction and belief; stands his ground and replies "No, I am a doctor and until my dying breath I will cure this world of you!"

The storm crackles and lighting hits the trees. Merlin conjures a shield for them and manages to deflects the light. The crowd started to rally with their knights.

As the chaos continues to happen, Juan sees inside the storm is the idol, the very same that Rion and Morgana unearthed. Juan yells this info to Rion and says that it must be the idol itself that influences Rion. "We need to destroy the idol to cut him off from you!"

The knights charge into the fray, the mages counterattacks with their magic and Juan carried Rion on his back. "Don't let up Rion! We can do this. You're the master of your mind and body. Take him down!"

Juan leaps from side to side as he evades the bolt from Bakunawa. Rion on his back uses the sword to deflect the lighting. The forces started to overwhelm Bakunawa; he cannot keep up with the amount of willpower that Rion is giving. But this pushed Bakunawa to his limit. The storm raged and conjured a large whirlwind and showed the difference of power that he wields.

"ENOUGH!" Bakunawa yells as the storm tore the knight's formation. The mage, despite their magic, cannot keep up with the power of a Dogon. And when the field is cleared, all that remained was Rion and Juan standing as everyone is down and knockout.

"You will return to me Rion and you Juan, once I push you out of our minds, we will bathe in your blood!" The storm rumbles and hurls lighting to end them. Rion leaps in between Juan and lighting and holds the sword. He stands his ground as the lighting continues to surge.

"NO! I will be not your slave!" Rion holds the lighting and Juan is behind him, pushing him to the best of his abilities.

"Please! Do not give up!" Juan's betting it all on Rion to save himself from Bakunawa's influence.

Suddenly, purple and gold glitter mist surrounds Juan and Rion. A woman in robes appears beside them. She opens her pouch and sand began to pour out of it in large volume. "What a nightmare! But do not worry. I am here!" the woman declared as the sand she let out formed to a large wave of a sandstorm and began to surround Bakunawa's storm.

"Huh? Shamir?! How did you get here?!"

Shamir unveils her robes and reveals herself. "I am the guardian of dreams! I was in the other room and then I sense a terrible nightmare in your head. I came over to see what's up!"

Juan realized how much Shamir can help him in stealth missions, from her power to control and influence the mind and entering people in their dream. "Shesh, I am that dumb. Next time I will take you with me on my next stealth mission. For now, can you tear that storm open?"

"What is this, another guardian?!" Bakunawa exclaimed as he tries to blast the sand with lighting and wind but it seems but to be working.

"Having nightmares? Not on my watch. Let me show you my power, nightmare, and feel the same fear you cause my people!" She flicks her hand and the sand that infinitely escapes from her pouch blocks the lightings from the storm. She held her arms with an open palm and made a tearing motion. The sand morphs into hands and it manages to hold the storm open exposing the idol from within.

Juan carries Rion on his back and runs toward the idol. Shamir formed a sand platform as they jump in the air. Juan throws Rion in the air and towards the idol and there Rion stabs the idol.

The idol breaks and crumbles in an instant with the voice telling them "Rion, you will die up there! Do not do this!"

"Then I will die as Rion and not your puppet!" Rion replies as the voice of Bakunawa fades away.

Juan and Rion fall but was capture by Shamir's sand. "Care to explain this stuff, Juan?" Shamir asked.

"I will once I wake up back at the Inn Shamir. Thanks for the help" He smiles.

Rion stands up and soon the grassy plains start to fade and the blue skies revert to white.

"Huh? Wait your waking up? Is this your dream Juan?" Shamir asked as she is confused as she started to crumble to sand.

"Not mine. I am connected to this brave fellow." Juan points to Rion.

Shamir smiles and hopes that he will have some good dreams after this. "You should rest easy. You might not remember me when you wake up but I am sure that you won't see that nightmare anymore." Shamir fades away as she gave Rion her sweetest smile.

Rion looks at Juan and hugged him. "Maybe I am still a child after all these years as an adult. Deep inside I wanted the sword on my own to cure my mom but I am glad that I found a better one." Rion holds up the sword and returns it to Juan.

Juan accepts it back and sees the world returned to a clear state of white. Rion holds out his hand then shows Juan another vision. The vision starts right after Morgana and Rion ask the idol its name and reveals itself as Bakunawa. Rion and Morgana are still unaware at that time but the idol was influencing their lives for the worst and slowly corrupt them into a twisted version of themselves. Morgana became a power hunger mage and Rion became a doctor who found that blood fuels the idol more than magic. Whenever there is a patient that needs healing, Rion will purposely find ways to give the wrong medication or kill them outright. Their blood is sacrificed to the idol and soon their influence grew.

Morgana and Rion soon turn the idol into a cult and soon enough they made followers and tried to unite Camelot in their ways. Bandits and other crazy zealots banned together under their cause. One day their people grew in size and Morgana declared herself the leader of the Camelot and the Queen of Ruks-Bel. This anger Arthur and wage war on his sister.

Bakunawa then instructed his followers to smash the idol into 7 pieces and imbedded them into 7 different statues or idols that will identify or blend with each continent. Once constructed they are to be given to each member and will blend in each continent as getting blood as much as possible to fuel Bakunawa. Morgana was assigned to stay at Ruks-Bel as her power as a mage can compete with the armies of Arthur, the other 5 went into the other continent and at Rion was instructed to take his to Antrian.

Rion was given wings to fly like a dragon and fly above the mountain that divides Ruks-bel and Antrian. As he travels to the east and settled down in a village disguise himself as a healer. He did heal the villagers and soon find himself new followers but soon they are assaulted by manananggal. Rion was taken as a live cattle for the manananggal and the villagers too. In times of need, Bakunawa changed the idol into an anito so it can blend in with the theme of Antrian and turned Rion into a manananggal.

He escaped from their prison and declares that he is a manananggal from a long-forgotten tribe. Once manananggal is convinced with his made-up story, he demands that they follow the ancient anito he has and he will lead them to glory. The manananggal was swayed with his leadership skills and healing prowess, he was asked what was his named and he said Rion but the manananggal are having difficulty pronouncing his foreign name and instead named him Rayong.

Once the vision ended, Rion apologized to Juan and thanked him one last time. "Thank you and maybe this time, I will have an eternal dream."

Juan doesn't know how to respond; he experienced his memories as if he was him and he sees himself in Rion. It was he felt that he has known him for a long time and was saying goodbye to a friend.

"Rion, I promise to avenge you. I will make Bakunawa pay and will try to redeem Morgana and your friends." Juan smiles and waves, Rion waves back and nods. "Give them my regards Juan."

As he says those words Rion fades. The emptiness begins to crack and fall like ice crashing into nothingness. With no time to rest Juan teleports back to the center of Rion's memories. As he teleports back he sees the flags slowly disappear and the world around him began to fade into darkness.

Juan looks up and sees the hole here he originally fall into. He then disengaged from this realm and comes back to his frog's body. He slowly reinstates himself and back he relaxes his mind and opens his eyes. Time slowly comes back and it seems only a few seconds have passed.

The manananggal's power instantly fades and they revert to their normal selves. The dead body of Rayong lies there on the ground, still holding the anito. Then in a moment the anito shakes violently and divides itself into three skulls then revert again to the idol. It repeatedly reverts into these different things and then it stops. A deafening screaming escapes from the anito before crumbles into dust. Juan sees a piece of the idol from within. He stabs it with his sword to ensure that Bakunawa will never influence Antrian again. Red lighting crackles as the piece of the idol was also destroyed. Juan picks it up and feels no trace of magic or influence. "Glad that's over," he says to himself.

The aswang yells in victory and the manananggal escapes when they see their leader dies. The big aswang ran and grab Juan. "You did it! You are indeed the secret apprentice of Inang!" The big aswang hugs Juan.

"Okay okay! Enough hugging and more escaping please." Then another screech is heard from the sky. As they all gather outside, they see the manananggals that tried to escape are now under assault from a large batch of aswang. It was a sight to behold; huge dark wings fly in frenzy like bats fighting each other.

Among them Juan can see his aswang squadmates: Tago holds a manananggal on his arms and then Kisig flies across and slices the manananggal's neck. Labo encircles his squad and protects them from incoming manananggal.

From the ground, they can see they won. The aswang can be gentle but they are still brutish and unforgiving creates. Once the battle is over the aswang screams and beats their chest in celebration of their victory.

The aswang picks up the kidnapped victims back to their village. Other creatures like the tikbalang and duwende are shaken up by this but the big aswang assures them no harm will come to them "Our common experience with manananggal makes us the victim of this scenario. Let us show you what the aswang can be if given the chance" the big aswang says as it looks at Juan as it remembers his words back at the cave.

They returned to the camp and were greeted by the village as they celebrate the return of their lost one. One by one as they land they are greeted by a huge roar from the crowd. It was a sight to behold as this is the first time Juan sees unity between different species and the aswang kindness towards those in need. Juan was placed in the middle of the crowd and later Kisig, Labo, and Tago land near him. The three embraced their comrade and praised him for his courageous effort but Tago reminds Juan that he should never leave them, they will always travel in the team no matter what. Juan apologizes for a bit but then he reminds the group how he saved them from the manananggal.

As all of them are gathered at the center of the town, Tatang is there to greet them and the first thing he saw was the huge aswang. He smiled and immediately looked for Juan. He reached for Juan and placed his arm on his shoulder "Thank you, Juan! I believe I speak on behalf of the aswang; that you and your squad manage not only to restore your honor but made us see our loved ones"

Juan nods in silence. He looked around and sees all of the aswang is looking at him with smiles on their faces.

"He might be a skinny aswang but he fought fearlessly with his head. This guy saved his squad!" Tago raises his arms and yells for Juan's achievements.

"He speaks for us when we are ashamed of our mistake earlier with Leshin. We might not know him well but we cannot deny how his action led us redeeming our honor tonight. This is for you Juan of the Blackfoot Clan" one of the aswang cheered on and the crowd goes with him.

"He led us out of that caved. He was the one the unchained us and eventually fight off the leader of the manananggal. Juan, your bravery is true to be desired and what you did for us is immeasurable. I thank you, Juan." The big aswang also gave its thanks.

Juan felt overwhelmed by praises and tries to act modestly but then he remembers that he didn't see Inang nor the other aswang confirmed her escape. He took a deep breath and looked at the people. "Thank you everybody but I don't deserve these praises, plus I didn't see Inang back at the cave. I wish I could be much help but I do pray that we can find peace knowing that we saved others from the manananggal's clutches."

The crowd goes silent. All of them stared back at Juan with confusion in their eye.

"Crap should have just keep nodding this time." He thinks to himself as he tries to figure out the next lines to break the heavy atmosphere.

"What did you just say?" Tatang approaches him as his grip tightens on Juan's shoulder.

"Are you kidding or what?" One of the aswang yells from the crowd.

"Is he still under a spell from the manananggal?" Kisig asked Juan as she tries to smell any potion or magic on him.

The big aswang moves in front of Tatang and Juan and divides the two. "Tatang please move aside."

"Are you kidding me? This guy must be lying or crazy?!" Tatang's word rung with fury but the huge aswang held up their huge palm and demand Tatang to stop.

"Huh Tatang stopped? Is this big aswang some kind of their champion?" Juan is still confused as he looks over the big aswang.

Then the big aswang slowly reverts to her human form. The big hands formed into a fragile one. The black steel-like skin turned to brown and wrinkled skin. And the formidable face of this aswang reverts to a kindly-looking old lady. She smiles back at Juan and spoke soft "Because I am Inang"

"I am so dead." Juan's frog and shiver in fear as they both realized his mistake. "I am so sorry my friend."

"I am sorry Juan for a played with you back at the cave." Inang smiles at him without breaking eye contact as she circles around him. "You are not my apprentice for I never had any apprentice nor any Blackfoot clan is here. They are living far away on the other end of Antrian."

Juan felt the cold feeling on his spine. He worries that though his mind can escape back to his body, his frog won't. His skin starts to turn white and his skin ice cold to touch.

"But, that still didn't deny that you saved us and even united us for a single cause." Inang then Juan's blade and unsheathes it. "You have this blade but you never used it against us. Clearly, you are a friend." She puts back the blade on Juan and stands beside Tatang.

"Please Juan, can you be honest for once. Remove whatever magic you're using and your fake name. Tell us who our savior is so we can sing your name in our tales"

The crowd's heavy atmosphere is gone. Inang is like a mother to the aswang. With her words and her soft voice, she manages to calm the crowd and even made Tatang lose his temper.

Juan's frog suggests dropping the act, plus his magic is almost up. "Fine, but I am just worried for you man." Juan breathes a heavy sigh and looks at the crowd. His magic dissipates his aswang disguise and reveals his human form.

"My name is Juan. A guardian of the Chronicler." Juan declares at himself and the crowd didn't say anything as they are shocked that all this time, there was another guardian among them.

"Juan, I believe our debt for Leshin is life is paid," Tatang says as he smiles holding Inang's hand. He adds "A life for one's life is paid after you saved Inang from the aswang"

"And so Juan, that is my life but what about the life of the others you lead to safety?" Inang asked the other aswang with her at the cave.

"I never thought to be saved by a Chronicler, my life is in your debt Juan!" one says and the other follows.

Tatang looks at the gate where the tribe recently just a guardian whose also an aswang. "But we never did listen to reason before." He looks back at Juan and says "We are in your debt Juan. A soul needs to be repaid, tell us what is your need and we will do it. Just name it."

The crowd seems to agree with Tatang's statement.

"Then with them." Juan points out to the other rescued from different races. "Reconnect and reestablish with the other races. I see what your race can do and you are not the evil race you guys are branded to be." The other races nod and exclaimed their support; after what they have seen tonight, they can wholeheartedly agree that aswang can work with other races.

"That will be a long and might be an egregious task, but I agree. We can fight as one." Inang also supports this notion.

"Is there anything else we can assist you with? Like weapons? How about someone to kill for you? We can do that!" Labo says before he was kneed by Kisig.

Juan chuckles for a bit then replies "Let's hope I won't go for that in the future, Labo. All we need right now is unity. The Chronicler is facing a threaten bigger than this world has ever encountered – an old group of lizard people known as the Dogon reemerges and started to assimilated themselves across the world and stirring up problems. This one with the manananggal? It's orchestrated by one of the Dogon."

Tatang and Inang gave their promise and will honor's Juan's request. The crowd still praised Juan for his heroic sacrifice for them. The night was a celebratory mood but as they are just beginning to celebrate; Juan just smiles and his illusion fades away leaving his frog behind as it leaps away from the village into the crowd.

Juan's magic was exhausted to the limited was not given enough time to say goodbye. His consciousness returns to his body and he smiles knowing he did the impossible tonight. He opens his eyes and sees the light enter their room. He looked around and Leshin and Atlast is nowhere to be seen. He checked the other room and sees the other guardian's bed empty. He gets washes his face and readies to himself as he excitedly leaves the room to inform the group about his adventure.

He went down and sees the patrons are busy eating and drinking on their mugs. He asked one of the passing bar maid and asked if he can get breakfast. The elf barmaid looks at him with one of her brows rose "Breakfast for lunch? You're serious?"

"LUNCH?!" Juan yells. He didn't realize that he overslept from his exhausted magic last night.