Lingmu followed closely as Kuban Pasimo walked briskly outside. It was midnight already and a chilled wind meet his face when he stepped outside. As a trained warrior, Lingmu is not bothered in the least by mere cold. What really makes him a bit uneasy is the silence of the man walking in front of him. The head of Pasimo family is an important figure. He has the authority to command hundreds of warriors during wartime, or deploy them during calamities. Yet, walking outside in this late hour of the night, despite recieving the news about the demon in their midst. The man did not even bother to bring with him guards for his security. There are only four of them walking on the quiet night. Him, two servants carrying torches, lighting the way and the family head Pasimo himself. The man did not bring a weapon.
'Maybe the stories about the man being able to match a demon in one on one combat is no joke.' Lingmu thought to himself.
He heard countless of stories about the towering heights of demons with white bright smooth armors covering their entire body. Some are a whole feet taller than a full grown man, and there are even bigger ones. It is said that Demons can manipulate fire, and has weapons that can call forth lightning and thunder. They speak the language of hell, and can even control humans to kill each other. The rumors goes a long way but the general fact is that a dozen of armed demons can easily wipe out a hundred trained warriors in an open battle. If the demon that was sighted in their village was not dealt immediately, Lingmu can only imagine the grim consequences the village will face.
"We are here. let's go inside. I will assume command for a while, and summon the warriors in question." Lingmu's wandering mind was pulled back quickly when he heard the man talk. "Also gather all the warriors that heard about the news." Kuban Pasimo continued.
"Yes!" Lingmu replied quickly and made a salute.
Lingmu followed family head Pasimo inside the village hall and led him to the command chair. After man took his seat, he quickly stepped out and called the two warriors that had encountered the demons.
Lingmu made sure that no civilians were within eavesdropping range. The servants that escorted them on the way were led outside and stayed with the guards.
it took around less than a quarter of an hour before Lingmu was able to gather everyone. They all saluted and kneeled on one knee in front of the family head Pasimo.
"Reporting to family head Pasimo, i have gathered everyone here. We are at your disposal" Lingmu said in a big voice.
"I am Kuban Pasimo, and i heard the news about the demon in that was sighted nearby this evening. Let us all talk about it." Kuban Pasimo said.
"Reporting to family head Pasimo, I present to you the two warriors that encountered the demon. Behind me on my left is called Bonam, and on the right is called Wahad." Lingmu said, gesturing the dou directly behind him before stepping to the side.
"Recount your full encounter of the demon to me again. Try not to miss any details." Family head Pasimo said, nodding at the two warriors.
"Reporting to Family head Pasimo. Me and my cousin here Wahad were on our patrol on the north-eastern outskirts of the village. It was just about a couple of hours past sunset or so when we reached the big Balete tree. before approaching the tree, we suddenly heard a loud sound like something heavy fell." Bonam said clearly.
"It was so dark so we thought it might just have been a wild beast or a big tree branch that fell. Until we sensed it stood up and move. It even spoke. I was about to get closer and try to listen when it suddely flew away." Wahad said, not missing a beat.
Family head Pasimo frowned. "It flew away? It did not attack you?"
Lingmu, listening is silence in the side can't help but frown too. Demons are known to be aggressive. There are even accounts of a single armed demon killing up to 10 armed warriors in a minute. It was strange that a demon would choose to run a way from a couple of Timawa class warriors.
Bonam was aware about the stories of demons too. He was sure that the demon saw them when it flew past them. He was unsure how to answer family head Pasimo's question.
"Reporting to Family head Pasimo, I believe that the Demon got injured when it fall from the tree. We did not see any weapons with it so maybe it was just here to scout the area and not intending to engage in any battle in the first place." Wahad answered, but a little unsure himself.
"Maybe that's true. That big Balete tree overlooks our entire village so if someone wants to scout the area, being on top of that tree is a good starting point " Bonam seconded, as if finally realizing the whole situation.
Family head Pasimo nodded, seeming to think about it himself. "Continue. what else can you recall?" he said, gesturing on the two warriors.
"It was so dark that time that i was barely able to make out the demon's figure. but he can fly very fast. Or might have been running." Bonam said.
"You said it ran away, but it ran past you. The big tree is in the outskirts of the village. and you were approaching it when it flew past you. is that correct?" Family head Pasimo asked suddenly.
"Yes that is correct." Wahad and Bonam answered quickly.
"Meaning that instead of running away to the opposite direction, The demon run into the village?" Family head Pasimo asked again, standing from his seat.
'Shit! The demon is now inside the village and hiding somewhere.' Lingmu could feel cold sweat in his body. 'This is really bad.'
Bonam and Wahad both froze in place after realizing the situation. They were so wary back then. They would pause every moment they step on a broken twig or dried leaves, as if the demon would suddenly sprung from nowhere. It took them more than an hour before they returned back to the village hall and report the news. They should have run and reported fast.
"Okey, You both did a good job. you can all leave now and have some rest. The main family will make an official announcement about the demon sightings. Until then, you will not talk about it to anyone." Kuban Pasimo waved his hand, dismissing the crowd.
"Lingmu, the head of the main family Lubaw will arrive here at daybreak. I want you to go to his residence now and ask him to come here. You can disclose everything you heard about the demom to him. This is of grave importance." Family head Pasimo said.
"Yes, i will go now." Lingmu, made a snappy salute and hurriedly left.
-----
Outside the village hall, the regular warrior guards know that something sa up. They all saw when the head of Pasimo family entered, and then they were all asked to step out and stand guard outside. it was past 2 hours already and their shift is about to end. They are wondering if they should still wait for the meeting to be over or if they could just go home themselves without being properly dismissed. There was a time when they thought the meeting was over, the warrions walked outside one by one. But when they ask about it, the warriors simply shake their head and leave. They watched once more, waiting for the family head of Pasimo to step out. But an hour later, they saw Timawa warrior leader Lingmu entered again escorting the head of the main family, Moyan Lubaw. It was not uncommon for two or more family heads to meet at the dead of the night. The harvest season is near and it certainly demands high attention. The guards continued watch outside, and never dared to ask. Their only job was to stand guard.
They were talking among themselves when they suddenly heard a faint thumping sound in the distance. The sun was yet to rise and was still dark. It did not take long for them to see the silhouette of people marching towards them.
"Are they the day shift guards that supposed to replace us? Why are they marching orderly? A guard asked, looking at the warriors as they marched forward.
"I don't think they are just a common guards. Look at their armor." another guard answered back.
"Yes, I can now see the imprinted patterns on their skin. They are our clan's elite warriors! The Pintados." Someone exclaimed.
"But we are not at war, are we?" The first warrior guard asked again.
The Clan's elite warriors, the Pintados is rarely seen organized during peace time. They are professionals that spends there whole time training their combat skills. They specialize in offensive and destructive magic. During peace time while the Timawa class warriors live as common citizen, the Pintados train privately and will not be seen in public. Only to seeing them glistening like sharp blades during war time. The guards was not aware of any war happening nearby. The only event they are aware of is the coming harvest season. Sure it could be a little chaotic as so many people will come. but the guards had kept the order from season to season. The only common problems they encounter are scammings from greedy merchants, some fist fights, a few theft, but all these does not require the presence of the clan's elite warriors.
The Pintados finally arrived at the front of the village hall. They wear yellow bandanas in their forehead, magical amulets can be seen in their necklaces and bracelets. Their weapons are all the same, a straight edged blade about a meter long called the Bolo. They wore a bronze plated leather vests and the exposed part of their skin were filled with intriacte ink-imprinted pattern. Someone within the group stepped forward and blew a horn few times as if to announce their arrival and then all sat cross legged on the ground and stay motionless, as if meditating.
A quarter of an hour later, the big doors of the village hall finnaly opened as the streak of sunlight begin to appear it the horizon.
A middle aged man with a distinctive gems around his neck stepped out, the Clan crest is printed clearly in his armor, identifying him as the head of the main house. Following closely behind him was a big man with a crimson bandana in his horehead and his skin full of imprinted patterns just like the elite warriors in sitting on the ground.
"Greetings, valiant warriors! I am Moyan Lubaw, of the Head family, And beside me is Kuban Pasimo which you might already recognize." The Elder in the front spoke in a clear and magically enhanced voice.
Moyan Lubaw stood in front, with the first rays of sunlight falling on him. He looked like one of the great heroes in the old legends.
"The Pintados has answered your summons, we are for you to command!"
The elite warriors stood straight up before kneeling in one knee. Chanting in chorus.