And so Yagnos started to narrate the Renunciation Trial...
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Left alone in the dark, I kept my spirits burning.
The torch in my hand seemed waning and the cold breeze of the night instilled fear at my tracks.
I was tasked to enter the mountain peak near the Nakar's Tribe.
It is where they believed, a lesser deity exists.
The mountains had an eerie silence at night.
Also, some creatures are believed to roam around...
Creatures that can't be seen by mere mortals like us.
But I Yagnos courageously journeyed in these thick forest amidst the danger I might face.
I have to take a branch from a mysterious tree that can only be seen at that mountain peak.
I forgot the exact name of the said tree, but I do remember that most of the tribesmen have called it the Balete Tree—numerous gnarled twigs enveloped on a large tree that twists and strangles, wherein they start upon other trees, later entrapping them entirely and finally killing the host tree.
It is like a tree within a tree!
And they grow several hanging roots that eventually touch the ground and from then on, encircling and suffocating the host tree.
The cycle would continue as a new host tree sprouts and begins to be devoured again by its new branches.
When they described it to me, I too was mesmerized and felt the need to pray on Bathala himself.
Because surely, only a wicked evil God would create such a thing...
But then, I remembered it would be an insult to him since he is higher than anything.
Scared and worried, I arrived at the peak without any hassle.
Rabbits and deers, even the crows seem to avoid that place.
No wonder some had even started calling it a sacred peak.
Nothing much happened but just to be safe, I hunted a brown deer, that had an antler similar to a tree's branch, also called by the tribesmen—Sambar.
I am a Dayo—foreigner, myself in the Nakar's Tribe.
And so, I performed the ritual of killing and sacrificing the deer in front of that Tree.
I scattered its blood, circling the entire Tree.
But just then...
I saw the clouds darkening, the crescent moon was covered by these thick clouds.
Suddenly it poured heavy rain. I got my whole body drenched from the rain.
When I blinked my eyes, The sky cleared and the moon greeted me.
Yet, it was different.
I tried blinking my eyes a few more times just to make sure I saw it right.
The moon suddenly changed!
From the quarter moon to full moon in an instant!
But as I was rubbing my eyes and my mouth agape, the moon changed again!
Along with the rain, it suddenly vanished!
I believed at that time, I was played by this lesser God who is said to reside and guard that tree.
Then heaven's gate opened and a beam of light has descended!
A loud thud of lightning struck near the place where I am standing.
I got startled! I have heard that this lesser God's name is Kimat.
He is the former loyal, lightning-Dog of Sidapa—The God of Death.
I have heard this saying from the tribesmen and from my clan of pirates.
"Beware of the spirits, for when they do descend upon us... We should listen."
I took that as a sign that Kimat came down to warn me.
And so, even though the branches are within my reach, I obediently backed away and gave my respects to the Gods and the spirits.
I bowed my head and solemnly chanted their names, after that I quietly left that mountain peak.
I've spent quite a lot of time hunting fishes in the river and I also managed to make a camp where I laid myself to rest.
But what has surprised me is...
In the morning when the sun greeted me and flashed his brilliance upon my wake,
I saw a branch of a familiar tree running across the rivers.
It's none other but a twig from that obnoxious yet auspicious Balete Tree.
That's how I passed the first trial of my Renunciation for their accusation.
But on that day when I returned to prove my innocence, was also the day the whole tribe came to know of my existence.
Since then, they all called me the Bead Theif.
I would often hear them say "As expected of a descendant of a tribe that came from pirates... they knew really well how to steal goods. Even from Kimat! He managed to survive."
Then another trial I did is to walk in a trail of burning ashes.
The Saman of that Nakar's Tribe seemed to enjoy seeing me suffer.
She always shows up with her veil whenever I do most of the trials...
"Alright! Stop right there!" Argus who had been listening to him, all this time suddenly interjected.
"I am not interested in your trifling love interests. Just tell me about the trials." He added.
But, just when Yagnos is about to regain his rhythm of getting into the mood of telling his tale about The Renunciation Trial...
A loud howl from a trumpet echoed throughout the whole place, including the hut where they are currently in.
Vibrated like a whale's pulsating whistles, the sound has alerted the nearby warriors and numerous footsteps of people were heard.
Followed by this sound is another ringing sound...
The gong is being batted.
The sound of it rang across the whole of Lumin's Tribe!
This is a signal that the 1st Trial is about to begin!
"If you are not participating in this Trial... What is your real agenda for coming here? I find drinking wine as a lame excuse!" Argus flatly shouted, making sure Yagnos could hear him. Because while they speak, the Beating of the drums and the Gong continuously reverberated among the whole of Saon.
"I ran away from Nakar in order to not implicate the Saman!" Yagnos blurted out.
"Then we are done here!" Argus replied.
Then, a flash of inspiration lighted up in Argus' mind as he paused and stared sideways.
"By now, I think you have revoked that misunderstanding we had earlier, right? I believe that you are not that ungrateful to just casually leave without giving back the favor. If we left you there, sprawled at the ground... Who knows what could've happened to you?!"
He stated, unbeknownst to Yagnos, Argus is actually brewing some plans.
He quietly handed him a bowl of water.
Like a tacit agreement, Yagnos slowly took the bowl from Argus.
"Yes... earlier I acted brash and afraid. I am even embarrassed now!" Yagnos said while patting his thighs, he sat up straight with his knees folded.
"Alright, state what you wish... I'll see if it is doable!" Yagnos said before drinking the whole bowl.
Also sobered from the water, his mind gradually cleared. Based on Argus' words... and that sound of trumpets and gong is an indication that he is not in a dire situation where he met some Canibal-Man-eating Murawans.
He is still in Saon, the place where the Lumin's Tribe resides.
"Come on, speak!"
"You are a warrior yourself! Can you teach this Alipins how to fight?!" Argus spoke after some hesitation.
He knew it clearly that in order to rise from the ground, he must take whatever resources he could grab. Even if it is just Alipins and that the possibility of betrayal is still high, he still dared to risk it.
After all, these three pawns had already surrendered themselves.
He thinks that its worth a shot to actually give it a try.
But he will only have this time, during this trial where everyone is busy.
He also needs to prepare since he participated. Even if he wanted to teach these three, he will have no time to do so.
"I entrust them to you..." Argus stated while alternating his gaze between Yagnos and the three bunch of idiots.