The Next Day, the whole Tribal Square were enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere...
"You dummy! Why would you suddenly leave me behind? Were all of those promises nothing? You told me you would take your revenge! What kind of revenge could you achieve if you are dead!"—Squealing inwardly in a broken spirit...
The woman whom Argus thought to be his brother who is actually a girl, pitifully cried her heart out, yet it was silent. Only the pour of tears came on her swollen eyes.
Amidst the pack of crowds busily gossiping and mourning the corpses, Toto tearfully released a cry.
When she received the news from the other Alipins, at first Toto couldn't accept it. she was in disbelief the whole night. Hence, when morning came, she immediately snuck outside the Alipin's grounds to see Argus.
And the lifeless corpse of Argus laid outstretched at the barren soil of the Tribal Square. He is grouped with the other Alipins, Sulgos, and other servants in a separate location. Each of the corpses was classified according to their social status. Although Argus is a former Ranoan, he died as a slave...
The officials won't care at some measly slave no matter what background they have. Yet because Argus is a Sulgo, a personal servant of the Saman herself, they at least gave him a proper ceremonial rite. That's why along with the other corpses they all prepared prayers for the dead.
This ceremonial rite shall be lead by the Babaylan with the other Elders of Shamans.
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"To my dearest tribesmen and for the people who have crossed the sea just to participate on a trial... I Wagu Atubang sincerely offer my apology. Due to an unforeseen accident, these valiant warriors died in a disgraceful manner. Instead of dying by the sword in battle, they all died because of a Magindra. I am partly to be blamed, I didn't expect that it would have come to this..."
Stricken by guilt, Wagu Atubang bowed his head, wearing his white mourning garments. A brown woven silk and in his hand a plain-looking scepter.
He raised his scepter high and at his signal, the burial ceremonial ritual starts.
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Wine drinking commenced, women with their revealing clothes danced and swayed their hips as they circle the corpses all over the whole Tribal Square.
While the men drank wine and the women danced, leading the ceremony is the Babaylan uttering her own chants in front of a small altar prepared at the center of the Tribal Square, beneath the podium where the other Elders including the Saman and Dayang Haya is currently sitting.
The tribesmen even the foreigners had a saddened face as the Shamans started to sing, the whole of Saon was enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere.
But the person who is the most affected by this is the Saman. Until now she still could not accept that Argus has died. She blamed herself for everything...
"Argus... you shouldn't have died. I'm sorry it is my fault... I only wanted you to get out of slavery. I..."
When the families and clans of the person who died came to look for their deceased member's belongings, she didn't have the guts to face them despite wanting to apologize.
Wrapped in a white veil and a white woven silk gown, she sat beside her mother who equally shared a remorseful expression. She too had a guilty feeling after allowing her foolish daughter to suggest such a Trial. But she didn't heavily blame her daughter. Instead, all fault laid on Wagu Atubang who supervised the whole event.
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After the prayer, family members of the deceased can approach the corpse and utter their own prayers as they put the dead's belongings to their side.
Of course, Argus although reduced into a measly Alipin and later became a Sulgo, he too had his own belongings.
The three bunch of Alipins whom he rescued from the Crocs came along with Yagnos while they tried hard to stop the tears in their eyes. But upon seeing the corpse of Argus peacefully lying there, they all could not help but cry remorsefully.
They were all shocked to hear that Argus is included from the people who died, they all believed that he will be fine. They put all of their trust towards this young man. But alas! He is still just a mortal, nobody could defeat a powerful opponent such as the Magindra.
Silently like a whisper, Talto who is the first to swore allegiance to Argus among the three, gently placed the bardiche beside him. "I am returning this weapon to you, may this weapon help you cross the afterlife and slay whatever ghoul that may come your way..."
After a solemn bow, the four retreated at the corner and watched as the others did the same.
Tribesmen believed that the dead could carry their belongings to the afterlife. They also believed that the way you died, you would appear the same in the afterlife.
That is why many family members and clan members felt so remorseful to the bodies of their deceased. Yagnos and the three didn't have this worry as they found that Argus's body was well, and intact.
But when a woman covered in silver and gold came to fulfill his turn she suddenly screamed,
"My Son! How will you see Sidapa with those eyes! That vicious Magindra deserves to be burned and skinned alive!" A female tribesman wailed as she pointed at her son's gauged eyes. The hole that was left after his eyes were gone left a deep impression for everyone to see.
"What kind of injustice is this! Look at my brother's intestines! They are all gone!"
Another tribesman who seemed to be the brother of a deceased person came forward while putting golden earrings to the side of his brother.
The corpses were laid neatly at the white mat with golden embroideries which was placed all over the Lumin's Tribal Square.
All of a sudden the whole people of Saon knelt down towards their Dayang in prostration...
"Our Ladyship, Dayang Haya! hear out the people of this tribe! Kill that vicious Mermaid to bestow justice upon the dead!"
"Dayang Haya! We humbly ask Our Ladyship..."
Burying their faces to the ground they all bowed their heads subserviently. And when the Dayang have heard this, she stood up and raised her arms...
Her white silk-woven dress fluttered along with the swaying of the trees as the sky darkened.
"Since the people have spoken, I order anyone to slay that vicious Magindra who have killed our brothers and sisters in a disgraceful manner! I shall reward anyone who can give me the head of that Magindra! In return anything he shall request, I shall give!"
When her speech fell from the people's ears, they all clamored in joy praising the Dayang as they danced beside the corpses.
The others even batted the drums and the Gongs, professing their avid support towards the Dayang. Some even began drinking wine.
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And with that, the Burial Ceremony Rite came to an end.