Facing the entire crowd full of expectant gazes, the Elder felt a tingling sense of apprehensiveness.
For this special event that the tribe has organized, meticulously ordered by Wagu Atubang and specifically requested by their dearest Saman, Elder Kunka is one of the respected and trusted elders that Dayang Haya mentioned to take this role of enforcing the success of this event.
Wearing his feathered warbonnet that has been passed down by the former elders, Elder Kunka despite being anxious tried to poise himself. An elegant bearing was emitted through his wrinkling face as his white wool hair fluttered through the cold breeze of the night.
Clearing his throat that had gone dry from worry, he said in a firm tone,
"There is none that this lowly Alipin has violated! We ordered you to make your own tool of whatever resources that the mountain forest can offer and he simply took advantage of his creativeness. You all shall proceed!"
With that sentence full of authority, the remaining warriors who hoped that Argus could be disqualified fell into silence.
They all could only shrug their shoulders and snicker as a response. Although these warriors were unhappy, the Elder thought about it deeply...
"A Datu needs to be clever enough and adaptive enough to use whatever he can upon his own disposal. He had proven his qualifications just from this point."
Smiling as if to add fuel to the fire, Argus ignored Bagno as he proceeded in catching more fishes. Bagno once again casts a piercing glare as he walked away, leaving a remark as he went away...
"Hmph. Just so you wait! I shall put you in your proper place soon!"
.
.
.
...
For the rest of the evening, Argus has filled his basket to the brim and is now preparing to cross the river. But then after his safe crossing towards the other end of the river, the waters in the river suddenly surged in a violent wave.
"Help! I... I feel like something is dragging me down!"—One of the warriors screamed, alerting everyone present.
"Help! I too feel the same!"—Another warrior screamed.
And more and more made similar screams like wildfire scattering throughout the forest. Then, after their voice resounded, another voice echoed throughout the whole place.
A smooth honeyed sound, a voice that is hard to even describe. It rolled over the hills in bountiful waves. Swelling under the currents as the river's surface violently surged.
It is like the chirping of birds or like the downpour of the rain, enticing as if putting everyone in a spellbinding curse. A fog of pleasure and delight, they found it hard to resist as it keeps on reverberating into their ears.
The ones who really got affected got his eyes turning white.
"Elder Kunka! What are you doing?!" Dayang Haya screamed when she noticed the elder suddenly jumping from the shore towards the depths of the river.
And right at this moment, a thought came into Argus's mind...
"Could it be? A Magindra?"
The voice continued, as more wails of yelping cry for help sounded. That angelic yet hypnotizing voice is like a bleating yet inconsequential background song in music. A symphony of rhythmic melodies.
But one thing is certain, everyone seemed tranced at this beautiful voice. Men in particular have fallen prey to this voice.
.
.
.
...
Argus who did not know what to do tried to remain calm. Almost everyone present as if possessed leaped through the deep surface of the river.
And Argus is now feeling dizzy as the voice continued to sing... He found himself gradually being covered with fog and clouds.
.
.
.
...
When he came to his senses he noticed that the place he was standing had changed!
The riverbank was replaced with dry earthen soil. Each of the camps built by the warriors shifted into huts.
Argus held his dizzying head as he examined his surroundings and he can't help but notice...
That the whole place felt very familiar!
It is this familiar island where his home laid barren and ashen on that dreadful night, yet he found this familiar place being well. Like no betrayal had ever happened.
"This... it is Apkon?"—Argus asked, he found himself at the center of the Khalip's Tribal Square.
At the distance, he saw Datu Sadjar and his men training with their sticks. They were practicing the Art of Kali.
Swift arching strikes with calculated tranquil movements. At the foremost front of the rows were the young warriors and at the foremost back of the rows were the adult warriors busily cranking their necks as they observed Datu Sadjar performing the third technique in Kali.
Argus came close seeing that familiar broad back of his father, Datu Sadjar.
"Pansa is a double diagonal strike that loops and arches towards the target's weak spots. Followed by this movement we do a waving motion and a strike at your opponent's chest. Do it this way!"—Datu Sadjar busily instructed.
And the whole group of warriors screamed "Woha! Yalu!"
Seeing this familiar place and familiar scene, Argus could not help but shed some tears. He called out his father...
"Abba? Sadjar..."
Then the Khalip warriors stopped their tracks, they all scratch their heads as they wondered why Agus was crying.
"Oh! My Son! Did you just wake up? I told you to wake up early because I'll be teaching Kali for today." But seeing that his son was shedding some tears, Datu Sadjar quickly closed his mouth.
"Abba, you are alive?"
"Of course I am! What are you spouting Haha Have you had a nightmare?" Datu Sadjar said while he ruffled his son's hair.
"But I saw our Tribe burned that night. What is happening?"
"Nothing son, you should go find your mother and tell her to wait for me. This time I'll be accompanying you with a short meal. And later you will come with me, I'll teach you how to catch fishes at the lake."
And with those words, Argus still in shock felt his body moving on his own. He just nodded to his father and beamed a smile as he went to his mother's residence—Dayang Nuwa's Kanya.
.
.
.
...
Argus is now trapped under the spellbinding curse of a Magindra—a vicious mermaid who disrupted the second part of the First Trial.