The next night, somewhere away from the media-filled 'landslide zone' of the Amesla Highway, a group of people gathered on an isolated valley. They decided to perform the opening of the Takang at the rear end of that place's water dam.
The Calpo clan was responsible for the process, while the rest, who can summon a Kowadja or an Almas that had the ability, were responsible to put up an illusionary and sound nullifying barrier. In opening the void, a lot of unwanted noises and mysterious lights are bound to occur.
Forceful opening of the Takang was not unheard of, but it was not frequently done. There was no reason to, that is why it was explained to Ziron and his company by the Calpo clan that there is 50% chance that it might not work.
Nuriel who was the oldest member of his clan never opened one, neither did his father. He only knew the words of the chant. Nuriel and the others are putting their hopes in it. Most especially Sardon who fears that he might never see his beloved children again.
Ziron was having an unreadable expression plastered in his face as he stood still, feeling helpless, while watching the Calpo clan start the process.
The old man, together with the previous two people with him, stood to form a triangle with Nuriel being the vertex. In front of the three is a purplish translucent wall extending high in the heavens and piercing through the mountains beside it.
"Ezebel," Nuriel called the woman behind him, "Can you sense if they are near the opening?"
Ezebel lifted the veil covering her face, and she revealed a seducing pair of lilac-shade irises. It took a moment before she replied, "Yes!" her voice gleeful, "Actually, they are running towards it."
The younger man with a pair of sunglasses beside her commended, "That means they heard Ezebel's call."
All of a sudden, they heard a gasp from Ezebel. The younger man beside her asked, "What's the matter?"
"That is unexpected." Ezebel replied.
"What is?" Nuriel asking with curiosity. Ezebel is not a person easily rattled. From the tone of the woman's voice, Nuriel knew that Ezebel was impressed.
Still with a surprised tone, Ezebel replied, "Nuriel, Azriel, there is a shape-shifter among them."
The young man grinned. He has the ability to confirm this himself but this is a woman who is more sensitive to the unseen than him, "Interesting. Shall we start then?"
Nuriel nodded in agreement. He raised his cane and stomped it in on the ground and started to say the words from the old tongue:
"Sik-am nga mansalaknib ni Takang, (To you unnamed guard of the void)
Iyay e shawat ni anak ni Mokonuel. (Mokonuel's children offer you these)
Dowiben mo iyay Takang.(Open a pathway to the void)
Bik-ka!"
While Nuriel chanted, Ezebel and the young man beside her was each handed a wooden cup. One was filled with the blessed rice wine and the other filled with a blood collected from an offered swine. When Nuriel finished the chant, the two spilled the contents of the wooden cup.
Suddenly, hazy purplish light shot out from where the trio was standing and pierced towards the wall. At that moment, Ziron, for the first time, had a glimpse inside the void.
Meanwhile, a group of three people were running towards the dam. Just as they stepped out the ravine a while ago, Ivan, Hannah and Jade heard a woman's voice calling out to them, "Quickly, run! Run towards where the light is coming from!"
They trusted the voice and they ran towards the light pulsating and radiating from a few distance from the ravine. But the nuisance has rattled a lot of beings within the Takang. Some of the night creatures fled away from the radiating light, but some wicked ones, including desperate Kaleshing knew that a door to the mortal realm has been opened. They would not want to miss this chance.
Some of this Kaleshing have also sensed their presence and they were being chased at. Knowing that Jade is too weak to run, Ivan was compelled to show his true self.
Sensing that Ivan was going to transform, Hannah took the woolen coat that Ivan removed and pulled Jade to a corner. Jade was awed by Hannah's gift earlier, but this time, she was flabbergasted as she saw her clean-cut-haired and serious-looking chauffer and gardener turn into a large hound right before her eyes.
The hound was obviously larger and leaner than the usual domesticated dogs. He had pointed ears and very sharp claws. He was coated with dark brown fur with black stripes. As the big hound howled, his human irises that were deep black turned into a shade of mauve, and he had two pupils in each eye.
Expecting the shock from Jade, Ivan turned and walked towards where she and Hannah stood still. He bent his head and made a cooing sound. Jade looked at the hound's eyes without fear, and she heard Ivan talk to her with his mind.
"Little miss, please don't be afraid. I am still the Ivan that you know. It is easier for me to take you out of here if I am in this form."
Ivan kneeled his four legs while still gazing at his mistress' eyes. Jade nodded and both she and Hannah saddled on Ivan's back.
Some hungry looking Kaleshing had already arrived. Ivan warned the passengers at his back, "Hold tight."
He leaped towards the trees. His sharp claws digging deep into the wood to keep him above ground. From branches to branches he leaped and when there were no more trees he jumped back to the ground and swiftly ran towards the edge of the dam.
As expected, a lot of Kaleshing has wondered towards the light. Ivan had no choice but to run through them. Although he was fast, three Kaleshing was able to glide and block their way. But before the Kaleshing can catch them, fiery, burning strands pushed the Kaleshing away and cleared their path.
'Dmitry' Jade said in her mind.
Just meters away from them, Dmitry and Emerald were running towards the same direction as them.
"Jade!!!" Emy called out. Jade was surprised. She did not know that her sister was in the void as well. But she also felt relieved knowing that both of them could get out together.
Emy was distracted as she saw her sister at the back of a monster. Dmitry, seeing her confusion explained simply, "That is Ivan, Princess.". Emy was shocked, but there is no time to act it out at this crucial moment. When Dmitry, back in the cave, woke her up with urgency in his voice, she heard a woman's voice calling out that they have to run towards the light as fast as possible. Dmitry explained that this maybe their first and last chance of escaping out the void.
The pair were able to run with the same speed as the hound. The two groups joined half-way through and Dmitry was able to put the barrier around them while they ran.
As they reached the source of the radiating light, they heard the same voice shouting, "Jump out!"
Emy shouted back, "What do you mean 'jump out'?!"
Dmitry suddenly grabbed Emy and carried her while Hannah whispered to Jade who seated in front of her, "Hold tight miss."
The opening of the void was high above ground but for their kind, it was not a problem to land on the ground safely from that height.
As they landed safely, wailing and screeching followed them. It was the Kaleshing trying to reach the opening to the mortal's realm.
Ziron shouted " Shut it now!!!!!"
Nuriel chanted,
"Sik-am nga mansalaknib ni Takang, (To you unnamed guard of the void)
Tangeb mo e usukan. Tangeb! (Close the entryway. Close it.)
And before one of the Kaleshing could ever get out. The opening suddenly shut and the translucent wall vanished into thin air.
As soon the group landed, Sardon rushed to hug his children. Dmitry gently put Emy down and Ivan knelt to let Hannah and Jade get down from his back.
Ezebel walked towards the group. Her interest focused on the big hound. "See Azriel. I was right. It's a wild dog."
The tone irritated Jade, "He is not an 'it'. He is a 'he'. "
The man, named Azriel chuckled. This time he lifted his sunglasses revealing his wine-colored eyes. He glanced at the hound then at Jade. "Well, his not wild anymore. This little girl might have tamed him well. What should we call you then, witch dog?"
In an instant Ivan shifted back to his human form. The black striped, brown fur and sharp claws now gone. He sat on the floor, exhausted. Hannah draped his coat over his bare body.
The man, trying to catch his breath, looked at Azriel with his fading mauve-shaded double-iris eyes and answered "Ivan--- Ivan Sunuadien."