"What does it feel like when entering the portal?" Traiser's fourth question. He seems so ecstatic when I said that we might found a potential portal in Matinloc Shrine.
He didn't fail to make my lips smile. I grin at him, showing an irritation to his frequent queries. "Someone might hear you. We need to be cautious, you know. We don't know if some minions are around." He resorts to a different topic. I already warned him to act normal and not be suspicious.
"How old are you? Speaking of Earth's time.."
I glance at him, confused. How old am I in Earth's time? I scuff and shook my head. "I'm no good in calculating and converting numbers, Traiser. Stop making my head think."
He chuckles. "I'm sorry. Uhm, how about.... Do you have a boyfriend?"
I studied his face. He's not looking at me. I wonder why. "What's a boyfriend? Is it food? Does it taste good? Or, is it a male friend? Guessing the compound word, boy and friend. Am I right?"
He has an unusual reaction. His eyes stare at me with disbelief and his mouth slightly opens. "Lover? Partner?" asks he again.
Is he comprehending my knowledge of their language? My eyes look upward, my lips twitching. "Lover... I suppose, the term refers to a human with love. Partner... I heard it's about someone pairing each other.. Mind you, I only know basic communicative words."
Again, he chuckles. "A'right. I understand. How about your world's word for someone who falls in love with another one? On Earth, we have boyfriend, lover, partner. Locally, we call it kasintahan, irog, at syota. "
Someone who falls in love with another one. A rough word for Zonax, which I don't remember. I had poor memory of Zonax as time goes by I spent on Earth.
I shake my head. "I don't recall. Don't worry, I'll say it to you when I remember. Maybe, you'll find your boyfriend in Zonax." I grin at him.
He laughs loudly. His laughter is a melodic harmony in my hearing senses. Weird.
"Girlfriend, you mean."
Now, I'm confused. He saw my face, so he says, "Boyfriend is a term used by a female to her lover, while girlfriend is a term used by a male to his lover. You follow?"
I nod. "That's quite stupid. I get what you explained. Although that means when a female has a female lover then she'll call her a boyfriend? Am I right?"
He smiles. "Quite wrong. I don't know if they refer girlfriend or the latter. I suppose, what matters, in the end, is.. they both love each other."
He then stares at me. I also stare at him back. As if he's really a magnet, attracting my eyes to look at his. Something inside me feels security and fondness while looking at him.
The staring contest is disturbed by an old man. "Where do you want to go, Ma'm, Sir?" Suddenly, I felt awkward. I turn my head to the man.
There are several small boats here. Traiser, the first to respond. "We need a boat to Matinloc Shrine po. " The man looks at him with a hint of glee in the face. Then, he nods. "Do you want me to lead you?"
Lead by a human? I'm a bit insulted. My rank is way higher than them.
My body has slightly startled as Traiser nudges my shoulder. He gazes at me, waiting for my response. Seems like he's saying you-are-the-in-charge here.
I stare at the man, fully observe the boats, all of them run through the motor. Glance back at the man, I say "How much for the boat?"
The man looks at me, unbelieving what I say. "Ma'am, the boat... no sale..." He had difficulty expressing the words.
"So, where do we buy a boat?"
Even Traiser looks at me, surprised, the other man joins our conversation. He has disabled legs, standing, clutching his old crutch. "Ma'm, what do you need.. motor or no motor? You can buy my boat. Your price."
His face full of wrinkles reminds me of the East Datu or our captain. He once said that wrinkles tell his story and the challenges he overcomes.
I smile at him. "One million."
Three hang their jaw and looks at me with disbelief once more. The man who offered the boat says, "Ma'm, that's too much. I will... take.. at least... fifty thousand..."
I shake my head in disapproval. "I know the boat must mean great memories and strength for you. I speak as I do not know any of your experiences, but I'll pay the boat for a reasonable amount. If you don't want one million, then five hundred thousand will do. Take it or leave it."
Traiser added, "Thank you for offering your boat, Sir. I think you cannot change her mind once she said she'll take it."
The man slowly in tears. "Ma'am, I don't know what to say... Thank you!" The other man seems to be disappointed and sad. Maybe he's thinking it's his luck to have this amount.
Humans tend to have unusual temptation with money. I don't know how powerful the money is for them, humans.
I order Traiser to convert paper money from the debit card. He teased me before going. "Yes, my fair lady, your paper money will be here any second."
I didn't waste time, so I observed the boat. Some other men tried to pursue me to buy theirs too. I genuinely reject their offers.
His boat has a name on the side, 'Dyesebel'. It has a full tank gas, clean and neat inside with white paint and blue on the outside.
The man still keeps on crying on the other side. Others confront him, and they seem to celebrate.
Traiser came back in just a few minutes. He handed me the bag. Aftermath, I lend the man named Kiboy, the promised five hundred thousand pesos. As well as I give each of the men around, three thousand pesos.
When I walk near Traiser, he smiles at me. "What?" I ask him. He shakes his head. "I'm glad I met you." I almost choke on what he said, thus I just ignore the feelings inside.
He said nice words, which makes my whole system tickles. "Let's go," I said as I hop in the boat. He remains standing. Looking at me with a mischievous face.
I asked again with irritation. "What now??"
"Do you know where Matinloc Shrine is?"
I smirk at him. "I know. Now, get your ass here." Part of me said I sounded like Columbane. Eww. I don't want to.
I have my third eye to set the coordinates. We passed by several islands. They are stunning, and so does Matinloc Island. The whole island impresses me with breathtaking limestone cliffs, coves, white sand beaches, and flora.
We dock the boat on a little beach. Huge idols with different faces of deities greet us in a small cave and concrete gazebo.
"Ampu, Paray, Linamin, Barat, Bulag, Upa Kuyaw at Diwata. Deities of Palawan." Traiser exclaimed. He even intends to touch the idols, but I pull his hands back.
"Don't even mention their names. Who knows if they coincidentally visit here." I insist.
He nods in agreement. Nonetheless, we march straight to the shrine. Before reaching, we turn left and climb cautiously the cliff. Great timing that we are the only ones here as I view at the top of the cliff, the whole stunning island beauty came across my sight.
Waves roll to the white shore, the whole flora, and other islands, are so beautiful. I couldn't help but admire how magnificent the view.
As we continue, Traiser almost slips on the steep and pointy rocks, I quickly held his waist. He glances at me with frightened eyes and trembling lips. I smile at him. "Watch your step, young man. No one would catch you if you fall, except for one and only Limdi."
He chuckles. "Same to you. I'm the only one who can catch you now." then, he winks.
Suddenly, my horns went crazy. To the point where the cloth cover flies together with the wind. We are both shocked, looking at each other and with no reason, we laugh.
"You have flexible horns," Traiser commented. I give him a nod. "It runs in the family." Through the steep cliff, I hold his waist while walking.
When we reach the shrine, Traiser brings something out of his bag. I look at him with curiosity. An elegant reddish-purple cloth.
"Come here, let's hide those ears. Tell them to behave, so no cloth will fly again."
I walk near at him, turning my back, then a bit of chuckle. Again, he talks to my horns. "You two must behave. Yes, I know I may be envy but stop flexing to my face. That's annoying." Makes my chuckle turns into a laugh. He's like talking to his child, so cute.
I mean, that's astounding for a human.
Good thing, humans can't read minds or thoughts. I was back at the reality when some thud sounds or noise of footsteps echoes inside the shrine.
I lead the exploration. A dome-shaped shrine with 12 columns, has an image of a deity with probably blessing signs. Inside, there are a lot of pictures and descriptions of the history of Matinloc Shrine. I highly sense and read dark zui, thus not darker enough to be potentially the portal point.
We search every corner, however, we don't find a portal. I've already explained to Traiser on how the portal looks like. There are different types, only with third eye or gifted eyes can see through the portals. Some have light coming through, camouflage type, a door type (literally), and the one I entered in the Zonax, a reflection type.
All these types are absent in this shrine.
"Do you hear some footsteps?"
Traiser seems confused, as we walk outside. He shook his head. "I don't remember hearing sounds."
I look around. We need a temporary shelter. The sun is setting, the moon is greeting. Once more, I heard the sounds. It's strange as if it is near at us.
"How about we spend the night in the mansion?"
"Where?"
"Of course, Matinloc."
I roll my eyes. "I mean, can you point it? I'm too distracted with the sounds."
He shrugs his shoulders. "Then, follow me."
The sound is getting louder and louder. I stop on my track, but Traiser keeps on walking. Quickly, I pull his shirt. "It's dangerous. We need to get out of this island."
"What? Why?"
"Becau-" My explanation is halted by the footsteps. Not ordinary footsteps that so loud, rather a strong foot stepping on the soil.
Continuos. A group. I dare not to look. Traiser left dumbfounded by what he witnesses. "Limdi... Limdi... tikbalang... " He's scared as much as I do.
Tikbalang, a proud warrior who had a strong and powerful physique. I've read them in the journal, where they mislead someone on their journey or worst, fight you mercilessly.
They are huge, way enormous than humans. In sync, they make sounds of horses. It rings into my ears, not melodic enough. I lift my head and turn to look at them.
They don't look good.
I'm reading dark hues zui. They are angry, about... us? Speaking of their looks, they have an ugly horse head and the masculine body of a human; larger and taller than typical humans do.
"We have no intentions of staying longer. We will leave. So, if you please, give us away."
Traiser's hand is trembling. He quickly tugged my shirt. If he's scared and surprised to see mighty tikbalangs, and so am I.
"We also have no intention on... leaving you to leave the island with the boy!" One shouted, in the middle.
One thing, they are loyal as damn to deities.
As large as Bakulaw, I grow my size. I carry Traiser in my two shoulders, he's holding my horns tightly as these instantly straighten. He also holds the cloth.
I unleash my sword, deflecting every arrow came from the back, countering every punches the front gives. Some are encircling me with their speed.
They think they'll trap me in their void.
I put my strength into my feet. I jump so high that the island looks like a tiny dot below. Traiser is about to pass out when he sees the view.
I don't know I'll jump this farthest!
I land safely near the little beach. Few tikbalangs waited, and quickly want to grab Traiser. I slash the air with my sword, preventing any tikbalang to get near. I successfully slash one, but few still keep on charging.
I let Traiser mounted the boat. While I keep on slashing. Finally, I increase my speed and went one-on-one with them on running. I cut their heads without taking much time. Their gross green-blue blood did mess with my body.
I change my form, decreasing my size, and swims into the water. The blood of tikbalangs spread above. I heavily breathe for air as I climb into the boat.
I'm dripping wet. Traiser immediately handed me my bag. O, yeah, he reached it when my body enlarged.
"Good thing, I also bought body towels. Here." He lends me his white large cloth. "I don't know why it came to my mind to bought towels earlier. Now, I know why," he added.
I dry myself and casually ripping off the shirt and shorts. Traiser did turn his back, while I'm ripping the clothes.
I don't care if I'm naked in the middle of the sea. I wear a comfortable shirt that seems cropped, and a long skirt. My footwear also got wet, hence I brought no alternative.
"Are you done?" Traiser asked.
"Yes. Why did you turn your back at me?"
He turns around, his face is all red and even his ears do. "Are you stupid? That's a pervert! I am not a perv!"
My eyes squint, confuse with the terms. He notices this. "Pervert means... uhm... peeking to someone who's naked, and you know. That's that."
"O, I get it. Normally in Zonax, all of the demons are naked. They even flaunting their scars, tattoos, and even burned parts."
"On Earth, naked is not normal. So, don't do that again!" He flushes red again.
I chuckle. "Okay, I know. I'm sorry. I'm still adjusting, besides we're not going to live here forever."
He smiles, and so do I.
In a span, we both look at each other. My horns went crazy and formed an arc. The air becomes heavy.
Traiser whispered, "Large wave.."