LE PERDIDA CIUDAD
MARIA proclaimed graciously, her expression at opposition with her voice, "Manay, I have sent seven messengers from the tribe of Amani to the seven continents of the earth, as what you've ordered."
"Ordered? It was a request, Maria," the great Mahomanay replied gratifyingly.
"I wouldn't even approve it if it were a request." Maria avoided looking at Mahomanay by ignoring her. "It won't work, I'm telling you, Manay."
"Oh, please, Maria. Please give me this one chance."
"The irony is not lost on me that you have appointed me as your greatest adviser and yet you refuse to take my counsel."
"Maria, our options are limited. We only have two Lambana, and I can't afford to send them to the pagtung-an (middle world). There's a chance that it may eventually lead to their extinction if we keep sending them. It's not like I can't make them again if necessary… I mean, it's just that… I'm preparing myself, and the life energy that's left in me for the plan I have in mind isn't enough to risk it." Mahomanay's voice dropped as she expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation and the futility of any other course of action besides the one, she was currently plotting.
Maria inched her way toward the wooden protective layer. "I believe in you, Manay." She gently touched her. "I am fully here with this plan of yours, whatever it may be." She let herself feel her emotions without opening her eyes. There was a brief pause before either of them spokes again.
Then, the peculiar "Guardian of the Threshold," also known as the "Dweller on the Threshold," blew a horn that resounded from the entrance of La Perdida Ciudad Threshold. His name is Seamus—the gatekeeper. His knees reach above his head when he squats because his limbs are so long and thick. He is a tall, powerful humanoid with a horse's head and hooves. He is the one who's in-charge of keeping the two realms from unwanted guests. Always caught between the world of man and the brilliant, enticing, and perfect world of magic behind him.
Mahomanay exclaimed in elation, "They're here…"
Maria remains steadfast. "I'll start getting the house in order for the visitor to arrive shortly. If there's anything I can do, just call for me."
Afterwards, she leaves the room.
*****
ASIA, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia are the seven major landmasses on Earth. Each division has a living mother that protects its land above and realm, just like the great Mahomanay in Philippines. All of Asia can trace its lineage back to her; she is the continent's mother.
While Seamus the Gatekeeper was waiting by the doorway, the portal suddenly began to glow brightly from its center in a whirling, circular motion; its greenish waterlike texture mixed with brilliant light-blue smoke. The presence of a stranger through this portal has prompted Seamus to arm himself with a long wooden spear with a pointed head made of stone, suitable for thrusting or throwing. Prepared to kill whoever shows up unannounced. Even though he is aware that an invited guest is expected to arrive today, he cannot relax since he is in the midst of world planning and either realm could be attacked at any moment.
A type of large pheasant known for their beautiful bright greenish-blue color feathers. Its neck is long and graceful. Those long feathers of it have markings that resemble the moon. Peacocks, whose feathers are a kaleidoscope of iridescent greens, blues, yellows, and golds, have emerged from the portal and laid their feet in La Perdida Ciudad.
Since Seamus already knows who it is, he won't have to speculate. Oshun, the African goddess of love, sensuality, and femininity, was the first mother to arrive. One of her roles as a river goddess is to ensure the flow of nourishing water. In addition to being one of the most potent orishas (minor gods or spirits), she shares common human traits with the others, including vanity, jealousy, and spite.
Suddenly, the peacock transforms into a stunningly gorgeous black woman, clad in a glittering gold gown and holding a golden mirror in her right hand as a pot of honey clings to her (pun intended) hip. She always has a mirror on hand so she can bask in her own radiance whenever she pleases.
"Goddess of love, sensuality, femininity, and river… Oshun." Exquisitely and respectfully, Seamus bowed his neck and pointed down his spear to the goddess Oshun, who represents love, sensuality, femininity, and the river.
"Oh, you don't need to bring up those fluttering things when talking about me, Seamus. Recognizing me by Oshun alone is sufficient, but I appreciate the gesture," Oshun replied in a motherly, soft, and slow voice, "Then I shall bless you some water from the river of Africa."
"I have heard great things about your water, Oshun. And now is not the time to have little horses riding on my back," Seamus replied with a hearty chuckle.
People have faith in Oshun, the river and love goddess, because it is said that with her blessing, even those born without a uterus can experience miraculous births.
"Then you've said it. It was great to see you again, Seamus, unfortunately at this time."
"A late start is better than never, Oshun."
Oshun simply smiles at him and advances toward the precipice, at which point she is suddenly and mysteriously expelled. And suddenly, on the floating, wide, stone-concrete bridge just beyond the threshold behind it—though it appears very far away from where she is standing now—four arcs appeared, two on each side, rather than below. The stone arc is curved to complement the flower-like shape of the leaves. And there's an endless stream of water running between the flat surfaces topped with ruins and the small trees surrounded by a variety of flowering plants.
The floor is bordered by a zigzag pattern in red and maroon on both sides, but in the middle, there is nothing out of the ordinary except for the horizontal structure of three sun-like symbols that lie several meters apart in the middle of the bridge. The door at the end of the bridge resembles the head of a fountain pen, with its uppermost point pointing skyward. Roots-like glowing green liquid surrounds its nib, fills its feed, and flows alongside it, providing power to the door and shielding the chamber within where the great Mahomanay's core is kept safe.
The mother from North America is the next one to emerge from the portal. Pinga, first and foremost, is the goddess of the hunt, fertility, and medicine, and she is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of all animal species. She is dressed in full traditional Inuit fashion, complete with a parka, pants, and mittens crafted from caribou or sealskin (one or two layers, respectively, depending on the season), and as many as four pairs of socks and shoes. Tailoring was done on every piece of clothing to ensure a perfect fit.
This is where she sees the most human behavior, and where she is most likely to become enraged. Others argue that, unlike other deities, she does not prevent the migration of caribou (wild deer) through human settlements if she is angry about something, and so she can stop them from coming. Some inland Inuit refer to her as "the mother of the caribou," implying that her influence is responsible for the modern appearance of the animal.
Pinga's connections to Inuit shamans are another facet of her character. In her role as a healer, she is often invoked by shamans as a divine source of the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their craft. Given that she is also revered as a goddess of fertility, she plays a role in and oversees the processes of conception and birth, two of the most transformative moments in a woman's life.
Seamus addressed Pinga in his most formal tone, saying, "Goddess of the hunt, welcome to La Perdida Ciudad."
It's been a while since we last spoke. I haven't heard about the hunt in a long time," Pinga said melancholy.
"Since you are now the goddess of life, death, and rebirth, I imagine you are not used to it. You are having a trinitarian effect on a human being."
"I'm not sure. I'm not cut out for this new position. It's common for humans and mystical beings alike to mistake me for the goddess of death. What I should have been showered with are words of praise and prayers for were replaced with a chorus of curses.
"I'm sorry. It must be hard for you then—"
"No, Seamus, don't worry about it," Pinga replied in a boyish voice, "And by the way, you've been keeping those muscles up until now, huh."
"Oh, these? I won't let you up on high me when it comes to body. You know that, Ping." They shared a good belly laugh, just like old times.
Suddenly, a new one has arrived.
"Hello there, beautiful creatures!" Pinga's older sister, Pachamama.
The Inca people of South America revered her as their earth-mother goddess. It was her role as a fertility goddess to oversee the growing and harvesting seasons. There was a widespread belief that she was the spirit of the Andes and that earthquakes were her doing. It was said that she was a dragon that lived deep within the earth, making vegetation flourish and the ground tremble. Her places of worship were sacred rocks and trees. She was worshiped by priests, who would sacrifice llamas, guinea pigs, and perhaps even human children.
Given that she only uses her own goddess skin, Seamus felt ashamed at the mere sight of her. Her long, earthy-toned hair is pulled forward to hide the two layers of tissue that sit atop her chest muscles, but she bares all below the waist except for the plants that have taken root in her skin. Gods and goddesses don't have reproductive organs that hang from or are grown directly on top of their skin like humans do, so there's no reason to cover that area. Gods and goddesses lack genitalia and erogenous zones. In their stead, there is nothing but emptiness.
To put it simply, Seamus is ashamed of her very existence. She was regarded by many as the Catholic Church's Mary, the Virgin. Given that the guardian lives in a predominantly Christian nation, he has likely taken on many of the Filipino people's religious practices and beliefs. But those are merely based on what he has seen in the human world; in his role as gatekeeper, he also overhears conversations between humans and mystical beings on both sides of the portal.
Greetings, sibling! Actually, I completely forgot that you were going to show up. I thought you went missing a million years after the end of creation," Pinga said, unmistakably surprised, but not too much so. It seems reasonable to assume that goddesses, like humans, are adept at putting on a good show.
"That is a question that I am unable to respond at this time. We have an important earthy matter, my dear sister." Pachamama straightened up and prepared to face whatever lay in her path. "It's great to have you here, Seamus. I'm crossing my fingers that the threshold you're guarding right now isn't putting too much strain on you. I take it then that it isn't, since you picked it over mine. If I may, I'll see you later, sister."
While the two were left speechless, Pachamama continued on her way to the chamber.
"Your sister is—"
"Yeah, you don't have to say it, Seamus. She might hear you. You know… goddess of earth. Every creation is just submitting to her, I guess. But something's off about her—I can feel it," Pinga said, irritated, but worried about her own sister. "Well, there's nothing much to say. See you on my way home, my dear friend."
"To the Great Kaptan, I humbly pray." For a split second, Seamus bowed his head slightly. Then he raised his head to see the period of daytime which is redder and softer. "Your embrace is desired by the Guardian of the Mystic Threshold."
"To the Great Kaptan, hear our humbly prayer," Pinga joined his prayer.