Toin woke up once more. Only this time, he was not in a cubicle-filled office space.
Even in the darkness of the night, Toin recognized where he was. He quickly got up, and ran out of the house, and his tiny feet was immediately buried in the soft sand.
Toin was in tears. He was back in Nosy Loza. The houses near the beach. The trees, the farms, the crops, everything was still there.
Toin went back to his house. The traditional tall hut, built on tall stilts in case of floods. He went to one of the wooden poles. He recognized the markings. His dad would mark his height there. His right hand tenderly caressed each mark on the pole, slowly counting them.
There were six marks on there, meaning that he Ahoana had reincarnated him back to his six years old body.
"Thank you, boss." Toin smiled in his tears.
He made a deal with Ahoana. Before he could even began his campaign to fight the monsters, he would need to make sure that his village would be safe from attacks of the Lolompo's Mayor and his gang of militia. Ahoana agreed, and perhaps that's why he was back to be six years old. So that he could stop the mayor when he was still just a mayor of a small town.
Toin went back inside his house. Carefully, he went to his parents' room. They were still sleeping. Their bodies were slightly moving. A sign that they were still breathing. They were still alive. Throats had not yet been slit. Bodies had not yet been burned. Relieved, he went back to sleep. "Thank you, boss."
###
"Gosh, slow down Toin. You'll choke on the fish bone again."
"Hehe, okay Neny."
His dad smiled. His son had quite the appetite. "So, what are you gonna do today Toin?"
Toin pretended like he was thinking. Then said, "I want to go to see Bebe. I want to listen to her stories again."
His mother kissed him on the head. "I'm sure Bebe would love to have you visit her. Oh, I'll pack some dried bananas. You can eat it with Bebe later."
"Thank you Neny." Toin turned to his dad. "You're going to the sea, Dada?"
"Of course. Where else would I go?"
"Hehe, okay."
Bebe was the oldest living person in the village. Nobody knew how old she was, but she was everybody's Bebe.
"Good morning Bebe. My neny packed you some dried bananas."
"Oh, how lovely." Bebe unwrapped the banana leaves, broke a piece of the dried banana, and put it in her mouth. As she began chewing, she asked Toin. "So, my dear child, why have you came to visit this old lady this morning?"
"Oh, I wanted to ask you something?"
"Well," she swallowed the dried banana, and broke off another piece, "with a delicious treat like this, you can ask a million question even. What is it dear?"
"I've heard someone said the word Ahoana. Do you know what is it Bebe?"
"Uuuu Ahoana. The protector of human. I haven't heard that name in a long time. Where did you hear it?"
"Someone said it in greeting. They said it used to be the name of a god. Is it true Bebe?"
"Why yes. Ahoana was one of the earlier gods. The one protecting humans when they're still looking for their heads above their necks." Toin laughed at Bebe's joke. Bebe broke another piece of the banana, before she began telling the story of Ahoana.
"A long time ago, before humans, Earth was home of the beasts. Unlike the beasts in the jungle, or even the dinosaurs they showed to us in pictures, these beasts were magical beasts. They were ruthless, blood-thirsty, demonic beasts. And God, in all his Mercy, put Adam and Eve in the middle of the dessert. Away from all the beasts.
But that wasn't enough. News of humans littering the surface of the Earth came to the news of the Six Beast Kings.
The Fire Beast, Lelafo Tandroka, was a red minotaur with a pair of fiery horns. The Rock Beast, Mafy Loha, a golem covered in vines. The Sea Beast, Nirongatra, was a hydra with many hearts. The Wind Beast, Rivo-doza, was an eagle the size of a mountain. The Lightning Beast, Drivotra, was a large Griffin almost equal in size with Riyo-doza. And the Poison Beast, Rahona Mangeja, was a butterfly with the most deadly but beautiful pattern on its wings.
All six Beast Kings bowed down to one being only. Maso Iray. Nobody knew what sort of beast Maso Iray is. It is said that Maso Iray was Ouranos and Gaia's early attempt at making a human. Unfortunately, Maso Iray had all the bad quality of a human, with all the power of a demi god.
Thus, all seven ruled the land. None would want to share it with the humans. Understand child, the Beast Kings were under the restraints of Maso Iray, who was said to bestowed the beasts with the magical power of the elements. Since Maso Iray was the unwanted child, he came to despise the gods. And his beloved creations, us humans.
Maso Iray was about to attack Adam and Eve. Thankfully, Ahoana came to the rescue. But, even though Ahoana was a smart and powerful god, even he cannot withstand the power of seven different magic. In his haste, he created seven islands. Six islands surrounding a crescent shaped island. He buried each beasts into their own island, and turn their magic into the beating hearts of the island. Making the barren islands he created flourished with its flora and fauna.
Thus is the story of Ahoana. The protector of mankind. Now, would you be a good dear boy, and fetch me some water to drink?"
Toin smiled, and got up and poured water from the clay pitcher, into the bamboo glass. He then went and hand it to Bebe. "Thank you child. Do you get what you are looking for?"
"Yes, it was an amazing story Bebe. So, what are Ahoana's power?"
"Oh right. Let's see. It is said that Ahoana had the power to heal and regenerate. That was how he could withstand the attacks of the beasts, and Maso Iray."
"Oh wow. That is amazing. Thanks Bebe."
"Child, I'm sorry, but I am quite tired. Would you mind if I went to sleep for a while."
"Oh yes Bebe. Sorry to keep you awake."
"Oh no child, I am glad you wanted to hear this old woman tell story of the old world. I'd be happy to tell you more story if you'd like."
"I would like that Bebe."
"Good child, now run along dear."
Toin said goodbye to Bebe and her daughter in law. He went to run in the white, sandy beach. Tired, he plopped down in the sand. The sun and the blue sky above him. The sound of the waves gently singing in his ears.
"You're quite an amazing god, boss."