Prologue: The Curse of Apo Mumbaki
In the magical world of Maharlika, Apo Bathala, the supreme god, reigns. With his divine power, he bestowed upon the chosen people a power known as mahika. He commanded them, "Eradicate the darkness and protect the people from the clutches of evil."
In this world, there are two known types of mahika: white magic, known as "Kabutihan," and black magic, known as "Kadiliman." The chosen individuals who wield mahika are called Katalonan, Babaylan, Asog, or Mumbaki, depending on their specific roles and how they utilize their magical abilities.
Katalonans, masters of Kabutihan, specialize in combat. They harness mahika from various elements, ranging from water to light. During battles, a Katalonan wields their chosen weapon infused with mahika.
The Babaylans and Asogs, also possessing the same mahika as Katalonans, excel in healing, herbalism, incantations, rituals, and divination. They are experts in their respective fields but seldom employ mahika in combat and primarily provide support during quests. The roles of a Babaylan and an Asog are often deemed too delicate for those who choose the Katalonan path.
Lastly, the Mumbakis specialize in curses, hexes, voodoo, and other sinister forms of magic. These individuals have been deemed unworthy of existence in this world. They employ Kadiliman, which is inherently evil and frequently brings destruction upon the people.
The users of Kabutihan and Kadiliman have been locked in an intense rivalry for ages. One notable example of this conflict is the War of Light and Darkness.
The War of Light and Darkness is an event seared into the collective memory of the people. It was the day when Apo Mumbaki unleashed terror across the entire continent of Ligaya.
Three hundred years ago, chaos consumed the continent. The land was strewn with the corpses of both mahika users and ordinary people. The air was heavy with the pungent stench of fresh blood and decaying flesh, causing people to retch and swear. The once majestic buildings were reduced to rubble, and all that remained were chunks of rocks and dust. In retrospect, the people questioned if the land they now inhabit was truly their home or merely a battlefield where Mumbakis and Katalonans clashed.
The divine gift of Mahika, once a blessing from the gods, had now transformed into a deadly weapon. On one fateful night, approximately 50,000 Katalonians lost their lives. The orchestrator of such heinous acts was none other than Raha Sitan, the leader of the Sitan tribe, famously known as Apo Mumbaki. He achieved immortality through a forbidden Kadiliman ritual and became the stuff of legends.
Apo Mumbaki's notoriety has spread far and wide, so much so that people dare not utter his real name for fear of inviting misfortune. Once a Katalonan himself, he mysteriously lost his Kabutihan mahika under unknown circumstances. Left devoid of Kabutihan, he chose to embrace Kadiliman, a choice that was met with disdain by the people, especially the Kapatiran, the official Katalonan organization in the land of Ligaya. The outrage among the Katalonans was immeasurable when Mumbaki returned, proudly announcing his adherence to the path of the Mumbakis.
His eccentric behavior has always set him apart. He is considered the most unhinged individual on the continent. Consequently, his family's reputation has been tarnished. He scoffed at traditional attire guidelines and his language was deemed obscene by many. Moreover, his beliefs were deemed inappropriate and absurd. It remains an enigma whether his assertions hold even the slightest trace of rationality.
Who in their right mind could conceive that Kadiliman's mahika could bring aid to people? Only Apo Mumbaki could entertain such ludicrous notions.
There were even darker theories surrounding the immortality of Apo Mumbaki. According to rumors, as a Mumbaki, he achieved immortality by offering human sacrifices to a wicked demon through prohibited sorcery. To further add to his disgrace, he had the audacity to adopt the name of the god of the underworld as his own.
The tribes of Hiraya, Bughaw, Dakila, Dalisay, Marikit, and Humaling, the great tribes of the Ligaya Continent, united to seal him. The combined power of these seven tribes overwhelmed Apo Mumbaki, bringing him to his knees.
Bagani Hiraya, the leader of the Hiraya tribe and Mumbaki's deadliest foe, spearheaded the campaign. They discovered Mumbaki wounded and defenseless, taking refuge in a cave, stripped of his mahika.
Apo Mumbaki rested on his side, his face drained and weary. When he glanced up at his captors, the Katalonans behind Bagani Hiraya shivered with horror. Who wouldn't be frightened when those eyes, resembling the color of fresh blood, seemed to gleam in the darkness like those of a predator ready to pounce on its prey?
As Apo Mumbaki's gaze met Bagani Hiraya's, he clenched his teeth in rage. "And you had the audacity to show me your repugnant face!"
Bagani Hiraya sighed, his tone laced with contempt, "You betrayed the Kapatiran, turned against those who supported you, and employed Kadiliman to stir chaos in this peaceful continent. And you...you killed my beloved wife."
Apo Mumbaki's mouth twitched momentarily before he burst into laughter, as if he had heard a senseless joke from his adversary. "Beloved wife, you say? Amelya Kalinaw would have been better off dead than with someone like you, Bagani Hiraya." The words did not sit well with Bagani Hiraya. He charged at Apo Mumbaki, delivering a punch to his face. "Admit it, Apo Mumbaki, you envy that Amelya chose to marry me. She would never love a monster like you!"
Apo Mumbaki's menacing laughter grew louder, terrorizing the crowd. Even in his weakened state and outnumbered, he instilled fear and panic. "How can a mere mortal like you defeat an immortal?" he taunted, his smile widening as he noticed Bagani Hiraya's apprehension. "You will always be inferior to me, Bagani. That's why you will never succeed in killing me."
Bagani Hiraya seized him by the neck. "If you can't die, I will imprison you. And before death comes knocking on my door, I swear I will find a way to erase your existence in Maharlika."
He then dragged Apo Mumbaki by his hair and cast him before the Babaylans of the Humaling tribe. The chief Babaylan, Malaya Humaling, gazed down at him in disappointment. "Raha, what have you done?"
Apo Mumbaki spoke calmly, a sinister smile adorning his face, "I am innocent, Apo Malaya. I have done nothing wrong. I did it in accordance with the will of our supreme god, Apo Bathala."
The Katalonans behind him erupted in anger at his words. "Shameless!"
"You dare to besmirch the name of our supreme god!"
"Despicable!"
"Chief Babaylan Apo Malaya Humaling, please imprison this traitor!" commanded the chief Babaylan. She motioned for the other Babaylans to prepare for the sealing ritual. Then, she fixed a long gaze upon Raha Sitan. "You will not be allowed to rest, Raha." Offended, Raha shouted back at her, "I haven't done anything wrong!" Apo Malaya Humaling sighed and instructed the Babaylans, "Ensure that he cannot move for a thousand years."
"Apo Malaya, do you hate me that much just because I didn't tell you the truth?" Raha Sitan laughed mockingly at her. "I will never tell you, not even if you summon your pet cat to devour me!"
"You foolish little rascal!" Apo Malaya scowled at him, irritated and unable to help but roll her eyes. She exclaimed to her companions, "Can't you make this any faster? I don't want to hear his pointless ramblings!"
Twenty Babaylans formed a circle around Apo Mumbaki and began chanting into the cold air, wielding their staffs.
"Darkness shall be vanquished by light.
So decrees the supreme god Bathala.
The fiend shall be imprisoned within this cursed earthen jar.
And the fear he brought shall dissipate,
From this moment onward and for eternity.
Apo Bathala, lend us your power!"
Apo Mumbaki struggled against the mahika that held his entire body captive, but it proved too much to bear. When he finally relinquished his attempts to escape, he turned to Bagani Hiraya to utter his final words, which emerged like a curse.
"I swear upon Apo Bathala and Apo Sitan that I shall return no later than 500 years. Moreover, I will tarnish your esteemed lineage by marrying one of your kin. The direct Hiraya woman shall bear my children. Mark my fucking words, Bagani Hiraya: it will be the direct Hiraya woman who brings about your downfall!"
The light surrounding Apo Mumbaki grew in intensity until it exploded within the cave. Following this, the roaring wind suddenly ceased, turning the once bright cave dim, and an eerie silence swept over the surroundings. All that remained of Raha Sitan was a black earthen jar sealed shut by golden strings.
No one in the vicinity cheered, smiled, or even dared to speak. Despite Raha Sitan being sealed away, his overwhelming power still permeated the air. To make matters worse, a multitude of black butterflies swarmed around the earthen jar, almost as if guarding it from harm.
Fear struck the hearts of all the sorcerers, leaving their faces flushed with an indescribable terror.
One among them, driven by fear, let out a scream, "It's a sign of bad luck!"
Malaya Humaling stood beside Bagani Hiraya. "One black butterfly is an ill omen, but a kaleidoscope of them? May the gods show us mercy."
Even after the war had concluded, the continent of Ligaya did not regain its peaceful state. With Apo Mumbaki imprisoned, the number of monsters plaguing villages and causing nightmares increased. Moreover, despite centuries of confinement, his name continued to spread far and wide, striking fear into the hearts of humans.