Vincent found himself standing alone in a vast rice field that stretched endlessly before him. He turned when a movement caught his peripheral vision. A woman appeared, dressed in a powder blue gown that accentuated her dark skin. Thin mist swirled around her feet, giving her an ethereal, floating presence. Soft winds gently lifted her jet-black hair. She seemed familiar, though he couldn't place her.
The surroundings darkened; vibrant blue skies turned to a brooding gray, and the once-golden grains withered. Vincent looked to the woman for answers, but as soon as her eyes met his, he turned cold. Despite her thin brows arching in a sorrowful expression, her milky white eyes bore a hint of malice and arrogance.
However, her features softened as she reached out to him. Despite not knowing who she was, he found solace in her touch. Her hands felt both cold and warm, a paradox that unsettled him.
"My son, I'll always be with you," she whispered. The words sent shivers down his spine and jolted him awake from his slumber.
He awoke drenched in sweat, even with the air conditioning on in their hotel room. Clutching his chest and gasping for air, he murmured quietly, "Mom," as tears streamed down his face.
Wiping his tears, Vincent glanced at the wall clock. It was still 4 a.m. He hoped Samika hadn't noticed his distress. When he turned to her bed, it was empty. He saw her standing on the balcony, holding her crystal at ear-level and speaking to someone.
The rainbow hues swirled beautifully, in which Vincent remained in awe despite seeing it work a few times. He decided not to eavesdrop and went to the bathroom to wash his face before Samika noticed his puffy eyes.
Staring at his reflection, Vincent noted the exhaustion in his eyes. At 29, his face looked older than his years. His thoughts drifted back to the dream, lingering on the identity of the woman and the inexplicable connection to his mother.
His father had never mentioned his mother nor anyone from his maternal side. All Vincent knew was that she died when he was six. For some reason, he could remember everything from that age except her appearance.
Oddly, the sight of gentle rain on a sunny day somehow reminds him of her. This was partly the reason why he was easily convinced to join Samika—he hoped to know more about his mother despite being described as a fickle-minded goddess.
When Vincent stepped out of the bathroom, Samika was sitting on the edge of her bed, holding her crystal firmly.
"Oh, you are up early. I thought mortals don't get up till 8 in the morning." She said with a smiled.
Vincent forced a chuckle. "I'm still on work hours, so I guess my body is just adjusting."
The demigod noticed the exhaustion in her eyes. He sat on his side of the bed, facing her. "You good?"
Samika nodded sadly, but managed to smile. "I'm not sure if this is good or bad news for you, but with the help of a friend, I managed to convince the Wise Engkantados to let you assist me in finding the other six demigods. So, you can stay here instead of going to Luminara."
Vincent pursed his lips, "How?"
"I have a friend named Algi. He mentioned that you're skilled with technology, which means you're familiar with the internet. That could help us find the demigods more efficiently."
The demigod smirked mischievously, "He knows me?"
Samika rolled her eyes, "I requested paperwork of all seven demigods before I got here, it just got delayed somewhere. Although it was not really helpful but your information was confirmed just a few minutes before I found you. We found out you are an IT guy. There really is a reason why you are on top of the list."
Excitement glinted on Vincent's eyes, but he forced himself to remain composed, "I'll help. We just needed a few things."
Later that morning, after grabbing a quick breakfast, Samika and Vincent made their way to a nearby electronics store. The city was already bustling with activity, the streets filled with people going about their way.
"Thank you, Anitun Tabu, for the lovely cloudy day. Your son won't be melting under the scorching sun on our journey." Samika said, her tone light and teasing.
Vincent smiled mockingly, "Who are you talking to?"
Samika ignored him, knowing that disrespecting the goddess who controlled the weather could have consequences. Instead, she enjoyed everything she sees—people walking their dogs, stray cats basking peacefully under the morning sun, and the trees that swayed along the breeze.
"Why do we have to walk? We have money, right?" Vincent complained.
The engkantada suppressed a chuckle, "Endurance, Hibionada. Endurance."
He grunted in response, and walked hurriedly to keep up with his engkantada companion. Desperate to redirect Samika's attention from physically torturing him, he blurted out the details he saw in his dreams earlier. The engkantada finally halted, in which Vincent sighed heavily in relief.
"Tell me more." She demanded.
"I can't. Not when I am like this." He said, panting heavily.
For a moment, Samika considered riding a taxi but with her curiosity piqued she decided against it. She needed more time to evaluate the dream he had, and nothing is more effective than walking. "I'll walk slowly, mortal. Now, talk."
Vincent slapped his burning knee in defeat, "Fine."
As they walked to the store, Vincent told Samika everything he remembered in his dream. He had many questions, which Samika answered patiently. Some information made Samika smile, and some made her smile melt into a mixture of confusion and concern. Noticing this shift, Vincent stopped talking. During their brief pauses, Samika would glance up at the sky, and Vincent couldn't shake the feeling that the clouds turned a light grey whenever she did so. When he asked more about his maternal side, Samika simply replied,
"You are the son of Anitun Tabu. You should thank your mother for giving us perfect shade on our errand walks."
Finally, after what Vincent thought was a lifetime, they reached their destination. The electronics store was a haven for tech enthusiasts, filled with rows of gadgets, devices and accessories. Vincent's eyes lit up as they entered, his earlier exhaustion forgotten.
He walked through the aisles grabbed a high-powered laptop, a portable Wi-Fi router, a new phone, and a selection of cables and adapters. Samika trailed along, intrigued by the array of technology.
"So, what exactly do we need this for?" She asked, watching Vincent examine the gadgets with a salesman.
"With these, I can set up a network to track down the other de—guys." He explained, almost slipped his tongue and blurted out their true intentions of their purchase. This made Samika smile. "I can use the internet to look for them. Social media first, then we will try to establish communication."
Samika nodded, impressed. "It sounds complicated."
"Not really. In time you'll learn to use these too. I included two phones, so we can communicate effectively."
Samika's curiosity grew as she watched Vincent expertly navigate through the store, occasionally explaining the purpose of each gadget. Her world of magic and Vincent's world of technology seemed worlds apart, yet here they were, blending them together for a common cause.
After purchasing the items, they exited the store and headed back to the hotel. The sun was now peeking through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the city.
As they walked, Samika couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. She glanced around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"Something wrong?" Vincent asked, noticing her distraction.
Samika shook her head, forcing a smile. "Just getting used to the mortal realm, I guess."
Back in their hotel room, Vincent set up their new equipment while Samika continued to scan their surroundings for any sign of danger. She couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that a Dalaketnon was nearby. While the demigod was busy, Samika excused herself to get something to eat. She grabbed her leather wallet to make it seem believable when in truth, she wanted to confirm something downstairs.
☆.｡.:* .｡.:*☆
Samika's crystal vibrated, its rainbow hues casting an eerie light as she hurried down the hallway. She answered the call as soon as she entered the elevator.
"I'm in an elevator. I'll contact you soon," she said. Dao's shaky voice crackled in reply, "Come back tomorrow. Your presence is needed." The call ended abruptly.
Upon reaching the lobby, Samika bumped into three men who appeared to be foreigners. They exchanged friendly smiles as they entered the elevator, while Samika exited. The odd feeling she had earlier intensified as she stepped into the deserted lobby—no concierge, no bellboys, no guests.
Her instincts screamed at her. The men who had entered the elevator now seemed out of place. Her eyes narrowed, sensing something was terribly wrong.
She turned to rush back to the elevator, but the three men reappeared, blocking her way. One of them was carrying an unconscious Vincent, whom he placed on the lobby couch before facing Samika. Her heart raced as she realized these were no ordinary men; they were Dalaketnons in disguise. Their once-friendly smiles turned sinister, their eyes gleaming with malice.
"Going somewhere, engkantada?" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with menace.
Without hesitation, Samika drew her twin knives from her leather wallet. The blades shimmered with an otherworldly glow as she prepared for combat. The Dalaketnons, however, fought with their bare hands, their sharp nails glinting dangerously.
The Dalaketnons advanced, their movements swift and coordinated. Samika fought fiercely, her knives flashing as she dodged and countered their relentless attacks. Despite her agility and power, the odds were against her. The Dalaketnons' strength and ferocity pushed her to her limits. The lobby crackled with magic and tension as their clash echoed with grunts and the clash of metal against skin.
One of the Dalaketnons raked his sharp nails across Samika's side, sending a jolt of pain through her. She stumbled, vision blurring. Another Dalaketnon grabbed her arm, his nails digging in painfully as he twisted it. Gritting her teeth, Samika slashed at her attacker, her blade cutting through him and ending his threat.
The remaining Dalaketnons regrouped, their rage palpable. They lunged at her again, their sharp nails swiping and scratching. Samika ducked and spun, her knives flashing as she unleashed a barrage of attacks. One by one, the Dalaketnons fell, their sinister grins fading as Samika's blades found their marks.
The last Dalaketnon, bloodied and battered, stood defiant. With a powerful strike, Samika dispatched him, leaving him lifeless on the floor. Panting heavily, she stood over the fallen foes, her knives dripping with their dark blood.
Glancing at Vincent, still unconscious on the couch, Samika sighed in relief. Despite her bruises and exhaustion, she managed to get him back to the elevator. They reached their room, and Samika gently laid Vincent on the bed, her own steps faltering as she collapsed into a chair, breath ragged.
"Vincent, we need to be more careful," she muttered, looking at him with a mix of concern and resolve. The danger they faced was real, and their mission had never been more crucial.
As she tended to her wounds, Samika's thoughts turned to the future. Finding Renszel Manabat and the other demigods was imperative. Time was running out, and their enemies were closing in. Despite the pain and exhaustion, Samika felt a renewed sense of determination. She was resolved not to let anything stand in their way.
☆.｡.:* .｡.:*☆
The battle had left Samika and Vincent in a vulnerable position. While Vincent was in deep slumber, Samika decided to seize the opportunity to relocate. Given the recent chaos, she knew staying put was dangerous. Moving to a safer location near Luminara's portals was essential to avoid further attacks.
However, relocating Vincent discreetly was no easy task. She needed assistance from armed Engkantados to ensure their safety and smooth transport. The logistics were tricky; transporting a sleeping demigod from the hotel to their new location proved to be complicated. They opted for a discreet transport method, but it turned out that humans can't breathe in body bags—Vincent almost suffocated on the way.
Samika was deeply concerned. The wounds inflicted by her assailants had disrupted her regenerative process, causing slower and more painful healing. Although she wished to keep the encounter a secret, she urgently needed the assistance of Luminara's finest healers.
Despite her physical suffering, Samika was troubled by the disappointing outcome of the battle. She had been outnumbered and faced overwhelming odds, yet she was trained to overcome dangerous and unforeseen challenges. At that moment, she felt weak. While she would willingly sacrifice her life for the cause, losing the demigod would be a tragedy and jeopardize the prophecy.
Her train of thoughts was disrupted when an Engkantado warrior asked, "What should we do if he wakes up while you're gone?"
Samika patted his shoulder gently, "He won't wake up. But if he does, just tell him you are my friends. If he is good condition already, he can start searching for the other demigods."