Chapter 2: We are shamans!
Training had been brutal for the past two weeks. If not for the healer shaman's concoctions, Angelica was sure she wouldn't be able to lift her arms or move her legs properly. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that her muscles had probably been torn from all the repeated practice. She couldn't even sit upright yesterday without groaning in pain.
That man! It's all his fault! She knew he would be a devil of a mentor but she never thought it would be to this extent. It was really torture. He practically destroyed both of her training sticks more than a couple of times, and when they splintered, one of the pieces almost always hit her head. And he didn't even look the least apologetic about it. Why, oh why must she endure this so?
"Hello, earth to Angelica. You're still cursing Alcantara in your head, aren't you?" asked Katie, her friend. She had short dark hair with brown streaks, and her nose was slightly flat.
They were on their way to her Uncle Art's house for a study session after a grueling week. It was still early in the morning but the heat and humidity were high, and their backs were soaked in the morning sun. All around them were several individuals moving in every direction as towering buildings on either side of EDSA offer little to no shade from the heat. The voices of some street vendors filled the air as they peddled their fares to some of the yawning commuters.
"Haha did you get hit on the head or what? At least you're still alive, my older sister told me that Alcantara kicked out a bunch of warrior students from his class because they're not up to par. What were you thinking anyway? Choosing him as your mentor? There are a lot of other skilled Kali practitioners you know," said Mark. He was a burly fellow, with tan brown skin, and a face dotted with few pimple pockmarks. He wore dark brown shorts, a black shirt, and a necklace amulet fashioned for warrior shaman students.
Angelica and her friends were shaman apprentices. There were only two types - a warrior shaman and a healer shaman. Angelica was of the first type. In the Philippines, young children gifted with high spiritual powers enter an institution that is designed to train them as shamans. They're only seventeen now, but when they reach the age of 21, they're expected to take a licensing exam that would allow them to practice shamanism as a livelihood.
Shamans are a highly respected group and the job pays well too. This is because only a small portion of the population can manifest their spiritual powers. The work is highly risky, and warrior shamans get paid more than healer shamans.
"Huhu, why did I do that? You're right. Why did I ever decide to take his class? Is it still possible to switch?" said Angelica. She's a bit on the taller side for a young girl, and had short, pixie-cut hair.
"Switch? I'm not so sure if it's a smart idea to tell Alcantara that you will drop his class. Do you wanna be bedridden?" said Katie.
"I'm not sure if it will end with that," said Mark, cackling. They climbed the stairs to the steel bridge overpass and with every step, Angelica groaned in pain.
"Ugh, ughhh. Why is it so high?" said Angelica.
They already reached halfway across when Joan, the only healer shaman apprentice in their group, spoke up. "Don't scare Anj so much." She had long, straight hair which she kept in a high ponytail. Placing her arms around Angelica's shoulders, she said in a dramatically hushed tone. "Don't worry Anj, I can brew healing potions with a friendly discount if you want. Just call me."
"You're just as bad as the rest of them. I'll have you know I can practically kick all of your asses with all the training I've done so far," cried Angelica. Just as she was about to playfully swat Joan's hand away, the ground shook hard.
"What is going on? An earthquake?" said Katie.
"Guys -" started Angelica.
"Must be. Let's get out of here, it's not safe to be on a bridge," said Mark frowning.
"No, guys-"
"You're right. That was pretty strong too. Wait -" The ground trembled again, this time even more powerful. An ominous, ear-splitting laugh tore through the silence.
"What was that?" asked Katie.
"That's what I've been telling you! No, it's not an earthquake. L-look-" said Angelica in horror, pointing to the source.
Several hundred meters from the bridge, a monster about thirty meters tall suddenly appeared. It had a large eye in the upper middle part of its face and it had a wide gaping mouth with tusks. It seemed to be confused, scratching its head intermittently while holding on to a large tree.
Joan cried out, "How on earth -"
"Oh shit, what should we do? Why is a bungisngis here? We n-need to find a shaman -" said Mark, his face pale.
"What are you talking about? We are shamans!" said Angelica, her voice also quivering. She'd only seen bungisngis in picture books and knew they had great strength. It would be difficult for apprentice shamans like them to subdue it. But first things first, they need to get off the bridge.
"Let's move. In times of emergency, even though we don't have a license yet, we can use our powers to help the public."
"Are you crazy Angelica? Are you actually planning on fighting that thing? You can't even get past Alcantara!" Mark burst out. Despite this, they started running full speed down the remaining length of the bridge and were now barreling down the stairs.
"I'm not saying we have to fight it. We can help rescue people if they are trapped or something."
"Even though they're stupid, a bungisngis is considered a Category B monster purely because of its strength. They live in forests! How did one suddenly teleport in the middle of the city?" said Katie, tucking in her messy hair.
"Angelica, you have to call Uncle Art. That thing - heave - is just massive. It can kill a lot of people if left alone," said Joan, struggling to keep up. Since she's no warrior shaman, she doesn't possess the same constitution or stamina as the others.
"Okay wait a sec." Angelica whipped out her phone from her right pant pocket and started dialing furiously, all the while sprinting in high speed. A ringing sound came from the other line.
"I j-just - heave - can't," Joan stopped near the stoplight, both hands on her knees and panting heavily. "Just go - heave - ahead. I'll be right - heave - there with you."
"Are you sure? We can wait," said Mark.
"You can't - heave - it's an e-emergency," said Joan, fanning herself. "Just go."
"Okay, we'll see you," said Katie, nodding.
Angelica clicked her phone off. "He's not answering. Try calling Uncle Art on your own Joan. Catch you later."
Joan only nodded and waved them off.
Ignoring the pain that shot through her thighs, Angelica leapt on top of an abandoned vehicle while others followed suit.
"What the fuck is going on?"
The scene close to the site was absolutely terrifying. The moving crowd began to panic, and the loud honking of vehicles was deafening. A few of the people around seemed to sustain injuries which may have been due to being trampled by the hysterical crowd. Several others were hurriedly running away from the nearby medium-rise buildings in fear of being struck by the uprooted tree which was now being swung like a baseball bat.
They moved atop one vehicle to another until they reached closer to the bungisngis. It was wandering from the vacant lot into the sidewalk and into EDSA itself.
"Shit this is dangerous. We have to keep it in the vacant lot. If it comes up to the main road and reaches the train tracks-" Mark trailed off.
They all shuddered in fear. The MRT- short for Metro Rail Transit- is a major thoroughfare for many Filipinos and it passes above or on EDSA. Several trains pass through it every hour and it would indeed be a major disaster if the bungisngis would ever make its way there.
"In that case, we must herd it back towards the vacant lot," said Angelica. "At least until other shamans who can defeat it show up."
"Hey what are you doing? Move along, stop doing a freaking selfie or you'll die," said Mark suddenly.
"It's not a selfie, it's a live vlog," snapped the boy back. He held a GoProf camera in his right hand and proceeded to speak to his followers in a bright, business-like voice. "I'm sorry everyone, that was just a random stranger-"
"We're not random strangers, we're shamans. And if you know what's good for you, you won't stay here any longer," said Angelica.
"A shaman? I've only ever seen a few in real life!" The boy said, with stars in his eyes. He suddenly shoved the camera closer to Angelica's face. "Everyone, we now have a shaman on the scene. Say hello to everyone miss -"
"We told you already. Go away or that thing will kill you," said Katie covering the GoProf's camera. "If you and your followers care for your life, you'd leave this place in an instant. Let's go guys."
The boy was about to holler back at them but they ignored him and just took out their arnis, one on each hand. The polished wooden sticks gleamed brightly in the sun as they took a step forward to the overgrown vacant lot.
"Ugh, what is that smell? Smells like turd mixed with wet waste," Mark asked.
"What are you expecting anyway? It is sensitive so we should just make an even louder noise in this direction. Hopefully it'll move towards us to try and stop the noise," said Katie, scrunching her nose as well.
Angelica nodded then she screamed, "Over here you stupid thing. Over hereeee." She even drummed on a nearby discarded metal container for increased effect.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
"Wait, you should have warned us that we're starting now," said Mark, taken aback by the sudden racket.
"Too late," sweatdropped Katie.
A large grayish arm descended, scattering them in three different directions. Dust rose in the air obscuring their vision, and causing them to cough.
"Shit."
"He's actually faster than I thought for a meathead!"
"That's because he's too big! He can easily reach us with one swipe of his arm."
This time, the top of the tree's branches suddenly swerved towards them.The metal containers were pushed with such force that they were blasted towards the adjacent wall. Angelica managed to jump out at the last second. "Is everyone okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Same. Though I think I bruised my butt," said Mark.
"You'll be fine," shouted Angelica, waving her arnis stick around. "Be careful of the tree. Especially when it comes close to the ground."
"Copy."
Agitated, the bungisngis continued to walk in their direction. With its forehead knitted together, it jolted the ground with each heavy step.
"Let's make it run around in circles inside the lot. Until a senior warrior shaman arrives," said Katie. "Here! Here! Come over here!"
Mark nodded, pounding his arnis sticks together, "Alright! Come here you little shit!"