Jasper raised his guard as the smiling woman stood before him. Behind her, Si-Dapa lay pinned by thick vines, shackled at every limb.
"Who are you?" Jasper asked.
The woman just laughed, and her doll like face gave off an unsettling sense of intrigue. Like a mad scientist who just found a new specimen.
"My name is Diwata Laon, the protector of Mt. Kanlaon," The woman introduces herself. " I'd say I'm quite impressed when your mother managed to break you free from Mansisilat's curse." She added.
Laon is beautiful in Jasper's standards, but that grin of hers gave him an ominous vibe that made his brain scream that she's bad news.
Jasper frowned. Laon was striking, but something about her grin put him on edge.
He shifted his stance, shielding his unconscious mother, and turned to Si-Dapa.
"I thought the test was to kill all the monsters and breach Diwata Laon's defenses," he said.
Si-Dapa sighed. "Rude as ever," he muttered. "The real test was to see if Elise Gutierrez has the strength to face Sitan and prevent another massacre like the one his disciples caused twenty-five years ago."
"So Kanlaon lied to Mom?"
"You could say that," Si-Dapa replied."Though, this growth is necessary if she wants to become one of my reapers. If she's weak, then Sitan and his four disciples would immediately target her."
Si-Dapa's gaze flicked from Jasper to Laon. "Now that the test is over, could you tell your vines to let me go?" he said, irritation clear in his tone.
"Oh! My bad," Laon said with a laugh. She waved her hand, and the vines unraveled from Si-Dapa's limbs. Flashing him a peace sign, she added, "No hard feelings, right?"
Si-Dapa clicked his tongue and dusted off his gown. He turned to Jasper, pointing a sharp finger at him.
"Now, let's move on to the second matter---since you've managed to augment into your human form," he said, his tone cold.
"He's about to name you! Congrats!" Laon chimed in with a playful grin.
Si-Dapa's face turned crimson red as he shot her a withering glare. "I was getting to that!" he barked, his embarrassment clear despite his scowl. He picked up a stone and began lo leave Laon and went far away from the two of them.
"I don't know about that. You were embarrassed to name him five minutes ago," Laon teased, rolling her eyes. She stepped closer to Jasper, studying him with interest. "The name Jasper is fascinating. Mortals believe the gemstone brings tranquility and comfort to the soul. I wonder, who gave you your name?"
Jasper hesitated, glancing at Si-Dapa—his face too reminiscent of his father's—before looking away.
"Mom told me it was Dad who named me," he said quietly.
Laon's playful demeanor softened. "I'm sure he was overjoyed when he first saw you, Jasper," she said gently. "My condolences for his sudden passing."
"Hah! How could you tell?" Jasper spat those words and eyed Laon and Si-Dapa with bitterness visible from his eyes. "None of you were there when he constantly beats me without prior reason!"
"That's because of Mansisilat." Laon explained, "Her curse took a massive toll in your Father's psyche. I'm amazed he managed to endure her curse for 24 tears before he died. Even with the help of the witches, his spiritual power is strong enough to survive that long."
"That boy suffered too much when both of his parents died under the hands of Sitan's underlings. But it is true that he expresses joy when you were born to this world, Diyan Masalanta has records of that memory in Apolaki's library." Laon added. "You could pay her a visit sometimes, she would love to invite you into her humble workplace."
"What's the connection with Diyan— being the goddess of love, working at Apolaki's library?" Si-Dapa confusedly asked.
"Hell if I know Death god, ask Apolaki himself." Laon rolled her eyes at Si-Dapa's nonsensical question, then faced Jasper, "Now what will your answer be, Young man?"
"I-I—"
Jasper opened his mouth to speak but no words could come out from it. He was too overwhelmed to the information he just acquired and the shock made him speechless.
"Brat, stop idling and let's start the ceremony." Si-Dapa reprimanded.
Jasper realized that Si-Dapa actually drew a big circle with some baybayin symbols using the stone he picked up earlier, he snapped his fingers and the circle glowed in a soft blue hue. The symbols however, began to move and created a magical barrier.
'Come here.' Si-Dapa spoke through Jasper's thoughts as he held out his hands.
Jasper stepped inside the circle and he instinctively kneeled in front of the god.
"Now then, I— Si-Dapa, the god of life and death, hereby bestow you—Jasper Gutierrez, a new name. From now on, you are no longer be called by your old name, but only the name given by your creator. Do you accept this said conditions and willingly accept as one of my Reaper's familiar?"
"I accept."
Fwoosh
Silver chains appeared around Jasper's neck, adorned with sharp thorns and sapphire gems. But despite the alluring beauty from the collar, the person who wore it experienced an unbearable pain that caused him to growl in pain.
"If you won't change that attitude of yours," Si-Dapa pulled the chains and helplessly yanked Jasper with it. "I won't hesitate to subdue you using this." He warned.
"Oh, spare me with your antics old man." Jasper scoffed despite the collar choking him. "As long as you wear that face, I ain't gonna show you even an ounce of respect."
"Heh, we'll see about that— Melancholy."
The chains vanished and Jasper slumped to the ground, he felt as if all of his muscles stopped functioning after the ceremony.
That chain, Jasper— no, Melancholy remembered what his mother said inside the illusion and what Diwata Laon told him.
'Your father is not always like this, he was gentle and caring.'
'He was overjloyed when you were born.'
He laughed bitterly at those thoughts as he watched Si-Dapa talk with Laon.
The father he knew is not what they described him. He is cruel, abusive and aggressive. Their neighbors often gossips about his father going out with another woman.
But why did Diwata Laon and Mom defended him?
What really happened to him that caused him to change 24 years ago?
He wanted to investigate and find out all the answers to these questions. Hoping that what they told him is actually real.