Wintertide

"It all started with a lullaby. With a voice more melodic than a nightingale's but a heart colder than winter. Hatred led to the death of the innocent. A blood sacrifice was made. Lullabies glorify death. You'll know why. For now, listen to the Wintertide's Lullaby." Lumi never knew what safety felt like. When she did, she never wanted to let it go. Life had other plans for her, but fate had sympathy and gave her a gift. She will never be alone ever again. Matthos Trem wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but his heart was always in the right place. In the midst of a pandemic, he finds himself entangled with a creature never encountered by anyone before. With his best friend, Barney Matthos goes on an adventure to discover the pearl of the orient sea and find the answer to what is killing his people. And Lumi is both the answer and the question. Excerpt: Matthos chuckled, “So it was like that?” Judging from the circumstances he found her in, she should’ve been dead. She’s barely alive, he noted. He snapped back to reality as the wind grew stronger. The storm will only get stronger from then on. His time was limited. With that, Matthos carefully took her in his arms. She was barely breathing. He felt the burning need to save her, an unfamiliar feeling like never before. Without further ado, he walked away, leaving the fountain and the peaceful life he believed he would lead from then on. Books used as study basis: A Handbook of Philippine Folklore by Mellie Leandicho Lopez Soul Mates, Karma and Reincarnation by Jaime T. Licauco Gayang Mga Nilalang na Kagila-Gilalas by Edgar Calabia Samar Philippine Folklore Literature "The Epics" by Damiana L. Eugenio