Chapter 7: Chapter 7- Pinag-adlawan

AMILYN

I'm gonna die for the second time around in a single day, that's the thought that came into my mind two seconds into the ride on these…what did they call them again? Angelie? Angsty? A…something. Yeah, let's call it A-something. I'm definitely gonna die a second time again for the day. That must be a record.

I think that guy named Alren did warn me about something before the ride. I was definitely not paying attention, too starstruck by the arrival of the regal, jewel-adorned, semi-unicorn semi-centaur of a being. It wasn't my fault. First the woman bagani whips up some magic beads, then she dices a chicken's neck in some shamanistic ritual, then this cloud appears out of nowhere (the bagani system must really be into clouds). By the time the guy was explaining about some juice, the view in front of us morphed like a melting picture, and then these…beasts…no, calling them beasts sounds disrespectful…being, comes into view. I didn't really have time to process what was going on with the French lady talking in squirrel and the A-somethings looking all majestic with their tatas out in open view  (again, these bagani people must really not like the concept of brassieres).

By the time the Alren guy was saying some pre-flight reminders, I was too busy trying to wrap my head around the series of events that took place in the last ten minutes. Who can blame me? Certainly not…well…me. There has to be a threshold for weirdness a pinili has to go through on her first day.

Anyway, why am I too busy defending myself from an unknown accuser when I'm probably about to die riding this last minute ferry?

The ride itself reminds me of the time nana took me horseback riding. Only there's no guide gently prodding the horse along, making sure it allows for a very comfortable, enjoyable ride. And only this ride feels like it's going a hundred kilometers per second.

Everything around me looks like they've been stretched horizontally, all blurs of colored lines as we pass by. Not that I have that much time to look around, as I'm too busy hanging on for dear life, praying to whatever gods exist out there to not let this be my first and last day as a pinili.

I instinctively pull my feet as close to the A-something as I humanly can, with the gnawing feeling that they will 100% be ripped off if I don't stick to the ride. Once again, I feel the whipping force of the wind on every exposed inch of skin on my body, threatening to slice and dice me as easily as the French woman diced that poor chicken's neck. As we zoom into the horizon, I hear a cackle, something like a high-pitched laugh. I realize that it's the ride, let's call her Angelie, laughing at me. She says something else in squirrel, probably mocking me, but I don't bother trying to understand, because I am too busy trying to keep myself alive.

Wait. My chest feels heavy, tight, like it's gonna explode. And not in the metaphorical sense like I meant earlier when I lost my nana. I mean literally, I feel like my chest is about to explode. Something is missing, something…. Alren reminded me of before I was unceremoniously placed over Angelie (wow, that sounds so wrong). Something very important, he said. What is it? I try to rack my brain as my chest tightens more and more.

Then I realize it.

Breathe! I haven't breathed yet since I was flown into the wind! I can't believe I forgot about something very important.

I try to open my mouth, doing my best to bite at the air in front of me like some rabid animal lunging at a prey. But no can do, as the wind threatens to rip my mouth open upon my attempt. 

Now what? I ask myself, panicking, as my chest constricts even more. I feel like I'm being squeezed alive, at the same time, I feel like I might just blow up anytime soon.

Think, Amilyn, think. Breathe! You have to breathe!

Instinctively, as if I've been intentionally holding back, I inhale through my nostrils, having reached my threshold for not breathing. The attempt is painful, like I'm breathing in something solid instead of air. But it suffices. The pressure in my chest lightens, even for the smallest bit, and I feel not-so-blowing-up.

And like that, the journey went on. Whenever I can no longer take the pressure of not breathing, I force myself to open my nostrils and breath.

I notice water spraying all around us, and deduce that we must be passing through the ocean. Angelie's species must be able to walk over water.

Breathe.

We hit solid earth again.

Open sesame nostrils.

The surrounding blur becomes greener. We must be passing by a forest.

Inhale, exhale.

I don't know how long the journey went, but as soon as I felt Angelie slowing down, and I can take two sips of air without having my nose ripped off my pour face, I thank all the deities I have yet to know.

We come to an abrupt halt, and I forced my feeble body off Angelie (again, sounds wrong).

And ladies and gentlemen, I relieve my stomach of every meal I've had the last week, probably the last month, in a very undignified fashion. I am  just hurling out vomit like an open faucet, hands on my knees, haunched over, puking.

I feel a hand pat my back, and realize that the bagani must have arrived. They're probably more used to the fashion of travel, so they don't unburden themselves of any meal.

"That ride was NOT human friendly," I weakly declare once I finish my…well, troubles.

"Yeah, sorry about that. We wouldn't have gone that direction if we had any other choice," Alren's voice says.

"At least you can't say I haven't gone through fire yet," I reply, clearing my throat and trying to salvage what remained of my dignity by standing up as straight as my shuddering spine can carry me.

"Oui, the worst has passed. Now we are near the camp," Gabrielle replies.

I look around. I was right, we are in the middle of the forest. Trees cover the sky, but I can safely proclaim it's nightime here. Thankfully, there's no rain.

"The camp is in the middle of the forest? Like Camp Half-Blood?" I ask.

"No, silly. It's near here. Come on, let's get walking," replies Alren.

"Where are we anyway?" I ask again as I follow.

"Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Look, there's the entrance," he responds, pointing at something beyond.

I look. He is pointing at a river.

"The camp is a river?"

"Close. The camp is under the river. Welcome to Hinatuan Enchanted River, or Sacred River, some call it. Some locals caught wind of something out-of-the-ordinary going on around and called it enchanted. Little did they know they are very much on point," says Gabrielle.

I take a closer look at the said enchanted river. The water is crystal clear, that much is obvious even under the night sky. But other than that, I can't find anything enchanted about the place.

"Uhm…" I start.

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"There is a cave system under the river, only very partially explored. To ensure the safety of the dwellers and the maintenance of the untouched tradition, the ancestors decided to settle there. It spans around five hundred square kilometers, the dwelling space equipped with all that is needed to sustain life underground. Its safety is ensured by magical barriers and guards in all entrances and exits," Gabrielle explains.

"So we're gonna…" I trail off.

"Yup, we're gonna dive to it," finishes Alren.

"Not to be pessimistic or anything, but I'm not much of a diver, and the river looks really deep. Unless being a pinili allows one to breath under water, I doubt I can make the trip," I protest.

"Oh, ne vous inquiétez pas. It's just like you said, being a pinili allows you to breath under water, so to speak. Here, drink this," Gabrielle replies, handing me a flask.

I look at the flask nervously, worried it might make me sprout gills or something. With my luck, the gills turn permanent and turn me into some human-fish hybrid.

"Don't worry. It's not that bad. You only grow gills and fin for about an hour. The effects wear off, usually," Alren says, reading my mind.

She must have read the horror in my face, because Gabrielle threw her partner an irritated look.

"Don't worry about what he said. It only allows you to absorb the oxygen in the water and take on the pressure of being eighty feet under water. You won't feel too much. And you won't definitely grow gills and fins," she assures me.

I nod, not too sure, but seeing no other choice. I take the flask, taking a swig of the liquid inside. Immediately, a warm feeling washes over me, like I'm bathing under the sunrise. I look at my hands, no fins. I touch my neck, no gills.

Gabrielle smiles at me, as if saying 'see? No harm done' in French.

"Ready?" she asks.

I nod, suddenly finding courage.

"Okay, let's go. Alren, you go first."

"As you wish, mademoiselle," says Alren, and then he dives into the water.

"You next. I'll be right behind you," Gabrielle tells me, mentioning me to go on.

I nod again. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and jump into the water.

It's a peculiar feeling. Just like I'm on the surface. I open my eyes and see various rock formations all around me, and the surrounding has a blue hue to it. I'm definitely under water, and I'm not breathing, but I don't feel any pressure in my chest whatsoever. I feel light, like a leaf in the wind. I take experimental twists and turns, and my body follows my instructions with ease. Unknowingly, a smile appears on my face. So this is what it feels like to be one with your surroundings.

I feel someone poke me. I turn and see Alren pointing downward.

Right, we have somewhere to be, and the effects of the potion only lasts for an hour.

I follow him, swimming downwards. The water is clear and easily parts for me as I make my way. From what I learned in class, the deeper you are under water, the more the pressure builds. But I don't feel anything out of the ordinary at all.

We continue making our way downwards for who knows how long. The surroundings grow darker and darker, until I can't see where I'm going anymore. Alren looks back and must have noticed me stop, because I feel him poke me again. No, he is writing something on my forehead. A second later, the surrounding rock formations start to give off a dull, white glow.

Now able to see my surroundings, I continue with the dive.

We swim until we reach the bottom of the river. Here, the glow of the rocks indicate many entrances, of various sizes, in all directions. We make our way towards one on our left, a small opening about five feet wide, and enter.

Forward we go, traversing the various twists and turns of the cave, passing through large caverns and narrow passages. I see stalactites and stalagmites of all shapes and sizes, but am left with no time to be in awe at their beauty, as Alren doesn't stop to admire them.

Finally, when my arms and feet start to get tired from all the swimming, and when I've decided to give up on my effort to memorize the way, we stop.

We're in front of a large opening, the path beyond unlit. I notice movement amid the dark. Something is making its way towards us.

I must have let out an audible gasp, because I feel Gabrielle's reassuring hand over my shoulder. She nods at me, as if saying it's alright.

The creature in front of us is somewhat like a snake, only about thirty feet long and about two feet across, with many horns. It is red, with something like a crown, or a crest on its forehead. Its eyes are milky white, and the mouth is fully equipped with razor sharp teeth. From beyond, I can see it whip its tail, one that looks like that of a mermaid's. In short, it looks like if a dragon and a snake had a baby.

Alren and Gabrielle are unfazed though, so I decide it's not too courageous to turn tail and run for dear life.

The creature comes close, as if sniffing the three of us. I freeze, my eyes following its every move, alert for any signs of hunger in its eyes. However, I find myself more in shock when it nudges Alren with its snout, gently, like a pet recognizing a master. Alren pats it, and looks back at me with a big grin on his face.

He mentions for us to continue, so I decide I no longer want to be in the presence of big scary snake, and lunge forward enthusiastically.

We continue to swim, this time passing by a narrow canal only four feet across. After about twenty feet, we emerge into a small cavern of air.

The three of us surface.

"Sorry we forgot to tell you about the ibingan. He can be scary to first-timers," Alren says nonchalantly as he starts making his way forward.

No worries, I try to say, but all I manage is a nod.

From there, we walk. The cavern leads into a tunnel. Torches line the walls on each side, giving off a bright white glow. We walk wordlessly for some time, until we arrive.

I mean, if this is IT. Then I must say, it was well worth the journey, ride on Angelie involved.

"Welcome to Pinag-adlawan, Amilyn," says Gabrielle, as the three of us pause to take in the view.

And must I say, wow.

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