This place reeks of shit. Not to mention the damp and mossy ground mixing. I ran fast in each narrow path of this dark cave. Saved from the blue flame of my sword, this cavern was pitch black. This place was like a maze; each turn seemed to go nowhere. The sound of hooves chasing me appears to be getting closer and closer.
I skidded to a halt at the dead end, tss... wrong turn. Sweat ran through my forehead. This one's gonna be fun. The wild boar that's been chasing me finally caught up. It burst from the corner, the spike on its back protruding like a blackened spear. Its bloodshot eyes raged at me like a fucking maniac. It smiled, brandishing its tusks as it breathed in and out. Tsk, even meters away from this fucker, his stench assaults my nose.
"NO WAY TO RUN LIL MOUSE!!!" The boar growled, its voice felt like a thunderclap that shook the whole cave.
I put one of my hands on my waist, and I can't help but smile a little. This is the second time I met a moon eater. The beast loomed at me, is this piece of shit tryna intimidate me?
Which brought me to it, how's my idiot student been doing? Knowing that dimwit, he's probably causing headaches to that runaway princess. My mind was brought back after this pig stomped one of its hooves on the ground.
"GOT SCARED LIL MOUSE!?"
"You know, for a pig, you sure talk a lot," was all moon-eaters amusing like this one? Made me want to tease it more. "I mean, really. A little too much for my taste. The story is true tho... you're quite... hmm, quite disgusting..."
Its eyes flare up, looks like I hit a nerve hahaha. He snarled as the ground vibrated, "DISGUSTING! YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!!! I'LL PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE!" I intentionally yawned in front of it, trying to not mind its foul breath. The Nu around the cave suddenly went thick like a slime. The beast grew larger and larger. As it stands now, its legs were even taller than me now.
I lifted my eyes at it as it growled, "Wasn't expecting the full transformation, but sure, show me what you've got, porkchop."
The boar snorts loudly, its voice deep, like low growl. It glares down at me with fury in its eyes. "Do you think you're funny, little mouse?" it asked "You won't be laughing when I—"
I cut in and said, "No, no, I do think you're funny at all... for me, you're a real big scary piggy with an ego problem."
The boar's tusks ground together, its muscles rippling as it snarled again. "YOU'RE DEAD, YOU LITTLE WORM!!"
It charged forward, shaking the ground as it closed in. The boar rushed towards me, I gripped my sword and chanted.
"Teeth as strong as steel,
let your fangs rend my enemies to ruin.
Let my foes taste your wrath, O Lord Barangaw."
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Damn it, my neck felt stiff as a rock after I woke up for a short sleep. The bench felt like a trial for my back. Tho, think I need to get used to it by now. The girl we found last night was quietly sleeping on my bed. Guess it's one of the prices of being helpful, them taking your comfort.
"Glad you're awake." A voice startled me from behind.
"The fuck..." I muttered.
Mayari walked inside my room as if she owned it. "I heard from Agni what happened last night." She stared at the girl and touched her forehead, "You did right, Wan."
I did good, she said. How the hell should I reply to that? damn it, she must think I'm stupid for the pause. "Yeah, anyways..." I rubbed the back of my neck, "can we eat? I'm starving."
I saw her smiled when I walked past her. What was she smiling at? Did I sound so stupid? "Remember what you told me when I asked you before?" she asked.
Her question made me pause and glance back at her. What now? "What are you talking about?"
"Back at the capital, when I asked you why you saved us..." she looked straight to my eyes, damn it, I can't help but return it. Don't want her to think I'm intimidated. "You said it was just a collateral..."
"What about it?" I asked. Why was she bringing it back all of a sudden?
"You said it was just a result of your curiosity," She took a small step closer. "But what you did last night... confirms my thoughts about you."
I can't help but squint my eyes. For some reason, it's kinda hard for me to read where she's trying to go with this convo. "What do –."
She didn't let me finish. She stepped forward, then out of nowhere, this girl gently took my hands in hers. Her fingers filled the gaps between mine. What's going on with this girl now?
"You're hungry, right?" she smiled at me, "Let's eat. Agustin and Giben are waiting for us."
That's it? All of that just because she wanted to say we're about to eat? This girl's driving me in over my head sometimes.
"Also, we have a lot to talk about with Kario." She added as we walked, leaving the girl.
"About what?" I asked,
"About our next steps." She spoke.
As we reached the room, I was immediately hit with the aroma of garlic fried rice and adobo. My stomach growled in response, almost louder than my thoughts. Agustin's grin was wide as he dug into his meal. The sight of the food made me forget the confusion Mayari gave me. I head straight to the table, beside Given. She's already stuffed, she nodded at me, then asked for the girl. No time for that tho. I scooped a handful of rice and chicken, then ate to my heart's content.
While the adobo's flavor dances on my tongue, Mayari started speaking. "I need you to come with me to the Iberian fort here in Itakam." That one made me pause. There's only me, Given, and Agustin inside.
"I can do it myself." I told her.
Her eyes furrowed as she answered, "No, I need to see it for myself."
Tss, this girl. She didn't feel the need to do the same back at Kubiz, but now, she wanted first-hand involvement. "Tell me." I stared at her eyes, "You wanted to show Penumbra that you're not afraid, right?"
I saw the twitching of her eyes, "Ye – yes." She answered, shifting her gaze to the floor.
I couldn't help but snort, "Tsk, that's you being stupid." I licked the sauce on my fingers and said, "You already proved yourself back at the raid at Kubiz, there's no need for you to put yourself in danger over things like this."
"Yes, or better yet... Ask Agni to go with Wan instead of you." Given added. I nodded in agreement; however, Mayari still insisted on accompanying me.
"Okay-okay..." I said, finally, this girl won't listen this time. "So, what's the plan?"
"Our mission is to find where they're stockpiling their weapons. I've got Bay-an and Tata Islaw scouting two other small camps down south of the city," she explained, her voice steady.
I glanced at Given, then back to Mayari. "Curlytops? He good to go now?"
Alita cuts in before Mayari can answer. "Yeah, is he alright?"
"He's not at full strength yet," Mayari replied as she slurped her coffee. "His arm's still healing, but he insisted on going."
I just shrugged, another idiot. "Okay then..."
We continued our meal, and silence hung with each bite. It's been three quiet days since we arrived in Itakam. By the time night fell, I had already packed my things. At exactly 10:00 p.m., I and Mayari slipped out of the building, just ten minutes behind Bay-an and Tata Islaw. This night will be quite fun.
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Black covered the sky of Itakam. Despite the late hour, Itakam seems to get a new life under the guise of the night. The city pulsed with life as merchants started to lay out their merchandise. The humming of patrons and other tourists covered the street. Meanwhile, a unit of Iberian soldiers patrols several alleys along the way to the fort where Mayari and Wan are about to go.
They reached deep in Itakam, Wan muttered under his breath as they weaved through the crowded streets of Alate. "Oi, those poor girls can't even afford clothes to cover their bodies."
Mayari raised an eyebrow; her face wrinkled in confusion. "What?"
Wan nods toward a couple of women standing near Kaptan's temple, their clothes little more than fabric draped over their bodies, barely covering their skin. "That one, for example."
Mayari's eyes followed his gesture, and her expression shifted as realization dawned on her. "Wan, they're not poor...", she said while palming her face.
"They're not?" Wan asked, his brows knitted.
"Well, I mean, they are, but that's not why they dress like that." Mayari's voice faltered, unsure if she wanted to continue or just let Wan fill the gaps.
Wan squints, still not quite understanding. "Sooo???"
"They wear that to attract customers..." Mayari said, a flush creeping into her cheeks. "It's not about the money they don't have... It's part of their work."
Wan's face scrunched further. "Sooo?"
Mayari sighed, visibly embarrassed, trying to make herself clear. "Wan, just... read between the fucking lines, alright?"
They continued walking, their footsteps melded with the distant hum of Nilad's nightlife. As they pass by the busy marketplace, the women waiting outside look weary but expectant, their eyes scanning the faces that pass by. The Tunduvan prostitutes stand near corners, some leaning against the walls, others standing with the remainder of dignity they have to mask the desperation beneath. Despite prostitution being illegal, it's an open secret in Itakam, especially among the Iberian soldiers. Their presence dominated the streets like an unspoken pact, exchanging coin for bodies. Every few steps, another face catches Wan's eye, dressed provocatively, waiting for a patron.
Some of the women stood at the edges of the Iberian temples dedicated to Baria, the goddess of prosperity, her influence felt in the power that lingers over the city. The soldiers who enter these sacred spaces don't always come out with their faith. Some come out with ruffled uniforms, wearing a wide smile on their faces.
Wan's eyes flickered from one face to the next. He watched a woman as a timawa spoke to her. The woman smiled flirtatiously, and after a few seconds, she gently grabbed the timawa's hand and walked deep into a dark alley just around the corner of the temple dedicated to Kaptan.
They continued their walk, the weight of their mission pressing down on them as they neared the fort. A towering wall loomed ahead, casting a long shadow across the street. Iberian soldiers, a mix of Agta, Ikugans, and humans, are stationed in the area.
"Damn, that's one hell of a wall," Wan muttered under his breath, eyes scanning the structure as they hid in the shadows of a narrow alley a few meters away. He squinted, trying to figure out a way in.
Mayari didn't look any less concerned. "And those two Agta at the gate... they'll be a problem. Not to mention those three patrolling the perimeter."
Wan raised an eyebrow, nodding. "Yeah, it will be easier just to kill them all..." Wan stopped, upon seeing Mayari's glare.
"You can't just go in swinging blades. We need a plan." Mayari hissed at Wan.
"Damn. Clean living's harder than it looks." Wan whispered.
Wan scratched his chin, glancing over at the towering gates. "We could jump the wall, but..." His voice trailed off as he thought about the guards on the other side.
"Don't you guys have some invisibility spells?" Wan asked.
"Only master casters can pull that off," Mayari answered. "It's not like we can just—"
"Tsk," Wan interrupted, clicking his tongue. "If Teach were here, she'd have this handled in two seconds."
He leaned against the cold stone wall, brow furrowed as he pondered their options. Then, a sly grin spread across his face. "Wait a minute. Can you do some transmutation panawag spells?"
Mayari raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? What's your point?"
Wan leaned in closer, his voice low. "Are you ready to do anything to accomplish this mission?"
She met his gaze, unwavering. "Always."
A few minutes later...
"FUCK YOU WAN, IM GONNA FUCKING MURDER YOU, YOU SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!" Mayari mumbled under her breath.
"Ssshh... Just follow my lead," Wan replied, with a grin on his face.
Mayari shot him a look of pure wrath. She was now dressed in a skimpy outfit, a tight, barely-there tunic that barely covered her, paired with bold red lipstick and makeup. Her hair was tied into pigtails.
Wan couldn't help but smirk. "Now, remember, wave your hips as we walk past those three guards. That's how the girls were drawing attention earlier."
"Damn you, Wan," she muttered, clearly uncomfortable yet determined to make it work.
Wan chuckled. "Let's hope they like 'lolitas,' tho..." he teased.
"Lolita?" Mayari's voice was a mix of confusion and irritation.
"Never mind." Wan waved it off with a grin, then prepped himself as the guards approached.
The trio of Ikugan guards rounded the corner, their heavy boots clicking on the stone pathway. Wan adjusted his stance, putting on the charm. Alita took a deep breath and strutted forward, her posture more stiff than seductive but still effective enough to grab their attention.
"Hey, you two," one of the guards began, his voice cutting through the tension, before he froze, eyes widening as he took in Mayari's appearance. "Well, well, what do we have here?"
He stepped closer, hand outstretched, fingers hovering near her chin. "What's a young petal like you doing in a place like this?" His tone was a mix of curiosity and... something else.
Wan played his part, putting on a theatrical smirk and stepping forward. "Oi, oi! Hands off the merchandise, sir!" He spread his arms wide in mock surprise.
The soldier blinked, taken aback by the sudden intervention. "And who might you be?" he asked, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"I'm her brother and manager." Wan's voice was smooth, almost mocking. "If you're looking for a fun time, it'll cost you."
The guard eyed him, narrowing his gaze. "Really now? And how much would this little 'fun' may cost?"
Wan shrugged nonchalantly. "Three pieces of eight."
The soldier hesitated, clearly eyeing Mayari again, but his hand didn't leave her chin. He turned to the other two guards, who exchanged looks before nodding.
"Is it alright to you two if I have fun for a while?"
"Yeah, sure," one of them answered. "Just make it quick."
The first guard smirked, then turned back to Wan. "Alright, alright. Three pieces of eight, huh?" He fished into his pouch, pulled out a silver coin, and expertly split it into eight smaller pieces with a flick of his wrist. He handed three of them to Wan, who snatched them up and stuffed them into his satchel with a grin.
"Oh, and as her manager," Wan added with a wink, "I'll need to stick around while you two have your fun. But don't worry, I'll be outside."
"Sure, whatever." The soldier shrugged, tugging Mayari by the arm. "C'mon, sweetheart. Let's go."
As they walked into the fort, Wan's smile grew wider. "Well, damn," Wan muttered under his breath, "didn't think that'd actually work..."