Chapter 54 Chapter 54
"What?" The young woman was stunned by Arnold’s words.
Did he mean that almost the entire population of this island was wiped out in a single night? Almost everyone—because there was one survivor, and that was Arnold.
Anyone would be shocked by what he said. If you were an engineer skilled in measurement, you could estimate just how vast and large the island they were on was. This meant that as far and wide as the shoreline reached during low tide, that was how far the bones of Arnold’s former companions extended—and some were even his own family!
This island was where he lived before, and if she were to choose a metaphor to describe it—this island is where Arnold died a long time ago. Even she felt as though her entire being died when her mother passed away; how much more so in Arnold’s situation?
That was likely the reason for the sadness on her companion’s face since they left their previous island.
"How did it happen?"
"The massacre of my ancestors?" She nodded in response. "We were celebrating then." The man pointed toward the overgrown mountain. "Did you notice the large circular stones in the middle of the forest earlier?"
"Yeah."
"We were all there the night my father was appointed as the leader of this island. Of course, since it was a celebration, there was wine, so the guards of the shoreline—who were skilled fighters—were invited. My mother and father were dancing to their hearts' content. We were all happy because not a single person opposed my father's appointment, and that was a first in the history of this island. Do you see the very peak of that mountain?"
Because of her extraordinary vision, she could see what was up there even at night. There were various colors of flowers with identical shapes and bearing trees. "What are those flowers?" She knew how fragrant they were because the miles of distance were no hindrance to her keen sense of smell.
"Santeliom. Those were my grandmother's plants. She planted them herself, so everyone took care not to damage the field of flowers. I don't know why I thought of picking flowers to give to my mother that night. When I came back here, everyone was in chaos. It was a total catastrophe. How many did I find alive when I returned that night? Only Philjim and Kapito. Only the two of them were left fighting, but they were already wounded. My grandparents were already gone. The Tirongs were already feasting on my father and mother. Do you know the most painful part of that scene? While the two of them were struggling for their last breaths, they kept their hands held tight together."
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She could imagine what it felt like to be in that situation, watching her parents' brutal death.
"Why didn't you fight?" she asked him sadly. "Why didn't you defend your parents?"
"For every Tirong the three of us killed, five more took its place. They were toying with us at that time, and we could do nothing but fight. When I was the only one left and I thought it was my end, the royal siblings arrived. They helped me. They were great fighters, so in the end, the Tirongs retreated to the water, and all that remained were the bones of my companions."
"How many of you were here? Why are there so many bones? Why are the bones here on the shore when you said the battle happened there in the central mountain?"
"There were many of us, and there are enough bones of my companions to fill the shoreline. As for your last question, I no longer know the answer because Yfra and Ryul carried me away from this place while I was unconscious. I never returned to this place since then, not until now."
"What do they look like? Those creatures you mentioned."
"They look like human skeletons with hollowed-out stomachs. They have long white hair, long snouts, and mouths full of sharp fangs. They have two legs and are genderless, so I don't know how they multiply."
She hugged her knees as she felt a chill. Based on what she saw underwater and Arnold’s description, the creature that attacked her was almost identical. The only difference was that the one that attacked her had a tail for a lower body, whereas the Tirong had legs.
"Did you never plan to seek revenge?" she asked after a while.
"Back then? No."
"How about now?"
"Perhaps when you are on your way back to your mountain, I will search for their lair, which I know is just around here."
"How can you say their lair is just around here?"
"Do you remember what the old man who owned the boat said? Those who ventured to this part of the sea were never seen again and never returned home. They were likely turned into food." The young man picked up a bone. "If I am still alive after my search for those Tirongs, I will move all these bones to where my grandmother's flowers are planted."
Now she knows that immortal life is a curse and full of pain.
She understood his story. He lived happily and normally as an aswang, but all those happy things in his life vanished in a single night. Perhaps the man lived again when he met Aliyah, but now the sorceress is gone too, and he is left alone again for the same reason. His loved ones were murdered brutally, all because of greed.
Arnold added wood to the fire before standing up. "Stay here for a while; I'll just go hunting so we both have something to eat. Tomorrow, we leave this place."
"Can't we sail now?" She stood up as well, intending to go with him. "Where is the transportation you mentioned, anyway?"
"The wind is strong up there, and it’s dangerous because the wind will just destroy our craft again and drop us into the water."
"Which direction is Garantiara?"
"We'll check the map later. Are you staying behind or coming along?" he asked her.
"I'll come with you. It's better if we stay together because who knows what supernatural things might happen here by the seaside." She picked up her bag and slung it over her back. "I want to eat a lot of meat, so we better catch something big today because I’m going to eat more than you."
"Why don't we have a contest instead, Hybrid?" he challenged her.
"What kind of contest?"
"The first one to catch a deer gets to eat the most and sleep soundly tonight."
"What about the loser?"
"The loser cooks the meat and, of course, stands guard all night."
She tilted her neck from side to side until it cracked. "Sounds fair." She grabbed Arnold’s shoulder and teleported to the heart of the forest, where she could smell the scent of animal blood.
Meat for dinner would be enough for her to be fully recharged.