THE HEALER'S CONQUEST

CHAPTER 2: STRANGE DREAM

I woke up because of the refreshing cold breeze of the wind. I saw that I was standing in the middle of the street road between the houses. As I walk across the road, the surroundings are strangely looked different as I pass them. At first it looked like just normal gathering of houses , but as time went on they kept on changing. From shantytowns to high rise Buildings and from there to arrays of Nipa Huts and went to being a Forest and finally hills.

Strangely enough I saw someone standing firmly at the top of one of the hills. He was staring at the horizon his back was facing me. His long hair was braided that reaches his waist it's ends was adorned with precious stones, ivory and gold.He was wearing a loincloth with combined colour of red and black wavy patterns.as was as similarly designed bandana. He turned around and revealed his face. His body. was lean but muscular his calves were big and dense. His whole body was covered in tattoos. The tattoos were very uniform but with differing shapes in every part of his body. They were patterned like the rice terraces as hey we're intertwined with each other. Amidst these interconnecting patterns were battle scars.

His face was very symmetrical and his dark. brown skinttone. His prominent eyes which has a very reddish gold colour that is very noticeable even at a distance.He looked at me and because of it I walked and gott near him.

"Alaim Dayta Kampit a nakatarak ditta pag-taktakderam". (Get that blade that is plunged where you're stood). He said that creeped me out as I see that he doesn't open his mouth but I heard a very earthy voice talk. Strangely enough I can understand him even though I don't speak Ilocano. So I immediately looked beneath me and surprised to see a very intricately carved handle made of ironwood embedded in the ground. It has a twin Nagaraja intertwining design.

So I pulled it out but it felt like it was being grabbed and making it in place. I pulled as hard as I can until my veins were very noticeable from bulging just to get it. Finally I pulled it out that caused me to stumble into the ground. I stood as I regain my balance and grasping the blade in my hands it was a short sword with it's distinct wavy double edged blade made with a copper metal with a touch of gold linings. It's a sword know As Kris or Keris.

As I sighed in relief I was stunned when I saw the man draw his Keris. He was closer to me now I did not realise because I was so focused on getting the blade.

"Italmig mo a nalaing itta utek mo a toy ipakitak kanyam ket adalem kuma a aramiden'. (Remember this well and keep it in mind the thing that I will let you see. You should learn it well and be used). He said started to be in position. As he moved and stabbed in different directions in concise and very precise movement It felt and looked Ethereal as I observe I slowly see afterimages of his moves that looked like he has multiple arms and every stroke of his sword makes a shockwave that even if I dodger it won't even matter.

Then he stopped and flicked his finger into my forehead as I blacked out.

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I woke up because of a searing pain in my forehead like it was cracked open by something that is hard as I breathe heavily. I looked around me and saw that I was still in swamp beneath the huge branches of tree roots and it is was already morning so I quickly moved and tried to get up. When I felt a strang shape in the mud. I took it and strangely it was a Kris sword shaped just like in my dream however it was made with pure wood not the majestic sword in my dream. With the unbelievable things that kept happening to me in just a night I took it. I successfully removed myself ion three. predicament I was in earlier with great difficulty because of the sheer puzzle the roots looks like a maze that I can't believe I was dragged in there so effortlessly.

I got back home and wash myself and examined the wooden sword as it was very eerily pristine for a wood submerged in water and dirt for a very long time. It has no sign of being weared down. I swung it at a big rock near the spring. Intentionally swinging it hard to see if something would happen to it. I immediately closed my eyes for impact and. avoid splinter to ggen on my eyes. a strong cracking sound echoed so I looked but the wood was undamaged. I looke at the big rock an line of split was visible atop of it with an inch of indentation in it. My hand trembled in awe and soreness from impact it caused

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Ilocano- It is one of the most spoken language of the Philippines. It originates from the Northern Luzon. One of the known Austronesian languages.It was spoken in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cordillerra Region, Cagayan Valley, parts of Central Luzon, Parts of Mindanao because because off immigration and to repopulate the Area after the War and in the US specifically Hawaii and California for manpower in farming and nursing industry because of American occupation in the Philippines.

Kris or Keris- is one the most popular bladed weapon of Southeast Asia that originated from Indonesia. I was used in battles and ritualistic aspects. In battles they would be laced in poison to inflict more damage when stabbed to the enemy. It also was believed to trapped the evils and souls of the wielders enemies and strengthen their users.

Nagaraja- It came frome the words. Naga which means Serpent and Raja that means King or Ruler. It came from Buddhism and Hinduism beliefs as a symbol of Kings, Divinity and Protection.