THE HEALER'S CONQUEST

CHAPTER 6: CHALLENGING THE UNKNOWN

I woke up early in the morning. The sun was still shining so I got up. I felt pain all over my body so I looked at my body. My body is full of wounds and bruises because of the Aswang's hair wrapped around me earlier. I immediately went home to change my clothes because my clothes were torn. I crushed and crushed leaves such as horseradish leaves and boiled guava leaves. I rubbed the crushed leaves on the wounds and applied them with guava leaves believing that it would help to heal the wounds and bruises and I tied a cloth so it wouldn't come off and got dressed.

I rested first so I could regain the energy I needed for the whole day. While I was lying down, I thought deeply. I sighed when I looked back at what happened to me in the past few days. I have not yet fully accepted that what is happening is that strange things appear to show me. Something prompted me to go to the place of mystery that the Voices of the Elders had told me about. That's why I got up when I felt that my body was a little better.

I got up and I went to the kitchen and took the big Bolo Knife that I use to cut the wood that I use for cooking and went out. I went to the stream and picked up a clean smooth stone. I soaked it well in water and scraped the Bolo into it. I sharpened the Bolo carefully until I thought it was sharp. I looked at it closely and searched all over it for anything that wasn't sharpened correctly. I went inside the house and took the bottle with only vinegar made from sugarcane. I took the torn white dress and tore the clean part of it and folded it into my pocket. I took the rest of the clean cloth and soaked it in vinegar. I applied it to the freshly sharpened Bolo and thoroughly wiped all parts of it. As instructed by the Elders, after this I put it in its sheath made of strong wood.

I prepared my food and drink for what I was going to do. I put them in the bag because I plan to go camping because I will also spend the night in the mountains and tied the Bolo around my waist. I took a deep breath and opened the door, I didn't know it was raining so I took the torn sack and turned it into a raincoat. I stepped into the rain and walked through the muddy and slippery terrain. So I picked up some wood and made it into a walking stick and continued on my journey. Time passed and I was still walking because it seemed like I was going back and forth to the same place. I always see myself ending up in front of a big Acacia tree.

Because of this I was a bit lost so I sat down for a while and thought about what to do. When I remembered a story-stories that when you are lost, you should turn the clothes you are already wearing inside out. I did this so I took off and turned everything I was wearing. After I put my clothes on like that I suddenly became deaf.

"HAHAHAHA!!!! HICK! HAHAHA!!!". A gigantic creature giggled with the force of its laughter as if it was about to pass out with laughter. Smoke filled the area coming from the Acacia tree and I continued walking while the Kapre was still interested. I walked and continued in the terrain but a few meters ahead later as I threaded carefully within the wide unfamiliar road. Suddenly I heard a call from around.

"s**t!!" This call made me turn to my left. And there I saw a mound that bulged on the side and because of that I whispered.

"Tabi tabi po Nuno, Makikiraan po sana ako sa inyong lupain". I whispered that means "Great Alder please give way for I want to pass through your land''. Giving respect to the unseen as I started walk and pass by the mound when slowly a sitting little being appeared. The Nuno Sa Punso revealed himself. It sat at the mound in a meditation like posture. It's face looked like a human with distinct features such. as greenish eyes. Long disheveled white beard that reaches its waist and elongated pointy ears and high nose bridge in a light complexion like an albino. With his White coloured hat that is made from Abaca( Manila Hemp) and similarly coloured cloth made of fine silk. It stood up at a height of a foot.

He grabbed something from his pocket and took out the big box and opened it. It contained a gold bar and a normal-looking ring. And then presented it to me and telepathically spoke to me.

"Would you like my gold or this ring?". He asked me intently as he pointed out at the items that he showed. It surprised me for this is the first time that I saw him and he was giving me something so I became suspicious at him. I shrugged my head and refused.

"Sorry to offend you Elder but I can't accept things from. you for I don't even know you". I kindly refused as I carefully backed away and waited for his response.

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BOLO KNIFE- Is one of the traditional knives of the Philippines with. It was used as a utility tool for chopping wood, cutting grass and other things.

KAPRE- A Filipino Folkloric creature it was a giant that sits and lives at big trees usually those that stood for hundreds of years. This creature was not considered evil but playful as it scares children for fun. It was described as aa giant that has a dark complexion because it was covered in tree barks it resembles a humanoid tree. As it always has a huge lit tobacco that never burns out.

The Nuno Sa Punso- The Elders of the Mound.