Fated Story of Litik, Onos and Holon

Long ago, in an archipelago that will soon be called Philippines, live a young prince named Litik. He is a shy person who always hides in his palace above Mount Melibengoy. His father, the Sultan, is not happy about this but never force his son to go out. Litik is very smart despite being introvert. He always helps his father by being one of his advisors. One day, his cousin, Prince Onos, who live in the northern part of the archipelago, visited. Onos is a very energetic and outgoing young man. He is very close to Litik since they were kids as they are both only child of their parents. The Sultan, seeing this as a great opportunity to make Litik confident of himself, he asked him to accompany Onos and tour around the town near the foot of the mountain. "But father, you know I can't even look at other people aside from you and our closest relatives." "Son, you are of the same age with Onos. Who is a better companion for him other than you?" the Sultan reasoned. Not wanting to disobey his father, he agreed. As thanks, the Sultan gave him a white cloak made of the finest cloud to cover himself for his comfort. With that, Litik manage to smile and thanked his father. Soon, they were already at the town. Onos, who is born with inhumane speed that inherited from his parents, drags around the slow Litik in each and every corner of the town, enjoying every unusual things he find. This makes it hard for Litik as he is not used to doing physical work. When Onos noticed, he felt bad, "Let's go at the forest outside this town so you can rest." While resting, Litik and Onos heard a very beautiful singing voice. Drawn by its beauty, the two young men followed the voice until they saw a very beautiful girl standing high up in a tree, picking Durian. She has long, curly hair adorned by blue glass beads. She has beautiful tanned skin mark with traditional tattoos. She wears Kgal bengkas - long-sleeved blouse open at the front, with wide red bands sewn crosswise onto the back and around the cuffs and upper sleeves. It is tied with a chain-mail brass belt along the waist. Clearly, the girl is not dressed for working so why is she doing a field job, Litik wondered. Sensing someone is watching her, the girl lose balance and tripped from the branch. Onos ran fast and manage to catch the girl just in time. Gazing the beauty closer made his heart go crazy. Litik could only manage to slowly walk closer to the two. Without having any idea about the two males’ identity, the girl arrogantly spoke to Onos, "You can put me down now, you know?" Despite being awes trucked, Onos followed without saying a thing. "We're v-very sorry to s-startled you, said Litik, stuttering. The girl smiled, "Why are you stuttering? I'm not mad. Anyway, apology accepted.” she then faced the now blushing Onos, "Thank you for saving me." As thanks, the girl, who introduced herself as Holon, accompanied them as they continued to tour around the town in a normal pace in Litik's relief. She first dropped the Durians, where the two men carried for her, to a house of an old woman. The latter thanked her deeply. Holon is a jolly and kind girl, always smiling to everyone. They also noticed that she is well-loved by the townsfolk. She also talks constantly to Litik, as she noticed how shy he is. Dusk came and all of them need to return home. They had lots of fun promised to meet the next day. Unfortunately, Onos received a letter from his parents to visit another Sultan on a village two mountains away. "You need to meet Holon tomorrow without Me." said Onos with a grieving voice. "Do you think I can manage alone?" said the hesitant Litik. "Of course," Onos replied, “and I noticed that you comfortably talked to her. I'm aware uncle pushed you to go with me at the town to lessen your shyness. Maybe she can also help you." So, Onos went his way and Litik met Holon. "That's bad," she said, "but since you're already here, you must come with me." The two of them walked farther in the forest until they reached a waterfall. Still amaze, “This is the first time I personally saw a beautiful place like this." Litik said, still in a weak voice, as they sat at a large stone beside the stream. "Why?" asked the curious Holon who is now playing with the water with her feet. He hesitated for a moment, "My mother died when I'm still young. After that, I locked myself at home." "What about your father?" "He is a very kind person but without the comfort of my mother, I got scared to face the world." Holon's heart went out to him. "Locking yourself from the world would not heal your wounds.” she looked him in the eyes, "There are lots of beautiful things in life. It can heal your soul." Litik looked away, "I-I don't know." She held his hand, "Then, if you'll allow me, let me show you the beauty of life." They explored cave, hills, forests and rice fields in the next few days. But what caught Litik is not the physical beauty of the surroundings but the beauty of the people he encountered. How people helped each other. How mothers care and love her children. How fathers works hard for the family. They hold on to one another and face all the hardships hand in hand, making the pain bearable. He was awed by the beauty of humanity. But most of all, he saw how pure Holon's heart is. Holon's kindness reaches each and every ones heart around her. She reached out to them and gave them a helping hand, from the simplest to the greatest things. And so far, the greatest thing he witnessed was how she healed his heart. He fell in love with her. After few more days, Onos came back. Along with him are luxurious gifts he bought from the village he went to. Litik is really happy to see him again. "You changed a lot!" said Onos, "I can sense confidence in you now." "It's all thanks to Holon. She managed to make me see things I tried to ignore." said Litik. "She's really amazing, isn't she? Anyway, I've got to leave." "Why? You just arrived!" "I will be back soon! I just need to go somewhere." replied Onos, beaming. ''thefatedstoryoflitikonosandholonbyswayedbythewindcjcusi'' What Litik did not know is that Onos is giving all those things to Holon. Onos is in love with Holon since the first time he met her and he is determined to make her his wife. But Holon rejected him. Angered by the gifts he brought, she told him, "You think too highly of yourself. You cannot buy me with gold and pearls, let alone my heart." Onos is not the type who easily gives up, though. For the next few days, he followed her around. On the other hand, Litik wonders what took Onos too long. So Litik decided to use the enchanted water from a deep spring river to see what happened to his cousin. The magical water can show what happens to a person the user wished to see. His father got it as a gift after marrying his mother. He saw how Onos followed Holon everywhere and how the girl is getting uncomfortable with the situation, he decided to go down to the town. Upon arrival though, he did not found Onos, who left to meet a shaman. So instead, he went to meet Holon. Holon told him everything that happened, including Onos' confession to her. The knowledge of Onos, whom he considers a brother, also love the girl he love pained him. But his heart that never envy nor hate, cannot bring to hurt his cousin, the very reason why he went that day to meet Holon. The person unknowingly drew him and the girl closer. So he decided to reveal Onos' background. "He is a deity." said Litik, making Holon dumbfound. He continued, "You know it is a sin to refuse a deity, right?" "But I love you!” Holon bravely told. "And you love your people." he interrupted, "You know how hard it is if a deity got mad, right? I also think he really loves you. He never revealed his identity, did he? Give him a chance. I am thankful for the kindness you showed. You really healed my heart." Litik left Holon and went back at the palace. What they did not know is Onos saw Holon confessing to Litik. Enraged, Onos' madly run to the foot of Mount Melibengoy and cried in agony. His dormant powers awakened by hate that lightning came out of his hand and struck every trees around him. Onos, not native to the place, does not know Fun Bulol, the god of mountains, is sleeping at the hidden house of Ginton, the blacksmith, at the foot of the mountain. Enraged by the interruption of his sleep, the land started to shake. Tremors broke rocks from the mountain side. Litik, who is almost at the top of the mountain, felt the ground trembling. He did not think twice. He told his father to evacuate their people. "Someone maybe angered Fun Bulol. We need to leave as soon as possible." The Sultan said. "Father, I want to see why this is happening, maybe we can still do something." Litik suggested. They went to the enchanted water and were surprised to see Onos wrecking havoc. "Father, I must go. Leave now. I must do something" Litik left and run to Onos. He knew that the townspeople must be warned, too. But he is very slow. In desperation that he might not reach him in time, he wished in his mind repeatedly, "Please! To the creator of this world, hear me! Help me save your children!" The god might hear him as Litik's blood, who's half is from his mother that is actually a deity, awakens. He heard a voice in his head, "Speak and let your voice be heard across the land." His voice boomed as he shouted, "Onos save the town! The mountain is erupting!" The echo of his voice heard across the land but ordinary humans cannot decipher his words. Onos, awaken from his mad daze realize what he had done, he headed to the town right away. But he came across Holon. "Take me at the top of the mountain," she demanded. "No, don't you know it is very dangerous there?" he looked back at the mountain and saw dark cloud forming at the top of it. "I know. I heard Litik's voice." she said. He turned to her, shocked. "You heard? You mean you, too-" "No, I am not a deity like you. I am a water guardian. My father is a human and my mother is a water nymph." "How did you know my secret?" "Litik told me. Listen, Onos." she looked him in the eyes, "There's no time left for the townspeople. But I have the power to save them so please, bring me to the top of the mountain." Aware that he nor Litik can’t help save the people from the calamity, have no reason to turn down Holon's request. With his speed, they reached the top of Mount Melibengoy where Litik, wishing Fun Bulol would listen to him, shouting and pleading. He stopped when he saw Onos and Holon. He ran towards them, "What are you two doing here?" he said desperately. "You can't save them like that," said Holon calmly. She walked passed him and went to the centre. She cried, "You, who granted my ancestors power, I call you thee. Here my words, I offer my soul to you. Help me condone thy poor people who worshipped you." Flashes of blue light, which is Holon's life particles, released from her body. As the magma exploded to the surface of the earth, her life particles formed a blue barrier that descended above the town, saving everyone's lives. Onos and Litik knew well that interrupting the ceremony will lead her efforts to waste, so they just watched silently, cursing themselves as the lava glow in red, orange and yellow, engulfing everything in the mountain side. Onos hated and blamed himself of the tragedy. Soon, the tremors stopped, the sky cleared and thick smoke covering the ground. Holon approached them, her body now transparent. It is a matter of time before she completely vanishes. She walked towards to the now crying Onos first. "I'm sorry for hurting you." Onos shook his head, "No, I am sorry. It was my fault. I became irrational. I am used to getting everything I wanted. My parents told me that my temper will cause me problem soon. This is too much for a punishment." She smiled, "I forgive you." She gave a glimpse at the quiet Litik, "You know, Onos, your cousin is a very good person and I really love him but I do not wish you two drift apart." She then walked towards Litik, "Your sacrifice made me love you more." Suddenly, Litik's tears streamed like a river down his eyes, "I love you, too. And you’re the one who sacrificed more than I do." Happiness gleamed in Holon's eyes, "You're not going to hide away again when I'm gone, are you?" "No, I'm not," said Litik, "but I will find a way to stay up in the clouds because it is the only place where I can see the beauty of this world. The beauty that will always reminds me of you." "Please visit me here. This is the entrance to my new home." With those last words, her whole body turned into water. At that moment, the smoke covering the ground vanished and revealed a beautiful lake at the crater of the Mt. Melibengoy, them levitating just few inches from the water. Holon smiled one last time, "Goodbye." Then her water body joined the lake. The two men cried like crazy, creating a thunderstorm strong enough to let the heavens reached their grief but weak enough not to destroy the lands. The townsfolk heard the story of how Holon saved them. They weep, grieved of losing their beloved Holon.