Ivah and The Hidden Gates Of Mahandala

Author’s Note Hi everyone! It’s been a long time since I last wrote anything, and to be honest, I lost my passion for writing for a while. But here I am trying again. This is my first time writing a fantasy novel, and I know it won’t be perfect. There might be errors in grammar, spelling, or structure, but I’ve poured my whole heart into creating this world. This story is inspired by my Filipino culture and my husband’s culture.(BUT this is still a FICTIONAL story, so most of the names, places, and other elements I use are purely creations of my imagination) It also takes influence from some anime I love, and my fascination with spiritual themes and hidden realms. If you’re into fantasy with a spiritual twist, I hope you’ll give this a try. Also, please note: I originally wrote this in Tagalog, so if there are any grammar, punctuation, or translation errors, please forgive me. Hehehe 😅 This story is still ongoing, and updates here might take some time since I post the Tagalog version first on w*****d. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding! Thank you again for your support, and I hope you enjoy exploring the world of Ivah and the Hidden Gates of Mahandala. 🌙✨ ****** "Ivah..." A soft, cold voice whispered.I looked around, eyes searching the misty air, but saw nothing except towering balete trees surrounding me. Where am I? I asked myself.Could this be the spirit realm? No. That’s impossible. I don’t have the ability to cross into the spirit world like my family—the Suwilan. The Suwilan are people born with rare gifts. They can heal and travel between realms to find lost or wandering souls. "Ivah..." The voice echoed again, calm and distant. I started walking, drawn toward it. “Who are you?” I called out, moving through the dense forest. My white dress clung to my body, soaked as if a storm had just passed. The flowers and leaves around me were drenched. "Ivah, come... hurry!" I didn’t know why, but I suddenly run—even though my feet felt impossibly heavy, like I was dragging weights with each step. “Inay?... Inaaaay!” "Ivah, come on... run, faster!" I kept running, while shouting Inay, mother, again and again. That voice... why did it feel so familiar? Then, gently, it returned to me. A memory. That voice—soft and warm—used to sing me lullaby to help me sleep at night, the voice that wakes me up in the morning. That voice that I missed so much. My mother’s voice. *Inay means MOTHER in Filipino* I ran faster, tears falling freely down my cheeks. This is why I’ve always wanted to become a Suwilan. To find my mother, who disappeared so long ago. No Suwilan in our village has ever found her, but I promised myself that I will be the one to bring her home.I skidded to a stop.Before me stood a massive golden gate.Could this be it? The Gate of Return? The one the Suwilan speak of? The one where the Mountain Guardians help guide lost souls back to the world of the living—those not meant to pass on yet? I reached out, slowly placing my palm on the cold doorknob to turn it...Suddenly, a freezing hand gripped my shoulder. I turned around. And my heart almost burst out of my chest. A terrifying monster towered over me. Its whole body was covered in thick black fur, its eyes glowed red, and sharp fangs protruded from its mouth. Drool dripped from its teeth as it growled at me. “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!” A scream escaped my lips, filled with terror. "Ahhh!" I shot up from bed, panting. Just a nightmare. I clutched my chest, trying to steady my racing heart. That creature… so terrifying. I hope I never see it again—not even in dreams. Wait... was that really just a dream? Or did my soul actually travel to the spirit world? Could it be… I did it? I need to tell Grandma! I rushed out of my room to find Lola Sela—one of the most powerful Suwilan in our town. My mother’s mother. The one who raised me after my mom disappeared. “Lola Selaaaa!” I called. I found her in the kitchen, preparing my favorite meal: boiled pork with bamboo shoots, lemongrass, and salt. “Oh? So the princess is finally awake,” she replied sarcastically. I should probably mention, my Lola can be a bit snippy. Or maybe just with me? She wasn’t always like this. But after my mother disappeared, her warmth began to fade. Especially when we realized I had no spiritual ability. Unlike her and my mother....I’m not a Suwilan. Still, I approached and began helping her wash the bamboo shoots. *lola means grandma in Filipino* She slapped my hand. “You didn’t wash your hands first,” she snapped. I ignored her attitude. Maybe she was just stressed. I quietly washed my hands and kept helping. “They’re clean now, promise,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood, but she didn’t respond. “Lola, guess what?” I started. Still, she didn’t look at me. “I had a dream, like I was in the spirit realm. And I heard Mom’s voice.” She froze. For a moment, her eyes met mine, but I couldn’t read her expression. “I think... maybe I finally went to the Spirit Realm. Maybe I can find her now.”Tears began to well up in my eyes. A flicker of hope stirred in my chest. “And then I saw—” “That’s enough, Ivah.” Her voice was calm but firm, ending the conversation. “But, Lola—” “Ivah... dreams are not the same as soul-walking. What you experienced came from your mind,your thoughts, your desire, your memories. That’s all it was. A dream. Let it go. Accept the truth. You don’t have the gift.” And with that, she left for the living room, leaving me behind, tears silently falling from my eyes. Maybe she’s right. Maybe everyone here in Yaluan is right. Maybe I really am... A cursed. I’m Ivah Banuayen. Nineteen years old. I live in Yaluan. My family are among the most renowned Suwilan in all of Mahandala—spirit healers and soul guides. My mother, Sari, was one of them. Beautiful, beloved, and kind, she helped people not only from our town but across the land.But twelve years ago, she vanished. Lost in the spirit realm. No Suwilan has ever found her. Some say the sigbin got her. That monstrous beast of the night with the body of a dog and goat, and a serpent-like tail. But I refuse to believe that. I know she’s still alive. And I will be the one to find her. But how? I don’t have any power. No matter how hard I try, I can’t reach the spirit world. “Sooo the curse is here. I wasn't aware!” my cousin Sheila sneered. A fellow Suwilan,gifted, proud, and the first to call me cursed for not having the same powers. “What now, Sheila? Don’t worry, I’m heading back to Khulanor soon,” I said, slipping on my shoes. School break was over. I needed to return to college in the capital. I chose to study at a normal university. I was never accepted into the Suwilan academy. I'm not like them. That school was only for the gifted, where they train to open their spiritual senses, cross realms, and master ancient rituals and healing chants. They don’t just teach how to walk between human and spirit world, but how to guide, protect, and heal both spirit and soul. “Good. coz the whole of Yaluan might get cursed because of you.” she muttered, walking past me with a basket of fruit. “It’s for Auntie Sari—from my dad.” “Thanks,” I smiled. She just rolled her eyes and left. I don’t know why Sheila hates me so much. Her father—my uncle—is kind. He’s the only person in Yaluan who doesn’t treat me like bad luck. Before leaving, I visited my mother’s room. She lay still—not asleep, not awake. Machines kept her heart beating.In this world she's still alive but no soul. Technically speaking she's in a coma. I don’t remember what exactly happened. Lola only told me she entered the spirit realm to help someone, and that person returned. But my mother never did. “Mom... I’m heading back to Khulanor. Classes start soon, and I want to get a head start on my part-time job. I’ll visit you whenever I get the chance.” I kissed her cheek, fixed her blanket, and walked out. “You’re leaving?” Lola asked flatly. “Yes, I have work too,” I smiled, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. She handed me a food container. “Here. Leftovers from earlier. Take it. You might get hungry on the trip.” I smiled and... hugged her. It surprised us both. Why did I just hug my grumpy grandma? I don’t know. But something about her gesture touched my heart. “Th-thank you, Lola...” I said, teary-eyed. She gave a faint smile, pulled away, and said, “Take care.” Then walked off to the kitchen. She didn’t say anything else. I know this pain she carries is heavy. Losing Mom broke her. That’s why she acts this way. And I understand. That’s why I promised myself— Even if I’m powerless. Even if I’m cursed. I’ll find a way into the spirit world. I will find my mother. For my Lola. So she can smile again. So our family can finally be whole. That’s my only wish. And I’ll do everything I can to make it come true. To be continued... ******************* Hello there! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of this story! If you did, please consider leaving a like, comment, or follow—I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thank you so much for reading! 😊✨