The Kingdom Between Us

I am Hideo. A man who used to play beneath the song of clashing steels. I stood tall with the heart of a lion. Gazing my black eyes would send an enemy to abyss. Coward foes shaking in fear within my presence. Maidens envy my raven-black shiny hair. As strong and smooth such woven silk and as dark of a deep moonless midnight. Only a finely woven cloth covered my body. Not just a cover to my loins, but a symbol of my courage and honor. Bound tightly around my waist, both ends swayed like ocean waves as I move. A kampilan sword was never absent in my grasp like a toy. I use to play upon the land of other kingdom that gives me joy. Tattoos and scars covered my body. Each curve told the journey that once tested my valor and every old wounds reminded me of my deadly battles. They were etched not only by ink but also by blood of those warriors that I had slain. I am a man of war. The most barbaric of them all. Death was certain when I drew my kampilan. Vultures followed my footsteps, knowing feast of dead bodies was about to come. Paraiso was the name of the kingdom where my loyalty belongs. Ruled by a Datu named Kidlat, with immeasurable greediness. Seven Datus ruled the Great island of Mayi, and he stood among them. A fragile system of power, a system that he despised with every breath of his being. He wanted those Datus dead and dreamed of a kingdom of his own. As his greatest warrior, I was commanded to conquer the six kingdom and behead every Datu. I had already collected five, and was now on my way to behead the final one. My armies and I were slowly marching along the white-sand coast of Hiraya. We were carrying our spears and kampilan swords, while holding towering rectangular shields that covered our body, leaving only our feet and head uncovered. Each man stood vigilant, ready to meet a sudden assault from Hiraya warriors. They were just hiding somewhere, waiting for the perfect moment to attack. After a moment, eerie silence filled the air. Sharp eyes watched the surroundings, searching for the slightest sign of danger. As the moments slipped away, I heard cries from my men. Suffering in pain and profound agony. One. Two. Three. In the blink of an eye their muffled cries filled the air, echoing in my ears and piercing through my heart. "The time has come," I said. Hiraya had begun. From our blind spot they struck, launching an attack so sudden and ruthless. Many had died before they could raise their weapons. "They're in the trees!" I bellowed. Only then they did see them- the fearless predators perched high above in coconut trees, bows in their hands and arrows aimed directly at us. "Begone from Hiraya, you wretched fools!" "Turn back while you still draw breath!" "Our shore shall become your grave!" Arrows flew with the speed of light, loaded with furry and spirits. They soared through the air with deadly swiftness, ready to take lives. A silent killer was on its track. "Hide behind your shields!" I shouted. We drove of shields into the sand and kneel down behind them to cover. Others rose theirs above their head to make a makeshift roof for extra protection against this brutal assault. We kept our grips tight, but some arrows still slipped through the small openings between them. "Tighten our shield formation!" I commanded. Arrows continuously flew toward us. Our shields shook everytime an arrow tries to pierce through it. They were claws of death reaching out to claim our soul. "Fight back, Paraiso!" I said. Sharp arrows flew toward our enemies. One by one, they fell to the earth like ripe fruits surrendered to gravity. We heard their bones cracked the moment they kissed the ground. The next thing that I heard was the cries of hatred, echoing through the woods like the herald of approaching storm. "Slay them!" The enemy emerged from the forest in droves, bare in teeth. Their eyes blazed with murderous intent. The earth trembled beneath every footsteps from those beast dashing towards us. I feel their pain and anger that burns within their hearts. I was hunting innocent lives in their own soil, yet my purpose could not be abandoned. Slowly, I rose and fixed my gaze upon those warriors holding their weapons. "This war is ours!" I murmured. "Let crows feast into their dead bodies!" Deafening battlecry soon splits the air, followed by the thunderous ringing of steel upon steel. A smile dance upon my lips as I heard weapons sang. My body remembered the joy that only war could awaken. My prowess prevail amid the chaos of war. They lost grip everytime my kampilan clashed against theirs. It was a battle between a lion and rats. The earth is now covered in blood. "Hunt Datu Maya!" I commanded. "Cut off the Datu's wings!" Tagpas shouted, the youngest warrior under my command. We left the battlefield covered in corps. My men runs forward but they fell one by one after bamboo spears pierced their bodies. Rivers of blood flows through their mouth and met sudden death. "Show no mercy!" a Hiraya warrior shouted. Concealed shadows stepped into the light a hundred paces beyond the corpse we had left behind, aiming arrows at us. "Die, Paraiso!" A furious voice echoed. A storm of arrows flew but only met the iron wall of our shield and shattered harmlessly against it. Paraiso warriors were left from behind didn't hesitate to retaliate. They shot every arrows they had, but most of them sank into the tree trunk. In return,Hiraya warriors answered with a relentless volley, hunting the flesh of my comrades. Their bodies fell one by one before my eyes as they drew their final breaths. All that remained were their soul which embued with our blades. After a moment, neither side had an arrow left to loose. "Step out behind those trees!" I said. Hiraya warriors showed themselves, casting aside their bows as they gripped their kampilan sword. They advanced at slow, steady pace, yet the ground beneath our feet seemed to trembled with their every step. "Spill their blood upon our shore! Death!" We faced the charging enemies. Steel against steel sent sparks flying. Blades kissed flesh, spilled rivers of crimson blood. Defeaning cries and clashing steels from different angles made my heart raced with anticipation. Everything I heard was my favorite melody-all were perfectly synchronized. "Keep them away from our banwa. Hold the line with everything we have!" a brave warrior shouted. Those were his final words before I cut off his head. "Let Hiraya soil drink the blood of it's own folks!" I cried. My words awakened great warriors possessing immeasurable prowess. We turned the tide of war. Hiraya warriors fell one by one. "Advance! Into Datu Maya's balay." My men marched forward, with me leading the way. Our foot stepped into the mountain of corpse and blood red shore. Victory was within our grasp. Then, thundering footsteps echoed through the air. Footsteps that did not belong to us alone. I couldn't be mistaken. High ranking chiefs of Hiraya were drawing near. "They look pleased," I said as I caught sight Datu Maya with his men. "Seems a warm welcome is prepared for us. "Datu Maya, is burning with rage, Hideo. Seems like his putong on his head with seven white duck feathers is about to burst into flames," Tagpas jokingly said. "And his round giant belly, as if he is carrying a dozen of children inside," he laughed. "His bahag that covers his loins is magnificent, its exquisite unlike ours," Tagpas added with envious voice. A brief of silence fell upon us. However we laughed so loud, It couldn't change the truth that he stood upon a higher ground than we do. "Yeah! Right. But I guarantee that if we strip off his bahag, we won't find any balls beneath it. His giant belly probably swallowed them." Roaring laughter nearly defeaned the Datu. He was hunted and mocked on his own soil. His jaw tightened and his eyes were blazed with wrath. "So, you stepped onto our soil with your filthy feet just to laugh before you die?" the Datu furiously asked. "My apologies, Datu Maya," I said with a slight bow. "We are just glad to see that you're still breathing... and your round belly- dancing." Mocking laughters filled the air. "You're glad?" The Datu repeated, trying to ignore our laughters. "Then prepare yourself to die and let Paraiso mourn. For with your death, the darkest era of your land is about to begin!" I smirked, as I met Datu Maya's gaze, "The only story that's about to end is yours." Datu Maya laughed as if it was his last, "History never dies, Hideo." I looked at Tagpas for a moment and he handed me a kampilan. It was a gift from Datu Kidlat, the blade that he wished to use to behead Datu Maya. In exchange, he had promised to grant whatever I asked. "We are not here to exchange words with you," I answered and pulled out the blade from its crimson scabbard. Datu Maya, vanished within my sight after the bravest warrior of Hiraya named Sidlak blocked the space between us. He was taller than I am, got a frame bigger than mine and a face that spoke war. "I will be your opponent," he said in a calm voice. Determination, wrath and eyes that denied the very existence of defeat-that's what I found in Sidlak's gaze. His blazing eyes sought not to burn my flesh, but to weaken my very soul. We both took our stances, ready to meet each other in combat. Our comrades were all prepared. But before the clash begins, a voice interrupted us. "No more bloodbath!" Datu Maya declared. He marched forward and tapped Sidlak's shoulder. "Let us spare as many lives as we can." I stood straight and thought for a moment, "Make yourself clear." Datu Maya smiled but his eyes carried anger, "I and Sidlak against you. A duel to death!" "No!" Tagpas insisted. "That's-" I placed a hand on Tagpas' shoulder, stopping him, "Give me enough reason to accept your challenge." A smile filled with hope drawn into Datu Maya's lips. "Datu Kidlat and I shared the same dreams. We both wanted to rule Mayi alone." "Slaves," he answered. "The victor shall bind the defeated companions in chains." "The glory is mine to kill you both," I smiled.