Lost in Ibalon (How I Disappeared): Rise Of The Enchantress Book 1

Unavoidable Errand

"Wait!" they scurried and disappeared in all fours. I kept myself well hidden amidst the shrubs. After them were small ball of lights seemed to be following them. And then silence followed, even the insects we're silenced. A warm gale lost it way making the leaves buzz. I was about to return to my position but then I remember. The one who was at the top of the coconut tree have not yet got down. I waited, until slowly, I saw a figure of a child scuttling carefully down. He also ran and vanished. Poachers, they are pest for the farmers. I was about to stand and return to rest until I heard steps behind me.

5

The stars are beautiful, and big for some reason. Moving . . . it's moving? Wait, these are no stars, these are fireflies. I sensed my surrounding. The grass is cold and gentle in the back. A camachile tree stood in front of me. Its thorns and tiny leaves seemed to shine. I sat slowly and stood. I seemed to be in a middle of nowhere. There are a few bushes behind me, somehow gives a babbling sound. I think I've been here before, but it was somehow different. The darkness around me was eerie. It feels like there are eyes looking at me. Then I heard someone chuckling. Then something tiny jump from the camachile and landed in my front.

"Rommel?" he said. A tiny human appeared wearing a hat like an inverted taro leaf.

"How do you know me?" I asked.

"Been following you since your visit to the healer."

"Why?" he went out of the tree and stood beside it. He wore a green shirt like a moss tied to his waist. And a chaleco like of a darker green was fitted just at his neck. He was like a Tipwasan. Wait . . . I think I saw this kinds in Old Carias's book.

"You need to wake up Rommel." Then a chuckle broke from the darkness and it was not coming from him.

"This is not your reality. You need to wake up."

"Lad . . . wake up." A strained voice of a man called. Wake up? Why? Is that Old Carias?

"Old Carias?" I called but laughter broke from the dark.

"LAD!" And then I fell. My feet slapped at bed. I was in the bed all along? Then a chuckle followed.

"Old Carias!" I sat on the bed with clenched fist. This is not happening. Old Carias was held by the untidy boys, the Tipwasan. There is also one of the Tipwasan girl beside the witch, Pagatpat. Face hidden by the hood and only the long hair was revealed.

"Too-o slow bo-ooy." She chuckled shaking her head.

"Where are my old ones?"

"I don't think that is why I'm here." She said.

"You had the fire already. What else do you want?!" I bawled. She just stood there looking at me intently, like a cat watching its prey. For a second there a chill down my spine. The light of the lamp also brought fierceness into the witch's wrinkled face.

"Lad." Old Carias called, head hanging down. I don't know what they did to him but he seemed weak. I can see his arms in surrender. His knees display no strength too. It seems like the only thing that keeps him like that are the hands of the Tipwasans.

"It seems that he's told you already." She scuttled in the floor. She seemed to be wanderer, a witch with feet that is always itchy to tread.

"I will not be surprised if you knew who I really was. It just amazes me. Where does this bravery comes from?" her staff thudding the bamboo floor.