SHAYAN ( A TRIBES REALM TALE)

THREE

Shayan was 13yo, he was practically a young boy but growing up as the grandson of the village chief pushed him to grow faster intellectually. Education was brought to him by Elders and Scribes who were wise and knowing. He didn't learn his lesson with other kids his age; he was thought alone in the Chief's household. He knew that his grandfather would do everything to prepare him and equipped him with knowledge and strength to be a proper leader someday. A lot of time he thought about how lonely his life was. While gazing from the window of the family's hut, watching children running and playing at the meadow. The boys ran as fast as they could while the girls giggled and laughed when one of the boys stumbled and fell. The silliness amused him and he giggled as he watched from afar hoping to be a part of the milieu outside. He wanted to be reckless just like the other boys, he wanted to run the endless field or swam the restless river but his mother forbade him from doing all that. Since his father's passing, his grandfather tightened the security around him and his freedom suffered. He couldn't roam around the village anymore without Alimas following behind. Nun was the only one closer to his age though he was two years older than Shayan, they became best of friends. Aside from the fact that Nun was his mother's brother, he was also Shayan's confidant. Though Nun was walking a different path, he was studying to be a village priest. Nevertheless, he was the only one who could fully understand what Shayan was going through. The Elders were preparing Shayan to be the successor of his Grandpa's Chieftainship and though he wasn't ready yet, he knew that it wasn't his choice to make.

The Elders huddled in the living room while Shayan was in the room he shared with Nun. His mother was also in the living room along with few close relatives. They'd been having this meeting for hours now in the Chief's Hut.

"Nun, what are you doing?" Shayan asked in a low voice.

"Shhhhh be quiet." Nun responded with a finger in his lips as he inched his left ear at the door trying to listen to the discussion outside.

Nun's eyes were wide as he listened carefully while Shayan stood beside him agitated. He was fidgeting, eager to know what Nun heard. Myrah told them to stay in the room while the adult talked about grownup matters. He also knew that eavesdropping and snooping to other people's business was wrong and it was against the Manobo's moral code. They could be punished, if someone found out that they'd been eavesdropping, the Elders would send them for disciplinary action and his mother would be furious. He wouldn't do anything to upset his mother or worse, embarrassed her with his reckless action.

"Nun, stop it!" He said. "This is wrong and you know it."

Nun turned around and faced Shayan. He rolled his eyes when he saw how anxious his nephew was. He crossed the room and sat on the bed; Shayan tagged along but stopped near the window and leaned on the wall. The boys were silent for awhile but Nun knew that Shayan couldn't wait for him to speak about what he heard.

Shayan, with concern in his face waited. His eyes drifted outside the window and saw the wind picked up allowing the trees to dance. Then finally Nun spoke.

"The Elders agreed to proclaim you as our Chief."