The morning dew sat upon their mattress of leaves as they spectacle once again two figures sparring in the middle of the forest. Earlier than the birds and more eager than the sun they watch on as the two clashed head on with nothing but their fists.
Blow by blow they continued, dodging and weaving through each other's punches until finally by the first peek of the sun the winner was announced. With an open palm straight to the chest, the boy lost his balance and landed on his back. Without words the man approached the boy and gave him an approving look as he held out is hand.
"That wasn't fair, I was blinded by the sun." Maral reasoned out, his brief blindness from the sun was soon followed by a quick palm to his chest.
"Maral, you should remember that your weapons you wield should not be limited by your body, use the environment against your opponent." Datu Kulintang turned away and went straight back to their balanggay "Now come, I have something to show you."
Maral followed the datu through the trees and the balanggay's gates, different colors and crafts greeted them as always. Balangay Umagad was far to the south west of the capital city of Taritala, a balanggay that was once feared for their warriors called the Pintados.
The Pintados were known for treating war as a form of art rather than as a product of conflict, they would cover themselves in permanent paint blessed by the babaylans. Their tattoos weren't only used to inspire fear into the hearts of men but also to demonstrate how many battles they have lived through, every warrior was only given one color for their first set of tattoos and another for every next battle they fought until they are fully covered. They were trained to fight to their last breath and each and every one of them fought to craft the most colorful and beautiful death they could accomplish.
Unfortunately when Raja Mamuno's great ancestor, Datu Kalinaw united their nine tribes, war ceased to happen and the once fearless warriors who painted the battlefield with blood, now turned to peaceful lives hoping to immortalize themselves through their arts and crafts, since then Balanggay Umagad bloomed into the capital of culture and arts.
Datu Kulintang led Maral to his hut and through the hallway he saw the walls filled with the masterpiece of the past datus that came and pass, starting from a framed seven colored piece of skin from the last Pintados datu up to the series of paintings, sculptures and weaved mats by the preceding datus. Maral saw the massive transition of their history from the appreciation of the art of killing to preserving life through art, walking this hallway would always take his breath away.
Finally they stopped in front of Datu Kulintang's masterpiece, a painting, which was far different from the other datu's work. Instead of representing their creator's greatness and glory about themselves, the painting depicted a festival filled with alipins, maharlikas and warriors alike. People of different status filled the painting bringing faces of joy in celebration but one thing was amiss. Datu Kulintang was no where in sight.
"I believe that you are aware that every datu must place here in this hallway a symbol of their legacy, just like my painting here, am I not?" Maral nodded in response and he had a slight idea of where this conversation was going.
"You are also aware tham I would pass on the title of datu to you and as proof you are to be married to my daughter, Maanya." Datu Kulintang did not wait for Maral to respond "This might be too early to tell you but I cannot leave you wandering in the dark."
Datu Kulintang gestured towards Maral's necklace "That necklace you had since birth is an agimat. A powerful stone carved and crafted from a cage created by the diwatas to imprison a very powerful being. In large amounts it could sap the life out of any beast or spirit... but at this size it is enough to hold the essence instead."
