Sidapa

Chapter 10: The Banquet

Skyworld has always been an alienating place for the gods living in the Living World. The pathways are made of gold and rare gemstones that glimmer as the sun hits it. The vast balangays made of Bakunawa's bone and rare metals are too much of an eyesore. Lastly, the denizens of the place are either uptight or begrudgingly judging towards the lower worlds didn't help it either. Magwayen knows this better than anyone else, she really hates coming here but she doesn't have a choice.

To put things into perspective, Magwayen got a letter from the Skyworld council summoning her for them to announce her punishment. She walked past the World pillars which were Monoliths of marbled stone attached to the Skyworld, the Living World, and the Underworld. It has been said that the pillars were there to hold all the realities and dimensions together.

She then passed the garden of Alunsina. A garden created by Tungkung Langit which was beautiful as the stars themselves. The silver flowers and crystal ones that only a deity can create sparkles during the day and blooms during the night. A garden fit for the maiden deity.

Finally, she arrived at the council's hall. The structure was huge. The pillars were made with the Bakunawa's teeth while the walls were decorated with the glimmering scales of the hulking serpent adorned with gold and precious gems while the canopy was made with the beautiful feathers of Habagat. In the middle of the hall lies seven elevated thrones forming a circle around a small platform in the middle.

Magwayen was hesitant to follow through the ordeal but she was afraid of what the Skyworld council might do to her if she won't. So she calmed her nerves and went straight to the platform where a podium suddenly arose from where she stood.

"My Lords! Kings of Heaven, I have come to your summons. I am Magwayen, goddess of the underworld and ruler of seas." her voice boomed and echoed through the halls.

The hall stood still in silence. Magwayen was anxious, nobody is speaking or even greeting her. She looked up and saw the council chattering and whispering their way. The confused Magwayen met the eyes of Bathala who snapped away from the whispers and spoke.

"Lady Magwayen, we are still waiting for one more," he explained.

"I'm here! Sorry!huuuh.", Sidapa sighed as he was catching his breath while climbing to the platform. " I...um..got a lil busy."

"Busy?! Is everything had to be a joke to you?!" Magwayen spurted.

"Silence!" Bathala commanded.

"Explain yourself Lord Sidapa for such poor courtesy!" the annoyed Kanlaon demanded.

Sidapa looked up to the council before making a subtle bow, "My Lords, Kings of Heaven, I humbly asked for an apology for my late arrival." he paused a bit to make glances at his listeners. " I was rather busy punishing some Danag who made their way to the underworld."

"He speaks true," said Tungkung Langit. " I counted the Danag population and saw one less. Currently, this one fell in Lord Sidapa's territory," he added.

After that short explanation given by the tardy Sidapa, he then proceeded with greeting the council and the meeting was then started by Bathala. The proceedings went smoothly however, to Magwayen's dismay, the cunning Sidapa just made an opportunity about it.

Kasanaan

Magwayen went home fuming. Unable to contain her rage, she set her entire dock into ruins as she was having a fit. The unfortunate Tagabantay who was waiting for her at the corral gate was also swept away by the raging currents of the angry Magwayen.

"How dare he?!" she shouted. "Sidapa, one day I will get you and not even the council will intervene!" she trashed the dock some more and even got a recently acquired kalag swept away back to the sea currents.