In the islands of Vijayas, magic and monsters abound. Here, victory does not come to the strong, nor to the swift, but only to the sly. And Tikum Kadlum might just be the craftiest of them all. A former timawa and all-time scoundrel, the man himself is no stranger to the arcane and the mysterious things hidden in the Great Archipelago. He's been through it all, betraying and scamming his way from one adventurous caper to the next. Now, he just wants to return to his hometown with his daughter, Ukok, and live a peaceful life. But things are about to change when the Black Dog starts a cat and mouse chase against Amburukay, the queen of the manghihiwit... Follow Tikum and Ukok journey through the lands of Vijayas and avoid the clutches of a sorceress with a grudge to settle, steal from a powerful babaylan and her bagani sister, slay hungry monsters, fight against bandits, outsmart a cunning foe, escape from a few killers here and there. And perhaps, defeat someone as strong as a demi-god. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This novel is a mash-up of sword and sorcery and dark fantasy set in the Pre-Colonial times of the Philippines long before THE SONGS OF STRIFE story. With excerpts from A Study of Our Baganis by Lamberto Aguilar. Also this will be posted in RoyalRoad under the same username. Disclaimer: Some names used in the story are taken from the Suguidanon Epics of Ilo Ilo and Panay. But they are, in no way, accurate representation of the actual characters of the epic chants. If you like to read short stories with overarching arcs this one is for you!

Si Alfonso Alessandro ay ang pang-apat sa limang anak ng isa sa mga kilala, pinakamayaman, at pinakamaimpluwensyang angkan sa Pueblo Buenavista. Habang si Catalina De Celesta naman ay ang anak ng isa sa mga kilala at pinakamayamang pamilya. Itinadhana silang mag-ibigan na pagtitibayin ng kanilang pagmamahalan. Ngunit tila ba hindi sumasang-ayon ang tadhana sa pintig ng kanilang damdamin. Sa mismong panahon kung kailang' tuluyan ng nahulog ang dalawa sa isa't-isa. Siya naman darating ang mapait na kapalit ng hinahangad nila sanang pang walang hanggang pag-iibigan. Isang unos na babago sa kanilang kapalaran. Posible bang magbago pa ang ihip ng tadhana at sumang-ayon sa tibok ng mga puso nila Alfonso at Catalina? Date written: 04/28/2020 Date finished: 07/18/2020

Si Hera ay isang reader ng mga mature novel at mga teenage fiction, tamad sya ayaw nya sa math lalo naman sa science hindi nya alam kung saan sya nag eexcel kase hindi naman daw sya magaling sa kahit anong bagay, tinakasan na sya ng sarili nyang pangarap wala din syang talent at hindi din sya marunong tumugtog ng kahit anong musical instrument pero yung boses nya maganda, tanging ang kinasisipagan lang nya talaga ay ang pag babasa ng libro. Pero ano kayang mangyayari sa kanya kung pag gising nya ay nasa mundo na sya ng kwentong binabasa nya? Makakaya nya kayang makatagal kasama ang mga karakter na sa libro nya lang nabasa? At mahanap din kaya nya ang forever nya kung kathang isip lang ito? Subaybayan natin ang kakaibang adventure ng bidang si Hera!