Chapter 93: Hahu

Once the incident had passed, as if nothing happened the Babaylan gathered everyone for another discussion.

"This is the duty of a Shaman... We protect our village from those Evil spirits and forces who try to harm our tribe. Please remember that."

Dusting off the remaining leaves that she got as she said so, the Babaylan focused her gaze on Miguel.

"Argus... that was so brave of you. But you have to learn how to tame them and drive them away without killing them in the future. You can not always remove them like that and this is also a part of being a Shaman." Praising Miguel but also lecturing him, the Babaylan seemed please but still strict on her uptake to the incident.

Miguel, on the other hand, thought otherwise, he retorted in an arrogant tone "Oh really? You guys really live up to your name... A sham! Shaman my ass! If your ways could have really driven that thing away, then I wouldn't have to fight it alone do I?" Fiercely staring back at the Babaylan, Miguel retorted.

Somehow, the Babaylan is stuck speechless... Miguel is right and she just shut her mouth, realizing that she can not argue with that.

The silence tucked them for a while before the Babaylan managed to squeeze up a different topic.

"Well, that is that, and this is that... You guys should prepare for the following weeks for the ceremony of formally accepting you as Apprentice Shamans. Tonight I'll tell you the rules we observe as a shaman."

Although Miguel is still irked, he tried to calm himself. He still needs the identity of being an Apprentice Shaman after all! And he feels that this may help him know how he can return home.

When the Babaylan spoke, everyone listened not daring to disrupt her or make any other noises.

Marikit kept on glancing at Miguel from time to time, trying to re-evaluate Miguel but she still thinks that she should be wary of this kid named Argus.

"As you all have noticed, we do a lot of rituals that help in warding off those evil entities. The one I showed you before is something we do when we can not use our third eye. I know some of you can not see the evil spirits but can somehow sense it. Later once you become a full pledge Shaman, I'll teach you other things and more advance teachings not accessible for an Apprentice."

As she said so, the Babaylan stood from her sitting position and the group stayed at the circle. Almost everyone attentively listened except Miguel.

The Babaylan continued her lesson that spanned for hours, Miguel had been disinterested the whole time, and his thoughts always wandered around thinking about other things.

But he got the gist of it...

He learned that shamans had many taboos. They aren't allowed to eat fishes that had no scales and the most surprising one is that on the fourth day of the week, they are not allowed to take a bath.

Miguel disagreed on this one but not taking a bath doesn't really bother him that much. On the battlefield he often had no time to take a bath, bathing in the blood of his enemies is his usual daily life but he could not stand not to eat fishes that had no scales.

"I can't eat any catfish? that's like torture... it's tasty especially when grilled..." Miguel inwardly muttered.

After the Babaylan has discussed many other rules they have to observe, she then dismissed the group but she halted some of the promising Apprentice Shamans from leaving, Miguel was included.

...

"I thought it was over. Speak, you old hag! is there something more that you have to say?" Miguel being done for the night could not stand to sit idly anymore. He reckoned that he needs to train this kid's body and needs to contemplate his plans further in order not to upset his current plans.

He deliberately showed an annoyed expression with the Babaylan in hopes that she would stop bothering him for a while which made the surrounding Apprentices give him a raised brow.

"Hey, you! I appreciate that you saved us but can you show some respect when talking with the Babaylan? It is your privilege that the Babaylan is gracing you with her wisdom." Marikit scolded Miguel for being rude and felt like she needs to correct his behavior. Spouting words from her righteous indignation, Miguel only stared at her with a grin.

"Hey too! You ungrateful girl. Respect is earned, don't expect me to respect someone as incompetent as her. Wisdom? She had put our lives into danger! And yet here you are defending her? You are dumb and full of misplaced audacity to even lecture me about behaviors... Pshh!" Miguel rich with domineering presence rebuked her while crossing his arms.

Seeing this scene, The Babaylan felt humiliated. And worse of all, it came from the mouth of a kid. But because Miguel had recently just saved them, she just resigned inwardly. She knew that the kid is right and tried to be the bigger person as she continued to speak, ignoring those rude remarks of Miguel.

"Well, enough with that. As I was saying, Mt. Kaphon is a mysterious place... it connects our tribe to the spirit realm through setting up a ritual circle that anyone at my level can open with a chant. But since all of you here had already opened your third eye, it won't matter even if I close or open those ritual circles." Her wrinkles occasionally moved as her chapped lips spoke.

"I'm just advising you all to be careful, practice meditating at night before you sleep. Do not attempt to communicate with the spirits yet, until you gain some mastery over your third eye. If you can open or close them at will then that's the only time you can try. Understood?" With low tone but carefully articulated words, the Babaylan briefly reminded them.

"Understood Baylan." Which the group immediately answered, except for Miguel who only nodded in silence.

The group then dispersed and left the peak as they went back to their own homes. Miguel was accompanied by Elder Shana along with the other Apprentice who shall stay at the shrine.

...

The pale white full moon shone like a silvery plate in the night sky. Under the influence of the calming tea, Miguel sat in his room meditating just like how the Babaylan had instructed.

He just finished doing push-ups and repeated curl-ups which took him almost an hour. He knew that in order to prepare for an expected raid of this tribe's enemies he had to strengthen his body.

Naked inside of his room as the pores in his skin swelled a sweat, Miguel felt relaxed as he took another sip of the tea. He could feel the youthful body he now has, unlike that old cranky joints he used to have which often made his full capability to battle limited.

Breathing in and exhaling, he tried to communicate with Argus.

"You may come out now." With a hushed tone, Miguel called out

But after blankly staring, he found that nothing is happening. "I was able to call him forth previously, what's wrong with that kid?"

A few more breathes passed but Miguel is still greeted with silence. Just him sitting and blankly staring at the moon. And the old man waited for more but when he found that the kid refuses to come out, he just proceeds to tire himself with his own improvised workout and calisthenics.

Deep in the dead of the night, some weird sounds came from one of the Apprentice's room. A kid basking in the moonlight from the gaps of his room's window is seen, diligently strengthening himself.

While Miguel knew he is doing a hard effort, this effort of his would later turn into rumors about a ghost who disrupts people's sleep as he unknowingly made it that way. Nobody would know that those hushed murmurs are actually coming from Miguel who every so often is heaving with heavy breathes. Many have called it, The Guardian of the Shrine or sometimes, Hahu since that was the sound they hear when Miguel heaves.

And with that, another night passed that Miguel is the one in possession of Argus's body.