The wind didn't stop.
It pressed against Amir Navarro's back as he lay on the cold rock, staring up at the night sky.
Breathing hurt.
Everything hurt.
"…get up…"
His fingers twitched.
Barely.
"…if you stay here…"
The voice was distant now.
Fading.
"You die."
Amir sucked in a sharp breath—
Pain exploded through his chest.
"Ghh—!"
His body jerked as he forced himself onto his side. The world spun violently, the cliffs of Ilocos Norte tilting in his vision.
His hand pressed against his ribs.
Wet.
Sticky.
"…I really got messed up…" he muttered.
The golden glow was gone.
The strength—
Gone.
Only pain remained.
"…so that's the cost…" Amir whispered.
The Anito stood a few steps away.
Faint now.
Like a fading flame.
"You forced power through a body that is not yet ready," it said.
"Pain is the price of ignorance."
"…you could've said that earlier," Amir shot back weakly.
A pause.
"You would not have listened."
"…fair."
A cold gust swept across the cliff.
Amir shivered.
Something felt wrong.
Not the wind.
Not the pain.
Something else.
"…we're not alone, are we?" he said quietly.
Silence.
Then—
"No."
Amir's grip tightened on his stick.
"…great."
He forced himself up—
His legs trembled immediately.
"Okay… okay… just need to get home…"
His grandfather.
That thought alone forced him forward.
One step.
Then another.
Behind him—
Gravel shifted.
Amir froze.
"…don't turn around…" he whispered to himself.
The wind stilled.
For a single, suffocating moment—
Everything went quiet.
Then—
A faint silhouette appeared at the edge of the cliffs.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
Amir's breath slowed.
"…that thing again…"
It didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just watched.
"…friend or enemy?" Amir muttered.
No answer.
The Anito's voice came low:
"Neither."
That was worse.
Amir took a slow step back.
Then another.
The silhouette didn't follow.
But it didn't leave either.
"…yeah, I'm not dealing with that tonight."
He turned—
And started walking.
Faster.
Step.
Step.
Step—
Pain flared again.
"Gah—!"
His knee buckled.
He hit the ground hard.
"…seriously…?"
His vision blurred.
"You are reaching your limit," the Anito said.
"…I noticed…"
"Your body will fail before your will does."
"…then I just have to move faster."
"Foolish."
"…still moving."
Amir pushed himself up again.
The wind shifted.
This time—
It carried something else.
A sound.
CLANG—
Metal striking.
Far off.
Amir froze.
"…you hear that?" he asked.
"Yes."
Another strike.
Closer.
CLANG—
A low, inhuman screech followed.
Amir's stomach dropped.
"…that's not normal…"
"No."
The Anito turned slightly.
Listening.
"Another has engaged."
"…another what?"
"Another awakened."
Amir's eyes widened.
"…you're kidding."
The sound came again—
Closer.
Faster.
CLANG—
SCREECH—
Amir swallowed.
"…so I'm not special."
"No."
"…wow. harsh."
The Anito's gaze remained fixed ahead.
"You are late."
Amir frowned.
"…you said that before."
"Others awakened earlier."
The wind picked up.
"And they have already begun fighting."
Another screech echoed—
This time much closer.
Amir tightened his grip on his stick.
"…and dying?" he asked.
A pause.
"Yes."
Silence settled between them.
Heavy.
Amir looked down at his shaking hands.
At the blood.
At the weakness.
"…then I really need to get stronger…"
The wind surged again.
"…because I'm not dying out here."
A shadow moved ahead.
Fast.
Too fast.
Amir's instincts screamed.
"Down!"
He dropped instantly—
Something flew overhead—
A body.
It slammed into the rocks with a sickening crack.
Amir's heart pounded.
"…what the hell—"
A figure landed a few meters away.
Light on their feet.
Balanced.
Controlled.
Holding blades.
The air around them felt—
Sharp.
The aswang that had been thrown rose slowly.
Snarling.
But this time—
It wasn't smiling.
It was afraid.
The figure stepped forward.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Then—
They spoke.
"…you shouldn't have awakened here."
Amir's breath caught.
The figure turned slightly—
Just enough for him to see.
A mask.
And eyes that had seen too much.