Library

After they eat their breakfast, I approach Cedric and whisper to him about the Library. He smiles and takes my hand to drag me but before we walk far I shout to Eric and Carlo to take care and help those other people. In the middle of the city a big Library can be seen, it looks like the National Library of the Philippines. Cedric lets go of my hand and runs inside. After I admire the exterior of the library, I follow him inside.

But what is inside is different of said library. The walls are covered with vines and leaves and every section has a large plaque with a beasts or the deities name on it. When I asked Cedric who is busy looking to Lakapatis' section about the plaques he said that it indicates who or what is the author of the books. He took one book titled Prayer for Fertility and the author is Lakapati.

I asked him who teaches him to read and he answers that an old woman taught him. She died a year ago peacefully in her sleep but her corpse is unfortunately eaten by a Balbal. He excitedly explains to me about all the books he read. Some of it is fictions and other is informational. Others are the journals and diaries of the deities and other beings. He shows me the books he love and the ones he hated. I laughed in shock when he showed me a kamasutra book written by Mapolan. He shows me three rows of kamasutra with every version for different partners, beings or the numbers of participant. Is Mapolan a pervert?! What happen to her serene and divine posture? Is the Goddess a free and wild type?! I forbid him to read it anymore because he is not old enough.

I asked him if he read about portals he said there is none about it. Browsing the section of Dalikamata I notice a black mist starting to surrounds me. Ispiritong ligaw appears in front of me, smiling at me sadly. I don't feel the oppressing aura that we felt when we first encountered her.

"Follow me." She whispers in my ears and floats away. Cedric notices her too and we start to follow her.

On one of the corners of the library, she descended into the floor. I stared bewilder, how can we follow her there? We search for a door or a switch for 10 minutes until Cedric touch a tile and the floor descended too and became a stair. On that floor there are new shelves of books 4 sections are for diwatas, four for engkantos, a section for sinag, a section for ombra and grand shelves in the middle with the plaque of Bathala. She looks at us relieve that we found it; she closes her eyes and disappear.

Cedric shouts for joy when he sees new books to read. He never saw this section before and he is excited to read the ones written by Bathala. He took one book titled Kaluwalhaitan and sits on one of the chairs and read it quietly. I took one book from the section of Apoy titled Meditation to Calm the Fire and read beside him. Forgetting that I plan to search a book about portals.

A month has pass and we still can't find a book about how we can create portals. All we know is that diwatas and engkantos are the only ones that can create it across planes. Deities can cross the planes without using it. Beasts with powerful magical affinities can also create portals but not for crossing plane. Like what can Halakhak do for his house. All of magical beings can create their own space when they learned about it. But creating portals for crossing planes? Nada…

The books in the special sections are forbidden to leave their floor. We know this because on the first day we found it, Cedric took three books to read that night but the books flew out of his hands and return to their respective places. So if I want to read about my Faction I have to do that inside the Library with Cedric who always follows me around.

Every morning I enter the Forest to befriend the beasts and collects food for the city people. I hate mornings but I need to do this so no one can disturb me. I asked them to help me train to fight; Kapre helps me with strength and Tikbalang with my speed. I also hone my ability to use Arma. I discovered that I liked to use the whip more.

After that I rest to Halakhaks' house, he eventually let me in. He is the closest non-human friend I have and he is fun to be with. I read some books for him written by Mapolan because her fictional books are his favorite. He giggles and cries in every parts of the books. The crystals? I asked 1/3 of them and he readily agreed. I also made him 5 Fire Crystal every day, it also an opportunity for me to practice my elemental power.

Eric became the resident cook for the people but because he is still unaccustomed to see male gender Cedric and Carlo bring the food to them. He is used to interact with Carlo and Cedric so he is not afraid of them anymore. He also loves Cedric to bits and always pinches his cheeks. Carlo became the ambassador of the city people. He is the one who conveys what they need and suggest. Cedric became my shadow, except in the Forest, he follows me everywhere. Carlo thinks he hero worship me, I just laugh and say otherwise.

This routine pretty much became the norm and three more months have passed. We all got used to our living arrangement and the people don't look sick anymore. They don't ask me where I got all of these foods, they are just grateful for it. I become more agitated as the days comes by with no lead how to create a portal. So one day I go back to the Library to search about it again with Cedric in tow. On the special floor I browse the Bathala section and Cedric pulls out a book from the Agua section and reads on the floor.

"Kuya… can I asked you a question?" he mutters not even looking at me. Knowing that he needs my approval before he asks, I agreed and inquire what it is.

"When we leave this place, can you adopt me?" His hand starts to tremble as he waits for my answer.

"I am too young to be a father." I said jokingly to ease some tension.

"You know what I mean. Can you be my Kuya officially? I don't have a surname, so can I become Cedric Reyes?"

"Do you really want to be my brother, not because you want a surname?"

"Yes…please." He said to me with no hesitation.

I look into his eyes and see determination. I don't have any sibling and just an orphan like him, living with my Auntie for the rest of my childhood. If I say yes, I am looking to a kid who will become my family; he will become my brother… my only brother. "Okay, if you really want to." And we both smile.

"When we leave, someone can help me become your official kuya. But you can tell the others that we are brothers now and when they ask me I will proudly say yes."

He started to cry and hugs me, his snots wet my shirt but I laugh as I pat his back. "Why are you crying? I thought you want me to be your kuya."

"Tears of joy dumbass." He said to me as he wipes his tears.

Deities and beast and their international equivalent:

Lakapati: God/Goddess of Fertility. A Hermaphrodite/ transgender deity. Some town taught that he/she have two genders and the other taught there are times that he/she changes his/her gender according to his/her mood. Giver of food, prosperity and agriculture. She/he is the kindest deity in the Kaluwalhatian.

Dalikamata:A clairvoyant goddess, her body is covered by multiple eyes.

Balbal: The equivalent beast is Ghoul who eats only human corpse.