1 Messenger of the Great Mahomanay

IN THE depths of a forest so thick with lofty trees that no sunlight could ever reach the surface below. Originating from the two-stemmed, variegated tree. The one on the right is the total opposite of the other; its skin is as immaculate as that of a blooming tree, and its dark green, thick leaves are covered in slow movement of floating teensy-weensy golden light balls. Dark brown and wrinkly, it is made of twigs that have lost their last single twig and was long dead. These two trees are capable to bend into a spherical shape that serves as a threshold. All of its branches and twigs would intertwine from above, forming what amounts to an unknown relationship.

Right smack in the heart of the forest, there the mighty Mahomanay still towers above everything else in this world atop the world's tallest tree, which is over four-thousand and fifty-four billion years old. She's the progenitor of everything supernatural and natural, including things invisible to human eyes.

Time passes quickly as the messenger from the Tribe of Amani, gallops on his white rabbit with fluffy fur to the goddess, Mahomanay's private chamber. The Amani Tribe has been serving as messengers for the gods and goddesses of the mystical lands for centuries.

Their origin was "Dwende," but something that happened a very long time ago. The great chaos—caused their race to split, and Amani's Tribe is now a part of one of those groups. Dwende are tiny men who live in anthill-like mounds called "ponso." Those who inhabit rivers are called water dwarves. Black and white dwarfs are the two main types of dwarves. The Dwende loves to cause trouble by stealing food, money, or whatever else it finds appealing. They eventually settled into a prosperous lifestyle as Diwatas's messengers.

His heart feels like it's going to explode from the stress of breaking the news he's about to share with the goddess's official spokeswoman, and he can't catch his breath. He hops off from the back of his rabbit friend, and fix his head to his feet protected by armor crafted from the bark of the oldest trees in the Mystic City. The magic infused into it made it ten times stronger than if it were formed of heavy metal, making it an effective kind of personal protection.

He smiled widely at his bunny friend, reassuring himself that he is ready to go. His teeny tiny fangs were visible. He turned to his friend and asked, "Do you think I'm ready to go?"

The relationship between a rabbit and his rider is what allows them to communicate with one other despite the fact that the rabbit cannot speak. Telepathy allowed them to speak to one another mentally. "It's time for you to leave, my dear little friend. You wouldn't want to miss the goddess, would you?" His voice is surprisingly deep and clear for such a large, fluffy rabbit.

His lips parted in a wide grin, and he said with a beaming smile, "You are right, my friend." Thanks, Fuzzy! He once hugs his friend before leaving him.

*****

HE WALKED like an army when he entered the chamber of the gods and goddesses; his body is straight, he makes no noise with his tiny feet, and he tried to suppress any thoughts of interest. But how could a kid like him resist the wonder and allure of such ethereal things that he could only ever witness from the outside of this place.

The entire chamber passage is illuminated by various relic stones that originate from different arcane realm locations. Red, white, green, purple, orange, and countless other hues are all available. These unique and precious items could only be found deep within the earth, or in the possession of black "dwende" dwarfs.

"Where are their guards?" The question popped into his head.

The guards rarely deviate from their places unless given explicit orders to do so by their superiors. Nonetheless, the little messenger did not encounter any guards along the corridor leading to the chamber today. A brand-new emotion begins pumping through his veins, all the way to his tiny brain. What could be happening?

Little by little, he makes his way to the massive double doors at the far end of the room. When he finally made it to the door, he used all the strength he could muster in his small hands to slam it shut. He waits for a minute before the door gently opens and his tiny green iris is greeted by the brilliant beams of light. His eyes were hurting so badly that he had to shield them instantly. The eyes of a dwarf are highly sensitive to brightness. The long-term effects of exposure could cause blindness.

"What brought your tiny feet here, little Dwende?" The woman's voice was quite enticing.

The young messenger slowly removes his fingers away from his eyes, revealing a picture-perfect young woman's face. As soon as he straightened up, he bowed politely with his right hand on his chest. Hecan see the woman's white hair scattered on the smooth and shiny wooden floor.

"Arise, little one," another woman's euphonious voice. The little messenger is familiar with the voice. He hasn't heard this voice before, but he's familiar with it because he used to hear the description of a goddess of protection from a legend story that his teacher used to tell his pupils.

He then stands straight and looks straight at that woman.

"I knew it! You are the goddess of protection. The mighty mother Mahomanay!" The little messenger couldn't refrain himself from being so happy to see the powerful woman that protects all creation in the land of the mystic realm under the land of the Philippines, specifically in Mindanao, where humans use it as a name for the island.

The two women were startled by the child's behavior. For so many years, they haven't seen such lively actions or heard that kind of voice tone in their entire existence.

The little messenger changes his behavior quickly and then kneels down on the floor with his hands folded together.

"I am truly sorry, Diwatas… Forgive my actions and words! I don't deserve your mercy because I am such a rude and embarrassment to my ancestors and my kind." He begs as if his life is on the line.

The mighty Mahomanay couldn't stop herself from producing a soft laugh, for she was also amazed by the kid's behavior. As for the young lady, too.

"Mother, why are you laughing? Aren't you supposed to be mad at me?" The little messenger slightly raised his head and didn't know where to look. "And why... are you... hiding?"

Such a poor, cute little creature—innocent as he is.

"This kid is so funny," Manay said.

"At such a young age, I never knew that there would be one kind that is left innocent as this generation," the young woman spoke.

She approached the kid and helped him stand. "Why do you think that the mighty Mahomanay would be mad at you, little Dwende?"

"Thank you very much, miss... I, um, isn't she supposed to be mad at me for being such a stupid courtier?" The little messenger asked innocently.

"You must have heard a lot of fairy tales, little Dwende. How could such a good as the mighty Kaptan get to be mad at such a cute and innocent creature as you are?" The young woman caresses his face. "Now tell me, what brought you here?"

"I, uh, I am here to deliver a message, miss."

"Dare you deliver a message?" The young woman is confused. "Are you saying that you are from the Tribe of Amani?"

"Yes, miss. Proud and loud—even if I am small." The little messenger smiles widely while chucking.

"Then please deliver the message."

"The land is rotting

Abuse and neglected by

Humans. There's no chance."

The little messenger, "That is the message from the group of Engkantada in the human realm, miss," delivered his first message successfully. As he keeps on looking around, finding where the Mighty Mahomanay is hiding.

"You have successfully delivered the message, little Dwende. Now tell me... what is your name?"

"No one ever asked me about my name, miss, except my rabbit. We are like brothers, you know," he answered, lively but awkward as usual. "Well, it's Nain, miss." While caressing his left shoulder with his right hand.

"You have been renamed Nain the Little Messenger. From now on, all creations should address you as such. "

"Wait, really, miss?" With so much joy, he couldn't believe it by himself. I'm Nain, the little messenger. That sounds very nice!" When he realized that he hadn't expressed his gratitude, he quickly bowed his head while putting his right hand on his chest. "Thank you, miss."

"No, it's not me you should be thanking. It's the almighty Mahomanay who has given me the blessing to bless you, little Dwende," the young woman said.

Nain stood up and bowed his head again to the almighty Mahomanay. "Thank you, our great Mahomanay." He then straightens his back. "But, where are you? Why are you hiding?" He hadn't realized the existence of the great Mahomanay yet.

"You still haven't realized it, don't you, little Dwende?"

Nain just gave her a plain look and a slight downward smile.

"The great tree, Nain, is the mighty Mahomanay. She is the heart of the mystic realm. She is everywhere where trees can be seen."

Nain couldn't believe what he heard, but one thing was for sure, he would remember this day and forth.

"Now, you may leave the chamber, little Dwende."

"Farewell, Diwatas."

Nain left the chamber and immediately ran off on his way to his rabbit.

When the two fairies were left inside the chamber, the young woman then spoke to the almighty Mahomanay after closing the double doors.

"Why did you speak with the little Dwende, Manay? You know how risky it gets when you use your energy, which is slowly and gradually consumed by all the creations that are residing in this realm. And now that you're sustaining the energy that all mystic creatures need from the human realm without receiving the same or more energy back to you. What if you d—We can't lose you—I don't want to lose you.

Can you just please stop yourself from caring for others and focus on yourself first? Let's find out first, why isn't the earth healing from your power, and why does it rot as quickly as we ever expected? Then everything will get back to what it was like before. You cannot protect a single creation if you won't protect and save yourself first." She's not mad, she just cares so much for the welfare and status of their great mother of all creations.

"Now, what do you want to do? The message is clear, Manay. There's no chance left for humanity to come back to life. And even if there's one, what could a single human have done to save the earth? "

"Summon the seven mothers of the earth, Maria."

"Wait, what?" Maria was perplexed upon hearing the Great's order. "You are just joking. Right, Manay? Summoning the seven mothers of the earth will cause great chaos, that I believe without any doubt. The seven main divisions of the earth haven't been together for a billion years since the great chaos happened in the past. And now, you want to summon them here in La Perdida Ciudad?

May Kaptan bless us all."