CHAPTER TWELVE
🌟 "The Making of a Hero"
While the Siklaon attack was ongoing in the town, Erik was currently in a garden, speaking with the guardian Diwata.
In their meeting, Erik was still in disbelief at the appearance of the mysterious woman, whom he had only glimpsed in his dreams.
He continued to be captivated by her beauty and amazed by the feeling in his chest due to the Diwata's presence.
However, he was suddenly confused and perplexed when his Diwata abruptly uttered the words:
"Ah... Um... Why are you here, by the way?"
The Diwata's question was unclear to Erik, as if she hadn't expected to see him in that place.
"Well, so much has happened, and it's a long story. All I know is that the mysterious woman did something strange to me, and then, in an instant, I was here," the young man said.
"Huh? Mysterious woman?" the Diwata asked.
Erik immediately explained everything, including the chaos in the town and Alfredo's plan. He also mentioned that the mysterious woman, who was also a nature Diwata, had helped him meet her so he could gain the power to save his friend.
"Please, I need to save Alfredo. I need your power," Erik pleaded.
His Diwata stepped closer and said,
"Ah... You know, I understand what you're saying and your friend's situation, but it seems unlikely that I can help you."
Erik was surprised by the Diwata's refusal of his request and continued to beg her for the favor to help his friend.
He dared to speak to get the power he desired, stating that he was the chosen Sugo of the Diwata she faced, and therefore, he could receive it for the sake of the Filipinos. He had no idea if what he was doing was disrespectful to the Diwata before him, but at that moment, he was desperate for her help.
"Well, you see, there are three reasons why I said I can't help you with your problem. First, you're not yet of the right age to receive my power, which is why I'm wondering why you're here so soon, even though I haven't called you yet."
She held her head, continuing to think of a possible reason why her young Sugo had been sent by a mysterious Diwata who seemed to be interfering with her rules and conditions as a provincial guardian.
"Second, the duty of a Sugo is to protect the land of Ifugao, but I don't sense any danger in Ifugao right now. We also cannot interfere with the problems of other lands."
"Third, I don't know if the power I give you will help you save your friend because you are not in the land of Ifugao. My power is not strong enough to face other enemies, so I apologize, my Sugo."
Erik immediately appealed to his Diwata to listen to him again and understand his situation, but she offered no response other than shaking her head to show her disagreement with the young man's request.
~ Erik's PoV ~
I felt dismayed and disheartened by what I heard from my Diwata. No matter what I said, she would not agree to give up her power because she didn't want me to die for the sake of another land.
"I would be a very irresponsible Diwata if I gave you my power and let you die in battle," she said.
I asked her what I needed to do for her to give it. I was desperate to get it because if I didn't, Alfredo would die in battle, and so would the people of the entire Urdaneta.
She repeated that there was nothing I could do but wait for my eighteenth birthday and wait for the province of Ifugao to be endangered.
Even though she knew people in other areas were in danger, she prioritized the people in the province under her protection.
I didn't understand, but should I be angry at my Diwata's disregard for the life of my friend and the people, even though she had no responsibility toward them? And if I'm being honest, the same goes for me as the Sugo of Ifugao.
"It's difficult to choose an heir to succeed me as the Sugo of the Diwata. So, if you die, I will have to wait again for someone worthy to be born into your lineage. It would be even more complicated if you died and a problem suddenly arose in Ifugao with no one yet to replace you as the guardian Sugo."
"What do you want me to do in that situation?"
The place fell silent as the Diwata walked around me, explaining the conditions of my request.
I realized that the Diwata had a point about why she couldn't give her power solely for the sake of another land.
I didn't know what to do. I went there to get the Diwata's power to help Alfredo, but that wasn't successful.
What was the point of my insistence on helping other people if I turned my back on my true mission as the Sugo of the Diwata of Ifugao?
I bowed my head in disappointment, and I knew the Diwata sensed my sadness at that moment, so she comforted me by holding my head and saying,
"Remember, you are the Sugo of the Diwata of Ifugao, and above all else, I am only concerned for your welfare in my decision to deny your request."
Perhaps it was foolish. I would take the power meant for the safety of the people of Ifugao to die for the sake of another province.
I just hung my head, full of self-disappointment. At that moment, the Diwata sensed my despair and disappointment in my own inability to even help my friend amidst the danger.
She suddenly held me as I grieved and hugged me, full of sympathy for my pitiful state.
"Do not be sad, my Sugo. What is happening in that place is not your fault. You are a Guardian of Ifugao; your responsibility is the welfare of our land."
The Diwata's intent was clear to me, as she seemed to be telling me to prioritize and consider the welfare and benefit of our land.
That's right, maybe that's how it should be. I don't need to worry about other people. The revolt in Urdaneta isn't my fault, and truthfully, I am a victim here.
I am just a vegetable vendor boy who was taken captive by the rebels to become their ally; they are nothing to me.
Besides, my duty is to protect our land and the people who live here.
That is my mission for why I live.
The Diwata told me that I might die in battle, and I knew there was a high possibility of that happening.
I don't want to die. I don't want to fight other people. That's right, maybe this is better.
While my Diwata was hugging me, and as I continued to think of excuses, I raised my head.
I saw the mysterious woman who was the reason I was there, standing a few meters in front of us.
I didn't know what she was doing there, but she suddenly smiled at me. That's right, she was smiling, but it wasn't a pleasing smile, as I would expect from a gentle Diwata.
This woman was smiling like an evil person with bad intentions for me.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished from my sight, which made me even more nervous.
Then, a hole seemed to appear where I was standing, and in a flash, my Diwata and I suddenly fell into a well-like pit.
I closed my eyes in fear at that moment, and when I opened them again, I realized I was falling from the sky.
We were so high up that we could see the entire land below, from the mountains, forests, and city.
I wasn't sure what place this was, and I no longer considered if what I was seeing was real because of my extreme fear and panic.
It was a breathtaking scene that truly roused my mortal body, making me almost beg Heaven to save me and remove me from that situation.
It was unclear to me why I was there and currently falling, but all I knew was that I would die the moment I hit the ground.
At that moment, someone held my hand, stopping my panic about death.
I remembered that my Diwata was with me in the air, also falling. Unlike me, her face was serious, and she seemed puzzled by what was happening.
"I can't believe I came out of my dream. I don't know who did this, but it's not good," she said.
"Do something, dear Diwata. We will die if we fall to the ground," Erik said fearfully.
"The truth is, only you will die when we crash into the ground, as my true body is in the land of Ifugao. This body is only a part of my power that I placed in your body," the Diwata said.
I immediately panicked and begged my Diwata for help like a child. I admitted to her that I didn't want to die and was willing to do anything to escape that situation.
At that moment, the Diwata fell silent and stared at me. Perhaps she thought about how cowardly and immature her Sugo still was.
"So, you value your life and fear death, yet you want to gain my power to face a battle that could lead to your death," she questioned.
Perhaps she was right in saying that I fiercely guarded my life, so how could I fight?
I had never once asked myself before wanting to claim the Diwata's power:
"Are you willing to sacrifice your life for others?" the Diwata said to me.
No, I don't want to die. No one wants to just die. Like others, there are still things I want to achieve, find, acquire, and overcome in my life.
I don't want to die without fulfilling my dream for my siblings.
It's irritating. I knew I was being embarrassing in front of my Diwata.
I was asking a huge favor from her and acting like a brave hero to others, but now I was like a child begging to live.
In that scene, fear prevailed in my heart, and I could only close my eyes, thinking of my family who were waiting for me and relying on me. I couldn't die and leave them suffering in life.
In an inexplicable moment, the words of the mysterious woman suddenly crossed my mind.
~ Flashback ~
"Remember this: only noble things are done by a hero, and sacrificing one's life for a cause, as your friend is doing, is merely an escape. You don't need to die to be called a hero, because you have something far more important to fulfill. Erik, you need to be the strength of every person."*
I was enlightened and seemed to gain courage from the mysterious Diwata's reminder to me.
I am a coward and nervous, but I know what I want, and if there's a chance I can do something, I want to try it, even if my life is the cost—I want to be useful for a noble cause.
To be nothing less than a hero of the country.
At that point, I grabbed the Diwata's arms and faced her as we continued to fall from the air.
"That's right, maybe I am afraid to face what might happen to me when I face them, but I know I want to save them. I want to be a hero for the people."
The Diwata was surprised by what I did and heard from my lips.
"You are a Sugo of Ifugao, and it is not your duty to worry about other lands," the Diwata said.
"I know that responsibility, but even so, I am still a Filipino with a duty to protect this country. A Guardian's duty is not just to protect the land itself, but the Filipinos who live in the land of the Primary Diwata," I said bravely.
"Please, grant me your power."
The Diwata fell silent at what she heard from me, seemingly thinking of an excuse to give me.
It was obvious on her face that she was struggling to decide because she knew the resulting problem and the weight of the responsibility of her decision.
"I'm impressed that you can ask for my power as if you think I can just give it to you easily, despite the consequences I mentioned..." she said, but before she could finish, I immediately cut her off.
"I know you will give it to me," I said bravely to stop her from speaking.
"How can you say that? Give me a good reason to be convinc..." she said, but I immediately stopped her again.
"Because I am the Sugo of the Diwata of Ifugao. I am the one you entrusted to acquire your power, and more than anyone else, you should fully trust me," I said bravely.
The Diwata did not speak again and seemed unable to believe my actions at that moment. The Diwata stared at me unblinkingly, observing my blazing eyes, full of determination and desire to gain her power.
I didn't know if what I was doing or how I was acting was right in front of a respected being, but nonetheless, I was ready to do anything and face the conditions and consequences.
In the middle of the Diwata's silence, she suddenly closed her eyes and smiled at me, saying,
"I didn't expect you to catch me. You are indeed worthy of my power," the Diwata said.
"If that's the case...?" I asked.
She held my head and touched her forehead to mine. Our faces almost collided from what she did as she sensed my presence.
At that moment, I once again felt the incredibly light presence of the Diwata flowing through my body. I felt my blood come alive and my body fill with vigor.
Like the mysterious woman, they could feel the presence of a fellow Diwata or Sugo by touching our heads to perceive the natural spirit's emotions and feelings within my body.
"I will ask you again, my Sugo. Are you ready to die for others?" she asked me seriously.
At the Diwata's second question, I thought again about the things I feared.
The desires and dreams I still wanted to achieve that would be rendered meaningless if I died.
The comrades and family I would disappoint and leave behind if I lost the fight, but despite that, my resolve was firm.
I had decided to become a hero...
To be the strength of every person...
"I don't want to die. I will not die in battle!!" I said bravely to the Diwata.
She smiled at me and gradually released a blue aura from her body. It enveloped my body like thin smoke, slowly entering me.
I felt incredibly light, as if floating in water. All I could do was close my eyes while feeling the wonderful energy flowing through my body. Is this the Diwata's power? I asked myself.
The Diwata slowly vanished, as if merging with my body, but before she completely disappeared, she left behind some words.
"Erik Lumagbas, at this moment, I bestow upon you my power as the successor to my duty to protect the land of Ifugao. At this moment, you are officially the Guardian."
"The Sugo of the Diwata Ada Sid-Alwa of the Land of Ifugao."
The incredibly gentle voice of my Diwata echoed in my ears as my body was fully covered in a blinding light from the energy.
"Go forth and save the people, my little Sugo."
~ End of Chapter ~