Three days later, Mang Dante led Miguel into a hidden valley where a small group of young people were practicing what looked like a mix of martial arts and dance. As they approached, the group stopped and turned to look at them—their eyes showing different colors, their forms hinting at unique abilities.
"Everyone," Mang Dante called out, "this is Miguel. He's come from the Babaylan community in the north."
A girl with wings of iridescent green feathers stepped forward, her eyes glowing amber. "I'm Lia. We're Banaspati—our cultivation focuses on air and flight. We grow wings that get stronger with each sub-level we master."
A tall boy with skin like polished wood and leaves in his hair smiled warmly. "I'm Kiko. Mga Tagapag-alaga ng Kagubatan—Forest Keepers. Our cultivation connects us to trees and plants—we can make roots grow, heal sick forests, even shift into wooden forms."
A smaller girl with scales along her arms and legs approached, her hands glowing with blue light. "I'm Maya. We're Taga-dagat—Water Aswang. Our cultivation lets us breathe underwater, control currents, and shift into sea creatures."
"And I'm Rene," a boy with eyes that sparkled like stars said, stepping forward. "Mga Tagapag-alaga ng Bituin—Star Keepers. We focus on Spirit and Energy cultivation, drawing power from the night sky."
Miguel stared at them in awe. "I never knew there were so many kinds of Aswang… each growing differently based on their cultivation."
"We've been waiting for someone like you," Lia said seriously. "We've heard about the evil cultivators spreading across the land. We want to fight back, but we don't know how to work together."