"Cleb! Ano 'toh?" Li curiously pointed at the unfamiliar viand on the table.
Cleb briefly glanced at him, then returned to his axes that he was tidying up right now.
"Pagkain," He shortly replied.
"I mean... —"
"Ha? Eh, Ulam natin 'yan! Ako nagluto niyan!" Cleb uttered, while attention was on its axes.
"I mean... what kind of food is this?" Li uttered.
Cleb stood up from where he was seated.
"Sinabawang Kuneho na may patatas!" He said.
"What?" Li uttered, confused.
"Bakit? 'Di ka pa ba nakakain niyan? Masarap 'yan! Tikman mo!" Cleb said, offering the mashed potatoes rabbit soup.
Li looks disgusted by it.
"Aba! Nakakainsulto naman ang pagmumukhang 'yan! E'di 'wag kang kumain!" Cleb said, slightly offended by Li's reaction. Snatched the bowl with soup in it from the table.
"Oh, no! I didn't mean that way. We'll eat that, Cleb. Put it back here." Li responded.
Cleb glares at Li.
"Magluto ka na lang ng sarili mong ulam!" Cleb refused to.
"No! Let's eat that —"
"Huwag na!"
"Put it back here —"
"Sabing 'wag na — ..."
" — Put it back!" Li exclaimed.
Cleb flinched, silenced. Awkwardly putting back the bowl of rabbit soup at the table, meanwhile, Li keeps his glaring gaze at Cleb.
"Okay," Uttered in low volume.
Then, a sudden entrance in the instant. Li and Cleb turned their gaze at the doorway and saw Marcus and Amir entering the chamber.
"What's happening?" Amir asked with an accent.
"We heard someone shout," Marcus added.
"Ah, it was about the rabbit soup. Not a big deal!" Li explained.
Then Cleb urged to respond to Li's explanation.
"Aba! Big deal 'yon sakin! Ako nagluto niyan 'tas pandidirihan mo?!"
"Hindi naman eh!" Li uttered, responded.
"Anong hindi? Pag ikaw sinapak ko tulog ka buong linggo —"
"— Aba? Try me, Cleb! Try me!" Li responded.
"Guys, stop that!" Amir calmly intervened with them.
Meantime, Marcus walked around the table and took a spoon to taste the rabbit soup.
"Don't be childish!" Amir added.
"Taste good!" Marcus said. Having a food review of the soup.
"Oh, diba! Sabi ko na sayo, eh!" Cleb boastfully uttered.
"You should try it, thanks for this!" Marcus uttered, thanking Cleb for the viand.
They sat around the table and enjoyed the meal of the night despite having Cleb and Li fight about the rabbit soup.
Amir's POV:
"We'll stay here tonight at Bhaltair and take some rest before we travel to the Mana Boundary," I uttered.
"Also, Master Ki Bou left us a reminder before he goes back to our camp," Marcus said.
"What is it? What reminders?" Li said.
"Well, he reminds us about the Valley of Death," Marcus answered.
Valley of Death. A valley before we reached the Mana Boundary. We have to set foot there and experience unnatural occurrences, and meet some unnatural entities, and uncanny energies before we reach the total opposite of it — the Mana Boundary, which has an immense source of mana between the two realms, and a majestic place full of bizarre. Many have failed, yet, some survived and were able to cross the boundary and lived there in the village nearby.
"In short, we need to be careful. Valley of Death is deathly. There's no u-turn or shortcuts," I said.
The chamber was in full silence.
"Don't worry, guys! I'll be your healer," Li assured. A smile was pinned on his face.
"I have a good nature instinct, In case you forgot — I'm a forest hunter!" Cleb added.
"I'll do the frontline combats. I'm a swordsman!" Marcus added.
I arch a smile on my face. Marking their rules based on their skills seems like a proud leader of this team.
"Then I'll be the head, take the lead, and be your light," I ended.
"Well, we already know our roles in our team. So, are we ready for tomorrow's mission?" I asked.
We both turned gazes at each other. I guess this is it, the team development.
"Yes!" uttered in sync.
After our dinner, we set ourselves to prepare for tomorrow and have it all ready before we leave Bhaltair.
"Psst! Hindi ka pa ba naaantok?" Cleb mumbled, lying at the lower bunk of the bed, leaning sideways fronting at me.
"Me?"
"Siguro!? Syempre, sino pa ba!" He uttered.
"Ah, yes, I'll sleep later," I replied.
"Oh, okay!" He uttered, then veered around.
"Okay!"
"Ipahinga mo na 'yan, maaga pa tayo bukas!" He added.
"Yeah, you're right!" I responded. I stood up from where I sat and climbed up to the upper bunk of the bed, just above Cleb's bed.
Dawn arrived.
"So, this is the Valley of Death? Just a plain valley? Nothing Dark? Nothing Deathly?" Marcus uttered.
We just arrived at the valley and by the looks of it, I can say that Marcus's right, it's just a plain valley.
"From this view...it doesn't look like it, but once we get inside that valley... that's where the death is waiting," Li said.
"Tara na, bilisan na natin!" Cleb uttered.
"Let's go!" I uttered.
We started strolling as soon as we arrived. I took the lead, behind me were Li and Cleb while Marcus was at the back following us. We don't have a map to follow, instead, Master Ki Bou told us that we just keep straight to our path and follow the "x" marked at the tree.
"So, we just need to follow the X that was marked at the tree? Keep west. Are you sure about this, Amir?" Li asked behind.
"Yes, that was what Master Ki Bou had told us, go straight and follow the mark," I responded.
"Kumakapal na ang hamog, mukhang malapit na tayo sa kamatayan!" Cleb urged with no hesitation which caught us all off guard.
"Cleb!" we uttered in sync.
"Bakit? Totoo naman, eh! Kumakapal na ang hamog! Ibig sabihin lang 'yan malapit na tayo sa —"
"Shut up nga, Cleb! What were you saying!?" Li uttered in annoyance.
"Shhh! Guys, lower your voice! We are inside the valley now, some entities might hear us already. Makeup with your senses!" Marcus uttered, shushed them.
"Yeah, he's right! Let's be extra observant around," I added.
As we keep on strolling the fog is getting thicker. I turned around and briefly glanced at them, a sigh of relief as they were still behind me.
"Let's get closer, the fog is already thick. I can barely see you at the back." I said. The three of them took a step closer to each other, at least near behind me.
"Amir! What should we do?" Li uttered, gripping the linen of my shirt at the back.
"Your light magic might work on this, Amir!" Marcus uttered at the back.
I nodded.
"We need to stick together, it's dangerous if we get lost each other because of this fog!" I uttered.
"Just keep walking straight ahead," I added.
Then, it took a moment when no one responded to me.
"Guys? Are you still th—" I turned around and checked at them but they were nowhere to be found. They are lost because of the thick haze surrounding us.
I look around even if despite the mist and no visibility of them.
"Cleb!"
I shouted.
"Li! Marcus! Where are you!?"
I repeatedly called out their names.
"Amir!!!"
Someone shouted.
"Cleb? Is that you?" I emitted.
"Oo! Nasaan kayo? 'Di ko kayo mahanap!" Cleb shouted from afar. I can't tell whether he is near or far from where I am standing.
"Just stay there, okay?! Where's Li and Marcus?"
"Aba, malay ko!" Cleb responded.
"Prinsipe Amir?!" Li said.
"Li? Where are you?" I asked.
"Maybe your magic could work here? Can you do it now?" Li responded and ordered after.
"Yes! Maybe it would be visible enough for you to see and locate me now," I uttered.
"Do it now, Amir!" Marcus commanded.
He added.
"Okay, You need to look up at the sky and pause for a while. Once you see the light strike down, follow it, that's where I stand. My magic will not last long, so, I'm going to keep it on repeat for you to come after, okay?!" I yelled in command.
No one responded. Seriously?
"Understand!? Can you please —"
"Yes!" They uttered in sync.
I took a deep breath first before I uttered the magic.
Light? Do it!
"Solar...flare..." I mumbled and gazed at the sky above.
Then a light poured down in torrents, strikes at the ground.
"Now go!" I commanded.
The light vanished. I repeated it after.
"Amir!" Someone behind me uttered. I turned around and saw Cleb.
"Stay there while others are still not here," I emitted.
I uttered another solar flare magic, one last time.
"Li! Marcus!" Cleb screamed out.
Suddenly we heard someone who was running towards us.
"Get ready!" I uttered.
Cleb nodded and arched his axes. We don't know if he's one of us or an enemy. Amidst the thick haze surrounding us, it could be an advantage to the enemy for attacking us. I raised my arm to a right angle and pointed my finger at the front preparing for an attack. It's getting nearer to us...
"Whoa! Chill! It's me, Marcus!" Marcus uttered. He was shocked by it as soon as he emerged out of the fog, raising both his arms like surrendering for a crime.
I and Cleb took a deep sigh of relief as soon as we saw his face of Marcus.
"Sorry, I thought it was an enemy," I apologize.
"It's okay!" Marcus responded. Glancing behind.
"Where's Li?" He added.
"Wala pa siya rito, mukhang naligaw na yata!" Cleb answered.
"Anong naligaw? I'm here!" Li uttered, appearing out of nowhere.
"You okay?" Marcus uttered in concern.
"Yeah, I'm okay!" Li uttered, fixing his ponytail.
"Let's move now! We need to get out of here!" I emitted and continued to stroll.
"Just follow me, don't get out of sight!" I added.
They nodded, as we continued to hike surrounded by haze. It's been a moment since we felt that we were about to reach the end of the fog, as the surroundings were slowly becoming visible in our eyes and getting lighter.
"We're almost at the end," Marcus said,
"Anong end? Eh, nakalabas na tayo sa makapal na hamog na toh!" Cleb uttered back
"Magpahinga muna tayo dito!" Cleb added. He suggested resting in the meantime.
We agreed to take a break for a while.

I took a nap for a while under this big and wide acacia tree. I leaned my back on the branch, stretched my body, and put my arms over my chest.
Amir!
Light? What?
I just want to tell you that I discovered something uncanny within you.
Uncanny? What is it?
Yes! Yet, I still couldn't dig deeper within this vessel. We haven't fully connected. I have to see your development by being your power to do so.
So...you're saying that I'm still lacking the skills to control this power? That I need more time to develop it and unleash its full potential for you to fully inhabit me and to find out that uncanny thing?
Exactly.
Oh, I guess we need more dynamics between us.
Yes! Remember what happened to you in that battle against Louison?
Yeah, I remembered that.
...
Uncanny? Within me? Is it some sort of superior magic that requires a full potential dynamic between the vessel and power?
...
Amir!
Prinsipe Amir!
Gising!
"Yes? What? What happened!" I uttered. As soon as Li did woke me up.
"Marcus and Cleb -- " Li uttered.
"What?" I said, immediately standing up.
"They're gone," He said
"What do you mean they're gone?"
"Oo, nagising na lang ako na wala sila. Hindi ko sila mahanap kahit ginamit ko na ang mana instinct ko! Hindi ko sila maramdaman, kaya ginising na lang kita para tulungan mo ako para hanapin sila!" He explained.
"They left us?" I said. Thinking that Marcus and Cleb betrayed and left us here.
"Baka? Siguro? Hindi ko alam!" Li uttered.
"Okay, we'll find them together. It's dangerous for the two of us to split up now, so, let's go find them together." I uttered.
Li nodded, as we entered the forest to find them. We keep on strolling inside this forest and locate them using both our mana instincts.
"Instinct; an ability that helps us decide what to do or how to act without conscious thought, are not skills that can be taught or learned. What causes this is the genetic and environmental stimuli combination. Mana Instinct; with the addition of Mana, the instinct with supernatural forces responds and reacts to a stimulus in one's environment or a person. Once Mana Instinct is activated, this triggers to respond and react to an organism that had mana triggered in one's environment. An organism with mana would be easily located like a radar when mana instinct was activated, in this way, it would be manageable for someone to do so," Li defined.
I was quite shocked by the way he explained the concept of Mana Instinct.
"That was quite an explanation, Li --"
"Sounds smart," I spoke, complimenting him.
"Not so, I just explained the concept of instinct with the addition of mana," Li responded.
" -- Besides, Bay told me about this mana instinct and how to use it!" He added.
Bay? Who's Bay?
"Bay?" I uttered curiously.
"Yes! Bay! My inner voice, that's her name," He said.
"Oh! I see!" I uttered and nodded.
"Remember that last time at the Almaciga Mountain? That there's a voice that keeps calling my name? It's her! That was Bay!" He said.
"Oh, that one! I remembered it," I replied.
"Yeah!"
...
"What is that?" Uttered in sync.
As we both halted the moment that we felt something unusual.
"I don't know, I can feel it too. It's huge!" Li said.
"Right, and it's inside this woods! I uttered.
I felt a humongous mana inside this woods but I can't tell if this belongs to Marcus or Cleb. We entered this woods and kept strolling around.
"Those mana are not from Marcus and Cleb, right?"Li uttered, gazes at me waiting for the answer.
"I don't know either, but let's just follow it until we know who that mana is," I uttered.
Li! Amir! Alis kayo d'yan! Takbo!
Screaming was heard from afar. We turned to look for that scream and to our thrill, Marcus and Cleb were running towards us screaming out of their lungs and signaling us to get away and run away from this wood. What caught our attention was the pale yellowish stain on their clothes and all over their body.
"What?" I said.
"Takbo daw? Bakit?" Li uttered.
"Amir! Sa harapan niyo!" Cleb shouted while running towards us.
We turned and were aghast as we saw something gigantic. A monstrous hairy, eight-eyed tarantula, was about ten feet tall and preying on us. I was horrified that I couldn't move any muscles and pinned my foot to the ground, but somehow, Li managed to pull me out of the scene and dodged the gigantic tarantula. He grabbed my arm and ran away from the monster. The monstrous tarantula chased us and probably saw us as prey.
"Run, Amir! Run!" Li uttered while grabbing my arm.
We kept on running and unintentionally tripped over, causing us to fall to the ground.
The tarantula overtook us and arched its venomous fangs to prey on us. While us lying on the ground waiting for our death.
"Not now!" Marcus uttered, up above the sky arching his sword towards the tarantula.
"Blaze cut!"
But by the monster's instinct, the attack was able to dodge. The tarantula saw that, and jumped over at the descending Marcus, coming to counter that magic, but then, Cleb came to the rescue as he leaped and grabbed one of the tarantula's legs and spun it over and over to stun the tarantula and smashed it with the full force of his strength on the ground. The tarantula seems out.
"You all okay?" Marcus uttered, checking if we were okay. He held his hand to Li helping him stand up.
"Thanks!" I said, as I independently stood up by myself.
"Saan kayo galing?" Li asked.
"Ah, naghanap lang kami ng makakain,"
Cleb answered back while smashing the tarantula with its axes ensuring that it was lifeless. Blood splashes over his face and body.
"Naghanap?" Li asked, isn't yet convinced.
"Yeah, we find something to eat and at the same time stroll around the valley, but then, unfortunately, we encountered this monster. A lot of them from that area that we left, we fought and killed some of them but they were too much to handle, so we ran off. While running away, we saw you here. That spider might have killed you, luckily, you're safe." Marcus explained.
"That area and probably this area might have monsters lurking inside the woods. It's dangerous!" He added.
Pointing at the area they came from going through the woods where I and Li was about to set foot. Luckily, they came.
"Oh! So we have to go straight to the northern part of this valley?" Li asked.
Marcus nodded.
"So, let's waste no time! We have to go now before the sun sets, It might be a lot dangerous here if it's night," I spoke.
They all nodded. I turned at Cleb and gave me a thumbs-up sign.
"Goods! Tinadtad ko na para siguradong patay!"
"Tara!" Cleb said.
- END.