Lukas Morales had always felt out of place. At sixteen, he should have been worrying about exams, basketball practice, or the next school event. Instead, a strange restlessness gnawed at him, an unshakable feeling that he didn’t belong in this world. He often dismissed it as teenage angst, but deep down, he knew there was more to it.

It was a humid afternoon in Manila. The kind where the sun scorched the pavement, and the air was thick with the smell of exhaust fumes and street food. Lukas navigated his way through the crowded streets, his school bag slung lazily over one shoulder. He walked with a slight slouch, his headphones blasting music to drown out the noise of the city. But even the rhythmic beats couldn’t quell the unease bubbling inside him.

He glanced at the sky, noticing dark clouds gathering in the distance. A storm was coming, but there was something odd about it. The clouds seemed unnaturally dark, almost as if they were alive, swirling with a menace that made Lukas’s skin prickle.

As he turned the corner, he spotted a small, dimly lit shop wedged between two larger buildings. The sign above the door was old and faded, written in Baybayin script—something he recognized from his history classes. He’d never noticed this shop before, despite passing by this street almost every day. Curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself pushing the creaky door open.

Inside, the air was cool and smelled of incense. Shelves lined the walls, filled with all sorts of trinkets—old books, carved wooden statues, and various oddities that seemed out of place in the modern world. At the back of the shop, an elderly woman with silver hair sat behind a counter, her eyes sharp and knowing. She looked up as Lukas entered, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“Ah, I’ve been expecting you,” she said, her voice soft yet commanding.

Lukas blinked, taken aback. “You have?”

The woman nodded, her gaze never leaving his. “You’ve always felt it, haven’t you? That pull… like you’re meant for something more.”

Lukas felt a chill run down his spine. He had no idea how this woman knew about the thoughts he’d kept buried, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words.

Before he could respond, the ground beneath him trembled. The entire shop seemed to vibrate, and the strange storm outside intensified. Lukas could hear the wind howling, though it was oddly muted inside the shop. The old woman stood up, her expression calm despite the chaos outside.

“It’s time,” she whispered, reaching beneath the counter and pulling out a small, ornate box. She handed it to Lukas, her hands steady.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Your destiny,” she replied simply.

As Lukas took the box, a blinding light erupted from it, engulfing him in its brilliance. He tried to cry out, but the light swallowed his voice. The world around him dissolved into nothingness, and for a moment, there was only silence.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the light faded. Lukas found himself lying on his back, staring up at a sky that was no longer filled with storm clouds but with stars—thousands of them, brighter and closer than he had ever seen. He sat up, his heart pounding, and realized he was no longer in Manila.

The air here was different—cooler, cleaner, and filled with the scent of pine and earth. He was in a forest, the trees towering above him like ancient sentinels. The ground beneath him was soft with moss, and in the distance, he could hear the faint sound of a stream.

Panic welled up inside him. How did he get here? Was this some kind of dream? He pinched himself, but the sharp pain confirmed that this was real—too real.

As he scrambled to his feet, he heard a rustling behind him. He spun around, his heart racing, and came face to face with a figure that made his blood run cold. It was a man, or at least it looked like one at first glance. He was tall, with skin the color of mahogany, but his eyes—those weren’t human eyes. They were dark, glowing with an otherworldly light. And he was dressed in traditional clothing, like something out of an old legend.

The man—or creature—stared at Lukas with a mix of curiosity and something else, something darker. Lukas took a step back, his mind racing for an explanation, but none came.

“You’re not from here,” the man said, his voice deep and resonant. It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

Lukas swallowed hard, his mouth dry. “No… I’m not. Where am I?”

The man smiled, but it was a cold, predatory smile. “You’re in Theos, boy. A world far from your own. And you… you have much to learn.”

Lukas felt a surge of fear, but also a strange sense of purpose. As terrifying as this was, a part of him felt… right. Like he was finally where he was supposed to be.

The man turned and began to walk away, glancing over his shoulder. “Follow me if you want to survive.”

With no other options, Lukas hesitated only for a moment before following. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—his life would never be the same.

Lukas followed the strange man through the dense forest, each step taking him deeper into the unknown. The air was thick with the scent of earth and pine, and the sound of his own breathing filled his ears. The man moved with an ease that Lukas envied, slipping through the trees as if he was part of the forest itself. Lukas, on the other hand, struggled to keep up, tripping over roots and stumbling on uneven ground.

“Where are we going?” Lukas finally asked, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to keep it steady.

The man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder, his dark eyes glinting in the dim light. “You’ll see soon enough. But first, you need to learn the rules of this world.”

“The rules?” Lukas repeated, confused. “What do you mean?”

The man stopped abruptly, causing Lukas to nearly crash into him. They had reached a small clearing, the trees parting to reveal a patch of sky above. The man turned to face Lukas, his expression serious.

“Theos is not like your world,” the man began, his voice low and measured. “Here, the myths and legends you grew up with are very real. The creatures you heard about in stories—the aswang, the tikbalang, the diwata—they all exist here. And they are not as forgiving as the tales might have led you to believe.”

Lukas felt a chill run down his spine. He had heard the stories, of course—everyone in the Philippines grew up hearing them. But to think that those creatures could be real… it was almost too much to comprehend.

“Who are you?” Lukas asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. “And why did you bring me here?”

The man’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, Lukas thought he wouldn’t answer. But then the man sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “My name is Datu. I am what your people would call a babaylan—a shaman, a keeper of the old ways. I didn’t bring you here, Lukas. Theos called you. It sensed something in you, something it needed.”

Lukas frowned, his mind racing. “But why me? I’m just a kid. I’m not special.”

Datu’s gaze softened, and he placed a hand on Lukas’s shoulder. “You may not believe it now, but there is something extraordinary about you. Theos has chosen you for a reason, and it’s up to you to discover what that reason is.”

Lukas wanted to argue, to tell Datu that he was wrong, that this was all some sort of mistake. But deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was truth in the shaman’s words. He had always felt different, like he was meant for something more, something bigger than himself. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was what he had been waiting for.

Before Lukas could respond, a sound echoed through the forest—a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down his spine. Datu stiffened, his hand dropping from Lukas’s shoulder as he turned toward the sound.

“They’ve found us,” Datu muttered, his voice tense.

“Who?” Lukas asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

Datu didn’t answer. Instead, he reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a small, intricately carved dagger. The blade glinted in the faint light, and Lukas could see symbols etched into the metal, symbols that seemed to pulse with an inner light.

“Stay close to me,” Datu ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. “And whatever you do, don’t run.”

Lukas nodded, fear gripping his insides as he stepped closer to Datu. The growl sounded again, louder this time, and Lukas could see movement in the shadows at the edge of the clearing. Shapes began to emerge from the darkness—hulking, twisted forms that Lukas recognized from the stories his grandmother used to tell him.

Aswang.

Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and their mouths twisted into grotesque smiles, revealing rows of sharp, yellowed teeth. Lukas’s breath caught in his throat as the creatures began to circle them, their movements slow and deliberate.

“Remember the rules, Lukas,” Datu said quietly, his eyes never leaving the aswang. “Theos is a world of balance. Everything here has its opposite. Light and dark, life and death, creation and destruction. You must find your balance, or this world will consume you.”

Lukas didn’t know what that meant, but there was no time to ask. The aswang lunged at them, their clawed hands outstretched. Datu moved swiftly, the dagger flashing in the dim light as he slashed at the nearest creature. The blade cut through the aswang’s flesh, and it let out a shriek of pain, recoiling from the strike.

But there were too many of them. For every aswang Datu struck down, two more took its place. Lukas felt panic rising in his chest. They were surrounded, and there was no way out.

“Lukas, you need to focus!” Datu’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. “You have power within you—use it!”

Lukas’s mind raced. Power? What power? He was just a kid, lost in a world he didn’t understand, surrounded by monsters he thought only existed in nightmares.

The aswang closed in, their claws reaching for him, and Lukas felt something inside him snap. A surge of energy welled up from deep within, a force he had never felt before. It coursed through his veins, filling him with a strength that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Without thinking, Lukas raised his hand, and a blinding light erupted from his palm, sending the aswang flying back. The creatures screeched in agony as the light engulfed them, their twisted forms dissolving into nothingness.

When the light faded, the clearing was silent. The aswang were gone, their presence erased from the world as if they had never existed. Lukas stood in the center of the clearing, his heart pounding, his hand still glowing with the remnants of the energy he had unleashed.

Datu approached him slowly, his expression unreadable. “You did well, Lukas,” he said quietly. “But this is only the beginning. Theos has much more in store for you.”

Lukas stared at his hand, the glow fading away as the last traces of the power ebbed. He didn’t understand what had just happened, or how he had done it. All he knew was that his life had changed forever, and there was no turning back.

“Come,” Datu said, gesturing for Lukas to follow. “We must keep moving. There are others who will want to meet you.”

Lukas nodded numbly, his mind still reeling from the encounter. As he followed Datu out of the clearing, he couldn’t help but wonder what other dangers—and revelations—awaited him in this strange, new world.

Lukas walked in silence, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The events of the past hour were hard to comprehend, and the power he had unleashed still pulsed faintly within him, like a distant echo. As they moved through the dense forest, he kept glancing at Datu, searching for answers in the shaman’s calm demeanor. But Datu offered no explanations, only the occasional glance to make sure Lukas was still following.

The forest around them was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves, the chirping of unseen insects, and the distant calls of animals Lukas couldn’t identify. Yet, despite the unfamiliarity, there was something oddly comforting about this place. The trees, tall and ancient, seemed to whisper secrets, their leaves rustling in a language Lukas couldn’t understand but felt drawn to.

After what felt like hours, the forest began to thin out, and the ground sloped upward. They emerged onto a narrow path that wound its way up a hill, the trees giving way to rocky terrain. At the top of the hill, Lukas could make out a cluster of stone structures, half-hidden by mist. They didn’t look like any buildings he had ever seen—more like ancient ruins, weathered by time but still standing strong.

“Where are we?” Lukas asked, his voice breaking the long silence.

Datu paused, looking up at the structures with a mixture of reverence and sadness. “This is Aninong Sagrado, the Sacred Shadow. It’s a place of power, where the veil between worlds is thin. The diwata once dwelled here, long before Theos began to change.”

“The diwata?” Lukas repeated, the word familiar from stories. In Filipino mythology, the diwata were nature spirits—guardians of the forests, rivers, and mountains. But those were just stories… weren’t they?

“Yes,” Datu confirmed, as they continued up the path. “The diwata are ancient beings, older than the oldest myths. They are the keepers of balance in Theos, and their power is tied to the very land itself. But they have withdrawn from the world, hiding away as the balance has shifted. Some say they have lost faith in mortals.”

As they approached the ruins, Lukas noticed a figure standing at the entrance to one of the structures. At first, it appeared to be a statue, perfectly still and carved from the same stone as the ruins. But as they drew closer, Lukas realized it was a person—or rather, something that looked like a person, but wasn’t.

The figure was tall and slender, with skin that shimmered like polished marble. Her hair, long and flowing, was the color of autumn leaves, and her eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light. She was beautiful, but in a way that was almost frightening—too perfect, too ethereal to be human.

“Welcome, Datu,” the figure said, her voice soft but carrying a power that made the air hum. She turned her gaze to Lukas, and he felt a chill run down his spine. “And you have brought the one Theos has called. The boy with the hidden light.”

“This is Lukas,” Datu said, gesturing to him. “He is new to our world, but Theos has chosen him. I believe he can help restore the balance.”

The diwata studied Lukas for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. Lukas felt as if she was looking straight through him, seeing every thought, every fear, every secret he had ever kept.

“You are not what I expected,” she said finally, her tone neutral. “But Theos has its reasons, and I trust its wisdom.”

Lukas swallowed nervously. “Who… who are you?”

The diwata tilted her head slightly, as if the question puzzled her. “I am Mayari, one of the few remaining diwata who still walks the land. My power is tied to the moon, and I have watched over these ruins for centuries, waiting for the day when the balance might be restored.”

“Restored?” Lukas asked, trying to make sense of everything. “What happened to it?”

Mayari’s expression darkened, and she glanced at Datu before answering. “Long ago, Theos was a place of harmony. The diwata and the mortals lived in peace, each respecting the other’s place in the world. But as the mortal world grew, so did its greed and ambition. Theos began to change, its balance shifting as darkness crept into the land. The aswang and other dark creatures gained strength, feeding off the fear and anger of mortals. The diwata withdrew, unable to stop the tide.”

“And now, Theos is at a tipping point,” Datu added. “If the balance isn’t restored soon, this world will be consumed by darkness.”

Lukas felt a weight settle on his shoulders. It was hard to believe that he—a sixteen-year-old kid who barely knew anything about this world—could be the one to make a difference. But something deep inside him, a voice he couldn’t quite identify, told him that he had to try.

“What do I need to do?” he asked, his voice quiet but determined.

Mayari’s eyes softened, and for a moment, Lukas thought he saw a flicker of sadness in her gaze. “You must learn to harness the power within you. The light you possess is rare, and it can be a beacon of hope in the darkness. But it is also dangerous, if not controlled.”

Datu nodded in agreement. “There are others like you, Lukas. Others who have been touched by Theos in ways they do not yet understand. You must seek them out, unite them, and together, you can restore the balance.”

Lukas felt a surge of both hope and fear. The idea of seeking out others, of learning to control this strange power, was daunting. But he knew he couldn’t turn back now. Theos had chosen him for a reason, and he couldn’t let this world fall into darkness.

“I’ll do it,” Lukas said, his voice firmer now. “I’ll find the others and restore the balance.”

Mayari smiled faintly, a gesture that seemed both sad and hopeful. “Then we will help you, as much as we can. But remember, Lukas, the path ahead is fraught with danger. The darkness will not let you succeed easily.”

Datu placed a reassuring hand on Lukas’s shoulder. “You won’t be alone, Lukas. Theos may be a world of mystery and danger, but it is also a world of allies and friends. Trust in yourself, and trust in those who stand by your side.”

Lukas nodded, feeling a mix of fear and resolve settle in his chest. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but he knew he had to face it. For Theos, for the people of this world, and for himself.

Mayari stepped aside, revealing a doorway carved into the stone. “Step through here, and you will begin your journey. But know this, Lukas: once you start down this path, there is no turning back.”

Lukas took a deep breath, steeling himself. Then, with one last glance at Datu and Mayari, he stepped through the doorway into the unknown.

The world on the other side was waiting for him.