The Land of Gold

Raylyn is still on the shore as he was counting his money. It isn’t enough to actually cover for everything. He sighed while he then stared at the sky with a little bit of disappointed expression coming from his face. He can’t believe that he forgot to bring money on this journey and now he is miles away from home. He doesn’t know what to do right now. For now, he could see the busy market doing some trading with the locals. Sea trade capital from the shore of Lusong. The Kabite City, the place itself is full of fresh fruits and vegetables. With some fish that seems to be unique from the either from South East or just Lusong exclusively, right now Raylyn tried to at least walk around the trade market, he saw a lot of people with golden necklace around their neck and with purple clothing with golden linings from the sleeves to the neck and they seem to wear some sort of oval shape hat that seems to be folded in different colors of their clothing. Everything is so exotic here, it’s a place that is definitely different from where he came. During this time, he began to look around for some information and found a pub of some sort. They also sell liquor and other items from their unique shape blade and axes that seems to be displayed on the wall, and some woven written characters that looks like the drawing of the waves of the sea and the wind from the sky. It is a written language but sadly, Raylyn can’t read it. The people that was drinking from the pub looked at Raylyn with curiosity and then a little boy that seems to be the same age of Raylyn tapped his shoulder. The stranger’s appearance seems to have brown skin with black eyes and silky smooth long hair and he wore a traditional Lusong clothing from the Katagalugan tribe of Tondo or at least part of it. “Hoy! Ano ang ginagawa mo? Binabasa mo ba ang mga kasulatan sa dingding?” (Translation: Hey! What are you doing? Are you trying to read what is written on the wall?) And of course, Raylyn was a little flustered and unable to decipher what the little boy was saying. In short, he couldn’t really understand him. But the clueless boy still bothered him, with a wondering expression. The boy used his right hand to wave it up and down in front of Raylyn’s face. “Hoy! Nakikinig ka ba sa akin? Bakit nakatulala ka? Hm. Hindi ka ba makapagsalita” (Translation: Hey! Are you listening to me? Why are you spaced out? Hm. You can’t talk or something?) Then Raylyn sighed as the little boy seems to be clueless of what’s going on. Then a young man seems to be in his twenties came up towards both the little boy and Raylyn and grabbed the little boy’s head with a smile. He wore the same clothing from the little boy but it is much bigger in size. “Wag kang makulit, kung nais mong makipag-usap sa isang tao. Wag mo silang guluhin, hindi mo ba nakikita na iba ang kanyang pananamit?” (Translation: Try to control yourself and not be reckless when it comes to people when you are trying to talk to them. And don’t bother them, didn’t you see that his clothing is different?) The little boy perked up a little bit and then it seems he finally got the idea. “Oo nga, saan pala siya galing?” (Translation: Oh yeah, where is he from?) Then the young man observed Raylyn a little bit and pondered. “Kung maibabase natin sa kanyang pananamit. Sa tingin ko nanggaling siya sa kanluran.” (Translation: Judging from his clothes, I think he’s from the west.) Then the little boy nodded in acknowledgement, he seems to have understood the situation. Then because of it. The little boy asked the young man for something “Kaya mo ba magsalita ng taga kanluran?” ( Translation: Can you speak the language from the west?) Then the young man replied “Sa totoo lang hindi eh.” (Translation: To be honest, I cannot.) Raylyn is just standing there, he doesn’t know what they are talking about but he wants to leave right now. Of course, he could try but he isn’t the type of person to just leave, that would be rude of him. After some small talks between the young man and the little boy. The little took his hand, it seems the little boy had an idea. “Sumama ka sa akin, mayroon akong naisip.” (Translation: Come with me, I have an idea!) Raylyn was dragged by the hand of the boy, he tried to resist but he didn’t wanna be rude since he is in a foreign land. And judging by the expression of the boy, he seems to have good intentions behind the gesture so Raylyn just let it happen. The young man followed them as well. After a couple of walks, they have arrived in a place full of artistry. A giant palace that is shaped like a hut house three layers of it. The architecture is so bizzare yet unique. The halls are filled with golden dragon like sea serpent appearance that is drawn within the pillar with some characters again that he saw earlier from the wall from the pub. Then he saw many extravagant fruits like mangoes from green to yellow, and some roasted pork and a lot of rice being displayed on the table. Raylyn just realized that the little boy is either a noble or from royalty judging by he was dragged into. “Maligayang pagdating sa pagdiriwang! Ako nga pala si Humabon! Anak ni Datu Ibon.” (Translation: Welcome to the celebration/feast! I am Humabon. Son of Datu Ibon.) Raylyn could tell that Humabon is trying to introduce himself to him. So he grabbed Humabon’s hand and smiled slightly. “Raylyn. I am Raylyn Eagleheirt.” Humabon shook his hand not because he was trying to shake his hand for introduction. But because the celebration is starting, but Raylyn didn’t know that. And Humabon seems to know what he is trying to say even without actually understanding each other. “Kinagagalak kung makilala ka Reileen!”(Translation: Nice to meet you Reileen!)

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