Chapter 4: The Sky City of Banaue

The wind grew colder as they climbed.

Felicita tightened her borrowed cloak around her shoulders. The path had changed from muddy jungle floor to winding mountain trails lined with pine trees and flowering vines. Each breath left a puff of mist in the air.

From their vantage point, she could see the carved rice terraces of Banaue cascading like emerald stairs across the mountainside. But Amihan pointed not to the terraces—but to the clouds above them.

“There,” he said. “See the peaks above the mist? That is Langit-Lungsod—the Sky City. Hidden above the clouds, unreachable by foot.”

Felicita squinted. At first, she saw nothing. But then a shimmer caught her eye—like glass catching sunlight. A floating city of towers and bridges, nestled in the air itself.

“How do we get up there?” she asked, still in awe.

“We fly,” he said simply.

“Fly… how?”

He gave her a crooked grin. “You have a magical necklace that connects to a store beyond time. Figure it out.”

---

Later that evening, in the shelter of a stone outpost once used by mountain guards, Felicita sat by the fire, phone in hand. She scrolled through the Wondrous Market of All Things, navigating the Relic Enhancements tab, Transportation, and finally, Aerial Support.

Her eyes widened.

> Available Items

• Compact Glider Wings (3 Gold)

• Flying Broom – Old Edition (4.5 Gold)

• Hoverboard, Beginner Model (5.2 Gold)

• Sky Jeepney, DIY Kit (8.0 Gold)

She couldn’t resist.

“Add to Cart: Sky Jeepney Kit.”

She traded in a ruby bracelet from her pocket—Yla’s gift, taken from the temple’s spoils.

> Credits Added: 9.1 gold

Purchase Confirmed

Delivery in 3… 2… 1…

With a thunderclap and a gust of wind, a large wooden crate materialized beside the campfire, causing Amihan to jump and reach for his spear.

“What in the—?!”

Felicita grinned. “Let’s build something that can fly.”

---

By morning, the Sky Jeepney stood ready.

It resembled an ordinary Philippine jeepney in shape and color—chrome sides, colorful paintings of saints, volcanoes, and lightning bolts. But instead of wheels, it had enchanted feather fans beneath the chassis. The dashboard sparkled with crystal buttons and a glowing compass.

“I can’t believe this thing actually works,” Felicita said, marveling.

Amihan eyed the wings suspiciously. “This looks like something the diwata would ride during fiestas.”

Felicita laughed. “Better than hiking straight into a cloud, right?”

With a deep breath, she activated the ignition rune. The engine hummed. The fans spun. Slowly, the jeepney rose into the air.

They were flying.

---

The wind rushed past them as the Sky Jeepney soared over pine-covered ridges and rising cliffs. Above them, clouds parted like veils, revealing the floating towers of Langit-Lungsod.

The city sparkled like crystal.

Suspended on cliffs that floated as if by magic, the Sky City of Banaue was built from a blend of golden wood, marble, and glowing minerals. Rope bridges swayed between towers. Silver birds circled the skies. People in robes, headdresses, and capes walked along hanging walkways, many of them barefoot and serene.

The jeepney touched down at the edge of a stone platform shaped like a lotus blossom.

Immediately, a group of five monks in white and gold surrounded them.

Amihan stepped out first, hands raised. “We come in peace. I am Datu Amihan of the Eastern Coast.”

Felicita stepped beside him, her necklace glowing faintly. “I’m Felicita Reyes. I seek the Tongue of Reason—a relic said to be here.”

The lead monk studied her, then bowed. “You have passed the first trial,” he said. “We were expecting you.”

---

They were led through halls carved from cloudstone—a mineral that shimmered like moonlight and felt cool beneath her shoes. The monks spoke little, only explaining that Langit-Lungsod had existed for thousands of years, built by those who wished to escape the chaos of the lower kingdoms.

“There are no rulers here,” the lead monk, Puno Mahidait, explained. “Only keepers of peace. We protect truth, wisdom, and the relic you seek.”

They arrived at a round council chamber where a pool of clear water rippled at the center. In its depths was something golden—a tongue-shaped pendant, floating, glowing with gentle light.

“That is the Dila ng Katwiran,” said Mahidait. “The second relic. But to claim it, you must complete the Trial of Words.”

Felicita tensed. “What kind of trial?”

“You must debate a shadow version of yourself,” the monk said. “And win.”

She swallowed. “You’re kidding, right?”

He didn’t smile. “The Shadow You will use all your fears, doubts, and lies against you. If your reasoning fails, you will be cast out—and the relic lost.”

---

Felicita sat alone before the pool as the monks chanted softly around her. The air shimmered. The pendant glowed brighter.

From the surface of the water, a form rose—smoky, shaped like her, with glowing red eyes and a voice that dripped with mockery.

“Hello, me,” it said.

Felicita stood, heart racing. “Let’s get this over with.”

Shadow Felicita circled her like a shark. “You don’t belong here. You’re just a schoolgirl from Cebu who cheated once and cried about it. What gives you the right to carry relics meant for heroes?”

“I didn’t ask for this,” Felicita replied, “but I’m here now. And I’m not running away.”

The monks nodded silently.

Shadow Felicita sneered. “You think trinkets and deliveries from a magic phone make you powerful? What happens when it stops working? Who are you without it?”

“I’m someone who thinks fast, adapts, and cares. I may use the Market, but I don’t depend on it for everything. I choose to fight.”

The water rippled violently.

Shadow Felicita’s voice deepened. “You’re weak. You hesitate. You lie to protect feelings. How can you speak reason when you lie to yourself?”

Felicita inhaled sharply. “You’re right. I do lie sometimes. We all do. But reason isn’t about being perfect. It’s about choosing honesty, even when it hurts. And I choose to be honest with myself now.”

A gust of wind tore through the chamber. The shadow figure screamed and dissolved into mist.

The pendant rose from the pool, hovered, and settled onto Felicita’s chest.

> RELIC ACQUIRED: Tongue of Reason

Grants persuasive ability, protection from magical coercion, and clarity of thought. Activated through intention and speech.

---

That night, they were guests of the monks.

Over warm root stew and honeyed tea, Felicita sat with Amihan on a balcony overlooking the stars. The city shimmered behind them, its towers softly lit.

“Two relics,” she whispered. “I can hardly believe it.”

Amihan looked at her. “You’ve done more than most warriors have in a lifetime.”

“Don’t butter me up,” she chuckled. “Yla’s still out there.”

His expression darkened. “And she’ll be furious that you’ve advanced this far.”

Felicita glanced at the stars. “Where’s the last relic?”

Amihan hesitated. “We’ll need to find the Island That Sleeps Beneath the Moon. A place that only awakens during an eclipse.”

Her breath caught. “And when’s the next one?”

“Soon. Two weeks.”

Felicita closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the relics against her skin, the growing pressure on her shoulders.

“Then we prepare,” she said.

And high above the world, with the stars watching in silence, Felicita Reyes plotted her final journey—toward a destiny that would decide the fate of both her world and this one.

---

End of Chapter 4

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