Chapter 17: Poor Unfortunate Souls

"That's sad," Lumi's eyes watered, thinking about the poor people whose hearts were broken. It was not Matthos's job to love someone he did not like, but her heart sought out those poor, unfortunate souls.

"Don't worry, it has a good ending," Old Man Jung saw the effect on the young girl and tried to save the situation, "Most of them have good careers and others are married now."

"But they'll never forget their first love, Matthos Trem," Barney snickered. That earned him a glare from Matthos.

"How did you fare during the storm?" Matthos pressed. He knew that the Old Man had an active eye. However, he's not commenting on Lumi. If he felt something was strange, he's not letting it be obvious.

"One of the strongest storms I've ever experienced. Born and raised in Physma, and I thought I'd lose my restaurant. Eh, it's okay. I'm insured anyway. But something felt strange in the air."

Lumi's ears perked up. Did he know what she was?

"I heard crying"

"What?"

"Yeah, crying, singing and trumpets. Weird, right? Appa said that meant something would happen, both prosperous and misfortune will come someone's way. That seahorse wind chime?" he pointed at the wind chime hanging in the middle of the lost branch of the tree that bloomed inside the restaurant. "That rang incessantly," he said," Which means that something is coming. But I don't think it's coming here. Or else, your parents would warn us," Old Man told Matthos.

"Anyways, little lady, enjoy eating our food," Old Man smiled at Lumi, who was slowly eating the Odeng. She liked how it didn't have the usual fishy smell and how soft it is.

"It's simply delightful," she was so into the food that she forgot her surroundings. Old Man was happy about that.

"This is a happy change. For the first time, Matthos brings a girl, and this one isn't crying," he and Barney laughed at the memories.

"Remember Linda? Oh, that was the most memorable one! I will never forget that memory until the day I die, Matthos, you lady killer you!"

"Lady killer?" Lumi's face blanched at the thought, and she almost dropped the soup as she stared at Matthos in horror. The man in question came for questions. Instead, he found himself in the hot spot.

"It means that girls, and even boys like him, Lumi," Old Man explained, "Beings had a fun time latching onto those poor souls with how Matthos affected their emotions. I don't even know what Matthos had that made them react that way. When I look at him, all I see is a bookworm. Be offended," he said

"Yeah, he's not a serial killer. But he breaks hearts on a basis. I think Physma had a great time when he left. No hearts were broken during those eight years he was gone," Barney explained.

"Eight years?" she asked.

"I had to go to college and work, Lumi. And don't believe these two. I didn't break hearts. It's just teenage hormones."

"Hormones?"

Barney wanted to slap Matthos right then and there. Hormones were discovered in 1902.

'This idiot could've just said angst. He had to include Science to the mix' he rolled his eyes and thought of saving the situation.

"Yeah, the rush of feelings as people grow and adjust from childhood into adulthood. The transition really does take a toll. I feel sorry for those whose hearts were burdened by you," Old Man unknowingly rescued the situation. "Anyway, I did witness something weird with the island after the storm."

He continued, "Remember the superstition that things start becoming awry when a creature with many eyes appears? It matches with the singing, and then some weird drunk tourists got lost in the storm, and when they were found, they kept saying a ship sunk and people drowned. Their description matched The Specter."

"The Specter?" Lumi repeated

"It's a phantom ship that sunk in the early days of Physma. Legend says that it's a curse that warns the island if something happens. That and that until the curse isn't lifted, the phantom ship will forever haunt the southeast shore," Barney was in deep thought. Could the being be a *Daligmata? The Specter is a bit overused, as tourists often claim to see it. This wasn't the first time tourists got drunk and thrashed parts of the island, caused mayhem, and then used that as an excuse.

Matthos also agreed as The Specter was a legend often told to tourists as part of the tour. They could've taken some hallucinogen or got so drunk that they imagined they saw the ship.

"It's the spirits that can shake that windchime that can shake me. It's been fifty-three years since that chime shook. That was when your grandmother arrived in Physma, Matthos," Old Man recalled.

"You think it's the Daligmata?" Matthos queried. Daligmatas weren't evil creatures. If they appeared, then it must be to warn people. Old Man was one of the council elders who protected the island's supernatural history, so he knew what he was saying. Any simple beings didn't easily shake those sacred items.

"Most probably, if it's the Daligmata, we're safe since it guides people back," Old Man took a sip of his coffee and watched in awe as Lumi ate the food with much gusto.

"I haven't seen anyone eat so happily in years," he claimed," thank you, Little Lumi. I'm happy that you visited my sanctuary."

"You think the Daligmata saved those idiots?" Barney thought of the drunk tourists who got lost in the storm. They could've lost their lives and had their souls snatched during the storm. After all, storms weren't just precipitation. Beings are also active in storms, and when they're mischievous, they sometimes take souls for fun. Then some steal for good.

"I doubt it. When those visitors were found, they were hammered. It's a waste of energy to save them if it's self-inflicted."

"Did you hear what happened to City A and B, Old Man?" Matthos was trying to connect the two dots. Could the appearance of a strong being be connected to the curse Lumi was talking about?

"Yeah, nasty thing that is. To think it'll happen in a place with strong spiritual energy," he contemplated.

Lumi was silent, only eating in the background, but her mind was also working. She always thought that spiritual energy combats everything. However, being with Matthos and Barney, she's learning that every type of energy is a magnet for beings.

'But the tteokbokki is good,' she sighed and ate one with a piece of cheese.

"Spiritual energy doesn't always protect," Matthos reiterated, "Otherwise, curses won't work nor exist."

"It's times like these that I wish your grandfather were still around," Old Man laughed, "That man could decipher any case but one. Another poor unfortunate soul," he concluded.

"Why is Matthos's grandfather a poor unfortunate soul?" Lumi finally engaged in the topic.

"You see, Lumi, Matthos's grandfather is an amazing man. Almost like him, except he actually knew his way with the ladies. Then, one day, his world was changed by a woman. Leonard, I miss that bastard."

"Then there's Matthos, a poor substitute in my opinion." Barney and Old Man both laughed.

"The beings still stand. The council will have a meeting after the church's evening mass."

"What happened to the visitors?" Lumi queried

"The doctors handled them, gave them calmers. Thank heavens for modern medicine, although Kratom works too. They smoked a mix of shrooms so they had to be detoxified," Old Man paused, then continued, "If beings outside the island are becoming active, it means that Physma's borders need to be protected."

"Whatever supernatural anomaly is going on in City A and B, it is a strong one since DPSIS doesn't have an answer to it yet. The council needs to make sure it doesn't reach Physma," Barney commented, "Matthos, any leads?"

"Ah, I often forget that you're now a top researcher, Matthos!" Old Man exclaimed. Lumi, on the other hand, was surprised. She just thought of Matthos and Barney as kind people. Though Matthos exuded an aura of extreme intelligence, she didn't expect that he'd be a scientist of some sort.

"Grandpa's notes, still buried in them." Matthos wanted to throttle Barney, who also wanted to kick himself. They gave it away that they were on a case.

"Well, Lumi, take care of yourself. With what's going on, our days don't look too beautiful. Live today as tomorrow is not guaranteed." Whether Old Man ignored the hint or was thinking of something else, they truly didn't know.

As the trio ate, there were things that bothered them inside. One thing was for sure, Lumi was part of the question and may as well be the answer.

They didn't know how true it was back then, and they'll wish they never knew how.

*Daligmata - a creature in Philippine mythology that takes the shape of a four-legged animal. It has eyes all over its body. It is a kind spirit that often helps find lost people and souls.