Chapter 12 - Choices

After the battle of Kawit. Both Humabon and Humaling returned to their respective homes to rest and Datu Ibon is still on his throne room discussing with the fellow Babaylans from his Kingdom about the incident. It seems that the news about Lakan Sunog's death reached the other Datu's and Lakan's. For now, Raylyn has been rewarded for his services and now he could go home but the battle from Kabite is far from over. Raylyn needs to make some choices before heading out. Araya decided to stay in her room for awhile to study more of the Ancestral Worship Magic Arts, being cooped up on her own room. It seems that everyone is busy. Datu Ibon called Raylyn about the incident to thank him for participating in a battle that wasn't his. "Raylyn. Thank you for participating the battle from Kawit. The Kabitenyo people is safe thanks to you once more. If it wasn't for you, the rebellion would have been much harder to deal with. I gave you the bulawan that you needed to get back home. If you wish to go home, you might as well do now." Raylyn appreciated the Datu Ibon's sincerity and of course his appreciation for him. But he still feel that something is missing and he felt like it would feel rather dull and empty if he just left without saying anything at all. "To be honest with you, at first I wanted to go home. I couldn't understand the culture, the language and how you people act nor how you do things. It's very different from what I used to do back home. However, I just feel like that leaving without solving your entire problem would make me feel like I didn't complete my job. I became a Paladin to help people in need and protect those who need my help but I also wanted to do become one due to personal circumstances like money and having a sustainable job to live." Then Datu Ibon listened to Raylyn's tangent while grabbing his golden cup made with such fine artistry from a south east asian style and poured some tuba and drank it. "So what do you wanna do? You got what you wanted didn't you? I gave you a mercenary work and you completed it. You can go home now since you received your payment." Raylyn then sighed and gazed at Datu Ibon's eyes with conviction. "I want to know the whole story. I know that battle wasn't the only thing we have to deal with. What is really going on? Datu Ibon drank some more of his tuba with a carefree spirit, eyeing Raylyn since he gazed on his eyes. "Well, I could tell you but what would be the point? Have you decided to stay? What about your home? And your peers and people that awaits you from the other side of the continent?" Then Raylyn answered without hesitation. Raylyn might have lived in the western continent but it was only to find out about himself. He didn't fully dedicated himself to be tied down by the Church. So he has to make a decision on what he needs to do at this very moment. "I interacted with Humabon and Humaling and Araya in this journey. They gave me comfort and they gave me warmth. They helped me along the way, I heard that they were defeated by some other mercenaries and I, too feel the same way. I wanted to win and meet them again and defeat them in battle, after that I feel like I would have received the payment properly by you." Then Datu Ibon laughed. His morality is straying from righteousness and stubbornness. But it seems that he also has a mix trait of being a battle power hungry individual. Datu Ibon knows deep down that even if he doesn't understand what Paladins are. He knows that being battle thirst isn't one of them. He knows that Paladins draws their strength through passion. But not bloodlust, if Raylyn does exhibit this trait. Then that means that he could be taught to become a Mandirigma as well. But it would be Raylyn's choice if he wants his Paladin morales to be corrupted or mixed from such influence. He will never be the same again. "Hm. Alright, I could tell you. Listen carefully, this would be a very long story but I will make it short for you and brief so that you could talk to some of them about this. However, you can't speak our language so it would be hard. So I made Araya learn Anglesh. I gave her some books and also some vocal scrolls that was made from the Babaylans. So that your communication with her would be rather easy unless you want to learn the language as well. You can go to local areas of where we have many books." Then Raylyn nodded and sat down while Datu Ibon began his explanation. "This Kingdom known as Lusong is just one of the Major Island Kingdom cluster. The land itself is an archipelago, meaning it has many islands and each island have their own tribal kingdoms and dynasties. The three Kingdoms are govern by one of the most powerful paramount rulers. They are the Datu, the Lakan and of course the Rajah. Each of them are rulers but the way they govern is different and not every Datu governs the same way nor with Lakans and Rajahs. I cannot tell you how the governing works at the moment since it isn't important yet. What's the most important now is, since the Lakan of Kawit has died within my hand. Most of the the territory of Kabite would have expanded and had been conquered making Kawit part of my territory. But the other paramount rulers have heard the news because of that incident. Might be from the mercenaries that escaped and it spread through wild wire through different kingdoms. What we need to know is, how many kingdoms will be against us and move to Kawit and conquer it, and then Kabite once they are done. I don't know what to tell you Raylyn but we need information from about this. And you are not strong enough to take on another battle since the one you fought is a Mandirigma. A warrior class from the Katagalugan of the Kingdom of Tondo. If you want to get stronger, I need to teach you how to become one of us. Your power as a Paladin hasn't been taught to you in a master level and you don't have a mentor that could teach you about it. So this is your second option. What will you do?" Raylyn then thought about it. As he sighed, since this a matter of betraying the teaching of his predecessors that once became a Paladin. He has to make a choice. What will Raylyn choose at this point?