Chapter 5: Diwata Part 1

Maundy Thursday, in Human Realm, Pan-ay (presently in the Visayas, Philippines)

Everything in life must be balanced or else, we will fall into chaos.

"Halt!" A young man, about 25 years of age, with long, silvery hair, green eyes, and wearing a thin gold chain mail raised his hand while shouting the order.

"King Ramir, we have arrived at the Lantawan* (*Lantawan means portal)." he turned and said to the older gentleman, with white long hair, sporting the same green eyes and mail as him.

"Thank you, my son. Tell the men to rest and we will wait here for the summons of the Babaylans from the other side of the veil," he replied.

The young man bowed, then turned to order his men to make camp. There was a sense of unease in the air. Even their steed, a flaming red horse, with literal flames spouting from his legs snorted and shook their manes every now and then.

The king on the other hand was quiet. He raised his head towards the sky, watching the seven moons as they shone. Theirs was a dark world. Whatever technology or magic their ancestors used, the warmth and light of the sun never shone anymore. He clearly remembered the origins of his people, as told by his parents.

Ramir was just a small eight-year-old kid when his parents told him their story. They said that theirs was a lineage close to Bathala, however, the now King of Hell, the brightest among the warriors of Heaven, and one of the favored rebelled. He amassed Legions and demanded that Bathala should share with them access to his source of powers. The spring in his dwelling, a tree in his garden, and a galleon made of Gold where time is eternal are the three artifacts of Bathala which he closely guarded. 

At that time, there were no other worlds. Only heaven existed as the home of Bathala. No one could describe the majesty of that place. There is peace, jubilation, and contentment. Bathala ruled the heavens alone, creating molds of his warriors from clay, he molded them, took care of them, and breathed life into them. Every time he created a mold, he would inject his powers into them.

Thus, his warriors were created, borne by him out of love. He never expected someone to feel discontent in the world he created for them. He never thought that someone would feel neglected, wanted to create a world of his own and use his own power against him. 

The day when the rebellion came, he said to his warriors, "Do you, my children, created and molded by my own hands wish to exist away from my warmth? So I declare today, whoever agrees to Lucien shall go with him, and whoever chose me, shall stay by my side."

Then, 300 warriors defected over to Lucien's side, 100 of them went there not because they agreed with Lucien, but because their brothers in arms wanted to be there. Another 300 were undecided, so they chose to not choose any sides, and 300 more, including the 12 Generals stood by Bathala's side. 

Upon seeing this, Bathala said, "For those 200 that followed Lucien without doubt, I will grant your wish. You will follow Lucien to the darkest realm that I've created. It will be Lucien's Kingdom and your dwelling for eternity. You will all forever live in darkness and thrive in it because you shun my light. From now on, you will not be called Lucien, but Tenebrio, the King of Darkness. May this word be in effect upon my decree." And with that, thunder seemed to echo in Heaven. With a flash of light, Lucien, along with 200 damned former warriors of Heaven vanished.