Hyaradth

Heaving a sigh of relief Argus came close to the Tikbalang... "What now?" Argus asked, still wary of the Tikbalang that he might attack him at any moment.

But when Argus came close, he found that the Tikbalang was being too docile.

"Master, you have taken my Golden hair. I can no longer attack you. That Golden hair is my lifeline." The Tikbalang responded in a meek tone, neighing afterward.

Argus got irked by this neigh, he was still scared after all. A talking horse in a figure of a warrior's physique. Who wouldn't be scared?

Just moments ago, they were both fighting as if the two of them had some deep grudge that can never be resolved, yet suddenly this Tikbalang presented itself in a humble manner and instantly calling him a master.

Argus is still in a half-disbelieved state.

"Rest assured Master, From today onwards as long as you have that Golden Hair I will never go against your words." The Tikbalang tried to calm Argus as it prostrated down and is almost kissing the ground.

"Meaning, the second I release this thing... You will come attacking me?" Knitting his brows into an ugly frown, Argus questioned.

And he was answered by a simple neigh... Whatever that meant, perhaps that's just the rule and Argus has to accept them.

"Alright, alright. But first, Can you tell me why are you attacking me or should I say why do you keep attacking people here?" Argus quizzically asked.

Then the Tikbalang shrugged his shoulders and replied.

"Well, to be honest Master... I just hate people."

"But why?"

"I have endured such torture in the hands of people. Originally I came from Bisan..."

The Tikbalang revealed a piece of information to Argus.

"I was just lucky to pluck it. Mind telling me what do you mean by people torturing you?" Smirking as he humbled himself, Argus became curious about any back story this being called Tikbalang might have.

"My ancestors and the other beings like me came from a realm unbeknownst to any man. One day someone has unlocked a seal which allowed most of us to manifest here... Years have passed since then and my ancestors quite enjoyed the new realm they discovered. They also had some interactions with some of you so some have decided to be their guardians and have settled in the forest."

Neighing at the end of his words the Tikbalang continued...

"In Bisan however, from those two islands where two tribes are constantly at war... That's where the torture began. My kind has been abducted from birth and was made to be toyed every night by those hungry monsters."

"I was one of them. And after being able to escape after satisfying my lady master at night, somehow I ended up here. I couldn't forget the grudge I had and so I've been pummeling anyone who dares to venture here alone." The Tikbalang replied. Argus can see the hatred burning in its eyes.

"I see... Well, I am also in a similar situation as you. I want revenge but yours is a bit disgraceful. Instead of helping your kin be freed, you have retreated here instead. I think that you just can't forgive yourself so you pinned the blame on the people here." Argus jarringly mentioned the flaw in the Tikbalang as he also lamented this tale the Tikbalang has shared.

"Actually, it's not that reason why I attacked you. I felt a different aura coming from you which has piqued my interest. You emit a similar smell and aura from my kin. I thought I have found someone from my kin so I immediately dashed here—"

And just before the Tikbalang can continue, Argus suddenly interjected.

"Wait! I don't understand... Aren't you the one who gave me that fake message?" Argus asked after recalling the scene of Elder Shana handing him that bamboo stalk.

"No, Master... You have misunderstood. I only saw you after that old woman went away. But you are so quick on the uptake that you immediately realized I'm a Tikbalang. From that, I applaud you. Well, after following your scent... I was dismayed to see that it is from a person. So I decided to toy with you. But who would have thought that you would realize it as soon as I appeared."

From that revelation, Argus scratched his head. He realized that the message is real and he has to go there as soon as possible, he looked around to see that his two sticks have been destroyed. Even the fishing rod that he painstakingly made for the continuation of the first trial was also destroyed.

"Look what you have done. How am I going to participate in the trial now?" Sighing, Argus pointed his fingers at the trunk where his weapon and the rod were placed.

"About that... Master" Embarrassed the Tikbalang scratched his head followed by proposing a remedy.

"Master, how about you just stay here and I'll go gather the materials you need?" The Tikbalang asked.

Hearing this proposal, Argus cheered inwardly as he happily nodded and without wasting time, the Tikbalang bowed. He ran immediately towards the trees, disappearing at the fading trail.

As he vanished from Argus's sight... Argus slumped down to the ground.

.

.

.

...

"I can't believe they actually exist. And what's with that tale all about? Totally unheard of"—Talking with himself, Argus tried slapping his face, re-assessing if what he just experienced was real or not.

Then after quite some time, after dispelling his nervousness and gradually calming down, he went close to the trunk where he had been flung out to.

The heaven-bound branches swayed at each wind that passes by.

Argus is still not used to this eerie silence of the forest as he massaged his sore muscles and his already bruised face.

Argus looked very pathetic, swollen cheeks, coupled with a few scars in a frail-looking body.

If somebody saw him and shared that he tamed a Tikbalang, he will be laughed at instead.

Nobody would believe that someone who disparagingly appeared weak could be that lucky. So Argus has decided to not disclose it to anyone while he slowly picked the broken pieces of his weapon. After that, he quietly sat down hitting his back at the tree's trunk awaiting for that Tikbalang.

Then a few minutes have passed, when he heard a neigh.

.

.

.

...

"Master, I have come!" Yelled the Tikbalang, gasping for some air, clearly tired from rushing. It placed a sharp stone, numerous twigs, some vines, and branches of wood from different kinds of trees found in the mountain forest.

Argus cast a glance as he inspects them, then in a low surprised voice, he could not help but be amazed and said, "Alright, I guess... You are very useful indeed."

Argus proceeded to make a weapon, including a fish rod when he abruptly halted he shifted his sight to the Tikbalang.

"This bugs me, what shall I call you from now on? Do you have a name?" Argus suddenly asked the Tikbalang. His figure towered him as it was overwhelmingly huge and tall.

The Tikbalang hesitated a bit before replying, "Well, Master... You can always name me, but my previous lady master called me Donkey."

When Argus heard his reply, he patted his thighs and had another idea on how badly this Tikbalang must have been treated. "That won't do!" He yelped as he placed his fingers in his chin, thinking of something.

"I'll give you a new name..." He added.

"From now on I shall call you, Hyaradth" Argus declared, and when the Tikbalang have heard this his tail flipped and swayed continuously akin to a puppy.

The Tikbalang was overjoyed!

"Yes, Master! I shall accept it!" And the Tikbalang now named, Hyaradth kowtowed to Argus, more humbled than before. Placing his right fist to his left chest as he beats it once, again he bowed but this time, he was grateful to Argus.

"Hehe, you better be glad. That's a name my deceased uncle was supposed to give to his son. Sadly he died before he could even find a bride." Argus replied, saddened by the memory of his uncle who died fighting by his father's side.

"I'll valiantly carry this name Master!" And Hyaradth performed the famous greeting of warriors Argus often observes when he ventured at the tribes.

While they conversed, Argus already finished crafting his weapon and a fishing rod.

"Alright! Am done. You continue hiding but don't attack anyone again. Understood?" Argus ordered Hyaradth as he placed his newly makeshift weapon—Two bamboo sticks, ruggedly created with the help of a sharp stone, unto his waist.

"Understood Master" Hyaradth jovially uttered, swaying his tails as it randomly neighed.

"Then I'm off!" Argus stood up as he prepares himself for the continuation of the First Trial.

.

.

.

...

This small encounter made Argus a bit more confident at his stakes of this Trial.

Narrowing his eyes, he slowly ventured down from the mountain forest guided by a Tikbalang.