Argus Is Dead

Meanwhile, at the Boryaan River...

"Many have died, we could not save them..." One of the Sulgosa reported to Dayang Haya.

"Those Magindras are really a bane here, I thought they have disappeared? What is the meaning of this! Explain yourself, Wagu Atubang!" Heaving all her frustrations, Dayang Haya called out their trusted adviser.

At the riverbank where the group of prestigious people who had high roles for the tribe has gathered while recovering after the incident... Wagu Atubang came rushing forward like a headless chicken, he bowed beneath the Dayang's feet, almost burying his face to the ground. His Feathered War bonnet became uneven, misplaced at his head and since he immediately rushed to bow upon his arrival, the Feathered hairdresser that signified his place among the elders fell off from his head.

"Dayang Haya... we never have expected this outcome... I..." The heavy responsibility weighed on him, unable to retort for any excuses, Wagu Atubang could only admit his mistake "I... am sorry."

"Hmph. The expenses for everyone's death will come to you. You and your group shall shoulder the offers for their corpses." Fixing her ruffled dress, she walked away while stomping her feet, but at the next moment, she remembered something... "And, make sure it has no flaws this time! We shall temporarily postpone the trial."

Supported by her Servants and Alipins, Dayang Haya slowly entered her Sankayan, the palanquin which is readily made available for her.

Just after sitting at the Sankayan, the Dayang called out to the Saman who is red in tears. Anguishing the loss of her beloved Argus.

"Lia! quit crying over there! I finally understood why you have insisted on this trial! Are you happy now?"

When such words came crushing her like a smashing boulder of rock, she felt her chest tightening...

"This... Argus. Noo! I... I... never wanted it to be like this..."

Noticing that her daughter was still unresponsive and instead have clutched Argus harder instead, the Dayang gave up. She simply ordered Lia's servants and the other people who are present to look after the Saman and slowly left the Boryaan River.

All the remaining warriors who heard the Dayang's instructions simply nodded as they all shrugged their shoulders, picked up their belongings, disassembled, or destroyed their camps as they all prepared to leave.

The grunt work was carried by the Alipins and Sulgos, they all carried the corpses with a heavy heart. Some of them were Alipins and Sulgos who tried their luck and now was dead due to the unexpected attack from a vicious mermaid. Some are their long time comrades which they shared a bond with.

Those unwilling soldiers who got a whiff of what happened came to help and some bystanders simply inspected the corpses.

Surely, this incident shall become the biggest talk of the whole tribe and the biggest joke of the Lumin's Tribe.

.

.

.

...

While they busily classified each corpse according to their ranks, some of them discussed the happenings that have transpired during the trial and the attack of that vicious mermaid which they all called the Magindra.

"Such an unexpected thing to happen. I pity those souls... Just look at their corpses. All of their insides are gnarled into pieces. some had their eye sockets removed! I can't even bear to look at it for so long..." One of the Alipins lamented.

"If not to that mysterious liquid the Babaylan have tossed at the river, I do not know if I could still be alive tonight."

When another Alipin blurted this out, all of a sudden, they all turn to look among themselves...

"We should all hurry! Who knows if that Vicious Magindra attacks again!"

Speeding up the process they all hurriedly finished arranging the corpses which in turn shall be transported at the Tribal square.

.

.

.

Beneath the surface came the Magindra, smiling from ear to ear...

"I shouldn't have been greedy, now I won't be able to stay long here. And that scary looking Shaman! I shall remember her face..." Touching her burnt skin due to that liquid the Babaylan has tossed in the river, she cast a dreadful and creepy smile with his protruding razor-sharp teeth. If anyone who saw her, they will all say she's horrendous!

After quite some time, she again muttered among herself... "I finally took my revenge for your sister..." In her clasped hands, a bone tooth necklace is revealed.

It was the bone tooth necklace Argus had which was given by the tamed Tikbalang, Hyaradth.

.

.

.

...

With all those commotions, nobody noticed the silent tears of Saman Talia, holding firmly in her arms is the lifeless body of Argus.

Weeping at such loss, her servant, her Sulgosas whom she took along with Argus: Aryan and Amaya came to take the Saman.

When they both heard the news, the two of them became dazed for a while before rushing here to confirm it with their own two eyes.

And when they actually saw the Saman crying and the lifeless body of Argus, the both of them trembled.

Amaya and Aryan had a tugging sensation as if their heartstrings were suddenly pulled. But they still tried to steeled their hearts. The two of them patted the crying Lia as they remind her to go home.

"Our Dearest Saman... Argus is dead. We... you should return now. Look at the sky it's accumulating up there, maybe it might rain." Aryan in an almost hushed tone, drenched in sweat with her hand shaking as she said.

Yet, the stubborn Saman kept on shrugging her head many times. "No! I can't leave Argus here alone. He needs me!" cried the Saman in a pitiful tone.

"This is my fault! If I never suggested the trial, Argus shouldn't have died!" She wailed and wailed more, her tears flowed like waterfalls. Unable to calm her wrenched heart.

Then that's the last of it! The three broke out in a wailing contest as they all hugged each other.

.

.

.

...

After quite some time has passed. Lia ordered her servants to take all the belongings of Argus which prompted her to see the Golden Hair hidden at the water jug from the waist of Argus. Fearing that somebody might notice it, she carefully hides it on her skirt.

She held Argus's eyes and gently closed it for Argus.

Argus was different from other corpses. He had his whole body complete, which suggests that his cause of death is probably due to drowning, while the others had their hearts or eyes gauged up.

Due to this unexpected event, many people shall become gloomy for the following days. And that heavily includes the people whom Argus has left behind.

The Saman stared at the sky devoid of any moon and cursed at her fate... doing so triggered a heavy downpour of rain. It is like the sky, have sympathized with the anguish the Saman must've been feeling.

On that day, Argus has died...

But unbeknownst to them all, it was just the beginning of Argus's Epics.