Yagnos

[Lumin's Tribe: Tribal Square]

Children playfully chasing each other, Adults of Lumin's Tribe boisterously laughing while chugging the Bahalina wine.

Countless people arriving and exiting the Tribal square.

Tribesmen of status voraciously eating the served fruits from their respective tables.

Grapes were their favorite!

The Saman, the Dayang, and the Babaylan along with her group of Shamans were all gathered at the top platform above the Tribal Square.

Each had been observing the tribesmen and the different tribal groups who had gathered here.

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Well, like wildfire, the news of the trial had quickly spread and when the Traders and Merchants had heard of this event, everyone took this as a chance to do business temporarily near the shore of Saon.

But now that the people there became more and more, Wagu Atubang helped in regulating the sudden large influx of people, and that included the traders and merchants.

Those who arrived early were then moved at the Lumin's Tribal Square, Off course they only invited those traders and merchants whom they thought to have good products.

Among them, Wines and Herbal liqueurs made their way.

Inside of the Tribal square, there, numerous jars and barrels of wine are neatly placed at the matt on the ground.

Then, a warrior adorned in many Batuks—tattoo, came close to one of the stalls at the corner of the square.

His target?

It is none other than the famous Liquor stall which upon its arrival had garnered fame due to its strong kicking taste.

"I have some pieces of gold accessories here, how many bowls of wine could this thing fetch?"

Asked the drunken warrior with visible red cheeks.

"Ah! That? I can give you half of this barrel of rice wine and a free coconut shell filled to the brim with my product."

"I'll take it!" placing his golden accessories below the matt.

Likewise, the trader whose head is wrapped in a black turban and red woven robe prepared his goods.

They both smiled and the deal is completed.

People at this age, especially in Danao have mainly practiced buying and selling through trading, and they call it Barter change.

It is where the two people involved would directly exchange their goods if they deemed that each of their goods had equal value.

Meaning, I may be able to buy a pile of raw wood at the price of a half-filled barrel of wine, as long as the other individual thinks it's valuable enough at the same value that his pile of raw wood has.

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Happily chugging a coconut shell with a rice wine that looked as clear as water, the warrior hummed as he walked towards a table where competition for wine drinking is happening.

Tribesmen have this kind of habit to drink wines which they all called Arrak in every special event that happens in their own Banwas—community.

The Arak can be a Tuba, Lambanog, Basi, or what the Lumin's tribe were fond of: The Bahalina Wine.

All have the same material, primarily comprised of Coconut nectar, but the process of fermenting may vary, hence producing different names for each kind of fermentation unique to different tribes.

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"I have won!" A warrior from the Lumin's tribe suddenly shouted, catching the attention of the other warriors.

"Now get lost! Only the Lumin Tribe's warrior deserves to get the Saman, the likes of you from the Bulan tribe should get lost!" He added.

And seemingly outraged, the warrior from the Bulan's tribe pointed his finger to that warrior who dared to humiliate him.

But before he could even speak, another warrior who is carrying a barrel of wine at his right shoulder appeared, along with a chopped top-coconut shell in his left hand.

Then, the crowd who are watching at the sidelines spoke among themselves in a whisper...

"Isn't that Yagnos?" A thin warrior dressed in white thin wool and a turtle's carapace at his back whispered while playing his two sickles at each of his hands.

"Who?" asked the clueless warrior who is also dressed with white thin wool and a turtle's carapace at his back but different from the earlier one, he had a dark shell behind.

He slumped to take his weapon, a long rod that seemed to be made out of scraps of metal.

"Yagnos... The Bead Thief."

"That Yagnos from the Nakar's Tribe?"

The tone of voice switching to falsetto, the thin warrior replied,

"Oh! He is now freed?" which made him red in embarrassment as he continued...

"I have heard that he passed the renunciation trial. Of which he proved that he did not steal any bead from their tribe's Saman."

Then the burly man nodded,

"Well, that Yagos had it lucky... it seems like their Saman took a fancy of him. Now nobody in their Banwa dares to threaten him."

"That's for sure, I've heard that those Nakar's Tribesmen are good at swimming. But even so, his Bad reputation of excessive drinking makes him an unsuitable partner towards their Saman." Shaking his head the thin warrior berated Yagnos.

And Yagnos who is at the center of the two warriors' discussion didn't mind as if he did not hear their loud conversation.

He gestured to the earlier warrior from the Bulan's tribe who had been humiliated by that warrior from the Lumin's tribe after emptying his coconut shell that is filled to the brim with rice wine.

"Admit defeat, you already lost in this bout hehe"

Upon which, this warrior from the Bulan tribe made an ugly frown.

But after examining the appearance of Yagnos, he then recognized that its actually Yagnos, that famous bead thief, known as a drunkard.

He carefully observed the swollen red cheeks of Yagnos.

A sign that he is now very drunk.

There was a saying that had slowly scattered around the neighboring islands near Saon:

"Never bicker with Yagnos when he is drunk or the Sea God Maguayan would curse you."

After which, his mouth had repeatedly opened and closed but yet, he just quietly backed off.

Yagnos smiled after seeing his reply, He carefully carried the wooden barrel of wine, down to the ground and issued a challenge towards this arrogant warrior from the Lumin's Tribe.

[32] "Let's compete in drinking this Arrak!" Pointing at the wooden barrel of rice wine.