Lumawig just sat there, confused about his lolo’s strange behavior. He was not stupid to not notice the grave undertone in his lolo’s voice, and the sense of urgency the old man exuded. However, he knew that pressing his lolo for answers would not yield anything, so he just kept quiet, only nodding to his lolo in acknowledgement of his instructions.

Lolo Gani then went back to the house and started to prepare a large and sumptuous meal for his apò. After preparing the food, the old man then busied himself in preparing some of his potions and other concoctions, as for their uses only Lolo Gani knows. He then put them inside a wooden box, where there are eight slots for medium sized bottles.

One of the potions he put inside the box was the original hintura oil – not the one he concocted with Lumawig, but the one he spent a good amount of time making. He also went on to prepare his sundang and his buntot pagi, he then went to fetch the pasyawan whip he used to severely injure the bal-bal a few nights ago. This pasyawan whip of his has been soaked in lana oil for a few days now, and he would recite a chant on it from time to time, effectively making the whip more powerful against creatures like the bal-bal, and aswangs.

Just as the food was cooked, Lumawig returned to the house and started eating the food his lolo served them. He ate the meal with gusto, like how a hungry man eats his favorite meal cooked by his wife. The food was nothing grand though, but it was the favorite food of both Lumawig and Lolo Gani – Tinolang Manok (Native chicken soup with papaya and chili leaves).

Even Lolo Gani was eating with as much gusto as that of Lumawig, and on a rare instance, chatted with him while eating. Asking him apò about his plans, talking about his childhood experiences with his Inang Selia and many more. All in all, it was a very enjoyable meal for the two of them.

When they finished eating, just as Lumawig was about to clean the dishes, his lolo called him from their dining table.

“Leave the dishes for now. You can do that later. We need to go somewhere for now, help me carry all these.” Instructed Lolo Gani and gave the wooden box that contained his different potions to Lumawig.

“Hmm? Lolo, what is inside this box, it's quite heavy.” Lumawig noticed that the box was quite heavy.

“They’re just my potions. I need them for your ritual. Here, this is yours from now on, this is more effective than the one I gave you a few nights ago.” The old man then handed Lumawig the pasyawan whip. He also tied the sundang to his waist, and he picked up his buntot pagi.

“Thank you, lolo.” Replied Lumawig.

“Also, make sure that you hold on to this tightly, no matter what happens in the ritual later, never let go of this librito. After all, this is a family heirloom. Don’t forget your buntot pagi as well.” Added Lolo Gani.

“Yes, lolo.” Nodded Lumawig.

As the maglolo finished their prepping, Lolo Gani went outside to fetch the white-feathered rooster, and the white goat he bought four days ago. The two animals have been fed well and looked to be healthier than when they were bought. Lolo Gani had instructed Lumawig to take special care of these two animals as they will be used for the ritual.

“Let’s go!” commanded Lolo Gani.

Hearing Lolo Gani, Lumawig immediately followed him, the duo crossed the rice fields and headed north and into the thick forest. The trip this time took them almost four hours as the goat and chicken had been very restless the very instance that they entered the forest. They seemed to be afraid of something or perhaps they know that they are being brought to the place of their death, but regardless of the reason, their struggles made it more difficult to travel with them.

Lolo Gani also noticed that he did not hear any sound of a single bird when they were walking towards their destination even though they started their hike when the sun was still high up in the sky. However, he was the only one who noticed this, as Lumawig was busy not to trip as he was carrying his lolo’s potions.

It was almost five o’clock in the afternoon when they reached the small clearing in the forest. As it was Lumawig’s first time here, he was amazed at what he was seeing. Along the way, the trees of the forest are so close to each other that their roots and branches intersect with each other making it difficult to walk.

The trees’ canopy was also very close to another that although it was still relatively bright, inside the forest looks to be almost night. Lolo Gani and Lumawig have no choice but to turn on their flashlights to help them see. Only when they reached the small clearing that they were reminded that it was still daytime.

What fascinated Lumawig the most was the Narra tree standing alone in the middle of the clearing.

“Is this our destination lolo?” a fascinated Lumawig asked.

“Yes. This is where you will be conducting your ritual. Go inside and settle my items there. I will be preparing the whole place for the ritual.” Instructed the old man.

“Inside? The tree?” Lumawig was surprised by his lolo’s instruction.

“Sorry, I forgot that this is the first time you’ve come here. Yes, inside. Go towards the tree and you will find an entrance in the tree's right side – the one facing east. Once you are there light up these candles and put them on the mound just below the altar.” Lolo Gani said while chuckling. Laughing at his own mistake.

Lumawig then followed his lolo’s instruction and soon enough found the entrance. He then proceeded to light the candles as he was instructed, and there he saw the whole interior of the tree. An altar stood at half a meter from ground was situated a couple of steps from the entrance at the dead center of the cavity. Lumawig noticed that on the soil near the altar a bottle cap could be seen, however, he did not touch it as his lolo had not instructed him to do so.

To the right, he also noticed some bamboo spears with a brown sheen. Even though these spears have been here for a few days, they have not dried up, but instead still looked like it was freshly cut. Having finished exploring the cavity of the tree with his eyes, Lumawig then proceeded to set the candles on the flat portion of the mound below the altar. He also put down his luggages on the ground and sat down cross legged on the ground. Even though he did not complain, the trip to this place was quite exhausting for him, especially as he was carrying heavy luggage.

While Lumawig was busy inside the cavity, Lolo Gani started to busy himself. The goat and chicken are still restless, but the old man no longer paid any attention to their distress. He first found a place where he can put the chicken and after accomplishing the task, then proceeded to chant a prayer in a language that only he can understand while caressing the goat.

The goat seemed to have calmed down hearing Lolo Gani’s chant and became still. The old man, seeing that the animal had become docile, proceeded to slit its throat. He quickly took out a large basin to gather the goat’s blood while continuing to chant. The goat never uttered another bleat even after it was inflicted a mortal wound. It seemed to have accepted its death and peacefully.

After draining the goat of its blood, Lolo Gani then proceeded to sprinkle it on the ground around the tree. His chanting never stopped while doing this. When Lolo Gani completed sprinkling the goat’s blood, he then took some firewood and started a fire a few meters away from the tree.

He took out the innards of the and threw them into the fire, creating an unpleasant burning smell. Then he skinned the goat, and cleaned its meat with some water, and started roasting the carcass for their meal. It was already half an hour past six in the evening, but the sky is still red orange in color.