“The sun is just about to set.” Lolo Gani said to himself.

As soon as he finished speaking, the last light of day faded out and darkness covered the land. Signifying that night has descended into the world. However, this night is different, for even though it was still relatively early a cold wind blew across the land, and only people like Lolo Gani were able to notice and they could not help but frown and look towards the sky. For most people, it was nothing but a premonition of a disaster, but for Lolo Gani, it was the signal of his most difficult ordeal in his life.

Leaving his roast goat for a moment, Lolo Gani went to fetch the rooster and brought it to Lumawig.

“Hold on to this chicken for now. Take out your weapons and put them beside you, you may start chanting, but only to nurture your abyan.” Instructed Lolo Gani. After which, he went out again and continued looking at the roasting meat.

In another part of the forest, somewhere far away from the pair of maglolo, Busau, the monstrous creature that causes destruction on mankind and takes delight in it, looks towards the sky with its eyeless face. The moment that the light from the sun was snuffed out, and night took over Busau released a terrifying howl. The moment it released such a howl a fog like substance was emitted from its body and started to float up into the sky. After reaching a certain height, the fog started to spread in all directions.

The fog was pitch black in color, and totally blocked out the stars and the moon shining in the summer night sky. The process was a bit slow, and an impatient guttural growl could be heard coming from Busau. It seemed to be unhappy with how things are progressing, but it cannot do anything. Though the creatures of the night and the people it was able to influence gave it a substantial boost in power after spreading death and destruction, it is still not enough for it to regain its full powers and abilities in a short time.

As the fog like substance continued to spread, all manners of dark creatures started appearing. Duwendes, tiyanak, santelmo, aswang and many more started to appear out of thin air, their bodies covered in the same fog like substance that Busau was emitting; in areas where there are human presence, those who have a weaker will was eventually influenced by this fog, and started turning mad. They started attacking their friends, relatives, and anyone who is near them – just like the scene that happened in the town center of Tantangan.

The dark cloud eventually covered an area that has a fifty-kilometer radius, with Busau as the center. The group of bal-bal that attacked the barangay of New Iloilo the other night started to wake up, and a bloodthirsty look could be seen on their eyes. Their figure is thinly covered by the black fog, and they seem to be even more ferocious.

The people from the town center of Tantangan who were corrupted by Busau’s influence also started to wake up. After they had escaped the policemen, they went deep into the forest under Busau’s influence and were put to slip by it. Now that Busau has fully exerted its power over a wide area, creatures, spirits, and people that it has controlled started to make their way to Dumadalig.

Meanwhile in Dumadalig, even after Lolo Gani instructed those who were with him earlier that day to leave the place, only a fraction of people listened to him, mostly those that were present during his fight against a bal-bal during tiya Elsie’s wake. The rest who were not present, however, were more skeptical towards his words, and just took it in stride. Most households are either preparing dinner or eating their meals at this time, and none of these people are aware of the danger that is coming towards them.

“Mawi, apò, dinner’s ready!” Meanwhile, inside the forest on the small clearing, Lolo Gani called out to his apò for dinner.

Lumawig had just finished nurturing his abyan when he heard his lolo call. After finding a spot to tie the chicken, Lumawig went out to eat.

“Lo, there’s something strange in this forest. It’s too quiet, and the sky is too dark even though it’s the middle of summer.” Lumawig observed.

“Yes, I have noticed it too. I thought it was about to rain, when dark clouds covered the sky, but it seems this is not the case. Anyway, try to finish your dinner soon, so we can begin your ritual. I hope you have already made a decision.” Lolo Gani said, trying to divert the subject.

Lumawig quickly finished his dinner and went with Lolo Gani back to the cavity of the tree.

“Apò, I know that you have two abyan inside of you.” Just before they started the ritual, Lolo Gani told Lumawig that he knew about his secret. Lumawig’s pupils narrowed in surprise after hearing his lolo talk about his abyan.

“I don’t know why it happened or how is it even possible, but I believe that there is a good reason why it happened. Even your Inang Selia, the most powerful babaylan during her time did not have two abyan.

I do not blame you for keeping it a secret from me, because even if you told me about it, I will still not be able to help you much. It might have been detrimental as well, for I might have forced you into the path of the babaylan had I known about it much earlier. However, my words still remain the same. Whatever you choose tonight, I will fully respect and support your decision.” The old man continued to talk to Lumawig and reassured his apò of his support.

Lumawig’s heart felt warm from the words of his lolo. Never had he imagined that his lolo would come to know of his secrets, and that despite knowing about it, still did not force him to choose to become a babaylan.

“Thank you, lolo.” Was all Lumawig could say.

“Okay! Now for your ritual! Sit down facing the altar and start saying the chant that you use for nurturing the abyan. Continue chanting it, until you can feel the presence of your abyan going out of your body.” Lolo Gani started instructing Lumawig.

“Once they leave your body, your soul will leave with them as well. But do not worry as I am here to protect you. Your abyan will bring you to the Spirit Realm, in their own domain, and from there, you will have to make the decision. If you choose to become a babaylan, your abyan will completely imprint themselves into your soul, thus making you and your abyan one entity.

If you choose not to proceed, your abyan will return your soul back to your body and they will vanish from your memory. Anything that happens in the Spirit World, will have its consequences in our world, so make sure not to offend the other spirits there. Only focus on your abyan!” Lolo Gani instructed Lumawig in a stern fashion, so as to emphasize the importance of the process.

“Mhm!” nodded Lumawig in acknowledgement. Regardless of his decision, he knows that this process could be dangerous if not taken seriously, that is why he has to listen to his lolo’s words and follow them to the letter.

After acknowledging his lolo’s instructions, Lumawig then sat down in front of the altar, his back facing the entrance of the cavity. Three breaths later, a chant was heard inside the cave.

"A mo do e ba ba a sa mo do e la le, la ha a ma ka ka o na. A e pe de to a ta o a ma ka pa te. A a ke a e yo bo ha nga yo a e e sa. A a ke do go e yo ga me te o pa a e yo pa se bo a do ma te."

Translation:

Filipino: Sa mundong ibabaw, at sa mundong ilalim. Lahat ay magkakaugnay. Ang espirito at tao ay magkapatid. Ang akin at iyong buhay, ngayon ay iisa. Ang aking dugo iyong gamitin, upang ang iyong pagsibol ay dumating.

English: On the surface world, and on the underworld. Everything is interconnected. The spirit and men are brothers. Mine and your life, now one. You will use my blood, so that your growth will come.

The moment Lolo Gani heard the chant, he then proceeded to work. He proceeded to slaughter the chicken by slitting its neck and let the blood sprinkle the altar, and a bit on Lumawig. After doing so, he laid the chicken on top of the altar and then went outside.

Then, he dug up the lana oil he had buried there a couple of days ago, then he went outside and poured the oil on the ground around the narra tree. As soon as he poured out the oil, he recited a chant softly. Even though his only source of light was the fire he made for roasting meat, the lana oil, once it touched the ground gave off a soft yellow glow, almost imperceptible to an untrained eye.

Seeing the lana oil gave off a soft yellow light Lolo Gani nodded in satisfaction. He then proceeded to get his wooden box, which contained several of his potions. One of which was the hintura oil, he placed at the entrance of the cavity. He then took out another bottle, if there was enough light, one can observe that the contents of this bottle contains a black liquid, unlike the oil though, this liquid’s consistency is like that of asphalt.

Lolo Gani dug up two shallow holes on either side near the entrance of the cavity and also dug a line on the ground, three fingers wide that connects the two shallow holes. The old man then poured out this black liquid on both holes and let it trickle down to the line he made. Next, he took out another bottle containing several roots and barks of trees submerged in lana oil.

When he opened the bottle, a fragrant aroma suffused on the surrounding and thin white fog started to form around the little clearing. He then set aside the opened bottle and placed it near the entrance as well. Lastly, he took out another bottle that contains a concoction of leaves and several roots, however, he did not open it, but just put it on the ground.

After doing all these, he went inside to fetch the bamboo spears he prepared and sat down on the ground, putting his sundang on his lap, and the buntot pagi on his left side.

“I may not be powerful enough, but I hope that with all these preparations, I can keep Lumawig safe until he is able to finish the ritual.” Lolo Gani sighed then meditated, while softly chanting.