Crackle… snap! Fwoosh! Ssssss…
The bonfire roared, a towering inferno that clawed at the inky canvas of the night sky. It stood at least two meters high, with a carefully constructed barricade of alternating tree logs forming a sturdy square around it. Tonight, under the watchful gaze of a multitude of stars, the entire Tala ng Gubat tribe celebrated the birth of their prince - Silak.
Dum-dum-da-dum… Pak-pak-pak, tuk-tuk!
tuk-tuk, Pak-pak-pak, Dum-dum-da-dum!
The rhythmic chanting of drums pulsed through the air, a primal heartbeat echoing the excitement in the crowd. The insistent rhythm wove its way through the gathering, compelling feet to tap and sway. With solemn joy, the tribesmen danced and sang around the bonfire, their voices rising in unison as they presented their newborn prince, Lakan Silak, to the spirits of their ancestors and the benevolent Goddess Mayari.
Close to the heart of the ceremonial grounds, upon a raised platform, Silak was held aloft by his father, Rajah Bayani, lifted towards the night sky. 'This world... no towering metal structures, no humming lights. Just the crackling fire and the rhythmic pulse of drums. And those lights in the sky...' the infant prince mused, his wide eyes absorbing the spectacle around him. 'It feels so different from my previous life. And is that… magic in the air?' upon noticing the tiny sparkles in the air around him.
"I, Rajah Bayani," his father's voice boomed, strong and clear enough to reach every corner of the ceremonial grounds, "present the youngest prince of our tribe. A new addition to our family, offered in humble gratitude to both our revered ancestors and the radiant Goddess Mayari!"
Upon hearing their Rajah's declaration, the joyous movement of the crowd ceased. Led by Dayang Iskra, the people quietly knelt, their faces turned reverently towards the brightly lit night sky.
"As Goddess Mayari has divinely decreed," Rajah Bayani continued, his voice imbued with a newfound awe, "my son shall be known as Silak! A bringer of transformation and the dawn of a new era for the Tala ng Gubat tribe and all this world!"
As the final word left his lips, an unprecedented phenomenon unfolded. The seven moons that usually adorned the night sky appeared to descend, swelling in size until they seemed twice as large. From each of them, a brilliant column of light pierced the darkness, seven luminous beams converging directly upon the infant prince, Silak. A spectacle unseen and unrecorded in the annals of their tribe.
A collective gasp swept through the tribesmen. Even Rajah Bayani stood frozen, his expression a mixture of shock and wonder. Such a mysterious and immense occurrence would surely not escape the notice of their neighboring tribes.
The lunar light possessed a palpable magic, both breathtakingly beautiful and strangely cold. A pearlescent essence poured down upon Silak, accompanied by a shower of tiny, glittering sparkles that resembled miniature stars falling from the heavens.
'It's so pretty...' Silak thought, utterly captivated by the celestial display. He couldn't even begin to articulate the wonder of it all. Lost in the spectacle, he remained unaware of the subtle changes happening to his tiny form. Across his soft baby skin, markings were being etched, a silent and magical branding.
His back now shimmered, dotted with constellations of tiny stars, interspersed with the seven moons, each varying slightly in size and luminescence. It was as if the night sky itself had been painted onto his skin, a celestial artwork hidden from immediate view. Due to its placement against his father's chest, no one, not even Silak himself, noticed the extraordinary markings.
The wondrous phenomenon lasted for several heartbeats before the moons receded to their normal positions, the radiant beams fading back into the night. Noticing the return to normalcy, Rajah Bayani continued, his voice filled with reverence, "We humbly and gratefully receive the ancestors' and Goddess's blessings upon our young prince." He drew his arms closer, cradling his son like the most precious of treasures, his heart swelling with gratitude for such a magnificent blessing, even without understanding its full significance.
Dayang Iskra rose to her feet, her gaze sweeping over the assembled tribe. "The ceremony for our young prince is now complete," she announced, her voice ringing with warmth and generosity. "Let us continue our celebration and enjoy the festivities until the first light of dawn graces our skies!"
As Rajah Bayani descended from the platform, he approached his wife, his brow furrowed with concern. "Iskra," he whispered, his voice low, "I fear that the phenomenon earlier might have drawn unwanted attention. I will entrust the festivities to you while I gather the warriors to reinforce the security of our tribal lands."
Their territory had been strategically chosen by their ancestors, its natural advantages carefully utilized. Half of their domain lay within the dense embrace of the vast forest, where their homes were nestled in peaceful seclusion. The other half stretched across the open plains, serving as both a buffer and a vital hub for trade and commerce. This arrangement provided them with ample time to prepare for any threat, the visible wealth in the plains acting as a decoy to would-be raiders and buy them some time.
The Tala ng Gubat were warriors, fierce and protective, but they held Family and Life in higher regard than Wealth or Fame. They would readily sacrifice their goods rather than risk the lives of their loved ones.
As the jubilant festivities continued within the safety of the forest, around the sacred ceremonial grounds, Rajah Bayani embarked on a swift patrol of their borders, checking on the warriors assigned to guard duty this night. Riding his trusted steed towards the main gate, he addressed the captain on duty. "Warriors," he said, his voice carrying the weight of his concern, "you all witnessed the extraordinary event during the prince's presentation. I want everyone to remain vigilant. We cannot be certain that others will understand it as a blessing; they might see it as a sign of treasure."
"As you command, Rajah!" the captain responded with a crisp salute, before turning to relay the order to his men and personally overseeing the patrol.
Rajah Bayani's instincts, honed by years of leadership and countless skirmishes, proved to be unnervingly accurate. As he made his way back towards the heart of the forest, a band of rough-looking men, their faces grim and their eyes greedy, stumbled upon the edge of the Tala ng Gubat territory. They had been wandering through the woods when the unusual celestial display caught their attention. They exchanged knowing glances, a thrill of avarice lighting up their faces.
"Boss," one of the men, his voice raspy, asked their leader, "could that light show have meant some kind of treasure? It definitely came from this forest. Should we check it out?"
"Hahahaha!" the leader roared, a cruel laugh echoing through the trees. "Are you daft, Gorok? A spectacle like that can only mean one thing – a treasure beyond our wildest dreams!" He regarded his lackey with a mixture of amusement and contempt.
"Let's go, boys!" he bellowed, kicking his horse into a gallop towards the direction of the light. "It's time we earned ourselves a hefty sum of gold! Hiyah!" His cry spurred his companions forward, the promise of riches igniting the avarice that festered within their hearts.