บท 83: Miguel Being Miguel

"Are you nuts?! What the heck are you doing?!" Snatching the wooden cigar pipe, Elder Shana was surprised at What Miguel has done.

It was a joke! She never meant for Argus in front of him to actually do it. But it was Miguel, not Argus who did it.

Miguel realizing that he had gone overboard this time, could only reluctantly part with the cigar pipe as he returned it to the Elder.

"I was just kidding... I've always wanted to try one whenever I see some haha" Trying to fake his way out, he gave a dry laugh which made the Elder squint her eyes in doubt.

But thinking that Argus probably meant what he says, she just accepted the illogical reason and put the earlier incident at the back of her head.

"I've called you here to attest if you have already grasped the concept of what I taught you last night." The Elder with her hushed tone hesitantly said while looking around, making sure that nobody was around.

"Pretty much it's all about looking within right? Well, instead of speaking let me just show it to you." Miguel who hated explaining himself, jump right into the action as he began closing his eyes while inwardly screaming in his mind, "I hope this works... Argus, you have to cooperate with me."

After having a breakthrough in learning the spirit realm, it's not just Miguel who gained enlightenment from the phenomenon they witnessed at the peak. Argus also gained something.

When Argus allowed himself to be sucked out by the light vortex from that dimly void-like space, he found out that he was able to temporarily travel outside his mortal body.

Likewise, Miguel realized that he can communicate with Argus. And since The Elder can see the spirit of them both, they had to cooperate into tricking the Elder.

After some brief silence, only the chirping of the birds atop the tree could be heard...

The wind suddenly surged with galloping tremors akin to a storm. And Argus's little figure came out from Miguel's chest. In order to hide this transition, Miguel leaped 2 paces away from the Elder making it appear like he is the one who got out from Argus's body.

Now two spirits revealed themselves. Both are covered with blue incandescent flames enveloping their body.

On the other hand, Elder Shana seemed amazed at the scene that is unfolding in her eyes. She exclaimed with her surprised expression in glee, "Fantastic! I have never seen someone who can easily try out the thing I have taught in one night up to this degree... Truly... a surrogate of Sidapa... With such gifts, if you wanted to exact revenge on this tribe... It would be easy as picking duckweed."

And at a single beat, after just a few breathes, Miguel suddenly weakened. Argus's spirit returned to him. After which, Miguel held his head, he suddenly turned pale.

"What happened?" Miguel asked as his face distorted. This made the Elder a bit apprehensive as she quickly tried to catch Miguel who is about to tumble down the floor, even tossing the cigar pipe through the bushes near the tree.

Elder Shana caught Miguel's head through the use of her cane.

The T-shaped handle of her cane was put into good use, catching Miguel's temples through the intersection of the cane's T shape handle.

"I forgot to explain to you the repercussions of using this ability during the day. This is my fault, I've been too eager to see you perform this. Well, this is bad. You shouldn't miss the next lesson for today since it shall be headed by the Babaylan herself..."

Admitting to her fault, the Elder became worried as she helped Miguel to sit down with her near the tree, leaning his head and back at the tree's trunk.

"I can help you regain your lost energy by preparing tea. But the ingredient I'll need can only be taken to the Dayang's Kanya near her garden. But I can't ask anyone to get that for me, that ingredient fetches a high amount of gold when sold in the trade... Plus I'll get exhausted if I travel..." Heaving a sigh, the Elder felt helpless.

But upon hearing the Elder's words, Miguel's eyes turned bright at the mention of the Dayang. And a brewing idea came into his mind.

"I have to settle some scores with that Dayang... Maybe I can use that piece of secret information I learned to threaten her and completely remove my status of being an Alipin? And just be an Apprentice Shaman... Well, I still have a lot of things to learn in this world. Argus's memories are pretty much inaccurate. Psh he hasn't seen much and being a Shaman seemed a better option..."

Reconsidering things and looking at the bigger picture, Miguel grinned as he tried to ignore the crawling soreness coursing over his whole body.

"And besides... I wonder where that Golden hair of that Tikbalang went to. I should ask... Also, those bunch of idiots... They still have some use, surely they might have heard my revival?"

Remembering about these things made Miguel, all the more determined to stand up.

"What are you doing, you have to take some rest..." Feeling guilty for her own stupidity, Elder Shana supported Miguel as he stood up. "You don't have to worry about this, If my trusted fellow Shaman is here I could just ask her for some help."

"Look at here, you old hag!" Elder Shana felt her throat being prickled as he heard Miguel's low tone full of berating remark... "It was also my fault, I too was eager to try it without even asking the specifics of what shall come after. I should've asked. Anyway, let me handle this, just tell me the ingredient you need and I'll go towards the Dayang and request one. I'll just use your name. And besides, since I agreed to become an apprentice Shaman under the Babaylan's tutelage... I should get my belongings right?"

Surprised at Miguel, the Elder unconsciously nodded but realizing that Miguel is still weakened, she wondered if Miguel would be able to successfully go towards where the Dayang''s Kanya was.

The Shrine is located at the farthest part of the village, it is surrounded by thick bushy tails and a tall mountain range that stretches circularly around it. While at the center of the gaps of this mountain range is a waterfall.

"You intend to go there all by yourself? Aren't you feeling weak?" Asked the Elder.

"I'll be fine, this is nothing." Miguel stubbornly said and as he said so, he took Elder Shana's cane. "Let me borrow this."

The Elder, blurted out a light laugh, she was amused at this little kid. "Well, since I can only entrust you the ingredient anyways... Let me call out your fellow Shaman Apprentice so she can guide you on your way."

"Oh great! so there is actually that option! Why you didn't say so!" Miguel was baffled at this Elder, he thought that perhaps "this Elder is getting really old, perhaps she is turning senile." As he inwardly remarked.

"Very well then, go call her out. I'll wait here." As he said so he slumped at the ground as if not feeling weekend, resting his head at the tree's trunk while firmly holding the cane.

A few breathes passed and the Elder had been staring at the clueless Miguel.

"What now? I thought you would go call out somebody?" Miguel, impatiently ordered.

"Well, you have my cane... let me borrow it first." Elder Shana nervously reminded.

"Oh! That... haha my apologies old hag. here take it..." Which Miguel immediately handed.

Elder Shana slowly walked away. In her mind, she can't help but feel like something was amiss. "Why am I the one being ordered around? I suddenly feel like I became a kid...That kid is really something" as she repeatedly shook her head. mumbling like a senile old woman.