I don't remember much before my master. It was like being in a forgetful abyss. My eyes could see but does not take in. Day after day, night after night, who knows how long I've been there or why... There were others there, hopping creatures in blues and red, tongues of flames that could never warm …and wails, shrieks that pierce the hushed air. There was no purpose that I could recall except to continue drifting on. It was like a dream then…could I dream now? I don't think I did back then.

That day changed everything.

My long hair wafted softly as I passed the others attacking a different one. There are those creatures that traveled down to our world. The Munak and Bongun were like guards; they were driven to kill any intruders. I remember stopping, they were ganging up on the solitary creature who looked much like them. For a moment something made me want to stop them. But I was plunged back into feeling nothing. I drifted away, the shouts grew numerous; the thing must be getting help. A fight was forming but I only wanted silence. I was seeking a quiet corner until I felt something whisk my side.

It was one of them. He stood opposite of me, poised for another attack. It was never my inclination to kill, unless someone was foolish enough to disturb me. My vacant state would then transform to one of retribution. I had done nothing to bother them so they must pay.

By instinct, I took out my dagger and lunged at him. I screech, baring my fangs. With such graceful agility, he leaped over me. I swerve to find him streaking into me, a dagger also in his hand. My dagger stabbed onwards as he came closer. In that suspended moment, I knew I missed him. Then in the fleetest moment, I shriek, it was as if air knifed through my body. Light and blood, engulfed my body. Blood? How could there be blood? I didn't have any...

Blank

Nothingness I don't remember

A suspension I never knew

I revive, rising forth, light shimmering below me. I felt light headed so I shook my head. I peered below me. Under my feet, there was a strange device that emitted the fading light. I continued staring down. The ground was actually a wooden floor. Where was this place? My gaze prodded forward and stopped. It rested on him. He sat there cross-legged, observing my every move. We were like that for what seemed like a long time until he stood up. I drew back as he crossed the space between us.

I didn't know what to expect but it certainly wasn't what happened next. He kneeled down and on his palms laid a small metal oblong container. He bowed his head and raised his arms, offering the strange thing to me. My hand reached out for it, caressing the smooth surface. There were symbols on it, intricate carvings, I felt drawn to them. I unsheathed it, revealing a short dagger. Symbols flashed on the blade and disappeared, never to return again.

Raising the dagger, I was reminded of my unfulfilled mission. I screech as the dagger fell. A force so strong struck me back. I hit a wall and slinked on the floor. As I struggled on my arms, he looked up, his eyes slight surprise. But otherwise he was in the same position, unhurt and unaffected. I gritted my teeth as I rose again, watching him. I drifted backwards to a corner and sat there, head laid on my arms. My hair spread itself, waving.

I heard some shuffling and the light went out. I stayed there, soothed by the familiarity of the darkness. I raised my head and stared at the window. The moon shone, like beacon to the outside. Like a sailor to a lighthouse, I flew towards it. Just short of the window, I stopped, not of my own will. Invisible ropes had bound me, restraining my movements. I strained and grunt and thrashed but to no avail. I finally gave up and drifted backwards.

My hair cast strange shadows upon his bed as I passed by his bed. His form lay there, making no sound. I pause for a moment, staring at him. Weary of the struggle, I closed my eyes and drifted back to the corner. I laid my head on my arms and gave a sorrow sigh.

-

Sleep...I had never found a need for sleep and if I did I never did remember it. It became warmer and lighter and my arms hurt. I found myself face down on the floor. Being on the ground was a strange sensation. I urged my body to move, but it refused. Coaxing my arms, I lift my head and saw through the strands of my mussed hair that he was up and observing me. What gave this man the prerogative to stare at me, to take me from the only place I have never known? He took a step forward and I arch up, driven back in my corner.

My limbs cracked and I winced. If this was the result of sleeping then humans must live an uncomfortable life. But...the one before me did not look uncomfortable at all. Rather he was lithe and limber, studying every move I make.

"Your body won't hurt as much if you would move around," he offered as a morning greeting. That remark did not warrant an answer.

Shadows were now playing on his purple bodice and he shifted his gaze to the window. Light was broken into a wafting shadow. His eyes folowed serpentine movements and found the shadows to be my hair. It flew much higher this time, uncovering my face and revealing what I try to hide: my diffidence.

But now I could not help meeting his gaze. There was a command, as silent as it was between us but deeper than everything I could imagine. It stirred me and I must obey. And that was I felt when I finally locked on to his eyes, fathomless...

He turned his gaze away and rooted it at my corner. He scanned it and lighted window next to me. He nimbly walked to his bed and grabbed the violet cloth draped on the bedpost. Using a worn out violet rope, he tied it around his waist. There was small white bag on his bed; he grabbed it and started to search for something.

Stretching my back, my curiosity was stirred by the ray of light. Also I did want him to see that I took his advice. I blinked; I had never experienced this intensity before. Slowly, my fingers reached for the glassy transparence, little cold droplets formed where my fingers touched. Hot! How could they stand it, I thought while looking at my blackened fingers. Curiously, the burns grew smaller and smaller until they vanished, leaving my skin smooth and unblemished. Only later will I learn the truth of why this is so...and how it saved and endangered my master's life. Still, more curious was what's taking place outside the window.

My eyes hurt at first but as they adjusted a teeming street came to life. I quickly turned away, shielding myself from the sight but I cannot possibly forget that simple glimpse. Like multicolored petals that fall during a windy day. A barrage of awe-ful light and space. Is this is his world? So different from the dank caves and monotonous atmosphere of my former home!

He must have been observing me for there he was again, rooted to that place. I felt shame to be caught so unaware and quickly hid my face behind my sleeves. He lifted his gaze from me and to the window. He beckoned me with a wave of his hand and twisted towards the door; walked lightly, the violet cloth trailing him.

I did not want to go despite my intense curiosity. I did not accept this strange man and his ways. He took me unwilling and unwilling will I always be. (Even then I was so foolish). Yet when he paused, his hand on the doorknob, there was something reluctant about him too. I floated forward for a bit when something shone from the floor. I gingerly picked it up. A coin, with a letter z, had fallen from the small hole ofhis bag. I clasped, intending to return it when I found his head turned so one eye was staring at me. It narrowed dangerously into slits. He held out an arm covered with bandages

"Come."

At my hesitation, invisible ropes wrapped around my arms and waist; grasping me to him. The force was so abrupt, I crashed at his feet. The coin slipped from my hand and clinked against his shoe. A badly bandaged hand picked it up. He grabbed my arm and hefted me up. I try to back away but I could not, a barrier held me to an edge. I could move no more than a few feet away from him. He raised his hand; I squeezed my eyes shut and summoned for the dagger, useless as it was to attack him I prepared for the blow to come.

Instead, his hand came down and patted my head. He smoothed my hair. Surprised, I looked up to him, since my feet touched the ground. His fringe of dark brown hair tried to hide them, but I still saw his eyes: fathomless but now much less menacing.

"One zeny less and we would have been evicted. Thank you."

My dagger reverberated and a voice very much my own echoed in my head. The symbols on my daggers surfaced in my mind and I finally understood what they meant.

"Maglingkod habang buhay...Hindi lalampas...hindi uurong...hindi makakatanggi...isang buhay...Alalay ka niya...Panginoon mo siya..."

I knelt to the floor and hung my head, placing my hands before his feet. Again something deep like the fathomless eyes urged me to do this. A bright red liquid seeped to the floor. It that moment, the realization struck me that my body weakened.

"My master..."