Kaliskis

Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Legend of Dalit-Kamingawan

Managat quietly followed his father through the long corridor that served as the big hall of the palace, then up to the winding staircase to Head Maayo’s room.

The healer stopped in front of the arched entrance with screen made from slender but broad-surfaced kind of moss. Around the entrance was a number growing sponges that bloomed small and white flowers that seemed to dance in the flow of the calm water.

Maalam’s gloomy state was noticeable upon parting the screen and entering inside. In the middle of the room, Managat saw the terrible condition of Head Maayo. Her body laid unmoving on a huge sh.e.l.l while her long and blonde hair was spread neatly on it. Her white skin almost looked lifeless and her rosy tail with white and silver streaks on the side has already lost its vitality.

With a heavy heart, Managat closed beside the slumbering Head Maayo. He couldn’t believe that their cheerful and always enthusiastic leader had fallen seriously ill.

He knelt on the edge of the sh.e.l.l cot and held the hand of Head Maayo. It felt cold. Like life was fleeing from it. But he saw her chest rising and dropping, a sign that she’s still alive.

“Father, please, tell me what happened.”

“Forgive me, my son; but it’s regretful to say that we cannot do anything.” The healer was shaking his head.

“How could you say that?” Managat said with great sadness. “You are the most accomplished, the best, healer in Lalawod1. I am sure you can do something!”

“You do not understand, son.” Maalam came next to him and put his hand to his child’s shoulders. “There’s no cure for our beloved Head’s illness. This is why I have strongly prayed to Bathala2 that no one will ever get this illness again.”

“I do not believe, Father. Everything has a cure. Isn’t that what you always say?” Managat then kissed the hand of Head Maayo. “Please do something, Father.”

Managat felt so much grief on this situation especially since he’s very close to Head Maayo. She’s a good friend, a teacher, and a mother to him. When he was little, she’s his playmate and mentor, too. She was also the one who told him the truth that he was an orphan; that he was found from the far south of Lalawod when he’s still an egg. Despite that, Maalam, the great healer, has taken him as his true child.

His heart was truly in great pain.

Remember, aggregators have killed already too many translating sites.

Managat felt the gentle grip of Healer Maalam on his shoulder. “Son, I’m really sorry. But,” he paused. “I have a story that I want to share with you. Will you heart it out? This is a legend that my great teacher told me that was also shared to him by his great teacher and the teacher before him.”

In the olden times, Maguayan, the anito3 of the ocean was inspecting the world after the Great Flood. She stood by the water as she watched the surrounding when she noticed a giant fish. Behind it, sitting on its back was a mortal. It saved and took the mortal off to sh.o.r.e.

The anito, who witnessed the giant fish’ kindness, decided to rewarded it. She gave the giant fish a mortal form while half of its body was left on its original form of fish. She was the first mermaid. She was called Daragat by the anito. Since then, Daragat was always found together with the anito, Maguayan.

Time pa.s.sed as Daragat

lived in the kingdom of Maguayan under the ocean. They lived in peace. But Daragat’s heart was always hoping that she would again see that mortal she had rescued from the Great Flood.

One night, Daragat decided to take a stroll to the surface to watch the full moon. There, on the top of a protruding single rock, the mermaid sat and gracefully watched the moon as it climbed in the dark sky while at the same time, she sang a melodious song. She was so fascinated by the beauty of the silver moon and even wondered where was its light coming from.

Unknown to her, a mortal was watching her just from afar. After that night, Daragat couldn’t be found anywhere. No one knew what had happened to her.

Maguayan was deeply saddened on her disappearance. There’s no day or night that she didn’t hunger to see her glorious face once again and hear her charming voice since she’s already inloved with her.

Seasons had already pa.s.sed when this great anito of the ocean contracted a unique illness that her kind called Dalit-Kamingawan. Bit by bit, her body began disappearing. And because she’s an immortal, soon enough, only her soul was left.

One day, it was heard that Daragat had returned. When she visited her revered Maguayan, she realized that she was only left with her hilagyo4. The mermaid was in deep anguish when she learned everything. She was full of regret.

Before Maguayan’s hilagyo was taken to Sulad5, they were able to talk to each other. Daragat asked for forgiveness from her which Maguayan readily accepted. But a decree was required of her by the anito; as her successor, Daragat should serve as the ruler for all that she’s left behind. The Great Anito gave her blessing to Daragat before finally saying her farewell and went to her final destination.

Daragat promised that while she lived, the whole ocean would remain prosperous and peaceful.

“And that’s what happened,” the healer concluded. “This is also why in every full moon, the Head Maayo has to drift up to the surface to offer her song of salutation to the Great Anito of the ocean to honor his memories.”

Once again, he squeezed the shoulder of Managat and finally went out of the room.

The young merman was left inside as he tightened his hold on the Head Maayo’s hand. Was this illness really that deadly? What exactly was Dalit-Kamingawan’s mystery and its cure? He has to find the cure for it, Managat thought. He couldn’t allow the Head Maayo to end up like the anito of the ocean.

——-

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