As the team stepped out of the Portal, their feet were welcomed by the softness of the sand under their soles. 

 

Waves and waves of crystalline turquoise water washed up on the powdery white sand beach. The scattered seashells and cones added to the already pristine ambiance of the place.

 

Triggs looked around to see the towering limestone cliffs encompassing the shore. The light from the setting sun gave vibrance to the lushness of the greeneries above the rock structures.

 

Beholding the paradise-like scenery, Triggs was awe-struck.

 

Calla excitedly announced, “Welcome to Matukad Island! The precious beauty of Caramoan, Camarines Sur!” 

 

Triggs lowered his head, trying to retrace something in his memory.

 

“Hmm… Before you mentioned this place to me, I think I already heard the name ‘Matukad Island’ somewhere else.”

 

Lae engaged in the conversation and answered Triggs, “Of course, you've probably heard about it; this place became famous on the internet. Besides being a tourist destination, numerous articles and documentaries have been created about this Island.”

 

“Now that you said it, I think I already remember,” Triggs replied. “This Island became quite popular because of that story…”

 

“The Enchanted Bangus*!” Triggs, Lae, and Calla said in unison.

 

“By the way, are we in Panee’s domain now?” Triggs asked.

 

“Nope, this is just the beach,” Calla answered. “Ate Panee’s Domain, and the Sirenas’ home, is deep within this Island. To enter it, we have to go to the entrance - the Lagoon where the Enchanted Bangus are!”

 

Excited, Triggs urged, “Then, what are we waiting for?” 

 

“I know you are excited to meet the Sirenas, Triggs. But we need to do something first,” Calla reminded.

 

“Ooh.. Right!” Triggs replied. “How does it work?”

 

Lae answered, “We just gather around and let Zaine do his work.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The 4 of them gathered in a circle, placing their arms on each others’ shoulders.

 

Zaine started chanting something,

 

“VELUM MULTUS!”

 

They waited for a while.

 

Moments later, Zaine finally let go of the formation.

 

“Are you done, Zaine?” Lae asked.

 

Zaine nodded his head as a sign of affirmation.

 

“Can you still see us, Triggs?” Calla asked.

 

“Yes?... But a bit blurry.”

 

“That’s the effect of the Words Zaine used,” Lae explained. “It coats our robes with concealing magic, making us invisible to outside observers. However, those who are affected by the Words can still see each other - but blurry.”

 

“I see… So that’s the reason why you were wearing these robes when I first met you,” Triggs said. “And that’s also the reason why you kept disappearing!”

 

“Mmm-hmm! “We need it so we can hide ourselves from others. Hehe. We’re like ninjas, we need to do things secretly,” ” Calla said. “By the way, it’s good that Kuya Kiel’s robe fits you.” 

 

“Yep. Gladly. Or else I have nothing to use,” Triggs replied.

 

“Guys? Are we ready now? Lola Vega said this is an urgent mission, so there’s no time to lose. We should get going,” Lae urged.

 

“Ri - Right!” Calla’s jittery response to Lae. Then, she extended her finger, pointing towards one of the limestone cliffs in the distance. “The Lagoon is behind that tall rock.”

 

Triggs and Lae were overwhelmed by the height of the said rock formation.

 

Triggs uttered, “Don’t tell me…”

 

“I guess we need to climb it,” Lae said.

 

“Yup! There’s no other way to get to the Lagoon. We really need to climb there. But don’t worry! The view there is breathtaking!”

 

Triggs’s doubt was replaced by excitement.

 

As they walked towards the base of the cliff, Calla asked her friends, “By the way, what do you know about the Enchanted Bangus?”

 

Triggs answered first, “I just learned about them from videos on the internet. It’s said that these Bangus are magical, and whoever messes with the fishes will be cursed, or worse, be killed by an unknown force.”

 

“Uh-huh… How about you, Lae?”

 

“Just the same,” Lae answered. “I read in one of the articles that there was once a fisherman who dared to capture one of the Bangus. He brought the Bangus home, cooked it, and shared it with his family. But after a few weeks, the fisherman and his family died mysteriously.”

 

“Uh-huh… How about you, Zaine? Do you have something to share?”

 

Zaine just shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Actually, there’s a bit of truth to that story. But there were still things that they couldn’t explain like… What are these Bangus really? Where did they really come from? Are they really enchanted? And many more!” Calla said.

 

“I read that the Bangus are believed to be guardians of the Lagoon... Is it true, Calla? Or do you know something else?” Lae asked.

 

“Hmm… I don’t want to call them ‘guardians’. I think ‘purifiers’ is the right term. It’s true that they are mystical fishes; they are the cleaners of the Lagoon and Ate Panee’s Domain. They eat magic residues to keep the natural balance of the waters.” 

 

“Interesting…” Triggs commented.

 

Calla added, “And that’s the reason why the fisherman died when they ate the Bangus. The fish’s body is filled with concentrated magic residue. The fisherman and his family died of magic poisoning. That’s what the Sirenas told me.”

 

Triggs and Lae were enlightened by the explanation.

 

“It makes sense now…” Lae uttered.

 

Triggs was still invested in the story. 

 

“Calla, from what I heard, after the fisherman killed one of the Bangus, another one just popped out of nowhere, and there were 2 again in the Lagoon. They said that there are no passageways for that fish to enter the Lagoon, so where exactly did it come from?”

 

“That fish came from the Domain itself,” Calla answered. “There are many of them, actually.”

 

“Really? I thought there were only 2 of them?”

 

“There are only 2 fishes assigned in the Lagoon. But there are still others in the inner waters.”

 

“Woah! I didn’t know that.”

 

“You’ll know more once we get there, hehe. I’m excited.”

 

Not long after, the team finally reached the base of the cliff.

 

Concerned, Lae asked, “Triggs, do you think you can manage to climb the cliff?”

 

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Triggs answered. “You see, when I was young, I was very curious. I liked to try and experience things. I tried martial arts like Taekwondo, Arnis, and many more. I also tried physical activities, and conveniently, rock climbing was one of them.”

 

“I see. No wonder, you have a well-built frame,” Lae’s response.

 

“Yep. I think I need to thank my mother; she always lets me try things. She’s very supportive,” Triggs said.

 

“Good for you,” Lae replied. Jealousness was evident in Lae’s words. “Anyway! Just tell me if you need help. I can use a Word to boost your endurance for the trek.”

 

“Sure. Thanks,” Triggs replied.

 

“Uhm… Lae? Can you help me with Isha, please?” Calla requested.

 

Lae was willing, but she didn’t know how to help. “Hmm… How can we lift her there? The cliff is too steep,” she wondered.

 

Triggs thought of something, “Lae, do you have a Word that can give us enormous strength? Or something that can give us power?”

 

“No. I still haven’t learned something like that.”

 

Triggs put his finger to his chin as he thought further. Moments later, “AHA! I remember - Lae, you can vines, right?” 

 

“Uhm… Yes?”

 

“Good! Is it sturdy? Can you grow a long one?”

 

“I can,” Lae answered. And just like that, it seemed like Lae understood what Triggs was thinking. “But we need to find something to use as a fulcrum.”

 

Favorably, Triggs saw something at the top of the cliff. “I think that tree will do!” He said as he pointed to a long tree that was conveniently leaning at a peculiar angle, slightly parallel to the ground.

 

Lae agreed. “I can use a Word so the tree won’t break easily. I guess it will be enough for a fulcrum.”

 

Triggs agreed. “You need to go up there first. The vine should be properly placed on the tree, or else this won't work. The last thing we want is for the vine to slip and drop Isha to the ground.”

 

Calla was frightened by the thought.

 

“Okay. I’ll do it,” Lae said. “But I still need Calla to help me. I also need her to guide me on the trek.”

 

Triggs nodded his head. “Zaine and I will stay here. Just throw both ends of the vine once you secure it to the tree.”

 

“Understood,” Lae replied.

 

Still puzzled about the plan, Calla asked Triggs, “Uhm, Triggs? What are we going to do exactly?”

 

Triggs explained, “The cliff is way too steep and the rocks are all jagged. It will be a hassle if we just try to drag the wagon without proper leverage. I think Isha wouldn’t like the bumpy ride too.”

 

“Okay…” Calla murmured as she continued listening to the explanation.

 

Triggs continued, “I just learned something from my Physics Class last week. It’s called the Pulley System. So I thought, maybe, we can try it here.”

 

Calla was amazed by the concept. “Woah! That’s a cool idea, Triggs!”

 

“Thanks. But I still don’t know if it will work. Hopefully, it will.”

 

“Surely, it will!” Calla stated confidently.

 

Shortly after, the team started to carry out the plan.

 

Lae and Calla started climbing the rocky cliff. The 2 young men stayed on the ground, waiting for the 2 ladies to reach the top.

 

 

 

 

 

-TERMINOLOGIES-

*Bangus - Filipino term for milkfish

 

Additional: The legend of the Enchanted Bangus of Matukad Island is based on true accounts by the locals of Caramoan. Although there are different versions of the story, the version in this novel shouldn’t be considered as the absolute truth. Although there are varieties to the legend, the lesson remains the same: ‘We shouldn’t mess with things we have little knowledge about.’ It’s better to leave things as they should be and let nature do its thing peacefully.