Chapter One

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I remember being alone. I was sitting on a cliff back then when it happened, my left leg dangling over the edge while my right was folded underneath me. My eyes were trained on the sunset that was slowly making its descent and being covered by the mountains. Behind me, I heard the wind rustling and ignored it since it must've been the November air. When a twig snapped on my right, I stood up and was immediately on high alert. The only thing I had on me was a small stone dagger gifted to me on my twenty-first birthday.

Slowly, I walked towards the trees where the sound had come from. There was nothing at first, just the tall narra trunks that made up the forest and the warm orange light coming from the sun. A flash of light suddenly went off and blinded me for a few seconds, forcing me to cover my eyes with my hands. When I finally regained my vision, I saw a woman standing before me dressed in white robes and holding a gold spear that was bursting with light.

I was at a loss for words as she walked towards me, stopping when she was only ten feet away.

"Hello, Anita." The woman was watching me with intent eyes, strands of her thick black hair framing her face. My eyes moved to the spear she was holding and the hand that was holding my dagger tightened. This didn't escape the woman's eyes and the side of her lips slightly rose to form a small smile. "I'm not here to hurt you."

"Who are you?" I was surprised by the calmness in my voice. I could feel the nerves surging through my body, but not because of fear. Curiosity. I've never seen someone wear such exquisite and radiant robes. I looked down at my silup ang-angga and kain which definitely needed washing after my trip to the mountains earlier.

"My name is Athena." She took a step forward and the light coming out of her spear vanished. When she released her hold on the spear, it disappeared into thin air and my mouth opened in shock. I blinked once, then twice before shaking my head and returning my focus to the woman in front of me– Athena. My dagger was still held in front of me, ready to be used at any sign of danger. "Do you believe in gods, Anita?"

"How do you know my name?" I ignored her question. I've never seen this woman in my life. The tribe has always kept to itself, sometimes gathering with other tribes within the area. I have never ventured outside of our borders since that role was usually left to the men. My parents, however, thought that I still needed to know how to defend myself. My father has only traveled twice in his entire life and he described to me how cruel the world was outside of our village. Not everyone is as kind, compassionate, and forgiving. The world will never change so he decided that it was me who needed to change.

Within our tribe, I was known as the daughter of two farmers– a quiet girl who liked to explore the forest for new crops and has acquired a hobby of inking her skin. The art I've created has spread throughout the tribe and other members have learned how to do it as well, calling themselves a mambabatok. But within the four walls of my home, I was as good as the warriors of our tribe, able to fight off an opponent with just a stone dagger.

"I've been watching you. I must say, you've become a very promising candidate." Athena said, stepping forward. I didn't move backwards, my feet firmly planted on the ground. Up close, I could see her steel gray eyes and how they shone against the sky that was now turning dark. I needed to leave before the light from the sun completely went out, but I couldn't make myself turn away. "Now, do you believe in gods, Anita?" she repeated her question and I unconsciously shook my head.

"There's no such thing as gods." Our tribe only believed in spirits, using each good and bad omen we see as a sign for the next step we need to take. I wasn't taught to worship. I was taught to survive and live until my body tells me otherwise.

"I'd like to disagree." Athena smiled, shaking her head in amusement. She raised her hand and my eyes watched her every move. When I realized she was about to grasp my dagger with her fingers, I lunged forward, grabbed her arm with my other hand, and twisted it, the dagger's point sitting just a few centimeters from her neck. The usual groan that I would hear when practicing this move with my father was not heard, and I looked at Athena's face to see her smiling at me. "Perfect." I was so focused on her upper body that I failed to register her right leg that pulled back before wrapping around my left leg and bringing me down onto the ground. A groan escaped my lips as my back hit the earth and my heart sank when I heard my dagger clatter behind me, beyond my reach. Both of my hands were pressed against my chest, Athena's left knee holding me down.

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