Tales of the Supremes 16 THE YOUNG ABDULA 1

Orange-red hue engulfed the sky. Birds sung their sunset rhythm, and plants and trees danced through the breeze of the winds.

A sixteen-year-old young man, wearing a robe with a cloud crest on his chest was sitting on a stone facing a bunch of children.

"Guardians were sent by the heaven to protect us from evil forces. They were the strongest creatures under the heaven. They fight against demons days and nights during the great battle 10000 years ago. According to our ancestors, guardians had helped a lot of creatures of different kinds including humans," the young man narrated.

"Young Abdula, is there any guardians alive after the great battle?" a little boy with purple hair asked.

"Yes, there is!" He replied.

"If there is, why I can't see or hear them out?" a little girl wearing a plain dress asked.

"They were just around watching us. Who knows, they are already beside you." The young man laughed heartily. "It's already dusk. It's time to head home. Tomorrow, I'll tell more stories about them!" He promised.

The crowd slowly faded out.

"Young Abdula, the Datu asked your present!" A man said, panting.

"Uhm! Take me there!"

The duo arrived at the main hall of the palace.

"Abdula, pays respect to Datu and the elders!" He lowered his head as he half-knelt down. Abdula was surprised seeing all of them gathered together.

"My son, we all decided to properly introduce to everyone my only inheritor tomorrow. What you say?" The Datu spoke.

Fine red silk adorned with gold accessories add a feeling of awe to one who see him.

"If that's what had been decided, then I don't have any objection." Abdula replied.

"Very well! Rest up for you will have a long day tomorrow." Datu Agueo said.

...

Abdula head to his residence; a woman in her forties visited him.

In the main hall of Abdula's residence

"My nephew, tomorrow is your big day. Your mother will be proud of you!" The woman exclaimed.

"Aunt Liwayway, I thank you for taking care of me. Be assured that I'll never forget it. Our White Cloud Tribe, my home, I'll protect it with all my life!" Abdula rest assured.

"Then, I will look forward to it." Liwayway chuckled.

"I almost forgot why I came here," Liwayway waved her hand and a wooden box intricately adornerd with gems was materialized. "Here is the gift of your mother. Before she left this world, she told me to hand this over to you when the time comes. I guess that time is now!"

Liwayway send the box to Abdula.

Abdula opened it. What he saw made his tears fall. It was a storage ring, the storage ring of his mother. He surged his energy to take the ownership. To his surprised, he is already the owner of the ring.

"That's what she collected in her whole life. She had hoped that it can aid you." Liwayway stated as he saw the young man fall into dazed.

"Thank you aunt for taking care of my mother's belongings. I am truly grateful." Abdula wiped his tears.

"There's no need for ceremony. I am your aunt not an outsider." Liwayway tried to lighten up the atmosphere as she continued, "Your mother believes in guardian as you do. Guardian was truly a magnificent being. They reward those who have faith on them. So, I believe that they will bless your ceremony tomorrow."

"I believe too!" Abdula smiled at her.

Though Liwayway believed that guardians were now just a legend, she couldn't shatter the belief of her young nephew.

She was just like him. When she was young, her parents always tell a story about guardians does resulting in her deep belief to them. But as she grows old, that belief is slowly fading.

She doesnt know why their tribe believes in such things, when in fact, the 1000 years existence of their tribe did not let them experience and see the true nature of guardians which had vanished 10000 years ago.

Abdula noticed an unfamiliar feather inside the ring. He materialized it and asked about its origin to his aunt.

Liwayway examined the feather. It was milky white and does not resemble any feather of animals she knew. It has a fair size and velvet in nature.

"This is the first time I saw this kind of feather. I dont know what it is." Liwayway did not dwell to it too much as she take her leave.

Outside the residence of Abdula, Liwayway staggered to her feet. 'It cant be!' Her heart raced in unimaginable speed.

...

Abdula woke up from the noise outside. His servant walked to his door.

"Young Abdula, Your aunt asked for your present. This way please," his servant didn't let him talk as he dragged him.

Abdula detected fear to the servant.

"Aunt, what's going on?" Abdula asked. The sun was not up yet, but the outside really was noisy.

But before his aunt can explain, a sudden explosion was he heard.

"It was in the northern gate. Aunt, sorry but I'll take my leave!" Abdula exclaimed.

"Where do you think you're going?" His Aunt asked with knitted brows. The warriors besides her aunt block his way.

"I'm going to help," Abdula replied.

Another explosion was heard from the west. A moment later, an explosion was heard from the south.

"What's going on?" Abdula asked while his aunt dragged him towards east.

They heard an explosion again, but this time it was from the east.

"Sh**, we are already surrounded!" His aunt said furiously. "Whatever happens, protect the Young Datu!" She shouted towards the warriors. The servants were trembling in fear.

They dashed towards the palace.

"Abdula (Liwayway) pays respect to Datu and the elders."

Everyone with special rank was inside the palace while the citizens and those that couldn't fight were placed in the evacuation room under the palace.

"Father, what tribe was it?" Can't take his curiosity anymore, Abdula asked.

"It wasn't an attack from humans, but from beasts." Datu Agueo said with grim expression. 'This time, what drive them to attack us?'

Hoard of beasts' attacked were inevitable as they were located in the wilderness. They always pull it off for there were only minimal beasts and did not have intelligence, but todays attacked were different.

How could beasts thought of blocking their escape route?

Its like they were ordered to do so.

"Abdula, head towards the northeast gate. Make sure our citizens will be able to leave this place safely. Men, protect the young Datu." Datu Agueo ordered towards his elite warriors.

"No. I will not leave you here. I will fight." Abdula said firmly.

"We will all die here if you didn't escape. Please Abdula! Do this for me." The Datu begged. "If you don't leave, I wouldn't be able to face your mother in the afterlife."

Abdula can't find a word. He looked at his father, begging to aid him.

"Leave now. Our people need you." Datu Ague ordered his men to drag Abdula out.

"Father!" Abdula cried.

Ague's men were ready to leave with Abdula and the citizens under a secret tunnel when a loud flap of wings slowly approached the palace from above.

A bloody warrior hurriedly walked towards them. He half-knelt down. "It...It was...was the King of the forest Ebony-The giant hawk," he said while trembling from fear. He continued, "The giant hawk gathered almost five thousands of beasts to rally and now surrounded the palace."

"Five thousands?" Abdula repeated. There was only a thousand of population in their kingdom. The enemy's number was five times greater than them. Beasts were also stronger than them. 'We're doomed!' He thought, 'But I will not die without a fight.'

"Everyone, do whatever you can to protect the young Datu." The Datu ordered. They were now surrounded. If he let his son continued through the tunnel, they will be just welcomed by the beasts.

The Datu and the elders head out. Abdula followed.

"What are you doing?" His father asked.

"Father, I will help you as long as I can. As your inheritor, I will not run with my tails between my legs." Abdula said with composed self. Although he was afraid inside, he can't let his fear be shown.

"Okay, but if you were in dire situation just run away. Got it?" Datu Ague said firmly. He doesn't want his son to suffer and die, but the circumstances did not leave him a choice. Even if his son does not fight, his death was inevitable.

Combining their forces might yield a different result.

"Yes father!" Abdula replied.

Chapter end