At the headquarters of the Agimatayo 5th Company...
In the sleeping quarters of the barracks, a person lay soundly asleep on the top bunk of a double-decker bed, enjoying a pleasant dream—when suddenly, with a loud crack, the bed collapsed beneath him.
Andaya: "WAAAH!"
With a thud, he hit the floor, groaning in pain.
Nearby, one of his colleagues stood with arms crossed, unable to suppress a smirk. Her tone was teasing, almost amused.
Lea: "To think that Sir Eric's Tangan Panabla—his second-in-command—is still asleep at this hour... It's astonishing, really. Keep that up and you'll ruin our company's reputation."
Rubbing the bump on his head, Andaya sat up.
Andaya: "Well, good morning to you too, Lea... What happened while I was asleep?"
Lea leaned casually against the doorframe, with a playful smile can be seen in her face.
Lea: "All of the company's Pato, including the First Pato, are having a meeting at Sierra Madre. But before Sir Eric left, he gave me a task—he told me to brief you on your next assignment. You're to take charge of some Taya from other companies on your upcoming mission. Help them gain real combat experience."
Andaya's sleepy expression shifted into frustration.
Andaya: "Seriously?"
He looked thoroughly annoyed as he walked toward the washroom.
Lea: "Oh, come on. Don't give me that look. It's for the good of the company too, you know."
As Andaya splashed water on his face, he muttered,
Andaya: "You do know my missions are supposed to be limited to Pato or Tangan Panabla, right? What is that old man thinking?"
Lea: "Not this time. This one's different—it was signed using the blood signatures of the 3rd, 7th, and our very own 5th Pato, Sir Eric."
Andaya: "What the—!? They issued a Ban-Se order for this mission?"
Lea: "Yep. This mission's probably the most complicated one you'll ever take. So... will you accept it?"
Andaya: "Do I even have a choice?"
Lea: "Nope."
Andaya sighed deeply.
Andaya: "Alright. What's the mission about?"
Lea: "That's the spirit. Come on, let me brief you."
Lea and Andaya walked side by side along the edge of the farming fields. As they passed, farmers working the land paused and bowed respectfully, recognizing them as prominent figures in the area.
Lea began to brief Andaya on the mission, her tone shifting from playful to serious.
Lea: "The 7th and 3rd Companies—with approval from Eric—have requested a joint operation. The goal is to increase our numbers of those who know how to hunt one of the most dangerous rivals to our kind—the corrupted beings. That's one of the primary focuses of this mission."
Andaya: "Welp, if they actually used a Ban-Se command, they must be really serious about letting their Taya experience a Pato-level mission."
Lea: "Both companies have been constantly tied up on the front lines, fending off our other rivals—the Engkanto. I can't blame them for not having time to train their own."
Andaya: "Yeah, but do those two companies even know what kind of missions I take on?"
Lea: "I already gave them a heads-up—especially about how brutal this one could get. The chances of ending up in one of the enemy's nests are always high."
Andaya shifted the topic.
Andaya: "Anyway… what about you? You coming with us?"
Lea: "No. As the Punong Albularyo of the 5th Company, I'm responsible for training other potential candidates to become Panggulo."
Andaya: "Welp, if they even used a Ban-Se command, they must be really serious about letting their Taya experience a Pato-level mission."
Lea: "Both companies have been constantly engaged on the front lines, fending off our other rivals—the Engkanto. I can't blame them for not having time to train their own."
Andaya: "Yeah, but do those two companies even know what kind of missions I take on?"
Lea: "I already gave them a heads-up on what to expect—especially how brutal this one could get. The chances of ending up in one of the enemy's nests are always high."
Andaya sighed.
Andaya: "So I really am going to be babysitting them alone, huh."
Lea: "Don't be like that. Their respective companies chose those Engkata because they show a lot of potential. They just need someone to guide them."
Andaya shifted the subject again.
Andaya: "What's the mission about?"
Lea: "There've been rumors—pregnant women murdered and eaten in a village out in the Visayas. It looks like the work of an Aswang—specifically, a Tiktik. You know what that means."
Andaya groaned.
Andaya: "Shapeshifters... ah, this is going to be a hassle. I almost punched an old lady once because I thought she was a Tiktik. Luckily, Eric stopped me just in time."
Lea: "So be careful. If it really is a shapeshifter, they could be anyone."
Andaya: "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, what's the exact location?"
Lea: "Start your search around Mt. Igcoron in Antique—specifically, Barangay Binanogan, Valderrama. The rumors are vague, so we can't give you solid details about the incident. What we do know is that place is probably a nest. So play your cards right. Once the mission's complete, we can simply erase their memories."
They came to a stop in front of an old, weathered cottage tucked near the edge of the fields. Lea stepped forward and placed her hand on the door, whispering something in an ancient Filipino dialect. Then, she drew a Baybayin symbol—ᜑᜍᜒᜅ᜔ᜇᜀᜈᜈ᜔—onto the wood using her own blood, before knocking twice.
Lea: "You can enter now. Behind this door is one of our company's hidden stores—maintained by the 3rd Pato. It's about a 30-minute walk from there to the town of Valderrama. You know what to do. Good luck."
Andaya stepped through the doorway with only two vials of holy water, a balisong knife, and a Talibong—a traditional Filipino sword—at his side. His appearance was that of a modest farmer, perfect for blending in with the locals.
Andaya: "Now… let's see what those kids have to offer."