Eugene looked at the coniferous almaciga trees passing by as he sat with other commuters in the jeepney. Sweat-drenched skin touched another skin as 20 tourist sat inside the quite large yet cramped vehicle. Summer has just started, and as expected in the Philippines, the surrounding is already scorching hot. But seeing nature (somehow dirty) after living in Manila (somehow dirty too) for a very long time made him feel serene, albeit hot. At first, Eugene planned to invite a few friends for a trip outside the city to unwind and destress. However, he encountered some tourists who were heading to Tabon Cave for an archaeological excursion and decided to join them.

Tabon Cave, dubbed as "The Philippines' Cradle of Civilization," is a group of caves located in the southwestern part of Palawan Island. One of the oldest human bones found in the Philippines, the Tabon Man, was discovered in 1962. It has been reported that various artifacts such as earthenware, jade ornaments, jewelry, various stone tools, animal bones, and human fossils were discovered in the Philippines, dating back to 47,000 years ago. These human remains are considered to be the earliest found in the Philippines. A batch of people had already departed for that location, and currently, they were in the second wave.

Eugene listened to the tour guide explain the human bones and stone tools they used. The tour guide even even showed a few images and explained them in detail (not sure if it's right)- that the researchers and archaeologists did this and that... after excavating and analyzing all of it. Although Eugene don't understand any of the technical jargons, and he's sure any of the tourist doesn't understand also, he still nodded and acted as if he understand and listened to it attentively.

On the images were drawings resembling some kind of mural, a shallow and faint cave drawing discovered by the archaeologist. Eugene squinted his eyes so he could see it clearly. The drawings were no better than those of children who have just learned how to write. The drawings were mostly simple, such as stick figures. He could tell that the image depicted people holding tools for hunting, as well as various animals. The rest of the drawing, Eugene, however, had no idea what they were.

"Hmm, is this a sheep? Were there already sheep in the Philippines back then? Besides, it's size isn't quite right." Eugene said, pointing at a picture.

On the image, the drawing was of a sheep with a large flappy(?) ear. The creature has a large, spiral, spiky horn resembling a snail shell with spikes around the middle. Beside it, there were three individuals holding bows and arrows. Yet, the size ratio was not quite normal. The standing person was at eye level with the sheep. The other pictures were the same: a carabao's body proportions were like a dog's, while the others were rats, a bit too big, reaching up to the knees, and with tails that were a bit too long.

Not every mural has the same size ratio. Some of them were normal size, while others had different colors, giving them a clearer appearance.

"This drawing is incorrect. This one... a deer only the size of a person's calf! Even if it's a young deer, there's no way there could be a deer as small as that! And this one... a mosquito twice as large as a person! And look at this one. This is completely ridiculous! A large turtle with a fish tail?!"

"Our ancestors may have had imaginative minds back then..."

"You mean they already imagined 'Monster Hunter' back then? It must have been a fad back then..."

"They probably didn't put much thought into it when they drew it back then. After all, during that time period, humans were not educated in terms of art. And maybe the drawings were some kind of symbol. There was a researcher who speculated that ancient humans back then drew hunting murals to educate future tribe members. Or perhaps it was for a ceremony initiated by a Babaylan or a Belian."

“Babaylan, huh?” In Eugene's mind, an image of a very odd and old woman appeared.

“Ahh, why do you look so upset? Let me tell you this: "Babaylans" back then did not necessarily hold low positions in their tribes. On the contrary, it's very possible that they held high ones. They were considered high nobility in the past."

“I know. They are the quack doctors who make love potions, right?" Eugene nodded.

The tour guide waved his finger from left to right, then took out a folder. Inside it were several scanned copies of drawings. As he pointed to some of the drawings and characters, he said to Eugene, "Although the impressions of babaylans today are mostly misconceptions, they held high positions back then. The Filipino shamans, also known as Babaylans, specialize in communicating with and appeasing spirits of the dead, nature, and the gods. They are also specialized in healing, herbalism, divination, and sorcery. The Babaylan acts as the interim leader when the datu (tribal chief) is absent. Most babaylans have two jobs at the same time. Among the roles of a shaman are those of a merchant, warrior, farmer, fisherman, blacksmith, craftsman, weaver, potter, musician, and even a barber or chef, depending on the shaman's preference, skill level, and the needs of the community."

The tour guide began discussing the evolution of babaylan from ancient times to the present day. The use of technical jargon and quotations from various practices and works caused Eugene, who was listening, to have a headache.

Eugene did not have too great understanding of the pre-colonial era in the Philippines, but he was interested in learning more. If it weren't for "Amaya," the old TV show that he watched back then, he wouldn't have even found out about it, as it is not often addressed in schools. Before, he used to associate archaeology with human bones and ancient jars. But it is more than that. Since Eugene had nothing better to do, he decided to give it a listen. Afterward, he set it aside and did not continue studying it any further.

When he used to hear people talk about archaeology, he would immediately think of priceless and expensive artifacts. However, the field of study Eugene pursued was simply more interesting than selling antiques! The topic was so ancient that not many people were interested in it. Several days ago, Eugene watched Amaya again for cultural purposes and listened to a discussion about whether "Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution" or "the land bridge theory" was correct. Since Eugene had nothing better to do, he decided to give it a listen. After doing so, he set it aside and did not continue studying it.

"You may not comprehend my professional jargon, so I'll simplify my language for you!"

"Look!" exclaimed Ricky, the tour guide, as he pointed to a specific location on the map. "Babaylan" is mentioned in carved writings on items such as animal bones and hides, pottery, and tree bark. But it's like this.”

Eugene looked at the place to which Ricky had pointed. It was a symbol, resembling a peach and stick with horns sticking out.

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"This symbol has appeared on a few ancient potteries and statues. On that topic, babaylan also had an impact on various areas such as hunting, prayer, and rescue. Looking at it from certain perspectives, the babaylan can be considered as the vanguard of innovation during that time. However, all of this is mere speculation. Even records from ancient times may not be entirely accurate. After all, they loved to exaggerate. Archaeology involves excavating and analyzing various aspects of past civilizations, including artifacts, structures, and cultural practices. It is a complex and multifaceted field that requires extensive knowledge and expertise. As for the truth, who knows?"

"The cave that was discovered this time is also speculated to be related to the babaylan. The final few pictures you saw were the murals that the first group of people sent back. Two symbols were also discovered in the cave. So, we can speculate that it may be the residential area of a certain babaylan. Last month, a minor earthquake occurred in the region of that island. Most likely, this cave was exposed due to that. Before the earthquake, no one had known that this cave existed."

When he finished speaking, Ricky closed the folder and surveyed his surroundings carefully. Seeing that the other tourists were not paying attention, he lowered his voice and whispered to Eugene, "I've heard that the first person to discover the cave was a child. Moreover, according to a fellow student, the child who discovered the cave reported seeing a strange, large insect flying outside their house. The child was brave and curious, so he followed the insect. In the end, it disappeared into the cave. The child went back to notify the adults, and only then was the cave discovered."

"A large insect?" Eugene felt that it was too ridiculous. Regardless of who heard it first, they would assume it was fake.

"Did the child lie?"

Ricky shook his head.

"The strange thing is that, according to the archaeologist who visited the cave, there are fossils embedded in the rocks on the cave walls."

Ricky paused and rubbed the goosebumps on his arm before continuing.

"There are fossils of organisms in the cave walls that were hidden by the debris caused by the earthquake. They said that the fossils may be similar to the large insect seen by the child who discovered the cave. But it was incomplete and only a fragment. It was only a fragment of the remains. According to the researchers' theories, if that organism were still alive, it could potentially be a large insect. Moreover, its appearance would also closely resemble the child's descriptions."

“ . . . It sounds incredible. But was the child the only one who saw it correctly? "Did the others not see insects flying outside their homes?" 

Eugene was a bit perplexed.

Ricky shook his head. "I don't know. Let's ask some people in the village when we arrive there. We're almost there anyway."

When the group of tourists arrived at their destination, it was already noon, despite their planned arrival time of 11 o'clock. After following Ricky and the others and having lunch, Eugene returned to the jeepney.

Ricky and the others were already becoming impatient. After eating, they did not rest and planned to start sightseeing immediately.

Ricky had already informed Eugene about the things he needed to be mindful of, such as which items were off-limits, which areas were restricted, and who to approach for assistance. Eugene had formulated a plan in his heart.

"I'll talk to you after the tour today. Take a stroll by yourself for now! The scenery in this place is quite beautiful. Green mountains, trees, blue skies, and clear waters make for a breathtaking view. Cleanse your lungs after being in a polluted city!"

After speaking, Ricky took his tools and followed the archaeologist into the cave. It turns out that Ricky was an archaeology student based in Palawan and was working as a part-time tour guide. Although Eugene was not allowed inside the newly discovered cave, he did not have much interest in going there regardless.

Only Eugene was left in the jeepney. After the windows were closed and the people left, it became quiet. In the past few days, Eugene hasn't been getting good sleep. On the road, he listened to Ricky's narrations. Now that it was silent, he felt sleepy.

When he woke up, it was nearly 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Eugene planned to go for a walk. Just as he was planning to do so, he saw Ricky walking over in his work clothes. He went in their personal vehicle and grabbed a document. Afterward, he continued to hurry and work.

Before leaving the bus, Ricky took out a thumb-sized piece of wood and threw it to Eugene. "I picked it up from the cave while they weren't paying attention, and I grabbed it. It shouldn't be anything significant. I cannot give you "artifacts," but regardless, this wooden anitu was still found in the cave. It looks quite smooth, too! Someone who probably bought this item lost it here, but I'll give it to you as a keepsake."

The stone was found near the entrance of the cave and was some distance away from the center of the cave. The quality of the wood was clearly different from the other objects found and excavated, and there were no marks on it. So, the people who arrived in the first group focused on the murals and "antiques" from the Stone Age. No one cared about the small wood near the cave entrance, so Ricky casually picked it up for amusement.

After catching the thrown stone, Eugene examined it carefully in his hand. The wooden souvenir felt no different from others - dark brown with bits of green, thumb-sized, and with a rather sleek surface, as if it had been carefully polished. At first glance, there was nothing unusual about it. Although it wasn't an antique, it was still a decent small toy or ornament.

Eugene didn't mind it. After playing with it in his hands for a while, Suddenly, Eugene pulled out a lighter and used it to set fire to the wood. Logically speaking, the areas where the flames made contact should be slightly scorched. But in reality, even after being burned, it remained as cool as before.

Sweeping his gaze around his surroundings, Eugene took out a pocket knife and a piece of paper. He planned to use the knife to scrape off a few pieces and take them to the archaeology bus, where he could ask someone to help him examine them. However, after scraping the wood with the knife, not even the faintest trace was left behind. There wasn't even a scratch after jabbing it with the tip of the knife.

Cannot be heated by fire, nor marked by a knife. It was truly an odd wooden ornament.

Eugene walked off the bus with the piece of wood, intending to let Ricky examine it closely later.

The jeepney and the bus stopped fairly close to the village. The road was not very suitable for walking.

Some of the villagers in the village had gone to work, while those with more leisure time went to explore the newly discovered cave for some excitement. As such, when Eugene entered the village, he saw only a few people walking around.

Eugene played around with the anitu in his hand, his eyes fixed on it. Hearing about the discovery of the fossilized organisms in the cave wall rocks, Eugene recalled the large insect that Ricky had mentioned.

Just as he was about to look away, Eugene noticed a snake-like creature slithering across the wall. It was squirming around. As thick as a small water tank, its scales emitted a cold glint. It was several meters away, but Eugene felt a chill run down his spine, causing all of his hair to stand on end. It frightened him so much that he almost jumped into the air. Yet, when Eugene blinked and looked back, he discovered absolutely nothing. The rock wall was still the same cave wall that had endured many years of weathering.

Illusion?

Eugene looked at the other parts of the wall. Afterwards, his gaze fell upon a hole in the wall. There was a large rock over there, left behind after the wall in that area collapsed. The villagers removed the small parts to clear the obstruction at the cave opening, but left the larger ones untouched. And at that moment, Eugene saw green moss pop up from the wooden anitu. The bamboo sprout quickly budded leaves and grew tall. At the same time, several elongated leaves extended outward towards all directions. A plant fragrance permeated the air.

Eugene took several steps back, taking deep breaths. Focusing his gaze and looking back, he discovered the thick bamboo planted on the ground. The rock wall was the same as usual, but the ground was covered in thick roots of bamboo and grasses.

Feeling a strange movement near his foot, Eugene looked down at the wooden anitu planted on the ground.

The wood that could not be burned nor scratched was reduced to ashes in a split second. Eugene tried to pick it up, but it slipped through the gaps between his fingers.

When the final speck of ashes fell, Eugene's vision went pitch-black.