My body doesn't feel tired; I can feel the power coursing through my veins. This is another proof of Lang's words: It seems everything that is happening now is all true. My body is not tired, but my mind is exhausted. It is processing so much information right now. The night is already deep, yet I don't feel like sleeping. I looked at my sleeping sister. She seems so peaceful sleeping there.

The truth is, I am glad that Ngebe came with me despite the danger we might encounter. She always knows what to do, she can be calm in any situation. Except, of course, when she found out I'm leaving without her. That's the first time that emotions got the better of her. But most of the time, she calmly thinks about the right course of action. She is decisive and determined. Without her, maybe I would feel very lost right now. I clenched my fists and promised myself that is should become stronger to protect her.

Thankfully the night was uneventful until the next morning. Again, I woke up first. I started a fire, cooked some porridge, and added some bits of smoked meat. We ate our breakfast after Ngebe woke up and continued with our journey. We traveled slow and steady, eating our lunch on horseback while we navigate the forest. This continued for two days, and we are halfway to our destination. No danger yet has befallen us except one time when I fend off some wolves.

We barely talk during the journey, keeping to ourselves, but we understood each other without words. We were about to find camp for the night when I found some footprints on the ground. It looks like an adult male weighing about sixty kilograms. I could tell the approximate age and weight of a man only through a footprint. This is something I picked up through years of hunting. We followed it because I can see that the prints' owner is injured because of the gap of each step and because of dried blood on the ground.

We end up following the trail inside a bamboo groove. The bamboos cast long shadows making the place an eerie feeling. "Stay here while I check it out," I said, dismounting my horse. "Be careful," Ngebe whispered. I checked my surroundings carefully for any danger before proceeding. It is harder to see as I go in because of the setting sun and thick bamboo trees. Suddenly, I stumbled onto something. It is actually a body sprawled faced down on the ground. I checked, and he is still breathing, but it is feint. He is carrying a square-shaped pack on his back, well fastened.

I carried him out of the bamboo groove with my newfound strength. Ngebe dismounted and approached us. "He is wounded all over his body; is he still alive?" she asked with concern. "He is barely breathing. I'm not sure if he will survive." I put him down to the ground. The remaining light allowed me to take a good look at the guy. "He seems familiar....hmmm, yes! He is the jewelry merchant I sold the chest with!" I exclaimed. "So he escaped here after being attacked if he was able to come here even with those wounds, the place where the caravan was attacked might be near." Ngebe deduced.

Ngebe came closer and checked the body; she unfastened the pack and put me aside. She opened the waterskin and tried to let the man drink. "We should make camp here. We also need to clean him up and...." Ngebe was not able to finish her sentence because I shooked my head. He is already dead; I can't feel his pulse nor his breathing. Ngebe sighed; it is not our first time seeing someone died, so I'm sure she will be okay. "I will dig a hole to bury him," I said, then I carried the corpse. I brought it a few meters away, she offered to help, but I refused. So she instead started preparing the camp.

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It took me almost one hour to dig a hole and bury the corpsed. This could be faster if I used a shovel instead of a branch. When I returned to camp, I saw Ngebe was sitting, and she seems to be holding something with her two hands. I'm still a few feet away, approaching at her back. I pass her, then I sat across her, the fire at the center. Then I saw her with closed eyes with a solemn expression. Her long eyelashes would flutter every few seconds. She seems very still; even her breathing can not be noticed.

I almost hold her shoulders to shake her awake when I noticed the thing that she is holding. It was actually the chest I found. Symbols are glowing all over it like before when I opened it. This time, however, it did not open. My rational mind wanted to wake Ngebe up, but my instincts say not to. She is experiencing something extraordinary; it might hurt her if I interrupted the process.

I focused my eye on the symbols inscribed on the chest. I saw some of them similar to the marks on Lang's body. Like animal scales, flowing lines like water, and interlocking shapes. They appear to be hovering around the surface of the chest, but they are not moving at all. I feel that each symbol has a profound meaning. I just can't discern them. Ngebe continued to stay in that position, so I stayed right beside her, making sure nothing wrong would happen to her.

It was already midday when Ngebe opened her eyes. Her unblinking eyes have that far away look brimming with knowledge and intelligence. "Ngebe! Are you okay? Is something wrong?" Hearing my voice, she blinked twice before she turned her eyes towards me. "Show me your tattoo on your chest," she said in a commanding tone. "Tatoo? What is that?" I said, puzzled. "The symbol inscribed on your chest!" she continued impatiently.

I complied, but not willingly. I took off my winter cloak and unbutton my tunic, showing my chest. "So this is Sinag, the mark of a stained warrior." She traced the spiral with the tip of her forefinger. When her finger arrived at the center of the ring, she pushed. I heard a clinking sound, and I felt a burning sensation all over my body like I'm about to be burned. "Concentrate, focus all the heat into any part of your body." She instructed me. I'm panicking right now, so I can't really concentrate. Ngebe saw my hesitation, so she held my left hand. "Trust me, everything will be okay. Close your eyes and imagine a fire in your right hand."

Her soothing voice helps me to calm down. I closed my eyes and followed her instructions. The burning sensation began to subside as I tried to draw all the heat towards my hand. "Open your eyes slowly, no matter what happens, do not panic," Ngebe said like she is chanting. I slowly opened my eyes, Ngebe directed my attention towards my hand with her eyes. I almost jump in surprise when I saw a red hot flame dancing on my left hand. I lost my concentration, and the flame vanished while the burning heat inside my body returned. Ngebe taps her finger on the spiral symbol on my chest, and everything returned to normal.

"What the hell was that!" I exclaimed. "Fla..flame is coming out from me!" Ngebe slapped my face. "I told you not to panic. You don't trust me, do you?" She scolded me. "Can you please explain what is happening..!!??" I retorted. "Do you remember what Lang told us about the symbol on your chest?" I nodded. "He said it was the symbol of the sun, something about life and death..."

"Yes, that is correct. The sun is the source of light that gives life to plants and other organisms. The absence of the sun also means death. The sun also is a source of heat and energy, the symbol of fire. Sinag allows you to summon fire from your body. The energy inside your body is converted into the fire." She explained slowly, but I did not understand any of it. She probably saw my stupid look, so she sighed. "It means you can control fire!"

"How did you know about these things?" I asked her to hide my stupidity. "The Pandora's chest told me" she pointed the chest while rolling her eyes. "Panda what!??!!....