"In the Philippines, don't catch the attention of Dieties or Spirits, it's always troublesome to deal with them but never, ever piss them off."
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Favio always wanted to go overseas and see new things however being unable to make a pact with anything binds Favio home as his parents would not allow him to go out without any ability to defend himself.
Favio’s everyday life is filled with farm work as his family is filled with nearly zero combat talent. His Hero father had the strength optimized to do farmwork, his mother the endless capacity of weak Pacts for livestock while his sister could only learn magics just enough for farming.
Together with his family, they raised a farm with bountiful harvests and eventually became the Lord’s main supplier giving them something like pseudo-nobility.
With hard work since he was 10, Favio continued to trained with the Heroes, hoping to obtain strength.
He had mastered defensive Eskrima in 5 years but his lack of Abilities made him just barely able to match an average Hero.
This eventually led him to hear the words he has been waiting for years.
“Your skills should be enough now, Fabio but don't bring yourself into the trouble or else you will die even if you have your Eskrima skills.”
“Y-yes dad, I will be back in a few years. I'll be sure to bring stuff back for the farm like seeds and-.”
“Don’t try and make a Pact recklessly or else the Unrea will chase you.”
“Be sure to buy farming grimoire for your beautiful sister, okay? Hehehe….”
And so Favio left for a journey that little did he know will bring him around the world.
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Favio walked Northwards as his first destination planned was Japan. Upon arriving on the next Barrio, he will take a horseman carriage to a port town.
He started a fire as the night fell and cooked the fish he has caught from a nearby river.
While waiting for his food to be cooked he polished a smooth stone he picked up.
A creeping sensation swept over him so he looked around.
Upon seeing nothing, he went back to polishing.
The fire cracked as something else broke the silence.
“Hey boy, that looks quite delicious… Can you give it to me?”
Favio looked at the direction the voice came from and saw a woman. The woman had a very unworldly looks: silver hair and purple skin. Her face had a very exquisite beauty to it even though being strange.
She is clearly a Diwata, a powerful Unrea that originates from nature, being bound to their medium. Favio’s previous Lord always worshipped the local Diwata as it would prevent disasters and bring blessings. For Favio, it would be wise to decline her offer politely.
“Um… This is the only fish I have-”
“Oh you must have misunderstood me, boy. What I want isn't your miserable char grilled fish but that shiny rock. After all, beautiful things are what I desire.”
Instinctively, Favio’s hand moved to give it to the Diwata, but he stopped.
“So boy, you're not going give it to me?”
Cold sweat formed as an aura of power swept through Favio.
“I'm very sorry but I can't be satisfied until I fully polished this rock.”
The Diwata laughed loudly and looked at the moon.
“I thought that rock would have some value to this boy. Hahaha!!! Guess, waiting for your food makes it even more irresistible.”
Favio polished the rock until it reflected the moonlight nearly perfect and gave it to the Diwata.
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“Thanks, boy”
The Diwata swallowed the stone whole and stayed near the fire as she watched Favio finish eating his fish.
“That beautiful rock would need a fair compensation. Name your price, boy.”
“If it would be possible I would like you Lady Diwata to take me to Cagayan-“
“Say boy, what do think about forming a Pact with me?”
The sudden statement caused Favio to choke.
“I would like to but my I can’t even form a Pact with a black chick.”
Black chicks were very easy to make Pact with. If one would make a Pact with one of them one would easily gain power at the cost of your humanity turning you into an Aswang, a maneater or ghouls in other cultures.
“Do you know why though?”
Favio shook his head. He never expected the Diwata’s explanation.
“It’s because you boy could only form Pacts with Mythical class Unrea, that’s why weak Pacts are easily negated.”
“Then Miss Diwata is a Mythical Unrea?”
“Of course! I am the Bakunawa afterall!”
“Eeeeh~!? If you are the Bakunawa then why are you in the middle of an island? Aren’t Diwatas bound to their medium?”
The Bakunawa is a Diwata of the sea after all so it should be normally impossible for a diwata to go far away from their medium.
“Foolish boy, my medium isn’t just the sea but any water shone by the moon. I was searching for some pretty objects to eat tonight so I followed the river upstream hoping to see and villages on this direction.”
“Why would the Bakunawa want a Pact with me then?”
“That’s because Diwatas can use their Contractors as substitute for their medium so I can eat more sparkly things only found on land if I used this little boy here.”
Thinking about the power the Bakunawa could provide him, Favio weighed his choices carefully. If he could not satisfy the Bakunawa then he would face death from her.
“Can you promise you won’t kill me, Bakunawa?”
“This little boy will be medium why would a Diwata destroy their own medium? They should be very retarded if they do that.”
And upon hearing that there is nothing that can be done for Favio to reject the offer.
“Then let’s start the Pact.”
Favio took a deep breath.
(Don’t worry this won’t fail…)
A silver light came out of Favio’s hands. It is the color of his Heart, the Heart that rejected every Pacts that he had attempted. His hands became sweaty.
“I, Favio will grant Bakunawa her desires with all my efforts. Through this pact I Compel Bakunawa to agr-”
“You don’t have to use the Compel, I will accept willingly you know. Relax a bit okay”
Realizing that he is nervous he became even more anxious.
“I, the Mooneater accept the contract and I pledge in my treasures to protect this little boy’s life.”
An electrifying sensation coursed through Favio’s body as serpent tattoo began to form on his hand, extending throughout his whole body.
“AAAAHHHH!!!”
Favio fell down and began having a seizure.
“Oops… Looks like I’m a bit too much for the little boy but he’ll be fine tomorrow.”
Bakunawa picked the shaking body and swallowed his belongings then swam downstream.
“Off to Cagayan then!”
And this is how Favio’s journey jumpstarted.