At the headquarters of the Agimatayo 5th Company...
In the sleeping quarters of the barracks, a person is asleep on the top bunk of a double-deck bed, enjoying a pleasant dream—when suddenly, the bed collapses beneath him.
Andaya: "WAAAH!"
One of his colleagues, standing nearby and unable to suppress a smirk, addresses him with playful sarcasm.
Lea: "To think that Sir Eric's tangan—his second-in-command—is still sleeping at this hour... It's astonishing, really. You're going to ruin our company's reputation with that behavior of yours."
Groaning from the bump on his head, Andaya sits up amidst the wreckage of his bed.
Andaya: "Well, good morning to you too, Lea. What happened while I was asleep?"
Lea crosses her arms and leans casually against the doorframe, wearing a teasing smile.
Lea: "All of the company's Pato including the First Pato is having a meeting at Sierra Madre, but before Eric left, he gave me a task—he told me to brief you on your new assignment. You're to take charge of some taya from other companies on your next mission. Help them get some real combat experience."
Andaya's sleepy expression shifts into frustration.
Andaya: "Seriously?"
He looks thoroughly annoyed.
Lea: "Oh, come on. Don't give me that look. It's for the good of the company too, you know."
As Andaya splashes water on his face, he mutters:
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's sealed with the blood signatures of the 3rd, 7th, and our very own 5th Pato, Sir Eric."
Andaya: "So it's a Banse command, huh? Tch. Alright, fine—I'll take it."
Lea: "That's the spirit. Come on, let me brief you."
Lea and Andaya, walk side by side along the edge of the farming fields, the early morning sun casting a warm glow over the rows of crops. As they pass, farmers working the land pause and bow respectfully recognizing them as prominent figures in the area.
Lea begins to outline the mission, her tone shifting from playful to serious.
Lea: "The 7th and 3rd Companies, with approval from Eric, have requested a joint operation to help 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 even used a Banse command, they must be really serious about letting their taya experience a Pato-level mission."
Lea: "They're constantly engaged on the front lines, fending off our other rivals—the Encato. 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 is Always high."
Andaya change the subject.
Andaya: "Anyway, what about you? Are you coming with us?"
Lea: "No. As the Punong Albularyo of the 5th Company, I'm also responsible for training other potential candidates to become Panggulo."
Andaya: sighs "So I really am going to be babysitting them alone, huh... Where are we headed, by the way?"
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: groans "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—anywhere."
Andaya: "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, what's the exact location?"
Lea: "Start your search around Mt. Igcoron in Antique, specifically in Barangay Binanogan, Valderrama. The rumors are vague, so we can't provide precise details about the incident. What we do know is that the enemy is both strong and ruthless, so tread carefully and play your cards right. Once the mission is complete, we can simply erase their memories."
Lea and Andaya stop walking, their eyes fixed on the old, small cottage in front of them. Lea steps forward and touches the door, whispering in an ancient Filipino dialect. She then writes a Baybayin symbol ᜑᜍᜒᜅ᜔ᜇᜀᜈᜈ᜔—on the door using her own blood before knocking twice.
Lea: "You can enter now. Behind this door is one of our company stores—owned 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 entered through the door, carrying only two vials of holy water, his balisong knife, and a Talibong, a traditional Filipino sword. His appearance resembled that of a simple farmer, allowing him to blend in seamlessly with the locals.
Andaya: "Now, let's see what those kids have to offer."