10:32 AM

  "Hey. Wake up."

  "Ughh... Just few more minutes sis..." Claustrine mumbles.

  Mateo is shaking Claustrine and Beltrand who still in deep sleep. Then he do the same for Shirna and Sophia.

  "Grandma... My head hurts..."

  "Uhmmmm...."

  Mateo just facepalmed. He remembers that they drink so much beer and whiskey last night which results for his friends being flat out drunk. Even him barely even managed to wake up and just muster all of his strenght to stay awake.

  He have no choice but to do something reckless. First, he looks outside to see if Esmeralda and Jenny are nearby. Knowing that it's safe, Mateo takes a deep breath and...

  "WAKE UP! WE'RE BEING SURROUNDED!"

  With just a single shout, Mateo's friends jolted up on their bed.

  "MONSTERS?!" -Beltrand.

  "WHERE'S THE ENEMY?!" Claustrine shouts as she panicly scrabbles to look for her Bag-of-Storage.

  Sophia summons a barrier while Shirna quickly grabs his balisong.

  Then they realized they got fooled when they all recognized the room they staying with.

  "Ohhh..." Claustrine's only word when she remembers that they're in Earth.

  In front of them is Mateo laughing his hearts out watching the messy looks and confused reaction of his friends who slowly turned to annoyance.

  "Motherfucker..." Beltrand is not amused.

  "Don't do it again." Sophia frowns.

  Claustrine just give a dissapointed sigh.

  "Tsk." -Shirna.

  "Fine fine you can angry at me all you want but we still have things to do remember?"

  "Like?" Claustrine raise her eyebrow.

  "You're the last one I expected to forgot about this Trinne. Especially when you're so excited to hunt some supernatural stuffs on my world."

  "Ah..."

  "Let's go down to the kitchen, have some coffee and eat. Then we going walk to the moutains."

  "How about your brother?"

  Beltrand points to Shiva who unlike them are more affected by the alcohol to the point that Mateo's scream didn't even make him move an inch.

  Shiva is still sleeping heavily with no regards to his surroundings.

  "Just let him rest. He must be very tired." Mateo says as he look at the sleeping Shiva then walks a few steps away but stops.

  "But first, maybe clean yourselves. You all look like tired mess."

  After Mateo leaves, the four left behind looking at each other and seeing their still droppy face and messy hair. Claustrine and Sophia chuckle while Shirna and Beltrand smirks.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  After a long travel, Grand Ecstasy manages to reach the deep moutains far from the village where they came from. They didn't wait for Shiva as because he's the driver but also for all his effort yesterday that he needs a lot of rest.

  Grand Ecstasy find themselves surrounded by trees and shrubs. Only following a beaten path that seems used by the residents when gathering wood.

  "What's with that pace? Are you guys quitting being adventurers?" Mateo's teasing.

  "Shut up. As if you're better when you just few Bricks away from us. Damn, those beer really got us." Beltrand replies as he wipes the sweat on his forehead.

  "I don't know why your world is surprising hot. I just noticed my fair skin now becoming darker." Sophia commented as she looks on her arms who now have a slight tan complexion.

  "That's tropical summer for you." Mateo answers.

  "Anyway Mateo. Why we decide to go to the deep mountains?" Claustrine ask Mateo as she climb the mountain using her staff as support.

  "Yeah. Isn't going for a cemetery a quicker choice? Not only it's closer to the town, but also we can easily detect undead energy there." Sophia joins the questioning.

  "That wont do, If that's the case. Claustrine and Sophia should already sense something the first time we enter the town."

  "So those stone boxes near the houses are really... Graves?" Claustrine continue to ask.

  "Exactly, including the ones besides Aunt Esmeralda's house. That's where my grandparent laid rest."

  "But still, why we going deep in the moutains?" -Claustrine.

  "Because, if my stock knowledge is to believe. Untouched forest would be the most suitable places for supernatural beings according to the folklores. If we're lucky, we might find one or two."

  "Are we looking for a specific magical entity here?" Sophia asked as she observes the surroundings.

  "Not specific really. Everything is fair game at this point. Duwende, Kapre, Aswang, Tikbalang, if we're lucky or unlucky. We might also disturbed an Engkanto o Diwata."

  "Now you saying names that we don't know." Claustrine is amused.

  "I think it's better if we just see them instead of explaining each one Trinne."

  "If you say so. I hope we detect something."

  Yet, 2 hours of their expedition. They didn't see any entity. Not even feel their magical pressence.

  "This expeditition is starting to become a worthless endeavor." Beltrand then sighs.

  "Maybe we're just not that deep in the forest?" -Sophia.

  "How elusive these creatures really is?" Claustrine asked.

  "I don't know. I'm just also confused as you guys. We don't even see any magical trees."

  "I think we should reconsider Sophia's theory." Shirna's proposal.

  As they trek and reach a cross road. Mateo notices in the left path a familiar seven fingered serated green leaves covered by other green bushes. He sighs and then walks on the opposite path which his friends then follows.

  "If that's the case, we might really need to go to a true untouched forest which might miles away from us. We can't afford to waste that much time and effort." Mateo answers Shirna.

  "True. Besides, this is not really our objective here." Beltrand agrees.

  "Hey... This is also fun right?" -Claustrine.

  "Yes if we encounted something magical." Beltrand's counter.

  "This is fun really. In Yhigressia, we don't have to time admire the surroundings as we're too preoccupied by dangers like monsters. But here, we can walk deep in the forest with no worries at all. It's relaxing somehow." Sophia's calm opinion.

  "I agree with Sophia and Claustrine. This reminds me of my home minus the gold ranked monsters." Shirna's support. Beltrand just sigh.

  "Fine. I guess this is really fun." He smiles.

  Another 3 hours gone by and after one last snack break. Grand Ecstasy find themselves on the summit of the moutain they climbing.

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  "I guess this is where our expedition ends." Beltrand's words as he sit on the nearby rock to rest.

  The others do the same and look for their resting place. The summit is cold due to the wind and...

  Because the sun is now setting down to finish the day. It cast its golden rays to the vast mountain range below, which Grand Ecstasy can clearly see to its full glory.

  "It's... Beautiful." Sophia smiles as she watch the scenery.

  Grand Ecstasy continues to watch in silence as the breathtaking view engraved in their mind.

  "Yeah... This expedition is really fun despite our of main mission failing." Beltrand sighs out of satisfaction.

  "How about you Claustrine?" Mateo asked.

  "Im fine with it. I'm sorry for putting you all on my selfish curiousity." Claustrine smiles.

  "No worries. It's not like you putting us in danger. And we also on the same boat on this so no need to apologize Claustrine." Sophia's soft words.

  "And we're already used on your curiousity Trinne." Mateo smiles.

  "No wonder you're not mad when she's the first one to discover your secret." Beltrand laugh softly.

  "I wish I got the same privilage when I also got hit by my curiousity." Shirna pouts.

  "That's a completely different situation Shirna. Good grief." Mateo face palmed then smile.

  Shirna then chuckle as he remembers how foolish he was for betraying Mateo's trust. But he still grateful for him as despite everything, Mateo still considered him as a friend.

  Grand Ecstasy watch the sunset until the dark slowly engulfs the surroundings. That's when they decide to go back.

  "Shirna you remember our path right?" Mateo asked. Shirna nods.

  "Of course."

  "Then let's go back as fast as possible. We making them worried about us."

  "What's your plan Mateo?" Beltrand asked.

  "We going to dash of course."

  Beltrand looked at Claustrine and Sophia."

  "What?" Claustrine asked.

  "Ah? About them?" Mateo asked.

  .

  .

  .

  "FUUUUUCK!!!!" -Claustrine

  "PLEASEEE BE CAREFULLL!!!" Sophia screams.

  In the darkness of the woods, a group of people are rushing down with tremendous speed. It's being led by Shirna and behind him is Mateo carrying Claustrine and Beltrand carrying Sophia. The three running on the beaten path so fast with ease, disturbing the plant life they passed by.

  "THIS IS A STUUUPID IDEA!!!" Claustrine shouts.

  "It's not stupid if it works!" Mateo then laughs.

  "WHAT IF SOMEONE SEE'S US?!"

  "No one in their right mind would dare to explore the forest at night!"

  "GODDESS VIVVILY PLEASE PROTECT US!"

  Despite everything, they safely manages to go back to the village. They stop their rush just far away before the villagers notice them. Grand Ecstasy then just walk back like its nothing.

  "On second thought, I think we should make a night expedition." Mateo propose to everyone.

  "Why?" Claustrine asked with curiosity.

  "I forgot that some kind of these entities are more active during night. Midnight to be exact."

  "But we didn't see nor feel them when we travelling at night. Even the most isolated roads are empty." Claustrine stated while thinking

  "You have a point Trinne. You know what, if they don't want to show themselves. Then we can't force them." Mateo shrugs.

  As they walk back to Esmeralda's home. They encounter Shiva.

  "Guys where have you been? I have been looking at all of you for hours now." Shiva's worried question.

  "We just make a little stroll outside." Mateo's short answer.

  "Geez. You should really tell us first. You making me and aunt worried."

  "Sorry." Grand Ecstasy apologizes politely.

  "Forget about it. Let's go home and eat, everyone just waiting for all of you there."

  After apologizing to worrried Esmeralda. Grand Ecstasy and the residents of the house have a hearty meal.

  .

  .

  .

  "Hmmm..."

  Shiva wakes up in the middle of the night. He goes to the kitchen to drink water. When he returns to their room...

  "Huh?"

  Everyone is not on their bed.

  Yet Shiva is not panicking but just sigh.

  "Where are these people went? It's 1 AM for Christ's sake."

  Shiva scratches his head then picks his phone side of his bed. Shiva's gonna send a message to Mateo, asking for their location.

  But he was greeted by a chat message of his very own brother.

  MATEO: Don't worry and look for us. We went outside to do some ghost hunting.

  "Good grief." Shiva smile.

  Still sleepy, Shiva lies down on his bed then goes back to sleep. He's not worried at a slightest as after watching their superhuman feats. He would be more worried to the ones that dumb enough to threaten them.

  Meanwhile in the forest.

  *Yawn*

  Grand Ecstasy is just fighting their urge to sleep as they felt bored looking at emptyness of the night. They can only hear their words and the sound of insects as they traverse the beaten path with their phone's flashlight.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Next Morning

  "Huh? Why all of you look so tired?" Esmeralda asked as he see Grand Ecstasy enters the kitchen with their sleepy eyes.

  Even Shiva is confused as he didn't expected them to be this exhausted.

  "What time did you guys sleep?" Shiva asked with one of his eyebrow raised.

  "5 AM." Mateo's soft answer.

  "Luh? That's just 3 hours of sleep."

  "C-coffeee p-pleaseee." -Claustrine.

  Esmeralda brings them cups of coffee which the smell is enough to bring energy to Grand Ecstasy. They take a careful sip and the caffein finally do wonders to their veins.

  "So do you find something?" Shiva asked, Mateo just shake his head slowly.

  "I don't know if these folks are so elusive or we're just unlucky." Beltrand complains.

  "Or maybe because they're endangered species?" Shiva asked.

  "They're not animals who just can become extinct Shiva." Mateo then sips on his coffee.

  "Who knows? Maybe that's really the case if they're just now existing as folktales."

  Grand Ecstasy contemplates what Shiva just said.

  "You know, Shiva's point is not that farfetched. Think about it, we have two people that can detect Magic yet with our long time here on Earth, the only thing we discovered magical here is a piece of wood." Claustrine's opinion.

  Grand Ecstasy then goes into a deeper thinking.

  "Why you guys so serious?" Grand Ecstasy didn't even notices that Esmeralda just reached their table as she prepares the breakfast.

  Mateo realized that Esmeralda might hear their conversation.

  "Ah n-nothing Tita. We just thinking on where we should go next for our vacation." Mateo's alibi.

  "Ah I almost forgot. This is your last day here. Hmmmm... if that's the case. How about you guys go to Baguio?"

  "Baguio? Geez that spot is so overcrowded at this time now that its barely a relaxing tourist spot." Shiva is not impressed as he remembers the scene he see on Social Media.

  "Oh come on is not that bad. Besides, that's only in the Center. The other spots are not that bad." Esmeralda defends the city.

  "Ahh!"

  Everyone is jolted when they got surprised on Mateo's sudden expression.

  "What's wrong Mateo?" Esmeralda is concerned.

  "Nothing. Thank you for your suggestion Tita, yes we're going on Baguio for our next stop." Mateo smiles as he have an idea that might answer their curiosity once and for all.

  His friends meanwhile just look at him with confused expression

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Before Grand Ecstasy leaves the village, they decide to have one last stroll to fully enjoy everything the town can offer.

  And their next destination is the rice terraces as the otherworlders wants to see the field closer. The party is following an old man as they traverse the path leading to the farm.

  The old man is Esmeralda's neighbor and a farmer who manages some parts of the terraces. He can't speak tagalog yet he still guide the party with the request of Esmeralda herself.

  "For a geezer. He's surely still kicking." Beltrand commented.

  "Why you're surprised now when we always seeing such examples back in Nattunia?" Claustrine asked as he look on the old man who quietly walking while carrying his stuffs.

  "What do you mean?" -Beltrand.

  "Is old man Hilgurd not old enough for you?" -Claustrine.

  "Ah right... Our Guildmaster is quiet old right?" Sophia remembers their Guildmaster. It's been a while since she see him.

  "He's a different case you know that Claustrine! He's more like a monster!"

  .

  .

  .

  "HACHOO!"

  Hilgurd sneeze and almost spit his cigar out, then he scratch his nose.

  .

  .

  .

  "Still remembers how he beat your ass back when you're still a problematic adventurer?" Claustrine smirks.

  "Fuck off. That's a long time ago, besides I'm a lot stronger now." Beltrand's proud demeanor.

  "Then ask him for a rematch." Claustrine look at Beltrand smugly.

  "A-ah... I-I think a-bout it."

  "Nah just forget about beating the old man. He's the guildmaster for a reason." Mateo joins their chatter.

  "How about we fight him together brother?" Beltrand asked Mateo.

  "Even with Sophia's buffs. We still have no chance of beating him." Mateo shrugs.

  Then Mateo notices that Shirna and Sophia is not walking besides them. He looks back and see the two looking at something.

  The three then walks towards Shirna and Sophia to see what piques their interest.

  "Saw something interesting?" Claustrine asked.

  "Uhmm... Yeah. This plant."

  Shirna points on the shurb full of red bright red berries the size of a 5 peso coin.

  "Is this berries edible? Looks very delicious to me." Sophia asked as she looks at the berries with gluttonous intent.

  Mateo chuckle. He picks one of the red berries and then tooks a bite on it to his friends' surprise.

  "Yes it's edible and sweet."

  "You surely know that fruit huh?" Beltrand asked. The others picks their own fruits then eat.

  "It's sweet but not that much." Sophia savours the flavor.

  "What is this fruit anyway?" Claustrine asked then chews a berry.

  "Why ask me? In fact you already know what is this." -Mateo.

  "Really?"

  "Yeah. In fact, look at the seed and you can guess what is this."

  The otherworlders follow suit as they pick the seeds on their lips then look at them on their palm.

  "Doesn't ring a bell." Beltrand tries to remember anything to no avail.

  "Ah!"

  "Looks like we have a winner." Mateo looks at surprised Shirna who just realized what he's holding.

  "This is... Coffee!"

  "Coffee?! This thing?!" Sophia is shocked.

  "Ah I remember now! This seed is always shown on those instant coffee covers!" Claustrine finally remembers the black beans she always seeing on the packaging.

  "But why it's white and doesn't smell like coffee at all?" Beltrand asked as he fidget the beans on his hand.

  "Because you need to slowly roast them first, then ground them into a fine powder."

  "So that's the process? Interesting. It's similar to pepper." Shirna is amused.

  "I'm surprised that there's wild coffee plant just living here." Mateo is curious as he looks on the coffee plant.

  Then he remembers something that they should doing before all of them got distracted by the coffee plant.

  "Oh crap! We supposed to follow the old man." Mateo shouts as he didn't see the old man anymore.

  "Ah. We left behind here now." -Beltrand.

  "He might didn't noticed us stopping here." -Sophia.

  Grand Ecstasy panicly walks and follow the path they think the old man takes.

  But Shirna meanwhile is still looking on the coffee bean.

  "Shirna what are you doing?! Let's go, we need you to track grandpa!" Sophia shouts.

  "Wait a moment!"

  Shirna quickly picks some of the coffee berry and put it on her sling bag. Then he run towards his friends waiting at him.

  Thankfully with Shirna's tracking skills. They manages to catch up with the old man and they reach the rice terraces.

  "Wooooww! It's more amazing up close!" Sophia is mesmerized.

  "What a scenenic view." Beltrand smiles.

  They take few pictures and look on the crops.

  "This is rice?" Shirna asked as he look on the still green rice plants.

  "Yes."

  "It's kinda similar to wheat." Claustrine commented.

  "In some ways yes. Not only both are staple foods. But also turn golden when near harvest. These field must be more beautiful if we go here during harvest season." Mateo explains happily.

  The old man points on a small hut who also act as warehouse and a hub for resting. Grand Ecstasy nods and gives their gratitude before all of them sits on the wooden makeshift chairs.

  The sun is bright but not really that hot, and the breeze is cold and calming. Grand Ecstasy feel absolute bliss watching the calming scenery in front of them as the rice field dances on the gentle push of the wind.