"Catherine, wake up! Your first test is about to start, and your Lola is waiting for you outside," urged the woman, a fellow member of their coven.

Catherine groaned, pulling the covers tighter. "Lola said my training would start at six... but what time is it, Ate?"

"Yeah, that is a bit early," the woman mused. She glanced at the wall clock in Catherine's room and gave a casual wave of her hand. Suddenly, the clock hands spun forward, settling at eight in the morning.

"Ah, Catherine darling? Did you say your training was at 6:00 AM?" the woman asked innocently.

"Yes, Ate," Catherine replied, her eyes still squeezed shut.

"Well, what if I told you it's already eight o'clock?"

Catherine's eyes flew open—then snapped shut again in a panic as she bolted out of bed. The older woman watched in amazement as Catherine moved with supernatural speed, fixing her hair and clothes in a blur before rushing outside to where her grandmother waited.

"You're just in time, my apo," Nana Esther said. Without warning, she flung a silver knife directly at her granddaughter's head.

Even with her eyes still half-closed from sleep, Catherine's hand shot up, catching the blade by the hilt just inches from her face.

"Lola! That was close! Were you trying to kill me?" Catherine gasped, her heart racing.

"No. But your enemies will," Nana Esther replied coldly. "You need to stay focused, Catherine. How can you support the Sigbinan on his mission if his Alabay is not ready?"

Catherine lowered the knife, her brow furrowing. "Lola... what did you just call me?"

"An Alabay," Nana Esther repeated.

"But—" Catherine started to protest, but her grandmother cut her off.

"As the new leader of this coven, you must understand your legacy. Just like I was before you, I was the handmaid to Ethan's father, Senior Lucas Sandoval, alongside my friend Amelia. And now, you have been tasked by the Council of Witches to fulfill your duty: to be the Alabay of a Sigbinan."

The Scent of Danger

Back at the party, Elijah led the mysterious guest toward his friends. "I want you guys to meet Soren. Soren, this is my mom's cousin, Ethan, and our friends Baekhyun and Akihiko."

"Soren Legaspi?" Ethan whispered, leaning toward Baekhyun.

"Ethan, stop! You're drunk!" Baekhyun hissed, pulling him back.

"It's okay," Elijah laughed, waving off the tension. "I see Ethan has a great sense of humor. He's funny."

"Nice to meet you all," Soren said smoothly.

Aki didn't waste time. He eyed Soren suspiciously. "Are you two... are you...?"

Soren didn't wait for him to finish the question. "Not yet. But I know he'll say yes soon."

"That's a song!" Ethan chimed in. Despite Baekhyun's protests, Ethan began to belt out the lyrics to Say Yes:

"Ni nunape watjana... Naega yeogi itjana... Say yes, say yes!"

"Ethan, stop! You're being rude now. Excuse us!" Baekhyun grabbed Ethan and Aki, dragging them away from the pair.

"Excuse me, I need to check on him. He's clearly had too much to drink. Nice meeting you, Soren," Aki added before following.

The moment they were out of Soren's sight, Ethan's "drunkenness" vanished. He stood up straight, his eyes clear.

"I don't get it," Ethan said, looking puzzled. "You know me, Aki. I don't get drunk that easily—especially not after just two glasses of wine."

"Then what was that?" Baekhyun asked.

"Can you feel that?" Ethan whispered. He gestured to the ballroom. The atmosphere had shifted. Guests were acting erratically—some were kissing passionately in the middle of the floor, while others were swaying violently.

Aki, using his police training, scanned the room. "Enlarged pupils, bloodshot eyes, sudden bursts of hyper-energy... these are classic signs of someone under the influence of a party drug."

"Really? I can't imagine Miss Melody allowing that," Baekhyun said. "Unless someone spiked the drinks."

Suddenly, Ethan's knees buckled. Baekhyun caught him just before he hit the floor. As Ethan lost consciousness, a new voice cut through the noise.

"The blood of a Tamawo," Catherine said, appearing beside them.

"Catherine? How did you get here?" Aki asked, shocked.

"What blood? What are you talking about?" Baekhyun pressed.

"Lola Amelia told me about the Tamawo," Aki realized, his eyes widening. "They are part of the Encanto nation... Soren!"

Aki bolted back to where they had left the pair, but the spot was empty. Both Soren and Elijah were gone.

"His target was my son... please, help me!" A woman's voice cried out. They turned to see Melody stumbling toward them, looking pale and agitated.

"Miss Melody!" Baekhyun cried. Catherine caught her before she collapsed.

"Madame, hold on. We'll get help," Catherine urged.

"Wait for me, Cath! I'm going to find Ninong Jef," Aki said. As he turned to run, his ears shifted, lengthening into the pointed ears of a fox. With a burst of supernatural swiftness, he vanished into the crowd.

The Spirit Walk

Back in the village, Jasmine and Ambrose stood over a young lady lying on a Banig—a traditional handwoven mat.

"What's happening to her?" Jasmine asked.

"She's been in bed for days," Dory explained, dabbing her cousin's forehead with a damp rag. "She went missing in the woods for two days, and she's had a burning fever ever since we found her."

Jasmine and Ambrose exchanged a look. They both remembered the weeping woman they had met earlier. The Tamawo took my daughter...

"If only Catherine were here," Jasmine sighed. "She would know how to treat this."

To her surprise, Ambrose reached out and took the sick girl's hand. His eyes suddenly glazed over. "Where am I?" he murmured.

Jasmine remembered then—Ambrose didn't just come from a family of clairvoyants; he was part of a powerful Babaylan clan. He was entering a trance.

Thinking quickly, Jasmine grabbed his other hand, remembering how Catherine had once guided her when her own Banshee powers went out of control.

"Ambrose, listen to my voice," Jasmine said firmly. "Where are you? Tell me what you see. Describe the surroundings."

The Kingdom of the Hidden

Soren led Elijah into a world that defied logic. The young man gazed around in wonder; the architecture was breathtaking, with buildings that looked like they were carved from ivory and light. Despite the advanced look of the city, the air was impossibly crisp and sweet, free from the heavy scent of city pollution.

"Where are we?" Elijah asked, spinning in a circle to take it all in.

"This is my home," Soren said, gesturing toward a towering structure in the distance. "And that castle you see? That is where I live."

"Really? How cool!" Elijah exclaimed. "I knew you had to be a prince—you have such elegance. But why did you bring me here so suddenly?"

Soren's smile deepened, revealing two deep dimples on his cheeks. "I want you to meet my parents. They have been very excited to meet you." He reached out and kissed the back of Elijah's hand, sending a thrill through the young man that made his heart race.

Meanwhile, back in the human world, the atmosphere was far from magical. Police officers swarmed the mansion, searching every room and corridor, but they found no trace of Elijah. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

"Don't worry, Miss Melody. We will do everything in our power to find your son," Ninong Jef promised, though his brow was furrowed with concern.

"But Jef, he isn't in this realm anymore," Melody whispered, her voice trembling. "He's been taken by the Tamawo."

Ninong Jef leaned in, lowering his voice so the other officers wouldn't hear. "I know. I'm going to recommend this case to my godchild and Nana Amelia. Don't lose hope."

"Thank you, Officer," Melody replied, clutching her hands to her chest.

The Trial of the Elements

"Your first task is to discover your element," Nana Esther said. She casually lit her tobacco with a small flame dancing on the tip of her index finger. "Every witch has a core power they must master."

Lola's assistant gestured to a small wooden table. "On that table, you will see four symbols representing the elements. The stone is for Earth. The bowl of water is for Water. The candle flame is for Fire. And these dried leaves represent Air; if that is your element, the leaves will float in your presence. Choose one and feel the energy flow into your body."

Catherine didn't hesitate. She reached for the Fire, remembering her time as a cat when she held the Heart of Hestia. She expected the flame to welcome her, but instead, she hissed in pain as her thumb was burned.

"That's not it, then," her Lola noted, her eyes narrowing.

"Don't lose hope, Catherine. You still have three more," the assistant encouraged.

Catherine moved to the next element: the Stone. But the moment her fingers brushed the surface, the rock shattered into tiny pieces.

"What is happening, Nana?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Continue, Catherine. Try the others," her Lola commanded, her expression growing serious.

Catherine dipped her hand into the Water, but the liquid remained still. Discouraged, she reached for the Dried Leaves, but they lay flat on the table, lifeless.

"I'm done," Catherine sighed, tears of frustration stinging her eyes. "I can't be the witch leader, Nana. I'm sorry!"

She turned to walk away, but a sudden hum of energy stopped her in her tracks.

"Catherine, hold on!" the assistant gasped.

"Apo, look at the elements," her Lola whispered.

When Catherine turned around, she gasped. The stone fragments were hovering in mid-air alongside the dried leaves, swirling in a slow circle. In the center, the candle flame grew tall and bright, yet it was completely encased in a floating sphere of water that refused to extinguish the fire.

"What does it mean?" Catherine asked, breathless.

"It means you are an Elemental Witch," Nana Esther replied, her voice filled with awe. "You control all four: fire, water, earth, and air."

"But why? How is that possible?"

Nana Esther stared at the floating symbols, her face pale. "The last elemental witch who could control all four was... Calista."

TO BE CONTINUED...