The Iron-willed Flagbearer

"A boy with a will so strong, it can never be bent.."

THE IRON-WILLED FLAGBEARER

by Night Celestine

Once upon a time, there was a small village found in the highlands within the eastern part of the world. The people there are live a simple and peaceful life. They are very happy. No one has to beg on streets or steal. Never did they run out of food. They are not burdened by heavy taxes. Everbody are pleased.

But during those times, there also live a fearsome group of bandits who wander across the land and wreak havoc to villages around it. They are very mean, greedy and cruel. They bully those who are weaker than them. They take away everything from the villages: food, gold, animals and even lives of people.

One day, a young shepherd boy was far out from the village to tend the sheep. His name Kai Li. After leading his sheep to feed on the greener pastures, he sat down by a big stone nearby. There he could take a better view in guarding his sheep against attacking wolves.

Suddenly, as Kai Li looks at his sheep, he heard a thundering sound from a far. “What is that sound?” he said. He tried to follow the direction of the sound and looked upon his surroundings. Then, he noticed a cloud of dust from afar. Curiously, he tried to look more carefully. “It was a group of bandits! The village is in danger! I must tell them quickly!” he exclaimed. In fear for his village, he rushed toward the village, ahead his flock of sheep.

As he arrived inside the village, he cried out: “Bandits! There are bandits coming to our village!” Yet, nobody believed him, because he was only a boy. He tried to make his way to the house of the village chief. Yet the guards wouldn’t allow him to pass. “The village chief is too busy to hear from a young kid like you”, they said to him.

Kai Li felt disappointed. Nobody wants to pay attention from him. Nobody took heed of his warning. He loves his village and he couldn’t just stand to think that it will be destroyed by bandits. Kai Li is in tears. He should think of something. He should find a way.

Suddenly, his eyes passed in the village square. The village bell! Finally, he found his last hope. And so, he ran towards the bell. He held his wooden stick and proceeded to strike the bell loudly.

The people are surprised by the sound of the bell. Everybody from the village, started to gather in the village square. Everybody wants to know the reason why. The sound of the bell came to the ears of the village chief. He too, headed for the village square. There he saw Kai Li, striking the bell with his stick.

The village chief moved forward towards Kai Li’s direction. The village people, seeing the presence of their chief, moved aside to give way for him. Having caught the village chief’s attention, Kai Li stopped striking the bell.

Now the village chief asked Kai Li: “Young man, tell me...what made you do this action? I this a prank you play, you will not let off easily.”

To pay respect, Kai Li kneeled down in front him and apologized: “Please forgive me, Master. But, this is the only way that I can get your attention to a young boy like me.”
The village chief was astonished by the young boy’s answer. “Tell us then…”

Kai Li then answered: “There is a group of bandits heading this way in a large number. If we would not do something quickly, this village may end up in ruins.”

Everybody was struck by fear in their hearts because of what they’ve heard. The chieftain was surprised. Then, he looked at the crowd and shouted “Gather, all the men of this village! Prepare your weapons, because this day, we are going to fight for our village!” The men of the village then cried in reply, “For the village!”

During those times, it is important for an army to have a flagbearer. The flagbearer holds the flag which bears the army’s emblem. His role is to guard the battlefield and give signal on their enemies’ approach. A flag held upwards, means that the army must continue fighting. If it falls out of position, it symbolizes defeat and the army, must retreat.

So, all the men of the village, all armed, proceeded to the field of battle. All soldiers are in their assigned positions. Within the rocky parts below the highlands, there they waited the arrival of the dreaded enemy. The village army’s flagbearer stands in a high hill near the field of battle. Kai Li watches nearby.
The day has passed and it is already past night time. The village army is still on guard, yet, few of the soldiers are now feeling drowsy. Even the army’s flagbearer fell asleep. But Kai Li remained wide-eyed, awake and on watch. Until…

Out from the sky, an arrow flew down and struck the flagbearer dead on the spot. Kai Li was shocked. But he was more shocked of what he saw from the horizon. It was the enemy army! With the bandit army is rushing in front of them and the village army not ready, they will surely lose. Kai Li must warn them!
Kai Li then saw the army flag that fell out in the hands of the dead flag bearer. He took hold of it and waved it up high while shouting: “The enemy is approaching! The enemy is approaching in front of us!” Hearing this, the village soldiers got on their feet and prepared themselves in battle. Until the army chief commanded:

“CHARGE!”

The song of clashing swords. The banging sound of shields. The whirling sound of spears in the wind. Screams of pain and pious battlecries filled the air. The battle of the village army and the bandit army rages on. Kai Li, being the new flagbearer, holds with pride and courage, the army flag.
The battle continued on for days; defying the burning heat of the sun and the cold wind of the nights. Being a boy, Kai Li’s young body couldn’t stand the punishment. But the will of the boy’s young heart remained resilient. He still held the flag up high, keeping in mind what’s on stake. He is determined to keep it standing, even if it means losing his life.

The bandit army is getting tired and weary. The village army too, is starting to lose there strength. But seeing their flag waved up high, their will causes them to stand up and continue to fight with revived spirits.
Finally, the battle came to an end. The village army won the campaign against the bandits. Though it seems a losing battle, the village army surpassed the legion of bandits. With the bandit army defeated at last, peace remains once more across the land.

Looking far behind, the chieftain saw that the army flag is still standing.When he came up the highhill, he saw the flagbearer lying dead on the ground, with the brave Kai Li, holding the flag in his place.
The chieftain then held the young boy’s shoulder and said: “We owe you our victory. Because of you, the village is saved. Among my army of brave men, you are the bravest. Your will, your courage, your efforts…will be greatly rewarded. By the way, what is your name?”

Silence.

“Young man…do you hear me?” the chieftain asked him once more.

And still not a response. Only the sound of silence filled the atmosphere, with the strong gust of wind waving the flag, still held up high by the brave Kai Li: the iron-willed flagbearer.


- Story written by Night Celestine

*****

Sorry for the Hiatus

Hello again people! I am sorry for being late. I have been suffering from writer's blackout for almost a month and I lacked time to think and write. I had to deal with a lot of work in school, since a new semester is opening.  I know some of you have been looking at this blog for something new. So now, I am going to make it up to you guys. Two weeks ago was our semestral break and  I have been  working out and gathering some data outside, to find something to inspire me to continue. Either way I apologize for the long wait. I have a new story ready to be posted soon. Thank you for your support by the way and I hope you will still read my stories and poetry. Thank you very much!

*****

Poetry: Teacher

I am always your teacher...and you will always be my pupil.

TEACHER

By Night Celestine

I am a teacher,

That is my chosen profession,

This humble but noble work,

Of promoting education.

I am a teacher,

This is my call of duty,

To teach this world,

Of the lessons I carry.

I am a teacher,

It is my great responsibility,

To light the path you must walk,

And guide you to your glory.

I am a teacher,

This is my power,

I can make you live happy,

Or else I can make you suffer.

I am a teacher,

I am an unsung hero,

With all of my sacrifices,

I’m still behind the shadows.

I am a teacher,

A father and mother in one,

For within my heart, is unselfish love,

As a parent gives to a daughter, a son.

I am a teacher,

Your enemy, your friend,

You may not understand now,

But you will thank me in the end.

And now it’s the day of your graduation,

You may not know how proud I feel,

You may come to forget me, your teacher,

But I will never forget that you’re once my pupil.

*****

Poetry: Stars

"You are one of my brightest stars..."

STARS

By Night Celestine

My life is like the evening so bright,
Within it are many stars on flight,
Stars that show me the path of life,
And serving as my guiding light,
Stars that continues to shine above,
That showed me how to live and love,
Gave me a chance to make a new start,
Being true to my feelings and open my heart,
Made my dreams and wishes come true,
And tell the world my point of view,
They gave my life more worth for living,
Learning there’s happiness in sharing than receiving,
And when time gets difficult for me to cope,
The stars remind me of faith and hope,
Though clouds sometimes won’t let me see,
I feel their presence is still above me,
And for this, I thank the God Almighty,
For making this stars shine upon me,
Inside my heart, I feel that I am blessed,
I exalt Him with gratitude for my happiness,
Wherever you are, no matter how far,
Your light continues to shine within my heart,
Light years away from Jupiter or Mars
My dear friend, you’re one of my brightest stars…

*****

The Duel - Arguement Between Light and Darkness

Characters:

Light - the Saviour
Darkness - the Destroyer
Narrator

Narrator: (In a distant world far, far away…transcending time and space…In an oblivious world called “the Void”…a battle is to take place…)

(The first one came from the deep parts of the Abyss…where eternal darkness and shadows remain…arising from the murky shadows…from coming far and lo throughout the land…this one is known as “Darkness”…)

(The other one came down from the heavens…this one was given full glory and power…the right hand of the One who summons him…sent to put an end to all suffering and pain…this one is called “Light”…)

(Colors fade in and out all over the place…the whole place is as dark as dawn…the whole place is barren…the shadows of the clouds above roll upon the desolate grounds…upon the heart of the territory stands the warrior called Light…)

Light: (thinking and waiting for some time) Hmm… I wonder what’s keeping him too long. Well, he will be here soon…he should be.

(Suddenly, the place turned gloomy and darker than ever…behind Light appeared a puddle of shadow…from it rises someone flowing with negative energy… his presence is disturbing and within him is great evil…this one’s none other than Darkness…)
Darkness: (in a mocking voice) Hey, hey, hey…looks who’s here, as usual, always on time. What’s up with you?

L: (looking towards Darkness) So much for your showy entrance…you’re late. I should be the one asking that…

D: Do you expect me to apologize?

L: Never mind…I am tired of your lousy excuses. It’s pointless. Just where on earth have you been?

D: Well, I have been frolicking around the Earth…taking a look around everything in it.

L: And so how do you consider these things…

D: Ha! Everything goes is according to my will. See for yourself…

(Suddenly, from the sky appeared something interesting…its none other than scenes from different parts of the earth…)
L: I see…so you have been watching the world below…

D: (raising both hands) Yes, I have been…just look how beautiful the land is!

(After saying this, the sky showed a scene of the earth from space…then, zoomed a scene of the landscape of the earth…its not a good view…the waters are murky and dark because of spilled waste and is floating with garbage…the land is barren and looks unfertile…garbage is found everywhere, tons of it…and the sky is so dark because of the polluted air…so polluted that is hard for the sunlight to pass because of the curtain.of smog…)
L: Just look how distressing it is to see these things…and you call these nice?

D: So…what’s your problem? It’s not my fault…it’s the humans who started it…

L:  Correction…it’s yours.

D: Say what?!

L: Do you recall what you did some millennia ago? You deceived man and caused him to sin…

D: Hmmm… (thinking) Oh! I remember! (snapping his fingers)…the time I played puppet with that serpent…

L: God made everything perfect. Same he did to humans. If not for your ambitious plans and lies, this would not have been the case…

D: It’s not my fault…they are the one who ate the fruit…

L: It’s your fault that man opened the gates of sin and death…

D: Whatever…do I care?

L: (pointing towards Darkness) You truly are a Great Manslayer and Father of Lies.

D: (bowing down) Thank you for your acknowledgement…

(The scene in the sky vanished and was replaced by another scene…it shows the people beyond the earth…all kinds of people…of different colors, races, ages and languages…)
D: Just look at all the people on earth…just look at them how they sway to my will!

L: You have always done that to them…taking advantage of man’s imperfection.

D: (yawning) Huumm…Well, they like what they do…they do as they please. Especially, pleasing themselves. They enjoy living their life away from God. Why some love the things I offer in this world more than anything: money, power and fame! They enjoy sexual lust and immorality. Some enjoy using illegal drugs and other vices. Oh, and there's philosophical ideas…it has given the minds of many a bit of a twist.

L: That’s true…I can see the view.

D: Oh and there’s more! They like practicing magic and spiritism! My minions have always offered power through corrupting people to darkness. Just look how people are entertained by a deadly curse which they look as a precious gift! (starting to laugh a bit) Oh and yeah, I almost forgot…I have set false religions around the planet. You see, how easily people are dominated by the things that they were taught off. They don’t even care of looking for God and the right way of worship anymore…they like to worship God in their own way…(chuckle) Why they are not only wicked, they are treating their kindred cold-heartedly. They even kill their brethren and family in wars! They pass to the next generation the legacy of badness; a cycle of endless hatred. Man will continue to dominate his kin to destruction.

(The scene of people suddenly vanishes away to thin air…)

D: How about that?

L: You have really deceived people’s minds making them think that they are in the truth. You are successful of making people blind of it and making them see that evil is good and good is evil. Yes, you are successful of swaying the hearts of many…but yet not all.

D: Huh?!

L:  God is happy…that amongst the evil that lurks on earth, there are still a few who still follows the path of righteousness…have you ever set your eyes on them?

D: Yeah, yeah…I know to whom you were talking about!

L: The Almighty Father of Heavens is very happy to see that there are still people enduring the evil that is within your world. They continue to rejoice under tribulations of life. Yes, they too commit sins… but they still persevere to be able to continue to walk the path of good. They love their brother like themselves and in the valleys and plains of shadows and darkness they are still able to let their light shine. Faithful until the end…

D: (annoyed hissing) Tch! I hate those people as much I do to you!

L: He is also happy that there are some who seeks the truth and finds it. Those people who seeks to draw near to him through true faith. That’s why I have been sent to redeem the souls of these people…of the dead and the living in your hands…and destroy you once and for all…

D: (angry) Curses!

N: (And so the sky turned dark, so did the land…the mountains divided…the ground disbands…lightning and thunder strikes terror…as did fire fell from heavens...on the earth’s final hour…)

(A strong gust of wind blows between the two…)

D: (shouting) You are really a big pain in the neck...a thorn in my throat! If you’ve just stayed impaled in that stake! (draws sword)

L: If you have other things to say…say them now. Your days have been numbered. They are your last.

D: Enough! I heard enough! Now...die! (rushes to attack towards Light)
L: Well then, let’s get this started… (draws sword) and put this to an end! (rushes towards Darkness)

(Swords clashes…)

N: (Sword at hand, a will has to be done…The duel of good and evil has begun…To whose side you stand, is up for you to choose…The battle will soon end as the saga continues…)

*****

 - Playwright written by Night Celestine

A Tale of Four Sisters

"The bond of family is a priceless treasure..."

Once upon a time, in an old village in an oriental country, there lived an old widow, who reared four beautiful daughters: the first is boyish but strong-willed, the second daughter is smart and cunning, the third was charming and pretty and the youngest daughter is innocent but kind-hearted. The five of them lived peacefully in a small village, near the foot of a large mountain.

One night, the old widow summoned her daughters. All her daughter assembled and sat in front of her, paying attention to what she has to say.

“My daughters..” started the old widow, ”I have called the four of you, in order for you to know, that now is your coming of age. I’ve witnessed how much you have grown in all aspects. And as your mother, I am very proud to have you as my daughters. You were once little girls, but now you have grown into fine young women. Today is the eighteenth year of your life and as rite of passage; I give each one of you a prized heirloom, treasured by our family.”

The old widow started to hand each one of them their gifts, sealed in lacquer boxes.

“Please open it…”, she said to them.

Each daughter started opening the box that was given to her.

The eldest daughter opened her lacquer box. Inside the box is a parasol.

The second daughter opened her lacquer box. Inside the box is a lantern.

The third daughter opened her lacquer box. Inside the box is a folding fan.

And finally, the youngest daughter opened her lacquer box. Inside the box is a hairpin.

The four daughters are very happy to receive their gifts thanked their mother.

“Thank you so much, mother!” they said in delight, as they all bowed their heads in respect.

“I am very pleased.  Please treat these gifts with love, as you have loved me and care, as you have cared so much for me. I am getting old now. So now, I am hoping that all of you would find a suitable man to settle down with and get married.”

The sisters then started to look at each other, as if each one of them knows what the other has in mind. Having a silent agreement, each one said a similar thing to their mother.

“Time may pass but no matter what happens, we will never leave you alone. Each of us may give birth to our own daughter, but all of us can never find and have another mother…”

The widow was very pleased with this and started to bless each one of her daughters.

One day it came, as each daughter came back home from work: the eldest from gathering firewood, the second from fishing, the third from the market and the youngest from fetching water from a nearby well, they found out that their mother was missing. They looked at every nook and cranny of the house, but to no avail.

“Mother is gone! What are we going to do? What are we going to do!?” cried the youngest daughter.

“Stop crying! I am not very sure on what happened…what do you think ?” said the eldest asked the second.

“It is impossible for mother to leave the house without us knowing it…” the second daughter replied.

Suddenly, the third sister came running from afar. She was quite out of breath and flustered.

“What is it? Do you know where mother is?” asked everyone.

The third daughter was catching his breath for a moment.  After a little while, she told her sisters the bad news.

“There was this news in town that a fire-breathing monster came down from the mountains and taking people as captives. They said it was sent by the evil lord who lives in a castle, up the mountain.” she said.

“The evil lord, so he was the one who took mother.” said the second daughter.

“I’m scared” said the youngest as she clung to her older sister.

“I know. I heard stories of how cruel he was. They say he make slaves out of the people he manage takes as captive.”

Suddenly, the eldest, boldly stood up and said.

“But we cannot allow it as is. He took our mother. So we are going to take her back. We swore that we will protect our mother and we are not going leave her alone.  So that is what we are going to do. Don’t you agree with me, my sisters?”

“Yes!” the rest of the sisters agreed.

So the four sisters, decided to travel the long road to the evil lord’s castle and rescue their beloved mother. They packed up their things and left at dawn. Never did they know that the evil lord himself is expecting them to come.

They are already walking far when all of a sudden, a large cloud of thick fog blocked their way, making it impossible for them to see what is in front of them.

“What are we going to do now?” the four sisters said to each other.

They tried to think of a plan on how to make it through the fog, when suddenly the third sister caught an idea.

“I’ll try and use my fan to clear the fog in front of us; maybe even for just a little bit, it might work.”

The rest all agreed with the third sister. So the third sister brought out his fan and waved it. When all of a sudden, a very strong gust of wind came from the fan and blew the cloud of fog away and allowing them to clearly see the road ahead.  After that, the fan turned old and broken.

This made the sisters think about the gifts that their mother gave them and the secret they contain.

“So, the gifts that mother gave us possess some extraordinary powers.  I wonder if each of our gifts has the same?” they asked themselves.

As they moved on to their journey, the sisters came in front of a very dense and dark forest. It was already nighttime and the sisters are unable to travel in the dark. The darkness of the forest is dangerous and wild animals are known to prowl. Knowing this is the case, the second sister volunteered to use her lamp.

“I’ll light up my lamp and guide us outside of this forest.”

When she lit her lamp, the lamp shone so bright, that its scattered light seemed like daylight, allowing them to see through the darkness and  find the way towards the exit. The bright light also repelled any danger that they might encounter from the wild animals. After they making their way towards the exit, the lantern’s light fainted, as it also turned old and shabby.

Finally, the sisters arrived in front of the entrance of the evil lord’s castle. The castle is surrounded by a very dark and sinistral aura, beholding the evil that lives within. Scared but still determined to save their mother, the sisters entered the castle. As they walked inside the castle's courtyard, the large, fire breathing monster blocked their path! The four sisters came running as fast as they could, trying to escape the monster who chases them from behind. Suddenly, it spewed fire towards them.  The sisters felt helpless, as they thought they are going to be burned to ashes, when the elder sister quickly opened her parasol trying to shield them from the monster’s flamethrower. Surprisingly, it worked. The parasol defended them against the monster’s flames.

“I’ll try to fend off the monster’s flames. While I do, quickly run towards the entrance!” commanded the elder sister.

So, the other sisters quickly made their way to the castle’s doors and there they waited for their elder sister. The elder sister made sure everyone’s safe. Then, she tried to save herself from the monster’s flames. She made her way near the doorway. In a wink of an eye, the elder sister quickly dodged the monster’s flames as she leaped towards the door.  Then, other sisters quickly pushed the door and locked it to safety. After the grueling ordeal, the four sisters moved on forward. As for the parasol, it turned into a useless, broken parasol, full of holes afterwards.

As they are walking inside the castle, they heard some voices of people crying for help. The sisters ran towards the direction of the voices and they arrived in a dungeon cell. There they saw a large number of townspeople, imprisoned in a very large cell.

“Hey! There's somebody outside! Let's ask for help!” shouted one of the prisoners.

“Oh please, we beg you young girls. Please free us from this prison…” requested an old man.

The girls felt the duty to help the people but they don’t have a key to open the prison doors. The sisters tried to think of some plan, when suddenly the youngest sister suggested:

“I know this might be a little bit unusual, but maybe we can try picking the lock with my hairpin.”

The other sisters thought about what their younger sister suggested and agreed it wouldn’t hurt if they try. So, they tried lock-picking the doors and luckily, it worked. They managed to free all the prisoners; but sad to say, they never found their mother with them.

“Where is our mother, tell us!” said the eldest.

“We beg you!” said the second.

“Please tell us where our mother is.” said the third.

“We have to rescue our mother!” said the youngest.

Seeing the love, determination and courage which lies within the hearts of the four, the people told them that their mother was kept at the top of the castle, inside the evil lord’s throne room. Thanking the people for their help, the four sisters quickly rushed towards the top of the castle.

Arriving at the top of the castle, the girls finally found their mother. They are so happy to see that their mother was unhurt and well, when all of a sudden the evil lord appeared in front of them.

“I will not allow you take her away from here!” he shouted in a powerful voice.

“We will not allow you to take our mother! We will protect her against you!” the four sisters shouted.

Furious, the evil lord shape shifted into the fire-breathing monster and started to rampage at the top of the castle. The sisters are very scared thinking that they no longer have the power of their heirlooms to protect them. Even so, they tightly embraced themselves to their mother. Suddenly, the youngest among sisters, bravely stood in front of the monster.

“I’ll no longer cry nor be afraid! I shall protect my mother and my sisters, even if it cost me my life!” she shouted.

The monster laughed at her. “Hah! What do you think you can do against me? You’re nothing but a small fry waiting to be devoured!”

The youngest daughter didn’t allow herself to lose composure as the monster mocked and threaten her. Holding the precious hairpin her mother gave her, with all her strength, she threw it towards the monster. As if guided by an invisible hand, the hairpin darted towards the heart of the monster. The monster cried in pain. Then, out of the sky came out thunder and lightning, bolting towards the monster and killing it in a flash. Afterwards, the hairpin broke.

Finally, the castle lost its dark and evil aura. The cloudy sky opened from up above and light finally shined within the evil lord’s former dominion. Mother and daughters are finally reunited.

“Mother, we are saved! We are finally safe!”

“We are very happy to be with you again!”

“We promise you we will never leave by your side!”

“We love you mother!”

Their mother teary-eyed by the things her daughters said, finally explained everything:

“I am very happy to see how each of you changed and grown today. That evil lord was a former lover of mine. He tried to make me love him, using his power and wealth. But my heart was never his. So I chose to marry your father, the man that I loved. We lived a simple yet peaceful life. Experiencing content and joy, I never regretted my choice. The evil lord was never happy, so he tried to take me by force. But your father protected me from him.  That is until your father died. But I was so happy, that I gave birth four of his daughters who possess his heart and spirit. That might be the reason why your heirlooms had extraordinary powers. These heirlooms…are gifts from your father when we are about to be married. I treasured them for so many years. I told you to take care of these, right? ”

All the daughters came and held on to their mother and said:

“Time may have made you age, old and wrinkled you are; our love for you will never change. Because you are our mother and you will always be; because we are a family. And that is what we treasure the most.”

And so, the widow and her four daughters went back home together, with a stronger bond than before. Then after, the four daughters were pronounced as heroes by the townspeople. Long time has passed after their mother died; the four daughters then got married to four princes, the very sons of the emperor who rules their land and they all lived happily ever after.

- Story written by Sir Night Celestine

*****

The Story of 66 Letters

"A Father we know sent us 66 letters...have you read them, yet?"

Once upon a time, there lived a rich merchant. His business is trading goods across the sea. He has two sons: the first son is intelligent but has a cocky and laid-back attitude; the youngest son is simple in mind, but kind at heart and thoughtful.

One day, the merchant sent forth his messengers to summon the presence of his sons for an important announcement. He will be traveling overseas for a business expedition and he needs someone to take care of all his possessions. Few days after, the sons arrived in their father’s estate.

Moments after their arrival, the sons paid their respects in the presence of their father, prepared to hear their father’s words. And so their father began to speak:

“My sons, I am very pleased to see your presence. Tomorrow, I will be going for an expedition. And to that, I am in the need of someone, whom I could trust all my possessions. That’s why I need both of you here. You know what I expect from you, my sons.”

“Yes father, thy will be done”, the sons answered.

“Another thing, I am growing too old and my time is getting short for me. So I thought that now is the right time to pass my legacy to both of you…under a simple condition.”

“What is it, father?” the sons asked.

“I will be sending you letters; sixty-six letters all in all. All you have to do is to read each of these and do everything and accordingly to what I command. Could I expect you to follow this simple request, my sons?”

“Yes father, we will.”, the sons answered.

And so the father proceeded with his voyage. The two sons then parted ways and did what they are asked. Both received their portions and both received their tasks. And time by time, they receive a letter from their father. Time passed so quickly and both are busy with the duties they have to accomplish. And with that, the letters came to its deadline.

So it came that the merchant, stepped to his arrival after a long time. Coming home, he sent forth his messengers to tell his sons that he has arrived. Few days after, the sons arrived in their father’s estate.

Moments after their arrival, the sons paid their respects in the presence of their father, prepared to hear their father’s words. And so their father began to speak:

“My sons, I am glad to be with your presence after a long and tiring journey across the sea. It seems that both of you did your duties and accomplished them, according to what I’ve expected. But first, did both of you receive the sixty-six letters that I told you are going to receive?”

Now he looked at his youngest son asking: “My son, have you received my last letter?”

The youngest answered:

“Yes father and I’m so glad I did. I anticipated that letter, though it took a longer time than expected. You know father, I missed you so much and I yearned to see you again. There is so much work to do, yet reading the letters made my life and work easier. Thanks to these letters; these helped me during those difficult times. It made me realize that even though we are oceans apart, you’re always there, close to me in my heart.”

The merchant is very pleased to hear such kind words from his youngest son. And so he said to him: “You made my heart happy, my son. As a reward, you shall receive the portion of wealth that you deserve.”

After this, he looked at his eldest son. And so he began to tell him: “My son, I have been writing to you all this time. Did you read all the letters I’ve sent you?”

The eldest answered:

“Yes father, I received all the sixty-six letters.”

The merchant once again asked his son: “But did you read them?

The eldest son wasn’t able to give an immediate reply to his father. Knowing that he cannot deceive his father with a lie, he forced to speak:

“Father, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t able to read the letters you’ve sent. You see, business is getting hard each day, I was too busy working and my schedule was too hectic. I’m also busy taking care of my own family. That’s why I wasn’t able to read all the letters.”

The merchant was angered by the words of his eldest son:

“I kept longing for you for a long time and never did have a time that you’ve been lost inside my mind. I only asked you a very simple favor. Yet you didn’t give any importance to it; you didn’t give time to think about the feelings and thoughts of your own father. You made my heart sad and furious. I am very sorry to do this my son, but you lose half of the portion of your inheritance and these will be handed down to your younger brother. The other half, do whatever you think is good for it. It will serve as payment for all the work you did for me. I think that is enough punishment for your insolence.”

- Story written by Sir Night Celestine

*****

The Story of A Wolf and His Master

"Sometimes, freedom can be far more greater when we serve a master..."

Once upon a time, there was a shepherd. The shepherd was tending his sheep, when suddenly he heard a small cry. He went to look at the direction of the sound, look! It was a young wolf pup. The pup seemed lonely and fragile. “He maybe a wolf, but he is still young. If I would raise him as a shepherd dog, things might turn differently”, he said to himself. Because of empathy, the shepherd took the young pup to his house and there he fed and raised it like any domesticated animal.


But the occasional attack of wolves is the shepherd’s biggest problem. The wolves attacking in packs, would try to prey on the sheep. However, none of them may ever touch the sheep as long as he is there. The shepherd, armed with his trusty rifle, would kill the ravenous wolves, even before they could kill any of his sheep. With each night of their attack, the shepherd would always defend his beloved herd. The wolves would retreat afterwards, leaving the bodies of their dead comrades and planning for their next attack.


The shepherd continued taking good care of the wolf pup and raised him as a shepherd dog. Though a wolf, he was thoroughly trusted with managing the whole herd. He never tottered on anything. He lives with his kind master, sleeps warm near the fireplace inside the house and eats the same meal that his master has. He was trusted in his duty; taking care of the flock and guarding it against any intruders.


Time came that the wolf attacks became more recent. Night after night, wolves would come down the mountain and once again, commencing their attacks in larger groups. However, they would always fail, because the shepherd’s is always ready for them, thanks to his loyal partner, whom with vigilance and alertness, guards the flock.


But one day, while on watch, a sly and cunning wolf came to talk to the shepherd dog:


“Hello there my friend, how are you?”, greeted the cunning wolf.


“What brings you here, dirty wolf?” the shepherd dog said.


“Ay, ay, ay! What are you saying? I am a dirty wolf?” the cunning wolf asked.


“Yes, you are…and now you are finished.”


“You call me dirty, eh? But have you seen yourself yet? My friend, you are never a shepherd dog. You never were. Within you lies the blood of our kin. You are a wolf...”


The shepherd dog was insulted. “Call me a wolf, once more…and you’ll be sorry!” the shepherd dog snarled in an aggressive stance.


“Halt!” said the cunning wolf putting his paw front face upon the shepherd dog. “I didn’t came here as an enemy. I came here as a brother. I am just telling you the truth. You are a witness of how many of our brothers and sisters died in the hands of that human and you were being part of it? However, if you would join our clan, things might change for you and you would be forgiven”.


“What made you think I would join you? Ridiculous! Never will be part of your dirty clan.” He said with disgust.


 “Wouldn’t you want to live with absolute freedom and liberty? Wouldn’t you want to cross the woods and be one with nature? You can eat anything and sleep all you want. No one will tell you what to do, you are your own master! You can do anything! You can be free!”


“Stop talking nonsense! I won’t believe you. I am not a wolf!” he said as pounced towards the wolf. However, the wolf managed to dodge his attack.


 “Oh, so you don’t? But it is okay. At least, I gave you something to think about. If you ever want to accept my offer, all you have to do is to look for us in the deepest part of the woods. We will cordially accept you if you would join us…or rather you would want to live with a collar and chain. Ha! Ha! Ha!” the cunning wolf said as he dashed on his way back.


 The shepherd dog was left alone, thinking of the things that wolf has said to him. Was he really a wolf? Is my master really holding me back? Is everything the wolf said about freedom and liberty is true? These things he asked himself.


One day, the shepherd dog tried to talk to the sly wolf.


“You! Tell me about everything that you know.” he said.


The wolf smiled.


“Finally, you are willing to listen.”


And so, the cunning wolf continued to poison the thoughts of the shepherd dog. Using a friendly demeanor and smoothly-spoken words, he continued to deceive him. The shepherd dog kept listening and thinking about, he started doubting his master and himself. Clouded by twisted thoughts, his loyalty to his master slowly diminished.


One day, he decided to take a look at the wolves’ lair located in a wasteland across the darkest part of the forest. There, he encountered a group of wolves.


“My brothers, look who just came! It’s him!” howled one wolf.


 So you had the courage to face us in our own territory? Now, you’re dead meat!” another said.


 But suddenly, a voice spoke from the shadows.


 “Stop my brothers, he is one of us...”


 Finally, a shadowy figure walked towards the dog. It was the sly wolf.


 “I would have to admire your courage of getting here. So have you decided yet?”


 “Yes…I am tired of this life. I wanted to know what it is like to be free in the wild. I am no longer anyone’s dog. From now on, I am going to live my life as a wolf.”


Hearing this, the cunning wolf rejoiced and howled in delight. Later on, the wolf became the shepherd dog’s friend and he was later on welcomed by the other members of the pack.


The next day, the shepherd dog didn’t return. The shepherd came out looking for his lost, beloved pet and friend. He was very sad and lonely that he looked for him for days. The shepherd dog on the other hand, joined with his new friends and took part with their activities. He was so drawn too much with his new set of friends and enjoying so much freedom, that he forgot everything about his master.


Long time had passed. One day, the council of the wolves started to have a meeting. The pack leader spoke:


“My brothers, we all know remember how great the flock that the shepherd is taking care of. And we all know that many of our brethren have risked their lives to bring home the prize. But now is time! Tomorrow, the moon is full. At midnight, we will commence our attack, all of us! The whole flock will be ours for the taking!”


The whole pack howled in great delight. However, there is one who is hesitant of his actions. It is none other than the former dog of the shepherd. He didn’t notice how much he changed. His clean fur coat is now long, rough and dirty. So did his claws. Now he really looked like a wild wolf. But at that moment, he remembered his master. So moved to speak:


“I will not join you. That was my former home and master. I can’t afford to do any evil to his household.” he said.


“So it seems to you. But this is either you with us or against us…” the pack leader said, “There is nothing more you can do, you are one of us now. So you will follow my very command or else. You can never betray us; the way you did to your master.”


He was terribly shocked. Everything that was said to him, he discovered to be a big lie. Joining them was a big mistake. But it was too late.


Finally, night came. At the cry of their pack leader, the whole pack rushed to its ferocious conquering. However, it turned out that the shepherd already anticipated everything and was expecting the attack that night. So he managed to call the help of some friends. Armed with their rifles, one by one, the pack of wolves began to decrease in number. All wolves are finally exterminated, except one; the shepherd’s dog. Master and servant finally met face to face.


“Master, master, don’t kill me! It’s me your shepherd dog. Don’t you remember?” he said to his master.


But the shepherd said to him: “I never knew you. My beloved dog will never join to do such abominable thing.” After saying those words, the shepherd pulled the trigger of his gun and with the sound of a gunshot that echoing to the mountains, which brought the wolf to his sad and pitiful end.

- Story written by Sir Night Celestine

*****

The Legend of The Moonlight Flower

"Have you ever heard of a certain mysterious flower which only appears and blooms during the fullmoon? Legend has it that it was a sign of eternal love between two star-crossed lovers. Let me tell you the story..."

During the Dark Ages of Europe, there lived a brave, young knight with the name of Cyrus Dessan. He served as a one of the Templar Knights, a prominent organization where only the finest and the bravest of knights are taken in service by the church and its kingdom. He is one of the noblemen, which stands high in the society.

On the other hand there was a young peasant lady, known in the name of Luna. She is a simple, fair young lady. She lives in a hut, along an oasis, found somewhere in Middle-Eastern Asia.

During that era, there was a battle called the Crusades. The land is war-torn due to the campaigns of Christians against the Moslems of the Middle East, for them to conquer and retrieve the Holy Land of Jerusalem, which was now part of Moslem territory. Many have died in such bloody slaughter. People kill and murder, in the name of faith, in a battle which they call as the “Holy War”.

It was then that Cyrus was among chosen to become a crusader, a knight who will fight for the retrieval of the Holy Land. With that, Cyrus immediately accepted the offer. He was very brave in battle. Being a knight with almost no equal, he vanquished many of his enemies and many have fallen in his hands. He even won in duels with enemy officials. He was undefeated; a champion indeed. For his great efforts, he was greatly rewarded and promoted as a 'lord knight'.

Sadly, on an ill-fated day, the army lost in a campaign. Many crusaders retreated and marched their way back to their kingdom. But then, the army was ambushed by a band of thieves and rouge bandits! Weak and wounded from the last battle, the whole army was easily wiped out, whose reason of attack is to steal everything that is with the retreating Crusaders. Cyrus on the other hand was able to escape the encounter but because he lost much strength in fighting for his survival, he fainted.

Luna on the other hand, was tending her sheep when she accidentally came by Cyrus’ tired and weak body. Immediately, he removed the knight’s armor and carried him to her house near the mountains. There, Luna took care of the tired and wounded knight; feeding him and healing his wounds. Slowly, the young knight was recovering his lost strength.

Luna was very pleased to see the knight was getting better. She introduced herself to Cyrus. Cyrus on the other hand did the same and thanked Luna for rescuing him. He then told Luna, about his story, his battles and his life. Luna on the other hand, was listening to Cyrus’ story.

During the days of Cyrus’ stay with Luna, he was attracted with every good characteristic that is within her. Luna’s kindness and compassion is what makes her beautiful each day. And day by day, Cyrus’ feelings for Luna, grows stronger and stronger.

The day came that Cyrus was back to his vigor. He went to Luna to say goodbye and at the same time, to confess her feelings for her and promised that he would return back for her after his return to his homeland. Luna on the other hand, turned back Cyrus offer of love. She explained to Cyrus that he cannot fall in love with a man whose hands are still blood-stained. She also explained what she really feels about the Crusade. Can true faith be sanctified by violence and bloodshed? Is it right to think that the war was the right way to make people draw closer to God? With that, she said to Cyrus, that only if he would change his ways and thinking about life, it will be the only time that she would accept Cyrus’ proposal. And then she said farewell and left in tears.

In his return to his homeland, Cyrus was gladly welcomed by the people. A feast was celebrated in welcoming his return; a hero who returned from the battlefield. Then the king, talked to him about the things that happened in their campaign and the way back. He also told Cyrus about his plan to retaliate against the opposing force and asked him to be the one to lead the army. The king promised great wealth and power in return. But Cyrus replied that he cannot accept the offer any longer and he was stepping down his position as a crusader knight and member of the Templar. He realized that he couldn’t bear to murder anyone again and he couldn’t stand to take part in a mad genocide because of faith. The king was outraged by his reply. He was threatened that if he would keep such belief, he will be charged of treason and be branded as a heretic. Yet still, he remained determined to hold steadfast to his own enlightenment. So the king stripped him of his privileges, seized all his properties and threw him to prison, waiting to be sentenced.

Inside the prison, Cyrus remembered the words that Luna said to him. He said to himself that his situation is just part of the punishment for what he did in the past and he even thought that he should have been put to death to justify for all the lives he’d taken. He asked himself: “With these blood-stained hands of mine, will I ever find redemption?” That time, Cyrus found a dusty, old book lying in one corner of the cell he was in. It was a Bible. As he opened the book, he bumped upon a verse, talking about beating swords to plowshares and spear to pruning shears. For the first time, Cyrus prayed to God, asking for repentance and redemption, that if he would be given a chance, he would change his ways and vowed that he will walk the true path of righteousness and never again will he raise a sword to kill anyone again.

It came when all of a sudden, bandits attacked the town. The soldiers were alarmed and the people are starting to panic. Luckily, Cyrus’ cell was destroyed by a huge stone hurled by a catapult. After breaking out of prison, he saw how the town was engulfed by flames, as the burning battle between soldiers and bandits begins. Clashes of swords, flying arrows, burning houses and screams are the things that he hears.

All of a sudden, he came to pass by an alley, where he saw a little girl with her mother, beside the dead body of a man; the father. In front of them is a merciless bandit with a sword, blood freshly flowing in its blades. Mother and daughter cries, begging for mercy, that they maybe spared. But it seems that the evil man has decided to take their lives.

Cyrus saw a dead body of a soldier nearby. Within the hands of the soldier, he saw a sword and a shield. Remembering his vow, he promised not to use a sword no more to kill a person. Quickly, he snatched the shield.

Just in time before the bandit’s sword strikes two innocent lives, Cyrus jumped quickly unto the scene, parrying the attack. Cyrus then asked them to leave quickly and look for a safe place to hide. The man was very angry to see that his prey escaping; he proceeded to violently attack Cyrus. Cyrus quickly dodged and guarded every in coming attack. Finally, he managed to counter the attack by smiting the shield on the bandit’s face. Knocking his opponent stunned and later on unconscious, he started to run away and escape. Riding a horse, he dashed towards a nearby port, disguising himself with a cape and journeyed back to the Middle-East.

Finally, he arrived. Walking back to that place near the Tigris River, he tried to find Luna. And he did. From a distance, he saw a silhouette of a lady, running from a distance. It was Luna. Throwing herself to his arms, Luna was crying tears of joy. She was happy to see Cyrus back. Cyrus then explained to Luna, about everything happened and what he learned in his journey back and his promise of change. Luna was happy, that Cyrus returned not as the bloody knight in armor, but as a man who seeks freedom from his own world that hunts him down. At last, the sun and the moon were reunited again by love.

Many days have passed. Luna and Cyrus are starting to live happily together. Cyrus started working as a woodsman while Luna still continued to take care of her sheep. All was starting to come perfectly, until a tragedy befalls them.

Luna fell very ill. She started to feel weak. Cyrus called the help of physicians but in vain. They couldn’t find a cure to Luna’s disease. With that, Luna’s condition grew from bad to worse. Cyrus tried using medicinal herbs, thinking that he may find a miracle cure. But it didn’t work. Luna became weaker and weaker each day. Cyrus was begging Luna not to give up; that they still have a long time to live and moments to share together. Before she passed away, Luna asked Cyrus not to cry. She feels that someday they would meet again. That death wasn’t the end of everything. That God may have something in surprise for us all. Finally, she said that if she ever lives again, she wants to be a beautiful flower, so beautiful that it would bring happiness to anyone bearing guilt and sadness. Then, she passed away. Holding Cyrus’ hand until the end, she left peacefully with a smile.

Cyrus then buried Luna in a small garden patch near their hut. In her epitaph, he engraved these words: “To my beloved for all eternity, Luna, my moon princess”.

Cyrus went to visit the grave every day. Months have passed, when all of a sudden; a small plant grew in Luna’s grave. Cyrus thought of removing it, thinking that it may be a weed. But looking closely, the plant has a bud. Thinking it is rather pointless to remove it, he left the small plant alone.

After some time, the plant grew. Finally, it came that one night, the moon was shining brightly, and Cyrus went to see the Luna’s grave when he was so surprised to what he saw! The buds have already blossomed! It turned out to be the loveliest among flowers, Cyrus had thought to himself. As he looks at the flower, a cold gust of wind blew within the night. It drifted with it the glittering pollens of the flower. Suddenly, Luna’s words flashbacked to his mind. With that, his tears fell, not of sadness, but of joy. From then on, Cyrus grew many of the flowers and took care of them, until his life came to end.

It was a long, long time ago and many years have come to pass and the flowers disappeared without a trace. Only if the moon can speak; that somewhere out there is the “moon flower”; a symbol of love promised to last for all eternity. Without a doubt, its existence blooms somewhere within the peacefulness of nights.

- Story written by Sir Night Celestine

*****

How to Make A Paper Shuriken

During the last few days of boredom, I felt the need to do something which can make me feel amused. As I was browsing on some videos on Youtube, I bumped on a video that teaches people about the art of origami or paper folding in Japanese. One of those which I've been interested was making paper shurikens or ninja stars. I even made a video out of it (which is in Filipino language...). You can try watching the video (if you understand Tagalog...)or follow the steps below:

Materials: 1 sheet of paper (preferably scratch paper...it''s one small way you could help the environment. ^_^)

Directions:

1. Shape your sheet of paper into a square by folding the lower part horizontally. Cut it with a pair of scissors or just tear it carefully.

2. Fold the paper in to two then cut it again in half. Now you have two halves. Do the same thing with two halves, except you don't cut it this time.

3. Next, fold the top part of your folded paper into the shape of a right triangle. On the lower part, you are going  to do the same, except it will be on the opposite side. Do the same with the other half-piece of the paper.

4. You should now have a pair of the folded pieces: the top forming a triangle while the lower part facing opposite sides.

5. Next, you should fold the pieces: one forming an "S" and the other a "Z".

6. Put the two pieces together, behind each other, with the half-slips facing the front and back.

7. It's folding time! Fold the first flap (the fold should be inwards) and insert the tip to the half-slip. Do the same for each flap. You should secure each flap and make sure it's inserted nice and tight.

8. TA-DA! Congratulations, You now have a paper shuriken! Now, be careful where you throw it...

Video links to Youtube (instructions in Filipino):

PART A - PAGGAWA NG PAPER SHURIKEN
PART B - PAGGAWA NG PAPER SHURIKEN

*****

What Good Teachers Are Made Of?

"If a teacher REALLY did become a good teacher, she will be remembered by his students..."

This evening I was browsing on some old files in my data drive, when I spotted an old research paper which I passed to a professor in my university (I graduated from AMAU). I remembered back when I was still in college, he was a very good professor in an education subject in my university. He is a man that is quiet in his late 40's, with chinky eyes and glasses. He was very nice and approachable, but even so, he taught his subject clearly. Same thing as my other education teacher, an old woman, who had a motherly heart; very kind, understanding and gentle in her students. Well, back to that old research paper, it was about an article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, dating September 29, 2002. I would like to share everyone about this find of mine, hoping this would help other people, especially students who plan to pursue the field of education and my contemporaries from different parts of the world, to understand and think about the things that makes a good teacher...like me (well, sort of ^_^). One thing is for sure: if you've been a good teacher, you'll surely be remembered by your students. 



Reaction Paper on Lifestyle article
“What Good Teachers Are Made Of?”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, issue of September 29, 2002:

     All of us had confronted so many teachers during our childhood. We had seen their different mood and styles of teaching. Some are industrious while others are slackers. Some are friendly and kind, while some are terrifying and unapproachable and others don’t care. Some are creative in style of teaching, while others are traditional and old-fashioned. Some are young, while some are old. Some are beautiful yet some are not that good-looking. They all have one obligation in this profession, to teach and convince us of things that we have to learn. And yes, we all rate our teachers according to our own criteria of judging; we judge and evaluate them as the best, the fair or the worst. But what really makes a good teacher?

     First is course competence. According to the article, a good teacher must first have mastered the subject or course he is teaching. For example, an English teacher should have the expertise on the English language, and that includes correct pronunciation, grammatical-correctness, choice of words and spelling. A Math teacher should have knowledge of mathematical formulas and answers mathematical equations correctly. This is the true substance of a teacher, looks and charm can never cover up inadequacy and incompetence. A teacher should know what he teaches, because everything that he teaches to the student, the student puts to mind. So if the teacher taught a student something which was erroneously explained, the latter will put to mind that what was told to him by his teacher is right, thus, leading to trash knowledge. A blind person can never be able to guide another blind person, because if he does so, they will both fall to a deep pit. Another requirement is a teacher should be able to answer the questions that her students ask. That’s why a teacher should be resourceful and updated to do some research every now and then. Also, he should be able to translate and expound complex explanations to a short, brief explanation to his students, in a manner that they would understand.

     Second is having pedagogical skills. It means that a teacher should be able to communicate with others in a clear manner. He makes his subject interesting; he utilizes different approaches which appeal to his students. He presents a good lecture, opening questions to mentally stimulate students. He provides a good interaction and relation with his students. Also he should be flexible, open-minded, original, bold, creative and has a good sense of humor. This entrances the teacher’s charm, making him more convincing and a good reputation among his students and colleagues. A teacher also learns from his students.

     Third requirement is understanding student development. It is a teacher’s responsibility to not only stimulate learning in their students, but also being responsible and hard work. He should be able to motivate his students to develop good study habits and to deepen their capacity of thinking, having more confidence, more patience and more self-esteem.

     Lastly, a teacher should have professional conduct. He should act professionally, serve as a good role model and have a good and clean reputation. He should be able to know his limits, understanding ethical distance between him and his students. He should act as a good leader, making the class work as a team. Also he shows sincerity and respect not only to his students, but to his colleagues as well. He should have dignity and integrity, being honored to be a teacher. It all goes under one word: commitment.

     I liked this article so much, for it was really inspiring and very educational. I am surprised when I found out that the writer given recognition for his excellence on her profession as a teacher. I learned so many things in this article; it is one of the best articles I have ever read.

 *****

Welcome To 'A Night's Tale'!

Welcome to A Night's Tale. This is a "story blog", mostly dedicated for those who are very interested with different stories in our life: written or through mouth, fictional or real.

This blog has a mission and vision.

MISSION: "To entertain and educate people of this generation, through the means of stories while educating them at the same time."

VISION: "To teach, educate and  inform people of this generation about the importance of good values,morals and conduct, inspiring them to be imaginative, creative and law-abiding citizens, who upholds a high moral standard in their lives and character to serve as a role model, inspiring others to be the same."

At first, I had been thinking of choosing the Filipino language as a medium of presenting most of my content, because I feel I will be able to convey my ideas in an easier manner and at the same time being true to myself. But recently, because of some policies that are involved with regards to my blog, I am forced to revert all my posts to English. Even so, I am hoping that many people would be able to keep up with me.

I am also hoping for your comments and contributions to my blog. I will try my best to regularly update this blog every week. Anyways, enjoy reading!

*****