Immortal Elements

Lander, Engkantao of Earth

Lander

"Better control that temper of yours, human torch!" I yelled.

"f**k off you Groot!" I heard her yelled back before slamming the door shut.

I chuckled at her behavior.

"Must you guys always test her patience?"

I looked ahead and saw Aquel leaning against the doorframe.

I chuckled and put back the fire extinguisher back in the corner.

"The cats started it." I said.

Aquel arched her eyebrow.

"And you used the fire extinguisher against her." She said and I shrugged.

I turned to the cats.

"So, what's for dinner?" I asked them.

"Dinner?" My familiar, Luntian asked entering the kitchen.

Luntian is a brown labrador who loves eating just like me.

Midnight and Twilight looked at each other before shrugging.

"Tita Wella and tita Wendy said they'll be late. So it's up to us to feed ourselves." Aquel said looking inside the fridge.

I sighed and put my hands inside my pockets.

"I'll just buy something from the resto. You stay Luntian." I said and walked out.

The resto is just a few blocks from the house so I'll just walk, it'll be a good exercise.

Since its a kind of a long walk, let me introduce myself. My name Is Travis Lander Castillo. I'm 19 years old and I am the engkantao of of earth. Cool huh? How did that happen? My mom was in a business trip somewhere here in the Philippines when she met my dad. She was swoon by him, got a little bit carried away then boom! One night of passionate love making, then in the morning he was gone. Mom considered it as one night stand kind of thing and moved on. And then after nine months I was born.

Mom said when I was a few months old, she noticed some weird things happening around. Like the flowers in the room never wilted, the plants are always healthy, birds always flew by the window as if greeting me. Our pet dogs are so protective of me.

Then she told me, one day my dad showed up at our doorstep. He explained to mom everything, that his name is Dumakulem, he is not entirely human and he's an engkanto, the guardian of the mountains. Of course mom just laughed at him, that is until he showed mom his powers. He told her that on my 7th birthday, I will start to manifest my powers. So he will send someone to take me and train me. Then he was gone again.

Mom didn't actually believed him, so on my 7th birthday I managed to bend plants on my will and my mom was shocked to her wits. That day she explained everything to me and the next day tita Wendy and tita Wella showed up and they took me. I've been living with them since then.

I first met Windzy when I got to the twins' place. She's their niece and she's the same age as me, but she thinks more mature than her age. She's smart too. The next year, Flair and Aquel came as the new addition to our group. We were also introduced to the organization, presented us to the Katolanon, the Lakan and the Datus making us official members.

They gave each one of us mutya, gifts of extra abilities and powers, so aside from my power of controlling the land, plants, I have super strength and invisibility. They gave us weapons too. A bolo that we can transform into something else. I can transform mine into a huge axe.

I am allowed to see my mom every now and then, but since she's a very busy business woman that is always working overseas, I didn't really get the chance. I talked to her over the phone or skype, but not often. I'm not even sure if she has a boyfriend now.

Regarding my dad, haven't seen his face ever. He never showed up himself even to my mom again. He's a total d**k if you ask me. Anito or not, he should've just let me feel that he cared.

If there is one thing I'm grateful about all of this? I found my family. The girls and the twins. They are my family. We may not be bonded by blood but we are bonded by love. Sometimes being with those girls is kind of weird, but I just have to step up and be their older brother. And what does older brothers do? Annoy their sisters, and I'm pretty good at it. You've seen the incident with Flair earlier. Man, she's a real spitfire. Literally spitfire.

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When I arrived at the resto, I walked right in and saw that it's half full. I went towards the counter and sat on one of the stools. Carmen, the head waitress approached me with a smile.

"Lander, no dinner on the table again? So, what can I get you tonight?" She asked.

I grinned at her.

"How about the all famous caldereta and chopseuy." I told her.

She smiled.

"In a minute."

Then she left and went to the kitchen.

I was quietly waiting for my order when a hand landed on my shoulder. Then four guys stood around me.

"Castillo! What is a weirdo like you doing here?" Said the owner of the hand on my shoulder.

That guy, is Chard Manabat. He was my classmate since highschool and he's a pain in the ass. He always pick on me, and as usual, he's with his minions.

I turned to him and looked at him in the eye.

"What do people do in a restaurant genius?" I asked.

Chard glared at me. He's about to smack me when Carmen arrived with my order.

"You boys better leave Lander alone or I'll make you all famous." Carmen said, pointing at the CCTV camera behind her.

"Hurt the boy and I'll take the video to the Tulfo show." Carmen threatened.

Chard scoffed and glared at me.

"I'll get you next time Castillo." Chard snarled before leaving with his minions.

I turned to Carmen when they were gone.

"Thanks Carmen." I said.

"Don't mention it. Just when will you ever stand up against them?" She asked.

I gave her a small smile.

"Violence is not the answer." I told her and gave her the money for the food I ordered .

Then I left the resto. While walking back, I thought about what Carmen said.

'Stand up against them?' I internally chuckled.

'If I did, they'd be either in coma or six feet under. ' I thought to myself as I made my way home.