“Anything less than a hundred percent isn’t good enough.” That mantra followed him throughout Stephan’s life.

His parents always expected the best from him. They said they didn’t want him to waste his potential, and he knew he had a lot to spare. Stephan would always get the highest marks in class, win all the trophies in competitions. He honed his mind and body to near perfection.

But it wasn’t enough.

He would always compare himself to those he thought were doing better in life. There was always someone smarter, someone stronger. He would not rest on his laurels, he drive would not let him stay still.

That’s why he was here.

Stephan followed the old man’s advice and went through the forest at night. He kept his ears open for the sound of the creature and his eyes were set on the glint of its pendant.
He finally found the monster in a clearing littered with the bodies of those that tried to take its prize.

“They weren’t good enough, not like me.” He thought. Years of planning and preparation came to this. He thought back to when this journey started, over five years ago.

He had failed to get first place in a powerlifting event and threw his medal in the trash. Stephan was approached by an old man that said, “Not the kind of pendant that you wanted, was it?” Stephan’s anger reached its peak, no one would make fun of him for getting second place. He raised his arms in fury and punched the old man, but Stephan passed right through him. The old man laughed and said, “There are more things on this earth than you know.”

Stephan wasn’t scared. The old man stayed and told him a story. One of a creature that holds one of the most prized amulets in the world. If you defeat it and claim the pendant, you will have the strength of ten men.

“Tell me how to get to the creature!” Stephen demanded, but the old man’s reply was: “You are not ready.”

So it came to pass that with every triumph and failure that Stephan had, the old man would appear. Every time Stephan would say, “I am ready.” But the old man would shake his head and reply, “Not yet.”

That lasted for five years. Five years of the most grueling training that Stephan had ever experienced. He pushed his body to the limits, breaking bones, building muscle. Days that started before the sun rose and nights that ended after everyone had left.

He would not fail to get that pendant, it was the only thing that mattered.

And now he had his chance. He stared at the creature and was surprised at how human it seemed, its tamaraw head snorting in disapproval of Stephan’s intrusion.

Stephen raised his hands and gestured a challenge to the creature. It stepped over the skeletons of the challengers that failed to claim its prize.

“I will be good enough.” Was Stephan’s last thought before he rushed the creature.

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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Sarangay desctiption in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015. (Full text can be accessed at http://mythmuseum.weebly.com/list-of-philippine-mythical-creatures.html)

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
FB: JKTD