Chapter Text
As a kid, Janna could always tell something was odd from the moment she first laid her eyes upon it.
Even amongst an already admittedly eccentric extended family of scientists, archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, and paranormal investigators that was the Ordonia clan, the Treses—the people Tala’s sister Tia Miranda had married into—were a reclusive lot, only coming out of wherever they currently lived to see their friends and relatives every Christmas or on the occasional family reunion. Not that it made them outsiders amidst their own, mind you—if anything, the rare opportunity to greet, bond, and celebrate the good times with them always brightened up the parties in a fashion that only Filipinos would understand.
Janna was but a young toddler in the brief childhood years she spent in the Philippines, but she still remembered the appearance of Lolo Anton and Tia Alexandra seated at their table during the yearly celebrations in Los Baños: Lolo Anton had a clean-shaven haircut along with a flowing black camiso china that wrapped around him from his arms to his ankles, giving him the air of a skilled martial artist. Tia Alexandra had a striking resemblance with Janna herself—her aunt was still in her mid-twenties at the time, and her youthful appearance showed despite the thick grimace that always seemed to be plastered upon her pale face with the short-cut strands of black hair circling around and the thick widow’s peak that partially obscured her eyes. What quickly drew the young girl’s attention at the time though was neither the scowl nor the pitch-black cloak her aunt always wore; it was the gleam of the kris on her belt, the curved metallic blade once used by their ancestors, that changed Janna’s assessment of her from a mere passing glance to full, outright curiosity.
Quickly glancing at her parents to confirm they weren’t paying attention, Janna quietly slipped out of her seat and slid beneath the intricately woven cloths adorning the dining tables, stealthily making her way through the party until she was but meters away from her long-sought prize. Slowly emerging from underneath the table—taking great care not to alert the family currently occupying said furniture—she carefully, silently tiptoed towards the black-haired woman, raising her hand as if to slowly grab the weapon from where it lay on the aunt’s belt.
But Tia Alexandra must have somehow sensed the toddler’s presence despite Janna’s efforts, for she unexpectedly turned and faced her, raising an amused eyebrow at the young Ordonia. Janna froze, not having planned this far, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she now awaited the inevitable admonishment for her actions from her dad and the all-too-likely undignified piggyback ride back into the waiting arms of her mother. What happened next, however, surprised the young Ordonia even further: her aunt’s eyes wandered towards the toddler’s hand, which Janna slowly remembered was still extended towards the lady’s dagger. Putting two and two together, Tia Alexandra inexplicably smiled.
“You wanted to see this, didn’t you?”
Janna gave a small nod, too nervous to reply. Her aunt smirked back, and to the toddler’s shock reached for the kris on her waist; carefully holding it by the blade, she gently proffered it towards the astonished child.
“Wanna hold it?”
Janna’s eyes widened in awe as her pudgy little hands reached for the bronze handle of the ancient weapon, raising it into the air with great care as she examined the intricate design emblazoned on the blade. The kris felt warm to the touch and shone brighter than anything the toddler had ever seen before; if Janna wasn’t mistaken, it almost seemed like it was even speaking to her in a soft, melodic voice, like a young woman’s soul calling out to her from within. This thing was powerful, and Janna could feel the magic pouring through the blade and soaring into her veins; it was almost completely overwhelming for the young toddler.
Tia Alexandra smirked as her niece slowly twisted and turned the weapon. “It’s called Sinag, after my twin sister. Her spirit resides within the blade, and sometimes she comes out to talk to me whenever I’m sleeping.”
Janna gasped. “It’s a magic sword?”
Her aunt nodded. “Yup, magical through and through. It’s saved my life on multiple occasions, and it definitely will as long as I live. That, Sinag and I are sure of.”
From the distance, Mr. Ordonia’s voice called out, “Janna! Where are you?!”
Tia Alexandra blinked. “Well, that’s your dad, isn’t it? Come on, then, give it back and let’s get you back to your family.”
The black-haired woman extended her hand towards the toddler, waiting for Janna to hand Sinag back to her. Janna paused but ultimately complied, reluctantly relinquishing the kris to its wielder and watching with no small amount of disappointment as the blade was returned to its rightful spot on the adult’s waist. Seeing her niece’s unhappy expression, the young woman granted her another one of her rare genuine smiles, bringing a faint warmth onto her normally cold and emotionless face; Janna paused at the sight, looking up at Tia Alexandra in wonder.
She must have had a fascinating life to have a dagger like that, Janna thought to herself.