Marked by Encantos: Chapter 1 - Welcome Freshmen

Description

This is Chapter One of the book I’ve been working on — a story about Dante Reyes and how his world completely changes from the moment he sets foot in Diliman University.

Dante never expected his freshman year to spiral into something so dark, so mysterious, and so supernatural. What starts as a typical first day turns into something far more sinister when a strange mark appears on his hand. At first, it's just weird. But then it starts to reveal what it truly is — a connection to Biringan, the hidden city of the Encantos long thought to be just a myth.

Haunted by strange visions, cryptic messages, and a roommate named Alex who clearly knows more than he’s letting on, Dante begins to unravel secrets about his family’s past — and his own destiny. The mark isn’t just some random tattoo. It’s a symbol. A bond. Something ancient that ties him to the delicate balance between our world and the world of the Encantos. And with it comes danger — the Encanto Hunters are on the move, and something dark is rising in Biringan.

Now caught between two worlds, Dante has to make a choice. Will he step into the role he was born for and protect the secrets of the Encantos? Or will the darkness swallow him whole?

Marked by Encantos is a story where the line between myth and reality gets blurry. It’s about magic, betrayal, and what it really means to carry the weight of a legacy.

This is just the beginning.

Most of the story is written in English, but you’ll find parts in Filipino too. I included them because I wanted it to hit deeper — to speak to the hearts of my fellow Pinoys, the way our own myths and stories always have.

If you make it to the end of the chapter, I hope you enjoyed the ride. Don’t forget to leave me a comment — I’d love to hear what you think.

Chapter 1 - Welcome Freshmen

Dante Reyes had always imagined his first day at Diliman University as an exciting, maybe even liberating, experience. He had thought about the freedom of being on his own, in a big city far from the quiet, predictable life in Samar. But as he stepped onto the university grounds, his chest tightened with nervous anticipation. The towering buildings, the bustling students, the wide-open spaces—it all felt much bigger than he had ever imagined.

Clutching his phone, Dante fumbled through the campus map, trying to make sense of it. "Saan ba 'tong auditorium? Sobrang laki naman kasi nitong campus, para talagang maze," he muttered under his breath, squinting at the screen. The excitement he'd expected was still there, but now it was mingled with uncertainty. He'd never been in a place this large, where every corner seemed to lead into a new unfamiliar space. It felt like stepping into a different world, and he couldn't shake the feeling of being slightly... lost.

Adjusting the strap of his heavy backpack, he took a deep breath and reminded himself of why he was here. This was his opportunity—his chance to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the country. He'd worked hard to get here, to prove that he was ready for something more than the quiet, limited path that seemed to stretch endlessly back in Samar. Kung hindi para sa sarili ko, para kay Lola. The thought brought a flicker of warmth to his chest, pushing back the apprehension.

As he walked along the winding pathways, Dante couldn't help but notice how different everything felt compared to Samar. Back home, everyone knew each other, and life was simple—everyone had their own familiar rhythm. There was nothing like that here, he thought, as he took in the throngs of students rushing to and from different buildings, each lost in their own worlds and oblivious to him. The feeling was both liberating and a little terrifying. In Samar, he was surrounded by people who knew his story, the one his Lola loved to tell. But here, he was just another face in the crowd.

Back home, his Lola often gathered him and his cousins, telling tales by the light of a single flickering lamp. She'd lower her voice as if sharing a secret, and with a gentle smile, she'd talk about the night Dante was born. She'd describe the rain that poured down in torrents, drumming against the roof of their small house, and how a flash of lightning lit up the room just as Dante took his first breath. His Lola always insisted that it was a sign, something sacred about that storm and the faint spiral birthmark on his hand—a mark she claimed would tie him to something greater, beyond what he could see.

She had her own theories, whispering to him about the spirits of the forest and the Encantos who watched over the land. "Bantayan mo ang mga mata mo, apo," she would say, her tone half-serious, half-playful, "May mga bagay na hindi para sa lahat." Her stories left him both fascinated and uneasy, wondering if his Lola's tales were simply old beliefs—or if she knew something more about his connection to the unseen.

But here, in the bustling university, his birthmark felt insignificant, just as he did. There were no old stories, no guiding whispers, just an endless stream of strangers who knew nothing of who he was or the strange, mystical air that had always surrounded him back home.

Then he saw it—the massive Acacia tree standing tall near the walkway, its wide branches casting long shadows. There was something about the tree that made him pause. It looked ancient, its roots twisting into the ground as if they had been there forever. Beneath its shade, a woman sat quietly, engrossed in a book.

She was striking—petite, with long dark hair that flowed elegantly down her back. She seemed almost like a painting, too perfect for the casual surroundings. Dante wondered if she might be a professor or maybe an artist; her presence exuded a mysterious calm. There was something effortlessly graceful about her, like she didn't quite belong to the bustling world of students rushing by.

Curiosity piqued, Dante approached her. His footsteps slowed as he neared the Acacia tree, feeling a strange mix of intrigue and caution. When he finally reached her, she looked up from her book, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that made him pause. It wasn't just that she noticed him; it was like she recognized him.

"Excuse me, pwede bang magtanong?" Dante's voice wavered slightly, betraying his nervousness. He wasn't sure why he felt nervous around her, but there was something in the air—an almost imperceptible shift. The world around them seemed quieter now, as if the sounds of the campus had dulled the moment they made eye contact.

The woman smiled, but it wasn't a typical smile. There was something unsettling about it, as if she knew something he didn't. Her eyes, sharp and knowing, studied him for a moment before she closed her book and stood up with a graceful motion.

"Bago ka rito," she said, her voice soft yet laced with a subtle sharpness that sent a chill down Dante's spine. It wasn't a question—it was a statement, spoken with a confidence that suggested she knew far more than what was visible on the surface. The certainty in her tone weighed on him, as if she had already seen through him before he even had a chance to speak.

Dante nodded, feeling that odd sense of exposure tighten around him. Parang alam niya ang iniisip ko. He didn't understand why, but it felt like she had been expecting him. The idea was absurd, and yet, standing there, he couldn't shake it.

"Malalaman mo rin," she said, her smile deepening as she watched him. There was a knowing look in her eyes, one that made Dante feel strangely exposed—like she had plucked the very thought from his mind. The way she said it was cryptic, but it lingered, as though she knew more than what she was willing to reveal. Dante felt a ripple of unease pass through him.

Could she really know what he was thinking? He hadn't asked her anything, and yet her response felt like it was the answer to something unspoken. It was as if she had anticipated the question that was forming in his mind before he even knew what it was himself. Paano niya nalaman?

She turned and gestured for him to follow. Dante hesitated, his curiosity clashing with the growing feeling that something was off. Yet, something about her drew him in. Her presence was magnetic, compelling in a way he couldn't fully explain, as if she knew exactly where he needed to go—even if he didn't.

As he reluctantly followed, the lively hum of students and campus life around them seemed to fade, though Dante couldn't pinpoint when it started. It was gradual, the shift so subtle that he barely noticed it at first. The world around them grew quieter, unnaturally so, as if the air itself held its breath. A tightness formed in his chest, and a quiet voice in his mind whispered that this was not just another walk through campus. But he kept walking, unable to resist the strange pull that led him forward.

After a long stretch of silence, Dante finally spoke, trying to shake the growing tension. "Ano pong pangalan niyo?"

She slowed her pace and glanced back at him, her eyes glimmering with an ethereal light he hadn't seen before. There was something ancient in her gaze, something far older than the world around them. "Malalaman mo rin," she repeated, but this time her voice was softer, almost intimate, and it carried a weight that made his skin prickle. The way she said it held a deeper meaning, as if the answer wasn't just about her name but about something far greater—something she was guarding. Her presence wasn't just compelling—it was purposeful, and Dante suddenly felt as though he had stumbled into a conversation with someone far beyond the realm of ordinary life.

The realization hit him like a cold gust of wind. There was no doubt in his mind now: this woman wasn't just another student or passerby. His thoughts drifted back to the stories his Lola used to tell him—stories of mystical beings who lived between worlds, creatures who watched over hidden realms and ancient trees. Encantos. His stomach twisted with uncertainty. Could this woman be connected to those tales? The very idea seemed absurd, and yet, everything about this encounter felt surreal, just as the stories had.

Dante's heart raced. His mind screamed at him to turn back, but something stronger—something deeper—kept him moving forward.

As they reached the administration building, Dante's unease grew. The woman handed him a piece of paper with directions to the auditorium, her fingers brushing against his for just a moment—long enough to send a jolt of something cold through his skin.

And then, just like that, she was gone—disappearing into the shadows of the campus as though she had never been there at all.

Dante stood there for a moment, staring at the directions in his hand, but his mind was elsewhere. Her words, her smile—they lingered in his thoughts, unsettling and persistent. Who was she? And how did she know so much about him without saying anything at all?

As he made his way to the auditorium, his heart pounded with both curiosity and a growing sense of unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far bigger than he could understand.

END OF CHAPTER 1

If you’ve made it this far, grabe — thank you, sobrang nakakataba ng puso. It means so much to me that you enjoyed this first installment. Your support really keeps me going.

Writing this story isn’t just a passion project — it’s also my way of honoring the rich culture we have here in the Philippines. Through Dante’s journey, I hope I get to represent our myths, legends, and the magic that lives in our everyday lives.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think — I’d love to hear from you!

#curie #ocd #hiveph #darkfantasy