The Tale of Xenosa

Calm After The Storm

Cheska's POV:

I blacked out. Those were the first words that came to my mind. What's unusual though is that I was conscious. Well, I believed I was. And then the familiar feeling came over me, the scenery in front of me then began to change. I was now back at the hut where I grew up. Seeing it now in my head makes me miss it even more. Now that I knew I was having a vision and not some dream, I began to look for someone. In my visions, there's always someone I will find. Last time it was that guy, I wonder who it will be now? I then ran around the area, I looked everywhere. I even went to the hut's backyard, but there was no one there. What could this vision mean? I then went inside the hut and that's where I found the person I have been looking for. She looked at me and smiled, "Oh my sweet Xenosa," she said while cupping my face with her hands. I had to admit she had the hands of an angel, they were as soft as clouds. I then looked at her bewildered, she called me that name again. "Xenosa?" I said, not intentionally voicing my thoughts out. With that, the woman just giggled at me. "Oh dear, you have truly forgotten haven't you? Well, not to worry, you'll know soon enough. I'm just here to visit and congratulate you." she said, I could hear a hint of pride in her voice. "Uhm I'm sorry to ask, but what would you be congratulating me for? I'm quite confused." I asked her. "Congratulations for your powers of course. I have been telling the old guy to visit you for years already. Every demigod only gets their powers once their godly parent visits them. It's a sign that they're giving you their blessings and are acknowledging you. Not everyone gets the chance you know. I wonder why it took so long. It's not like he's not the one in charge of his time" She said while shaking her head disapprovingly. If I was getting this right I'd say she's quite disappointed that I've only gotten my powers now, if it were up to her it would've been a lot sooner. We were now sitting in the hut's living room. She then covered her mouth with her fingers, "Perhaps I've said too much. I and my blabbing mouth can say too much at times," she said cheerfully. "Uhm Lady not to burst your bubble or anything but I don't exactly know who you are," I said hesitantly. Upon hearing that she just smiled and stood up from her seat, "Don't worry dearie, you'll get your chance to know who I am soon enough. I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other in person sooner than expected. Now I must go, he's waiting for me. He's not a very patient person." she said while making her way to the door. I don't what came over me but I had the urge to ask her this, "Who exactly is waiting for you?" I said wondering about who might be the person who's waiting for her. With that, she glanced my way once last time and said, "Your father of course. Now, I really need to go. One last tip, once you wake up try not to strangle old Katalina alright?" she then stepped out of the door, and then everything vanished. A few moments later I could feel my senses come back to me, I could hear the clicking of teacups and some other stuff, I could also sense the light coming through my eyes. That was the moment when I decided to open them. I saw that we were now back at Nana Katalina's hut. I groaned as I felt a headache creep into my head, "Ouch, my head hurts. What happened?" I asked not having any memory of what happened. I looked around and saw Lacresia sitting with Lady Katalina at the dining table. They seemed to be talking about something important. I slowly walked and approached them. "Hi there Cheska, take a seat next to Cresia." Lady Katalina said. I notices she had gashes on her arms and a wound on her forehead. "Lady Katalina what happened to you?" I asked her. She then looked at me and gave me a look that said "you should know". I sat beside Cresia and looked at her for answers, "Ches we were the ones who attacked Lady Katalina. I don't have any memory of what happened either but she told me the story already. Turns out she found us unconscious at the Labyrinth's exit. Then we began to suspect things about her. I don't understand how or why that happened but she says we had quite the temper while talking to her. It even got to the point that we tried to fight her. She had to knock us both hut with a spell to bring us here. Hoping that we'll be somewhat calmer once we wake up and one we were far enough from that place." Cresia said. I then looked at her with my mouth gaping and my eyes widening. I knew I must've looked dumb but I can be careless. I mean what? We did what? We attacked Lady Katalina cause we were mad at her? I turned to look at Lady Katalina, not believing what we had just done. It must be some kind of mistake I'd never find the nerve to attack her. I mean if we've thrown accusations at her then she should be the one who should be mad. I then thought hard about it, and that's when the memories came rushing back. I laid my back up against the chair and help my forehead with my hands. "Of course now I remember" I muttered. Based on what I remember we were just talking and them Cresia and I just suddenly attacked. That's so not like us. I mean we would never do such a thing. Especially not to Lady Katalina. Lady Katalina then cleared her throat, gaining my attention. "I think I might know why that happened to you." she started. We then looked at her and gave her the look that urges her to explain further. "I think it's because you came from the Labyrinth. As you know I'm the one who cursed that place. It might be that you've absorbed all the hatred that place has. You must've inhaled so much mist from that place." Now that she's mentioned I did notice a mist when I was brought into consciousness again from the first time I lost it. I think my brain just didn't comprehend what my eyes were seeing, or perhaps it did, and decided just not to make a big deal out of it. "The corridor where the Bakunawa was at, that was the heart of the entire place. That's where my family used to live. When I cursed it I gave it life as well. As you know a creature who has a life also feels emotions, it must've felt we abandoned it and thus felt betrayed, emitting the mist you both inhaled," she continued to say. She was about to say something else when Lacresia interrupted her, "Lady Katalina what mist are you talking about? They weren't any and I was conscious the entire time we were there." she said. I then looked at her and answered, "There was some kind of mist emitting from the ground Cres, I saw it too. I was only able to see after I gained consciousness again. After I had a vision and a meeting with someone." I said then turned my head to look at Lady Katalina. "Uhm Lady Katalina do you know anything about that?" I asked her. She then nodded and said, "Yes I believe so. That's what we call the visitation. It's the first time your godly parents visit you. They say that when they visit, you gain some kind of power. The powers you'll get will depend on the kind of god your parent is." she then turned to me and continued to say, "You've been acknowledged by your dad Ches, that means you'll be able to see things you've never seen before. As well as being able to do things you thought you couldn't. As I've said the enhancement of your physical abilities is only the beginning of your abilities as demigods." she said. I nodded at her and said "He didn't tell me what he's the god of though. He only said I'll know soon enough. The lady said something similar as well." Lady Katalina then asked me, "You were visited by a woman too? That's quite unusual. Well just as what your dad said, you'll know soon enough." I smiled and nodded at her signifying that I agreed to what she just said. I looked over at Cresia and saw that she was looking intently on her lap. "Hey Cresia, you okay?" I asked. She nodded and just said, "Yeah I'm good. I was just thinking about my godly parent. When would I get acknowledged by them? Or do you think he or she will ever give me their blessings?" I looked at her apologetically, grabbed and squeezed her hand, "Cres they'd be a fool not to acknowledge you as their daughter. You're the bravest, kindest, and most loyal person I've ever met." I said to her. She then smiled and hugged me. Once our hug was over, I turned towards Lady Katalina, "I'm sorry if we attacked you Lady Katalina. I'd never do such a thing. If I knew about the Labyrinth's influence, I would've been more careful." I said and looked down. She then moved closer to me and held my chin so that I'd be able to look at her, "No need for your apologies Ches. I wasn't hurt that bad, and I had my share of faults too. I should've been honest with both of you from the start. I just thought that if I told you the whole story you won't trust me anymore. Yes, I admit that I do need the key, there even was a time when I'd do anything to get my hands to it. But that time was over now, I realized there are much more important things in this world than that key. I wanted the key because not only is it the key to Biringan, but it's also the key to the underworld, to the other realm. I wanted to go there and just be with my family but then I realized I had things to do up here as well. As an immortal, I had a lot of things to do here in this realm and I know that they would understand. We'll be able to see each other again." she said teary-eyed. I then hugged Lady Katalina after that and Lacresia did as well. Today was one heck of an adventure indeed. I wonder what happens next.