The Tale of Xenosa

Visions and Other Stuff

Cheska's POV:

After a few days of staying at Lady Katalina's hut, Lacresia and I decided to go and continue our journey to enter Biringan. I don't know why but Cresia seemed to be occupied by something, she's been awfully quiet the past few days. Lady Katalina noticed it as well and even pulled me aside to talk about it. All good things, of course, we wouldn't want bad blood between us again. We agreed to allow Lacresia her own time, she'll tell us or me about it when she's ready. It's just that it's so unusual for her to be quiet, between the two of us she's the talkative one. For the last two days, the only conversation we've had was when we decided to leave tomorrow to continue our journey to Biringan. We were packing our stuff when I came up to her and said, "Hey Cres, what's up with you lately? You seem quite out of it. You've been awfully silent for the past couple of days as well." She then turned her head at me and just continued to ignore me. Had I done something wrong? For sure I didn't offend her or anything we barely talked these past couple of days. "Uhm, please don't give me the silent treatment. I'm no mind reader you know. C'mon just tell me," I said trying to bug the hell out of her so that she'd c***k and actually give in to me. She then slammed her hand down at the table which made me flinch. I wasn't expecting that kind of reaction from her. "You know what Ches? You're being super annoying right now," she said at me angrily. I was confused and shocked at what she was doing, "Cres what's happening to you? Just tell me already. I promise to listen the best I can." She took a deep breath and then said, "You wouldn't understand Ches. You have this whole demigod thing figured out. At the very least out of the two of us, you're the one who actually knows what she's gonna do with her life. I on the other hand am a wreck. I don't even know if I'm doing the right thing or if I'm taking the right path. All I know is that my grandparents told me to follow Louis, and that led me to the Labyrinth. Now, I'm not quite sure if I should go to Biringan with you. My godly parent has yet to acknowledge me or has given me any visions. It's just you know, I'm super pressured about everything, and I just don't know what to do anymore" I was shocked at what I heard I didn't know she felt like this. After her outburst, she seemed much more calm compared to before. What kind of friend even am I? An awful one I'm sure. I then slowly sat on her bed, "Cres if you aren't sure about coming with me to Biringan, you can just stay here and figure things out first. Maybe wait for your godly parent to visit first. Or maybe you should ask your grandparents again about the things you should do and the places where you should go. No one is gonna hate you or get mad at you if you decide to stay here." I said to her reassuringly. Though, unsure if I was able to console her or if I only added to her burden of thoughts more but I just wanted to help. She then looked at me and shook her head to the side, "No that wouldn't be right. Heck, that would feel weird Ches. I can't let you go in there alone. And then there's that vision I had before we left to go the maze the second time around. I feel like I'm supposed to go with you to Biringan because of it. Not just to the Bakunawa's lair," she said. "Speaking about that vision of yours what exactly did you see in there?" I asked. I hope this helps lighten the atmosphere around us. It's been so heavy ever since Lacresia voiced out her thoughts at me a few moments ago. "Well at first I thought it was just another dream. For sure you knew how that felt right? It was a feeling that you knew you were conscious and just you know alive. But then there's this other feeling that you also knew the things you were seeing weren't real." she started. I then nodded at her agreeing with what she just said. "Then I felt the hair at the back of my neck stand up. It was scary and yet I didn't feel like running away. I then suddenly saw the scenery change, my surroundings swirled around, and then suddenly it just went black. Like all the color was sucked out by that swirl. I was about to walk around but then I felt a hand on my left shoulder. Well of course I was startled. I then turned to look at her, but what I saw was what surprised me. It was some kind of a statue of you Ches. Well it seemed like an older version of you, but I knew it was you." she said. My eyes widened at what I just heard. Well, who wouldn't be, right? It was weird "I don't know how to feel about that. Why would people make a statue of me right?" I then saw a smile on Cresia's lips, "No silly, I don't mean it like a statue of you that was like made for you for your greatness or something," she said. I knew she was contemplating whether to tell me the rest of the story or not since she lost the smile she had earlier. "Ches, I don't know if I should tell you this. I'm not sure about it myself yet either." I then looked at her disapprovingly and then propped myself down on her bed, "You know, it's very rude not to continue a story. C'mon just tell me. We'll figure it out together." I said reassuring her. "Ches that statue, it was you. I think it really was you. It's like you've been turned to stone, Ches. The worst part for me was that you weren't alone. I saw people who were there as well. I even saw myself. The others I'm not quite sure yet. I couldn't make out their faces. I don't know Ches. I don't want to scare you with this, heck I'm even scared myself." Cresia had said. I then remembered the prophecy. I had to tell Cresia about that as well. I needed to be honest with her. Was her vision of us the world's way of telling us that whatever was destined was already set in stone? I then shook that thought out of my head and plastered the bravest face I could muster right now. "Cres I have to tell you about something, there's this prophecy and I think you should hear it. I don't think it would be fair if I didn't tell you about it before you completely decide to come with me." I then went to my side of the room and grabbed the notebook I had written the prophecy on before. I then went back and sat on Cresia's bed again. I then handed it to her and said, "Here, read it out loud." She opened the notebook and read the page I pointed at and read it. “A girl shall be born on the 29th of February, A childhood of happiness and never wary, In the midst of her adolescence, a loved one goes astray, Which begins her journey to a land far away. A journey of 8 she will start, But only 4 will make it to the heart, She will reach eighteen against all odds, The ultimate sacrifice she will give to the gods …" I then cleared my throat and said, "So, uh what do you think Cres?" I asked innocently. I didn't want to scare her about the entire thing, but I didn't have any choice. It wouldn't be fair if I let her come with me without her knowing about that prophecy first. After all, it did say I'd be bringing friends with me, and as far as I'm concerned the only friend that I had now was Lacresia. "Whoa. That was intense Ches! I didn't expect it to be so precise and well-detailed. Only four will make it to the heart huh? Is that the reason why you've always insisted that I didn't have to go with you?" She asked and I just nodded. "Ches why didn't you tell me about this before? This is super heavy to carry around, you could've told me to lessen the burden a little." she said. "I didn't want to obligate you about this Cres. It was already bad enough that you were shown that vision. I just can't risk it you know." I said to her. She then raised her hands dismissively, it was as if she was telling me I had no say in what she wanted to do. Which was true of course, I can't dictate to her the decisions she'll make. It is her life, I'm just a friend. "There's no way I'm not going now Ches. I'm too hyped up about this. Now I'm sure that I should go with you. This was what I was meant to do," she said a little too excitedly. "Slow down there Lacresia, have you forgotten about your vision as well? You saw us in stone remember." I told her while snapping my fingers at her trying to get the excitement out of her. "Yeah, but it doesn't mean I don't get to be excited about this stuff. Plus in the vision I had, it had 8 statues. If that place was the heart then only 4 would be there. I think the prophecy means something g else." she said giddily. "Yeah well I hope you're right about that Cres, " I said. "I finally know what I'm going to do. I'm going to go with you. Whether you like it or not. You don't have a choice about this, don't dare argue with me alright? I'm not taking no for an answer. So c'mon let's pack" Well that certainly lightened up the mood.