The Tale of Xenosa

Family Issues

Cheska's POV:

A single thought crossed my mind the second we left the court room, Cresia. I can already that I'm going to get an earful from her. I did leave her there all alone. Maybe my facial expression was very transparent that when Nana saw my face she immediately said, "Ches, don't worry about your friend. I'm pretty sure she's with her parents as well. Everybody takes this chance to talk to their families. They haven't seen you guys for at least 16 years or so." I nodded my head realizing that maybe she was talking with her parents too. Speaking of parents, this is the first time in our whole entire lives that we got to finally see them. I imagined something much more dramatic to happen when we met. Like I don't know, they save me from the grasp of an evil monster destined to kill me? Yeah that would be the exact type of hype we deserve. But I guess, we met in the most normal and chillest way possible. In a court room, where my dad saves my mom, and where I also found Nana. What were we gonna talk about anyway? It's not like I have a lot of questions for them. I understood their reasons, vengeful gods are hard to keep at bay after all. Maybe this would be our chance to get to know about each other. We were through the endless hallways when Nana suddenly took a sharp left turn. She waved her hands and the door opened. "Okay I didn't know you could do that grams," I said pertaining to what she just said. Once we entered the room I could immediately tell that this was where Nana was staying for the past couple of weeks. I could tell by the potions and herbs she had on her shelves. Her bad was also made to resemble the one we had back at Samar. The whole room had an entirely different ambiance compared to the rest of the castle. She only shrugged it off as a response. I then sat on the nearest available chair and tried to make myself comfortable. My parents and Nana also took their seats. I took a look at the beings who were responsible of birthing me into this worlds, the other was a god while the other one was an oracle. If you were to think of their titles you'd have to think that they'd act all responsible and serious. Well, at least for me that's how I imagined them to be. But right now, looking at them they seemed more like a middle aged couple who were still madly in love with each other. They were like teenagers around each other. Giggling and just teasing the other whenever they get the chance. Now don't get me wrong though, cause while we were there at the court room they give off a certain vibe that tells you how you should act around them but now they don't really seem like they were the same exact people a while ago. Perhaps this was the side only family could see. "It's fine Xen, you'll get used to them acting all lovey dovey," Nana said while making a grossed out expression on her face. I smiled at her. Just like before my dad was the one who initiated the conversation, "Okay so what do you wanna know Xen?" I looked at him and scratched the back of my head. Though I was expecting they'd ask me that I haven't really prepared my self yet. "So uhm, is Xenosa my real name? I'm confused" I finally say after a a minute or two os silence. My mom and dad both nodded at me but it was my mom who answered, " Yes, your real name is Xenosa. It means stranger in latin. I think it's a befitting name for you. Considering what I saw in your future Xen." I was curious about what that meant but I had a feeling I wasn't supposed to know so I didn't ask some more. "You were given the name Cheska by Nana when you two fled beyond the gates. It was supposed to help keep your identity hidden," she continued to say. Yeah I suspected they were going to say that. "So uh you haven't fully introduced yourselves yet," I trailed off. This time my dad was the one who answered first, "I'm Magbabaya, god of the sea, earth and the winds. Well some of the winds, my main domain is the sea. So I wouldn't be surprised if the power you got from me would most likely be that," he then stopped to wink at me. I think he already knows about what I did with the nymphs. In the mortal realm I'm known by the name Michael," he said. My mom was the next to answer, "My name is Mellie, and I'm a witch. I'm hoping you'll learn the art of witchcraft soon Xen, it'll be a powerful tool in that quest of yours. We both live at your father's castle in the sea. You can visit if you want." "If dad is a god, that would mean he's immortal right? An eternal being who will never fade from this Earth?" she then bobbed her head up and down. "Yep, that would be right. If you're going to ask how I managed to look young after all these years, it's because your dad has blessed me with immortality. Gods can do that to their chosen wives." I then though about Dagat, you know the girl from the legend we were told before we went to battle the dark nymphs. "So if dad has been immortal, I doubt you'd be his first wife mom," I said with a light chuckle. The atmosphere around the room suddenly changed. "We shouldn't talk about that Xen, it's a very sensitive topic for them," Nana said. I then thought about what else I should ask, the ambiance of the room slowly went back to normal soon after. "Is there any other thing that I should know about? No more lies or secrets?" I asked while looking at them both. They both shook their heads at the same time and so then I understood. "Well I guess we don't have much more to talk about then," I was about to stand up when my mom held my hands, stopping me. "Xen wait please. This is the only chance we'll get to talk in a long time. Your dad and I want to say sorry. I know you have inhibitions about us but please understand that a demigod family is a lot of work. Believe me we both wanted you in our lives, we both wanted to watch you grow up and be with you in all of your firsts. We're very sorry we weren't there and we do love you so much, you're our daughter after all." I don't how or why but I suddenly felt tears start to swell up in my eyes, hearing that from them just patched up some kind of hole I didn't even know I had. "It's not a big deal. I know you were both there when I needed you guys the most. I know you were the voices that would suddenly sound in my head whenever I'm in some kind of trouble. But you know it would've been better if you visited at least once, but it's no big deal. I really do understand and I appreciate all your help," I said to them both. They both smiled at me lovingly, and cried. They were crying and I couldn't help but cry too. After a while of just being in each other's arms. We all decided to wipe our tears and compose ourselves. The tension is now gone, I think we cried it all out. "Now Xenosa, tell us about your adventures," Nana said. My parents eagerly agreed to it as well, "Oooh yeah we saw a lot of it but we'd like to hear it out of you," they said. "Well, its a long story," I started to say with a small smile on my lips. "Oh believe we got time," I hear dad say. "Okay so it started on the day Nana disappeared.."