21 Chapter 19: Into the Unknown

Chapter 19: Into the Unknown

"NO." Dex shook his head, " I don't even know you! I am not sure where I am and what is this place with bowing trees?!" he bombarded Pantas with a lot of questions.

Pantas looked at him intently and sighed, " Look, Dex was it?", he asked.

Dex nodded.

" Very well, you are a Katalonan. A priest of nature and gods." he walked towards him, "A Medium to the spirits and walker of the underworld." he pats his shoulder.

" You will elicit a big change to all realms or end them all!" Pantas whispered.

"That's it?" Dex remained unconvinced, " I mean... What am I here for?"

" Look, I will explain on the way. But we need to make haste right now." he urged Dex.

Dex was never sure about this entire situation. In his mind, it is possible that he could be dreaming or this entirely just an elaborate ruse. But he can't tell, and the last thing he wants is to die as monster food or death by being haunted. He had no choice, so he followed along, although he's cautious.

Pantas guided him through the dense monoliths and undergrowth of the forest labyrinth, climbing gigantic roots to pass over the thick vegetation covering a path made from shiny black stones and marbled ones.

Along the way, Pantas also answered some questions he had, although brief and lacking detail.

" About what I said, I told you that you are a priest of nature and of the gods." he said as he climbed an overgrown root, " That is the reason why you can see gods with ease, even with them using a disguise or glamour spell," he added.

"You did say that! About gods but I haven't seen one even if you claim that I did." Dex answered as he tried to keep up with the agile old man.

"Oh, but you did!" Pantas insisted, " I saw it!"

"How? Why would you know?"

Pantas turned around and looked at Dex straight in his eyes with his pearl-colored eyes that glistened under the soft rays of the afternoon sun. " Because of these.", he pointed his blind eyes.

Dex was no longer surprised by his answer. After all, this was the less shocking thing he learned today. But still, he wanted to pry.

" Are you an aswang or something? Maybe an albularyo?" Dex tried to ask about the beggar's identity, " You're blind, right?" he asked some more.

"About those gods...Do you know who they are?" he added.

Pantas didn't answer; instead, he walked and continued to the trail. Dex ran to keep up with him who quickly traversed the natural maze, ducking the roots and plants over their heads. Dex couldn't stop for a rest as the beggar went deeper and deeper into the greens.

Finally, they reached another clearing with a human-sized stone idol with some inscriptions, which even if he had never read one, was familiar to him. They went closer to the statue, and when Pantas was just a step away from the stone idol, he bowed down and touched it.

Out of breath, Dex came closer to inspect on the stone idol. It was made of a solid, shiny black boulder intricately carved into a humanoid shape. Its smoothness glistened under the faint light of the sun.

The beautiful stone seemed to be calling him through his mind. It whispered his name, asking him to lay his hand on the beautiful statue. The stone enticed him even more until his hand reaches the stone on its own, almost caressing the black rock in the process.

"Don't touch that." Pantas held his hand.

He felt how strong Pantas was by his grip. On the surface, he looked like a frail old man, but from the way he gripped his hand, he thought he had a strength of a bodybuilder at his prime.

"Leave the conversation to me." Pantas said as he released his hand, " Give me a few minutes and wait somewhere...there!", he pointed somewhere away from the idol.

It took a few minutes more before Pantas finally stood up again. Dex remained silent, the whole time continually pinching himself just to see if this was all a dream, but he knew better by now it wasn't. The surreal experience is still something that Dex couldn't wrap his head around, but at the same time, he wants to know more.

" We need to rest here for a while," Pantas told him.

"Good. I can finally ask you for the rest of my questions."

Pantas smiled and nodded.

" Are you blind? I know that might be…" Dex begins to explain the burning question.

" I am blind, but I have eyes gifted to me by...well, actually I found them."

"What do you mean?" he asked again.

Pantas wanted to avoid the question, so instead, he diverted the topic to something else.

" Do you want to know more about me or your situation?"

Dex silenced himself for a minute. He wants to know more about what was going on with him, but he wants to find the right questions to ask; otherwise, he might end up having more problems instead.

Pantas looked at Dex deep within his thoughts. He knew he was having difficulty grasping the entire situation, but he dealt with it calmly and logically. He liked how the young man thought and offered him a few of the answers.

"Lemme see." Pantas broke the silence, " I gather; you want to know more about what a Katalonan is, do you?"

Dex nodded in agreement.

Pantas smiled and explained to him why the Katalonan's presence is significant for all the realms. He started by explaining to Dex the latent abilities of the first Katalonan. He explained to him how the first Katalonan was able to acquire abilities almost near powerful as the deities. He was able to control nature and the elements and was able to resurrect the dead.

"The Katalonan helped in providing balance to the realms and also became a consultant of affairs of both the Skyworld and the Living World," he explained.

Pantas also narrated to him all the heroic deeds the First Katalonan made, like how he saved mankind from the Skyworld crisis and how he raised a dead king from the Sulad just to prove a point to the death gods.

Dex couldn't believe how powerful his previous incarnation was! He doesn't have that kind of power, even though, Pantas might insist that he can do that too. What struck him the most from the story was the ability to traverse the underworld and raise the dead. In his mind, this might be a good opportunity for him to revive his beloved. So he asked some more.

" So, you mean to say, I can be as powerful as the first Katalonan?"

" Yes, of course!" Pantas smiled at him, " With proper training, of course."

" And with proper training, I can raise back the dead?"

Pantas' smile was suddenly wiped away from his face. Dex saw how Pantas' forehead creased as if he found the question odd. He stroked his long unkempt beard as if he thought if he should answer it or not.

Dex looked at him intently waiting for his answer.

"About that…" he hesitantly answered, " Yes, you can with some…"

Dex grabbed Pantas by the shoulder and hugged him. It was the first time he thought that about that possibility that maybe he can see her again alive.

"I'll do it!" Dex exclaimed, " I'll do it! I will be the Katalonan!"

There was a hint of weariness in Pantas' eyes. He knew he shouldn't have told him about that, but it was far too late. He tried to give Dex some enlightenment about it, but the man wouldn't listen. He looked into Dex's eyes and saw a man that is determined to do something for someone he loved.

" What do I need to do?" Dex asked Pantas, " You said I need to go on cleansing?"

" Yes, but…"

" I will do it! I will do it no matter what!" Dex is determined to see Calista no matter what. His eyes lit with passion and excitement.

"It's not that easy."

" I don't care! I will do it! I will embrace my role even if it kills me," either way, he would see Calista.

Pantas sighed. He had no power over him. It's too late to dissuade him now, and he knows it could be worst for Dex if he leaves him be. So, Pantas has no choice.

" Dex, I spoke with that Anitun." he pointed the black statue, " He granted you passage to his kingdom just beyond where he stands."

Dex listens to him, intently.

" Once you enter his kingdom, you have to make sure not to lose your way." he said, " Look for the falls with seven mouths, dip yourself in its waters and make sure not to give in to any temptation it might offer you."

Dex takes a deep breath, " I will do it."

"Make sure you survive that and anything else that you might encounter along the way. Come back here at this spot before the sun shines fully in the sky tomorrow," Pantas looked worried about him.

Dex nodded, " Should I begin now?" he asked.

"Not yet, not now, wait until dusk, then you can begin."

Dex nodded again and asked for Pantas to give him some space as he wants to prepare for the ordeal mentally.

The dusk came quickly for them. Pantas saw how the mountains slowly devoured the sun, leaving streaks of darkness in the sky. Pantas saw Dex stand up from where he sat and looked at him and smiled.

" It's time," Dex said as he walked into the unknown forest.

Pantas was not able to provide him with any advice. He could only hope that he won't follow the path that the Second Katalonan incarnation did. He can only blame himself for telling him too much, but at the same time, he thought it was also deemed necessary to save him.

"Gods, help us all," he whispered in his breath.

In the distance, he saw a flock of batlike creatures heading towards them.