Old Hermit

Sightseeing really made this long walk to the border quite interesting, I learned that the people of this city used some kind of magic. It was referred to as 'Divination'. The Maya believed that how this world came into creation was related to divination and magic. Those who practiced divination associate it as a form of creation magic similar to the holy power that formed the 'Earth' They dubbed their heroes and gods as diviners as they were capable of acts that transcend the laws that govern this world. I guess they weren't just mere myths.

"What a MASSIVE arch"

As an archaeologist in my past life, I knew that the Maya engineers were capable of building such mighty structures. But seeing it in reality, amazes me more than I imagined. This arch was used as an entrance and an exit to the city. Royal guards were stationed there in order to monitor those who leave and enter the city. A hoard of merchants just passed through and I eavesdropped on the guard and another merchant having a conversation.

"Damn, they really yielded that much resources from that single rainforest?"

["They sure did, and I'm pretty sure that it was more than the last time they came here"]

"They really overdid it with these materials, what are they planning to use it for anyway?"

["Didn't you hear? These merchants are gonna sell it to the Alchemy Sect. If I recall, they were going to use these as ingredients for potions that enables a person's divination ability to be accessed. Only 1 in a 100 people have an innate ability to unlock divination, but these potions would awaken it otherwise"]

"THATS A MIRACLE. But, I wonder if that would really work. Divination is a blessing from the gods, if a mere potion could help you harness it then wouldn't that mean divination would be commonplace now?."

["Well thats correct, but they're outrageously expensive. On top of that, if you could afford these potions, misuse will lead to your premature death."]

"Then, how does one use it?"

["Through cultivation. Cultivation is the process of absorbing and taking. A diviner uses this method in order to strengthen one's abilities."]

"How does one actually perform cultivation?"

["When the creator god 'Itzamna' made this world, he filled it with invisible but yet a rich and pure concentrate of energy. This energy allows the planet to flourish, from plants to human beings, we all use this subliminally.]

["Cultivation enables one to consciously control this energy. It can help us strengthen our mind and body. Especially our soul, which is the foundation of all divination. The potions are composed of pure compressed energy. Thats why you have to cultivate in order to balance your inner and outer energy. Otherwise, your body may burst and look like a bloody explosion"

"S-s-scary, I'm not planning to buy that after all."

Wow, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on such a long conversation. It seems like that merchant is quite knowledgeable. Divination and cultivation, sounds like pretty complex stuff. A-and they don't even have a name for this 'energy'. I'll refer to this as mana just because its mainstream. Anyway, I shouldn't have been wasting this much time but I learned a lot more than I expected. I need to head out to the forest. Speaking of which, the goddess told me to find some old hermit inside it. That's what it did say in the scroll but I'm curious as to how I can find such a person, and in such a vast rainforest too. I'll focus on finding the cave for now.

( Sounds from the bushes are heard...)

(A Giant King Cobra VS. Red Flame-tailed Fox)

"WHA... WHAT IS THAT??" AM I ON THE POKEMON WORLD NOW?"

That was shocking, I didn't expect these ferocious animals to appear or even exist. And this mist... It's making things inconspicuous, I can't even see clearly. But one thing is for sure, that looked like those magical beasts from those comics that my son reads from time to time. Is this even the past? It's deviating from the hypothesized ideas of the past in my time.

(The Red Fox dies...)

OH SH*T..... THE SNAKE IS AFTER ME, GOTTA RUN FAST

I screwed up, I definitely thought that battle was going to last. Damn it, atleast that fox could've just won but that snake was gigantic and also venomous... F*ck, what are the odds.

{Cadmael trips over a rock...}

THIS IS BAD... SERIOUSLY BAD! AAAHHHHHH SOMEONE SAVE MEEEEE!!! THIS IS THE WORST TIMING EVERR

{Cadmael cries out and faints}

"What a troublesome man this is... and he's the saviour?"

{Wakes Up}

Am I in heaven now? W-wait a minute, I don't remember heaven having a rocky ceiling... Ugh, this is definitely not it. Atleast I'm alive for now, I need to figure out where I am. I only remember that snake chasing me. Did someone actually hear my cries... That's totally embarassing

{A voice is heard}

"So you're awake now..."

Pardon me. It seems that you have saved me and I owe you for that but I am leaving. I still have somewhere to go...

"Take a look at the surroundings, haven't you already reached your desination?"

Could... could you be 'The Old Hermit'?

"What a rude young man... I am only 122 years old you know?!"

*In his thoughts*

Wow, that's seriously old

W-well yes, you are indeed the one I have been searching for. But may I ask what happened when I fell unconscious?

"I already knew that you were coming here, but I watched. As soon as the snake attacked you, I fended it off and took you here."

So thats what happened...

"You are capable of divination and have a strong body yet you ran with such cowardice"

B-but how, I'm precisely sure that serpent was not to be reckoned with. Could it be?

"Correct, it is divination"

What!... How did you know what I was going to say?

"I also know that you were sent by the goddess Alaghom. It is within my knowledge of why you came here, who you are, and the fact that you do not belong in this point in time"

May I ask who you truly are and what you are doing in this cave?

"I used to belong to the city of Palenque, the one you reside in. I am an oracle but I was exiled by the ruler known as 'Pakal the Great'. I was accused of blasphemy and was thrown out. I have taken this rainforest as my shelter. Now let's get straight to the point, I will now enlighten you to see the memories of your body as well as learn your purpose in this world"

You are... an oracle? So that means you can see the future right?...

"Partially yes and no"

What do you mean?

"An oracle such as me, I can see the future and obtain knowledge through divination but not to an extent like a prophet. I am blessed with knowledge by the diety I worship and that is the Goddess of Intellect which sent you. However, prophets are similar but are also a different case"

Divin-

" Enough questions, we will begin your awakening. Just as what the Goddess said, the truth will begin to unfold by itself..."

A-alright....