An Encounter With A God

The two of them wasted a few hours ogling at the space surrounding them. It's like a desolate space with nothing but dark and blue and a few cobblestones at their ground which laid the flooring beneath their feet is seen.

Not even any pillars like their previous encounter could be seen. But after quite some time has passed, they reached a place with the thickest fog.

"Hey Old man! I saw something interesting..." Argus was the first to have discovered it. "Should we go look at it?" Waiting for Miguel's reply as he looked at Miguel in weird clothing.

Well to Argus, Miguel had weird clothing. On the other hand, he wondered why he is wearing a different outfit here.

What Argus is wearing is his clothing when he is still a Ranoan. A skirt paired with an open chaleco vest made from the finest plants woven in colorful hues. A red bandanna and golden earrings, bracelets, and necklace.

Miguel look around first before agreeing to go. "Let's go."

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What greeted them after the fog when they came close is a Huge Tree. Each of its branches spreads highly in the vast empty ceiling.

The Huge Tree is like a grand book opened for the two mortals who arrived at its dwelling place. A spectacle of grandiose beauty that encourages their spirits to dance like the blue flames swirling high as a vortex, creating a circle that surrounds the tree. Just like odes to its branches that spread heaven-bound and in the gloomy dim space, it kissed a sense in those unmoving leaves, the thousand green hues like whisper without sound to their ears.

"Woaahhh I have never seen a tree like this..." Awestruck from the magnificence of the tree, Argus's eyes bulged wide in wonder.

"Indeed, such a huge tree. What does this tree is doing here?" Miguel remarked as he went close.

Following Miguel, Argus saw how broad Miguel's shoulders are, even with the coat it did not fail to hide its shape.

Then Miguel suddenly halted which promoted Argus who isn't paying attention to his front, bump at the back of Miguel.

"Ahh Hey Old Man! Watch it!"

"It's so strange..." Miguel only answered with a simple mutter that is almost incoherent.

"What Strange?" Peering from behind Miguel's back, Argus stared at the Huge tree.

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And another spectacular view has greeted the two...

Surrounding the vortex of flames, still, clear water covered their sight and nearby is a huge wooden boat that can be rowed with appeared.

They stared at each other, and from that cue alone they understood what each other meant as they slowly took the bow and hoped on it.

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Rowing the boat through this still clear waters, they easily approached the tree.

Just then... A voice echoed throughout the whole area, just when Miguel's right foot was placed at the patch of the grassy shore where the Huge tree is located.

"TWO LOST SOULS... I WELCOME YOU TO MY HUMBLE ABODE!"

Argus and Miguel opened their eyes wide, they stared at each other then shifted their gaze towards the tree. Both of them had the same thought: "Is the Tree Speaking to us?"

Then Argus recalled something from his previous tribe's elders... "When you die, you row a boat and meet Sidapa, the God of Death..."

Argus with trembling knees courtly and respectfully asked while bowing his head as he alighted from the boat, "Sidapa, is that you?"

The God of Death shrouded in smokes answered,

"This is as far as your comprehension will allow."

Miguel who is didn't truly believed in any God scratched his head. He is now in doubt to himself, what if he is wrong all this time? "Perhaps God truly exists?"

He nudged at Argus who is busily kowtowing below the tree. "Hey, who is Sidapa?"

Argus after getting nudged felt irked, his brows have knitted into an ugly frown as he made a brief statement.

"This foolish Old Man, Sidapa is the God of Death!" clicking his tongue Argus returned from gazing Miguel to burying his head to the ground in a revering manner.

Then after a few breathes, a shadow of a blurry figure came into sight. It was the Sidapa whom Argus knew...

Described as very tall and muscular with golden horns, some stories say he had ten golden horns. Those who died and returned claimed to had a glimpse of what Sidapa, the God of Death looked like.

Some stories also narrated that instead of horns, it was a golden crown. Also in some stories when he appears, it is through a swarm of black butterflies, another version is that some stories say it's a murder or a flock of crows.

Those who hated Sidapa described him appearing in a swarm of bats that covered him instead of a swarm of butterflies. But most versions describe him as a monstrous black-winged being with ten golden horns and cloven hooves.

"Is that truly you God of Death, Sidapa?" Argus once again asked.

And the figure voiced in a loud crisp tone: "Whatever you believed, you are seeing it now..."

"Why won't you reveal your kind self to us then?" Argus has tossed another question.

"Because you may not accept it. I or should I say, We let them see me as they wish, that they may continue to believe. And when they continue to believe, We continue to exist."

Miguel found himself in deep contemplation, he recalled a book he once has read. "Isn't Sidapa that Sidapa?" He was known to be cruel and unkind because he had not tasted food all under heaven but when he descended a slave gave him food, moved by the goodness of mortal beings he decided to plant a tree where he can measure the lifespan of mortals. He is a protective deity also a kind one for when prayers are offered to him, he would extend the life of a dying individual.

That's what he recalled, according to the book.

It was Miguel's turn to ask "Then why show yourself to me if I don't believe in you?" while he continued in a carefree manner as if he is not a part of this whole ordeal.

Then the figure replied, "Because the believer holds on to the belief." But it was time to turn his gaze towards Miguel. He signaled him to come close.

Miguel still acted indifferently, he looked left and right wondering if he should also kowtow or should he just bow his head? And witnessing the strange behavior of Miguel, Argus could not help but sneer.

Yet, the God of Death had a different reaction. He just chuckled from the fog and allowed Miguel to do what he, please. In the end, Miguel settled with a slight bow from his head.

Sidapa, seemed pleased. He nodded in return. "Since you do not believe, then you have nothing to hold on to. Both of you may wonder later and compare what I looked but you will find out that what I looked at you is different from the other."

The two only nodded in reply as the God of Death uttered to himself "The two of you have died."

When they heard this, the two raised their heads in disbelief. Argus had forgotten to kowtow and stood in the presence of the God of Death. Although he already had a vague idea, he still found it unbelievable to actually hear it from the God of death himself.

Then the God of Death extended one of its billion-year branches from the sacred tree towards Miguel.

"Come, sit with me. There are things We need to talk about, things the believer will not believe."

"Such as...?" Miguel casually replied

Sidapa, the God of Death smiled. "Everything."