The clouds are white and grey. It made the sky appear dull. I breathed in, whiffing at the uniqueness of the breezy sea. It didn't give a pungent smell, but it was still fishy and salty nonetheless. The scent is no different from what the earth-sea would smell like.
My brows creased as I smiled to myself, feeling bitter and sweet.
I still miss my family on earth, but at this point, I don't think I could go back there again. Not because I can't, but because I don't have the courage to face them once more. Not when evil thoughts constantly run in and out openly in my mind.
[Mortal, are you alright? You suddenly became quiet…] Bakunawa said in my head.
I glance sideways, looking over my shoulder. Bakunawa's large eyes stared at me, and I smiled at her comfortingly.
"I'm fine, just a little melancholic," I said, patting her blue scales with my left hand.
[Really? Alright then.]
I gaze forward again, seeing the line at the edge of the deep blue sea. "How long is it going to take before we reach the Maple Kingdom?" I said.
[Probably three to four days. But with the pace we have right now, I reckon that it would only take three days.]
"That's good news then," I mumbled, looking down at the pink rabbit covered with white fabric on top of my lap. "But I think we need to hurry, Pula's body is not well under the weather of the sea."
[Indeed.] Bakunawa replied, speeding up the pace of her gliding.
At the present time, Bakunawa is swimming in the middle of the sea. Only her lower body is under the water, while her head remains up in the air. And sitting in a lotus position on top of Bakunawa's nose is me.
After I had that conversation with Bakunawa. The blue serpent wanted to get revenge from the gladiator woman and the people of the Nilad City.
However, I told her that I wanted to go find the whereabouts of Pula's parents as soon as possible, so she had to postpone her revenge. Bakunawa agreed understandably.
When we went out the underground floor of the Dregs Arena, I told Alexandra and that slug woman that I would be back after the matter of Pula's funeral had been settled. I didn't inform them of anything important. I only told them that I will be gone for a while.
At first, Alexandra didn't accept me going somewhere she had no clue about. Alexandra said that she could just contact Penelope, then we could just use Penelope's skill portal to send us where I wanted to go.
The idea was tempting, but I refused. I still do feel indebted to Alexandra even now, and I'm not going to deny what I owe her, but our relationship is complicated. She doesn't even know that her aunt just became my slave. Who knows what she would do once she discovers it, well, I don't want to think about it. For now, my priority is to arrange Pula's funeral with her family.
Still, regardless of my refusal, Alexandra and her aunt packed me some things for the journey. Like food, clothes, and stuff that is necessary for my survival. They even gave me a ship for the journey, but Bakunawa refused disdainfully.
Bakunawa said that she will take me there in the Maple Kingdom, and send me back safely to Nilad city by herself. I agreed with Bakunawa, but I accepted the pack items from the gladiator woman. Not from Alexandra.
So now, I'm here with this serpent in the middle of the sea. Bakunawa actually became even bigger after diving into the sea, and she explained that the sea is what gives her extra boost and power.
As Bakunawa strode forward, gliding on the surface of the glittering blue water.
The breeze became aggressive and strong. And from a distance, a huge dark cloud came into sight, advancing from afar. Bolts of white spark inside the greyish cottons of the cumulonimbus shroud.
[Storm is coming, mortal. Go inside my mouth and hurry.] Bakunawa transmitted in my head urgently.
I look behind me with weaved brows. "You're not trying to eat me, right?" I asked, sceptical and dubious.
Bakunawa rolled her eyeballs. [Mortal, I'm not a savage like humans, and I'll have to dive deeper into the ocean, so we can pass the storm safely.] Bakunawa explained, annoyed.
"Is it safe to go inside your mouth? What if I end up dying from your acids?" I said, still suspicious.
[Don't worry, my insides are just like a cave or something like that. Actually, the inside of my body is full of treasures.] Bakunawa said in my head, sounding like temptation.
"Are you trying to bait those treasures and trap me?" I asked, feeling even more sceptical.
[Dumb mortal, why do I have to bait you with treasure? Just me alone is temptation itself.] Bakunawa said like a narcissist.
"I'm not interested in treasures, anyway, if it's safer inside your mouth then I won't mind sitting there," I said, standing up. I carried the bag behind my back and Pula in my left arm.
[But the treasure inside my mouth is what that woman wants from me from the beginning.] Bakunawa transmitted over, sounding lost.
"The gladiator woman?" I asked, glancing at Bakunawa's eyes.
[Yes. And because I refused her, she tried to tame me instead.] Bakunawa transmitted in my head, sounding angry.
"So that's why she's keeping you in the arena, huh." Then I tilted my head to the side in wonder. "How did you even get captured?"
[That gladiator woman tricked me. She approached me pretending to be a good human. Of course, I know she isn't good, but she said she knows where my sister is.] Bakunawa explained.
"Oh, you have a sister?" I asked, surprised.
[Yes, her name is Bacobaco. I was originally looking for her because we got separated. So when that gladiator woman said that she knows where Bacobaco is, I tried to risk it and I ended up being trapped by those greedy humans.]
My brows pulled up together in sympathy. "Don't worry, I won't be interested in your treasure. Or to you," I said in a comforting tone.
[It's fine. If you find anything to your liking, you can freely get it.] Bakunawa said, opening her mouth.
"I won't be polite with you then," I replied, curving my lips teasingly.
Bakunawa rolled her large eyes and didn't respond.
I strap Pula's body in front of me with the white fabric, then I climb down, entering Bakunawa cave-like mouth. Inside is nothing but darkness.
[Are you already inside? If you are then I'm closing my mouth, so I can start diving to the ocean.] Bakunawa transmitted to my head.
"Wait, it's dark here," I said a little loud.
[Then get a lamp or something.] Bakunawa transmitted impatiently.
"I know, just give me a second," I replied back.
I took the small lamp inside my bag. And I lit the candle up inside with a match. The light from the small lamp barely lit Bakunawa's inside.
"Well, this will do," I muttered, putting the lamp's hook to the white blade.
[The storm is here, mortal.] Bakunawa transmitted as her mouth closed.
"It's okay, I already lit up the lamp," I said, walking further inside.
[Alright. I'm diving into the ocean. Don't burn my inside body on fire.] Bakunawa reminded me.
"Mm," I hum. "Don't worry."
After that, Bakunawa didn't reply again, and I continued to saunter my way deeper in Bakunawa's body. Up ahead is an extending darkness.
I point my white blade on the side as I walk. The surrounding does indeed look like a cave because of the hard-exterior appearance of her insides. Being tickled with curiosity. I slid my left fingers on it.
And suddenly my footing became unsteady as the ground shook.
[Don't touch my inside, mortal. Or else I'll spit you out in the ocean and drown you.] Bakunawa warned threateningly.
I smiled wryly. "Sorry, I was just curious," I mumbled sheepishly.
[Hmmp.]
I cleared my throat awkwardly as I continued to walk. After a while, my foot stepped into something. I looked down and saw a gold ring.
'Looks like I'm getting closer to the treasures,' I thought as I ignored the gold ring and continued on.
And after more walking, I finally saw a mountain of treasure. There were even books piled up with it.
"Why do you have books inside your body?" I asked.
[The treasure inside my stomach is a collection of items I gathered from visiting ruins as I look for my sister Bacobaco.] Bakunawa explained.
"Oh," I replied, walking to the pile of books.
I put the lamp down on the ground, sitting in a lotus position. I picked up a book cluttered on the side, then I started reading to pass the boredom.
As I read more of the content of the book, I became even more engaged. "You got some interesting books here," I commented.
[Is that so? I haven't read any of those books yet since I'm more focused on the whereabouts of my sister. Well, I'll read them soon if I have the time.] Bakunawa replied.
"The books are about how the world started," I said.
[Really? But I already know about everything in this world, so it was only about that?] Bakunawa asked.
I shrugged even though Bakunawa couldn't see me. "I haven't read them all yet," I replied.
[I see, well, I'm up on the surface again, do you want to go out and have some air?] Bakunawa asked.
"Oh, I'm gonna stay here for a while," I said, reading the book.
[Alright, tell me if you want to come out.] Bakunawa transmitted.
Eventually, I ended up reading the rest of the books inside Bakunawa. I closed the book in my head, placing it on top of the rest of the books I already read.
And there is a mountain of them piled up beside me. It was all the books I found inside Bakunawa.
These books contain information about how the world began, which stated that the world started out just a big seed of light and shadow that merged together.
The positive and the negative energies collided together resulting in a big impact, giving birth to a new seed.
Slowly, the new seed took roots in the shadows, and the seed took nutrients from the light. The seed sprouted and became a seedling. Bit by bit, the seedling grew huge until it became a small plant that now became a tree, which is now called the Cosmos of the Acacia Tree.
The first fruit of the Acacia Tree became the first ancient gods and goddesses. The first generation of gods are Bathala, Magwayen, and Sitan.
Bathala both have male and female reproductive organs. And she also has a voluptuous chest.
Meanwhile, Magwayen only has a female reproductive organ, while Sitan also only has a male reproductive organ as a male god.
In books, painting, and sculptures: Bathala is most often portrayed as a female alpha, Magwayen is a female omega, while Sitan is a male beta.
It was stated that the three stayed at the upper realm that was called in the book as Celestial Heaven, which is the branches of the Acacia Tree.
It was not clear who or how the fight started between Bathala and Sitan. Because some of the papers on the books were ripped out, but it mentioned that a fight started.
Bathala and Sitan fought against each other in order to usurp the empty throne of the Celestial Heaven, and in the end, Sitan lost and he went to the lower realm to rule the empty place of the Infernal Abyss.
Meanwhile, Magwayen chose to forfeit the battle, and instead, she settled to become the god of the sea in the middle realm called Nucleus, the heart of the Acacia Tree.
Bathala felt lonely when Sitan and Magwayen left, so Bathala decided to create out of boredom. She cut off some branches of the Acacia Tree, then she burned them, using its ashes to create the first three mortals.
The three mortals were created in the image of Bathala, Magwayen, and Sitan.
Bathala called them Alpha, Beta, and Omega. Because these three can't survive on the upper realm. Bathala created a ground in the middle realm where her creations could live.
However, the middle realm was already occupied by Magwayen and her creations. And the actions of Bathala angered the peaceful life of Magwayen.
So, Bathala and Magwayen fought against each other. If Magwayen wins, then Bathala's creations will have to leave the middle realm. And Bathala agreed with these conditions.
However, in the end, it was Bathala who won, and her creations started to live in the middle realm. It was also the first batch of humans.
There was more in the book, but this was the summary.
In other words, I can finally confirm that the information on the novel I read in my original world is not all true. In the novel, there is only one god and that is Bathala, but it looks like that was not the case.
It also seems that the First King of the Maple Kingdom hid the truth from his people.
Well, I don't care why. The only reason I'm going back to Maple Kingdom is because of Pula, the handkerchief, and Kendra.
I yawned, feeling sleepy. "Bakunawa, are we there yet?"
[No, we're still far from near. Right now, I'm still diving the oceans of Paloma Sea. Two more days and half the night.] Bakunawa answered.
"Mm, then I'll take a quick nap first," I said, stretching my body.
[Go ahead.]
I nodded, lying down.
I closed my eyes, and within a few short seconds, I instantly fell asleep.