"My time as a god is growing short. I can feel it, Parish," Azazel said after a while of silence. A wry smile settled on his face. His gaze shifted to Parish who was staring back at him, confused.
"It's the right time for you to prepare yourself for what is coming," he added.
Parish creased his brows at that. Was there something else he was supposed to know apart from the obvious? Azazel smiled at him after reading his thoughts. The boy had so much to learn within a short period of time, which Azazel was afraid would not be enough.
"Let's take a walk," he said, struggling to stand from his seat. Parish hurriedly went to his aid and helped him up on his feet. Azazel just smiled at him before he whispered a thank you.
Parish creased his brows for the nth time in a row now. Questions upon questions were piling in his mind. He was now staring at Azazel's feet, a questioning look on his face. Wasn't God Azazel a snake? Why then did he walk on his feet? Wait? Or was he a human and not a snake, then why was it told in the legend that he was a snake? The thought alone brought fear into Parish's being.
"I was not human you fool," Azazel said after reading his mind. This made Parish clench his fists. His thoughts were private yet this annoying god was shamelessly accessing them.
"Why then do you… " He asked, pointing at Azazel's legs," Walk on foot?"
"The Almighty One gave us some privileges as gods, and shapeshifting to complete humans was one of them," Azazel said as he walked down a well-trimmed lane that led into a darker cave. Parish, who was listening keenly all this time, trailed behind him, awed by the magnificence of his new surroundings.
"Will this place be my home now?" He asked. The thought alone brought a warm feeling to his being. And though he still had uncertainties about this 'god' thing, he was still thrilled and honored to be chosen as Azazel's successor. Those damned humans were going to pay for every drop of blood that they spilled.
Martin's face popped up in his mind and a rage like no other enveloped his being. That face! How could he forget it? Martin would be the first person to have a taste of his own medicine. That, Parish swore under clenched teeth.
"Just don't butcher the poor human," Azazel added in his thoughts, making Parish to halt in his tracks. What the hell did he just do? He was certain Azazel had not spoken any words yet he was as sure as he knows his name that Azazel had said something, in his mind.
"Wait!" He called trotting towards where Azazel was. "You can speak telepathically?" He asked with bated breath.
"Just one of my many talents," Azazel answered absent-mindedly. Parish's face lit in surprise. Was he going to have access to all this power? It somehow scared him. That power was too much to wield. How sure was Azazel that he would wield his power?
"Never been so sure," Azazel said as they made their way deeper into the cave. Parish just nodded. But still, he just couldn't understand how Azazel knew that he was the one.
"When that time comes, you'll understand," Azazel said.
But why did he choose him of all the people? Parish was the weakest of the members of the Snake's men clan. Even his father, who had been killed by the hunters, doubted his capabilities as the next leader. And due to his young age, the snakemen clan never considered him as their leader despite the fact that he was the son of the snakemen elder. Instead, they chose to follow his uncle, who was the brother of his father. A man filled with wisdom and knowledge of the terrains would be considered rather than a lad who grew up sheltered due to the constant attacks.
"Don't you have a wife? A son or something? Is it forbidden for gods?" Parish asked out of the blue, making Azazel halt in his tracks. He let out a sigh before he turned to face Parish. He looked at his eyes as he contemplated on what to tell him. Gods, this was hard.
"I did have a wife, back when I was still a mere mortal. But she was killed by the hunters," he said in s very nonchalant tone, as if telling how nice the weather was. Parish understood that he didn't like dwelling on the matter so he simply nodded. Azazel acknowledged that and continued his way deeper into the cave.
"If you don't mind me asking, where are we going?" Parish had just realized that he was following the god blindly without even knowing where they were heading to. He still did not trust him fully so he had to be cautious around him.
"The epitome of the sanctuary," Azazel replied simply. Parish did not know what that meant so he just followed him silently. The cave was dimly lit with a few torches installed on the wall. Far ahead, a gleaming purple light could be seen, creating a scenery that Parish never knew existed. And as Azazel neared the place, more light started seeping from his body, generating a strand-like light that was headed toward the purple-lit region.
"Oh my!" Parish exclaimed when he came to the opening deep inside the cave. This was a phenomenon! A purple tree stood in the middle of the place, its shiny purple leaves lightning the place. The beaming light emanating from the tree was otherworldly. It was indeed the epitome of the sanctuary. But what was this tree?
"This is the tree of the gods," Azazel said, watching the surprised Parish in awe. "It acts as a link between us, the gods, and the almighty one."
"You see that?" He asked pointing at blue-colored fruits that were hanging on the tree. Parish followed his line of sight and nodded simply when he noticed the blue fruits. "Those fruits represent us, the gods. And that red one represents the almighty."
"Do you see that?" He asked pointing at a fruit whose blue color was fading in and out. Contrary to the rest of the fruits, this one looked overripe and almost dead. The blue light in it was dimming in and out as if it would turn off anytime soon.
"That's me!"