Chapter 423 The Majestic Path

Keng jumped off the tree branch and landed. He made his way to the stream of water and pulled his backpack out. He looked through his backpack for his flask. Clothes, skinning knife, assortment of medicinal herbs, assortment of medicinal pastes and powders and…

"Oh." Keng grabbed the large bag out and opened it. "This is the energy remedy. I should make this." Keng fished for the mortar and pestle in his backpack and spent some time mashing together the ingredients. He eventually found his flask at the bottom of the backpack. It was still filled from the last time he collected water. He grabbed the flask and opened it and took a sip.

It was still quite cold. The flask was given to him with some sort of enchantment to keep the temperature cooler or warmer for longer. He grabbed the paste and threw it in the flask and capped it. Keng shook it like a madman, waiting for the paste and the water to become one.

He uncapped it and looked inside. It smelled like the drink he was given from the Shaman. He gulped it all down and wiped his mouth, satisfied.

"Alright, refill this and its time to get to work. Let's try to find the Majestic."

Hours passed and the suns were higher in the sky. Keng jumped from tree branch to tree branch trying to hear those familiar sounds play, again. He had seen many colorful things around and wondered if he would ever find the Majestic beast, again.

'Two encounters is a lot for a person, right?' Keng thought. He wanted to protect himself by giving himself an adequate 'you did well. It's okay' excuse, but he couldn't fool himself. He chuckled at himself. 'Maybe I do hate losing like Lee.' He shook his head and continued forward. The forest, from weeks of running around, was fairly flat. He had broken it into three sections: Ent, Tomb, and Rock.

He had heavily explored around the Tomb section and Ent section since he had previously been there. The odd holes and destroyed forest eventually had plenty of odd rocks and boulders. He had made his way back to that section of the forest because that's where he last saw the Majestic beast.

The forest opened up and Keng sailed through the air, his three tails sailing behind him as he landed on the ground with a tuck and a roll. Keng hummed quietly to himself as he took a moment to look around. The Rock section of the forest certainly was starting to show more signs of hills and valleys.

'I'm surprised you can't see any of this from the Tomb. I guess the trees do block away a lot of what you see.' Keng turned to walk down the middle of the hilly opening. Three steps in and a calming melody played. He stopped in his tracks and looked up the hill. The Majestic stag stood at the top of the hill, looking down at him. It's horns shimmered in the suns light, refracting off rainbows.

The Majestic stag stared at him like it was studying him. It turned and forward, away from Keng's sight.

'It knows I want it.' Keng darted up the hill, his form instantly shimmering. He cleared the hill and noticed the stag was already at the bottom hundreds of feet away from him. It was turning left. 'It's going towards Tomb?'

Keng moved quicker to keep up with the Majestic stag. He needed to not fail, again. It was giving him an opportunity to catch it. It would occasionally turn back and look at Keng like it was waiting for him just enough and then continuing on like it wanted him to follow it. In any circumstance, Keng would've been less reluctant to follow something strong like this but the Majestic stag didn't seem to emit any malice or ill intentions towards him.

He followed the large stag for awhile and eventually found himself in a new place he hadn't been before. The forest opened up and a field of flowers within the forest sprawled all across him. The Majestic stood in the middle of the field looking at him like some sort of… Well, majestic beast.

Keng slowed to a walk and touched the flowers. He could feel the immense energy of the flowers in them. He looked at the Majestic, who seemed to be waiting for him to come closer.

"Do you want me to kill you or…?" Keng's voice trailed off. He stopped in his tracks as the stag turned to look at him. He was huge! He stood at least eight feet high and his eyes were sharp. They looked at Keng like they knew their differences.

The Majestic slowly moved backwards revealing a path. It motioned with its head for Keng to move forward.

"You want me to… Go through there?" Keng pointed. The Majestic motioned with its head, again. Keng nodded and slowly passed the stag, turning to face it as he moved by. The path was lit with flowers that glowed different colors. As he entered the forest, everything seemed to change around him. It was like he… Walked into a different place.

"What's… This?" Keng asked. The field was bright and the flowers continued to spread all around him. The energy felt different here for Keng. It was very apparent he was somewhere different. He watched as little lights flew around and chased each other. "Where am I?"

"Where are you? I wonder why you're here." A voice called out behind him. He turned and noticed a silver-haired young man standing there. He had a bag on his side and wore sandals. His eyes were golden and his arms were folded.

"Who are— Lord Vox'su?" Keng mumbled.

"Ah, so you do remember me." Vox'su smiled. He moved towards Keng and gave him a wave.

"B-but why are you here? I thought I was chasing a Majestic but it…"

"It lead you to me? Yes, because I need you for a moment of your time, Keng." Vox'su spoke.

"A moment of my time? What do you need, Lord Vox'su?"

"Y'know I don't normally do this, right?" Vox'su raised his eyebrows. Keng nodded. "Well, my brother insists something must happen soon or else—"

The smell of the sea washed into Keng's nostrils and Vox'su sighed.

"Little brother, I didn't expect you to do this to me!" A woman's voice called out. Keng began to turn and witness water take form of a beautiful woman with long orange hair. Her blue eyes pierced through the water and Hydrosphere instantly began to hum.

"What the…" Keng muttered.

"Hydran, I've just come to discuss things with my Blessed champion. That's all." Vox'su chuckled. He moved to stand next to Keng and watched as Hydran fully formed. The goddess of water was beautiful. Her hair flowed like water, always seemingly wet. She wore a green dress and her feet were bare.

"And I have a little something I need from your champion, brother." Hydran spoke.

"About the Merfolk?"

"Yes, about the Merfolk." Hydran nodded. Hydran looked at Keng with unamused look. "The God King promised me you would help me with my problem Keng. I need your help now if you're going to keep my precious Hydrosphere." Hydran motioned and the daggers flew out of their compartments. The daggers rejoined and and a large trident stood at her side.

"And can't that wait just a moment, dear sister?" Vox'su asked taking a step towards her. "I need to talk to him in private about what's to come with our… Personal matter." Vox'su motioned. Hydran rolled her eyes.

"He can't even leave the Realm for another two years, Vox'su. Why are you so impatient about this?" Hydran asked.

"Because we might not have more than two years, Hydran." Vox'su explained. Hydran didn't seem to budge from her unamused expression. Keng found Hydran hard to read. If he had to be honest, he couldn't even tell what Vox'su really wanted.

"What do you mean?" Hydran asked. Vox'su glanced at his left hand. There were golden marks on his left hand. They glowed as the Silver god looked at it.

"Rox'su's champion doesn't have much time." Vox'su looked up at her. His sister's expression grew a bit darker.

"How much time at best?" Hydran asked.

"Four months at best."

"Four months… here?" Keng asked. Vox'su turned and nodded.

"So what about my problem then, dear brother? Do I just let my people suffer?" Hydran asked. Vox'su shook his head and turned to look at Keng.

"You got four months at best to return to Lee Seng." Vox'su spoke. "Four months to clear whatever problem Hydran is having and get back to Earth before things really get complicated, Keng. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, but why do I have to help Lady Hydran? Why can't I ju-just go back to him? I-if it's really that bad then—"

"You cannot." Vox'su put his hands onto Keng's shoulders. "Hydran needs your help and I need you to help her first."

"But you just said—"

"I did, but there's something that awaits you with the Merfolk."

"Do I just… Go alone?" Keng looked between Vox'su and Hydran.

"Your little friend." Hydran spoke. "I think she'll do well, don't you think Vox'su?"

"Lily?" Vox'su looked at Hydran. "Why would you want Tear'a and Rox'su's Blessed?"

"Are you really asking me that question? You see it, don't you?"

"See what?" Keng stuttered. The two gods turned to look at him.