Madtaks : Legend Of The Four Corners - Volume 3 Chapter 41

Chiko was startled with the sudden presence of the mysterious old man. He was pretty sure he was alone in the forest. He did not even hear any kind of footsteps coming closer nor any noise of someone approaching. It was like the man was there all along, its just Chiko hasn’t noticed him.

“Who- Who are you?” Chiko examined this mysterious person. He does not look harmless at all. Chiko felt like he knew this person from before.

“I am just a nobody my prince. But if you truly wanted to know, please call me Bantaya. I am is a humble guardian spirit of this small forest and I am is here to tell you of the direction you have to take next. I am is to tell you that the road ahead is only going to get harder. and I am must warn you not to trust every human you met right away.” The man said with a very mild and obvious way of speaking.

“What? I don’t understand. Why are you calling me prince? And you are a guardian spirit of this forest?” Chiko asked perplexed of the things he has heard.

“I am is it, my prince. Come have a sit.” The old man tapped the small smooth rock beside him. Chiko felt like the man have no intentions at all as he can see from the man’s eyes. Chiko sat beside him and the old man started talking:

“I think that you must be looking for the farm where you grew or perhaps, your home. I am correct my prince?” The man said and Chiko nodded silently in reply.

“I am is here to assure you that your home is not gone. Rather it is hidden from the mortal’s eye.”

“hidden?” Chiko got more confused.

“Your home is actually a mystical place hidden from normal human’s eyes. Unless they have my permission, no one could ever get inside your home.”

“What do you mean? My home is actually a hidden place? And what about the prince thingy?”

“we call you prince because you are the fourth son of the Maharlikan King.”

“Maharlikan King?”

“I am is to owe you an explanation but I am is afraid that you would not believe me If I just tell you.”

The man said in a very comforting voice.

“Please do. I am all ears.” Chiko wanted to know what happened to his home. As of this moment, despite his doubts, this person in front of him is the only one that has a piece of information.

“All right then. If you will excuse me..” After saying this, the old man stood up and started chanting in an unfamiliar dialect that Chiko failed to understand.

After the lengthy and weird chant, the old man before him suddenly shone brightly and the next instant Chiko could only see an enormous crocodile.

“Lolong!?” Chiko was greatly surprised to see his old crocodile friend.