My sleep was a terrible, fitful, painful experience. There was a persistent itch just on the other side of pain, combined with a burning that seemed to go through more than just my body. It was difficult to describe.

It also seemed to go on forever. I remember dreaming of my mother's voice – it was a frequent occurrence at first but soon periods of silence seemed to stretch longer and longer between visits.

I think I knew something was happening when I could vaguely feel her approach, and her voice sounded sadder, bleaker than before. Even if the words didn't break through the haze of my sleep, it still felt like a goodbye. I was immensely saddened by this, partially because her visits were the only distraction from my rampant discomfort, but mainly because it meant either I was leaving, or she was. Since I wasn't in a position to go anywhere at this point, that meant either I was dying, or…

I tried not to think about the number of times I had been put into stasis, and how while that might mean that I was going to live long enough to see if this last procedure would finally fix whatever was so broken about me that meant my mother had had to leave behind her home and everything she knew to try to address it, it didn't necessarily mean that she would live to see it, too.

Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position to say or do anything to stop her from leaving, nor was I sure that she should. Maybe she had finally decided that she simply couldn't wait anymore, and decided to go live her life. I couldn't actually fault her for that, either. I had no idea how long we had traveled for, nor how long I had already been here, but I could guess that it was significantly more than my three or four years of experience.

Eventually, after what felt like eons, I found myself slowly coming to awareness once more. I could immediately tell that something was certainly different, as I opened my eyes to a raging torrent of colors and sensations completely alien to my previous understanding. Forget about the vague auras around people and things I had felt before, I was now bombarded by these colors and fields, like everything was a floodlight pointed directly at my face. The pool I found myself suspended over was the worst of it, painfully bright and loud. I found myself curling up and whimpering as I hovered - HOVERED - over the pool of light, then slowly felt myself drifting over to the edge. I could feel something pulling at me with a sense that wasn't quite proprioception but was close.

Once I landed I curled up once more, just trying to block out the new sights and sensations. It was significantly too much. I'm not sure how many hours it took me to settle down and filter the input to a more manageable level, but eventually I was able to raise my head and squint around. I was in some sort of cavern, but while the distant ceiling looked like the sort of rough unfinished stone one would expect, the walls to a significant height had been shaped into perfectly smooth stone. On one wall was a large carved circle, at the top of which was currently an animated, somewhat stylized depiction of a sun, while at the bottom of the circle was a similarly stylized moon. Apparently we had a magical clock-wall, somehow. If this was a cavern, that would make sense - trying to keep track of time and circadian rhythms would be quite challenging underground.

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Eventually, I couldn't keep distracting myself, and turned to face what looked like a scroll floating in the air a few feet from where I had been set down beside the pool. I felt like I had a pretty good idea of what this was, and didn't really want to read my mother's goodbye letter.

On the other hand, on multiple levels, I had to know.

I reached out with a hand that I was now noticing was much larger than it had been before, as were my arms and really my everything - I was no longer a “slightly large for his age” three year old, apparently. I now looked tall enough to be somewhere between ten and thirteen. Before I could distract myself further, I grabbed the scroll and opened it.

______________

My Son,

It has now been 500 years since I set you in stasis before our descent to our final destination together, and your current place of rest. By now, I had expected the mana baptism to be complete, but my spells tell me you are not yet finished with your rebirth. Sadly, I fear my time is coming to an end.

When I first held you in my arms in my childhood home on Atlantis, that blessed isle that I miss so much, I knew that there was nothing I would not do to see you live safe and happy. Of course, both of those require power. When you did not show the proper signs as all noble children of Atlantis must, I knew I could not let the fate of all unfortunate children of my home befall you.

I do not regret the centuries of strife and study while searching for a solution, as you are my child and my love for you is unending and eternal. While I dearly miss my home, a home without you, my greatest gift, would be naught but a torturous prison. I have often dreamed of returning with you there, to show you the magnificent fountains and spires of the world’s greatest empire.

When I learned of this hidden font of magic, buried deep under the Earth, I knew this was our final hope. I have made a home for us here deep within Gaea’s bones, and I had hoped to share it with you. It is my greatest regret that I will not be there to celebrate your victory over the misfortune of your birth and celebrate with you as you revel in the magic that has always been your birthright.

You must grow strong, my son, and live a wondrous life. Make sure that all know your name, Agathon, and that you were this Selene’s greatest glory.

_____________

I tried to hold my tears as I finished the letter. My mother spent over 800 years trying to give me a better life. What could I possibly do to return that kind of love and devotion?

I began to roll back up the scroll before I noticed that there was a hurried addition at the bottom of the scroll.

I have left you a number of resources - food in stasis, some basic texts, and a few servant constructs to make the time you take to recover more comfortable. I have tied the magicks of this cavern to the mana of the pool, which will keep them strong, giving you protection as you grow. When you are strong enough, you will be able to end them or alter them as you wish.