The flames crackled, the bonfire shedding its light and warmth on to the strange guests sitting beside it. The moon was well into its path, the meadow peaceful, beautiful even with the stars flickering above and the flower petals forming a carpet of an iridescent shimmer on the ground.
A lull passed between the barely grown child and the unnatural being, the previous roasting meats and floating condiments nowhere to be seen. Aster had no doubt they were placed in a similar artifact akin to the one in his possession. During the time he had spent using the void stone, it became clear that anything stored within its space gets frozen in the same state. To be truthful, it was the only he had been able to keep himself alive through his crazy foray into the Endless Glades. Any food he stored within the void stone would be perfectly preserved and ready for consumption when needed.
"It seems your family…" Eiseldawn began, "might possess a deeper heritage than most…" He mused out loud, not giving air to the full thoughts swirling within him.
His voice though was enough to snap Aster out of his reverie.
"My father…did once hint at it but he kept persisting that I was not of age… yet." Another sob threatened to wreak his insides but he forcefully quelled his emotions. Despite being fed, his whole body felt exhausted. He didn't have it in him to let out another tirade, not when he still had a story left to tell.
"The teleportation spell my father… had performed brought me hundreds of meters away, into a secluded part of the forest. For several minutes I didn't know what to do. Then a rumble appeared and from a distance I could see the rising smoke. I knew then that the manor… was no more. The Lord of Lunar House had attacked our home and razed it to the ground."
Aster's voice cracked again but this time it was not with sorrow. No on his face Eiseldawn saw an expression no 14 years old boy should ever have. Even as the child's face transformed from one seeping with pain and hatred to another filled with helplessness, Eisel was once again affirmed of something he had sensed ever since he saw him mutilating the hunter's body. Within the child, his potential disciple was a rising well of darkness. It would be up to him to guide it in a proper direction but for now though, he would settle for something simple. Ultimately it would be up to the child to make use of the priceless opportunity before him.
"I'm familiar with loss child, perhaps more than you can ever imagine. Still no youth deserves to experience what you have gone through." He offered him a small smile, one that disappeared as quickly as it came. "However that does not explain how you managed survive till now."
A wisp of a savage smile formed on Aster's face.
"Oh they did underestimate me." Aster smirked before he shook his head to get his bearings, "Those of Lunar House and even the hunters…they all thought I would be an easy prey but I proved them wrong."
Then his face got somber.
"That night… was the worst one in my life. I couldn't move for hours…and the horror of it all…I couldn't wrap my head around it. My father…& mother willingly gave up their lives for me. I-I didn't feel I deserved it, I didn't feel…like my life was more important than theirs."
Aster took the moment to choke back the tears before he continued.
"Still I somehow I managed to pull myself together. I knew I couldn't let my father down…I couldn't let it all be for nothing. Donning a new robe from the void stone my father had left me, I attempted to disguise myself. The stone had several rations of food I knew I could survive on for a little while and then I began to find my way back. I couldn't bare to leave it all behind as my father had wanted. I…had to see for myself, I had to return."
Aster took a deep breath before he brought his knees closer, clasping them tight with his hands, trying to gather warmth against the chill he felt deep inside.
"As a consequence of my father's harsh training, my mastery of the spell Night Grasp was decent enough that I could dare enter Astra Town under the cover of the night. When I reached the small hill our manor once stood…only ruins were left behind. Blood was …everywhere. They had attempted to clean it up, to try to destroy their traces…but it was clear. Our House, our manor that had stood for countless years was now nothing more than wreckage. Our legacy destroyed and our presence forever gone. Oh they had tried to placate the town denizens, spreading lies of a rogue attack from the marauders who sought to kill our family for its treasures only for them to arrive too late to be of any help. They promised to protect them and swore to hunt those who harmed us. It wasn't much but rest of the town had no choice but to trust them. They were shaken for sure as our manor was the stronghold of the community. But as long as the House of Lunar was present; their lives would have some semblance of safety from the supposed marauders who might mean them harm."
Aster deeply breathed as he let out words that carried all of his grievances and despair.
"But I knew all of it was false. It was all lies to hide what they had done. I could have run and hide, for I knew they were still searching for me. I could have turned my back and followed my father's wishes …but I couldn't. I could not have allowed them to get away with it. Those lies would have besmirched the memory and the efforts it took for every member of our household to defend against their betrayal… and so I hatched a plan."
Aster's eyes stared into the flames almost as if he was willing them to burn as fervently as he felt.
"At the time I thought it was safe. A few days had already passed by and they surely would have thought I was already gone by then. Come morning under guise and using some of the silver in the void stone I purchased several scrolls of paper and a lot of ink and quill. Then I sought a refuge in the nearby woods and I wrote the names of my enemies over and over on papers and scrolls until my wrist hurt and the ink run dry. I wrote the truth on those papers, pointed my fingers at my enemies and then when I was finished, I carried those papers with me and under the darkness of the night, when the guards were lax and some blantantly dozing off, I spread them all over the town. I made sure every street and shop was plastered with them and I made sure to spread them even further, pinning them on trees beside the road just in case one of the mayor goons gets orders to destroy them. I painted the truth all over town and then waited until morning to see their reactions."
A painful deranged laugh escaped Aster's throat.
"They were so shocked…all of the towners and maids and the sycophants who used to lick my father's shoes. All of them were stunned with what I wrote as they couldn't have ignored it even if they tried. That started the rumors that spread like wildfire until they quickly reached the ears of House of Lunar. The very next day the town was filled with several hunters. It didn't take long for me to learn that there was a bounty on me and it was only then did I begin to flee. The hunters, the ones hired to go after me were relentless. Even with my mastery of spell, that oily mage somehow was able to track me. Several times he tried to cloud my senses and make me give up but for once my strange astral gift came to my rescue. It took multiple failures for them to understand that I was somehow immune to their illusion spells. "
A shudder passed through Aster's body as a he continued.
"Numerous times I made mistakes and several times they nearly got me. When I nearly lost my life in one of the chase, I was forced to take the choice to enter the endless glades. I had hoped my night spell would somehow protect me…that I could use my gift of detecting trouble to lead them into their demise but this forest…" a haunted look passed over Aster's face "is far terrible than what the tales could ever tell. I met charging warthogs, and deadly trees with snappy tendrils that I barely escaped form. And then I met and survived a monstrosity of chitin and claws and large mandibles which prompted me to be even more careful. Unfortunately all of these dangers and monsters were not enough to dissuade the hunters and so they still came after me…"
The golden shade shook his head as he further stoked the fires.
"Most likely, the monstrosity you came across was a Chitterer," said Eiseldawn, "large wingless insects that prefer to hunts their prey alone, strangely sensitive to life and mana. They were named so as the only sound their prey hears before their demise is the chitterling sound they make as they pounce from above."
He shook his head again as he stared at him.
"Child you have no idea how lucky you are to survive them. The weakest of them could barely be handled by a Mage of a Second Order, and only if they are attuned to be elementally offensive. A lone astrologer would have stood no chance against them."
Aster got quiet as he recalled the despairing screams and shouts of the hunters and the telltale chitterling sound the creature emitted as he made his escape.
"Luck really was on your side child…but then when hasn't luck made a fool of those stronger than most."
Eisel slowly waved his hand towards the fire and a wisp of the flames swirled to his fingers catching Aster's attention.
"You have gone through a harrowing experience most people would never dream of but in turn you have been forged, tempered into a foundation for something yet to come."
Eisel blasted the flames up with a flick of his hand showering the groove in a halo of golden orange light.
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"Your meeting with me can be said to be foreordained by fate itself but I could care less. I'm only glad my vested interest in you was not in vain. Now…I will only ask you a single question and it's in your best interest to answer me truthfully."
Aster subconsciously scooted closer, his senses tingling, telling him something of importance was about to happen.
"I have stared into your heart and saw a spark of vengeance within. Tell me child, how much are you willing to sacrifice to get that which your heart yearns for? Take your time and think. Make sure you reply from the deepest well of your emotions."
Aster almost immediately froze when he heard his words. At first he winced, turning his head towards the flames to hide how uneasy he was to have his desires be so easily read…but then all of it was washed away as he recalled the wails of his dying family members, the last words of his self-sacrificing father and then the several days he had spent running, hiding, escaping into the endless forest, unwilling to give up, burning with hatred to avenge those who wrought havoc into his family.
How much was he willing to sacrifice?
That was a question he had never thought before. But how could he? He might have desired vengeance but he knew his puny strength would certainly not cut it. From his father's words, he once told him his strength would fare slightly worse when compared to the Lord of Lunar House. And he was sure his father was at least a mage of the third order, strength he despaired just thinking of in terms of how long it would take him to achieve it.
He was now asked how much he was willing to sacrifice.
The only answer he found within himself was…
"Everything…" he whispered, staring at the flames in a trance. "I am willing to sacrifice everything to get the strength to obtain my vengeance, everything to make sure my enemies wallow in the same blood and tears I have shed as I watched my family fall apart, everything so I could see them lose everything important to them."
For once Eiseldawn chuckled, a sound that soon turned into a full blown laughter. Aster raised his eyes in confusion, only for his blood to chill as he caught a glimpse into the hidden madness buried deep within the golden shade. At the place the shade sat, a flickering slightly occurred of the visage of the grand bearded old man he once saw barely coming to the surface. Even he wasn't that stupid to not realize that there was something wrong with man in front of him, that there was also a story behind why the land's greatest spellmeister was hidden deep within the endless glades in a form of a shade, a wandering soul lacking flesh & blood.
The deranged laughter finally ended before the golden shade looked him over.
"Keep those words in your heart young child, and remember them well for they are the only things that will carry you when you reach the threshold."
"The threshold…" Aster said confused.
Abruptly the golden shade sat back and relaxed.
"Never mind that, the time is not yet ripe for you to know. For now rest and then we would resume our talk when sun rises."
Aster was just about to ask for more details when a wave of hand from Eiseldawn once again pulled him into the darkness. A grievance formed in his heart at such blatant display of power but was there anything he could do? Helplessness formed as he fell, the golden shade words bouncing in his mind. He would wait he drowsily decided. He would surely get his answers after all was said and done.
** ** **
When the light proved to be too much, Aster was forced to awake. He groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, a small part of him still stubbornly wishing all he had gone through would fade away like a bad dream. That he would still awake to the warm smile of his mother and that he would finally feel his father's pride. But as his eyes finally focused and he saw the golden leaves on the golden tree rustling in the breeze, the same part felt disheartened. Deep down he knew he should be grateful that he was finally safe from his pursuers, that his enemies could no longer reach him. But everything around conspired to remind him of what he had lost, giving rise to a deep seated pain that he would now have to carry for as long as he lived.
"Arise, child, for we have more than a few hours to burn." A familiar voice theatrically greeted him.
Aster looked around searching for the source. "I am awake…" he paused, "and what would we be doing in those hours?"
A figure of Eiseldawn with a cheeky smile abruptly appeared before him.
"Oh I have a lot planned for today…but first, let's deal with your stomach. Your attention can only hold on for so long if your body is not properly fed."
What came after were the sharp smell of various foods as Aster's gaze fell on the spread before him. Wild fruits and vegetables were artfully placed in plates along with a goblet of clear water, the whole buffet invitingly pulling him in, tempting him to eat and gorge to his heart's content. Once he would have been filled with caution and trepidation but after their talk last night, all of his hesitation was gone. It was clear to him that the most famous supposedly dead spellcaster wanted something for him, and he needed him to be alive for it. It was also clear he was willing to help him with his vengeance. He just had to wait to hear the price.
Once he was done eating and drinking, a bucket of water appeared beside him.
"I might be a shade at the moment but even I can tell you haven't had a proper bath in a while. And since I assume you are still wary of my pet in the waters, I took the liberty to bring you some and a change of clothes. Hah the only thing left is…"
A bar of soap and a woven brush materialized beside the bucket.
"Now hurry up and clean yourself. We have a lot to cover."
Aster might have had a few words to say about the fact that he was supposed to take a bath before another person in a clearing of several meters but he wisely kept his mouth shut. If he wasn't wrong, this is the place he would be staying for several days to come. He might as well get comfortable with it.
That was what he thought but he definitely took his time to get undressed. Once he was sure the old young man was no longer looking in his direction or perhaps gave him a certain modicum of privacy, he hurriedly finished and then processed to wet himself before generously lathering the soap all over him. Soon he forgot about everything as he extensively took the time to brush away the grime, the mud and the sweat from every surface his hands could reach. He scrubbed his body raw almost as if he wanted to remove the taint of the forest off him, the deaths and the bloodshed, the screams and terrible monsters he had faced as he run for his life. To him this bath turned into a new beginning. There were things he would never forget as they were etched deep into his soul but now he would be able to take the first step towards his goals, one way or another.
Once he felt satisfied, he rinsed himself off before donning the new robes which fitted quite perfectly. He would have asked the shade on how he did it but such questions would have to wait until later, after they were done with everything.
"I'm done." He announced, a little too loudly and more than a little self-conscious. If Eiseldawn had noticed, he didn't feel the need to mention it.
He beckoned him.
"Come child and sit. Before we begin, I would to have to ask again. Are you sure about your answer last night?"
Aster sat crossed legged on the ground and looked up to the spellmeister.
"That was the reply from the deepest part of my heart and I would stand by it." he answered.
They spent what felt like a minutes staring at each other until Eisel finally nodded.
"Well then you have made your conviction known. But let's see if you would still feel the same after I lay all of the facts down."
He cleared his throat before he began,
"First there is couple of things you should know." He looked straight at him as he continued.
"You my child have no hope of obtaining your vengeance as you are. You are weak and young and your enemies number more than you can imagine. If I'm not wrong, there is a large possibility that the House of Lunar might possess deeper roots that stretch back years, way before the forefather descended…"
Shocked, Aster made as if to speak but Eiseldawn raised his hand.
"It would take too long for me to explain but if they are who I think they are, your family had no hopes of standing against them. In all honesty, I have a feeling your house were approached specifically for treasure in your hands but then again, your father should have been wary of trying to bond with a family of dubious origins irrespective of their affinity."
He lowered his hand with a smirk on his face.
"Rejoice though, for when you look at the larger picture, it becomes clear the House of Lunar had a helping hand which tells us a few things. One; the House of Lunar might not have possessed to enough strength to truly overpower your family deduced from the fact that they sought help in the first place. Second; somehow their helping hand knew of the treasure in your father's possession, which might mean either your father or your father's predecessors made a mistake or your family had some very old enemies, one who were patient enough to finally bring your lineage to the end. Third and last; their helping had to have been substantially powerful to even cloak their intentions from a household full of astrologers. The heavens might seem petty but they always leave a trace on the tapestry for those who can decipher them. Your father's sight was effectively blinded by their workings; the only thing they couldn't have counted on was your uncanny gift."
Aster's fist clenched hard as each word exploded in his mind. He almost couldn't believe what he heard but then when he tried to refute it his memories betrayed at the first try. The fact that the cloaked figures didn't seem to know how to cast any of the moon spells the House of Lunar was famed for, that the first thing Linares did after he made his presence known was to cloak the whole manor in dome while also effectively cut the remaining chanters in the back, protecting them. But most importantly, his mind clearly recalled his father's shock when he warned of an attack he didn't see coming. Every little thing he had witnessed served to make truth of what Eiseldawn was saying.
"But let's not focus on all that. The real reason I'm telling you all this is to make sure you are aware of what you are standing up against. You can hide in here for a while, and with my support, help you grow in strength until you can stand on your own and then go out into the world with a new identity and start a new life. Despite my goals as you have already guessed, I would not let myself use a child without making sure they are aware of what they are getting into."
Aster was just about to let out a word, to assure him that it was what he wanted, what he desired but words seemed to escape him. A part of him despaired to know his enemies numbered many and looking at the option he could already imagine it all. With the shade's help, he could surely grow to be strong. He would be able to possess enough strength to protect himself once he goes back to out there and start a new family, make sure his father's legacy doesn't die. That was surely what his father would have wanted of him…what his family would have wanted him to do.
But...
His heart recoiled at the idea. A lot of that option felt like he was giving up. A lot of that option felt like he was running away, admitting to himself that he was too weak to make them pay, too weak to make sure his enemies felt the same way he did. Visions of his family and guards fighting crossed his mind. The supposedly weak astrologers had used a simple spell, one Aster had known as barely a cantrip to almost turn the tables against their enemies. He might not be aware of the full history of their family but it was clear they were formidable in their own way. And for Aster to turn back on that felt deeply wrong in his blood and veins.
He raised his face, his eyes shining with resolve.
"My choice still stands. While my family would surely have wanted me to pass on their legacy, their resolve and strength would first beg to bleed them dry. I won't stop until they are all gone. If my enemies number even more, if I have to take more than a few years to see them all dead I would do so. This is the choice I have made."
The Spellmeister only looked at him before he wickedly smiled.
"Very well child. Know this, though; there is no turning back. Once you embark on this journey this choice would no longer be an option. Maybe one day it would be but I have a feeling your heart burns for far more than you think. Let's begin then, with a small lesson on what we are going to be doing next."