The sun peaked from its hiding spot as they arrived back at their wagon. Their hose fast asleep as they left it. The fire is exhausted and sub-coming to its old age, but not before giving birth to a few more embers as it slowly perishes. The three breathe a sigh of relief as their near-death encounter comes to a close.

"Anyway as I was saying before. Hello!" The black-haired man reaches out his hand. "I'm Andrew and this is my Friend Xander. We found you washed up on a river and we wanted to help you."

The boy looks at Andrew puzzled at the motion he's making. Uninterested he then turns to look at Xander. Ignoring Andrews's gesture he gawks at the man with his unremarkable talents.

"That was magic, wasn't it?!" The boy begins rambling on. Andrew looks down at his hand, saddened. "I've only read about it stories before but that was true undeniable magic right before my eyes! If I'm not mistaken that instrument you used means you're a bard, which allows you to use the power of music to activate your spells, that was unbelievable maybe you can help me wi-

Xander raises his hand, a vain throbbing in his forehead. "Alright, Alright slow down, and listen here, pal. My friend over there just risked his life for you, he's been doing a fuck ton of shit to make sure you're healthy and alive, and after going through hell and back to make sure you're breathing all he asks for is a simple handshake and you don't even give him a glace of thanks? Like hell I'm going to do anything for an ungrateful brat like y-."

As Xander pauses his scolding and looks to see the boy, tears welting in his eyes. Xander becomes more annoyed but a sudden crooked smile on the boy's face fills him with unease.

"No one has ever talked like that to me before," His tears roll down his face. The salt from his tears burns the cut under his eye. The boy turns around and shakes Andrews's hand before standing up and facing them. "You are positively correct, first before I ask for favors I must thank you both. That is what is customary to do when you 'own someone one'."

Andrew beams. "it's no problem. As I said my name is Andrew, and this is Xander. May we know your name?"

"My name?" The young man looks down blankly at the soil. The two companions look at one another before Xander pipes up.

"Hello? Hey! We just asked for your name not your first child. Are you fucking with us?"

The young man looks up, startled out of his trance, and smiles. "My apologies. The fall must have had some impact on the psyche." He gives another uneasy smile "My name is Ben, it is nice to meet you, Andrew and Xander."

"it is nice to meet you, Ben" Andrew smiles before elbowing Xander and giving him a disgruntled look.

"Ya, Sure, Nice to meet you, Bill," Xander rolled his eyes.

Ben gives a slight chuckle, "Thank you for calling me the wrong name on purpose to punish me for my rudeness" Ben gives a sincere smile.

Xander grabs Andrew and takes him behind the wagon. Ben puzzled begins messing around with Xander's lute, trying to imitate the song from earlier that night.

"Nope! Nuh-uh! That bastard is crazy." Xander peaks over the wagon, angered by the unwelcome usage of his weapon. "I say we turn around and throw him back into the river."

"He's probably still just recovering, give him time and you can warm up to him," Andrew says as he pulls Xander down.

"I don't want to warm up to him! I want to finish what we started!" Xander sulks "Dontcha remember what that fuck face did? Aren't you as angry as me!??"

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"of course I am, but if we let rage consume us we will never be able to get our revenge." Andrew sits down by the side of the wagon "I'm just constantly thinking... you know, If we had someone there to help us in our time of need, maybe they wouldn't be dead."

Xander sits next to him and engulfs Andrew in a bear hug. As they sit there enjoying each other's company they hear a noise from close by trying to attract their attention.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I couldn't help but overhear since you both weren't even trying to whisper, that my present isn't wanted. That being the case if you're able to help me I'd be able to get out of your hair faster." Ben pauses before adding "Please."

"What do you want?" Xander asks coldly

Ben points to his tattoo. "This is magic, as well as you. Please can you remove it?"

Xander eyes the tattoo. "so you're saying that is a glyph? Sorry no can do, music magic doesn't cover glyphs"

"Ah, that is most unfortunate," Ben stares at the soil once more before clapping his hands together, "then I request you take me to Fantasia!"

"No! No! No! No! No! Absolutely not! You are Insane!" Xander stands abruptly and walks off a few feet away.

Ben stares at him puzzled before looking back at Andrew puzzled, "Enlighten me if you would"

"It hard to put into words...you see...no." Andrew looks at the dirt, and then at the sky. Stars that were once there are now a mere memory as the warm kiss of dawn settled into its natural place. "There was once a king, who ruled over a small kingdom but it grew at a rapid pace. Over time he was known as a fair and powerful king, he was strong enough to command an army of powerful soldiers, and caring enough to allow any into his kingdom in their time of need. But then one day his beloved wife fell ill and when medicine couldn't save her he took to magic. He begged for magic users throughout the world to aid his call, one by one they came, and one by one they failed. Soon she passed and he flew into an outrage, deeming magic to be nothing more than a useless trick to instill hope into people's hearts just to have it demolished, so he in turn would demolish magic. Killing all the magic users who failed to save his beloved wife, but that wasn't enough. He went from town to town threatening if they didn't concede then the town would be burnt to the ground. Ours was one of many. When we had got back from a long travel our home was nothing more than a pile of ash. All we found of our mothers was their wedding rings." Andrew's voice becomes shaken as he's trying his best to choke back his tears "But not long after, word began rummaging around that the old lord of Fantasia had died. The new lord, Foxsue, had declared that it was a safe place hidden from the king, free for all magical creatures to live. Although it is just a matter of time before the king finds it." As Andrew concludes his monologue, he stares at Ben, as he stares an undefined expression overshadows him, he is smiling but he's also seething, it takes over his expression like corruption.

Through gritted teeth, he mumbled, "So the rumors are true" Another clap of the hands and Ben turned around and flashed Andrew a smile "Welp I must be setting off! If I see you both in the future I'll make sure to 'settle the score' as they say! cheers!" Ben trots back towards the path, his pathing is jagged, and his movement is crooked. The fall seemed to do much more than affect his psyche.

"Wait!" Andrew calls to him before rushing toward Xander "Please dude, we have to help him."

"What?! No! You cannot be serious right now!"

"See it from the proper angle! Right now our lives got ripped apart and thrown into our faces, now this stranger falls into our laps. It must be a sign from the deity to help him!"

"D-did you just mistake bards for clerics? You dick!"

Andrew ponders for a second before a twisted smile stretches across his face, "You know there must be a lot of people in Fantasia, thousands of dashing minotaurs, and gorgeous Nagas. I'm sure they'd love to meet a 'Faun guy' like yourself"

"I hate you," Xander said bluntly although he felt as though he spoke for everyone

"REVENGE! You want revenge! On the king! If you go to Fantasia you can get it!"

"You are not going to let this go huh?" Xander closes his eyes and will a draw of breath and a final sigh, "Okay! But we're not staying for long! Just dropping him off and then back on the original route."

"Marvelous," The two shot their heads towards Ben who had grown tired of waiting, and climbed into the wagon once more, "shall we be on our merry way?"

Andrew with a cheer jumped into the driver's seat, Xander exhausted from the early morning climbs alongside him. As they sit off on the path the sky paints a picture of a new beginning the warmth of the air settling in as the cool shade teasingly graced them. Adventure was on the horizon and like a story, the pages were aligned. Falling into destiny's hands.