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21 – Shadowfury

Riley’s eyes lost focus for an instant. Next his gaze shifted to wall to stare at map. His hands grabbed strongly from armchair’s handle and released it. I assume he was deep in thought evaluating whether to give proper answer to me regarding my question.

Dry lips of his, resembling drought burdened desert, opened slowly. “Never ask this question to anybody else, for your own welfare”, he said meekly. “Yes, my lord”, I replied. He raised his right hand and waved. I left library to go back to my home.

Even though it was called Howe village, in reality it was not smaller or less developed than any other town. I strolled casually back to my new home navigating through streets.

Actually there are two places where I think over my actions, brainstorm about ideas and come up with future plans.

First and foremost is when I’m doing my daily duty in bathroom. After experiencing 10 years of life in this world and almost 30 years back in old one, I have decided that lavatory is the best-suited place for brain to work at full capacity.

Second situation where whispers of fairies run within nerve cells of my brain, inspiring me with original ideas is when I walk aimlessly.

I stopped to see that I have passed by my home. “It’s too late… I can’t go back in time”, I murmured and walked towards our newly acquired house. Upon reaching the door, I grabbed doorbell that looked like horseshoe. I pulled and pushed it for a few times, which made ringing noise.

Door opened and Leila’s hands grabbed me pulling my body to her. She kissed me on cheeks whispering “Happy birthday sweetie!” Moreover she pinched my cheeks which in return I said “Mooom… I’m not a kid anymore”. “You will be my sweet little Kain for eternity”, she said and we went into house.

That day we had neighbors who came as guests and brought their kids to my birthday party. We sang songs, ate delicious meals, enjoyed cake and cookies, and drank tea and coffee. I will never forget the moment where Oscar patted my head and Leila’s kissed on my right cheek after I blew out candles on top of cake.

Late-April. 4031. Southern Sea, Cohen Territories.

We have been traveling in ship called ‘Shadowfury’ for more than a month. I’ve been with Farrell Cohen in this journey with other three warriors. They are his bodyguards while I act as scribe. Nevertheless, I’ve my katana with me but I think I won’t need to use it at all unless we face pirates on our way.

Our destination was city of Deiza, which was home to Lyth mansion. Lyth family was using Deiza as their base. Deiza was located on shore of Southern Sea and it was main trade hub of southern part of continent losing only to Astoria in quantity of ships docked.

“One more day?”, I asked Farrell.

During the trip I got to know Farrell better. He was an honest man with almost unlimited power within his palms. Although he never misused his position or power. Farrell was the one who has given ‘Shadowfury’ as a gift to captain Macklemore. Nevertheless, he acted with courtesy towards captain without giving a hint to crew of ship about Shadowfury’s original funding.

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His only negative side was that he liked to talk a lot when asked about something. He would talk and talk and sometimes it felt that it will take an eternity for him to shut up. However, I felt at ease around him even when he talked for hours non-stop.

Actually most of time I used his talkativeness to my advantage. Why should I ask him about weather when I can ask him about political situation?

“Yes, Kain. Another day in this ship which feels like an eternity. After all this time, it feels so boring to be on ship.. We should have left earlier using horses. At least we would travel to see different sights in comparison to”, Farrell was going to talk until lunch so I cut in to ask “Lord, please enlighten me in matters of theory of magic”.

Farrell’s eyes filled with sparkles and gleam asked me, “Do you know what chaos is?”. “Yes” I shook my head a bit and continued “and no. I mean I know literally but...”

“Kain, chaos is natural state of universe.” He stopped to take a breathe and clutched his hands together to continue “Everything from small rocks to big nations to sun to moon and to this deep and unlimited Southern Sea to exist need constant energy inputs to maintain its form”. “If.. IF at some point input of energy stops then that things will decay to chaos.. to its natural state”, he said with a loud voice.

“Kain, Do you know what is that energy?” he asked. “Mana?” I replied. “Yes, its what we call mana. Its everywhere...It’s what keeps things running... Hahaa”, he laughed.

“Anyway being able to manipulate mana is marvelous in itself. It opens closed doors to unlimited possibilities but there are limits too”, he stopped for an instant to bring together his thoughts. “First thing what you have to remember is you can’t make things stop existing”, “and second is you can’t create things out of nothing”. Farrell grinned and carried on “That’s omnipotence... Imaging having so much power to create things with just single thought.. You just say “be” and it takes a form.. hahaha”.

.... (1 hour have passed)

.... (3 hours have passed)

.... (5 hours have passed)

“Now you will think, what about our consciousness?” Farrell asked himself and replied“That’s where Holy Church comes into equation. Some believe in higher beings some don’t.. For me personally, I don’t know.. Haven’t thought about it..”

“Shall we eat something?” he asked and I responded “We must.. I’m starving!”

Next morning Shadowfury docked on Deiza’s port. There was a carriage waiting for us. “Deiza”, Farrell said followed by a shallow sigh. Carriage took us to Imperial Plaza Hotel where king size suite was prepared in advance to host us during our stay in Deiza. Kyle joined us sometime in afternoon.

I got off first with the bodyguard while Farrell and Kyle departed carriage after us. I was going to be acting as Kyle’s bodyguard while another warrior would be staying by Farrell. Carriage left to parking lot as we faced entrance to Lyth manor. James and Kal-min Lyth were standing by entrance to personally welcome Farrell and Kyle Cohen to their son’s birthday party.

Next: 22 - Birthday Party I