When I woke the next morning, a deep sense of peace washed over me. The calm of the barn, with its faint smell of fresh hay and aged wood, had gifted me a restful sleep—free from nightmares, free from turmoil.
Sitting up slowly, I stretched and let out a contented sigh. My reflections from the night before had done their job; I felt a newfound clarity, a calm determination to see my mission through to the end.
I stood, dusted myself off, and made my way outside. It was time to thank the kind farmer one last time for her hospitality. As I stepped into the yard, I saw her tending to the animals near the enclosures, her hands deft and deliberate.
She glanced up as I approached, a radiant smile breaking across her face.
"Ah, there you are, my young friend! Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did, thanks to your generosity," I replied warmly. "I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done."
She waved a hand dismissively, humility etched into her every gesture. "Oh, nonsense! There’s no need for thanks. Hospitality is simply what we do. We farmers know how important it is to help those passing through."
She stepped closer and rested a reassuring hand on my arm. "I mean it, though—I truly hope you succeed in your quest. And don’t forget what I told you last night."
I nodded solemnly. "I won’t forget. Your advice has done more for me than you know. It’s helped me find my footing again."
Her smile deepened, and her weathered face lit up with warmth. "Good! Now go on, young man. Be brave, and charge ahead! The world needs your courage."
I nodded in gratitude, then made my way to where I had tied my horse the night before. The loyal animal was waiting patiently, letting out a cheerful whinny as I approached.
Gently, I stroked its neck, checking to make sure it was ready for the long journey ahead. Then, climbing into the saddle, I cast one last look at the farm.
"Goodbye, brave lady! May the gods bless you for your kindness!" I called out.
She waved back, her face glowing with benevolence. "Good luck, my young friend! May the gods watch over you!"
With that, I urged my horse forward, and we rode off into the untamed landscapes of the Golden River kingdom.
As we traveled, my thoughts kept drifting back to the farmer’s parting words. They had stirred something within me, reigniting a determination I had almost forgotten—a belief in my own strength, buried beneath layers of doubt.
After all, I wasn’t just anyone. In a life long past, I had been known as Greyfus, the Supreme Mage, a formidable vanquisher of demons. And while that era seemed like a distant memory, I knew that power still lingered within me, dormant but alive.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
A shiver ran through me at the thought. Yes, I could feel it—deep in my veins, the strength remained, waiting for the right moment to resurface. With discipline and purpose, I could reclaim that mastery, wield it once more to defeat Xanatos and defend our world.
Lost in these thoughts, I almost didn’t notice the stone monument standing at the edge of the road. My horse slowed slightly, drawing my attention to it. Intrigued, I dismounted and walked closer to examine the sculpture.
It was intricately carved, depicting a scene of a mighty mage standing against an army of demons. Despite the wear of time, the details were startlingly vivid, as if the scene itself had been frozen in stone.
Something about it felt eerily familiar, tugging at the edges of my memory. Then, all at once, a wave of recollection swept over me, leaving me breathless.
I saw myself standing on a ravaged battlefield, my mage’s robes billowing around me. A monstrous horde of demons screamed and charged toward me, their twisted forms relentless.
But with a single motion of my hand, I unleashed a surge of energy so fierce it obliterated everything in its path. The demons crumbled into ash, their cries silenced by the sheer force of my attack.
All around me, the surviving soldiers rose to their feet, their faces etched with awe as they beheld the devastation I had wrought. I turned to them, a faint smile playing at my lips.
"The threat has been vanquished, my friends. Go home now, and live in peace."
Their cheers filled the air, a triumphant roar of gratitude. But I knew this victory was only the beginning. More battles lay ahead, more demons to defeat to keep our world safe.
When the memory faded, I stood frozen in place, my breathing unsteady. My hands trembled slightly as I relived the echoes of that long-ago war.
This monument—it wasn’t just art. It was a record, a witness to an event I had lived through centuries ago.
Swallowing hard, I tried to gather my thoughts. For so long, I had underestimated the depth of my own power, the truth of who I really was. I wasn’t just a student of the Academy. I wasn’t merely an apprentice mage.
I was Greyfus, the Supreme Mage—a warrior who had once decimated legions of demons with a single gesture. And that strength, dormant though it was, was still mine to reclaim.
A spark of determination flared in my chest. I had to awaken that power again. I had to master it. If I was to stand a chance against Xanatos, I would need every ounce of that ancient might, every scrap of the wisdom I’d once wielded.
Drawing a deep breath, I turned my gaze away from the monument and remounted my horse. There was no time to linger.
But as we rode on, a fresh resolve burned within me. I was no longer the frightened student I had once been. I was becoming Greyfus again, and I would stop at nothing to protect this world from the forces of darkness.
No matter the cost, I would recover the Demon’s Vein. I would face Xanatos, and I would bring him down, just as I had defeated so many enemies before him.
Gripping the reins tightly, I urged my horse into a faster pace. The abandoned castle was waiting, and with it, the next stage of my journey.
This time, nothing would stand in my way.
As I disappeared into the wild expanse, I couldn’t help but glance back at the monument one last time. It had awoken something in me—a piece of myself I thought I had lost to the sands of time.