Chapter 10

"Really honored to be amongst the group of genius minds. We must unpack this necessary clutter we call luggage before we can be of any help," said the mother.

"Give us a moment to recoup and we will work diligently to debunking this...I apologize, what is your name?" requested the father.

"Forgive me, I am Roman, and you are?"

"My name is Cassius, and this is my wife, Ryia. We have a boy and a girl back home named Drago, and Viola."

"What lovely names, straight from the Gospel of Arcadia. If all goes well, perhaps we can do a dinner and talk family. But for now, let me show you to you rooms. Come, come."

The tent that Cassius and Ryia stayed in was small and intimate, only enough room for one more researcher who never arrived due to scheduling conflicts. The agenda was organized. During breakfast, the crew watched stills of the meteor descending. Caught on camera from a telescope.

Their schedule also went into the briefing of which subject would be discussed throughout the day. What to be ready for tomorrow. From all the current study, it would appear that no one actually captured the meteor crash landing. It simply sank about fifteen feet into the soil.

The pasture surrounding the meteor began to grow wildly. The nutrients and matter within it was steroids to the grassroots. Scientist and researchers began to wonder if this meteor was a gift from God of the Eternal. Being that Cassius and Ryia were wizards, they crafted potions and healing ailments for the crew, sometimes even infusions that sparked the brain to foster more analyzing and rationalization.

On this planet wizards share a great deal with their human counterparts. They age, procreate, and die similarly, though the wizard lifespan extends about sixty to seventy years longer than human life due to the potions they can create and manifest. However, wizards must be taught how to use this power, for if not taught from a more powerful predecessor, they can easily fall into the human category with some lengthy years of life. They also did not have pointy ears, or funny clothing as portrayed in other fantasy-based stories.

"What of the three missing researchers from two days ago? Any word of them? Have they ruled this research null and void?" asked one of the researchers, during the briefing after breakfast.

"We do not know at this time, and will seek further investigation and counsel to lay rest you, and everyone else's mind about this matter," replied Roman, in his political voice.

In the military section at the research site, draped in "Do Not Enter' signs, we descend on a lookout. A young, bright eyed, skinny soldier named Gamon. Previously, Cassius noticed his stares of Ryia when they walked by from one area to the next. But he contained his rage, replaced it with composure. Gamon was just starting his second year in the military and had pure disdain for it. His subordinate, clumsy by nature, approached him to switch shifts.

"Sorry for the unpunctuality. It shall not happen again."

"I care not whether you are here at sunrise, or the dawn of the apocalypse. Makes no difference to me," said Gamon, unenthused.

"I remember you from boot camp. You would go on and on about locating lutes in the area."

"In my youth, I held precious dreams of being a musician. Deep in the night I would play for many moons. Till my father destroyed the melody, along with the lute. Me and mother weren't far behind. She shattered often, but I survived the night. So, I, in lunar madness, attempted to silence him forever with a falchion."

"You've killed your father?"

"Close, but I scared him, and it pleased me. Soon after I was orphaned, drafted, and now I recant my life story to underlings like you."

"Surely you love being a part of the Arcane militia?"

"Have you not realized by now that it's becoming a garrison? But, it's growing on me, even though I still prefer to stare at the night sky, and drift."

And he did, spending his free time staring into the abyss, the meteor, and on occasion, the backside of Ryia. Tragically, Gamon's eyes had laid on her a little too long this time, and Cassius was drained of acting like an adult.

"What say you remove that decadent gaze from my spouse? If you think Arcadia lies between her legs...then you be correct. And if you touch her, to Leoviglid is where I shall send thee, in pieces," warned Cassius.

"I...am terribly sorry. I've daydreamed while staring at her," replied Gamon in a squeaky, prepubescent voice, cracking under pressure.

"Leave your eyes to the enemy, and protection of the team. Not my wife! If I had the power to, I would remove her from your dreams as well," shouted Cassius, before being handled by Ryia.

"Calm your possessive head! Now Cassius!"

The entire staff outside stopped to witness the drama.

"Take flattery into this gesture I do, and you should as well. There is no harm, and I feel quite the opposite of uncomfortable."

Eventually Cassius's temper lessens, and Gamon held his head down in shame. A commanding officer noticed the commotion and walked by. Exerting his authority to control.

"Gamon, what has occurred?" the commanding officer questioned firmly.

"Nothing sir, just had a little dispute with my husband. He's fine, and we'll be on our way," chimed in Ryia, as her and Cassius continued walking to the research facility.