Chapter 19

He started to separate the sand and hovered the magical case with the Arcane Rune sealed inside into the hole he created. Similar to how the comet sat inside the soil, same as the case, and about halfway into the ground the landscape began to change almost immediately. New plants, vegetables and fruits sprout out from the once barren land and it spread across the plain and into the small village like a wildfire. They both stared in awe as the planet grew beautiful before them. Even though this revival had been going on for twenty-nine years, every time, it was breathtaking. Slowly, the loud roars and chants from the few left in Legato, located less than a mile forward, reached their ears.

In the absence of Cassius, Ryia, who miraculously survived, stayed home and took a more permanent role in raising Viola, and Drago. Refusing any mission or request of her services in order to properly keep her household in check. Or at least, that was the excuse she told them. The Arcane militia had provided them with a great deal of wealth and land. The majority of it was hush money. Though lonely and proud, she had only one real issue that kept her from sleeping, aside from the nightmares. She noticed that the growth of Viola and Drago was rather slow, even for wizard children. After a while, her suspicions grew that something was wrong with them, though she never mentioned it to Cassius.

She sat them down in the kitchen one early morning to explain her worries.

"How long has mommy been home?"

"All day?" replied Drago.

"No, Drago, for twenty-five years," answered Viola.

"Correct, Viola. Actually it's been more than that, and don't you think that you've grown pretty slow in that time?"

"Wizard children often love longer than humans," blurted out Drago.

"Often live longer," Viola corrected him, as she usually does out of habit.

"Both right, and in those years you haven't grown an inch, whereas mommy has grown...."

"Big as a house!" joked Drago.

He started laughing hysterically at his own joke, first sign of a narcissist. No one else joins him. Especially not Viola, she had a hard time laughing period. First sign of depression. Ryia, nonetheless cracked a smirk.

"Calm your wicked tongue, Drago."

"What are you trying to say mommy?" inquired Viola.

Ryia looked deeply into Viola's beautiful light purple eyes, and innocent face. Even though her heart was beating with anxiety, she couldn't say it. Parents never tell children what they actually think.

"Nothing sweetheart. Everything is fine," she replied.

The town of Legato,

...welcomed Cassius with open arms, but they cowered in the presence of Gamon. Word had spread that he wasn't of this planet anymore. Nor God of the Eternal or Leovigild, but something else altogether.

"Bless the great God of the Eternal!" proudly exclaimed Zugarod, the town's protector and mayor. He was beastly in size, with a scar cross his right eye to the left side of his cheek. Zugarod gave off the impression he had lived a million lives. Or taken a million lives, he was difficult to judge.

"Bless the great God of the Eternal! Glad to have served your great people of Legato. It has been too long, and you have suffered too much," replied Cassius.

"We are survivors here, and our prayers did not go unanswered."

"Hopefully the rune's power will sustain this great land for hundreds of years," asserted Gamon, desperate to jump into the conversation.

Zugarod eyed him, and sized him up. Gamon was tall, but slim and not threatening in appearance, which worked tremendously to his urban legend. People didn't know what to think.

"If I were to puncture your throat with this crystal shard, would you bleed but not die? Is it true?" questioned Zugarod.

"What gives you that impression?"

"Word, dear friend, words and legends have spread far. Even to this hellhole, and the consensus is that he is all-powerful. He cannot be killed!" responded Zugarod.

"Is there any way we can maybe postpone this till tomorrow? I am exhausted and require sleep immediately," promised Gamon.

"Does this sound like an all-powerful man?" quipped Cassius. Zugarod looked over at his advisors. The advisors looked back.

"Give them rest in the most prestigious rooms we have. Make our guest comfortable, send concubine if requested, nothing is off-limits in Legato. And tonight my friends, we DRINK!" shouted Zugarod.

The entire village erupted into cheers, the tension settled, and barrels of wine were rolled out as everyone indulged in the spirits.