Lucas laid in his bead, blowing an apple he had plucked off a tree lightly into the air, and then letting it fall to his hands. Brecken noticed a greater degree of confidence in his new friend, deserving as far as he was concerned.
"Do you think you can do it? Do you really think you can kill the King of All?" Brecken asked, laying in his own bed. The wagons cloth door was tied open, letting the cool night air in. The stars shone bright outside, almost as bright as the full moon. "You might change your mind once you see him. I never have, but I've heard stories."
"I don't have much of a choice at this point," Lucas responded. He caught the apple and sat up looking at Brecken. "I mean, did you see the crowd the other day? They loved me. They want me to save them, and trust that I can. My entire life I've been told that I must know my place. When I found out I was a Way Mage I was told to be fearful of who I am. I was feared for simply being me. Maybe instead of teaching me that I should suppress my abilities, they should have taught me to control them. If I could have controlled them when..." his voice trailed off, and his eyes went to the floor. After a moment, he raised his head and looked straight at Brecken. His face was hardened with emotion. In the dim moonlight, Brecken could see lines of tears rolling down his face.
"When I was young, my dog, Leopold, hurt himself falling off a moving cart. He broke two of his legs. I was told nothing could be done, and that he would have to be put down.
"I was heartbroken and asked to have one last night together. He was curled next to me in my bed, legs bandaged and in so much pain. The only thing that kept him quiet was me. I hugged him tight, and prayed to the Creator to save him, to heal his legs. I prayed with all my might, as hard as I hugged him. My very soul seemed to pour into him. I must have fallen asleep, because I woke up the next morning, and found Leopold waging his tail next to my bed. He was healed.
"I was elated, Breck. I thought the Creator had answered my prayers and healed my friend. When my caretaker came to retrieve the dog, he was terrified. He said there was only one way something could heal that fast, Way Magic. He told me I was a Way Mage, and that he should report me immediately in accordance with the law. I begged him not to, to keep it a secret. He gave me a choice, I could declare openly that I was a Way Mage and suffer the consequences, or give up Leopold to be put down, so that there would be no suspicion. If I did, he would keep it a secret.
"I gave him up to save myself. I gave him up so I could live. I was a coward. How could I sacrifice my best friend like that?"
Brecken could see the pain in his eyes. The pressure he must have been under at such a young age, it was hard for Brecken to wrap his head around. "That's terrible," was all he could think to say. Lucas shook his head and wiped his eyes.
"A few years passed, and my caretaker, Jules was his name, Jules Everley, did as he promised. As far as we were concerned it never happened. I was declared a man, and I started to carve out my place in my father's house. Things were good for a while, until everything went crazy.
"One night, at a banquet held by my family, my uncle moved to take control of my father's estate. He had converted most of my father's soldiers and guards to his allegiance and arrested my father while they partied. He declared he would take control after executing him for treason. My mother was seized next, and then soldiers moved towards me.
"I couldn't control myself. I was furious. How could we be betrayed by our own flesh and blood? I let out all my anger that night. I crushed them all. Somehow, I picked every disloyal man in the room out, and crushed them into piles on the ground. When I opened my eyes, the scene... it haunts me to this day. My father was horrified. He sat next to my uncles mangled body and yelled a sound I still hear in my dreams. My mother collapsed on the floor and died of shock."
Brecken let out a gasp. It was no wonder Lucas didn't talk about his home more often. The man sitting in front of him had the power to level cities and destroy armies, but he was still just a man. How could anyone go through something like that and still have the strength to go on?
"I was run out of the estate," Lucas went on. "Many tried to kill me on my way out, the ones who weren't too scared to try at least. I managed to run to the ocean, stole a small boat, and some supplies, and set sail. I traveled for at least a couple of years before landing here. If I ever went home, they would kill me on the spot."
Lucas had regained a measure of composure by the end of his story. His body still jolted with the remnants of his despair ever so often but tears no longer fell from his face. Brecken could relate with the man on some level. His heart ached with thoughts of his own parents.
"I'm sorry Lucas. I can't imagine," Brecken responded. He couldn't find the right words to say. Were there any words that would be right ones?
"Maybe it was all meant to be. Like Orhin said, without all of that happening I wouldn't be here. The Empire took your parents from you. I promise to help you make those responsible pay. Maybe in doing so I can regain honor from my own mother. Together we will do what must be done. But I need you to promise something Brecken." The blonde man looked straight into Brecken's eyes with determination. "Promise me that we will both stay alive to see this through. After we free your people and avenge your mother, I want to take you to Atleos. I need to tell the Elementals of Atleos that there are others in the world like them. That their brothers and sisters were imprisoned on this island and used as pawns. They have a right to know, and I'll need your help convincing them I'm not insane. Promise me we will both see this to the end."
"I promise Lucas. We will free my people and avenge my parents. It would be my honor to travel with you," Brecken affirmed. He extended a hand, that Lucas met.
