The tales of treachery

CASONIUS

Written by: IB
"You will never amount to anything, boy!" boomed a towering figure.

This imposing figure bore a striking resemblance to me, and he was clothed in a pristine white robe and resplendent golden armour. His weathered face was marked with deep wrinkles and framed by a long, flowing grey beard.

A sense of weakness overcame me, and suddenly, my stomach dropped, plunging me into a free fall. I landed with a thud on the ground, where the same figure now loomed over me, larger and more menacing than ever, cackling with glee at my misfortune.

I awoke in a cold sweat, surveying my surroundings. Furthermore, I was safe in the comfort of my chambers, enveloped by the warm, comforting ambience. The figure could no longer inflict harm upon me, it was only a dream.
I rose from my bedspread- and I made my way to the altar of Veneficus, once again seeking his guidance.

"My lord," I murmured, "I had the dream again. It's a frequent occurrence now. In my dream, my father is always scolding me. As a child, I had no interest in the pursuits of other Celests. In their eyes, strength and military knowledge are respected above all else. Unfortunately, my father never saw any strength in me. He cared not that I mastered Celestial magic by age five, nor that I could transform him into a toad and back again five times before he could count to ten. No, all he cared about was money and social status. He never offered to help me improve my magical abilities, instead leaving all the work to my tutor. He didn't even raise me; that responsibility fell to my wet nurse."

As I finished speaking, my voice trailed off and was lost in the echoes of the empty chamber. I didn't know if Veneficus was listening, perhaps my magical conscience had been guiding me all along. Nevertheless, my time spent next to the deity's altar was a moment of great reflection, helping me clear my head.

"I must seek out Mother Magia," I thought to myself.

Though it was still early, I donned my long black robe and gathered my parchments and various magical artefacts from my desk. Slowly, I made my way down the narrow spiral staircase, descending towards the corridor below.

I strode down the cobblestone corridor, acknowledging with a nod the various spellcasters that passed me by, elves, humans, and Celests. The Guild Arcanium, unlike many other kingdoms, judged its members based on their magical ability rather than their race or culture. I gradually made my way from the north tower into the east tower, which housed a vast, airy hall replete with several tables and chairs. At the far end of the hall sat a large table with five seats, one of which was more prestigious than the others- and that seat happened to be mine. It was a gilded throne, adorned with sumptuous purple silk cushions. And a robust, wooden lectern was placed in front of the throne. One of the seats was older than the others, and looked as if it hadn't been used in a long time- as if it had been abandoned.

I strode through the hall, nimbly navigating past the various tables and chairs. My gaze fell upon the head table, where Warlock Imutu Magjia, also known as 'the scholar', was seated. Imutu was a remarkably studious Elf, well-versed in all sectors of magic. He had a distinctive yellow hue to his skin and pointed ears. Approaching Imutu, I requested his aid, "Imutu, I require your assistance."

"Of course, Casonius. How may I be of service?" replied Imutu, his expression inquisitive.

"I seek the whereabouts of Mother Magia, specifically her location within the Greenwood Kingdom," I explained.

Imutu hesitated before responding, "You know we are not meant to divulge such information, Casonius. However, I trust that your inquiries are not made with malicious intent. She resides in a hut within a vast wood. She is surrounded by the petal curtain, magically enchanted by Mother Magia herself. But I must warn you, she harbours animosity towards our kind. To her, we elves are her children, and she feels affronted when we 'steal' them away from her."