Mirror Of The Forgotten Gods

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Titus

The Wishing God

Tangled Fates

278 Years Prior

Titus was twenty-two when he saw her again but she had said she would put his fate into motion. It happened in small ripples at first, being found by a scullery maid from the palace who took pity on him. The cook had wished for help, and when he came through the kitchen door had proclaimed, "I was just wishing for someone like you." Grabbing Titus by the shoulders and hugging him.

Later it was a guard taking notice of him, "I need someone to polish my armor. I can give you 2 copper coins and a loaf of bread. What do you say?" Titus had been overjoyed at the prospect. Working in the palace kitchens had only brought him food scraps and shelter. The idea of saving money was completely foreign to him.

He often roamed the city looking for her or waiting at her fathers fountain where she first appeared to him. He needed more guidance and to speak to her. His ears rang with the sound of her voice, a mad man chasing a dream. "I wish for you to come back to me Nyx." He would say nightly. "I know you can hear me."

Still no answer came.

She haunted him.

He walked endlessly through city streets lined with cobblestone dodging pickpockets who slouched by, heads down, and caps tilted toward the ground.Titus felt a pang of hunger in his stomach and turned into a local tavern where he ordered bread, cheese, and wine. He picked at his bread and pulled apart the inside of the loaf dipping pieces into the ruby red wine.

The hunger in his belly gently receded as he poured back the last of his wine. His small flat was two blocks from the tavern and he walked slowly to the white walled building. Green tendrils of long vines covered the white building, sprawled out onto the cobblestone, and dangled before him.

He pushed one so that it wouldn't touch itself to his face with its furry tips. It lit up in his hand as he touched it. Like a domino effect the vines nearby lit up and sent light down the path he walked, slowly fading as he passed them. The tendrils made a low humming noise as they shone lighting the street in the night.

When he arrived at his apartment he admired the front steps that lead to the internal garden nearest his front door. It had been a strange twist if fate that he could afford this flat. He wondered if it was Nyx that played a hand in it.

The garden was well kept by he and his neighbors and he was happy with the beautiful balcony which overlooked it. From there he observed travelers, pickpockets, traveling caravans, men and women on dates, and the hustle and bustle of the city of Sunshard. Sunshard was an easier city to go unbothered in as a halfling. Most of the larger cities were.

He had enlisted in the army when he turned sixteen, and it was only this year that he no longer served in the general troops. Now it was the end of his term with the army and he wondered what was next for him. In many ways he knew Nyx would guide him towards the path he needed to be on. But how long would it take? Elves lived long lives, longer than Halfings. Would it be another century before he took over as heir? Or even worse, would his fate be so decided for him he hand no choice in any of it?

For now he was stable, he had saved money, and was taking a momentary break to enjoy the city without standing at attention constantly. He loved the feel of his mattress beneath him, showering in the warmth of his home, knowing he didn't need to battle fleas in his hair, or ticks on his skin. Though life in the alley where Nyx had found him was long ago, it didn't always feel so distant.