Ruins In The End (We Three Mages, Book Two)

Chapter Twenty Seven: Answers(Part Three)

As Jared thought hard about what Aftemath just said, a warm spring breeze blew through his hair. Jared had been placed on his favorite bench in the Garden on the Academy's grounds pre-Krilitrox.

"So, you did see us when we ducked into the past?" He finally asked.

"Yes, it was then that I knew to place the Books in the back room." Aftemath confirmed.

"First, way cool. Second, how could you see us?" Jared counted it off on his fingers.

"Our magics are connected, whenever we cross paths, we see each other as if we are from the same timelines."

"That goes past way cool," Jared smiled. "But wait, how'd ya know to have three Books? You only saw us after you had the three Books."

"I thought I had been clear about this, your existence was an eventuality. I knew that there would be three who would inherit my magic, I just did not know who or when until I witnessed it."

"Same thing with the robes then?"

"Actually, they were created after the Books had been safely sealed. I had developed this magic over time and slowly at that. For three young students such as yourself to suddenly use it, I knew it would be incredibly difficult. They were to act as a way to channel your new found magic more efficiently. After viewing your exact magic flow, I was able to craft the robes for you three specifically."

Jared was at a loss for words. Not only did that answer the questions that had been bugging him the most, but it also unleashed a whole new set of them. After what seemed like an eternity, Jared was able to sort out which ones to ask first.

"I need to clarify a few things," Jared sucked in a breath. "Since, as you keep saying, we were an eventuality, this means that you knew exactly what our magic flows would look like; which is why the covers of each of our Books reflect our own magic flow."

"Correct," Aftemath nodded.

"Okay..." Jared did his best to wrap his head around everything. "Then everything that has happened to us was supposed to happen."

"Not quite," Aftemath corrected him. "The tragedies you all have experienced thus far were simply that, tragedies. The people you have lost, the small battle you have done, all those were as they were."

"So that means I had a chance to save Dex and Ross," Jared felt dread take over.

"Again, not necessarily," Aftemath sighed. "Though these events were not an eventuality, it does not mean that they were not meant to happen."

"Isn't 'eventuality' and 'meant to happen' the same thing?" Jared asked.

"No, an eventuality means that it could happen any moment in time, but when are things meant to be, it means that same way or another, this Dex you speak of would have died at that time and that woman Ross, would have left you as well."

"Damn," Jared cursed several times. "I'm sorry Dex, I'm so so sorry!"

"I'm sure your friend understands," Aftemath tried to comfort him.

"It doesn't matter whether or not he understands, what matters is that it's just not fair!" Jared cursed again.

"Jared Dixen, for you to carry on, you must forgive the past and seek the future."

"Yeah, okay," Jared felt like he did when Dex's death had first hit him.

"Jared Dixen," Aftemath spoke firmer this time. Jared looked up at the man to see that his entire demeanor had changed. The man stood taller and more definite. "If you are to carry out your will, you must forgive the past, all of it."

"You sound as though that hinges on everything," Jared tried to make a light joke out of it, but Aftemath's face only grew darker. "You also sound like you know what's to come for us," Jared stood up and looked the old man dead in the eye. "What we've been calling ourselves, Mages of Legend, is that really what we are?"

In response, Aftemath's mood changed drastically and an all knowing smile crept onto to his face.