The Telling of a Story

Part Two

Azonos did not realize at the time, but he had just signed his life away. For ten years, he had been coming to Maructus with something new like a leaf from the Glove or his mother's golden chain and they would chat. Once, Azonos asked Maructus how the world was made and Maructus sat him down and gave him a history lesson that lasted all day. When Azonos returned to his son later that day, he told him everything the Great Sea God had told him and Iogam dreamt about the Gods and their grandeur. For ten years, everything seemed fine. Iogam was slowly growing and Azonos knew it would be anytime now when his voice would deepen and his legs would practically double in length. But it was not until his son had long since hit his growth spurt did Azonos study his face. After a thorough examination of his own appearance did he realize that his face had not changed since he met Maructus so many years ago. Azonos started to panic. Why was he not aging like Iogam? Worried, he ran to the beach and requested Maructus' audience. The Great Sea God rose from the depths of his home and swam to the shore to Azonos. His blue glow almost blinded Azonos causing him to look away as he became to change his form into a Mateix in a flash of pure light. Maructus stood above Azonos in a Mateix's body and clothes, but he was an imposter.

"Why is it that my son ages every day, yet I have not changed for the past ten years?" Azonos knew better than to shout at a God, but he could not help himself. He was scared and afraid of what the God's answer might be and how it would affect his life forever.

"As a part of the deal, you said you would bring me something new every day. How do you expect to fulfill that promise if I were to let you die?" Maructus was confused as to why Azonos would ask such a question. Maructus could have sworn that when he created the Mateix, he made them smarter than this. He stared at Azonos as his face began to redden. The man's fist started to shake more ferociously thank the earthquakes his child Turum used to cause when he was first created.

"Do you mean to tell me that I am immortal?" Azonos' voice was loud and brash, but he did not care. "That I am doomed to watch my only son grow old and die while I never age?" Azonos fell to his knees as his voice cracked on the word 'die'. He put his head in his hands and for the first time in a long time, he began to weep. His sobs grew louder and louder until he was practically screaming.

Maructus had never seen such a violent display of emotion before so he let Azonos get it out of his system. After some time had passed, Azonos had stopped screaming and crying, but he had also stopped making any kind of noise. Maructus studied the Mateix as his body heaved up and down in silence. Although he had never seen anything like this before, Maructus knew that this kind of outburst followed by a long stretch of silence was not normal.

"Are you alright?" Maructus reached an artificial Mateix hand towards Azonos, but he shrugged it away. Azonos stood up with his head down and his fists clenched together. Slowly, Maructus watched as the man relaxed his fists and looked up at him. Although he could see where the tears had flowed down his face, Azonos' face was completely blank of all emotion. Maructus had never seen emotions like this before and was shocked that people could feel so strongly about things. Slowly, the real Mateix walked towards Maructus and put his hand on his shoulder. His black hair shook as he nodded his head and as soon as it happened, he turned and was already making his way down the beach.

In his calm home in the heart of the forest, Azonos was lost in thought. Iogam had long since gone to sleep, but thoughts of his future plagued Azonos. All he could see when he closed his eyes was his little boy, grown old and frail, dying before him. After a long sleepless night, Azonos rose from his bed with a plan.

Maructus was still startled after Azonos' outburst yesterday, so he had no idea what to expect today. The twilight sky shown overhead like it did all day, but to the trained eye, you could use the slightly different hues to tell time. Once the sky had changed to a lighter shade, Maructus knew that Azonos had missed their normal time. Worried and slightly annoyed, Maructus swam back and forth on the surface of his ocean staring at the shore. The day dragged on, and Azonos had not come yet. Realization dawned over Maructus as he swam to the shore. He changed himself into a Mateix and began his way to the wall he had built so long ago. The murals that told his life stared back at him, their vibrant colors causing his new eyes to hurt. Slowly Maructus raised his great hands over his head and felt the wall react. With a great deal of power, Maructus brought his arms down and in turn brought down his wall. He sighed heavily and looked over the debris. A few decades ago, he never would have considered destroying his precious wall. But even Gods need to recognize when they are wrong. With the wall in ruins around him, Maructus began his walk to find Azonos.

Iogam was running around outside, using his long legs to run between the trees faster than anyone Azonos had seen before. Azonos was trying his best to enjoy the day, but he could not help but worry what was going to happen. He was defying Maructus, the greatest God to ever live. If Maructus refused to understand, he could take back his miracle, and Iogam would fall sick again. Just the thought broke Azonos' heart. Iogam's shouts of joy filled the small house and sunk deep into the cracks. Azonos could not imagine his life without his son. Well he could, but he would rather not make himself cry that intensely again. After yesterday, Azonos doubted that he could ever cry again because he used up all his tears yesterday. Suddenly, Iogam stopped shouting. Azonos sprang up from his wooden chair and burst through the door only to be stopped in his tracks. Before him and his son stood Maructus in Mateix form. Although he looked like them, his bright blue glow never left his body. Maructus looked from Azonos to Iogam and after he examined both their facial expressions, he made his way towards Iogam.

"Hello boy. You don't know who I am, but I know who you are. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Maructus stuck out his hand and waited for Azonos' son to extend his own real hand. With a look of pure terror, the boy looked to his father whose face had been drained of its naturally brown color. With a solemn nod from Azonos, the boy turned back to Maructus and timidly stuck out his hand. Maructus was relieved that Azonos' son was cooperating.

"My father has told me a lot about you. All good things." Iogam rushed through his words, clearly nervous in the presence of a God. As he should be. The first time Azonos had talked with Maructus, he thought he was going to be struck down where he stood. But instead he had been granted his miracle and instead of continuing the generous deal, he broke it. Filled with dread and shame, Azonos made his way to his son and the Great Sea God.

Maructus chuckled at the boy's nervous state and his sweaty palms. Mateix are such odd creatures. Through the side of his gaze he saw Azonos make his way from his home to behind his son. Maructus had not noticed it before, but Azonos' son was almost as tall as Azonos himself. Maructus was the tallest one there, but still. The boy would grow to be as taller than his father for sure.

"Iogam, it's time for you to go inside ok?" Azonos patted his hand on his son's back and with a quick wave goodbye, the boy was off into the house. Maructus looked down at Azonos and gave him a bittersweet smile.

"So that's your son? He seems like a remarkable young man."

"Yes he is," Azonos said, gazing at the slightly cracked window where Iogam was trying to eavesdrop. "I can never thank you enough for what you did for him. I am sorry about not coming today I-" Maructus put his hand in front of Azonos.

"I am going to speak now."

Azonos looked absolutely terrified like he should have been. Had anyone else pulled what he did, Maructus would have killed them in an instant. But any fool could see how much Azonos cared for his son. "Your son's life is not in danger. I granted the miracle and I intend on leaving it."

"But I didn't bring you anything new today." Azonos stammered. He could not believe he was receiving mercy. He had been almost positive that Maructus would rip his son from his life.

"Ah, but you did," And as Maructus gestured to the head peeking out from the cracked window, Azonos understood. "I have never met your son, so therefore he is something new to me," Maructus smiled down at Azonos as he watched relief wash over his body. His face relaxed and he looked like he could have passed out but before he had the chance, Maructus reached out and grabbed his shoulders. "But before you start praising me for my generosity, I still want you to bring me new things every day. I know that means that one day you're going to have to be without your son, but I can guarantee right now that he will be in a better place after he leaves this planet." Azonos' face changed from joy to understanding as he hoisted himself out of Maructus' arms.

"I understand. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I promise I will spend the rest of my life paying you back." Azonos smiled at the Great Sea God and turned to go back into his house. He was halfway to his door, but he saw Maructus' blinding light shine around him and turned in spite of the light.

"Anything for a friend." And then Maructus was gone.