Basil and the Slumbering Emerald

The Tale of the Original Three

After roughly ten minutes Petril knocks at the door before opening it. He smiles awkwardly. "I'm really sorry you had to see that. I'm glad to see you got an ascended. Who is it?" Petril walks over sitting on the bed next to Basil and Kelkian petting the white viper.

"It's Eros... the god of love." Basil smiles proudly and Petril's reaction mimics Kelkian's from before.

"That's great Basil. You have such potential as an unbound. I can't wait to hopefully be your mentor." Petril lets the snake coil around his arm hissing softly and flicking it's tongue.

"Hopefully? Wait... you might not be my mentor?" Basil looks concerned, eyebrows knitting together. Petril nods sadly sighing.

"We don't know your soul alignment. I can only really mentor you in the ways of celestial magics. You would need a different mentor if you turn out to be elemental or earth aligned. Now, let's put that aside for the moment, you came to me for a reason. Talk to me Basil." Petril gets comfortable prepared to listen.

"I've been having dreams of a moonless dark forest at night with a voice calling out to me. It's creepy and ominous so I assumed it was just a reoccurring nightmare until last night. I came upon an overgrown ruin that was illuminated by statues like it was made of moonlight. In the center was a pedestal with a rectangular emerald waiting. It was calling to me Petril. Kelkian mentioned something called the slumbering emerald and the original three. I don't understand what is going on." Basil tries to calm himself seeming shaken by the mystery behind his nightmares and Kelkian wraps his arms around Basil lovingly.

"It'll be okay love. Take a deep breath." Basil listened and sucked in a deep breath letting it out slowly. Petril looks deep in thoughts before coming to a decision.

"Before I explain anything, I want you to know that until we know more there is no guarantee that what you saw was the Slumbering Emerald. It's a one of a kind magical relic. It is one of three. A set. Owned by the first three unbound of their kind. I think it's best if I start from the beginning." Petril clears his throat and Kelkian smiles knowingly excited to hear the tale told again.

"The Tale of the Original Three. Once upon a time, long ago all humans were born with shackled souls that knew not the wonders of magic. It wasn't until a mother bore three children into the world whose souls shown so brightly they could no longer be bound. And so the first unbound were born. Triplets they were, two girls and one boy. The first was Erabeth, the first unbound to harness the wonders of earth. She was said to be a grounded soul who saw the best in the worst. She had power over dreams. She plucked a stone from a babbling brook and with all her might imbued this stone with all the magics of earth. It solidified into the purest of emeralds. Unlike the unbound who came later this magic had no restrictions. No earth magic was too great for this gem to aid in casting. The second was Azulian, the first unbound to harness the tempestuous whims of the elements. He was said to be a deeply emotional soul, one who could pluck one from the very depths of despair with his empathic prowess. He had power over emotions like none could imagine. He plumbed the depths of what it means to be human. Using the elements and his own powers of emotion, Azulian forged a sapphire so pure and beautiful all who saw it wept. Like the emerald it possessed raw power of the elements, removing all restrictions to magic casting. Third was Rawtha, the first unbound to harness the endless expanse of the cosmos. She was said to have the will and intellect unmatched by any other living person. She had the power of premonition and could foresee the future in all it's possibilities. It is said the Rawtha plucked a burning star from the night sky and forged it into a ruby as red as the brightest rose. It was flawless and awe inspiring. With it one commanded the boundless celestial power without the slightest restriction and bestowed the owner with vision of the future. Together these relics are able to control the power of creation itself. To be one as strong as a god in human form. Then came the darkened. The soulless enemies of the unbound. Humans who do not die easily and live unnaturally long lives. They are filled with darkness and possess no soul. Fearing the abuse of the powers of the slumbering emerald Erabeth hid the stone in dreams, where she lives on guiding unbound through dreams. Azulian took his drowning sapphire and hid it within the deepest well, so deep any attempts result in drowning. Rawtha cast her burning ruby amongst the stars, hiding it in the boundless sky. Without their gifts Erabeth, Azulian and Rawtha ascended but stand guardian over their gifts. Erabeth the sleeping doe, Azulian the overwhelming water snake, and Rawtha the celestial owl are how they are known now. No one has seen them for over a thousand years." Petril stops talking and lets Basil soak in what he just said. Basil looks deep in thought, seemingly more confused.

"If it is the slumbering emerald why would it appear to me, I'm just Basil... plain old Basil. Sure I'm kind of smart and a great runner but that hardly qualifies me to possess something so powerful. Besides, I'm not even certain I'm an earth unbound anyway. This has to be some weird mistake. It can't be the slumbering emerald." Basil quickly rejects the idea getting up. "I'm not even eighteen yet. We don't even know my alignment." He starts pacing. Eros's sibilant smooth voice slithers into his mind.

"Would this upset you so if it did not hold some truth Basil? I admit even during my human years, few of us heard from the original three. I have been blessed to have met Azulian once but we did not speak. It was merely in passing. You know you are special Basil, I know you feel it inside you. Don't deny it." Eros hisses and Petril stays silent trying to understand the conversation between Eros and Basil.

"I know I felt special for a long time, like something from my life was missing but that can't have anything to do with this. This is ridiculous." Basil storms out of the room and Kelkian rises to chase after him but Petril grabs his arm.

"Give him time. We still don't know that this has anything to do with the slumbering emerald. I'm going to seek out the council and open an investigation into the celestial destiny of Basil's. You should go get Gram, I think once this sinks in, that no matter what the dream means it is significant and that Basil has some higher calling. He will need all the support he can get."

Meanwhile Basil sprints down suburban sidewalks, his heart pounding in his ears to the pace of his feet on the pavement. Basil goes to sprint across the street when a car squeals attempting to stop but still hitting him. Basil slaps down onto the pavement and a voice calls out to him, a husky deep voice like personified bonfire smoke. "Hey you alright?! Don't move let me call and ambulance. I'm so so so so sorry. Oh god you are bleeding." The behemoth of a man kneels down and uses his jacket to stop the bleeding from the side of Basil's head as it paints his platinum locks red. His vision blurs slightly but he makes out a handsome yet soft face with the most vibrant blue eyes. Then the blackness takes hold.