Chapter SIXTY-THREE: Song of Age
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Somewhere on the Arishta Isles...
Another duty...
Another quest...
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In the vast lands below the snowy purple mountain peaks and endless fields of grain and corn, young Dameon trailed behind his father's steps. The Sun Druid walked at a slow, leisurely pace a short distance ahead of the bouncy toddler. The magnificence of the midday sun beamed over father and son as they marched forth to their next destination.
With magic surrounding them and warding off any adversaries, the pair confidently strolled through the immense prosperous valley. The Druid of Light blessed the lands with sun magic as they went, as was essential on occasion for a bountiful harvest, per the sun gods.
However, the druid blended in for once to his son's ordinary clothing, with his red and green robes still tucked under his cloak; he could easily be mistaken for a distant traveler. Clothed in dark grey, as to not attract any unwanted attention from possible foes on their way, especially since his young son needed to come along with him this time.
Going from town to town, this quest required the Druid of Light make himself available to heal poor, noble, and royal citizens of Aia, as well to bless the places that were most in need after the Demon wrecked havoc throughout the world. There was a lot of work to do, and it was an opportunity for his son to experience the realm of mortals, especially other mortal children. He had allowed Dameon to play with the other children, but departing was always hard on the boy as he was just making friends with the new children of passing kingdoms, just when they would need to move on to the next city.
From the corner of his eye, the druid glanced often behind him on this long trip, taking into account Dameon's every need as well as to make sure the boy was keeping up, since he refused to be held or carried on his father's back any longer. Of course, being so little and always longing to play, the boy was incredibly bored.
The boy's father suddenly decided he would end the his boredom at once...
A colorful burst of light magic soon erupted out of the druid's staff. The tall drying grass and valley shrubbery changed into every color imaginable. Tinted light rained upon them, though there was no actual rain falling from the sky.
Colorful glittering mist decorated the boy's path, rhythmically flowing in the air, capturing his attention instantly. Streams of soft and dazzling color, warm and cool, as though the sunlight were reflecting through thousands of prisms, flowed freely with the current of the wind.
The luminous radiance danced as though going along with an inaudible ethereal song in the picturesque backdrop of the vale.
The boy happily chased after the confetti of light showering him and chuckled as glowing halos drifted beside him like flying lanterns. His smiling father watched on, pleased that the boy seemed endlessly content and overjoyed.
Pleased, too, that he was able to get a bit more powerful after going to various towns and consulting other mages. Some of it was simple theatrics, and some was practical sun magic he had lost and now regained back, but it was enough to amuse the boy, and that is all that mattered.
"Tag, dadda? Pleease," Dameon asked politely as he continued swatting at the light display.
"Hmm...Perhaps, my son...Okay...You're it then!" Aydan hollered as he allowed Dameon to chase after him, but making it easy for the boy to catch up. He then slowed down deliberately just enough for Dameon to tag him back. The boy giggled and then let his father chase after him.
Suddenly, the boy stopped in his path and turned towards his father.
"Dadda, magic?" Dameon said, holding up his tiny palm with pulsing glowing orb up for his father to see.
Aydan stopped in his track. His posture straightened up as he stood before his talented young son.
"Aye, my son...It is magic. I am so very proud of you, my child. You're mother will be proud as well," the Sun Priest managed to say, his pride getting the best of him as he tried to hold back his emotions. Shocked, too, that Dameon's magic would awaken when he was wholly in a state of happiness, instead of being out of necessity, defense, fear, or anger. "There is much to learn about magic, Dameon. Your mother and I will show you all that we know."
With that said, Aydan helped young Dameon contain the luminous sphere, helping the boy safely withdraw the raw magic he had summoned, then continued on their way.
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After an entertaining and very eventful trip, the Sun Druid and his son arrived at their destination. An Elven city living in high mammoth ancient trees. Even though there were no quests the Sun Druid needed to fulfill here, nor was there any need to heal the elves as they were quite capable, they were close enough for the druid to speak to the Elven King about stronger magical techniques if the king willed it; as well as to acquire a few invaluable spell books.
Soon it would also be evening and they would have a place to rest as well. The next day they would move on to the next place of importance, then finally home to the High Realm.
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Night time finally came...
After a long journey, father and son very much looked forward to rest as both would finally see Talia in their dreams and get to tell her about the young boy's new magic.
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Mt. Orion...
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Druid Vata was right. The boy was growing fast. Dameon now reached his waistline, the Sun Druid reflected. It had been almost two years since Father Time Vata had reminded him how quickly time flies...
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"We're nearly there, my son," Aydan said to Dameon, his voice stressed. The druid launched forward with his heavy staff and struck a large red and blue Rawwyn flying towards them, readying to attack them both. After striking it once, the Sun Druid annihilated the large bird-like creature. "Come along, Dameon. I hope to return home soon after we are through here."
"Yes, Da," Dameon said as he inched closer to him. His little heart beat quickly from the sight of the dead creature. Its large feathers littered the ground. He looked at his hand, realizing his father had finished the creature, before he even thought of trying to use his own weak magic. That always seemed to happen, the youngster pondered, as he continued to look at his hand.
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The sound of melodious music filled the air as they turned through a grassy dirt maze as they went deeper into Land's End. The peak of Mt. Orion was high in the distance. Dameon looked up at the mountain in awe, thinking it the highest peak he had ever seen in all his travels with his father.
The Sun Priest, however, looked nervously around to make sure there was no else one around. He knew his old cottage in the Wildwoods was near, and worried that the pathetic oaf would possibly be in the area, even though the likelihood of that happening was slim, especially after all this time.
He urged Dameon to move more briskly, not wanting to stay much longer on this isle; his eyes still shifting westward from time to time towards the thick forest in the distance.
After a short hike, they passed what appeared to be a garden patch, semi-hidden between high mounds. Dameon tried to go towards it, but saw a pup napping in the middle of the pathway to an unexpected garden. His father placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and then rubbed his reddish brown hair and quietly whispered, "No...Not that way...We are almost there."
As they moved away, suddenly, there was loud terrifying bark coming from where they had just been.
After hastening their pace through another league of lime green grass and clear blue streams, both father and son stood before a large decorative temple. The granite image of a harp adorned the top.
"A Sun Temple? Or 'nother Green Rock?...Or Time? " Dameon asked, having only been to a few temples in his short existence as the two walked forward. The boy's eyes drifted up and down the vast pillars.
"Oh...No, my son, it's call-"Aydan began explaining.
"—Welcome to Harmony Temple, Temple of Music," the voice of a friendly soft spoken man cut in to answer the boy. "Welcome, Druid of Light and son of the Dreamer, to my home."
"Vohu Manah, The Bard. It has been long," Aydan replied as both men graciously held each other by the forearms. "I have the pomegranates that you have requested from Aveyond."
"Indeed, brother," Vohu Manah said as he reached out for his new stash.
"Ah, yes, indeed, fellow brother," Aydan added, trying to reestablish rapport after so long.
Dameon tilted his head to the side after hearing the Druid of Music call his father 'brother'. The pallid young man with dusty light turquoise hair and olive and pale purple robes did not resemble his father at all—not in the least.
"It's rare we even get visitors at my Temple...However, you did just barely miss an interesting gentlemen, wearing clothing I had never seen in any lifetime. He was an excellent bard, looking for inspiration for his next composition...He said it was for a series of games...I thought of asking what kind of 'game' would require so much amazing music, but he teleported away at once..."
Aydan and Dameon glanced at each other with dumbfounded expressions. Vohu now held out a bright red pomegranate in his hand, admiring the bulb-like crop.
"These are going to be delicious and divine!...A solid offering for the gods of Mt. Orion. I will be saving some seeds to grow in our enchanted garden this time. Thank you for making the trip, instead of I having to go to Aveyond to pick them...Eldereth is not up to making the journey these days...I was getting desperate, I must say," Vohu finished, his gaze lowering to the temple floor.
"Ah, yes. You mentioned that in your letter, Vohu, that the trip was too difficult, " Aydan said, while also looking away in dismay.
"Eldereth?...Like the great ocean, Da?" Dameon suddenly asked. His father's face flushed from unease, having forgotten to explain to the boy beforehand as he kept putting off having to tell Dameon whom he worried was still too young to fully grasp complex relationships.
Vohu Manah laughed.
Suddenly, an older woman with graying hair cautiously entered the temple, taking wobbly steps forward. She slowly went towards Vohu Manah, but he quickly raced over to her instead. The youthful druid suddenly reached out for the mature woman. Their heads touched and they nuzzled gently, their lips almost touching.
Dameon tilted his head, baffled.
"Eldereth, we have guests," Vohu said as he pulled away. "And yes, just like the great ocean dividing the Arishta Isles, young man."
"Ha! I may as well be as old as the sea," the woman jokingly remarked, making Vohu laugh again.
"Aye, my dear, but it is I who really is as old as the great ocean's sand. You are too lovely, my beloved enchantress," Vohu said lovingly. His eyes glistened with warm affection as he gazed deep into her eyes.
"Young man, a pleasure to introduce you to Eldereth. Eldie is the love of my immortal life. She was—and still is—the most kindest and most beautiful enchantress I have ever met. She sang and played a harp better than any bard in all of Aia when I met her ages ago. I was instantly drawn to her. Her hair and eyes were like orange fire when she was younger. She also has a wonderful green thumb. We feel in love and she has been at my side ever since. "
Eldereth fawned over Vohu's sentimental words, and then smiled widely at Dameon as the boy appeared downtrodden from the news, having understood that she is not immortal like druids.
"Pardon my manners, I shall get your guests refreshments and try to find sweets for the boy, Vohu," the old woman offered kindheartedly, then walked away, taking the pomegranates with her before leaving.
"Vohu...I am not sure how you handle...your differences," Aydan gasped, feeling saddened for Vohu and Eldereth's inevitable fate.
"Oh, I know. It is difficult watching her grow old while I remain young. We have only one lifetime together. Difficult, indeed," Vohu lamented. "I am not sure how I bear it, really."
Dameon looked on to the Druid of Music who was vibrant just a moment ago and now appeared to be in a state of lasting concern and sorrow. The boy's heart ached too, as he watched the Druid of Music move about his temple, eventually fetching a lute, plopping on the stone floor, while beginning to strum a dark and gloomy tune.
Aydan nudged the boy to get closer to the Vohu Manah.
Upon Dameon seating himself nearby, suddenly, the Druid of Music began playing a slightly more upbeat tune. Although not long after he started, Vohu's eyes were suddenly fixated on the entrance once again.