After a few months into my schooling at Luna Nova, I've come to realize something. Whether it was during my battle with Diana, or the fight against the Cyclops, I've done some pretty serious damage to myself.

After making that case to the destruction teacher, Ms. Faralda, she said that I definitely have the raw power needed for spellcraft, but I need to study and practice.

That's what brings me here, deep in the forest that encircles the school.

I take aim at one of the many trees that surrounds me and cast my signature lightning spell.

The lightning punches a hole straight through the tree, unfortunately it still stands.

I sigh at my failed attempt, as I wonder how Akko would've faired.

I still can't believe that she took out the dragon. Her, the girl who has a Shiny Chariot action figure collection hidden under her bed!

I point my wand at a new tree, readying myself. Come on, I can do this. If I can handle a Cyclops, I can surely handle a tree.

As I am about to cast my spell, I hear light footsteps from behind me.

Upon turning around, I see a dog, a boxer to be exact, with a bit of back fat.

It stops and stares at me with focused eyes.

Let's make this study session a bit more entertaining, shall we?

"Oh an audience? Come to watch in awe as I perform the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by mankind?" I ask.

The dog sits down, its tail wagging with excitement.

I guess it does.

"Now prepare yourself for the magical mastery and show stopping abilities of the great and powerful Theodooore!"

I point my wand at the tree once again.

The spell shatters the trunk, throwing multiple burning branches in the air. Splinters fall from the sky and litter the ground.

I dust myself off, the once proud tree lying in a burning heap.

I smile at my achievement.

I did it!

"You are exactly what I was looking for!" I hear from a disembodied voice.

I turn around, the only figure in sight being the dog, now panting and smiling.

Did that dog just speak? No, it couldn't of…right?

"Uh, did you just talk?" I ask the dog, not expecting to get an answer.

The dog cocks his head to one side.

"Your world is now filled with dragons, magic, Cyclops's, and an all girls school that would take in a boy, and you're surprised by me? Yes I can talk, and I'm continuing to do so now. You see, my name is Bruno, and I have a problem that you can sort out."

All true points made by him.

Even still, the fact that a dog is converging with me is still a head turner.

Are all dogs like this? Perhaps it's like one of the childrens' movies, where all the animals pretend to be just like animals, but as soon as humans leave the scene, they begin to converse with each other.

No, that can't be it.

I think that with all this time that has passed, that secret would've been dug up sooner or later.

This boxer before me would have to be a magical dog.

But just how did he get this way?

"Touche." I respond to him. "So, what could a dog need help with?"

"My master told me to find a certain wizard who fits this description: short, brown hair, green eyes, with a huge nose, and you happen to fit the bill perfectly!"

I rub my nose.

It's not that big, everyone else's nose is just too small!

"Where does your master live?" I ask.

"He lives near a city not far from here, Blytonbury. In fact, it's in this very forest, where the trees are so thick, no witch dares to venture." The dog responds.

"Blytonbury?" I ask. "In this very forest? Where the woods are so thick?"

"Don't worry." He reassures me. "I've lived in this forest for a few years now. I know every stick and rock here. He lives on top of a hill. If you look closely, you can see Glastonbury from there."

I eye the burning pile of splinters.

Well, this is a good place to stop for today, plus I want to know why Bruno's owner wants to find me so bad.

Maybe he's heard of my great powers.

"Okay Bruno, take me to Blytonbury."

After an hour of an uneventful walk, Bruno and I find ourselves on the city limits of Blytonbury.

"You said he lived near here?" I ask, eyeing the nearby forest.

"Yeah, my master lives in a cave." He says casually.

I raise an eyebrow.

"A cave?"

Just what kind of hermit is this guy?

"Yeah, The Big Caves."

That name sounds vaguely familiar.

I've definitely heard that somewhere before. I just can't tell when.

Bruno leads me down a dirt footpath going into the forest.

He leads me through the heavy and thick woods, myself having to dodge and stumble on many unearthed roots and rocks.

The walk surely is treacherous.

I can't imagine any other living out here.

Bruno's master must be a magic user, that's the only way I can see him making this journey every so often.

After a while of walking, we begin to go uphill, the steepness of the climb making the trek even more difficult.

Once the mouth of the cave comes into sight, he looks up at me.

"If this whole thing works out, I'll make sure you're well rewarded. Just don't accept any offers he makes, ok?"

"Why?" I ask.

If a dog could look sheepish, now is the time.

"Did I forget to mention that my master is Mendacius? The Roman god of deception and lies?"

Well, this just got a lot more interesting.

So, this is where a god lives, huh?

I begin to scan the area.

It seems like a normal place, a cave on top of a hill, surrounded by a thick forest.

It seems as though Bruno was right, for I can see the outline of Glastonbury from here.

Luna Nova seems so close, but yet so far.

"Must've slipped your mind." I mutter.

With that, we walk into the cave.

After making a few turns, I note that the walls of the caves are perfectly straight, not a single rock or chip out of place.

I would've thought I was walking through a windowless house, rather than the cave of a god.

"This seems almost too symmetrical to be natural." I mutter.

"It's anything but natural." Bruno replies. "An old crone by the name of Black Annis carved all of this with her own fingernails. She would hide there, until a child happened to pass by. She would drag them inside the cave, skin them alive, and feast on them. This went on for years, until one day three children were sent to gather firewood. They heard her approaching from behind, and ran back to their village, with her in hot pursuit. The dad struck her with an axe and she tried to run, but was struck down by the sound of church bells."

"What a kind old lady." I say sarcastically, not knowing if this is a fact or simple legend to explain the cave's origin. "Is she still alive?"

"She managed to hobble back to the cave, and laid there dying. Then Mendacius approached Black Annis with a deal. He would heal her, if she offers her caves as his home. She accepted and after that, she just disappeared."

We continue walking down the tunnel until we reach a square shaped room.

A painted circle with a fasces decorates the floor in the middle of the room, and tattered banners with the Roman eagle are adorning the left and right side walls. On the far end is a statue of, what I think is, Mendacius himself.

A marble bust of him, clad in full legionary armor, doing the Roman salute.

Bruno nudges his head towards the statue, signaling me to step forward.

Well, as long as I get answers.

Walking towards the bust, the moment I step on the crest, steel bars shoot out from below, trapping me in a circular cage.

Before I have time to protest my imprisonment, I hear a disembodied voice coming from the statue.

"So Bruno, what you're saying is, this…boy did it?"

"What I'm saying is, this boy matches the description you gave me." Bruno answers back, a little apprehension to his master in his voice.

At this point, I'm very confused.

The boy who did what? Maybe I was right, and the tale of my power has spread far and wide.

Doubtful, but wishful thinking.

I definitely don't want it to be the anger of a god.

"What do you mean by the boy who did it?" I ask.

"Why, the boy who killed the Cyclops in the labyrinth." The statue responds to me.

So, that's where I've heard of The Big Caves before!

Despite my temporary imprisonment, this god seems nice enough as it is.

I've read enough stories to know that an angry god can spell disaster for anyone nearby, even if they had no hand in the matter that caused his rage.

If anything, at least he's polite.

"Yeah I did. Wasn't his name Polytheistic, or something?" I ask.

"Polyphemus." He says, correcting me. "He was a follower of mine that I sent to the labyrinth to keep tabs on your magical school. Well, until you stumbled upon him."

By his tone of voice, he doesn't even sound angered.

"He seems like a waste to me, considering all it took was a student to kill him." I mutter.

"Know your place, mortal" The god suddenly shouts at me. "Your ancestors bowed before me, and you will do the same!" Mendacius bellows.

I shrink back until I hit the bars behind me, reminding me that I'm completely at his mercy.

I guess I might've hit a nerve.

How could I be so stupid in saying that?!

He is a god after all, and should be treated as such.

Even if he's still contained by that marble statue, I can feel the power and overwhelming empowerment in his voice. Even in his stone prison, the god still holds an influence on me, on a mortal.

"So, uh w-what do you want from me?" I ask nervously, hoping that my show of giving my stifle his anger.

"Simple, you killed my Cyclops." He says, returning to his regular calm voice. "I was just about to assign him on a retrieval mission. Now that he's dead, and you're held responsible, you will take his place. And don't even think about saying no, or I will use my godly powers on you!"

Another show of force.

Not that he'd need it.

"W-what do you want me to do?" I ask, not wanting to backtalk this god.

"You are to locate and capture John Diehl, an enemy of mine."

I say nothing, as I think hard about the situation at hand.

If I say no, I'll have an angry god to deal with, and if I say yes, I'll have to go on a wild goose chase for some guy I've never heard of.

Mendacius goes on with his proposal.

"It has come to my attention that you have acquired The Pestle of Jennifer the Witch, no?"

"I have." I respond.

"What you do not know is that I have the other piece, The Mortar of Jennifer the Witch."

The Mortal of Jennifer the Witch?

Why, that would complete the set!

Mendacius catches my curious look and continues.

"Let us make a deal Theodore Sempronia, you bring me John Diehl, and I'll consider us even. In the end he will be in my possession, and the mortar will be in yours. Is this a deal?"

Just what is Mendacius going to do to this man once he finds him?

Do I really have a choice?

Even if Mendacius is bounded by the statue, who's the say that Bruno wouldn't try anything on me? I don't know these people.

My hands are tied.

I can only hope that it's justified and uncruel.

"Deal. But before I begin, I have a few questions." I say.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Why are you in a statue?" I ask.

"Ah, I wasn't always stuck in this statue." He mutters, reminiscing. "There was a time where I shook fear into the bravest of souls, and the mightiest of the emperors. However, a Roman god has his enemies, and the witch Jennifer had me captured in stone, left me here to decay, until you came."

"You want revenge on Jennifer?" I ask.

Didn't she die hundreds of years ago?

"Revenge? No, I want justice. I want John Diehl, the man whose ancestors sided with her, and locked me up. Bruno can help you find him. Bring me John Diehl, let him set foot in The Big Caves, and when he does, I will be waiting for him... What's your next question?"

"How did you know my name?" I ask.

If he could move his face, I'd imagine it would be a face of slyful mockingness.

"I'm a god, I know these things."

Author's Note:Sorry that chapter took a bit longer than normal. Writer's block sure is something! By the way, I noticed some pretty intense shipping comments like "Sucy x TED PLZ!" and "Please ship Ted and Diana." Both were written by amazing and beautiful people. So, I'm just wondering who you want to see Theodore shipped with! Write it down in the comments, my dudes.