Chapter 3

Home again

When Adam woke up he found that he was not only feeling much better, but he was in a small single-windowed room. The snow white walls had red engravings of swirly designs that spun in a dizzy display. A single reddish-brown door was off to Adam's right; it was open, bringing with it a cool, soothing breeze. The room was peaceful.

But it hadn't dawned on Adam that he was in Xeon until Trey and Austin burst into the room.

"You're awake?" Said Austin, questioningly, even though it didn't seem like a question to Adam, Austin sat down at the edge of the bed as Adam sat up, his blanket sliding down into his lap.

"Yes I'm awake. Um… what happened?" Asked Adam, a sense of confusion in his now stronger voice." I don't remember being brought up to Xeon."

Now it was Trey's turn to speak." You had passed out when we got here. The magicians said it was just because of dehydration." He sounded relived that 'dehydration' was the only reason for Adam passing out.

Adam stretched then slid his hands through his brown hair."Well is it breakfast or what, because I am starving." Adam said, longing for the taste of real gourmet food.

Austin hopped off the bed and walked to the door as if the talk of food had brought him back from a daydream."Good idea, I'll let the chefs know." And with not a second to lose he ran out of the room and out of view.

Adam hadn't noticed that Trey was holding a pair of fresh clothes until they were flung into his face. "Get dressed," Said Trey's voice as he left the room.

When Adam pulled the clothes off his face he found that he was alone…

Adam left the comfort of the medical room and headed down a path through the garden, also the resting place of Xeon's greatest magician, Xenon. His tomb stood in the center of the garden, a large circular burial chamber with a high vaulted roof and a straight passageway lined with stone, and deep inside was Xenon's coffin sealed by magic so not even time could ravage him.

As he walked by he noticed an irregular shaped brick in the left exterior wall, but paid it no mind as his thoughts were diverted to the smell of fresh baked bread just being pulled out of the hot oven.

He was near the mess hall, fresh smell of food wafting into the morning breeze. He hurried across the courtyard, a flat area of stone with colorful tiles that covered the area, and up the steps into the mess hall where he was greeted with friendly servants who took him to his seat.

Trey and Austin were there surrounded by mounds of meat, fresh with hot steam swirling into the air, bread, smothered in sweet honey, and fruits, all different colors; red, green, yellow…, and other such edibles.

Adam sat and immediately began devouring the sustenance that was within his grasp. When his stomach was crowded and sticking out he sat back and issued a massive belch.

"So how was your breakfast?" Asked Trey, finishing his food and handed the plate to a servant who walked to the kitchen to dispose of the leftovers.

Adam patted his stomach and said." Very delicious. Best food I've had in months."

Austin stood, satisfied, and said with a hint of wisdom."Better clear your conscience, we are scheduled to meet up with Nolan right after we are done eating."

"Well let's go ahead." Said Adam standing and exiting the mess hall.

They exited the mess hall and down the stone steps onto the tiled courtyard. Several soldiers-in-training sparred with wooden swords. Each one defending each other from their opponents attacks.

On the opposite side from where the soldiers sparred was the Master's Villa, a large residential building with a wide porch with wooden columns that bordered the porch. The wood was colored with a reddish paint.

And as if knowing that they approached, Nolan opened the door and stepped onto the porch. He was wearing a royal sapphire blue cape with a cotton shirt dyed black.

His long silky brown hair streamed down his face, barely interfering with his shoulders. He was clean shaven, not a single facial hair on his face. His chiseled features suggest that he was strong, healthy, and well kept. All in all, despite his age, he looked young, and sometimes acted it.

"Adam, good to see that you're still in one piece!" Nolan shouted from across the courtyard.

Adam only smirked in response to Nolan's statement.

Nolan continued walking; closing what space remained between them."I see that you not only rescued Adam, but also hundreds of battle-raged men as well." Said Nolan, now standing directly in front of the group, referring to Trey and Austin. He let out a harmless chuckle.

"Yes sir, we did." Trey Answered looking to Austin for reassurance.

Trey has been waiting for a moment such as this to finally complete his duties and ascend to rank of sergeant. He had been in first class private for several months, since about the time that Adam disappeared. If rescuing Adam was enough he could finally be upgraded.

Austin had made it clear that he wanted to stay in the spy category. Trey had often teased him saying 'all that spies do is climb into trees just to gather secretive information'. Austin didn't care he would stay as a spy; it was the easiest military rank to be accumulated in.

"Well, I would like to talk with Adam in private. You and Austin can go to the training grounds and… well, train." Said Nolan motioning Adam to follow. They left Trey and Austin behind and walked up the wooden steps to the Masters Villa...

By dusk Adam left Nolan's presence and into his long-awaited room and fell into his soft bed. He wondered about what Nolan had said when they had talked earlier. He had said that Morbid, an evil magician that obeyed Aroughs king, had found a way to alter magic and become immortal. By him doing this Morbid wouldn't be able to die at the hands of any regular magician such as Nolan or Adam, but by a weapon only heard of in myths.

The Soul Reaper. A sword that was created to be able to conquer any immortal. Long ago, several men found a mystical stone that granted them long life and other unknown powerful ascendancies. These men were thought to be gods, and that's where many of the myths of powerful beings came from. The men ruled over Salazier, but then was named Alageasia, in complete dominance, the land divided evenly amongst them.

But their power grew too influential and the land began to die. So came the birth of the Soul Reaper. A group of about ten magicians came together and formulated a plan to put the men to rest once and for all. They forged a sword and enchanted it with many spells causing three of them to die. The sword, once it pierced the immortals flesh, would devour the entities life completely, leaving no sign that the immortal had ever lived to begin with.

But his thoughts were brought back to his room. He lay curled in his bed and for the first time since he was captured he relaxed and feel into a deep slumber.