Chapter 12 The Gift and the Price
Magnus and the Council
"Magnus, we have called you here today. We know it has been a long journey, but we have much to discuss," a man said.
Magnus stood before a council of twelve unknown individuals.
"Yes. I trust my efforts have not gone unnoticed," Magnus said, bowing his head ever so slightly.
"Lucas has informed us that you've completed stage one of the magic resuscitation," another council member commented.
"Yes. Her power has been restored. It took longer than anticipated, but we are prepared to advance to the next phase."
"Nonsense," another snapped.
"It is too soon. We cannot afford to rush into things.
But we have waited too long for this," someone else added.
Magnus's gaze darkened. "And yet, you hesitate," he said, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. "I have delivered nothing but success. "How long will you pretend that I'm not capable of doing my job?"
"Your job is what we tell you it is." another lashed out
Magnus said nothing but his face showed he was displeased.
"And what of this boy?" another member asked. "What is so special about him that you allow him to roam without consequence?"
"The boy is unique," Magnus replied. "His potential shines more than that of any candidate before him. Since the incident in the woods, I have observed him closely."
"We are aware of your… fascination. Yes, the event that happened all those years ago was unexpected, but we do not have time for distractions. We have a plan—we do not need this boy. Your obsession may have jeopardized everything," another member interjected.
Magnus tilted his head. "Jeopardized?" he repeated , amusement in his tone. "You misunderstand. He brought it down. Even if only for a moment, he did what none of you could."
"We presented you with a solution, Magnus. Do you doubt our vision?" a council member asked, anger creeping into their voice.
Magnus smiled—a cold, artificial thing. "No. The church has never given me reason to doubt," he said, bowing once more.
"Then leave everything to us. You have pushed the boy far enough. Dispose of him before things spiral beyond control."
Magnus said nothing.
"Do you understand?" another council member demanded.
Magnus exhaled slowly, his voice calm, measured. "He will come to Veloria soon. When he does… I will handle it."
"Good. And Magnus," the voice warned, "we see everything, even from out here. Know your place."
One by one, the council members vanished.
Magnus stood motionless for a moment, then slowly clenched his fists. A chair shot across the room, crashing into the far wall with a violent smash . His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I will show you all."
Turning to Lucas, he ordered, "Wake the priests. Proceed to the next stage. We will not wait."
"Y-yes, sir," Lucas stammered before hurrying out of the room.
Lilith's Barrow
"Madoxx, you put your hands out like this and push," a girl's voice echoed.
"Livana, you said you would protect me."
An image shot through my head before I woke up, sweat drenching my clothes. Even after all this time, the nightmares followed.
The Next Day
We stood next to the barrow staircase. Today was the day. Lilith walked out, Eliza at her side.
"I hope you're ready," I said. "It's going to be a long journey, and I know walking hates to see your lazy ass coming." I joked.
"Listen, Madoxx," Eliza said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I need to stay here," she continued. "My training isn't done yet, and at this level, I'd only put you all in danger." Her head sank down.
"Oh… no, I understand, El. No need to look so down. It sucks, but we're only going in for reconnaissance, so take your time. Be ready when it finally counts."
Her face lit up as her head shot back up. "Oh, you're not mad?"
"Of course not. I want you at your best when it truly matters."
She smiled while contemplating. "Oh, and what the hell do you mean I'm lazy? I'm way more athletic than you, dumbass!" she said, fuming.
"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that, I guess," I said, teasing her some more.
She smiled. "Well, anyway, good luck. And I swear, if you die…"
"I won't," I assured her as I pulled her in for a hug. She came in close and hugged me tight.
Over my shoulder, she said, "Hey, pink hair, watch his back, okay?"
"Yeah, only if he watches mine," Melody replied, smiling as she leaped in to join the hug.
"You're too violent for hugs," I said dryly, rubbing my back where she'd kneed me as she jumped to join.
"Shut it, Madoxx," she said just as dryly, and we all giggled.
"All right, that was long enough. Back to your training, young lady Nyssa said."
Eliza's face showed fear. "Okay," she said nervously. "Bye, Madoxx, Mel I'll see you in a bit."
It had been three years since I'd seen the surface. I was slightly nervous but equally excited. The first time I'd been outside for real, the Keeth tried to eat me. But now, I was ready. Bring it on.
Under Lilith's orders, we set out. I'd never seen much of the surroundings since I couldn't remember how I'd even arrived at Lilith's home. We climbed a long flight of spiral stairs that stretched up several floors until we reached a wooden door.
When I pushed it open, I was hit by the sight of lush greenery, the earthy scent of fresh soil, and the soft glow of moonlight lighting the forest.
"Why are we going out at night?" I asked Melody dryly.
"So the Shadow Man doesn't steal our souls," Melody replied, her expression deadly serious. She held my gaze for a few tense seconds before a smirk broke through.
"Don't mess with the boy," Lilith added, amusement in her voice. "Take care of each other. Even though the Shadow Man doesn't exist, that doesn't mean the forest is safe. There are plenty of terrifying monsters that roam these woods, so be mindful of that."
I could tell Lilith was trying to ease my conscience, but she ended up making me even more scared to go out there. The only encounter I'd ever had outside the orphanage was with the Keeth, and that in itself was a terrible experience. Now I was heading back into the woods to do it all again.
We set out with Melody in the lead. She walked with a confident walk. It was the same prideful air she had when she fought—something not strange, but definitely noticeable.
"Do you even know the way" i said dryly
"Of course I do" she said smugly" you just follow" she added.
We wound our way through the woods. The sky was gray tonight, and the wind blew violently—a storm was likely heading our way. The silence of the night was broken by creaking tree branches being tossed about by the wind. Animals made noises in the dark as they howled and ran through the forest. The forest was thick and damp, the ground covered with patches of grass but mostly just mud and twigs.
We walked for a few hours until we took shelter under a tree when the rain began to pour violently.
"Let's make camp here," Melody said.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. We need to rest—we've been walking for quite a while," I responded.
"I'm not tired or anything," she said, pouting. "I could walk for days and nights if I had to," she added.
"It's not a competition," I said dryly.
"I didn't say it was. I was just saying I'm not tired," she complained.
"Sure," I said, smiling.
"I'm not Madoxx. The Great Melody would never be beaten by stamina."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, giggling. "Go to sleep, oh great one. We have more walking tomorrow."
A few moments passed, and Melody was fast asleep, snoring loud enough to wake up the entire forest. We had set up a small fire under the tree, and even though the ground was rough, hard, and a bit uncomfortable to sleep on, it was also cozy. The rain had eased up, and the wind was blowing gently, with small droplets drizzling down, setting a calm and nostalgic feeling. Sometimes, we would go on small camping trips in the backyard of the orphanage, pretending to be brave explorers braving the harsh, unforgiving outdoors. It was funny and a bit sad that now I was a real brave explorer, fighting nature, but none of my brave adventure buddies were at my side to fight the battle with me. Bittersweet, I sighed to myself.
I was flipping through the codex when suddenly, I flapped to a new blank page. It began pulsating violently.
"Now.... really?" I said dryly.
A white flash lit up the forest, and a warm sensation overcame my body once more. The codex wrote on the new blank page:
Chapter Two : The Gift and the Price
I found myself back at the moment where Zora opened his eyes. I looked around, but Melody was nowhere to be seen. It looked like this time, I was on my own.
Zora stood and marveled at the humongous tree before him. It was massive—its scale indescribable. This realm, or whatever it was, stretched infinitely. Zora felt his body revitalized.
"You did this, didn't you?" he said, smiling at the tree.
He knelt to his knees. "Thank you."
"Thank you, but I must ask—my people are sick, basically on the verge of death, if not dead already. Please, I beg you, help them as you have helped me. And whatever it is you want in return, I will pay back tenfold," he pleaded, his head scraping against the floor. "Please."
The tree did not respond.
A moment passed before a portal opened at its base. The tree's bright light radiated even more intensely, and its leaves rattled. Zora took this as a sign and plunged into the portal.
The codex explained.
And then, Zora returned home to find his people as desperate as the day he left—if not more so.
He guided them to the tree, and as it did with him, it opened and healed the people of Eldara.
The people healed as if it were a miracle. Those with past illnesses woke strong. Those on the verge of death were healed without exception. The village was safe.
The tree asked for nothing in return. It simply stood and shone brightly, lighting the realm.
But instead of leaving satisfied with the gift of life, they declared this would be their new home.
That was the first mistake.
"All hail King Zora, the man who saved us all!" the people roared in loud cheers.
"We declare this the City of Life! With its ruler, Zora—the greatest chief, and now, king of all time!"
They celebrated for three days and three nights.
The codex explained.
Six years passed.
And in those years, the people realized the tree didn't just heal—it wiped out the embers of mortality. The old were restored to their prime. The young grew stronger than ever. Illness was no longer a factor. Death was now nothing more than a fable. Life was good. This land was paradise.
Food and water were their only concerns. Peace was attained. All contributed, and life was good.
Until she came.
Sina.
A woman desperately ran through the forest, chased by beasts. She sprinted with all her strength through the darkness, until she spotted a light—an opening in the great tree.
Her only escape.
She ran with all her might and plummeted down into the City of Life.
Zora sat on his throne, listening to the hum of his people outside. Life was good. Life was perfect. But the peace shattered when the guards rushed in, their faces tense.
"A woman," one said. "She fell from the tree."
Zora rose. "What?"
"She was running. Being chased by something."
The city had been safe for years. Nothing entered. Nothing left. Yet here she was.
The crowd had gathered around her, whispering. Sina laid unconscious in the middle of them, her face scraped, her clothes torn.
"What do we do with her, Your Highness?" someone asked.
"Give her room," Zora ordered. "Do not overcrowd her."
He waited. They waited. Finally, she stirred. Her eyes shot open.
The voices of the crowd quieted as she slowly sat up, her breathing ragged, her clothes torn from the chase. Her eyes looked around, taking in the towering structures, the glowing tree at the heart of the city, the people—healthy, strong, untouched by time.
She staggered to her feet. "Where… am I?"
Zora stepped forward. "You are in the City of Life," he said.
Sina's eyes widened. "It's real…" she whispered. She turned, seeing the people staring back at her, some with curiosity, others with suspicion. "I thought it was just a myth. A legend told among wanderers."
Zora remained silent.
"I—" she hesitated, then straightened. "I am Sina, an adventurer. I was being hunted. I had nowhere else to run. But now that I'm here, now that I see what this place is… Zora, you must share this with the world."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd. Some exchanged wary glances. Others clenched their fists.
Zora's expression hardened. "No."
Sina frowned. "No?"
"This city is not meant for the outside world."
She scoffed. "Not meant for them? People are dying out there! Wasting away in war, in sickness, in hunger. This place—you could save them all."
Zora exhaled through his nose, his voice steady but firm. "Man has gone to war for far less than this."
Sina's expression twisted in disbelief. "You can't be serious."
Zora didn't respond.
"You are," she realized, shaking her head. "You're selfish. Keeping all of this to yourself while the rest of the world suffers?" She stepped closer, eyes burning. "What gives you the right? What makes you more deserving than them?"
Zora said nothing.
Sina turned to the people. "And you? You all follow him blindly?
No one answered.
Sina's voice rose. "This isn't a city of life—it's a prison of cowards!"
A murmur rippled through the crowd. A man stepped forward, his face dark with anger. "Mind your tongue, outsider."
"Or what?" Sina snapped.
A second man joined the first. Then another. The tension thickened, the air heavy with unspoken rage.
Zora raised a hand, silencing them all. "Enough."
Sina's breath was heavy, her fists clenched. She stared at Zora, waiting for something—an argument, a plea, a compromise.
But he only said, "Take her."
Hands seized her arms. She thrashed, kicking at the men who dragged her away. "You're making a mistake!" she screamed. "You can't keep this secret forever! They will find this place, and when they do—"
The heavy doors of the prison slammed shut behind her.
The world stood still and shone no more.
"Why stop here? Why show me this and then cut it short? What's the point?" I said, annoyed.
"Soon these words will make sense. The truth is potent," was all the codex said.
Then, a blinding white light—
And I was back under the tree. The rain kept falling, thunder rumbled, but Melody was nowhere to be seen.
"Mel—" I began to shout before a hand covered my mouth.
From behind, I heard her voice.
"Shh. We aren't alone," she whispered.