One: Into Place 

“And then what happens, dad?”  

Silvyr laughs, ruffling the young boy’s blonde hair. It had been brighter when he was younger, but now as he reached the age of ten, it was getting darker. Silvyr's son, Layre, loved to hear the tales of the Gods every night before bed; it was the only way he was able to sleep soundly. In fact, he had grown to be obsessed with them. It was all the little boy ever talked about.  

“I shall finish the rest tomorrow night, Layre. It is much too late for you to be up now. Your mother will be upset if she learns you’ve stayed up.” Layre pouts dramatically at this, to which his father smiles at him affectionately.  

“But I can’t wait until tomorrow. I need to know now! What happens to Mageus?” The boy protests, hugging the knitted blankets on his bed to his chest. His eyes are swirled with brilliant wonder; a lovely trait derived from his mother. 

It was raining this night, as it did most nights in Solmeris. Silvyr had just returned home from a hunting trip; he was a skilled hunter for Iyelion. Iyelion was a small village right outside of Solmeris. It was sheltered by a dense grove of red oak trees. Many Iyelians built their homes along the base of these trees, in the expansive shade to keep cool during the hot, long summer days. This was true for Silvyr’s home.  

Layre’s bed was nestled right up to the trunk of the tree they lived by. When he grew taller, he and his wife, Elisen, would mark his progress with a knife in the bark. Layre was incredibly proud of his height, as he was growing quite tall for his age; this was a trait he inherited generously from Silvyr.  

Silvyr glances out of the window, covered by chicken wire. The roofs of their homes in Iyelion were domed like a mushroom cap to prevent water from getting in. The open design of the windows meant every storm, every livestock cry was heard from the house. This was a thing Iyelians grew accustomed to, but the Iyelian children still had a hard time with. It was common in their youth for Iyelians to have insomnia. This must be what Layre has now, Silvyr thought. 

“Fine, I will finish the story, but I must be quick. You are to go to bed soon, young Layre, do you hear me? It is a fatherly order.” He grins elatedly, reaching his hands to tickle the young boy’s belly. Layre howls in laughter, covering his mouth with his palm to not alert his mother in the other room. If Elisen hears it in her room, she makes no effort to investigate.  

“Okay, okay!” Layre laughs, out of breath. “Tell me what happens, Dad.” 

“Almighty Centuros lets the Demi-God, Mageus, live, but it is at a great cost...” 

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ 

With Neia dead and slumped on the foyer floor, blood leaking from her ears and eyes, Centuros is sated. Illus and Lectric stare coldly at the dead mortal woman, who is being removed from the foyer at Centuros’ command by a few palace servants. He lowers Mageus down to the floor, where he regards him spitefully one last time.  

“What shall we do with the babe, Almighty Centuros?” A servant woman asks; her name is Anima. She is a weakly witch, one who has worked for the Gods her entire life, completely loyal and devoted. Her eyes widen greatly when Centuros utters his next words.  

“Take him far, far away. If I shall see him again, I will kill him. I command you to watch him. Take him to the Shaded World and ensure he never escapes.” With that, Centuros leaves through the dining room door, allowing the door to slam just as Sumus had. 

Anima stares at the babe, rage forming a dark storm cloud in her mind. She had worked her whole life to live in the God Palace, and now for this bastard child, she was to lose it all. Before she can take the child in her arms, Illus stops her with an outstretched hand.  

“It really is too bad. This child is beautiful.” A frown forms onto her mouth; nothing made her more upset than beauty. For she was meant to be the fairest in Solmeris. “I shall change that. For none will hold more beauty than I.”  

“It is but a child, Almighty Illus.” Anima pleads. Even if the child had ruined her future, she knew whatever the Magic God had planned for him was unfair and cruel.  

“It is a bastard child doomed to eternity in the Shaded World.” Illus cranes her head down to Anima. Her neck stretches to an unworldly length, and Anima feels herself shiver in fear. Though accustomed to the Godly and wicked behavior, it still frightened her. “Speak again, and I will make your head roll down the Great God Mountain and wash away in the rivers.”  

Anima silences herself, stepping away. She makes brief eye contact with Lectric, who just laughs in the face of her great despair. 

Illus reaches out her hands, her long fingers glow dimly as powerful, intense magic courses through her body. It is as if her skin becomes translucent, and her veins are completely visible. Her divine blood has been replaced with pure magic; it was what she was known and praised for. She took any chance she got to use her skillful gift, even when unnecessary.  

She set her hand on the baby’s forehead. The baby cried, lurching away from Illus’ touch, much to her displeasure. She held his forehead down with her large palm, forcing the babe to stay still. And muttering beneath her breath, she casts a spell on it.  

“When the moon glows bright and touches thy skin, may a beast come to life, for forever within.” 

The baby screams louder now, flailing helplessly on the cold floor. The baby’s eyes glow purple, and black blood pours out of them like a never-ending waterfall in the depths of the Solmerian Forest. Illus removes her long fingers, grinning to herself. She was sure it would be her best work yet, this one. 

The Gods left then, and Anima scrambled for the child. She held him close to her bosom, rocking him and hushing him the best she could. It did not work, however, and Mageus continued his screaming.  

Anima rushed from the grand entrance and into the stormy night, never to return to the God Palace again. 

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ 

“Then what happens?” Layre is seated up on the bed, holding the blanket up to his chin in excitement. It was clear to Silvyr that his son was not going to sleep well tonight. But, as a good and dutiful father, he knew he had to finish up the story and get him to bed before dawn broke over the horizon. 

“Well, Layre, the servant Anima took baby Mageus to the Shaded World, where they both remain for eternity.”  

Layre does not seem pleased with this conclusion. Silvyr had avoided telling him this story for this exact reason. Layre enjoyed stories with happy endings, and most stories Silvyr told were conclusive. He knew his son would find problems with the story of the Demi-God, but this quality was one he adored in his son.  

“That can’t be the end, Dad! Didn’t someone save Mageus and Anima?” Layre looks to his father, hopeful. 

“I’m afraid not every story ends the way you want it to. But I told you the truth, Mageus and Anima are still banished to the Shaded World to this very day. It’s time for bed now.” Silvyr gets up and stretches his arms up and above his head. He lets out a long, gentle yawn. Layre does the same, but much louder. “Good night, son.” 

As Silvyr goes to dim the lantern in Layre’s room, his son speaks. 

“I will do it. I will save them, Dad. I will go to the God Palace and kill Almighty Centuros and Almighty Illus.”  

Silvyr spins on his heels, alarmed. His eyes are wide with panic; he knows his son. His son is sweet and gentle, but he is also determined beyond any child he had ever known. He knew his son meant his words, and for that he feared for his life.  

“No!” He startles himself with the volume of his voice. “You are not to go anywhere near the God Palace. I forbid you, do you understand?” 

“But Dad--” 

“Layre, listen to me.” Silvyr grabs his sons’ shoulders. “Promise me you will not do such a thing.”  

Layre avoids his eyes stubbornly. 

“Layre Iarberos.” 

“Fine! I won’t, I promise.”  

Silvyr ruffles his hair affectionately.  

“Good boy. Now try to get some rest, there’s no time in the night for silly thoughts like that.” Silvyr successfully dims the lantern and shuts the thin curtains over the window. The room darkens significantly.  

When he is gone, Layre rises from his bed. He makes his way to the window, pushing aside the cover. In the distance, looming dark and threateningly, stands the God Palace, high on the ragged Great God Mountain.  

He feels it click into place; his true purpose. 

“I will save you. I promise.”