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NINE YEARS AGO

“DAD, CAN YOU TELL ME a bedtime story?” The plea bubbled from the little girl’s small lips, the child begging her father as the bright blue hazel grey eyes she adorned, gleamed with an unhushed hopeful excitement. Her beautiful orbs matched his own, representing all that he was, and all that she soon would be. 

Markus tucked a strand of Angelina's dirty blonde hair behind her little ear, a small smile toyed on his lips. "Of course, Muffin,” he cooed, gesturing for his now beaming daughter to get into her twin bed. Markus hummed, thinking of a few different stories he could tell his eight-year-old child. He bent down, placing himself on the edge of Angelina's bed, leaning back on an arm to steady himself. 

“Can you tell the story of the Spirit Mage? The one Mommy used to tell?" Angelina blurted, her enthusiasm evident as her little hands balled into fists around her sheets. Markus tensed at the mention of his late wife, Rose, but played it off with a raised brow at his only child. After a moment of hesitation, his mind whirling, Markus obliged with no objections. He knew his daughter loved the story; Rose would often return from tucking their daughter in with a small smile. She told Markus that nearly every night Angelina wanted to, once again, hear the story of the Spirit Mage.

Markus took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before telling his daughter the story that would one day soon, be her reality. As the descendant of one of the five Gods, Markus Camden was known to be a very strong Mage. Fearless amongst his peers. However, it was times like these that he feared the most. 

The “bedtime story” Angelina requested, was no story from a children’s book. It was a watered down prophecy bound to their daughter, written in script by the first of their kind. Markus hadn’t a clue of the prophecy existed until after Angelina was born, but by then there was no stopping what was destined to come true. They all believed having children between fellow Beholders was a myth, but that all changed at the healthy birth of their daughter. But of course, Angelina was too young to understand that. To call it a simple bedtime story would just have to suffice for now. One day, their daughter would learn her fate, but that day had yet to come. 

"The Spirit Mage,” Markus began. “As the descendant of two of the five Gods, she was stronger and more powerful than her peers: The Beholders. Chosen by the Gods that created them, the Beholders were gifted shards of their God's soul. The shards morphed into divergent  jewels, each eccentric to Gods and their Chosen, giving the Beholders their own unique power as a Mage. Each Beholder, descendants of the original Five, protected the jewels of the Gods’ choosing, then passed them down through their bloodlines."

Markus took a deep breath. "The fifth God, however, the God of Spirit who’d given a piece of his soul to the Amethyst, told his chosen Beholder to hide the jewel, for a great evil was coming. The Spirit Mage was the first in her bloodline to receive the Amethyst and become a full Mage.

“Like the other four, she was strong and powerful. The Spirit Mage laughed in the face of danger. Willing to do whatever it took to save those she loved, and keep her people safe from the demons that lurked around every corner." The edge of Markus’ lips twitched upward, his grey and blue eyes shining with pride at the thought. Angelina didn't take notice, too engrossed in her father's words as her eyes widened with excitement. A flash of purple that morphed like a lightning bolt, sizzled within his daughter’s eyes. 

Markus pulled his gaze away, scratching the back of his neck with nerves. Angelina was showing signs a Mage normally would after first receiving their Jewel. What was happening now was normally impossible. Swallowing a lump in his throat, Markus continued on with the story with a forced smile.

“Born from two of the most powerful of Descendants, the Spirit Mage was soon a force to be reckoned with.” Markus paused. “But, when that dark evil approached, and the Darkness of Caligo arose, the Black Mage reigned terror upon the human race. The Spirit Mage and her companions stopped at nothing to destroy the darkness. All of them were fearless, dangerous, and merciless against their enemies. Lives were lost, including some most dear to her, but more were saved. 

"But one day, sometime after her birthday, everything changed like the flip of a switch.” Markus’ voice grew rough. He hated this part, he and his wife both had. Yet simply enough, there was nothing they could do to stop it from happening. The Fates and the Gods just did not work like that.

Markus’ jaw twitched, his eyes darkening a cold blue hue with a hardness his daughter couldn’t identify. He was clearly upset, but she kept quiet. Angelina was clearly eager to hear the rest of the story she’s heard so many times before. 

"The Spirit Mage did something unexpected suddenly, fearlessly and selflessly, not knowing that it would be…” Unknowing they had pooled to the surface, Markus blinked back the tears that threatened to spill before his daughter took notice. He was a warrior, a powerful Mage, and he refused to let his fears take control in front of his only child. He plastered that forced smile back onto his lips, glancing down at his dear daughter.

"The reason she would save the world, destroying the darkness of Caligo and the Black Mage. The White Mage would save the human race, and her people from the darkness that none could return from." Her father quickly blurted out the final sentences, wishing that those could have been what was actually prophesied for his daughter. The ending both he, and his late wife, decided to stick with, until their daughter was of age to hear the real ending. 

To hear her real ending. 

Markus quickly leaned down toward his daughter, pecking her cheek with a soft kiss of his lips, his scruff tickling her chin. A fit of giggles released from her throat, full and hearty. A genuine smile crossed his face, relishing in the sound he lived for. 

"Goodnight, my beautiful daughter," he murmured.

"Goodnight, Daddy," Angelina replied, her blue grey eyes glued to her father, sparkling that purple hue under the light from her bedside lamp. He smiled proudly down at his daughter, wishing with all his heart that the prophecy would never come true. He couldn’t stand the thought of losing the only good thing he had left in his life. 

Angelina’s father stood from the bed, and began his short trek out of the room, but her small and delicate voice stopped him just as he reached the doorway.

"Dad?"

He turned back toward Angelina, adoring the way her sheets were pulled up to her chin, and her small form buried into her pillows. "Yes, Muffin?" His eyes were glued to his daughter, loving the way her eyes brightened at the mention of her given nickname.

Angelina hesitated, scrunching her nose in the adorable way she did when her mind was running through their endless thoughts. After a few moments, her gaze finally met his as she spoke up, her voice strong and hopeful.

"Can I be like her one day?"

Markus swallowed the growing lump in his throat. "Like who, Muffin?"

"The Spirit Mage."

Markus shoulders tensed. "Y-you can be whoever you wish to be, Angelina." He cleared his throat, the fake smile back in full effect. Markus could never take away who she was meant to be, but he could sure as hell attempt to prevent how she'd end up. 

Alive, was what he prayed for. 

Her eyes began to droop, heavy with the tug of sleep. Markus’ chest swelled with love for his daughter. She was one of a kind. "Just remember Angelina,” he spoke up suddenly. “You're stronger with others, never alone. Do you understand, Muffin?" He attempted to keep his voice soft, but it came out a little harsher than expected. Her little body jolted with surprise, but Angelina did not seem afraid. She never seemed to be afraid of anything.

His daughter nodded her little head, eyelids fluttering closed with exhaustion tugging once again. Markus smiled, whispering a "goodnight" before he closed the bedroom door behind him. 

After a moment’s pause, Markus let his head fall back against the wall, eyes toward the sky in which he could not see, silently praying to the Gods for his daughter’s safety. Markus ran his hands over his face in a pent up show of stress and frustration. In three months time, Angelina would celebrate her ninth birthday, and he made a promise to his late wife that he would start her training then. Their daughter needed to be ready, but only if it came to the point of the prophecy, and the beginning of Caligo. Until then, he would keep their world a secret, but train her mind and body in the ways of a proper Mage. 

"She's safer that way, Markus." Rose would tell him, her voice delicate and soothing enough to calm the waves of a tsunami. Being the Descendant of the fifth God of Spirit, Rose had a way with all living beings, especially Markus. He knew her words rang true, and the overwhelming emotional turmoil that took over was enough for him to double over, clutching at his head and blonde hair. 

Footsteps padded along the wooden floor in the distance, startling Markus from his moment of slight panic. His eyes widened and body grew alert, senses heightened as he waited for whoever was there to show themselves. The blue hue in his hazel eyes brightened to a glow, his senses heightening to see through the dimly lit hallway. Markus reached forth with his sense, feeling for the water running through the pipes within the house. If someone had found out about the prophecy, they would be after his daughter. 

They’d have to kill him first.

The footsteps paused, then a familiar voice cut through the silence. “How is she?” 

Markus let his body sag back against the wall, relaxing his muscles at the sound of his old friend. “Felix,” Markus breathed. “You startled me.” He let out a breathy laugh, keeping his eyes on the dark figure until he stepped closer. 

Felix’s lips twitched. “Apologies, Markus. You know I mean you no harm.” His eyes glowed like fresh embers in a pit of fire, then slowly simmered back to their black like coal color. 

Markus rubbed at the back of his neck with a sigh, shaking his head. “I know that.

Felix gestured to Angelina’s bedroom door with his chin. “How’s my god daughter?” A spark of excitement lit up his eyes like a flash of flame at the mention of Angelina. Felix had never met Angelina face to face, and never would unless Markus ended up like his late wife. It was a safety precaution he and Rose had agreed upon. If anyone were to find out who Angelina was, all of Caligo would break loose.

Markus chuckled. “She’s the same. Adorable and stubborn as ever-- sassy too.

Felix shook his head, laughing silently. “I bet. She sounds more and more like Rose each time I visit.” The last few words that left his mouth were quieter than the last. 

Markus swallowed. “Yeah,” he paused. “She sure does.” 

Felix cleared his throat after a few beats of silence, their thoughts mutually on their late fellow Beholder. “The results finally came in, Markus.” 

The words from his best friend shook Markus to his core. His mind rattling-- after three years, they finally had a clue as to what the murderer had used against his late wife. Markus’ eyes began to glow a vibrant turquoise blue, shining similar to the color of the ocean. His fingers twitched as they curled into a fist. “What was it?

“It wasn’t venom from that Argoran demon like we originally thought.” Felix blurted. “It was Polonium; a rare and highly radioactive metal, strong enough to kill a Beholder.” 

Markus furrowed his eyebrows. “She only had a tablespoon worth in her system,” he growled. “That’s not possible, we’ve never suspected that was the killer before. Why now?” 

Felix shook his head somberly, knowing his friend would react with denial. “It was still strong enough to paralyze her. Rose’s full powers were never activated, Markus. She was just a Beholder-- a Descendant, not a full Mage. Rose didn’t have her full strength or power like we do, which meant she couldn’t heal, and she was weak.” 

Markus took a step forward, leaning into his best friend’s face. “Watch what you say about my wife,” he growled. 

The threat was clear, and Felix took it seriously. Throwing his hands up in surrender, Felix took a cautionary step back. “Apologies, friend. I mean no disrespect. Just stating truths.” Felix paused with a sad sigh. “And as for the Polonium, we’ve never had a reason to suspect it. Metals like that have never affected us before.

Markus clenched and unclenched his fists, jaw ticking with irritation, then finally nodding after a moment's hesitation. The topic of Rose was still a touchy subject that no one bothered to cross while Markus was around. Smart on their part; being the descendant of the God of the Sea, he was the strongest out of them all. Yet, as he thought about it, Felix’s words rang true. As much as Markus wanted to be stubborn, defend his late wife’s honor, it was futile, and frankly, a waste of time. Hunting down her killer was a better use of it, anyway. “Okay,” he said, clearing his throat. “So, what now?

Felix sighed. “Master Reginald says we do nothing, but I think we should either get rid of it, or use it.” 

Markus narrowed his eyes. “Master Reginald said we do nothing?” Felix nodded. “Bullshit, that doesn’t sound like him.” Markus cursed. Master Reginald was Rose’s father, former Beholder of the Amethyst, God of Spirit’s stone of choosing. He studied and trained with the other Mages before and after him; Master Reginald was thus Angelina’s grandfather. 

Many years ago, when Master Reginald was deemed as the new Beholder on his Choosing Day, he was told of the  prophecy that would soon take place. Realizing the danger his family was in, he hid the Amethyst so the prophesied Black Mage could never get his hands on it. No one knew of the prophecy except for he, past Spirit Descendants, Markus and his wife. The Jewel's location, however, was otherwise unknown to anyone besides Master Reginald. Rose was kept in the dark about its location as well.

The Black Mage couldn’t come to be if he didn’t have The Amethyst, which in turn meant that Caligo and his high demons could not come to be if the Black Mage never existed. 

When Angelina was born, Master Reginald had mentioned to Markus of the possible whereabouts of the Amethyst, stating if the prophecy started the way he believed it would, only his daughter would be able to retrieve it, as it was her destiny to do so. Markus hadn’t liked the sound of it, but he had no choice nor say in the matter of the decisions made by the Fates and the Gods. 

As Beholder and Mage of the Alexandrite, chosen stone from the God of the Sea, Markus could only do what he was tasked to do: Protect the Sea, and protect the humans. An oath he took when his mother had passed the stone and responsibility to him. He remembered his Choosing Day like it was yesterday. It was an exquisite ceremony that took place when the Jewel was passed from one Beholder, to the next. 

Blinking away the flush of memories, Markus focused back on his friend. Felix Xander; Beholder and Mage of the Painite, chosen stone from the God of Destruction. While Markus  could sooth tsunamis as fast as he could create them, Felix could mold molten lava within his palm; erupt Volcanoes all over the world, and control the flame as if it were his own skin. It was one of the reasons Markus trusted him with Angelina; he could destroy anything and everything that got in his way to protect her.

“The Polonium,” Felix mentioned only moments later. “It can kill Caligo’s demons.

Markus raised a doubtful brow. “From which class?

Felix grinned. “All of them.” 

Markus stared at his best friend in disbelief. “Bullshit,” he muttered once again in utter disbelief. His eyes began to glow as the air filling his lungs stuttered. All of the new fill of information was hitting Markus at a million miles an hour.  

His buddy grinned at him, shaking his head. “I’m not bullshitting you, man. Master Reginald let me integrate the liquid through bullets, and my Halberd. None of the lower class demons stood a chance.

Markus thought of his Scimitar then, intrigued by the idea. “What about Argoran? That fucker has seven lives. Literally.” Markus loathed that demon with an unhushed passion, it was an annoying itch you could never reach. 

“We’re pretty sure the Polonium has a paralyzing effect once it’s through the system and enters the heart or brain.” 

Markus was nearly stunned to silence. “So, the demon couldn’t use it's abilities once it was in their system?

Felix nodded. “Basically, yes.” 

Markus scoffed. “Basically.” 

His friend shrugged. “Rinardus couldn’t use his absorption either,” Felix stated. 

Lowering his eyes, Markus thought long and hard about what they were dealing with. On one hand, they could destroy the entirety of the lower class demons and completely wipe them from existence. On the other, however, if the Polonium ever got into the wrong hands, it would be a death sentence to the Beholders. 

After a few moments, Markus breathed in deeply, exhaling a second later while running a hand through his hair. “Okay,” Markus started, coming to a conclusion that would probably land him on his father-in-law’s shit list. “So, what-- are we going to hide it?” Markus suggested.

Felix nodded, his lips morphed into a grin, his amber eyes sparking like a fire as they began to omit a bright orange light. “In a place only we can access, and no one else.” 

Markus nodded, his decision made with the safety of his daughter on his mind. “Let’s go.” 

Don’t you worry, Muffin. I’m going to get rid of the monsters hiding under your bed. 

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