Avel stood outside the door with his eyes closed. He didn't want it to be real.
Get a hold of yourself.
With one last prayer, he turned the knob of the door. Inside were all his other siblings. The room was modest for retired ducal nobles but its spaciousness was diminished as his 41 siblings occupied it.
In unison, they all turned to him with solemn expressions. There was whimpering and sniffling here and there but no outright bawling. As expected of the battle junkie family.
""Big brother""
Though it was in different tones, the weight was the same. They were looking at him for direction. Avel squared his shoulders and strode to the four poster bed. His siblings silently paved the way for him.
His mother was there sitting on the bed, her eyes still wide, mischievous and so black. Sunlight filtered through the window making an almost idyllic scene. A fox smile was plastered on her face, like remnants of a joke she'd soon share.
It was simple to see how she fit the role of a sun mage. Her blonde hair was luminescent, swaying and curling like tendrils of fire. She looked so beautiful. So alive.
Avel rapidly circulated Energy in his Array System and extended his senses. He listened for anything, anything at all. The slight quiver of a weak heartbeat. The vibration of a breath.
But nothing. Her Energy was already dispersing into the air resulting in the air being rich and potent with it. No one made a move to absorb it. Avel would cut them up if they did.
With a sigh, he slowed down his circulation. His body felt murky and dull once more. He slowed it down even further and further until he felt submerged.
He watched as Nizhny sniffled into mother's blankets. The poor girl had just turned twenty a month prior. Avel reached out and stroked the girl's blonde hair slowly, just like father had done.
"Brother"
Avim, his twin, handed him a letter with the seal of Riding Hood Duchy. Avel involuntarily sucked in his breath.
Only their missing father could write such. It didn't appear to have been opened as if they all decided to wait for him. He stopped stroking Nizhny's hair and plucked out the blood red seal with his thumbnail.
[To My children]
It's been long since I last asked. How was my parenting? Was I the father you wanted?
Was I too strict? Too lax? Overbearing? Indifferent?
I really do want to hear from you face to face. To sit down and watch your tantrums and grumblings. Wouldn't that be fun?
To go a round of serpents and sorcery steps with your old man? Have you gotten better at it? Lauren made the game so I doubt you'd be able to get past her.
Anyway, I'm sorry to dampen your mood even further on this unfortunate occasion but you have a right to know.
By the time you've reached this sentence, Sylvester Riding Hood is already dead.
Ashes are in the hollow space underneath the roots of a tree in the Duchy forest. You can't miss it. The initials S.R and K.Y will guide you.
I will convey this to you. On your mother's instruction, hand carve the epithet "A Russian girl dreaming of Japan". On my instruction, engrave "A Sbyl boy dreaming of a Russian girl.
The Seal of the Riding Hood Duchy is the tin box at the bottom drawer of my desk. As you are aware, Avel is the rightful heir, now Duke.
If you are reading this Avel, I want to say that I'm proud.
Don't be disheartened.
"I say Wolf, I am not afraid"
[Sylvester Perrault Riding Hood]
Avel wrinkled the paper before smoothing it out.
==========================================
How does a Magus, the pinnacle of mages, die? How does one kill such a lofty being easily?
You wait.
A Magus' worst and natural enemy is time and old age.
How is this possible then?
When one accumulates enough to form the Eighth Cardinal and become a Magus, Energy reverses.
From the moment Magus is attained, the clock starts ticking. Energy is used up the Central Node. It starts slowly, perceptively unnoticeable, then quickens with time.
The reason is simple. Energy can't extend life, but acts as a substitute.
Once a mage's time is up, the body uses the Energy to sustain itself. There's no need for eating, sleeping and excreting. The body becomes entirely Energy dependent.
Fall From Grace.
The Magus regresses to Mage Supreme, then Archmage and so on until Apprentice.
When Energy runs out? The body becomes selfish and devours the soul too.
✸
Red wobbled as he made his way to the gate. His robe was tattered but he didn't particularly care, he could always buy another one.
Walking up to the guard at the gate, Red leaned heavily on the branch cum walking stick and bowed slightly with his left hand at the centre of his collarbone.
"Have you peace Brother."
The guard seemed slightly startled at the gesture.
"Peace upon you Brother" the guard chuckled nervously, "I'm sorry I didn't recognize a Salvationist."
"It's no matter, Brother. I ask whether entry to the city is possible"
"It is, Brother"
"May I enter?"
"Of course, of course. But i have to ask for your name and profession"
Red assessed the guard. There was a distasteful feeling in his mouth. What the guard was about to say would be bothersome.
"Why is that, Brother?"
The guard had a remorseful smile as he scratched the loose ginger hairs at his nape.
"The Capital isn't in a good shape. There is a murderer about," His voice was low and conspiratorial, "so I've been tasked to identify the able to work with the guards"
It really is troublesome.
"I'm sorry, Brother. I was a mage but now crippled. All I can do is offer my name, Red"
Deflated, the guard still maintained a smile. He shrugged his shoulders and pushed the elephantine metal cage of a gate.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Brother"
Red nodded at the guard before wobbling through the arch entrance.
The first thing Red noticed was the pandemonium. Half-men carrying hefty building blocks. Messenger sirens shrieking mid air. Humans pacing about with their paraphernalia. Bears drawing passenger carts. It was noisy.
[Silence]
Energy arranged itself in a familiar manner as the world around him became quieter and quieter until he couldn't hear his own breath.
He looked upwards and squinted. The sun was out and about, ever present.
What makes you so special? Why can't you die out instead?
Rain seemed like a beautiful far away dream.