“What do you mean by destroying two worlds?” Zoe had returned to her serious look. Mesu had seen this in other discussions. The information she gathered was useful for the next step.
“That stone was part of a portal. A single fragment that I kept here to ensure that it was never completed. If the portal is completed, the essence of both worlds will seep into each other. It appears this has already started, as those creatures aren’t of this world. The magic to bring forth goblins is something that hasn’t been around in a long time. There is more out there in this world now. I knew that something was going on.”
Enya didn’t join the group in sitting. She was much like the stories had described her, except her hair had many white strands in it. This reminded Mesu of the old lady at the Inn. The difference was that Enya was standing tall, a saunter to her step. Time had done much better for Enya than it had for Ilene. Her eyes were a dusty grey that was filled with wisdom well beyond. They also had a haunting look. Shivers ran down Mesu’s spine as she thought about it.
“Can we ask, exactly what happened to you?” Anna asked the question that Mesu was wondering. Mesu was sure that the others may have been thinking it as well.
“I assume you’re talking about the Elixir of Life? Well, I have to start a bit before that time. I was an adventurer, like all of you. There were rumors of a way to eternal life. I wasn’t really searching for it. It was something that I had little to no wish to possess. My time was limited here, and I’d seen many fall before me who were more able. I liked to think that I was a friend of Death and would accept its coming.”
“I was going about my usual adventures, tracking this draco back to a den. There was a treasure I needed to get for someone who hired me. Well, I found it and so much more. The chamber extended beyond even what I was told and well beyond where it should have ended. It was much like this tower. What you see on the outside wasn’t what you got on the inside. I followed it through to the end. Traps and puzzles, each one harder than the last.”
“At the end, there was no elixir. It was an entity, something I’d never seen before. The radiance, the presence. It was something that I wanted to give in to fully, but resisted. Instead, I started asking questions. I know now that it was the right, or wrong, depending on how you see it, thing to do. I say that because at the end of our chat I was given an offer. It was something that I could refuse or accept as I saw fit. “
“I was asked if I wanted to be a God. The God of the Hunt and Adventure. I would be the one that would grant luck and good fortune to those who sought to make a living in the lifestyle I had been in for so long. A need for this position had arisen. I was given time to think about it. The offer would expire once my life had. I decided to settle down for a bit. I’d experienced life out in the wild for a long time. It was time for me to relax.”
“That life wasn’t for me. I waited until my partner had passed away. Our kids were old enough, and it was nearing my time. I accepted the offer. It wasn’t because I wanted to live forever. This was a second chance at the life I had before, and I could help those who wished to do the same as I. My adventures weren’t limited, as you have seen here. I still ventured, but this time across worlds and through times. My name may be different depending on where you are. This was the place it all began and holds a dear place in my heart.”
“When I first started, I saw what magic was doing to this world and the harm it did in the form of both creatures and dangerous wielders of magic. I set out to close off the magic, and I succeeded. The time of magic, the time of heroes, came to an end. I did that to protect my family as well. Some don’t think too fondly of me and would have sent challenges their way to get back at me, if they could.”
“Liam, the one who has been attacking you, Mesu, was one such result of my actions. I stepped on the wrong side of another God, Hereton, right away. Their temple was raided, a Demi-God, their bastard son, was slain during that time. We only give blessings and help people in need. What those adventurers had done was inhumane, but it was also self-defense. It had set off a war that had been brewing for a while. This world hadn’t been a battleground for a long time, and that was due to my work to seal magic from the world.”
“Liam is looking for revenge for his sibling. He got it, I felt, once the farm was raided. He didn’t stop, though. Hereton informed him of the stone and that you had escaped. Liam was going to use this to open up the world to magic and beasts once again. Now he has the piece he needs to complete the work.”
There was silence in the room. It was needed as the amount of information was poured into everyone. The past collided with the present, threatening the future. Mesu felt even more guilt for letting Liam have what he wanted. It shouldn’t come down to that, and if she had hesitated a few more moments, things would be different. The doubts still lingered in Mesu’s mind as to whether she was cut out for this or not. It was something she had imagined, but never thought of the price that would be associated with it. She made a mistake, and now it would have such a high cost that she would never know the full extent.
“What’s the next step?” Zoe was still determined. There was something inside her that was perfect for these adventures, and Mesu wished she had that.
“Go and stop him, of course. The portal is already built in his world. The stone completed it here. You all will go out to the Red Rock Mountains and stop him.” Enya made it sound so simple.
“You won’t be joining us?”
“I’m unable to directly get involved. Plus, I’m not a fighter. This calls for muscle, not for stealth and sneaking around. Speaking of which, Mesu, can we talk in private before you depart?” Mesu nodded her head at the request. It was something that she both looked forward to and feared.