Chapter Thirteen

Year 2875, 6th Sun

Demoor

When Aradag awoke, the sky greeted him feverishly. He gave himself a once-over in a nearby pond. His skin was back to its old hue, and his clothes were no longer tattered. The forest he was in confirmed that he was in Demoor, but just how long had it been?

As Aradag returned to his home, empty once again, he rummaged through the letters he must have received. The last one arrived forty years ago. Forty! And what were these? The latest arrival was dated eighty–nine years after the events in the park!

Aradag had the whole night to soothe the ache in his chest, but it persevered through his trip to Count Donald's castle.

Once he arrived, the guards stopped him.

"Halt! State your purpose!" One of them shouted.

"My apologies. I am Captain Spectro, here with urgent news for His Excellency Count Donald."

The guard scoffed. "Captain Spectro? How dare you impersonate a traitor!"

Traitor? Aradag thought to himself. No, this cannot be.

"I beg of you, sir," Aradag pleaded, "I must deliver the news immediately."

"What's the matter here?"

An old man with a scarred eye approached the gates. Aradag didn't recognize him, but that did not worry him.

"Sir!" the guards stood at attention. "This man claims to be Captain Spectro and is determined to meet with His Excellency the Count."

The old man eyed Aradag with a suspicious frown. "You look just like him... I was once a fan when I was a child. Tell me then, Captain, if you are indeed who you claim to be, where have you disappeared with your family? The Count was most furious!"

"It's... confidential, my good sir," Aradag bowed as he walked alongside the man, who led him into the castle. He didn't reply, but instead called for a guard to escort Aradag to a dining hall, where he would meet with the Count under supervision. While he waited, Aradag couldn't help but think about the one-eyed man who allowed him into the castle so quickly...

All too soon, the Count entered the hall with an infant in his arms.

"Your Excellency," Aradag stood and bowed.

"Captain!" The Count sat in his chair and beckoned Aradag to do the same. "I must say, Captain Spectro, I am astonished. Am I to believe you have lived for ninety years past your suspicious disappearance?"

Aradag swallowed the lump in his throat. "I-if I may, the information I am about to give is of the utmost confidentiality, Your Excellency. Oh, I assume that is your child?"

"Confidential information...?" The Count thought for a while before sending his guards away. "Very well, we are now alone. And this is my daughter Aya. A beautiful little fawn."

Aradag complimented the baby before replacing his smile with a blank expression. "Your Excellency, I dearly hope that you believe my story. I am in no position to lie or fabricate any of the events I shall describe." The Count matched Aradag's expression, gesturing for him to continue. "My family was killed all those years ago. We had gotten kidnapped and taken to a planet named Krazoth by an evil creature called Martha. This Martha wants to kill the five magicians so he could restore his dying planet. He experimented on my body, which is likely the reason behind my extended life. Your Excellency, this matter must be dealt with at once, before the world ceases to exist."

Long silence gave way to rising tension between the two men. Count Donald did not speak. He merely called for one of his guards and instructed him to escort Aradag back home.

It was the moment he reached the door of his house that Aradag truly realized he was alone as he could be.

***

Aradag's resolve brought him to Countess Nicho's castle after acquiring a new ship. As soon as he arrived, he was welcomed most warmly.

"I was waiting for you, Captain Spectro," Queen Nicho greeted the young man herself, surprising him.

"How did Your Excellency know I was coming?"

"In the same manner by which I recognized you after your long years of absence."

"There is a very important matter I must discuss with you, Your Excellency, if you please." Countess Nicho nodded and led Aradag to her office. He admired the flames imprinted on the walls while he waited for the Countess to call for a maid.

The Countess rested her attention on Aradag after the maid left. "So, Captain, do you have an explanation?"

Indeed he did. Aradag explained everything he knew and suspected about his strange situation, including his new powers.

"It is worse than I expected," Countess Nicho sighed. "Unfortunately, our powers will not be enough to defend ourselves and the world. Those new powers of yours may become a deciding factor, Captain."

Why was his world crumbling? "But Your Excellency, your powers are no laughing matter."

"I will no longer be there." A solemn expression appeared on the Countess' face. "That is not a problem, however. I can sense a great power in you, but you need to be careful for it might ruin your soul. You have been significantly affected by it. Remember this, Captain, one day, a time will come when you would have to choose between two important things. Remember to make the right choice."

Aradag's encounter with Countess Nicho opened his eyes to one thing; he needed to push himself to his limits before Martha's army did. At dawn, he would set off to a remote island and explore his strengths and weaknesses.

Three years passed, and the former Navy Captain returned to Demoor once again.

Without delay, Aradag made his way to Count Donald's castle. Someone, something had laid waste to the Vicinity; people were crying for help, fended off the shadowed men who threatened them. Aradag saw a child crying for help, but he had no time to stop and ask. He had to get to the castle and find a way to stop this invasion.

All the gates closed behind him once he reached his destination. No sooner did Aradag enter the foyer than the Count rushed to his side. "We have been cornered Mr. Spectro. I shall transfer all of my own powers to you and the stone's to my daughter. They will not find her until she turns eighteen and becomes a magician. Mr. Spectro, you must promise me that you will protect her."

"I shall stay and fight!" Aradag choked on his breath as the Count handed him his daughter. "Your Excellency, I—"

"No, Aradag, son, take her away." A series of explosions outside stopped both men from speaking further. "Go, now! I will pay the price of thinking the worst of you!"

"Stay alive, Your Excellency!" Aradag cried as he was shoved in the direction of a well-concealed door. "Lady Aya will grow to be a remarkable woman, I promise!"

Aradag managed to escape with the child as so. Horrified at the ruins that his island has become, Aradag hugged her close to him to shield her from it all. All he could do now was retreat to his former dwelling in the mountains.