CHAPTER SIX.

A bucket of cold water was splashed on him and the boy opened his eyes hastily while trying to cough his eyes out. The only thing he remembered was the fact that he was being dragged on the floor with a horse and he ended up losing consciousness because of the pain. Now he could see he was in front of a great army while Magnus was before him, seated on his throne as usual. It was like he had more of those thrones everywhere.

Aeon used that opportunity to study the man very well, from what he has heard Magnus bane could only use level two magic and whoever was able to use that level with him either got his powers taken or even killed. Unknowingly his eyes flew to the core orb and he could see it emitting a lot of energy, this was how Magnus was able to hold the people. With their own powers.

“You” a guard pointed at him and he was jolted back from his reverie of thought, “bow to your god”

“I…” the young lad wanted to talk but he was roughly pushed to the ground.

“Bow to your god, boy” this time it was general Zander who gave the order and Aeon sighed. Beside Magnus was the priestess and how he hated the two of them.

“Leave him be '' bane spoke up and everyone was suprised, he wanted to let Aeon go? He wanted to let him live? This was a first for everyone around him and how he hated that people thought he was already weak. The priestess told him not to kill him but let him live and it was killing him.

“How would you like to join the army, Aeon?”

“What?” He didn’t hear that right, right? Was Magnus asking him to join the army? Was he sparing his life and giving him more powers? What exactly was going on?

“What do you mean my lord?” This time Aeon was truly amazed, “a while ago I had the feeling that you might want to kill me and now an offer to serve in the army has come from you? This is hard to believe my lord”

A low chuckle resonated from Magnus’s throat, the audacity of the boy was on another level and how he hated it.

“Rather than killing you, I will add you to my army. You can serve to protect Persia and I will personally kill you myself when I have no need for you anymore” he turned to Azedah, “what do you say?”

“Your decisions are wise, my god” an expressionless smile graced her face as she talked, “even the twelve gods of the Persian Empire is on your side my lord”

Magnus shrugged and turned his attention to Aeon again, “I have never seen anyone get so lucky when it comes to me, you should make sacrifices at my temple”

“You are most generous, my god” Zander chipped in before gesturing to Aeon to do the same. At first he didn’t want to bow to the Magnus but when he saw how intently everyone including the priestess were staring. He put his forehead to the ground and chanted his name.

“Long live the god of the universe”

Magnus's lips curled into a smile, “commander” he called.

“Yes, my god” Zander fell on his knees as he answered, “you servant await your order”

“Train him to be one of the strongest, he already has might in him seeing how he killed all of my savage beasts. Don’t let him out of your sight for even a moment”

Zander bowed again, “your wish is my command, lord”

“You may leave”

Magnus watched them drag Aeon away and the smile on his lips disappeared which made him turn to Azedah.

“What do you have to discuss with me?

“My god” Azedah bowed in front of him, “this is good news”

“Spill Azadeh and don’t keep me waiting”

“The gods have revealed a vision to me, your magic has been upgraded to the level three without an effort”

This was like the best news Magnus had heard in a long time. Since the people could also manage to reach the level two of their magical powers, he had been practicing the occult act to boost his powers and now his hard work has paid off, he was now the biggest man in the whole of Persia.

“Congratulations, my god” the priestess said to him.

“This calls for a celebration priestess, I shall reward you exceedingly”

“Thank you my god, I will forever be by your side”

“Very well then, I will have my powers tasted on the first mortal I see, I can not wait”

With that, he got up from his throne abruptly and made his way into his palace.

Being able to use his level three magic was the best news he had heard and with time, he would be able to use the seven elements and become a full god in Persia.

****

Aeon was dragged and pushed into a room which made his face crash into the bare ground making him groan in pain while trying to sit up.

He could hear giggles around him and he turned to see some boys of his age all seated around and clad in white linens with shaved hair.

This sight almost made him laugh but he held himself, laughing now meant he was looking for trouble and he was not even in the right mood to fight at this point.

“Who are you?” One of the boys asked, he was the biggest in the room and looked more like the eldest.

“Aeon” he didn’t know if that was the right word to say but who the hell were these people?

“Why have you been brought here?” Another asked,

“Are you also one of the disciples of the god, Magnus”

Reality dawned on Aeon, everyone in the room wanted or was the disciple of that cruel man, they wanted to become like him.

“I am not his disciple” he replied while standing up from the ground and dusting his clothes, everyone in the room was clad in white and he was the only odd one amongst them mostly because he still had his long hair tied into a messy bun and all their heads were shaved.

“If you are not his disciple or want to be one, why are you here then?” The oldest one asked again. From the look on his face, it was safe to say he didn’t like Aeon even in the slightest.

“Can you quit asking me all these questions?” That suddenly flared up, “the guards brought me here so you can ask them yourselves” he rolled his eyes before walking over to the window.

As usual, the whole of Persia was up and doing which was beautiful to see. This was the most beautiful empire in the whole of history and more.

“Hello” a tiny voice said behind him and he turned to see a boy who was not more than sixteen years Standing beside him and he looked scared.

“If you are going to ask me why I am here, then I don’t know” Aeon almost rolled his eyes, “so just…”

“No” the boy interrupted, “i just like you”

Now the big guy was taken aback, this was the first person in the room telling him that.

“You like me?”

The boy looked around and everyone’s eyes were on them which made him flinch in fear a little.

“My name is Bel” he whispered, “and you are different”

“You can call me Aeon” he was not sure if he was doing the right thing but this was the first person that was being nice to him.

“So you want to be Magnus’s disciple huh?” Aeon asked him after a while and he could see the boy sigh.

“I never wanted to be his disciple, my father dragged me all the way here on a horse and offered me as a payment for the debt he owed”

Aeon could feel the pain radiating from his voice.

“So your father brought you here because he couldn’t pay his debts? Your mother didn’t do anything about it?”

“What can she do? Women are only seen in Persia, they are not heard” Bel answered, “the other boys make fun of me and there is nothing I can do because I am the only one here that is under this situation”

“Hmmm” Aeon nodded, “you want to be my friend?”

“Can I?” Bel’s face lit up.

“Of course I will help you get out of here okay?”

“Hey, scar face,” the big guy called again as he stood up, “what are the two of you talking about?”

“How does that concern you?” Aeon spat, “want to join?”

“You talk way too much, maybe we should teach you a lesson” he launched at aeon but the latter was fast and swerved which made the big boy fall face first on the ground.

“Maybe you should learn not to be too fat” Aeon mocked and Bel gave a good laugh, this was hilarious.

“Get him” the boy on the ground yelled and seven of the boys launched towards Aeon who sighed, everyone in Persia seemed to be stupid.

“Stay aside, Bel '' he ordered and the little boy nodded before going to a corner and watched how Aeon beat all of them like kids.

“Behind you” he yelled and Aeon was quick to move away from one of the boys who held a knife to him.

Aeon grabbed the knife from him and pushed him aside while pointing the knife to the big boy.

“Now the fight is over, come if you want to have a taste of how this feels against the skin then you are free to come forward” the knife was dangling in the air while the smirk on his lips intensified.

“Step back” the big boy whose name was Manos ordered and that was when Aeon pushed him out of his grip again.

‘You all should stay away from me” he warned and turned his attention to Bel who had a fulfilled smile on his face.