ASKELADDEN: The Tale Of The Golden Quill

3. The Last Peace

“Congratulations, Aidan!! You really are a prodigy, you know”, Orion cheered, beaming as though he owned the achievement.

"We've been friends for over six years and every single time, you never cease to amaze me. Receiving all three Eudoxos Gold Stars two years before the stipulated graduation time is such a crazy feat. I'm super proud of you, brother."

The Eudoxos Gold Stars system was a merit method used at the Dumnonia Academy of Sorcery, used to reward special students with outstanding performances and pulling off spectacular feats.

There were three criteria for achieving all three Eudoxos Gold Stars;

You had to either defeat an S-rank monster, or an Academy instructor.

You had to either create a new spell or conduct an A-rank or higher potion, with verified and approved alchemy methods.

You had to complete and successfully pass every test and exam on every course in the Academy Curriculum.

Most regular students always opted for the third option, but the extraordinary students went for the first two, giving them the privilege to be able to graduate at any time after attaining the Triple Gold Star status.

Aidan created a new A+ rank ice spell and used it to defeat a Dullahan, an S-rank dungeon floor Boss.

“Easy on the flattery, Origami", Aidan playfully dismissed, flaunting the nickname he had forced on Orion.

"See? You've gotten me so flustered, I'm red and hot in the cheeks.”

“Ha! You humble soul. You're allowed to gloat once in a while though. I mean, I definitely would if I were half as amazing as you", Orion said with a chuckle.

"How many times have I told you to stop looking down on yourself? You're just as amazing as I am, probably even more. You work twice as hard as anyone, and no one can beat you at theoretical courses and you're second to me at athletics. Take your own advice and give yourself more credit, Gloomy Gami”, Aidan playfully scolded, patting Orion on the head like a father to his little boy.

“Alright alrighty, I've heard you, Your Royal Highness", Orion said sarcastically, rolling his eyes and taking a mocking bow.

"You know you'd have to drop this terrible nickname sooner or later, right?”

"Neverrrrrrrrr!!! You ain't getting rid of it that easily, boy", Aidan blurted, cackling viciously.

“Tch…knock yourself out, Aidy”, Orion muttered in unwilling surrender, clicking his teeth.

“Anyways, what's your next step after this? ‘Cause you're eligible to graduate at any time after achieving Triple Gold Stars.”

“Well, well…I'm not bound to family politics and responsibilities, and as the seventh son of the Rhys Family, I'm nowhere close to being next in line to be the Head of House. So I can pretty much do whatever I want", Aidan responded, rubbing his chin in thought.

“And what is it you wanna do?" Orion interjected impatiently before Aidan could say any more.

"Slow down, Gami boy! I'm in no rush to make a decision, but I think I'm most inclined to be an adventurer. I wanna explore, learn more about magic and the outside world, and travel across kingdoms and provinces. I just wanna be free, Orion", Aidan replied in a calm serious tone.

“Well, wherever you go, don't leave me too far behind and don't forget about me", Orion said softly, with a hint of emotion in his voice.

“Awwww…don't get all soft and mushy on me now, Gami boy. I promise you, I won't. Pinky swear", Aidan assured, raising his pinky finger as a promise gesture.

***

“So you're really leaving, huh? It's only been two weeks since you graduated, Aidy", Orion mumbled between tears.

“You sure you don't wanna stay a bit longer?”

"I'm sorry, Gami boy. But my mind is made up and my arrangements are all set”, Aidan said shakily, obviously fighting back tears.

“Now would you see me off or would you make my departure any harder?"

“Alright, alright. I'm really happy for you though. At least you get to live life to the fullest. I wish you all the best, Aidy", Orion said, sniffling and drying his face with his shirt.

“Good, that's better. Thank you, my friend. That means a lot”, Aidan smiled, giving Orion a friendly pat on the back.

“Now, lest I forget, I've got something for you."

Aidan pulled out two identical pendants from his backpack, handed one to Orion, and hung the other around his neck. The pendants held half each of a crimson magic crystal.

"I made these pendants so we can always feel each other's presence. If you're in grave danger, the crystal will crack and I'll come running to you. I also imbued a locator spell into them using our hair so we can always find each other. But if either of us dies, the crystal would shatter”, Aidan said with a serious tone, holding Orion's hands in his.

"If you die, I'll kill you myself", Orion retorted jokingly, but with an equally serious tone.

“Ha! You know it'll take a whole lot to kill me, Gami boy", Aidan chuckled.

“Better. Now, let's get you saddled up."

Aidan mounted his horse after a long embrace with Orion and then set off, leaving the teary-eyed Orion waving until he was out of sight.

***

“It's been a month already since Aidy left", Orion thought to himself as he walked home from the forest, Nemeton. That was his favourite spot, and he'd been visiting there even more frequently after Aidan's departure. They usually hung out there after school before heading home at sunset.

"Mother?!” Orion called out as he arrived home.

His mother was nowhere to be found. After looking around, he spotted a note on the table out of the corner of his eye.

It read:

“I hope you get to see this, but if you do,

Know that I've gone to the library.

Don't get worried about me though.

Just checking out grimoires as usual, hopefully I'll find something new about my curse this time.

You're welcome to join me if you'd like.

If you don't, I'll tell Sir Hector to pick out a few grimoires

That you'd like.

Till I return. Love, Mama Bear."

Without a second thought, he put on his cloak and briskly made his way towards town.

***

***BOOOMMM!!!

A loud explosion broke the eerie silence, as Orion waded through the wheat fields just before the residential area of Central Dumnonia. Flames and a mushroom cloud of smoke arose from the direction of the town square.

Orion increased his pace after snapping out of his brief moment of shock. Just as he made it out of the fields…

BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

A second explosion rang through the air, louder this time. A tremor shook the ground, making Orion stumble, lose his footing, and barrel-roll down the rest of the path.

Just as he got back to his feet, a bright purple beam shot down from the sky and pierced through the first two blocks of houses before him, exploding and setting everything ablaze. It was like a dream, he couldn't believe his eyes.

“What in the world was going on?" he asked himself as he bolted down a clear path. There was flaming debris and panicking humans everywhere.

He finally got to the vicinity of the marketplace, running as fast as he could. Just as he raised his eyes towards the sky, he saw another purple light beam headed straight in his direction.

Adrenaline pumped through him and his quick reflexes heightened as he narrowly dodged the path of the beam’s impact. As he tried to get up from the ground, his eyes looked straight ahead, and that was when he saw them.