43 Farewell (1/2)
Some years earlier, still in the tavern…
The customers were slowly leaving the tavern, glancing one last time at the Master that had amused them with his great show.
”And then what happened?” asked Helial. ”Can we skip the part of the lovebirds and go straight to the fight scene?”
Vidio took a deep breath.
”Don't die”, Cori's words were bouncing around in his head, while a smile crept across his face.
”Die? Who's going to die?” said he, shaking his head. ”Cori, today we'll find out how much I'm worth. The shadows where your father will try to finish me are just another test. Should I die, then I wouldn't deserve to be happy with you.”
Vidio looked at the sky, his eyes shining with a strange light. ”In this life, there are people who shine like suns and can infuse this radiance to other people, making them shine in turn. Today I'll find out if I shine enough to rip the darkness.” Vidio clenched a fist in front of his face and said through gritted teeth: ”I will find out if I am able to fight destiny and win. If I will be defeated, this will probably be the last time you see me alive.”
”In my life I have committed two great sins: you are one of them. I indulged so much in love I lost myself. But I couldn't have committed a better mistake. The other one… In order to reach the greatest brightness I had to plunge my heart into darkness, and I fear I have never resurfaced completely. I created something I should never have created. If anybody found out… But after all, what aren't we willing to do to warm the heart of those that love us with such intensity…”
The corners of Vidio's mouth trembled as he was seized by a trace of melancholy. ”And what if tomorrow someone was be forced like me to plunge their essence into darkness, in order to shine like the brightest of suns? Is there such damnation? Can we embrace evil to do good?”
Cori was looking at him, confused. Sometimes the words of that man became obscure and enigmatic. Not even she had managed to pierce the blanket of shadows that covered the bottom of his soul, which remained hidden by his laughter and his cheerful shallowness.
The woman took cover between his arms and began sobbing quietly. Vidio chuckled and hummed a tune, all the while stroking her hair.
Helial was puzzled. This was not the story he remembered. But something was telling him to stay quiet and listen, for once.
With a carefree look on his face, Vidio glanced at the big wigs of the Congregation, including the Episcopus.
An Immortal.
Vidio clenched his fists. He would reach Immortality too one day and bend those pieces of shit to his will.
”You have passed the first two tests brilliantly”, began the Episcopus, speaking in an emotionless voice. ”The third and last test consists in fighting a creature in your same stage and Phase. Once passed this test, you will receive the title of Primary Master. Kneel and give thanks to the Mana flows that allow us to witness your deeds.”
Vidio kneeled, but got back up right after reciting a brief formula. He had spent only a few seconds in that position. Usually, Masters would wait the Episcopus' permission to get up.
What arrogance!
All the big wigs scowled.
Vidio cupped his hands and said: ”I want to give thanks to the hard work I have done in my live to get here and the people that supported me. I am ready to face the creature.”
Vidio's words had an ill-concealed meaning that was not lost on those crafty old foxes.
”I can clean my ass with the Mana flows. If I'm here it is thanks to my hard work and my talent, and not thanks to some weird astral conjunction”, that was basically how Vidio's words sounded in the head of the Episcopus.
The Episcopus smiled and sighed.
”These young people are so full of life.” He would have appreciated that kind of spirit from someone else, but not from that man. No, Vidio was destined to die, and he would have died that same day. The other big wigs were sitting stiffly, outraged by those words.
The Episcopus looked at them and rolled his eyes. ”Look at this bunch with sticks up the ass. That's why I'm in charge and not you, you bags of shit.” One did not climb up to a top position, if they were close minded. It took a lot of belief in one own's path and firmness in one's decisions, but that did not mean being a bigot. There were other Episcopi sterner and more close-minded than him, but they did not have his connections.
”Vidio…” the Episcopus shook his head, ”Let the test begin.”
Vidio paused and took a sip of wine from the goblet in front of him.
Twenty-five years.
Still an open wound.
In front of Vidio there was a huge, majestic winged serpent. It emitted an oppressing Aura. But something was amiss. Hidden beneath the pressure of the Aura there was a hint of weakness.
Its body was several feet long and on the back sprouted two giant wings the winged serpent snarled, approaching slowly.
”Winged serpents, the bastards of the Bog Dragons. Strong, but not invincible”, whispered Vidio.
It was all too easy. That creature was not as terrifying as Vidio had expected. Had the Episcopus made a mistake?
He had heard that the Episcopus in person had caught the beast. An Immortal could have done better, couldn't he?
”Master, what are the characteristics of a winged serpent?” asked Helial with curiosity.
”It can't spit fire, but has great Mana Control and it can evoke several Skills. It is some sort of Dragon, but a lot weaker. A Dragon could kill a hundred winged serpents with a blow of his paw.” Then he added: ”According to what we know, winged serpents are descendant of the Dragons and can evolve into superior life forms.”