140 Hope

Mystia sat on a wood bench by the courtyards fountain. It's central pillar of marble sported a dragon wrapped about it before it's reared head sprayed water in a cascade back to the pool below.

Mystias aged body leaned lightly on her cane as she sat. Her Salamander mounted the bench before setting itself on her lap to warm and comfort the former queen.

"I have long waited and hoped for a chance to speak with our families legend. I have heard your stories hundreds of times. To the point where I could recite them verbatim like my father before me." She spoke to me as I followed her to where she now sat.

"I would wager that Gerald was very fond of my tales. Though it is unfortunate I could not be there for his passing. Or my wife's for that matter. I... Have been forced to come to terms with it. Though it pains me to no end." I said as the image of Sam's pale form still hung in my mind.

Mystia looked at me and seemed to notice the mourning in my eyes. And her expression softened even further. "Life and death I have heard are like a great wheel. Bound to an eternal draw. For they feed one another. For all things that live feed off that which dies for their sustenance. And all that dies feeds and nourishes the world that follows them. A cycle of Balance. A world of never ending change. One that I will soon be part of." She said as she stroked her Salamander lovingly.

I nodded slowly as I remembered all that I encountered on my travels. All the dead, dying, or living. My experiences as the already deceased poured through me on the pirates Isle. And it seemed to quell my aching heart for a few moments.

"There is indeed a cycle of Balance. And balance must be maintained for Chaos to be held at bay. For if there is no good, there can be no evil, and if there is no bitterness then there can be no sweetness. Such is the balance of life." I spoke. My words seeming half-assed and full of philosophy yet they seemed to make Mystia smile.

"Indeed. I realized long ago when my husband passed that some lessons can only be learned by losing something precious to us. Because we have to learn to live without it. Without them. And that is when I found hope."

I frowned. "Hope?"

"Indeed. Hope. Hope is what leads people to do great things. Extraordinary things. Build machines that can move mountains or conjure summons of immense power. All is part of a balance. All for the sake of life having been. Not with purpose in some cases. But simply because it could be. It was allowed to be. It's all for the sake of hope that it builds empires and produces medicines. Hope is Art, it is music, it is power in its most raw and pure state.

And after my husband's death I saw it for the first time. Hope that I would be able to raise my daughter right. And I have felt it every day. Even when I fail. My hope won't die. As I hope you won't fail either. So with my rambling... I pass the torch. Oh God of Balance."

Mystias words resonated with the world. As I felt a clarity flood my senses. And for the first time in ages I felt in touch with myself. My balance. My personal promise. My own torch of hope.

"I am old. And bound to the cycle of mortals. God of Balance. Keep this world of ours safe. And let our cycles continue to our own perfection. As you know. No cycle is without reason. The hermit told me this world is refining itself for the perfecting of it's people. Burning off the chaos as it were. So I hope that one day my cycle will return me to this place. A place I can hope to call heaven by that time." She said as she turned her aged eyes which seemed brimming with energy and light.

"But I think this old woman has said her peace. And you have indulged me more than most these days." She struggled to rise as he pet suddenly scuttled off her lap allowing her to stand.

" Though having heard an old woman's tale would you be willing join us for dinner? I cannot allow a being of your stature to leave without proper rites and privileges being performed. After all..." She leaned in close. " I heard you enjoy a good meal." She whispered.

I couldn't help but grin. "Indeed I do. Meals are what make life a little more meaningful and I am not one to miss them if I can." To which she chuckled.

Guards followed behind us as the elder led us through the castle. Her speed was slow but I wasn't in any rush.

Every step we took echoed through the corridors till we finally reached the dining hall. It's broad doors had butlers on either side which opened them simultaneously. Their stride was clear, crisp, and well practiced. And their faces showed no change or fluctuation of emotion.

"You have very well trained staff." I rumbled out which made Mystia smile. "Indeed. We spent a fortune on educating orphans who had lost their homes and families. They are more appreciative and focused. And over the past century not one of them has suffered ill treatment or felt the need to betray us."

I nodded. It was a smart tactic to take people with no place to go and offer them not only a home. But work, food, and clothes as well. It was something they would probably take great pride in.

As we strode into the dining hall I noticed several people were already seated. At the head of the table sat a woman who was middle aged but still seemed to have a fairly youthful appearance. It was the image Mystia had taken on earlier to test me.

On her right sat a man with dark hair, a goatee, and a small moustache. His face was rigid and refined. A nobleman.

And then there were the children. Two younger girls who appeared to be twins. One dressed in white and the other in black respectively. Their hair matching their mothers platinum blonde.

Then there was a young man. His face seemed a younger version of his father without the facial hair and he had blonde streaks in his hair.

"I'm am glad to see you are joining us tonight for dinner Mother. Though I must inquire about our guest." The woman at the head of the table spoke out. Her voice was mature and calm. Her eyes were calculating, seeming to scan me where I had stopped to survey them.

Before Mystia could speak I smiled as I let a wave of energy fill the room. My eyes shines as wings unfurled behind me. I had played the nice game earlier with Mystia. But since the woman before me had not even asked anyone to deal with Mystia and get her a chair I felt a little triggered.

The guards close to me trembled as their weapons bent from no apparent force. The children stared in shock as the husband's brows furrowed and the queen glared at me.

"My name is Ignatious Soulsmith. Widower to Samantha Von Carnac. Or as you will call me Grand Uncle." I smiled.

The queen calmly looked at her mother who wasn't being pressured by me at all. "I have verified it. It's him." Mystia said with a smile that screamed "I told you so".

I let my pressure off slowly to allow the guards to run away. "Well? Aren't you going to say hello? I've only been gone what? 125 years? Surely the Carnacs were sensible then as they should be now." I growled as I gestured to a chair which moved quickly behind Mystia.

She lowered herself into it with a sigh before I ordered it back to the table. It's limbs bending and walking in a spider-like fashion.

The queen rose from her place and curtsy'd.

"I am Diora Von Carnac. Queen of Weremar and grandaughter to Gerald Von Carnac. It is an honor to make your acquaintance Lord Ignatious." She said with her head slightly bowed.

The King followed suit. He stood before bowing at the waist. "I am Henricus Von Carnac. Husband to the Queen of Weremar."

The little girls were a little shy and hid by their mother without answering. I simply smiled as they were young and I didn't really expect much of them.

The boy however stood and bowed to me.

"I am Henricus Von Carnac The Second. It is an honor to meet you Lord Ignatious." He said. His voice was level and calculated. He knew he needed to tread carefully here.

I nodded. "Well met." I said as I slowly rounded the table before crouching by the girls.

I smiled lightly as I held up my hand and willed two lollipops into existence. Their colors or vibrant purple to a mellow pink swirl. "And what are your names?" I asked as I held them out to the girls.

The girl in white was still very nervous but her sister in black slowly reached forward to take a lollipop. "Arisa." She said before burying her face in her mother's dress.

I nodded and held out the candy again to the girl in white.

After seeing her sister act she seemed to have some courage. "Anna." She whispered as she did the same movements of grabbing the candy and hiding.

My smile broadened. "Well then. It was a pleasure to meet you all. I was invited to dine with you. But it seems my show of authenticity has ruined the mood. So I will take my leave. Though I will not be on Weremar long. I merely wished to make a few amends where needed before doing some... "cleaning" in the area."

A quizzical look crossed the king and queens faces. "Cleaning sir?" The King asked.

I nodded. "Indeed. There seems to be a cult in the area that I find annoying and outright evil. So I will be wiping them off the map. No worries about the castle or anything. I'll deal with them quietly. Though I will stay for a day or two afterward to see how things have changed." I said before turning for the doors.

"Then may you find what you seek Lord Ignis. Happy Hunting!" Mystia said happily which weirdly seemed to force a smile to my face.

"Just like her aunt." I hummed as I left.