What illusions bring to the world

Next morning after breakfast, I called Lex and asked him a question.

- So what is the connection between Delir and illusion mages?

- Is Low there?

- No, she's still bussy reading the book you gave her.

- Then we can talk. Do you know what's the view on illusion mages when it comes to countries?

- No, what is their view?

- In most places illusion magic is generally illegal. The there are two reasons for this. One, and the only one that is known to public, is that it can make people do things for you that they normaly would not do. Like you could make an politic oponent say and think things that they wouldn't normaly say or think. But some people still hire people who can do illusion magic to further their own agendas.

- I follow so far.

- The second reason is because practice of illusion magic leads many to insanity. If you want to become one of the best illusion mages around, you inevitably will call the help of the master of illusion, Delirus. And after they make contact with Delirus, they will follow her path to madness. If you ever plan on practicing illusion magic, then be sure to never make a deal with Delirus.

- I will remeber that.

- Good, is there any other things you'd like to ask?

- Is there realy no way of stoping him?

- No, there is not.

- There must be a way to soothe the pain he causes for his victims.

- If you're so bent on doing something about the matter, I know a village that was hit by her couple days ago. Would you wish to do your "soothing" to the survivor.

- Yes pleace. Should I take Low with me?

- If you want to show her the ugly side of life, then go on ahead.

- She will see things like that eventually in her life. I don't know if it's a good idea to show her that this early, but I will take her with me anyways.

- It's your choice.

I go and ask if Low wanted to tag along and she said yes, so we go with Lex's teleport. What we saw was a ruin of a village. There was even a building that was covered from blood, like someone was painting it. You could see corpses all around the place in all kinds of conditions. There didn't seem to be no-one moving in this place, that used to have so much life. Even the animals were all killed like they were attacked by some animals. Cows, horses, sheep, cats, dogs and all kind of birds. The sight was almost as bad as when I visited Nearn. Then Low asked me.

- What happened here?

- A terrible person came through here and destroyed their lives.

- But... why would anyone do such a thing?

- There are all kinds of people in this world and not all of them want to be nice.

- But... there are even children that aren't even ten years old here.

- That is the kind of person we are dealing with.

- These, innocent lives. Just taken away. If this happened to people like Amber... then...

I put my hand on her shoulder.

- Let's look for survivors.

Low nods and we go searching. It took a while until Low shouted that she found a man. I rushed towards them and saw a wounded man siting and leaning to a house. I started healing him and then he said.

- No need to heal me boy, I don't plan on continue living in this world much longer.

- What are you talking about? You'll be fine after I heal you up.

- No I will not. The horrors I've seen here were too much for me.

I then stop healing him and ask him.

- What happened here?

- It first happened when a strange woman came by and spend the night. She was a bit strange, saying weird things like "I was born from a cow and a lion", but she was harmless so we let her sleep the night. After she left, strange things started to happen. Bob saw his unborn child, Milly claimed she could hear the cows speak, Kim started telling people that god is speaking to her head, dogs started mating with cats and vice versa, All kinds of strange things started to happen. My son, who was 3 years old, started speaking weird sentences like something about returning to mothers womb. And then...

- What then?

- All went to chaos. They started killing each other while laughing all the way until they died. Even the animals started to roam and killing others. They cut each other to pieces, had their way with them and burned themself alive with them. Utva even gathered bodies and started painting his house with the blood and entrails of the people he gathered. And then I saw my wife cut her throat while smiling and my son starting to eat her and saying "don't you want it too papa". It was horrible I tell you.

- That is... You have my condolences.

- It's just... why was I the only one who remained sane. I didn't hear any voices until after the incident.

- You are hearing voices too?

- Yes, they keep telling me to eat up and that it's my fault. I... I...

The man starts crying.

- Calm down, you can pull trough this.

- No, I'm already gone. It's is not mater of if but when I go mad as well. Perhaps I already am and I'm hallucinating two strangers talking to me. I don't know anymore.

- Then what do you want?

- I... I can't go on. You must kill me before I start to feast on their corpses. I already feel the itch.

- But...

- Please... I beg you.

I look at Low and think. What should I do? Then Low lowers herself to the mans level and then pierces his heart with her hand. I immediately say.

- What are you... !?

- Rest at peace. Perhaps in afterlife you all may be united and forgiven.

The man says with his last breath.

- Thank... you...

The light goes away from the mans eyes. He is dead now. I then ask Low.

- Why did you do that?

- His eyes were full of sorrow. I didn't think he could have lived a peacefull life after all this. It is what he asked for.

- But why did you do it?

- You were hesitating.

- I know but... It shouldn't have to be you who do it. It was my job to do it.

- But you are a traveler. Why was it your job to kill this man.

- It's not... but... I shouldn't have made you do it.

- I'm fine. It was his wish after all.

- Those words you said. Why did you say them to him?

- I wanted him to pass on peacefully. I thought that all who die go to some sort of afterlife. Am I wrong?

- No, you are right. So you just wanted to see him off peacefully, huh. I hope he sees them again.

- Me too.

I saw sorrow coming from her eyes. She didn't seem like she was about to cry, but she was just looking sadly at his corpse. Then she asked me.

- What is this feeling?

- It's sorrow.

- I see. I don't like this feeling.

- And you shouldn't.

I go and hug her. She hugs back and we are like that for a while. Then she started to loosen her strenght and I asked her.

- Are you fine now?

- Yes.

- Do you want to go back to Lech't A Sol?

- Yes.

- Let's go.

We leave the place and she goes to our room. I call Lex and he says.

- You satisfied?

- Of course not.

- Was it worth to bring her along?

- I think that it will affect her growth. Wheter it will be for the good or the bad, I don't know.

- Now you know one of the ways Delirus acts. This time he left no survivors.

- This time?

- Yes, sometimes she will let couple of them live and let them spread the horrors they faced.

- And you say we can do nothing about it?

- I told you so before.

- That's...

- That is why we need to make sure Low doesn't reach the point that Delirus has.

- I understand.

- I will contact you later if I find something more about Delirus. If that's what you wish.

- Do so.

I end the call and go for a walk in the forest. While I was there, I saw Low ripping magical beasts to shreds in rage. She was screaming and throwing things at them and it was an absolute bloodbath. She ran further to the forest and I decided to run with her in a safe distance where she didn't detect me. She continued her rage all through the rest of the day. When she finally seemed to calm down, I went to talk to her.

- How are you?

She looks startled and says.

- ... Fine. Don't look at me.

- It's alright. Let's go back home and you should get a bath.

She nods silently and we go back. We were quite far out in Ehen, so it took a while to reach Lech't A Sol. She took a bath after we got there and soon after we went to sleep. She didn't say a word to me and just simply moved her head when I asked her something. Perhaps my choise was wrong.

Next morning I didn't see Low eating anything. While it is okay for her not to eat, since she doesn't need to, but I was still worried. We decided to head where Amber was because we needed some stress relief. There we saw that Amber was studying to become possible heir of Hiék, so we decided not to bother her further.

Then we decided to go for a trip that would take her mind of things. We headed to Atlas. There we went shopping for things that Low might be interested in, and she mainly found books about gods and such. We then used Lex to send them back home and we then began our trip across Aeternus.

I thought that we should visit some of the holy sights and we first went to Mors stone or rock of death. We decided to travel normaly to the holy places rather than using Lex's teleport. When there, I asked Low to touch the stone and she immediately felt weird, saying.

- I feel all tingly when I touch this stone.

- Anything else?

- Somehow, I feel sad.

- How so?

- I don't know.

- Then we can go to the next sight when you are ready.

- Understood.

She started to leave.

- We can still be here if you'd like.

She shakes her head.

- No, I think I'm fine going.

- Did you pray for their safe passage?

- What do you mean?

- Well, you can wish that the people in that village had a safe passage to afterlife through the stone.

- I didn't think of that. Let me do that.

She went back to the stone and she talked for a while to the stone, while having her hands at the stone. When she was done, we then started the travel to holy lyre of Cantio.

When there, we were greeted by a long line ahead of us. So we waited for half a day, until we finally got to it. I stand back, as I can't handle the holy lyre and because that is what you are supposed to do. Low, on the other hand, decided to go grab the lyre without an issue. None of the guards went to stop her, because they thought that the power of the lyre would stop her. But no, she just grabed it like it was no-one's business. Then all started to bow down at her because they thought that she was holy maiden of Cantio herself. She just looked us confused at first, and then a little smug. She has no idea of what is going on but she feels superior to everyone else around, because everyone except me is bowing down at her. Then I say.

- Stop what you are doing and let's get out of here before we cause some problems.

- But why though? People seem to like what I'm doing.

- If we don't go now, they will treat you like you are important and then you can't go anywhere as you please.

- That would be problem. Let's go.

She puts the lyre back and we start to leave, until a priest comes out grabing Low's sleeve and says.

- Wait! You mustn't go my lady. You are now one of Cantios holy maidens. Come with us.

- No, I'm just an homuculus who got lucky.

- That doesn't matter! You did something that no mere mortal could.

- Actually I'm immortal, so that doesn't apply to me.

- Then more the reason to you come with us.

She gets draged along the priest and I decide to follow them. Some things happened and now she is a holy maiden of immortality in the church of the five. We were forced back on Atlas and after a grand seremony, we were greeted by the high priests and the pope. When all the rest of the high priests were done, Mary and John took us to another room and started to talk to me. Mary started.

- What have you done now?

- I swear I didn't plan this.

John says.

- Now we have another holy person to our mist. And oh look, she is immortal.

- Well, I heard from godlike being that she is something like the god of immortality.

- She is what now?

Mary says.

- Now you just are making things up.

- It is true to a sense. She literally can't be killed by anything.

- And what was that godlike being?

- I'm forced to stay silent. But I will say that I've met one of the gods.

John says.

- You have what!?

- I've met a god and she grabed my face and spoke to me.

- This can't be... I can't believe what I'm hearing but... If it's true then... I'm about to faint.

John faints and Mary just barely managed to grab him before he hit the ground. Then she said.

- Now look what you've done. By the five, what am I going to report to them. Or is it six now...? Now even I start to feel weak.

Low says.

- Don't worry. I don't consider myself as god so you can keep it at five.

- That's not the issue. If the public were to hear this. My head is spining just thinking about it. Come Nor, help me put this pope to the sofa.

I help her. Then Low asks Mary.

- Does this mean I can't now go where I want.

- Well, people will want to meet you, so they are going to search you. You aren't limited to travel, but you will be sought after. Just... be carefull of any nobles that might know of your identity. And keep that badge for an emergencies.

- So you mean this metal thing. What does it do?

- It just proves that you're high ranking on the church of the five and you will be treated as such. Just use it when you are at the presence of someone who might recognises its significance.

- Then we are fine. Let's go Nor. We were about to visit the Eye of Aeon.

She then strips from the robes that were given to her and then she summoned her normal clothes and we were off again. I glipsed at Mary and I could read from her lips that she said "I will get you for this someday".

Then we travel to the Eye of Aeon and wait in line for a while, until Low decides to use her new rank to skip ahead of people. And it worked. I explained how it works to Low beforehand so I let her do what she wants with it. Then I hear her ask the eye.

- Where is the next place that horrible person will hit next?

I didn't get to see what she saw on it, but after that, she told me to contact Lex so that he can send us to Vorno village. I do as she asks and then we are sent to said village. It was apparently a village where the main export was grapes for wine. There seemed to be one big house on the middle of the village and small houses surrounding it. Outside the village was the grape farm that was so big. If what Lex said was correct, this village was on the kingdom of Aresia.

We asked around to see if there was anything unusual happening and we just heard that everything was normal. The adults were working on the fields and kids were out playing or helping adults. Nothing unusual.

We then saw a young boy climbing a tree to impres the four other children before he lost his balance and started to fall. Low noticed this and immediately ran towards the tree and catched him just in time. All the kids were close to crying but then some of them asked the boy if he was okay. When they calm down, they start to thank Low for helping, saying things like.

- Thanks miss.

- You realy saved Tomy's life.

- Yeah, he is bit on the weak side, so that fall could have killed him. Or at best, broken some bones.

- Don't say that. That is the reason he climed the tree in the first place. To show us he isn't weak.

Tomy didn't say anything for a while, but when the other kids started to say to him that he should thank Low, he said.

- Thanks.

Then elf girl said to Tomy.

- You should sound a bit more thankfull. That is a proper way of doing things.

- I said thanks already.

The boy with cat ears and tail then said.

- If you don't know how to be thankfull, then you should ask your village head dad about it.

- Leave my dad out of this!

- I'm just saying. You are dady's little golden child.

- Stop it!

Tomy looks a bit flustered. Then I pat his head and say.

- Don't worry about it. You just made a mistake and we all make mistakes sometimes. Now cheer up and move forwards.

- Okay.

Then he starts to leave and other kids start to follow him. Then a human boy, who stayed, said to us.

- Don't worry about Tomy. He has lived most of his life in bed, since he's used to be sick all the time. Thankfully he has gotten better reasently so he will do anything he always wanted to do now. Now, see yah.

The boy now starts running towards the other kids who are quite far now. Then we saw the elf girl turn around us and making a little bow at us and returns to following the group. Me and Low look at each other and I ask.

- What do you think.

- They seemed like normal kids, I think.

- Sure did to me too.

- I just hope that they wont be affected by that evil person's plans.

- His name is Delir.

- Delir, huh. I will remember that name.

- We should probably go to the village head and say that we will be staying here for a while.

- Why?

- I think this will take some time before it escalates. We should inform the village head about that something might possibly happen here.

- If you say so.

- Though, he might get suspisious of us when we tell him, but we still need to inform him. Let's go.

- Understood.

We go to the biggest house there is in this village and knock at the door. A woman in a maid uniform opens up and asks us.

- Can I help you?

- We are looking for the village head. Is he here by any chance?

- Yes, master Eric is at his office doing some paperwork at the moment. Would you wish for me to inform he has guests?

- Yes please.

- Then come inside and wait here.

We go inside and wait at the room that is infront of us. The room looks massive and all the things here look expensive. The maid then leaves saying to the upstairs.

- I will return shortly.

Then we wait for couple of minutes and we see the other maids cleaning the house. There are four maids and two buttlers. Then we hear the maid say.

- Master Eric is willing to see you. If you would, please follow me.

We go up stairs and we are quided to a room where we are greeted by a middle aged man with a mustache and clases. He cheerfully says to us.

- Welcome guests. May I interest you in a cup of tea?

- Yes pleace.

- Then Iris, would you be so kind as to bring us cups of tea?

The maid bows and says.

- At once master Eric.

The maid leaves and Eric asks us.

- What are you two travelers here for? I don't recall on making any requests at the guild. You two are travelers, correct?

- Yes we are. And no, we aren't here because a request.

- Then Why are you here?

Low says.

- We are here to investigate about an evil person's trail.

- An evil person? In this village? You two are the first travelers that have come through this village in a month and even they have long since left.

I say.

- We are only following the trail, but there is no hard evidence. Think of it as... possibility, but don't trouble the rest of the village about this.

Then the maid comes with the tea and places them infront of us. Then she leaves and we all take a sip. Then Eric says.

- I see that it is complicated mater. I will inform you two if I find anything unusual around here.

- Thanks that would be helpfull.

- Now, what will you do whilst you are here? Will you be helping the farm?

- We will do that and scout to see, if there is any sightings of magical beasts.

- That wont be necessary. Our village's head hunter is seasoned hunter from the hunters guild, so she will know if there is any sightings.

- I see. Well then, I guess we will just do farming then.

- Excelent. You may used my guest bedrooms as a temporary housing. Now would you two need a seperate set of bedrooms, or will you be resting in a same bedroom?

- We'll...

Low says.

- We will rest in a same bed.

- I see. Then, when you feel like going to sleep, ask one of the staff to show you to your room.

I say.

- Thanks. We will go now to investigate some more and be a helping hand.

- So be it.

We drink the rest of the tea and leave the house.

We spend the next couple of days in that village and come to know their troubles and dreams. Low seems to like helping the people out so that their burden is a bit lighter. She even started playing with the kids when she wasn't busy.

Today I heard from Eric that one of the hunters seems to act a bit strangely reasenlty. His name is Tom, Tomy's mother's father, who had dog's tail and ears. I went to investigate this matter by myself, since Low seemed to enjoy her time here.

I visit Tom in his hut and what I see is an old man still in physically good condition. I start talking to him.

- How are you doing?

- Good. Why are you here? Did Eric send you?

- No, he just said that I should find someone who has experience in hunting.

- Then go ask Sarah about it. I don't have time to do so.

- Then let me help you.

- ... Fine, just don't get in the way. Come in.

I get inside the hut and I see a aln on the table w about to be skined.

- So where do we start?

- First...

He explains me how to skin the aln and get most resources out of it. Then he told me where we should go bring the stuff and we were off. First we brought the meat to village head's house as requested. Then we traveled couple of hours on horseback to town near Vorno. There we gave the aln's parts, and some other stuff, to a merchant and gained some lux. Then we went buying some arrows and then we were headed back to Vorno. During this trip, Tom didn't say much and just quietly mumbled to himself things that I couldn't hear.

When we were back, Tom went back to his hut and dismissed me. Just to make sure, I stayed on watch if he did anything else. Late around midnight, he got out of his hut and started walking somewhere. I followed and found that he visited a semetary an hour away from Vorno. There he visited a graveyard and placed a flower to one of the graves. Then he said.

- I know that you've been following me. Come forward.

I think he was talking to me, so I stop hiding. Then he says.

- I've been hunter for 38 years. Do you think that I wouldn't notice a novice sneaking around?

- If only it was my friend that was sneaking, you wouldn't have even suspected it.

- That doesn't matter. Why did you follow me?

- Just following trails of possible anomalies.

- It was Eric who sent you, wasn't it?

- Yes, I promised to tell me if anything weird started to happen and he thought you were acting the part.

- Of course he does. I'm just an old man who thinks that something is very wrong in town.

- You think so?

- You see this grave?

- Yes, what about it?

- It is a grave that belongs to someone in Vernos family. The village head's family.

- Then who's is it?

- That is the problem. It has a very peculiar thing. It is blank.

- Blank? Why would it be blank? Is it that old?

- No, it is quite recent actually. The date says someone has died couple weeks ago.

- So you're saying someone, who should be dead, is alive and well?

- That is my conclusion.

- Do you have any idea who it might be?

- It can only be one of the village head kids. Tomy or Thomas.

- Why you think so?

- The birth date of this person's grave is hard to read, but it seems to indicate that the person hasn't been alive for 10 years.

- And Tomy or Thomas aren't even 10 years old. That and he was mostly bedridden before recently.

- Where did you hear that?

- One of the kids said so.

- That... is true... he was sick for a long time... ugh... my head hurts...

- Are you okay?

- It's fine... I just... why am I here?

- What?

- It's night, I should be sleeping now.

- Wait, what are you...!?

- You should head to bed soon young man. It's already late.

- You...

I saw Tom walking away from the grave. Then suddenly I feel a sharp pain and a voice in my head.

- It's too soon to end the game. Why don't you take a small nap.

I then fall to the ground unconsious. Next time I wake up being shaken by Low in the same bed that I've been waking up recently. I see tears in Low's eyes as I wake up. Then she says.

- Thank goodness. You didn't wake up for two days and I started to get worried that you wont never wake up.

- I've been out for two days?

- Yes, we didn't see you one morning and we were searching for you for hours until Marcus found you passed out near the church. I was so worried when I found out. What were you even doing in the church?

- I was following Tom.

- Why were you following him? What reason do you have to do so?

- I thought that he would show some light on the situation.

- What situation?

- The reason why we... wait... why did we come here again?

- You silly, we came here as aditional farmhands since they've been so busy reasently.

- Was that it? ... Why do I feel like... I've forgotten something?

- You're acting silly dear, perhaps you hit your head or something.

- Is that it? ... Wait... dear?

- Yes, we are married you silly. You've must have hit your head hard to forget that.

- Is... is that so.

- Wait here, the others were just as worried as I was. I go call them, you wait here.

- Su-sure.

Low leaves the room and I am left wondering. Have I seriously forgotten so much? I was married? When did I... But there was a... Something about illusions... Delir... Why does that name seem important? Am I becoming crazy?

Then later buch of familiar looking people come to the room. The elf girl Heily, the child of Sarah, jumps to my bed saying.

- You nincompoop! Do you have any idea how worried we all were!?

- I'm sorry I scared you all.

Then Sarah says.

- Get off him, you are being inconsiderate.

- But mom!

- No buts, get off him.

She picks Heily off me as the rest of the people are laughing a bit. Then the priest Marcus says.

- No need to be angry to him young child. I'm sure he didn't mean this to happen.

- If you say so father Marcus.

Then Ron, the boy with cat ears and tail, says.

- You are always like that. Acting all proper and when you get even slightly annoyed, you start to act like a needy kid.

- That is not true!

Then Ricko, Ron's father, bonks Ron's head and says.

- Don't do that to Heily.

- But it's true you old man!

- Who are you calling an old man!?

- To an old man standing right next to me like he's my boss.

- You little!... We will talk about this when we get home!

Then Rell, the other human boy besides Tomy, started talking.

- You always act like a tough cookie. Why don't you learn from you mistakes?

- Shut up, you third weel!

- Oh my, you think that I'm a third wheel now? How facinating. Do you even know what a third wheel is?

- Of course I know you smartypants! How about you go read another dam book!

- At least I can read properly.

- Shut your mouth!

Then Ricko bonks Ron's head again and says.

- How about we leave.

- Didn't want to come here anyways.

- You were the one who asked it.

- Shut your stupid face up!

Then they bouth leave. After that, I feel someone pull my sleeve. It was the shy lizard tailed girl Juny.

- Um... mister Nor?

- Yes, what is it?

- Are... are you okay?

- Yes, I'm bit dizzy, but I'm fine.

- If you say so. Low was worried sick about you. She barely ate anything.

- I can immagine that. How are you?

- I'm fine.

- That's good.

Juny then nods and leaves to her parents, who then nod and leave with her. Then Tom comes forward and says.

- You realy gave us a small panic there.

- Sorry.

- Just be carefull for couple of days.

- I will.

Then Tomy comes from behind Tom and says.

- You seem to be good. If there is anything you need ask one of the staff.

- You sound lot like your father. I will do that if I need anything.

- That's good. I know how it is to be sick.

- It's good that it's not you on a bed this time.

He nods and then Eric came to the room and said.

- You feel free to take it slow for couple of days. Don't want you to found unconscious again.

- It's not like I did it on purpose. But yes, I will take it slow for today. Then if I feel good, I'm back helping again.

- Good to hear. Now I have some paperwork to do, so if you excuse me.

He leaves the room and then couple of other farmhands come to my room saying all similar stuff. Telling me to get better soon and whatnot. Then when they are all done, I'm left with Low who came after all of them were gone. She said.

- It is good to be loved.

- Yes it is.

- I just hope you didn't get any other ideas there.

- No I did not. After all, I have a such wonderfull wive already.

- You smoothtalker.

She then kisses me on the forehead and leaves the room. I'm now left with my own thoughts. I do feel kind of hungry. Perhaps I should go get something to eat. After all, you can't get better with an empty stomach.