The Amethyst Flame

Chapter 19 - It Can’t Be… (Jethro)

“What do you mean Maelf- I mean he can’t be killed? How does he have any power at all then?” I asked in horror.

“He’s a parasite who takes over bodies. You can kill his host, but he will simply find another body to possess,” Zaxl replied grimly.

“I see… How do you know about him?” Arthur asked curiously.

“Our priests saw his fall in a vision thousands of years ago. They warned us never to speak his name, for it would only give him more power. It became an unspoken rule of sorts. Nobody knows where he is now, which is the scariest part of it all,” Zaxl spoke grimly, shaking his head.

“We met him,” I mumbled.

“You… met him? How are you alive?” he asked in disbelief.

“We were trapped in a maze and convinced a beholder to let us pass. It died protecting us,” Arthur spoke with tears in his eyes.

“A beholder died protecting you? That is most unusual. It must have been in agony,” he spoke with wide eyes.

“It was. Zaxl, we need to find a wizard to heal our village. Pestilence has overtaken it an-” Jethro started.

“I do not know where to look for one,” he stated plainly.

“Surely, you must know something? Where did you learn your magic?” I countered.

“I learned it from the Order of the Bronze Owl. Our magic differs from that of humans and, in many ways, is more demanding. I doubt you could cast our simplest spells,” he said with a scoff.

“Let us try at least! Is there a spell to access memories?” Arthur asked desperately.

“Yes, it is called Memoria Chronologo. I hardly see how it would help you, though…” Zaxl replied with the slits of his eyes shrinking.

“It might give us clues on where to look. I need to see if there was anything out of the ordinary on the day your village was destroyed. Something tells me Jedemis might have been under his control!” I exclaimed.

“You’re wasting your time, but fine, I’ll let you view the single worst night of my life. To access my memories, the three of us need to hold hands and chant memoria chronologo vesperia toco dun six times. This will not be pleasant for you, as the human body is not used to our spells.”

“I’m ready,” Arthur nodded.

“As am I,” I replied.

Zaxl held our hands, and together we chanted memoria chronologo vesperia toco dun. It became more and more difficult to breathe with each chant, and I felt my heart pounding out like a drum. We both shook, and I feared casting the spell would kill us both.

We cast the spell, and I felt my soul leave my body and enter Zaxl’s. I was reliving the memories of someone else.

I was reliving the memories of one who lost everything in a single night.