Lexios stared into the pale eyes shadowed by whiter hair, his eyes dead like a drowned fish's.
"I don't care if it's useless... I refuse to live among them..."
The other drew out a dagger, pinning the reflection in the mirror against a floor. "... no-one makes it out, I tried already, please, just stay with me..."
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I am sorry I can't taste the wines of nobles with you one day..."
Markus fell back, pulled away into the darkness by cold blades, cutting at his body until his eyes submitted to the darkness around them. Then, at another scene, once more Lexios stared past Markus and into the eyes of the young boy with pale eyes, now both engulfed in a burning Hell surrounded by the melding corpses of people and metal. The boy, in shock, was quiet and with an open slack jaw before Lexios.
"We can still both escape... come on, come with me, Anthony..." In Lexios' hand, from the obscuring flames stretched out that blade he always carried, tainted in fresh blood and oil. His hand did not tremble as it cut through the flames, before 'Anthony' leaped forward with a deranged smile across his face.
"No, no-one leaves this place, not alive and not like this!"
Markus watched as the world was slowly engulfed in flames as the two boys wrestled in the flames, screams of echoes ringing into Markus' mind. He fell to his knees, watching as the battle before him faded from view and into the flames, tearing him over to one last scene of a rain-cloaked city. Lexios, now in clearly tattered clothes, was he always in clothes? Markus could not remember if he had seen them on the boy before, as if the very thought was foreign to him. Still, Markus watched the boy carefully as he was dragging himself through the rainy streets of a cobble city, the streets twisting and churning endlessly.
"Whoa, watch out, kid", spoke a familiar and friendly voice of Julius. He was younger, much younger, almost by twenty years or so, clearly the years after this would bring him much worry. "... where'r your parents... what's with that sword?" Julius knelt down to hold Lexios, putting his own coat over Lexios, before the world's rain drifted away.
....
Markus woke, finding himself back in a friendless room, but now surrounded by the sounds of people waking up and continuing the celebrations. He hopelessly shook his head, did I drink too much? Did I get obsessed by that thing? No... no, but I can't just keep wondering about that... Lexios, what in the world are you from? Where are you from? Who are you? Lexios walked past the door-frame, greeting Markus a good morning, saying he had saved him a plate of breakfast to be guarded by David's uncle.
"Thank you..."
The food was delicious, much better than when a bit 'tipsy', which helped with the sight outside. The corpse of the snake was being dragged in segments by numerous people out from the woods that had been swiftly cleared, assisted by common mages. The sight of such scholars was quite the experience, something not expected to be seen in such a place. Markus greeted them, assisting them in moving the pieces, watching all the while as woodsmen and the guards cleared the forest slightly. Lexios and Julius were instructing others in how to drain parts of the perimeter of the swamp, seemingly having looked over notes or simply remembering well how Markus had instructed them while on the trip here.
News of the snakes' demise had spread somewhat far through the community, bringing such help from quite far, assisted in transportation by these local mages. They had apparently been folk mages, though some had 'attempted' a proper education, they gladly took notes from Markus.
Children were running around, looking in marvel at the 'snake' and the mages, following the 'warriors' and guards, before being ushered away by worried guardians. Markus took respite from the scene, this was what he had missed in his time working and studying, the memories of his childhood flickered in his mind. What life did you live...? Is it why you are so invested in the lives of the common people? What you can do, there is no reason for someone to have them without... extensive training orexperience.
Lexios finally saw Markus watching him, the guard's stomach gaining a knot in response to an ill feeling of unease. He tried to return to work, moving equipment and assisting in bringing out food for people, only managing to immerse himself in it once Julius began picking on the slight sloppiness.
...
The day stretched on, the time for the expedition team to leave for the capital was soon approaching, but the effort put into the forest was showing fruit. As the draining of the swamp continued, farmers were already signing maps to determine new farmland. In that endeavor, Markus noticed the pools formed by the serpent that lived there, it was a natural magical 'circle' like a fairy circle. They were the most primitive and ancient form of magic, the one formed by the serpent was one known for transforming beings into greater existence. It would not work on anything beyond a certain level of understanding, making it obsolete for humanoids.
"... nature really is impressive, can't believe that damned thing actually manage this..." Markus began to write into a notebook everything he could remember, asking around for precise measurements on the serpent, recording everything he could.
"What are you doing?" Julius stared over Markus' shoulder with Hephaestion in-tow.
"Recording, this wasn't just some monster, it was a natural animal that did something truly remarkable... Casting magic, especially by a serpentine creature, is an extremely rare feat by a... well, a 'primitive' being. Even without intent, it's something that should be commended."
"What, are you saying it was a 'mage'?" Julius laughed, but Markus never said anything against that. "No way... really?"
"A genius, even a natural one, is still a genius. It would do me, and every mage that ever taught me, a great disservice." Markus stood firm, moving back to working on the swamp after writing down everything he could. Julius, in disbelief, could only stare in fond confusion before being shoved forward by Hephaestion. The two laughed, but Julius was touched closely by the experience, the sight of someone, a mage of the highest academic, showing such sincere appreciation for effort, had lit something in his experienced heart.
Though Markus had spoken without mind, he did mean every word he said to Julius, the first magic cast by humanity was by fairy circles. If that had never been branded to their generational experience, maybe Markus himself would not have ever achieved the mastery he had in this life, so it would be the same to dismiss the magic cast by a fellow mage, that serpent. He wrote down into his notebook, The unnamed serpent, who cast magic and became a local legend, was gifted a name on a journey 'home'. That name was etched into paper, inked to be remembered for as long as this notebook in the hands of the mage by the name of 'M' continued to exist, its name was 'Asclepius'.
"... don't tell people in the east about that."
"What? I would think they'd be honored to have a scientific discovery named after a man who discovered immortality." David did not seem particularly amused, the people in the east were still seen as enemies by most people even on the 'outskirts' of the empire. "You should travel when you get the chance, see other places, this place is going to become a lot more busy in the coming years."
"And leave all this behind" his gestures wiped across the scenery, gazing across the bustling people eagerly moving into the forest he once feared so terribly. "... should I really? Dad would have wanted me to remain, that's what he told me in the end."
"Your father... not to offend, but he was going to die and most likely wished you would survive and help people here in his stead. That was before that thing was killed, I think it does everyone good if you choose someone to take up your 'job' here."
"... maybe. No, I will remain here for the time being, once everything is settled, I might go look around... but the east will be my last stop."
"You do you."
"I wouldn't want it any other way...", David stood in silence, shared by Markus. The two did not say anything, the sight of the people prancing about, working on whatever they could get their hands onto. It was a good view, something Markus could truly absorb, but there remained something missing in all of it. How long would these peaceful days last, Markus knew it would not be long until the emerald-green glades of the swamp and forest would be replaced by sprawling fields, but for how long would this place hold such joy then? How long until the empire... goes to war once more?
"David."
"Yes, o' grand mage."
"... what were you told about war?"
"Quite the heavy topic, we haven't heard much of it in decades. But, my grandfather, in the little time he had left, told his grandchildren that it should be the last thing anyone should go practicing... Why do you ask?"
"--- I just don't want... I don't know, I... I..."
"Feel proud, happy, seeing this sight?"
"... yes."
"And so you want to go ruining the mood? You mages, always thinking so far ahead about the future, surely you were once a kid too, right?"
"I was, I was, I remember... though not much."
"Bullied, right? Some kind of tragedy? Well, speaking as adults now, kids are cruel and not just to others. It's not something we can grow out of in a conscious effort, but it is something that will remain even if we grow. Just try to enjoy your labor, it's going to be a long trip for you, I can tell."
"Thank you, David." The mage and farmer looked on for a few moments longer, before Markus turned to face him one last time, shaking his hand. The two would never come to cross paths, that is the beauty of their life in this world.