Chapter 24: Epilogue

I stood there holding Palaki, mine, and Naci’s daughter. I never remembered doing anything with Naci sexually, so I wondered how we had...

It was then that Naci told me about what she had done herself. I had been very deeply unconscious when her want for me overshadowed rational thought. She had taken her clothes off, impaling herself upon me.

Here I had thought it had just been a strange dream all this time. Naci shook her head no.

“I had wanted you so badly up to that point. My desire for you was growing larger each day. It got to the point that day that I knew I wouldn’t make it past the end of the day. You were so exhausted; I knew that this would probably be the only time I would have to be with you.” Naci said.

I looked at her with a sense of wonder as she lowered her head, tears starting to fall. “Why are you so upset, Naci?”

With a sigh, her head slowly looked up at me. “I was and am so afraid that you will hate me. That I did what I did, Toman, without your knowledge. That I took,” Here, Naci’s head seemed to fall lower. “I took what wasn’t freely given. You are within your rights to leave me.” This last part whispered so low I almost thought she hadn’t said it.

I reached over, gently cupping her chin, raising her head until she looked into my eyes.

“Naci, again, I must tell you, you are more than just a partner to me. Had it not been for you, I know I would have failed at the beginning of all this. Naci,” I stated, pulling her closer to me. “I just realized it. I love you. There is no other explanation for everything.”

Naci’s eyes went wide as she stared hard and long into mine. They were suddenly wide as she started to kiss me fiercely all over my face. This, of course, awoke Palaki, who let the both of us know in no uncertain terms that she was there. I stepped back as the both of us laughed.

“I have a few things I need to do, Naci. A few promises that I made, I have to fulfill.” I told Naci as I gently kissed both her and Palaki.

Even as Palaki cooed, Naci nodded, “Finish Toman, then return to me. For too long, I have slept alone.” She stared at me intensely, “I do not intend to any longer than necessary.” Naci warned.

“I shouldn’t be that long,” I told her. Again, she gave me an intense look and then nodded. I flashed out with a sigh. I had better hurry. The look of hunger in her eyes was affecting me as well.

I traveled for a moment and then appeared within a peaceful realm I had created a while back. Walking a short distance, directly in front of me, I soon came upon the mage house where I had left Rigal and his mother. Reaching out, I started to feel where they were. A sudden movement behind me made me whirl around, and I felt Rigal moving toward me.

I raised my hand, suddenly freezing a supremely surprised Rigal. “Unless you want to get seriously hurt, I suggest you stop,” I told him.

“Toman?” I heard him struggle to say. Releasing him, I felt him rush toward me, grabbing me in an almost crushing bear hug. “By the great power, I thought you had forgotten about us.”

I shook my head when he released me. “I wouldn’t do that with all the help you gave me. I owe you quite a bit, between you and your mother; I might not have been able to pull part of it off. Now then,” I started as I saw his mother exit the mage house, walking up to the two of us. “I think it’s time we got you two home.”

I looked at Mrs. Vanderhoon when she stopped before me. “Is he gone?” A slight trembling to her lips. “Can we go home?” I nodded as I waved my hand, the three of us vanishing only to appear a few moments later.

“I forgot that I hadn’t repaired your home,” I said as we stared at what was left of the two-story building that was their home. The entire front of it was still a crumbled mess lying in front.

With a smile, I nodded to them as I concentrated. At first, nothing happened, but then I felt my power rise. I felt Rigal and his mother back up as first my arm, then the rest of me started to glow.

Nodding, I felt the structure start to reform. Good, I thought, as pieces started to slide into place. Within moments, my power was three times higher as everything moved almost too fast to be seen.

Twenty minutes later, I dropped both my arms with a smile on my lips. “There, I think that should provide adequate protection now.”

Rigal’s mother was staring with her mouth open, tears falling. Quickly, she came to me, throwing her arms around me in a crushing hug.

Rigal waited a little sheepishly nearby ‘til she was done. After she released me, he took my hand in a strong handshake.

“You have a friend in me for life. If I can somehow help you, let me know.” Rigal told me.

I thought about it for a moment, then looked at Rigal deeper into his center. Damn, no wonder he couldn’t use the massive power he had. With a thin smile, I reached in, chipping away at well over half of his power center.

Perhaps two minutes had passed when Rigal’s eyes went wide, as did his mother’s. “What ... what did you do? By the great power, I feel more power within me than ever!”

“As I said, Rigal, I owe the both of you quite a bit. I know you aren’t a wild magic user, though you have depths of power that only a few can rival. This will help you to protect your mother far better than ever before. Know that this is the first treatment. You must let your body adjust before I dare push you higher.” I bowed to the two of them, shocking them to silence. Then, with a crooked smile, I whispered in Rigal’s ear, earning a wide smile and a vigorous nod.

With a sigh, I smiled back and then vanished, appearing before a great magical medical building. I was afraid of this next thing I HAD to do. Walking in, I saw more than a dozen males and females bristling. Then, most of them moved to block me from going further.

A tall, angry, red-faced male limped toward me. In a rather heated voice, he advised me, “You are not welcome here. You almost utterly and completely decimated the entire Corps. To the extent that, though no one was killed, there is no longer a corps. There is no protection for the magic realm now.”

There were several angry shouts from more than a dozen others behind him. “I am not here to,” I started.

The angry man just started to laugh, “You might as well kill us to the last member. As strong as you are, no one can heal any of us. So, either leave or start the killing. We know that you have no concern for us.”

I had been feeling bad when I walked in here; now I was just pissed as I stared the male in the face, getting red-faced myself. Growling, I stretched out my arm, staring the male in the eyes. Feeling my power climb, I pushed out, feeling all that was wrong with the male suddenly healing. Growling, I turned to the others in the room, hitting them with the overabundant energy I could still feel climbing.

All their eyes went wide, and when they felt all the pain fade, their bodies became normal again. That’s when I fell to the ground. Damn it! I had pushed too far too soon. I could feel the energy growing higher as I stumbled out the door.

I tried to think of Naci and home, though nothing happened. I felt those healed coming out the door looking at me, struggling to go, hell, even think. I was astonished that I couldn’t clear my thoughts.

I felt a flash beside me as someone appeared. The small, soft hand I felt touched my shoulder; it let me know Naci was here, thank the great power. That’s when I first heard Merlin, and then my father warned everyone to return inside.

Naci’s soft voice whispered to me. “It’s alright, Toman, I am here. Close the door like you have always done.”

“I’m not sure if I can Naci. This was done with such anger it seemed to move on its own. For you, I will try my Naci.” I told her as I struggled to even get the door to move. Damn, but this was difficult.

Finally, after what seemed to be days, I managed to get the door to the brink. I was so tired I was sure I’d not make it. That’s when I felt Naci also helping me to push on the door. Then I noticed that her power was much higher than I remember before I thought I had lost her.

“I am here, Toman; I told you I wouldn’t leave you. I was more than serious when I said that. Now rest. You still have quite a bit to do when you awake.” Naci told me as the door finally closed. With a smile, I barely nodded, then felt the welcoming darkness enfold me.

I awoke two days later, feeling like I had been thrown down and stomped on more than a few times. I started to get up but felt a soft hand try to push me back down, Naci?

I felt what had to be at least fifteen of the enforcer corps: Naci, Pops, mother, father Merlin, and Morganna. What the hell was going on? Groaning, I tried to open my eyes and then slammed them shut as the light was like daggers in my head.

[Give it a few moments, Toman.]I heard Pops say. After what you did, I’m surprised that you are awake now. Healing one or two is hard, though, to do fourteen? Well, as I said, I am surprised you are up now.]

I groaned again, slightly louder, as I again tried to sit up. This time, I felt at least four sets of hands push me back down, restraining me. Taking a deep breath, I relaxed then chanced, opening my eyes.

I was surprised when Mother, Father, and Pops were there with Naci. “Water.” I strained to get out. After that, I fell back out of it another day.

This time, I awoke alone, quickly sliding out of bed. Naci appeared a moment later. “Are you feeling better?” She asked. I just nodded. “Uncle says you can heal a few at a time, though no more than ten.” I nodded at this as we walked out to another building.

The same male from before walked to me, kneeling. “I wish to apologize for how we treated you. I just hope that you can forgive us.”

I nodded as I told him, “Not that much to forgive. After what was done to all of you, I can’t blame you. Though this time, I hope to finish healing all of you...”

“Thank you. With just the fifteen of us, we are spread thin. It is good to know that the magic realm has a little semblance of order.” The male stated to me. Hell, I did the ten with no trouble at all. The surprise and joy on their faces made all of it worth it. The bad thing is that it took me all week to finish.

I was summoned before the council again, this time the real council. It seemed that they had elected a new leader. I appeared in the chambers as I was requested. I was about to speak when I felt a familiar feeling. What in the hell? I looked around for my father, seeing no one.