Chapter 16

Jason sat in the room, poring over the text he was reading. He had learned much of the Sons of Caesar over the course of the last month. Many of the books and tomes still sat there, collecting dust, but he had read others. The man leaned back, rolling his head around and popping a few joints as he stretched his arms. His mind traversed back through his memories, recalling everything that had happened in the past several weeks.

He found it amazing that everyone in his immediate circle of friends had come to terms with everything so well. He’d learned much about what it meant to be a Druid and about the power he commanded. Jason had also taken the time to teach Eva about what he’d learned. Though she was still hesitant about some things, she’d gotten the hang of them after a little practice.

They had both grown in their power and the array of magic they now commanded. Sheena had been instrumental in helping them reach said heights. Even though she was a Shaman, much of the teachings she had translated well into Druidic magic. They had both shared ideas and theories in expanding what they knew about Gaian magic and the other types that were out there.

They had also shared these ideas with the Fairies and Xaera, who was becoming a proper mage. Though her magic differed from the Gaian power the others had, it was still something that tied into what they knew. The theories and uses were similar, if more of a branching path in the same discipline. It was good to have allies like Xaera, along with everyone else who’d helped them.

Luke, Karla, Carlotta and even Elizabeth were now full believers in Gaia, as her power over all things living was clear. Luke was skeptical, but glad that he found something he could believe in, something that didn’t require faith alone. Jason was sure that Karla had some say in what Luke believed, but knew that Luke was a man who made his own decisions.

Even though he couldn’t wield Gaia’s magic, he thought it was pretty fucking cool that his best friend had become a Druid. Sure, it wasn’t like what they had displayed in some games he played, like World of Warcraft. But even so, some ideas and spells that had been shown in the video game and other forms of media were real. Jason fired a glance to some grimoires that lined the room, and he smiled.

The Druids and Shaman of ages past hadn’t passed down their teachings as they should have. Though some of them had the foresight to write things down in journals, dairies and even spell books. He often wondered how the Sons of Caesar had acquired them, as many of them appeared to be ancient. Mulling on this thought brought him to reason they all of this in the first place, Darren.

Though the kid had been a self-righteous little shit, everyone had found out the truth. That he was this way because his father, Wayne, had forced his mind into that path of thinking, via the corrupted magic he had stolen from Eva. Darren would have died with his father and most of his chapter of the Sons, were it not for the magic he had.

Phalmina theorized that the magic had been gifted to the man because he came from Eva. Her power as a Druidess almost assured the fact that any children she bore would have a connection to Gaia. There was the off chance that they wouldn’t have it, but her power levels made it a low possibility they wouldn’t.

Darren had some connection to Gaia, but not enough to become a Druid or even a Shaman. The power he had enabled him to become a Guardian, much like the plant-like protectors of the glade. The big difference was that unlike them, Darren wasn’t bound to any one place. He could defend any site sacred to Gaia, as long as it was in the defense of said site or a creature of Gaia.

Offensively, he was limited to whatever minor things that could allow him to knock around or distract any assailants. Going on the attack, as Jason and the fairies had, was out of the question for him. That didn’t mean he was defenseless though, as his title suggested. The one thing he had on his side were defensive capabilities not too unlike the Obsidian skin spell Xaera had hit Jason with. Phalmina had even said that when he reached his full potential, he might even be a match for Jason.

It was a lot to take in, but after a while, everyone had come to the acceptance that Darren was now on their side. Even Elizabeth was OK with him, now that they’d come to an understanding about things. The amount of changes and surprises had been numerous, to say the least. The one which had caught everyone off guard was Amy.

Amy’s power and access to magic was much higher than Darren’s. So much so, that with the proper training, she could become a Shaman. Sheena had taken the young woman under wing, teaching her the basics of Shamanistic magic. Amy had been an apt pupil, devouring everything Sheena had taught her and hungered for more.

Sheena had to rein in her new apprentice as though magic was fun, it could also be dangerous. Used incorrectly, it could seriously injure the user if they weren’t careful. There had been a couple of instances where a spell had gotten away from Amy and could have done some damage to the glade. Thankfully, Sheena or one of the fairies had been around to snuff the spell.

Since then, Amy had been obedient to Sheena’s instruction, not wanting to risk another debacle. He was certain that Emalia also didn’t want that to happen to her again. Sure, the experience might have been a novelty, but the fairy’s inability to move cemented the spell’s reversal. Sheena had since teased the poor girl about it now and then, but mostly as a reminder of things that could happen, when you were untrained in the way of magic.

Jason had a bit of a snafu when it came to dealing with the vow he and Amy had exchanged. The vow, while strong, was malleable in some ways. While he and Amy still shared a strong bond, they learned such bonds could be bent and even shifted. Though he and Amy had some fun, Jason’s heart belonged to Sheena.

Amy was surprisingly relaxed about the whole matter. Though the bond and the sex they enjoyed was fun, she knew they were a temporary thing. She saw the way Jason looked at Sheena and how he looked at her and knew true love when she saw it. With Sheena’s and Phalmina’s help through the use of a complex ritual, they shifted the bond to Elizabeth, who was overjoyed at what they had given her.

When they were finished, they found that some remnant of it still lingered, due to the collective bond they all shared. It was then that Jason learned of the various depths of such unions and how strong they were. What Jason and Amy shared that night together was more of a surface link of two people in need. While the need was strong, there were stronger levels of such a bond.

Afterwards, Sheena and Jason performed their own bonding ceremony, which was something far deeper than Jason had ever experienced. Because of their love for each other, the bond Sheena and Jason now shared was far more than either had imagined. While they weren’t fated, as Darren and Daelina had been, the strength of their love for one another was just as powerful.

Jason smiled when he thought of the beautiful Shaman, the woman who had been dear to him once and was again. She had become his girlfriend again and more, both wanting and needing him. He smirked when he thought of just how much catching up they had gone through over the last month. She had been very ... vocal in her needs and desires, which he appreciated.

It was almost as though she had never left, which Jason found oddly refreshing. He sighed and thought about the last week, where he’d been busy making her squirm in delight. Jason grinned at that memory and hoped that he’d make more like that one soon. As his mind drifted to kinky things, he wondered how Amy and Elizabeth were getting on.

Those two women had been nearly inseparable since that night at the mansion. They’d entered into a relationship with each other, which was a bit of a surprise. Mostly for Eva, who didn’t know that Amy had even liked girls like that. That they were almost always grinning like goofs said a lot about how often they were ... physical with each other.

Jason took another breath before he thought it would be a good time to call it a day. He’d been poring over this book for hours, and though he’d learned a lot, he had to pace himself. He’d learned a lot from the writings and journals from the ancient Druids and Shaman, but now, he had time. There was much that needed to be absorbed, but Jason remembered Rome wasn’t built in a day.

“Should probably get something to eat,” Jason said to himself as he stood and stretched. He heard a familiar tinkling on the air and smiled, as he knew what that sound heralded.

“Been here long Mina?” Jason wondered as he closed the book he was reading, after marking the page he was on.

“Long enough to know that you need a break. Learn anything interesting?” Phalmina asked as she perched on Jason’s shoulder.

“A lot, actually. Most of which was how the Sons of Caesar got started in the first place,” Jason remarked, as he picked up several books and stuffed them into a satchel.

“Oh? Please tell me! I’d like to know!” the fairy woman asked, as she watched Jason place the satchel strap on his shoulder, walking out of the room with it.

Despite the enmity for any of its members, Phalmina was infinitely curious about the Sons of Caesar. Mostly about how secret cabals like this had formed and carried on through the centuries. She was also interested in how they took power that didn’t belong to them. Mainly so she could counteract their magic, which was a form that she was unfamiliar with.

“Apparently, it started all the way back with Vercingetorix. The history books say that he surrendered to Julius Caesar. The fact of the matter is that he was betrayed by those he trusted most,” Jason growled.

“Who betrayed him?” Phalmina asked, wondering who could have betrayed such a great man.

“It doesn’t say who, at least not in that book. But it states how his betrayers delivered him to Caesar, and they were allowed to leave. After that, it goes on about how Caesar constantly demanded that Vercingetorix give his power to the emperor. The Arch-Druid refused, as it wasn’t something that a mortal man could bestow on another. It was a gift and blessing that came from Gaia alone,” Jason started.

“It went on about Caesar had his best torturers work Vercingetorix, doing everything they could to make the man crack. No matter how hard they worked the man, the Arch-Druid resisted every temptation offered to him. They would have killed him, because he frustrated them so. But the orders from Caesar were to ensure that he lived and any man who disobeyed would be put to death in the worst ways imaginable,” Jason went on.

“Sounds like Caesar was obsessed with taking his power! He must have succeeded, if the Sons were to have any presence or knowledge of magic thereafter,” Phalmina replied.

“He did, after a fashion,” Jason continued as he closed and locked the storage room. “There were other humans who used magic that were in Caesar’s employ. They showed him how to take the magic that the Arch-Druid held, but there was a serious drawback to taking it. The amount of power that Vercingetorix held was immense, far too much for any one man to contain,” Jason said as they walked out of the storage facility.

“What happened to the men who tried to take Vercingetorix’s power?” Phalmina wondered as she threaded her arm around Jason’s waist.

“The men were ... melted. The amount of power that they tried to take was too much for them to handle and they became ... puddles of sludge. At least, that’s what it says in the texts. They eventually learned that a small amount could be extracted safely, and that what happened with Caesar gaining his power. Once Vercingetorix saw this, he did the only thing he could do to stop it from happening again.”

“How?” Phalmina wondered, a sense of apprehension etched into her face.

“Because they chained him in prison, there was little the Arch-Druid could do to defend himself. Once Caesar gained his power, he would also empower his followers, and greatest generals. The idea was to turn the newly minted Roman Empire into an unstoppable force, to conquer the world. That was Caesar’s plan anyway, so Vercingetorix did the one thing he could still do; he ended his own life,” Jason informed her.

“It makes sense. I was still young during those days, but I remember how nearly every Gaian creature could feel the moment the Arch-Druid died. How the immense power he commanded flowed back to Gaia, becoming one with the Earth Mother once again. Did it say what happened afterwards?” the fairy woman asked as they walked out into the sunshine.

“Yeah. Caesar went down to Vercingetorix’s cell the following day and discovered him dead. The emperor was angry that his grand dreams he had were foiled, but he didn’t let the Arch-Druid’s death stop him. Though he had lost a potent source of power, Caesar knew that there had to be others out there. So, he started sending out his most loyal followers to seek and round up any of Gaia’s followers they could find,” Jason said.

“He thought about teaching those who were closest to him about this, but decided against it. The only people he would teach would be those who of his bloodline and no one else. His sons were the ones he taught about this power, and he also taught his grandsons until he was assassinated. From what I gathered from the texts I read, it was because of him trying to gain greater power that led to his death,” Jason stated.

“His own sons killed him?” Phalmina guessed.

“Yes. His son, who was a senator, was involved in a conspiracy to kill him. Caesar was a brutal dictator who wanted to control everything. Having more power than what he had attained from Vercingetorix, would have given him enough to dominate anyone. His sons couldn’t have that, seeing firsthand just how brutal a man he was. So, they learned all they could from him, before they killed him,” Jason finished.

“So, that’s why they’re called the Sons of Caesar,” Phalmina mused.

“It is. Their bloodline has always been present in the order, ever since its inception, and they have passed their teachings down through the ages. I still have yet to get past Caesar’s assassination, as there is a lot to read!” Jason admitted, as they walked to the street.

“Well, we have nothing but time right now. Especially now that you’re not working,” the fairy woman stated.

“It has been ... interesting, not having to wake up for work these days. Though I do so enjoy my mornings with you and Sheena in my bed,” he replied with a chuckle. Phalmina blushed as she remembered this morning’s romp. Jason was very ... enthusiastic in making her feel welcome in his home.

“So, where are we going for lunch?” Jason asked, breaking the fairy from her lurid thoughts.

“We’re going to meet Sheena at ... Kelsey’s?” she replied.

“Mmm! One of my faves! So, we going to catch the bus then?” he wondered.

“I was thinking of a less traditional way of traveling,” Phalmina told him.

She then grabbed him by the shirt and ducked into an alley. She glanced about, making sure they weren’t being watched, before waving her hands, summoning the runes to cast the shrinking spell. The runes came into being almost instantly and shrunk them both down. Though Jason was half of Phalmina’s size, at half an inch in this state. He looked up at the giggling woman and quirked an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just an interesting idea popped into my head is all,” she snickered.

“Does it involve you being bigger than me?” Jason wondered as his fairy lover scooped him up and took flight.

“Yes, it does. Why? What were you thinking?” she wondered.

“Well, I have a few ideas,” he started before he craned his neck and whispered into her ear. Though Phalmina kept flying straight to their destination, he saw her go red from head to toe.

“Damn! I didn’t know that fairies could blush all over!” Jason snickered.

“We will have to try out some of your suggestions! Soon!” the fairy panted lustfully.

“Some of those ideas involve Sheena too, you know,” Jason told her.

“Oh, my!” she breathed as she gulped audibly.

“So glad you approve!” Jason chuckled.

The pair of them landed a few minutes later in a nearby set of bushes. After using their Gaian senses to see if anyone was looking int their direction, Phalmina made them big again. Dressed like a young couple, the pair of them made their way across the street and to the restaurant. Jason didn’t see Sheena’s car yet, so he figured she had yet to arrive.

Not even five minutes later, Jason saw Sheena’s Impala pull up, and he smiled. He watched the mocha skinned woman get out of her car and saunter over to him. Her eyes smoldered with barely constrained lust as she kissed him, using her mouth to show him how much she missed him. They broke apart to some hooting and jeering nearby and saw a couple of guys staring at the three of them.

“What? You guys wish you were him?” Sheena teased.

“Damn straight! Would mind you doing that to me!” one guy replied suggestively.

“Sorry boys, but this lady is spoken for,” Jason told them while putting a protective arm around Sheena.

“What about your friend here? She’s just as hot and doesn’t look like she’s got a guy here!” one of the other guys stated.

“I’m also spoken for by him,” Phalmina laughed, before prancing up to Jason and kissing him just as passionately.

“You lucky fucker! How the fuck did you nab two hotties man??” one of the guys asked, eagerness plastered all over his face.

“Sorry, boys. That’s a trade secret,” Jason laughed as he walked over to the door, letting the ladies walk into the restaurant first.

The guys’ faces were full of jealousy and disbelief, and they just shook their heads before walking away. The hostess had the trio seated almost immediately, as the restaurant wasn’t overly busy. Their waitress walked up not even a minute later, and they ordered their drinks. They waited for the woman to leave before they started talking.

“Learn a fair bit from the archives?” Sheena wondered.

“A few things. Found a few tomes that look like they’re from a Shaman. I haven’t had a proper look at them yet, but they might have a few things you’ve been looking for,” Jason said, tapping the satchel that hung on his chair.

“Awesome!” Sheena grinned.

“You make any progress on finding your parents?” Phalmina asked.

“Nothing yet. Right after graduation, they just vanished without a trace. I know the Sons were after them, but the trail went cold years ago. The books and records they had on my parents were helpful, but the leads turned out to be dead ends,” Sheena griped.

“I feel you there, hon. I’m still at a loss about who put that block on me to begin with,” Jason huffed.

“You’ve discovered nothing about who could have done it?” Phalmina queried.

“Nope. Nothing at all. It’s almost as though whoever did it, wanted to make sure that their name and mine stayed out of the Sons’ reports. It’s frustrating beyond belief,” Jason growled.

“You’ll find out who did it to you, Jason. We will have our answers, just not yet. These kinds of things take time before anything comes to light. You just need to learn to be patient,” Phalmina told him consolingly.

“I know. Didn’t say I was giving up. Just that it’s a pain in the ass is all,” he griped.

“Mina’s right. It took us a while before we even found out what we have so far. It took us time to find each other again. That’s all it takes, babe, is time,” Sheena soothed.

“You’re right. Besides, we still have a lot to do with a lot of things. Oh, and that reminds me!” he said as he remembered something.

“What?” both women asked him as he pulled out an old a heavy tome. They were about to admonish him for pulling it out in public, when their eyes went to the symbol on the cover. Their eyes widened for a moment, before Jason stuck the book back into his satchel.

“Is that...” Sheena breathed.

“A tome from the Artificer, written in his own hand!” Jason stated excitedly.

“A copy survived??” Phalmina asked, a pleasant shock plastered on her pretty face.

“Yup! I’ve had a brief look through it and there are a lot of things in there! Amulets, bracelets, necklaces, all of which can be enchanted with specific runes or spells!” Jason replied.

“Xaera will definitely want to have a look through that book! There are several choice items that I’m sure she’d want to craft!” Sheena said happily.

“That is where I have to deliver some bad news,” Jason told them.

“What’s wrong?” Phalmina asked.

“How bad?” Sheena wondered, concern etching her face.

“Well, it’s not exactly bad news, just ... more of a roadblock. There are certain items that we will need in the crafting of such things, and many of them ... I’m not sure where we’ll find them. On top of which, there will be large amounts of magic required in the final phase of crafting these things,” he told the women.

“Hmm. Well, some things we still might find, but that will require getting to other glades. Maybe we can enact a spell much like the one that was used to send Xaera here?” Phalmina suggested.

“It’s worth a shot. I think we’ll all need to give it a proper read and start making lists of the things we’ll need,” Jason replied.

“That’s a good idea. Bring that book to the glade and we’ll have Lina and Ema give us a hand with cataloguing everything,” Phalmina told him.

“Sound advice. Ah, our food has arrived!” Jason stated happily.

The women turned their heads and saw the waitress approaching with a tray full of their orders. With practiced precision and ease, the waitress arrived and deposited their orders in front of them. After thanking the woman, the trio dug in, enjoying their meal.

Both Sheena and Phalmina enjoyed their meals more than Jason did. Phalmina more so because she wasn’t accustomed to human food and hadn’t had it often. Sheena’s delight came more from the fact that she hadn’t had food like this in years. Now that she was no longer on the run, she adapted back to city life without too much trouble. Jason found it adorable when she made cute little noises as she was eating.

The trio took their time and enjoyed their lunch, not having had many opportunities to just sit down and relax lately. The relentless training sessions, along with the studying they’d been doing of the books they’d acquired, had kept them all busy. Jason just sat there, taking the respite in for as long as he could, before they got back to it. Before he knew it, they had finished their lunch, and Jason was paying for their meal.

“So, head for Xaera’s then?” Sheena asked.

“I think so. I’m sure she’ll be excited to get her hands on these,” Jason chuckled, patting his satchel.

“At the rate that woman learns, it’ll be maybe a day, two tops, before she asks for more books,” Phalmina giggled.

Jason couldn’t argue with that statement, as Xaera had become a voracious reader since learning how to read. Elizabeth had taken the time to sit down with the troll woman and teach her how to read. Since learning how, Xaera had been reading everything she could get her hands on, from historical texts to fiction novels.

She’d become quite the fantasy aficionado, having picked up and read several well-known works. J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Goodkind, and R.A. Salvatore were just a few of the authors she was reading currently. Those were just the ones she’d gotten around to, and only when she wasn’t leaning from the Sons’ archives. The trio piled into Sheena’s car, eager to get this knowledge to Xaera.

The car ride to the park was short, as the restaurant they had dined at was less than ten blocks away. Phalmina didn’t protest riding in Sheena’s car, but that was mainly because the seats were covered in fabric. Iron and iron alloys made Phalmina feel ill, but only if she touched them. Being near iron wasn’t enough to do anything to her, which Jason was thankful for.

Sheena pulled into the park and parked the car before getting out and heading to Xaera’s cave. Jason and Phalmina were maybe a few seconds behind her, and she locked the car after they were out. The trio skipped along, while keeping an eye out for anyone who might be watching them.

Even though they had literally destroyed the local chapter of the Sons of Caesar, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be others watching them. Some might be innately curious, but that racism was still a thing among humanity didn’t give them much hope. The park didn’t have many visitors at that time of day, as most people were still at work. They made it to the entrance with no one tailing them and stood before the stone.

Reaching out with their magic, Sheena and Jason activated the runes they had placed upon the stone. These runes, when activated, would render the boulder weightless, allowing them to lift it with their magic. It opened much like a trapdoor, standing on its edge, revealing the entry to the cavern below. The three of them scurried on inside, not wanting to be seen by anyone.

The rock slowly closed right behind them and they descended, all three of them enacting a basic light spell to see by. They walked on inside the cave, which was much cozier than it had been before. Xaera had taken to learning many things, now that she could move around in the day. She’d picked up stacks upon stacks of books, all about different topics.

One of the first things she learned about was stonework, which is what was responsible for the improvements to the cave. Xaera’s troll strength, combined with what she’d learned about stonework, had given the place a more inviting appeal. Since Elizabeth had taught Xaera to read English, there was no end to the troll woman’s desire to learn. Jason was certain that the book he’d brought with him would pique her interest.

They approached the main cavern that was her home and smiled. There were torches everywhere now, but the brightness of the cave wasn’t just because of the firelight. Because of her troll heritage and unique magic, Xaera could enchant various crystals to hold and refract light. Much like a magical light bulb of crystal, which was both cool in concept and in practice.

Jason had yet to get the spell down himself, but it would take time before he got it right. He glanced around, happy to see most of the old trash that Xaera had collected finally tossed out. There was often a lot of old furniture that was left behind on the curbs by people who didn’t want them. When it was dark out, Xaera would venture forth in her disguise spell and collect the items she wanted.

Her home was now tastefully decorated, with Amy and Elizabeth giving her some pointers on home decorating. There were some candles there were also placed around and lit, but they were more decorative than functional. As usual of late, they found Xaera sitting at her table, poring over another book. Sheena couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of it, as she’d never thought of the troll woman as the literary type.

“More learning, Xaera? Or is this a break from the usual routine of learning?” Jason wondered.

“Jason! Glad that you’re here!” Xaera exclaimed after seeing him, Sheena and Phalmina approach. She rushed up to them, enveloping them into a bone crunching hug, which left the ladies a little breathless.

“It’s good to see you too, Xaera!” Sheena gasped, catching her breath after the hug.

“It’s a break from the learning stuff. One of those ... girlie novels ... that Eva likes to read,” Xaera admitted with a blush.

“There’s nothing wrong with that Xaera! If find they can be ... stimulating,” Phalmina giggled.

“Is that where you got that idea to try on me?” Jason asked, curious about the source of something she did with him in bed.

“Hey, I don’t recall you complaining about that, buster!” Sheena smirked.

“Ok, guilty as charged! Anyway, I have something that I brought with us I’m sure you’d like to have a look at Xaera,” Jason told her with a smile. Xaera stared at Jason as he reached into his satchel and withdrew the book he’d been keeping in there.

“Is that...? Is it...?” Xaera breathed, recognizing the symbol.

“It is. The last known surviving copy of the Artificier’s work! How the Sons came into possession of it, we’ll never know. But we have it!” Jason enthused.

“May I?” Xaera pleaded.

“Yes, but please do be careful with it! I still have to make a proper copy of this book, so we don’t have to worry about this one so much,” Jason warned her, handing her the book gently. She placed it carefully on the table and started flipping through the pages, hoping to find the item she was looking for.

“It’s here! An amulet of protection!” Xaera gushed.

“Most of what’s in there, though, will be difficult to craft. Have a look at the spells required, and the items needed to craft it,” Jason pointed out. Xaera looked it over, blinked, then read it again to be certain.

“A lot of what’s here will be difficult to obtain,” Xaera grumbled, her enthusiasm somewhat deflated.

“The metals, not so much. If you have the money, they are easy enough to come by. The rarer a metal though, the more expensive it will be,” Jason informed her.