ตอน 65: Return as Athreos
A/N: Pat-reon: HelloDarkness07
---
I groan, as a bright light falls on my eyes, and turn to the side, pulling the cover over my head. But, my sleep was broken, and my own War habits prevent me from going back to sleep.
When I open my eyes, however, I find something odd. I was in Kamar Taj, and I recognise this room as mine.
It is then that my mind catches up, and I snap upright, eyes wide open, and a smile forming on my face.
"Finally woke up, have you?" An amused female voice asks from the side, immediately making me scowl.
I look at Master Ayesha, who was reading a scroll while sitting in my chair, and say, "You knocked me out!"
Snorting, she says, "Should I have explained how I lied to you for 3 years and then unlocked your memories?"
On second thought, that would have been bad. I would have woken up with some mistrust towards Master Ayesha, and it wouldn't have gone away easily.
My mind goes back to what had just happened, and I smile widely once again. I have become a Master in Sorcery, a proper Master, with actual training!
"You know, I really should have learned the difference between making connections with outer Realms, using their Magic, and making Pacts with the Realm Lords. It would have made my early days that much easier." I muse, thinking back on my training days.
I had connections with five Realms, all of them I was intrinsically aligned to thanks to my mutations, or my Magecraft, which is apparently the word to define my Wizardry Magic.
There's the Realm of the Vishanti, because Oshtur is my creator(or ancestor, depending on who you ask). The Psionic Realm, which is the higher Astral Plane, where the Phoenix Force resides, and all Mind Magics gain their powers from there. The Healing Realm, a Dimension filled with just Healing Magic, which I assume is where the energy for my Healing factor comes from. The Tunnel Realm, a Dimension filled with wormholes going from one place to another, which.. is what I believe we pass through when Apparating.
There's also an unnamed Dimension filled with pure Light Magic, which I'm going to call the Light Dimension. Ayesha had previously explained that its energy was the opposing force to ALL the Hell Realms.
It wasn't necessarily the Anti-Hell, or even the Anti-Dark Dimension, but it did work similar to that. There are others like it, obviously, since there are literally infinite Dimensions out there. But the only Light oriented Realm that the Sorcerers knew of, before my connection to the Light Dimension was established, was the Lightforce Dimension, the Dimension filled with Anti-Darkforce energy.
I have no idea why my connection to this Dimension came to be, since all the other Dimensions have an actual reason behind them. I'm not Light, I'm not completely Pure of Heart or some other shite like that. So, yeah, this is still an unanswered question for now.
And lets not forget my connection to the planet Earth, which is where my Wizardry Magic actually comes from.
"Yes, you really should have. But, I'm assuming you learned by yourself, and hence did not have the knowledge of Kamar Taj at your service. So, that is understandable." Master Ayesha says, answering my question and bringing me back from my musing.
Sighing, I say, "Yeah, I found journals of one of my ancestors. He will study Sorcery in Kamar Taj, around 800 years from now, but he refused to even glance at Dimensional Magic."
Damn you, Salazar Slytherin! If I ever see him, which is highly unlikely, I'm definitely punching the bastard in the face. First, he didn't even bother bringing one book about Dimensional Magic to Hogwarts, and warned about making pacts with demons, which already pushed my Sorcery back a lot.
And then, he fucking created a Time Travel method that allowed him to go to the future, and didn't even bother to write a single page about it! I could have been chilling back home by now!
Bloody wanker.
Shaking my head, I turn towards Master Ayesha, and ask, "What now? My training is done? Oh, did you have to help Onuris or Tatiana? And what about Kultur?"
Oh, damn! I need to go and visit all of them first, and lets not forget my dragons! They should have gotten so big by now!
Ayesha chuckles, and says, "Priest Onuris and I met a few times, only the first of which was when he called for you. He gave me this Scroll, asking me to hand it over to you as soon as you wake, so.. here you go." As I take the offered scroll and put it away to read later, she continues, "The remaining two times was just to ask after you. And your lover, Tatiana.. well, I will leave that to her to explain, and to you to give excuses for."
"As for your Elf, Kultur came asking for my help just five times in these three years, and all of them were for help transporting some bigger animals that he couldn't transport by himself. Congratulations, by the way, your Island is now home to the only 11 Magical Mammoths remaining on Earth, a mating pair of Namean Lions, 3 Yeti, and 4 Cerebruses."
Magical Mammoths, huh. I didn't even know they still existed, even 2000 years after the extinction of the regular Mammoths. The Magical Mammoths, if the book in Alexandria is to be believed, can hide anywhere, from anyone.
The grass, a small rock, a single bamboo, a fucking string, it doesn't matter what the object is, how big it is, or how thin. If it is solid, then a Magical Mammoth can hide behind it. Invisibility, intangibility, and resistance to Magic, that were its Magical gifts.
Which.. explains how they've survived so long.
The reason they went extinct in the first place is that their bones and tusks were used in the Re'em Strength Ritual. The first one, not the one that the Knights of the Round table will use, that just grants a fraction of the Magical gifts of one being to another. Which I modified to gain Victor Creed's mutation. This one was fairly useless after their extinction, since a lot of Wizards just used up everything.
Frowning in confusion, I ask, "Why did they bring the Yeti? Isn't my Island too warm for them?"
I have yet to do anything about temperature control on Sanctuary, there are plans yes, but I haven't done anything yet. The Island is big enough to hold all of these animals 1000 times over, so I'm not worried there. But the Yeti need snow to survive, and even the tallest mountain on Sanctuary is pretty much warm.
Smiling, Master Ayesha says, "Your Elves took care of that. All seven of them worked together to make one of the northern regions ice cold."
I smile, and say, "Yeah my elves are good at improvis- wait a minute. Since when do I have seven Elves?"
Master Ayesha just chuckles, and says, "You have a lot to catch up on, Master Atharva. I suggest going back to your Sanctuary for a few days, rest up, and work on going through your memories once again. And be warned that your lover will be coming here in 7 days, to meet you."
"Tatiana's coming here? Fucking hell, I'm screwed, aren't I?" I whisper, more than a bit afraid.
If she had called for me, and if I wasn't there.. well, she'll be pissed, rightly so. And. Judging by the smile on Master Ayesha's face, she fucking knows it! This.. bitch..
---
As soon as I get to the Sanctuary, I smile, spreading my arms out while standing on the beach like a moron. I stay there, basking in the Magic of my Island, my home, and then.
SLAM!
I get thrown to the ground, as a large body crashes into me, sending both of us into the sand. Spitting the sand out, I look up, and immediately widen my eyes after seeing an adult dragon preparing to dive at me once again.
"Oh, fuck me." I mumble, as soon as Mana, my indigo coloured dragon baby.. now so not a baby, slams into me once again, crushing me beneath her with her love.
~~I MISSED YOU, FATHER!~~ Mana screeches, as I groan in the pain of my bones breaking.
~~I missed you too, Mana. Could you.. get off of me, you're not as light as you used to be, you know?~~ I say, patting Mana on her neck, as my body heals back up.
Fuck me, I really messed up, didn't I? I've been gone from their lives for 3 whole years, I missed their entire growing phase. It was supposed to be a few days, to find the Sands of Time, but days turned into weeks, and now.. years.
I really should have visited here before leaving for Kamar Taj.
As Mana stands up, I smile up at her, my thoughts about missing her childhood gone. I'm here now, and that's what matters.
~~You've grown so big, Mana! So beautiful!~~ I whisper, putting my hand on her snout, when she pulls close to me.
And she has gotten big, bigger than her mother in any case. 60 feet tall, and around 100 feet long, Mana looked fairly similar to her mother, Durra. There were a few differences in shades, here and there, but she looks just as beautiful, just as majestic, as Durra.
Mana puffs up in pride, and says, ~~I am the biggest dragon, Father! Even Thymos is smaller than me!~~
I smile, enjoying being with my oldest girl once again, and ask, ~~Where are the others, may I ask?~~
Mana snorts, shooting a small whiff of flames out of her nose which I duck away from, and says, ~~Sorry, Father. They're all here, on Sanctuary. We've all claimed some caves for ourselves. Okniros and I live on that Mount over there, along with our clutch! Come, he will be happy to see you once again!~~
And then, Mana leans down, hinting at me to climb her back. I smile, purposefully dismissing the fact that Okniros and Mana apparently mated and already have a clutch of eggs, and jump on top of her back. They're dragons, magical beings, they're not exactly limited by Human morals, or hampered by even genetics. Inbreeding causes no harm in these magnificent creatures.
This is why even a single mating pair can revive an entire race without any detrimental effect to the descendants.
Well, time to meet the dragons once again.
---
I'd spent an entire day with my dragons, all of whom had become adults in these three years. Thymos and Zilevo were angry, believing that I'd abandoned them. Which.. I understood, and asked forgiveness for.
I explained my situation, the attack on me, and the split second decision that led to me being away from Sanctuary for these three years. And sure enough, we hugged it out leading to a lot more broken bones in my case.
Mana and Okniros's eggs were laid just a month or so ago, and neither of the rest had mated, or even paired up. Zilevo preferred to be alone, Thymos had burned Filotimo's face when he tried seducing her. As for Aplistia and Peinon, they usually travel the world together, looking for other Dragons to bring here. I was just lucky enough to catch them on their breaks.
Speaking of, the number of Magical creatures on my island had gone up to.. a lot. Aplistia and Peinon did manage to bring five more dragons here, a pair and their three children, and a couple of the Sea-serpents had settled down near the island, having come here by themselves.
Then there were the Yeti, Namean Lions, Cerebrus, the fucking Magical Mammoths, Diricrawls, Nifflers, Mokes, Firecrabs, and dozens of other Magical creatures that Kultur, or one of the other Elves had found all around the world.
And boy, did the Elves surprise me.
Kultur found them all around the world, only one of them having been freed a long time ago, the rest being recent. He offered them a place to work at, a place to actually enjoy working at, and they agreed to first see it. And they fucking stayed here!
I didn't bond them to myself, I didn't bond them to the Island. They did it themselves! They chose to work for the Island, they chose to not die just because they're now free!
I.. this has so many implications, but I'm going to think this through before making any decisions.
I'd divided the duties a bit, now, happy that they're happy. Kultur still traveled around the world, to find more freed elves. Only now, he was joined by a young female elf named Soni, whose duty it was to find Magical plants.
Another young elf named Banu looked after the Greenhouses, together with the old elf, Holar. The remaining three elves were focused on looking after the Island, taking care of the animals and plants.
I should really use my Egyptian Warding knowledge and improve the Protective Wards around here. This place is going to be a beacon for the Magical creatures, I can feel it. The name, Sanctuary, was just pulling creatures to it one after another.
And I don't want any Wizard, Demon, God, Witch, or Sorcerer to mess with it.
Bringing my staff out of Nowhere, for the first time in three years, I sit down and get right down to it. Time to make the Island the most secure place on Earth.
---
SLAP!
"I deserved that." I say, putting my hand on my cheek as soon as Tatiana slaps me.
She then grabs my shirt, and pulls me into a hungry kiss. I return the kiss hungrily, having missed her a lot. We haven't met for over four years, three of which I didn't even remember her. So, yeah. I missed her.
"I deserved this too." I say, smirking at the painting Tatiana's eyes, once we separate from the kiss.
Tatiana rests her head on my chest, and says, "I missed you, you idiot!"
Putting my cheek on her head, I sigh, and say, "I missed you too, Tatiana. Gods, I missed you a lot."
"I needed you, and you went and locked away your memories. And what's with the new face, new name?" Tatiana asks, a bit of her anger seeping back in.
Lifting her up, I place her on my legs, hugging her tightly. We were sitting in my room, in Kamar Taj. She had just been shown in to my room, and had slapped me, and then kissed me immediately after.
"I know, and I'm sorry you had to go through it alone. As for my face.. it is a Magical gift of mine, I'm a Metamorphmagus. A Shape shifter, so to speak." I say, running my hands through her short hair.
Gods, I really did miss her.
"Is Atharva your real name? Is Athreos?" Tatiana asks, looking up to stare right in my eyes.
"No.." I whisper, not lying to her. She is someone I.. adore.. with all my heart, and I know she feels the same. She just doesn't want to stay in one spot, thanks to her harsh life. And she deserves my trust.
Smiling, I claim her lips in another small, intense kiss, and then say, "My real name.. the one I was born with.. is Mason Aves. But you can call me Athreos, it is what this face means to me, and it is what you know me as."
Tatiana frowns, shifting her position a little so she's now sitting with her legs locked behind me, and asks, "What kind of name is Mason? Who names someone after a profession of breaking rocks? That's like naming someone Archer, Baker, Potter, Hunter, Fisher or Tailor!"
I snort, leading on to a chuckle. Boy, if she ever realises that all these names actually do exist, if not for first names, then last, then she's going to be so pissed.
Smiling up at her, I say, "My mother named me Mason, but unfortunately I never got to ask her why she named me that. She died right after giving birth to me."
Tatiana's face falls, as soon as I say that. I kiss her lips once again, and say, "Don't apologize, you didn't know."
Tatiana sighs, and asks, "So.. where are you from? Where are you actually from?"
"You won't believe me if I tell you the answer to that question, Tatiana." I whisper, combing my fingers through her hair, while my left hand was moving my fingers on her hip, in slow, gentle motions.
Tatiana closes her eyes, enjoying it all, and says, "I still want to know. I know you won't lie to me, you like me too much to do that."
I smile, and go a bit closer towards her, my mouth near her neck. Blowing out a soft wind through my mouth, I kiss Tatiana once, and then take my mouth towards her ear. Biting her ear gently, I smile when Tatiana moans, and then say, "I come from a land called England.. almost 2000 years into the future."
With a snap, Tatiana pulls away, her hands still around my neck. She stares at me for a few seconds, wide eyed, and open mouthed. Finally, around 10 seconds after pulling away, she whispers, "You're serious?"
I nod, and pull her towards me once more. "I'd already said that some of my secrets will remain secrets, but this is one secret you deserve to know. I had an accident while fighting a Dark Lord in my own time. An artefact I had created for myself allowed me to travel up to a month in time, either backwards or forward. It.. exploded during the fight, and the explosion brought me here, to your time."
"Why didn't you go back?" Tatiana whispers, looking concerned, as she holds my face in her hands.
Smiling sadly, I say, "My artefact was created using something called the Sands of Time, which.. didn't exist until 3 years ago, and it still isn't viable to be turned into my Artefact. I'm stuck here for at least 7 more years."
"So.. you might leave for your own time after 7 years?" Tatiana asks, and I see her face lock up.
I shake my head with a sigh, and say, "It's not simple as that. While I do want to go back, back to me own time, to my friends, my people.. I.. I've enjoyed being here. I got to learn at the Library of Alexandria, I met you, I have already rescued two species from extinction, and I got to learn Sorcery.. with an actual teacher this time."
I look up at Tatiana, and say, "I'm not sure I'm leaving this early, Tatiana. Maybe in a few centuries, once I'm sure my Sanctuary is running smoothly without any input from me."
Tatiana smiles widely, and slams her lips into mine, kissing intensely. As we separate after a minute, she whispers, "I.. I love you, Athreos."
I pull her tighter towards me, breathing in her scent. I look into her dark brown eyes, her love for me plainly visible there, and say, "I love you too, Tatiana."
Smiling, I turn around and drop her back on my bed, her legs still locked around me. I kiss her once again, this time grinding her. But then, she suddenly stops kissing, and looks up at me with a frown.
My heart skips a beat, did I do something wrong? Should I not have said I loved her? Is it too soon?
"What was that about a Sanctuary?" Tatiana asks, bringing me out of my anxiety inducing thoughts.
I sigh in relief, and chuckle. Gods, I really do love her. I go back to kissing her, my hand in between her legs, and say, "I'll take you there later.. but first.. let's get back to business."
"Ahem." Hearing the sound of a throat being cleard, I look back, more than a bit annoyed, still holding my hands exactly where they are.
There stood Master Ayesha, at the door, looking at us both staring at her with annoyance clearly visible on our faces. She sighs, and says, "Come to my office, Master Joshi. We have a lot to discuss."
And then, she leaves.
Fucking Bitch.
With a lot of reluctance, I get up, and say, "Sorry about that, Tatiana. We'll continue later?"
Tatiana nods, still annoyed at Master Ayesha cockblocking us, and then I start walking towards the office of the Sorceress Supreme, with Tatiana preferring to wait in my room.
---
"You must be wondering why I called you here." Master Ayesha says, making me internally snort. Could she be any more cliche? "Master Atharva, now that you're a proper Master Sorcerer, I want you to guard the Britannia Sanctum." She says, making me blink.
"Huh?" I ask, eloquently. "Doesn't the Britannia Sanctum already have a Master? Master Murgiel, I believe."
Master Ayesha nods, and says, "Yes, but she was.. a temporary replacement. As you know, the previous Master of the Sanctum, Master Veronica, may Osiris rest her soul, died in the previous War against Dormmamu's Mindless Ones."
I did know that. Dormammu had Mind controlled a Sorcerer to summon hundreds of his Mindless ones on Earth, and tried to use them to destroy the three Sanctums four years ago, when I was busy on Sanctuary. The battle lasted a couple days, and the number of Masters in Kamar Taj had been halved at the end of it, which included Master Veronica, a Roman Sorceress and the Master of the Britannia Sanctum.
And then, Master Murgiel, a Gaelic Sorceress had been placed there as her replacement.
Nodding, Master Ayesha says, "Master Murgiel, while an extraordinary Sorceress, only agreed to guard the Sanctum for a few years at most. Unlike most, she still has a family back home, and she has been away from them for these years. I always intended to make you the replacement Master of the Britannia Sanctum, whenever you passed your evaluation. And now.. it is time. Besides, you owe me."
This fucking bitch. She's smiling, as if she knows exactly what I'm thinking.
"You thought those chores you had me do are free? If so, you're even more naive than I thought." She says, smiling wide.
Sighing, I say, "Very well. I will guard the Britannia Sanctum for a few years."
Ayesha nods, accepting that, and says, "I won't prevent you from going away every once in a while, just like I don't prevent Master Murgiel from going back home. But, I don't want you leaving the Sanctum unprotected for more than a day at a time."
I nod, already making plans of applying some Wards into the barriers of the Sanctum. I then ask, "Is there anything else you require of me, Sorceress Supreme?"
"Yes, actually. I was going to offer Tatiana a chance to learn Sorcery, and I wanted to get your opinion on it beforehand." Master Ayesha says, making me raise my eyebrows.
This.. is interesting.
I close my eyes, to actually think on this. I can't just say no, it is not my decision to make.
"Tatiana is.. proud, but she's also a survivor. She likes to learn Magic, but I doubt she still wants to stay in one place and learn. And there's no way that Tatiana will not return to travelling once her training is complete. She will help out if need be, but she won't stay here. But, I would still prefer if you ask her this without taking my opinion into consideration." I say, giving my honest opinion in this regard.
While I would like nothing more than to convince Tatiana that learning is good for her, or convince Ayesha that Tatiana needs to be kept away from the Sorcerers' Extradimensional troubles, either of which is fine by me, this is something Tatiana needs to decide on her own.
Nodding, Master Ayesha says, "Very well. You may leave now. Take a month off to recover from your Memory recovery, Master Joshi. I will visit your Sanctuary when its time for you to take your place as the Master of the Britannia Sanctum."
Nodding, I bow a bit, and walk out. I have a lady to please, and an Island to introduce her to.
---
A/N: Tada! Tatiana and Mason just confessed their love for each other! Does it feel rushed? Or is it alright, considering the Era.
Okay, brace yourselves for frequent time skips now, because they're going to happen a lot. There's not a lot of big plot that I've planned for the next few chapters, small plots, sure. There's still a few Rituals I'm hoping to take him through. Although they might not happen on screen, or even this soon.
Thank you for your support! Tata!
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