Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 429: Vasir (1)

The candles flicked in the libraries and one of them flickered out. Arial orders the servants to bring more candles and shut the windows off and bring some tea to the library.

A moment later the tea arrived and Arial sit down again and offer Mikael a drink. They both take a sip of the Arrandian tea, not saying anything while Arial just wait. 

Finishing his cup of tea, once again Mikael got up and then he began his story.

'I once met a Sage in Ariundus living high atop a mountain in a small hut. It was a bizarre scene if you could see it. The hut was high atop the mountains, almost like the Sage live on top of clouds. I came to that place in search of Asrana story. Mind you, this is long before you ask of me about Asrana. The reason was because I found Asrana name in certain ancient scrolls and it keep appearing in many ancient artifacts or books and my curiosity peaked and then I set out on journey to find it and I ended up in Ariundus.'

Arial nodded and he takes another sip of coffee. He doesn't understand what this have to do with Vasir yet he listens.

'And I arrived in this mountainous area. There is some kind of village there and they all seek spiritual guidance from someone called the Sage. My research then leads me to the Sage.'

'How is he, this Sage?' Arial asked.

'He is paralyzed waist down.' Mikael reply.

'He was bald and skinny yet there is this energy that swirls around him and he sat always near the right corner of his hut, never getting up. I then ask of him of Asrana and Vasir. But he then told me his story. I listened.'

'Another story?' Arial asked rolling his eyes.

'I said to you didn't I? It is a long story.'

'Fine, tell me the story then' Arial said giving up.

'The Sage told me in his youth he followed his lords into war and as luck would have it, the day before the war, he rides his horse and suddenly his horse threw him back to a jagged stone, cracking his spine. He was a noble son, this Sage. For months he lay on his bed. All healers were called from the region of his family yet no one could do anything for him. One day he is determine to pursue scholarly pursuit since he could not prove his worth at the battlefield he will train his mind and become someone that could contribute to his house in another way.'

'This Sage is filial' Arial said nodding in satisfaction.

'Yes. You could say so. But to study he needs something more than his father wealth. For this he needed calmness. There are many he wanted to do, but none he could achieve. For his house he decided to go to war and bring honor to his family. At this he failed and not only he failed he becomes a cripple yet his family did not abandon him. One could imagine his gratitude towards his father and mother. It is because of this he decided to contribute in another way.'

'Admirable' Arial said sipping another sip of the wine and Mikael resumes the story.

'There is a mountain behind his house. Seeing this mountain, he believes if he is to train his mind there, he would gain enlightenment. The rain is not everlasting, after winter there is spring. And luck strikes again. A Sage from a Cave appear in front of his father the day before he is sent to the House in the Mountains and give his father an ancient healing technique. So, his father made him a house on top of the mountains as his request so he could study ancient healing technique. For years he trained in that house yet there in no improvement whatsoever. One day he notices a hole in one of the rocks near his house.'

'One day?' Arial said incredulous.

'Years and years and he finally notice a hole. All those years why didn't he see it?

'Hahaha. Amazing isn't it? Maybe it wasn't his time to see it' Mikael said cryptically.

'Illogical more like it. Anyway continue the story.' Arial said and Mikael nodded.

'Thank you, Arial. The Sage then crawls and crawls until he peers into that hole and discover a latch that when pushed revealed to him a cave. In that cave was a fountain of unearthly beauty, the waters are golden, the air was rejuvenating, with every breath the Sage took his body swirls with energy. Curious and believing that the fountains is medicinal he bathed in it aided by his servants. The moment he emerges from the fountain his body heals itself, no longer is he paralyzed. And not only that his face become as it is when he was a youth.'

'That isunbelievable and miraculous.' Arial said as he put down his teacup in shock.

A fountain of youth! Arial mused. 

'What treasure!' Arial said. 

'The Sage struck gold meditating in that Mountain for years.' Arial said in his excitement.

'Yes, the same thought that runs in the mind of his family when he told the story. But the Sage then told of a harrowing story to me'

Sighing, Mikael said 

'How his kind brother blinded by greed and promise of the fountains abilities changed his older brother as his brother tried to cheat him out of that Cave, of where his father die protecting him and of the day where hundreds of people die trying to get that cave for themselves, slaughtering all of his family. The Sage sees all this from his house when hundreds of people are running to reach the top of the mountains, no doubt chasing for the miraculous power of the Fountain. Now convinced that he has brought this calamity upon his family, he lost all hope. He then jumped from the top of the mountain. What do you think happen to him Arial?'