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[Neo]

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As Neo dressed for the wedding, the burning in his head was not only that of copious amounts of Rum, but the uneasiness that came about him, his thoughts in a jumble. His mind slowly cleared, remembering slowly the pungent taste of rum, the amounts of which was quite hefty, the music playing in the background, and the young woman, a dancer of spectacular beauty and youth. Her body moving, unflawed, mysterious, and hypnotic; its rhythm to the music, Neo could not help but be in awe. His eyes felled heavy; then the fading of the room, laughter, and hoots in the background. The ray of light, pierced through the curtain, as morning ebbed into afternoon. Neo awoke, as his eyes peered through the dimly lit room, the sign on the wall gave all indication he was in Vesper an inn of sorts, the room was empty, and all that was left in the empty space of the bed was a rose, that the dancer had in her hair. Neo studied and smelled the five-pedaled rose. It was at this time, Neo realized the gravity of what happened. There was no need to worry; Lorna knew nothing of what happened, she had prepared, for this day, and knew he was out, having a last round of freedom. The girl had gone, and she left him the rose, so that he would remember his last night, or maybe of her,” he thought. As long as he was his usual self, Lorna would not know. There was a hint of doubt though in his mind, could my heart and spirit be so weakened, by that of lust. As the hours ticked by, and the time grew near. Neo made his way to Cat Lyxen’s home, she had amiably let be location of the ceremony. Climbing the steps to the upper floors, there was a knot in his stomach as he sensed someone familiar, no wait, someone whom, he knew.

Peering across the room, he could see the guests, talking and smiling at each other. They all seemed to be having fun. “We there you are” said a familiar voice, Neo looked to his right, to see Lady Genna, “You really look nice,” Said Lady Genna. Neo smiled and said, “I’m glad I’m on time, instead of my usual tardiness.” Neo looked through the room, and saw his best men Noah Hartford and Elric Wiseheart, much to his surprise King Sid of Yew, good friends Tinkerbelle and Jaynus Kawubara, a young well-wisher in the front row, oddly familiar and in the back, Stunned Neo eyes lay upon the Dancer. “I wonder why she is here,” he thinks to himself. “There’s he is,” exclaimed Noah, his speech in a slur. “There is still time for you to run,” Noah whispered half jokingly. Neo replied, “I am here, I am glad you are here to help, old friend,” to which Noah gave an understanding nod. “I still say though you are too good to me,” says Noah. “Why you say that,” replied Neo. “Well, you take one woman, so that I may have the rest of them,” they both laughed, Genna cleared her throat, “Men Oyie,” it is time.

Gracefully she walked down the isle; Neo was amazed at her gracefulness, even which child. “Simply beautiful,” he thought, noticing the fine detail in the wedding dress, how it formed to her body. The love in her eyes, piercing his spirit, “How could he have done what he did to this innocent woman, how was he capable of such a lack of compassion, the very Virtue he breathed.” As they stood there, Genna’s homily, though it traveled through his mentality, he could not help but since a bit of tension in the extent. There he was, everyone staring at him, with Lorna and Genna looking at him, his mouth stuck, no word would flow from his throat, it felt dry, like he had a mouthful of cookies, with no milk to wash it down.. Then in the silence, the voice made Neo’s heart almost stop. “I love him, he is the one for me,” said the dancer. Neo, who stood frozen, could feel the anger in Lorna, there was an uneasy energy in the extent. The dancer ran by, Neo not thinking ran after her, and went down the steps a questions in his mind, was burning, “I will kill him, I WILL KILL HIM,” Lorna screamed. However, Neo did not hear her words.

Trying to talk to the young woman, whom had retreated to a room next to the stairs. Neo sensed Lorna near, as he stepped in front of the woman, not wanting her to be harmed do to his imprudence. The door flung open, with a force of no other. Vengeance was all he saw in her eyes, as Lorna focused all her magical might, her hands aimed for him, “Kal Vas Vlam,” pain, heat ripped at his flesh, he staggered, but could he blame her, was just a bit of pain, his clothes fell on the floor as ashes, a pain on his chest. “Kal Vas Vlam,” terror raced through him, frozen in disbelief, “She means to kill me,” he fell to his knees, the smell of burnt flesh was evident, its pungent order, his flesh; made his stomach churn. He looked down, sees his flesh peeling from his skin, his body charred in places; but over his heart, for the first time a Symbol reveals itself. “Kal,” “What will happen to me,” “Vas,” anger is the way of all men, and Neo am no exception, “Vlam” As the flame erupted, Neo muttered, “Kill her,” What did I say, she has my child. It fell on no one’s ears, Darkness, confusion, and pain though it is not …

Spring, a glorious time in Moonglow nature magic flows bringing the essence of new life to Britiannia. Mages at the Lycaeum preparing parchments, making spell books for all the new apprentices they would have soon. Victor a scholar, and a scribe of great wisdom, sat at the entrance, keeping watch for possible danger. In the distance he saw a hooded figure walking toward the Lycaeum, as they got closer, he could tell it was a Yew Abbey Monk, “Quite strange,” he thought to himself. Watching as a monk walked to the stronghold carrying, something wrapped in cloth in his arms, it moved slightly, Victor saw the monks face, an old friend. “Hal” said an old mage, “What businesses have you, wander this far from your abbey.” The old monk removed the cloth, revealing a small child, asleep, “Victor, tough times have befallen the abbey, we are seeing more and more refugees, and the children we care for, and we are no longer able to care for them. I cannot let them be cold and hungry in the streets. Therefore, I am taking them to people whom I trust, teach them a trade, and earn their keep. This one has had a hard time, his mother came to us, she helped at the abbey but fell deathly ill. After her death, I spoke to a nun that had befriended her, in there conversations; she said that she was from an island that was lost to forces unknown. On the island was the City of Fawn I believe.” In addition, I do recall a city of such name on Serpents Isle. Victor nodded, and replied, “A city I have always known for scholars and clerics. How did a scholar or cleric have a child though, I thought it was not lawfully possible, for then to produce children, till they leave the city.” The two old men thought for a second, though they knew what must have happened. Hal then stated, “I felt powerful magic in his spirit, it is powerful, but with out proper training it would be useless. This is why I come here, to ask for you to give him a home with you.” Victor touches the child’s forehead, and then smiles, “You are correct, his spirit has the spark of Britannia. I think we may have use of him, The Guardians of Forever, is looking for an apprentice. He will be trained and learn their ways. Hal remarked, “But that is a hard life, he may not adapt to it, would he not be a better scribe, or a mage of this fortress.” Victor shook his head, “I do not have room for anymore, and does he have a name?” changing the subject. To which Hal replied, “His mom whispered labouredly, “A name he has not, this land, will be his new home, a new hope to the man that fathered him” her lips quivered, and forever stayed silent, the nun looking at the child, whom laid in her arms whispered, “A child of hope”, thus she named him Neo.” “Who was his…?

“Flames emerging from expansive wings, and eyes of fire, smell the brimstone, the Phoenix its power radiating. A figure of a man in its shadow, voice burning in my head.” I hear them speak, “Return, the living, no place here, return, live, do not let chaos snare your heart, the heart seeks acceptance, lust is temptation are of the flesh, you cannot resist the bodies will.” Who are you, thought Neo, “Someone whose time is short, I know you do not remember many things, made that way by the Mages of the Lycaeum, charms cast that was placed on you so you could learn, and weave magic from your spirit, the magic which was passed to you from me and your mother.” “I think I just had a memory of her,” thought Neo, “Yes Aroha, your mother, we both was students in the City of Fawn, long lost on Serpent Isle, I was to be a scholar in runeology, and your mother, healing was her study.” “We fell in love, though such was forbidden by students, in my attempt to explain to the Sages at the School, I had anger and I stabbed him, glad that I had secured our lives. Afterward I was arrested, beaten; legs were broken, and executed. Aroha in shame and pregnant, with my unborn child left, got on a boat to yew, to live and work at the abbey. She did not live long with a broken heart.” “ Is she here,” Neo asked, “Her spirit is where I cannot go, nor you at this time, her eternity is blissful one of peace, she died for you, a mothers love and last gift; life.” “My son you can not join me, I do not wish for you to be here in this emptiness, when your spirit has no more desires of the living, you may then see you mother, and talk to her.” “In this plane I exist, a spirit that should be long gone, this void of which you once resided in, when the Guardians of Forever cast your spirit here, I cared for you, as a father should a son. The anger and the chaos which poured from you, my heart sank at what Dark Magic, corrupted my son. However, I found the one thing that was still there, a spark of love. I help you learn compassion, and inscribed a rune near your heart to protect you.” “ But I have seen no marks on me,” stated Neo. “The seal is only visible when it is needed, when your body or spirit is harmed, it will heal you, but understand you can and will die someday, when its protection fades.” “When,” asked Neo, “If what you say is true, I am 100 years old, near the end of a human’s life, and in some cases past it.” “Who said you are completely human.” With them last words, the Phoenix let out a screech, and in a blaze of flame, the man and it was gone. “Neo, NEO!” “*GASP* Neo sat up, Elric Wiseheart, was tending to his wounds, the best he could, his flesh though tender from the scorching heat, was returning. “We though you were gone, Lord Neo. Lorna ran off, for a while no breath, came from you and then I saw your chest move.” Elric continued, “Your body, began to heal, I knew you we not dead. The magic from your spirit seems to have healed all your scars.” Neo looked down at his chest, the rune was gone. Looking up at Elric, “Lord Elric, the one that is scarred is Lorna, but that will heal in time.” “And of the child,” said Elric, Neo looked at him, “I could feel the child, I sensed his being, but I do not think his spirit will not be joining us in this world this time.” Elric solemnly nodded. Neo thought, “And when I join him, I will show him I am a great man.” The man of Compassion, his will reborn, Justice for all will prevail, the Phoenix will not fail.