Master Novice - Epilogue II

Two years later.

Miudesu stirred. He hadn't been sleeping - devas don't sleep - but he had been in a state of dimmed awareness. His shackles had a powerful enchantment that kept him from using his powers, and as a result, his mind was dulled.

If anyone had asked, Miudesu would have stated that he didn't know how long he had been kept prisoner by the mortal mages, but in truth, he knew exactly how long: 12,272 days, 17 hours, 26 minutes, and an ever-increasing handful of seconds - or in mortal terms, just over 33 years and 7 months - the blink of an eye to an immortal, and yet an eternity. It was a good thing that he required no food or water, as he had not seen any of his captors in almost five years.

But now, something was drawing his attention away from his usual meditation. He let his mind drift up to full consciousness, and realized that someone was about to enter into the laboratory he was held in. But more importantly, that someone appeared to be one of his kind. Perhaps his absence had already been noticed and some sort of rescue attempt was to take place...

A portal opened in the floor, flooding the unlit laboratory with the true essence of light, and two figures entered. One was indeed a member of his own race, while the other was an extremely aged mortal leaning heavily on a staff, easily the shortest adult human Miudesu had ever seen.

He wanted so desperately to be free of the accursed chains, yet they sapped his will and energy so that he could not speak or struggle. He merely observed.

The mortal spoke. "We have finally found him, my child."

The other deva approached. Miudesu noted that it was a relatively newly formed female. She studied his shackles, then turned to the mortal and said, "I can't open these, Grampa."

Grampa? Devas have no relationship to each other, let alone mortals...

The human approached and studied the chains for a moment. "Hmm... yes, there is an entrapment spell on these, plus a number of other spells... If nothing else, your grandfather was very efficient about such things."

The human gestured in the air for a moment and uttered some arcane syllables, and Miudesu felt the enchantments on his chains shatter. He found his voice, weak though it was. "Help me. I am too weak to free myself."

The female reached forth and tore the chains from him. Freed from the constant restraint of the chains and shackles, he found he couldn't support himself, and collapsed, right into the arms of the female.

"Grampa! Is he alright?"

"Ask him yourself, Aurora - you heard him speak."

Aurora - a human name...

Miudesu could feel his strength rapidly returning. He untangled himself from Aurora and then stretched his entire body, extending his wings to their full span. Regaining his composure, he said, "Thank you. It has been quite some time since I could do that."

The human sighed. "I'm sorry that I couldn't free you decades ago, or prevent you from ever being captured, but to do so may have led to battle with Venger and his daughter."

Miudesu nodded, using the human gesture as if it were natural. "That would have been bad - either one alone was extremely powerful, but together they were nearly unstoppable."

Aurora said, "And yet, I stopped them."

Miudesu considered for a moment. "I cannot imagine how, for if they were together, the magicks they had at their disposal were nearly unthinkable - more than a match for our kind."

The human said, "Look into her, deva. See her nature, and know the answer."

Miudesu was mildly surprised that the human knew so much about a deva's powers, but he did as suggested, looking deep into Aurora's being. Immediately, everything was clear - a being part angel and part demon, both sides tempered and yet enhanced by traces of elf and human and other races - and her lineage was also clear. "My... daughter...? But devas cannot have... children. It is not physically possible. We are not designed for such... things."

"And yet, here I am, Father," said Aurora.

Miudesu looked into her eyes and saw tears, another un-deva-like trait. He reached up and wiped them away. "An angel that cries... paradise may never be the same." He turned to the mortal. "She called you 'Grampa' - who are you?"

"I have had many names. The one that fits the best right now really is 'Grampa,' though I am actually her great-grandfather."

Miudesu nodded. "I understand, but my question is, who are you that knows so much of the nature of angels?"

The old man smiled. "Unfortunately, I also know much of the nature of demons."

Glancing at Aurora, Miudesu nodded and said, "I see. But my question...?"

The human nodded and replied, "Yes... your question." He turned to Aurora and said, "At this point, our paths must diverge, my child. It is my place, my destiny if you will, to remain in the Realms, and yours to wander the planes at will. Think kindly of me once in a while."

Aurora knelt and embraced the old man. "Thank you for everything, Grampa. Without you, I couldn't have found my father."

The old man hugged her back, saying, "You are welcome, child, though I think you underestimate your own abilities. All I did was show you the path."

Releasing Aurora, he stepped back and began to cast a spell. A portal opened behind him, and as he turned to go, he paused and said, "To answer your question, deva, I am the guardian of the Realms, doing my best to keep evil out. I am just an old, tired man, and I am the Realms' most powerful mage. But those who know me, know me simply as...

"Dungeon Master."