A Good Man 4

A Good Man 4
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Tom could only stare his mouth hanging open. “Your daughter? 500 years?”
“Yes,” Azel said, “you haven’t realized just how long we live have you Tom?”
“Well, I knew from Frilly that many lived a long time but you… and she… how…?” Tom started.
Laughing Azel replied, “I’ll try to explain. You see, mages barring injuries or total depletion of their
energy can live 3-5 thousand years at prersent I am only 3000 I am the youngest on the council. My mate and I were
young, we were only 1200 at the time we were allowed to have her.”


“That’s considered young? damn, wait you were allowed? What the hell does that mean?” asked a confused Tom.
“The birth of a mage has to be approved by the council of all magical beings. Most mages live in the human world
live a life with a regular person, hell they even have children. These children are called malfs or worse Halflings,
not a very good label. Most often they don’t develop magic even though one parent was a mage. As little as 1% develop,
like the 14 year old you found the other day,” Azel stopped a moment.
“So are they treated badly?” asked Tom


“No, not badly but their powers aren’t as strong and develop at a much slower rate, therefore they don’t
often make freinds and see many pass them. I remember a reverse case 75 years ago. Very unsual, 2 mages were granted
permission and had a child, when tested, she showed no sign of powers. They had such high hopes for her but after a
year there was no sign at all. They placed her with relatives to raise her, watching her for years. About 50 years
ago Malamon began actively killing magical beings again, unfortunatly they were the only ones who knew where she was,
so all contact was lost when they died. We were concerned as she was only the second born in 5000 years so as you can
see it is extremely rare,” Azel said lost within his thoughts.


“So, these reverse cases they never develop powers? Did they know their parents?” asked Tom
Shaking his head no Azel continued, “No, in the two cases I know of, they never did. Though they did live much longer
than regular humans it’s only to 100 to 120, like the humans mages live with, their memories are erased and a new life
is inserted, so you see she never knew what she was. Yes, I know you think it’s cruel but believe me it’s alot
kinder than letting them know, it’s bad enough when we watch them die. As far as I know she was the first that
contact with was lost.”


“Ok, ok, so tell me about Myria,” asked Tom, “why did she pull away when I tried to heal her?”
“Well,” started Azel, “If she is a captive of Malamon, then the pain you felt could be helping her, she might
feel that no one can heal her, there are a number of things that could influence her decision,” sighing Azel
looked down, “she was always independent, taking on the world. The council advised her not to take action
against Malamon, we thought at the time she had listened to us. Later we found that right before she disappeared,
there had been many disturbances nearby a known locale of Malamon. This was the basis of our decision that she had
been killed.”


Sighing Tom stood, “I’ll let you know if I find out anything more.” With that Tom lifted Frilly and
was gone. Now that Frilly was healed he was more at ease, laying her in her small bed Tom went to sit on his
couch again. Watching her sleep Tom thought of Myria again, he knew she was in trouble she had to be if Malamon
had held her captive for 500 years. Tom thought of Azel’s words that she was the strongest mage to ever sit
on the mage council let alone lead it. That might be why she went after Malamon, even in his weakened state
though, Tom felt that Myria wouldn’t have been much of a match.


Trying to not think of her capture, Tom knew that there was some way he could help her but
it seemed to escape him. Not realising that the events had taken a toll on him, Tom fell asleep within
minutes of sitting. Again floating in the gray mist this time Tom thought I’d be ready. Myria appeared
moments later, a most welcome sight.
“I tried to find you but you weren’t anywhere in his building,” Tom said feeling ashamed hanging his
head, “I looked everywhere, I had Malamon, I even removed one of his powers but I couldn’t find you,” fresh
tears fell from his eyes as Myria’s grew wide. Myria then smiled at him. Tom’s head jerked up as the familiar
feeling rapidly flew up his body to his ribs. “You’re healing me, I know I have alot of pain but so do you
I saw your father today and told him, he is glad you are still alive,” again her eyes flew wide and she shook
her head yes.


The feeling was now almost at his shoulders his thoughts clearer than he had ever known them to be.
Myria floated closer just out of reach the feeling now at his shoulders he felt more than before, he could
sense that Myria was indeed in a type of prison but it felt different, very strange.