Jason sat in the room, poring over the text he was reading. He had learned much of the Sons of Caesar over the course of the last month. Many of the books and tomes still sat there, collecting dust, but he had read others. The man leaned back, rolling his head around and popping a few joints as he stretched his arms. His mind traversed back through his memories, recalling everything that had happened in the past several weeks.
He found it amazing that everyone in his immediate circle of friends had come to terms with everything so well. He'd learned much about what it meant to be a Druid and about the power he commanded. Jason had also taken the time to teach Eva about what he'd learned. Though she was still hesitant about some things, she'd gotten the hang of them after a little practice.
They had both grown in their power and the array of magic they now commanded. Sheena had been instrumental in helping them reach said heights. Even though she was a Shaman, much of the teachings she had translated well into Druidic magic. They had both shared ideas and theories in expanding what they knew about Gaian magic and the other types that were out there.
They had also shared these ideas with the Fairies and Xaera, who was becoming a proper mage. Though her magic differed from the Gaian power the others had, it was still something that tied into what they knew. The theories and uses were similar, if more of a branching path in the same discipline. It was good to have allies like Xaera, along with everyone else who'd helped them.
Luke, Karla, Carlotta and even Elizabeth were now full believers in Gaia, as her power over all things living was clear. Luke was skeptical, but glad that he found something he could believe in, something that didn't require faith alone. Jason was sure that Karla had some say in what Luke believed, but knew that Luke was a man who made his own decisions.
Even though he couldn't wield Gaia's magic, he thought it was pretty fucking cool that his best friend had become a Druid. Sure, it wasn't like what they had displayed in some games he played, like World of Warcraft. But even so, some ideas and spells that had been shown in the video game and other forms of media were real. Jason fired a glance to some grimoires that lined the room, and he smiled.
The Druids and Shaman of ages past hadn't passed down their teachings as they should have. Though some of them had the foresight to write things down in journals, dairies and even spell books. He often wondered how the Sons of Caesar had acquired them, as many of them appeared to be ancient. Mulling on this thought brought him to reason they all of this in the first place, Darren.
Though the kid had been a self-righteous little shit, everyone had found out the truth. That he was this way because his father, Wayne, had forced his mind into that path of thinking, via the corrupted magic he had stolen from Eva. Darren would have died with his father and most of his chapter of the Sons, were it not for the magic he had.
Phalmina theorized that the magic had been gifted to the man because he came from Eva. Her power as a Druidess almost assured the fact that any children she bore would have a connection to Gaia. There was the off chance that they wouldn't have it, but her power levels made it a low possibility they wouldn't.
Darren had some connection to Gaia, but not enough to become a Druid or even a Shaman. The power he had enabled him to become a Guardian, much like the plant-like protectors of the glade. The big difference was that unlike them, Darren wasn't bound to any one place. He could defend any site sacred to Gaia, as long as it was in the defense of said site or a creature of Gaia.
Offensively, he was limited to whatever minor things that could allow him to knock around or distract any assailants. Going on the attack, as Jason and the fairies had, was out of the question for him. That didn't mean he was defenseless though, as his title suggested. The one thing he had on his side were defensive capabilities not too unlike the Obsidian skin spell Xaera had hit Jason with. Phalmina had even said that when he reached his full potential, he might even be a match for Jason.
It was a lot to take in, but after a while, everyone had come to the acceptance that Darren was now on their side. Even Elizabeth was OK with him, now that they'd come to an understanding about things. The amount of changes and surprises had been numerous, to say the least. The one which had caught everyone off guard was Amy.
Amy's power and access to magic was much higher than Darren's. So much so, that with the proper training, she could become a Shaman. Sheena had taken the young woman under wing, teaching her the basics of Shamanistic magic. Amy had been an apt pupil, devouring everything Sheena had taught her and hungered for more.
Sheena had to rein in her new apprentice as though magic was fun, it could also be dangerous. Used incorrectly, it could seriously injure the user if they weren't careful. There had been a couple of instances where a spell had gotten away from Amy and could have done some damage to the glade. Thankfully, Sheena or one of the fairies had been around to snuff the spell.
Since then, Amy had been obedient to Sheena's instruction, not wanting to risk another debacle. He was certain that Emalia also didn't want that to happen to her again. Sure, the experience might have been a novelty, but the fairy's inability to move cemented the spell's reversal. Sheena had since teased the poor girl about it now and then, but mostly as a reminder of things that could happen, when you were untrained in the way of magic.
Jason had a bit of a snafu when it came to dealing with the vow he and Amy had exchanged. The vow, while strong, was malleable in some ways. While he and Amy still shared a strong bond, they learned such bonds could be bent and even shifted. Though he and Amy had some fun, Jason's heart belonged to Sheena.
Amy was surprisingly relaxed about the whole matter. Though the bond and the sex they enjoyed was fun, she knew they were a temporary thing. She saw the way Jason looked at Sheena and how he looked at her and knew true love when she saw it. With Sheena's and Phalmina's help through the use of a complex ritual, they shifted the bond to Elizabeth, who was overjoyed at what they had given her.
When they were finished, they found that some remnant of it still lingered, due to the collective bond they all shared. It was then that Jason learned of the various depths of such unions and how strong they were. What Jason and Amy shared that night together was more of a surface link of two people in need. While the need was strong, there were stronger levels of such a bond.
Afterwards, Sheena and Jason performed their own bonding ceremony, which was something far deeper than Jason had ever experienced. Because of their love for each other, the bond Sheena and Jason now shared was far more than either had imagined. While they weren't fated, as Darren and Daelina had been, the strength of their love for one another was just as powerful.
Jason smiled when he thought of the beautiful Shaman, the woman who had been dear to him once and was again. She had become his girlfriend again and more, both wanting and needing him. He smirked when he thought of just how much catching up they had gone through over the last month. She had been very... vocal in her needs and desires, which he appreciated.
It was almost as though she had never left, which Jason found oddly refreshing. He sighed and thought about the last week, where he'd been busy making her squirm in delight. Jason grinned at that memory and hoped that he'd make more like that one soon. As his mind drifted to kinky things, he wondered how Amy and Elizabeth were getting on.
Those two women had been nearly inseparable since that night at the mansion. They'd entered into a relationship with each other, which was a bit of a surprise. Mostly for Eva, who didn't know that Amy had even liked girls like that. That they were almost always grinning like goofs said a lot about how often they were... physical with each other.
Jason took another breath before he thought it would be a good time to call it a day. He'd been poring over this book for hours, and though he'd learned a lot, he had to pace himself. He'd learned a lot from the writings and journals from the ancient Druids and Shaman, but now, he had time. There was much that needed to be absorbed, but Jason remembered Rome wasn't built in a day.
"Should probably get something to eat," Jason said to himself as he stood and stretched. He heard a familiar tinkling on the air and smiled, as he knew what that sound heralded.
"Been here long Mina?" Jason wondered as he closed the book he was reading, after marking the page he was on.
"Long enough to know that you need a break. Learn anything interesting?" Phalmina asked as she perched on Jason's shoulder.
"A lot, actually. Most of which was how the Sons of Caesar got started in the first place," Jason remarked, as he picked up several books and stuffed them into a satchel.
"Oh? Please tell me! I'd like to know!" the fairy woman asked, as she watched Jason place the satchel strap on his shoulder, walking out of the room with it.
