The Attack of Ganhai Mountain by Jason Richard (fox in socks read aloud txt) 📕

"He will die in a year. There's nothing we can do."
Leevan's heart sank further. He looked at Normir, who smiled faintly up at him.
"Don't worry Leevan," said Normir. "I may not have time left, but I can spend that time with friends."
Leevan didn't know what to say, but he smiled weakly back. Spending time with friends was a good thing. A very good thing.

That year passed happily, for the most part. Normir spent half his time with Leevan, and half his time repairing the relationship between the cyclopses and the rest of the world. When word of his condition got out, sympathy for him helped speed up repairs, so that within a year he had accomplished his goal. The cyclopses and the rest of the world were friends again.
However, he spend his final moments not with any nation, but with his family, and his friend Leevan. His family, a group of cyclopses, all cried, and so did Leevan. They were in Normir's metal house, filled with exquisitely crafted metal furniture. A beautiful place for so sad an event. Normir lay in his bed, a metal framed bed with a mattress and pillow that were fluffy, despite being woven out of metal, and he smiled. He was sweating, and he looked sickly, but he smiled all the same.
"It's not fair," said Leevan. "I only knew you for a short time."
"But it was time well spent," said Normir. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I may die here, but my work will live on. I'm just sorry I couldn't be at you're wedding."
"Think nothing of it," said Leevan, choking up.
"Goodbye, dear friend. Thank you for everything."
Leevan bowed his head and looked up, but Normir had closed his eyes. He was gone.
"Goodbye," said Leevan. "And thank you."

In a wide open field, Leevan walked with his bride to be between the two groups of people. Their families and friends had gathered together to watch their marriage. Leevan looked over at his betrothed. As usual, she was radiant.
They reached the end, where the parents of the bride and groom waited for them. As was tradition in their land, the parents would cover the marriage proceedings. Leevan looked at the love of his life and smiled at her. She said, "Are you ready Leevan?"
"Always, Jaxia."
She smiled. Now that the war was over, Leevan thought, she had stopped being scary. Now, whenever she looked at him, she was, indeed, radiant.
From the crowd, as the parents of the couple began the ceremony, Kemra started to cry. General Hevman next to her said, "Kemra, this is a happy occasion."
"I know," said Kemra. "I know. I'm just so happy for them." Even as she cried, she smiled.
"Of course," said the general. "I've never thought of Jaxia as the marrying type, and if Leevan married anyone, I always thought it would be you."
Kemra laughed. "Me? Oh don't be silly."
The general didn't comment, but returned his attention to the couple. By the end of the day, Leevan was a married man.

After that, Leevan became one of the most sought after magicians ever. He was a master of invisibility. His living conditions improved dramatically, and he was no longer a pauper magician. His clothes never got any more handsome, but since his spell required something ugly to hide he didn't mind, but wore his ugly brown cloaks proudly! Of course, he found cloaks that were significantly less itchy, when he wasn't wearing his armor given to him by Normir, a friend he never forgot.
Magicians stopped wearing bright and colorful cloaks, and took the humbler brown ones that Leevan generally wore. Bright colors eventually became a symbol of vanity, and the strange thing was it was Maelin who first suggested that. Maelin and Leevan never truly became friends, but when he died of the old age Hurvun had struck him with Leevan did pay respects at his funeral.
General Hevman became quite renowned, and advanced well until his retirement, where he spent the rest of his days with his own family. Kemra got married to a nice man, who had to be approved by Jaxia first, which was no easy task. He barely managed to do it, and might not have if Leevan and Kemra hadn't gotten Jaxia to promise not to make people cry. In the end, Kemra and her husband lived a long and happy life, and she was a respected magician in her own right.
Leevan and Jaxia also lived long and happy lives, and Leevan was remembered as a great magician. He visited Normir's grave often, but with that hint of sadness came some happiness at memories of his friend. Leevan, therefore, was happy to the end of his days with his family.
Not bad for someone who could only get his spell to work on rocks at first.

The
End

If you like this story, check out more of the author's work at www.theworldoftheagelessone.com

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Publication Date: 09-05-2011

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