The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania 3)

I was about to leave when something caught my eye.

I stopped, unsure of what to do.

Morgan was gone.

So they would be mine now. I didn’t even know how Myrin’s came to be here. Probably Randall’s doing.

I didn’t want them.

But I thought I needed them anyway.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I made up my mind.

The pack was heavier with the Grimoires inside.

I shut the door to the labs behind me.

Epilogue: A Decision Made

ONCE UPON a time in the Kingdom of Verania, there was a kickass boy born in the slums of the City of Lockes. His parents were hardworking, and at times life could be difficult, but they were alive and had all their teeth. Which was very important.

This boy, this somewhat strange and lonely boy, would grow up and give his lightning-struck heart away to a brave and beautiful knight.

After a series of wacky misadventures, they fell in love and things were good.

Then darkness came.

And the boy made a decision.

Because, you see, this boy had a destiny of dragons written in the stars by the very gods themselves. It was said that he would need to collect the five dragons of Verania in order to combat the darkness that rose in the shadows.

The boy did his best.

In the end, even his best wasn’t good enough.

He was warned it would hurt when it came.

That it would burn like no other.

And still he hadn’t prepared himself.

His lightning-struck heart felt cleaved in two.

But the choice he made next was not born of grief and anger, as they sometimes are.

No, the strange and somewhat lonely boy made his decision because the world was so much bigger than his grief. Than his anger.

If he let it go, if he let the darkness rise, then the people of his country would know exactly how he felt.

And he wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

And so he waited until late into the night, when the moon was high and the stars were bright. He hoisted a pack over his shoulder and slipped out of his room, shutting the door behind him.

Two notes were left on the desk.

One was addressed to Gary, Tiggy, Kevin, Justin, the King, Mom, Dad, Pete, and anyone else who might read this.

It said: