Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,35

and the moments filling its days are riddled with magical disasters. It’ll be difficult for the Collective to sense our son’s presence in such a place.”

Lasidious thought a moment longer about the Book of Immortality. “The more I think about it, the witches are acceptable ... for now. But we should keep our options open.” Facing his goddess, the Mischievous One added, “I’m so glad you were of elven descent before you ascended, or our son would not have the features necessary to live on Luvelles.”

Fellow soul ... Luvelles was a world where only elves, halflings, and spirits were allowed to reside according to the Agreement of the Gods. Any other race, if not one of these three, had to have special permission from the Head Master of Luvelles, Brayson Id, to study the arts on this world. Yes, there were beasts, giants, demons, and other beings living there, but these races were not listed on the agreement. The gods had separated and applied rules as to where each of the following races lived: elves, humans, barbarians, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, trolls, spirits, and finally, the dragons. There was also another name for the dragons that I shall describe in further detail later, but this is not the proper series of moments for this revelation.

Only four of the five planets created were allowed to contain more than one of these designated races. Every other creature could quite possibly be found on them all—though the highest concentration of demons was found on Dragonia, and many of them were good and honest beings.

“Your elven parents blessed us with the ability to make the perfect, little halfling,” Lasidious boasted.

Celestria and Lasidious laughed together for a moment before Celestria’s thoughts changed course. “Where’s George? He should’ve been here by now.”

Lasidious grinned and waved his hand across the wall opposite the fireplace. The rock turned transparent, revealing George on the other side. It looked as if the human was falling, tumbling without an end to his suffering. His hair moved as if a great wind was passing through it, and his expressions were wonderfully miserable.

“He can’t see us,” Lasidious chuckled. “I should’ve told you he was here. I wanted him to experience the sense of falling for a bit longer. He deserved the experience of an awful fright.”

Lasidious mocked the look on George’s face and then turned back to his lover. “As soon as you leave, I’ll implement the next part of my plan. I’m going to tell George about a map that was lost by the Serpent King, Sotter.”

“Oh my,” Celestria responded. “Sotter was a favorite of mine.” The goddess turned and waved her hand across the room. Flowers filling the vases vanished and were replaced with fresh flora. Satisfied, she continued. “I helped Sotter realize the opportunity to go after the throne of the Serpent King. His heart was almost as dark as your own.

“When Sotter took the throne, I knew he would make me proud. When he died, his death bothered me. That poor snake lost all his memories before he passed. That wonderful mind went to waste.”

Lasidious circled behind Celestria and kissed the nape of her neck. “It’s always hard to lose the children who make us most proud. I’m sorry for the pain Sotter’s death caused you.”

Celestria turned to look at her heart’s desire. Her sorrow for Sotter vanished as quickly as it appeared. “I know of this map. Wasn’t the reward it promised created for the dwarves on Trollcom? Wasn’t it Lictina who created these items over 4,000 seasons ago? I was told the map was supposed to lead a group of dwarves to a staff. Lictina must have been exceedingly bored if she expected to be entertained by such a meaningless journey.”

Lasidious’ excitement grew. “Sotter killed the dwarves and took the map … but the snake lost it.”

Celestria’s brows furrowed, “Really? That doesn’t make sense. Why would Sotter want a map that led to a staff? It’s not like he could hold it and speak the commands to control whatever power it possessed.”

The goddess giggled. “Can you imagine, my pet? To watch a Serpent King mumble the words with the staff tucked behind his fangs? How ridiculous.”

Lasidious drummed his hands along the table. “I was the one who told Sotter about the map. Don’t you see? Who do you think gave Sotter the idea that the map’s treasure would grant him power? I never told him it was a staff he couldn’t use. If I had, he would not