The Cast Die

Vac watched in silence as he tried to wrap his head around the idea. When he thought about it, there had been hints, some very obvious ones. So why was it he didn't realize it?

‘It’s because I didn't want to think such a thing. While just a bit earlier I thought that kids blessed by Minerva shouldn't be treated poorly just because of that, I never extended it beyond that. I didn't truly consider the idea of a follower of Minerva being a good person as even being possible.’

In the meantime, Pyrrhus was pacing about while denouncing those captured and kneeling before him.

“Hmph. Not only do you steal out land and resources, you dare attempt to settle down here and pretend to belong!? I suppose such a shameless act is only expected of your people.”

Asclepius bowed his head low and said, “Forgive us our falsehood, King Pyrrhus. But we left Rome because we did not agree with the war, and disagreed with how things were done there. We simply wanted a peaceful life, farming and enjoying the fruits of the land. We have not done any harm, so would you not show mercy upon us?”

Pyrrhus scoffed and responded, “And why should I believe your claims? How do I know you haven't been spying on us, or harming my people? How do I know you weren't cooperating with the Romans in the once stolen land we stand on? And even if I did believe you, we have no need of the followers of your god, if she even deserves to be called that. So no, followers of Minerva, I will not. I may spare your lives and allow you to toil about in the dungeon if you cooperate, but that is the extent of my mercy.”

Vac found the strength to move and interrupt there.

“Wait, King Pyrrhus. Um, I know you have your reasons, but these are good people! They're the ones who saved my life when I fell down here. And while yes, they did hide their identity from me even then, they had their reasons. Is them being followers of Minerva truly enough reason to condemn them? I'm a follower of Jupiter, and there's no issue between us, is there?”

Pyrrhus's eyes softened at Vac's words. He held a hand to his forehead and shook his head.

“I respect your willingness to stand by them, and I do pity them for their fate. But that one good act does not change our beliefs, nor should it. You misunderstand my stance. We have nothing against the followers of most other gods, not even the minor ones. We have good relationships with most of them. But we are at war with the followers of Minerva. These men are simply the collateral damage.”

Vac shook with anger at those words.

‘Collateral damage my ass. Who decides that!’

Medea then ran over and shook his shoulder.

“Vac, stop! We can discuss this later. For now calm down and just…”

He turned around with a growl and said, “Don't tell me to calm down. What about the kids born here as followers of Minerva that guy mentioned, huh? Are they supposed to be collateral damage as well!”

Medea frowned and shook her head.

“Of course not. We'll just… have to find a place for them, but we won't treat them like that!”

Before Vac could say something more, Pyrrhus raised his voice and said, “Enough! I appreciate your assistance, Vacuus Venti, but you've overstepped your boundaries.”

Then, in a calmer voice he continued, “I've left that airship out for you, and I'll be willing to provide you with the crew you need to operate it and return home.”

That doused Vac's fire, and he quieted down as Pyrrhus spoke.

“This matter here is decided, and it's not for you to interfere with. So make your decision, Vacuus Venti. I'll leave you to it.”

With that, Pyrrhus commanded the army back into the camps they had set up, with the captured followers of Minerva led away into the prisons. Medea hung around a little longer, but eventually walked away herself.

All the while, Vac was stuck in his thoughts, until he remembered some things his granny had said.

“Our freedom to act is something we must use carefully.”

“The freedom to live is the most precious freedom of all, and we must treasure it.”

‘I know what I must do. I need to help them.’

Just then a figure burst out of the shadows and grabbed onto him. Caught off guard, he moved to attack when a familiar voice called, “Vac? Is that really you?”

His jaw dropped at the arrival, and as he turned around he learnt that he hadn't imagined it.

“Granny?”

He immediately held her as they pulled each other in for a hug. They stayed like that for a while until Nero's voice called out, “So are we going to leave or what?”

As they pulled away, Vac saw Nero and Aurea standing behind, Nero tapping his foot in annoyance while holding back a smile, and Aurea stifling both her smile and her jealousy at the same time.

Vac smiled and asked, “How are you guys here? What happened to Aeolia?”

Morta shook her head and said, “Home is fine, Vac. The Romans left the island. Maybe their calculations determined that holding onto us was not worth the effort anymore. We're free, Vac. We followed rumors of your activities. Seems like you've been up to quite a lot. Those two were quite frustrated about it, and the way you ran all over the place.”

Aurea then yelled out to him, “I still am, you punk. Just wait till we get back!”

Morta shook her head with a wet smile and said, “Speaking of, we do need a way to get back. We didn't exactly have a proper landing with the airship we came in since we weren't too sure how to operate it in the first place, and this is what remained of it. I don't suppose you have a way, do you?”

Vac smirked and responded, “I do actually. You see…”

His voice trailed off, as he remembered what he'd just been about to do.

With a curse, he said, “Sorry Granny, but there's something to do first. There are some people I owe my life to, and I can't leave that debt alone. So please, help me save them.”

Nero groaned out loud, but Morta simply sighed and muttered to herself. Eventually she gave up and said, “Alright, I suppose this is the kind of nonsense I signed up for with you after all. Let's go.”

They began to sneak towards the prison, along the route Vac had come up with to avoid the guards. Only a short distance away from it, a voice called out, “Going somewhere, Vac?”

He turned to the voice and let out a sigh, half in frustration and half in relief. It was Medea, seated atop a high up rock right along the route he'd planned, that was also hidden unless you knew where to look.

He raised his eyes to meet hers and said, “I'm sorry, Medea, but this is the choice I've made. I'm going to free them.”

“Even if you go up against me?”

He nodded. Before Medea responded, Nero interrupted and said, “Um, who is this exactly?”

‘Ah.’

He'd gotten so distracted by her that he'd forgotten about them. His grandma was smiling teasingly at him, Nero just looked vaguely annoyed, though he always sort of looked that way, and Aurea didn't really seem to care either way.

"This is Princess Medea of Sicily, my um, friend.”

She added as though helping out, “And I also regularly beat his butt in our spars.”

Vac grumbled to himself, “Only seven out of ten times.”

Morta smiled, but shook her head and said, “And he's never beaten me once. I'm sorry, but we're in a hurry, so let us pass and retrieve them. I don't want to hurt his friend.”

Medea laughed in amusement and said, “Oh, you're fun. You must be his grandma. Vac told me about you. While I'd love to test that out, I doubt we have the time for that. I've sent the guards away for only a while, after all.”

With that, she tossed him the keys to the prison cell where Asclepius and the others were held.

Vac was caught off guard and asked, “Why?”

Medea shrugged and said, “Consider this a favor. For the good times.”

With the keys, they were easily able to free Asclepius and the others, and quickly headed towards the airship.

Medea stopped about halfway there, and Vac hung back for a moment to talk to her.

“So, what'll you do now? Will Pyrrhus be okay with this?”

She shrugged and said, “I’ll be fine. I'm popular in this kingdom, and I'm his heir. Besides… no matter. There's still a lot to do, and my goals haven't changed much from what I told you before. But I'll leave you here with this. I helped you here as your friend, but the next time we meet, I'll be facing you as the princess of Sicily, the kingdom you went against just now. You understand that, don't you?”

He simply nodded, and said, “Take care, Medea.”

With that, he ran back to the others. But as he did, he thought about his own future. He thought about how much there was to do here, and what Lady Ceres had told him.

He pulled aside his grandma and said, “Granny, I don't think it's time for me to return home.”

She frowned and said, “What are you talking about?”

With that question, she told him about what the goddess Ceres had told him, and about all he'd learnt here.

“Up there, there isn't much for me to do, Granny. Moreover, in order for our home to have a path forward, we need more than just what we did before. We need to evolve beyond that, and we can't do that by stagnating up there. This die of mine lets me fit in with various places and learn about different cultures and ideas. That's the role that only I can play. Please, Granny, this is my path.”

She considered his words and looked in his eyes, seeing the sincerity reflected in them. She shook her head and with a sigh turned around to the others.

“Nero, Aurea, take these people up with you to our home. Me and Vac still have things to do here. We'll return after that.”

Vac was caught off guard by her statement, as was everyone else. Aurea insisted on staying with Morta, and Nero thought the very idea of staying down was stupid, but Morta’s authority won in the end.

Nero complained, “We came to get back Vac, and not only did we not do that, we left behind Vac and brought some random people along.”

Vac smiled and said, “Oh they're not just random people.”

He turned to Asclepius and asked, “You know about the toxic gas released by mana rocks upon combustion, don't you? Can you cure its effects?”

Asclepius frowned and answered, “If the condition of the person isn't too severe, then sure, over time. If it is, then I'm afraid I can only weaken the symptoms.”

Vac nodded, turned to Nero and said, “That’s good enough, isn't it?”

Nero frowned and said, “Who exactly are these people? Don't tell me…”

Nero glared at Vac upon gaining an inkling of the truth, but Vac glared back and said, “They're trustworthy.”

Nero gave in with a grunt and said, “Alright, whatever. But what about you two? How exactly are you going to get away from here?”

Asclepius raised his hand awkwardly and interjected while pointing up, “Um, I think he can help with that.”

Vac looked up to see a silhouette up in the sky. It wasn't clear due to how far above it was, but it looked like…

“Is that?”

Asclepius grinned and said, “Yup. That damn kid is late.”

Asclepius then took out a whistle and blew on it, releasing a unique sound. Soon after, a winged horse upon which a well built young man sat descended quickly.

Bellerophon grinned and said, “Yo? It's been a while, Asclepius. And uh, nice to meet those of you I don't know. How can I help?”