The meeting ended, and Jason and three others proceeded to leave. Gary caught up with Jason, saying, "Wait, let me walk you around for a bit." Jason turned, and Gary was still having a word with Luna. "Just a minute, I'll be with you," Gary said, and Jason nodded.
As he waited for Gary to end his conversation, Jason strolled over to the window to take in the view. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Gary's voice drew closer, and he joined Jason at the window. "You like the view, you know you could ride some of those wiverenes you see in the sky if you put your mind to it," Gary said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Jason's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Gary nodded. "Yeah, you could. There isn't much time left before you pass out and go back to your other body," he added, his expression turning serious.
Jason's mind was racing with questions, and he asked one that had been on his mind. "Will I grow old in my other body?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Gary's response was matter-of-fact. "Yeah, you would. Plus, half your strength would be present in the human world," he said, his eyes locked on Jason's.
As they spoke, Shila happened to pass by, and she stopped to greet Gary. "Uncle Little Scar," she said, her voice bright and cheerful.
Gary ruffled her hair, telling her to go play or practice some archery. But Shila was persistent. "No, I want you to give me a piggyback," she demanded, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Gary chuckled and agreed, scooping Shila up onto his back. "Okay, okay, only just this once," he said, carrying Shila as he walked with Jason.
As Shila settled into her new position, she murmured, "Yeah, like you said the last time," before drifting off to sleep. Jason burst into laughter at the sight.
Gary smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, she's a child," he said, his voice filled with affection.
Jason's expression turned serious. "What about her parents?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Gary's smile faltered, and his expression turned somber. "Her father died on the battlefield, and her mom died trying to give birth to her little brother. Not so long ago, both the baby and she didn't survive," he said, his voice low and gentle.
Jason felt a pang of sadness for the little girl. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose one's parents at such a young age. Gary's eyes met his, and he nodded, as if he understood Jason's emotions.
As they continued their walking through the passage, a figure passed them by, shrouded in a cloak that seemed out of place in the warm sunlight. Gary's instincts kicked in, and he called out, "Stop! Remove your cloak and draw closer." His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his blade, a sense of foreboding settling in his chest.
The figure hesitated, then slowly began to draw out a sword. "It's about to begin," he muttered, his voice barely audible. Gary's eyes widened as the figure raised the sword, preparing to stab himself.
"Have seen this before," Gary whispered to himself, a chill running down his spine. Memories of his father's death on the battlefield flooded his mind, and he knew he had to act fast. "Take her and run!" he shouted to Jason, stretching forth Shila into his arms. "You're not ready for this, so please take her."
Jason's confusion was evident, but he didn't hesitate. He took Shila and sprinted towards an exit, looking back for a moment to see the figure transform into a twisted, beast-like tree creature. The branches seemed to writhe and twist, like living serpents.
Gary's eyes locked onto the creature, his mind racing with memories of his father's last battle. "Head on, for my father's," he growled, steeling himself for the fight ahead. The pain and anger in his voice were palpable, driven by the realization that history was repeating itself.
As Jason ran, Shila's small voice echoed in his ears, "Let me go!" She struggled to break free from Jason's grasp, but he held tight. "I'm sorry," Jason said, his voice soft and reassuring. "Your safety comes first. It would be meaningless if you die, and that would break Gary's heart."
Jason's words seemed to calm Shila down, and she eventually stopped struggling. The sound of Gary's blade clashing with the creature echoed through the air, and Jason didn't dare look back. He knew he had to get Shila to safety.
As they ran, some guards rushed into the scene, and Jason called out to one of them. "Take her to safety," he said, handing Shila over to the guard. "He will be okay," Jason reassured her, trying to sound confident.
The guard nodded and took Shila away, and Jason turned back to the scene, determined to help Gary. He tried to activate his power, but nothing happened. When he arrived, he saw that several soldiers had been slaughtered, and the tree beast was too strong.
The beast spoke to Jason using Gary's voice, its face twisted into a grotesque grin. "I said run, you didn't," it taunted. Gary's body was thrown at Jason, lifeless, with a branch of tree carved into his chest.
Jason's eyes filled with rage, and he walked closer to the beast, unfazed by its power. The beast struck him with sharp roots, but Jason didn't flinch. Instead, he said, "I'm immortal," as he shoved his hand into the monster's eyes.
A fierce flame erupted from Jason's body, consuming the beast and everything around it. The flames reached up to the sky, and everyone took cover. Luna, who was far away from the castle, sensed the flames and knew it was Jason. "Something bad has happened," she thought to herself. "Only anger can trigger that flame out of him."
When the flames finally died down, the beast was gone, and Jason knelt down, exhausted. As the sun set, he passed out, waking up in his other body in the hospital.