The Big Dipper

" I reject the offer." Petrova said just when Cressida brought the sword. She stood back on hearing Petrova. " That sword was meant for the Donovan family, so that your family can keep it safe." He continued. One of the mages came down with the WarLord's Sword and placed it on the table right in front of Stefan. "You may take your father's sword as well. From this moment forward, I hereby banish Stefan Donovan from Pandora." The confusion on everyone's face became intense. Morgan and Trevor were both staring at each other marveled.

"I allowed you to enter freely, as you were the son of an old friend. But you have no right to enter Pandora as a mage. From now on, Stefan Donovan will no longer be given access to anything in Pandora. Hand in the spirit Plague that allows you to enter into this place." Petrova seemed to have shattered all of Stefan's dreams in one instance.




"I do not have it." Stefan tried to get a hold of his emotions.




" What?" 




" I lost it. I lost the Spirit Plague." He said confidently.




" What Punishment is given to people who lose the Spirit Plague?" Petrova asked.




"A Hundred of floggings, my lord." One of the mages answered.




"Then I hereby order hundred floggings for Stefan, for having lost the Spirit Plague." Petrova concluded. Cressida, Morgan and Trevor couldn't hide their displeasures.




Stefan was taken outside as commanded by Petrova. The two mages knelt him down and flogged him each with long and heavy wooden canes. Trevor couldn't hold his peace as he watched the pains his friend was going through that he attempted to run in and stop them but Morgan held him back.




"He has Master Ramirez's torrent of energy, so he will be alright. If you get involved it will only make it worse for him." Morgan said to Trevor. They both held back their tears and watched Stefan being beaten. Stefan cringed in pain at each stroke,.so did Cressida. The men kept lashing the strokes until he fell to the ground. 




" Stefan Donovan, leave Pandora and do not come back ever again. Leave" Petrova said after the men stopped beating him.




" No, no, I cannot leave like this. I was flogged 99 times, there's one more left. As for the last one, you should do it yourself." Stefan looked up straight into Petrova's face insisting so. Petrova waited for a few minutes before making his way reluctantly to where he knelt breathing heavily and collected the wood from one of the mages.




"I am merely trying to keep him safe. If his gate of energy remains close, and he lives as my son. He will live. However, if he chooses to discover his fate instead, he will not survive." These were the words of Daniel Donovan to Petrova. He recalls them while trying to grant Stefan's wish of flogging him last.




He took sympathy on Stefan even though he didn't show it forth. He took the last strife and knocked him down completely." Stefan, just stand down, give up. Live a quiet life. That is the only way you can live." Petrova wished in his heart. Stefan struggles to stand up after the last stroke for minutes. He finally stood on his feet panting, he led out laughs of agony.




"Cressida, get the sword." He instructed, looking at Petrova. Cressida got the sword from the mage and walked down to where he stood. " Let us go." Stefan and Cressida walked out the gate of Pandora.




The wind lets out its wild energy that very night, the sky gives it mourning smiles, a woman in labor, groaning in pain is seen in the beautiful bed carriage breathing in her most strength and being attended to by midwives. The room was lit enough to have seen the young mother in severe pain.




"My lady, you must be strong. You must stay awake. Please stay strong." The midwife who was tending to Lady Isabel under the sheets said. Another lady ran into the room with more water, while the others stood around to assist. Maidservant Kim who could only sight from afar pitied Lady Isabel. She stood by the door with sympathy watching the midwives attend to Lady Isabel. Lady Isabel continued to push and breathe heavily.




"I SHALL MAKE ISABEL MINE. IF SHE BEARS A CHILD KNOWS THAT IT IS MINE." This words were inscripted on the King's dairy as Daniel Donovan stood in the king's room looking at it closely. 




" Thanks to you, the past seven days have been wonderful. Lady Isabel will be giving birth to my son soon." The weak King said slowly and feebly, stopping each statement at intervals.

Daniel Donovan, who was on his knees in the king's neatly lit room with severe table candles, held the edge of his garment in anger. Although he was helpless, he could not do anything amidst his anger. He was dealing with the king after all.




" His Majesty." Daniel grinds in anger.




"Do you remember the divination I received on the day of my coronation?" His Majesty didn't lift his head, he was feeble and weak after all. "You said I would be granted a son, who had the energy of the king's star."




" That divination was incorrect. That cannot be." Daniel said furiously. The King opened his eyes to look at him for the first time.




"No. What you said has to be true. I will have a son thanks to your wizardry of souls. Remember that Isabel will bear my son. He will be mine." The King declared. 







"The star at the center of the big dipper that contains nature's secret only reveals itself when the sky is filled with the energy of the Elysian waters. And my son will be born when that star appears." These were the words of the King to Daniel before the birth of Stefan.

On the night Isabel was in labor, Daniel had gone out to observe the sky and the big dipper and just as the king had earlier said, the star at the center of the big dipper revealed itself. Daniel was pricked in his heart with pains. The astrologist of the kingdom at that time had gone into his temple to observe the star that night and saw the mystery he had never seen in his life.