Not quite a short story since it has no real narrative and is more of a tribute to our collective experiences, but since putting some kind of label on your posts seems to be a requirement, here we are.
I would have formatted this to look a lot prettier than it is right now but I don’t really know how to do anything on this forum besides bolding text and inserting images so… yeah…
Magius
An Ode to a Bygone Era
Gentle waves lap against the stone dock. The crisp, calm air caresses your tired throat. The indistinct bustle of a sleepy Ironport night forms a tune which soothes you as your fishing bobber dips beneath the dark blue water. With a flick of your hand, a small white fish is flung onto the dock, dimly illuminated by the flickering lights of the houses behind you. Sighing in disappointment, you throw the fish into your bag of odds and ends as you once again cast your line into the water.
Vast swathes of green sweep across the picturesque landscape of the East Peninsula, under the watchful gaze of the thousands of stars shining in the blue night sky. As gusts of wind snake across the forest, an orchestra of rustling leaves plays their melody. In the distance, the imposing silhouette of the Silent Tower stands far above the greenery, its form unwavering and its vigil kept.
From atop Mount Seawatch I gaze. The trees, stars and sea work hand in hand as they paint the beautiful sights before me with all the focus and deliberation of a master craftsman. Lying down on the cool stone ground, I stare up into the sky and let my mind wander.
Nothing is eternal; this moment is but temporary and this beauty is but fleeting. One day, things will change. The trees will wilt, the stars will fade, and the Magius that once was will be nothing but ash in the wind. One day, I’ll have to bid this place my permanent farewell, but I have no fear, for I know that the memories of this place will cling to me for all my life. Should I ever find myself beneath a hostile and starless night sky, these memories will pour forth, lighting up the sky with millions of new stars and filling me with renewed warmth. Come what may, but the memory of Magius – the essence of it, the idea of it – shall never be taken from me, for it is part of me.
Let our collective memories of Magius shine like the North Star, guiding us on our odyssey to new lands. Let them resound like a bell, reminding us in dark and uncertain times of our experiences, our hopes, and our ambitions. Let them drift like specks of dust, inconceivable but eternal.
Young wizard, it is time we look to the future – to the myriad of new opportunities that await us beyond the horizon. Magius is the continent, but it is also the people – us. For as long as we continue to exist, Magius will never truly fade.
Now go! Spread your wings and soar! Soar to mystical islands far above the clouds, soar to distant lands at the ends of the Earth! Wherever you go, Magius will be with you, every step of the way. We are its people. We are its legacy.
We are Magius.
