It was a random day in the middle of the year. The birds were cheering outside and the dogs

were running; but I was inside with my dog, Cato. Some may say that he was a replacement for

Artemis, but no. Nothing could ever replace the love that I felt for her. Not to say that I didn't love

Cato, but I loved Artemis so much more. I lost her all so suddenly. 4 years and 6 months before I

was poisoned, she died. How? You may ask. Well, we were walking through a temple and

she was pregnant, 9 months to be exact, on the doorstep of giving birth. The temple was being

repaired for a hurricane hit 2 weeks prior and damaged the top floor a bit. We stopped right

under the construction site so that she could catch her breath and then suddenly, a brick the

size of my leg fell on her, killing her instantaneously. Her brains splattered all over the ground and

onto me. I didn't expect it to say the least. I would have never imagined that a rogue brick would

land on her, but it did; and for almost 5 years after her death, I was depressed. Stuck in a loop

of never-ending sadness. Like adding water to a boat that is sinking. I was essentially dead.

Dead as a doornail. If not for my work (as a street cleaner), people would think that I too died

alongside her. She was the best thing I ever had, her beautiful, blue, striking eyes were like a

reflection of heaven. Her long, dark hair was like a row of finely crafted jewels. Oh how perfect

she was, too perfect for this world

"Knock, knock, knock." There were 3 simultaneous knocks at the door. I slowly stood up and

made my way to the door. My hair was messy and my beard was scruffy. I also reeked of alcohol. I

looked through the peephole and saw an old, blonde woman with blue eyes. I recognized her

as my mother. I then cracked the door open and asked her what she wanted. She then said she

had some food to drop off and I let her in. She was disappointed at how dark the room was and

went to draw the curtains back. I tried my best to stop her but was too drunk and she drew the

curtains back and saw the disgusting state I was living in.

"Oh my! Lazarius!" She shouted, "How does one live in such a place!" She stated. I sighed,

"Mother, just put the food down and leave. I do not require your opinion." I replied.

"You're right! You are not in need of my opinion but of a new home!" She exclaimed, "I would

burn this down and get a new home for I cannot live in such a place!" She then added. I got

progressively more annoyed,

"Then leave! Why stay here if it disgusts you so much!?" I asked. She then moved closer to me,

"My son, I know it's been hard for you ever since Artemis died; but you have to move on." She

said.

"Hell, like you would know-" I replied but then I instantly realized I was wrong because my father died when I was 3.

"You are drunk. You drunkard." She said with a disgusted tone.

"Here's your food and food for your dog." She said, "I better see this place clean by the next

time I come here, boy." She added before slamming the door shut. When she was outside, she

started crying because she loved me but hated seeing me live in such a way. She then went

back home and cried. I was left stunned as she called me 'boy' though I was a

man by then. She saw me as a boy, not a man. It was fair for her to see as such as I did act like a little,

immature boy but still, I was stunned.

I went back to sleep. My dog started barking at me roughly around 2 hours after I fell asleep. It

was time for me to take him on a walk. So, I got up, washed my face, dressed, and went

outside. The sun shone on my face and blinded me. It was a very hot day indeed. We walked

around the little village and whilst I was walking, I saw a lame beggar. He was crawling across

the floor holding on to people's robes; begging for money. He would then get kicked away. It got

me thinking, he is out here, waking up day by day and begging and he knows that he will get

kicked every single day. Yet, he is still here. My wife died and I was lazy for 5 years. My

suffering is nothing compared to his so why was I lazy? I then went to the fountain to quench

my thirst and I did. If only it was as easy to quench your loneliness as it is to quench your thirst.

The following week I fell very ill. I was stuck in bed throwing up buckets and bleeding from my

gums. Coincidentally, my mother was due to visit. My mother knocked on the door and I tried

getting up but I simply fell on the ground. My mother heard this and came inside. She saw me

lying on the floor and dropped the basket of food she brought with her and raised me,

"Lazarius!" She exclaimed, "What happened to you, my baby?!" She asked. I didn't reply and

simply pointed at the bucket of water I had in the corner. She then went to the bucket and filled

a cup and gave me to drink. I drank and then laid back on to the bed. My mother then got a

warm cloth and put it on my forehead. She then went to the market and bought me some

lemons with some hot water and made me tea. I drank and she stood alongside me for about 2

hours. Little did I know, however, that my mother came up with a master plan in that same

instant. She wanted to go and buy some sort of mystical poison from some witch.

Dusk had arrived and my mother was set to leave,

"I'll bring you some medicine tomorrow morning and some soup with added medicine. Please

don't drink anything before I arrive." My mother said whilst tearing up. My mother then got into a

carriage and traveled one and a half hours up north. She then went into a small tavern with a

suspicious lady situated inside of it. She was brewing something in a big pot, something green.

She had a big stick that was double her size which she used to stir her creation. Her eyes were

dark, dark as the night in itself. She had a big hunch and her body seemed to bend in two. She

also had a grand nose with a gigantic bump or mole. Her lips were thin and the bottom one was

overlapping the top. Her eyebrows were big and bushy and they were fully connected as a river.

She was dressed in a long, black robe with a big, black hat that had purple stitching around it.

Her fuzzy hair was sticking out from the sides of the hat, big enough to cover her ears. Her skin

was wrinkly like a finger after staying in water too long. She was wearing black boots with black

socks and she was short, 137 cm, as an ant (compared to me anyway). She then chuckled

and turned around,

"Seraphina Mortalis at your disposal!" She exclaimed whilst chuckling, "How may I assist you, fine lady?" She asked with a mischievous grin spreading from ear to ear.

"Do you..." My mother was visibly afraid, "Do you still have the Metamorfa Fortuna potion?" My

mother asked with her bottom lip quivering.

"Hm, let me think" Seraphina replied. Seraphina then started rummaging through her jars of

mysterious liquids. She picked one up and smelt it,

"Hm, yes this is it for sure!" She exclaimed before laughing menacingly. She then walked over

to my mother with her big stick and tapped her head on the dry side,

"How much do you need?" She asked "Fatal amount, or permanent amount?" She added.

"What is the difference?" My mother replied getting progressively more anxious.

"Ha-ha-ha! You are the stupid one aren't you!" She said whilst pricking at her big mole,

"A fatal amount will kill the victim whilst the permanent one will only make the effects last forever,

even in death!" The witch said.

"Is there a cure!?" My mother exclaimed. My mother screamed as her flight or fight instincts

activated for some unknown reason.

"Yes! In the ruins of nox eternus." She stated, "But be aware woman, for the statues there are

alive, and they attack any intruders!" The witch said menacingly. She then pulled out a map with

the location highlighted. It was at the westernmost point of the Roman Empire. The witch then

asked for money which my mother gave and she bought the poison. My mother then rushed

home and brewed a soup with the poison and disguised it as medicine. She also bought a

bottle of wine which she put the map inside. She put all of this inside of a basket and

prepared it for tomorrow when she should bring it to me.