A carriage is traveling down a pathway next to a river in the rain. Inside the carriage there are three axolotl beastfolk sitting in chairs much larger than they are but one being even smaller than the other two. The youngest at twelve years old is a young Marigold.
Marigold(young)-"Mom? Dad? Why are we leaving?"
Marigold's father-"We've already told you dear, it'll be safer where we are going"
Marigold(young)-"Why was it not safe at home"
Marigold's father-"(sighs) the way the kingdom's politics have gone recently, it's not safe with someone of your our power"
Marigold's mother-"The Draconic royal family are pretty nice folks. But nobility like us are well aware that they aren't the ones in charge of the kingdom"
Marigold(young)-"The king isn't in charge?"
Marigold's father-"The high priest has far more influence than the royal family. At this point most of the Draconic family's influence comes from their connections with the guild"
Marigold's mother-"The high priest is somebody you can't trust. Multiple people who he believes could be useful have disappeared. I lie awake at night wondering what he has done with them"
Marigold's father-"And we are concerned that you may fall under that useful category"
Marigold(young)-"Useful? I don't understand"
Marigold's mother-"I know sweety. Maybe when you're older you'll understand why we had to get away from there"
Thunder strikes and the rain pours down even harder on the carriage. The young Marigold winces in response to the loud thunder.
Marigold's father-"It's okay Marigold, we'll get there soon"
Marigold's mother-"Why did it have to storm today of all days"
Suddenly the carriage stops moving.
Marigold's father-"What's wrong? Is there a blockage in the path?"
The driver doesn't respond.
Marigold's father-"I'm going to check what's wrong"
Marigold's father hops down from the seat and then jumps out of the carriage.
Marigold's mother-"Be careful honey, the storm is pretty intense"
Marigold's father walks alongside the carriage to see the front. When he gets there he sees that the horse is lying dead on the ground along with the driver. Both have large cuts on their bodies.
Marigold's father-"Oh gods no!"
Marigold's father begins running back towards the carriage. He jumps up into the door.
Marigold's mother-"What's wrong?"
Marigold's father-"They've found us! The driver is dead we need to run"
Marigold(young)-"What's happening?"
Marigold's mother-"Quickly dear we need to-"
Suddenly the other door of the carriage slowly opens revealing a cloaked tall man holding a large dagger.
Marigold's father-"Plant skill: moss golem"
The cloaked man's dagger begins glowing with electricity while he speaks with a raggedy voice.
Cloaked man-"Lightning skill: thunder blade"
The carriage explodes with electricity with moss flying everywhere.
After the battle the young Marigold is sitting on the ground crying. The cloaked man walks towards Marigold. He is covered in moss and badly injured from the fight. His cloak is nearly completely torn away revealing his face to be that of a very old man.
Marigold(young)-"(crying)Why did you do this?"
The old man breaths in and is clearly mad. He yells out and is about to slash Marigold. Suddenly a large burst of water shoots through his chest and he falls over.
Lucious-"Hey, are you alright little girl?"
Marigold(young)-"Who are you?"
Lucious-"Don't worry I'm a friend. That bad man won't hurt you anymore ok"
Lucious takes Marigold's hand and lifts her up onto his shoulder. The two walk away in the rain. The old man lays dead on the ground with black goo being sweat out of his face.
Lucious(in his head)-"That was 19 years ago now I believe"
Lucious looks downwards and sees the much older Marigold standing in front of him angry.
Lucious-"To think how I saved you all that time ago, and all the time we've spent together since then. And this is how you repay me? With this betrayal. Utterly shameful"
Marigold-"I haven't been staying here because of gratitude. I've seen the things you do to people, I knew if I left I'd be lucky to survive"
Lucious-"And yet here you are fighting against me, rather contradictory don't you think"
Marigold-"I've let my fears get in the way for too long"
Lucious-"Clearly you should have let them stay in the way longer. Look at what you did, you left this burn mark on my face with that holy water"
Marigold-"That just shows how vile and cruel you really are"
Lucious-"Since when did you become so blatantly disrespectful. You owe your life to me remember"
Marigold-"Do I really!? For once in your life tell the truth!"
Lucious-"The truth about what?"
Marigold-"That night, you sent that man to attack my family didn't you?"
Lucious-"Are you actually asking me that? Is that why you're doing this? You have some insane idea like that in your mind?"
Marigold-"You couldn't manipulate me with your magic so instead you make some fake scenario like that. Well it wasn't fake to me! So tell me right now, did you make that man-"
Marigold is suddenly struck from a large burst of water from behind herself launching her past Luscious into a tree.
Lucious-"So you've known huh?"
Marigold gets back up on her feet, her back beginning to heal from the attack.
Lucious-"You know, the I prefer to listen to the rational part of my brain, and that part of my brain is telling me to lie to you. It's telling me to console you and bring you back to my side"
Marigold creates a magic circle and is preparing to fire off another spell.
Lucious-"But honestly, I'm getting tired of this. You are just way too annoying for that. Everyone else I can just alter their memories but you, oh you're a whole other process to deal with"
Marigold-"water skill: water canon"
Marigold creates a large burst of water and launches it towards Luscious.
Lucious-"Evolved skill: deep trench water barrier"
Lucious creates a wall of heavily compressed water that blocks Marigold's attack.
Lucious-"So I'm done with that. I did have that man kill your parents. Of course whether or not you know the truth won't really change much"
The wall Lucious created morphs into a different shape.
Lucious-"Evolved skill: trench leviathan"
The compressed water turns into a shape resembling multiple heads like a hydra.
Lucious-"Only now you'll be serving me by force than by coercion"
Marigold-"Holy skill: holy water barrier"
Marigold creates a barrier of holy water. One of the hydra heads launches towards Marigold. Suddenly the hydra head is blasted into the ground.
A small glowing dot is revealed.
Julius-"Looks like I found you Lucious"
End of chapter 60.