Chapter Text
Mezaleans didn’t use magic. Everyone knew that. It’s a simple fact, really. Like the Codlands being in a swamp, or the Crystal Cliffs being a training town for young wizards.
So why did everyone keep calling the Mother Tree magical?
Nothing in Mezalea was magic, so why would the most important part - aside from their glorious, humble, handsome and tall king - be magical? It didn’t make any sense to Joel.
Katherine told him she felt similar to the Overgrowth in House Blossom, but he argued the Mother Tree wasn’t magical, and she was just feeling the importance of it.
After she left, he almost felt insulted. Katherines Overgrowth was nothing near the Mother Tree. It was so much more important then some magical roots or whatever. Maybe Katherine was just trying to connect with him more, he guessed. After all, who wouldn’t want to be close to someone like him?
Gem told him amethyst was magical inherently, so a tree with amethyst inside must be magical somehow. But Joel argued that amethyst was just a good conductor, not magical itself. The wizards made amethyst magical.
After she left, he felt worried. Would someone try to make the Mother tree magical? Use her as a magical beacon or something? He doubted Gem would do that, but other wizards? Who knew. He considered assigning golems to Mother Tree guarding duty.
Scott told him a completely normal tree couldn’t make fully functioning golems without magic, but Joel argued she wasn’t a normal tree. Not magic abnormal, just cool abnormal. After all, the most important thing in Joels kingdom had to be like him somehow, didn’t it?
After he left, he felt frustrated. Why was it so hard for people to believe Mezalea wasn’t magical? Joel liked the natural way of things. He loved watching plants and animals grow and mature, clouds approaching before rainfall and the rainbow that followed appear- magic could never top that. Life and death were beautiful, hence he brought it to the empty mesa.
Jimmy asked him why he referred to the Mother Tree as a ‘she’, and why she was called the Mother Tree in the first place.
“She- she’s more then just a tree, really.” he started. “I mean, she built golems from the ground up, all ready for me. She made all the citizens of my kingdom, so she’s all of our mom.”
“Our?”
“Ah- their. S-sorry.” he stuttered. “I mean- all my golems look just like me, it’s hard to forget we aren’t identical hundrents.”
Jimmy laughed. “Hundrents- that’s a new way to refer to clones.”
Joel laughed along with him. “S’accurate though, innit?”
After he left, Joel went to her. He slipped between the roots down into the glittery crevice. Once finding a comfortable spot, he sat and closed his eyes. He told her about his day, how things were going. He rambled about various plans for the kingdom, and how he was close to having the resources to continue on the palace. He decided to sleep there that night, in the comfort of his mom.
Mezalea was magical. It was built on magic, actually. After all, Joel died a long time ago. The only reason he lived today was because of her. In turn for loosing most memories, Joel was rebuilt from terracotta and bone, given a single seed to replant wherever he chose to live on. An oasis, of sorts. And he did.
Joel was a golem, but he was still a person. He knew not to tell anyone he was barely more then a zombie, just a doll that thought. He was a real person with thoughts and feelings, but who would believe that? Golems didn’t feel emotion, they didn’t think. They simply followed command, nothing more then a servant. A toy.
So, when he found out the fruit of his mother could imbue more golems with life- he took the chance immediately. A kingdom of living, feeling golems. He could be open about his immortality and power, finally-
And then the Rapture happened.
And everyone was gone.