Bread of Jupiter

Jupiter, the amalgamation of nature and sheer will power was his proudest invention. A 9 year old had the world to conquer, but first he needed to conquer its heart. Trodden sand, lost leaves and jagged rocks soon also became the magical metaphor for his journey to bake bread.

He flew down the stairs, with a great goblin grunting at his avoidance,-they had a deal, but he wasn’t up to it anymore-and a little fairy ahead of him as if guiding the path was quickly abandoned as he turned the corner and disappeared into the shadows. Shadows turned into leaves, which turned into trees and then finally he met with the x spot, his brewery (every alchemist had one). Jasper finally fell to the floor relieved of his narrow escape, and huffed out the bit of fairy dust he’d stolen.

Once the dust settled, Jasper could feel his skin tingle and his vision matched this feeling almost unprompted with his world suddenly becoming a kaleidoscope of objects and colors, this then opened the portal gates which gave him vision to see everything. He was now ready to bake the bread, the peace treaty beyond the three nations, Jupiter.

As he learned from his late advisor, an alchemist was the wisest form he could ever become, and he wore that possibility proudly. He also made a lifetime promise to her, the final quest he took on now.

Gathering his resources of bubbling sand, fluid rocks and emerald leaves, he spoke the final words of his spell into them and with that added the tears of a happy child to seal his deal. Whispers deafened his hearing, beckoning him to abandon it, a flurry of air whisked away what remained of his fairy dust and even with all the current adversity he remained planted firmly to the barren land he previously conquered, which would bear the fruits of his up and coming legacy.

With the bread in arms, he stood up with an air of pride and strode down the bright ally excited to present it.

Stares, glares and the occasional look of despair consumed jaspers journey and road ahead, cursing the clear path into a muddled mess. Hopeless, he collapsed under his own bodyweight and let the bread tumble forward and with it, his promise.

“Do you think he’s dead?”

“Obviously not! He’s clearly taking a nap- oh what’s this?”

“Brick?”

“Bread.”

“It smells like mother’s cottage”

“Sore reminder, watch the wound.”

Jaspers body tingled one last time in alarm, and his head shot up at the two voices. Barely audible, he managed to squeak out,

“Don’t touch. Mine.”

“Of course, I promise. Here you go,” with one hand reached out, both pulled him up but made no height difference as both centaur remained as mountains over him.

“You’re a child, what business do you have with this bread”

“Elias… the child made the bread. What business does it have baking bread, that’s what you should be asking?”

“Oh I see, Cyrah I’m pretty sure the child has some vendetta going on. The rage in its eyes are adorable”

“I’ll bet my left hooves that it was on its way to the nation meeting”

Jasper stood paralyzed. “How’d you know?”

“We just came. Good luck kid” with a final glance back, both centaurs faded into the background.

With that, jasper continued on, wary of the new connection he made of friend or foe.

From tigers, to the occasional ogre and a sprinkle of dragons, Jasper remained on the path, eyes down and his humanity tightly clutched to his chest, his last hope... But to his surprise no one seemed to care, and the occasional sob and wail signalled this loss in him, and those surrounding him.

His resolve only strengthened at this point, but he kept it contained in his head, mindless of his path when, almost as if teleported, he finally reached the gates. Two walls conjoined together and he knew immediately that this was the beginning of his promise. Thinking back his advisor said that this wasn’t going to be easy so with hesitance he looked at the two gargoyles firmly places and tore off a piece of his bread convinced that what he made was what they needed. With swiftness they both grabbed onto it and melted in joy. Their eyes, once unforgiving and stone cold now resembled the fairy dust and sheer pleasure of hope.

“Number one, gargoyles, tall children.” He giggled and walked on

Dimmed lights, shattered glass and the roar of a gathering made him all the more aware of his steps and breathing. Both quickened as his entire body and soul seemed to want to run away and all he could do was shiver at the confliction. He stood at the final steps and peeked in, expecting to be blown to pieces but instead he remained unscathed and jittery.

Step by step, each taken lighter than the previous led him up to the hub where he was to present his offering Jupiter.

A pin drop, an out of place mutter and the typical cough announced his arrival. 

All he could hear was his heartbeat and deafening silence.

“Who may you be?”

He forgot his name. “Jupiter, bread. Take some.”

The unnamed voice stood up and got to her knees to meet at his eye level.

“Thank you, this is highly appreciated Jupiter. Though I must ask, what intentions does this bread bring forth?”

Jasper hummed and responded without a shred of fear in his voice giving him away. She reminded him of his advisor. He felt safe

“My name is jasper, and the bread is Jupiter. Tear off a piece for all equally and you shall see”

“Jasper, are you the one who unarmed the gargoyles?”

He fell to his knees and bowed down profusely, in apology or what he thought it to be.

A roar of laughter filled the air which weighed heavy on Jasper.

“Get up. You’re embarrassing yourself, the bread is yours to share.”

Piece by piece he got to everyone and looked around… and what he saw brought the tears he’d been saving up for his next spell.

“Jasper, dinners ready. Don’t make me wait for you any longer!”

Snapping back to reality, he clutched onto his rock and walked off to his mother. His cat scrambled at the siren of his mother’s voice and all of his action figures fell to its wrath. Play time was over, but tomorrow he was definitely going to conquer.