[A/N] Sorry it took so long again ^^ At least it's finished now. You'll see why it took so long, it's quite a long chapter. I hope you'll all enjoy! :D [A/N]
N's smile had completely disappeared. A drunk man came out of the bedroom. He had a knife in his hand and on closer inspection, N noticed a trail of blood coming from Susan's hand. She must've been assaulted and defended herself.
"You call that sex? That was an abomination!" The man yelled.
"Back off!" Will said, pushing the man to the side.
The man stumbled to the side for a little, but quickly regained his footing. His eyes looked at Will.
"You little runt!" The man said, coming closer to Will quickly.
Will shot lightning from her hand. The man flew backwards and crashed against Will's chamber door. Will looked at her hand and then at N. N shook his head.
"Control yourself. Remember what we practiced."
Will took a deep breath and nodded, looking at the man, who had been slowly getting up.
"What was that?" He asked, confused.
N stepped forward, towards Susan, quickly looking at her. She had hit the wall hard on the backside of her head and was obviously dizzy. She tried to get closer to Will and behind N. Even though she had been a warrior several years ago, she was severely out of shape and in this state, she couldn't fight as capable as previously.
N got closer to the man, who was now fully risen. "Drop the knife. We don't want anyone to get hurt."
"Why should I, old-timer?" The man asked almost laughing. "What are you gonna do? I'm not afraid of you. No, that little runt over there. She's dangerous. She needs to be taken care of."
Will shot a deadly gaze at the man.
"And you'll be the one to do it?" N asked.
"Of course! You ain't gonna do it, old-timer!" The man yelled on top of his lungs.
"I would advise you to drop the knife, or experience what she just let loose on you a thousand times worse." N said, calmly.
"You threatenin' me?" The man asked.
N quickly grabbed the man and rose him in the air, surprising him.
"Drop it." N said.
"Alright, alright!" The man almost pleaded.
The man's grip loosened, but suddenly retightened as he threw the knife at Will. N quickly tossed the man and let him drop on the floor, turned around and created a barrier in front of Will, so she wouldn't be hit.
However, the next couple of events almost seemed to happen in slow motion in N's eyes. His eyes widened and his visage fell to shock as he saw how Susan jumped in front of Will. N realized he couldn't raise the barrier in front of Susan in time. His eyes saw how the knife delved itself into Susan's chest and she gasped. Her gasp eerily echoed through his mind and he saw the blood splatter over her chest and the wall next of her. Her hand still dripped with blood and that blood fell on the floor, resonating with Susan's gasp in an eerie echo of pain. Susan slowly fell to the floor, making way for Will's terrified visage staring right into N's eyes, which seemed guilt ridden and old for the first time Will had looked at them.
"Susan, no!" N managed to yell, but it was way too late and Susan collapsed on the floor.
N rushed over to Susan and quickly tended to her, using his magic to try and minimize the damage. Susan was still alive and looked at N. N pulled out the knife and threw it away into Susan's bedroom. He placed a hand on her chest and a warm pulse emanated from it.
"I'm going to tend to you. You'll be severely hurt at the end I think, seeing the damage. I feel you have a collapsed lung and I'm trying to stop the internal bleeding, though you probably will need to recover for a few months. Don't worry, it'll be alright."
"N," Susan said, weakly, "Take care of Will for me, will you?"
"I'm not letting you die, Susan! You will be able to take care of Will yourself." He quickly started the healing process. "It was stupid of you to jump in front of her! You could've known I would protect her!"
"Motherly instinct, I guess. I only had one thought: protect Will." She replied weakly.
"YOU DARE THROW A DAGGER AT MY MOTHER?" a voice sharply echoed through the house.
N's eyes widened. 'Oh dear.'
He looked up, finding Will with lightning all over her body. N couldn't go to Will now, or Susan would die.
"That whore was stupid!" The man yelled. "It was meant for you! You're an abomination, just look at you! You should've died right then and there! You're a monster!"
This only made Will angrier.
"A monster?!" Will proclaimed, almost mad. "A monster you say? Well, I'll show you what this monster can do!"
"Will!" N yelled as the crackling of lightning started to become louder and louder. "Don't give in! Don't make the same mistake as back then! Listen to my voice! Remember what we practiced!"
His pleas were unheard by Will, who shot lightning from all parts of her body and created holes in the wall which started a fire. N quickly created an energy field around him and Susan as Will unleashed her rage.
Will, almost flying, rushed over to the man and grabbed his throat, pushing him through her chamber door and the wall behind it. Dark clouds had gathered in response to her lightning. Will's lightning shot in all directions and Will electrocuted the man, then threw him into the air, having him be hit from lightning from the sky, letting him fall down and then punching him, filled with the strength of Quintessence, back to the burning house, having him crash through another part of the wall and causing Will's chamber to collapse on itself. Will dashed over there, punched through the rubble, grabbing the man again, who didn't move or resist at all. Lightning shot everywhere, causing parts of the house to collapse and N and Susan to be crushed, were it not for N's energy field. N looked on as Will threw the man on top of the rubble.
"WILL! That's enough! WILL!"
Will summoned lightning from her hand and created a lightning bolt in the sky, which she then let crash on the man, burning him and severely maiming him. It was at that moment that Will's eyes and face changed from anger to horror, as she realized what she had done and was doing. She stumbled backwards and slipped over a brick, causing her to fall on top of the rubble. It started to rain, as the dark clouds let go of their water. Will looked to the sky and before she passed out, quietly asked: "What have I done?"
N threw off the rubble from atop of him and Susan. Susan was in bad shape and the collapsing house didn't help. N thought about all the options in a split-second and decided to tend to Susan first. N helped her heal and Susan often yelled in pain as he tried to stop the bleeding and contain the damage. When he had made sure Susan's had the worst of it, he lifted with magic and stabilized her, rushing towards the man. He was almost unrecognizable. His body was badly burnt and his arms seemed badly twisted and positioned in an unnatural manner. He wasn't moving and his eyes seemed cold and void.
A flash of a woman lying atop rubble, staring at him with the same eyes appeared in his mind.
He gasped and took a step back. He looked at the man again. It was a man, not a woman. He hadn't harmed this man. Will had. Will. He looked around and saw Will lying on the rubble. He took her in his arms and placed a hand on top of her head. He quickly scanned her health and noticed that she had a small bruise from her fall on top of the rubble and that she was very tired, but nothing too major. He looked back and saw several villagers looking at him and pointing towards Susan's half naked flowing body.
Deeming this a very inappropriate place and position for them to be in, he decided to leave here immediately. He needed to give them shelter and have someone tend to Susan, while he continued on with his mission. He also needed to contact Caleb. He got an idea where he could go. The idea appalled him. However, it was the only way. There was but one place where he could go to. He knew the risks. He knew who was there and who he had to face. But it was his only option. He could not fail.
…
Irma was sitting by the river just outside the city walls. Some guards were looking at her from atop the walls to ensure her safety. She had curled herself up and a she motionlessly looked at the flowing water.
"It's funny." She heard someone say besides her.
She turned her head to see Dominic looking at her with a smile.
"I can see the emotion in you, twisting, twirling, stirring out of control, like the water you're looking at, while you show no emotion at all, like the dirt of the riverbed."
Irma rose an eyebrow. "You're telling me I'm dirt?"
Dominic laughed. "No. Just think about it, and you'll get what I mean. You're Irma, right? One of Caleb's companions? I saw you in one of his memories."
Irma seemed sad again. Dominic's smile faded. "Oh, sorry. I…I'm Dominic. I'm the seer in town. Mind if I join you?"
Irma shook her head and looked at the water again. Dominic took a seat next of her and stared at the water too. They were silent for a little while. They just stared at the water, continuing on its path, flowing down the river in a pre-set course. Eventually, it would find itself at the end of the route, flowing into the vast ocean, becoming nothing more than a piece of a larger whole, in which you could not tell one stream from the other, until it would become rain and follow the same course again. Irma turned her head to look at the stream floating away, and saw that Dominic had done the same thing. The wind blew through their hair, gently, only barely moving it at all.
"Do you think the water always just flows down the river? Don't you think it will resist at least once?" Irma asked. "Can it change its destination?"
Dominic smiled. "Well, rivers have sometimes changed their routes. They would choose another path and force their way to make it so. But in the end, they always come back to the ocean."
"So no matter what it does, it cannot escape its destination, can it? It's path will differ, but the result is the same." Irma said.
"The result is the same?" Dominic said surprised. "Of course not. Imagine a river suddenly changing course through a desert. It will change everything. Think about people living by the river, having to adapt and create new things to keep up with the river. No. While the destination may be the same, the journey will differ. It's impact will differ."
Irma pondered on this. Dominic smiled at her. "Trying to get into philosophy?"
Irma faintly smiled. "No, I just wondered if a river could end somewhere else than the ocean. But you made it sound really philosophical."
"Oh," Dominic said, becoming red, "sorry, I guess I got carried away then. But, if I may ask, why are you sitting out here alone, looking at the river. I can see the emotion inside you. It gives off a faint grey aura, which usually indicates someone's about to make a big choice. What's wrong?"
Irma looked at him. "Why would you care? What do you know about me?"
Dominic looked at her. "Well, in Caleb's memories you didn't appear that often, but you seemed to hang around with this blond haired girl. Cornelia, I believe, Harold's daughter. You seemed to follow her around, so my guess would be you're her servant, right?"
"Apparently I am." Irma said, sounding a little angry.
"Ah, now we get to the problem." Dominic said, taking her hands. "Tell me, what are you mad about specifically."
"Why should I tell you?" Irma asked.
"We've been talking for a bit and I've been trying to keep your mind off of what was bothering you so you could relax. I also help to solve problems in the city. I like being able to help people. Would you want me to help you?"
"Maybe." Irma answered.
"Then you should tell me." Dominic responded with a smile, causing Irma to smile to. "Although, from your reaction, I can deduce it was about your status."
"Not exactly." Irma said. "Cornelia sees me as her servant who also happens to be her friend, but…"
"You see her as a friend." Dominic said.
Irma had small tears in her eyes. "She wanted me to go along with her to Caleb, since she fancies him. She wanted me to get along with him because she 'didn't want me to bring food to someone I hate when they're lying in bed.' She just sees me as her maid, as her servant."
Dominic placed an arm around her. "Come, come. You can make this clear to her, I'm sure of it. And if you want, I could read your memories of you together and deduce her feelings."
"I don't think I like the prospect of someone invading my mind to look at my deepest memories, desires and feelings." Irma commented, her face visibly distraught.
Dominic snickered. "Yeah, I can imagine. You would be baffled by the amount of people that have said the same. Of course, I shall respect your opinion."
"Thank you." Irma said.
Dominic and Irma sat next to the water for a little while longer. Irma kept looking at the water, visibly in thought. It took Dominic a few tries before she snapped out of her trance to actually hear what he was saying.
"Hmm, excuse me?"
"I said," Dominic answered, "I can see you're still distraught."
Irma faintly smiled. "I guess I just want her to apologize."
"If I may ask, what did you do when you got upset?"
"Well," Irma said, as she reddened at the thought of having pinched Cornelia's breast in between her fingers, "I…ehm…I, pinched her."
"And then you ran away?" Dominic asked, getting a nod from Irma. "I see. Well, I shall tell you a secret. If you are angry, most people don't want to face their partner. They just want to turn away. The key to letting go of your anger is to, after you've calmed down, talk to her. Let her explain herself and listen calmly. She will know you got upset. But just stay calm and talk about it."
"Easier said than done." Irma commented, getting a small smile from Dominic.
"Truer words have never been spoken. The point is, mutual respect and communication are key, in any relationship, in any friendship, in any conversation. Just talk to her, maybe she didn't know she was hurting you by saying that. If you never make it clear to her, she will just continue on doing what she did. You want it to change, so, you'll have to initiate the change."
Irma looked at the river again, how the water calmly went down the river. The smooth movement of the water finally started calming down her soul.
A large bang was heard, and the ground shook a little. Dominic immediately turned to the source of the sound, to the city, and noticed the guards had also turned around. Irma turned around as she saw Dominic looking. A large smoke cloud was visible over the city.
"What happened?" Irma asked. She placed her hands in front of her mouth as she realized a possibility. "They didn't start fighting, did they?"
Dominic stood up and quickly pulled Irma up as well. "Irma, go to your camp. Stay there and await further instructions."
Dominic and Irma quickly ran towards the city gate, which was still open, and there parted ways. Irma didn't see where Dominic went as he disappeared into another alley, and she was quickly engulfed by other people rushing towards the black smoke.
'If they really started fighting, they are running straight to the danger.' Irma thought.
She tried to push herself through the mass of people and towards the side her camp would be on. She was careful to not be at the outmost part of the road, though, in case there was indeed fighting and one of the rival camps wanted to grab her and hold her hostage. As she saw the flag of her camp arise, she quickly turned to the outmost part of the road and pushed herself out of it, into the camp. She saw Hay-Lin standing outside as well, looking at the cloud, and Cornelia, dressed, but not in her usual manner, indicating her having rushed to put on some clothes, which she normally never did. She, too, must have realized what the smoke could mean. They quickly looked each other in the eye and both saw that the other wanted to talk, but both also showed understanding that this was place nor time. Taranee appeared out of the tent, her hair showing that she hadn't had a good night's rest. She had been notified by the guards that Irma had returned.
"Irma, excellent. Where have you been?"
"I slept near the river and was there this morning too, until Dominic found me and then we talked and then we got interrupted by a loud band and what is going on?" Irma asked in a long rushed sentence while seemingly catching no breath, while slowly freaking out more and more as her sentence got longer.
"There has been an explosion in the Cressali camp. Caleb is already on his way there to take care of the situation. I've sent out some guards to find you, but you've already come to camp by yourself. You must stay here until further order by Caleb or me, is that clear?"
Irma nodded. "Are they fighting?"
Taranee looked at her. "I don't know, but I don't think so."
With the first part of her task completed, she contacted Caleb.
'Caleb, I've found Hay-Lin, Cornelia and Irma and they are secured at the camp. What are the plans?'
'Send a quick letter to Aetherfall. They need to know this happened. Then, come to the Cressali camp and contact me. I'll tell you where I am when you get here.' Caleb responded.
'I'll be there soon.' Taranee responded, before breaking contact.
"You there, ready an owl!" She commanded to one of the guards.
She quickly walked inside and frantically sought quill and paper. She found some in a drawer and quickly wrote a small note.
This morning there was an explosion in the Cressali camp. Currently investigating. More information to come once available.
She walked outside and saw the guard stood ready with the owl. She quickly bound the letter to its leg and sent it off.
"Secure those three." She said to the guard, making a gesture towards Hay-Lin, Cornelia and Irma. "By orders of General Caleb."
"Consider it done, My Lady." The guard said, while making a salute.
With that, Taranee walked off, leaving a bewildered Irma, Cornelia and Hay-Lin behind.
"Do you think the situation is grave?" Hay-Lin asked.
"Well," Irma said, "There was an explosion."
"Good point." Hay-Lin said, quickly nodding.
Cornelia looked at the two of them. "It seems as if the situation hasn't escalated yet, but we must keep in mind the assassination of that ambassador Gatsby a few days ago. This could be the trigger for something bad."
"Do you think Caleb and Taranee can keep the situation from escalating?" Hay-Lin asked.
Irma looked at Cornelia, who didn't seem all too sure. Cornelia looked at the smoke rising up in the not-too-far distance and frowned. The sky around the smoke seemed pale in comparison, giving a haunting effect on the barely lit morning sky. Slow, small dark clouds came closer to the city of Cryssandor, as an omen of something bad to come. Hay-Lin looked at the sky as well.
"I'm sure of it." Irma said.
…
Will's head felt heavy. In fact, her entire body felt heavy. As she tried to turn her head, she got a headache which made it seem her head was going to split in two. She slowly rose her hand to her head and placed it on top of her hair. Her hand felt cold and sweaty. She moaned as she tried to sit a little bit more straight, although she was quickly intercepted.
"Easy. Don't try to get up so fast, stay down."
The familiar voice of N echoed through her head, the meaning of the words only slowly getting through to her. She slowly tried to open her eyes, although she had the feeling she wanted to close them again. She resisted the urge to close her eyes and to fall back to sleep and in small steps visible shapes were distinguishable. As her vision cleared, she saw N bent over somebody.
"What happened?" Will asked, slightly moaning, causing N to turn around and tend to her again.
"You blew up the house." He responded, causing Will to shoot up, only for her headache to worsen and collapse again. "Stay down."
He placed her on the ground again and tended to Susan.
"You fell on top of the rubble and bumped your head, although that is nothing compared to Susan."
The images started to fill Will's memories. She saw herself rise and electrocute the man that had hurt her mother. She saw her blow up their house. She heard N's voice warning her.
"Oh god. Oh god oh god oh god oh god. Not again! What did I do?" Will exclaimed, almost shouting.
Her hands shot up to her head again, but they didn't feel heavy anymore. Heavy hands were the least of her worries right now.
"Don't feel guilty." N said.
"Not feel guilty?" Will exclaimed, turning to him, but instantly regretting that and rolling back. "I killed someone! AGAIN! And this time I could control it. I thought I could! I should have stopped myself! That was where the lessons were for, right?"
"The lessons were meant to stop you from lashing out to other people, yes." N said calmly. "However, you must know that there is no such thing stronger than emotions. My lessons were meant for when you were rational and in control. When your emotions overpower you and cloud your vision…only a handful of sorcerers are capable of controlling themselves then. And your emotions came forth out of the desire to protect your mother, the only woman who you truly care about. That is a noble cause, if I may say so."
"But I wouldn't have saved her had you not been there!" Will said, almost crying, "I've made the same mistake again! I went even further this time!"
"Because you were more powerful than before." N said, not looking at her, tending to Susan.
Will felt angry. N was supposed to teach her to not lash out. To not kill. He had failed. And now he made it seem as if he didn't think it anything special that she had killed someone again. To her, it sounded as if he had expected it!
"You should have prevented this!" Will proclaimed angrily, "I know you could have!"
"Indeed I could have." N said calmly.
"AHA!" Will said triumphantly. "Yet…"
"At the cost of Susan dying, I could have prevented it, causing you to live with eternal guilt over the death of your loved one. And believe me…"
N turned to her and looked her in the eyes. "You don't want eternal guilt."
Will looked at N's eyes and saw something that she had never seen in them, although she couldn't place a finger on it. The shock of it interrupted her anger and replaced it with a hollow feeling. She thought about the events that had transpired again, but now that she was calmer, N's words sounded reasonable. Everyone knew how difficult it was to control yourself when you were angry. She recalled when she had made a nasty remark at her mother once, and how she had felt guilty immediately after having said it. She didn't mean it, but she just said it. Of course, this was on a way, way worse scale, but she understood N's point of view. Now that she was more powerful, her outbursts would be more violent too. That was what N's lessons were about. To learn to control herself so she wouldn't reach that point.
She looked at N, who was tending to Susan again. She suddenly felt a wave of affection for him. He had seen something in his eyes, which made him relatable to her. She thought he truly understood what she meant and had been through. It seemed he had come to terms with it, and tried to prevent it from happening again, and she would try to. Of course, she hadn't come to terms with it yet, but that was only natural. That needed time.
"N," she said, "I'm sorry about what I said."
"What did you say then?" N asked.
Will smiled a little, he wasn't offended at all. "How's mom?"
"Well," N said, "she has been hit hard, but I think I've managed to stabilize the situation."
Will sighed. "Thank god."
"However," N said, getting Will's attention again, "she will only be a hindrance. She needs rest, while we need to continue on."
"Continue?" Will asked, confused. "I don't think mom or I are in a position to continue! And continue to where, exactly?"
N didn't answer for a brief moment. "The north," He replied, "and you will be able to at least walk. Susan cannot. I shall not risk her life."
"The north?" Will asked, still confused. "There's only desert there. And if mom can't move, why are you saying we're going? Mom needs help!"
N turned to Will and looked at her. They locked eyes, and Will had the idea he was thinking about something. It was reflected deep within his eyes. However, it quickly disappeared as he started talking.
"There is a city at the edge of the desert. Not many people venture there, since you cannot use magic there anymore. I've been there before and now how to get there, so it will be safe for us to go there." N didn't sound all to convincing when he said 'safe'. "There will be people who will help us, I'm sure of it. And you need to come along, that is essential. I want to keep a close eye on you, especially after that outburst, until I deem you ready to leave. Your mom is in no state to travel, although she also cannot stay out here."
"But mom…"
"I have done everything I can for your mother, but she needs to rest and further tending. I have business to attend to and cannot do this. However, I know someone who can. Her name is Cassidy, and she's an old friend of your mother. They know each other and have fought alongside each other. You can trust her to take good care of your mom." N said.
Will looked at him. "And what about me? You want me to come along, because it is essential. I have to come along because of the outburst, right? Is it that bad? Have I done something major? Is something going to happen to me? I thought you said that when your emotions overpower you and cloud your vision, only a handful of sorcerers are capable of controlling themselves. So it has happened before, right? Did something important happen during my outburst?"
He had thought it many times before, but he wished Will would be a bit less annoying with her questions. She seemed to question him every time it was important for him that something happened or which was connected to memories. He closed his eyes.
"No. It was not that major. I just want to keep an eye on you."
Will looked at him. She turned her head slightly. "Something's going on."
N opened his eyes and looked at her. "I promise you I will tell you everything later. You just have to trust me now."
Will looked out in the distance, her fingers slowly moving up and down her leg. N let her be for a little while and tended to Susan as much as he could. When there was nothing more he could do for her, he turned to Will and started tending to her wounds more carefully. Neither of them said anything for a long while.
"Do you really promise?" Will asked. "Will you tell me the truth?"
N nodded absentminded as he kept tending her wounds. "I promise."
She rose and grabbed his wrist. N looked at her hand and went to her eyes. He got a small smile. "Did your mother teach you this?"
Will nodded. N laughed and grabbed her wrist as well. He cleared his throat. "I, Nicholas, archmage of Aetherfall, shall promise you, Will Vandom, to tell you the truth about why you have to come along with me to the North. Later."
Will smiled and let go, her hand sliding down his arm and hand and then letting it fall. "I trust you."
A few hours went by, and N made sure Will could travel. When he was satisfied with her condition, he looked at his ring. It was a ring made of gold, with a purple stone placed in it. Around the stone, small signs were sculpted. He placed his hand over it and thought 'Cassidy'. His ring shone and Cassidy's surprised face appeared in the stone.
"N?" Cassidy asked. "How, what…?"
"Hey," N said with a wink. "Don't worry, I'm not inside your ring's stone."
Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Of course not."
She seemed to think. "Did you perfect your communication system between our rings?"
N smiled. "Yeah, last time it literally materialized me, but while I was at Susan's house I've been working on it during the nights."
He saw Will looking at the woman in the ring. He took her by the shoulder and pulled her a bit closer. "Cassidy, I want you to meet Will. Will, meet Cassidy."
Will awkwardly smiled at Cassidy, but Cassidy wholeheartedly smiled back. "My dear! Yes, you look just like Susan did when she was your age? How old are you now? 16, 17? It must be around that age."
"17" Will answered.
"Cass, I contacted you because of Susan." N said, getting Cassidy's attention. "She's wounded. She was stabbed with a knife and it hit the aorta and a lung, as well as she was hit with some rubble. I've done all I can to stabilize her, but she needs more care. I cannot continue on as long as I have her with me in this state."
"Stabbed?" Cassidy asked, "By whom?"
N quickly shot a glance at Will, who didn't seem too happy about the memory.
"A customer." N said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Cassidy's eyes showed a bit of sorrow, but the rest of her face seemed normal and unimpressed. "I see."
"Can I send her to you? She needs someone who tends to her and I can't do that, since I need to advance. I need to check up on Caleb."
Will looked at N and wanted to ask who Caleb was, but his eyes already looked at her, as to tell her he would answer later.
"Of course," Cassidy said, "I'd be happy to see her again. Although I had hoped it would be in a different way." She added with a frown.
N laughed. "I can imagine that! I'll send her over soon. I'll make sure she arrives in the living room."
"Alright." Cassidy answered. "By the way, now that the rings work, contact me some more, okay?"
Cassidy winked, and N reddened a little bit, as he whispered. "Of course. Love you."
With that he broke contact and turned to Susan. He rose a hand to Will, who had wanted to ask a question again. N started chanting and after about a minute, Susan disappeared in a flash of light. N looked at Will.
"Caleb is my protégé." N said, "He's currently in Cryssandor as an envoy of Aetherfall."
Will's eyes widened. "Aetherfall? But…my mom was exiled from there!"
"Yes?" N said, raising an eyebrow. "So?"
"So?" Will seemed frustrated. "How can you so easily make a protégé out of someone from Aetherfall! They're…"
"Evil? Bad people?" N interrupted her, looking at her with a strict gaze. "Since Cassidy is from Aetherfall too, as is Susan, as am I. As would you have been, and maybe are. Tell me, do you think I'm a bad person? Or your mother?"
Will reddened. "That was not what I meant." She mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Of course not." N's gaze softened and he smiled at her. "You must realize that, because one person or some persons from a country did bad things, leaving the interpretation of bad open for the time being, does not mean that everyone from that country is the same."
Will didn't look at him and nodded. N's voice had been calm, but she still had the feeling that he had been angered by what she had said. She much rather had him be angry at her than this calm behaviour.
"Now," N said, "Let us continue to the north. I have business to attend to. If you have any question, you may ask them, and if I deem them appropriate, I shall answer them."
…
Caleb had arrived at the scene and quickly took everything in. The opening of the mine was intact, but thick smoke came out of it, seeing as it was the only entrance. In front of it, a large amount of stone had collapsed, blocking a large part of the road to the entrance. He saw a few limbs sticking out between the boulders, and he wondered how many people were trapped under the boulders. Perhaps some were still alive? Guards were collecting some of the material, seeing as the blast had thrown some things down in the resulting shockwave. Flags were quickly put back up, valuables taken from the ground…
"What are you doing?" Caleb yelled, clearly angry at the people at the scene. "There are people trapped beneath those boulders, and you go to put up flags again?!"
Caleb quickly signaled his guards to help him search for survivors. "Jerry, take some guards and check those limbs! Maybe someone is still alive. You three, with me!"
"Yes, sir, right away." Jerry said as he complied. "You four, with me."
Caleb noticed a large crowd starting to gather at the scene, consisting of mostly villagers. Pikes came his way through the crowd, signaling the arrival of Duchess Alexandra and the city watch. She was accompanied by a few diplomats and their guards.
"Caleb? Why is it that when something happens, you're involved?" Duchess Alexandra asked.
"Involved?" Caleb said, clearly not amused. "Maybe I'm just attentive and immediately rushed here to see what happened. My guards are currently seeing if there are people still alive, buried under these rocks!"
He pointed at Jerry and the four guards dragging a body out of the rubble. One of the guards shook his head, as he tried to feel for a pulse.
Duchess Alexandra scanned the area. "City watch, help them! Try to find survivors!"
The city watch immediately rushed out to help, except for two, who were seemingly under different orders.
"What happened?" a person from the crowd asked, coming forward. It was Heigewegen, one of the diplomats from Adalian.
"No news yet." Duchess Alexandra said. "We just arrived at the scene as well. From what we know, there has been an explosion in the mine."
"We need to get inside the mine, look for any survivors. Maybe, if someone survived, they can tell us what happened." Said Lorenz, representative of Idylswylde.
"I agree." Caleb said. "There have to be some clues as to what happened."
Duchess Alexandra looked at the entrance to the mine. "Are you sure? We don't know what caused the explosion. There may be a second one."
Some mumbling arose out of everyone. They seemingly agreed.
'Caleb, I've found Hay-Lin, Cornelia and Irma and they are secured at the camp. What are the plans?' Taranee suddenly said telepathically.
'Send a quick letter to Aetherfall. They need to know this happened. Then, come to the Cressali camp and contact me. I'll tell you where I am when you get here.' Caleb responded.
'I'll be there soon.' Taranee responded, before breaking contact.
"Luckily for us," Caleb said, "I have the archmage's apprentice with me. You know her, she was with me at the introductory meeting. Which, now that I think of it, has been the only meeting. Anyways, she can use her magic to try and find out what happened."
"So we have to trust the words of one of your fellow companions?" Lorenz said, looking at him with squinted eyes. "After you were on the scene where Sharon was found dead? We should trust you?"
"Do not start accusing each other!" Duchess Alexandra said, clearly frustrated. "And besides, we couldn't find any evidence that he was involved. It has been checked, and his testimony was correct."
"It seems they've found a survivor." Heidewegen said as he pointed towards Jerry.
Jerry waved that someone had to come. "We found a survivor! Send help please!"
Duchess Alexandra turned to her two remaining guards. "You, find Dominic. You, get some medics over here!"
The two guards nodded and turned around.
"Found Dominic, my lady." The remaining guard said, stepping aside to let Dominic get to Duchess Alexandra.
"I'm sorry I took so long. I was outside of the city walls, and those people are really blocking the way. I've instructed the guards that ran along with me to keep them on a safe distance from us. What's the situation?"
"We don't know yet, Dominic. Although we have found a survivor. We are waiting for the medics." Duchess Alexandra said.
"A survivor? Where?" Dominic asked.
Caleb pointed at Jerry, and Dominic ran over to him, only slowing down when the rocks were too tricky.
"When is that archmage's apprentice coming, Caleb?" Heidewegen said. "It seems the situation out here is in control, but the mine itself might not be safe yet. We need to know."
'Taranee, where…?' Caleb asked.
'I'm in the crowd, I'll be there shortly.'
"She will arrive shortly." Caleb said, his voice calm.
They waited about half a minute in silence, during which everyone seemed a little agitated. Taranee suddenly slipped out of the crowd and ran towards Caleb.
"I'm here. Irma, Cornelia and Hay-Lin are safe in camp."
Caleb nodded. "Excellent. Taranee, we need to know if the inside of the mine is safe."
Taranee looked at the entrance, which was still leaking large amounts of smoke. She murmured.
"We mean, outside of the smoke." Lorenz said, rolling his eyes.
Taranee ignored him and kept staring at the entrance.
"There are three paths inside the mine. Two of them are destroyed, collapsing large parts of the inside of the mine. The other path is traversable, but some parts of the road have narrowed due to boulders falling on it. I can see bodies lying everywhere and some kind of string, leading to the deepest part of that path. I don't know if any of them are still alive, but I highly doubt it. If they weren't killed by the blast, the smoke will surely suffocate them. The string…leads to a detonator. It seems the entire mine should have collapsed, causing part of the earth around the camp to create a pit, taking the camp with it. One of the detonators didn't go off, thus resulting in only a partial destruction. It seems there are two people in the chamber with the detonator."
"Can you get us an image of them?" Caleb asked. "They're in a room with an undestroyed detonator. Maybe one of them was supposed to let it go off."
Taranee spread her arms out and started making movements. Her arms circled around in front of her and seemed to make a pulling movement towards her at times. She made a circle over her head with her right arm and pulled again. She kept repeating the movements and slowly, part of the smoke seemed to come towards her. It created two figures of smoke, hovering in front of them. Caleb and Taranee were shocked. In front of them hung a normal worker with a large cut in him, with blood made from thicker smoke coming out of him, and someone with a broken mask, heavy leather armor and a sword in his hand. Smoke blood gushed over his face and his hands and from a part of his armor.
"But, that's…!" Taranee exclaimed.
"That guy that was spotted on the rooftop, yeah! The one we thought might be responsible for the death of Sharon!" Caleb said.
"Excuse me?" Lorenz said, looking at smoke figures hanging in front of him. The crowd behind him seemed fixated on them too.
"Some guards saw a figure that looks like him on the rooftop on the building directly on the other side. They said it's face shone, which Taranee and I thought to be a metallic mask. And here, suddenly, a man with that description shows up inside the blown up mine." Caleb explained.
"So, what you're saying is, you're the only ones to know about this person?" Heidewegen said. "So, you're the only connection to him?"
Caleb's face contorted. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"
"Funny how you were the first one to be at Gatsby's location after her death. And you say you suspected this person for killing her? Maybe you knew all the time he had done it. Under your orders. You were there first because you were watching! And you were the first one here too!" Lorenz said.
"No false accusations!" Duchess Alexandra exclaimed. "We need evidence!"
"Or maybe," Caleb said, ignoring the duchess, "I was just going for the same walk I make every morning and stumbled upon that scène by accident. Also, Dominic looked into my mind and certified I was not involved in that."
"That's true!" The duchess said, glad that Caleb sided with her.
"Also, maybe I care enough about human lives and what happens here to almost instantaneously react to an explosion. An explosion seems to be kind of a big deal usually. But you must surely disagree, Lorenz, since it took you a while to come here."
Lorenz and Caleb exchanged glares, but duchess Alexandra intervened.
"Stop these accusations at once! You all have no proof."
'Caleb, I advise you not to go further. We mustn't seek conflict.' Taranee said.
'They both accused me, I'm just defending myself. It seems like Lorenz has taken a much more aggressive stance since Gatsby's death. Maybe he thinks it's his time to shine now.' Caleb said.
'Defending or attacking doesn't matter. Stop this at once.' Taranee said with a glare, grabbing his arm.
"The duchess is right." Taranee said, and Caleb nodded. "We have no proof. The best thing we can do is clear the mine of smoke and search the insides of it carefully."
Dominic came rushing back, announcing his return with loud jumps over the rocks.
"I think we might have a large problem."
"What do you mean?" Duchess Alexandra asked.
Dominic pointed at Jerry and the guards, who were bringing the survivor to them.
"Everything he said I've checked. It's all true."
They all waited until the survivor was in front of them, clinging himself to the two guards that were supporting him.
"What is it?" Duchess Alexandra asked.
"Tell them what you told us." Dominic said.
The survivor looked at them and then to the ground. He didn't seem to want to say it.
"He told us that he had, about half an hour before the explosion, seen a man wanting to enter the mine, but he initially refused him access." Dominic started, but he was interrupted by the survivor.
"And right I was! That metallic mask made it so I couldn't see his face. He insisted however, claiming that he had been sent specifically to talk to someone in the mine. He said he had come for information. He showed me some paper, with a signature I recognized as yours, my lady."
They all looked at the duchess, who looked flabbergasted. "Sign a paper? I didn't sign anything!"
"With your signature, my lady, I thought it was authorized, spoken about with all of the representatives. But then the mine exploded and I was buried under rubble." His voice seemed harsh as he continues on. "It's all my fault, I should've never let that traitor in!"
"This man?" Taranee asked, pointing at the smoke figure behind her.
The survivor looked at it and seemed distraught, tears rolling down his face. "Yes! Him!"
"Did he mention who sent him?" Lorenz asked.
The man looked at the party and muttered some words.
"Excuse me?" Caleb asked.
"It was…"
"Who sent him?" Lorenz asked, a bit angry.
"He said he obeyed the commands of Adalian, my lords and ladies."
A large shock went through the group and everyone seemed to turn to Heidewegen simultaneously. He, too, looked shocked.
"Impossible! Are you absolutely sure?" He asked, his voice sounding very loud.
The man nodded and soon the party seemed to devolve into chaos. Duchess Alexandra requested everyone to stay calm and let an investigation be opened, Lorenz made the accusation of the murder of Gatsby to Heidewegen while Heidewegen firmly denounced any involvement. Caleb and Taranee stood by and waited for a little while until everything seemed to calm down. Von Trente, the other Adalian representative then arrived at the scène with a group of guards and near simultaneously a group of Idylswyldian guards arrived as well. The crowd seemed fearful and started to disperse, seeing as the unhappy faces of the representatives and the increasing amount of soldiers might not be a good sign for things to come. Von Trente wanted the survivor, whose name was Thom Garvin, to be taken into custody and surrendered to Adalian, while Lorenz thought this to be out of the question. Caleb argued that, since Garvin was a key witness, he could not be entrusted to either of the larger governments and proposed the Duchess to have Cryssandor keep Garvin held. Interrogations could only be conducted while representatives of the major governments were present. Everyone agreed and dispersed, commanding their soldiers to stand down. The tension seemed to have risen tenfold since the explosion happened. Caleb and Taranee then returned to camp. As Caleb arrived, he got a message from one of the guards.
"Someone wants to talk to you, my lord. He requests the attendance of lady Taranee as well. He awaits you in your chamber."
Caleb nodded. "Send a message to Aetherfall that a mine has collapsed, and that a witness said it was on the orders of Adalian."
The guard nodded. "Right away sir."
"Taranee, come."
…
N and Will had arrived at the place N was wanting to go to. Will had constantly been asking him questions along the way, and as he had said he had answered them if he had deemed them fit. Thus, he had revealed who the other guardians were, that he had been her predecessor and that she would join them soon. Unfortunately, she also asked questions he would not rather answer, such as where they were going, why he didn't like to go there and why he and Cassidy had such beautiful rings and were so old, yet had no children. She had also asked if Cassidy had been a guardian too, to which he had replied with a simple nod. He had refused to answer any questions about the other ex-Guardians, though.
But now, they had finally arrived. N looked at the giant stone gate, which held the entrance to the enclosed city which had doomed up before them.
"A city of stone enclosed by an enormous stone igloo. Never thought I'd see that in my life." Will commented.
"Hope you never might see it again." N said, causing Will to look at him.
N sighed and knocked three times. The gate slowly slid open, revealing a man in long brown robes standing behind it. He had a long reddish and brown beard, with long brown hair. He wore black boots and had a pinkish jewel embedded in a ring. It seemed similar in colour to the pinkish crystal in N's staff, but it was not quite the same. N's jewel seemed a lot more bright.
"Ah, Nicholas!" The man said, grinning and spreading his arms wide. N flinched a little when he heard his full name. "What a pleasant surprise!"
N didn't smile back and didn't make any move to show he would accept the hug. "Killian." He simply said.
"Come in! Ah, I see you have a wonderful young girl with you as well. The new Guardian of Quintessence, I may presume?"
Will nodded.
"Well then, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Killian Winchworth, I serve the Oracle of Kandrakar. But N, I thought you had said you'd never come back to this place ever again."
N's eyes flashed from one place in the city to another, never looking at something for more than a second. "And I would've not come here had it not been an absolute necessity. You know the deal as well as I do, Killian. You were there."
Only now did N's eyes rest on Killian. "But before that, I need to contact a few people. That's why I am here."
Will looked from N to Killian. N shot a small gaze at Will, clearly showing 'later' as an answer to her unspoken question.
"Very well. Still as demanding as ever, I see." Killian said with a small smile. "This way."
"I know the way." N said, walking further.
"He seems a bit tense." Will said to Killian, who walked next of her.
Killian smiled. "He and I have a bit of a history. He has always found it a bit troubling to be here or in my presence."
Will opened her mouth, but N turned around and gazed at her, again telling her 'later'. Will kept her mouth shut.
N's eyes gazed from one place to another very rapidly. Images shot through his mind, images he didn't want to see. He never thought he'd be back here. He had made a deal with the Oracle that he would visit him through another place, as to not have to come here again. But now he was necessitated to come here due to Susan's injury bringing him too far away from the point he actually had to be. So, he had had to improvise. Even if he didn't like it, this was the only way to fulfill his promise to the Oracle and Cassidy. He was doing this more so for Cassidy, than for the Oracle. He grudgingly walked further, remembering exactly why he didn't want to be here ever again.
"Why is he quickly looking at certain locations, then as fast as he can look away from it again?" Will asked quietly to Killian.
Killian looked at N and then looked at Will. "If he has not told you the full story, then it is not my task to tell you. Let me just say that it has to do with Nicholas' history with this place and with me. You see, N is gifted with a very strong memory. Usually, this happens to help him, as you would imagine. You'd never forget anything. But that's precisely the problem. The archmage never forgets. He remembers everything, not only the happy things. He remembers pain and mistakes as well."
"So, when N is looking at those places…he remembers something?" Will asked. "Something bad?"
"Precisely." Killian said.
"What is he remembering?" Will asked, suddenly getting the feeling N was listening in.
"If he has not told you, it is not my duty to do so." Killian said wisely.
N had stood still in front of two large stones, made of bright white marble, contrasting against the beige stone walls. Will looked at it. On each stone, a name was inscribed. Kadma and Halinor. Will looked at N, who stoically looked at the stones. He tore his view away from it and kept on going. Will looked at the names.
'The archmage never forgets…'
Will looked at N and Killian took her along, following N again. Will was smart enough to know not to ask who those people were, and to know Killian would not answer the question if she asked. N had once again looked at certain spots as they had taken several spots. Will suddenly noticed she hadn't seen anyone along the way.
"Are you the only one living here? Alongside this Oracle?" Will asked.
"Oh, no." Killian said, "A lot of people live here."
"Then why is there no-one around?" Will asked.
Killian smiled and yelled at N. "The new guardian seems to like asking painful questions."
"Tell me about it." N grumbled.
"If I was doing something wrong, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I just…" Will said.
"Didn't I tell you I would explain later?" N said, "I thought I had made that clear."
"Now, N." Killian said. "Don't be so mean to this lady. She doesn't know and you haven't told her. Of course she will be confused and ask questions."
N looked at him furiously. "Fine. They're all evading me. There, happy with your answer?"
Will looked at N. "N…I…"
N turned around and walked on. "Can we now go on? I needed to talk to some people, remember?"
Killian took Will along. "Don't mind his behaviour." He said, "He always gets this tense around here. It's not your fault. But maybe it is best to listen to N's advice and not ask any questions anymore. After all, he did tell you he would explain later."
Will nodded. "Hey, wait a minute. Didn't you just say…?"
But Killian had already left her and was walking next to N, who was looking more tense and angry by the second.
"And how's Cassidy doing? Better than Kadma and Halinor I presume?" Killian asked.
"She's alive and fine, thank you very much." N said.
"I wouldn't expect anything less. After all, she married you. Willingly." Killian said with a small grin, placing emphasis on the last word.
N didn't answer.
"And your son?"
"Doing fine as well." N said.
"I don't think you're so sure. Isn't he the one who you want to contact?" Killian said.
"There are many people I want to contact Killian, and my son is indeed one of them. However he is a very capable swordsman and surrounded by my apprentice and the rest of the guardians, so I'm sure they will be fine."
"Of course, of course. But, he's surrounded by your apprentice and the rest of the guardians? Why? Can't he handle it alone? Or is he somewhere dangerous? It would be just like you to put those dearest to you in the most dangerous places after all." Killian said.
"He's in Cryssandor, and I don't put the people I hold dearest in the most dangerous places!"
"Not anymore, maybe, but you certainly used to." Killian retorted.
"Marcus Escanor sent him there, I had no say in it!" N responded furiously.
"He wouldn't have needed to go there had you not fabricated him." Killian retorted.
"You dare say I shouldn't have given him life at all? My only son?" N yelled.
"Did you start caring for the boy, Nicholas? After all, we both know what happens to those you care about." Killian said calmly.
"And so what if I started caring?!" N asked.
"He's a tool!" Killian asked.
"He's a human being!" N retorted.
"Also, he's with your apprentice, you said? Nice to hear you got yourself an apprentice. And, did you teach her all your tricks? Everything you have up your sleeve? All your darkest magical secrets?" Killian asked, gazing at N.
"Oh, look, we've arrived!" N exclaimed, looking away from Killian and to the door they were standing in front.
Killian didn't say something and looked at Will, as did N when he thought of her. Will seemed a little distraught over the arguing of both men. N looked at her and his gaze became softer.
"Will…" he started, "Come inside with me, please."
He sounded the most calm he had been since they had entered. Will nodded and entered the chamber with N. N closed the door and shut Killian out. The room was perfectly round, with a large mirror in it. Will opened her mouth, but then closed it again.
"You may ask." N said. He sounded tired.
"What was that all about?" Will asked.
"Killian hates me." N simply said.
"But he was so nice to us at the start! He is nice to me!" Will said.
"He has no reason to hate you, so he's friendly. He and I…something happened that caused us to hate each other. I will tell you later. The other guardians have to hear too, as does my son." N said.
"Your son?" Will asked. "He was with…hey, wait a second. Does that mean…is Caleb your son? I thought he was your protégé!"
"He doesn't know I am his father, and he must not yet know. It's too dangerous to let that leak right now. When you meet him, you may not tell, understood? Also, only at the end of this will he fully understand. He may hate me then, too, who knows. But that's fine. It seems like all I can do is make people hate me." N said.
"Don't say that!" Will exclaimed. "I don't hate you!"
N smiled. "Nice of you to say, but I'm sure that at the end you will hate me too."
"Never!" Will said. "I'll never do that!"
N and Will looked at each other. Will saw something in N's eyes. Maybe…he was thankful?
"But why was Killian so nice to you at the start then? Why was he nice when we arrived?"
N shook his head. "He wasn't. My friends call me N. He called me Nicholas. It might not seem like much to you, but to me it matters, and he knows. Maybe he even talked to you partly out of interest, partly to annoy me. I don't know."
Will opened her mouth, but questions eluded her and she became silent. N noticed she had no more questions for the time being and seized the moment.
"Do you see that mirror?" he asked, causing Will to nod. "Let me give you a clue about what it does."
He stood in front of it, but there was no reflection. "Do you know?"
"It's a mirror, but it doesn't create a reflection of the person standing in front of it." Will said, causing N to smile at her in confirmation. "So…it reflects something else? Something which we cannot see yet?"
N nodded. "Yes. This is a special mirror, made in Kandrakar many years ago. It does, as you had already deduced, not show you yourself, but it shows you what you would see if you were there. That may sound a little vague, so allow me to demonstrate."
N spread his arms and looked at the mirror. "Pord Lartsa."
The mirror's surface seemed to vibrate and when it became smooth again, they saw Susan laying sleeping on a couch, her upper body exposed, except for her breasts, which had been covered by a blanket. Cassidy was bent over her and placing a substance on her side.
"Cassidy." N said, causing Cassidy to startle and hurt Susan, who winced a little, but didn't wake up.
Cassidy turned around and looked at what seemingly was N.
"N? I thought you were going to the Oracle. What are you doing…wait, is this a…?"
"Yes, Cassidy, I'm speaking to you through the mirror." N said, causing Cassidy to smile and nod.
"Of course." Cassidy said. "Checking up on me and Susan, I presume?"
"Yes." N said, "I wanted to show Will what the mirror did and at the same time allow her to check up on her mother."
"So attentive and caring." Cassidy said, causing N to wince at the last word. Cassidy looked at him. "Honey, is Killian there?"
N mumbled under his breath. "Maybe."
"N, we talked about this so many times." Cassidy said, wagging her finger at him. "Don't let him get to you. Just try to evade conflict."
"I did evade him, I just defended myself from his…he mocked our marriage!" N said, becoming red.
"So?" Cassidy said. "Let him. I love you, and you love me. That's all that matters, right. Let him talk, that man knows nothing."
N seemingly relaxed when she insulted Killian. "How is Susan?"
Cassidy looked at her. "She's doing a lot better than when you came here, but it'll take a while for her to heal."
"But she's under your care, right?" Will suddenly asked. "So, she will be fine?"
Cassidy laughed. "It's funny to hear a girl's voice come from your image, N. But yes, I'll care for her, of course. When you get back here she should be able to at least walk, although I still won't let her do things like lifting by then, I think. It depends on how quickly she recovers. Let's just hope it's fast."
Will leaned against the wall and sighed. N nodded at Cassidy.
"Thanks, Cass. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"N," Cassidy said, "I just remembered something. It tried sending this earlier through the ring, but I didn't know how to activate it."
"Keep your hand over it and think of me, then it'll contact me. But what did you want to tell?"
"When I placed Susan in bed and came to the kitchen to get hot water, two soldiers came passing by, talking about the events in Cryssandor. They said they had gotten a message from Cryssandor and that an ambassador had been assassinated, and they wondered what Escanor would do. There have been no movements from troops or something for as far as I know since then."
N stroked his beard. "Right. I'll contact Caleb as well and ask him what happened exactly. Thanks, Cass."
"Send him hugs and kisses for me, okay?" Cass asked.
"Ehm, yeah, sure." N said, reddening a bit, causing Will to giggle.
"Bye, N."
"Astral Drop."
The image of Cassidy disappeared. N looked at Will. "Do you now know how the mirror works?"
"Maybe." Will said. "Cassidy first thought you were there, right? But you're not. So the mirror must've made an image of you appear in that house, no?"
N smiled and nodded. "Exactly. The reflection you would see in the mirror is projected to the place you think of. That projection is called an Astral Drop. It does not necessarily need to be standing on the ground, if I wanted to I could've been hanging to the ceiling and just observing. But, now, I need to talk to and check up on some people. I want you to be completely silent, unless I tell you otherwise, okay?"
"Okay." Will said.
N focused on the mirror again. "Pord Lartsa."
A dungeon became visible. A little girl was sitting in one of the corners and startled when he appeared. She looked dirty, but well fed. "What is…?"
N placed a finger over his mouth and looked at the entrance to the dungeon. Elyon looked at him. "N? How are you here? I didn't see you come through the door?"
"I'm not really here." N whispered. "I'll explain later. I'm just checking up on you. How are you doing?"
"Well, better than before I met you. I can now transfigure my food so that it's different! I can also make small sparks in my hands, look." Elyon indeed made small sparks. "I didn't even know I could do any of this before I saw you."
N smiled at het. "Very well. Listen, I don't know when I will see you again or how soon that will be if it does happen. Have you hidden these abilities from the guards?"
"Of course, you did so too, right?"
"Excellent. They may not know." N said.
He wanted to open his mouth again, but Elyon interrupted him.
"My brother came here to look at the necklace you gave me when you left." She said.
N looked at her. "Phobos?"
Elyon nodded. "Yeah. Why? Are there multiple brothers I have?"
"No, just Phobos." N said. His face showed he was in thought. Elyon thought she could hear something and wondered if that were the gears in his head turning and producing thoughts. She wondered how that worked, having gears in your head.
"Of course." He whispered. "And what did he say about it?"
"That it was a nice looking necklace." She said, causing N to smile.
"Elyon, if someone introduces itself to you and says he or she is there on my orders, trust that person, okay?" N said, sounding strict.
"Okay. Why?"
"It's of the utmost importance you do. You might be in danger otherwise."
Elyon looked scared and pulled up her knees. "Okay, I'll do it."
"Astral Drop." N said and his image disappeared, leaving Elyon alone.
"Who was that?" Will asked, but N ignored her.
"Pord Lartsa." He said as he spread his arms again.
This time he was not standing in front of a person, but was having an eagle's view of Cryssandor. He saw large encampments over the hills, but when he counted them, he had one less army than he had city states.
"Oh, that's not good. Astral Drop. Pord Lartsa."
This time, he appeared in the middle of a tent, startling a guard. "I'm here for General Caleb of Aetherfall and his partner lady Taranee, apprentice of the archmage of Aetherfall. I wish to speak with them immediately."
"Very well, sir." The guard said, still a little shocked by N's sudden appearance.
After a little while, Caleb and Taranee entered the tent.
"N?" They said, simultaneously, but N rose his hand.
"Tell me everything that happened in Cryssandor since you arrived."
Caleb and Taranee brought him up to speed on the current events. N's face showed no emotion or shock as they told and he only walked through the tent afterwards as he thought about the events.
"It's a frame. Someone's trying to frame Adalian. I do not believe they would do such a thing." N said, thinking But I know who would afterwards. "However, there is no proof. This might escalate if things continue on like this. And if it does, you'll be outnumbered Caleb."
"What do you mean?" Caleb asked.
"Everyone has an army here, except you, Caleb." N said calmly.
"Impossible." Taranee exclaimed. "They'd never do such a thing!"
"I've seen the armies, they're over the hills, all at approximately the same distance from here. Not the entire royal armies of every country are here, but at least a few platoons. Some might arrive slightly faster than others, but they'd meet fairly rapidly if they were called." N said with his gaze on Taranee. "You underestimate politics and desires. You must write a message to Aetherfall that they must send you an army here, as the others have. Not for open combat, but as to deter the others from attacking you. The others know about Aetherfall's military supremacy. Tell them to move silently, they must not be seen or the propaganda machines will do their work."
"They'd have to march two weeks to get here, they'll never be here in time if things like assassinations and sabotage keep happening." Caleb said.
N wandered around the room in thought. "I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it'll work. It'll depend on Harold…but, what other choice do I have?"
Caleb and Taranee looked at each other. They had never seen N in such a pondering state before. "He seems a little tense." N heard Taranee whisper. N then turned to Caleb and Taranee.
"The last guardian will arrive here soon. Taranee, I want you to be close to Caleb, Irma, Cornelia and Hay-Lin at all times."
Taranee nodded. "Sure, but…"
"I'll explain later. Astral Drop."
N's image disappeared, shocking Taranee and Caleb.
Will looked intrigued at N as he talked through the mirror to different people. She had just seen Caleb and Taranee, and N had said she, Will, would arrive at their location soon. She wondered why she had to go there and what her purpose would be.
"Pord Lartsa." N said, this time appearing in a castle. A man sat, or rather hung in his seat, hair in front of his eyes. He was eating, but didn't look too good. He looked up when he noticed N's projection and became angry almost immediately.
"You!" Harold said. "What are you doing here! First you take my daughter away, and now…you've come to gloat, didn't you?!"
N stayed calm and stared at him. "Harold. Your daughters are in danger. Armies are converging upon the city state of Cryssandor and your daughters will be caught in the middle of it. They can defend themselves and hold their own, but they need you."
Harold stared at him. "First you dare take her away from me to put her in danger, and now you want me to get her out of there? You want me to clean up your mess?"
"I want you to do your fatherly duties and protect your children!" N said.
"They're no children of mine!" Harold sputtered.
"They are as much your children as they would have been had they truly been from your blood. It doesn't matter if they're adopted or not. They see you as your family! Come to their aid. At least you'd be a better father than I am."
Harold seemed shocked. "You have a child?"
"In the same place as your daughters are. But I can't be there when he needs me. I'm too horrible a father." N said, staring at Harold, who smiled at him, clearly gloating.
"Astral Drop." N disappeared, and Harold looked at his plate, lost in thought.
"You're not a horrible father!" Will exclaimed, "You're putting all these pieces in motion, just to keep him safe. You're doing more than he is!"
"I knew that he would like to hear that." N simply said. "Now, the final visit. Pord Lartsa."
The mirror showed the throne room this time, with Marcus Escanor sitting in his large black throne, listening to two advisors.
"…is escalating. It seems this conflict will not be settled with diplomacy in the way it is there now. We need to intervene directly."
"But not with the army." The other advisor said. "We need to show how serious we take these accusations and that we want this resolved. Perhaps we should consider sending one of the council members. I'd dare say they will never dare to attack one of them."
Escanor nodded. "I've been thinking about that too. But no council member will go. I shall go myself."
The advisors seemed shocked. "But, my lord…"
"I have heard that the other kings and queens are also on their way there. They too realize that the current way of handling things will not work and that we can only resolve this as rulers amongst each other."
"What if it's a trick to gather all the kings and queens at the same place and wipe them out in one fell swoop?" The first advisor said.
"It's no trick. I can guarantee you that." Escanor said confidently. "I shall go myself."
"But…"
"I do not want to hear any of your counter arguments, Reynolds. Otherwise I'll have you end up like Set. We do quite remember what happened to him, do we not? Or must we refresh your memory?" Escanor asked with a small grin, while looking at Reynolds.
"No, that will not be needed." Reynolds said softly.
"Excellent." Escanor replied. "Fermier, ready my carriage. I will set out at dusk."
"Yes, my lord." Fermier said, as he rushed out of the room.
"Astral Drop." N whispered, causing his image to disappear. "Excellent, excellent." He muttered.
He looked at Will. "Let's go."
They exited the room and Killian walked up to them again. "Contacted who you had to?"
N immediately seemed to become more tense again. "Yes. Now I shall fulfill the deal. Come, Will."
N and Will left towards the middle of the city, with Killian in hot pursuit, constantly reminding N about how nice the city was and that it was unfortunate you couldn't use magic here anymore, and general jests at N. N only murmured things, quite likely planning in grotesque detail how he, if it were up to him, would kill Killian. They arrived at the center of the city, which was marked by a large stone square, of which the inside was carved away. A pinkish glow hang as some sort of curtain in front of the square, the same pinkish glow that came from N's jewel.
"Go on then." Killian said. "Or are you…chickening out? Become too attached again?"
But N wasn't listening and stepped through the portal, causing Killian to frown. Will followed suit. As she stepped through the portal, she entered a large white round room, full of cushions and tables with objects on them that she did not know. Large statues filled the room and she was sure the water in the waterfall was going the other way. In the middle of the room was a round pond, with lilies laying in it. In the middle of the pond was a small white cushion, with a man sitting on it. He had a symbol on his head which looked like the jewel in N's staff. N bowed to the man.
"Oracle, I have come to fulfill the deal, as I had promised."
The Oracle looked at him and then to Will. "Is this the new Guardian of Quintessence, Will Vandom of Aetherfall?"
Will seemed a little nervous. N nodded.
"Give her the Heart." The Oracle said, solemnly.
The Oracle rose his hand and a necklace appeared in N's left hand. He looked at the Oracle and then to his staff. He placed the necklace around his neck and took the jewel from his staff he placed it in the necklace and took it off again. The pink jewel now lay in his palm, slowly pulsating. He turned to Will and held his hand out. N didn't let it escape his sight. The Heart filled his eyes. He had been together with it for a long time. He felt as though he had to let go of an old friend. You don't leave friends behind, now, do you? No, you keep those close to you. Protect them if you have to. His fingers felt the Heart and he thought the pulse felt the same as his own heart's. He wondered if he could just… and then the Heart was rolling of his fingers. Will had picked it up and placed it around her neck. He only had a little bit of pinkish substance on his middle finger, which had held it the longest. He quickly placed it in his pocket.
"So…What does it do?" Will asked, causing the Oracle to raise an eyebrow.
"Will, when you get in Cryssandor, I want you to give the other guardians a message…"
…
They quickly left the room through the portal again, seeing Killian again, who seemed surprised when Will had the Heart.
"Horses. Now." N commanded.
Killian reluctantly, and silently, took them to the stables and gave each of them horses.
"Will, ride to Cryssandor." N waved his hand and the horse shook his head a little. "Your horse will know where to go."
"Aren't you coming with me?" Will asked.
N shook his head. "I'll have other business to attend. Listen, find Caleb and the other guardians, then, give them the message. You know what Caleb and Taranee look like. Give them the message. I'll arrive later. The horses will know how to come back here after you leave them."
Will nodded and ordered her horse to ride. N looked after her until she was out of sight. He looked around at the giant city. He then looked forward, ordered his horse to ride and went in a different direction than Will.
[A/N] So, quite a lot happened. Will now has the Heart, Adalian is being suspect in sabotage and the murder of Sharon Gatsby, N is tormented by his past and Susan almost died, causing Will to kill again. Also, Escanor is on his way to Cryssandor. Cryssandor seems to be heating up, and the presence of armies makes the situation all the more dangerous. Will is on her way to unite the Guardians at last, but will she be in time? Review! [A/N]
