Chapter 9

Clare decided to exit the room when Udonna started analysing the spell on Koragg's armor. She had tried doing something similar once and knew that losing concentration was the worst thing that could happen.

She took Udonna's journal with her, because they didn't need it anymore. Sometimes Clare read them and each time their contents were weird. Sure, there was a lot of useful information, but there was also an awful lot of blank spaces between notes. Clare suspected that Udonna didn't want her to see some parts of journals. She didn't mind, really. Maybe it was something personal.

When she got to the main room, she saw Nick. He noticed her and said:

"Finally! I thought there was no one here."

"Well, Udonna and I spent a lot of time in Koragg's room. We managed to fix his leg, you know? Okay, it was Udonna who did it, but I was helping her." She noticed that at the mention of Koragg, Nick scowled in annoyance, so she quickly changed the topic. "Uhh, and what brings you here?"

He plopped down on the nearest chair and crossed his arms. "Did something happen last night? I didn't get any sleep because of these weird magical outbursts."

Clare was very impressed. This kind of magical awareness was typical only to the strongest wizards. Was Nick really so powerful?

"Oh, yes, and it was horrible. The Master attacked Koragg and took away his magic. Udonna and I tried to stop him, but it didn't work and we were really exhausted afterwards. We even fell asleep in his room!"

Nick suddenly looked very interested. "Took away his magic, hmm? Serves him right."

She huffed in irritation. Did he always have to be so nasty? "Hey, actually he's not so bad when you get to know him a little! Maybe he's not very polite, but he deserves to be treated like a normal person."

"Great, another one who is defending him! Can't you all understand? He's been trying to kill us since we met! Why should we help him?"

Suddenly Clare realized something. "Now that I think of it, he never tried to kill any of us. I mean, look at how many chances he had! And yet, he usually just walked away. Don't you think it's strange?"

Nick just laughed. "I'm sure it was all just an act. He can't be trusted." He sighed. "Enough of this. You won't convince me. By the way, where are Daggeron and Udonna?"

Clare was glad about the change of topic. Arguing with Nick was like talking to a wall. "I didn't meet Daggeron today, but he might be training somewhere in forest. Udonna's in Koragg's room. She's analysing the spell on his armor, so you better not go there."

All of sudden a voice sounded from behind her. "In fact, I've just finished."

Clare spun around and saw her mentor. She looked as if she'd seen a ghost.

"What's wrong? Is the spell too hard to break?"

Udonna shook her head. "No, I've found a way. It's good that you're here, Nick. You're the only one who is able to break the spell."

He shrugged at this. "I don't give a shit. For all I care, he can rot in this armor."

"Nick, taking his armor off won't help him a bit, if that's what you're worried about," Udonna said, apparently getting irritated with Nick's behavior.

"So why do you want me to do it? I thought you wanted to help him?"

Something flashed in her eyes. "I have to... see his face."

Clare narrowed her eyes in confusion. Of course, she was also curious about how his face looked like, but Udonna's tone suggested that there was more to it.

Apparently Nick decided to voice her thoughts. "Why is it so important?"

Udonna pursed her lips, but her answer was more or less composed. "I think he may be someone I know."

It seemed like Nick was battling with his thoughts. He fell silent for a moment, but at last he ground out:

"Fine. I'll do it, but don't expect anything else!"

Nick grasped the concept of magic laser pretty quickly. It required a lot of concentration, because fire magic was hard to tame, especially when it had to be compressed into a small laser beam. Udonna didn't expect that someone as impatient as Nick would be able to master it in such short time. She had to admit he was an impressive wizard.

When the time to lift the spell from Koragg's armor came, Udonna warned Nick:

"I suggest you to be at least polite to him, otherwise you'll end up quarelling and you won't accomplish anything."

He sighed in defeat. "I'll try." She knew that was the best she could count on from him.

Nick looked at her suspiciously. "But you will be there with me? You know, in case something happens?"

Udonna wanted to say 'no'. She didn't think she would be able to keep a calm façade. That, and she was still a little embarrassed after she'd nearly ran out of Koragg's room upon hearing about his memories. Realizing she was quiet for too long, she forced herself to say:

"Of course I will. So, shall we go in?"

He nodded tensely and opened the door to Koragg's room.

The witch's behavior disconcerted Koragg greatly. Why did she run off like that? Did she forget about something? No answer presented itself to him. And the look she got on her face – almost if she was afraid of something.

These thoughts were still buzzing in his head when the door opened. An unusual sight greeted him. The Red Ranger stood there with his arms crossed. So the Sorceress managed to convince him after all. Behind him were the witch and her apprentice, both looking very nervous.

The Red Ranger approached him and said: "I want to be over with this as quickly as possible, so don't make this hard for me."

For once Koragg agreed with him, so he nodded in approval.

"I should start with his helmet, right?" the Red Ranger asked the witch. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, but eventually said:

"No. I still have to heal his right forearm. It's more important." He nodded.

Koragg watched as he took out his morpher and pointed it at the piece of armor covering the forearm. Ranger's eyes narrowed in concentration and suddenly a red thin beam shot out from the tip of his morpher. Sparks started to fly in every direction. Laser effortlessly cut through the layers of his armor.

After some time the Red Ranger was done. He carefully took off the piece of armor and put it aside. Then something unexpected happened. The black glove slowly became grey and cracks appeared on it. Koragg moved his right hand slightly and the material turned into dust, revealing his hand and forearm. He examined it. His hand looked exactly like he has seen it in the memory - strong and calloused from holding the sword. The forearm was bruised and bent at an odd angle.

"How did you do this, Nick?" the witch asked.

His brows furrowed in confusion. "I don't know, I didn't even touch his glove. It simply fell apart after I removed that piece of armor."

"I'll have to take a look at this later. Now move aside. Broken limbs are easy to fix, so this won't take long."

She took out her wand and waved it in a wide arch above his forearm. Koragg felt something shift and suddenly his forearm looked normal again. He had to admit that this magic was amazing. Experimentally he moved his whole arm a bit. Everything seemed to be in good condition, but the witch frowned and said:

"It may appear to be healed, but you still should be careful."

Only then Koragg noticed that she was trying not to look at him. Even now she was staring straight ahead. 'This is getting absurd. Am I the only sane person here?' Her apprentice was constantly mumbling and looking at him with weird mixture of fear and curiosity; the Red Ranger appeared just too calm and collected, as opposed to his usual brash behavior. Then there was Solaris, who was just being petty and childish. Koragg was sure they didn't usually behave like this. There was something strange going on and he was determined to find out what it was.