Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to the story. I had a great three week vacation in the western part of the U.S. and then I had to have a tooth extracted when I got back. This is the first interlude that will take us away from Kat and Lyssa and introduce a new character who is also my last character from Perfect World along with Kat and Lyssa.

"Marcus!" the voice of an old man carried down the stairs into the library. "Hurry up with that scroll will you! You are going to have to leave shortly if you are to have a chance of getting there in time."

"If your place wasn't such a wreck I would have found it by now, old man." Marcus whispered to himself.

I heard that youngster. Now quit complaining and get up here, the scroll is in the drawer directly in front of you.

"Would you quit doing that?" Marcus yelled up the stairs as he opened the drawer and found the parchment he needed. "I hate it when you are in my head."

At least there is plenty of space in there for me. Now get up here quickly.

Marcus rushed up the stairs with the scroll in hand and found his master sitting on a tall stool by his worktable. The table was covered with an assortment of vials, scrolls and tomes. His master however was completely absorbed in one thing only, a crystal sphere about 7 inches in diameter that glowed brightly with a smoky interior.

"I don't see how you can see anything in there." Marcus peered intently into the ball but saw only smoke.

"Scrying is a powerful art, and while you are well versed in combat magic, this is a very subtle ability that may seem easy, but is difficult to learn." The old man then stood and crossed the room to a desk. "Are you ready for a journey Marcus? I have the scryed the location you are going to."

Marcus was young as wizards went, but he had studied under Master Aldrin since he was 10 years of age, earlier than most apprentice magicians. Now he was twice the age he was when he started and had grown considerably. Most of the young ladies in town thought he was handsome with his jet black hair and goatee, but Aldrin refused to let him go out with any of them. Always it was study, study and practice. Now he was getting his first chance to show what he had learned.

"I am ready master." He replied while checking his pockets and pouch one last time to be sure he had all he needed. "Where am I going?"

"Sit and I will tell you." Aldrin pulled the chair out from under the desk and offered it to his apprentice.

"Some time ago there was a battle between the most powerful wizards of Etherblade and an evil demon named Agramon from the north." The wizard began. "The demon slew a number of the wizards before he could be locked up in a prison from which he could not escape."

"Let me guess." Marcus interrupted. "He escaped?"

"No no, he didn't escape!" Aldrin glared at Marcus. "But before he could be captured he made certain that a possibility of future escape might exist. You see the demon cannot be destroyed, but he has been bound for nearly 20 years in a mountain prison. Somewhere exists the key to his release and this is what you are going to try to find. For years it has been hidden from all who sought it, but now it is on the move. Many others will seek out the key as well, some for purposes of good and others for evil. I would go myself but I am getting to old for this kind of adventure, it needs to be entrusted to someone young like you. But listen well Marcus; there will be forces to contend with that will try to destroy you. There will also be people trying to aid you. It will be hard to tell who to trust."

"But how am I to tell who is who?" Marcus asked.

Aldrin looked sadly at Marcus. "I am sorry but there is little I can do to help in that. You must trust your own judgment and do what you think is best. There is one other thing I must tell you, and this is very important, so listen well. The key, in whatever form it takes, is the one sure way of releasing Agramon; it is also a way of destroying the demon forever. Agramon craves the key as much as he fears it. Just remember that while you search, this demon will stop at nothing to make certain the key falls into the hands of his chosen people."

"I will remember Master Aldrin." Marcus spoke sincerely. "I guess I am ready to head out. I know I've been a pain sometimes, but I treasure all you have taught me and I will try my best to find this key and return it to you."

"That is all I can ask Marcus." Aldrin took a stone out of his pocket and handed it to Marcus. "This is a telstone, with it I will be able to communicate with you at times. Use it wisely as is it has limited uses. Use it only for emergencies."

Marcus had heard of telstones, this was a rare item indeed. "Thank you Master."

"Now open the scroll and let's get you on your way." Aldrin beckoned Marcus to the center of the room.

"What will happen when I read the scroll?" Marcus knew there were all different kinds of spells interwoven into these scrolls.

"You will be teleported to the south, hopefully as near to the key as possible." Aldrin gave his student a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Be well Marcus, I will try to keep an eye on you with the crystal, but I don't know how much help I can give you."

"Thanks Master Aldrin." Marcus opened the scroll and began to read. As he read the words on the parchment they started to disappear before his eyes and he became enveloped in a shimmering golden light. "Goodbye Master."

Marcus felt as though he were being ripped in half as the magic took effect and sent him hurling miles away. He appeared in the middle of a field of tall grasses and there was a drumming sound pounding in his ears.

"Fool!" a voice cried out. "Get out of the way!"

Marcus turned to see two horses charging straight at him, and he had no time to get out of their path.