Chapter 10 - The Wiseman of the Tower

Egios leaves quickly from the post office while the owner still doesn’t understand what is happening with that seal that has appeared in his floor. Egios crosses the street with fury towards that blindfolded man, throws his hands but they don’t get to touch him. The man recoils a little when he feels the presence of Egios.

- Can I help you with something, sir? - says the blind man who has now changed his expression.

- No... I’m sorry. - Egios says as he retires.

He returns to the other side of the street and sits on the ground, his hands are still trembling and his breathing is agitated, what could have happened? He has totally lost control of his emotions, of his actions. He looks straight ahead at that innocent man who he could have hurt, he just keep looking at the horizon and laughing at whatever was going through his mind at that moment.

Egios gets up and walks back with his companions. The small town looks like a huge city, each street looks like ten, who sent that letter? He was sure that it had been someone from the Cult of Q, he was sure that it was them who the first letter referred to, they lurked him in the shadows.

- You're good? - asks Kathrinna who sees him arrive.

- Yes... all very well... I'm fine. - he replies.

- You are pale.

- I just ... I don’t know what happened - he smiles a little.

- Oh, you received another letter! - Nom shouts when he sees the envelope in his hand.

- Yes, a letter from my friend...

- It always amazes me how he manages to send you letters to wherever you are, even if you are traveling!

- You see... magic helps a lot today.

- Yes - says Kathrinna - very good magic I would say.

- Hey, do you think I can write to my friends even if I have no idea where they are? - asks Nom.

- And why not? - Egios points out

- Oh yes! ... although first I have to learn to write properly,... - The boy laughs and then turn to look at Egios -... will you teach me Mr. Egios?

- Of course, don’t worry about that.

Nom continues the step carrying the luggage of Fiona and Vicky although this last one emphasizes that he still must take care of himself and she retires him one of the suitcases.

- What happened? Will you be honest with me? - Kathrinna says in a low voice.

- I received a letter, it burned in my hands and formed the symbol of Qwrarles on the floor... It had no sender, nor any other message, but I think it was clear enough.

Kathrinna is silent for a moment, looks sideways and then tells him.

- We have to leave the caravan.

- What? ... but look how far we have come, it is fortunate to be able to travel with them.

- We put them in danger, they aren’t warriors, what will happen if we are attacked by cultists?

- We will have time to flee.

- Don’t say that ... the problem is ours, we can’t simply drag them towards danger, they are innocent people.

- What do you propose then?

- Those fellows aren’t going to stop persecuting us, and each time they will become more dangerous, you saw what they can do, next time... they will not take prisoners.

- We can’t go back either.

- They are winning us, because we don’t know them... those fellows, I am sure that some trace will have left, we must find that trace.

- I think I know someone who can help us - says Vicky approaching.

- Here? - Kathrinna asks

- We were talking to some guys from the farms, when you went to see the crops,... among several things they mentioned that there is a sage who lives north in a tower among the trees, they say that sometimes he goes to the villages to teach, has many interesting books and things.

- Did he tell you something else? - Egios asks. - something that was useful.

- Well, I don’t know... he told us about the village to the north in the deep forest, the Somber Riders who cross each month of Dunrek, the flocks of celestial birds that cross towards the City of Heaven and... ahhh... yes, they mentioned that in Tahnarav town have been happening strange events.

- What kind of events? - Egios question

- Disappearances, people sometimes return in very bad condition and with a strong mental stress, they say that the guard was sent to the town.

- We have two possible clues - adds Kathrinna - Where is the town?

- I don’t know.

- I say that we visit the magician first - says Egios.

- I say that we visit the boy who spoke with them - adds Kathrinna - anyway we don’t know exactly the way to the tower either.

- Well, yes... you're right in that.

They call to Nom and Fiona who play on the other side of the street and they walk towards the farm following Vicky and fortunately the boy is sitting there next to his younger brother. Vicky asks for help and he quickly encourages to help her with his brother. They take a horse and begin to lead the group, Kathrinna tries to hide her condition to prevent the boys from being scared.

- What's wrong with your friend? - asks the boy

- She's not good at the cold - Vicky says - so she's very wrapped up.

- I’m sure she comes from the south!... by the way, my name is Vincent and my brother is Clint.

- Is far away? The magician's tower? - Egios asks.

- The boy laughs - he isn’t a magician, he’s a wise man, he studies things and he teaches us, but he lives very deep in the forest, don’t worry ... we will take you there.

- It will be fine if you just put us on the road, then you can go back home - adds Vicky.

- No... the forest is very treacherous and you can get lost, don’t worry we'll take you!

- My brother is very brave! - says the boy as he winks at Vicky.

- Yes... very brave. - she responds blushing a little.

The road becomes long and in the forest it spreads towards all possible directions, the roots of the trees rake the earth erasing all traces of human path and entangled together forming a tangle that offers a home to all kinds of insects and small animals . After several hours and at almost evening they finally reach an old and small tower, no more than 3 stories high, a single door and a single window adorn the cement embraced by plants that seem to hold so it doesn’t fall. Vincent approaches and knocks on the door as if with a kind of passcode.

- It’s for him to know that is a visitor and not some wild animal sniffing. - explains Vincent.

It doesn’t take long until someone answers from the other side.

- Who?

- I'm Vincent, from the town!

- Ah! ... a moment!

He quickly opens the door and they are surprised to find a very young man, he will be in his forties, he wears a comfortable fur coat and has a rather prominent beard, the same reddish color as his hair, His eyes shine with an alert and cheerful look behind some small reading glasses that he soon removes from his face.

- Oh! ... you didn’t say you were coming with more people ... who are them?

- They are adventurers, they need your help.

- Come on, all day, the forest is calm but it is not advisable to be out in the night... Vincent, did you tell your parents that you were coming?

- Yes, of course!... I wouldn’t come without doing it.

- Yes, come in... come in, I'll make you some tea.

The place is rather narrow but its walls are full of books on all sides, the furniture is of good quality and very well cared for, and there are a lot of varied objects organized in showcases. Kathrinna sits in a remote chair while Nom and Fiona go to see the artifacts

- Oh! Look! Come all! Come! - Nom shouts - it's a Borunpu ax! From my town! I have not seen one for a long time.

- What’s special about it? - Fiona asks.

- It is a ceremonial ax - says the owner of the house while he distributes the tea - it’s taken by the Borunpu Priests for the rituals in honor of Zanedra, the Guardian of the earth.

- Excuse the meddling - says Egios - my name is Egios, and they are my companions, Fiona, his sister Victoria, Nom and Kathrinna.

- My name is Eldwin and I live by and for knowledge, I love to unravel the greatest secrets and find the most answers to our world, it’s a wonderful journey. I like to share my knowledge and visit the villages because even those humble people can listen and see things that help you understand new perspectives, Vincent told me you needed my help, what can I do for you?

- Can you send the boys to another room? - says Kathrinna from a distance - we may touch sensitive topics.

- Yes, no problem. - Says the man, then gives them some directions and Fiona, Clint, Vincent, Vicky and Nom leave, then comes over and sits next to Egios. - You can tell me now.

- We seek information about the Cult of Q. - says Egios, Eldwin is a little scared to hear that.

- Are you sure that's the name?

- Yes.

- It’s a topic, ... sincerely delicate, before answering could you tell me the reason for your curiosity?

- They persecute us - says Kathrinna - Egios was captured and they almost killed him.

- Wow... and do you know why they are being persecuted?

- Well…

- They believe that I was chosen by their lord - interrupts Egios - that inside me I have some kind of magic they want.

Eldwin gets up and goes to one of the nearby libraries, after looking for a moment he pulls out a small book.

- The cult of Q is a millenarian secret society, for a long time it was only a handful of fanatics who began to believe that the dark lord Qwrarles was going to empower them if they sacrificed their sight, the truth is that for a long time it was only an unfounded belief and they were labeled as crazy. But not long ago, perhaps since the last war people has begun to speak about The Echo.

- What’s that? - Egios asks.

- Nobody knows for certain, it’s not known where it came from and only the most powerful animists could feel it but it is said that the Echo has been heard 3 times throughout history and somehow the last Eco generated changes in the world, many believe that this echo awakened the Hidden Ones, and those who worshiped them were finally rewarded. The Cult of Q has several nuclei, and they have been strengthening because every time you hear more of them, there is one here in Dwaralav that operates the entire sector from Sagaddya to Yconav.

- We hear of attacks in Tahnarav. - says Egios.

- Not only there, in many places, it isn’t known with certainty to whom they are attributed, but it is a good option for them to be. Everything that has to do with the hidden lords is something dangerous and it is not strange that they have detected something in you and that’s why they look for you, I have seen it in others and normally, things don’t end well.

- Do you mean we have no way out? - Egios question

- I want to say that one has not yet been found. - Eldwin takes a long sip of tea and then continues - I must be honest, having you here is very dangerous, if you are really pursued by the cult, but at the same time it is a great opportunity to learn about something that many don’t know.

- How to face an enemy you don’t know? - adds Kathrinna.

- Exact. We fear the unknown, because we don’t know how to face them, we don’t know who they are, nor what they are capable of.

- We know that these crazy people take their eyes out - adds Egios.

- Yes... but there is magic of illusion powerful enough to make the mind believe that there are, in other words they can camouflage themselves without us knowing it, I have seen it before.

- In the village, there was a blindfolded man.

- Ahhh sure it's Wilhelm,... he worked as a blacksmith as a boy, but a hot metal fell on his face, burned his eyes and the entire area around him. That's why he uses the bandage, don’t worry about him.

- Ahh I see.

- Tell us more - says Kathrinna - of the cult, of Qwrarles and the demons.

- I don’t know much about the cult, about Qwrarles, well... the Hidden lords are said to rule in the infernal world, exiled from this world by the guardians in an ancestral war, for many this is only a legend, however... if I am sincere... I do believe that they are real.

- Have you seen them? - Egios asks.

- Oh no, not at all... but the witches of Yconav invoke their powers, as you can see, these Lords feed on their souls, corrupt and deform them. They have done it for thousands of years and I am sure that magic doesn’t come from any guardian, so... yes, those demons must be real, but what worries me most is that they are now taking force, after thousands of thousands of years for some reason are awakening.

- The last time a man told us that some believed there was a fissure in Yconav - says Egios.

- They are hoaxes, there is nothing there. - Eldwin opens his book and after passing two pages it closes suddenly. - But to the north, there is a fissure... Ytriev Island, the frozen world where the Sleeping Guardian rests.

- Is there a fissure towards another world? - asks Egios curiously.

- There is a huge door and a nonexistent key, anyone who has enough strength can go there, the castle is inhabited by powerful sentries, but they only manifest if you do something wrong so it’s more likely to be killed by the cold. Many have gone, and all agree in the Door. Nobody knows what is behind, but it is said that when it opens the Guardian will wake up... of course, these are suppositions nothing more.

- I had read from the door, it is very common to find fictional stories about heroes who open it - says Egios. - you find everything from a passage to a world beyond, to a creature enclosed, even a large room where the Book of knowledge rests.

- But well - says Kathrinna - tell me more about Qwrarles, I want to know if there is any way to protect us from him.

- Well, it’s said that he controls a part of the mind, it’s the antithesis of hope, and it destroys men by driving them crazy to the point where either you become their puppet or you end your life, but those of strong will can overcome and avoid the attack. We don’t really know much about these Lords, so it's a big field to explore and a lot of knowledge to acquire, I think this excites me more than it should, - ends Eldwin with a laugh that tries to hide.

- So, will you help us?

- I think I've made it clear a while ago, of course! ... This may cost me my life, but imagine if I can learn things that nobody has seen before, this is really exciting. Tomorrow we will travel to Tahnarav, we will find out what we can and we will return.

- How close are we to the town? - Kathrinna asks.

- Oh no, it would really be 2 days of travel from here... but I have my tricks - Eldwin throws a laugh that he can not help - don’t worry I'll leave everything ready, make sure you sleep well, tomorrow will be a day ... mmm ... exciting! , ... I have to find another word for that.

Eldwin takes them to the floor three levels above, there are four bunk beds where they organize themselves to sleep, even Vincent and Clint, Egios and Nom sleep in the living room on the furniture, Eldwin apologizes but says he usually doesn’t have as many visitors. Early in the day Vincent and Clint say goodbye and return to town on his horse, the rest prepares the bags for the expedition, Nom stays with Fiona.

- Well, how will we get to a town that is 2 days from here... and come back at the night, are you some kind of magician or something? - Egios asks.

- Something like that - says Eldwin as he comes down the stairs with a pile of papyrus scrolls

He reaches the room and puts them on one of the couches, moves all the objects leaving a space in the center and then begins to spread the papyrus on the floor, in them there are several magical marks that complement each other.

- A magic door - says Kathrinna.

- It was a gift from a magician a long time ago, you don’t know how much it has served me, although before I could go much further, but one of the original papyrus was spoiled,... drinking tea has its disadvantages, the fact is that I tried to make one again, copying the original, it didn’t go all well, but it didn’t work all badly, the magic works, although I can only go to a limited area... come, everyone here.

Kathrinna and the others stand on the papyrus carefully, Eldwin takes a scepter from his belt, raises his hands and then the papyri are transformed into a portal through the floor by which all fall. They arrive at a strange world of reddish colors, the small plants seem to sway as if they were deep in the water, and the dry trees remain totally static, numerous sources of intense white light emanate from between the rocks, the ground and the bark of the trees, like a fractured world in whose interior there is a star. The sky is a reddish night, the clouds move slowly and there seems to be no sun or moon to illuminate it, but nevertheless the vision is not difficult.

- Woah! Where are we? - Vicky asks.

- I don’t know, it's an alternate world, here the distances are very short, you can cross continents in a matter of hours.

- It’s the Kamungaradi - says Kathrinna - the world of Fosgarrer, the guardian of space.

- Ahh... that's great, I must write it down - says Eldwin while taking out a notebook and pointing with his pen.

- You two will get along very well - says Kathrinna.

- Why do you say that? - asks Eldwin, Egios just makes a gesture with his shoulders and a slight smile. - In any case, we have to move, it is not advisable to stay long in this place.

Eldwin begins to walk and soon reaches a tree with a light fracture in its trunk.

- Come, you can hear the other side a little bit.

The others approach and as they bring near their ears they can hear some people talking on the other side, as well as the noise of some animals and carts.

- What happens is that if I start to move away, the connection of the papyrus is broken and the lights that emanate the exits, begin to close, I would be trapped in this place.

- How do we enter the light? - Egios asks.

- Just enter.

Eldwin urges Egios to put his hand in the light, but he hesitates, then Vicky offers herself and she does so, her body becomes a kind of energy that enters through the fissure.

- Hey, it's the first time I've seen it from the outside. - says Eldwin - well, now you.

Kathrinna is the next, then Egios, after entering, a light blinds him for a moment and when he manages to see, he is in the middle of a farm near a village on a small hill. He turns to see Kathrinna a little dizzy while Vicky helps her and then Eldwin appears as if emerging across the floor.

- Amazing, right? how much it would have taken us to make that trip, - Eldwin laughs a little - come follow me.

Egios helps Kathrinna recover and then follows Eldwin into town. Tahnarav is a fairly large town, although it’s still small by Abezzel standards. The cold climate is more noticeable and to the northeast the tundra environment becomes more common, with low vegetation and almost no trees. The houses are gray and the people are quite warm.

- Any information, we will find it in the tavern - says Eldwin - it is always a good place to start a search.

- Maybe it's good to separate, so we'll cover more field. - says Vicky.

- Oh no - answers Eldwin - if what your friend says is true, then it would not be prudent for us to separate... by the way, woman, why did you bring that heavy box?

- it has very personal things - says Kathrinna - and Nom loves to spy.

- Can’t you just put a padlock? ... It's a serious nuisance.

- Nom is very good with padlocks - says Egios - just ignore her, she will take care of her box.

- Mmmm... well, it's around here... it's not the best tavern to drink, but it is to get information.

They come to an old tavern, the walls show the effects of humidity, the wood growls at every step and great old lamps help to better illuminate the poor place that only receives some sun rays through its windows. The cleanliness however is impeccable, and a woman can be seen cleaning the floors with great dedication, they take a table and the shopkeeper approaches them.

- What will you drink? I have beer, wine, rum, gin.

- Something to eat? - says Eldwin - it's still too early to drink.

- Yes,... I can prepare something for you.

- In fact, we are looking for some information - says Kathrinna putting her hand on the shopkeeper's shoulder, Egios looks at her sideways while she smiles a little.

- Of course, beautiful, how can I help you?

- We have heard that there have been disappearances and other attacks in the town... we wanted to know about that.

- Oh... that's what the guard handles, we don’t get involved.

- We are looking for these fellows- says Eldwin - they stole something from us and we want to recover it, any information would be very valuable.

- Well,... I don’t know who you are, but these people are dangerous, they say they wear black robes and they only come at night.

- Anything else? - Question Egios - surely you have heard something else.

- Charlie Nuheim,... is the person you are looking for, the man has taken it very seriously since his son was kidnapped, you will find him in the slum, near the cellars, it is a large house with several doors.

- Thanks - Kathrinna says.

- The third door... has the number 3, so you don’t get lost.

The group leaves quickly and goes to the indicated place, the wineries are easily seen from afar and there are many houses around them, poor looking and a little badly made, they arrive at a large building with several doors, as described by the barman, is a house where several people live, each door leads to a small isolated apartment. After knocking on door number three, a gawky, drooping-looking man with prominent eye bags appears.

- Charlie? - Eldwin asks.

- Who are you?

- We’re told that you are looking for men in black robes,... we are looking for them too.

- We know about your son - adds Egios - and we can help you in your search.

The man opens the door and invites them to pass, inside, his home is quite humble and the large amount of dust shows carelessness, the dirty dishes have accumulated for days and on the table a pile of papers with all kinds of writings.

- I know they are from the Cult of Q, - the man starts with a somewhat hoarse and low voice, like someone who has exceeded himself screaming and now wants to take care of his voice - the way they are described in the books is the same as described by the people, dressed in black robes and with these marks.

- So is. - agrees Eldwin.

- They worship a kind of demon that forces them to take their eyes off. There are reports... I found them thanks to a friend who works in the guard, a man named Genbur Oshaum... he was one of those who joined the cult, of his own free will. He has a distinctive, a scar on his chin from an accident of his childhood, and that's why many have seen him and I can recognize him.

- Even with the name - says Egios - is there any clue that allows us to keep up?

- Oshaum is part of a well-known family in the town. I talked to them, but since he left, they have not heard from him. But I've heard reports of people who have seen him at night abducting boys, the case is... there is magic that allows people to track, using the essence of their relatives or their personal objects, like a magic hound.

- Have you tried it?

- The Oshaum have not wanted to help me, they fear that if they do Genbur could take a reprisal against them. They are very cowardly, but I wanted to sneak into the old house of Genbur... nobody wanted to go there because they think it’s cursed.

- I think it's an excellent opportunity to give it a look - adds Kathrinna.

- I have had some problems to enter myself, but since you are here... we can do it!

- A moment - says Egios - even if we enter, how are we going to track it? Does anyone here know how to do this magic?

- Maybe there is someone in the village - says Eldwin - someone who wants to join our crusade.

- What about your dagger, Kathrinna? - Vicky asks - Didn’t you use it to track Egios when they kidnapped him?

- Yes... but it only works when you are at a distance, not very far away.

- That will not help us - says Egios.

- It doesn’t matter - continues Kathrinna - I'm sure we'll find something in that house that will give us a clue.

- Well, on the move - says Charlie. - It's an old house in the suburbs, I just hope it has not fallen yet.

They leave the town in a northwest direction, a little away from the village they can see several farms, especially small crops, many sheep, and also some birds.

- Hey... - Egios tells Kathrinna - can I ask you something?

- Sure, what do you need?

- When I was kidnapped... well, I had a paper in my shirt.

- Yeah.

- You have not seen it?...

- Well, the paper was wet and half undone, I thought you would not need it, anyway you have more.

- Oh yes... it's just a paper.

- I know they are for sending messages... but they are useless if the magic seal has been spoiled.

- Yes, it would only be a piece of garbage.

- I still notice you very worried... remember what the dagger says, you are destined to do great things, but not only that is enough, you have to do your part, believe in yourself to be able to do it.

- I believe in myself.

- But not enough,... you are afraid, I see it in your eyes and I don’t blame you and it’s not that you have to overcome it right now, but I really need you concentrated, we are going after these fellows and things can get bad... they could kidnap you again and what would you do?

- … I don’t know. - he answers in a low voice.

- If you ask me, you need more conviction in what you do, in your goal... in yourself.

- I know what I believe and what I fight.

- That's true? Or do you only do it because someone told you that that's the way things were?

- You try to confuse me.

- I'm just trying to help you ... find your own way, your own strength, not Ardulan's, or Nom's or mine's,... that you're not waiting to be rescued, to not give up.

- Yes,... I understand, - he says - I have to think about it, it's not something you decide the first time.

- No, of course not... take your time, but believe in yourself.

- It's funny that you tell me to believe in you instead of believing in a guardian, as most people do.

- The guardians are only protectors, they are not here to guide you or make your dreams come true, that task only depends on you.

- It's over here! - Charlie shouts as he has moved a little ahead with Eldwin and Vicky.

The wooden house seems older than normal, has been abandoned for more than 20 years and the plants run along its walls, around it the vegetation is abundant and the back side faces a ravine that ends in a small brook. The door is locked by 3 large bolts and the wooden windows have been sealed from inside, curiously everything seems quite resistant.

- Mmm ... this house is very well locked. - says Eldwin.

- Don’t even say it - Charlie says - the other day I hit it with the ax, when I came back the next morning ... the scratches were gone.

- That's good - says Kathrinna. - It means that something happens here.

- Did you never alert the guard? - Egios asks.

- I have told them hundreds of times, a few have come, but nobody has been able to open or force an entry, everything seems to indicate that the only way to enter is to open the locks.

- Then it will be very complicated - says Kathrinna.

- What if we remove the locks? - Vicky adds - we ripped them off with force or something.

- No girl - says Charlie - apparently there is a magic that covers the house. I was hoping that... I don’t know... you, sir, seem to know many things, what do you think?

- At times like this - says Eldwin - I really regret not having trained more magic. A seal of protection is only broken if the instructions are followed or by a spell from a magician much stronger than the one who put it.

- I... I think I can open it - says Egios - well, I can try it ... I don’t assure anything.

- What’s your plan? - Eldwin asks.

- I just want to try something ... but for that I need ... well, no one to see me.

- Are you going to do something weird? - Vicky asks.

- It's just that... if it goes wrong, bad things can happen... and I don’t want to ... risk you...

Kathrinna and Vicky look at each other for a moment.

- I say let's leave him - says Eldwin. - It's not like we have many ideas now.

- Okay, do your thing Egios - Kathrinna says.

- Ok ... but I don’t promise anything ... I'll just try.

All the others are removed from the place to one side of the house away from the view of Egios, then he proceeds to take out his magic key and proceeds to make it go through the first lock, the key is transformed molding itself while entering the lock, Egios gives a few turns and the bolt yields. With some amazement, he proceeds to do the same with the other two locks.

- Hey! I opened it! - Egios shouts at them.

Kathrinna and the others arrive quickly quite astonished by the feat of Egios.

- But how did you do it? This is fabulous - says Eldwin.

- Egios smiles uncomfortably - it's just that my times as a smuggler were not in vain!

- That’s not what a smuggler does - says Kathrinna.

- Not a normal one, you need someone as talented as me - he responds with a smile and raising his eyebrows at the same time.

- Well, at least you're already laughing - she says smiling.

- Does it bother you if I go first? - Charlie asks.

- No, not at all... go ahead. - says Egios.

Charlie enters the house followed by all the rest of the group one by one, inside a dusty place covered by cobwebs, quite normal apparently, the same furniture as when someone lived there, it doesn’t seem that someone had taken something. A counter with some old pots and books that are almost dusty. As soon as everyone has entered the house, the door closes tightly and they can hear the padlocks locking back from outside. Vicky rushes to push the door without achieving any results.

- It is a puzzle - says Eldwin - once you enter the magic, you have only completed the first part, you must find the power source to deactivate it.

- I don’t think it's a puzzle - says Egios.

At that time three figures wearing black robes emerge from the furniture and are located around the group, each unsheathing a sword, all react taking their weapons, except Egios who remains motionless.

- The man who belongs to our lord and the vampiress who has stolen one of his possessions. - says one of the men. - Today is a good day.

- Yes,... I must say the same thing - adds Eldwin - it's a good day, I expected to meet you.

- The man laughs - our lord doesn’t want to meet you wise man, you should have stayed in your forest... and you, woman, give us the box.

- You don’t even know what's in there. - she says.

The man looks at the other two and then launch an attack on them, Charlie and Vicky fight against one, Eldwin with another and Kathrinna with the last one, Egios just stands watching what happens, after a moment he reacts, moves towards the door and try to open it, but find no way. Kathrinna defeats her opponent and soon the remaining two move away from the fight.

- ... you will be a good gift for our lord - says the cultist smiling.

- From my point of view - says Eldwin - it’s you who are in trouble.

- We knew that anyone who could open the door would be someone worth knowing. - says the cultist as he removes his hood revealing the hole where his eyes would be and a bald head full of magic tattoos. - I am Jeon Burdo, Lord of Dwaralav, soon I will command this land in the name of my lord.

At the end of his words, his tattoos light up and a pair of magical eyes appear on his face, they emanate a purple light while black tears descend on his cheeks. He points with his hands towards Kathrinna and shoots towards her a powerful magical discharge that she manages to dodge by little, impacting some furniture destroying them completely. The man smiles and then raises his hands, begins to recite a few words while everyone notices how his eyes begin to fill with a black matter, blurring his eyesight as his feet are stuck to the ground by a greenish slime, the other cultist approaches Vicky intending to stab her, Egios almost instinctively proceeds to activate their rings, the armor again covers his body and can see that his vision returns to normal, then proceeds to stop the cultist who is amazed at the appearance of Egios.

- You too... that's... hidden magic!

- It's a gift from a friend... and with it, I'll finish with you!

Egios launches himself against the man who blocks the blows with his sword, then Egios forges from his hands a magical sword and resumes the attack. Soon the other cultist joins the ambush and Egios is seen fighting both. The others call Egios because they hear what is happening but they can not help it. Jeon launches a new magical attack as the one that he directed against Kathrinna, Egios cannot move so fast and receives full impact, his armor nevertheless proves to be a total protection against the attack, being able to rise with only slight scratches. The cultist attacks again but Egios manages to respond by connecting a blow to his abdomen and then finish with a cut of his sword.

- I think I was waiting for this moment - says Egios - I will take revenge for what you did to me.

- Jeon laughs at Egios - ... you have a hidden magic and you don’t even know how to use it ...

- This is arcane magic, granted by my friend to fight against you.

- No... no... I've known it for a long time, I can assure you that this magic doesn’t come from any guardian... and he also made sure you don’t know how to use it. - Jeon shows him his hand and in it a ring totally similar to the one that Egios has but of a different color. - Hidden artifacts are not easy pieces to obtain, and now I see why my lord wishes you.

- I will not give him that pleasure - says Egios as he launches his attack.

Jeon invokes a magical sword from his ring and responds easily to the attack of Egios who again and again launches his attack but is always blocked by Jeon.

- Do you know what that is? - says Jeon - is a ring of lackey, dark lords need servants and warriors, and gave those rings to those who swore to serve them, it gaves them power... but in return they fed on their souls, made them more and more cruel.

- That's good, it will help me destroy you.

Egios launches a powerful blow that causes Jeon to back off and again throws himself at him, but this time Jeon uses his magic to stop the advance of Egios who remains motionless in the place, Jeon however must keep his hands in position or the spell will break.

- Now I understand why they could beat my brother in the Yconav shelter. You had this magic at your disposal, I sincerely know that he couldn’t have fought against this.

- But I ... I didn’t ... fought ... Damn... let me go!

- Jeon laughs before the attempts of Egios - ... will you be fast enough to attack me as I approach and free you?, or will my sword cross your entrails first?

Jeon slowly approaches Egios even with his hands in position, quickly invokes his sword again with the intention of hurting Egios but he reacts much earlier and manages to make a cut in his arm.

- Jez ... so you had freed yourself from before ...

- Too bad it didn’t work ... yet.

- Your armor must be from a sentry... they have a lot of protection... but my ring is from an attacker.

After saying this, he invokes a second sword and launches himself to attack Egios, exchanging blows of sword without any retreat. Jeon throws a stunning scream that forces everyone in place to cover their ears, except Egios who seems unaffected and continues the attack. Jeon again positions his hands with the intention of firing his magical attack but Egios moves them and Jeon’s attack ends up hitting the ceiling.

- You are talented Egios... you should join our cult... we would help you to take full advantage of your potential

- Oh yeah? Like your classmates who are on the floor?

Jeon retires and prepares to cast a new spell, Egios charges to prevent him from doing so but can’t evade being trapped by magical chains that emerge from the ground. Again immobile in front of his adversary only makes him fill more with anger and frustration.

- You do not even fight like someone honorable.

- I'm not interested in honor, I'm interested in success ... and Egios, you too...

But his talk is interrupted by a strong blow by Kathrinna, who has released the spell as also Eldwin has do, Egios looks away and sees Eldwin throw a powder on the feet of Vicky while the magic that immobilizes her It's fading.

- Well! such annoying guy! - says Kathrinna.

Jeon rejoins and sees both of them ready to face him.

- This doesn’t end yet - says Jeon as he disappears from the place.

As soon as the trail of Jeon disperses, the door of the house opens as it creaks. Egios withdraws his ring and the terrifying armor disappears.

- Anti-magic dust - says Eldwin - I always carry, I really didn’t know if it would work against hidden magic, but... luckily it did.

- A little slow, but it served well - says Kathrinna

- This magic consumed a huge amount of my dust, I'll have to buy more.

- You're good? - Kathrinna asks Egios.

- Yes,... fortunately... hey... I think I faced them pretty well or not?

- It was perfect!

- I think... confidence has returned to me.

- You just needed to prove to yourself that you could.

- We have to follow that guy - says Charlie - he sure knows something about my son.

- Let's check the cultists, they sure have something on them that can help us.

They begin to check through men's robes but they don’t carry much with them, only their clothes and weapons. Then they proceed to look for any clue in the house, old pots, books eaten by insects, nothing seems to matter. Egios takes a small piece of paper from the ground and can read what seems to be part of a diary, whatever it belongs to was hit by one of Jeon's spells and has been scattered all over the place, then begins to pick up the pieces that he can until he finds part of the diary destroyed.

- Hurry up - says Vicky as she looks out the window - the guards seem to be coming.

- We can’t go out - says Charlie - oh damn... they'll lock me up again.

- Not today my friend - says Eldwin as he puts his scepter on the ground, at the same time the dimensional door opens again.

Everyone rushes to enter the place. Charlie is scared of that place but they explain to him that it has nothing to fear, again they return the steps with intention to return to the tower.

- Did you find something? - Kathrinna asks Egios to see him reading one of the fragments of the diary.

- Yes, it looks like a diary, but it’s destroyed, it will be necessary to see what can be saved and if it’s worth it.

- Well, at least it's something, I also found a clue.

- Oh yes? ... what did you find?

Kathrinna shows him a parchment, gnawed on its edges but in the center of which is the Qwrarles mark and around it several magical symbols.

- I have no idea what it is, but it can help too.

- Of course,... we will surely find those fellows and I will be able to make them pay.

- Kathrinna laughs a little - ... it's good to have encouragement but don’t get carried away by anger or revenge.

- I know... but it's just that... those guys really deserve it.

- I heard what he said about your armor.

- I can’t stop using it, it's my best weapon against them and also,... why would I believe him more than my good friend, why would he send me something dangerous? It's more... that... would say that my friend would have something to do with the hidden ones and that... it's not possible... at all.

- How are you so sure?

- I only know.

- How long have you not seen your friend?

- Well... some time ago, but he comes to visit me.

- How is he?

- Well... - Egios laughs uncomfortably -... like someone normal... you know, a normal human.

- Hair color? Height?

- It's normal... someone normal... dark hair... short... normal... why do you ask me that?

- Do you really know that person?

- Of course, I tell you it's my childhood friend I met him on trips with my father.

- Didn’t you tell me you knew him before traveling with your father?

- Ah yes... just... I'm just a little confused, a lot of things have happened and well... he's not my only friend, I just confused the data.

- What color are his eyes?

- ... Black... very dark... and... has a sleepy look... that is, we always bothered him because he never seemed to sleep, we called him the sleepwalker.

- Ah... the sleepwalker... and just in case... the sleepwalker will not have pointy ears?

Egios stares at her in astonishment, remains a moment without saying anything.

- I was just kidding - she says - I didn’t think you will get scared.

- Why... why would you think he has pointy ears?...

- Well... as you couldn’t describe him, I thought maybe it was something that you wouldn’t notice for being clueless.

- Ahhh... but of course he doesn’t have pointy ears, he's a human... normal as a human.

- Aha,... normal as a human.

- Egios laughs letting out the tension -... it seems like I’m saying something weird, right?

- Yes, a little - she says with a slight laugh.

They arrive at the starting place and Eldwin begins to help them in, Vicky goes first, then Charlie who still hesitates a bit, Kathrinna goes after and then Egios enters, this time he closes his eyes to avoid the flash of light, soon feels the wood of the floor from the tower, he opens his eyes and sees Charlie trapped by magic chains, a rumble is heard all over the place but his senses are still stabilizing, he looks up and sees the silhouette of a man wearing a dark suit.