Good story so far

It’s already been 6 days since the book was open for the first time, I wonder how are you feeling about the characters so far. About Yumeshi, Erestor, Eres and all the ones that will appear in the future, including the mysterious egg (shall I call it a character?) I wonder how you would feel if any one of them suddenly disappears… But do not have pessimist thoughts, because another page of the diary is now written for you.

April 26th, 2011

The first thing I saw at the morning was the pouting face of Eres. At first I was too sleepy to know what was happening, but soon after I started laughing at her, it was at these few times that she makes cute expressions, when I think of her as the child she looks like. Eres just could answer my sudden laughing with a mother like sigh. She then pointed at the broken jar that was still at the floor and lectured me about being careful with the things.  Anyone that looks at this situation would be thinking that an adult is being scolded by a child, but the truth is she is already a grown up woman, while I am, in elven culture, a young boy.

            While I was dressing up for my usual training routine, Eres got close to the broken jar at the floor. I was looking at her with the shirt still on my hands, when I noticed a sudden glow. I could already notice when an elf was using magic, even far away, because I would feel a subtle tingling over my chest; I didn’t asked the elder about this, but I think is a common elf ability. When I got all dressed, I took a look at the magic she was doing. Small roots were emerging from the jar pieces, and looked for each other, entangling together and putting the pieces back in place, with slow but precise movements. When I asked her why repairing an object was slower than healing an injury, she told me that inanimate bodies don’t have energy on their own, so we have to infuse a little of our own on them.

            Once the jar was back at place, Eres left the room, probably waiting for me outside. I was already dressed up and was about to leave the room too, but then I remembered the stone Erestor gave me, and so I took it with me. Once out, I could see Eres looking at a group of children playing a few meters from here. They looked like 2 years old boys, but they were already walking with easy despite their short legs. 2 years here is like 10 in my world if I remember right… this is kind of confusing… I poked finger her at the shoulder, startling her a little from the surprise. My shoulder still hurt from the punch she gave me, but I know that she wasn’t angry for that, otherwise she would had launch me a fireball…

            We began walking to Erestor house, was it the second or the third time we went through these same steps? They are becoming a natural event for me. It wasn’t like it was hard for me to talk with the other villagers, but they didn’t know my origins. They think of me as nothing more than an amnesiac common guy. But Erestor and Eres know, or at least believe, the past I talked them about; even so, Erestor was a quiet man, he was interesting and easy to talk to, I won’t deny it, but his work keep him busy almost all the day. That’s why I got used to talking to Eres, she often would ask me about my people’s culture; the things we eat, the animals we live with, the stories we relate, but there was a question I couldn’t answered her: the things we love. I first thought of the family, but then realize that most of them weren’t as close as here; later I thought about the power, but we don’t love the power, we once we get it, we don’t have anything to use it for; I thought about the nature too, but discharged that idea almost a second later, if we really love it, we wouldn’t live in a world where most of it was destroyed. Then… what are the things that we love?

            Seeing that I was in deep thoughts, Eres waited until I looked at her again and just gesticulate with her hand, saying that it wasn’t that important. The rest of the travel, she was telling me about the villagers; about how the wife of the horse’s breeder gave birth to her third son; about the forest explorer group that were attacked by a bunch of bees, turning their faces really “pretty”; and about the small tremor that the whole village felt yesterday. Wait, a tremor? Was it because Erestor opened the way to the subway? Big underground caves and now tremors, I hope I’m not here when the whole floor breaks down…

            Finally we arrived at the tree house, I just can’t get accustomed to that view, I don’t know what magic is cast on it, but the tree is still alive with so many holes inside. Once at the door, Eres invite me to open it; it would be the first time I entered another house without proper permission, I think it was a way to show me that I was already one villager, at least at Eres’s eyes. When I crossed the door, i went to the stairs going up and climbed it up. I already knew that the door at the right was the elder’s study, but because I was alone, my curiosity made me take a look at the room at the left. When I opened the door a little, I looked through the empty space it left, but the only things I could saw were the same as my room: just a desk and a humble bed. While wondering from whom would be that room, I opened the study and entered it. Erestor was reading one page after another; he looked worried at first glance and didn’t have the care at the pages that I saw in him the first time.

            Once he noticed that I was there, a few minutes after I entered, he left the pages chaotically over the desk. Looks like something was indeed worrying him, but I just couldn’t find out what it was. One of the papers that was disperse through the desk catch my attention, the drawing of a dark red eye, was surround by a bunch of stylish letters. With Erestor’s teachings I was able already to identify most of the elfish letters, but they were too different from what I saw, probably another abecedary. Erestor took my attention back with a loud and short clapping and told me to follow him.

            He guided down the stairs and down again, through the stairs that lead to the “basement”. At first everything was too dark, but after a few words from Erestor, a golden ball appear from nowhere, illuminating the place. The place wasn’t anything that special; I thought I would find some treasures or magical extravagancies, like glowing roots coming from the ceiling, but nothing like that. Just a few dusty items were spread all over the place, not even worth mentioning it. But there was a thing, only one, which stood out from the rest; a golden chest, at the end of the room, almost hidden by junk. The elder removed the junk with a movement of his hands, throwing them at the sides like it was nothing; his levitation magic was something to be afraid of…

            The thing that he took out from the chest didn’t make any sense. Swords? I thought this was a pacific village, I can understand bow and arrows to hunt animals, or small knives to do daily chores. But those were warrior swords, longer than a child and sharp enough to cut through meat like if it were jelly. He gave me one to me and then took another for himself, then closed the chest and made his way to the exit. I was out of words, the weight of the sword was less than I thought when I looked at it the first time, what is this made from? Doesn’t look like steel to me…

            I followed Erestor in a hurry, while trying to hide the sword between my arms in vain. He was waiting me at the back of the house, the same place we took yesterday to arrive at the waterfall. I’m not going to repeat the things we did to reach the waterfall again, it was exactly the same. Once we were at the waterfall, the hole opened again after “hearing” Erestor’s words. This time I could sense the tremor under my feet, no wonder the village felt it too…

            The way was boring just like yesterday; if the elder knew that he had to do this walking again, it was understandable that he was so irritated, I would be too. Once again we stood up in front of the big door, guarded by two big pillars. Again I couldn’t see what was at the top, but I could recognize something at the base of it; a claw. After Erestor’s words, we entered at the room illuminated by phantoms lights. The egg was covered on cracks and the shell, completely black, was shining with ebony light. When I got close to it, a big white eye appears on the egg and my head started hurting. Erestor was surprised at first, but immediately he took the sword with both hands and faced the egg.

            My memories from the following moments are really hazy. A bright explosion came from the egg, the shell was flying everywhere and one piece of it hit me on the shoulder, sinking onto it. While blood was coming out, my head began spinning and I sited down on the floor, watching what happened. The elder charged against the light that was emanating from the altar that the egg was resting on before, while chanting more words without meaning to me. Honestly all this was pissing me off and my head was about to explode, I began mumbling to myself: he takes me here without telling me anything and then just leave me alone while heading to a light? Just what is he trying? I can’t take this anymore… daaaaamn…. STOP IT ALREADY!!!

            A big explosion of light covered the whole room, and I felt at easy once again. My head stopped hurting and my shoulder didn’t sting anymore, no blood was flowing from it. After the light, the darkness followed the light, looks like I fainted. This was becoming an habit, damn…

27th April, 2011

I had a dream, so clear and realistic that I thought I was living the scene myself. My body felt so light and the wind was hitting me on the face really fast, but I wasn’t bothered by it. I could see the ground below me, but I wasn’t afraid from the height, it just felt natural for me. I saw endless forests filled with life, vast seas so deep that nothing could reach the end of it and mountains that looked as though they were touching the stars. A world I never saw before.

                But then a strong orange light came from my front, and I felt a strong pain on my side, as if it was burning. In the last image I saw, there were two dragons, covered by a prideful aura and heading to where I was. Theirs colors complemented each other if I have to say: red and blue, fire and ice. Then I fell, fell in the darkness that seemed infinite to me, I no longer felt neither the pain, nor the calmness while I was in the air. I just… didn’t felt anything anymore...

                I was wandering a long time in the darkness; not knowing where was up or down. But how much “a long time” is, you may be asking. I can’t tell you, because to me it looked like I was there forever and, at the same time, just a second. A sound then was heard through the nothingness; like bird’s chirpings, flowing wind and people’s voice. My eyes started reacting, and a soft light entered though my eyelids, sending me back to reality.

                I was looking, again, at the ceiling I saw when I first “arrived” at this village. One of these days I should give my thanks to the elf that carried me both times. Erestor was talking with Eres, looks like they were arguing at first, because their faces were a bit reddish. When the elder noticed that I was awake, took a chair and sit in front of the bed, looking at me with a serious expression on his face.

I didn’t understand what was happening, after the light explosion I didn’t remember anything. Wait, there was something; my shoulder got stabbed really deep, but when I took a look at it, there was neither bandage, blood… nor scar. But I’m pretty sure that I was wounded, I still remember the excruciating pain I felt. I started touching the place where there should be a cut with curiosity at first, fascination later and fear about the unknown lastly.

Erestor started to explain me what happened after I calmed down. The place we visited these past two days was the castle of a long forgotten kingdom, buried underground by a whole forest. The chamber where the egg was laid on was the room where the ancient wizards hold their ceremonies and the altar where they made their sacrifices; some of them humans, in other words, black magic. I asked Erestor what make this magic any different than the magic from the elves. He took that question as an offense, since his face showed a hint of disdain.

He then tried to explain me how magic works. Taking the letter opener from my desk, he showed me his hand, and then made a small cut on the skin. Blood started dripping from it, but not for a long time, because a greenish light covered the wound, closing it in a few seconds.  This, as he explained to me in the first days, was healing magic. I could imitate him, but just instinctively, that’s why my learning was so slow. He said that this was the first branch of magic, direct manipulation magic (green magic); it was basically used for healing and treatments, but it is said that a few wizards could change their bodies using this magic.

Then he held the small knife in front of me. After saying a few words, the blade started glowing with a whitish light, carving runes on it slowly. This was the second branch, infusing magic (red magic). The wizard shares his energy with an inanimate object, giving it special characteristics, moving or altering them and, at special circumstances, creating something from two or more different things.

And finally – he started saying – the black magic, a magic art created just to kill. The green is life. The red is change. And the black is stealing. They would steal the life energy from you and use it, probably to make their rituals; rituals that brought more blood than they used on them.

                I listened to his explanation, but still didn’t get it. A room to practice black magic? Does it mean the egg we found there was created by one of those rituals? I can’t remember what happened there, but Erestor was trying to kill whatever appeared from the egg. Now I understood the reason behind his irritation, he wasn’t someone that takes pleasure in stealing another life.

                He confirmed my doubts after his explanation: the egg was the last trace of the rituals that were hold there. He knew about it a long time ago, but preferred to keep it in secret. He didn’t destroy the egg either, afraid of awakening whatever was inside. The day he guided me there, Erestor wanted me to be aware of this secret, in case that when he wasn’t alive anymore, I could take of it. But when we arrived there, there was a crack on the egg, meaning that it was awakening. The next day he took me with him to destroy it, thinking that two swords would be better than one.

                That didn’t solve the sword mystery, why did he hide those things there? I was about to ask about it, but then a more important question came to my mind. Just what happened there!? – I shouted. Eres, still in the room, almost jumped at my yelling. She was already worried with all the things his father was keeping from her, coming back hurt and with me on his back didn’t calm her down.

                The moment that followed my shout was one of the most ridiculous ones I ever had, if you don’t want to believe me, I won’t blame you. The elder touched my forehead and recite a few words. Just after that, my head started hurting and I felt like something was opening inside me. Then a dark light illuminated the room, for a second it looked like night arrived. And finally the main dish, a small black dragon appeared from nowhere in front of me.

                At first I jumped back instinctively, but the little critter followed me with a funny sound. He was floating in the air, but his wings were almost still, doesn’t look to me like it is using them… wait… that isn’t important, a real dragon is standing just in front of me… well and at my back, and inside my shirt… he is a playful little boy I have to admit it…

                I then looked at the elder with questioning eyes. He just let out a loudly sigh and started explaining what happened. When the egg broke, all the magic inside was set free without control; he charged at the magic nucleus, trying to seal him with his life energy; but my shouting made him looked back at me, losing focus on his sealing ritual. He said that a symbol was glowing on my forehead and that, before the light covered everything, a third red eye opened at the center of the drawing.

                Looks like the magic was absorbed by it, without giving any resistance. The eye then gave a shape to all that wild magic, turning it into a physical body that, according to Erestor’s words, reflected something important on my mind. And like that, the black dragon baby appeared, turning into light again and entering at the eye, closing it after that.

                I heard at his story and then looked at the dragon that was playing with my pillow… I won’t be able to use it anymore. So this is something important for me, a dragon that likes to destroy my things? Yeah, is the most important thing in my whole life, I surely hope it isn’t… Erestor told me that, in short, the dragon was a magical creature attached to my life energy. He then pointed at my shoulder and explained that, because the massive magic was dwelled deep inside my own life, my body underwent a raise in its capacities. More strength, speed, enhanced regeneration; those were the direct advantages I was having.

                I looked at my hands, just seeing the ones I always had… well not always, the once I had since a week ago… still they look the same, my body feel the same. I thought it was a joke… I hoped it was a joke. I already lived too many changes in these seven days; can’t I have a day for myself, to rest just a little?

                Seeing how bad I was assimilating this, Erestor just told me to rest the whole day. According to his words, my body didn’t assimilate yet the magic entirely; if I were to hold this much magic inside of me without a proper control, my body would surely break down. Looks like yesterday I wasn’t able to write on my journey, I wasn’t even awake after all, so today I’m writing two entries. That way I will make time until the night arrive. I took an herb tea, following the elder’s advice, he told me I would need it to bear with the pain… how encouraging… if I’m still alive tomorrow, I will write how I spent the night.

The diary is written with intense feeling, which combined with the spellbinding images gives an account of an imaginative voyage of discovery. This is pretty much how I felt when I first started playing Illyriad as each new day revealed a new facet of the game, sometimes technical, sometimes narrative based and on most days socially rewarding.

April 28^th, 2011

I never thought I would be so happy just by waking up, what a night. First, my back started hurting and I had to curl up to bear with the pain. My forehead began itching: first a little, then a lot, and finally becoming insufferable. There was a time I couldn’t scratch anymore, my nails were, literally, skinning my head; I just noticed it when my hands were all bloody. My new “eye” started to hurt to, but honestly, compared to the others, it was nothing big. Finally, my whole body felt a burning hot from inside, I don’t remember eating anything bad…

                When the long torture ended, I stretched myself with a satisfactory expression on my face. Looks like my body felt really well now, even the color was more intense than before and my claws were sharp and shiny… wait a second… claws? I spent a few minutes looking at my “hands”, without knowing if this was real. Then the door opened, and I could see Eres letting out a stifled scream while covering her mouth. At first I thought she was exaggerating, okay I grow two claws, but it isn’t such a big deal.

                She stayed there a few seconds, looking at me up and down while thinking quietly. Then she got close to me and called me by my name, but it was more like a question. I asked her what was going on, why was she reacting like that? While I noticed that my voice was lower than usual, maybe I’m hoarse. Her long braid was fidgeting while casting her eyes over the room, stopping on a mirror in one of the walls. That mirror was there before, but it wasn’t made from crystal; it wasn’t hard, and when I touch it, the surface would surround my finger, so it must be some kind of liquid.

                Eres came back in front of me and showed me the mirror. I smiled nervous, without understanding her preoccupation, and took a look at the mirror. I moved back so abruptly that I hit on my head with the wall at my back; I still have the bump on my head. The one at the mirror wasn’t me, it couldn’t be. That face had two short horns covered with blood on the forehead and a big read eye at the middle of them, covering the skin with veins; my hair was longer and flaming red, almost like fire; my skin was darker too, contrasting maybe too much with the hair. But my attention was definitely caught by my back; from them, two big black wings were standing out, I spread them without meaning to, covering most of the room with them.

                I was told by Eres to wait there, that maybe her father would know something. I didn’t have any other option so I just waited there. I was keeping myself occupied experimenting with my wings. Looks like they could be control independently, but to do that I need to concentrate harder; I wonder if I will have to train with them. I flapped them a little, but the wind was too strong and the furniture started trembling, so I stopped before anything broke.

                Not a long time after Eres left, she arrived with Erestor, both in a notable hurry; at least the elder, his daughter was just trying to following him. When Erestor saw me, he had the same expression than Eres, but his reaction was considerable faster. He told me to sit down and take my shirt off. When I did I almost scream, my chest was moving on its own, changing constantly, but slow enough to not notice it before. Erestor then nodded to himself, like realizing something, and then tried to explain me what happened.

                He told me that my body didn’t assimilate completely the magic, probably because it was too much amount for my body to contain; that’s why the magic itself, was materializing outside of my body, taking shapes that would match up with the original design, the black dragon. Apparently, it wasn’t anything dangerous; maybe unsuitable for a normal life, but not life threatening. But the problem was at my chest, the magic was trying to change my heart, and that would, logically, to cause my death.

                Erestor told me that, the only way for me to survive, was the full control of the magic; if I could gather it into a single point when it was at chaos, then this would not be impossible. I lied down at the bed, not an easy task with these two wings at my back, and Erestor took a seat close to me, while Eres was standing at his side. He then laid his hand on my chest, saying that he would try to help me with the ritual control and then explaining what I had to do in order to restrain the energy.

                The first seconds were easy, I just had to choose a catalyst and concentrate on it; I though on the head on my forehead, it was the first one that came at my mind. Once I concentrated enough on it, the Elder pronounced a few words and then the hard part started. My body began changing again, turning the “accessories” on light, that were collected by my third eye, the movement on my chest also stopped. But when I said hard part, it was for a reason; my head began hurting just like the time at the underground room, like a thousand needles sticking on it; I had to concentrate all the magic gathered so it wouldn’t run wild again, but the pain made it hard, really hard.

                I stayed like that a few minutes. Sometimes a small energy beam would escape from my eye, destroying the closest thing to it; luckily enough the elder casted a shield on him and his daughter, so there wasn’t any tragedy. When the pain started to vanish, I thought I could have a second of relief, but the elder kept going with his instructions. Now I had to think of something, the shape didn’t matter, but forcing the magic to take a shape would make it more “passive”.

                I thought about words, about the runes I saw on Erestor scripts and on apparently meaningless drawings, it reminded me of something we usually draw on people’s body, something call “tribal tattoo” even today I wonder what is their origin. After having a proper image on my mind, I nod slightly, giving the Elder permission to start the next step of the ritual. He then casted a few more words, with no meaning for me as usual. The magic become wild again, but with a “limit”, like water trembling inside a cup. The last step was easier than I thought at first; the magic this time followed my wishes and, flowing from the red eye, started bathing my body, drawing black shapes and runes on it.

When the ritual was over, my body was partially covered by the images I thought: at the sides of the third eye, two black flames were guarding it; two long fangs, starting at my eyes, covered my cheeks; my arms were filled with tribal tattoos, and my hand with runes I couldn’t read; my back had again two big black wings, but this time just on the skin surface, covering all of it. The rest of my body was left the same, no more drawings on them… yeah I did check it…

Finally we ended it; the magic was no longer giving me problems. But guess what, it took almost all my energy to realize the ritual, so I won’t be able to do anything today either, I should at least wake up early tomorrow, so I can recover all the time I’m losing with these damn problems. I really hope that I can have a peaceful day tomorrow… by the way, now I can do some interesting things, I could write the diary from my bed without even standing, that and a few more tricks I learnt while trying to sleep. But it’s too late… I will share them here tomorrow…

29th April, 2011

Another day I wake up in this world, Illyriad. I’m getting used to it little by little, but it still feels so unreal, like a dream; these past days a nightmare I should say… But at least today looks like I would be able to have a peaceful day. Just when I opened my eyes, a pair of playful eyes was watching me, dark red eyes that blinked with impatience when I looked at them. Remember the baby dragon that appeared the first time? Well, looks like my magic control can’t control him unconsciously and last night he “escaped” from the tattoos on my body; looks like he can do it more than once. This isn’t dangerous like the time with my chest, so I didn’t gave importance to it. Because he looks all black, I named him Seara, the elvish word for “night”. Yeah, I know I’m original…

                When I got up from the bed, I stretched a little and look up at the mirror. Most of my tattoos were gone, but the flames and the runes at my hand were still in their place; I guess Seara didn’t take all the magic to his creation. While I was wondering about the meaning of those flames and runes, Eres entered the room; that’s another thing I don’t think I will ever get used to, the privacy in this village was almost non-existent. She brought with her a few pieces of fresh just made, something that I appreciate.

                A surprised expression covered her face when looking at the dragon; but it was just that, surprise, not like when she saw my “mutation”; then she was a little frightened. Before Eres misunderstood what was going on, I explained her that the dragon baby was just an after-effect of my magic control and that he was inoffensive. She looked at my eyes, trying to find out if I was lying, and then nodded off her head with a smile. When she asked me what I was planning to do with it, I told her that I would raise it, if I can raise it at least. When I told her the name I though, she laughed subtly; it was obvious I came up with the name impulsively, but still didn’t complain about it.

                We ate the bread together, spreading butter on them; I throw a bit to Seara and, unexpectedly, he ate it; it looks like magical beasts can eat after all, I wonder where the food goes when they become magic again… After finishing eating, I accompanied Eres outside; of course I returned Seara back to his tattoo state, a dragon would be frightening in a village and I’m quite sure that he wouldn’t be able to remain at home quietly. Today was a sunny day; even with all the trees around us the light bathed the whole village. It was really early in the morning, but there were already a few people outside their houses. It was kind of lively here for a village so small.

                It’s been a long time since I could walk through these streets, if I can call them proper streets. The villagers greeted me relief, looks like they were worried by me, staying three whole days at home; when they asked Erestor about it, he just told them to wait and not to get near my house if possible. Cruel words, but understandable; they would have been quiet disturbed by the changes I underwent those days.

                I took the time to visit all the people I could; it may have been pretentious from me, but I wanted the people to know that I was all right. To cross the village took me longer than I remembered at first; are the paths changing or something? First I visited the school, not a building, but a clear terrain where the older elves would teach the younger ones about almost anything, although sometimes they ended telling stories to enjoy themselves; not really productive time, but at least the children could have a funny time.

After the casual greetings from the people there, I sat down to hear a little of the elder speaker. This time was a sturdy old man that talked about the maintenance of the wood with magic. In spite of his fearful appearance, he explained that we shouldn’t give shape to the wood forcibly, with tools or using strength; but softly, using the magic to give them shape slowly, without obliging it to take shapes they don’t want to. Shapes they don’t want to? I think that is a bit absurd, the wood can’t tell us anything, is just a dead tree…

After that, I continued my walk, followed by Eres at my side. I don’t know if she has a lot of free time or if we just coincide, but looks like she always find a space to accompany me. I asked her about that and she told me that she was just the elder’s assistant, but lately her father didn’t ask for her help, so she was free almost all the day. I nodded at her explanation and then realized something; if I become the elder she would be my assistant? I laughed at the image of a 10 years old looking girl carrying papers in a hurry. Now that I remember, this is the last day of the week that Erestor gave me before appointing me elder. If nobody is against it tomorrow, I would officially become the leader of this people. Just thinking about it makes me nervous…

Before I could notice, night arrived. I accompanied Eres to her house, and headed to mine slowly, gazing at the black scenery around me. I could see just a quarter of the moon, resembling a sickle; I hope that it doesn’t mean anything bad. When I arrived home, Seara almost jumped from inside my body; it was a weird sensation but not painful anymore. I patted his head softly and a bit tired, today I just walked and talked but still was a busy day. Well I’m finishing my diary if this damn dragon let me finish, this is the third time I have to rewrite this…

April 30th, 2011

This is the final day of the week that Erestor proposed to train me, I tried to sleep a little, but I was so nervous that I could just look at the ceiling; at least Seara came out and kept me company, so I wasn’t that bored. There was a moment where the little dragon stopped and went to sleep, he really acts like any other animal, is hard to think that is made from pure magic. Those moments I was alone I began thinking what really meant to be leader of this village. I like the people here, they were affective and close like a family and live in harmony with nature, killing animals just for food, not any other reason. Will I be able to guide them through a good way? Will I live longer like them or die with the lifespan of a human? I wonder what I am right now, an elf or a human… or none?

            While I was thinking about these things and a hundred more ;most of them related to the same topic and some... well, just random thinking; the light of the sun came in through the window, looks like it was morning already, call that a waste night of rest. I had to stand up even if I was sleepy, after all no one would take me seriously if I wasn’t present when Erestor appointed me elder; it would have been a pointless ceremony. When I was all dress up with a fancy suit that Erestor lent me, apparently he had the same size than me in the past, I looked at Seara and he enter at my body without saying anything. Apparently I can use telepathy with him, but he never told me anything yet; I wonder if he can talk.

            Eres came to my house before the celebration started, looks like she wanted to wish me good luck, but seeing how nervous I was, she tried to cheer me up with a casual smile. Even if she was smaller than me, Eres did treat me like her younger sister since she took care of me when I fainted and was brought here. I tried to show her a smile so she wouldn’t worry about me, but looks like it was really forced, because she noticed at the moment. While thinking a moment, Eres got close to the mirror, then touched it with her hand and closed her eyes. For a moment the mirror looked like it was crumbling, the reflecting surface shake a second and the next a part of it was at Eres’ hand. When I took a better look at the piece she was holding and shaping, I saw it clear now; the mirror was just water magically fixed on a plank, it was simpler than I though…

            She took her time shaping the water, concentrating on it with her eyes closed, like remembering an image in her mind. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes with a satisfied look in her eyes, saying that it went better than she expected and told me to open my hand. A little confused, I told as she did and give her my open hand; then she placed a small figurine on it, a small dragon made from ice. She told me that it was made with purified water, the ones from the mirror, and enchanted with a protection spell, so it would give his owner good luck and never melt away. I gave her my thanks and took a thread from my old clothes, tying the figurine with it like a collar; it was a strong thread so I think it won’t break in a time.

            Finally it was the hour, the village was reunited at the front of the elder’s house, looks like this was the usual place for reunions, so the last time wasn’t a coincidence. Erestor was already talking to everyone, not really sure about what, but the people were quiet and, sometimes, nodding at him. He made a sign to me with his hands, telling me to approach to him. I began walking to there, while feeling the villagers’ looks at my back, making me even more conscious of the situation I was in. I positioned at Erestor’s right and heard his words. He basically said that the time was coming when a successor should be chosen and he would take a proper rest, that my ideas would come helpful to the villagers and that my progression were incredible, in just that week I could learn the basic of magic and controlled the healing magic at an advanced level; that I could read almost half of the elves letters and a few runes, some of them of ancient magic meaning; that his opinion regarding me was enough and more to take on the elder’s chores. Finally he ended his speaking asking if anyone was against this.

            Seriously, I didn’t expect this. Most of the villagers were against it, even people who I was in good terms with. I was shocked at first, frankly; but they stated their reasons. They indeed have a good opinion regarding me, but an outsider is still an outsider, it should take more than a mere week to prove him responsible enough of the elder position. I wasn’t angry or disappointed, their reasons were understandable and they didn’t show any rejection to me, but to my experience lack.

            One of the oldest people, the one representing the villagers’ voice, stepped forward and said what everyone agreed to. I, Yumeshi from Ashan’rai, should take a trial proposed from the whole village to prove myself worthy of the elder’s title. I shall travel across the lands of Illyriad; know their places, their races, people, customs and rules from it. A task that would take years, but they will not agree to any other one. They said that if I know the land I was on better, the things that it holds, I would be back wiser. However, they wouldn’t leave me completely helpless; they will lend me a caravan and two horses, some clothes, food and water for a few days and some books to keep me busy at the long travels through Illyriad.

            I accepted the task, not just because of the trial, but because I wanted to explore this lands I never heard about before, just imagine what kind of things I will see out there. While I was preparing myself at home, Eres came to visited me. Looks like she was one of the few people that though I was worth to be the elder, and felt sorry I had to be troubled by the villager’s distrust. I just laugh it out; they were just trying to choose the best to their family, so I can’t say they were wrong. I grabbed the collar I made with the ice dragon figurine and told her I was going to be okay, because I had a guardian angel with me. It was a pathetic farewell I must be honest, I didn’t know what to say and were quiet for a long time. Finally she left my room, after giving me a book; she said that it would teach me a nice spell; I really have so much to read…

            I left the village at night, with the people gathered at the entrance of the same; the place I was found at my first day in this world; that brings me back memories. While looking back, seating on the caravan, I could see the people getting smaller and smaller… until they just disappeared from my sight… I hope they are okay when I come back, I really hope so…

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From here on i will explore Illyriad lands, the real one; so if one player wanna appear on the story, i will gladly do it, just post it here :) but know that, i will be realistic, my character travels almost a full day every time i write this, so if u are 5 days away from me (for example) it would take me longer to arrived there, so closer players have priority, hope u understand it ^^'... feel free to comment because this is the finish of the first part, coinciding with the april end :D

May 1st, 2011

The life at open nature isn’t easy, now I know. I was aiming to leave the forest the night I went out from the village, but I was naïve; the forest was confusing, so many routes created from the trees, the village didn’t have any proper route guiding to it. The feeling I have from the trees when they were guiding me to Ashan’rai disappeared completely, they looked reluctant to let me leave the forest. Should I have gone back? No, my curiosity is greater than my fear. Because of that, I had to camp inside the forest. It was truly a bad night; bugs bitten over all my body, some howls made me wake up frightening and the cold at night was really damp, freezing my insides.

                When I woke up, the first thing I saw was the wagon ceiling, reminding me of my way out from the village. I still don’t understand very well what the villagers want from this trial, maybe i will find them on the books. As I was about to stand up, I noticed a small weight on my chest. When I followed the origin of that weight, I discovered Seara sleeping on it. At least looks like he kept me warm a little this night, but I don’t get why he needs to sleep outside, must be a whim of him…

                I woke him up with a soft flick at his forehead, not with malice or trying to hurt him but to see what expressions he would do. Damn him, he bit the finger which I hit him with; I guess I deserved it, although he wasn’t angry but playful as always, he really is a baby. I let him run around a little, at least that way he wouldn’t give me more problems. While Seara was out enjoying the nature, I started looking through the books that were tied up at a corner of the wagon; one of them wasn’t tied, the one that Eres gave me.

                I decided to leave that one for the end, if it really was a way to communicate with the village, it wouldn’t be necessary so soon. I untied the horses from the trees and harnessed them to the wagon; I didn’t mention it before, but of course I let the horses rest the whole night. When the wagon was advancing again, I took one of the first books piled up and opened it. It was a geography volume, really simple so I guess it was used to teach the children; honestly, being treated like a kid discouraged me a little.

                The first thing I saw when opened the book, was a double paged Illyriad map, it kind of surprised me that this world has so little water, just an ocean at the south. Looks like this was just known territory, beyond these drawing, the danger made it impossible to explore. The village is in the south of a place call frendorn, an area covered with mountains and forests down the middle. To be honest I didn’t really gave importance to this info, after all most of the areas looks the same to me; it was a really basic map.

                The second book talked about a few runes, the pronunciation and the magical use for them. This was a way to catalyze the energies, making it easier to control magic; but since I got this third eye in that weird light explosion and fully control my magic with the ritual, I didn’t have that problem. Erestor noticed it too and told me it was probably an after-effect of the ritual, not a bad one at least. I just read it a little to entertain myself, the runes were like drawings and it was kind of fun to remember their shapes.

                I noticed a light through the big trees; looks like the group of trees at our front were larger, meaning that we were already at the forest’s limits. I’m going to miss the villagers while I’m out, but there is no way I’m going to miss that climate; so much temperature differences and such dampness. After a few minutes avoiding obstacles, I finally exited the forest and entered in the plains. From the outside, the forest looked awesome; trees that could almost cover the sun and a green denser than any human made color.

                Now that I was outside and could orient myself with the sun, I took the book with the map again. While taking it, the pile of book fell down, scattering everywhere through the wagon. One of them even fell, so I had to stop the horses and get down from the wagon; I went for the book and lift it from the floor, it went quiet far away. It wasn’t a book special, just a small bestiary of some forest and around beasts, something that the elves from Ashan’rai made. But the importance of the book wasn’t there, but in a small paper piece, hidden between the pages. It was a letter from Erestor, or at least it was his writing. The letter says like this:

                Young Yumeshi:

You must know that this is a personal and secret letter, so please don’t let anyone see it but you. Above all, I must apologize; electing you as the elder was nothing more than a stratagem of this old man. Since your arrival, I noticed you were showing a special quality; I don’t know how can I explain it, but I’m sure you already noticed that something was odd.

First, your proclaimed coming to this world, that in itself is special and I didn’t believe you at first… at first. Second, your fast apprenticeship, you mastered the basic runes in just a few days; most of us need year; and finally the event at the underground room. You felt it too right? Yeah I’m sure you did, the energy came to you like it a natural thing for it, just by hearing your voice.

That time at the ceremonial room, I understood that you have a strong bond with magic. But that, without instruction, makes you dangerous and I already taught you all the ways to control it that I know. But I’m afraid they won’t be enough, sooner or later the magic inside you will run wild away, and the result could be more serious than your dead… really more serious.

I didn’t want to worry my people with black arts information, they do better not know it, making you leave so soon would have raised suspicions, and so I selected you as an Elder candidate, contradictory right? Well, I already knew they were going to test you by travelling; it was something that I had to do too in order to become the elder. What is the objective of the travel? Officially, you have to bring some rare objects and material from all the continents, at least one from each one. Unofficially, I need you to look about black magic and high capacity human containers information, in other words, your situation.

I should have given you this letter at your departure, containing the instructions of your trial, but I think you would understand that, if u had read the letter here, you may have not gone out.

I know Eres gave you a spell to communicate, I have more eyes than you think; use it if you need anything from me, is not like I abandoned you.

I wish you good luck young one

Erestor

                I read the letter; at first surprised, then a little angry and betrayed, and lastly thoughtful. I understand Erestor’s actions, but that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have just told me this; maybe the situation wouldn’t be so awkward right now. Well, there is no point crying over spoiled milk, I just need to move forward; what else can I do?

                I came back to the wagon; looks like the horses were disturbed by something. I didn’t give it importance and so I entered the wagon. Wait, now that I remembered… where is Seara? I remember letting him out playing, but at least he was chasing the wagon so he didn’t lost, but I can’t see him right now. Not much time happened when I found the answered, the little dragon came running at the caravan from the horizon… chased by a pack of wild dogs.

                I immediately took Seara inside my body, and urged on the horses; if we stay there any longer the result wouldn’t be any pretty. Still, they were really persistent, even at top speed from the horses they started chasing us. I remembered what Erestor told me in the concentration trainings “whenever you lose the calm, you probably will lose the life” I laughed at how soon I would remember one of his teachings. I take advantage of the cleared way, horses wouldn’t need any guiding, and so I positioned myself at the back of the wagon, facing the dogs. I began thinking what could I do, looking for something around me; I saw some stones and small rocks, but weren’t big enough to hurt them, not with my ability at least.

                But I didn’t have to hurt them, just stop them; with a wall for example… a wall. With that though I took a gamble, I didn’t practice enough the red magic, so I wasn’t that good with it; but still is not like I have a better option. I closed my eyes, it was better for concentrating, then visualize the ground that the wagon was running through; its shape, its roughness, its color… Little by little I started gathering energy on my third eye, using it my magic can take any shape and be gathering faster, so I don’t care that much about a weird looking eye glowing red on my forehead…

                At least, I released all the accumulated magic, infusing the ground with it; I could have done it slower, but we were moving so it would have been useless. I raised my hand without losing a second, and then a stone wall emerge from the ground, stopping completely the dogs from chasing us, it seems that their running speed made the hit stronger; I’m kind of sorry for them, but I would have been even more sorry inside their stomachs… The short persecution disoriented me a moment, but it looks like we were going to the east, not the route I wanted but well… too late to do any change.

And I stayed like that hours, riding a wagon through the plains going, apparently, no where. It is already night and I’m writing the diary, I would have been really bored without my routinely night chore. I guess I won’t be able to sleep in a nice house today again.

May 2nd, 2011

Today I woke up with a light stronger than usual, I guess that being so much time covered by trees made my sight less used to the sunlight. Seara was already awoken and playing outside, I don’t know why, but he seems to like rolling around the dry land. My eyes were hurting me a little because of the light, so I stayed inside the wagon. There was nothing at first to tie the horses to, but I remembered the spell I used against the wolves and erect an earth column from the ground, strong enough to resist their pulling.

                Before starting my travelling again, I decided to eat a little and read. The food that the people gave me, mostly vegetables and some strange looking meat, were really delicious; maybe not so tasty like the ones at the village, but they could be maintained longer; probably with some sort of seasoning, I doubt they would use magic even in food. Once I finished eating today portion, a small one because I didn’t know when I could get more food, I began lurking through the books, just a short reading before departing.

                One of the books looked a little too fancy; it was one of the last so I didn’t notice it before. I expected some kind of grimoire or a book of secrets, or at least something important, but it was just a story book that one of the children gave me to kill time. But I heard this story somewhere, about a legendary warrior that, with the dragon’s help, defeated the enemy that was endangering the old kingdom. It looks to me like a normal fairy tale, but they talked again about the dragons, about a red and a blue one; like the ones at Erestor’s scrolls. I flicked through the book trying to find something interesting, but the only thing I found was a drawing of the two dragons fighting against a black cloud, probably a personification of darkness.

                I left the book strangely disappointed, did I really expect anything from a fairy tale? All these weird things happening to me must have been messing with my thoughts. That image still reminded me about something, that scenery was rather familiar. I let out a small sigh and got down from the wagon, untying then the horses from the pillar and harnessing them again to the wagon; luckily for me they were really tame, for the moment I wasn’t having problems with them. Stretching my hand, i opened my third eye and made Seara enter my body; I was getting the knack of it already, like if it were something natural for me.

                The wagon continued to the east. In the way I found a lot of different terrain kinds: a large plain, a few plowed lands, small crags that made me turn of the way, some lakes where I would refill my water supplies, buildings blood-curdling, in ruins, solitaries or pleasant looking, rare manmade constructions and, from time to time, I would find a village or city that I didn’t have the courage to visit; my destinies were already marked on the map.

                After a few hours, I entered Keppen, one of the objectives I had; the frontier was clearly visible, thanks to that I knew I was already in their territory; luckily for me a friendly one.  With slow but safe pace, I headed to the ducky castle; although I doubt that he would greet me, a nameless elf. Once at my destination, the moon was already up at the sky; or should be at the sky, looks like today was a new moon; I hope it doesn’t mean anything bad. Not even close to the castle, a group of guards stopped my wagon, warning me that this was the ducky lands and no one without authorization could enter. I told them that I had important matters to talk with the ducky, in behalf of Erestor from Ashan’rai.

                They made me wait there a long time; I even thought that they forgot about me, but then the messenger came back from the castle. He told me that the ducky was sorry, but it was already too late for a proper meeting, so I should came back tomorrow. The messenger’s words were concise, but still upset me a little. I guess I will try to look for a shelter tonight, but I don’t know where, these lands are unknown to me. Well I will write it tomorrow if I was able to find a place to sleep on.

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sorry about the short chapter, but right now im a bit out of ideas, i will try to come up with something tomorrow :)

May 3rd, 2011

Last night was rather troublesome, I spent it looking for a place to stay the night; but I wasn’t allowed to stay on the duke’s palace and the closest city was a few hours away, so I had to hold my drowsiness a bit longer. I didn’t like to travel with the wagon at night, most of the carnivores were nocturnes and my eyesight was almost nonexistent; I could have created a stable fireball with the oxygen in the air, but it would have attract the animal’s attention; luckily for me Seara wasn’t giving me that kind of problems tonight.

                After some howling that startled me, a few stops I had to do in order to avoid making sound and the rare meetings of others wagons, sometimes caravans; I arrived at the city that the guard at duke’s palace talk me about, “midnight refuge”. The city was built and mostly inhabited by humans, with the original idea of giving shelter from the goblins of the north to the duchy inhabitants. After a short self-presentation and a meticulous search from the guards through my wagon, the city’s gate opened, inviting me inside.

                It was already too late; if I were lucky I could sleep a few hours before going to the duke audience, looks like he was receiving visitors from the start of the day. There was almost no one at the streets, something quite obvious at this time of the day; so I just had to roam around there, looking for a place to sleep. I found a good looking building just around a corner, why do I know it was an inn? Because it had a sign with the drawing of a bed, such old school. I tied the horses outside, at one of the rings across the floor; I didn’t see another place to do it so I guess I did right.

                Once inside the inn, I noticed the environment was oddly quiet, I thought an inn would be livelier from what I read in books: people drinking, fighting, singing and telling stories. But the few people that were sitting were just drinking and looking at me out of the corner of their eyes, am I that odd? I got closer to the bar and call the tavern keeper; he was cleaning the mugs in silence and apparently ignoring me.  I called him one more time, louder; he then left the much he was cleaning on the bar and nailed me with his look. “What brings a foreign elf around here?” His voice sounded abrupt, with a clear distrust tone on it; looks like outsiders weren’t welcome here.

                I rummaged a moment inside the money bag I received from Erestor and took out a silver coin; just have a few of those right now, better not squander them. I showed the bar keeper the coin, asking him if it was enough for a room. He was a bit surprised at first, but concealed it before I could notice it; then gave me a pair of keys and told me to climb up the stairs at my right and so I did, feeling a few looks at my back. Once at the upper floor, I could hear a sound variety coming from the rooms: some loud snoring, friendly laughing or intense arguing, one guy mumbling to himself, and finally… eh… I will omit this part in case any child read this diary…

                The only quiet room was the one at the end of the corridor, so I tried opening it with the key I received from the bar keeper, he could have told me the room at least; like I thought, the key fitted on the keyhole and the door opened; showing me a small room with a humble, but good enough for me, bed and a big enough chest at the side. I stored the books I took from the wagon inside the chest and locked it with the next key, I have a wary nature. Already done, I closed the door with the key and lay down on the bed, falling in sleep quickly.  I should had write these lines at yesterday’s entry, but honestly I was already too tired and did write a little at the afternoon-night, so… let’s just leave it like this.

                When I opened my eyes the door was still in place, enough for me. But I’m sure that anyone that tried to enter would have been bitten by Seara; looks like today he is sleeping over the chest, maybe trying to protect the contents. I patted him softly on the head and made him go back to tattoo mode; recently I’ve been noticing that the tattoos that disappear every time Seara materialize are different, but always half of them. I dressed up and went back the stairs, after eating something I would be back to get the books.

                The bar keeper told me to sit down once I was down. I didn’t understand at first, but I took a place away from the hustle and sit down waiting. After a few minutes, he came back with a plate and a mug; the plate filled with good looking meat and the mug shining with a green liquid inside. I wanted to ask him about the liquid, but he went away like a thunder; the inn was overflowing with bustle. I took the meat from the bone that sticks out and start biting eat; despite its bad look, the meat was really delicious, tender but with a strong taste. Before I could notice, I was biting just a clean bone; the meat was already gone.

                The meat was delicious, but it made me thirsty right away; so I took the green looking mug and, thinking over it for a second, suck in a small amount. My cough could be hear louder that the bar racket, this beverage was so strong that I almost choked. One of the guys approached me with a funny expression on his face and sat down at my front, ordering a drink with a loud shout. The order was fast, not even one minute later he already was drinking from mug similar to mine. He gulped down the liquid and hit the table with the mug, smiling proudly.

                I was speechless at first; that guy was too straight forward and his attitude disturbed me slightly. Before I could open my mouth, he started talking. His name was Arthur, a bounty hunter from far away and, in the long time he was in that city, I was the first outsider he met. Arthur then explained me that the town situation was complicated; they distrust outsiders because of the goblins. When I asked about the goblins, he told me to hand over my mug and then he would talk; honestly I was kind of thankful, that drink was too strong for me. He gulped it down again and hit the table with the mug, clumsier; looks like the liquor was reaching his head.

                Before talking about the goblins, he asked me about my reason on staying here; I told him I wanted to see the duke of these lands, something that he found funny. Arthur just wished me luck with a hint of irony and explained that the Keppen inhabitants were constantly being attacked by a bunch of goblins from the north; they will rob and kill any wagon that they can find on the roads; looks like I was lucky the past night. I thanked him for the information and stand up, my rest was already over.  I gave a quick glance to my wagon outside, looks like it was safe, and then went upstairs to take my books back, looks like I distracted more than I should had.

                When I untied the horses and rode up the wagon, and left the books at the cart, I found a weird surprise; Arthur was arched there naturally, like it was the right thing. He just told me that he had to meet the duke too and two persons can take care of goblins on the way better, making it look like he was making me a favor. I was already in a hurry, so I just let it pass this time and spurred the horses, leaving back the city.

                The way was quieter than I thought, Arthur just keeps silent on the cart and I was focusing on the road, with the fear of assaulting goblins. A little later, I found the remains of a smashed wagon on the road. At first I was thinking about ignoring it, but then I heard a crying coming from there, so I stopped the wagon and got down from it, looks like Arthur was sleeping so I didn’t told him about it. The crying was high-pitched, so I thought it was a baby or a child, but when I got close to the origin of it, all I could see was a small green creature with a malicious smile. I could hear Arthur shouting me to get out of there, but then I felt a pain on my chest, the creature stabbed me with a sword, making me fell on the place.

                Then Arthur got off from the wagon shouting “goblins” unsheathing two daggers and attacking the one that stabbed me. The goblin’s head rolled down cut by the combine daggers attack, just like a pair of scissors. But it wasn’t over, it was just the bait of an ambush; a big group of goblins left their hideouts, a total of 20 or 30 approximately, too many for a single warrior. Arthur already knew this, and was cornered at the wagon remains, just at the side of my body. This is the end.

                But that was just an illusion, of course it wasn’t the end, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this. Is true that I was on the floor with a sword on my chest; is true that Arthur couldn’t possibly win against so many. But what the goblins couldn’t foresee was what happens next. I still remember the surprised looks of everyone when I rise up and started talking like nothing – that was mean… you know how much hurts to be stabbed by a sword? I even used my best clothes to see the duke and look, now they are all messed up… you are going to pay for this – I grabbed the sword and pulled it out in one movement, throwing it at the floor. The blood coming from the wound stopped and then it was closed, not leaving a scar.

                At first the goblins stopped their movements and looked at me, without knowing what to do, but then they relied on their numbers and attacked all together. I wasn’t used to fight, damn I didn’t fight even once, but I still remember the feeling I had when I was still half-dragon; at that time I felt stronger than anyone. I recalled that feeling and the runes on my hands starting glowing, just like when Seara appears, but this time he didn’t. Instead, a pair of shining claws appeared on my hands and my body felt lighter than ever. I started attacking the goblins, one by one, with movements I didn’t make before but that felt as if I used them forever.

                One hit, two hits; I was avoiding all the attacks and countering them with deadly claw attacks, sometimes slashing with them and others stabbing. I was in frenzy, not thinking about nothing just wanted to feel the urge to cut and kill, to destroy everything ahead of me, everything. There was one goblin that tried to attack me by surprise, then I instinctively raised my arm and a new glowing came from the tribal tattoos on it. The sword touched my arm, but couldn’t cut it; a steel scale armguard covered my whole arm, strong enough to break the enemy’s sword with ease. I continued like that a while, slashing whatever I see until there was just one foe left. His begging expression and shouts woke me up from the trance, becoming conscientious of my acts. I killed them with my own hands and even enjoyed it… it was despicable…

                The goblin saw my doubt and took his chance, trying to cut off my head; it was too late for me to dodge it, he was too close. I closed my eyes waiting for my dead, but it never came. When I opened my eyes, I saw a dagger sticking from the goblin’s head; he was dead. I looked behind me and saw Arthur smiling with his remaining dagger on the left hand – be glad my aim is good, otherwise the dead one might be you– I let out a relief and tired laugh, too many emotions for today… after that we continued our journey to the duke’s palace.

                A few hours later, we arrived at our destination; it was already time for audience, we even arrived a bit later, but still entered the room to talk with the duke. I apologized at the duke and explained him that I was attacked on my way here, reason I was late. He looked like he understood; it wasn’t the first attack from them so it wasn’t uncommon to be attacked in these roads. I told him first about the village request, he then told me to take seeds from the “black medusa” a tree unique to Keppen. My second request was hardest, the black magic was too old and its use was considered taboo to wizards, but maybe the royal library could have some information. Of course it wasn’t going to be free; he wanted to ask a request too.

                He told me about the problems they were having with the goblins at north, I already experienced it beforehand. He said that they took an important object, important enough to be taken back. Lastly I presented him Arthur, and said that he saved my life, Arthur said the same thing about me, so it was kind of confusing. The duke said that he was waiting for him, Arthur was a bounty-hunter hired by the duchy to eradicate the goblin’s threat. The three of us decided then that Arthur and I will work together, that way our success chance would be higher.

                And like that we left Keppen, northwest direction, heading to the place where no one came back from, Uruk Vadokan. I hope tomorrow I can continue writing the diary; that would mean I’m still alive…

May 4th, 2011

The journey to Meilla was really tiring; Arthur and I had to turn each other to sleep, in case of a goblin attack. We also had to avoid the common roads, turning off from time to time, making the travel longer. Sometimes we could have a moment of peace, hiding on forest to let the horses rest; at those times the young bounty-hunter would talk to me until he runs out of breath. He first asked me about the goblins incident, about the magic I used and who trained me. The string of questions let me speechless for a moment, with a nervous smile on my face; then I tried to answered him, saying that it was a common elf magic and that I was taught by the elder; it was a lie of course, Erestor advised me already not to tell anything about my “origins” and the black magic to anyone else.

                After answering his answers, Arthur looked a little disappointed; maybe it was a too simple reply. When I asked him about his situation, Arthur just told me that he was a wandering mercenary; normally hunting big guys or monsters to earn the reward, but there were times that he was hired as a bodyguard, a messenger or even as a… He stopped his sentence uncomfortably, maybe realizing he was saying something that I shouldn’t hear; now that I think about it, it was too obvious but I guess that the situation we were already was hard enough to begin distrusting each other. Still I couldn’t get off of me this feeling, like something wasn’t right.

                Since Arthur was with me, Seara didn’t appear; looks like he doesn’t like strangers. Sometimes in our way to Urok Vadokan, I could see Arthur sharpening his daggers with a small rectangular stone; looks like they are well preserved so must be important ones. I was about to ask him about them, but a bad presentiment stopped me from doing it. Maybe the answer to that question may have been a dark one.

                The afternoon of the second day, we arrived at Meilla frontiers; a large fortification could be seen from our location, Urok Vadokan was in front of our eyes. Of course the vigilance was strict; groups of little green creatures could be seen walking around the building. I looked at Arthur, asking for his advice; but he was amaze by what he saw, looks like he was hired to eradicate the goblin plague, but this was just too much. Seeing that he couldn’t take the initiative, I got down from the wagon and guided the horses to the forest insides; this would just stand out a lot. After tying them back, I scratched a small sign on the outside tree, that way I would remember where I hided them.

                Arthur got down from the wagon and followed me to the road, looks like the confidence he had all the way disappeared in just a glance at our enemies. I smack him softly on the back and tried to comfort him, staying here without doing nothing would be a waste of our travel. Yet not so sure, he followed me through the secondary roads; they were inaccessible by road and was a pain to walk through, but they were safer and still better than walking at the woods. We climbed down a few drops, evaded the guards and crossed a shallow river reaching at least to Urok Vadokan territory.

                As I though, the vigilance at the surrounding area was poor, but the ones guarding the fortification walls weren’t going to be fool that easily. We could try to charge them head on, but I didn’t feel like experiencing the slaughter from the last time, I just wasn’t ready for that again; we could try to bait them out too, but either they were well trained or plainly stupid, they just wouldn’t stop their patrols; maybe underground… forget it, the basement floor would be too hard and maybe we would be buried alive.

                I looked at the sky, if we just could fly over the building, that would be so easy… wait, I CAN fly, at least I can grow wings, after all I did grow claws at the fight on the road. I focused my mind on the tattoos on my back, the ones wing-shaped; but nothing happened, I wonder what happened back then that I could grow claws. I tried to remember it, the trance I was drowning in, the strange pleasure that I got when my claws cut through the meat; was I always like that? I don’t want that. When I thought about it a sharp pain came to my head, strong enough to make me lose my strength.

                Arthur was observing the patrols, but then took a look at me, writhing on pain. Looks like he wasn’t sure what to do, after all we were at a mission and this could bring problems, so he just tried to call me. But my mind was wracked by pain, so much pain; and then it suddenly disappeared. When I opened my eyes I wasn’t hiding on the forest, but in a complete darkness, floating. From the nothingness, a huge eye opened, showing a vertical pupil just like Seara. But this one was bright red and a light came from it, a feeling of discomfort covered my body, but later I felt at ease, like if I passed through a gelatin wall.

                Not a sound was made, but a voice echoed on my head. It sounded old and wise, but sad and tormented. – Young boy, I chosen you as the successor, why won’t you accept this gift? Oh, so you are afraid of it, do not be, for it isn’t a frightful power. You may use it to protect or destroy; it will be your choice. Do not be afraid by the pleasant feeling you will get when using it, is just a freedom sensation; the dragon has been imprisoned too long. What dragon do you ask? He is you and yet it isn’t, you are you and yet you aren’t. Is still too soon for answers young outsider, but you will get them; eventually.” – The eye was closed, and then an explosion of light came from it, covering the darkness completely.

                When I opened my eyes, just a second happened on reality, but for me it was a few hours; looks like time was different in that “place”.  Arthur face looked kind of worried, but his duty was more important so his morality was split in two. I smiled back at him and told him I was okay, it was just a brief headache. Then I remembered the “eye” voice, “do not be afraid” I remembered the time I got my claws out, the freedom sensation I got; I tried to avoid the slaughtering scenes and focused on my movements, the agility I displayed, the joy I was showing; that can’t possibly be something bad…

                I gathered those thoughts and focused on my back, creating the image of two big wings on my mind. Like if it were a natural thing for my body, a pair of black wings sprout thought my shirt, tearing it almost completely. I just got rid of the suit then, even if it was one of my best it was already unusable. Arthur was looking at me with an incredulous look on his eyes, I can understand him; the first time I surely had the same face.

                I waited a moment until he recovered his breath and then, without losing a second, told him about my plan; a really basic one. He just had to make a racket and attract the patrols attention, even if we couldn’t baited them out with cheap tricks, an intruder should be good enough. He didn’t agree at first, saying that his work was to killed the goblins; so I suggested him to ambushed the ones he could get to follow him, even for a big group, fast stealthy attack would take them, and looks like it was Arthur specialty.

                He finally agreed, but it took me time to convince him. Arthur got out from the hiding place and began running one way to another, shouting and insulting the goblins; it was so obvious… Still the goblins followed after him, look like the taunting was really effective against them; 1, 4, 9, 16, 34… ok he is in problems… I will give him a hand, but first I need to retrieve the item that the duke asked me for, so I began flapping my wings at the plains, outside the enemy eyesight. Just like the claws, the wings felt really natural to me, just a few seconds later I was already flying high.

                The mission was a success, I passed the walls unnoticed; the attention was fixed on the intruder. Of course I was an elf, so even if I entered unnoticed, if anyone saw me I would be in problems, big ones. I entered stealthy at one of the barracks, even at the alarm there were some goblins sleeping on the beds, it was night after all. Their snoring was so strong that I couldn’t possibly have awakened them with my steps; I guess they are really confident with their external security. I took one of the armors at the room and modified it with magic to fix it to my body; this was one of the first and most useful tricks I learnt at the village.

                Even with the armor, I was still taller than these goblins, so I’m sure it would still be bad if anybody found me; at least wearing their armor they would be sure of my identity before instead of killing me… I hope so. Just when I was walking through a corridor, I heard voices from the other side, so I opened the door next to me and entered it. I was lucky, because I could hear more and more goblins coming and going out from here, damn I thought they were sleeping, something must have happened. At least I bring the diary with me… at least I can kill the time a while…

This Arthur guy sound pretty cool y'know

May 5th, 2011

I was hidden on that room a few hours, natural light was already slipping from the gap under the door; it was already dawn. When I finally stopped hearing the goblins steps and voices, I turned the door handle slowly, trying to do not make a sound; fortunately, the corridor was empty again and I could slip through the hideout insides without being noticed. The walls around me were dirty and sometimes burnt, the floor was stained with blood and I had to be careful to not step on something noisy, like a puddle; yeah there were rotten water puddles inside this place, so gross.

                Even if I were lucky, it doesn’t mean that this wasn’t a fortification; there are guards in almost every hall and I had to be careful so I wouldn’t be found. Using clean water from my canteen and a piece of wood, I made a mirror just like at the village. It wasn’t that high quality, but, using levitation magic, I could use it to spy the halls, looking for guards. Thanks to that I wasn’t yet discovered because I avoid meeting them face to face; looks like they can’t notice my difference in height from far away.

                There was once when two guards were talking at the end of a corridor and thanks to the translation spell casted on me I could understand them. Even with the spell, their voices were strange and hard to listen, just like if they were eating some letters while talking; at least I could hear a fragment of their “conversation”: one human rogue infiltrated the base and a group of goblins chased after him, without coming back. That must have been Arthur, looks like he was doing well enough; but there were so many after him, will he be fine? I guess there is no point worrying about him, but at least I should hurry.

                Now that I think about it, the duke didn’t told me anything about the item I had to retrieve, just that it was stolen from a wagon and bring here, if these beasts have a treasure room, then I should head over there, the question is: Where it is? I have a few options; to search over the entire place looking for a shiny room, treasures shine right? To listen to different conversations hoping I would hear anything about it, I was lucky today but that is unlikely; and the last and riskiest, to interrogate a lonely goblin. I didn’t have time to look for the room; Arthur probably needed help, so I chose the last one.

                 After a few minutes, I found a goblin guard leaning alone on the wall, looks like he wasn’t trying very hard on his duty; just at his side there was a door, call that an ideal situation. I focused on the door and opened it slowly, making a creak sound that alerted the goblin; intentionally of course. Just as I anticipated, the goblin took a look inside the room, raising his guard; when he was inside it, I stealthy followed him, closing the door behind me. Before he could make any sound, I materialize a claw and jumped to him, closing his mouth with a hand, immobilizing his right arm with my left knee, his chest with my right knee and placing my claw at his neck; it happened too fast, but really fluid, just like the last fight.

                At first he tried to get rid of me, but when I pressed the sharp claws on his skin and a thread of blood covered his armor, the creature frozen; looks like they can feel the fear of death too. But still, when I asked him about the treasure room he acted dumb at first and when I insisted he got aggressive, looks like the death for them was better than treason; to be honest, I don’t understand the soldiers. I tried getting the truth out of him, but the longer I tried the worse the situation became; finally I had to tied and gaged him up, otherwise his shouts would have alert everyone close.

                I failed at first, but I wouldn’t give up so easily; I remember from the elder that the white magic could be used for more things than healing; things related to the body, like the mind. Considering that possibility, I moved my hand to the goblin’s head and place it on his forehead. He was looking at me with surprise at first, not knowing what I was trying to do. When I concentrated on the link between my hand and his brain, I could feel an electric charge coming from it, but a barrier was stopping it; his will didn’t let me to mess with his mind. Just when I was about to give up, a voice resounded on my head. – “No barrier can stop a dragon’s fire” – my head hurt for a moment and then two flaming horns appeared on my forehead. They weren’t horns made from bones nor they sprout from inside, they were just two white flames sticking to my skin, without burning it.

                I didn’t know what that was, but I placed my hand on the gobbling forehead again on impulse. The same thing happened, an electrical charge would come to my hand and an invisible barrier would stop it. But this time something else happened; the barrier was covered by an undying flame and it was melted down like ice, letting the energy passed through it. When my hand received that energy, an infinite amount of images and data plunged onto my mind. It was chaotic in the beginning, but I learnt in just a few seconds how to arrange it. Looking through the images, I “draw” in my mind a fortification plan, from the goblin’s memories of it. When I opened my eyes, one of them was covered by one of the white flames; from it I could see the plan I made in my head, even the treasure room and my present location were marked, I like this strange magic.

                Thanks to the plan, I arrived with ease at the treasure room. It was locked, but I just had to open the latch with levitation magic; it really bugs me how magic can makes everything so unsafe. Once inside the chamber, I could see a few interesting objects around me, most of them old relics without an apparent use. But there was one item at a pedestal, enhancing his importance. It was just a golden little box, with different jewels set on it; it looked really expensive at first glance. I don’t know if the reason was destiny or just curiosity, but something made me open the box. Inside there was just a small black egg, it remind me of the one at the underground room, but a lot smaller. When I touched it, it gleamed a moment and then I felt an energy entering my body and stopping on my feet. A little frightened, I took a look at my feet; a pair of paw-like tattoos appeared on them.

                I wanted to discover what happened, but the voice of a few goblins on the corridor remembered me that it wasn’t the right time. I took the golden box and run to the exit; I already spent too much time in stealth, Arthur may be in danger. A few goblins tried to catch me, but I was faster than them; I could get out from the fortification without being caught and with the mission item on my hands, a success. But it wasn’t over yet, once outside I used the flame to look for Arthur, looks like it can increase my sight and even detect heat, so it was rather easy. He was surrounded by a bunch of goblins and a few corpses were around him, looks like he was having fun, maybe too much. While running to his way, I spread my wings and jumped on the air, flying to Arthur at top speed.

                The landing was a bit forced because of the trees, I bumped against one of the goblins and fell on another; at least I ended unhurt. I told Arthur to prepare the wagon while I stop the goblins here, it wasn’t necessary to repeat it to him; he was too tired to continue fighting. The goblins charged against me, but I could keep them there with wind coming from my wings flapping; I don’t want to kill them if it isn’t necessary. I didn’t have to wait too much, Arthur was already waiting for me with the wagon ready; now I just had to prevent the goblins from chasing us. Taking advantage that the road was covered with trees at the sides, I focused my energy on a few of them, making them to grow their branches and intertwine between them, creating a natural wall.

                Once the danger ended, or at least postponing it, I jumped to the wagon and told Arthur to make the horses run fastest than ever. We ended the day tired, bruised or injured, but in one piece; I think that is good enough for now. Let’s go back to Keppen…

May 6th, 2011

We were able to escape from the goblin fortification with luck, I still can’t understand how someone would ask for the extermination of the whole place, a massive army would be necessary and not just a bounty-hunter; Arthur agreed with me and the irritation was visible on his face. At least I retrieved the golden box, so we wouldn’t visit the duke without hands empty, will he explain me more about the egg inside? I should at least ask him about it.

                The way back to Keppen was calmer than before, probably because all the goblins assembled at the fortification and we ran from there at full speed; seeing what we were capable of do, they wouldn’t dare to attack us in the roads, they would allow them just small group attacks and ambushes. I’m not sure we could have taken them if tried, but looks like my dragon appearance awaked fears on them; did they meet a dragon before? Once that we were back to Keppen frontiers, we reduced the horses speed, they were deadly tired.

                Now that we were relaxed, we started talking about what happened; I told Arthur that I had to sneak through the barracks and dark corridors, wearing a reshaped goblin armor; now that I remember, I think it broke when I transformed, I guess the metal fatigue was too big after the magic modification I did. Arthur laughed at the image of a proud elf wearing a cheap second-rate armor, something that I found weird; the elves are my village didn’t act proud in front of me, more like a familiar attitude, I wonder how the other elves are.

                I asked him about his situation, then he told me that at first it was an impossible task, there were just too many goblins after him. But he wasn’t a mercenary for nothing, Arthur did boast a few times about his experiences and adventures that made him the man he is now. First, he tied some wires along the road at an awesome speed; then hided on the forests and wait for the goblins to trip on the wires, once on the floor, a few shoots from a small crossbow took about 4 of them; a wonderful aim. But of course that wasn’t enough he said, there were more than 20 left that already knew where he was and chased after him; a wrong decision. Once inside the forest, a few bolts with wires made some deadly and fast traps, that took most of the half slowly, but efficient. Once he ran out of ammo, Arthur left the forest, and entered the road, followed by the rest of the goblins. At that moment is when I arrived, saving him from a dangerous head-on battle.

                Once he started talking his mouth didn’t closed again, more and more of his stories were counted along the way; at least that way I could kill the time and, at the same time, evade any dangerous question about my mission. While Arthur kept talking, I looked thoughtful at my feet and the new tattoo that appeared on them; I already saw that it was a pair of paws, but now that I take a better look at them, they were a strange paw; not a dog, a cat, a bear... Maybe is a dragon’s one, but I never saw one before and, even if I did, it doesn’t explain why they appeared there. I guess the time will give me an answer, no reason to overthinking it.

                After a pair more of hours, we arrived at the duchy of Keppen; as usual the protection around the place was too strict, so we had to pass through a rough search. I could enter the place like that, but Arthur had to leave his weapons with the guards; it surprised me the amount of tools he was inside bags and under clothes. The duke was announced of our arriving and he immediately messaged us to enter the hall, looks like he was impatient about mission result.

                When we entered the hall, his sight was already fixed on me and he asked me with expectancy about the outcome of my travelling. When I took out the box from my bag, he almost stood up from his chair, but restraint at the last second. The duke then just told me that I did well and that the box was indeed the item I was asked to retrieve from the goblins, he didn’t question me anymore and told me to hand the box to his minister, already in front of me with a silver salver on his hands. I placed the box carefully on it and the minister went back to the duke, offering it to him. He then opened the box and look inside with glittering eyes, looks like the egg was something important enough to make a noble forget about his surroundings.

                The duke then touched the ebony egg with trembling hands, but when he touched it, nothing happened; just silence. A fit of rage made the lord to throw the box against the floor, it didn’t broke, but some jewels jumped out with the impact strength and the egg inside was broken in countless black pieces; they didn’t have the bright that the egg had when I found it for the first time. After realizing his act, the duke apologizes as an act of etiquette and sat down on his chair, trying to calm himself. I couldn’t withstand the tense silence, so I asked him what the reason of his rage was. At first he didn’t say anything, but after a few seconds, he just told me that the item inside the box should have been brimming with power, but now it was empty. He then blamed the goblins about it and massaged his temple with a tired air.

                Then he addressed to Arthur, asking him about his mission. With a defeated expression, Arthur said that the fortification was a job too great for a single person; even a squad would be unable to wipe them out completely. The duke nodded understanding the situation, and then told him that he would be rewarded with fifty silver coins for the travel and killings he did. Twenty silver coins? Just a night on the inn was worth one silver coin, isn’t that too small reward for such a big effort? Maybe it was a stupid impulse, but I asked the duke the same thing, making him laughing softly; the inn-keeper tricked me, a night on an inn never exceeds the 15 bronze coins.

                We left the palace once the audience ended and went back to the city. Arthur was still laughing at me because of the ridiculous scene I made in front of the duke; it was worth to be mentioned on some relates. But he didn’t just laughed, Arthur went back with me to the inn and made a ruckus there, threatening the inn-keeper that if I didn’t get my money back the local would be personally wrecked by him. I don’t approve his “alternative” ways of getting things, but is a fact that the inn-keeper gave me 90 bronze coins and a free stay to compensate it. I guess that is true what they say: "The end justifies the means".

                I got permission from the Duke to look over the library, it was the deal we had after all, but it was already too late, so I guess I will just sleep for now and go there tomorrow. Arthur said that he would be around the town a few more days, to rest a little; maybe I will pay him a visit when I go out from this city.

May 7th, 2011

I awoke almost jumping out of my bed; don’t know why but something told me that today was a bad day to be here. I tried to take out those thoughts out of my head at first, but later I just forgot it; maybe I just had a bad dream. At one side of the room, over the chest where I stored my thing into, Seara was sleeping. It’s been a few days since I saw him, but looks like he’s been growing all right. Wait a second, did I say growing? He looks bigger than before and his wings, horns and tails are more developed, just how did he grow up so much in a few days? Just how did he just grow up? He eats, sleeps, grew up; the more I know about him, the more normal creature it looks to me.

                I ate a modest breakfast at the inn and headed outside. It was still really soon, I woke up too early, so the sun was still rising from the horizon. It didn’t really bother me to be up so soon, in fact I was glad; that way I would be able to enter the library sooner, the duke didn’t say anything about a schedule to it, so I could anytime I wish. When I arrived to the duchy territories, the usual guards stopped me, but this time I showed them the key that the duke gave me as a reward; on the key there was the duke emblem sculpted on it. Is the first time I saw him showing respect at me, so it was kind of funny; he guided me to the library and said goodbye with a small reverence.

                The library’s door was at least two times my height, made from oak wood and decorated with different golden reliefs; I recognized some of them, for example the ancient dragon hero, looks like it isn’t just an elven tale. I opened the door with the key and start pushing, at first I thought it would be really heavy to move it an inch, but just when I pushed a little, the doors opened without resistance. When I took a better look, there were rails under the doors and each of them had a wheel that fit on them; and yet there was a trace of magic on them, do these people mix magic and technology?

                Once inside, the darkness covered the whole building, looks like no light enter from the outside; is a restrict area, so I guess is just natural. I didn’t know what to do at first; i thought about creating a fireball, but the air was too dry and maybe the fire would burn some books, I shouted some random words like “light” or “turn on” but obviously nothing happened, I tried walking on the darkness, but I would bump with something from time to time. Just when I was about to use the dragon white flame horns (I should think about a name shorter for them), I heard someone ordering me to shut up with an irritated voice, coming from far on my right.

                He then pronounced the words “illuminatio, section A1-A5” and a row of flames light on the ceiling at my right; they were inside a sphere so they wouldn’t burn the books, but didn’t have oxygen either so how do they keep burning? The lights stopped on a wooden desk at the end of a corridor, next to countless bookcases; an old man with a bad mood expression on his face. I stayed quiet at first, without knowing what to say, but the old man awoke me with another shout, asking me to get closer to him. I obeyed him; something told me it wasn’t wise to make him any angrier. Once at the front of the desk, the elder looked at me firmly and asked me about the reason of my visit; just a few people visited this library in the last years.

                I doubt at first, but his impatience expression was forcing me to answer him. I told him that I was looking for black magic books and information relative to magic storing, egg-shaped containers and humans with a big capacity; it almost surprised me the honest I was being with him. Once he heard my petition, the old man kept quiet a few seconds, staring at me with analyzing eyes and then warned me that the black magic research, or extracting magic, was a taboo topic between proper wizards. I gulped down at his strict words and nodded slowly, I already knew it wasn’t an art commonly practiced, but still need to know about it. He scratched his beard pensive, while looking at nowhere a few seconds that looked like hours to me. Finally he stood up from his chair and told me to follow him.

                We walked between the bookcases in a narrow corridor; each time the old man spoke, new lights were turned on and another were turned off, just like if the light were following him. We arrived at a dead end, but the old man continued and said a few more words, making the bricks from the wall to separate slowly, giving place to a hole on the wall, big enough for a person to go in. Once inside, the walls were older and the ceiling lower, it looks like it was built underground. After a few minutes walking through an underground passage that almost looked like a maze, we arrived at a new hall, smaller, filled with books.

                This, according to the old man, was the forbidden books section; normally no one could enter here, but I was the first visitor in a long time so he made an exception; looks like inside he is a good man. He left me there, after indicating me the books that I was looking for; there was a lot of them, I would be lucky if I can find something today.

                I spent the day like that; reading through dark books with ominous tittle pages, were the writers of these books such fanatics of sinister looking? Through all the books I could read (most of them were in language I couldn’t read) I found some interesting things. First, the black magic was one of the first that were created, and at that moment it was called “extracting magic” but just powerful arch mages could control it, even then just a part of it. It was because of the sacrifices that the magic control was potentiated, stealing the energy forcefully from living things. It didn’t say anything about the origin of both, not even a name.

                But it was a book without a cover that called my attention, maybe because it was the most common and old that the others books, but I prefer to recall it as the act of the destiny. Once I opened the book, the first page showed me a lot of strange looking runes that were familiar to me and, in the center of them, a symbol with the shape of an egg, a vertical egg with a vertical pupil. I touched my forehead instinctively as I saw the image; could it be the same one? Once I touched it, the eye suddenly opened, and the runes that I couldn’t read until now where perfectly readable. It said this:

From the third eye, the magic originated

Pure magic, but it was split

Twelve fragments keep them now

Three guardians protect the fragments

Red, blue and black.

I read those words again and again, but I can’t think about any meaning on them, the third eye created the magic? Just what exactly means that? Just when I was about to keep reading, a strong noise reached my ears coming from the city. I was kilometers away; just what happened that would be loud enough to reach here? I hurry to exit the room and went back to the entrance. Looks like I wasn’t the only one that heard it, the old man was up from his chair and his look denoted preoccupation. I gave him my gratitude and headed to the exit running. It was already night, the sky was black but the stars couldn’t be seen; red tones stained the horizon, where the village was located. Something bad was happening there, I think I could hear the screams of people; I don’t know why, but I headed there. Was the reason a noble one, like saving people or just my own curiosity? Either way, I will take a few hours to arrive there, so I’m writing this on the way.

8th May, 2011

I didn’t sleep today; I wouldn’t have been able to do it. The fire on the horizon and the screams that I could hear from the city kept me awoken. Even though, the roads were completely quiet, not just humans, but animals around here completely disappeared, like if they were running away; just what was going on? The closer I got to the city, the louder the screams were and the hotter it was; if I had to describe the hell, I surely would describe the city on that moment. It was after a few hours when I arrived to the city, the smell of burnt meat was over the entire place but, oddly enough, the screams were fewer; a lot of them were silenced.

                I came here probably because of my curiosity, but I don’t know why I entered the village, even after hearing the pain that was happening inside. When I got out from my wagon and headed for the entrance, I noticed that the big doors were completely destroyed. That shocked me, those doors were as thick as a tree, and yet here they are, pieces of it scattered everywhere. I was scared of course, who wouldn’t in my position? But still crossed the remains of the wall and entered the city.

                It was exactly as I thought, a true hell; flames were engulfing every building, even the ones made with stone. I could feel magic on those flames, they were created by a wizard, but it was just too much energy, not even the elder control could be compared to it. As I walk through the roads I could see bodies incinerated; sometimes in a piece and sometimes in just too many to count them. The smell was unbearable, it was the smell of death, of a whole city dying; no… not dying, being killed. Rage arisen from my insides, big enough to cover completely the fear I was feeling; and with that feeling I kept moving, trying to not look at the victims.

                When I was passing at the side of a blind alley, a familiar voice stopped me on the place. Looking at the alley, where the voice came from, I could recognize Arthur, so I ran to him. He was badly hurt, his arm was broken, probably from a high fall and his skin was burnt almost completely. Arthur told me that I shouldn’t be here, if I wanted to continue living I should run away the fastest I could. But something inside my head told me that I should meet the cause of this destruction; now that I think more calmly, I think I really heard a voice at that moment. I couldn’t leave the young rogue hurt there, his wounds were life-threatening and maybe I wouldn’t come back to heal him properly, so I used accelerated healing magic; it wouldn’t restore the arm mobility or sooth the pain from the burnings, but at least it would help him continue alive. I asked him to wait until he could restore his energies and then get out of here.

                He looked as I was leaving him there with a worried expression, but he wasn’t against it; I guess that, at the end, everyone just care about their own safety. The deepest in the city I walked, the more I could feel it, that strong magic energy; it probably was the wizard that did all this. Now sure of his location, I ran to where he was, hoping that I could arrive soon enough to save a few people. It was a hard race, building’s rubbish were everywhere, slowing or stopping my way; I thought about levitating myself and cross over them, but the fire was gathering at the sky, I would have been burnt in just a few seconds.

Finally I arrived at the main square of the town, just at the center. Compared to the rest of the city, this place was comfortable and the structure was fine; looks like the fire couldn’t enter here. When I got close I noticed something like a barrier surrounding it, but look like I didn’t have problems closing it; maybe it was just for the fire. Once inside I noticed that not just the flame was isolated from it, but the hellish heat too; the temperature in this place was stable, even with all the flames around it. Suddenly a voice resonated thorough the place, a cold voice that didn’t seem human – “Who dares disturb the ritual?” – A shadow on the center of the place moved, getting close to me.

                That’s what I thought at first, that it was a shadow, but the closer it got the more it seemed like a human; at least it had a human shaped. Under a black hood, two black eyes could be seen; to be correct they “couldn’t be seen” it was just like a black hole, I noticed them because it was the only place where there wasn’t any light at all. When I saw him so close, the fear paralyzed me, my whole body was telling me to run but my mind was telling me to stay there. Even though, he didn’t show any aggressive will against me, neither a welcoming one. He was just like that, a shadow with human shaped but without any expression.

                When he raised his hand with the intention to examine me, I backed off without thinking, looks like I wasn’t paralyzed anymore. He stopped his hand on midair, like surprised; I think it was surprised, it was almost impossible to read that thing. But I forgot the important thing; this was the origin of the magic energy and, probably, the cause of the city situation. – “What are you doing? What do you pretend with all this destruction!? – He didn’t answer at first, looks like he was thinking something. Then finally his voice resounded once again – “You are mistaken boy, I’m not the cause of this destruction; I’m just…” – I interrupted him with a shout – “don’t play with me, I know the magic origin comes from here; if I have to kill you to save the rest of the people, so be it”

                He didn’t move from his place, looks like he wasn’t taking me serious and he was already concentrating in something. I don’t know why exactly, but his attitude boiled my blood; without giving him any more chances to explain himself, I materialize my claws and jumped at him. Looks like he didn’t saw that coming and jumped off at the last moment; I cut his robe a little and I could see blood coming from inside it, so he is a living thing at least… But at least my attack worked, he lost his concentration and the barrier around us disappeared; now he wouldn’t be able to continue his “ritual”

                When the barrier dissipated, I could see that the darkness on his eyes was disappearing, leaving a pair of emerald eyes that were looking at me angry. But something was odd; I stopped his ritual, why is the energy origin still emanating from here? When I looked back at the one with the black robe, I saw that he was coming at me with full speed; it was too fast, I couldn’t even see his footwork.  But instead of attacking me, he pushed me out of the way. Lying on the floor, I could see an arrow of light crossing the sky and sticking on his stomach. While kneeling on the floor, his hood was lifted up by the air, showing a girl face; wait… then it was a “she” all this time? On her knees, she looked at me with a disdain look and her words were covered by hate – “Stupid kid, you have condemn this city to death” – Looking at the place where the arrow came from, I saw a human with a malicious grin on his face.

                “Hi again Yume, you made me a big favor here, that bitch was ruining the ritual that I took so long to prepare; I was right after all, u have the eye…” – I couldn’t believe it, it was Arthur…

May 9th, 2011

Just what happened here? I was surrounded by violent flames that would consume the city in a few minutes; with the person I thought was the perpetrator at my side, bleeding from an arrow wound and at my front Arthur, the one that shoot it standing there with an indescribable grin; was he having fun with all this? When I asked him, shouting, what was happening here, he told me with an innocent expression that he was just “solving a problem”. But I’m sure the arrow was headed to me and so I told him that – “Ooooh… I guess my finger slipped” – The girl at my side let out a sarcastic laugh and told me that it was obvious that she would jump to protect me, that way he would not miss his main target.

                This was becoming confusing, I was sure that this girl was the one doing the ritual, burning the city and killed everyone I found along the way; but if she was really the one who did all this, why did she saved me? I began doubting about Arthur, I knew him from a few days ago, but he didn’t look like a bad guy. He was watching the situation, getting impatient about my reactions; but then unsheathes his daggers and started walking toward us. At first I panicked, I wasn’t sure what he pretended to do, but then I spoke to him, ordering to stop right there and explain himself.

                He didn’t stop of course, instead he began smiling broadly and started talking – “Come on Yume… I’m just doing what I have to, I am a mercenary remember? You shouldn’t trust on the others so easily young boy…” – At first his walking was slow, but suddenly he disappeared from my sight; the air was filled with ashes but still it would be impossible to just disappear like that. I heard a laughing at my back, so I turned just like a reflex; but there was no one there.  – “you fool, don’t take your eyes from your front!!” – Thanks to the girl warning, I could avoid the edge of a dagger at the last second; he was in the same direction from where he disappeared.

                “That was so mean of you… I could have stabbed him so easily…” – I didn’t knew what happened, I’m sure I saw him disappeared but how is that he is still there? “visual magic” said the girl, explaining to me that it was a kind of magic where the wizard manipulate the light that is reflected on him; in other words, making him invisible or altering his image. Then, his wounds… no, they were real; but look like he was feigning his weakness because now he can run like nothing. When he noticed that I was looking at his burning, he fixed his gaze on the girl, saying that at the middle of the ritual she attacked him.

                So it was true after all, she was just trying to stopped this. Damn, I will have to apologize to her later, but now I need to stop all this madness. I materialized my claws and prepared myself in front of him. But his reaction disappointed me; he was looking at me with skeptical eyes, looks like he thought I was no match for him. The girl tried to stop me, why is everyone underestimating me? I just kept my stare at the front and asked for her name. At first she was insisting on me stopping, but finally she told me her name was Maat. “Ok Maat” – I said – “rest a little and let me take care of this, it was my fault after all…” She looks like wanting to say something, but I concentrated completely on my enemy, Arthur.

                As I got closer to Arthur, he began laughing again, but this time with a disappointed tone on it. “I was hoping to take you alive, but look like you don’t like that idea…” – His confidence was annoying, he acted like if he already won the fight. But his trick wouldn’t take me by surprise again, I thought about the white horns of light and they instantly appeared from my forehead, covering my eyes. I could see better and had more reflexes like this, but the stress was too much for my brain so I shouldn’t use this too much. When he turned again invisible, I activated the thermo vision (I think there was something like this on my world). As I thought he could reflect the light, but not the heat.

                I thought that I was at advantage; but I was wrong. No matter if he wasn’t invisible to me anymore, his speed was just too much; in just a second he was already in front of me trying to reach to my neck with his dagger, if it weren’t for my eyes enhancement, I wouldn’t be writing this now. I avoided it jumping backward, but the edge touched my skin, wounding me slightly. Still, I couldn’t believe it; his speed was just too much, what was the trick? When I looked for answers, I noticed a small energy condensation below his feet; he was using some kind of magic.

                He followed my gaze to his feet and acted innocently – “oh my, do I have something on my feet, magic maybe? I’m sorry but this trick is too much for kids like you” – As usual, he was making me mad; I’m kind of sure that it was his intention. I tried to remain calmed and analyze the situation: I couldn’t fly, as I said before I would get burnt instantly; my eyes help me to avoid his attacks, but I wasn’t fast enough to reach him with my claws; the longer this takes the worse the situation gets and the more the fire expands, I had to think fast.

I tried blocking him with the wings from my winds, but I ended with a bad wound on one of them; I waited for his attack and interposes my claws in his trajectory, but he changed it like nothing and I ended with a cut in my arm, while blocking my neck. He was an experienced assassin and all his movements were flawless, if I could just be faster… “You can” I heard again that voice; just where did it came from? That distraction cost me dear, I jumped back when the knife was too close to my heart, so I had to raise my leg and stop it. The wound was severe and stopped me from using my right leg anymore.

“Little by little your death is close, how much blood will you expose?” – His ditty was filled with disdain and joy, but not a good joy; at least not for me. What did the voice meant with “you can” can I become faster or something? But now I would need a new leg, I laughed at that idea; but then I stopped sharply, a new pair of legs? I looked at the tattoo from my feet: two flames in my forehead became flaming horns; two wings on my back became wings, this one was obvious; two runes on my claws became claws and the tattoos at my arms scales; they always materialized body parts related to the tattoo shape or position. Then, these ones…

I concentrated on them, the tattoos with paw shape on my feet; and reconstructed the feeling I usually have when I materialize my dragon parts. A bright light covered my legs just after that, it was warm and made me forget the pain from the leg; wait, not forget, it just didn’t hurt anymore. When the light vanished, I could feel a strange sensation on my legs. They were rough but at the same time light, when I looked at them I understood. They weren’t elves legs anymore, but green scaled ones, just like a big lizard. When I tried to move forward, all my body felt like if I were shoot by a cannon, I accelerated so fast that crashed violently against a pile of rubbish. Arthur was observing this intrigued and laughing, but this time I could fear a lack of confidence in his voice.

I stood up slowly, I guess I moved too soon; first I should understand this legs. They were much stronger than human legs and had two “knees” instead of one, making them look like an “S”; I guess that it was the cause of that impulse in just a step. Even though, I got accustomed to them just after standing up; just like with the other parts, I felt that I got these ones since always. Arthur was tired from waiting, and just charged against me; but this time my body could move as fast as my sight, so I dodged him without problems.

At first he was surprised, but then he kept attacking me, without letting the nervousness take control of his head; he really was a cold-blood mercenary, now that I saw his expressionless face I could be sure of it. With my speed now everything looked so easy to me, but the long use of my flame horns was already affecting me; the stress was becoming too big for my mind. I took the offensive, and started attacking him with my claws, wounding him with ease, but any more of this and I would faint. Luckily he didn’t notice it, and his surviving instinct was greater than his greed; so he started running away.

Maat shouted at me, telling me that it was already too over to stop the ritual manually; the only way was to kill the caster. I doubt about what should I do, I didn’t wanted to kill him, but if I didn’t so many people would die… I had no choice; I hope the one reading this can understand it. Either way, he was already too far away, for me to reach him; how in the world would I be able to get him? “When a dragon’s fang catch his prey, then is too late for it to live” Following the words on my head, a new light shined from my forehead, if the flames were already out, it must be the fangs shaped tattoos. But this time the light didn’t attacked to my body, instead it floated in front of me and I catch it just like a reflex.

                An ivory bow materialized from the lights. “Just who are you?” I thought in my insides waiting for an imaginary voice to answer me, but obviously it didn’t. But I was forgetting the important thing; I couldn’t let him run away. I draw the bow and then noticed that there wasn’t any arrow. Just when I started looking for one, a white arrow appeared on the bow, covered with a black aura. I looked for Arthur with my dragon horn and found him at the exit of the city; he thought he was already safe; a bad decision.

                When I let go of the bowstring, the dark arrow crossed the air almost invisible, just leaving destruction wherever it passed through and finally arriving at a surprised Arthur. The arrow killed him, I know that, but I could saw it so I closed my eyes. When I opened them, the fire was going out, looks like the ritual was over. I was tired… so tired… I faded in the place. I just want to rest a little…

May 14^th, 2011

An intense cold sticking to my body; the feeling of tiredness that tempts me to an eternal rest. I found myself again in this strange dream, but it was so long, like a life. I was flying through the air, with two majestic black wings at each side, and a superiority feeling that can’t be described with words; I wasn’t proud, but I knew my presence was something important. I could saw people below me, but watching their surprises expressions didn’t produced any reaction on me; why do I think of them as… small insects? I was getting scared at those thoughts, but the dream was stronger than my conscience.

         The sky looked weird, there wasn’t a single cloud on the sky but no light reached the ground. The sun is… it looks like is bleeding… what does it mean? Even with all the security I was feeling, that scared the “me” on the dream; something bad was about to happen. I flew a lot of time, heading to the direction where the sky was even darker; even at night, I could see the darkness; no stars shine on it.

         Just at the horizon, I could see the figure of two dragons – “oh, look like they arrived” – I thought, the dream conscience made me think that they were allies. I got closer to them, but look like they can’t see me; did they found something about this disturbance? I try to call for them, but just a roar come from my mouth; it wasn’t a violent one, but it surprised me. They then turned around; it’s weird, I recognize them but can’t remember their names… the red one looked at me with a strange look, and then an invisible thunder hit me on my left wing. Did… did they attacked me, my… teammates? But they look so cruel while seeing me fall on the forest. I was betrayed…

         This feeling again, like something was escaping from inside my body, like if I were travelling without moving. I’m trapped here, surround by trees and a cold wind destroying my resistance little by little. Why was I even born for, to protect these beings from the curse of the eye? I don’t care anymore, let them meet their end with it, I just want to rest; to rest forever.

         I stayed like that a few hours, maybe days; I’m not sure. But then I felt sudden warmth, almost unnoticeable, but with my body shivering it was enough to feel it. I gather strength from nowhere to look around me, looking through the forest for something different. At my side, there was one of those bipeds; at first I thought about flying away, we should not have any kind of contact with them; but I was so tired… I almost forgot it. He was still young, maybe a few decades, one century at most; they live so little time…

         A small fire was just in front of him, looks like that was the source of the heat; but it wasn’t enough. I lent the fire some of my energy and made the flame broader and hotter, almost white. The little piece of my conscience surprised at that display of energy, even without being able to move “I” could produce a fire so pure. But there was something that I noticed, the me from the dream “lent” energy to the fire, isn’t that the reverse from black magic? But as I tried to think about it the dragon conscience overcame mine again.

         This isn’t enough; I’m dying, I can feel it. But something told me I couldn’t give up just like that. This creature in particular looks like a noble one, he tried to help me at least; maybe they are worthy to be saved, I was banned to interact with them so I can not judge them. And yet, what can I do?

         I decided, I would give this one next to me the mark of the eye, bestowed to us, the protectors of the primordial curse. My mind will keep dormant within him so I won’t die that way, but I’m afraid I won’t be free anymore; I hope that I’m not making a big mistake, but I have no more choices. I proceed with the ritual without telling him, it would take too much time to explain him everything and maybe it would be too late. I feel like I’m fading in the darkness, will I ever wake up?

         I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was a stone ceiling covered by shadows. I’m alive.

May 15^th 2011

When I woke up I was not sure how much time passed since I fainted, looks like years to me. Now I’m here, laid on a bed somewhere I don’t know, just how did I escape from that hell? I just remember Maat calling for me… I thought that maybe she would be there, sitting somewhere, but my expectations were too much; I was alone in that room.

                A wooden ceiling, but this time it was polished, completely smooth; probably the work of an Illyriad human, it would be nice to meet them, maybe they aren’t that different from my usual self. I tried to stand up, but my body was so heavy, not even Seara was summoned when I thought about her. Did I lose the dragon’s power? I couldn’t even look at my hands to check it…

                At least I could move my head a little, enough to see the room I was in. It was simple and tidy: A crystal mirror decorated with a black frame at one of the walls; a candle lamp hanging from the ceiling center; a close wardrobe at the other side of the room; and a small table at my side, with a plate full with food and a glass with water, I can’t even describe how hungry I was, but I just couldn’t reach it with my arms… damn I feel so weak… maybe I should sleep a little more…

May 16^th 2011

I’m still here, in this strange room I don’t entering in, but at least I could move now, not too much, but enough to do the basic thing. I noticed that my diary was at the table at my side, I don’t remember seeing it yesterday; but today there wasn’t any food there, so I killed the time writing on it, is been a long time since I did.

                After a few minutes, which looked like hours to me, the door opened with a soft creaking sound, letting a young woman enter the room. She looked young, and maybe a bit shorter than me; she had a rather long hair, a bit curly, and a blue hair slide that keep her bangs from falling in front of her eyes. Her dress didn’t look like what I saw so far, a white top was covering her upper body and she was wearing trousers. Anyone would though of her as a boy, but those eyes… they could just be woman ones… so shiny and green… wait, greens?

                 Maat? – My voice came out really weak, but at least I could talk. She just answered by getting a chair closer to the bed and sitting on it, looking at me with attention – Wow, almost one week without awakening, I really thought you were a goner. – She said while her face showed a bit of skepticism on it. She pointed at my diary, now at my side on the bed – You really have interesting days lately, another world? That’s hard to believe… – She rubbed her eyes with a tired expression and continued – Well, either you really messed it at the town, be glad I rescued you instead of leaving your corpse to burn. But well, you still did something good, so I guess everything is good – Her speech was a bit inconsistent, I’m not really sure if the reason was tiredness or shyness.

                Maat exit the room and came back with the same plate of food I saw yesterday, I asked her mostly joking if it was the same food as yesterday – of course it is, do you think food is easy to get here? I reheat it so just eat it before it gets cold again – I was a little speechless, she reheated it? But I’ve been here a few days, just how many times…? Yuck… this tastes like… I will better not say it, I will just say that it tastes bad; but yet I’m hungry, I could eat anything. In just a few seconds I devour the dish, and gulped down the water from the glass.

                Even with all that food, I was still feeling weak, just what’s wrong with me? – You used the dragon’s energy too much time and without proper control, just like a child with a new toy, you really are stupid if you think there isn’t any repercussion; Just continue sleeping, eventually you will recover your vital energy – Did she knew about the dragon’s strange magic? I would like to ask her but I’m again falling sleep, looks like a full stomach makes me sleep heavier… hehe…

May 17^th 2011

Again I wake up in this room, I still don’t know where am I, Maat didn’t told me yet, but at least I’m not burning in that city… damn I get goose bumps each time I think about it. Today I got a nice surprise, at first my body felt really heavy, I thought I couldn’t move again; but when I watched what was happening, I noticed Seara sleeping over me, now he was big enough to cover my whole stomach. I poke at his head softly, trying to wake him up, and look like it was enough because he started jumping and playing like a child.

                My body was light again, looks like I recovered most of my energy. I sat down on the bed and stretch my arms, while the little dragon continued messing with everything he could get on his mouth. – That’s a weird pet you have there – Matt was leaning on the threshold of the door, observing me; It really creeps me out when she do that, is like she doesn’t even make a sound. She was wearing the same dress, but her hair was tied in a curly pony tail, it made her looks even more like a boy.

                Looks like I took too much time looking at her and thinking to myself, because she clapped once to catch my attention. – So I guess that you already recovered, boy? – she asked me with a harsh voice, I stood up and continued stretching my body, all my articulations scream satisfy, just how much time was I laying on that bed? – Yeah, I feel really nice, and my name isn’t “boy”, I’m Yumeshi – She stood there looking at me, with a face that show me a painful indifference, then pointed at me – Well… Yumeshi… you should put something on, or are you being suggestive? – When I looked where she was pointing at, I noticed that I was completely nude. I cover myself awkwardly, not sure how to act against her attitude, just like Eres; are all the women on this world like that? She just let out a funny smile and turns her face to the other way, at least she was considerate.

                I searched for my clothes but they weren’t anywhere, Maat told me that they were completely ripped at the battle with Arthur, but she has some guy clothes on the wardrobe and I could take it. I went to the plain looking wardrobe, being too conscientious of Maat presence even if she wasn’t looking. I just picked the first I saw, a white shirt that was a little big on me and a pair of dark green pants, with a cord acting as a belt. “Luxurious clothes” I thought, I don’t think I want to know where she got these; they have a strange smell on them.

                She guided me out of the building; I thought it was bigger because of the room space, but it just had a corridor and another room, a strange place to live. When we were out, i could see a few of the same houses; when I asked her Maat why they had those shapes, she told me they were used mainly as hideouts, there were hidden stairs in each room that leads to a labyrinth where people could run when bandits attack their homes; the house size was too let the bandits enter and exit faster, so they wouldn’t notice the secret stairs. It was a curious setting, but i wonder why so much security, this region is having problem with different factions just like in Keppen? Looks like this world loves war too…

                Maat guided me through a few streets; the area was quiet normal if you ignore the building strange shapes, wide and short. I tried to start a conversation with Maat a few times in our walking, but her answers were fast and concise, I wonder if she was avoiding me for a reason in particular. After a few minutes, she stopped in front of a building, not different from the rest; when I asked her the reason to stopped, she pointed in a place of the wall and told me to watch closely; there was a sign carved on it that I didn’t noticed at first, it was really small and didn’t outstand from the wall, but it was familiar… a vertical eye…

                Once we were inside the building, Maat uncovered a trapdoor in one of the room – If we were going to the labyrinth we could have used any house… – I said to her with irritation on my voice, I wasn’t too happy to walk for minutes, almost hours, after staying so much without moving. She just told me to follow her into the trapdoor, and so I did.

                The underground was illuminated by a row of light spheres spread through the galleries, I could sense strong magic coming from them; I wonder if this is the work of one or a few wizards. The way continued for a while, but it surprised me that there weren’t any crossways; I thought this was meant to be a net connecting all the houses. The way ended in a big underground hall that remind me of the one from the forest, maybe they have something in common; I wanted to comment it with Maat, but she stopped me and told me to wait there, while going inside the hall, covered by darkness.

                Iuvenise warrior wizard, Maat, reporting from her mission – She said while kneeling on the floor of the dark hall, at first I thought she went nuts, talking alone and kneeling to no one, but then I heard a voice echoing through the hall – Iuvenise Maat, how went the black magic inspection at “midnight refuge”? – I tried to knew where the voice were coming from, but I just could see a black curtain on my front – As the council suspected, there was a ritual taking place in the city. I arrived just when it was finishing and successfully stopped the caster; unfortunately he was just a mercenary using a pre-programmed artifact linked to his life force, the ritual necessary to stop the artifact require of a large quantity of time, so I casted a shield around me and focused on the cancelation. – She stopped for a moment and turned her head in my direction, telling me to kneel at her side. I did as she asked, a little embarrassed and then she continued.

The cancellation was going smooth, no problems so far; until an unknown source of energy went through it like nothing – She said while pointing at me – I was still on my concentration mode, but tried to talk to this person, he mistook me for the ritual caster and attacked me, breaking my concentration. The mercenary took advantage of the shield breaking, and started his attack; I protected the civil and was badly hurt, I hereby apologize for that mistake – She stopped again, maybe waiting for an answer from whoever she was talking to; but there was none, so she continued – With my concentration broken and injured, I couldn’t confront the enemy; the civil fought and finished him, following my petition, ending the ritual – Looks like she ended her report, she kept her mouth shut for a while. Then the voice resonated again, without showing any kind of expression in his tone – You did the right choice, but must learn to protect with a constant shield. About this young one… well I guess is better if I show myself.

What I saw after that… well, I will write it tomorrow…

May 18^th, 2011

Where did I stop writing the last time? Oh yeah… when the hall illuminated. I was there, kneeled on the floor and looking for an unknown voice with my eyes, uselessly, when a strong light made me close my eyes shut for a second, damn my heart almost skipped from my chest with that. Once I could opened my eyes again… well, once I could see again, the first thing I saw was Maat stood up at my side, watching me with a jokingly smile; looks like she was having fun with my reactions when I was blind.

                I ignored her and place my sight at my front, once my sight was recovered from the light shock. A big fireball, just like a sun, was illuminating the whole place from the ceiling limits, it had a blue color and didn’t let any smoke out, I don’t think I know that spell; Statues from people I didn’t know were erected along the place, some holding weapons with a proud and aggressive attitude and others reading books with a serene and intellectual aura on them. – The heroes from forgotten times labeled as renegades because the use of black magic – The voice came from my front, this time I could locate it without difficult; Am I that helpless without light?

                A man covered with a face covered in a thick beard was sitting on a wooden throne, decorated in detail. A table was covering his lower body part; call that a strange setting, a table just in front of a throne; but with the little I could see, I already knew that man was someone important. His clothes weren’t luxurious as a noble, but they were clean and had a proper care on them; his skin was dark and rough, like any other farmer, but still couldn’t imagine him as a mere worker, he had the look of someone that wouldn’t doubt to kill; for a second that thought made me shiver slightly, maybe I can feel these things because of my magic sensibility; maybe I can feel more things than magic.

                So you, a civilian without a proper preparation, penetrate Maat’s shield effortless and killed a professional hired mercenary – He was looking at me sharply, I could almost feel his stare reaching my soul – I see… well you messed up Maat’s mission a little, but I guess it wasn’t your intention – He stayed silent for a moment, letting me answer him. I just could swallow up and deny with my head like a kid being scolded – Very well, can I know your name young one? – I answered him; my voice was stronger than I pretended too, why was I feeling so pressured about this? – Yumeshi, that’s an odd name. Well I will present myself, my name is Lorre and I’m a magister lectum, i doubt you are familiar with wizards Rank so i will explain them later, meanwhile…

                He stood up from the throne and disappeared for a second behind the table. Did he fell from there? I looked at Maat worried but she just looks at me back wondering why I was worrying. When I looked back to the throne, Lorre appeared walking from the side of the table, he was… damn he was half my height at max. I couldn’t hide my surprise and Lorre noticed it, he was a little surprised too – Don’t tell me… this is the first time you see a dwarf? Oh boy, you should go out more often.

                After that he just told me to go back and rest, tomorrow he would teach me a few things about the organization that he and Maat were members of; I wasn’t particularly tired but just thinking when I will have another peaceful night… damn now I got sleepy…

The flames engulfed everything and I was close enough to feel the heat from them, I guess I still didn't recover from my time at the "hell" because it reminds me of that scene... of the burnt corpses filling up the streets. I didn't want to kill him, the fire just went out of my control and created a fireball that destroyed everything it touch and, just when I thought that it was the end... the fire suddenly disappeared.

Tasty, kurf likes -The orc was standing in the center of a burnt land circle, completely unscathed. – You use good magic, different smell, kurf likes it - "tasty" "good magic" is he implying that he ate the fire...? Wait that isn't, the fire just disappeared, couldn't keep it alive, did he ate the magic producing it? Thinking about this idea I stood up in a jump and put enough distance between us, I wanted to try something.

            I concentrate my magic energy on the floor, remembering what Maat told me about imagining roots. It was actually really easy; I didn’t have to release a concentrated energy like the time with the wolves, but used a small amount of magic adopting the shape and properties with the surrounding. After a few seconds where the orc was just looking at me with curiosity, leaning the axe on his shoulder, I raised my hand and a pillar of earth appeared close to him. He faced it and then started sucking the air, this time I could see it clearly; a shiny light was ripped off from the pillar and was sucked by kurf, then the pillar stopped and crumbles in the place. He really can eat magic.

            But this time the orc didn’t wait for another demonstration, he strengthen the grip on his axe and run… no, he didn’t run, he just disappeared and appear next to me, my flame horns activated instinctively and thanks to that I avoided a fatal attack. – Don’t fight him Yume, a magician can’t beat a magic-hunter – It was Maat’s voice, she was back to a tree, arms crossed and watching the fight with attention, she was warning me, but to me it sounded like a challenge “you can’t beat him with your current level” is what her eyes told to me…

            I wonder why I didn’t want to be ashamed in front of Maat, but I set my mind that I couldn’t run away from the fight, just what could I use… I “grabbed” the air with my hands and infuse it with a high concentration of magic, hoping that he couldn’t eat it all instantly. With a fast swing of my arm, the air condensed into a few invisible edges, that were headed to the orc at the speed of a bullet, I thought that would work… but I was wrong again, he just sucked the magic in less than a second and just a strong wind reached him, there must be a way to use his ability against him.

            My “roots” were still underground, so I could use the land in a few meters around me as I want to. I rushed to him, with my claws activated and nothing else and tried wound him with a fast attack, he just disappeared from my sight again and appear at my side, was that just pure speed? He raised his axe and attacked me with it but I could create a pillar between us, stopping the attack, the impact was still too strong, so the earth was destroyed and I was sent a few meters away, at least landing all right and in one piece, at least now I know he can’t attack and use his ability at the same time…

            I waited now for him to come to me, but I made it so the floor around me was softer and more instable, this time my judgment was correct, he disappeared from my sight but, instead of appearing besides me ready to attack, he was trying to get his leg out of the floor; with that weight and the speed he was using, he needed a strong ground to fight onto. I could have attacked him like that, but then he just would have parried me with his axe, he was rather good at handling it. I raised a new pillar of earth between us and activated my dragon legs now that he couldn’t see me, then I hardened the floor I was going to use and zigzagged heading to the trapped orc. I attacked with my right claw, sinking the strange material it was made of into the greenish skin of Kurf, the wound wasn’t too severe, just cut his arm enough to not let him use it again in a long time… and yet he used that same arm to throw me with a hit onto the air… just what happened?

I stood up the fastest I could and shake my head, a little numb because of the impact. I looked for the orc, he finally got free from the ground, looks like he just “ate” the magic again and turned the ground back to a solid one, but that wasn’t what surprised me… his arm was completely fine, the wound was closed and just a little of dry blood was covering it, just how? – this is why I told you to stop… they are physical warriors but can use enhancing white magic, making them stronger, faster or regenerating them at an incredible speed, and you are giving him the great amount of magic needed for that – I have to admit Maat is awesome… awesomely cold, while I’m here fighting with my life on the line she is watching and teaching me…

                Kurf looked at Maat while she was talking, he didn’t understand her but was just looking, now that I think about it, wasn’t she his objective at first, why is he not trying to attack her now? I shouldn’t think about everything so much in a battlefield, the orc noticed I was distracted and took the chance by attacking me, this time he was faster and I couldn’t avoid the whole attack, he reached my shoulder, cutting and smashing it with the axe, leaving it completely useless but, at least, still connected.

                While distracting him with more pillars of earth that I created from the remnants of magic energy I left underground, I tried to heal my arm. I remember the teachings from the elder, but it was passive healing, regenerate a deep cut in the middle of a fight faster and good enough to not let it open again… I guess it is a bit hard. I could manage to at least close the wound, but not with white magic, seeing that it was a desperate situation I used desperate measures, I summoned a bit of fire and burnt the wounds so they would close… it hurt like hell and almost made me pass away, but I just couldn’t let it finish like that. Now I was wounded, without earth magic (nor time to produce more) and facing a “doped” warrior with killing intents… this is what I call a relaxing time…

                Let’s be honest, this was going to end with my death no matter how you see it, not even Maat was trying to do anything, I wonder if she would actually care if I were dead or alive. With the agonizing pain on my shoulder and the mental fatigue, I was about to give up. My eyelids started to became heavier, little by little my eyes were closing and the darkness was filling my surroundings, i stopped feeling the pain, the fatigue, the reason to fight, for a moment I just gave up to the calmness of that darkness, it felt good to.