A drizzle drummed on the cobblestone and Michal pulled the hood of the travellers clock deeper. It was just so damn comfortable and warm.

His mother walked next to him, a small smile on her lips as she watched him with her serene eyes. Being a child had been an interesting experience, though not one he would like to repeat. No matter what he did, how serous and normal he tried to behave, all the adults just smiled patted him on the head.

No one took him serous.

Well for once he would tolerate it, seeing his mother happy again lifted a stone from his heart. She had been…emotional. He had noticed her fidgeting before we went into the book-store, then her strange elation and grief.

There were two things there, Michal mused, for one she must have once had a summon she was still grieving and then she had problems with… shady.

Always a bit stiff around him.

Well, for all its flaws the wrath was harmless. It looked scary true, and the shadow trick was creepy as hell but its blows were as ferocity as an angry child.

Although his summon was a creature of few words, he could see the stain it put on it. Shady’s recent interest in rituals probably stemmed from an effort to change that.

He pulled out his own status for the hundereth time:

Name: Michal Race: Human Order: ember Chakra 6/6 Strengh: 10/15 Agility 9/15 Constitution 12/17 Magic Densety 3/15 Magic concentration 1/10 Class skills: Heroic turnaround(Active)(0)

Mana manipulation(light)(Passive)(0)

Dash(Aktive)(1) Sweep(1)

Despite recent efforts, his light mastery had still not increased. At least his stats were nice to look at, he had heard ten points were the average

values of a trained adult, and indeed his current child body could probably run a marathon.

His mother stopped, and he looked up. There they were again, in front of the weird book store with the weird but nice owner.

His mother and dad stepped beneath a salient roof, safe from the rain.

“I will remain here and guard your backpack.”

His mother gave him a smile, holding up his new backpack stuffed full with school supplies.

“Sure, it wont take long.”

The wooden door opened with a creak and the chime of a bell. “What if instead of people we shoot a recording crystal across?”

The rebel heard the fervent voice of his summon, from the other side of the room.

Now with a bit more practice, he weaved through the chaos.

“Clever idea, but as stated in the journals of a nameless wandered, the storm atop the Ardents never wanes and is magical in nature. Hard to even make something out even in a normal storm.”

He could see them now, the bald bearded man with a frown on his face, and his summon just now having formed a comically muscled arm to point at the old map.

“Point remains, with this you will get absolutely nowhere. There is a reason the city has not been found jet for hundreds of years. Karl the mad himself, searched for it and if our country's historical records are anything to go by the man probably comped trough the whole mountain range. What we need is creativity.”

They still hadn't noticed him, so he let out a not so polite cough.

“Ahh there you are boy, your summons quite the handful.” Shady took one look at him and

transformed into a shadow, gliding behind him.

“Hey hows it been, you like the old man?”

An awkward silence stretched out until Broms funny ape companion handed him a bundle of books wrapped in strange fabric to keep them dry.

Michal started to reach for his coin purse with a little worry, his allowance had been disappearing faster than he thought it would.

“Take them, your companion already paid for in ideas and expertise regarding my little project.”

The former rebel raised an eyebrow. He never speaks more than a few words with me.. Well Jonas was similar at first, some people just take some time to warm up. Damn I miss the old crew.

He waved at the middle aged sorcerer, when his eyes once again fell on the golden runes inscribed on his arm.

‘Fulfill your destiny and fly’

fail and you shall fall. He added silently. The runes were as much a promise and a warning by the moon god.

Michal wondered if he could ever return. Had the world, and his home been freed or had others taken the tyrants thrown. He would probably never find out.

He let out a sight when the thought of his two smiling sisters crossed his mind.

And even if nothing changed, I am here now. And this time I can protect everyone, I can save them all. I am still fighting the same battle, and I do not intend to loose to whatever it is that the toad has prophesied might destroy our world.

“Your mother and I will just buy some bread and talk to the owner. If you want you can wait here.”

Michal nodded with a small smile on his face. He had always acted his part as a perfect child, so his parents allowed him quite a bit of freedom.

“Just come in if you have any problem.”

His dad ruffled his hair just like his other father. Probably a dad thing.

With glee he searched trough his backpack and took out the custom sized sword and scabbard his father had surprised him with after visiting the blacksmith. It was plain and unadorned, but made out of steel.

Michal fastened it to his belt.

Next he took his wooden shield and strapped it at his back. The last thing missing were the casting catalysts he now fastened at his belt. Silver sticks looking similar to lighters, adorned with runes he did not understand. His mother had tried teaching him, but in the end they both agreed that they were best left for scholars to mull over.

A little bit of childish pride swelled in his chest, maybe a substitute for the things Tyson had denied them all with his senseless conquest.

He felt something tug at his shoulder but ignored it. At least kiki and Zyanid will grow up in peace.

“Michal!”

The thirty year old boy whipped around drawing his sword, catalyst in his other hand, ready to press the trigger…

An unamused black cat stared at him, it took a moment to recognise his companion. He took a deep breath and pushed the memory's away, here he was finally safe. No companion trying to stab a knife in his back for the chance of absolution, or spies infiltrating his group.

“What is it?”

The cat nudged its head in the direction of a dark ally next to the bakery.

“You want me to follow? Found something interesting huh.”

Michal took one look at the bakery.

Well I will be right back.

He stepped out from under the roof into the drizzle, his leather boots splashing on the drenched cobblestone.

The ally was dark and damp, a few rats scurrying away. It smelled awful, but the black cat seemed not to notice as it walked straight ahead unto a space recently cleared from rubble and dirt.

The gravel voice of his companion sounded:“Observe”. Before he could ask what exactly was so interesting, red tinted chakra frizzled over the floor outing runes of red more complex than anything he had ever seen.

The ground shook ever so slightly, as the stones moved as smooth as water flowing away to reveal a dark descending stairway. Smokeless torches kindled themselves one after another, and Michals enhanced senses could hear his companion mutter.

“Whoever build this, hands down you had a sense for style.”

Ignoring the strange words of his companion, his curiosity forced him to take a step forward.