Theri’s words were well directed, and unlike the others, who looked at him as if he were an extraterrestrial, he was much more compassionate and resolute, confirming that he was no longer in his world.

After losing consciousness following the attack of the kittens on the Shyeld Plain, they had taken him to a castle near the one they called High Sword. Theri spoke fondly about the place, although he soon admitted it had had better times than the current one. The Little Warriors he saw there were from the kingdom of Alasdair, their border being relatively close to their current location, are commonly known by that name.

His group went to that castle after losing contact five days ago with the comrades guarding it. They discovered it empty and with severe damage from a battle when they arrived the day before. After that, Aer and Rune appeared out of nowhere while searching around, and then he.

“Is it safe to be here?” Finnian asked when he almost stumbled upon some rocks.

“Of course. With us here, you have nothing to fear,” Theri said, tapping his helmet a couple of blows as if that should give him safety.

“Then… did you already know him?” Finnian said, looking at the other elthean.

“He’d been visiting Galya on a couple of occasions. They escorted their merchants,” Rune said.

“The Great Galya Tree is our home,” Aer explained.

“And how did you appear here? Did you make ‘pof’ and arrived next to them without more?” Finnian said.

“Something like that. We woke up in the middle of the countryside, almost as if someone had taken us flying while we slept,” Aer said.

“Don’t look at me; I’m not nocturnal,” Rune said, denying with his head.

“Good thing we were close. That way of appearing would have attracted other predators,” Theri said, standing in front of him. “And what about you, Signer? What do you remember?”

Darkness. He shivered with that reminder, now with the certainty that everything was quite real. What began as a breakfast ended up being the true meaning of a nightmare. He had never imagined that everyone in his world would disappear in front of his eyes or that something would swallow him.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be fine,” Theri assured her when he told them about his parents. “Although I never imagined that Signers would reach Elthea in that way. Nor did his colleagues appear out of nowhere.”

“Signers are humans from another world chosen to come to Elthea”, Aer intervened before Finnian asked him.

“You know the legend, bluish,” Theri said joviality. “Signers come when we need you most to fight the Lord of Calamity.”

“They are very powerful elthean, so much that they threaten to destroy our world,” Aer continued with his explanation.

“And what do I have different from you? I’ve seen you fight, and I can’t do the same,” Finnian murmured.

“You’re the missing piece, or so the stories say,” Rune said.

That instant was like feeling once again in school, and they looked at him, hoping that he would do something he did not understand. Elthea? Signer? Fight against the Lord of calamity? Where was it finished?

Walking in relative calm, he soon learned that High Sword was a small castle near a cape at a considerable height of the water. Leaving behind the outside patio, where he counted a dozen alasdair, they arrived in the interior area with the Sword Tower and the makeshift camp they had mounted there.

It would have been impressive on another occasion, but it made him believe Theri’s words because of their appearance. Even when it was still too much information to process, something wasn’t right over there.

“We have finally arrived. I wanted to show you this,” said the big guy, pointing to a stone fountain where they could cool off if it was too hot.

“Are you going to tell me that it’s magical and that a lady is going to come out of the water to give me a sword?” Finnian said.

“I wish! I would love to see what weapon someone like that can bring. But no, look at the statues.”

At each end was a sculpture. The closest was a warrior and a wizard, both tiny and inscribed at their feet where it said “Beginner”. In the following, they looked more prominent, with weapons and a more definite force (“Champions”). There were hardly any apparent changes in the next statue, but more adults, “Masters” of sword and magic, were seen. On the other hand, there was no trace in the last one, where the inscription marked “Legend”.

“Why can I understand what is written?” Finnian said, incredulous at symbols he did not recognize but were familiar to him.

“It’s written in ‘Eltheani’, the common language,” Rune said.

“You can read what he says because you must be here, just as we understand each other,” Aer said.

“They are our evolutionary stages. When we grow and become stronger, we can evolve,” Theri said. “That is the Signer’s power, the magic of strengthening their partners.”

“Why is that broken?

“It may be because of the struggle or the time”. Theri admitted, “But there are few elthean who arrive alone at the Legend level.”

“So… Can I make you change? How?” Finnian said.

“We don’t know. You’re the Signer,” Aer said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Although you should now worry about knowing who your partner is,” Theri said, placing a hand over Aer and Rune’s head. “You appeared close by for a reason; you must find out.”

For only one sign and his companion have the power to deal with the Lord of Calamity. The perfect plan for any exciting summer, a dangerous one. However, it was his only option to return home: Fulfill his mission to defeat evil and restore balance.

Either of them could be, although a shred of guilt flooded him inside by not being able to figure out which one. He was assimilating a lot of things at once without a break!

“First things first. Aer? Rune?” Theri said, nudging them both. “The three of you have to go to the Galya. Ailfryd can shed some light on that vision of yours.”

“The fastest way is through the Forest of Ellery, and you said that there is no one to enter there now!” Rune exclaimed.

“You will not go alone or through it. Leave the preparations to me. Tomorrow we will resume our trip. The time for change has finally arrived!