What his eyes or ears captured was not always reality. Magic distorted their understanding, although the certainty of why the Eroder attacked now was not far from what they initially thought. Appearances deceive. He had heard those words more than once, and in the last few days, he understood their meaning better than ever. Even when Ailfryd preferred to “attack first and ask later,” Finnian was sure that it was not so simple. Nor is it that they were going to wait for the first blow, but if that day taught him something, he must adapt and be alert to the clues. The trio of trolls reminded him that he could not give anything for granted, even with wrong impressions, while the copy of the Eroder was a constant warning that he could not avoid the problems.

His return to the Galya was quick and full of glares watching them. The sentinels and warriors were ready to act if the situation had needed it, even if it was not the case. After Olivia, Elvis and Spike spoke with Ailfryd, the arrival of Theri’s group corroborated it, along with what they did not take long to explain about who they were escaping.

Far from staying in the outside area, they were soon driven to the intermediate, just where the temporary accommodations were. They were used for times when new elthean could arrive at seeking protection and need extra space. Among the great trolls and the energetic of the alasdair, some intimacy would never go wrong.

Before they could sit down to talk, the reunion with the Little Warriors was what would have been under normal circumstances. Without shyness or waiting for a second, Finnian bent to embrace Theri as soon as they had an instant.

“How glad I am to see you whole and safe,” said Finnian, unable to express another word.

“And we to see you safe,” Theri said, returning the gesture more vigorously than his own.

They lost a few companions in High Sword, although the casualties stopped after they flew out. It was evident in whom he had put his interest, and for once, it was comforting to see that they did not end up dismembered for helping him. Fee and Kay also had a moment with Aer and Rune, aware of what they had to overcome since they separated. As short as his time would have been, they were among the first friendly faces he found in Elthea. Who knows what would have happened from not receiving their help.

Theri and his warriors continued their initial plan: To bypass the Forest of Ellery and head toward the Galya, hoping that they would have arrived. The forest, to their surprise, had ceased to be a deadly trap, and shortly after that, they encountered the trolls.

“We knew that Calamity was not far, but we were unaware that someone so-called the Eroder appeared from nowhere,” Olivia admitted.

“He started attacking us without more and then vanished,” Spike explained.

“Not that we would have angry him!” Elvis said, passing a hand through his hair.

It fit the story as they told it. Shortly after they liberated the forest, they met Ariel, and hours later, they encountered once again the Eroder. Perhaps he used the replica trick to avoid him and focus on what interested him, getting too close to some trolls who did not know where he had come from. Theri and his friends then saved them, creating a unique alliance in the hope of finding refuge there.

“We considered going to Valifall, but the city gates were closed and did not allow visitors,” Theri said.

All because they didn’t want to get into trouble. He was about to add that only the most powerful shields could stop the Eroder, but nothing would help in that conversation. Then, after sensing the chaos near Esendil River, thanks to the trolls magic, they continued their way until they arrived there. That replica gave them a good scare, and since their three friends could move with the earth faster than if they were going with them, they were asked to go ahead and look for help.

“So you’ve made friends with a few trolls?” Finnian smiled.

“And you with a dragon and a frionach hummingbird. Were Aer and Rune not enough as partners?” Theri said. “As a Signer, you are unique.”

“You’ve known it since we met. I’m wrong?” Finnian said.

“When do I see a Signer and two elthean on the same site and at the same time?” Theri said, releasing a laugh.

It sounded like the beginning of a bad joke, but it did not want to continue beyond. Too many new things had happened to catch up. Several Galya elthean helped them recover, healing the wounded and even preparing dinner. At a time, they asked him to do something that Finnian did not see coming.

“Mmm… buddies?” Finnian said as he approached the trolls. “How should I call you?”

“Does that matter? You called me Elvis. Is that eatable?”

“Yes, it matters,” said Finnian. “I know we didn’t start in a good way, but we can remedy it.”

“You did well. Elthea is increasingly dangerous,” said the female troll. “I am Embar. They are Kuel, the toupee, and Onyx, the spiky one.”

“Others have asked me to ask you to have dinner.”

“You don’t have much variety here either. I’m wrong?” Kuel said.

“Don’t try to scare him. For all those around him,” Embar said, referring to the elthean who kept watching them in the distance, “it wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Nothing will happen to you. In times of crisis, we must remain united,” said Finnian, speaking with a slight smile. “Besides, you helped Theri and the alasdair.”

“We were just paying off one debt,” Embar said.

“But you were able to leave, and you didn’t.”

The actions were almost as significant as the words, and they had delivered. They might not be very talkative, or not at first, but they integrated better than expected. The curiosity of the younger ones at the size of those eltheans was only comparable to the fear that they were producing, although not in Katsumi and Meir. The so dynamic duo first watched them far away, and after a while, they ended up climbing over the arms of Kuel and Onyx, laughing together.

“The thing about that replica,” Ailfryd said, appearing next to him, “I don’t believe the original is too far away.”

“He’ll be waiting for us to leave,” Aer said.

Although they had not set a date, they were aware that they would have to continue their journey at some point. Due to the actions of their stalker, they assumed that sooner or later, he would do something similar again to guide them to a trap. For now, they had no answers, although they should look for them more often. After all, the group that had gathered laughed and feasted on the terrace, making their afternoon experience somewhat secondary. It would have been a perfect night even to rest if not for something that changed everything.

The elthean stopped talking, the laughter and the talks paused, focusing on a presence they perceived. It was neither paranoia nor fatigue, not when everyone agreed on the same. The fire flame changed from orange to blue-purple, and time began to flow more slowly. Those present were aware of this, just as the figure of a young woman emerged from the fire. With a light-blue hat, short brown hair and eyes of the same tone, her clothes (or rather a robe) matching the hat seemed to be more than an adornment. In one of her hands, she held a white staff, glowing because of the magic she was using. She was the Ellery’s Witch!

With shortness of breath, his first instinct was to step back. Then, something more than a spectral shield covered him, getting to block her passage and break the spell. Part of his interior fought to face her, though Finnian was unaware of what it was and managed to take away her balance. That elthean was different from those present in appearance and power.

“You’re not the same elthean we’re fought,” Finnian said. “Why this display of magic?”

“I wanted to avoid a confrontation, although I’m not surprised you reacted like that.”

His companions acted as soon as they freed themselves, standing in front of him without waiting for a second. The rest of those present were also alert, especially by an unexpected new guest at that dinner.

“You had to consider that within a dorean, your magic would not have the same effect,” Ailfryd said. “I knew it wasn’t offensive, so I waited to see what you intended.”

Lelile, the Ellery Forest Sentinel. How could he not forget her? The same that dominated that place and turned its inhabitants into simple puppets under her magic and control. Not even the key, hidden in his clothes, reacted to her presence, nor should she perceive it. After defeating her, they assumed she would have perished, consumed by the power of the artefact that so much wanted to recover.

However, it was different from the one that tried to destroy them, and although the trio of trolls tried to confront her and stopped by Theri, the situation was still unusual.

“That’s why you’ve appeared that way, rather than going through any door?” Aer added, not trusting her a bit.

“Why are you here?” Finnian said, raising his hand to tell them not to intervene.

“There’s something you need to find out, and we both know what it’s all about,” Lelile said.

It is not Lelile who wanted to recover the key once again, but she had gone to the Galya to tell his bearer what she knew about it. After all, it would be a vital part of the crisis that was spreading right now through Elthea. Perhaps their dinner would have been interrupted, but that Sunday would end the week in a memorable way, of which he had no doubt.