That night he did more than rest. He didn’t dream, or at least he didn’t remember it when he opened his eyes, although that strange sensation that travelled his body the previous days was reactivated at the same time as him. Even the inhabitants of Galya knew their departure; such information would not come out of the edges, as they and Ailfryd desired. Some things were better not to reveal, not if they could avoid it, and keeping peaceful that place was indispensable. Being able to hide their presence was an advantage they could not display, and that was why they had been instructing him everything he could learn, even though he could only start the magic in its most essential aspect. And although Lelile helped him continue with the symbol magic, he would have to practice along the way.

He rose near the dawn, more than willing to awaken his companions; the first surprise, however, was taken by Finnian to see that they were waiting for him. They could talk to their minds, but they didn’t need it to know what his intentions were. The sky was beginning to clear up, making their departure more complex than they would have liked.

They knew how soon life was moving at Galya, so they preferred to avoid the attention of anyone who could see them. Finnian would miss the forest’s aromas, a mixture of plants and dampness, but also of something else that came from the outside. Life, magic, adventures, the activities that took place there couldn’t be more varied, and although Finnian had the feeling that he had barely scratched the surface of what the Great Galya Tree could offer, it wasn’t all he would find in Elthea.

Although their time there had come to an end, prolonging the inevitable would only make their departure more complicated, and others would suffer, two things that neither Finnian nor his friends were willing to allow it. However, their attempts to be silent and not draw attention were frustrated as soon as they heard someone’s voice behind them.

“Don’t worry, you have plenty of time to leave.”

However, not even such a thing escaped Ailfryd. With his calm but still intense voice, he had to understand his intentions from the very moment they separated the previous day. Perhaps Ailfryd would have had a similar experience? Or that, as a good guardian, he knew what someone in his position would do in such a moment.

“Have we been so predictable?” Finnian said.

“Not at all, but everyone understands what you must do now,” Ailfryd admitted.

However much they wanted to help them, even their friends had limits in such situations. Their mission was only theirs, which closed the group even if they did not intend, but that did not prevent them from being valid at any other time. Floating toward them and with no disturbance, for an instant gave the impression of being there for a different reason than to say goodbye to them.

“When you arrived here, I expected to give you the security you needed,” Ailfryd began to say calmly. “I wanted you to be ready, and I feel you are not.”

“You’ve done everything you could. You don’t have to feel guilty,” Finnian said.

Although Ailfryd wasn’t talking only about him and all the lessons he had taught him. Aer and Rune were born there, which put them in a different position. The Guardian had a special affection for them, just like any other who would have been under his care.

“Since you were born, I knew that your destiny was not to remain here. I could only prepare you as best as possible,” Ailfryd continued. “I’m proud of the elthean you’ve become and don’t want you to forget that you can always return here. All of you.”

Finnian didn’t know what would happen once he fulfilled their mission if they were capable of something like that. As much as Finnian was the Signer and they were his partners, and Ead was a kind of guidance, their mission did not seem to be on the same level as their predecessors. He ignored whether his grandparents were involved in Elthea, although that was an unknown that he could not solve there, or not for the time being.

“The Silver Orchid is located east of here,” Ailfryd said. “It will take you long to arrive, but I’ve kept enough provisions for the trip in your backpack, though….”

That Ailfryd hesitated was not a good indication. Until now, he was always determined, even when he wasn’t sure about something. But that was different.

“I ignore what you will find once you get there, but do not reveal your mission to anyone. Perhaps Calamity is not yet aware of what has happened, although you must not trust you.”

“If he doesn’t know what our goal is, he may take him off our path,” Aer muttered.

“Don’t be so sure,” Ailfryd said, continuing with a greater revelation than expected.

Because only a few knew that the former Guardian of the Silver Orchid was killed, but less still knew the true story. His predecessors had to defeat the Lord of Calamity, but he accomplished what many others had tried and failed in the process: He almost conquered the dorean.

“Under ordinary circumstances, he would have won, but the Signer’s intervention avoided something worse. It is the Guardian who will be able to tell you the best.”

“Why didn’t you tell us before if you already knew?” Leith asked.

“Because this is a half secret. All Elthea knew what happened and what changed, but only the Guardians and close ones know the details,” Ailfryd said.

“That’s why I only knew where it came up,” Lelile said.

The witch appeared graciously near the Guardian. The usual smile of the elthean had disappeared, showing a more serious face on this occasion. Everyone was a vital part of this puzzle and still lacked some to solve it completely.

“I have a farewell gift, something I hope will make your journey more peaceful,” Lelile said as he approached him.

“Will it hurt me?” Finnian murmured.

“Of course not, silly,” Lelile smiled, holding him by his hand to give him a bracelet.

It was so simple that it did not seem magical: with a metal string that crossed three dark stones, as soon as Lelile gave a touch to the one in the centre, he saw a blue symbol drawn on it.

“Djinn gems are common in Myrd. We charm them so that they serve different purposes. It will help you to have something to practice magic with without getting so much attention.”

“It’s a relief to have something like that. Considering how bad I was,” Finnian muttered.

“Time to time,” Lelile smiled. “In addition, magic, like everything in life, is constant learning. But don’t get away from your goal, do all right?”

Not that it was going to grant him wishes by touching them, but at least he had something to count on, right?

“What Ariel said and my visions….” Finnian muttered.

“Like you, what’s inside is also part of what’s happening. Find answers there, and don’t let anything or anyone delay you. The past may have marked what we are living, but it is up to you how everything goes,” Ailfryd said.

They would have to find out what happened in the past to understand the present to solve it. Many of his schoolmates hated to read or the history classes because they did not find them a tangible utility, although he saw them differently. Perhaps it was thanks to his parents and how involved in writing their articles or following stories, but he understood that the only way to have a future was to learn from the past.

“You are stronger than you seem,” Lelile said after squeezing those present tightly.

“Don’t forget,” Ailfryd added after doing the same, “no matter what others would want you to believe.”

He disappeared from his house without having the possibility to process what was happening. Leaving the Galya gave him a bittersweet taste, similar to when you ignored the moment you would meet someone again. He hated saying goodbye, and if something good passed on by his father was a phrase.

“See you soon before you know it,” Finnian said.

Goodbye could be decisive, indicating that they would not meet at another time. However, those three words implied their paths would cross again, although they ignored the when. How one expressed their intentions were just as powerful as their acts, and both gestures became more important since he arrived at Elthea.

They left there as soon as Rune evolved, flying away from a population that was beginning to become active. It would not take long for the sun to enlighten everyone to start the new day. But the more they advanced, the more they were aware of something on the horizon. They could appreciate dark clouds, just where they headed, which could be a storm or something else.

“It was a good decision that we left now, Finnian,” Ead said. “We would have put the Galya in danger sooner or later.”

“It was the most logical thing,” admitted Finnian. “Also, if Ailfryd is right and my visions are guiding us there….”

“Means that what happened in the Orchid has not ended,” Aer said.

“Or someone is trying to complete that goal,” Leith said.

No matter what, they would no longer be travelling blindly through Elthea. They had new tools at their disposal and a strength they didn’t initially have. Would they continue to arrive before Ariel found them? Or would the Lord of Calamity have entertained by giving the Eroder a beat-up? He still didn’t know any of those answers, but something told him that they wouldn’t take long to find out.

“Don’t worry. Whatever it is, we will end up solving it,” said Rune.

“After all, we’re a team, aren’t we?” Aer said.

“One with the support of many elthean, even if they are not here with us now,” Ead said.

The ties they had formed did not disappear. Perhaps they couldn’t be seen at a glance, but they were chains that would keep them together wherever they were. Because their mission had done nothing more than to begin, and they still had much of Elthea to see.