Gil protected himself with his Loth as he was pushed out of the wall. He crashed down in the dust at the feet of the walls, with a loud grunt. Rolling himself on his back he prepared his Loth again in case the wizard had made another attack. After a few seconds he concluded that he hadn’t, and let go of the Loth while taking a few breaths slowly. He then pulled himself up on his feet where he staggered a little.

His Loth had taken off most of the hit, though not all of it. This was the worst case scenario for him: the wizard was alive and would most likely warn all his fellow magicians about him. He would have to take drastic measures.

How had Ellyn gotten here? How did she know? Questions swarmed in his head, which was still sore after the fall, like the rest of his body. He took a few steps, still not sure on his feet. Looking around him, he didn’t spot any gate, only the remains of the fortifications and camps of the Sa’aran’s siege.

He began walking along the wall, hoping a gate was not too far away. He thought about the attack, and his first failure. He had no doubt that the wizards had means for communication and locating wizards, or else they wouldn’t have managed to hunt the sorcerers to extinction.

His best chance was to prepare a powerful spell, to face multiple wizards at the same time. It was much more risky than tracking them down one by one and killing them by surprise.

He had lied. His name wasn’t Gil, his young age wasn’t true, and his goal was far more ambitious that anyone could have ever imagined.

He was Mor’iel, the sorcerer with thousands of years behind him. Thousands of years he had spent researching into his power and its origin, the soul.

Only Sorcerers were able to tamper with the soul, and he had probably taken his research farer than anyone before him, secluded in the elven forest. But it was much too early to reveal himself to the world, the power opposing his ascension and the elves with him were still too great.

He had to be patient, as usual.

It took him less than an hour to reach the gate which unfortunately wasn’t open as the night had fallen, and he had too request entry of the guards who reluctantly let him enter because of his status.

He walked a few minutes into the city, and then strolled up to a door where he didn’t hear any screams of drunken soldiers from. He knocked a few times, and then he heard steps.

A middle aged man opened up the slightly, so he could see who the stranger knocking was. He seemed cautious, which was understandable with all the drunken soldiers who sometimes made questionable decisions. He saw two women behind him the one significantly younger than the other, looking over his shoulder a few meters behind.

“What d’you want!” The man first grunted, but then became more serviceable when he had taken a closer look on Mor’iel’s costly clothes.

“I seek a roof over my head for the night. I am a scribe for His majesty of Tarnor. My name is Falgel.” He said with a little charming smile and a slight bow.

The man then unlocked the door and opened it with a welcoming gesture. “Oh. Well, come in, come in.” The smile vanished on Mor’iel’s face.

“I am truly sorry about the sight that you are going to witness, my ladies.” He said as he grabbed the man’s shoulders, while his Loth banged into his head making the neck break.

As soon as Mor’iel heard the neck break, he grabbed the man’s face. The palm then began shining in a dull blood red, which disappeared as soon as he closed his fist and when he opened it again, the light was gone.

The ladies went from excited to shock and denial, while the younger one, barely more than thirteen, began screaming.

With a few quick paces, he reached the older woman, most likely the wife. He unsheathed a dagger and plunged it into her neck, pushing her against the wall behind her. The woman drowned in her own blood, and while she did so, he extracted another red light from her face which disappeared in his fist again.

Then he turned against the last one who had sunken down on her butt in the corner, and was trying to make herself as small as possible while desperately crying.

He walked over to her and put a knee on the floor before her, as to reach same eye level. He raised her face by gently pushing her chin up and then looked at her with slightly furrowed brows.

“I dislike killing women, and I dislike killing children. And I would really hate to murder you too, on top of your parents.” He tilted his head. “What if I spared you, would you tell anyone what happened here tonight?”

She just continued crying desperately, avoiding his eyes out of fear. He waited a few seconds, but still no reaction. “I’ll make an exception for you.”

He smashed her head against the wall.

__________________________________________________________________________________

“The Order of Jeidan?” Ellyn asked while walking through the streets and evading the drunken soldiers.

“That’s right. It’s an order of Wizards, created not only to protect this continent against sorcerers, but also to raise young mages. Only few know about it though. Some wizards pretend to be normal people, and wouldn’t want their secret out.”

Ellyn thought a little. “How are you gonna contact them?” She curiously asked.

“We all have a method to come into contact with the grandmaster Gamel. Mine is at my home.”

His home was a luxurious house in the inner city, which he had gotten when he swore loyalty to the king. It was not that big, but made of stone and easily warmed up. He had a housemaid, who took care of food, cleaning and wood for the fireplace.

They entered the house together, Ellyn closely following Filian although she had been here before. She had arrived in Lamina just before the siege began, and Found Filian. She had tried to warn him, and he had ended up taking care of her.

Filian walked up to the fireplace without hesitation, and pressed a button on the bronze motif over the hearth. He heard a little click, and then pulled out a little cylindered bronze box. He opened it and took a small pearl out, which he smashed on the ground. Inside there was some white powder, which he gathered up, and put in Ellyn’s hand.

He then wrote a little message on a piece of parchment, which he rolled and put on the stone floor.

“Put the powder on it, cover the writing completely.” He said, and Ellyn did as said. He then snapped his fingers over it, and a little spark landed on the powder which went up in green flames and was gone as quickly as it came, leaving a few ashes behind.

“That’s it? You just sent a message to the Jeidan?” Ellyn asked.

“Yep. It shouldn’t take long before the hunt begins. We’re should be out of danger now.” He said, while sitting down in a comfortable chair.

“What if he comes after us in the mean time?” She asked worryingly.

“He doesn’t know where we are. Why should he?” Filian responded.

“All he has to do is ask somebody to tell him where your house is! He doesn’t know that you have already sent for help! He could be coming right now.” She exclaimed.

Filian changed his position in the chair. “Nobody knows where my house is. And he already tried once, he won’t try again in the same day.”

“Why take the risk!?” She said exasperatedly.

“Even if he comes, then it is my duty as a mage of Jeidan to destroy sorcerers. And I won’t run from my duty!” He was a little irritated that she was constantly questioning him.

“This isn’t about duty. You’ve never given a damn about duty!” She angrily said. “You’ve never given a damn about anything, and now you’re gonna get us both killed because of your stupidity!”

“Shut up! I got it covered, okay?!” He shouted back, surprising her, and then he closed his eyes a little. “Seriously, what’s the matter with you?.”

She hesitated for a few seconds, then broke down. “He killed Meslis. I just don’t want him to kill you...” She said with tears at the corner of her eyes.

He made a forced smile and tried his best to reassure her, hugging her and giving a shoulder to cry on. Truth be told, he was quite anxious himself, but he refused to let himself be so scared of this man.

They waited for the whole night, but the sorcerer never came. Ellyn had told him the name that he had given her, but Filian didn’t believe it was his real name. “He has no reason to spread his true name around, telling everybody he picks up. It is most likely fake.” He had said. “Or maybe he’s just that arrogant.”

The dawn came, leaving both of them very tired. They finally let go, counting on the fact that he wouldn’t attack in bright daylight. The sleep submerged them.

A knock on the door woke up Ellyn. She sleepily looked around and saw Filian who was still deep asleep, so she went over and opened the door herself.

A tall and thin woman responded at the door. She had high cheek bones and her triangular face was surrounded by straight gold brown hair which reached long below her shoulders. Her green eyes were critically scanning Ellyn.

“Good afternoon. My name is Alyss Fey.” She wore expensive light blue robes with silver thread which suggested she was a noble of some sort, but her hair hanged freely. That was extremely rare among ladies, as most of them made extravagant hair styles to show off the latest trend.

But she was beautiful in a simple and elegant way, and her eyes shined with self-confidence and intelligence.

“I’m Ellyn, and you must be at the wrong address. The owner of this house doesn’t know any beautiful ladies like you.” She said jokingly.

Alyss giggled. “Don’t worry, I am not here to take Filian from you.” Ellyn blushed and in a low voice denied it, still holding the door. “May I come in?” Alyss asked with a smile.

“Of course. I’ll wake Filian up.” She rushed over to him and shook him up, a little more roughly that she intended to.

“What?” He said while rubbing his eyes.

“A certain Alyss is here.” Ellyn took a pause. “Alyss Fey I think.”

“What!?” He said, this time louder. He quickly turned his head and saw her enter through the door frame. He then rushed to his feet and bowed his head before her. “Master Alyss.” He said. “Grandmaster Gamel sent you?”

“I volunteered. I was quite close, and came right away. Many more are on their way, but I have command of this mission.” She was second to only the Grandmaster in the hierarchy of the Jeidan Order, being the most talented mage in the whole order, and the youngest to attain the rank of master since its founding two hundred years ago.

Ice cold determination flashed in her eyes. “I will be the one to bring down the sorcerer.”

“Master Alyss, how are you going to find him?” Filian asked, and Ellyn could hear mistrust and caution in his voice.

Alyss smiled. “Because I have this.” She took a globe out of under her robes. A blue hurricane of matter slowly moved around in it. Filian face became white.

Ellyn was puzzled. “What’s that?”

Before Alyss could open her mouth, Filian took the word. “That’s the Gem of Gala’ad. It shows the way towards sorcerers and wizards. That’s how I was found, and all the young wizards as children, but normally, only the grandmaster can handle it.” He nearly scowled. “So why do you have it?”

“Because I am the most competent wizard after him.” She then smiled. “He’s growing old, and I have just been appointed as his next successor.”