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Chapter 3 "Hmmm, the poison doesn't seem to originate from any of the natural herbal families of Krynn," Erik pondered as he flipped through a large, musty tome. "You're right," Anna agreed quickly. "However, the poison also isn't magical, since we ruled that out in the beginning. Perhaps it's a hybrid poison, one developed from several different combinations of herbs." "You know, that might just be it," Erik admitted as he hurried over to another clustered bookshelf in the library and dug through the looming stack of books. "If you're right and we discover the ingredients to the poison, we may be able to formulate a formidable anti-toxin with the remedies for the original herbs!" Even after several hours spent in one of the well-stocked libraries of the Academy of Sorcery, Anna and Erik had not relaxed their research. At the start of their outing, Anna had not wanted to go anywhere but back to the Citadel of Light. During the short journey to through the woods that surrounded Solace, Anna had remained aloof from all, especially the blue-robed sorcerer that had asked for her aid. Although the warriors in the party had been edgy, no dark knights or other foul beasts attacked them. Still, there had been a slight cord of tension that had bound the group, as if every shadow hid some unknown danger. That tension was soon replaced with awe. Although Anna had resided in the Citadel of Light for many years, and become accustomed to the epic grandeur of its glass domes and spiraling stairwells, she was still amazed as they entered the Academy. Of course, only her and Devin had never been to the Academy, and the knight had been equally amazed. The entire Academy rested on a natural plateau that overlooked the town of Solace. Built in a circular pattern, eleven soaring towers connected by open hallways elevated nearly a hundred feet above ground encircled the various courtyards and gardens that made up the Academy's campus. The Tower of the World stood looming straight out of the heart of the Academy with raised open hallways radiating from it like the spokes of a wheel. The awe-inspiring building of black, white, and gray stone rose nearly five hundred feet above the plateau, and resembled a cross between a tower and a dome. Erik had explained that it served as the apartments for the various sorcerers that resided at the Academy. According to the young sorcerer, novice mages lived on the lower levels and moved upward to loftier apartments as their studies progressed. Each of the towers, Erik had explained, represented a specific school of sorcery and was therefore reflected in its overall design. Indeed, each of the towers looked distinctly different, from the earthy, jewel-encrusted Tower of Geomancy to the reddish marble that had been used to construct the Tower of Pyromancy. Palin Majere had, of course, greeted the guests personally, as his nephew was among them. A renowned hero, who was credited with defeating Chaos himself and saving Krynn in the Second Cataclysm, Palin Majere was now in his sixties, but still brimming with life. Regarded as the most powerful sorcerer on Krynn, Palin had discovered the new sorcery of the Fifth Age and founded the Academy. As the nephew of Raistlin Majere, the dreaded sorcerer who had challenged the Dark Queen herself, and the son of Caramon and Tika Majere, renowned Heroes of the Lance, Palin was regarded as a legend in his own time. Although he had settled down from adventuring in order to study the new sorcery that he had discovered, Palin still fought against the Great Dragons that had invaded Ansalon. In fact, just three years ago, Palin had left the Academy and traveled the length and breadth of Krynn in order to thwart the machinations of Malystryx the Red. Along with Goldmoon's Heroes of the Heart, Palin had forged new trails across Krynn even in the twilight of his life. Still lean and wiry, the sorcerer's once auburn hair had grayed with age and now hung shoulder-length. Still, his strong and proud face, only slightly wrinkled, had burst into a large smile at the return of his nephew. While the powerful sorcerer had shown everyone to their rooms, Erik had insisted that he and Anna start formulating a cure for Kara. Immediately, the blue-robed mage had dragged the elven mystic to a musty library, although Sir Devin had vehemently objected, and sat down to pouring through the library's contents for a way to save his friend. Anna had resisted at first. The thought of some human youth ordering around an elven mystic, who was his senior by nearly a hundred years, was both laughable and nauseating. She had not even wanted to get involved with the humans and half-humans in the first place, there were enough of those bothering her at the Citadel. However, her icy demeanor had melted slightly as the mage's enthusiasm overwhelmed her. The highly intellectual mage had stimulated her own scholarly nature and soon she had to remind herself that she was only speaking to a savage human instead of an equal. Still, the human challenged her mentally and it intrigued her. This one handled books and lab equipment with practiced ease and came up with hidden insights that she had to admit she never would have seen. She began to actually enjoy the company of this human as they slaved away in the library pouring over the notes of historians, mages, and bards long since deceased. She found herself smiling and even laughing at the human's befuddled yet knowledgeable demeanor. She had always liked challenges. "I still can't find a correlation between the shimmerweed and the tangleroot venom in the mixture," Anna complained, as she held up the greenish mixture in front of the light that streamed through the library's many windows and skylights. "And death lily can't possibly be in the poison! We would see some change in color when we heated the mixture if there was any death lily!" "Yes, but that's because we assumed that the mixture contained the elements in their original forms," Erik stated with a hint of triumph. "But what if the different ingredients were mutated slightly because of the addition of other herbs instead of remaining distinct!" "I've never heard of death lily and tangleroot being used in that manner," Anna countered as she continued to examine the book in front of her. "Only one way to find out then, right?" Erik asked as he raised the vial. "We have to identify and separate the various ingredients." "Agreed," Anna complied. "But how?" "Well, I guess we'll have to use magic," Erik suggested as he snapped his book shut. A huge cloud of dust arose in the air and surrounded the mage's head. Erik quickly backed away, almost tripping over his black cat, and sneezed heavily. Anna's control shattered and she giggled slightly as Erik sneezed again, tripped over a wooden stool, and crashed into a pile of books. The heavy tomes flew onto the ground and sent even more dust into the air. The cat leapt onto the tabletop and climbed away from the huge dust cloud. Still laughing, Anna dragged the sneezing mage up from the clutter of tomes that had broken his fall. "Are you all right?" Anna asked as she patted the dirt from Erik's dust-covered blue robes. "Yes, I believe so," Erik replied uncertainly as he sneezed again. A small giggle bubbled out from Anna's mouth as she helped him to his feet. "Thank you." Anna dusted the dirt from Erik's hood and it fell away, revealing his hidden visage. His shoulder-length, jet-black hair fell down around his neck. His face, pale and dirty from the dust, seemed to glow in the light from his green eyes. Anna stared deeply into those glowing eyes and gaped in wonder. She had never seen such eyes on a human, or elf for that matter, and they intrigued her even more. Slowly, she reached up and caressed the sorcerer's cheek, wiping away the dust from the mage's face. He fixed his serious gaze upon the elf's lovely face, and his eyes softened. He began to lean forward, just ever so slightly. His arms reached tentatively for her waist. Her hands stroked his dirt-smudged face. He leaned closer, but stopped suddenly. A dark shadow crossed his face, and the sorcerer backed away from the mystic. Surprised, Anna fell back also and regarded the sorcerer with confused and hurt eyes. Her features suddenly hardened and her cold facade reigned once more. Haughtily, the mystic turned her back to the sorcerer and returned to the lab table. As darkness fluttered over Erik's troubled face, Anna's face blossomed into a bright red. Inwardly, she cursed herself; she cursed the sorcerer. How could you allow a human to touch you, to hold you? she sneered at herself. How could you allow a human to almost kiss you! It is unthinkable! "Let us continue," Anna called out coldly, "or are you too busy bumbling among your books to help?" Shamefaced, Erik slowly approached the table and began to pour through the stack of books once more. He turned his back to the mystic and concentrated on the books in front of him. Soon, he was so engrossed in the texts before him that he failed to notice Anna's burning face as she dared one more glance at the sorcerer. * * * "So what is a beautiful girl like yourself doing trapped in this stuffy old Academy?" Darren asked as he casually leaned closer to tall, thin woman with long, curly, brown hair. "Don't you ever want to just get out and have some fun . . . I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your name." "That's because I didn't give it to you," the girl replied curtly as she attempted to slip past the Legionnaire. "Hold on now," Darren cried as he flashed her a brilliant smile. "It's a dangerous world out there. Maybe you need someone to protect you and seeing how I'm kinda off duty now, maybe I could escort you to your room or something . . ." The girl smiled back at the Legionnaire and held her hand out. Grinning, Darren moved forward to accept it, when the girl's hand burst into flame. Darren yelped and leapt away from the flames. The girl merely laughed and waved the flaming limb in front of the Legionnaire. Darren scrambled madly to dodge the magical fire and backed up into the wall. "I believe I can take care of myself," the sorceress laughed as the flames on her hand disappeared like a puff of smoke. With that, the sorceress left the Legionnaire panting in the hallway. The entire Academy gave him the creeps. It was too surreal, too majestic. The huge towers connected by stone walkways had seemed too grand, too impossible to believe when he had first visited the Academy several years ago. Of course, the Academy still inspired more than a bit of awe from the Legionnaire, but the Solamnic knight and the Citadel mystic had both gaped in shock at the its grandeur. Still, the Academy disturbed him because of all the magic that was commonplace there. He never knew when some fiery ball of death would descend upon his head and fry him. Uncomfortable around magic, he had never understood his friend's passion for the Art, and being back at the Academy, where he was surrounded by the vestiges of sorcery, made him even more uneasy. Even the women here are weird! the Legionnaire thought darkly as he picked himself up from the wall. What was her problem anyway? Darren stooped and quickly wiped the sweat that had dripped down from his head. A slight giggle interrupted his thoughts. Quickly, Darren looked up. All he saw was the carpeted hallway, with light streaming down magically from globes on the ceiling. Here and there a wooden door interrupted the blank, gray stone walls, as did a plant, several statues, and a painting. The giggle had come from further down the hallway, right at the sharp turn. Inwardly, Darren groaned. "Hey lover," Jilean laughed as she emerged from the corner. "I think I might need some protection. Do you think you could escort me to my room?" "Very funny," Darren sighed sarcastically. "I can't understand it. How could she resist me? Who does she think she is? And what's with the magic? How could she be a sorcerer?" "Don't you know who that was?" Jilean asked as a bemused expression lit up her face. "No, who?" Darren asked quizzically. "That was Emma Xela," Jilean explained as she rolled her eyes at her friend. "You know, that sorceress that Erik always talks about? She is the one of the most powerful, influential, and brightest magic-users in the entire Academy! Erik always talks about her 'intriguing' concepts on combining the 'various schools of sorcery,' whatever that means." "Doesn't ring a bell," Darren admitted as he sauntered down the hallway towards her. "Well, then maybe you should spend more time listening to your friends instead of dallying with women who aren't interested in you," a second voice stated humorously from beyond the turn in the hallway. "Who's that?" Darren asked as he peeked suspiciously around the corner. "Oh, its Devin," Jilean explained cheerfully as she looped her arm through the knight's and dragged him out into the open. Although he had removed his helm, the knight still wore his full suit of plate mail armor. The proud signs of the Knights of Solamnia flashed proudly in the magical light. "I'm just showing him around the Academy." "Ah, yes," Devin complied hesitantly. "I've never visited the Academy of Sorcery and I am grateful for your friend's assistance. I fear that I would get lost in this complex if I had wandered off alone." "Well, it's my pleasure," Jilean replied as she leaned closer and smiled brightly at the Solamnic knight. "Yes, I'm sure it is," Darren agreed sarcastically as he teased his friend. Jilean shot him a dirty look, but Darren simply smiled innocently back. "Well, I'll be seeing you two later. I'm gonna go check up on Erik and Anna." "Ok, bye," Jilean growled hurriedly as she dragged Devin onwards. "Fare thee well," Devin cheered as he allowed himself to be dragged down the hallway. Darren started down the hallway in the opposite direction when he suddenly stopped. Jealousy and passion arose from within him and he wracked his mind. He did not know where these fierce emotions sprang from, but they troubled him. So what if she and that knight like each other? Darren thought. I've seen her with dozens of guys! But he knew that wasn't true. He had always been the one with the various girlfriends, while Jilean had never actually been with a man, at least to his knowledge. Still, they had grown up together and she would have told him. Her strength, speed, and color had marked her as an outsider her entire life. Despite her apparent beauty, men had shied away from her because of those differences. Being the daughter of the commander in charge of the Legionnaires stationed in Solace did not help her social life either. The only men that had pursued her despite those barriers had been lewd idiots interested only in sleeping with her. Darren knew Jilean could take care of herself in that respect. Still, the Knight of Solamnia was a new development. He distrusted him, and not just because Jilean seemed interested in him. Maybe it was the fact that the Knights of Solamnia and the Legion of Steel had always maintained a fierce rivalry since the Legion's founding in 4 SC. The Legion had been founded because the world had needed a new Order for good to arise from the ashes of the old age. The Knights of Solamnia, the ancient protectors of Good, had become rigid and outdated. Of course, the Knights of Solamnia believed that the Legion stole their ideals as well as recruits. However, Darren had never paid much attention to politics. As long as a Solamnic knight didn't insult the Legion, he was fine. Devin Naerblade, however, just grated on his nerves. Darren clenched his fists in sudden and unexpected anger. Suddenly, the door that he had been standing next to burst open. Darren leapt back to avoid the swinging door. Immediately an enraged gray-robed sorcerer hurled a small, impish figure out of the portal. The impish figure, Darren could now see was a kender, landed nimbly and dodged the sorcerer's forthcoming blows. "Thieving kender!" the red-face sorcerer shrieked. The mage leapt up and down furiously, causing his snow-white beard to fly everywhere in the air. "I'll spin you around in a whirlwind until you get so dizzy that you'll explode!" "Wow, really?" the kender asked, wide-eyed. He quickly leapt back out of the sorcerer's reach and fended the old man's feeble blows with his forked hoopak. "I've never been caught in a magical whirlwind before!" "Hey, stop it," Darren interrupted in exasperation. He grabbed the kender's hoopak out of midair and held it away from him. "Stop waving this overgrown slingshot around before you knock someone upside the head!" "Well, I was just defending myself," the kender pouted in indignation. "He's a thief!" the sorcerer shrieked angrily. "I demand that he be given to me for punishment!" "A thief!?" the kender gasped in shock. "Did you just call me a thief!? Well, that's it! I've tried being civil, but now I'm gonna have to teach you some manners!" "Hey, don't I know you?" Darren asked the kender as he stood between the angered sorcerer and the enraged kender. "Sure I do, you're that kender who came with us. Brasswhile Litslinger or something." "It's Brasswell Lightfinger!" Brass corrected. "And step back Darren, because I have to settle something with this . . . this . . . bungling, inept, goblin-smelling son of a gully dwarf!" "Why you little squeaker! I'm gonna flay you with a pyromancy spell!" the sorcerer roared. "Hey, don't get your robes all tangled up in a knot," Darren calmed irritably. "Look, I'll settle this. Brass, did you take anything from the sorcerer's room?" "Well, I just went in there to because the door wasn't locked," Brass replied defensively. "If he really didn't want anyone in his room he would have locked it!" "I did lock it!" shrieked the sorcerer. "Yes, you did, didn't you," Brass pondered thoughtfully. "Still, it wasn't a difficult lock . . ." "Just give him back whatever you 'found' in there," Darren sighed. He felt the beginnings of a headache wrack his throbbing head. "Oh, well, I did find this," Brasswell admitted as he reached into his pouch and retrieved a blue-colored potion. "It was the most amazing thing! I was just standing there when the potion leapt from the top of your cabinet and into my pouch! Is it magical?" "Yes it is magical," the sorcerer growled as he snatched the potion out of the kender's outstretched hand and placed it in a robe pocket. "It's a potion of invisibility. And my cabinet was locked too!" "You mean it opened on its own!" Brass asked in amazement as he leaned closer to the sorcerer. "Wow! It must be magical too! What else can your cabinet do?" "Uh, never mind," Darren muttered quickly as he dragged the kender from the wizard. "C'mon Brass, let's go!" "Idiotic little thief . . . kender . . ." the sorcerer muttered under his breath as he retreated into his room and shut the door quickly behind him. "Did you hear what he called me?" Brass sputtered as Darren dragged him away. "He called me a th-th-thief! Why of all, the nerve!" "Whatever," Darren muttered as he dragged the thrashing kender down the hallway. "C'mon, let's go find everyone else." Privately, he thought only of finding Jilean and that knight. "Hey, what's this?" Brass wondered as he felt a small lump in his vest pocket. Brass reached in and took out a blue potion. A smile lit up his impish face as he examined the potion of invisibility. "He should really be more careful with his things. He'll never amount to any kind of sorcerer if he keeps losing his magical items. Then again, maybe the potion followed me! I guess it just likes me best! I wonder if this means that I could be a sorcerer!" Darren conjured up images of army of fireball-wielding kender. The Legionnaire groaned and shuddered at the same time. * * * Kara nestled in Alain's arms and felt the steady beating of his heart. She felt the calm, reassuring pressure of his arms as they encircled her. She felt sheltered and safe from the dangers of the world around her as she lay on top of him and languished in his arms. She did not fear the poison that coursed through her system or the touch of death that brushed against her soul. Her legs intertwined with his legs and her lips brushed his lips. Slowly, gently, she caressed his face and explored every nook and cranny with her fingers. His rough hands, callused and worn from the weary years of warrior life, gently stroked her golden hair. The smells of her skin, of her hair, filled his nose and mouth until he could taste her. He felt her smooth skin upon his. He felt the cool smoothness of her leather armor rest against his tunic. Even though he could not see them in the darkness of the room, he could almost trace the striped tattoos on her arms and legs. Her hands reached down to his chest, and she felt the smooth edges of his starjewel beneath his frayed tunic. Once again, she looked up and into Alain's eyes with the same question. He could read her now easily and he knew that she would ask once again. Even though the windows had all been covered, cloaking the room in near darkness, he could see the shining light, the question, within her almond shaped eyes. He sighed deeply and knew that their moment of bliss of carefree silence was broken. Kara brushed her hand up and down Alain's cheek with such gentle tenderness that he could barely feel her soft skin against this. Alain closed his eyes slowly and desperately tried to recapture the moment, but he knew the look within Kara's eyes. They had come to their room to rest, to comfort each other. While Erik and Anna had set to find a cure, Jilean and Devin had toured the Academy, and Darren and Brass gone exploring, the two lovers had simply wanted to hold each other, and share what might be their last moments in silent harmony. Yet Alain knew that it would not last. Their love was not without obstacles and some seemed too daunting for them to overcome. Once again, Alain opened his eyes and saw the question in her eyes. He knew that she had to ask it. He also knew that she did not want to ask it. They both knew that unless it was answered, there would always be that one question acting like a stone wall between them. Sighing, Alain propped himself up by his elbows. Kara slowly untangled herself from Alain and sat up on his stomach. Her slender fingers absently stroked his chest and rested on the starjewel. "Alain, why do you still wear the starjewel?" Kara asked tentatively as she traced the outline of the pendant through his tunic. "I mean, it's over. You avenged her death." "Kara, I told you before," Alain sighed as he held her hands in his. "It's a part of my life, just like Aileen is." "Alain, she's part of your past," Kara argued heatedly. "You have to let her go." "I've worn it for so long," Alain explained softly. "It's been a large part of my life, Kara. I spent years tracking down Ebony, and this starjewel was the only thing that kept me going." "But you slew Ebony, remember?" Kara shot back as she removed her hands from Alain's. "It's over. You don't need to wear it anymore!" "Kara, if you don't understand why I need to wear this," Alain sighed as he fingered the starjewel, "then you don't understand me." "Maybe I don't understand you," Kara replied coldly as she slipped off of Alain's body and left the bed. "All I know is that you still love Aileen, and until you can let go of her, you can't love me." "Kara, wait," Alain cried out desperately as he got up. "It's not like that." "Isn't it?" Kara asked as anger flamed across her face. "You'll never love me until you can let go of her Alain! And I'm not sure if you'll ever let go! Can you honestly tell me that you've gotten over her, Alain? Can you honestly tell me that I'm the only person you hold dear in your heart, that you love?" Alain reached out for her and opened his mouth, but the words wouldn't come. He tried desperately to answer, but he knew he couldn't. He simply stood there, in front of Kara, and bowed his head darkly. Looking up, he could see tears slowly tracing their way down the sides of her lovely face. He reached out to comfort her, but Kara spun backed away from his embrace. Alain backed away, knowing the anguish that she felt. "I'm sorry that you can't get over your past, Alain," Kara said as she choked back a sob. "But I can't commit myself to a man who doesn't love me. I can't wait around forever for you Alain." Alain looked up again, but he still could not speak to his love. His hand reached up and touched the starjewel that hung around his neck, and the jewel seemed the throb softly, slightly. "I'm going to get some fresh air," Kara choked as she opened the door and allowed magical light to stream into the dark room. "Goodbye Alain." The door snapped shut behind her, leaving the room in darkness once again. Alain walked back over to the bed and sat down slowly. He could still smell her scent on the blankets that lay scattered on the mattress. Alain sighed deeply and clenched the starjewel that hung around his neck tightly until his hand screamed in protest. A sudden flash of anger coursed through his system, and Alain grasped the starjewel even tighter. He stood up and prepared to yank the starjewel from his neck, when the anger left him. Alain sat back down, feeling drained and hopeless. Alain scanned the dark room slowly until his eyes fell upon his magical broad sword. It lay sheathed next to his boots, scale mail armor, and cloak. Alain walked over to the weapon and picked it up with one hand. He could still remember the day he had received the magical blade as if it had been yesterday. Trapped under a fallen bookshelf, Lord Qalintheryl had bequeathed the magical blade to Alain, as well as his consent for Aileen to marry him. Painful memories flooded his mind as the events played again and again. He knew that Kara was right. He knew that he was clinging to the past, because the past was all that he had possessed during those years after Aileen's death. The hate and rage towards Ebony, the black dragon who had killed his love, had kept him going. Now that Ebony was gone, he knew that he had to let go of the past, but he couldn't. He knew that the sword was another vestige of the past. Even though it contained powerful magic, magic that he didn't entirely trust, Alain knew that he couldn't let it go anymore than he could let the starjewel go. He held the sheathed blade in his hands and slowly turned it over and over in his hands. Sighing, Alain put on his boots. As he started towards the door, a slight creaking sound broke through the silence in the darkened room. The door opened a crack, allowing a sliver of light to enter. "Kara?" Alain asked as he stepped closer to the door. The door suddenly swung wide open, revealing several dark figures. They wore black leather armor and garb that swathed them from head to toe. Black masks covered their faces, revealing no detail about their wearers. Alain couldn't count how many there were, since several others stood to the sides of the door, but all held long, metal poles about six feet in length. The figure who had opened the door entered the room with his pole outstretched. "Alain Dargeth, relinquish the elven sword," the figure demanded in a chilled voice. "All we want is the blade." "Who are you?" Alain asked as he drew his blade from its scabbard. "Are you Knights of Takhisis?" "No, we are not dark knights," the leader replied coldly. "Now give us the blade." "I don't think so," Alain returned evenly as he backed away. "I didn't give the dark knights my blade, so I don't see why I should give it to you!" "Very well," the leader stated coldly. "Then we'll have to take it by force." The leader and two other figures quickly leveled their staffs at the warrior. Sparks of lightning danced about the tips of the poles and erupted outwards towards Alain. Surprised, Alain could only raise his sword feebly as the strokes of lightning cut through the air and struck him with tremendous force. Strangely enough, the sword absorbed and deflected much of the lightning, causing several bolts to ricochet and scorch the walls of the room. However, some of the lightning managed to breach the defensive barrier of his sword and hurled him backwards. Alain cried out in pain as the magical lightning wracked his body and sent him crashing through the large, curtain-covered window behind him. Bits of sharp glass tore into his tunic and flesh as his heavy body shattered the glass and tore down the heavy curtain. The warrior landed heavily on the stone ledge just outside of his window. Grunting in pain, Alain rolled out of the billowing, ragged curtain and slipped over the slightly raised edge of the walkway. Cursing, Alain started to tumble through the air when he reached out with his left hand and grabbed onto the stone edge. His momentum sent him tumbling over and nearly yanked his arm out of his socket. Luckily, Alain retained his tight grip on his sword and managed to prevent it from falling hundreds of feet down to the stone courtyard below. Alain gulped as he looked down at the courtyard and saw the Academy students stop and gape at him. Struggling, Alain threw his other arm up and dragged himself up onto the ledge. Panting, he saw that the ledge was nearly eight feet wide, allowing him a greater degree of movement. Looking up, Alain saw one of the masked intruders stick his head out of the shattered window. The figure spotted Alain quickly and raised his staff. Alain dodged out of the way as a bolt of lightning arced past him and struck the courtyard below. Alain swung the hilt of his sword and knocked the hooded figure back into the room. Hearing shouts of exclamation coming from the room, Alain grabbed the fallen curtain in one hand in hurled it back into the room. The curtain covered his escape as he dashed along the ledge away from his room. Several bursts of lightning shot out from the room and arced down to the courtyard below. The lightning scorched the stone pavement and nearly struck several of the gaping students. Outraged, the novice sorcerers all unleashed their magical powers up at the broken windows. As Alain looked behind him, he saw sparks cascade harmlessly off the outside walls, spinning balls of flame burst into puffs of smoke, and arrows of light reflect back towards the casters. The masked figures burst from the window and fired more bolts of lightning at the Academy students. Several of the figures launched bolts of lightning at him. Alain hurriedly dashed around a corner of the building and rested with his back against the smooth stone wall. Breathing heavily, Alain allowed himself to slump briefly at the wall and rest. His shoulders ached from landing on rough stone and his arm hurt from the near fall. Alain looked down nervously and gulped. The stone courtyard greeted him. Several stone walkways rose above the ground, yet still seemed hundreds of feet below him. Several distinct towers rose out of the ground, denoting the various schools of sorcery. Even the lush trees that dotted the Academy seemed small beneath him. He had never liked heights. Suddenly the window next to him shattered from a quick thrust of a metal staff. Alain quickly ducked under the window as a masked figure poked his head out. Reaching up quickly, Alain grabbed the figure's neck and hurled him onto his back. The figure landed on the hard stone ledge with a thump! And stopped moving. Already, Alain could hear more figures move about in the room. Footsteps also came from just around the corner of the building. Gulping, Alain readied his sword for the oncoming battle. * * * "I think we almost have it," Erik announced as he snapped shut a heavy blue book. "All we have to do is find the cure for tangleroot venom and we should be able to formulate a cure for Kara!" "Yes, that is what our findings seem to point towards," Anna agreed coldly. "Now, what's the cure for tangleroot?" Erik stroked his chin absently as he pondered the question. Suddenly, the idea came to him and he snapped his fingers in acknowledgement. Quickly, he strode over to a large bookshelf and dug through the stack of tomes. Finally, he triumphantly lifted a heavy book with peeling brown cover. "This should give us an answer," Erik stated as he opened the book and began flipping through it. Suddenly, Erik's black cat leapt onto the table and nearly spilled over a test tube. "Hey, watch it!" Erik chastised angrily as his cat sauntered across the table. If the feline took offense to its master's irritated words, it did not show. The cat continued to weave its way across the table and towards the elven mystic. Anna examined the cat curiously, for the first time, and then gasped in shock. "This is an elven cat!" she cried out in surprise. Erik looked up curiously, then looked back down at the book in front of him. "Yes, he is. His name is Nyomishi, or Nyo," Erik replied calmly as he flipped another page. "How did you come in possession of an elven cat?" Anna asked angrily. "They are sacred, magical creatures! They belong to the elves, not to you humans! How dare you steal one of our own?!" "I did not steal Nyo," Erik explained as he poured through the tome. "He and I have a mutual friendship." "This is unacceptable!" Anna retorted angrily. "An elven cat cannot remain in the hands of a human! He must be returned to my homeland at once!" "I beg you pardon, but isn't your homeland inaccessible at the moment?" Erik asked calmly, referring to the magical shield that encircled Silvanesti. Anna's face drained of all color. She had been trapped out of her homeland at the Citadel of Light when the Silvanesti elves had erected a magical shield to protect their forest homeland from outsiders. However, the Shield leeched off the life force of the forest and Silvanesti was slowly dying under it. So far, none had been able to penetrate the magical shield, although many had tried. Her face livid, Anna swung her hand around to slap the arrogant sorcerer, but the sorcerer caught her hand in midair. She snarled angrily at him, but he simply held her arm calmly until she wrenched it from his grasp. Shocked at the ferocity of her emotions, Anna turned away from the sorcerer. At that moment, she hated him; she hated humans, more than ever. Breathing slowly, she finally managed to restore the cold demeanor that she had adopted in front of humans. She turned back to face the sorcerer, but he had already gone back to his book. Anna opened her mouth to deliver a scathing retort when a dull explosion echoed down the hallway and entered the library. Anna looked towards the open doorway and even Erik tore his attention away from his book. "What was that?" Erik asked as he stood up quickly. "I'm not sure," she replied as she hurried over to the door. She glanced down the hallway, but nothing appeared out of order. "Did you find anything?" Erik asked her as he crept next to her and also peered down the hallway. Anna was about to respond when another dull explosion rocked the hallway. "What was that?" Jilean asked as she and Devin jogged down the hallway and towards the mystic and the sorcerer. "We don't know, but we're going to investigate," Erik answered quickly. Pointing to Devin and Jilean, he ordered, "You two, go with Anna and find the source of the explosions! I'll find Palin and see what's going on!" Anna was about to argue, but the knight and the half-khotai had already dashed towards the source of the explosions and Erik had already disappeared down the hallway. Cursing inwardly, Anna raced after Devin and Jilean. The trio had just turned the a sharp corner when several men in black armor, clothes, and masks burst from Alain's room and began to dash down the hallway in the opposite direction. They bore long metal staffs that gleamed wickedly in the pale light. "Stop right there!" Devin commanded as he drew his sword. Two of the figures stopped while the rest hurried down the corridor. Leveling their staffs at the trio, the figures launched lightning bolts at them. Jilean immediately leapt forward onto the ground, tucked into a ball and rolled under the searing bolts. The lightning shot harmlessly over her head as she tumbled along the floor. Devin pushed Anna in back of him and raised his arm feebly to ward off the bolts. The lightning arced through the air and struck the knight's chest. Despite his intentions, a bolt hit Anna in the leg. The knight cried out in pain as the lightning wracked his body and burned a slight black are on his breastplate. Anna screamed as the lightning sliced into her leg. Both collapsed to the floor, knocking over a small statue of a robed figure. The statue crashed to the floor and shattered, causing the head of the stone sorcerer to roll across the hallway. Jilean recovered from her roll, leaped up, and slammed her fist into the masked face of one of the men. He flew backward with a cry of pain and crumpled on the ground. The second figure swung his pole at her head, but Jilean grabbed it with one hand. Jilean risked a look behind her and saw that Devin and Anna had been hit with the bolts. Devin's armor looked slightly blackened while Anna's blue tunic was burnt. Both had collapsed onto the floor from the shock, but now they slowly stirred. Groans of pain erupted from their mouths, but slowly, they started to pick themselves up. Jilean turned back to her opponent just as a bolt of lightning flickered up the side of the staff and up through her hand. Jilean screamed in pain as the lightning tore through her body. Jilean released her grip on the pole and backed into the wall. She suddenly had no more air in her lungs, and she gasped for more breath. Staggered from the pain, Jilean fell to her knees. Her vision blurred slightly as she looked up and saw the masked figure swing the pole at her head. Her head exploded in searing pain as the pole struck her temple and sent her crashing to the ground. A swift kick from the masked figure set her ribs aflame. Looking up, Jilean managed to make out the figure swinging his pole down for one final blow. Roaring, Jilean batted the pole aside and lashed out with her foot. Her foot knocked the figure into the hall, smashing a clay urn that rested on a small table. Jilean recovered amid the broken clay and wood and launched herself at the figure. The figure swung his pole up defensively and a bolt of lightning from the tip struck her in the chest. Jilean screamed in agony as the magical lightning seared her skin. Summoning the last of her strength, Jilean hurled herself forward through the lightning and rammed the figure into the wall. Jilean crashed back to the ground after smashing the figure halfway through the stone wall. Panting heavily, Jilean hardly noticed the dull sound of the figure collapsing to the ground next to her. As Jilean lay there on the ground, she could see Devin struggling to get up. Anna had collapsed once more. Come on! Get up! Jilean urged mentally as her vision dimmed. You've got to help Alain and Kara! The colors in her vision suddenly coalesced and folded in upon each other. Then, she couldn't see anything. * * * Alain ducked under another lightning bolt and felt the lightning tear through the stone wall beside him. Ships of stone and dust rained down on him, but he merely ignored them and continued running down the ledge. He charged onwards until a bolt rammed into his back and sent him hurling forwards. His back cried out in agony as the lightning tore through his body and robbed him of his breath. His blade slipped out of his hand and slid onto the ledge in front of him. Suddenly, he couldn't support himself anymore and Alain toppled to the ledge. Alain grabbed onto the raised edge once more as he tumbled over the side. He swung like a crude pendulum as he clutched onto the stone with the last of his strength. He struggled to pull himself up, but he didn't have the strength left. He could barely hold himself up and his strength was rapidly failing. He peered over the ledge and saw the black-garbed figures approach with their metal staffs ahead of them. "Kill him," one of them instructed the others. "Retrieve the sword and then kill him. The shadowmage will not be pleased with the actions that we took today." Alain struggled to get up as the figures approached, but his strength failed him. One of the figures leveled his pole at him. Alain closed his eyes and braced himself for the bolt that would end his life. A tremendous, fiery explosion suddenly rocked the ledge. Part of the ledge that Alain had been hanging onto suddenly collapsed, causing the warrior to slide off of the end. Alain quickly scrambled for purchase and found the strength to drag himself up. Panting heavily, Alain slid back onto the ledge and lay there weakly. Alain peered through the smoke and dust and saw that several of the figures had been burnt, while others had fallen to their doom. Several survivors of the explosion were launching bolts of lightning at a nearby tower. Alain squinted his eyes and finally saw their target. It was a cloaked man clinging to the side of the tower like a spider. The man had a long bow and a quiver of arrows. He dodged the lightning bolts easily and launched an arrow at the masked figures. The arrow exploded into another fireball that sent Alain tumbling back. Alain quickly jumped to his feet as he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around just in time to see a metal rod swinging towards his head. Alain ducked under the blow and charged the wielder of the staff. He connected with the figure's stomach and knocked him off of his feet. The figure slipped off of his feet and tumbled over the side of the railing. He screamed horribly as he tumbled through the air and landed with a sickening splatter on one of the raised walkways hundreds of feet below. Alain turned back around as another metal pole emerged from the dense smoke and crashed down on his shoulder. Alain cried out in pain and crashed onto his back. His shoulder felt broken and he could hardly move with the pain shooting fiery darts up and down his system. He looked up in time to see one last black-garbed figure loom over him with his pole raised. Alain prepared for the crushing blow when the sound of a knife slicing through air darted across the ledge. The figure shuddered for a moment, then slumped down on top of Alain. Alain pushed him off in disgust and felt the arrow that was lodged firmly in his back. Alain looked up past the smoke and saw the archer on the nearby tower. The cloaked figure saluted him grimly and, with a flurry of his cloak, disappeared behind the tower. Alain quickly retrieved his blade and then hurried back to the shattered ledge. To his amazement, the masked bodies were gone, as if they had never been. He looked around in disbelief, but none of the corpses remained. He looked over the side of the ledge down to the raised walkway below him, but saw no body. Wearily, Alain slumped down on the shattered ledge and waited for help to arrive. * * * All of the companions sat worriedly in the small conference room. Spacious and well lit, the room provided chairs that revolved around a large marble table in the center of the room. They all sat there now, except for Alain, Jilean, and Erik. They were conversing with Palin in the adjacent room. Curious as ever, Brass was pressed against the large wooden door that separated the two rooms, hoping to hear an interesting tidbit or two. Anna sat alone with her eyes closed, meditating and regaining the strength that she had spent healing Alain, Jilean, Devin, and herself. Since the damage had been bad, she had to exhaust much of her energy healing them. Still, she had to admit that it had been worth it. She felt no pain at all now and everyone was fully healed, except for Alain who swore that he could still feel a knot in his back where he had been hit with a lightning bolt. Devin sat opposite of Darren and attempted to argue the semantics of the Measure with the Legionnaire. However, Darren proved to be incorrigible and refuted the knight's arguments with statements that defied most logic. Kara sat alone, by the large window that occupied the entire back wall and gave the viewer a breathtaking view of the entire Academy. She wore a sad, almost tragic expression that seemed to haunt and shadow her every slight movement as she observed the Academy life below. Darren ignored Devin's lengthy explanation of the Measure as he observed the lonely half-elf staring out of the window. He might have believed that her intense melancholy was precipitated by feelings of nostalgia, for the days when she tread the halls of the Academy, eager to perfect her own sorcerous skills, but he knew her better than that. Her life at the Academy had quickly bored her, which is why she had left. He could tell that her preoccupation with the Academy life below her was only a distraction, which meant that something else was troubling her deeply. He wished he knew what it was. "So you see," Devin finished regally, "that is why the Measure has stood proud for over two thousand years!" "Ah, yes, very interesting," Darren lied as he turned his attention back to the rambling knight. "That's also why you should give up on the Legion of Steel and join the ranks of the Knights of Solamnia," Devin suggested. "We have a proud tradition, Darren." "Shhh," Brass shushed as he smashed his face into the door. "I think I can I hear something!" The door suddenly opened, knocking Brasswell backwards. Palin regarded the surprised kender with amusement as he scrambled to find his balance. Alain, Jilean, and Erik followed the sorcerer quickly, and they all entered the conference room. Alain cast a glance at Kara, but she didn't acknowledge his presence. His face darkening, Alain took a seat, as did Erik and Jilean. "Well, it seems that we have a mystery on our hands," Palin announced as he sat down as the head of the conference table. "We still don't know how those assailants could have entered the Academy without our knowledge and then disappear. Divination spells have suggested that magic is at work, but I haven't seen such flagrant use of such powerful magic since before the Second Cataclysm." "Yes, well, as troubling as that may be, I believe I have some news that may interest some even more," Erik interrupted his uncle apologetically. "Anna and I have discovered the cure for Kara's poison." "What is it?" Alain asked quickly as he leaned forward toward the mage. "The cure can be synthesized with several ingredients, the most notable being the elven lily known as sylith-enthal." "Bright dawn," Kara breathed slowly as she turned away from the window and faced the table. "It grows in Qualinesti." "Yes it does," Erik acquiesced with a nod. "In fact, the plant only grows in Qualinesti. Therein lies the problem. I have all of the other necessary ingredients for the cure on hand, but the lily is far too rare. In fact, because of the magical shaping effect that Beryllinthranox the Green has had on Qualinesti, the lily has died out. I know of no place within Qualinesti where Beryl has not corrupted the forest and destroyed this fragile flower." "I do," Alain spoke up. "I know of a place. It is near the southern tip of Qualinesti, near the village of Windkeep." "I've been to Windkeep before!" Brass interrupted excitedly. "I have a great map! Or is it a map of Windale?" "Can you show me where it is on a map?" Palin asked Alain as reached under the stone table and pulled out a large map. Quickly, the sorcerer unfurled the map and laid it flat on the table. "Wow, that's a pretty good map!" Brass exclaimed as he examined the large map. Drawn on parchment, the map detailed the entire continent of Ansalon in color and noted the various important sites. Everyone leaned forward to get a better view of the map. Alain also leaned forward and scrutinized the area labeled 'Qualinesti.' He traced the delicate rendering of the forest with his index finger, and finally located the village of Windkeep. Moving his finger up, Alain stabbed his finger into a leafy green portion of the map. "Qualintheryl Manor is somewhere around there," Alain indicated. Everyone at the table moved forward to catch a better glimpse. "We'll never make it in time," Anna pointed out cynically. "It would take us weeks, perhaps months to travel down to Qualinesti, if we even make it at all. The half-human will die in a matter of days." Kara looked up contemptuously at being called a 'half-human,' but then decided that Anna wasn't worth the effort. "I believe I may have a solution," Palin offered. "I can teleport you all to that area, where the Tower of Wayreth will find you. Once there, you will be able to locate the exact location of Qualintheryl Manor and the Tower will bring you all there. However, I warn you. Even though I will warn the Master of your arrival, it might take hours, perhaps days to reach the Tower. After all, the you don't find the Tower, the Tower finds you." "Thee Tower will find us?" Darren asked skeptically. "Yes," Erik explained calmly. "The Tower is a bastion of magic, able to travel where it wants within Wayreth Forest." Darren shuddered slightly at the mention of the dreaded Tower of High Sorcery. Ages ago, when High Sorcery had remained strong in the land, the Conclave of Wizards had erected five bastions of sorcery on Krynn. These towers were magical places, full of magic and mystery. Two of the Towers had been destroyed in the Lost Battles, when the Kingpriest of Istar had turned the populace against the wizards. The Tower in Istar had been destroyed in the Cataclysm. The Tower in Palanthas had been destroyed shortly after the Second Cataclysm in order to prevent Khellendros the Blue from obtaining its secrets. The Tower of Wayreth was the last remaining tower, rumored to be the most powerful and the most deadly. "An excellent suggestion, uncle," Erik approved as he quickly rolled the map back up. Brass's eyes followed the map sadly as Erik stored it back under the table. "We must leave as soon as possible." "I am sorry, but I really should return to the Citadel," Anna stated coldly. "I hope that you succeed." "Hold on," Erik interrupted. "I still need your mystical talents to fashion the cure. Without your help, I will surely fail. You must come with us." Anna flashed the impertinent sorcerer an icy glare but realized that she was trapped. She as bound by her healer's oath to aid these humans. Coldly, she nodded. "I truly wish to aid you, but I must return to Solamnia," Devin began, when Jilean flashed him a compelling look. He faltered slightly and met Jilean's gaze. "Can't you come," Jilean asked mournfully. "You must come. You wouldn't refuse the request of a lady, would you?" "Lady, where? I don't see any lady," Darren snickered. Jilean elbowed him playfully, causing the Legionnaire to back away gasping for air. "Well, I guess I could come along . . ." Devin faltered. "Good," Jilean cheered as she flashed the knight another smile. "Whoa, wait one minute Jil," Darren objected. "We have to head back to Solace! I can't desert my post! And your father would kill both of us if we went on this little outing!" "Since when are you so worried about deserting your post?" Jilean mocked. "Besides, I don't really want to return home right now. You can go home without me." Darren started to argue, but then he remembered Trevor's last words. He knew that he couldn't let Jilean go off by herself. Sulkily, Darren shot Jilean an annoyed look and backed off. "All right then, if that's all settled, why don't you all gather your belongings and report to Raistlin's Quad promptly. The sooner we see you off, the better," Palin suggested. The companions all nodded and slowly shuffled out of the conference room. Darren cast Jilean a look, but she was too engrossed chatting with Devin. Alain gazed longingly at Kara, and for a moment, he thought that she looked back. But instead, she turned away, leaving him alone. Anna looked back to Erik, who had stayed behind to discuss arcane matters with his uncle, but quickly tore her gaze away and reprimanded herself for being weak. Brass watched all of this with fascination as he slipped by everyone without being detected. He didn't know what he sensed, but he knew that something was going on between his new and old friends. This adventure is just what everyone needs, Brass thought. Once they go on this adventure, Alain and Kara will be back together and everything. Judging by the way Jilean keeps hanging on that knight's arm and the way that Anna looks at Erik, I'll bet that this is going to be one great adventure! Brass giggled to himself and continued down the hallway after his friends, patting the little blue potion that bounced around in his vest pocket. Back in the conference room, Erik continued to talk with his uncle. "What do you make of that archer that Alain said he saw?" Erik asked Palin thoughtfully. "I'm not sure," Palin responded slowly. "Although the figure that Alain described matches the description of a mysterious new figure in the elven resistance." "What figure-" Erik began to ask when the door to the conference room door opened suddenly. Erik and Palin both turned their eyes to the opening door and were greeted by a beautiful woman with silvery tresses and a young robed sorcerer with chestnut brown hair, golden eyes, and a serious expression. Palin smiled and welcomed the visitors with open arms. "Usha, Ulin!" Palin greeted warmly. "What are you doing here?" "We just came to check up on you, husband," Usha explained with a smile. She looked around her husband and suddenly spotted Erik by the table. "Nephew, I heard that you were returning to us! It's good to see you!" She left Palin and embraced Erik warmly, much to his discomfort. "It's nice to see you again, aunt," Erik responded courteously, before turning to his cousin. "It's nice to see you too cousin." A smile creased Ulin's face as he too came forward and embraced his cousin. "How's the Academy's foremost expert on Enchantment doing?" Ulin teased his younger cousin. "Well, probably not as well as the first dragon mage," Erik remarked with a slight smirk. "By the way, where is Sunrise?" "Right now, he's touring the Academy in human form," Ulin explained. "We don't want to start a panic or anything." "Look at them," Usha whispered into Palin's ear teasingly. "Their friendly competition certainly hasn't died down! I'm not surprised that some of the staff at the Academy thought that they were brothers." "That's pretty remarkable since Ulin didn't even know he had a cousin before that day only a few years ago when Erik showed up at the Academy half starved, looking for his uncle," Palin remarked. "And now look how close they are." "Anyway," Erik interrupted his uncle, "what were you about to say about the mysterious archer?" "Yes, well, it seems that a strange figure known as the 'Hooded Archer' has shown up and aided the elven resistance in the past few months," Plain explained. "No one knows who he is, or even what his agenda is, but he seems to be on our side." "Is he the one responsible for the destruction that occurred?" Ulin asked worriedly. "No," Palin explained. "In fact, Alain claimed that he aided him. I'm more worried about the figures that were after Alain's blade. From his description, they wielded powerful magical weapons and vanished without a trace. It's very disturbing. I think I'll have a talk with Alain about his sword when he gets back." "C'mon, we'd better get to Raistlin's Quad," Erik suggested. "C'mon cousin," Ulin said as he draped his arm around Erik's neck. "Let me introduce you to Sunrise before you leave . . ." Palin was about to follow his son and his nephew when Usha held him back. "What?" Palin asked curiously as Usha pulled him back into the conference room. "I'm worried about Erik," Usha confessed. "I mean, this adventure is pretty dangerous, and he may not be ready. He hasn't made much progress strengthening his spells." "I know," Palin admitted to his wife. "But I know what it feels like. After I passed the Test, I felt useless. This adventure will stimulate his sorcerous abilities, trust me. Ulin started abut slow too, and now look at him. And Erik has already revolutionized the way sorcerers think about the school of Enchantment. He's brilliant." "That may be true," Usha agreed, "but that doesn't change the fact that he can't hold his spells. I don't want him in any danger." "Don't worry Usha," Palin comforted. "I trust my nephew. He will do fine." Usha gazed deeply into her husband's eyes and sighed. "I hope you're right, Palin. I hope you're right." * * * The Academy's campus itself is divided into four distinct "quads." Three of them, named after the three famous mages, Magius, Par-Salian, and Justarius, were neatly manicured area with benches for the students to sit. The fourth, named Raistlin's Quad after Palin's uncle and the most powerful sorcerer to have ever lived, was kept wild and untamed in its original state, full of vallenwood trees and dense vegetation. It was to this quad that the companions met. They are bore backpacks that held the supplies they would need for the arduous journey. Alain shouldered the heavy cloth that would serve as a makeshift tent for both him and Kara. By the look on the half-elf's face, however, it seemed more likely that the warrior would be spending his sleepless nights under the stars. Jilean bore the heavy weight of her disassembled tent with ease. Her eyes danced with merriment as she watched Devin stumble under the strain Anna's huge tent, which was scrunched into a thick package of cloth and wood. Erik and Darren both regarded the struggling Solamnic with amusement. Erik's amusement was hard and cold, as a snake might derive pleasure from a rodent it's about to devour. Darren smirked out of grim amusement, which only barely covered the slight jealousy that arose when Jilean aided the burdened knight. All were nervous about being magically transported, except for Brasswell, who was so excited at the prospect of being teleported that he ran around in circles until he nearly had a fit. Of course, Erik was also calm, since he reveled in magic and he was used to the effects of the school of summoning. Still, Erik's calm explanation of the process did little to ease the companion's minds. While none of them actively distrusted magic, it was still rather daunting to accept that they were going to be transported hundreds of miles in mere moments. Of course, it was Darren who pointed out the dangers of re-appearing inside of a tree or the ground. Erik had attempted to allay his friend's fears, but Darren would have none of it. Kara was more accustomed to magic, since she wielded pyromancy herself, but she disliked using her magical abilities. She would rather have traveled the distance on foot, or at least on a good mount, but she knew that time was running out. Standing amid the lush foliage and wildlife, the companions held hands and stood in crooked circle. Each one nervously fidgeted and none wanted to grasp the hand of the hyperactive kender, but eventually a circle was formed. Palin stood in the center of the circle and began to chant slowly. As always, Erik's first desire was to memorize the arcane words for future use, but reason prevailed. In the new sorcery, magic was not about repeating phrases and gestures. Palin's chanting was merely his way of focusing his energy to cast the spell. Erik had yet to find his own. Still, despite the knowledge that it would do him no good, Erik ignored the nervous movements of his companions and peered intently at his uncle's spellcasting. Palin reached the climax of his casting as a surge of white light began to froth and bubble in his clasped hands. Palin touched a ring on his hand and it began to glow as well. Erik recognized the process. Palin was draining away a portion of the ring's magic in order to fuel his spell. Erik himself had pioneered much of that process in order to make it less taxing on both the caster and the magic item. Still, he did not possess any magical items and he was not about to ask his uncle for any. His cat squirmed in his arm and struggled feebly. Erik gripped Nyo even more firmly and continued to observe his uncle. The elven cat ignored his grip and continued to squirm. Irritably, Erik tore his gaze away from his uncle. Be still, Nyo! he thought. You're cutting off my air! the cat shot back. Grumbling slightly, Erik loosened his grip and his cat snuggled back into his arm. The magical energy in Palin's hands flared and shot outward, encompassing all in the circle. He heard the shocked cries of his friends and he smiled. For all of their blustering during battle, they were afraid of a simple spell. The white light filled his vision and surrounded him. He was borne on the wings of magic and began to float. He lost Darren's hand and continued to rise and float in the white light. He could still dimly make out his uncle and his friends around him, but then the bright light increased in intensity. It grew brighter and brighter, and filled his world. With a crack of thunder they were gone. Palin stood alone in the clearing, feeling drained. His magical ring sparked slightly as an aftereffect of the spell, but he knew that it would be all right. Sighing slightly, Palin turned around and headed back to the Tower of the World. "Good luck, nephew," he whispered silently. "You're going to need it."