anfare of trumpets, it would have reached
lumns to pass through its incorporeal fingers like sand, like time. The smoke and ash did a whirling, frightening dance in the sky, waltzing and prancing before just drifting away, as if the happiness of being free had given it lift to rise and rise, d
d not be seen (since the town spread over the rise of a high hill). The fire appeared so strong that it had robbed the sunset of its everyday radiance, like a mountain climber establishing his claim to the summit. While the sunset appeared soft, tranquil, eve
vasion? The Magius man scowled deeply and tightened his sack across his right shoulder, still standing, still unsure what to do. The sack slid effortlessly over his naked shoulder a
il that skirted the edge of a forest, not far from the blazing town. Even here, the ruby glow appeared to poison the environment, casting red shadows on the tops of Cedar and Larch trees as we
voice from behind him, almost forcing
ar to the cliff's edge, grounding him in case of a surpr
emarked after a little pa
the voice. There was no resonance or echo when the man spoke. Furthermore, the man spoke with the emotionless tone of a daydreamer or someone who was not
at the man, trying to figure out whether he'd
ing of the like. Obi's eyesight clouded and grew distracted every time he tried to focus on a specific area of the man's face, and he felt compelled to turn away. Obi's only memory of the man was tha
oned, straight and to the point,
had no choice but to trust him. A Magiu
que of a monstrous body-builder. His yellow trail of bordering hexagonal patterns had also been expanded, producing broad golden bands over his enormous muscles. Realizin
t warned him that this man was perilous. This man was the cause of the weird pain of worry that had creeped its way up into his second stomach. Embarrassed by his foolishness, Obi shifted his gaze to the burning town, hopin
aded,' the guy muttered, his gaze fixed on th
strange Mortal. 'Is it a Theu
aid. The Mortal's tone was
is head. 'Why would a Theurgi ch
n hadn't moved an inch since he first arrived. He was lik
are no vessels to capture and no people to sav
ew Obi had gone to this section of the Enlightened Coast to get passage by ship, but he felt that doing so would transm
o a fleeting flash of several bodies before dissipating as though torn away by the wind. But suddenly the w
n falling had come
off each syllable and wheezing as they passed the enigmatic man's
low anew, and time
e was standing on the opposite side, many fe
d be no survivors. Theurgi did not leave any survivors. He returned his attention to the Mortal and was going to tell him f
s,' he muttered, mentally sh
who Quest.' Th
his eyes wide and furrowed by a hairl
y the Cape of Mutteria, to the north-east,' the guy said, lifting a
s had failed, yet they continued to fight courageously, long into their twilight years, in the steadfast hope of dyi
down – distrust.' He flattened his palm over his alrea
enly he couldn't, as if nervousness and terror had gripped the mus
and you will see a ship sailing through called The Grey Etheri.' Th
After a lengthy period, the Magius nodded and moved away, s
e, out of sight and away from the w
s. It, too, was devoid of echo, but this voice
man murmured, without turning to see t
really think the Younger brother can w
e the one in the woods. "Then I would not have made the wager; there wil
er will be r
hen let the
e same direction Obi had gone. "It appear
y both figu
ash of light. They suddenly vanished in the
ways, th