"Master Vauxall told me," said Kyra to her two companions.
They had gone far away from the academy and sat in one of the wastelands that surrounded it. Master Vauxall was in his tent, while the three of them sat by a campfire.
"I'm sorry about everything that had happened to you two," she continued, "and I'm ready to follow you in this journey."
"You're making a vow then," said Ashviel.
"Yes I am."
"Incidentally, said Kael, "did he tell you I'm a Zeroszen?"
"Yes he did."
"Just thought I'd tell you, because Zephyr is a fake name."
"It was?"
"Yes it was," he answered.
"Any more secret?"
"No, except yours of course," said Ashviel.
She took a deep breath and was about to give a long speech when Master Vauxall came out of the tent rather hurriedly.
"I leave tonight, I must," he said.
Ashviel wondered what must have caused his master so much haste. Master Vauxall always acts like a Lord – Ashviel was sure he is. He moved at his own time, reading and drinking red wine, as if he was patiently waiting for some events.
"Where to from here?" asked Ashviel.
Master Vauxall sat down with them and then assumed a serious expression in his face. "I'm afraid our journey together pauses here."
"What do you mean," Ashviel and Kael asked anxiously.
"I am going somewhere far away, and as for you, you will go to Capricorn."
"What?" They all asked, Kyra including. Even though Ashviel would be happy to have an immediately revenge on Trost, he knew that he had to wait for ten years before any action could be taken.
"But you said to wait for a decade.'
"Yes and the situation remains the same," Master Vauxall replied. "You won't be going to Capricorn for revenge, no, not yet."
"What then?" asked Kyra.
"To learn, to train, to become stronger."
They tried to protest, but Master Vauxall's voice indicated absolute finality.
"Keep your friends close, your enemies; closer," he said. "You three will stay in South Capricorn for the next ten years, and you shall train as hard as you can, keeping your true goals a secret."
Ashviel pressed his hand on his forehead. There was nothing to be done about it. 'There is a good logic in it after all,' he thought. 'Capricorn would be the one place the enemies would not expect them to be.'
Still the idea saddens him. The mention of Capricorn Prime still feels him with dread, let alone train with Capricorn mages. His only encounter with Capricorn soldiers had brought the greatest disaster of his life, and he was not yet ready to face them. Yet as unpleasant as the idea sounded, he knew it was utterly unquestionable, coming from Master Vauxall.
"Don't do anything yet," said Master Vauxall, "you'll have a lot to do when the time comes."
He turned to Kyra. "This is your space pouch," he said, "It contains everything you will need, and even more. There are weapons and magical items you might need in it, and I added a number of techniques and spell scrolls. The rest will be up to you."
She took the space pouch, thanking him a million times. She placed it by her side, deciding to examine its contents later.
"Now Kyra, let's do something to your Rek."
He held her hand, and the other two onlookers knew what he was going to do — pass his Rek through her. She must have felt a tingling sensation at first, because she gave a slight giggle as she felt the Rek. The next moment, she was screaming in pains, and Kael shook his head, knowing that it was well worth it.
Master Vauxall turned at them. "Ashviel, do you think your torch of damnation is hidden?" he asked.
Ashviel shook his head, indicating neither a positive nor a negative response. He thought about it, if he was born with the torch, why then did he take Trost so many years to act. Moreover, at Tvinn, the Capricorn mage had discovered he was the apotheosis immediately he set eyes on him.
"Up until now," said Master Vauxall, "your torch is perceptible by masters and anyone higher than that. I placed a temporary barrier on it when I was leaving Hogan, but since it is depleted already, I'll replace it with one that will last for decades. I have always protected you, and no one in all the worlds would dare harm you while I am with you. Now that I am going, the torch may bring you unwanted attention at Capricorn."
Ashviel raised his head sharply. He had not given much thought about it. If he should go to Capricorn, Trost or any other mage would sense it and grab him instantly.
"I'll place the barrier around your torch," continued Master Vauxall. "It will not affect you much, since it will still be noticeable by you."
"Alright," said Ashviel, "but how did I get the torch of damnation in the first place?" He knew his master would likely evade his questions, but that was the last time he would see him, so he felt he should ask.
"A long time ago," answered Master Vauxall, "but you should concern yourself more with how it awakened in you."
"Awakened?"
"Yes," said Master Vauxall. "Your torch had been more or less dormant, until you awaken it. Usually, it awakens when you are in grave danger."
"Grave danger?" Ashviel repeated.
He tried to remember ever being in grave danger, but he could not recollect anyone. Just as he was about to give up, he remembered the bear incident. He had told the people that he had killed the animal easily, but deep inside him, he knew something had happened. It was as if someone else was controlling his body as he strangled the bear with his bare hands.
Master Vauxall's next words confirmed his guess. "You are first scared, scared to death, then you feel a sudden rush of energy, and then the Valkyra does the rest for you."
"So, it was the Valkyra all along," Ashviel remarked, deep in thoughts.
"Yes," confirmed Master Vauxall. "Now to barricade your Valkyra— believe me, it will be for the best. Apart from protecting you from being detected, it will also prevent your Valkyra from exercising control over you."
He raised his right hand, with his left still clutching Kyra's hand. He placed two fingers on Ashviel's forehead, and Ashviel sensed his Rek racing through him to his very core. Master Vauxall withdrew his finger after creating a barrier of shadow Rek strewn together. Ashviel felt dazed and after the touch, and his consciousness slipped away slowly. He felt empty as he approached a drowsy state, as if a huge part of his body had been ripped off.
He noticed Master Vauxall speaking to Kael, and though he saw them speaking at length, he could hear nothing of what was said. He recovered from the state a moment after Kyra recovered from hers.
"I can feel it, the vast amount of Rek," she said with a big smile. True, she had gained an immense amount of Rek, and she looked like some sort of magical creatures when she passed pure Rek from a number of portals from her body.
"You should now be able to create spell paths after some months, though your control will still be lacking. The rest will be finally up to you, but I trust you will make it."
Again, she thanked him profoundly, resisting the urge to throw her arms around him.
The young mages were happy –all three of them. Finally, the gap between their individual skills was decreasing. She had an edge over them in combat, but thanks to their trainings with her, that hole was nearly filled up. This act of circuit opening will close up the gap between their magic skills, and then they can train together without trouble.
"Now then, friends," said Master Vauxall, standing up, "I must now leave." He gave them his warm, enigmatic and almost maniacal smile. "Until we meet again, don't die yet."
"We won't," they all promised.
He turned away from them and walked away from the wasteland. As he took each step away, Ashviel was for the first time ever beginning to grasp what life would be like without Master Vauxall. Soon, all that could be seen of him was his long red coat, moving strongly against the wind, like a flag withstanding a whirlwind. That last sight might seem ordinary to anyone, but to the three who witnessed it, it bore a great significance, sinking deep in their hearts and minds.