The meeting with Trevor was considered a fortune, not just for them, but also for the valet, as he had spent years isolated in the village with his master's daughter. He pleaded with her to allow him guide their guests to Capricorn, and she reluctantly agreed to his requests.
It was a rimy and damp morning. Ashviel had seen the damp lying on the outside of his window, as if some kelpie had been crying there all night, and had used the window for a pocket-handkerchief. Now, he saw the damp lying on the bare hedges and spare grass, like a coarser sort of spiders' webs, hanging itself from twig to twig and blade to blade.
"Take care, Trevor," Theobrina waved at them as they left the mansion. It must have been hard for her, but her attendant would be back in a little while. Trevor himself valued the company he was getting, and soon began tutoring his three guests on their way to Capricorn.
His magical skills were only a little short of a knight's own. He commanded Rek with relative ease and in few hours had taught Ashviel, Kael, and Kyra his bulb trick, where he snaps his fingers and rolled them around to light up several lanterns at one fell swoop.
The four got along well, and even though Ashviel still had his reservations, he soon grew to be relaxed around him. Trevor's magic reserve was however little compared to theirs. The butler made up for this with an exceptional control over Rek, and had already thought Ashviel a number of Rek tricks by the end of the first day on the last phase of their journey.
He stressed that most tricks required shadow Rek, and gave them some tips in mastering the difficult form of Rek. His sword skills were also impressive, as he displayed a number of familiar and unfamiliar skills. Finally, his spell set contained only shooting arrow, rapping tempest, basting force, and shadow veil.
The shadow veil was a spell used to conceal a small material out of the view of an ordinary person. To the disappointments of his trainees, their control over shadow Rek was still too lacking for them to perform the spell. To soothe them, he thought them the lynx eye, a shadow technique that could be used to pierce through a shadow veil.
Mastering it in the short period of their stay was impossible, but Trevor copied some notes from his master's, and gave it to them. Ashviel wished he could learn the shadow veil immediately, as he admired the way Trevor uses it to hide the true length of his sword, allowing him to strike them when they least expect it.
The lynx eye was made by concentrating shadow Rek in portals made in the eyes, then forming a circular ring with it. When one looks through such a ring, he is able to discern the shadow Rek covering the material, though the strength of the person wielding the shadow veil might make it impossible to detect.
At night, the three would read out Master Vauxall's books and writings, and while they addressed different spells, the notes on them were too short to help one master them. Trevor on the other hand claimed that they provide great insights into mastering spells that are even more complex. He copied what he could copy in his notes, deciding to go back to them when he returned to the mansion.
Their journey to Capricorn was almost without a hitch, since they had not expected a jolly ride either. They exited the frost village and travelled through elevated grasslands, dotted with pine trees of varying heights, and the occasional albizzia trees, mostly contorted out of shape, or cut down, charred, or even uprooted.
"Mages must have been here," said Trevor when they passed by one of the trees. That only meant one thing to Ashviel.
"We are closer then to Capricorn," he said.
"We should be," said Kyra.
It was a fine morning; the rays of light from the sun had pierced through the dense mist that shrank the horizon, and passing through the foliage of the trees, had formed a clear morning in the forest. Ashviel had set out earlier than the rest, happily taking the role of a scout, since he had more experience in the forest.
He soon moved out of the forest in an hour, and as he stood upon hill that morning, he descried a town bustling with lots of people.
"Capricorn at last," said he with excitement.
He ran back to his three companions, who were also on their way, following his trails.
"Capricorn," he said, breathing vigorously. "We have arrived at Capricorn."
Kyra and Kael rushed to meet him, but Trevor only stood by watching. "That's not Capricorn," he said, "that's Newland."
"Newland?" they asked him.
"It is so named because many people who come to Capricorn from here always think it is Capricorn, just like you."
"So," said Kyra, "Capricorn is still days away?"
"No," answered Trevor, "it is just past the village."
"We should not stop then," said Kael.
Trevor laughed at his words. "You think they'll let you into those gates without paying the fees."
"Fees?"
"If you are without a circuit, then you'll pay 100 gold heads, and that does not mean you'll be given the potion. Since you guys have circuits, you'll pay only 60 gold heads. I don't know how you are going to get 180 gold heads."
"No problem, we have that and even more," said Ashviel. True, the coins in his space pouch alone was more than ten twice 180 gold heads.
Trevor raised his hat in surprise, but was quick to get over it. "I see you are really serious about it then."
"So, how will we sign up?" asked Kyra.
"First, you rent a place in Newland. The majority of the people you see there are also waiting for recruitments," said Trevor.
They were already going down the hill and Ashviel suddenly realized what so much people would mean. "Is Capricorn going to take in so many people?" With the numbers he had seen, he began to doubt if they would ever be admitted.
"Don't worry; most of them will fail the tests, and they won't even get their money back. But you three, I'm sure you'll pass."
They got into the town, walking along the streets teeming with aspirants. Some of them were clearly using body-honing techniques from their statures and gaits. Some others were feeble and gaunt with hunger and exhaustion, having sacrificed a lot just to get a chance at becoming mages. Yet a few among them were mere children, scarcely more than ten years old, but with bright faces and smiles that reflected their optimisms.
"Don't look so complacent," Trevor said when he noticed Ashviel's stare. "They have all opened their circuits and probably have more Rek than you do."
That can't be true, thought Ashviel. He had only shown Trevor a slice of his Rek reserves, but he decided to take heeds to his words.
They got to one of the inns, as nearly all the buildings there were inns made specifically made for Capricorn aspirants. The fees were ridiculously high, and Trevor gave a knowing smile when they had paid in full for their rooms.
"A trick used by Capricorn to send away aspirants, they don't want too many students around," he said.
As they made to pay for his room, Trevor announced that it was time for him to leave.
"I'm sorry, but Theobrina only gave me a month away," he said.
"And it has been just two weeks," disputed Kael.
"Two weeks here, and two weeks back, makes a month," said Trevor.
Kyra held his hand, and the three thanked him for his voluntary services. Without him, they would have spent month roaming about on a wild-goose chase, only to return to South Capricorn when it would have been far too late.
He raised his hat and held it over his face, covering one of his eyes. "Believe me," said he, "I'd love to see you to the end of your journey at Capricorn, but I must leave now. It's been a pleasure, but I must say my goodbye now." With a final wave of his hat, he turned and walked out of the inn in his characteristic valet manner.
Ashviel thought about his words when he got to the room. 'I'd love to see the end of your journey at Capricorn.' If only he had an inkling of their mission at Capricorn Prime, Ashviel's own life mission, the massacre behind, and the carnage ahead, perhaps then, he might wish he were not alive to witness it.