"How have you been sleeping?" Tatiana asked.
"Well, I woke up early again with the same dream I've been having for the past two months but..."
"But?" placing her cup of tea down delicately on the table, her brows furrowed together.
"It moved on" Kendra turned from the wall of books finding the dusty leather tome she was searching for.
"What do you mean? It's moved on?"
"The dream has progressed forwards, the first time I was just wandering through around the edges of the city and I can hear the children playing, every dream has been like that but now I'm through the gates and I am passing them on the street, dancing, laughing and singing, and I feel... guilt, like there is a knot in my stomach, and with each step it grew tighter and tighter..." Kendra trailed off, absently running her finger along the green leather spine.
Tatiana sat elegantly in her chair by the window that led out into the underground garden filled with luminous lichen and glowing evergleams, the beautiful blue and purple bell flowers pointed up towards the ceiling, often emitting a strange, calming hum, the light from these plants bounced off Tatiana's silvery-blue hair, Kendra sighed sitting across from her best friend, "you know this is where we first met, when we were children".
"That feels like forever ago, Master Gray told me you were orphaned in the Dragonfire War, pushed me through the door and left." Tatiana's soft smile faltered slightly, "why do you bring it up?"
"It's been ten years now to this day that it happened, we met a year after... I think you should tell Master Gray about this dream you're having." She said seriously.
"Why? I don't think it's a prophetic dream, it doesn't have the same feel to it." Kendra responded carefully.
"I know that but, it's odd don't you think? And I believe you should tell him, he might be able to tell you what it means," Tatiana rises from her perch leaving for her Basic Element Magica studies, the pair often met here every morning before classes, having done since they met nine years ago, the meetings used to be compulsory but now it was like their own ritual. Kendra watched as her slender figure disappeared through the doors, her long blue skirt flowing behind her, Kendra's class bustled through the grand oak doors that led to the library almost knocking down the Knight statues that guarded the entrance, shaking her head Kendra addressed the class "okay calm down, please try not knocking down the 400-year-old Knight statues as you enter!" Kendra used to hate taking this class believing she could get by without them and learn on the road, like her mother and father did, she would try all sorts to get out of Master Baire's Magical Markings, Wards and Sigils class.
As the tables and chairs rose from the ground the class began to settle with Master Baire swiftly entering behinds opting to sit in the back, the bottom of her robes swirled with light green Magica, Kendra clocked the soft light in the corner off her eye and turned to greet her with a silent nod and polite smile, "so, who can tell me why it is important to use ward Magica against wraiths?" she called to the class; this is their first lesson back of the season.
"Ward Magica or in the Greek form Apotrophaic magic is used to ward off evil influences or turn away from harm, this can be done in the form of symbols, good luck charms, or with light Magica spells, wraiths feed off the living in order to maintain their existence so when leaving the safety of home or the Guild it is essential to know at least two spells and carry good luck charms." Niamh stated confidently, a girl from the Forests of Ice, she was top of her class last season and was set to do the same this season.
"Exactly! Now I know last season Niamh led the pack with her knowledge and final examination score but I hope all of you pull out the stops this year as it will be the final year before you are taken out as apprentices to lone adventurers adventuring guilds, court wizards and travelling mages, you will be meeting your field tutors once the rainy season has arrived and from there you will be educated on what to expect out in the field, how to support your team and how to take the lead." Kendra announced, she knew her class would do well inside the confines of The Guild's training grounds but that was only simulated danger, her heart ached at the thought of them leaving.
The class continued for the next two hours until the gong chimed out for them to leave, biding farewell to their teacher they each bowed deeply upon seeing the Master patiently waiting by the door, Master Baire gracefully strode towards Kendra leaving trails of light green Magica in her wake, her robes were white with a dark blue trim, swirling embroidery lined the bottom of the robes climbing up to the waistline of her robe, her brown hair fell long past her shoulders down to her waist, "well done Kendra, you have taken to your teachings rather well considering how much you despised my lessons and wanted nothing more than to run out on adventures, much like both your parents."
"Thank you Master Baire, I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you, and Master Gray and the academy and well," blushing deeply, Kendra waved her hand sending the tables and chairs back into the ground allowing the library to return to its usual rows of book laden shelves as she collected the papers turned in by her class.
"Well if you hadn't have caused trouble, I doubt you would have realised the importance of my teachings. I dropped in on your lessons on Wraiths especially for that reason. I'll be reporting back to Master Gray on your progress," with that she turned and left, her classes did not start until noon.
The incident happened when Kendra was merely thirteen years old and as all new teenagers thought she knew better, fighting hard to leave Master Baire's class believing she could pick up Magica as she went on her own adventures, much like the pioneers of old, she left the Guild during the seasons end, managing only two days before she ran out of food and fresh water, venturing into the Forests of Memories as the sun's light was beginning to fade hoping to collect berries and stream water when it began to rain, leaving the forest as the drops grew harder Kendra barley managed to find shelter in a small ruin where the ceiling remained somewhat intact, unable to sense any evil presence within she entered.
It soon turned dark with the twin moons offering very little light, Kendra tried to make a fire, but with her inexperience winning out all she could manage was smouldering embers, that was when the shadows seemed to creep across the space going against the grain of the other shadows, reaching towards her, a wraith lowered its faceless body from the ceiling where it waited out of sight for the perfect moment, before Kendra could retreat from the advancing monster before her she was pinned to the ground gasping for air, she had not noticed her limbs growing cold or the fog that clouded the back of her mind making it difficult to move her body, this was the effect of a powerful wraith, a soul long since dead, she could feel the darkness surrounding moving closer, her eyes dimming at the edges, her heart echoing loudly until that became soft and distant, until it was barely audible even to her.
Kendra eventually woke up in the Healing bay surrounded by Master Baire, Master Gray and the rather stern looking healer Jones, she could not remember what happened after the wraith's attack but she was grateful to her Masters and made sure to attend every lesson after.
The rest of the day passed without incident, and the first day of studies were finally over, Kendra met up with Tatiana at the base of the stairs heading to the staff lounge, "did you manage to talk to Master Gray?" she asked.
"Not yet, I've been busy I had Master Baire sit in on my lessons and Niamh and Maeko Helios had their one-to-one session today through lunch and then it was the Enchantment examinations," Kendra replied.
"You don't teach Enchantments though."
"Adrianna asked me to fill in for them, she's been requested on an adventure by the Council of Water Elves."
"Why would they need Adrianna? They don't really use Enchantments and their focus is on the practices of Abyss Magica, the Water Elves don't venture on to land very often." Tatiana remarked, her brows furrowing once more.
"Her fiancé is in the adventure party." Kendra grinned waiting for the penny to drop.
"Oh... Oh" the light in her eyes grew bigger "so this adventure... Venue hunting, are they?" barely containing her excitement, Water Elf Ceremonies were extravagant weeklong affairs that were filled with traditional Elf activities most humans were not privy to, Adrianna was fighting a juvenile minotaur that had wandered too far from its dungeon, when she used her Hydro-sphere in an attempt to drag the beast into the lake, unknown to her was the water elf travelling west that got caught up in her fight to.
"Do you think we'll be invited?" she questioned.
"Well, Adrianna will be enchanting herself to travel underwater, so the 'adventure' won't be on land and I'm not sure, Water Elves have their ceremonies underwater and all their venues will be a choice of deep ponds, lakes, cenotes and other water filled areas plus... You can't swim." Kendra stated matter-of-factly, disheartened by that knowledge Tatiana dropped the subject just in time to reach the staff lounge.
Master Gray sat cross-legged levitating in the centre of the room surrounded by his 5 blue orbs at equal intervals, his robes hung down, they were plain compared to Master Baire's robes, they were only decorated with a thick gold trim on the edges, his beard was styled with three braids clasped with runes, the pair often joked that his hair slowly moved down over the years to be one with the beard leaving him bald, the other teachers were already seated leaving the pair to sit on the edges, Master Gray ended his levitation joining the rest of his staff, "how has everyone's first day teaching gone? Mine has gone very well the new year students have taken to Archaic Languages rather well, only 3 students cried..." he claimed joyously clapping his hands together.
"Well, four students got lost on their way to my class thanks to one or both the Kellen Twins giving them the wrong directions, two set fire to the classroom and only one froze himself," Palmer Gates, Advanced Element Magica Studies, his lifeless delivery of these events created a small stir of stifled laughter among the other teachers, his dull eyes seemed to glint with life before immediately correcting themselves.
"I have the joy of teaching Niamh and Maeko Helios in my Magical Markings, Wards and Sigils Studies, Niamh has come a long way since she began last year her confidence has definitely grown, Maeko is taking a little longer to come around though. I took Adrianna's Enchantment testing this afternoon and I should have results back at the end of the week."
The meeting ended with Kendra taking her usual trip through the ruins of Kanok south of The Guild's border, once so beautiful its towers of jade and silver spiralled into the clouds, the bloom of fresh blue flowers every Imbolc and the Ostara Festival which started from dawn till dusk, Kanok reigned as the most gracious and welcoming city of Acmelia, almost two centuries had passed since its destruction, no one knew how or why it happened, just one day and the spires began to crumble and collapse, the captivating wildlife and flora withered and faded away and no one could stop it, it was like it died all the magic inside its walls just vanished, within one week all that was left were the ruins.
Kendra's hand trailed along the broken tops of the market stalls as she reach the courtyard, its centre once adorned with its grand marble fountain sat covered in vines, Kendra often found herself sitting at the fountain, imagining what it must have been like when Kanok stood tall. The rays of sunlight glancing off the silver casting light into the shadows chasing them away, as Kendra sat enjoying the warmth of the setting sun a small faint green light caught the corner of her eye, turning cautiously towards it, she saw the small palm sized rock with intricate carved lines resting against the spire, she knew the layout of the ruins like the back of her hand, she know where every rock was, every fallen branch and piece of debris and rubble, and this was new, Kendra hurried over hopping over the small broken market stall that blocked her path, taking the stone in her hands she turned it over analysing the patterns carved into the stone, a faint green flash of light emanated from deep within the stone, a familiar feeling rose in her stomach like a knot twisting and tightening, a deep fog clouding her mind, stumbling back towards the fountain, Kendra hands became clammy as she held onto the stone trying to find the sigil she carved into the fountains edge, finally managing to activate the protection sigil she carved last season she moved to the centre resting against the broken statue as the pale yellow barrier closed in around her dropping to her hands and knees as the sickening feeling washed over her and the vision began.
**Children are playing, laughing they run through the streets casting firework Magica high into the sky, they are celebration something... a festival, maybe? I am walking with purpose I can feel my face pull into a smile, it is not my face though it is the person I have inhabited, why do I feel sad, no not sad... it's guilt, why am I guilty what have I done? What am I doing? The vision pushes forward, and I find myself descending stairs, it is so dark but there is a faint light of a candle, the unmistakable flickering glow grows bigger, there are candles lining the walls, the ceiling is so high the light does not touch it, I enter the large room, even the columns disappeared into darkened ceiling walking towards the centre I see the stone, the lines carved into its surface have a strong green light bursting out from its core, I remove it from its pedestal. I know what will happen...the city of Kanok will fall.**
The vision fades and turns to black the sun has long since set, Kendra breathes in and out deeply waiting for the sickness to pass, there is nothing but darkness now and the moons are rising in the distance, this was not just a rock... It was the Life-key to the city. Kendra struggled to understand the person in her vision took the Life-key, it should not be here, searching for any traces of light to cling to Kendra decided she must take it back to The Guild in order to find out what was going on. The prophecy was exactly like the dreams she was having, Tatiana was right, she needed to talk to Master Gray.
Placing one foot on the edge of the fountain, Kendra held onto the Life-key tightly, taking one final breath to steady the nausea in her stomach she propelled herself into the shadows, as they began reaching and clawing at her feet Kendra raced through the streets leaping over the debris and rubble, she knew what lurked in the shadows wrapping around her ankles trying to prevent her from leaving.
Everyone who did not leave when the city fell perished soon after and their spirits became trapped, over time they became twisted, malicious, and now bound to the darkness, their souls became twisted and broken eventually amassing enough dark energy to create their wraith forms "Lux!" Kendra cast her hand forward arcing it over her head, summoning a bright ball of light to chase away the sharp tendrils cast by the wraiths who snarled and hissed from their darkened corners, she could she the hollow sockets where their eyes should be, hundreds of them watching her waiting for her Magica to fail.
Kendra continued to run the next ten minutes with the ball growing larger over her, expanding its reach completely illuminating the walls that ran alongside The Guild, until she came to the black, metal gates, "obscurum," Kendra exhaled harshly, trying to catch her breath as the ball's light faded away, the shadows trapped beyond the gates protective seal. Entering the hall, Kendra looked at the Life-key in her hands, thankful to see it was still in her possession, taking a step further into the entryway of The Guild, she quickly found herself falling through the floor before being cast upwards towards the ceiling "arghhh, what the hell?!" she cried out in surprise, the Life-key slipped from her hands, landing with a thud it skittered along the floor only to be stopped by the foot of the stairs, leaving Kendra to float helplessly at the doors of The Guild, this was one of The Guild's best defences after dark designed by Master Baire during the Dragonfire War, The Guild became home to the Forbidden Magica tomes many of which would have ended the war and given the victors power over their enemies for the rest of eternity if activated, the Masters had to fight off allies and enemies alike in order to protect them and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
These tomes were entrusted to The Guild by the Villas Queen, Solis Umbra - Villas were the powerful daughters of women and Dragons; they had the ability to switch between both forms, as Master Gray was a long time friend and ally of the Queen, she could trust no other person to ensure their safety and protection.
As Kendra considered placing a curse upon Master Baire for her hair to fall out a sliver of light appeared under the kitchen's door, "hello?" she called out. No answer. "Hello, I need a little help! I'm stuck," Kendra spun a little slower, craning her neck to keep her eyes fixed on the kitchen door, her black and gold overcoat falling down over her face hiding the blood rushing to her cheeks, part of the defence rendered its captives incapable of using their arms or legs, preventing spell casting of any form, upon hearing the kitchen door open and close, Kendra quickly made her presence known, "oh, who is that under there?" Master Baire chuckled, lifting Kendra's fallen overcoat, "oh Kendra! I was wondering where you wandered off to… have you been here long?" she teased.
"Very funny, can you let me down please, there is something important I need to talk to Master Gray about!" she pleaded earnestly, Master Baire pushed one of her arms beginning the spin cycle once again and starts to leave "you know, your timekeeping skills have always left much to be desired Miss Starcroft, perhaps this will help," laughing she ascended the stairs disappearing into her room.
"What! No! Master Baire?! Master! Come back here and get me down!... Baire! You can't leave me here!" she shouted hoping her Master would return soon. The spinning was bringing back the sick feeling she had earlier.
The growing murmurs of students surrounding their teacher who hung suspended in the air woke Kendra from her impromptu slumber, opening her eyes, trying to blink away her the sleep she addressed the students closest to her, "whoever is staring right now, can you please fetch Master Baire so I can curse her" the murmuring continued and their feet are shuffling, "right now!" she yelled, annoyed with her current predicament, the students surrounding her scatter in different directions all calling for Master Baire to come to the entry hall. Her floral perfume filled the air, "you are not funny, in any sense of the word!" Kendra spat through gritted teeth.
"You came in after dark Kendra, you know the rules," smiling sweetly, she waved her hand across a small, twisting sigil carved into the floor "finis", the sigil glowed brightly with her light green Magica before fading to nothing, Kendra fell from the air quickly flipping her body before she reached the floor, landing deftly on her feet she hurriedly closed the gap to the Life-key that had been sat unprotected at the foot of the stairs, students were gawking at their tutor as she angrily made her way to Master Baire.
"I believe you should be making your way to your classes!" turning to meet the open-mouthed gazes with a stern look, "right, Valeria..." Master Baire bristled at the sound of her first name being used against her, "I am going to see Master Gray, you'll have to give up your free period this morning and take my classes," she stormed away up the stairs leaving Master Baire stood with the remained of the students, the Life-key firmly in her grasp once again.
Passing the classes that had already begun Kendra took the opportunity to peek into Tatiana's class, her first-year students had successfully conjured sparks, watching them fly from their hands, their faces lit up with amazement and wonder, for one student the sparks seemed to have the better of him as his cloak began to smoulder, shaking her head, Kendra pulled away from the window carrying on her way to Master Gray's Quarters, as she reached her fifth step, an explosion from Tatiana's class disrupted the quietness of the corridor with smoke billowing out from under the door, Kendra ran back swinging the door open, moving her left hand across the space in front of her, "ortu fumus evanescet" the smoke evaporated instantly and the student whose sparks caused his cloak to smoulder stood defeated covered in soot, the smell of burnt hair strong in the air.
The other students began laughing at him, but Tatiana was quick to shush them, "open the windows children," turning to the boy she waved her right hand across to the right "Olentia Purgatio" the smell dissipated replaced with the soft, faint scent of sea salt and mint, "it's okay Arlo everyone makes mistakes and its only your second day!" Her smile was soft and welcoming, putting the boy at ease.
"But Jaxx will make fun of me for messing up such a simple casting spell!" he cried out, tears threatening to spill over.
"Oh please!" Kendra interjected, "your brother set himself on fire in his Advanced Elemental Studies class, like actual fire! If anything you should be teasing him, he's been here for four years now! You've been here 2 days, you will never be content with your progress if you compare yourself to those with years of experience," Kendra smiled, reaffirming his own confidence, Tatiana nodded her appreciation for Kendra's interruption.
"Where were you this morning?"
"I got back late from the ruins and was subjected to Baire's defensive Barrier Sigil … All night in fact… spinning." Kendra grumbled, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Well, children as you can see, even us teachers can make mistakes." She chided.
"I'll... talk to you later Tati," Kendra grimaced moving away from the door, offering a small wave she walked to the end of the hallway and up more stairs to Master Gray's quarters.
The guild was split into five floors, the Library was underground along with the dining hall and student rooms which entered into a cave system lit with luminous lichen that grew naturally along the walls, the caves possessed their own Magica energy which allowed them change and shift according to the amount of students that The Guild took on have each year, the ground floor, where Kendra was subject Master Baire's trap left overnight, was the Kitchen, bathrooms for public use during class times and for the older students and teachers was home to the Alchemy and Astronomy tower entrances along with the Healing Bay which was also enchanted to adapt to the amount of people who are hurt at any one time, it is quite vast at the beginning of the academic year, the first floor was home to the classrooms and at the end of the hall was the teachers' lounge, the second floor boasted the teachers and Masters of Study personal offices and bedrooms and the final floor was kept solely for the Master of the Guild, which was Master Gray.
Kendra ascended the last of the stairs, the top which was blocked by a heavy-set oak door engraved with Fenrir wolves facing against a faceless foe, snarling and baring their teeth, their hackles raised ready to attack, the full moons covered by dark clouds, it depicted a time when the Wolves allied themselves to the light and protected all that was good and innocent, thought to have long gone extinct, now only a few carvings and books were all the world had left to remind new generations of the sacrifice they made and what they stood for, orange light flooded the stairway as Master Gray illuminated his office, "come in Kendra," Master Gray called to the closed door.
Pushing the door open Kendra closed the distance between them, standing perfectly poised behind his desk, his robes may be understated but his quarters are a different story, ornate rugs lined the floor, antique vases on pedestals, open scrolls in frames adorned the walls, one wall lined with bookshelves seemed to be bursting at the joints threatening to explode across the room if any more books were added, if ever the room fell silent a person would be able hear it creaking under its own weight, an antique telescope sat at the bay window dressed with much too long dark purple velvet curtains trimmed with a thick gold band.
Master Gray relaxed behind his desk in a dark mahogany chair cushioned with crushed red velvet, the desk itself was a dark mahogany, each leg engraved with different creatures, the front two that Kendra could see were the Fenrir Wolf and a Naiad, a water-born creature known to exhibit jealous tendencies if they thought another creature prettier than them or more skilled at singing, "what brings you up here Miss Starcroft?" he peered up from poorly braiding his beard, Kendra shook her head at the sight, knowing full well that Master Baire was in charge of Master Gray's appearance, sitting down in the chair in front of his desk.
"Well it's sort of an amalgamation of things really," Kendra stalls, wondering how to start, her frown deepening.
"Oh, well let us start at the beginning then shall we?" Smiling he propped his hands on the desk waiting patiently for her to continue.
Taking a deep breath Kendra began telling him about the dreams that had taken place over the last month or so eventually bringing up her experience within the Ruins of Kanok, "I think I know what happened to the City of Kanok, Master someone took the life-key from its pedestal," she claims, turning the Life-key over in her hands.
"Wait, how would you know what happened to the City Kendra? You were far from being born, a good couple centuries at least," Master Gray shifted in his seat, perplexed by the claims of his former student.
"I was sitting at the fountain like I usually do when something caught my eye, it just looked like a normal rock but it was almost shining I picked it up and then my mind clouded, like it does when I have a vision, I made my way to the fountain and activated the protection sigil I carved on the edge of the fountain and then - then I was walking through the street of a lively city of Kanok, there were children playing and laughing, the blue flowers of the Ostara Festival lined the streets, the homes and stalls where bustling with people, I could smell the meats roasting on the fire pits, the scent of the flowers as I walked deeper into the city, I was experiencing all of it as though I was there 200 years ago, next thing I know is I am descending the stairs into the great hall and right there in the centre is the Life-key the carvings glowing bright green with energy and I… I took it. I feel this deep sense of guilt, like a knot in my stomach, I can feel the energy of the city and its people shake as I remove the pedestal and then I'm back in the fountain on my knees and the carvings begin to glow green on the rock." Kendra held out the Life-key to Master Gray who cautiously turned it over in his hands examining it from all angles a mixture of emotions across his face.
"That isn't possible" he mumbled.
"Pardon, Master?"
"That is not possible," Master Gray repeats calmly, "it seems your powers are changing Kendra, These dreams you are having, they are your prophecies, you are seeing your own future and now you are seeing the past! Maybe a past that is related to you somehow, although... I do not understand how the Life-key of Kanok has returned."
Upon hearing that Kendra had left to speak to Master Gray, teachers had amassed at the door, eager to catch wind of any gossip or news they could share within the staff lounge, "can I help you with something?" Master Gray asked sternly looking at the squashed bodies of those gathered at his door, each face turning a shade of red as they tried to retreat from the now advancing Master of The Guild, yelps from those who were at the back of the pack on the stairs as they are trodden on and backed into, Master Gray caught hold of Tatiana and Master Baire at the front of the group pulling the pair by their wrists and yanking them into his office, with the pair fully in in his office Master Gray slams the heavy door, "you have classes to attend to!" he quips firmly to those remaining on the stairs, as the door slams back into place a loud commotion takes place behind it, as the ones closest failed to move in time were sent flying down the stairs eventually landing in a heap.
Master Gray enjoyed that a little too much as a large grin spread across his face, turning around he strutted back to his desk reclaiming his seat, Kendra looked over her shoulders at Master Baire and Tatiana, raising his right hand upwards two rings of light blue energy two more chairs rise from the floor, Tatiana and Master Baire both sit down either side of her, "Kendra I'm assuming you have told Miss Leonis of your dreams," looking across at Kendra who nodded once glancing towards her friend.
"I have, yes"
"And of what you saw yesterday?"
"Erm, no I didn't get a chance, I was caught in Master Baire's Defences and was not released until after morning classes began," she replied exasperated steeling a look at her old Master.
"I do apologise Kendra, I did intend to let you down once I had my cup of tea, but I put too many drops of calming potion in and fell right asleep, I didn't wake up until multiple students were banging at my door saying someone wants to curse me!" she lamented, Tatiana stifled a laugh behind her hand.
Master Gray clears his throat and began speaking once more ignoring the last comment, "well then, I believe Kendra's natural ability to predict possible future events has grown to accommodate past events and now in the forms of her dreams she can now see herself or rather from the sound of it, inhabit another person and carry out their past actions, what is most worrying about this revelation is Kendra knows what happened to the City of Kanok and not only that the Life-key which was stolen 200 years ago has reappeared among the ruins."
"Reappeared? Like just apparated in front of Kendra or…" Master Baire questioned.
"No, it was lying around among the ruins, right near to the fountain where she sits every day after classes have ended."
"Kendra, why do you sit in the ruins?" Tatiana asked ,"you go there all the time and not once have you invited me or even told me why."
Kendra opened her mouth to answer but no sound came out at first, the only answer she had was, "I… I don't know, it just feels familiar I guess, " she stammered, "ever since I arrived at The Guild as a child I always found myself drawn to the ruins and I always went directly to the fountain, I never thought about it before."
"You are the only one to step foot in those ruins Kendra," Master Gray stated still turning the Life-key in his hands.
"That's not possible, others must venture into them all the time," she replied, both Tatiana and Master Baire turned to look at her shaking their heads.
"Kendra, I have been putting off telling you this, but it is not possible to enter those ruins," Gray stated calmly.
"But I go there all the time," Kendra replied, confused.
"Only Tatiana and Master Baire and myself who you talk to, know about the Ruins of Kanok."
"What do you mean?"
"Only you can see the ruins Kendra, I went to where you said they were, and I saw nothing. I asked Master Baire and Gray and they told me only you could see them let alone enter them. They do exist but not to us. Only you."
"But you said you've seen the towers and the fountain and the stalls, all of it," Kendra reminded her.
"Only in books Ken," she smiled softly "I wanted to know what you could see, so I went to the library and researched the City of Kanok, I found pictures in 'The History of Acmelia' I just don't understand how it is you can see them when no one else can."
"It is not a reflection on you Kendra but there is barrier magic created by the Villas Queen herself that prevents anyone stepping foot where the city once stood," Valeria chimed in.
"I don't…so-so what does this mean?" Kendra's heart beat a little quicker, she had been under the impression that the ruins were open to everyone.
"We do not understand either Kendra but, I believe you will receive answers from the one who is protecting those ruins and I strongly believe your adventure is just beginning," Master Gray spoke softly but firmly, stroking his beard he strode towards Tatiana and Kendra, "you must travel to Kanar and gain audience with Solis Umbra. Tatiana Leonis you will accompany Kendra on her journey, both of you start packing immediately, I believe this adventure to be of the utmost importance," as he spoke he corralled the girls out of his office and down the stairs, closing the door behind them.
"Valeria, I think Kendra might a descendent of one of the residents of Kanok" Cassius said, folding his hands behind his back.
Valeria turned to face him, "but the residents refused to leave, they perished, stubbornly I might add."
"That is true, but do remember Valeria, Kanok once stood alongside The Guild...what I would like to know the answer to is Kendra's abilities, it takes years to develop abilities such as those! With practice! To my knowledge she has not once looked at a book about prophecies or developing her natural abilities if anything she has always avoided it." Cassius sighed, looking down at his beard he began fiddling with his beard.
"Sounds about right, maybe she'll find answers in… look would you stop you're going to knot it all up and I'm the one who has to fix it!" Valeria stressed, rising out of her seat she moved behind the desk rooting through the drawers until she found what she was looking for, "sit down!" Cassius obediently took his place while she brushed out the newly tangled mess attached to his face, she sighed while braiding his beard into two separate pieces and fastening them with two rune clasps. "Do not touch."
Tatiana and Kendra reached their own respective rooms, both unsure what to take with them on such an important adventure, aside from Kendra's woefully under-prepared misadventure when she was thirteen years old, she had not left The Guild since even going as far to apprentice under Master Baire, eventually they found themselves sat at the end of Kendra's bed staring at the wall behind her desk, piled high with student work, "how long will it take to get to Kanar?" Tatiana asked breaking the silence tha had fallen over them, twisting her head to look at Kendra and then the empty backpacks sitting on the floor.
"Erm, I don't even know what direction it is in," Kendra replied leaning back over her comfy bed feeling the soft duvet against her skin, stretching for the drawer on the side table, Kendra pulled out a piece of scrying parchment and placed it on the floor "Tati, can you close the door please" Kendra scooted off the bed and knelt on the floor setting up the parchment by placing four beeswax candles in each corner, Tatiana returned and set the wicks aflame with her Elemental Magica, Kendra placed her hand over the top of the parchment hovering slightly "revelare vestra locus Kanar," with her incantation complete wax of the four candles climbed over the edge of the wax walls flowing to the centre of the parchment, the waxy liquid spun outwards to the edges leaving outlines of the terrain surrounding Acmelia along with the towns, The Guild, even the Ruins of Kanok appeared on the map much to the surprise of Tatiana.
The wax dried into a dark brown colour leaving one droplet of golden wax pinpointing the women's position, "I don't get it, this is Acmelia," Tatiana's face crumpled with confusion.
"I know, I've been practicing this for a while. The dark brown wax shows the terrain along with buildings and whatnot, this lovely golden drop shows us where we are currently if we venture in the wrong direction it will emit a strong flashing signal, also this bit I'm most proud of," Kendra smiled happily at her creation, "if anyone gets hold of this map, that isn't me or you then it will appear blank and crumble away if anyone tries to use it."
"That is incredible, a few questions though; what if we still need it? Why would someone else have or need to use it? When did you have time to work on this?"
"Erm, I will carry extra sheets and candles in my bag, we will be carrying the Life-key to Kanok a city that no one can set foot in apart from me, a Life-key that has also been stolen slash missing for over 200 years all the way to Kanar in the desert region, and if anyone finds out they could try attacking us and taking it for themselves, I don't know why but they could or would need our map but at a guess I would say a map that shows where we are or where we are going would quite possibly make it easier for them, and finally I have been practicing and perfecting this since I was 14 and could access the more advanced Magica tomes so I can avoid the same mistake as last time… and then preceded to never leave Acmelia, also because I can!" she claimed proudly, looking at the freshly created map Kendra scanned the map, searching in each direction until she found in the top left corner Kanar printed in small writing, pointing it out to Tatiana, "that looks like North."
"That is North-West Kendra. Why doesn't your map have a compass on it?" Tatiana seemed concerned looking down at the map.
"Should I add one? It seemed unnecessary when the dot will flash if we're not going in the right direction..." she peered across at Tatiana whose brow remained furrowed, "I could add one, it may take a while though we would have to get another piece of parchment and relight the candles and do the incantation again and…"
"Stop. I may be your best friend but I will slap you for being pedantic," she pounced on Kendra pinning her to the floor, trying to assert her dominance by fake hitting her, Kendra laughed loudly as her friend tried and failed to land a hit, a smug smile crossed her lips, using Tatiana's weight she created enough momentum to roll her onto the floor and pin Tatiana landing a big fat lick across her cheek.
"And that's how I let others know you're my best friend!"
"You're disgusting!" she grinned wiping her face free of Kendra's saliva, still gasping for air from her attack.
Finally deciding on what they needed to take on their adventure, the two set about packing their bags, Kendra opened the bottom drawer of her wardrobe where she kept a small dagger gifted to her from her parents, there was no discernible features on the blade apart from a groove leading from the handle to the tip, which split into two prongs, its unique design made to absorb small amounts of energy from its target.
Tatiana ran to her room only to return a few minutes later with her Black Sun sword, its black Damascus steel was said to take the souls of those afflicted by the darkness which strengthened her sword, it was given to her by the elder of her village before he perished in the war, her parents were already long gone, checking the mirror besides her door Kendra tied up her red hair in a simple ponytail, her cool coloured eyes stood out under her fringe due to their different colours one grey and one icy blue, her smooth ivory skin only broken up by a small scar over her right eye she has had since she was a young child.
Descending the stairs to the main entrance the midday sun already pierced the stained-glass window above the door painting the stone floor with bright colours, Master Gray and Master Baire patiently waited by the door, their faces twisted into smiles yet their eyes filled with trepidation, Master Gray handed the Life-key wrapped in a small piece of cloth smiling softly he pulled Kendra into a tight hug, "keep us updated on your progress please, and don't tell anyone I gave you a hug I have my reputation to think about."
"What reputation?" Master Baire sighed pushing him aside holding out her hands "appareo," green light rushed to greet her hands crafting two beautifully carved bows which sat perfectly balanced in each hand, the two women took a bow each taking their time to examine the craftmanship before hooking them over our shoulders, quivers filled with phoenix feather arrows flashed onto their backs, "we have had these crafted for some time now along with these travel cloaks," grabbing two grey cloaks from a nearby hanger she held them out, her lips pressed into a soft smile.
"Kendra yours is black with gold and silver to align with the colour of your Magica, Tatiana your cloak is red with black roses which is aligned with your Magica." Master Gray stated as they tied the cloaks on the dull grey shifting and fading into beautifully woven silk cloaks, Kendra could feel her Magica begin to manifest black smoke with gold and silver lights begin swirling and twisting around her before settling at the base of her cloak, Tatiana becomes shrouded with black petals carried on a red smoke.
A person's cloak is unique to them and no two powers are the same, their cloak can provide protection against attacks and in extreme circumstances bolster their owner's offence and defence abilities and even cast an alert in the presence of danger. Master Gray and Master Baire bid the pair farewell as they are both called away to the Healing Bay as an entire class had been involved in a tornado making accident. A sad laugh escapes their lips knowing that this would be the last time they were involved with The Guild for a while, Tatiana and Kendra open the doors revealing the mid-day sun as they set off for the Kanar region.