The little man spied onto Ruun and Kora until they disappeared, finally teleporting to the continent of Osysa.
The man was very short, and his face looked like that of a rat.
He ran towards the living room of the humble hut, and addressed the man in a dark cloak, sitting at the only armchair in the room.
"D-do you th-think they kn-know, master?"
"You idiot..." The cloaked man rolled his eyes under the hood. "If they knew, we much probably wouldn't be here, still standing. 'Do you think they know'... Useless fucking puppet!"
"I'm-I'm s-s-sorry, master..." The little ratty man fidgeted with his fingers, and then asked. "But... N-now that th-they're go-gone, are going to..."
"Yes, stuttering little thing." The cloaked man waved his hand, and the ratty little man immediately fell silent. "I can't do much with this body, anyways... So yes, get the items for the magic circle, and I'll go to the graveyard."
The ratty little man's eyes twitched.
He was afraid of that new, strange master that arrived at his house, but since he carried the slave's mark, there wasn't much he could do.
So the little man had to obey him.
He went to a little chest in the corner of the scarcely furnished living room, and grabbed a few things, and while he did that, he heard his master speaking.
"I don't know why he brought me back in this body, if it's not even a living body to begin with. But his works are mysterious to us, mere humans. However, I'll do as you please, my lord, and tonight... The continent of Aluria will fall... By the immeasurable power of the Unnameable One!"
Thunder rumbled through the skies, right after the man said those words, and the ratty little man flinched, but he finished gathering the things he needed.
The cloaked man got up from his armchair, grabbed a staff that rested near the piece of furniture, and started limping towards the door.
"I expect the magic circle to be ready upon my return, Sylas. And don't forget what will happen if you disappoint me..."
The cloaked man clenched his fist, and the armchair turned to ashes.
The ratty little man flinched again, saying "Yes... Master.", and the cloaked man limped out of the hut.
Leaving the ratty man, Sylas, grumbling to himself, as he prepared the awaited magic circle.
***
"If you only knew, little brother..." The cloaked man muttered to himself, stopping by the place from where Ruun had just teleported with his companion. He smelled the air, noticing the traces of Ruun's magic.
"Greatness could've been yours, if you just had chosen the right path... But once a fool, always a fool. Now watch, as I turn your precious continent into a sea of death..."
He laughed maniacally, turning to ashes, and floating with the wind, towards the graveyard.
***
The trees in the woods shook with the sudden gust of wind, but in less than a moment, everything became quiet and peaceful again.
Ruun and Kora got out of the woods right to the beach sand, and Kora had her eyes wide in surprise, as soon as she saw the white sand and the crystal-blue waves of the sea.
"Surprised?" Ruun nudged Kora with his elbow.
"I... Hum... Never saw something like that in my... Whole life."
Kora's eyes gleamed with tears.
She held his chest, unable to understand what was it that she was feeling.
"what you're feeling right now," Ruun held her shoulder to get her to look at him "is the love I feel for this world. And the reason I wanted to protect it at all costs."
Suddenly, though, they were surrounded by ten elves in green cloaks, all pointing arrows towards them.
"State your names, ranks and business here, if you don't want to get hurt!"
The one who announced it was taller than all the other elves. He took off his hood, and looked at the duo with annoyance.
"And that," Ruun told Kora, with the same annoyance in his voice, that the elf held in his eyes "is the reason why I hate elves."
Then, he proceeded to speaking in a louder tone.
"I'd love it if you ordered your... 'Men' to lower their weapons. Although I hate your guts, I wouldn't like to announce my arrival with blood. Not today, Sinahim."
At the mention of his name, another elf came out of the woods, wearing an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Sorry, little Ru. You know that my little brother, Iridur here, likes to act all high and mighty towards those he considers trespassers. Friends, lower your weapons, if you want to live, that is."
Then the elf started laughing.
A crystalline cascade of low octaves, that made Kora even more amazed.
He took off his hood and presented himself to the girl with a soft bow.
"Little mistress, I'm Sinahim, and it's a pleasure to meet the Ruler of Mortals' companion."
Kora didn't know how to react, so she just grabbed the elf's hand, and shook it effusively.
"Hoho! The girl is strong!" He looked at Ruun. "So, what business brings you here, young king?"
"I thought you said you hated their guts, master..." Kora hushed in Ruun's ear.
"It's complicated." He hushed back. "I'm not here as the Ruler of Mortals, today, Sinahim." Ruun announced to the leader of the elven rangers.
But his tone was a little bit darker than Sinahim was used to, which made him raise his brow in suspicion.
"What is it then, young king?"
"I'm here to visit the Inthyan Academy."
The leader of the elven rangers immediately gasped, his arm twitching ever so slightly, unconsciously reaching for the sword on his sheath.
The elf noticed what he almost did, and scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, so you're here to see 'him', right?"
"Precisely, now, I need you to lead Kora to Therion, he'll have some business to discuss with her. Do you want to lead the way, Sinahim?"
Sinahim looked alarmed by Ruun's words.
No one has ever gone to Therion, the king of the elves, without a proper announcement, and came back alive.
But if it was the companion of the Ruler of Mortals, then it should be fine.
As those thoughts crossed his mind, he turned around and led the way.
'It's not your neck you're putting at risk, young king...'
"But master, why do we need to..."
Ruun gently squeezed Kora's shoulder.
"You'll understand once you get there. I won't take long."
She sighed, and followed Sinahim.
And when Ruun watched as the rangers went back into the woods, he waited a few moments, and then spoke, out loud.
"I sensed you right away when I arrived! Aren't you going to show yourself and give me a proper welcome?"