As Head Commander IIluen D'Harven departed the chamber, Lady Illaine presented brand new knights Brad and Ismeth with two intricately designed leather satchels, and she gave Brad two bamboo scrolls. She began to speak urgently.
"Congratulations, you are both now knights. Your belt buckles and coats of arms are enclosed within these pouches. Time is of the essence. By nightfall, all preparations must be completed, and the unit must be poised to embark. The first scroll declares you as a knight who has been entrusted with a crucial mission under my command. This grants you unrestricted access to all of Illuthar's resources. Use them prudently."
"What of Captain Stonecold?" inquired Ismeth. The novice knight was still at a loss, his trembling hands struggling to fasten the lion-figured belt buckle surrounded by a girdle of swords. Brad only affixed the embroidered emblem onto his linen shirt.
"Come nightfall, a replica of the order shall be delivered to his possession. You are now on a mission of high distinction, noble knights. Swift decision-making is paramount in the unit you are serving," Lady Illaine announced and pressed on,
"The second parchment is to be delivered to the venerable Loremaster David Cantorean, owner of the Celestia Magic Shop by the Square of Nine, where you shall soon arrive. He shall lend an ear to your plea, and you must implore him to extend every possible aid."
"How shall we go about that?" Brad inquired.
"The method is yours to choose. Find a way to cajole the irascible old man to allocate resources for our cause," replied the high priestess, casting a particular gaze towards Brad. "Upon completion, return hither without delay. We have no moment to squander. The unit must be assembled ere nightfall."
"And the unit? How shall we assemble it?" Brad pressed.
"One of my trusted guardians, Shaeala, shall handle that aspect. We shall deliberate the specifics in due time," Lady Illaine answered, escorting them towards the exit.
Ismeth covertly winked at Shaaela, who appeared equally puzzled as him, and the duo respectfully bade farewell to the abbess before departing.
The duo descended rapidly in silence. Once they reached the entrance of the settlement, they collected their horses from the waiting attendant and set off towards Celestia. As they rode farther away, Ismeth's exuberant cries could be heard from a distance of one hundred meters.
"Stay composed, Ismeth. You're a knight now. You must be vigilant of your conduct," Brad cautioned him, but his own composure faltered, and he began to chuckle.
Ismeth was practically prancing on his horse. "Are you out of your mind, Brad? This might be an unprecedented event. What knight aspirant has been knighted in three months? Especially one like us, who come from humble backgrounds," he exclaimed. Then he stopped abruptly and turned to Brad. "Tell me the truth. You're not related to that abbess, are you? You're not concealing the fact that you're the kingdom's heir or something, are you?"
Brad just laughed.
"I'm not kidding, man. There's a rumor circulating. When Smyrnia was besieged by Empire, she supposedly had a child. I've heard bizarre tales about whether it perished or was abducted."
"Ismeth, I'm just an orphaned bastard. I didn't grow up with any advantages. I only know Lady Illaine from my training as a temple knight. Trust me, we have no close relationship. We're here solely because of this predicament."
"No, man, I'm still struggling to fully comprehend the situation. Sure, a magical artifact was stolen. We got that much... But what's our stake in all of this?"
Brad paused to reflect before responding. "If the rumors are true - and Lady Illaine seems to be taking this matter very seriously - we're dealing with something like a mystical tome that can grant the ability to peer into the future, Ismeth."
"Alright, that could be dangerous. But how are we connected to this?"
"Who would be the sole individual able to identify the perpetrator?" Brad inquired.
"That would be you."
"That could be the answer to our situation."
"But don't these blokes have mighty wizards at their disposal?" Ismeth pondered.
"Yes, and what of it?"
"Couldn't they just extract your memories and depict the woman's likeness without involving us? It seems like there may be more to this than meets the eye, Brad. It irks me that we were thrown into the mix like this."
Brad couldn't refute his comrade's deduction and kept silent. He didn't have a definitive response. "I have faith in Lady Illaine," he murmured sotto voce.
Celestia Magic Shop was situated near the Cahan River's northern bank, close to Nine Square - the grandest of all city squares. The region was renowned for its well-ordered and secure streets, where gray granite buildings, embellished with bay windows, decorative motifs, and gracefully arched roofs towered to three stories. Amid this architectural opulence, one structure stood apart with its austere facade, fashioned of scarlet bricks, and sporting a flat roof. The writing on its window bore a clear message:
"Welcome to Celestia Magic Shop if you are into arcane arts. Read the writing inscribed on the door and enter with magic. If you are not a wielder of magic and lack a compelling reason, I'd advise you to refrain from touching the door handle."
As Ismeth gazed at the door, a massive piece of ebony carved into intricate patterns, he grumbled, "I see no inscriptions or a knocker, Brad."
Only a faintly discernible embossed triangular shape was visible within the circle on the door. Brad touched the triangular symbol and the corresponding part of the door moved slightly inward. He felt a peculiar tingling sensation in his fingertips and instinctively withdrew his hand. The tips of his fingers were slightly singed, and both of their ears started to ring. Just then, the door creaked open, revealing a young red-headed dwarf with a beard, dressed in dark green robes, emerging from within.
"Who is it?" the dwarf asked, his voice rough and gravelly.
Due to his ringing ears, Brad grimaced, retrieved the parchment, and handed it over to the dwarf. The dwarf in green robes accepted the parchment, saying, "Wait," and shut the door.
Impatiently, the two men eyed each other. But their wait was brief. The dwarf flung open the door once again and declared, "You alone," pointing at Brad.
Brad intended to voice an objection, but his partner stopped him. "Go on, Brad. These mystical places don't excite me much. I glimpsed an inn named the Blue Mare down the lane. I'll hang out there for a spell," Ismeth said, bidding farewell and merrily whistling as he sauntered off.
Reluctantly, Brad acquiesced to the situation and trailed after the dwarf. The entrance corridor was shrouded in shadows, and the dwarf vanished suddenly from sight. Though a faint glimmer of light was visible a few meters ahead, the nerve-jangling ringing in Brad's ear persisted and grew more intense. He glanced down at his numb fingers, sensing as if the very ground beneath his feet had begun to stir and shift. A dark red carpet lay beneath him, and the floor suddenly softened, as if covered with a sticky, viscous slime. The scarlet walls, too, appeared to loom closer, and for a fleeting moment, Brad feared that he might be trapped in this place forever. His heart raced, and his chest tightened.