The waning days of autumn cast a somber veil upon the land. Streets grew hushed as the gentle patter of rain graced the cobblestones. But it was the unforeseen chill that seized everyone's attention, as the heavens unleashed their wrath. Raindrops transformed into merciless hailstones, and the tempest swelled into an unyielding blizzard. David Cantorean, akin to his fellow Barnachians, fixed his gaze upon the outside world, peering through the window with trepidation. To the townsfolk, it seemed as though the city incurred the wrath of Avendil, the Ruler of Skydome, unleashing her fury upon them. Little did they fathom that these torrents were the tears of a mother, her heart now shrouded in ice.
Lost in contemplation of the scene before him, the aged wizard treaded with deliberate steps into his study, a sanctuary of ancient wisdom. He approached the grand desk, where an open parchment awaited his touch, and poised his enchanted quill to write:
"Has the prophecy come to fruition?"
As his words graced the parchment, a mystical glow illuminated the page, revealing the cryptic response:
"Averia is falling."
"In that case, the hour draws near," he whispered to the stillness of the room, his voice tinged with a mix of anticipation and caution.
The elderly wizard delicately curled the enchanted parchment into a slender scroll using the tip of his long, slender fingers, then stowed it away in a hidden drawer. He took a leisurely stroll, allowing his mind to wander freely before retiring to his restful sanctuary. Settling into the embrace of a rocking armchair, he stretched his weary limbs and awaited the arrival of his young apprentice, Caleb. The lad, bearing the lineage of the halflings, seemed to have been delayed more than expected, but the wizard would wager that the boy had simply become ensnared in some trivial distraction, losing track of time.
Outside, chaos seemed to ensue, or so it appeared to some. The wizard, however, remained unperturbed as he continued to wait, free from undue concern and finding solace in passing the time. Sooner or later, he knew someone would come, seeking his counsel and wearing thin his patience. Until that moment arrived, he resolved to make the most of his limited hours, embracing tranquility and peace. As he closed his eyes, the sound of the door opening on the floor above reached his ears. Uttering the enchanted words, he turned his gaze toward the magical mirror, where secrets were revealed.
David extended a courteous greeting to the venerable dame descending the winding staircase with deliberate strides and motioned for her to join him in the adjacent seat.
"Indeed, Lady Illaine, your presence in this place is an unexpected surprise," he remarked.
The high priestess responded with a serene smile. "I beg your pardon, Master David. The recent events have weighed heavily upon me. I never intended to burden you with these concerns..."
David rose from his perch and kindled a pipe, the smoke curling around him like wisps of enchantment. "Ah, your noble pride, dear high priestess."
"Please, address me as Illaine, as we did in days of yore."
"Very well, Lady Illaine. Pray tell, what visions have graced your slumber this time?"
"The knight by the name of Brad Silverhilt, he instills a sense of dread within me."
David's laughter erupted momentarily. "Truly, I did not anticipate witnessing fear surface from within you, a woman of wisdom and might."
"Please, spare me your jests, Master David. My brother Illuen provides me with ample mockery. I beseech you, share your impressions of this knight. You have crossed paths with him." The elderly lady's voice trembled with timidity.
"Yes, I have. Just as expected, he exudes fearlessness. Yet, that alone does not render him exceptional."
"He possesses a will as unyielding as steel. He distinguishes himself from the rest."
"Why, Lady Illaine, do you attach such significance to this young knight?"
"A profound intuition resides within me. I believe he may be one of the heralds."
Upon hearing those words, David settled back into his seat, savoring a deep draw from his pipe. "I assume, my lady, that you do not seek my validation of your foresight?" he inquired, a glint of detachment in his eyes.
"No, Master David. I have sought solace in your counsel, wishing to confide my concerns for the knight's well-being. I yearn to shield him," she replied with determination.
"Are you acquainted with the fable of the Hunter and the Beast, my lady?" David posed, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Is that a query aimed at me?" she retorted, her inquiry laced with sarcasm, a soft chuckle escaping her. "The entire tapestry of the Orion doctrine is woven around that very tale. The Beast, once one of our own, or so they say."
David interjected with a timely interruption. "Thus, the destiny of your valiant knight shall be entwined with the threads of time," the wizard declared.
"And in your discernment, time eludes governance," the high priestess asserted.
"Indeed, my lady. At least not within the confines of this realm. The otherworldly domain lies beyond my expertise. As the esteemed sage Terentius once mused, no manifestation from this realm remains unfamiliar to me. However, the Ethereal Realm, that realm belongs to the gods. It is not my playground," David concluded, his voice carrying a reverential tone.
"What will befall us if the two worlds collide? The elders speak of heralds bringing forth this cataclysm," Lady Illaine argued fervently.
"As long as the Archaics remain guardians of the sealed gates, there is no cause for trepidation," David responded calmly. "And if need be, the gates can be sundered," he added.
"But without the ethereal realm, the wellspring of magic would wither away, Master," the high priestess expressed her unease, her voice tinged with apprehension.
"Time shall be the arbiter of that truth, Lady Illaine."
"Truly, I struggle to fathom your perspective, Master David. You possess such mastery in the very art that you seemingly wish to see fade."
"I yearn for its restraint, for the wielders of this ancient craft can unleash devastation as readily as they bring forth creation. Such has always been the way," the venerable wizard sighed wearily, reclining further in his seat. "Once more, we find ourselves enmeshed in these futile debates, my lady. If your purpose here does not encompass a plea on behalf of your deity, my responses to your inquiries may prove limited."
"I beseech the Great Orion each day, yearning to convey a message and receive enlightenment, yet Illuen basks in far more divine replies than I ever have."
"Could it be that your brother coerced a greater number of answers through his relentless questioning?"
"That is the dread that permeates my thoughts. I dare not displease the Mighty Orion."
"Never underestimate the Power Within the Luminosity. Long ago, he assumed the role of the Hunter, forging merciless strategies to ensnare the Beast."
"But he has undergone a transformation," objected the High Priestess.
"That is the narrative you have been presented," replied the aged sorcerer. "Yet what if he remains unaltered? The gods' cunning diverges from the teachings of moralities. In the pursuit of triumph, a multitude of methods are permissible."
"Then what distinguishes Orion from Therion?" Lady Illaine inquired.
David elevated his gracefully arched white eyebrows. "That is the tale, is it not? The Beast once dwelt within the Hunter's lineage. Hence, Orion and Therion are whispered as twins, two halves of an apple."
"You seek to convert me into an infidel akin to yourself," jested the High Priestess.
"Expanding your vista would do no harm." David rose from his seat. "Although our discourse has been captivating, an urgent matter requires my attention, my lady. If you permit," he continued, gesturing towards the door.
"Master David, I implore you to exercise utmost vigilance in safeguarding the knight," beseeched the High Priestess one final time, bidding farewell to the venerable man as she departed the chamber.
After bidding farewell to his guest, David exhaled a deep sigh and sank back into his well-worn rocking chair. He drew a few contemplative puffs from his pipe, fixing his gaze upon the mist-swathed mirror, a wistful smile gracing his lips as he whispered to himself.
"An astute stratagem, Caleb," he remarked, his eyes falling upon his adopted apprentice materializing before him as he uttered the incantations.
"For a fleeting moment, I swear I teetered on the precipice of vanishing into the ether. Were it not for your witness, my mentor, I shudder to think of the outcome," Caleb confessed, relief washing over him in a heartfelt sigh.
"Mayhap you shall glean the wisdom to eschew Averan powder without due cause, Caleb."
"This time, the matter was of genuine import, my master."
"Allow me to venture a guess. You sought an audience with Ilberius, veiling your intentions under the guise of attending to the knight."
"I was not alone. Brad accompanied me on this expedition," Caleb interjected.
David's brows furrowed with a stern countenance. "And?"
"Events spiraled into disarray. I find myself severed from my corporeal vessel, and the knight is nowhere to be found," Caleb confessed, his lips contorting in a sheepish grimace.
"Marvelous. Truly, a marvel," David muttered, rising to his feet and extending his hands wide in a gesture of resignation. "I presume you overheard the words Lady Illaine uttered earlier, my apprentice?"
Caleb nodded, confirming his awareness.
"In that case, you have brought forth a monumental predicament, Caleb. You and your unyielding fixation upon Ilberius. I have admonished you ceaselessly to maintain a distance," the venerable wizard grumbled, the weight of his admonishment resonating in his words.
Caleb lowered his head, resembling a cat that had spilled its milk. "Might a divination spell be of use?" he ventured with hope in his voice.
"It merely unveils the whereabouts of your corporeal forms," David replied. "Are they not within the Scholars' Lounge?"
"I surely hope so," Caleb responded.
"Very well, you shall accompany me," David commanded.
"That's the quandary, my mentor. I am unable to depart this chamber. I have made the attempt," Caleb hastily explained, recounting the intricacies of his astral journey. "Upon Brad's disappearance, I merely sought refuge. Luckily, here I find myself."
David ponderously stroked his chin. "Remain here, then. I shall venture forth to investigate," he ordered. "We shall unearth a resolution," he assured his apprentice.