As I returned to the place where I had met Tandu, I was met with a shocking sight. Tandu, the once proud and boastful traveler, was now on his knees, pleading for mercy before a mysterious figure. The veiled man with long white hair and a dark hood emanated an aura of otherworldly power. Despite the searing sun, his heavy robe seemed to have no impact on him, adding to the air of mystique surrounding him.
My heart raced as I approached the scene cautiously, trying to assess the situation. I could barely make out his eyes beneath the shadows of his hood, but his voice, deep and raspy, sent shivers down my spine.
"Ah… I expect you're the one in search of a Spiritmancer," he said, his words almost like a low growl.
Tandu's trembling finger pointed at me, his face etched with terror. "It's her! It's her!" he shouted, his fear palpable.
I could see the mysterious man furrow his eyebrows, and Tandu writhed with agony, his anguished cries echoing in the air like a haunting melody. "Ow! OW! That hurts!" he wailed, while I stood there, an unsettling mix of concern and curiosity flooding my senses.
Observing the situation, it became clear to me that the stranger was using arcana to torture Tandu.
But I couldn't stand by and watch him suffer. "Stop!" I shouted, the intensity of my voice rising as I unleashed a powerful burst of Spirit Energy. The surge of magic disrupted the wizard's hold on Tandu, and he quickly leaped away, finally free from the torment.
Expecting a counter spell from the stranger, I held my ground and waited. But to my surprise, no retaliation came. Was he too weak to challenge me, or did he have other reasons to avoid conflict? My mind buzzed with curiosity and suspicion.
Breaking the silence, I posed a question to the stranger, my voice firm yet inquisitive. "Why are you looking for me?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity and caution.
"To train you," he replied simply, revealing a purpose that caught me off guard.
"What?" I couldn't hide my confusion. Why would this stranger, who had just inflicted pain on Tandu, suddenly want to train me?
He went on to explain, revealing that the chiefs and sultans of various tribes were surrounded by court wizards skilled in Spiritmancy.
"Do you know Spirit Magic?" I inquired, eager to understand his intentions.
"I served the Akhal for some time, but then…" He trailed off, the pain of betrayal evident in his eyes. "Usurpers and backstabbers don't take kindly to a wizard who can read their thoughts."
As he lowered his hood, a scar running from his brow to his chin came into view. He introduced himself as Khal'dun, the former Supreme Spiritmancer of the Akhal, who had once held immense influence and respect.
"Another spiritmancer," I sighed heavily.
Khal'dun looks away for a moment, his gaze distant as he recollected memories of a bygone era. "I haven't practiced the art of Spirit Magic in many years," he finally admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "But in the throes of warfare, its effectiveness is confined by its limits."
"What sort of limits? What do you mean by that?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued by Khal'dun's cryptic revelation about the boundaries of Spirit Magic.
"Are you a real Spiritmancer or not?" Khal'dun asked, his voice steady, betraying no hint of his intentions. "Then you must understand the true nature of our craft. What can a Spiritmancer truly accomplish? Wiping a fraction of a man's memories? Controlling a mind for mere moments? Such spiritual deceptions can't overwhelm an entire battalion or truly change someone's will. There are places for Spiritmancy, though - underground casinos and illegal markets."
He spoke with an air of wisdom, and I had to admit, he wasn't entirely wrong. There were limits to the power of Spirit Magic, and the effects it had were always temporary.
"You're just weak," I retorted, feeling the sting of his criticism.
Khal'dun's laughter resonated with bitterness, an echo of his own past struggles. "You want to become the greatest Spiritmancer in Solentia, correct? I just don't understand why someone of your talents would choose the path of a Spiritmancer."
"It is my goal. My ambition," I replied, my voice unwavering, despite the flicker of doubt that threatened to cloud my mind.
"I feel like you're lying to yourself," Khal'dun continued, his gaze penetrating, "Allow me to peer into your mind to see your true intentions."
"No one enjoys someone violating their most private thoughts," I countered, my resolve firm, "I'm a trained Spiritmancer. I'd never give you the opportunity."
His expression softened momentarily, acknowledging my defiance. "Heh, and there's no guarantee that I would succeed. After all, you were born with…" His eyes roved over me, assessing my potential, "…incredible talents. Otherwise, the Ilyas Storm Archmage would never have chosen you as his apprentice."
The mention of my former master, the renowned Ilyas Storm Archmage, filled me with anger. "So you found me. Are you working for that old codger?" I questioned, my voice laced with suspicion.
"He may be the greatest wizard of our time," Khal'dun replied, his tone tinged with a hint of respect, "There's no mage in all of Solentia that knows how to pass through his arcane barrier."
His response only deepened my uncertainty about his true motives.
"What are you trying to do?" I asked, unable to ignore the shadow of suspicion that loomed over us.
"I'm not asking anything of you," Khal'dun stated plainly, "In fact, I don't think you can help me at all. You're weak. Both in your power to control the elements and the spirits."
The directness of his words stung, but I refused to yield. "Humble, aren't you?" I challenged, "You might want to get off your high horse every now and then."
He seemed taken aback, but a moment later, a soft smile appeared on his lips. "Forgive me," he said, "I fear my words are misunderstood. In fact, I admire your rebellious philosophy." His tone softened, "The Spiritmancer you seek in Amaranth Town is no more than the old high priest from the Nasir. He murdered his wife and stirs up trouble when he feels safe. Such a pitiful creature is hardly worth your time."
His revelation caught me off guard, and I had to consider the implications of pursuing a man with such a dark past.
"Then who do you think I should challenge? You?" I retorted, my skepticism still lingering.
He chuckled at the thought, "Of course not. My Spiritmancy talents have long been deteriorated. Go to the Thur's territory, the Umbra Cliffs, and seek out the legendary Zarathustra."
The name Zarathustra resonated with a sense of awe and mystery. He was a figure of legend, a Spiritmancer whose mastery surpassed any living practitioner. "The Umbra Cliffs? One of Solentia's largest mountain ranges? You could be a bit more specific," I responded with a hint of confusion, unsure of where exactly to find this enigmatic master.
"I believe you will find what you seek in Fleur," Khal'dun offered, his eyes holding a glimmer of enigma. "Many strange things have happened within its walls as of late."
While his words intrigued me, I couldn't help but remain cautious about the connection between Fleur and the legendary Zarathustra. "Strange happenings don't prove that Zarathustra is involved," I pointed out, wary of making hasty assumptions.
"True," Khal'dun conceded. "And if it isn't the work of Zarathustra, then you'll have earned yourself more time to prepare. All divergences are worth scrutiny, are they not, Spirit Witch?" he said, acknowledging my moniker, which resonated deeply with me. "And I must admit, I too believe we have not yet seen the true potential of Spirit Magic."
With the wind rustling around us, Khal'dun vanished without a trace, leaving me standing alone, pondering the strange encounter. "At least we agree on something," I thought, smirking with a mixture of determination and uncertainty as I prepared myself for the path that lay ahead.