The group walked for a while and as the first people in the line crossed a natural arc made of the branches of two gitantics trees, they vanished. Vi was impressed by the quality of the illusion, they weren't able to sense it at all. When they crossed the illusion, their eyes widened. They were not expecting... that! It was not asmall campment in the forrest, it was a well built city with houses, shops, what looked like a hospital and even a school, maybe? The sorcerer at to admit that this tribe was doing absolutly stunning illusions to be able to hide all of this!
The masked people all went seperate ways as they were taking their masks off, only the peacock and the bear mask stayed with them. They were all wearing the same types of clothing, but in different colors. Some had long sleeve coat, matching pants, a belt and long boots. The person with the bear mask was wearing this outfit with brown and black colors. The leader had the other outfit in orange and white and was a short sleeve shirt, pants, bracers on each arms and short boots.
The wearer of the peacock mask was an old lady with long white hair tied in a ponytail and had some wrinkles on her face. She showed them the way to her house that was in the middle of the city. When they arrived she told the man previously wearing the bear mask that he could go back to his home now. He widened his brown eyes and tried to argue, but was cutted short by the lady ''I will be fine. They are not ennemies.''
''But...''
''It is okay, Grizzlystrider, I may be old, but I'm still able to judge people and they are no threat to us.''
''Yes, Dewglory, my apologies.'' He then left them alone, giving glance back from time to time, especially to Lou and Vi.
''Sorry about that, come in ladies.'' Vi stiffened a bit at the word but went in anyways.
It was a small house, with lots of bookcases covered in books of all sorts, a table that could sit six people, a little kitchen and a hallway that probably let to bedrooms. The old lady gesture to the table so everyone could sit. She offered them some water and they all accepted.
''Le tme introduce myself. I'm Dewglory, current leader of the Circle of Serenity tribe. And you are?''
''Lee Currie, Scholar.''
''Lou Blackbow, amazing warrior!''
''Maya Gallonor, princess of Kyrasis.''
''Vi...Vivianne Bellon, sorcerer.''
''It is not everyday that people cross our magical illusions. The majority of people only pass by it without actually crossing it withou tknowing of our existence, But you went right through it. We were intrigued.''
''That most be me''Vi said shyly ''I can make illusions too. I felt something was off but I wanted to take the fastest way to our... destination, so I didn't want to make a detour...''
''You most be a great sorcerer to see through our illusions then.''
''I was'' they answered while looking at their hands ''but I can't anymore...''
The leader then explained what the Annulator was. It is a mix of herbs that can block the power of a sorcerer for a couple of hours. It will come back soon enough. That is also why they wear mask, it protect their sorcerers from the smoke and it also helps them to camouflage themselves in the forrest. And since they make their own mask, they create it with their own inspiration and material. That's why most of the mask have animals on it and some are more plain since notev eryone has artistic talent.
''Or maybe' 'Lou whispered ''it's because the author didn't have enough imagination to think of something more epic.''
''I'm sorry''Dewglory said ''I'm not sure I understood what you said.''
''Nothing...''
''Well, I'm a little suprised to hear that it is you, Vivianne that saw through the illusion. Bellon doesn't ring a bell to me, but Gallonor... That does sounds familiar.''
''That's weird since it's my mother's name. She somehow insisted that I must have her name and not my father's like it is supposed to be. Most people knows my father's name, Bronson.''
''Could it really be?...'' Dewglory went to one of the bookcases and search through all the books to find one in particular. It was a really old one, almost falling apart on it's own. ''Have you ever heard of the enchantress Morgan?''
''It'sv ague, but I never really listened in class so...'' Vi said, getting offended looks from Lee and Dewglory.
''Or maybe''Lou said under her breath ''the author is figuring that part out as we speak so that's why you never heard of it before.''
''Did you say something, Lou?'' Maya asked.
''Nah, keep going with your Morgan thing.''
The old erudite looked over at her book at explained that Morgan was a really powerful enchantress a long time ago. When she noticed that she was the most powerful of the whole Island, she wanted to take control of everyone and everything by any means necessary. The enchantress enrolled other sorcerers and mercenaries and went on a war agains't whoever would try to stop her. After a few years of domination, some of the smartest scholars, aristocrates and sorcerers worked together to find a way to stop her for good. After few failed attempts of ending her life, they created a spell that could take he rpowers away from her and give them to two other enchantors. They settled on two humbles wizards, Gallonor and Montarak, to have the responsability to take over those powers and keep them aways from each other so Morgan could not get them back. It is said that Morgan created a spell to get her powers back, but she couldn't find the two sorcerers, they did hide themselves really well. This part of history is now forgotten by almost everyone, but those powers, like all the others, can be passed down to the next generation. And it looks like that Maya has a part of those powers and most likely this strange wizard has the other part. That would be the reason why he could find Maya that easily, since they are the part of the same whole, they are able to sense each other powers more accuratly.
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''It was only for a second''Dewglory added ''bu twhen the necklace wasn't shielding your power, I did sense a great power inside of you.''
''I'm...that's a lot to deal with at once' 'Maya whispered, looking at her hands ''what should we do?''
''We should find a way to deal with this wizard that most likely has the other half of the powers.'' Lee explained, walking around the table. ''We can't let him get all of them or we will experience the same war as in the past...''
''We could maybe' 'Vi said ''find a way to get his power and give them to Maya instead? ''
''I don't think it is a good idea.'' Dewglory responded. ''What if she gets overwhelmed by that amount of energy and goes on a ravaging killing spree too?''
''There is NO WAY she can do that!''Lou argued. ''She is too nice and caring!''
''What if it changes me? ''
''It won't M, and beside the only other option would be killing this weird dude...''
''We are not killing anybody Lou!''Maya screamed.
''But..''
''End of discussion''Lee said ''we are not murderers!''
''Thenwe are back to the first option which is giving Maya's all the powers''Vi sighed. ''How many would that be?''
''Morgan had a total of six powers''the lady read out loud ''charmspeak, healing, lightning, light sphere, telekinesis and teleportation.''
''She was really THAT powerful!?''Vi exclaimed ''I mean I thought I was great with four, but six? Wow!''
''Wait! How does that whole amount of magic works exactly? In Egium, nobody talks about that kind of stuff, I'm confused.'' Maya questionned.
The leader of the Circle and Vi explained that the majority of the time, people could weild only one magical power. You were lucky to be able to have two magical powers. It was really rare to have three or more. So Morgan having six was almost impossible to happen, but it did and she decided to use it agaisn't the goodwill of the population. While they were explaining, Lou wouldn't stop thinkin gand counting on her fingers.
''Hum, Vi what is your fourth powers? Shapeshift, chains thingy, illusions and...''
''Fire breath.''
''Isn't it a part of your shapeshifting thing?''
''When I'm in my human form, I am not suppose to be able to do what the animal I can shapeshift in does.''
''OOOOHHH! Oh my god! My lover is one of the most powerful sorcerer of the world! How amazing that is?''
The old lady looked confused and a little offended at Lou's statement. Lou could recognise this look so well...
''What!? Do you have a problem with us being together?''
Lee put her hands up and tried to calm everyone down. ''Maybe you could show me your archives so I could come up with a plan, Dewglory?''
''...Of course'' the leader said, still keeping eyes contact with Lou ''maybe you should leave your belongings here. I think it would be irresponsible of me to not let you stay for the night...''
''And don't worry, we will try to keep quiet whi...''
''LOU STOP!''Lee shouted.
''STOP FIGHTING NOW!'' Maya shouted with a confincing tone, making Lou storm off of the kitchen and going into the first bedroom she found. The others all sat back down at the table and let out a big sigh.
''Sorry about that'' Vi excused ''She can be a little... overpassionate sometimes.''
''Well, I shouldn't have gave her that look either. Things are changing and it's hard for my old self to adapt to it.''
''You are not that old!''Maya said.
''Well I'm a little past a hundred year so, yes, I am that old sweetheart.''
Maya's, Lee's, and Vi's jaw dropped and they all looked at the old lady in front of them. Being a part of an ancient Tribe with forgotten spells and magics has it's advantage after all.
Lou slammed the door shout behind her and punched a pillow several time, tears pricking out of her eyes. Why was it so hard for others to understand that love is love? She finally felt great and whole with someone again, why did they all have to judge!? She heard a small knock on the door, she quickly dried her tears and shouted ''WHAT!?''
''Hey, it's me, can i come in?''
''Yes Vi, you can.''
They opened the door and closed it behind them. They stood by the door, not really knowing what to do, so they simply asked ''Are you okay?''
''Of course I am! I mean, why would that bother me anyway!?'' When Lou saw that her lover was not convinced by her false pretence, she dropped the act. Her shoulders dropped and she let out a shaky breath. She stood up and held Vi tight, hiding her head in their neck. Vi held her back and rubbed their hand agains't Lou's back.
''I will be okay as long as you are here, Vi... It's just so hard sometimes to see the hate in other people's eyes.''
''I'm here and I won't leave you either, Lou... Now do you want to join us to the librairy?''
''Urrgh books are not my things...''
''The training ground is right beside it. I will train Maya with her powers and that dude with the blue chains will help since he is the main magic weilder of the Tribe or something like that. I heard that they have some exotic weapons too.''
''Then what are we waiting for!?''
Vi laughed, giving a quick kiss to their lover. They didn't like seeing her that way... All down and sad, they will make sure to never let that happen ever again.
---
Felix was walking in circle at the top of his tower, reading over and over again his old parchment. He wanted to make sure to really memorize it before the girls try to save their little prince.
Will was watching him while lying on the bed of the cell and he blurted out ''Can you stop walking in circle like that!? You are making me dizzy!''
The sorcerer gave him an angry look and sat back at his table and kept reading.
''Wha tare you reading that make you all stressed up?''
Felix didn't respond anything and kept reading. After a little while, Will said ''Maybe I can help?''
''Ha! You? help me with a magical spell? I doubt it.''
''Is that what you will use to get Maya's powers?''
''Oooh, you're smarter than you look princey.''
''What is that suppose to mean?''
''Yes, it is the spell I will use. My Master found it and gave it to me when he found out who I was...'' ''And when I will be done with her, He will give me what I really want...and I won't have to deal with those two ever again!''The last part was said in a whisper, as if he was speaking to himself, but Will still overheard what he was saying. He sat back on the bed and looked at Felix. When the sorcerer noticed, Will looked away but Felix still walked out of the room, leaving the prince alone, again. Will was happy to know that atleast they were not an army: Felix, his ''Master'' and two others...