I

On the same day, Kimbra left her domain. She teleported to a town somewhere further south and warm from her mountain chateau. The high sorceress emerges from the portal and arrives on a dirt road. The air was much lighter than her domain. Bright sunny sky blinded her eyes once she arrived. Her body blooms from the warmth of the sun, a bliss.

The feeling was heavenly, yet the view was poor. On the horizon lies a city surrounded by walls of stones. Dirty clouds gathered above after leaving the city, with cramped buildings beyond the walls. Anything which surrounds the outside walls of the city from a hundred metre radius could be described as unhealthy. There are small houses in which peasants live, creating an even more unholy sight.

The sorceress took a step to the city and pressed her foot on the ground. Muds smeared her shoes and her trousers. Kimbra grunted and pulled her feet away from the muddy road and went to the grass. She wiped the mud away and began travelling on foot to the city.

After minutes of unsanitary walk, Kimbra arrives at the city gates. She entered the city anonymously, covered with a cloak. She stroll on the dirt road, searching for the address Vong gave her. Kimbra asked a couple of bystanders. Some asked for something in return for help. By the time it was dark, the city inhabitants went indoors. The sorceress saw a pair of soldiers walking down the road with a lantern. A drunkard burst out of the tavern and fell in front of the walking soldiers. The drunk stood up and stopped the soldiers. He rambled and blocked their path. Now the masses knew something was about to happen.

"Out of my way!" the soldier grabbed the drunk before kicking him aside.

He fell down to the ground, half-conscious. Kimbra only stared at the drunk, watching the body twitch.

"Great entrance," the high sorceress talked to herself. "What more lies in this city?" Kimbra opened the address from Vong. "Where can I find this bookstore?"

Then she heard the rambling from inside the tavern. People speak, laugh, and cheer behind the wooden door. It drew her to come inside the building, and it did. Kimbra opened the door to the nearly empty tavern. It only has five living beings inside. Three humans and two Darezis. They were singing when Kimbra entered. When they saw Kimbra, they raised their eyebrows and sang even louder than before. The two-horned Darezi banged the table like a drum. Kimbra pulled a seat somewhere far from the chanting and singing group.

When they were singing, a man approached Kimbra while still keeping the song going. He brought a glass of wine to her table still singing.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked.

"What is going on? Where are other people?" she asked back.

"There are none. This is our patron for the day!"

"This is not how I expect a tavern to be. You only have five people here."

"Some say the taverns here are under watch from the Duke's eyes. You can see there are many soldiers patrolling the street. I don't know what's happening. But they are certainly trying to-"

The door opened, and a group of soldiers entered the building. They stared at the cloaked high sorceress and pointed at her. While the other soldiers apprehend the others, the officer of the group approaches Kimbra.

"Off with the cloak," the officer commands.

"You watch your tongue," it angers her.

"Under the order of the Duke. Put down your cloak," he orders once again.

Another soldier entered the scene with a lantern in his hand. There was no fire inside it, but the looks of the lantern alarmed the high sorceress. The soldier carrying the lantern carried it close to himself and walked around the room. For a quick second, the lantern burns. A small fire lit up with no help.

The soldiers in the room stared at it for a quick second. Then disaster struck. They angered the two Darezis. They stood towering before those soldiers. Seven and a half feet tall with horns, they grabbed a soldier and turned the whole tavern into a brawling arena. The soldiers' swords can only scratch the thick Darezis' skin. More soldiers poured inside.

This time, Kimbra slipped away and returned to her search. When she left the building, there were twenty more soldiers waiting outside. They surrounded her with their spears pointed at Kimbra.

She took off her cloak, but none of them seems to recognise the King's court sorceress. Except for one.

"At ease!" he commanded.

A figure walked through the line of soldiers and presented himself before Kimbra. He knew Kimbra, and Kimbra knew him.

"Vong?" she was baffled.

"What a surprise. How did the servant of the king come into such trouble?"

"Why are you here?"

"Serving the king."

"You might need to reform your way of serving. I could've died because of it," she gave him a death stare.

"You? Die? The things I do are necessary to achieve the king's goal. But apologies for the aggression."

Vong ordered the men to attend to the tavern's troublemaker while he and Kimbra spoke outside.

"I received your message," she showed him the address.

"Have you visited?"

"Apparently I can't find it."

"Then it really blends in."

"What blend?"

"The magic. Come. Let me show you."

Kimbra and Vong finally arrived at an old stone building in the middle of the cramped city. Vong opened the door, and Kimbra felt a sense of great magic blowing like a strong wind towards her. The building contained the overflowing magic, now released to the world.

"Such magic..." Kimbra closed her eyes and embraced the breeze of magic.

"Found this building months ago. I thought you wanted to see this."

Both of them entered and witnessed a hall of books. It's a grand library, camouflaged in the rows of buildings beside it. No dust, surprisingly. The lamps illuminated the room. Tall rows of old wooden bookcases divided the single enormous room into sections and categories. Kimbra checked the books on the first level, not even the second level she can reach by stairs. She grabbed a single book from a bookcase. She opened the pages and read the written words.

"These books. They hold ancient knowledge," she flips the pages.

"I've no doubt about that. I don't understand a single word in these books," Vong spoke from the rows. "Do you understand the language?"

"Ours, but much older. I can even say these words are ancient. Approximately a couple thousand years ago," she closed the book she read.

"Incredible. Imagine the knowledge once we translate each of them," Vong appeared from the end of the bookcase's row.

"Is this why you invited me?" Kimbra cocked her head.

"More or less. I was sure you knew the language."

"I understood them, but not fluently."

"That is good enough," Vong sucked his lips. "But that's not all. There's something hidden in this room."

"And you need my help?"

"Very. And it could be yours once this is over."

"Once what over?"

"Let me explain as we walk," Vong and Kimbra walked into another section of the room.

Their footsteps echo inside the slightly dim empty hall. Vong's shoes stomped like steel, while Kimbra emits a sloppy wet earth sound.

"So what is it all about, Vong?"

"Where should I start?"

"Make it quick."

"That'll do. Remember the excommunicated sorceress we threw out years ago?"

It caught Kimbra's attention.

"She was here. In Horum. It is not for you to worry. It's for the Ekaznik."

"How can't anyone detect her?"

"She is clever when using magic. I bet that's why not a single sorcerer here can detect her. Not even our sorcerers."

"This is bad. What is she trying to do now?"

"I don't know. Worst-case scenario, a terror attack. The last report shows that she rested in the tavern and inns of Horum. She can't be that far. I can smell it. We can't repeat the last incident."

"Then what do you want from me?"

"Didn't you ask for my help? If you are asking for ancient language, then what better to ask than the source."

They arrived before a door. Vong jogged it and it creaked. A small room with a well-crafted standing mirror in the middle of the room. By the time the door was fully open, the lamps immediately turned on. Presenting the mirror. Both of them entered and looked around. Kimbra walked around the mirror and observed it. She then stopped in front of it.

"A mirror."

"Correct," Vong looked at the glass.

"It is broken," Kimbra saw a small crack on the glass.

She then stared at the mirror. Not long after, she realised it didn't have any reflection. Just pure blackness. Then her skin tingles.

"Magic!?" she took a step back.

"Look closely," Vong points at the mirror.

Kimbra carefully stared at the mirror. Seconds passed, and she saw something. A humanoid, sitting in the mirror's blackness. When Vong reads Kimbra's face, he then moves closer to the mirror.

"Hey!" he shouted.

When he shouts, the figure turns its head to the side, knowing Vong shouted. It stood up and jogged towards the mirror surface. Slowly, his figure can be described as ragged and lithe.

A young male presented himself in front of the mirror. It scared the sorceress, but Kimbra stood her ground. He smiled from the other side of the mirror and stared at both Kimbra and Vong.

"What is this..." she asked herself.

Vong stared at the sorceress.

"Why don't we ask him?"

Kimbra hesitated and moved closer. She stared at the young man. He looks elated as if his dream finally came true.

"Who are you?" words finally spill from her mouth.

The man pulled his head back, unsure if he heard her right. His eyebrows raised, curious and confused.

Moments passed, and Kimbra stared at Vong and lifted her shoulders. Vong raised his as well.

"What should I ask him? Is he mute?" Kimbra pointed at him.

"(Hello? Can you hear me!?)" the person talked.

"It speaks!" Vong got closer.

"He did! Yet not in our tongue," Kimbra pieced the puzzle.

"This is not the first time I met him. The first time was almost familiar like yours, but I can't understand him well. Whoever he is, the kid understands language."

"No doubt about it. He speaks in an archaic old northern," Kimbra took an interest in him. "(Who-are-you?)" she asked the person in the mirror.

"(My name is Braun! Oh goodness. It's been such a long time since..." he laughed with tears in his eyes. "(I don't know how long I've been here. Months? Years? I can't escape this prison.)"

"What did he say?" Vong asked the sorceress.

"Kid got imprisoned inside the mirror. Lost track of time. His name is Braun."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Braun. Is he a convict?" Vong questioned the mirror person's status.

"(Are you a prisoner? Why are you here?)" Kimbra asked.

"(My mentor threw me to this eternal damnation. I was good and honest, yet he threw me here.)"

"(For how long?)" Kimbra touches the mirror and it fizzles.

"(Too long,)" his voice gave up.

"(Do you remember the date? Any specific situation or events?)"

"(I remember when I was born, the continent was at war with the elves,)" he recalls the past.

"The kid's mentor trapped him. He was born when the continent fought the elves," Kimbra explained to Vong.

"The elves? It's been a millennium since we've seen them en masse. The elves have died. Are you sure about that?" Vong became a sceptic.

"(What else do you remember?)" the high sorceress asked again.

"(There were no big events... I think. The world was at peace. A unified continent.)"

Kimbra stepped back from the mirror and to Vong.

"A unified continent. He spoke of a unified continent."

"There were no historical records of a unified continent. We were separated, and still to this day," Vong looked to his side towards the person in the mirror. "To have a unified continent is next to impossible," Vong glanced at Kimbra. "What do you think? Is he telling the truth?"

"You are the head of Ekaznik. You should understand him. I personally don't smell a lie. What he said sounds truthful. Except for the unified world. That scares me the most. I can't see the bullcrap. If he is telling the truth..." she took a deep breath.

Kimbra stared back at the imprisoned person.

"(Please help me,") Braun begged. "(You are going to free me... Right?)"

"(Answer my questions and I may free you. Now,") she pauses. "(Who are you exactly?)"

"(Exactly who I am?)" his face panicked. "(My name is Braun. I was born in the city of Talmyra. I'm a student at the College of Sorcerers and worked at the college's archive.)"

"That's something," Kimbra processed the information.

"What did he say?" Vong crossed his arms while staring at Braun.

"He was born in Talmyra."

"Oh, we understood that really well. So Talmyra existed for thousands of years."

"There's more. He is a student at the College of Sorcerers."

"There's a college for sorcerers?"

"No," Kimbra shook her head. "This is the first time I heard of such a thing."

"An institution for people to learn magic. That's such an advanced way of teaching magic. They can create not a single offspring of a magic wielder, but thousands in a generation," Vong stared at the ceiling. "Can we do such a thing?"

"I don't know."

"You should know. A high sorceress should've known."

"I can teach. But I doubt I have the time or staff. A unified college under the Hattanese kingdom still needs a lot of sorcerers. Even if we gathered all the Duke's and Duchess's sorcerers, we still need a lot of teachers for a college."

Vong walked back and forth in the room with his hand behind his back. He was in thought. Kimbra then focused back on Braun.

"(This college. Describe it to me. How does it work? How many sorcerers?)" the sorceress became curious.

"(It was a college?)" he shrugs. "(Great college. Enormous hall. Thousands of enlightened students. Hundreds of sorcerers.)"

"(Where is this college?")

"(Uzai.)"

"(Uzai? Where is that?)" the name didn't ring a bell.

"(The south. North west from the city of Augram.)"

Kimbra's eyes widened.

"Impossible!" it shocked her.

"What is it?" Vong finally stopped his step.

"The college is in the south. Near Augram," she explained.

"Where is Augram?"

"Augram is the old name of Husrak."

"That's too deep inside southern territories."

"Yet imagine the knowledge we can learn from them. My nightmares. It can end," Kimbra closed her eyes and smiled.

"Before we go on. What should we do about him?" Vong saw Braun sitting down just beyond the mirror. "Kid has been imprisoned much longer than we could think of."

"True. Can you free him?"

"How? I don't even understand this magic."

"What about the kid?"

The sorceress turned his attention to Braun.

"(Quick. How can you get out of here?)" Kimbra asked.

"(I can't. The mirror is missing a glass shard,)" he looks up and sees a missing piece. "(The glass shard is right behind you. On top of the wooden table.)"

Kimbra turned around and grabbed a small piece of dusty broken glass on the table.

"(Now. Piece it together,)" Braun instructed.

When Kimbra put the glass shard inside the mirror, the mirror glowed and she felt another relentless sensation of magic. Braun stepped out of his mirror cage and finally freed himself from the torture.

"(I'm free?)" he grabbed his surroundings. "(I can feel it. The wooden table. The wall," then he grabs Vong. "A person. I'm... I'm truly free!)" he hugged the old man.

Vong's hands were rather hesitant to either embrace him or push him away. He decided not to. Braun then contained his glee and tried to look more presentable in front of them.

"(Thank you. I'm sorry if I was being too touchy with you. But this is such a wonderful feeling I've experienced for a long time since...)" Braun covered his smile. "(I'm indebted to you, my lady and master.)"

Kimbra gave him a charming smile. She then turned to Vong.

"What are we going to do with him now? I have the things I need. Thanks to you, Vong," Kimbra spoke to Vong in their language.

"He can't understand our language, but he is a remnant of the ancient knowledge regarding the sorcerers. With his current knowledge, he can't survive. Not on his own. Language barriers, the loss of time. The kid must catch up with the world."

"He is an excellent resource for the Ekaznik. I bet one of your assistant sorcerers can help him understand the language."

"That is true..." Vong rubbed his grey beard. "But it's even more profitable for you."

Kimbra's eyes locked on Vong's.

"The kid must not be with me," her voice deepened.

"He is a student of magic. You are the master... A perfect combination. You can be his new mentor. Since the last one locked him inside..." Vong walked around the mirror.

"I can't do this. The last time-"

"The last time will be the last. I expect you to understand right after! But‌ you don't," he stopped right behind the mirror, dividing him and the sorceress.

Kimbra can hear Vong's breathing heavily. His blood was boiling.

"I know you much longer than anyone up to this moment. Father did his best, and I'm also doing my best. For you and the king. When you don't have anything, Father gives you your position as the high sorceress. When you doomed thousands of people, I hid all the wrongs under the rug..." Vong sighed. "I expect you to do the same. You did many great things for the realm. I want you to be more ambitious than before. Ambitious for us."

"What do you mean? You want me to take over the kingdom?"

"No. I want you to be much more and not be restrained by the past. Become as powerful as you can, then learn how to wield those magic. When the time comes for you to use it, you'll be ready."

Vong walked over to her and hugged her. Kimbra felt his beard brush over her shoulder. He then taps her and smiles before leaving the room, leaving Kimbra and the young teenager.

"So... An extra burden. I'm a teacher now, huh?" she now must deal with her new student. "(Come with me. We'll start your study tomorrow.)"

"(I- I come with you?)" Braun didn't expect that.

"(Do you still want to learn? I can help you with that.)"

"(Thank you! I was worried for a moment. I don't know where else to go if both of you left me.)"

"(I know. You are better with me than alone.)"

Kimbra opens a portal then enters it, followed by Braun seconds later. Both of them appeared out of the small portal just right outside the chateau. The young student immediately drops, shivering in the snow. He's gritting his teeth in the cold. The sorceress wrapped her own cloak around him, then lit a fire right on her palm.

"Walk close to me," she grabbed Braun and helped him to stand.

They walk to the chateau's door where the guards saw them coming in. They opened the door and let them warm themselves inside. The servants that saw them hurried to their aid and warmed the freezing student.

"Give him something to warm himself. Prepare a bath for him and one of the empty bedrooms. I'm standing on mud right now," she saw mud right beneath her boots. "Such a mess," Kimbra left her boots to the servants and walked barefoot to her chambers.

By the time she walked to her room, Okto appeared from the corner of her eyes. She stopped and waited for him to approach. Still with his good manners, Okto presented himself to the high sorceress with a large coat on his arms.

"I've heard you just arrived."

Kimbra looked at herself.

"I did, did I?" she jest.

"Such a foolish question. I've brought you a coat. You should've been in bed right now with the fireplace on," she puts on the coat right around her shoulder.

"There are things to do. I'm even lucky to arrive today. I almost had a difficult time finding the building. If it weren't for Vong..."

"Master Vong was there with you?"

"He did."

"But he just left days ago, and now he appeared thousands of miles away?"

"Must've been one of his Ekaznik sorcerers," she speculated. "I don't worry about his sudden appearance. I'm much more concerned about what lies ahead."

"Which is?"

"Which is finding what's been happening to me and dealing with my new student."

"Student, mistress?"

"The servants are helping him. He was shivering by the time we arrived on the portal. A warm bath, meal, and a good sleep. I think I might have forgotten about the meal."

"I'll handle it. Just rest for the night. You need a proper rest. If you'll excuse me," Okto bowed a little, then strolled away.

Kimbra continued on her way and entered her room. She took off her dirty outfit and fell down onto her bed. She blew off some air and closed her eyes.

II

The moment she opened her eyes, Kimbra saw an open plain in front of her. A steppe with the night sky full of stars. The sound of dancing grass from the blowing wind added a relaxing sensation to her ears. Everything was peaceful, except knowing there was no sign of where she was. Left and right, front and back, nothing in sight except grass.

Kimbra decided to walk to her north for a long time that could be hours. When nothing bore fruit, she touched the earth and lay down facing the bright lights in the sky. Another empty hour she spent by watching the constellation, trying to remember the image of stars on her mind. The sorceress then felt the ground move.

She crawled away, thinking of an earthquake about to harm her. After a moment, Kimbra heard clappings. Yet no sign of life. Bit by bit, the claps turned into violent stomps that rattled the earth. On the horizon, she saw a silhouette of a person on horseback. She couldn’t believe it, so she squinted. The single person turned into dozens. She blinked again. It turned to hundreds, then thousands. Sensing danger, Kimbra ran for her life away from the menacing people. She ran as fast as she can. Until something grabbed onto her leg. Dark oily liquid clings to her leg and consumes her down like a quicksand. Starting from the foot, the blob sunk her to the waist.

She stared at the ground, trying to free herself. But it was too late. The moment she raised her head, the horsemen encircled her instantly. She heard no horse galloping towards her, but here they are. From dots in the distance, the horde now watched her from their horses, three steps away. Kimbra stopped her struggle and could only pray for help. They stared at her till her heartbeat pumped through the roof.

The horde held spears up high on their arm. They wrapped their spears with flags right on the head, waving to greet the wind. Kimbra heard the violent wind slapping the flag like a storm. They wore a strange armour. These horsemen covered their faces with cloth strapped in front of their helmets.

One horseman pointed his spears at her. He gave a speech to the horde while holding the high sorceress hostage in their language. The man laughs, and the entire horde laughs. Kimbra saw one face in the crowds when they cracked the joke. When she saw the face, the sorceress recognised the features. They nearly looked like her, slanted eyes with a moustache. Yet Kimbra doesn't recognise the language. This isn't northern or southern, not even a local language from both sides of the continents.

The horseman pulled back his spear from Kimbra's chin. He rotated it and shoved Kimbra away. She stumbles backwards, trying not to fall. By then she was aware her legs were now free from the black oily liquid. A part of the horde opened a path for her while the horseman with the dull end of the spear nudged her by the shoulder. Kimbra followed the open path. Lines of men and horses watched her wander away from the horde. The open path aimed her to walk towards a black blob of liquid floating on the air. When she approached it, the liquid floated down to her. It stops right in front of her, slowly consuming her. Kimbra tried to drag herself out of the blob, but to no avail. She took a deep breath before the darkness took over her vision. The blob consumes.

III

The night ended. She opened her eyes casually and felt terribly weak in her body. Looking to the side of her bed, the clattering of tablewares woke her from the deep slumber.

"Scrambled eggs... beef... hot tea," Okto spoke to himself.

Kimbra lazily flip side and hummed when she saw Okto.

"Did you just-" Okto heard her. "You are awake. I've brought breakfast."

"Shuddup and leave me alone," she spoke with a muffled voice beneath the pillow.

"It's way past dawn. Come now. Eat your meal before it's cold."

"Leave. The. Room!" Kimbra warned the servant.

He raised his shoulders.

"I never want to do this. But you ordered me to do it. Even when it comes to you."

Okto grabbed the tea cup and splashed warm tea all over Kimbra's head. She screamed and jumped out of the bed, horrified. The sorceress touched her wet hair.

"You threw tea at me!?" she yelled. "I'm now soaked with..." she sniffed, "green tea?"

"And I quote," Okto lifts his head with dignity. "If I don't wake up after dawn, then splash my face with water until I'm up."

"Face and head are not the same."

"I was aiming at the face. Sadly, your face obstructs it."

"Damn it all. Now I need to clean myself."

"You can have your bath after breakfast, mistress Kimbra," Okto head to the door. "You might need to check on your new student after the bath," he paused when opening the door halfway. "It appears he is searching for you."

Kimbra groaned and made a beeline to the bathroom. She spent a long amount of time submerging herself in the large empty bath. In the middle of her bath, she remembers the dream. Unlike before, she met actual living and breathing people. Foreigners. Foreign talk, foreign lands.

"What does it mean?" she muttered.

After the bath, Kimbra left the bath wearing her signature black and gold dress. The black silk almost brushed the marble floor as she walked in elegance to the guest room.

The black silk almost brushed the marble floor as she walked in elegance to the guest room [https://img.wattpad.com/d0616a122fc342fd436a99b9aa02f98695c9da8a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f3268767255614e6f5858417a30773d3d2d313330303730353836342e313733383565356666633963613831623130373032363438343136312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Servants attend to her and accompany her to Braun's room. Guards stood by the side of the door and gave her a space. They opened the door for her and found Braun sitting on the edge of the bed.

The young student straightened his body from the ground to his head when Kimbra entered.

"(Mistress!)" quickly he greeted her.

"(How's your sleep?)" Kimbra invited him outside.

"(Much better than in the darkness, mistress.)"

The two of them toured the chateau courtyard, talking and admiring the indoor garden in the middle of the yard.

"So, tell me. Why do you want to become a sorcerer?" she chatted.

"The sorceress chose me to become one. My parents then sent me to the university. Then, master Baatzurcheg mentored me. First year was about discipline. Second to fifth was about controlling your feelings. But the sixth..." he stopped.

"You never went to the sixth year?"

"No..." he frowns. "He trapped me."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to," he replied.

"Not only that. But it's been a long time since you've been trapped inside the mirror."

"I know. Such a long year-"

"It's not a year," Kimbra gave a stern look. "Remember what you told me before I released you? You've seen a great army of elves."

"Not entirely true. But I know there was a great army of elves when I was born."

"Do you even know the last time I saw a group of elves? Never."

"To be fair. They once lived in the continent's northwest. That was before we kicked them out."

"Where is it exactly?"

"The Iron mountain. Tallest point in the north."

"Do you mean the exact place where we are now?"

"This is the Iron mountain? Well, there must be elves here."

"There are no elves. They are an extinct species. The last record of an elf was nearly a thousand years ago."

"That doesn't even make sense," he was sceptical. "You are telling me, a major species in our world is gone in a thousand years."

"How long did it take to have them extinct? I do not know for sure. But their extinction? That I do know."

"That's impossible. There must be some of them left. What about their island off to the west?"

"There was once an island. But now it is nothing but a giant crater," she revealed. "If you live among them. Then it has been thousands of years since they have trapped you inside the mirror."

"This is not happening. I refuse to believe this... this catastrophe to happen," he dropped to his knees. "The elves..." Braun stared at the ground. "Mother... Father..." he turned around to Kimbra. "How. Why did this happen? Why am I not dead yet? I'm supposed to be on the ground right now. Dead."

"Perhaps it's the mirror. It stops you from ageing. I sensed the magic when I opened the trap. That's why you are still young thousand years later," she explained. "It's done. Time had passed. If you can't change the past, why not the future?"

Braun stared at her in a weak state. His eyes were in horror, shoulders dropped low. Staring at Kimbra.

"It's better for me to leave," it broke the young man's heart.

"No-no-no-no," Kimbra felt sorry. "Stay," she rested her hands on Braun's shoulder.

"Why? All the people I know of are dead. I'm the only one that is still alive. I'm nothing but a small dot of the past."

"You are Braun of Talmyra. Like the city, you must stand for more than a thousand years. The past is still there," she points to his heart. "It's a valuable thing. Not only for you, but for everyone. Respect the people from the age of yore by using their knowledge. Remember them. They will smile upon you from heaven."

Kimbra lifted his shoulder.

"Braun. The years you've passed, and the people you know. Do you still love them?"

"I do..."

"Then you know," Kimbra took a step back. "Now rise."

Braun pushed himself up from his seat. He clenched his arms and stared at Kimbra in determination.

"Ready for your new lesson in the art of sorcery?" the high sorceress waited for an answer.