They had teleported through the gateway back to the Irathy homeland, and as they journeyed further into the heart of the county, the landscape transformed from rugged wilderness to meticulously planned and managed terrain.

Soaring towers, the color of twilight, pierced the sky, and streams of iridescent magic flowed through the veins of the city like a radiant river.

The sight was breathtaking, but Vell was acutely aware of the guards and suspicious glances that surrounded them.

The Irath people, including the mages and guards, were a constant reminder that they were in foreign and not all that safe territory.

Vell watched Sonder as she gazed at the city in awe.

Her big blue eyes were wide and filled with wonder.

He could feel his heart constrict at the sight.

He had brought her into a world of unknowns and risks, and he would make it his job to protect her to ensure she didn't suffer for his ambitions.

Their arrival in the capital was surprisingly uneventful.

Perhaps it was because the Irath had been expecting them, or perhaps it was because the guards were confident in their ability to control any situation.

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Vell didn't care about the reason.

All that mattered was that Sonder found out what had happened to her family.

They crossed bridges of pure, shimmering magic and walked down lanes lit by hovering orbs of soft light.

Sonder clutched Vell's arm tighter as they approached the monolithic structure at the capital of the country, its very heart. And not too far was the palace of the Irath, where their ancestral roots lay intertwined with the unknown.

The building was a marvel, a living testament to the architectural prowess and magical aptitude of the Irath people. The columns seemed to be alive with a soft inner glow, and the large, imposing doors were guarded by two armored figures wielding staffs crackling with energy.

The guards appraised them with a knowing glance, not even uttering a single word to his countrymen, before stepping aside and allowing them passage.

Inside, the grandeur was overwhelming. The walls shimmered with iridescent hues, and the ceiling was a vast canvas of moving constellations. The air itself was charged with magic; it felt like walking inside a dream.

Vell and Sonder were led to a grand hall, where a figure draped in twilight-colored robes awaited them. The High Councilor of the Irath is a being of immense power and wisdom. He regarded them with eyes glowing like twin moons before addressing them in a voice that echoed through the hall.

"Dread Mage Vellichor, wanderer of the realms," he intoned, just the slightest hint of curiosity coloring his otherwise very dry words.

He didn't even acknowledge Sonder's presence. To them, she wasn't a real person to begin with, but property that they had just bought.

This was it. This is where Sonder's quest for answers would really begin.

The councilor's gaze always remained fixed on them, and he gestured for them to follow him.