The enchanter made his way towards to the improvised tent town in front of the city gates, but to his surprise, he had only seen a few sources of light. It’s dusk, almost time for the night to close in, why is everyone not lighting torches? Sure, some rays of sunlight still arrived, but it wasn’t enough for people to continue their life.

Nido found some campfires, though they were mostly intended for heating or cooking rather than illuminating the place. Copious quantities of people gathered around the fires, mostly talking, with some taking indulgence in an early dinner.

The inhabitants came from a myriad of places, if one examined their physical features or their clothing. Whether it was skin tone, physical complexion, languages… the enchanter was amazed by the grandiose cultural exchanged present. Most of the languages were known to him, and some had different variations. Maybe if he sticked around he would find a new one he hadn’t heard of.

Why’s a tent town out here, either way? The only reasons he knew for that to happen were either war, which would serve as one of the many explanations for the spawning of the spectral birch, or nomad communities. The latter were uncommon, rare even, but they existed. Then it hit him. Oh no, no, no no no… The enchanter made his way out of the sea of makeshift homes, yet it was to late, a man approached him with a welcoming smile.

“Salutations!” He greeted with a jovial voice. “I don’t recognize your face, are you from the city?” Nido mentally sighed as he was metaphorically trapped in the claws of the man.

“No, I fear not.” The enchanter responded with politeness. “I’m… a castaway.” He told as an excuse, unable to come with anything better at the moment. “I was spit by the waves a few hours prior, now I find myself wandering around this unknown lands.”

“Ah! A fellow wanderer I see.” The man exclaimed, Nido feared the way this conversation was going to go. “But who am I to not offer a lost man a fire. Follow me, let us converse in a better comfort.” Even though he was speaking to an stranger, the man offered unconditional hospitality.

Nido considered his options. He knew the nature of the people before him, whilst they weren’t a bad bunch, he wanted to stay as far away from them as possible. But then again, did he have other options? He could enchant some basic items and sell them for easy money, but that would take some days at least, and he valued a place to sleep a lot more than momentary discomfort. The not-so-youngster followed the man.

“Sit with me.” The man told as he patted next to him in the log he had sat on.

The man was tall, obscenely so. Nido himself was relatively short, he had rejuvenated a bit too much for his liking, making him more of a child than an adult. That didn’t negate the absolute, towering height of the man before him. He wore a brown old cape, clearly worn of by years of travel.

“What’s your name, young man?” The man asked once the impossibly old enchanter sat next to him.

“Nido Risea, good sir.” Nido took the advantage to act as a young man that processed respect for the elder before him. Pure theatrics, this way he shouldn’t raise any suspicion. “And yours?”

“The name’s Castor Benavente, lad.” He patted the enchanter in the back with a big smile on his face. “Do you fancy a cup of water?”

He hadn’t really thought about hydrating himself as he would never die of dehydration, but now that Castor mentioned, he did feel thirsty.

“I’d love to.” Nido responded with a crocked smile.

“So, how did a castaway reach these lands?” Castor poured water from a massive jar and offered him a cup.”

“Well, as much as you expected.” Nido rapidly formed a believable story on his head. “My ship sunk, and I lost everything in my possession except my clothes and the staff. The dammed sea even took my shoes!” He exclaimed in feign enervation and then took a sip out of the cup.

“Ah, the seas are a changing kind!” The man said with a comforting laugh. “Sometimes they are kind and gentle, yet others are furious and vengeful.”

“Good sir, d-”

“Castor.” The man interjected. “Please, call me Castor. Everyone here does.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Alright, Castor.” Nido told and he nodded in satisfaction. “Do you know where are we currently at? As you can guess, I find myself considerably lost.”

“You are currently at the coastal city of Marina, if that rings any bells.” Castor explained him.

The enchanter swam in his thoughts as he tried to recall a city called like that, but his knowledge on the outside world had been extremely limited the lasts centuries as he almost never got outside of his tower. And he couldn’t yet deny that a lot of time had passed in his stay in the null plane.

“I’m afraid I cannot recall any city called like that.” Nido explained. “Could I see your maps? Maybe then I may have a better idea on my location.”

“Maps? What tells you that we have maps?” Castor took him for a fool.

“Because you are Acolytes of the Traveler, of course.” Nido told. “What other could be the reason behind the gathering of so many nomads and travelers?”

“You are a knowledgeable one, I see.” While Castor’s welcoming smile was still there, now a hint of doubt could be seen in his eyes. “Not a lot of young people know of our existence. Our trope never habituates to visit the same town more than once, in a generation, you see.”

“Yet you must remember I’m not an inhabitant of these lands, acolyte.” Nido said with a big grin.

“I suppose you have found yourself another set of my people then.” The acolyte said as he poured a cup of water for himself.

“I have, but that was a long time ago.” Nido told, vaguely recalling the events.

“Let me doubt that, lad. You must not have more than two decades under your belt.” Only if you knew. Nido laughed to himself.

“Time works differently for every person.” The enchanter said.

“That I must agree with.” Castor drunk from his cup.

“Then are you going to show me the maps or not?” Nido had clearly seen the intentions of the tall man to direct the conversation elsewhere.

“Ah… young people, always wanting things, never waiting for them.” A small chuckle escaped from Nido. “Is it funny?” Castor wasn’t angry, au contraire, but amused of the young man’s behavior.

“Oh, sorry. My master usually said that.” I usually said that. Kinda funny how the tables have turned.

“A master, huh. You have a staff and that ring. Are you an enchanter, by any means?” Castor asked.

My Tenet, he shouldn’t be able to see it. It’s inv- Nido you fucking moron, the aspect of Light has been deactivated. I have been showing the ring this whole time! The enchanter suffered a light crisis.

“Y-yes.” Nido recomposed himself from his own stupidity. “That I am.” He wanted to be swallowed by the sea. “Do you know if there’s an Enchanter’s Guild nearby?”

“Oh, sure. There’s one in the inner city.” Castor told. “The guards should let you in thanks to the ring, despite your… current state.” The man tried to find for a better word, so to not offend the castaway.

“Of course, of course. How didn’t I think about that?” He thinks the Tenet of Immortality is an Enchanter’s Signet. I’m fucking saved. Oof, that was close. If an acolyte has been fooled, then a simpleton guard won’t have a shed of doubt.

“So, Nido. Wouldn’t you like to join our caravan? An enchanter would certainly be appreciated.” Once he noticed the status of the young man before him, the intent behind the talk changed to a casual one to a business one.

“I’m afraid I will have to refuse the offer for the time being, acolyte.” Dino told. “But I won’t deny the possibility of accepting it in the future.” Acolytes of the Traveler were knowledgeable of the world. Of the current world. If he joined the caravan, then a lot of questions would be resolved with relative ease.

The Traveler wasn’t a malicious patron, unlike the divines of the Light. Yet his sole status as a divine put the enchanter at rough spot. He wanted to lay low, that meant getting away from any procession of beings of higher power for the moment.

“The offer stands until we leave the city. You still have a few days to ponder, enchanter.” The impossibly tall man told with a grin. “But please, try to refer to us as Wanderers, rather than Acolytes of the Traveler. I feel that terminology has become rather antiquate.”

“Excuse me, wanderer one.” Nido replied with a cheeky smile. “My master was an antiquate person, to say the least.” So the term Acolytes of the Traveler has fallen in disuse. That sort of confirms my theory that ‘some’ time has happened. The enchanter had his sense of time distorted thanks to the absence of it during his stay at the Void.

“I can assume your master was a man of tradition.” Castor had forgone the water jar and picked a waterskin, possibly filled with wine. “You want some?”

“No, thanks. I’m hot enough.” Nido declined another offer. “Though I wouldn’t say my master was a traditionalist. He was old sure, but quite the innovative and progressive person.”

“Well, your loss.” The man indulged again in the alcohol. “I would like to hear about your master. He seemed like the interesting person.”

“He wasn’t that much.” Nido drank from his cup, accompanying the man in the mood. “He always closed himself in his office, researching every day, until his demise. Wise and knowledgeable, but in some way, more stupid than any other man.” By this time he didn’t know if he was talking about himself or his true master.

“You really loved him.” Castor’s face had gained a pink color.

“Yeah, I guess I did.” Nido sighed, he had said too much. “While I have enjoyed the conversation between us greatly, Castor. I think it’s time I get myself going to the Enchanter’s Guild before…”

Nido’s words were cut off as his gaze strayed of to the surroundings. During his conversation with the wanderer, he noticed the lack of… darkness. By now it should be dark… That’s when he saw it, the reason why no one had lighted more torches or other sources.

Who the fuck has blown up the moon?

The night sky was illuminated by a second sun.