Addison,

This will be the last you hear of me, today my life will end. Just as my forebears, I will take the dark road that all must travel. However, my journey into the next world will not begin with the quiet hand of death laying itself upon my brow as I sleep, old and tired. My passage will begin with fire and agony, earlier than nature would intend.

I do not understand why it should happen in this way, as confusingly, it is my friends who seek to write the final sentence of my life story. Their calligraphy coloured red, quills dipped in my blood. This does not mean that I fear what is to come, no. As is preferred by many, I die in the company of beloved others, not alone. Despite their cause.

I do not hate them, their reasons are their own, and as fellow Guardians they must act for the greater good of the five cities. I trust that this is best. It is as Fate's design.

Our relationship was never strong, you and I. I did not approve of your love for blades and arrows, their use being impetuous compared to the intricacies, elegance and the refinement of the Mage's power. And you did not enjoy the lessons I had conducted for you during your childhood, they were “complicated” and “boring”. Perhaps you were correct, even though I greatly enjoyed my own education as a boy. As all people are different, we are as equally different from each other.

What is the same in us, is our blood. We are family, I am your Father. And though I have not loved you, you are and always will be my Son. I have respected your path, praying to the Author of Time for your safety in battle, hoping that you use what I have taught you to become more than the soldier. Now I wish for you to respect me, respect our lineage. When I pass, you must step forward and become Guardian. You must protect the Second City.

Our order is required, the rituals must be performed daily. Though the reasons for this tradition are lost, far beyond even my erudition, we must continue. You must continue. My old friends know this, they will not seek you out, you will be protected. If not, our family will be replaced. That is if we are replaceable.

I have asked and ordered much of you throughout your life, this would be the last. You have lived hard, and most likely felt pain that is foreign to me. So I part with a gift and my last instruction to you. I hope you put this final education to use, use what has now been stolen from me. Come back to your home and visit the tower, you will find what I offer. Explore your true potential, learn of the arcana. Become more than what I am, more than what anyone else can be. I give only that which you deserve, for persevering with war; and persevering with me, your vexatious Father.

~Adam, of the Storm

The parchment was folded once, twice, and then pressed tightly with a flat weight. Adam had made several attempts to write a suitable letter, but it seemed more difficult than constructing the most complicated spell. He felt drained.

The time was upon him. The room echoed with sounds of footsteps ascending the great stairway outside. The only light was a single candle on his desk, illuminating the Mage and the many books stacked high around the edges of the wooden top.

He turned toward the closed door behind him, remaining seated. The thumping of boots became louder and louder until reaching the entrance. Below the door could be seen a flickering light, it flowed through the slit like spilt water. Then the door opened inward, its hinges straining, squeaking. Four figures stepped through, defined by the fire light of a single torch. It appeared to be three adults and a smaller child.

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'I have been meaning to oil those hinges, only my time has been dedicated to study.' Adam spoke and then stood from his chair, dark robes falling to his feet and covering the floor. He continued to talk with a smile, although faced with a great darkness. 'My friends, it is rare for you all to visit. How may I help you?'

The torch-bearer spoke, his voice thin on the air, as if he were struggling for breath. 'A great magic brings us here.'

'A great magic?' Replied Adam. 'Please, elaborate.'

The rasping voice increased in volume, although hardly noticeable. 'We are here for the spell.'

Adam laughed. 'Spell? We are wizards, Kilian, do we not possess enough spells?'

'Enough! Your games are not warranted here, do not play at ignorance or innocence.'

'This is my study, my tower, my home, my city.' Stated Adam, sternly. 'Where else are my questions most valid if not within these walls?' He turned back to his desk, staring down at the folded letter solemnly. In the light of the candle, the paper glistened with scattered golden runes, embedded within the make-up of the material. The Mage was silent for a time, then spoke. 'I had foreseen your arrival, days ago now. Time is of no obstacle to me, but I could not reason why you would come in force, other than it is needed to protect the cities. Why else would my trusted friends and allies appear in this manner? Surely only for the good of the world.'

Kilian responded. 'Emrick has told us of the spell.'

'Oh...' Adam did not hide his knowledge of this. 'I am disappointed in you, Emrick, my oldest of friends. You have broken my trust. No... You have shattered it, like a mirror against stone. Why?'

The voice of a young boy spoke, only the age of eleven. 'Adam... Please understand, you can not keep such power in the hands of one person. You must share this knowledge with us all.'

'Oh Emrick, how can you speak of such power in this way, when I have never conveyed to you the nature of the magic?' Adam spoke with softness. 'We have only had vague correspondence concerning my studies, why would you believe this to be a danger to you or the others?'

'Adam, you do not exaggerate, you do not lie, it is not in your nature. So when you tell me that you have discovered the greatest magic, how else should I take your words?'

Adam wiped a tear from his face, emotion building inside of him. 'Oh my sweet Emrick, you are so naïve, even when so long lived. Why would you confuse greatness with power, power with danger?' He faced the group of four with a saddened smile. 'I would never involve myself in something that would harm you, my closest of friends.'

'Enough!' The rasping voice of Kilian interrupted. 'You have gained knowledge and power far greater than we four, you have brought imbalance to the Five Cities. We can not allow it.'

'Is this truly about the balance of the cities? Or are you using Emrick's information as a pretence to act out on your own jealousy, Kilian?'

Kilian snickered. 'Jealousy? What jealousy?'

'Kilian, it has been plainly obvious for a long time. Yes, I have acquired a vast archive of knowledge, but not to undermine the four of you. It is just what I do, I live for education.' Adam scratched his hairy chin. He looked into the eyes of the others, seeing the reflection of flame in them. 'You have always done the same as I, to seek higher education, but we know that you have never reached the same level of learning. So you have begun to hate me for it, letting your jealousy turn to anger, and your anger to poison my friends against me.' He turned for the last time, sitting back at his desk. 'It saddens me that you do not act for the good of the cities, but out of selfishness or mistrust. The spell you seek can not be shared, it is not meant for you. If my life must end, that is as Fate would have it, I accept that. But Fate will also have it that you do not obtain the magic I have created. It is forbidden.'

Adam took up the letter and held one corner to the candle. The flame licked at the folded sheet and then spread toward Adam's hand, engulfing the letter completely. The runes glowed orange and then blue, turned black, as did the paper, and then disintegrated. But instead of ash it was blue glitter that fell to the desk, then vanished.

'I hope this reaches you, Addison.' Said Adam, his voice all but a whisper. Then he spoke his last words. 'Let us be done with this!'

With that final decree, a wind blew through the room, the door slammed shut and both torch and candlelight were extinguished. The study went from darkness to green, emerald flames growing from the hands of the four Guardians exposing each wall to be high bookshelves. The magic was cast, fire flung through the air at Adam.

In the end it was painful.