The group walked for almost a full hour, along the trail, always gently curving to the left. Somehow, the building was constructed in a nearly endless spiral shape. At last the walls widened and formed a large treed area broken into groves by three large clearings, each containing a pond, and all connected by small streams. Sir Gidlerwood, accompanied by Celeste, were met by several older green clad Wizards, and all made their way to an intricately constructed amphitheatre, the benches grown of living vines. Two acolytes escorted Sergeant Fleming and his pack mule towards a large store room.
A young female acolyte emerged from the trees and approached Sir James. She was clad in green cloaks and a simple leather belt. She bore a single large lotus flower in her long chestnut hair. She was perhaps one or two years older than James.
“Welcome, Sir James,” said the young woman. “I am Elana. It is my honor to serve you. I have been informed of your background and am aware that you are not from this world.” Her words carried great gravity and concern. “I was employed to assist Patriarch Gilderwood in his plan to summon you to this world. Sir Gilderwood has worked the past two years, preparing spells of great power, which he successfully cast on the slopes of Mt. Issabella. We are all elated that the project to bring you to this world has been successful, and every acolyte in the college is eager to meet you, and learn of your world.”
This was an unusual experience for James. Few people that he had met so far seemed to be aware of his circumstances, and fewer seemed to care. Elana’s interest and empathy immediately brought to mind the reality of his predicament. Survival in this world was challenging, and exactly the role that Oakleaf Gilderwood had in mind for James was still largely a mystery to him. Most of all he wondered exactly how he could return to his home life in England. No one had been willing to speak to him regarding this issue. Was it possible that James could find answers to some of these questions in the Emerald College?
“I am pleased to meet you Elana,” answered James, “If it is possible, I would like to ask you some questions.”
“Of course, Sir James,” responded Elana. “ That is my purpose here, " she explained. “Shall we visit the Pond of Tranquility?” she asked as she gestured toward the smaller of the two ponds, and a set of wicker benches beside a small sand beach.
“Yes please,” answered James, and for the first time in a long time, he felt a little weight of the world lift from his shoulders.
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James followed Elana to the bench beside the blue green waters of the pond. Tranquility was a good name for the place, and it seemed miles from any city. Having spent so many days holding his tongue for fear of saying or asking something ignorant or offensive, James was at a loss for words. But it was imperative that he embrace this opportunity. He decided to go for broke:
“Elana, do you know how I might return to my home in England?” He tried not to sound too desperate with this question but as it came out, his eyes began to gloss with tears.
“Ah! Of course you desire this information! And Patriarch Gilderwood is well known for neglecting to share such important communications,” she began. “The answer is complicated, Sir James, and none know the full answer to your question. Summoning is a rare deed, and few are capable of such a feat. The duration and endurance of a summons depends much on the strength of the summoner. Sir Gilderwood is immensely powerful, and made use of massive energy to bring you to this world. Dispelling such magic is unlikely but theoretically possible by a Wizard of equal or greater power. Few exist in today’s world. Another possibility is a fresh summons to return you, invoked by an equally powerful mage from your own world. Are you aware of such powerful beings in the place you call …… England?” The word seemed difficult for Elana to pronounce.
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It was difficult for James to take the question seriously. She may as well have been asking if he thought that James himself was capable of casting powerful magical spells. Yet clearly, she was sincerely inquiring. “Elana, as far as I am aware, magic does not exist in my world.”
Now it was time for Elana to be shocked. Her response was carefully considered. “Sir James! Your world must be very different from ours, indeed. My life is devoted to the plants of the forest as well as the healing arts of the magical Winds of Taubra. Without it, I would be lost. Is your world a bleak place?” She asked the question with great seriousness in her voice.
“Oh no, Elana, it is anything but”, he answered. “My world is full of wonders, but most are based on technology and science, although many people also consider the creatures and plants to be beautiful, and wonderful.’
“You sound like a world of dwarfs, Sir James”, responded Elana, with just a small touch of offense included in her tone.
“Dwarfs,” answered James, trying to recall everything he had learned about the race in the past three weeks. Lets see: short, strong, wide, brutish, lots of facial hair. The comparison did not seem to fit.
“Dwarfs shun the world of magic, Sir James. And they strive to dominate the world with their machines.” stated Elana grimly.
“Oh!” reacted James with surprise. “I get it. We might be more dwarf-like than I thought.”
“I meant no offense Sir James,” continued Elana. “Truly….” At least she was doing her best. “Your surprising assertions bring to mind an important point explained to me, by Patriarch Gilderwood, last summer. He spent months journeying through the astral planes of reality, searching for a realm free of the taint of Chaos. Your world is rare in this regard, according to Sir Gilderwood’s understanding. He reasoned that bringing a person of great character and talent from a world free of Chaos might bring assistance in ridding our world of the Chaotic influence. He often states that this task is the central driving force in his life: ‘Defeating and banishing Chaos.” Elana was clearly deeply impressed with this objective and spoke of the task in the most reverential of tones. “However, the Emerald Council debated this point at length. It was the view of some on the council, that a world absent from the influences of Chaos, would have no way to power the Winds of Magic. Little or no magical power could exist in such a world. Perhaps they were correct.”
“I am not sure,” replied James, feeling even more useless than he usually did.
“Nonetheless, Patriarch Gilderwood chose you, Sir James. “He was convinced that your mastery of the laws of the natural world would be decisive in his struggle with Gloamanthal. And I have learned to always trust the judgment of our great Patriarch”.
Elana appeared to struggle with her next statement, but forced herself to continue. “There is one additional outcome which would return you to your world James. But all of us would work to avoid this possibility, to the utmost limits of our endurance. I include the possibility only to complete your knowledge on this subject. Should our great Patriarch perish, the spells binding you to our world would be broken, and you would be released to return to your home world. However, it is possible to imagine few tragedies of greater magnitude than the loss of our Patriarch.” Elana looked to James for some confirmation that he too desperately wished to avoid the death of Oakleaf Gilderwood.
What else could he do, in the face of the serious and beautiful young mage he sat with, next to the Pond of Tranquility. He answered earnestly, “Of course, Elana, anything but that, of course……” and as he trailed off, James was starting to wonder if there was really any possibility that he might ever return home to his home and family.
“Oh, Sir James. I can see your pain. Only now, meeting you in person, can I comprehend the extreme distress you face. Being removed from your world, your family and everything you knew. Without warning, if I properly understand the process of the summoning. It is unimaginable.” Elana understood. No one else seemed to, but Elana did.
“I will make further inquiries into the plans Patriarch Gilderwood has for you. Please do not give up hope of returning to your home. Sir Gilderwood has surely thought of this, and may have further to say on the matter,” and Elana’s gaze wandered towards the amphitheatre. Her eyes turned back towards him and she added, “Sir James, the council has taken a break for the afternoon meal. Shall we join them? Great delicacies have been prepared in honor of your quest.”
“I am very hungry,” responded James, and the pair made their way to join the others.