Max stepped away from the window. He heard footsteps approaching, a group running to the king’s chamber. Max felt himself tense and make ready for a fight. But he relaxed as he saw Anita, Elderon, and Jahrod in the far chamber beyond the throne room. His shoulders relaxed, and he sheathed his sword.
Princess Shree came running to her father. “Oh, you are back, my father! You have been lost for so long!” She embraced him and wept tears of relief and joy.
“I was in a dark place,” the king said in a voice of one roused from a deep dream. He regained his composure rapidly. “I was tempted there with the promise of things I barely understood, things I can hardly remember and then lost. A whispering in my ear, faint and irresistible.” He held his daughter tightly and looked at Max. “I know the darkness is spreading. Dark agents are gaining the trust of kings across the continent of Awen. The emperors of the Scarfel continent have all succumbed to it except for a very few. All of Eveirea will fall to the darkness soon. How can we combat something so hidden?”
Elderon put his hand on Max’s shoulder. “When my apprentice Mage made his first level, he had a vision of a dark portal that brings the darkness to Eveirea. We will stop this evil.”
“You will be afforded the freedom of Ralynn City,” the king said. “Avail yourself of any service it can afford you, and I will see the cost is covered. Take an apartment here in the castle and rest as long as you and your party need to, Master Mage. The Kingdom of Faregent will ever be your ally and your humble servant.”
Max stepped back and left the king and his daughter as tears turned to laughter. Elderon, Anita, and Jahrod followed Max close behind.
“Do you really think we can find the dark portal?” Max said.
Elderon inspected the charred wall hangings. “I think you are turning into a powerful young Mage. Let me guide you, and together we will do all that is in our power to save Eveirea.”
With the darkness banished from Ralynn City, Max took time to rest. After sleeping for what felt like a week, Max was woken by a trio of serving staff. A pair of old ladies took his clothes with a promise to wash and dry them and left him naked in his bedchamber. A tall man who looked about a hundred years old entered and held out a robe for Max to put on before leading him to a steamy bath chamber.
Max reclined in the large wooden hot tub, scooping up the thick bubbles. When the staff returned with his clothes, he politely requested more hot water, and in short order, several more gallons of hot water were added to the tub. Max lay back. He could get used to living in the castle. He opened his eyes when the chamber door opened, expecting one of the castle serving staff bringing him fresh towels. Was he surprised to see Princess Shree step in! She wore her hair up and her long white dress low. She walked over to the tub, sat at the side, and dropped her arm into the warm, soapy water.
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“If I’d known you were going to be in here, I would have waited and had my bath with you,” she said with a cheeky smile.
“Pity,” Max said, returning the smile.
Shree was pretty and classy too. She had a twinkle in her eye as she looked down at Max reclined in the tub, and she started to untie the strings on the front of her dress.
“I could always use another bath,” she said.
Just as Max felt his interest in Princess Shree rising, the door burst open, steam swirling. Elderon strode in, staff clacking on the flagstone floor.
“Greetings, Princess Shree,” Elderon said with a bow to the young lady, and then to Max. “Enough resting and soaking. You’ve been in that tub for an hour.”
Max reclined. “I could do another half an hour. The king’s own staff have just topped off the hot water, and I have a feeling it was about to get even hotter.” He winked at Shree.
“No, enough,” Elderon said. “You need to practice before we head out from the city. Your magic is chaotic, and you need to study control.”
Shree smiled at Max and kissed him on the head. “My father always told me of the importance of study. When you are finished with your lessons, maybe I can teach you something of our city.”
Max smiled and leaned back in the tub.
“I’d like that,” he said. He waved as Princess Shree left.
“Enough,” Elderon said.
>
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> Elderon casts Cold.
>
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The water in the tub suddenly dropped in temperature. Ice crystals started to form, and Max jumped out of the water before it froze solid around him.
“That was a mean trick,” Max said, wrapping his arms around his frozen naked body.
“Would you like to learn it?” Elderon said with a wry smile.
Max nodded. “Heck, yeah!”
Elderon lifted a towel with his levitation ability and threw it at Max. “I will teach it to you. And much more too. We will have to learn as we go. We must be away from this place soon. One more day and night to rest and resupply, then we begin our journey to the nearest Mage Stone. The Mage Council will help us locate this dark portal. You must be in good shape if you are going to travel with me.”
Max knew the portal should never have come here. The transport portal that created the dark portal was also creating chaos where it met the magic of Eveirea. Max knew that to save himself and those he cared for, he would have to close the dark portal.
But he had to find it first, and somehow, he knew that the closer he got, the more danger he would face. But he wouldn’t face it alone. He had only seen a small part of Eveirea so far, and the hunt for the dark portal would show him more . . . more beauty, more danger.
He was ready for it all.