In the dimly lit teleportation chamber of Sanctum Soul, Ezra stood, her senses taut with anticipation. The air hummed with latent magic, thick with the weight of her purpose. With a whispered invocation and a surge of power, the teleportation spell unfurled, engulfing her in a maelstrom of energy.

Emerging amidst the desolation of Unobin, she was met with a scene of utter devastation. Once proud buildings now lay in ruin, their shattered forms silent witnesses to the merciless passage of the echoes. The streets, once alive with the pulse of civilization, now lay eerily quiet, save for the mournful whispers of the wind.

Ezra's heart clenched as she beheld the wreckage before her. The echoes had swept through Unobin like a scythe through wheat, reaping a harvest of death and despair. Countless lives had been snuffed out, their echoes silenced forever in the wake of the cataclysm.

In the distance, the faint cries of survivors echoed through the ruins, a haunting chorus of desperation. Yet, it was evident that the city had been forsaken, its inhabitants fleeing in the face of insurmountable tragedy.

For Ezra, the sight was a grim testament to the whims of fate and the inexorable power of the echoes. No mage, no matter how skilled or formidable, could hope to contend with such forces. And as she stood amidst the ruins of Unobin, she knew that her journey had only just begun.

As Ezra wandered through the ruins of the city, her interest was drawn by the sight of two mages attending to the wounded amidst the devastation. It was unusual to find mages in this part of the city, where the common folk resided, as most had been relocated to areas where the wealthy and powerful were housed.

Approaching them, Ezra was met with a mix of trepidation and determination in their eyes. The one who seemed more defiant spoke first, questioning her presence and whether she intended to punish or force them to leave.

"We're not leaving," he declared firmly, his gaze unwavering. "These people need our help just as much as anyone else."

His companion nodded in agreement, pleading for understanding. "Please, we're doing what we can to save as many lives as possible. They deserve our aid, too."

Ezra assured them that she had no intention of interfering with their efforts. In fact, she had come to investigate the situation on her own accord. As she listened to their stories of loss and resilience, she couldn't help but admire their dedication to their home and their people.

One of the mages, originally from Unobin, shared his tragic tale of returning to find nothing left of his family. Yet, despite his personal tragedy, he remained steadfast in his commitment to helping others.

Impressed by their determination, Ezra found herself reflecting on her own ambitions and the path she had chosen. Perhaps, she thought, it was time to reevaluate her priorities and embrace a more proactive approach to achieving her goals.

Turning her attention back to the conversation, she inquired about any unusual occurrences they had witnessed. The mage spoke of strangers arriving in the city two days prior and strange happenings in the surrounding woods, where an eerie mist had descended, cloaking the area in darkness.

Ezra approached the mages with a solemn nod, acknowledging their resolve in the face of adversity. "I understand," she said, her voice soft but determined. "Every life matters, and your efforts here do not go unnoticed."

The defiant mage's gaze softened slightly at her words, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. "Thank you," he murmured, a hint of gratitude coloring his tone.

His companion nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring his determination. "We'll do whatever it takes to help these people," she declared, her voice ringing with conviction.

Ezra smiled faintly, her admiration for their selflessness growing with each passing moment. "You have my support," she assured them. "I'll do whatever I can to assist you in your efforts."

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As they continued their conversation, Ezra listened intently to their accounts of the recent events in the city. The mage from Lubin shared his heartbreaking tale of loss, his voice tinged with sorrow as he recounted the devastation that had befallen his family.

Moved by his story, Ezra felt a swell of empathy wash over her. "I'm truly sorry for your loss," she said softly, her words carrying genuine sympathy. "But your courage in the face of such tragedy is commendable."

The mages exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. "We'll keep fighting," the defiant mage vowed, his determination unyielding. "For our city, for our people."

With a nod of affirmation, Ezra turned her attention to their accounts of the strange occurrences in the surrounding woods. The mention of the mysterious mist piqued her interest, sparking a flicker of curiosity within her.

"I'll look into it," she promised, her gaze lingering on the distant Shroud. "Stay vigilant, and be careful. There's more at play here than meets the eye."

With that, Ezra bid the mages farewell, her mind already turning to her next course of action. As she ventured into the unknown, she knew that the answers she sought lay just beyond the mist-shrouded woods, waiting to be discovered.

‘’this mist was created with magic.’’ Thus she decided to utilize a magical rune to ward off the magic, runes such as these are not easy to create and require skill she selected a rune known for its ability to dispel mystical phenomena. With a swift motion, she activated the rune, expecting the mist to dissipate entirely. However, to her surprise, the mist only cleared slightly, providing her with limited visibility.

Undeterred, Ezra focused her clairvoyant abilities, causing her ring to glow faintly as she scanned the area for any signs of life. With each step through the mist, she observed the lifeless surroundings: dead trees, wilted plants, and soulless animals strewn across the ground. Despite the ominous atmosphere, she pressed onward, driven by determination and a sense of duty.

Finally, Ezra reached the center of the mist, where she discovered a figure suspended in mid-air: a man with hair as white as bone, seemingly asleep. Approaching cautiously, she studied him intently, noticing his closed eyes and motionless chest. With bated breath, she prepared to uncover the truth behind this mysterious presence.

As she inched closer, she noticed the bracelet on his arm,’’ That’s an artifact, a powerful one to be precise’’ she thought to herself, ever closer she came to the mysterious man.

Through her abilities she perceived no immediate danger should she awake and thus she did, with a gentle nudged on the shoulder, blue eyes met purple.

Ezra smiled warmly, perhaps to calm her nerves or perhaps because his eyes demanded it of her.

‘’Hello’’ She said to him and then he panicked, limbs moving frantically, sudden burst of magic threw her ten feet away from him. Her back collided with a tree with a thud

‘’Where am I? Who are you?’’ Richard asked, his footing on the ground neither stable nor set

‘’Well I am fine’’ thank you for asking

‘’Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to, I do not even know what is happening to me, I am so confused and yet so clear of kind, there’s so many thoughts in my head right now’’ Richard muttered more to himself than to her, he watched her rise from the ground and dust herself off, she seemed more concerned with the dust than she did with been thrown against a tree.

‘’It’s alright, I figured that wasn’t intentional, regardless you owe me one, otherwise I would be honor bound to return the favor, a sucker punch is a sucker punch and trust me I am no sucker, most times at least’’ she replied with a smirk

Richard, took a tentative step forward his feet seemed foreign to him, in fact his whole body seemed foreign to him.

‘’Are you British?’’

‘’Is it a good thing’’ Ezra asked no walking back towards him

‘’A good thing? It’s a culture, from the united kingdom, I am asking if you are from there’’

‘’why would I be from there?’’

‘’Well you sound British’’ Richard replied looking at the beauty of a woman in front of him who smirking at him rather mischievously, at that moment he’s current state of dress came crashing down on him, hands quickly moved to cover what he could.

‘’I am not from the united kingdom, never heard of it, I am a mage from Sol sanctum’’ Richards frowned at this, a coldness in his gut grew.

‘’Where am I?’’ He asked blue eyes ones again meeting purple only this time those blue eyes had fear in them.

Startled by the sudden change in mood Ezra took a step back, she wondered if he knew the artifact on his wrist was reacting to his emotions, the ability to prevent one's artifact from being influenced by a mage's emotion was a key aspect of being a mage and yet he showed no such control.

‘’You need to calm down if we are to talk’’

‘’I am calm’’

Ezra pointed at his bracelet’’ No you are not.

‘’I just need to get home, someone close to me is in trouble,’’ Richard stated trying to be calm, trying not to think about what might have happened to his sister,

‘’All right come with me to Sol sanctum, If there is a way to get you to where you want to be, you will find it there.’’

As Ezra extended her offer to Richard, proposing a journey back to Sol Sanctum, his skepticism lingered like a shadow in the mist. Yet, beneath the surface of his doubts, a flicker of hope ignited at the prospect of finding a way home.

"Why would you help a stranger?" Richard questioned, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he struggled to comprehend her motives.

With a wry smile, Ezra turned to face him. "I've heard people are most honest unclothed," she remarked, her words carrying a hint of mirth.

"Besides, I can't simply leave you out here on your own, confused."

As Ezra strode away, the mist began to recede, revealing a path forward. Richard watched her retreating figure, his mind abuzz with conflicting thoughts. Despite his reservations, he recognized the truth in her words. He was a stranger in a strange land, and Ezra was his only tether to this unfamiliar world.

"I need to get back home," Richard muttered to himself, his resolve firm as he hastened to catch up with Ezra. "I need to make sure my sister's safe."

As they walked side by side, Richard couldn't help but feel a pang of vulnerability at his nakedness, a stark reminder of his precarious situation. "Do you think I could get some clothes on the way?" he ventured, his tone tentative as he broached the topic with Ezra.

Her response was swift and mischievous. "Sure, but do you have coins to spare for them?" she taunted, her playful demeanor adding a touch of levity to their somber surroundings.

With a wry grin, Richard realized he had much to learn about this enigmatic mage. Though her motives remained shrouded in mystery, he couldn't deny the allure of her offer. With each step forward, the journey ahead seemed less daunting, fueled by the promise of adventure and the hope of finding his way back home.

Perhaps there was hope after all.