Gathered at the entrance to the High Tower were a group of soldiers, the personal guard of the crown prince. They all wore enchanted clothes, carried weapons with them, and had their horses prepared.

Maya and Ash arrived at the gates a while before the prince did. As soon as the guards noticed them, one of them approached. “Good morning,” he bowed his head, then led them through the small crowd of people and horses. “We have prepared two horses of you. I assume you know how to ride?”

“Of course,” Maya said while Ash simply nodded.

The guard handed Maya the reigns of a white mare. It was a beautiful horse, and clearly well-behaved. “Oh she’s beautiful,” Maya whispered as she pet the horse’s mane.

Ash got a brown stallion with a black mane and tail. It was a tall, well behaved horse.

They didn’t need to wait long, since Prince Cedric soon arrived. He came from where the stables were, riding a black stallion, clearly trained for battle. The horse was huge, towering above all the others, and the prince looked even more intimidating than before.

“I want to be at the city gates by the time the Spire lights up. Mount up, we’re leaving!” He wasn’t shouting, but his voice still echoed across the fields surrounding the high tower. In the silence of very early morning, they, and the few night shift guards were the only ones awake.

They mounted their horses, and soon set off. The guards surrounded them and the prince as they rode down the street, leaving the High Tower grounds behind, and approaching the southern gate of Bhaile-Morn.

They left the city as the Spire of Kindling lit up, illuminating the world with its life-giving light. Ash longed for the warmth of it, but they were still in the shadow of Bhaile-Morn.

“I’m glad you both made it,” The Prince’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “I was worried that you wouldn’t come, Lady Hawken.”

Maya was quick to shake her head. “It’s an honour to be invited, your highness. I wouldn’t miss it.” Despite her diplomatic words, her voice was stiff, her jaw clenched, and her complexion pale. She still feared him, but why he knew not.

“The honour is mine,” Prince Cedric turned his gaze to Ash. “Tell me how much you have grown in power.”

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Direct and straight to the point. Since he didn’t need to do the diplomatic dance with him, the Prince didn’t waste any time. It was for the best.

He clenched his fist, then relaxed his fingers, his palm facing up. The reflection of his mana heart formed in the air. It was a dull grey colour, and far from being a perfect sphere like Maya’s. It had sharp, crude edges many small surfaces. Unlike before though, it emitted a soft glow. “I think I’m halfway to becoming a rank two mage.”

There were a total of thirteen ranks, first rank being someone who had just received their mana heart, and thirteenth being the gate to immortality – or so the legends said. Most people were stuck at rank ten, while only a few in history had reached eleven. He hadn’t heard of anyone who reached twelfth rank.

According to Professor Maple, it was relatively easy for anyone to reach up to about rank five. After that, progress slowed down exponentially.

“Not bad,” Prince Cedric narrowed his eyes as he looked at the image of his mana heart floating above his palm. “It’s a shame that you somehow got out of that cavern with a crude mana heart. I would have gladly taken you to hunt for a Celestial one.”

Maya’s eyes shot wide open, her lips parted in surprise.

“I’m honoured, your highness, but I don’t think this will hold me back,” Ash closed his fist, allowing the image to disappear.

The prince’s lips curled up into a cold, calculating smile. “That is very good to hear.”

She rested her palm against the sarcophagus. An orb of golden light illuminated her surroundings, though she’d rather not look at them.

The catacombs beneath the High Tower were dusty, dry, and depressive. Constructed seemingly randomly, they were like a maze. The only reason she knew how to find this particular sarcophagus was the small marks she left on the walls for herself.

“It’s alright sis,” she whispered, her voice heavy with grief. It had been seventeen years since then. Seventeen gruesome years filled with humiliation and pain. But she had persevered, and her efforts had been rewarded. “It was worth it,” She added with a mellow smile. “You can be proud now.”

Her smile vanished. “But I can’t let your dreams – no, delusions come true. This is where I stop. I’m sorry, sis, but it’s just now right.” A tear ran down her cheek as she pressed her hand against the cold, hard surface of the sarcophagus. “He deserves to live a life of his own.”

Their journey took them east, then they circled north. Avoiding the Howling Valley altogether, they arrived at the vast mountain range cutting through the Empire almost a week later. Despite being exhausted from the time spent travelling, they all knew the hardest part of their journey was yet to come.

“We will scale the mountains,” Prince Cedric explained, “Somewhere near the peak, there are ruins. Ancient – from before our empire was founded. Or that’s what the historians claim. It won’t be an easy journey, so I understand if either of you wants to wait here for our return.”

Both Maya and Ash remained silent. They knew that wasn’t really an option.

“Very well,” The prince raised his gaze, peering towards the towering mountains. “We start our climb tomorrow at dawn.”