<"Thank you">, Cale politely stated after speaking with Velence. The Dragons are currently engaged in a heated discussion about who originally possessed the Holy Mana and whether it might actually have something to do with the Thormods' origin. The leader of the dragons, who lived on the Holy Island, became a lot busier because the dragons were constantly contacting him.

Cale was all the more grateful that Velence allowed him to take up his valuable time for a few hours to use his ability. He sat at the table in front of the assembled group with Fengari on his shoulder while the others were in conversation.

"How did Karekama end up in our possession in the first place?", 10th seat Malte Vangries raised his voice curiously. For them, too, the top topic was Cale's performance, which some watched with their own eyes.

"It's a pretty unspectacular story. Over the years I've met a few people and one of them was swordmaster Torgersen. He had bequeathed it to me shortly before his death", the Eldest explained to the astonished young High-Magician, who, just like the others, had no idea that one of the legendary three was in their immediate vicinity. "My job was actually to keep the sword in my care until I found a worthy successor. That's why I kept it hidden here in the Magistrat, but somehow the information about its location got out to the public. After these burglaries, I spoke with Vonstetten and only through that did I learn that Caleb is a swordmaster. It was really just a temporary solution to entrust him with the sword."

"I feel like I've missed a lot in the last few years", Sefra muttered, shaking her head. She was one of those who had caught all the drama yesterday and had deliberately stayed out of it, even as hundreds of questions pierced her. "I knew from the beginning that Caleb was a genius, but this really exceeds all my expectations."

"Is there anything else you're hiding from us besides the fact that Caleb is indestructible?", 6th seat Luc Darves spoke up in a slightly offended voice as he stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, looking challengingly at the elder.

"Yes, there is. That's why we all have convocations. Caleb and I plan to let you in on everything that's going on in the background right now."

"I really hope there's a good reason for keeping secrets from us", Rangar spoke up over the communication crystal, since he was not currently in the capital.

"It was my decision not to say anything", Cale interjected into the conversation. "The Eldest knew as much as you until a few months ago. It has a lot to do with my past, which is why I deliberately kept quiet."

"And now you trust us or what?", the 5th seat Odin Ander threw at him.

"To be perfectly honest, no. I would still withhold it because I think it's the right thing not to involve strangers in my problems. The only reason I'm doing it now is because I have no other choice. We are facing a war and you all have no idea how dangerous it is."

"It really feels to me like you're looking down on us", he received in response from Joshua Elbert, the Magistrat's 11th seat.

"I don't blame you, everyone hates secrets. But you will understand me when you have seen what I have experienced."

"How exactly do you mean that? What are you going to do?", remarked Rosalie Helesbarch, the 9th seat of the Magistrat, hesitantly, as if she were the one who had just been condemned by everyone.

"You'll see in a minute. Rangar, Nora, you have also found a place where you will be safe for a few hours and not be disturbed, right?"

"Yes, we're ready for whatever you have in mind", the young lady slightly annoyed voice rang out from the crystal.

"Now then. Please don't get too scared and watch the demonstration in peace. It will take a while to explain everything to you, so please be patient with me", Cale explained in a calm voice, and now asked the mages who were finally standing to sit down as well.

For another, the others stared at him in silence, while Fengari jumped onto his lap and looked up at him.

"Chioni is ready too", Fengari announced aloud, causing the first to jerk up in surprise.

"Thank you. Chioni, you can link the Apostles to me", Cale declared aloud, and a moment later felt mana spreading through his body and the bodies of his colleagues.

<"Very well.">

"Please close your eyes, it helps a lot", Cale asked the High-Magicians, who were partly confused about the cat, partly confused about the strange mana. But none spoke up and followed the example of the Eldest, who closed his eyes first.

After checking that everyone present was complying with his request, Cale followed suit and began to use Velence's abilities. The dragon was present, as were Chioni and Fengari, but they stayed in the background. Cale's consciousness slipped into the memories of his first life and with it, so did everyone else.

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"What is this?"

"Where are we?"

"Is this an illusion?"

"Are we in Sylve?"

"We are in Groka. Spring 25, 1146. We are in a memory of mine", Cale explained calmly. He couldn't see the others, but he felt quite clearly that they were all present.

<"Caleb! Grab my hand!"> his mother's voice screamed just before his body was pulled into the air. Immediately, the attention of everyone present was focused on the scene that was unfolding before them. Cale had begun to let memory take over and let his consciousness be carried by the past.

Cries for help, screams and yells could be heard, with the sound of weapons between them. A body flew past Cale's head, which was thrown hundreds of feet into the air by a creature, and slammed into the nearest facade of a house. Fire and blood could be smelled and he felt the fear he got as a small child back then. He looked to the mountains, from which a wave of enemies came rushing like a black tide, and at the front he recognized some Thormods leading the attack.

<"Olivia! Is everything all right? What happened?"> shouted the voice of his father, Vincent Leuen, which is why Cale turned around and saw the large white house where people were gathered.

<"The creatures. They suddenly appeared from the mountains and are attacking us, we need to get out of here now!">, the woman screamed in panic after reaching her husband and trying to catch her breath. With trembling hands, she held her son tightly while Cale silently looked to his father.

<"Vincent! Take your people and defend the residents, we can't just run away">, another voice spoke up from the crowd, which instantly stepped aside, so the man could step forward. Cale watched as his father looked at the man and then cast a worried glance at his family before nodding in agreement.

<"Run to the capital">, he pleaded with his wife, who immediately yelled at him, begging him not to go into battle. But he ignored those exclamations, kissing Olivia on the forehead and finally smiling softly before pushing his wife aside.

<"Mom?">, Cale heard his own voice say as the woman hugged him tightly to her body and called after the man, who ran towards the mountains, holding a sword in his hands. About 15 men followed him, while next to Olivia a woman appeared who grabbed her by the shoulder and forced her to leave.

With tears in her eyes, his mother turned away from what was happening and followed the people, who fled the village in shuffles. She ran and ran, breathing frantically as she tried not to fall. Cale, on the other hand, had a good view of the battle behind them and could see a multitude of spikes appearing in the sky and raining down on the village. Novarens were on the edge like small mountains, attacking as well.

One of those spikes flew straight at them and with wide eyes he watched as the massive block came crashing down and hit his mother in the back. Immediately, she was knocked to the ground, causing Cale to fall as well and roll backwards across the dirt floor. Pain from the impact spread through his body and Cale began to scream before sitting up. In front of him lay the lifeless body of his mother, with blood flowing from it and a black spike sticking out. She had died instantly.

<"Mom! Aaua">, Cale cried, holding his leg without realizing that his mother could no longer hear him. The tears in his eyes spared him a closer look at his mother's dead, blood-red body. Crying, he sat on the path as people passed him frantically and the creatures came at him like a wall. A strange woman of older age came running right up to him and seemed to notice him at all just because of his crying. Without warning, she lifted Cale into the air, who screamed for his mother from all the pipes.

<"Shhh... Shhh... don't scream. You don't have to cry">, the woman gave out with a quick breath as she followed the narrow path, jumping over a small wall and continuing her escape across the meadow.

<"Shhh, you have to be quiet or the monsters will find you">, she declared, which made Cale perk up and fall silent. A glance upwards was enough to see that the creatures were a lot faster than the humans. Within a few minutes they had reached the refugees and killed all the humans without exception.

The woman carrying Cale in her arms kept running, but also dared to look behind. A mistake, she bumped her foot against a stone and tripped over it, which is why Cale hit the ground again and rolled across the meadow. This time, he forced himself not to cry, even though large tears ran down his cheek. He looked to the woman, who yelled at him to hide.

Without thinking much, Cale slid down the embankment and fell into the river before running a few steps further and hiding under a small bridge, as the woman had instructed him to do. However, as he turned to call for his lifesaver to hide as well, a creature crushed the old woman's head. Immediately, Cale fell backwards into the water and held his mouth with both hands, afraid that the monsters would discover him.

He closed his eyes and curled up into a ball while he could hear and feel the creatures running past him and above him. He sat in the cool water and forced himself to be quite as human screams reached his ears again and again.

"By the beard of the Eldest, this is brutal", the distant voice of Nora could be heard, among all the noise and events.

The sight turned black and cold spread, while one could hear that the herd was passing by him. But Cale did not move from the spot. He sat under the bridge all night, frightened, wanting only to go home.

Slowly, Cale let the memory fade and skipped ahead to the next morning, which is why the trotting of horses could be heard. Shouts of people and the clanking of their armor could be heard before a loud voice suddenly rang out.

<"Here's a survivor!">, the soldier shouted and could be heard approaching rapidly. The moment the soldier jumped into the water and reached for the little boy under the bridge caused Cale to look up and scream.

He screamed because he didn't want to be eaten by the monsters, while the unbound could barely be seen through his watery eyes. But the man didn't let up, lifting the little boy in his arms and telling him that everything was going to be okay.

Carefully stroking his back and repeating several times that he was safe and not to be afraid, Cale slowly calmed down and clung to the man's clothes.

<"By the three gods, the kid is probably the only survivor">, a voice murmured just before Cale's memory completely dissolved.