On the following morning Ehrir’s mind was still a mess. To process all the new information given to him was quite hard. The Inner Fantasy, people living for hundreds of years, blood of non-humans and Emhaels still running strong in their descendants’ veins… And the fact that the memories of his creator were buried somewhere deep inside of him. It was too much to handle and even sleeping in a fine bed without everything around him shaking couldn’t help him clear his thoughts.

And came the time for Clairvoyance. “It’s too early for this kind of thing”, Ehrir thought. It was too early for anything, in fact. The sun had just recently risen up from the boundless eastern azure of the Cargaen Sea. Its warm rays couldn’t fend off the chilly feeling in the air, left by the night’s coldness. Not right away, at least. The temperatures in the mansion’s halls weren’t particularly pleasant and the servant girl that led him to Ostrias’ room was shaking slightly. Ehrir could only sympathize with her, because he quickly realized the possibility to let his magic energy flow through him. He didn’t hesitate to do it and was instantly filled with inner warmth that negated the surrounding air’s frigidity. And just yesterday he thought that the people of Ale Bay had no need for fireplaces…

“Damn it”, he cussed in a low tone. “I should’ve brought my coat.”

“I know exactly how you’re feeling, milord”, uttered the girl leading him. She was still shaking. “I do.”

The two of them spent the remaining part of the walk through the halls in silence.

Ostrias’ room was warm and flames were dancing in its massive fireplace. This time the Ashen Gaze was sitting in a huge chair next to an elegant table of considerable size. He looked fresh and the usual smile was hanging on his face. Besides him was Sevrian, although the old man wasn’t in his best shape – the dark circles under his eyes and his frowned expression didn’t hold even a hint of happiness for the current situation.

“Ah, you’re here, young friend! Come, come, take a seat”, said Ostrias merrily.

He patiently waited for the Ehrir to follow his advice and then spoke again.

“I’m pretty sure you aren’t familiar with this… this thing on the table. Am I correct?” He pointed with his finger at the strange in front of him. It was a wooden disc with a four flat metal boards embedded in it. They weren’t made of iron, steel or any precious metal that Ehrir could recognize. The four of them were connected to one another through a circle in the center of which laid a beautiful piece of shining nephrite.

Ehrir took a good look at the disc and shook his head.

“Then let me explain… This device is known as “mind-connection circle”. It’s made out of ordinary wood, but the ore used for creating its elements is riantum, one of the few materials in the world that allows the flow of soul energy through itself. The stone in the center of all this is a remnant from times of old. It’s a creation of the non-humans and hold a strong charge of Control that could somehow live in this piece of nephrite for thousands of years. It is part of a specific branch of the discipline, though – one that is capable to suck in people’s memories and then return them straight to their heads. When we both touch the metal and let our energy flow through it, you shall let the stone enter your head and take what’s needed. That’ll happen under my guidance, of course. Then our magic will enter it too and we’ll able to view the memories of the Changeling left in you.” Ostrias went quiet for a moment. “Oh, I should add that this is also quite expensive and today is the first chance to truly justify its price.”

Ehrir listened to the Ashen Gaze’s explanations in silence. After Ostrias finished talking the Undone One just confirmed that he understood the man’s words.

“Shall we begin then?”

“Yes, master. I’m ready.” Ehrir was sitting on a chair on the opposite side of the table. He quickly extended his hands and touched the device’s metal parts. He felt nothing. But that changed once he let his magic energy go through the riantum.

His senses were instantly bombarded with a stream of vague feelings. They were all similar in nature and somehow tried to touch his mind and thoughts. Soon they united into one and it wasn’t just an undefined sensation anymore. It was more like some being or a presence that was doing its best to get into his brain.

The hair on Ehrir’s neck stood up.

“This… This is really bizarre”, he uttered.

“I know, I know… But everyone has had worse, right?” Ostrias had also placed his hand on the metal. The nephrite was slowly filling with bright light. “Now you have to let the stone’s power enter your consciousness. Don’t fight it and try to not think about it. That’s all it takes.”

“Okay. But I want to ask something first…”

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“Go on. I’m listening.”

“If only the two of us are performing the Clairvoyance… Why is master Sevrian here?”

Now it was time for the old man to smirk.

“I’m just an overseer, young man”, proclaimed he. “It’s a boring job, although necessary.”

“It’s just as he says”, added Ostrias. “The Clairvoyance can get dangerous sometimes. So a guardian is needed. He watches the process from aside and tries to detect any change in the energy flow from the mind-connection circle. I hope we won’t need his assistance today. Now, let’s not waste any more time. Ehrir, proceed.”

After these words the Undone One closed his eyes. He didn’t know what exactly he had to do to allow the stone’s presence in his head, but he tried to distance himself from it and from everything else. It took some time for him to stop resisting to the nephrite’s powers subconsciously, but in the end he did it.

The presence entered his brain quickly and painlessly and he felt it dwelling inside of him. And then it started doing… something. He couldn’t put a name on it, but he felt his insides emptier after it was done. And yet nothing disappeared from his mind.

“First part of the process is done. Now you have to concentrate your energy and strike the nephrite through the metal.” Ostrias was calm and confident. Ehrir followed his instructions slowly.

The first try didn’t work out, of course. It was the same as with expanding his abilities beyond Manipulation, but this time he needed just a few repeats instead of whole days of training. His fifth energy strike felt just right. It effortlessly went through the riantum and entered the gemstone’s piece. The world suddenly started darkening.

“Wha… What’s happening, master?” Those were the only words Ehrir could utter. His voice sounded distanced and cold to himself.

“Don’t worry… It is normal, indeed.” It was like Ostrias’ voice came from the depths of some unknown ocean. Ehrir barely heard him before he sank in a bottomless pit of nothingness. He couldn’t even think about how similar this strange abyss was to the one he was lost in before awakening as an Undone One.

***

When Ehrir arose from the darkness, he was in a different body. And yet he still felt that the sight in front of him was somehow faraway. In addition all of his senses were dulled. It took him a mere moment to realize that he was viewing the memories of the Changeling. Of his creator.

He was standing in the middle of a city street. But it was far from an ordinary one. It was at least a hundred steps wide and stretched towards the horizon both behind and in front of him. There was no stones or pavement beneath his feet but a softly glowing crystal. The boulevard was surrounded by giant palaces of incredible grandeur and flooded by countless people. All of them were looking rich and powerful in their ornamented clothes and with countless rings, pendants and medallions. Some were wearing golden or silver headbands.

“You know, Arleon… When you’ve lived here for two centuries, the whole feeling of incredibleness, grandiosity and brilliance just fades away. Back in my young years the city wasn’t very different from now, yet it was the most beautiful and unique thing that I had ever seen... I guess that the years can really change things.” Spoke the man that the Undone One was in.

The Changeling whose body Ehrir inhabited was walking down the boulevard. Besides him was a middle-aged man with greying hair and a thick moustache. His neck and throat were covered in nasty scars.

“I guess you are right, lord”, uttered he. His voice sounded strange, like it was damaged by something. “I haven’t lived nearly as much as you. For me all of this still seems… magnificent.”

“I can’t blame you. One cannot expect less from the richest city of the Inner Fantasy.”

Ehrir felt shocked. This place far exceeded the scale and beauty of every other settlement he had ever seen, but he couldn’t expect that it was located within the land of legends… The place that he recently didn’t even believe existed was now unveiled before him in its utmost glory.

The Changeling and his friend – or subordinate, judging by the way of addressing him with the title “lord” – continued walking and chatting. Their discussion was mostly centered on their surroundings and the trivial details of life. Ehrir couldn’t figure anything out of this piece of memory. Could it be just some random bit left in his mind by chance? Perhaps, but he hoped this wasn’t the case.

And then came the line that took the Undone One’s attention.

“I thought about this for a long time… We can’t remain here anymore, Arleon. We should go somewhere in the outside world. Even in the Outer Fantasy, if it’s necessary.” There was seriousness in the tone of these words.

Arleon’s face twisted. He was visibly confused.

“Why is that all of a sudden, lord? Everything is just… fine here. The whole east is in peace. The minor wars on the borders aren’t a reason for us to go anywhere. And even if a major conflict erupted, we still have the protection of…”

“You don’t understand, Arleon!” The high voice of the Changeling attracted some gazes. “I can sense it in the air. It may take a dozen of years. Or thirty. Or half a century. But for me it doesn’t matter. Something big is coming. A war of colossal proportions. It will devastate this whole realm. I… I consulted the Lake of the Broken Chains. It showed only obscure and misty signs, but… I’m sure of it. There isn’t a place in the Inner Fantasy that will be safe from the coming storm.”

With every word Arleon became paler and paler.

“I… know what you speak is the truth, lord. It’s just hard to believe. Or I don’t want to believe it, rather.” His voice turned into a whisper. “But if the Lake of the Broken Chains shows it, it’ll happen. Then… where shall we go?”

“To the Outer Fantasy. And to the north.”

The last phrase sent cold chills down Ehrir’s spine. So this was the moment. These words began the chain of events that would eventually lead to him becoming an Undone One. He couldn’t even comprehend their full impact right now. If he was given a little time…

But he was not. After these words the world darkened again. And then the abyss opened and ate him.