After a few more seconds, Helen broke the silence by asking, “What does that mean?”

The old Wizard turned his gentle gaze upon her. “Please forgive me, for I’d forgotten that you are a Normal. I will explain it so you may understand.”

There was another short pause then he continued, “Six hundred and forty seven years ago there was a Wizard-Elf by the name of Dragdani.”

“What’s a Wizard-Elf?” Helen interrupted. “Sorry.” she added.

The Wizard smiled. “Wizard-Elves are very rare and very powerful people. History scrolls say that there were only ever four. John is the Fifth Wizard-Elf and the only one that I have ever seen.”

Delsani went on to explain about John’s family history, and everything else they needed to know. When he had finished, he said, ‘Now I will explain the prophecies to both of you, if you’d like.”

“Yes, please” said Helen, who sounded absolutely enthralled with what she was hearing. She and John were both now listening very carefully to every word that passed the old Wizard’s lips.

“The First Prophecy warned that the Dark Shadow, which Lord Salith formed, would return by the fault of another evil, and this evil would assemble an enormous and very destructive force. From it, the races of Dorminya would suffer terrible losses of life, and this would plunge our world into darkness. The hatred among some races would grow, and some of the old alliances would die. It was the evil Wizard’s plan to leave our world defenceless against his influence.

“Understanding this, the Wizard Council kept the First Prophecy secret. They believed that if everyone knew of it, there would be panic, and any little trust that Wizards held would be gone in an instant. For men and Dwarves didn’t and still don’t trust Wizards. Fear is their main reason. They fear us because we are so different.

“It was fear and mistrust that caused the Council to lock the Prophecy in the vault in the Towers of Telian, in the land of Opredanas, and there they kept it. They only removed it when they were studying it. They thought that the answer to stopping this terrible event from taking place might be found in the Prophecy itself.

“They asked Dragdani if there was anything in the Prophecy that might stop it, but even he didn’t know. He studied it constantly but could find nothing else. The Council was losing hope when Dragdani told them of another vision he had, only the night before. As he related it, it was written down; for they knew at that time it was all that could be done. This vision has become known as the Second Prophecy.

“The Second Prophecy foretold that after the shadow of Salith gripped of our world again. The death mist, which Salith also created, would also return. Nevertheless, Dragdani also saw that from the Normal World there would come a very special Wizard-Elf. He would be the only one able to rebuild the alliances and lead all of the races against the shadow and mist of Salith.

“However, if this Wizard-Elf could not be found then evil would reign in Dorminya forever,” finished Delsani.

“What is so different about this Wizard-Elf?” asked John.

“Dragdani foretold that he would be the most powerful yet, and he would be descended from Dragdani’s own family line. And as you, John are his last descendent, you must be the one of which he spoke.”

John now looked astonished. “If you knew that I’m the one in the Second Prophecy, why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“Because we didn’t find out until today.”

“Why?” John asked with even more interest than ever.

“There was a blank piece of parchment rolled up with the prophecies, and as Dragdani left instructions not to discard anything in the scroll, it was kept as well.

“We’ve been studying the Second Prophecy for any clues too who it might be referring to. Then early this morning the blank parchment was no longer blank. It had a name on it, your name. And even stranger than that, it wasn’t your Wizard name, but your Normal name,” said Delsani informatively. “That’s why you must come with me now.”

A long silence filled the room.

“John I want to talk to you in private,” said Helen anxiously, as if she thought they were about to disappear in the blink of an eye.

“Then I shall wait here, but please do hurry,” said the old Wizard.

John and Helen went into the living room and shut the door behind them, while Delsani remained beside the dining table.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

As soon as they sat down, Helen not only sounded worried, now she looked it.

“I don’t want you to go. It’s too dangerous, and you said that you never wanted to go back to Dorminya.”

“Yes, I did, because –” John paused.

“Because...” prompted Helen.

“I was exiled, but this changes everything. If Delsani is right and I don’t go back. Then my world will be destroyed.”

“Those people threw you out of your home and destroyed your life. They haven’t shown the slightest interest in you for seven years. Now that they need you, they have the cheek to come here and ask for your help. They’re just using you. Don’t let them.” Helen’s anger was starting to show.

“You’re right. The Council did throw me out, but not everyone thought what they did was right. They’re the ones I’m thinking of. How can I let those people pay for the Council’s arrogance? And besides, I’m glad they threw me out. If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met you,” added John carefully. The last thing he wanted was to make his wife angry. She was no tyrant, but she did have an awful temper. John knew that if it flared he would most certainly lose the argument. Not that it would stop him from doing what he thought he must.

After John spoke, Helen thought that it did not matter what her view in this was. John felt too strongly about it. Besides, she also knew he was right. Why let the innocent pay for the stupid decision those idiots made? Furthermore, John was right about them not meeting if it hadn’t have happened. She frowned and said, “I understand, and I’m going too, and you can’t talk me out of it.”

“What makes you think that I would want to talk you out of it?” asked John who looked quite happy with Helen’s decision.

They got up together. John opened the door, and there was Delsani standing in the same spot.

“Well, what do you say? Are you coming?” he asked eagerly.

“Yes,” John answered. “We’re both going.”

“I think that would be for the best. It may not be safe for Helen to stay on her own,” admitted Delsani, “in case one of Ulicoth’s spies were to find out that you are married. He could try to use it against you. She should be safe in the towers.”

“Ulicoth,” spat John; his face suddenly losing its colour. All Wizards knew that name. Ulicoth once sat at the right hand of Lord Salith.

“Yes, the Dark Wizard-Elf. He was the one who brought back the shadow of Salith. He is the one that we must stop before he brings the red mist back as well,” said Delsani hastily. “There is one other thing that you must know about Ulicoth. We still don’t know who he really is or even where he came from. All we know is that Salith taught him over six hundred years ago.”

“Do you think he could really have so much power?” asked John.

“Yes, I am afraid he has become as evil, ruthless and almost as powerful as his master, and he will do whatever it takes to finish Salith’s work.”

John said nothing at first. Then he asked, “What does the red mist do?”

John had already heard about it, as he had heard of almost everything that the Wizard had said up to this point, but he wanted to be sure. It had been a long time since he had heard the stories, and he wanted to be absolutely sure of what he was walking into.

“You must have heard the stories, but the truth of the matter is, we’re not entirely sure,” said Delsani, “for it only ever claimed two victims, and it affected them both differently. The first was Alavil; she was the Elvin maiden that Salith forced to bare him a child, a Wizard-Elf. When Salith exposed her to the mist, it killed her, which is why some call it the death mist. The second victim was Queen Thoucil Dragdani’s mother. It turned her mad,” said the old Wizard. “You should gather whatever you need; we must leave as soon as possible.”

“Not until I call Joan and Harry,” said Helen. “We can’t leave without telling them. Besides they’ll cover for us while were gone.”

“There’s no need to worry about that. We will send some of our people to take your places while we’re away.”

“But how will that help? Our friends do know what we look like,” said Helen.

“I am offended by your lack of faith, young lady,” Delsani joked. “You forget who you’re dealing with here. Our agents will not only assume your identities. They shall also take your appearances as well.”

“But still, we should tell Joan and Harry.”

“Quickly,” urged John.

“How long will we be away?” Helen swiftly asked.

“In truth, I can’t really say, though I would guess at least five years in Dorminya. Then you could return to see to your lives here, if that is what you want,” replied Delsani. “That would be two years and six months in this world.”

“Right, okay two years and six months,” Helen repeated while rushing into the living room to call their friends. She had always had a terrible memory when it came to anything that was not connected to her books.

“Who are Joan and Harry?” asked Delsani when Helen was gone.

“They’re two of our closest friends. And the only other Normals who know what I really am,” replied John.

Helen came back into the room and stood between Delsani and John.

“So are you both ready?” asked Delsani.

“Yes,” they answered together.

“Now are you sure that there’s nothing you wish to take with you?”

“Perhaps some clothes,” said Helen.

“No,” said John. “We better leave now. We can get what we want sent to us later.”

Helen nodded in agreement.

Delsani reached into the inside pocket of his robes and took out his wand. The wand would have looked like an old ridged, dried up twig if not for the handle, which was metal and had strange letters engraved on it. The letters were of the Wizard language. For when Wizards graduate, their wands are given names. Usually one of the trainers, those Wizards who teach and train the young ones in the ways of magic would name their pupils’ wands. In the rare instance when a wand rejects the name it is first given, it may be renamed by whoever the owner of the wand may chose. After they are named, their names appear engraved into the handle. The name of Delsani’s wand was Ruvkel; the name of John’s wand was Fasruol.

As the three stood on the tiled Kitchen floor ready to leave, Delsani and John thought of the place they were going. And both held onto Helen. Then with Ruvkel in his hand, Delsani said, “Plias thi Dorminya.” He pointed the wand at the floor, and a continuous stream of smoke darted from its tip. The smoke rose from the floor very quickly, surrounding them, and all that could be seen were shadows. The next instant, they were gone.