After falling unconscious I woke up in what seemed to be a wooden room, through the windows I could see that I was in the middle of a forest although I didn't recognize which one.

I quickly got up and went to look for my wife and daughter. When I left the room I could see a large living room, it seemed to be the living room although there were no tables. Merlin was sitting on a chair and in front of him was the blond man I had seen before, apparently, Merlin was helping him treat his wounds. The two of them saw me as soon as I left the room, their gazes reflected seriousness and a bit of sadness, after holding each other's gaze for a few seconds they both turned to look at a large white blanket that was lying on the floor, on it you could see several bundles.

My heart sank at the thought of who could be under the blanket. Thousands of thoughts began to fill my mind and my hands began to sweat from nerves. When I was starting to get too agitated, Merlin spoke to me, revealing my thoughts as he stood up.

-You're not wrong young man, someone very dear to you is under the blanket- said Merlin giving me a look full of pity.

-Is... is she my daughter?- I asked with fear

-No, fortunately, Conner managed to cover the girl with his body but I can't tell you that she is intact- revealed Merlin. Merlin walked until he stood in front of a bundle and delicately indicated to me that this was my wife.

Uncovering the blanket, Jadie saw the lifeless body of my wife. Her torso was bare, it seemed that her clothes had been torn off by force, on her shoulder a noticeable wound from a bite surrounded by some black lines that extended to her abdomen. Her skin was pale and there were no signs that there was ever magic in it, which was strange since every living being must leave signs of magic even in death.

I couldn't hold back my tears when I saw my wife's corpse and the little strength I had to walk had gone, making me face the ground. "How could I be so stupid as to ignore all the warnings?" As if he knew what I was thinking, Merlin came over and covered Dana as she told me what happened.

-I told them several times to stop their ritual, you weren't the only one I warned. Whatever they created was infested with the chaotic magic of damnatus. That thing gained the ability to drain life and magic from people through the bite- revealed Merlin -that thing took over the magic of everyone there in just a blink of an eye. I've never seen anything like this in my life-

-and it's lived for more than 5,000 years- Conner muttered to himself but Merlin heard him frowning

-what happened to that thing?- I asked

-it escaped- Conner answered -whatever they did to it, it made it very elusive, even Merlin can't detect it-

-I'm so sorry Merlin, if it weren't for us you wouldn't have to abandon your post in the war- I said with regret because surely thousands are dying for not having Merlin's protection

-don't worry about that, in fact, the war is already over- revealed Merlin surprising me

-it's over!?- I asked excitedly

-these months that they were locked up a lot of things happened, you must have heard some at least- said Merlin starting to tell me what happened

Apparently a month after our departure the 4 remaining dragrorn fought in a group and faced several gods Leaving them injured, unfortunately the dragorn died in battle, which means that there is no longer a single dragorn left in the world. Shortly after, the so-called "new gods" appeared, they not only supported the mortals but also with the help of the Benigns managed to separate the "one-land" into three different planes. Sealing the gods in what is now known as "divine-land", they then took a small portion of the remaining land along with a few of each race and sent them to a place where the influences of damnatus cannot reach them, that land is called "blessed-land", while we remain in what is now known as "ash-land".

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Not only that, it seems that Conner is one of those "new gods" along with 5 others which he did not mention much.

-tch, if only I had been in good shape I would have gotten rid of that thing already- said Conner irritated.

-can't you track that thing? I heard that the gods can know where anyone is if they know their name and their magic signature- I asked, but Merlin showed me a book, a book that I knew very well, it was my book.

-It seems that your theory was true, the fusion with the shadows is possible and it is completely undetectable for any of us. Now that thing cannot be traced by anything or anyone- said Merlin while the book disappeared.-I will take this book, we do not want it to fall into the wrong hands. In addition, I will continue investigating a way to counteract his fusion with the shadows and thus be able to track him-

I didn't object to Merlin's idea, if there was anyone who could find a flaw in the spell, he was the only person who could find it. I wanted to continue talking about what had happened next, but a noise from the second floor stopped me. I looked at Merlin immediately and he looked worried as he looked at his wall clock.

-Time was reduced again, they are becoming more frequent- said Merlin worried as he ran to the second floor.

Conner and I followed closely behind him, and in the first room as we went up the stairs I could see my daughter writhing in pain.

-Rhonna!- I exclaimed scared - what's wrong with her!?-

-Whatever you all did to Varion in that bubble, it managed to enter the girl's body- Merlin clarified

-But how? The bubble is supposed to keep the magic inside- I said upset

-Yes, but once the bubble dissolves the remaining magic will spread everywhere. Usually, this shouldn't affect adult wizards and sorcerers since they already have a fixed and established magic, but a child sorceress who is still absorbing the magic around her like a sponge is a completely different situation- said Merlin as he placed a hand on Rhonna's forehead and recited a spell.

-What's going to happen to her?- I asked worriedly, I didn't know what kind of effects such a ritual would have on a young sorceress, I had never stopped to think about that.

-... I don't know- said Merlin uncertainly -for the first time I don't know exactly what to do-

-But you can cure her, right?- I asked again -after all the magic of the ritual didn't hit her directly, it was just residue-

-I would like to say yes, but this is not the situation- clarified Merlin -I will take her with me, I will go to "New Corinth" There lives Arlene, the benign of love and from what I know Zirone, the benign of wisdom, went with her to replenish the city library, maybe the three of us together can do something-

Merlin took Rhonna in his arms and carried her out of the house, there I saw that we were in fact in a huge forest, a little far from the kingdom, I wondered how we had gotten there. Instantly, as if Merlin had heard my thoughts, he answered me.

-By the way, I recommend that you stay away from the kingdom "Tears of Arathea", it is no longer a safe place- Merlin clarified while carefully putting Rhonna in a carriage. -In fact, that is not even its name anymore, now it is called "Tears of Blood"-

-What, what happened!?- I asked confused

-In these 5 days that you were unconscious many things happened- said Conner -The creature you created calls itself a vampire or rather The King of Vampires and that is not all, apparently the bastard can turn other people into vampires. Now they are like cockroaches, they are destroying everything and everyone in the kingdom-

Then the pressure began to increase on me, I was one of those guilty of having created that vampire and now that vampire was creating an entire army of more vampires.

-Is there something I can do? I don't want to leave things like this- I said firmly, I'm not going to sit there waiting for Merlin to cure my daughter while those vampires increase like rabbits.

-There is, and you must do something- Merlin told me seriously while he took out a golden leaf from his clothes, it seemed as if it had been covered in gold.

-What is this?- I asked taking the leaf

-It fell from the sky when I took you out of the city, it fell directly on your chest- said Merlin -You can feel it right? The magic-

-Yes, which is strange- I said seeing the leaf emanating a very pure and powerful magic

Merlin continued loading his things into the carriage, while I continued admiring the leaf, it was impossible for me to believe that something so small could emanate such magic.

-You have angered Elder, the tree of life- said Merlin seriously surprising me -The vampire that you all created uses the chaotic magic of Damnatus which is not natural, and now as the last survivor Elder wants you to take responsibility-

-And what do I have to do?- I asked confused

-That, young wizard, is something that you have to discover- said Merlin and then turned to look at Conner -And you, you already know what to do- Merlin looked at me again and said with a smile - Don't worry, our paths will join again very soon-

-Calm down, I'll take care of it- said Conner

Merlin nodded and got into the carriage looking at us for the last time and then moved forward leaving us behind, Conner didn't take long and got ready to dig a hole, which I also began to dig to bury my wife.