When the first rays of sunlight heralded the next morning, Fengari reappeared in their room. They washed up in the shared bathroom and then decided to eat something before setting off. Cale hoped that Grischa would show up again, but he didn't until the end. His future friend had barricaded himself in his room, but he was obviously not sleeping. Cale briefly considered saying goodbye to him, but decided against it.

With Fengari in his arms, he thanked the owner for his hospitality before leaving. With one last glance at the inn, Cale turned into the nearest alley to find a place where they could disappear unnoticed.

"Sir Adenia!", Cale suddenly heard someone call. He immediately recognized the voice and took a step back. Grischa had thrown open the windows and was standing there half naked. Only his tousled hair revealed that he had been in bed until just a moment ago. "Are you just leaving without saying anything?"

"I didn't want to wake you."

"Just do it next time!", Grischa replied as Cale slowly walked back to the inn. "You're on your way to Exarion, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go together."

"Are you leaving too?"

"Yes", confirmed Grischa and disappeared back into the room. "Wait a moment, I'll be right down."

Cale did just that. He didn't want to pass up the opportunity, even if he could have simply disappeared. And Grischa kept his word. Barely three minutes later, he appeared with a suitcase in his hand and hurried over to Cale.

"Don't you want to say farewell?", Cale asked cautiously.

"To whom?", Grischa replied. Cale let his gaze wander back to the inn before deciding not to pursue the matter further.

"Well then?", he replied, setting Fengari down on the ground. "We're traveling on foot and don't have much money with us."

"I almost figured as much - from your lack of luggage", Grischa countered mockingly. "If it's okay with you, I'd prefer to fly. I can take you with me if you don't mind."

"Both of us?", Cale repeated in amazement. Grischa had only become a High-Magician five years ago and had no previous contact with magic. Therefore, Cale assumed that his mana control was not the best, even if Aaron was teaching him.

"That should be feasible, yes", Grischa confirmed, releasing mana, which neither Fengari nor Cale failed to notice. The next moment, Cale watched as Grischa built an invisible platform under his feet and then began to lift it.

<Not very stable, I must say>, Fengari commented in his mind, clinging to Cale's leg at the same time.

"I know. Just stay close to me. If it collapses, I'll make sure we get down safely and don't attract any more attention."

"Okay."

"I have to admit, I've never had real passengers before", Grischa said simultaneously with Fengari's reply. "But don't worry. My ruthless teacher really drilled into me how to use it."

Cale cleared his throat amusedly, while Fengari just looked up in confusion.

"Those are the best teachers", Cale replied with a grin.

"I don't know...", Grischa muttered as he reached a good height just above the city rooftops and started moving. "...in 5 years, air magic is pretty much the only thing I can use reasonably well. The students at our magistrate learn all four elements during that time."

"They also don't have Igrikum inside them that they have to control at the same time."

Surprised, Grischa turned to him.

"Please concentrate on flying", Cale added immediately when he could feel Grischa's mana becoming unstable.

"Did you have much contact with the High-Magicians?"

"Only with the Eldest", Cale replied, sitting down carefully on the invisible floor.

"Right, you mentioned that. I should have guessed."

"You're not the only one who has problems with it. It comes with time, and eventually it will be as natural to you as breathing."

"That's what Aaron always says", Grischa muttered, followed by a sigh. "That reminds me, I never asked you how you are connected to the Magistrate. What do you do for a living?"

For a moment, the same thought that had crossed his mind yesterday during his conversation with the waiter flashed through his mind.

"I'm something of a global source of information and mainly available as a consultant. Usually, people pay me when they want to find out something."

"And what kind of information do you have that the Magistrate doesn't?"

"You'd better ask the Eldest. I have a rough idea of what he wants from me, but I don't know for sure."

"Well, you seem to be good at keeping secrets. Have you ever sold information from Altona to other countries?"

"It depends on the information, actually", Cale tried to evade the question, knowing full well what Grischa was implying. "What about you? What position do you hold in the magistrate?"

"That of the eternal apprentice", Grischa replied, which Cale used as an opportunity to change the subject.

For the next 30 minutes, they talked about life as a magician, specifically third-stage magicians, as they could see the city walls of Exarion in the distance. Fengari sat up with shining eyes when she could see the city.

"I didn't think it was that big!", she exclaimed in amazement.

"Wait until we get there. You'll definitely like it", Cale replied.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Shortly before they reached the city, Grischa set everyone safely on the ground. Cale politely thanked him for the ride before taking Fengari's hand and walking along the path. As usual, soldiers were waiting at the entrance gate, but they did not ask for their identities when they noticed Grischa.

It was a strange feeling for Cale to think that - just over a week ago - he had had to abandon this city to the creatures and Thormods. Memories of talking to Grischa on the roof of the Magistrate a few months ago, shortly before the second wave arrived, came flooding back. However, when he remembered the shattered houses and blood-covered streets of the city during his second life, he got goosebumps.

"Is this your first time in Exarion?", Grischa immediately snapped him out of his thoughts.

"No, I've been here a few times. I know my way around relatively well, I must admit."

"Then I'm superfluous as a tour guide."

"Oh, no. Your company is very refreshing", Cale replied amusedly.

"I'm glad to hear that. Excuse me if I sound rude, but how old are you?"

"I'm 25."

"25? Really? You're the same age as me?"

"You're 25 too? You look older."

"I hear that a lot. I was born in Winter 2. What about you?"

<Winter 2, 1120. A beautiful date. So he had his birthday when he was sick? Why didn't he mention that?>

"Summer 77."

"You're even older than me", Grischa admitted, stunned. Mentally, this statement was true, even if physically it was miles away. Only a moment later did Grischa seem to realize that it was the same date on which he had risen to the rank of 3rd stage magician. "Summer 77, 1120?"

"Correct."

"Did anything happen on your 20th birthday?"

"You mean, apart from your incident in Persiven?"

Grischa did not respond.

"No, not that I know of. Why the curiosity?"

"Just wondering...", Grischa muttered, but Cale's attention immediately shifted to the Magistrate. He could only see the roofs of the building, but he could still sense the mana sources of all the High-Magicians who were there. Mana sources of people who had died in his last life.

Grischa also took the lead at the entrance to the Magistrate and registered Cale and Fengari as guests of the Eldest. As soon as they entered the property, Cale recognized the first familiar face.

Rangar.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he watched the broad-shouldered man duel with several other mages. The last words he had heard from the 2nd Seat were the warning about the presence of Chairman Hosik. His heart beat even faster when Rangar turned around, raised his hand, and greeted Grisha, while Cale kept a low profile and tried to act normal.

Cale had to force himself to remain calm as Rangar approached him with a grin.

"Grischa, man! Where have you been all week?"

"Visiting some friends. Are you fighting the poor students of Sefra again?"

"I'm just showing them a few tricks", Rangar quickly evaded and looked at Cale. "Ah, pardon me. I am Rangar Castero, 2nd seat of the Magistrate."

"Pleased to meet you, my name is Zod Adenia and this is my daughter, Ahri."

"A lovely girl", Rangar replied, crouching down and smiling at Fengari, who immediately hid behind Cale. "Do you like magic?"

"Rangar, she's a little too young to become a student", Grischa interrupted, sighing. Cale, on the other hand, placed his hand on Fengari, causing her to look up.

"Try offering her candy. That will pique Ahri's interest", he said helpfully, knowing that Fengari was curious. Fengari's eyes immediately widened, and she looked at the second High-Magician, whose gaze was on Cale.

"I swear, Rangar isn't a bad person, he's just a little...", Grischa muttered.

"A little what?", Rangar interjected, almost warningly, before reaching out his hand toward Ahris. "We have a lot of young magicians visiting today, and yes, we also have some desserts here. Would you like to see?"

"May I, Father?", Fengari asked cautiously.

"If you want to. Don't cause any trouble for the High-Magician, okay? Listen to what he says and behave yourself."

"All right", Fengari said cheerfully, letting go of her grip and walking over to take Rangar's hand. Cale didn't need to remind her again how to behave in the presence of magicians.

He trusted her to remain unnoticed.

As Rangar took her delicate hand, he straightened up again, still grinning broadly, when a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

"Ah, Grischa. I completely forgot. Two days ago, there was an attack by creatures on a village near the mountains in Sylve."

"By the beard of the Eldest, why didn't you say so right away? What happened?"

"We don't know for sure. Two magicians are said to have prevented the worst, but people have still lost their lives. The Eldest has gathered information from Sylve and called a meeting for tonight."

"I understand", Grischa said regretfully.

With that, Rangar took his leave and assured the supposed father that nothing would happen to his daughter. Completely unaware that he had just taken a dragon into his care and unwittingly given Cale the freedom he needed to speak with the Eldest in peace.

"You let your daughter go off with strangers pretty easily", Grisha commented, without giving the slightest thought to why Rangar had acted that way in the first place.

"I know nothing will happen to her. If anything, I'm more afraid that High-Magician Castero will fall for her cunning", Cale replied amusedly and took a few steps toward the Magistrate front door. The only reason the magicians didn't ask about his identity was because Grischa was with him. It made it easier for Cale to enter the Magistrate than to go through the bureaucratic process.

"You have great trust in us."

"Of course."

"What an honor", Grischa replied, partly ironically, and walked through the Magistrate with Cale. "I can't guarantee that the Eldest will have time for you right away. From the sound of it, he's going to be swamped with work."

"It would be wonderful if you could talk to people all over the world without having to write letters or meet in person, wouldn't it?"

"That would be the dream", Grischa commented and paused for a moment before turning his gaze to the blond Mann. "Weren't you surprised to hear the news? You didn't show any reaction."

"I knew it, yes", Cale confirmed, forcing himself to sound as calm as possible. "I suspect that's why the Eldest is looking for me."

"Because of the attack? Do you know the two magicians?"

"If you pay me, I might tell you", Cale ended the conversation abruptly, unsure how close Grischa and the Eldest were. They were a few meters in front of his office, and both Damian and Aaron were present. Grischa gave him a nervous look but kept his comments to himself and simply knocked on the door. When Aaron ushered the guest inside, Grischa opened the door.

"The young mage greets you, Eldest. High-Magician Thopas."

"You're back", Aaron commented casually as Cale remained standing in his position.

First Rangar and now Aaron.

Cale remembered the feeling he had when Aaron had died in his arms and the last words he had said to him. Until now, Cale hadn't thought about meeting his old comrade and friend - especially not so close after their death. But in an instant, all the feelings came flooding back. With iron will, he suppressed the urge to sob and quickly rubbed his face as a tear ran down his cheek. At the right time, because Grischa turned to him shortly afterward.

"I met a guest on the way."

With a fake smile, Cale now stepped to Grischa's side and both magicians entered the room. His gaze lingered involuntarily on Aaron, who was leaning against the table and looking at the newcomer with a neutral expression.

"Zod?"

"Hello, Raphael", Cale greeted the Eldest warmly. Aaron's surprised look confirmed all of Cale's assumptions at that moment. "Please excuse me for barging in unannounced."

"What a surprise. I wasn't expecting you so early", the Eldest replied . "Did you... take care of what you needed to take care of?"

"Kind of... but if possible, I'd like to discuss this with you in private."

"Of course. Aaron, Grischa, would you excuse us for a moment?"

"We're in the middle of..."

"Aaron, that wasn't a request", the Eldest interrupted the horrified comment of his closest acquaintance, who merely gave him a dry look and then straightened up. He dropped the documents on the table and gave Cale a suspicious look, while Cale just smiled. Without saying a word, Aaron stepped out of the room, followed by Grischa, who was visibly irritated by the situation.

Meanwhile, Cale's gaze remained fixed on the two magicians with whom he had spent most of his time in his last life. Even when the door closed behind them, Cale's gaze lingered in the void for a moment, prompting the Eldest to speak up.

"Are you all right?"

Suddenly, Cale created a sound barrier in the room, because both Grischa and Aaron stopped in front of the door. He knew Aaron all to well and suspected that, despite the Eldest's warning, Aaron would try to find out what they were talking about.

"In a few minutes. It feels strange to face Aaron like this. The last memory I have of him is him dying in my arms."

"Excuse me?", the Eldest said, horrified.

"We'll talk about that later. Let me tell you what happened on the Holy Island first."

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