Around the Fire

After a cough that seemed more feigned than real, the old mage slowly raised himself and sat down in front of the campfire that separated us.

At first, I was worried he might want to continue the earlier confrontation, but it seemed he had calmed down.

"I deeply regret my previous behavior," the mage said, stroking his long beard. "The fact that I’m still alive means you’re not my enemy."

"No, it means you were lucky I wasn’t here," Merite declared, her orange eyes seeming ready to spark at any moment.

"Raising a hand against my master is a death sentence. I don’t know why you’re still being allowed to breathe," Coletto said, her words leaving behind a chill like cold mist.

"Merite, Coletto, I already said there’s no problem. It was just a misunderstanding. Or are you incapable of listening to me?"

"I’m sorry, Zendal…"

"Forgive me, master…"

The mage, for his part, barely reacted to the fury of the two spirits. But one couldn’t really expect much from him. From the moment he had awakened, he had shown a submissive, resigned attitude, as if it wouldn’t surprise him to fall dead at any moment.

"Relax, elder. My two companions are just a little… overprotective. I called them because you seemed to have some contact with spirits, and I thought you could see that I’m not your enemy… perhaps it wasn’t the best idea. But I don’t intend to harm you, that’s the truth. I only want to speak with you for a while," I tried to calm him with words.

"As you may have heard, my name is Zendal, and these two are Merite and Coletto."

At their introduction, the two spirits gave the poor mage nothing more than a cold glance before turning their eyes away in disdain.

I can understand why they’re angry with him, but it seems I’ll need to teach them a little diplomacy if I plan to take them with me to important places in the future.

On the other hand, something tells me Lirilien would be capable of ordering an execution while keeping an angelic smile…

"My name is Meldior… I am one of the Archmages of the Isle of Mages. But that is a meaningless title before someone like you," the old man began his introduction. "For years I have sought the approval of the ancestral spirits of the Abyss, yet I see that my actions against you were the final nail in the coffin."

"Don’t worry, Meldior. I already said it was I who caused the collateral damage that led to the misunderstanding. Let’s leave the past where it belongs."

Later, Meldior told me he was about to retort that it had been the danger he felt upon seeing me, more than the sudden attack he almost suffered, that made him go on the defensive. But under the cold gaze of the two spirits, he had chosen to remain silent.

"Thank you very much, esteemed and powerful lord," the mage said, bowing his head in reverence.

"There’s no need for formalities… but why do you call me a lord?"

"Because it is clear that the two beautiful ladies are your attendants. Of course, on the Isle of Mages there are also those who form pacts with powerful spirits, but beyond that, your aura is unlike that of any living being I have encountered in my long life."

"I appreciate the compliments, but we haven’t formed a pact yet," I replied, trying to stop my interlocutor from putting me on such a high pedestal.

"My master is the new lord of Deeproot Sanctum, or rather of what used to be Deeproot Sanctum," Coletto declared.

"Just because you’re young and ignorant doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show reverence," Merite added, never missing the chance to assert her seniority over someone.

So much for my attempts to keep my interlocutor from placing me on too high a pedestal.

"Merite, I think you’re underestimating our guest. It was only because of a gift (from a friend?) that nothing happened to me. Something tells me Meldior has yet to reveal even the surface of his true abilities."

"It’s fine! It has been a long time since anyone called me young," the mage said with a laugh that made me think of Santa Claus. "It’s true, compared to the life of a spirit mine may seem quite short… But I see now, I stand before the lord of the spirits of the Abyss."

"Not at all. In fact, I was forc—became the leader of the spirits only recently. The de facto leader is still Lirilien."

"Lirilien?! The legendary spirit, daughter of Queen Guindelair?!" Meldior’s eyes opened wide. "Is she in the Abyss?"

His profound respect for the princess of the spirits seemed to soften Merite and Coletto’s expressions somewhat.

"Well, she’s not exactly in the Abyss anymore… But that’s a story for later." There was something I had wanted to ask ever since I heard a certain name. "You said you’re from the Isle of Mages, correct? Do you recognize the name ‘Sylvara’?"

"Another revered name has surfaced," Meldior said, stroking his beard. "As with your own name, if I may say so, lord, few would dare give it to their children so lightly, for its most prominent bearer was the first Supreme Arcane Authority and founder of the Isle of Mages."

"Yes, my parents weren’t very knowledgeable about the history of this world… But more importantly, do you know what became of her?"

"I regret I cannot help you," Meldior said, lowering his head in apology. "Like the First Emperor and many others, she vanished along with the end of the Primordial Era…"

"I see. Well, that was to be expected…"

"Perhaps if you visit the island itself, you might find records with more information about her whereabouts," the mage suggested, raising a finger. "Ah, but I don’t know if your position as leader of the spirits of the Abyss would allow it, and perhaps your aura might draw too much attention…"

"There’s no problem in any of those respects," I replied, activating Veil of the Rising Sun. Perhaps it wouldn’t make me go unnoticed among people already watching me, but at least I could conceal that aura everyone kept mentioning.

"Oh, now it seems I’m in the presence of an ordinary human… ordinary, but magnificent!" Meldior quickly added the last part after receiving sharp looks from the spirits.

"Could you tell me how to reach the island? My memory has been unreliable lately…"

"Of course. In fact, I was heading there myself on urgent business. You could come with me."

"Urgent business?" I asked.