Alinor

The Lady of Light nodded, "Thank you, please, rest and have some food." She looked at her adopted nephew, "Lord Killian, it looks like we'll have to make this trip first."

Killian nodded, "Lady, you should go, I have some other things to take care of. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go with you back to the capital or to investigate the magical disturbance."

The Lady paused, her eyes downcast, "This is what I was afraid of. I thought that if I came, you wouldn't refuse me." She smiled at him sadly, "In this world, only you dare say no to me, child. You know that I can not bear to force you to do anything."

Killian looked at the Lady of Light, "Thank you, my lady, for doing everything you could for me." She was treated like a living goddess, and her word was law. It was she who convinced the King of Dycathion to house him, when the King of Londaros wanted him dead. And it was because of her that he had been allowed to grow into the man that he had become.

The Lady of Light shook her head, "Your mother was one of the few people in this world I could trust with my life. And you are every inch her child." She shook her head, "Are you sure that you've made the right decision?"

Killian stood up and gave her a bow, "It's time, my Lady. I won't put it off any longer."

The Lady of Light sighed sadly, "I pray that you won't be harmed. I can not rescue you, as I must maintain the balance between the three kingdoms." She looked out of the ornately gilded window, "I only hope that you can spare those who do not deserve death." Her fingers tapped the glass in a quiet rhythm, "I taught you all that I could, but I never taught you mercy. But I do not regret it."

Killian bowed but said nothing.

An attendant in green livery, lined with white silk came and bowed to Killian and then bowed deeper to the Lady of Light, "Most revered Lady, my Queen begs an audience with you and my Lord." His voice shook with emotion, after all, he had never been so close with the living emblem of humanity and magic, and most likely, he never would again. The Lady of Light smiled graciously, "But of course."

They walked down the corridor of the ornate hall, the gold molding shone in the dancing light of the hundreds of candles.

The bloodbath that had washed the palace was nowhere evident. Queen Osirana stood in the middle of her glittering court, she wore a gown of emerald lined and the traditional diamond and pearl circlet. She smiled and curtsied low, showing respect to the High Lady, "Gracious Lady, please receive our humble and most sincere apologies for not receiving you in the style in which you must be honored. We had ... a minor inconvenience, and must beg your forgiveness."

Jacen snorted, "Our invasion was a minor inconvenience? Does my lady also think a lion is a kitty?"

"As much as I think you a great man, my lord." Queen Osirana's voice was cool. Lord Jacen reddened, he opened his mouth to argue only to have Lord Evans step on his foot.

The fourteen year old queen turned to Lord Killian, "Lord Killian, I have inspected the treasury, and have brought you the Sword of the Undying. Forged three thousand years ago by the master blacksmith Dwarf Harik" She beckoned her finger and a man came to him, a sword in an ivory scabbard sat on an emerald pillow, the black pommel with its black jewel glittering in the firelight. Next to it, sat the concession of land to Dycathion.

Killian took the sword and drew it out of its scabbard. It shone with a glow indicative of its superiority over all other swords.

The Lady of Light reached out, "Give me your sword, child."

The Lady of Light reached out with a finger and touched it, the steel sang as if it had been struck by a hammer, "An extra layer of protection for you." The soft white glow faded and the sword returned to it's original form. Killian was the only one standing in the crowded room of nobles as every man, woman and child knelt down when the Lady of Light blessed the sword.

"Thank you." Killian said, and bowed deeply. He gave a nod to Queen Osirana who nodded graciously.

Killian turned to the Lady of Light, "My Lady, I leave you."

"Go safely child." The Lady of Light gave him a smile, "I hope you find what you're looking for."

Lord Killian nodded and turned to his general, "Is the army ready for the march?"

Lord Evan nodded, "At your command, my lord."

Killian nodded, "We leave now."

The court watched as the young lord, who was one of the most feared generals in the world, strode out their grand palace. In conquering Alinor, Killian had solidified his reputation as on of the greatest commanders in the history of Dycathion. A legend whose fame would only grow in the years to come.

"My lady, will you stay a fortnight?" Queen Osirana asked as she walked the Lady of Light to the Dais. The gracious lady smiled and shook her head, "Thank you, Queen Osirana, but we too must depart. The king of Dycathion is waiting for me at the capital. But, before I go, I give you my blessing." The Lady of Light held Queen Osirana's hand a moment, an act that made every noble gasp, for this was no small blessing.

With that, the Lady of Light nodded to her mage acolytes and journeymen, they raised their hands in unison as the Lady brought out a white stone. She murmured a few words and the company of light mages disappeared in a flash.

The lords, ladies, and even mages fell to their knees in adulation.

The Capital of Dycathion

The moment the King received word that the Lady of Light, head of all mage factions of all the kingdoms was coming, he ordered the entire city cleansed.

Priest Mages lead their servants and apprentices to clean every shrine and temple in every district until they shone bright white. Men, women, and children took a rest day and swept their houses, shops and the roads.

On this day, the roads washed and swept, all the stalls without the royal seal of approval were removed, beggars and the poor were given new sets of clothes and ordered to keep off the streets or risk being thrown out of the city. People gathered white rose petals and lined it along the grand road from the city gates to the palace.

"Most honored lady, wouldn't it be better to travel direct to the castle gate?" One of her acolytes, Mae asked, her nose slightly upturned to the large crowds people who were gently throwing rose petals into the air. The Lady looked at her and the girl reddened and bowed, "Forgive me lady."

The Lady of Light sighed, "You are still young, you do not understand that all people need hope. We are hope and protection for them. As a mage, you are revered for your power, but never forget, under my order, we are guardian of all people, even those without magic. They need to see that we are here for them as well." The girl bowed.

On the day she arrived, anyone who was someone rose two hours before dawn to wash with rosewater and other purification oils. Nobles ordered their finest liveries be brought out and pressed by the palace servants. Taking care to emphasize the need for pastel colors. For the living goddess preferred white to all other colors. Even the king and queen took off their traditional robes of red for pale ivory and rose cream silk.

When she arrived, the city was in hushed anticipation. The Lady of Light, knowing that this was more official than what she had encountered in Alinor, took care to walk the streets. Everywhere she went, the people knelt down and prayed for her good health, even if that was not necessary.

For as far as memory took them, the Lady of Light was always there. She guided people through their darkest hours and protected the kingdoms from all dangers that faced humanity. She was their beacon of hope, prosperity, and happiness.

The king and queen, with the court and each mage faction waited for her at the gates of the palace.

"Lady, thank you for coming in our time of need." The King said with a deep bow, "We would not dare to beg for an audience, if it was not a matter of the utmost urgency."

The Lady of Light smiled, "But of course." She looked at the congregation, "Thank you for your warm welcome" They bowed deeper in response. She looked at her own people, "I don't require assistance, please, go rest." Then she looked at the King, "Lunis, please have you head mage lead the way." King Lunis nodded and the Lord Mage of Dycathion, himself a Grandmaster of magic, came forward, "Gracious Lady, it will be my honor."

They were led to the tower in which Killian had kicked Cybelline off of the other night.

The Mages Tower, the pride of Dycathion, that had stood here since the fall of the Fae and Folk stood higher than any tower in the city. It was the landmark of the palace and had been a place of learning for mages for thousands of years, famed across all kingdoms. Only the strongest mages were invited here to study, and those who graduated from the school went onto become the most famous and powerful mages of their time.

Immovable and a symbol of the dominance of mage and magic, it stood tall and proud against war, earthquakes, fire, and storms.

As they approached the grand structure, a tremor ran through the land, the tower seemed to shudder.

The Lady, whose face rarely showed more than a tiny hint of her true feelings stared at the tower in quiet contemplation.

She looked at the men, "Who has been here the last few days."

"No one, my lady." The Lord Mage responded. Then he remembered, "About a month ago, Lord Killian said someone had broken into the tower. They stole a few magical ingredients. They were precious, but nothing was damaged. We have inspected every inch, my lady. Just an ordinary thief"

The Lady of Light reached out her hand, a seed of her magic flew toward the tower, she closed her eyes, "You could not be more wrong."

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The Land Inside the Ring

Cybelline saw the blood flowing out of her fingers, pumping life out as fast as it could. She felt the fog enclose around her, its softness touching her skin. She heard the stupid fox yelling at her to stay awake.

I really should have just left those books in the tower. She thought irritably.

You? A familiar voice rang in her mind.But this is not possible...

Cybelline frowned and thought irritably at the sound of the invading voice, Sorry the person you're trying to reach isn't available right now. She's working hard to not die from her own stupidity.

How can your blood activate the curse within the books? The voice seemed to be talking to itself in disbelief. Unless...

Then the voice became urgent, you must hang on. Once the books are written in your blood, infuse your magic into the books. You must gather your magic and break the curse by force.

Why should I trust you? Cybelline wondered at the voice, if she wasn't suffering from massive blood loss this would be so much easier.

I am the spirit you met in the Mages Tower in the Capital of Dycathion. Child, listen, to break the seal within the books, infuse your magic into every word on every page of every book, if you don't, you will die.

Ah. Cybelline said after a moment, Can you give me quick update on what's going on?

The voice paused, You don't know what's happening?

No, but I am dying, so if I can have the summary version, that would be much appreciated. Cybelline said lightly, her face becoming paler by the second as the blood continued to flow quickly from her fingers.

I felt the call of the Source. The voice finally said, and I am Ophea, a First Blood Fae and Lady of the Fire Fae. Those books contained a powerful secret that I had been tasked to protect. But I was captured and the human mages cursed these books so that its secret would never be revealed, as they could not figure it out themselves. It is only by binding my life with these books, did I save them from destruction. I never thought that someone could awake the magic again. That is why I wanted you to destroy them.

And the Secret? Cybelline asked.

I can not remember. The voice said in anguish. They wiped it from my memory.

Okay, fun fact. Cybelline said, I may have absorbed the Source. But I'm not very good at controlling it, so breaking the curse on these books may be a little dangerous.

You...haven't...been...taught. The voice was incredulous. Gods save us all, you might destroy the world.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Cybelline said drily.

I will guide you through it. The voice said after a moment, you must feel for the magic - the Source - within your body and then, little by little, feed it into the books.

How? Cybelline focused her concentration. A normal person would have already fainted in this situation, but not Cybelline. She closed her eyes and inspected the golden ball of power in her chest.

It was a strange thing, solid one moment, liquid the next, crackling with lightening, or hissing with fire, it was being held captive by the golden net of her magic.

Take you magic and imagine it in the form that you want it to take. Shape it with your mind and your will, concentrate, do not let even a single strand of it escape your control!

Cybelline dragged herself up to a sitting position and, taking a deep breath, began to work.