"3- Perspectives"BY;Fjm(Abby Sarita photos)

Today I followed him again. He didn’t get to the city by ship. No surprise, actually. Though no simple human could ever have walked out of the Mordjar forest with his life, maybe not even one of my kind, I expected no less from him. A member of the Order… and yet… much more. The master says his name is Cyrael, though I heard him say Cyrus. Master Arctorios spoke highly of him, he said he’s extremely gifted, with a power even superior to that anyone of my own race can wield.

Pretty hard for me to believe, for we elves are indeed unquestionably the most powerful among mortal beings, but then again… he is the master, and I would never dare to question his word. We elves are long lived… in truth, we live so long that we sooner or later forget our very age… and magic pumps stronger than blood through our veins, it fills our minds and souls, it’s a fundamental part of our beings and we can wield it as naturally as we can breathe, or walk. Combining the many hundreds of years of practice our long lives allow us to our natural magical prowess, it’s self-evident  we possess fearsome powers and an almost unmatched ability not only to call forth magical energy, but to shape it in ways lesser races can only dream of…

But oh, the master… he’s different. He and his equals didn’t simply use the power…they invented spells, ways to use magic for every purpose, every task, every accomplishment… they are able to create and destroy,  alter space and time, manipulate life and death, interact with spirits… total control, total power. They taught to the wizards of the old times everything that could be taught, the rest they left for them to discover, leaving it as a prize, a final achievement for those sufficiently powerful to reach such a level. They made my race powerful. It was that knowledge, those teachings that saved the remains of our glorious empire from annihilation  when the Great Invasion came, for even the most powerful of  the living can do little against the power of Hell…Anyway, though almost all that knowledge was lost to us that days, along with the lives of our brightest intellects and greatest heroes, we as a race owe them our home, our heritage… our very existence and the existence of all that matters to us… to me


I heard him talking with the locals today. I used my gift to enhance my senses, from a safe distance, while making my being a bit thinner, so as to avoid detection (a pretty useful trick in many occasions), and I heard many interesting things. After all, my task is track his movements, study his methods and gather every useful information I can come across to, while avoiding contact in any possible way.

First of all, it’s noteworthy that he found, rather surprisingly I must admit, a trusted ally. Usually, Black Capes like him just take control of places and people by force, or Edict as they call it. The result of course is a hostile base for their operations, filled with puppets devoid of any real effectiveness. However, this Dominic Gaan can hardly be described as a useless marionette. He is quick minded, capable with a sword, experienced in the ways of the world and, even if he himself doesn’t know it, rather committed. I sensed no hesitation deep within him. I believe underestimating him could lead to big complications. Complications we do not want. Anyway, the master foretold me largely in advance the events I now witness, and I can’t fail to see now how right he was in choosing this course of action. He waited here, in Haven, for him to come. He knew he would, and he knew when. He waited to meet him. He waited to test him. He waited because it is time he comes in contact with us, and he starts realizing that everything he knows… everything he’s been told, every word out of the mouth of his beloved First Counsellor  is false. The minions of the Order call my master’s kind the “Dark Ones”, and they spread with care their lies on their account. To call Dark Ones beings so bright… ah, a strange perspective indeed. It’s amusing and sad at one time how perspectives change the shape of truth in someone’s eyes. If only they knew…if only HE knew… but I have to prepare, he’s on the move again…

He finally decided to visit the Manor of lord Osten, one of my master’s agents in this city. Very well, everything as I was foretold. Now I must prepare the boat to set sail to Cape Dawn, at the end of the Silver Stream, where the second part of my master’s plan will be set into motion. It won’t be long before Cyrael finds my master and Jeren. At that point, I will be ready. Though the Witch Hunter is absolutely no match for Arctorios, we need to put distance quickly between us and him. It’s vital that he remains unharmed, the master has been absolutely clear on this point. Time to undo the concealment spell on our ship, the Lady of the River…

“Excellent work Jenesia, you served me well. As usual” he said smiling, and I felt pride rising within me. We were 2 full speed hours of navigation on the Stream away from Haven, out of the way of  the Order’s agent. “What do you wish of me now, my lord ?”said Jeren Osten, who was with us, his cover now blown. “You did well in these months Jeren. Fear not, for you may still aid our cause. You will be redeployed in Drassis, I definitely need your skills in the capital for the time to come. You will proceed there on the Lady. Jenesia will escort you, and help you…settle… in your new city. I, on the other hand, have business in Cape Dawn, and I will remain there for a while. You will both receive further instructions as you approach the city. I don’t need to remind you that the Cathedral, the fortress of the Order is in Drassis, and so is the First Counsellor Edgar Havelock, which makes your position somewhat more dangerous than normal. Be careful, and carry out your orders”.“Of course, my lord” he replied. “You know I will” was my answer.


But I felt uneasy. He didn’t mention his encounter with the agent of the Order. Well, actually, the master was usually rather cryptic about plans and explanations. He tends to say the minimum indispensable, sometimes half of it…Nonetheless, our operations in Haven were concluded, primary and secondary objectives fully achieved and I…somewhat expected a sort of debriefing, even considering I was not there during the final confrontation and during many operations conducted by the master and lord Osten. Most of all, I didn’t see why this Gaan had been chosen by Jeren as chief member of his staff just to end up on the enemy’s side…and then, how did the encounter with Cyrael/Cyrus go? And, most important of all: in these months they spend searching for the Artifact, what did they discover?