Daros was incredibly fast, and the hill’s descent had been a dizzying blur. Now, they were soaring over the treetops. Below, a maze of rivers snaked in every direction. In the distance, the Blue Mountains rose majestically, and a large, pristine lake shimmered several miles away.

  The vorex dropped a few feet, skimming the ground, when a swift figure launched itself from the branches, tackling Teo and sending him sprawling, Noel still clutched in his arms.

  Teo landed hard on the grass, the attacker pinning him between their knees, two metal tridents crossed at his throat. It had happened so fast, Daros barely had time to slow his flight and circle back.

  The stranger’s face was hidden in the shadows of a dark magenta hood. “The hooded figure,” Teo thought, remembering the Draft he’d seen in the Library.

  “Who are you?” the stranger demanded, their voice harsh. “What were you doing riding Sir Phleas’s vorex? Are you loyal to him, or just another traitor? Speak now, or I swear, I’ll show no mercy!”

  “I’ve got nothing to tell you! How can I trust someone who’s threatening my life? Do what you have to do! If you’re a murderer, I’m already dead no matter what I say.”

  The hooded figure was taken aback. Never had they seen such bravery and stoicism from someone facing death. The kid’s gaze was defiant, but his voice was steady, his breathing calm.

  Daros was circling in behind the attacker. Teo tried to distract them, hoping the vorex would rescue him.

  “You’re treating me like I’m some kind of threat,” Teo said, his voice laced with scorn, “but I’m not the one holding a blade to an unarmed kid’s throat.”

  Daros was almost on top of the attacker, and just when it looked like he was going to bite them... he licked their cheek.

  A strand of blue hair fell across her face, finally revealing her. It was a girl! No more than eighteen.

  The vorex nudged Teo, licking his nose and forehead, clearly relieved to see him safe.

  “I don’t get it!” Teo exclaimed, bewildered. “Did he already know you?” he asked the girl, incredulous.

  “Yeah,” she replied. “And apparently, he knows you, too.”

  The young woman sighed, a hint of regret in her voice.

  “I owe you an apology for jumping to conclusions,” she said, sliding the metal tridents into her belt. “If Daros trusts you, then so do I.”

  Teo still looked at her with skepticism. Still, something told him to be civil.

  “I guess everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “How about we start over? I’m Teo. What’s your name?”

  “I’m Isgalis. I protect Vin’s Village, a small town in a clearing in the Fabras Forest. I teach self-defense to anyone heading to Ardoras looking for loved ones. Not many realize the dangers on the road to Luria.”

  “That explains the things you put around my neck.”

  “They’re called sai,” Isgalis explained. “I could teach you how to use them sometime.”

  “That’d be great. Thanks!”

  Once you got to know her, Isgalis was surprisingly kind.

  She had striking gray eyes and a delicate, sharp nose. She wore a turquoise thalien, a fitted combat tunic with a high collar, a graceful neckline, open skirts, and golden trim, over black leggings that allowed her complete freedom of movement.

  Noel stretched out in Teo’s arms, licking his hands.

  “What a beautiful creature!” Isgalis exclaimed. “What’s his name?”

  “He’s Noel. He’s my best friend!”

  “Are there many ‘Noels’ on Earth?”

  Teo smiled gently at her confusion.

  “No,” he explained, “only him. The species is called ‘cat.’ Noel is a cat.”

  “Oh, I get it!” Isgalis nodded.

  “Given your confusion, I guess there aren’t cats here in Ardoras.”

  “No, never seen one.”

  “Noel was a gift from my dad. I came to The Continent to find him.”

  “You must have loved him a lot to leave everything on Earth…”

  “With all my heart! When he died, there was nothing left for my sister and me.”

  “You have a sister?”

  “Yeah, Steffi.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Sir Phleas told me she’s in Nune. I was worried at first, but Dromegard’s with her, so I know she’ll be okay.”

  “She couldn’t be in better hands, Teo!” Isgalis said, smiling.

  “You know him?” Teo asked, his eyes lighting up.

  “More than you think: he’s my father!”

  Now that she said it, it made sense. Teo had noticed familiar features. And her blue hair was a dead giveaway. How had he missed it?

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  “Does that mean you’re a Mage like him?” Teo asked eagerly.

  “No,” she replied firmly. “My father’s a pureblood Mage, but my mother was a Lurian revived.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Pureblood Mages are born to two Mages, but my mother was a human from Earth, revived on Luria. That’s where my father met her and fell in love.”

  “You speak about her in the past tense…” Teo observed. “What happened to her?”

  “I’d rather not talk about that,” Isgalis said sharply. “We barely know each other!”

  “Right, sorry! That was insensitive.”

  Isgalis smiled a little, seeing the sadness in his eyes.

  “I guess we all make mistakes, right?”

  “Yeah,” Teo said, his spirits lifting. “Yeah, that’s true!”

  Isgalis patted Daros’s golden back.

  “It’s time for Daros to return to his master,” she suggested.

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Teo agreed. “He just had to bring me down the hill to the Fabras Forest, and he did. No reason to keep him.”

  “Then go back to Sir Phleas, Daros. Teo’s in good hands.”

  The vorex took off, soaring into the air, and vanished into the trees.

  “Alright, Teo,” Isgalis said, her voice bright, “time to come back to Vin’s Village and meet everyone.”

  “I can’t,” Teo said flatly. “I need to go somewhere else.”

  “Why? Where?” she asked, confused.

  “I didn’t want to tell you before, since I didn’t trust you, but since Daros likes you, I guess I can. I need to get to the Pipers’ village, but I can’t tell you why.”

  “I understand your distrust, given how we met, and I respect your decision not to tell me why you’re going to the Pipers’ village. But I have to advise you against continuing your journey without training.”

  “Why?” Teo asked, intrigued.

  “If you came to Ardoras to find your father, you’ll eventually have to go to Luria. Sir Phleas probably told you about the Enemy on the throne. As you are now, you’d have no chance against him,” Isgalis said bluntly. “But with the right training, you could.”

  “What makes you so sure?” Teo asked, skeptical.

  “I’m not a pureblood Mage, but I have some of their abilities. Mages can sense life force over huge distances. My father must have found you on Earth that way. It couldn’t have been easy.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Even though our worlds are connected by the Library of Babel, the distance is immense, and it weakens a Mage’s ability to sense life force.”

  “What’s life force?” Teo asked, bewildered.

  “The energy of a living being—its inner power. Your life force is incredible. I’ve never sensed anything like it, except for Raen.”

  “That’s impossible,” Teo protested. “I could barely fight you off!”

  “Your life force is hidden. That’s why it took my father so long to find you. He probably found you when it surged, after you had some kind of breakdown.” The boy thought back to Dromegard’s words about how he’d dealt with his father’s killers. “You need to learn to control it, and that takes training. Once you master it, you’ll have a chance against Raen.”

  “No way!” Teo said. “If that’s true, I don’t want that much power.”

  “Why not?” Isgalis asked, perplexed.

  “Too much power corrupts. Look what it did to the Vendalions!”

  “I understand your concern,” Isgalis said gently, “but your destiny is different. Because the Library of Babel revealed The Fated Path to you, and because of your life force, you can only be one person.”

  Teo’s eyes widened.

  “You... knew all along?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Isgalis replied, a warm smile spreading across her face.

  “Then why did you attack me?”

  “Everyone in Ardoras knows the prophecy of the Founding Father’s return: the benevolent King who vanished under mysterious circumstances and would return to punish Raen for his crimes. No one knew what form he’d take... or what his intentions would be. I had to make sure you weren’t just another wicked, depraved Vendalion.”

  “I know my race’s reputation,” Teo said, his voice tinged with distress.

  “But I’ve seen your heart, Teo,” Isgalis said gently, “and it’s filled with goodness, integrity, and strength. Now I know the legends are true: you’re the reincarnation of our beloved Founding Father!”

  “I have my doubts,” Teo said, frowning. “Even Sir Phleas couldn’t say for sure.”

  “Ardoras is a matter of faith, Teo,” Isgalis said, her tone reminiscent of his father’s.

  “But you’re right about one thing,” Teo said, steeling himself. “All I care about is finding my dad! Nothing in any world will stop me.”

  “Then take my advice and learn to control your life force. It’s the only way you’ll have any hope of defeating Raen and bringing peace to your father and all of Luria.”

  Teo felt cornered.

  “Okay, I’ll do it,” he said, the words heavy. “But who’s going to teach me about my race’s hidden powers?”

  “I am,” Isgalis said solemnly. “I know the Vendalions’ techniques and abilities. I know how they channel their energy and how they attack. And I know some evasive tactics that might help you avoid their blows.”

  “Aren’t you afraid of me, Isgalis?” Teo asked, looking down.

  “You’re a wonderful kid, Teo,” Isgalis said, lifting his chin, “and everyone in Vin’s Village is going to love you as much as I do!”

  “Vin’s... Village?”

  “Yes, that’s where you’ll start your training and meet the others.”

  “Who, Isgalis?” Teo asked, intrigued.

  “You’re not the only one who wants to reach Galath, Teo. Others have unfinished business in Luria, too.”

  “Wonderful news!” Teo thought. He wouldn’t be traveling to Galath alone. “That’s great, Isgalis,” he said. “But Sir Phleas told me to go to the Pipers’ village. I have a task to complete. It’s really important!”

  “Teo, the Pipers’ village is at least twenty-five miles from here, and there are dangers along the way that you’ll regret if you’re not properly trained.”

  “What kind of dangers?”

  “There’s an area deep in the Fabras Forest, near the Pipers’ village, that we call The Cold Plot. It’s a sinister place where it’s always freezing. Legend has it the ancient Ixarions, using the powers of the Eastern Mages, cursed the creatures there for stealing the Pipers’ music to create The Fire of Valrag.”

  “The Fire of Valrag?”

  “It’s a spell forbidden by the Ancient Laws: whoever bathes in its flames can transfer their mind into another race’s body. The Grimonds wanted The Fire of Valrag to steal the Ixarions’ strength and abilities. Fire and heat were extinguished in their lands, and they’re bound there forever.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “All Ardoras organisms have unique skin conductivity. It’s like a biological identifier for each species. Above The Cold Plot, there’s a magnetic bubble. If a Grimond tries to pass through it, they’re instantly repelled. They can never escape.”

  “But can other species pass through?”

  “Yes, because as I said, each species’ skin conductivity is unique and different from the Grimonds’. No one else would be rejected by the magnetic field.”

  A silent unease washed over Teo.

  “Don’t worry, Teo,” Isgalis said, noticing his concern. “With the right training, you’ll overcome that and any other obstacle. Now, you need food and rest. It’s been a long, emotional journey. Come on, follow me!”

  Teo nodded, and they headed for Vin’s Village.

  They crossed a Japanese-style bridge over a pond filled with blue water lilies. On the other side, a winding path led to a row of cabins along a stream. Farther away, there was a large field and a corral with animals. In the center of the village, between the cabins and the field, was a public square with a massive stone totem pole, sixteen feet tall. It was an imposing, enigmatic figure that Teo couldn’t decipher.

  “We’re home,” Isgalis said, patting Teo’s shoulder.

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