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The camp they are about to land in looks just empty. Everyone is securing the castle except a hand full of guards to watch over their catapults and tents. Most healers stayed back too, caring for the wounded that are brought back here.

Zaiya sets down the sorcerer gently, then stumbles as she tries to land herself. Kin gets tossed off her back when she inelegantly drops chest first on the grass.

Rachel tilts her head, slightly worried. "Your performance at the tower was not half bad, but the landing... your leg will really be ok?"

The phoenix settles down while Kin takes his spot next to her. "Yes, it just takes a while. How do you fly upside down? It.. doesn't work for me at all."

She shrugs "I think, it has something to do with what is wrong with my ability to eat magic. I can only... alter it a bit, but not remove it like others can."

Michael stares at her and adds quietly. "I have heard of that before. I knew a gryphon that could do the exact same thing. It is a very useful ability, just different."

The gryphoness nods and sits down "Yes, it is. It is hard to practice without a mage nearby, though."

Kin interrupts them there "Talking about magic. We have two very important problems we would like to ask for your help. The first one might be quick. This beautiful lady here seems to have developed the urge to fly into the sun. Possibly ending her life. Would it be possible to... set up something to protect her from that?"

Michael shrugs "I specialized in enchantments. I could write her a few rune words, that could make her immune to compulsion effects altogether. No expiration date either. But the enchantments the grandmaster put on the tower were sapping my power for fifty or so years while I was in the tower. It will take months to recover from that. I simply don't have the energy to do so."

Zaiya's beak claps as she opens and closes it several times before speaking "I can provide you with the power. It is very uncomfortable, but a small price to pay to.. be able to stay here and not throw myself up there yet."

Kin rubs her neck "We can wait a bit until he recovered?" But she shakes her head when the first words comes out of his mouth, then looks at the sorcerer expectantly.

"Those two are quiet close, aren't they?" Michael looks at Rachel.

She grins sheepishly and nods "Closer then you think."

He sighs "We can try. I have some experience with utilizing the abilities of someone else. It should be easy..."

Zaiya freezes and tenses as the sorcerer starts drawing dark green runes into the air and familiar red bubbles seems to come from every part of her body to form a glowing, red stream towards the symbols hanging in the air. The feeling is always the same, as if someone plucks a nozzle into your very being, your heart, then sucks your life force away. She shivers and rubs against her carpenter. The mage seems to be at the same level as Bartholomeus was, but she is much stronger now.

Kin tries to follow the movements of his hand that draws the runes into the air, but quickly gives up on that. The sorcerer even moves a couple of times. When Michael starts the sixth line, Kin wonders if he is writing a book or something. The spells he can think of right now has six symbols for the beam, collecting, heat, channel, beginning, focus and ending. The spell around Zaiya and him has over seventy symbols now – that is when he stopped counting. Rachel watches him work with the same fascination as the carpenter. Only Zaiya has her eyes closed, pressed against Kin's chest.

Michael realizes that both gryphoness and carpenter are staring at him, so he starts explaining. "I will not go through each symbol, but I will explain the parts of the spell. "

He waves the hand, that is not writing and about one fifth of the runes glows for a second "This part here. Is the protection against compulsion effects, the core of the spell." the glowing fades and three other parts light up "these three parts are sustaining their respective other runes with power. Not much is required, so the spell can take that energy from your surroundings instead of the phoenix. Then we have this here, which is a little trap that will activate a painful feedback loop, if anyone tries to remove the enchantment or.. hmm.. imagine a wooden box with a string attached to it. If anyone opens the lid the string will rip and a tiny glass bottle with lamp oil drops on an ever burning little flame. The only difference is, that not the box will burn, but the person that broke the seal. It should not be deadly, but very painful. This small part of the security spell will reactive it, once it has been triggered. " He takes a deep breath, his other hand keeps writing runes as if it had its own mind while he explains "And last but not least: This is what will protect and hide the enchantments from curious eyes. Even gryphons should not be able to notice it, unless they specifically look for it. As if our little wooden box is not a box but instead, magical feathers. Thanks to a phoenix very being, someone would have to watch VERY closely to see the magical traces of the enchantments. I could increase the effectiveness of the disguise, but it should be enough to hide it in your own magical aura."

Kin listens with his mouth open, wow, he really has to learn more about that. It sounds awesome.

He sneezes and spits out one of Zaiyas feathers, that got into his face from her rubbing against him. "Would you mind.. teaching me more? This just.. sounds so useful."

He laughs and stares at Kin. "I could teach you a thing or two, but it will take centuries of studying and practicing to become 'fluent' in runes. I.. now that I got a little bit of power back from Zaiya, I can see, that you have nothing. Not even the tiniest spark. You could only ever cast something with her help."

Kin smiles "Both is fine, we have time – if your enchantment on her works – and as long as she feels like supplying the power, I could practice spells."

Michael shakes his head "That is not what I mean. But you have a being of pure magic power on one side and yourself on the other. Someone with non of it at all. Like two sides of a magnet, pulling themselves together. I sincerely hope, that this is not a 'compulsion effect', else my enchantment may mess with it. The enchantment will leave 'normal' effects alone, like the want for sleep, love, fun. Everything that comes from her will be ok, but the effects from outside will not. If SHE wants to fly into the sun, the enchantment will not change it. If SHE wants to stay with you, the enchantment will not change that either. If both of your magical state draws the other near, then it might prevent that."

Zaiya starts moving her head at that, thinking, while Kin stares at him. He shivers as a strange cold fear crawls up his back. After a few moments, he shakes his head and takes a deep breath. "That is fine by me. If she decides to leave, I gladly will let her go."

She stretches her wing and knocks the back of his head painfully. "Stop talking such nonsense. I thought about it for weeks before doing the Kar'ahn with you."

Michael stops his writing "That is a very rare event, isn't it? I heard of only 3 cases in my studies. If you don't mind, I would like to hear of the effects it has and your experiences with it."

He steps back from his work. The air around the phoenix looks like a mural along a serial house completely covered in glowing, green runes. He goes over them one more time and pushes them towards the phoenix. They simply float through her or rather into her.

Zaiya does not feel any different. She coos when Kin strokes the feathers on her head again.

"I don't feel any different."

Rachel eyes grow wide and her beak opens as the runes disappear inside the phoenix, though. "I can.. see it clearly. It is like... first there was nothing, the moment later... Once someone showed me a 'clock'. It is a device that supposedly tells you the time of the day. TONS of tiny, spinning and moving parts in there. THAT is how it looks now."

Michael looks satisfied "Exactly. Don't mess with it, though. The traps I put in will also affect your kind." He grins sadly "I tried it with a dear friend."

She nods "I will not, unless they want me to."

The mage nods "Good. Now you two, I would be really grateful if you could tell me any changes you feel or notice. I am a researcher, a scholar always looking for more information..."

Kin's hands reflexively hold on to some feathers and the feathers on her neck as she lunges forward. One rips out, but the other hands feathers hold firm as his phoenix moves, her beak snapping shut beside Michael's face, drawing a bloody line across his cheek.

He goes completely pale and stumbles back, but the phoenix pursues him mercilessly. She seems like she is about to set a foot on his chest, but that limb is still missing, so she only hisses at him, while Kin dangles from her neck, tugging and pulling at her. Somehow she holds her balance just fine right now.

Michael's eyes seem to go even wider in shock as he realizes who this phoenix is.

"You are the phoenix the grandmaster abused for his research."

Kin tries to push her away or at least, make her turn her head, but it feels like pushing against a wall. A steel reinforced wall of bunker, built to withstand catapult fire. "ZAIYA! BIRD! CHICKEN!"

She doesn't relax, but at least, she doesn't move against the mage anymore.

He crawls backwards a bit more before he starts speaking again. "I am sorry for what happened to you. I can assure you, there are many sorcerers that condemn his methods. I accumulated far more knowledge then he did by more humane methods."

She struggles against Kins grip, even though she could easily just drag him along.

"I promise, that I mean you no harm. And I will not sacrifice your mental well being or comfort for any research unless you want to help on your own AND there is no other way. And I am certainly not interested in dark phoenixes. Quiet the opposite. That is why the grandmaster sealed me away in the tower."

Finally she relaxes and mumbles a quiet, embarrassed "Sorry about that." in their heads.

"No, I have to apologize on behalf of us researchers. I have read his books. Full of manipulation and in the end, he didn't even hold his part of the bargain. But lets talk about this later, you said you needed a second favor."

Zaiya lowers hear head and stares at him "You would still help us after I attacked you?"

He laughs "My dear phoenix. This was not an attack. I got bites worse then that from people that knew and cared about me. Your outburst just was unexpected."

She slowly nudges his arm. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me. You said it involves a phoenix seemingly made of light?"

"Yes, our daughter."

"Your... Ohhhh. I see. I see. I will tell you of my theories. I have never seen one myself, but I have read the books about dark phoenixes the grandmaster wrote."

He sits down so does the gryphoness and Kin, who leans against Zaiya.

"Ok, from his books, it seems dark phoenixes are hatched from unbonded phoenixes. The artificial bond that has been created also falls into this category. Their main goal is destruction. Luckily, they don't have an aura like your kind usually does. They are a perfect tool if you want to sow fear. With a lot of runes, he even managed to make that one compliant and guard my prison tower. After studying all his books, his intention to find more test subjects and considering all other things I know about nature and magic, I came to the conclusion, that there must be another kind of phoenix. One born of true love. This is pure speculation, thought, so take it with a grain of salt." He eyes Kin and Zaiya for a moment. "This offspring would not require any bond and probably depends on the phoenix more then the human. Or possibly the female of the pair. I am not sure. What I am sure about is, that this phoenix can 'cleanse' or 'heal' a dark phoenix. I assume it would turn into a normal phoenix. Considering the grand master's writings, I assume, that it would then go its natural path. He was planning to not just find a light phoenix, but create one with the chaos taint in it. He wanted to see how the darkness would consume the light and take notes. The sad part is, that I don't think, I could help with that. The only person able to help is dead. May be." He looks at Rachel "She had the same ability you have, but far more developed and practiced for centuries with me. May be we can find another way or may be something else happened to your daughter."

“Another sorcerer forced us into some other experiment. It was horrible with her pinned down and us forced to.. make an egg. She tortured Zaiya until we gave in. The whole thing was ordered by someone called Bartholomeus."

Michael gasps "The grandmaster? AGAIN? That is not good. Do you know where he is?”

Kin shakes his head “No, he would have let us go once the ritual is complete. Or.. that's what Rikka told us. Anyway, he didn't talk to us yet. May be his home is near Rikka's mirror?”

The mage rubs the sides of his head “That doesn't make sense. He would want to study the phoenix. Write about it. Experiment with it.”

Kin shrugs “True, she only said we both could go afterwards. But she also thought he wanted a dark phoenix. Anyway, we all three left together after Rikka.. um.. died.” He sighs. Still not quiet happy about it.

“He is very manipulative. Even with his underlings. Or especially to them. Where is your daughter now?”

“Oh, at home with a wandering mage. Pretty young and helpful. His name is Bart.”

Michael's face turns pale again “Bart? That's what I called Bartholomeus when we were friends, a long time ago.”

Zaiya shifts uncomfortably and Kin's gut also doesn't like the sound of that “But he is far too young. And his magic spells were not that great. He never used more then a dozen runes or so, not even when he regrew my eyes.”

The mages eyes turn to slits and his lips curl “You cannot heal simple cuts with that little runes, let alone eyes. Too much to consider. Several runes alone to keep the eyes the same color and size as well as the lids and movement of them. The whole movement and function of an eye has to be considered. Then you have to make sure the body regrows them itself without side effects AND accept the eyes as a part of it. You could prepare artificial pack of runes, but I dont think the grandmaster prepared healing spells. Clairvoyance and deception are his subjects.“

Kin raises an eyebrow and blinks at him “Pack of runes?”

The enchanter nods “Yes, you have to find a perfectly working combination of runes, then mix these together into one symbol. Then test that to make sure you get the effects you want – and only the ones you want. It is a tedious and time consuming process. And for something like that, you would need a lot of people with a very similar problem then the one you want to fix.”

Both, Zaiya and Kin stare at him, beak and mouth open.

Zaiya's eyes go wide “What? You mean, he did not help Kin at all?”

Kin pokes his elbow into her neck. “I guess, all the healing came from you then!” He pauses then abruptly gets to his feet “But.. that means, Kayda is in danger!”

Rachel already is at the mages side “Come, I will carry you.” But he hesitates “I am sorry, it is nothing personal, but, could I fly with Zaiya? I gave a promise to someone dear to me, that I would not fly with a gryphon.”

Both Zaiya and Kin are too worried to think much of it. The carpenter gets on the little gryphoness and Zaiya nudges Michael urgently towards her side and soon they are flying towards Juniper.

Akira is about to leave Sophia's infirmary, still heavily bandaged but it seems to no longer bother him.

“Oh, hey master of 'irds. I see you found a new one for your collection.” He chuckles. “What is wrong? Why so serious? If ya are looking for ya little one? The Mage and her went off to the gryphon aerie to see some old hen.” He blinks “Not sure what chickens do up there, 'ut whatever.”

He had dismounted, about to go inside before Akira's speech. After that, he jumps on the small gryphoness again, who takes a sidestep to balance his momentum, slightly confused.

“Thanks Akira. We can't wait. Will tell you later.” The gryphoness gets the cue and takes off once more. This time towards the city on the dam and the gryphon aerie above.

“Please let him be someone else.”

Rachel sounds serious too “I will help you as much as I can to find your hatchling. After that, I shall return and follow my queen back to Vealan.”

Kin rubs her head and grins “Thank you, sister!”

Rachel turns her head slightly and stares at him with one eye. The carpenter is not sure whats going on in her mind right now, but he hopes, its positive.

Zaiya takes the lead and zooms along the aqueduct, but Rachel is not too worried. She knows, she is faster then the phoenix. The reason behind it is unknown to her or anyone she talked to. Just like it is very difficult for other gryphons to keep up with her agility and none would even dare to try catch a ballista bolt in mid air. One reason, why the others see her as a freak – of course, her size, is another one. She can see, why the phoenix sticks to that human. He doesn't seem to care about the negative sides of his friends at all, while most people focus on these first – and then ignore the positive ones. The gryphoness wonders, how they live. What when Zaiya sleeps and her aura switches on? Will their house burn? Can she even FIT in a human house? Rachel gets poked out of her thoughts, when her passenger tugs a few feathers on her neck.

“I lost sight of the other two, that should be enough of a head start for them, right?”

She nods thoughtfully and gives him a moment to hold on before accelerating.

Kin does so, may be a bit too tight. Traces of the memory when she dropped him return to haunt him as soon as she speeds up like a bolt fired from a crossbow. He shuts his eyes against the wind and hangs on. What if Bart is Bartholomeus, did he trick them all this time? Just to steal their little fledgling? Why not swoop in and use some teleportation magic?

They ignore Amaya and the circling Vedh and go straight up to the aerie.

Bryant seems to be waiting for them already. “You are looking for your little one, are you? If not for her, we would have ripped apart that human. The nerv.. to just appear... teleport, with magic, into the middle of our aerie!”

He eyes them angrily. “You better make sure he won't come back here or he won't come back to you.”

Zaiya seems to be completely switched out for a different phoenix. Instead of being careful, timid, around the gryphon, she stares him down “I don't care what you do to him, if he no longer here. Is he?”

Bryant needs a moment to stomach her change in attitude. “I sent them to the old hen up there. As I told you, I cannot guarantee your chicks safety if I remove the curse-magic. Obviously, the hen cannot or doesn't want to help either – but I wanted to get rid of him AND bring her some.... HEY! You cant just ..”

Zaiya ignores him and simply takes off towards the highest spot in the area. The prime nesting spot the gryphoness 'conquered'.

Kin shrugs and quickly holds on, when Rachel laughs at Bryant's offended expression before following the fire bird.

The old gryphoness lies curled up in her nest, preening her wings and pulling out another of the green feathers. They must regrow pretty quickly. She gives a slight huff as they land, but else shows no reaction.

Rachel freezes and stares at her, ignoring any pokes from her passenger, if the old gryphoness noticed her, she doesn't show it.

Zaiya addresses the bird in a hurry – but with respect “We are back. Did some wandering....” She gets interrupted, as Michael jumps down from her side – at which she caws at him in irritation – and slowly approaches the ignorant gryphoness with stiff legs like a puppet without knees may walk.

“This is.. not possible...”

At the voice, she stops preening and gets to her paws. She stares at the enchanter and walks forward with shaky legs. Then she gives a chirping roar “YOU!”

In a blur of movement, she charges the sorcerer and hits him straight in the chest with the top of her head. The force knocks all air from his lungs and throws him back several steps. Before he can impact with the ground, she is back on top of him.

Zaiya to open her beak and take a step forward. Kin opens his mouth to let out a scared scream and Rachel still doesn't move more then her head to follow the battle before them.

One second at maximum. Just like with that dancing they saw before, the old gryphoness seems to completely defy any rules of physics.

Michael didn't give a single sound, beside the wheeze when he got his breath knocked out of him. He doesn't crash to the ground, though. The gryphoness wings bend forward far more then they should be able to and gently catch him before he can impact.

“YOU! Everybody said you were dead!”

He got tears in his eyes “I actually SAW you die. You had two lances in your chest and did not move, when they dragged me out of the cave!”

She snorts “I am a gryphon. Enchanted to no end by the only master enchanter there was and will be. Four little stab wounds cannot kill me!”

He punches her beak, similar to what kin had done. “They can, and you know that! I told you time and time again!”

“Then it is YOUR job to stitch me back together.”

“I wish I could have. I.. was held in a cell for I don't know how many years.”

He beak seems to try and press his nose into his skull “

“Sixty six years, eleven months and twenty two days. You left me waiting. AGAIN.”

He smiles weakly “I am sorry, sis. There was nothing...”

In a fluid motion, she makes a side flip and her wings SOMEHOW manages to toss him into the air, where she snatches him with her talons before her back legs push them into the air and off the cliff.

Kin is the first to find words – or at least, say something “What just happened?”

But both birds just shake their head and keep staring at the performance the gryphoness gives. It is the same, strange flight pattern they witnessed before. Complicated looking spins and twists, this time, the missing element is there. Especially, when the gryphoness seems to 'sit' on something invisible with her body still straight up and her leg stretched out. The Enchanter stands on her back legs with his hands holding to her talons, while the birds wings spin more like a hummingbird's then an eagles wings.

“Is this.. some kind of mating flight?”

Rachel turns her head and blinks at him “Most definitely not. I think, it … “ Her eyes grow wide and she turns her head back at the other two, studying their movements.

“I think, it is their kind of celebrating. When two gryphons choose to become battle siblings, they train for a special celebration performance. The whole aerie or at least, their combat wing is supposed to watch and celebrate. It isn't meant to be just the two...”

She carefully eyes Zaiya, then stares intently at the phoenix.

She claps her beak twice, then sighs before staring back at the gryphoness. “If you let him fall....”

Rachel smiles “I will not! Kin?” She takes a few jumps forward to the cliff before stopping. “I mean. Could we join them, please?”

The carpenter blinks, then looks back at his phoenix, unsure and if asking for permission before he realizes what Zaiyas sentence meant earlier. “Ok.. but, I have no idea what I have to do?”

She grins happily “He doesn't either. Look.”

It is true, as elegant the old gryphoness's dance is, no matter how much the enchanter tries, it still looks like he is more or less a ball tossed around by the bird. Zaiya waddles to the edge of the cliff to watch. A lot of worries on her mind. What if Rachel wants to take her 'battle brother' with her? Kin isn't a warrior. No, he would not do that. And more pressing matters: Kayda. If Zaiyas torturer has her, they cant just sit around and do silly dances. But.. on the other hand, the enchanter said, that he might be able to help with the black spot. And from all Rachel and him told them, she might be the person Michael was talking about. She gnaws at her talons nervously while watching both performances, her limb nearly fully regrown to normal length by now, but still needs time for the foot and talons. Rachel tries her best to copy Skyrah's moves, but is lacking behind in everything, speed, agility, ingenuity and size. At times, it looks like the old gryphoness is teleporting, when tossing the sorcerer into the air, fluttering around and above him only to dive down like a lightning and catch her plaything on her back, or chest or even wings. It is insane for Zaiya to watch.

After may be 10 minutes – what felt like hours to her - the phoenix lets out a worried screech before talking to all four of them.

“I am sorry to interrupt, but.. I am really worried about our daughter. That 'grandmaster' Bartholomeus tortured me for weeks in the past, and I do not want that to happen to our little one.”

The effect is immediate. Skyrah freezes and Michael drops past her for a few moments, before she dives down to catch him on her wing, then twists a bit for him to roll on her back, similar to those artists, that have a large ball roll around from shoulder to shoulder and down their arm and back.

Rachel catches Zaiya's human less elegant and quickly joins her on the cliff, sadly.

“I am sorry, you are right. I got carried away.”

Both humans look slightly green around the nose. Kin rests for a few more moments before gently scratching Rachel's head. “We will visit you, promised. May be even train some! And you are always welcome to visit us too. I am sure, we will find something to feast upon for you when you arrive!”

She snorts and pushes against his hand for more scratches “No need to concern yourself with that. I can hunt for myself. With your kingdom now being ruled by my queen, there won't be any trouble about poaching either.”

The old gryphoness glares at the sorcerer “You stay where you are. I am not letting you out of my sight for the next.. nevermind. You said Bartholomeus? He was the one that attacked us in our cave near Eagleholm. Him and his henchmen. You are saying, that he is behind everything with that little phoenix?”

Zaiya chirps happily, when Kin climbs on her back. “Yes, another mage captured us and tried to get another black egg from Zaiya. But instead, we got a brightly illuminated one with a dark spot on her chest. Thinking about it, Rikka said, that she altered the rituals to what he instructed her. May be he WANTED a light phoenix instead?”

Michael nods slowly “That sounds like him. He knew of my theory, but how did he learn from you both. And how could he know, that you two were so close to each other?”

Kin looks confused “We .. weren't. Rikka forced Zaiya to attack my village. The villagers managed to take her down with the aqueduct. She nearly drowned and luckily, got swapped past me right when I left my house. After that, she chased us for quiet a while. Zaiya recovered and Rikka ambushed us again. But... the last time, was definitely the last time.” He goes quiet after that.

Kin scratches his head, while Zaiya's body tenses as she focuses on the enchanter “You mean, everything was planned? My capture, the attack on the village? Kin saving me? Rikka chasing us? Me bonding him? Our love? Just to see if your theory about light phoenixes is right? That seems far fetched.”

Michael tries to slide off Skyrah's back, but she sidesteps and somehow defies gravity again to keep him there. “It may sound far fetched, but he has done similar things in the past. Never in that scale, though. And he could not have known you both would like each other unless he knew about your lack of magical energy. There was only one person I heard about without ANY, though. The child of a nice human-elf couple. May be you could ask his right hand, Rikka, or himself?”

Kin is about to ask about the child and parents, but then glares at him angrily “I am not going to ask Rikka anything! Not even if she was still around.”

Zaiya jumps in “She is gone. But we may have a way to get back to Bart. We hid Rikka's mirror at a secret place near our village.”

The enchanter tries again, to get off the gryphoness. Kin laughs at his feeble attempt where the sorcerer leans to the left, as if to step off, but in an instant, she seems to just 'be' there at the exact angle to have him securely on her back again. All while seemingly not even noticing his struggle and joining the conversation.

“We will come along and help! I told you, I may have the ability, but not the... instruction manual to work on your chick. And you just brought that manual with you! I am very VERY grateful. And not only him, but you brought my daughter as well. It is nice seeing her again.”

Rachel takes a stiff bow at her, but else stays quiet.

Kin rubs the fire birds head “If you would be as... nimble as her, no one could ever jump off again.”

She glares at him playfully “Or I just think of a decent punishment for those who defy my rules.”

Rachel sighs jumps into the air “Should we go then?” flying two small circles above before aiming for Juniper with the other two only moments behind her.

Rachel and the two humans easily get the mirror out from the cave – much easier then it had been for Kin to drag it in alone, since Zaiya simply doesn't fit in the cave.

“I think, we can just leave it here outside the cave. It is rare that people come here, especially on this side of the cave. Lets head in.”

Rachel is the first to touch the mirror, while both other birds insist the humans to stay with them before entering the mirror.

The room is still the same as before. Black, but not dark – with the mirrors being the only 'furniture' and no visible walls around. Kin worries, as his parents are still gone.” First the living, then the dead...” He mumbles more to himself then to anyone else “You said, Rikka was Bart's right hand, so, there was her mirror – may be we should try the mirrors next to the empty spot then. “

He waits for Zaiya to lie down, to prevent him from jumping. When she doesn't, he slips one leg over her back but her beak holds him there.

“I will go. Ok? We don't know what is on the other side.”

Kin is not happy about that idea “I don't think, it is comfortable for anyone to have a deadly environment in their living quarter. I will be right behind you.”

She glares at him, but for once, he does not give in. “Fine! Then you stay there and we go in together.”

Their sorcerer nods “Sounds like a good idea. We will be right behind you.”

Zaiya limbs to the mirror and when she gets sucked into the mirror with Kin, Rachel manages to dash in front of Skyrah and Michael, but instead of getting sucked in, she slams against the dark surface as if it is a solid wall and stays on the ground, dizzy from the impact.

Skyrah nudges her lightly, then pokes the mirror with her beak – but nothing happens.

Michael checks on the small gryphoness, when he is sure she is fine, he inspects the mirror.

“I would say, it got blocked from the inside. Like a chair blocking a door.”

Skyrah screeches angrily “I cannot see the magic that holds it shut. I cannot alter it.”

He nods “It is inside, as with the chair, we can only push through with force or wait for someone on the other side to remove it. Or find another entrance. I do not think, we can bring enough force to break the chair without destroying the mirror, nor do I see a way to find out where the other tower without us taking weeks of following the magical connection.”

He kneels down at Rachel's head again. “Let me help you with that headache.”

The inside of the tower looks exactly like it had been in Zaiya's vision. The fireplace where she sat is ashen cold. The very same table with the very same bookshelves. Bart is standing on the other side of the 'room' staring at them grumpily.

“Just ONE more second. You meddling, annoying creatures. Stop interfering with my research!” He draws some runes into the air, similar to what he did after his 'research' with young Zaiya was done, but the phoenix interrupts him and dashes forward. The sudden movement makes Kin topple over her back and to the floor, but Bart stops his drawing and instead raises both hands flat, then moves them down as if activating something.

The phoenix slams into an invisible wall. She immediately starts pecking at it, but to no avail. She even pokes it with her regrowing foot, but the result is the same: Nothing.

“You will not do the same again to my daughter, Sorcerer.”

“But Zaiya, of course not. You helped me with that part already, I have other tests to run on her. And with your power here, I surely can do even more!”

She freezes, as he draws a few simple runes in the air. “I wanted to get that carpenter out, but since you insist on him staying – fine by me.”

Then the fire birds starts shivering as the small stream of power builds between her and Bartholomeus.

Kin got back to his feet and stares at them. His mind makes a 'click' and his eyes turn to slits as he stares with the other human with hatred. “He wants your power Zaiya, give it to him then!”

The phoenix jerks her head at her human, staring into his eyes. They light up when she understands what he means.

“Right....” she looks at the Sorcerer with an evil smile on her face before pushing more and more energy along that tube.

The bubble-stream inflates immediately into a the size of a hose and Bartholomeus eyes grow wide.

“What...?”

What is happening? He instinctively raises his hands and weaving a few minor protection runes. He stares at the power that is shooting towards him, like standing in the riverbed downstream of a completely closed dam, which suddenly disappears to let the water rush down.

So much power, the things he could do with that. His mind already form runewords for potential spells, world wide weather control, forming a volcano from scratch – without any heat from below or even research of the sun without dying there. Sweat forms on his forehead.

Kin turns around when he finally hers a sobbing sound. Kayda seems to be stuck against the wall, like his phoenix was after her experience with the archsorcerer in the past.

“Kayda!”

She immediately tries to hide her head in his arms.

“Dad! It hurts! He is evil. He promised he would help me here, but when we arrived I could not even look around. Something pulled me against this wall at once. It HURT. He was so nice before, why is he doing this?”

The carpenter pulls her head against his chest as much as possible with her still hanging from the wall. He assumes, that Bart attached his artificial strings to the little phoenix while they were in the village – then used them here to pin her to the wall.

“He wants to know things.”

“But, he can ask! He doesn't have to hurt me.”

Kin rubs her neck soothingly “I know. Most people would do that, but some are not nice. We are here to get you out.”

His gaze falls on a thick, silvery liquid on the ground.

Kayda continues “He used some shiny thing to poke my chest. First the black part and some smokey black stuff flowed out and on the ground. Then he poked here “She nudges a spot beside the black area” And the silvery stuff came out and dropped to the ground. It seemed to eat the black stuff there. He went back to the desk and started writing something – then you came in.”

Bart screams. His mind drifting cost him dearly. It burns, he is barely able to hold the massive amount of power the phoenix pushes towards him. His hands burn, as if stoking a fireplace. His face feels like he is pushed into a lit campfire. He draws minor spell runes to release some of the power in easy spells. Instead of controlling he simply tries to guide it away from him. Bolts of fire and lightning crack against the wall, bookshelves and the invisible barriers. It is getting hot on his side of the tower. Far too hot. How can that bird accumulated so much power in that time. That stands against all his theories and research. And how can she push those massive amounts out towards him? That is completely unheard – and he knows EVERY bit of knowledge about these creatures that exists.

Then it hits him. The beam, of course, she was using the beam. Feeding on its power for months must have had that effect. He thought about that possibility, but according to his calculations, she should not be at this level. Not after a year, even if the kid left her alone instead of using her. He has to write that down, right after subduing her. All of it. Endless possibilities.

One of the barriers breaks down due to his shift of concentration and the massive power, that keeps slamming into it. The ground on his side of room already is glowing hot. That's what he gets for not using obsidian, like his favorite student did.

Kin meanwhile tries frantically to get Kayda away from the wall, but with nothing physical holding her, he cannot cut her loose. He can only comfort her.

“We have two gryphons with us – and another human like him. But he is a nice one. Bart has locked him away and tried to kill his gryphon friend. But she survived too and wants to help us. You remember that old, unfriendly one in the mountains?”

That distracts the little bird enough from what is happening.

“Yes, she was … not nice.”

He nods “You are right, but that was because she was sad that her friend had died. Or probably that she failed to protect him. She is happy now and says, they both together can help you with that black spot. So you can visit your future human!”

Kayda's eyes start gleaming even more then normal, like a kid's eyes right before its present time at her birthday “Really? Where are they?”

“They are outside, waiting for us. I.. they should be in here now. I don't know, may be Bart stopped the mirror from working. But no worries, we will get to them!”

It actually worries the carpenter greatly, though. Where ARE those three? They would be a huge help right now.

Zaiya clenches her beak so hard, it feels like its about to break.

“Here you sorry excuse for a human researcher. TAKE EVERYTHING. Am I finally strong enough now to be USEFUL to you? Or will you throw me out me again, just because it's still not enough?”

Another scream answers her, as part of his face and hands seem to turn black, then to ash and float away. More spells hit the whole area around him randomly, there are several holes in the walls already and sunlight paints streams of bright down into the tower. Even without the hand, he seems to be able to draw runes in the air, but no matter what he casts, he cannot deflect the incredible amount of power he is drowning in.

Zaiya feels a rush of emotion, everything that had happened, in her past, with Rikka, Kin and her daughter. Every bit of fear, pain and hatred completely quell all her senses.

Another scream comes out around her, but she doesn't care, she focuses just more on pushing out her power along the stream towards her tormentor. He tries several times to cut the beam, first only with runes, then he enchants his hands with something to cut through it, but he only manages to draw more lines of black, burned flesh across his hands where the beam of energy is. Once the hands are through, the beam is back as it was before. It was interrupted for a moment, but the force of the phoenix simply pushes more energy through to reconnect the hose before it can collapse completely.

The scream this time, was actually Kin, as one of the stray spells hit his left arm and burns him.

Kayda struggles “I can help! Make me loose!”

“I.. can't I don't know how and I don't have power.”

“But you can borrow mine, right? Right?”

He nods slowly “But I don't know how to release you. I don't know many spells!”

Another ball hits him square in his back and he topples over, his burned hand shoots down to support his body and stop him from falling.

Kin's hand goes straight into the silver puddle on the ground and he stares at his burned hand and arm in complete astonishment. The burned skin immediately returns to normal, within moments, his hand and arm are healed fully and even his back tickles – exposed, but definitely feeling better.

Kayda looks down surprised too as he stares up at her.

“And you are afraid that you are too weak. Your 'blood' just did that! Far faster then your mothers aura could!”

The puddle on the ground is nearly gone afterwards, though.

Kayda gives a quiet screech of surprise, as her wings suddenly get released and she drops on Kins back, who was about to check the spot on the ground again.

Bartholomeus meanwhile whimpers at the phoenix “Please stop. I can't hold it much longer. Please. You are killing yourself. I need you . This.. is far too important!” his jawbone meanwhile is visible as most of his chin and left cheek seem to have burned away and some of his fingers are also not much more then bones right now. The wall behind him looks like someone has burned a hole into it – with a human sized 'shadow' still standing at the spot he is blocking. The beam still seems to grow. It is amazing how much power this bird has accumulated. “I could do so many things with that! So many possibilities!” He keeps repeating like a kid in a bakery when looking at all the sweet morsels available but out of reach for him.

His ears are gone by now too, his head lost most of the flesh and hair – more like a skull then a normal human head.

Something explodes, as he looses control of the incoming power. Just like what had happened with Kin, except, at an exponential level. His body gets pushed back through the opening in the wall by the force of the explosion, shattering the bricks that his form protected from the beam of energy. Then he just dissipates in the beam of raw, magical power that shoots out from the fire bird. The phoenix spreads her wings, hoping she would shield her chick and human with it at the last moment, but the barrier in front of her somehow is still active. The tower wall up to two men's height behind the spot where the archsorcerer stood is all but gone, drips of liquid stone and bricks fall from the upper part of the wall. And outside... a swath of destruction paints black and red colors through the harbor of an unknown town. Warehouses are cut through clean like a giant drill had been driven through them, the edges of walls gleaming hot. The air is very foggy from the evaporated water of the ocean. At least thirty human heights of port buildings are cut through – and who knows how far out the beam went on the ocean.

Then the phoenix collapses, unable to stop or do anything. She finally comes back to her senses and can feel the last bit of her power... her life force seeping away. She was angry at her human for wanting to hurt Rikka and even stopped him – and now, she did the very same thing.

The phoenix closes her eyes as she can feel the world around her grow 'bigger'. The enchantment eating away at the last drops of power she has left.

Kayda screeches in surprise as she drops down on Kin, right when the evil human explodes. She had a clear view of where the barriers have broken and quickly turns around to wrap her wings around the carpenter.

“Don't move. There...” Then the little phoenix screeches in pain and goes limp on him.

The heat wave was only short, but he could still feel the burns where the hot air got past Kayda. He gently grabs her and turns around, so she won't slide to the ground. Her back seems to be burned.

“But how? She is.. wow...”

Just as the little phoenix starts moving again, he sees the devastation on the other side of the tower. A neat line drawn on the ground, where the barrier is … or was. The other side of the room looks similar to the lava lake, though. He wonders how the tower is still standing, with the amount of small and big holes in the walls.

“Are you ok, birdy?”

Kayda sniffles “It hurts. Why? It was only fire, right?”

He tilts his head “I .. don't think it was only fire. Or it was just too much.” He rubs her beak comfortingly as he stares at the rest of the tower. Something is odd, something is missing.

“You will be fine! Your silvery stuff will heal you, right? You saw what it did to your weak human. It will probably take a little longer for someone as strong as you, though.”

She gives a slight giggle “You are not my human!”

Kin blinks, she is right. Her 'blood' healed him, even though she is not bonded to him – so its definitely different to Zaiya's aura.

“ZAIYA!” - That's what was missing. He lets go of the little phoenix on the ground beside him and stumbles to where his fire bird was moments ago.

The little, vulnerable falcon is back there. Eyes closed and unmoving. He quickly picks her up and slightly shakes her, when her head hangs down limply.

“CHICKEN! WAKE UP!”

The falcon slowly raises her head and opens her eyes “You … may be able to cook this chicken now.” She says weakly.

“No.. sleeping... for you now. “ He holds her with both hands and bites her beak, then rests her on his arm again, as he did when they were running from Rikka.

“But.. I am .. tired. I think, I gave him too much. I feel.. empty. Tired. I am sorry, Kin. I...”

He went ahead to get to the lava. He drops his bird on the ground when his hands slam into an invisible barrier.

“Ow... hey! You never dropped me before... that's not … good.” Her eyes close again and he roughly picks her up once more by her legs.

“No sleeping!” His wrists HURT, but he moves them regardless and kicks at the barrier, trying to get through.

“Zaiya.. stay with me. I wont forgive you if you die here!”

“That is.. harsh. I.. can't have my human hate me. I will try to...”

He presses her against his chest, as he did before and she nibbles on his chin.

Then they both look surprised, when they see Kayda on the other side of the barrier, waddling through the still hot stone. Her back shows blackness, but the edges start turning to her usual, gleaming white already. She points her beak to the other side of the room, where one of the barriers collapsed earlier and the carpenter stumbles over, then forcefully pushes the phoenix into the hot liquid, forceful enough to push her under the surface – burning not just his hand, but also his lower arm in the process before crawling backwards and away from the heat of the area. Those barriers are surely effective, as long as they are active.

Kayda paddles over to them again, nudging the falcon embedded in lava.

Kin meanwhile cradles his burned hand and stares at the spot where a few feathers and Zaiyas head still look out. He stays quiet and sits down, waiting, hoping.

The color of the falcon's feathers turn brighter slowly.

Both, human and light phoenix stare at the falcon intently, waiting for her to move, speak or show any sign of her recovery.

After nearly a full minute, Kin sacks backwards, groaning at his hand when the familiar feeling of the adrenaline loosing its effect – and the pain hits him like a sledgehammer. Kayda looks at him, worried, then nudges the falcon again. At that nudge, Zaiya finally raises her head and the little phoenix rubs hers over the falcons back, before waddling out, chirping happily.

Zaiya stares at them tiredly, her eyes narrow, when she sees Kin's hand.

Kayda pulls out one of her feathers with her beak and puts it on the carpenters hand.

He opens his mouth as he is expecting pain, but non comes.

The quill still has a few drops of the silvery liquid on it, and where it touches his skin, the effect is immediate. The rest of the feather seems to liquefy much faster then Zaiya's feathers where it touches the burned tissue. The falcons head raises more and more, with her eyes wide and staring at the hand.

After a mere minute, the feather has turned into the silvery liquid and as the burned skin is healed while the liquid disappears.

Kayda gives another proud chirp, and this time, Zaiya stays quiet, still staring at his hand.

Another few more minutes, then Zaiya finally climbs out of the cooling liquid into the arms of a very happy Woodsmith.

She rubs her head all over his neck and chin, still small, but well alive.

“I can't have you be mad at me forever, can I?”

At that moment, it seems like the rest of the enchantments of grandmaster Balthasar finally fail and the barriers break with a shattering sound like a glass window, the parts disappear not even half way to the ground. Their small gryphoness stumbles through the portal only moments after.

She looks around, probably for some enemy to rip apart “Where is Zaiya?”

She sits down and inspects the falcon Kin offers her.

“What.. happened?”

Michael and Skyrah step away from the portal as Kin starts telling them.

“He tried to suck out Zaiyas power, but he took more then he could chew.” Kin motions at the destruction around them. He doesn't want to mention the forceful 'gift' of power, may be, if Zaiya tells other firebirds, they can finally have something to fight back against those that want to forcefully subdue them – or at least a warning to be careful with their bonded humans. He doesn't want that in any book where other sorcerers can use it.

The enchanter is stunned as he scans devastated room as well as the people outside, that gather beside the blackened area carefully come closer. So far, they are just dock workers, but the guards must be on their way to join them any moment.

Skyrah nudges him, then Kin “We should leave – and you should block the mirror on the other side before any of these ask questions we do not want to answer.”

Michael does exactly that, once they all are back through the mirror. As usual, Kin feels like he is using far more runes then needed – as much as he can estimate the required number as a complete novice. Less then a novice.

Rachel nudges the small falcon. “Why is she so small now?”

Zaiya wiggles a bit on Kin's arm “When my power level is too low, I turn into this form. I just need the sun and heat to regain my normal body.”

Rachel smiles “So you two will fly with me then!”

Kin nods and rubs the phoenix belly.

"Hey! I'm not some pet you may stroke whenever you like." She repeats the line she told him when they were running from the ice elemental.

The carpenter pokes her beak “Right, sorry! I will stop then.” and they all laugh when she chirps her protest.

The enchanter kneels beside the little light phoenix, carefully inspecting her back while petting her head.

“Interesting. My guess about your back is, that it was just too much energy burning away at your back. Not the heat of the fire, but the intensity of magical power. That brings me to the next theory. I will tell you a few more details about my thoughts: From what I read, the dark phoenix accumulates power similar to how gods do: People thinking about them. Praying. For the dark phoenix, its not wishes and dreams, but negative feelings. Despair, hate, anger, fear, pain. My theory, is, that for you as a light phoenix, it would be the positive feelings like hope, love, gratitude, joy, happiness. The more people attach these emotions to you and think or 'pray' about/to you, you should become stronger.”

He stops for a moment, when Kayda lays her head into his lap. She may be smaller then her mother, but she is still the size of large dog, like a Saint Bernard.

“I.. um.. thank you? That brings me to my theory about her egg. While the dark phoenix's egg came to be due to a missing bond and negative emotions – mostly fear, from what I read in the texts – so her egg came to be from the opposite. Again, a missing real bond and true love between you two or at least, positive emotions. It is interesting, looking at the bad circumstances you explained, it must definitely be between you two and independent of the influence of the situation or surroundings.”

He takes another deep breath. “Should we work on your daughter right here or go back to aerie? It might be more comfortable here, without the cold winds up there – on second thought, there would be sunlight in the aerie.”

Kin smiles and presses Zaiya against his chest again. “I'll keep her warm until we can leave. Id rather not risk anything stop us from healing Kayda again.”

“I agree.” The phoenix tells them, before nibbling at his chin again.

“Rah? Rachel? I will need both of you. Kayda, please just sit there and relax.”

She chirps her protest, but still rolls to her front and sits quietly beside him.

He stares at Zaiya “It would be much easier with your help, I am still weak.”

He draws a hand full of runes into the air, which soon disappear as the green mist and float into his eyes. After that, he is quiet for several minutes.

“This is very delicate. She has several hot-spots of power, different then other phoenixes. They usually ARE the hot-spot of power. Yours are very similar to a humans organs.”

Kayda chirps and wiggles uneasily.

“The enchantment is connected to all of them it seems, interwoven with them. It feeds itself from your source of power. Growing and replacing your normal energy with the dark one. We have to be very careful to not disturb her balance of power. Oh, and about the traps. I did not think Bart could manage this kind of enchantment. The growing darkness is actively building up traps itself. Like if it had its own will and... hrm...”

He grins, this is a task worthy of his intellect. Michael always liked puzzles, draw connections between facts, build theories and understand the world around him. Even then, when its not about gods, gryphons or phoenixes. This curse is remarkable. So very complicated interwoven with its host, but with seemingly a life of its own. Spreading, feeding on the body of the little bird and corrupting her part by part. Bart probably wanted to see when this curse would start affecting her mind, but the enchanter won't wait for that to happen. Science and puzzles are great, but not if he is forced to make others pay the cost.

“Alright, Rah? Lets start there.” He moves his hand, then a tiny, smokey needle shoots at Kayda and sticks on her chest. She squeaks, but otherwise stays calm – especially since the needle only sticks to her and doesn't penetrate her skin.

Skyrah stares at the spot “I can see it, Mich. I can see the connections.”

“Rachel, you watch closely. And be ready to jump in, if there is an emergency and Skyrah is occupied holding others.”

The whole thing is like a distribution panel. Runes are the components that need to be connected in a special way to work properly. While normal gryphons could simply rip both of these away and remove them, Skyrah and her daughter's ability is far more delicate. They could pull out connections and plug them into other components. That may bring out more effects, block some effects or even make runes blow up. In a way, both gryphons are mages themselves but without their own powersource to use. They do have power as every living being has – nearly every living being, but gryphons cannot use that to cast spells themselves. His guess is, that the anti-magic-nature of them prevents them from casting spells. Even after weeks of practicing, Skyrah could not even visibly paint runes into the air.

He carefully instructs both gryphons to delicately un- and re-plug one connection after the other. It is slow and tedious, but everyone is fully invested in the job at hand. After each of the little phoenix 'organs' is freed from the dark web of connections, the blackness on her body quickly gets pushed back by white.

Zaiya wiggles quiet excitedly on her carpenters arm, when the darkness starts shrinking the first time and whispers to Kin. “It works, it really works!”

He just stares at the whole procedure with wide eyes.

Kayda's chest is completely covered in markers by now, but she also follows the effect with interest. Rarely she gives a sound of distress and usually it was a minor mistake that immediately gets corrected.

After what feels like days, the last black spot is shrinking and the two gryphons slump to the ground.

“I can go see my human now!” Kayda exclaims happily to all of them.

“Thank you all so much for helping her. I.. we... really owe you.”

Zaiya chirps her agreement “We do! May be I could share my human with all of you.”

Kin's face takes the usual shade of red “ZAIYA!”

She continues “He can do a lot of things with his hands. If you need furniture or other things made of wood, I can even deliver him!”

Rachel laughs at them “He looks more like the color of your plumage does normally then you do right now!”

Michael actually thinks for a moment. “That would be very welcome. I might need some things in the gryphon aerie, if I will be allowed to live there.”

Skyrah grins “Well, if you are not, then we have to change the rules. They are starting to work with the humans at the lake anyway. “

“Should we all head home then?”

One by one, they return through the mirror at the cave where everything started. Skyrah and Michael take off directly to the aerie – for now – while the others fly back to the army camp.

They are ready to leave, when the other three arrive there. It only takes a moment for the queen to get news of their arrival.

“And here, I thought I would have to pull your cart myself, you little rascal!”

Rachel laughs and bows. “I would never allow, that, your MAJESTY”

Helina stares at the little gryphoness through slitted eyes, pressing her jaws together. She still doesn't like being called that from her closest friends. She can't protest, though, as a very happy little phoenix crashes into her and topples her over to the muddy ground.

A few guards turn around in alarm, but quickly calm down, when they see their queen laughing.

Kayda sits on her chest, exclaiming happily to everyone around “My human!”

Helena traces her hand through the little phoenix white feathers, looking for any blackness left. “Well, I guess, you held your part of the deal, so I should honor mine, right? If you want to, and if your parents are ok with it, you can come with me. You will still have to help me with what you need, because I simply don't know. But I am willing to learn.”

She looks slightly insecure. “I.. need? People to have positive thoughts of me?”

Zaiya smiles and jumps in. “The sorcerer thinks, that her power comes from people thinking about her positively. We would like to ask you to give us regular updates on how she fares in your kingdom. And permission to visit you and my humans battle sister, as well as permission for her to visit us.”

The queen laughs “Consider these granted. I already gave you permission and Rachel is no prisoner. I know, she won't skip her duties to visit you, so there is no need for extra thought on that either.”

That earns her a loving nudge from the gryphoness “Thank you, Helina.”

Kin rubs Zaiyas belly, still the little falcon. “Could we catch a ride back to Juniper? My... um.. means of transportation got shrunk.”

Helina's eyes grow wide at that in horror. The little hunting birds foot is still not formed fully. “This is Zaiya? I meant to ask if she is alright. I guess, this will only take a few more hours to remedy, right?”

Zaiya smiles weakly “Weeks – to get back to my full power many months.”

The queen turns her head at Rachel “I expect a full report once we are back in Vealan.”

She grins while climbing into the harness dangling from the wagon to pull that “Of course, my queen. Get up you two, unless you want to walk!”

Instead of the wagon, Kin gets on her back once more. He rests the little falcon in front of him, so he can scratch both birds heads while they move. No complaints from either of them.

The gryphoness proudly ignores the stares of interest and respect from the other gryphons.

And somewhere far south of them, farmers run in panic from the dark cloud of smoke that dives down at their village, aiming to injure people rather then killing them...