Dorin opened his eyes at the sound of hoofed feet.
"Good afternoon, Horatio, Damien," he called out to the two figures approaching from the other side of the forgotten wall.
"Good afternoon, Dorin," Damien answered back. He looked at Sebastian who lay fast asleep on the forest floor, his head on Dorin's lap. "How is he fairing?"
"He's just... sad." Dorin placed a hand on Sebastian's head, stroking his silky black hair. "I think he needs more rest."
Damien got off the white horse he was riding and knelt before the two young mages. He had a flask with him which he handed to Dorin.
"What is this?" Dorin asked.
"It is a broth to quell sadness," replied the groundskeeper. "It will help." he placed a hand on Sebastian's shoulder. Sebastian quivered, a large tear fell from his cheek. "He will be fine," said Damien standing up.
Sebastian stirred and opened his eyes. He looked up at Dorin, then at Damien. His eyes filled up with tears at the sight of the groundskeeper.
"Give him the broth," Damien told Dorin. Sebastian took it without uttering a word. "The darkness approaches," Damien said after Sebastian drank.
"I know," Dorin said apologetically, "We'll leave soon."
"You must prepare. More things are coming your way," said Damien. "Beware the vessel. Beware the mask that smiles."
"Damien." Horatio called from behind them. "We should be going as well."
"Go straight back from where you came from," Damien told Dorin. To Sebastian, he offered an arm. He pulled Sebastian up to his feet and embraced him. "As always, you can call me." he reassured him. "Be well and let this sadness pass."
Sebastian nodded and felt Dorin pull his cloak from behind.
"Let's leave while there's still light," Dorin said, staring at the sky.
They went back to the old watch tower. Johan was waiting for them with Margarette who was busy playing with Dagon and the caladrius Azra.
"What took you so long?" Johan asked, frowning, but he patted Sebastian on the back as they entered. "Let's get back to the dorm. Have you two eaten yet?" he asked.
"Not really..." Dorin replied, which was followed by an angry growl from his stomach.
"Yeah, thought so." said Johan. "Good thing we left some food for you..." he called back to someone from behind. "Hey Patrice, where's the food?"
"Oh, it's right here, but I'm afraid it's gone cold..." replied the medic.
"Hand it over," said Johan. He took the containers from Patrice and stared at the food, his dark red eyes twitching slightly. When Dorin and Sebastian opened it, the food was steaming.
"Are you feeling better?" Margarette asked her friend as she sat by his side with Dagon on her lap.
[I'll be fine.] Sebastian wrote. He took a bite of his food and realized how hungry he was. Soon he and Dorin were both stuffing they faces.
"Hurry up so we can get back to the dorms," Johan reminded them, "I can whip up somethin' else for you when we get back, seems you two have really got an appetite."
"Yeah... all I had for breakfast was a cup of coffee," Dorin said with his mouth full. "This is actually my breakfast, lunch and dinner."
[Same here] wrote Sebastian.
Margarette smiled to herself, thinking that Sebastian was starting to return to normal. "We didn't get to hang-out much today." she told her friends, "Why don't we all go out tomorrow and hang out in town before the classes starts?"
"Good idea, I need a new bed," said Dorin, so Margarette's surprise.
"I need more clothes..." Johan frowned.
"It's always nice to hang out..." Patrice mumbled to himself.
They all looked at Sebastian.
[One of the books I'm currently reading had a new volume out recently,] he wrote. [I would like to buy it tomorrow.]
Dorin grinned. Margarette dropped Dagon and went to Sebastian's side, rustling his hair and giving him a tight hug.
They left the flanking tower feeling considerably lighter than when they arrived.
They said their goodbyes, hopeful smiles on their faces, with promises to meet again.
---
"The cradle has fallen," said a voice in the darkness. "The balance is no more."
"The balance was lost years ago when the last Heilig king was killed," thundered a loud foreboding voice. "There is only one pillar left to hold the entire empire," it added, "and that pillar is rotten and about to crumble."
"The young thunder god..." said the first voice, but he was interrupted by scornful laughter. Laughter that came from a thousand mouths.
"And what does that sapling know?" it said scornfully.
"He can learn..." said a third, calmer voice.
"In time?" the booming voices mocked him.
"He can and he will."
- End of Phase 2 -