Years passed, and little Etydameus, now three years old, had already shown signs of sharp intelligence and magical talent. It was not uncommon that whenever he desired something, he would simply draw it toward himself telepathically—whether it was a toy or food.
Thus, everyone was delighted with young Etydameus, especially his grandfather, Sazideas, who was filled with pride and admiration for his grandson.
Everything flowed smoothly and harmoniously for all—except for Torpenéas. Ever since he had witnessed the cruel and unjust torment of his fellow Kikanes in Akbazan, like the unfortunate Ixaeon, he could find no peace within his conscience.
For years he suffered, trying to find a way to save his kin and friends, the Kikanes. He was burdened with guilt, for he had betrayed them and sided with the Odyvii during the great war. He had tried many times to persuade the Council of the Black-Cloaks to release most of the Kikanes, arguing that they had merely followed the orders of arrogant leaders and bore no personal hatred toward the Odyvii faction.
Yet all his efforts were in vain. The Odyvii showed no intention of forgiving any of the defeated Kikanes who had fought against them.
After much thought, and realizing that no one would listen to him, Torpenéas finally decided to take action himself and help free his people.
First, he needed to steal the passwords that enabled teleportation from the silver axe to the bronze one, along with a magical compass that revealed the directions of the entrances and exits of Akbazan.
A few days later, he secretly infiltrated the chambers of Sazideas' great palace and stole two magical compasses along with the password spells. He also took two extra wands, intending to give them to the imprisoned Kikanes so they could escape more easily once they reached the domain of the Alnafropes.
That same night, he swiftly made his way to Akbazan. He passed through all its sectors—especially the terrifying labyrinth, vast and filled with traps and dreadful beasts such as the Minotaur.
The password spell that teleported him between the axe gates was "Tilemos." Touching the gate with his wand, he entered the sector of Efília.
Now, all he had to do was reach the area where the Kikanes were imprisoned and give them the necessary tools: the password spell for the twin axes, the spell "Armanio" to calm Cerberus, the magical compass, and the two wands to protect themselves from the fearsome Alnafropes.
As he moved, Torpenéas wondered whether his childhood friend Ixaeon had survived. The thought consumed him—he had abandoned him three years ago, and the guilt still gnawed at him. Perhaps this was the true reason he had taken such a risk: to help his green-cloaked kin.
His guilt and shame for betraying his people during the great war weighed heavily on his soul and mind.
Lost in these thoughts, he realized he had to act quickly and in secrecy—perhaps only then would he find some inner peace.
As he entered the ring of Efília, he pulled a cube from his robe and cast the spell "Iksed." A luminous map appeared, revealing the location of Perkumet, where most of the Kikanes were held.
He teleported there and quietly approached the guard post, wearing his cloak of invisibility. Slipping past the guards, he swiftly and silently disarmed and petrified them. He took the prison keys and entered the first chamber of the Kikanes.
Handing them the keys, the two wands, the magical compass, and the necessary spells, he explained the situation.
Then Torpenéas asked one of the prisoners if he knew anything about the fate of Ixaeon, who had been punished in the domain of the demonic Alnafropes.
The green-cloaked prisoner told him that his friend had indeed survived—but he was no longer there. He had been transferred to Sentech, where all those who somehow managed to survive the beasts were sent.
Torpenéas felt a surge of relief. He realized he had been given a second chance to save his friend from the dreadful place known as Sentech—a place he himself knew well from his time as a guard in Akbazan, where horrific experiments were conducted on prisoners.
He left Perkumet and quickly teleported to Sentech.
The place, combined with the darkness of the night, appeared terrifying and desolate.
Approaching the gate under his cloak, he petrified the two guards. He crossed the courtyard, decorated with strange plants and trees, and climbed a wide marble staircase leading upward toward the entrance of the institution where experiments were carried out on high-risk prisoners.
He cast the spell "Arokovora," and the door unlocked. He gently pushed it open and stepped inside.
Before him lay a large, well-lit hall, with many doors lining both sides of the corridor.
Torpenéas realized he needed to capture a guard and extract information about where his friend was being held.
He walked down the corridor and soon spotted a guard at the far end, standing watch outside a room. The guard was passing the time, absorbed in a magical game with his wand.
Torpenéas approached him and cast the spell "Epirreio," commanding him to reveal Ixaeon's location. The guard did not know, so Torpenéas ordered him to lead him to the list of prisoner names.
Still under the spell, the guard led him to the records room. As the door opened, two other mages were inside.
"Rosom, what are you doing here?" they asked. "It's not time for the shift change—return to your post!"
The foolish Rosom said nothing, still under the influence of the spell.
Before suspicion could arise, Torpenéas acted swiftly. He bound one of the mages with the spell "Tede," and using Rosom as a shield, he disarmed the second guard.
At last, he petrified the two mages and left only the one he had disarmed, forcing him to reveal where his friend Ixaeon was being held. Terrified, the guard quickly searched the list under the letter "I" for Ixaeon and begged Torpenéas not to harm him.
Torpenéas froze him as well and snatched the book of names from his hands to search for himself. However, the guard had already managed to alert all the others by touching a magical necklace hidden inside the drawer with the book. Whenever that necklace was touched, the enchanted bracelets worn by the guards would heat up, signaling an alarm.
Torpenéas managed to locate Ixaeon's room—but by then, the guards had all been alerted. They quickly arrived at the chamber and activated a magical security spell that drastically increased the gravity inside the room.
Torpenéas was slammed to the ground, barely able to move his limbs. In a desperate attempt, he tried to teleport—but special spells prevented any teleportation within the facilities of Sentech.
The guards informed the Council of the Black-Cloaks of Torpenéas' intrusion into Akbazan through a magical panel.
Sazideas was not awake, so the news first reached the second eldest of the three ruling brothers, Kyrganos. Kyrganos ruled the domain of Ygakos and was an extremely powerful mage. He possessed a mighty staff that commanded the element of water, capable of unleashing floods and devastating earthquakes.
This staff was one of the magical artifacts gifted to the Odyvii by the Kyrkopoi. Alongside Sazideas' staff of aether, these artifacts held immense magical power and were among the key reasons the Odyvii had defeated the Kikanes.
Upon hearing of Torpenéas' audacity, Kyrganos was enraged—yet at the same time, he felt a grim satisfaction, as he had long urged the council and his brother Sazideas to be more cautious with Torpenéas. They had dismissed him as overly suspicious. Now, he had been proven right.
Kyrganos personally went to deliver the news to the council, eager to witness their reaction.
Sazideas was stunned—and furious—that they had been deceived by his own son-in-law, Torpenéas, the husband of his beloved daughter Afeni.
He remained silent for a moment, troubled by how he would break the news to Afeni and his young grandson, Etydamon.
He quickly summoned the council to the chamber within his palace and announced Torpenéas' betrayal. He informed them of his actions and that, after an investigation in Akbazan, they had also managed to capture the Kikanes who possessed two wands and a magical compass—items given to them by Torpenéas.
Afeni was present at the council. She broke into tears and begged the Black-Cloaks to show mercy to her beloved Torpenéas, who had treated her with love.
However, the Odyvii showed no mercy. They sentenced him to life imprisonment in Akbazan, in Perkumet, alongside the other Kikanes.
Specifically, Torpenéas was condemned to hard labor in the mineral mines of Perkumet, beneath Mount Echepyro.
Time passed, and young Etydameus continued to grow, his extraordinary magical talent becoming increasingly evident.
He performed remarkable feats for his age—like the time he stacked his toys into a tower, and just as it was about to collapse, he raised his hands around it and, without touching it, the tower stabilized.
Another time, everyone was astonished when Afeni's magical broom needed repair because its enchantment had weakened. The young Etydameus telepathically communicated with his grandfather, recalling that he had a friend who specialized in repairing and enchanting broomsticks.
Everyone was amazed and proud of the three-year-old mage. Telepathy was a rare ability that only a few trained mages could master—yet the child used it effortlessly.
All signs showed that Etydameus possessed a great magical gift, and the years passed with his family filled with pride.
Etydameus eventually reached the age of six. It had already been three years since Torpenéas had last seen his son.
The young boy did not know why—or even exactly where—his father was, but he loved him deeply and never forgot him, even after all that time.
He felt a void without his beloved father, a deep sadness at not being able to see him. His mother, Afeni, trying to ease his pain, told him that his father had gone far away for work. She also told him that as long as he remembered him, the power of love would keep them connected—that Torpenéas would always be close to them, even if unseen.
Of course, Afeni did not dare tell him the truth, so as not to wound her only son even more.
Now six years old, it was time for Etydameus to enroll in the school of magic, as was customary among the Odyvii.
At the school, children were not only taught magic but also sciences, arts, and physical training. They were also taught how to properly control magic and develop moral virtues.
Etydameus did not like this change. He preferred the company of his beloved mother, his grandfather Sazideas, and his kind grandmother Somena.
He adored his grandmother deeply. She was a powerful sorceress who specialized in the element of air and could summon mighty storms and tempests.
Having already lost his father, Etydameus did not want to be separated from his loved ones again.
However, Afeni explained that on weekends, holidays, and during summer, he could return home. She also told him it would be an opportunity to meet classmates and make friends his own age.
Though he could not hide his disappointment, he followed his mother to enroll.
They arrived at the school, built on the slope of a mountain. It was called Pirosovia, surrounded by groves and nature.
The location was ideal—not only for learning magic but also for appreciating the natural world. It also supported lessons like botany, hunting, and broomstick flying.
Etydameus liked that the school was near a forest, and the stone buildings appeared imposing and majestic. The place gave off a peaceful aura, softening his initial reluctance.
Holding her son's hand, Afeni approached the metal gate, where they were greeted among many other parents and children.
A mage directed her to the line for first-year students. They crossed the large courtyard, where Etydameus observed many children his age. The air was filled with laughter and lively chatter.
Afeni told him to step forward and give his name to the woman handling registrations. He did so, providing all necessary details.
Afeni kissed her son and said, "Don't worry. I'll come to take you home on Saturday."
Etydameus, sullen and unhappy, hugged and kissed her goodbye.
A teacher approached and called the first-year students to gather.
"My name is Thalia," she said. "I will lead you to the great hall, where the older students and all the teachers await you."
"There, the sorting ceremony will take place, assigning you to dormitories based on your unique abilities, traits, and talents."
The children left their belongings outside and entered the hall.
They walked between rows of older students, who observed the newcomers.
Finally, they formed a line and approached, one by one, a statue of a hooded mage in a cloak…
The mage of the statue had his right hand extended, and the first-year students placed their wands into his palm. After a short moment, the enchanted statue would assign each child to the appropriate dormitory based on their traits and abilities.
There were four dormitories, each representing one of the four fundamental elements of magic: earth, water, air, and fire. Each dormitory bore a symbol corresponding to its element.
Most classes were common to all students regardless of dormitory, with only a few exceptions. For example, the water dormitory specialized in transformation magic and had additional lessons in that field. Likewise, the fire dormitory practiced more advanced fire spells, and similarly, each dormitory focused more deeply on its respective element.
At last, it was young Etydameus' turn to place his wand into the statue's hand and be assigned.
All first-year students received their wands just before entering the great hall. They had first passed through the school's grand library, where wands were provided to them free of charge.
All the children eagerly awaited receiving their wand—and so did Etydameus.
Most found a suitable wand quickly, but in his case, it took much longer. The delay made him anxious.
At last, he received his wand: made of black oak, twelve inches long, with a unicorn hair core.
The young witch who handed it to him said,"Your wait was worth it, my friend. Your wand is equally capable of wielding all four elements. It will never fail you."
Moments later, the enchanted statue placed him into the Air Dormitory.
The air dormitory represented flexibility, freedom of spirit, and independence—a nature that refused to submit to anything or anyone and was not easily bound by rules or conventions.
It was also the dormitory that emphasized balance in magic and the effective use of all four elements. Given his wand, it was almost expected that Etydameus would be placed there.
Air magic also held a unique advantage—it was not inherently weaker than any other element, even in ancient magic, often referred to as aether magic.
Aether magic remained a mystery, rarely used and mastered only by the most capable mages. For this reason, there was no separate dormitory for it at Pirosovia.
Thus, with his unicorn-core wand—a symbol of virtue and freedom—Etydameus was rightfully placed in the Air Dormitory.
The older students welcomed him with applause.
As the days passed, the young boy—though initially cautious and anxious—made good friends and began to enjoy his lessons. Most subjects fascinated him, and he understood them with ease.
He soon came to love the school of Pirosovia, and in turn, his teachers grew fond of him, recognizing his great potential and intelligence.
They often enjoyed testing him, amazed by his rapid progress in both magical and academic subjects. Time and again, he pleasantly surprised them by succeeding in their challenges.
His teachers regularly informed Afeni of his progress, filling his family with pride.
Both his instructors and relatives were certain that he would achieve greatness as he grew older.
Everything seemed bright for Etydameus' future.
He enjoyed the company of his friends and the praise he received for his remarkable abilities—not only in magic but in all areas.
As time passed, his skills continued to grow. He excelled in magic, sciences, and even athletics.
In particular, he loved the team sport played on broomsticks. His dormmates adored him and considered him their lucky charm, as their team rarely lost since he joined.
Etydameus enjoyed the admiration—but he also began to notice something unusual.
At times, he sensed that he could mentally influence the flow and outcome of matches. Curious, he experimented—and discovered that he could almost always affect the course of events.
Realizing this, he decided one day to test his ability during a lesson.
When the music teacher entered the classroom, Etydameus subtly used his power. Instead of teaching, the instructor suddenly said:
"Today, children, we will not have a lesson. You are free to go and do as you wish."
Etydameus was stunned—and thrilled. He ran outside with his friends to play their favorite broomstick game.
Now he felt perfect satisfaction. Whenever a lesson bored him, he could simply use his power and shape events as he wished.
Thus, he devoted his time only to the subjects and activities he enjoyed.
The year came to an end, and Etydameus excelled in nearly every subject—except those he disliked and ignored.
He said farewell to teachers and friends and returned with Afeni to his grandfather Sazideas' palace.
His grandmother Somena, his grandfather, and the rest of his family welcomed him warmly, praising his achievements.
Summer passed quickly, and now seven years old, Etydameus prepared to return to Pirosovia.
This time, however, things would be different.
During the past year, he had confided all his actions and mischief to his mother.
Afeni informed Sazideas—and then the council—about his powerful telepathic abilities.
The council was astonished and decided to observe him closely in the coming year to confirm whether he truly possessed such power without even using a wand.
This ability was known as Influence, performed through the spell "Epirreio" with a wand—but it was considered forbidden magic.
The council informed the teachers of Pirosovia so they could monitor him and report back.
Unaware that his secret had been revealed, Etydameus continued using his hidden ability—during lessons and in games.
After about a month, the teachers confirmed it: the young mage could indeed use Influence effortlessly, without a wand.
They were amazed—but also concerned. Such power, used carelessly, was dangerous and forbidden.
They informed Sazideas and the council.
The council was divided.
Afeni and his relatives argued that he should simply be warned.
Others insisted that a child's word could not be trusted—and proposed restricting his power through enchantment.
Such a measure, however, risked weakening his overall magical abilities—not just his telepathic ones.
Despite objections, the majority prevailed.
Secretly, they weakened Etydameus' telepathic powers.
They enchanted a necklace designed to suppress his abilities and gave it to Afeni, instructing her to present it as a gift—and to ensure he always wore it, without ever revealing its true purpose.
The necklace was a beautiful golden sun hanging from a golden chain. Apheni herself, along with her mother Soména, gave it to Etydameus, telling him to always wear it around his neck and never take it off. Of course, they did not reveal the true reason behind the gift. But the boy loved and trusted Apheni and his grandmother deeply, so it never even crossed his mind to remove it. Besides, it was a very beautiful necklace, and he liked it, so he gladly thanked them for their gift.
As the days passed, the young mage began to suspect that something was wrong with his powers. Lately, he would feel a strange headache at times—especially when he tried to use his telepathic abilities. A light dizziness and mental fatigue would follow. During school matches with his team, everything would seem fine at first, but suddenly, in the middle of the game, he would feel weak, and a sharp pain in his head would disturb his focus.
The young mage was no fool. Within the first week, he had already realized that, somehow, his powers seemed to be abandoning him. His performance in most classes remained stable and good, but when it came to his telepathic abilities, he could clearly feel that something unusual was happening.
After a few days, he made up his mind and went to visit the school healer, Lady Sorita, to examine him and tell him what on earth was going on. Sorita reassured him that there was no need to worry and advised him to get more rest and to stop—or at least avoid—activities that caused this strange mental fatigue, such as team competitions.
Disappointed, Etydameus nodded in agreement. Of course, he never truly considered giving up his favorite activities, even if they caused him headaches.
A month passed after his visit to Lady Sorita, and Etydameus reached two possible conclusions. Either his powers had weakened due to some illness or overexertion from excessive use, or his teachers and classmates had somehow discovered his use of telepathy and were counteracting it.
Thus, the young mage accepted his situation. From that point on, he decided to stop searching for the reason behind it and instead focus on how to return to the level he had once reached.
He began studying and practicing more hours in all his favorite subjects—philosophy, the sciences, painting, herbology, and mythical creatures, which were taught outside in the forest, among others. He also loved magical duels, various sports, and especially strategy games.
In magical duels, he was almost always victorious. He could learn nearly any spell quickly and easily, and when needed, he would use his telepathic power to confuse his opponent and win effortlessly. Of course, this was something he had been doing even before his powers began to weaken.
Now, the only way to remain competitive and maintain strong performance was through effort and practice—and so he did. He might no longer be able to influence the course of events as he once could, but he could still shape his own path and improve without relying on his telepathic abilities.
Thus, he began perfecting every spell he knew, striving to become skilled enough to win his magical duels once more. And as he had been taught, whenever a mage lands or receives a decisive blow, their magical essence—known as mana—increases, making it easier to cast stronger spells, even to summon creatures to protect them.
Remembering these teachings, he applied them wisely, managing to remain at a strong level in most fields and activities he pursued.