The elven sage Proinnsias and his companions, two elven mages, a female elf Amhrán and a male elf Caoimhín, went towards north of settlement where the iron castle is.
{In elder speech} An iron castle, sounds like what alder folks will make, or maybe a human sorcerer who somehow learnt to move it without losing his sanity to chaos.
{In elder speech} I also believe that the castle might belong to an alder folk, only they knew how to move a giant metal castle.
{In elder speech} We cannot jump to conclusions, we don't know who own the castle, and even if it is belong to an alder folk, it is possible that the alder folk elf might be a foe rather than a friend.
{In elder speech} Better than squirrels though.
The sage however stopped walking and has serious expression on his face.
{In elder speech} What's the matter? Did something happen?
{In elder speech} Could it be, do detected something?
{In elder speech} Amhrán, can you use basic illumination spells just now.
{In elder speech} It is broad daylight, why illumination spell now.
{In elder speech} It's not for lighting, there is somrthing I want to check.
Amhrán under the sage's request, used her illumination magic, it worked but the light is dim.
{In elder speech} What is this?! Why my light is weak?! Normally it barely consume any strength, but now it consume more for both using the spell and maintaining it.
{In elder speech} Did you cast incorrectly?
{In elder speech} It's an illumination spell! Not a thunderclap spell! Even an idiot with source can use it perfectly.
{In elder speech} Then what I sense about this surrounding the the place is correct. Our spell weaken here, I suspect it has something to do with iron castle we are going to. If what is suspect is true, the more closer we go, the more our power weaken, by the time we reach the castle, we will be same as someone with no magical powers.
{In elder speech} A dampener to chaos? But how's that possible? I can clearly sense chaos everywhere in this place it is more than abundant. If this place true dampen chaos, the chaos here would be weak.
{In elder speech} This place doesn't dampen chaos, it just create burden for supernatural power. It doesn't affect chaos, a source of power as this place weaken the supernatural itself, not what fuels it.
{In elder speech} I don't understand what are you saying.
{In elder speech} Try to recall your studies, about magics and how it bend or even break the physical laws.
{In elder speech} Well, according to grimoires, magic weaken the physical laws to make nature do the bidding to the one who cast a magical spells, and amount of power needed to bend and break the physical law is dependent on how strong physical law is...{paused}...Wait! could it be?!
{In elder speech} That's right, something or someone have somehow strengthen the physical laws of this place. I don't know how he or she did it, but I am certain that since the physical law of this place is so strong that it make the spell to fail or weaken the spell, since, our magical strength is high, our magic is merely weakened, but once, we reach the iron castle, even basic spell won't work, the reinforced physical laws won't allow it.
{In elder speech} Should we return to settlement, I fear without magical power, we cannot defend ourselves even against a mere wild beast.
{In elder speech} She's right, we must return, if our magic won't work here, we are as good as dead if we encounter any foe.
{In elder speech} Fine we will go back but not to retreat but bring our kin who is capable in non-magical combat.
{In elder speech} But if our magic won't work, aren't we becoming...
{In elder speech} You mean us being a burden? That might not be untrue, but even if we cannot use magic, given our knowledge we can guide our warriors. As the ones who know about mystical phenomenon, we are the only one who can help our warriors to fight any magical creature and even what weaken our magic, provided if it is a foe. If not, we must know what caused the physical laws become so strong that our magic become useless, perhaps from the one responsible, if he is a friend or atleast someone with no ill intention towards us.
{In elder speech} Understood, we will go back and inform about the physical law around the castle somehow becoming strong that cause a burden for our spells, and request to send some warriors before we decides to return to investigate the iron castle.
{In elder speech} Then, let go, before we face any monsters or wild beast that could defeat us easily as our magic is not working properly.
The elven sages and his elven mage companions walked in opposite direction, back towards their settlement, they knows that there magic will not work in a place where physical laws are somehow reinforced, which make it more difficult for magic to bend and break the physical law which is has become very strong, using the magic in this place is same has hammering a diamond with a rock.
Meanwhile, Alex is enjoying his retirement, he is enjoying his tea and biscuits in balcony. The air is fresh, infact even more fresh than the air of arcanum. Alex is clearly enjoying the fresh air, comfortable environment and clear weather.
{Sipping his tea} Now this is what I call a happy retired life. I made right choice to retire, having worked hard for more than five centuries, it is normal for one to take rest. The fact I choose to retire after five centuries itself is admirable, as normally people even those who took the elixir of youth become tired after working for 150 years, after which they choose to retire. It shows how hardworking I really was and still am, if I choose to work again. Or maybe I simply had great ambitions at the time, until now, when I have no ambition left to fulfill. Anyway, I am already satisfied with all I had achieved in past, now I simply want quiet and carefree life.
With desire for peaceful life in mind, Alex continue to sip his tea, enjoying the fresh air and fair weather.
