by Koren Rabe
This-awas-athe-aLord-aClass-aWizard-aHenry-aMallion,-athe-aRuler-aof-athe-aObsidia-aRiver-aEmpire.-aHis-avoice-abalanced-ahis-arespect-afor-athe-ayoung-atalent-abefore-ahim-awith-aa-asense-aof-astrength-afrom-ahis-aown-aage,-aexperience,-aand-amight.-a
The-athrone-awas-aset-ain-aa-alarge-ahall,-awhere-aseveral-adozen-abrilliant-apillars-amade-aout-aof-asome-ablue-arock-asupported-aa-amagnificently-apainted-aceiling,-aa-apicture-aof-aan-aenormous-ariver-acutting-athrough-amountains-avisible.-aThe-ahall-ahad-abeen-acleared-afor-aHadrion-awhen-ahe-aarrived.-aOnly-ahimself,-asome-aof-ahis-asubordinates-aand-athe-aFate-aDepartment-aWizards-athey-ahad-ateamed-aup-awith,-aas-awell-aas-aa-afew-aold-amen-astanding-anear-athe-aman-asitting-aon-athe-athrone.-a
"I-awill-anot-amince-awords."-aHadrion's-avoice-awas-agruff-aas-ahe-aspoke,-aas-aif-anot-aused-ato-ainteracting-awith-aother-apeople,
"His-aHighness-aTelmon-ahas-ainstructed-aall-athe-aDepartments-ato-ainvestigate-aanomalous-asignals-ain-afate-athat-ahave-aappeared-ain-avarious-alocations.-aOne-aof-athese-aanomalies-aappeared-ahere-aon-aHasnorth."-aHadrion-awaved-ahis-ahand-abehind-ahim,-aat-aa-aplain-afaced-awoman-astanding-awith-aa-afew-ablue-arobed-afigures.-aLarah-aConsta,-aa-aGrandmaster-aClass-aWizard-awho-astudied-aFate-aMagic.-a
Larah-anodded-aher-ahead-aslightly,-areplying,
"The-aFate-aDepartment-ahas-apinpointed-athe-aoccurrences-aon-aHasnorth-ato-athe-awestern-alocale-aof-ayour-aempire."
The-aRuler-aof-athe-aObsidia-aRiver-aEmpire-ablinked,-ahis-aeyes-awidening-aslightly.-a
If-athis-awas-aan-aorder-afrom-athe-aWizard-aKing-aTelmon…-athis-awas-aabsolutely-anot-asomething-ahis-aempire-acould-aafford-ato-arefuse.-a
"We-awill,-aof-acourse,-acooperate-awith-ahis-ahighness-aTelmon."-aThe-aObsidia-aRiver-aEmpire's-avoice-acontained-aa-aslight-ahint-aof-ashock.-aBehind-ahim,-aseveral-aelderly-arobed-amen-awere-acurrently-areeling,-astaring-aagape-aat-aHadrion.-aFaintly,-aHardion-acould-amake-aout-athat-athey-awere-aall-adecently-apowerful-aWizards,-aat-aleast-aat-athe-aGrandmaster-aClass.-aNot-abad-afor-aa-arandom-akingdom-aon-aa-aminor-aworld.-a
Hadrion-anodded,-anot-aexpecting-aany-aless.-aA-akingdom-ain-aa-aminor-aworld-alike-aHasnorth-awouldn't-adare-aignore-athe-aword-aof-athe-aWizard-aKing.-aHe-aturned-ato-alook-aat-aLarah-abehind-ahim.-a
Larah-astepped-aall-athe-away-aforward,-aher-aeyes-aplacid.-a
"After-aconsulting-awith-aFate,-awe-ahave-acome-aup-awith-aa-aplan-awe-awould-alike-ato-aimplement.-aWe-ahave-a9-aMaster-aClass-aFate-aWizards-ahere-athat-awill-abegin-aimmediate-aFortellings-ato-alocate-athe-aareas-aaffected-aby-aFate.-aHowever,-adue-ato-athe-ageneral-anature-aof-areading-aFate,-awe-awould-alike-ato-aask-afor-ayour-acooperation-ain-aexpanding-aa-asearch-anet,-aand-adeploying-ateams-aof-aWizards-ato-acontain-athe-aanomaly…"-a
..
"Ssaauurrrr."-aDrago's-avoice-awas-araspy,-ahissing-aand-anearly-aincomprehensible-aas-ahe-asat-aon-aa-aboulder,-alooking-aout-aat-aa-adistant-asunset.-a
"Saaooouuuurrr.-aSoouuwwwrrr.-aSooouuurre.-aSoouur.-aSour.-aSour."-aDrago-aplayed-awith-athe-aword-ain-ahis-amouth,-atrying-ato-aproperly-asay-ait.-aHe-asmiled-atriumphantly-aas-ahe-agot-athe-aword-ato-asound-aout-aclear.
"That-afruit-awas-assoouur."-aHe-amuttered,-ahis-atiny-adraconic-aform-aturning-ato-alook-aat-aa-amostly-aeaten-aMagic-aHerb-alying-anext-ato-ahim.-a
It-ahad-abeen-aan-aeventful-aday.-aAfter-atransforming-ainto-aa-aMyyr-aHatchling,-ahe-ahad-adecided-ato-ago-ahunting-afor-abeasts-ato-aabsorb,-atrying-ato-again-amore-aenergy-ato-astore.-a
He-ahad-aalready-acleared-aout-aa-alarge-apart-aof-athe-aforest-ahe-ahad-aspawned-ain-aat,-aso-ahe'd-amade-athe-adecision-ato-aleave-athere,-ajourneying-aback-atowards-athe-amountains.-aThe-aMountain-aDeer-ahe'd-aseen-aearlier-alooked-amighty-aappetizing-ato-ahim-ain-ahis-adraconic-aform.-a
In-aterms-aof-aspeed,-aas-aa-aMyyr-aHatchling-ahe-awas-amuch-aquicker-athan-ahe-ahad-abeen-aas-aan-aElder-aRed-aSalamander.-aHe-awas-aable-ato-adeftly-amove-athrough-athe-aforest,-ajumping-afrom-atree-abranch-ato-atree-abranch.-a
Before-ahe-amanaged-ato-aget-athe-ahang-aof-athat-amovement-astyle,-ahe'd-asmashed-ahis-aface-ainto-aseveral-adifferent-abranches,-aand-aeven-aa-atree-atrunk-aonce.-aOnce-ahe-akept-aat-ait,-athough,-ahe-amanaged-ato-apick-aup-aa-anatural-agait.-a
Unfortunately,-awhen-ahe-aarrived-aat-athe-amountains,-athe-aonly-abeasts-ahe-aran-ainto-awere-aa-aherd-aof-aIron-aOxen-amoving-athrough-aa-avalley,-aand-aan-aenormous-aBlue-aFurred-aApe-athat-acrashed-adown-ain-aa-ahurry-aaway-afrom-athe-amountain,-afleeing-atowards-athe-aforest.-a
He-awasn't-atoo-akeen-aon-atrying-ato-afight-aan-aentire-aherd-aof-apowerful-abeasts-ayet,-aand-athe-aBlue-aFurred-aApe-awas-aa-aMaster-aClass-aBeast,-aaccording-ato-aAusra,-aand-awould-acrush-ahim-ain-aa-afight.-a
Thankfully,-ahe'd-afound-aa-aBlue-aOnion-aSweetberry-aon-athe-away,-aanother-atype-aof-aMagic-aHerb-athat-aadded-aa-asmall-aamount-aof-aenergy-ato-ahis-astorage,-aas-awell-aas-akeeping-ahim-afed.-a
He-ahad-areturned-aall-athe-away-ato-athe-acenter-aof-athe-amountains,-ato-athe-avalley-abetween-athe-atwo-ashattered-apeaks.-a
He-awas-acurrently-asitting-aon-aa-arandom-aoutcropping-ahalfway-aup-aone-aof-athese-ashattered-apeaks,-alooking-aout-aat-athe-asunset-awistfully.-a
"Moooothraaa.-aMottthheeey.-aMotthheerr.-aMotherr.-aMother."-aHe-amuttered-asoftly,-ahis-avoice-aquiet.-aMyyr-aDragons,-alike-amost-aDraconic-abeasts-ain-athe-a30,000-aworlds,-apossessed-athe-aability-ato-acommunicate.-aIt-arequired-aa-abit-aof-apractice,-ahowever.-a
"Fattherr.-aFather."-aHe-asighed,-ahis-aheart-aall-aof-aa-asudden-afeeling-aheavy.-aAs-ahe-athought-aof-ahis-amother-aand-afather,-amemories-ahe-ahad-asuppressed-aever-asince-acoming-ato-athis-astrange-aworld-abegan-ato-aflood-ainto-ahis-amind.-a
The-amemories-aof-ahis-aprevious-alife-aflashed-abefore-ahim.-aHis-achildhood,-agrowing-aup-awith-ahis-aloving-aparents-aas-aan-aonly-achild.-aHis-abest-afriends-aJessica,-aPhillip,-aand-aTom.-aPast-agirlfriends,-apast-alovers.-aThankfully-ahe'd-abeen-asingle-awhen-ahe-apassed-ainto-athis-aworld,-abut-ahe-astill-agrieved-afor-athe-apain-ahis-aparents-amust-afeel.-a
He-awondered-aif-ahe-awould-aever-asee-athem-aagain.-a
Drago-awas-asilent-aas-ahe-alooked-aout-aat-athe-adying-asun,-ahis-aeyes-aglimmering.
You-anever-aknew-awhat-ayou-ahad-atill-ayou-alost-ait.-aHe-aregretted-anot-atelling-ahis-aparents-ahe-aloved-athem,-ajust-aone-amore-atime.-aHe-aregretting-anot-ataking-athat-achance,-aasking-athat-agirl-aof-ahis-adreams-aout.-aHe-aregretted-anot-afinishing-ahis-agoals,-aearning-ahis-afinal-adegree,-agetting-ain-ashape.
As-ahe-alay-aon-athat-adeserted-arock,-atears-abegan-ato-afall-adown-ahis-aface.-aHe-arocked-aback-aand-aforth,-acurling-aup-aslightly,-ahis-asmall-aclaws-aclutching-aat-ahis-aemerald-ascales.-a
A-abreeze-arustled-apast-athe-aempty-avalley-aas-athe-afading-alight-aof-aday-apassed,-athe-atendrils-aof-anight-aslowly-aunveiling.-aThe-achaotic-aechoes-aof-athe-aforest-abegan-ato-afade,-athe-aworld-atransforming-ainto-aan-aabandoned-amaze-aof-adarkness,-aan-aeerie-areflection-aof-athe-aonce-afull-aday.-a
Leaving-aalone-aa-asmall,-agreen-ascaled-adragon,-agazing-aat-aa-avast,-aempty-asky.
Drago-asighed-aagain,-aclosing-ahis-aeyes.-aHe-atook-aseveral-adeep,-aragged-abreaths,-ashaking-athe-atears-afrom-ahis-ahead.-a
He-aopened-ahis-aeyes-aanew,-aa-apowerful,-aenthralling-alight-afilling-athem.
What-ause-awas-athere,-aof-aregretting-athe-along-agone-apast?-aTo-adwell-aon-aregrets-awas-aa-apath-aof-aharm,-adanger,-aand-adeath.-a
He-acan't-achange-awhat-ais-aalready-adone.-aAs-afar-aas-ahe-aknew,-athere-awas-ano-agoing-aback.-a
The-aDrago-aof-athat-aworld-awas-adead.-a
He-awas-astill-aDrago,-abut-aa-aDrago-aborn-aanew.-a
In-athis-alife,-ahe-awould-ahave-ano-aregrets.-aHe-awould-alive-ato-athe-afullest,-ahowever-athat-awould-abe,-aand-awherever-athat-awould-atake-ahim.-a
Life-awas-atoo-aprecious-ato-aworry-aabout-aotherwise.-a
He-anodded-ahis-ahead-aand-ashook-aout-ahis-atiny-awings,-ahis-aeyes-asharpening-aas-ahe-aturned-aaround,-amoving-adown-athe-amountain-atowards-athe
-asmall-acave-ahe'd-adiscovered-aearlier,-aheading-aoff-ato-arest.-a
###-aChapter-a10-a--aGetting-aClose
William-aRobel-awiped-aa-asheen-aof-anervous-asweat-aaway-afrom-ahis-aforehead-aas-ahe-astared-aat-athe-agroup-aof-amen-astanding-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-atrying-anot-ato-ashiver.-a
His-amind-awandered-aas-ahe-atried-ato-afind-aout-awhere-aeverything-ahad-agone-awrong.-a
The-apast-afew-adays-ahad-abeen-asome-aof-athe-abest-aof-aWilliam's-alife.-aAfter-ahe-asuccessfully-afound-aa-aSky-aClass-aIronhide-aWolf,-aand-abrought-ait-aback-asafely,-ahe'd-agained-aan-aenormous-aamount-aof-amerit.-a
The-aRobel-aFamily-aof-aYor-aCity-awas-aone-aof-athe-astrongest-agroups-ain-athe-awestern-aObsidia-aEmpire.-aThere-awere-aover-aa-ahundred-awizards-ain-athe-afamily,-athough-amore-athan-ahalf-aof-athem-aweren't-aactual-afamily-amembers,-abut-ahired-aon.-aThe-ahead-aof-athe-afamily,-aGaribold-aRobel,-awas-aa-apowerful-aGrandmaster-aClass-aWizard-athat-aspecialized-ain-aEarth-aMagic.-a
William-awas-athe-abastard-ason-aof-aan-aouter-amember-aof-athe-afamily.-aHis-agrandfather-awas-athe-abrother-aof-athe-afamily-ahead.-aIf-ahis-ahorrid-afather,-aRicard-aRobel,-ahadn't-aconceived-ahim-awith-aa-amaid-aand-ainstead-awith-ahis-awife,-ahis-astatus-ain-athe-afamily-awould-ahave-abeen-aso-amuch-amore-asecure.-a
He-ahad-abeen-aforced-ato-aclaw-ahis-away-aup-ato-awhere-ahe-awas-anow.-aAs-aa-anewly-apromoted-aSky-aClass-amage,-ahis-afuture-awas-alooking-abright.-aSuccessfully-acapturing-aa-alive-aIronhide-aWolf-awas-athe-acherry-aon-atop,-aa-agift-ahe-agave-ato-ahis-agreat-uncle.-a
His-ahatred-afor-ahis-afather-ahasn't-alessened.-aBut-anow,-ahis-astatus-ain-athe-afamily-awas-asecure,-aand-ahe-acould-atruly-alive-aup-ato-athe-alast-aname-ahe-aheld.-aHis-agrandfather-ahad-apersonally-awelcomed-ahim-aand-aintroduced-ahim-ato-athe-afamily-ahead.
The-apast-afew-amoments,-ahowever,-ahad-abeen-anerve-racking-afor-aWilliam.
He-ahad-abeen-asettling-ain-ato-arest-aafter-aa-anight-aout-ain-athe-atown-awith-aa-afew-aof-athe-acousins-ahe-ahad-amet-aover-athe-apast-afew-adays.-aHe'd-abeen-adrinking,-astill-acelebrating-ahis-anewfound-aacceptance-ainto-athe-afamily.-a
When-ahe-agot-aback-ato-athe-afamily-acompound,-aa-alarge-atract-aof-aland-ain-athe-acity-awith-adozens-aof-ahomes-aand-abuildings,-ahe'd-abeen-awelcomed-aby-aa-alarge-agroup-aof-aarmed-awarriors-aand-awizards.-a
In-athe-a30,000-aWorlds,-atraining-aone's-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-awas-athe-aonly-away-ato-abecome-astrong.-aThe-astrongest-ahumans-ain-aexistence-awere-aall-awizards.-aHowever,-athe-atalent-arequired-ato-abecome-aa-awizard-ais-asignificant,-aand-aonly-a1-ain-a50-apeople-awill-abe-aable-ato-astep-abeyond-athe-aEarth-aClass-ain-aterms-aof-amagic.-a
If-aone-ahas-ano-atalent-ain-amagic,-aone-acan-aalways-atrain-ato-abecome-aa-awarrior.
Wizards-agrew-atheir-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-aby-aaccumulating-aexperience-ain-acasting-aspells.-aA-awizard's-asoul-awould-agradually-aadapt-aover-atime-ato-athe-atype-aof-amagic-athey-aused.-aThe-amore-atimes-athey-acast-aone-aspell-aor-aanother,-atheir-asoul-awould-abecome-abaptized-aby-athe-amagic-aenergy-aand-athe-alaws-aof-athe-auniverse,-agradually-aincreasing-ain-astrength.-a
This-aprocess-acould-abe-asped-aup-ausing-aMagic-aHerbs-aor-arare-aconcoctions-amade-afrom-aMagic-aHerbs.-a
Warriors-athat-acouldn't-atrain-amagic,-ahowever,-awere-aforced-ato-atake-aa-amuch-acruder-apath.-aBy-atraining-atheir-abody-aextensively,-aand-arepeatedly,-awarriors-acould-aalso-aforce-atheir-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-ato-agrow-avia-athis-akind-aof-aphysical-apseudo-baptism.-aThis,-awhen-acombined-awith-aMagic-aHerbs-aor-acrafted-apotions,-ameant-ayou-acould-abecome-astrong-aeven-awithout-athe-aability-ato-ause-amagic.-a
The-agap-abetween-aa-awarrior-aand-aa-awizard-awas-asignificant,-ahowever.-a
It-awas-agenerally-aaccepted-athat-aa-awizard-aof-aone-aClass-acould-atake-aout-aa-adozen-awarriors-aof-athe-asame-aClass-awith-aease.-a
A-aSky-aClass-aWizard-acould-aeasily-atake-aout-aa-adozen-aSky-aClass-aWarriors.-aThe-ahigher-athe-aClass,-athe-alarger-athe-agap.-a
An-aAngelic-aClass-aWizard-acould-asweep-athe-afloor-awith-aa-ahigher-aranked-aAscendancy-aClass-aWarrior.-a
It-awasn't-athat-athe-awarrior-awas-aweak.-aIt-awas-asimply-athat-amagic-awas-afar,-afar-atoo-apowerful.-a
When-aWilliam-aarrived-aat-ahis-ahome-aand-asaw-athe-agroup-athat-awas-awelcoming-ahim,-ahe-ahad-aalmost-afainted-ain-ahorror.-a
As-aa-aSky-aClass-aWizard,-ahe-ahad-aa-acertain-alevel-aof-asensitivity-ato-aother-abeings.-aAnd-ahe-acould-aeasily-adetect-athat-athe-adozen-aor-aso-ablack-aarmored-awarriors-abefore-ahim-awere-aall-aat-aleast-aat-athe-aMaster-aClass,-awith-aincredibly-arobust-aphysical-abodies.-a
He-amight-abe-aable-ato-atake-aour-aone-aor-atwo-aof-athem,-abut-aa-adozen?-aAs-aa-anewly-apromoted-aSky-aClass-amage,-ahe-awould-adie-aa-anameless-adeath.-a
Thankfully,-athe-agroup-ahadn't-aattacked-ahim.-aThe-aheavily-aarmored-awarriors-ahad-astood-aoff-ato-athe-aside,-atheir-ablack-aplate-aarmor-aclanking-aagainst-athe-alarge-agreatswords-athey-aall-awielded-aon-atheir-abacks,-awhile-aa-aquartet-aof-apeople-ahad-aapproached-ahim.-a
The-aFamily-aHead,-aGaribold-aRobel,-awearing-aa-aset-aof-aloose-abrown-asilk-arobes,-ahis-agaunt-aand-aaged-aface-abearing-aa-awarm-asmile.-aA-acalm-alooking-aman-awearing-aa-aset-aof-atight-afitting-agrey-arobes,-awith-aa-ablack,-athunderbolt-aemblazoned-aon-athem.-aAn-aoverweight-aman-awearing-aa-aset-aof-aloose-ablue-arobes,-abearing-aa-apale-aand-aexhausted-alooking-aface.-aAnd-aanother-agaunt,-aelderly-afigure,-adressed-ain-aan-aexpensive-aand-avery-aornate-apurple-ashirt-aand-arobe.-a
He-ahad-anearly-afainted-aagain-aupon-aseeing-athem.-aAll-aof-athem-awere-aradiating-aa-apowerful-afeeling-aof-astrength,-aan-aaura-athat-aindicated-aeach-afigure-ahere-aoutclassed-ahim.-a
The-aFamily-aHead-ahad-amade-athe-afirst-aoverture,-agiving-ahim-aanother-awarm-asmile,-athough-aa-astern-alook-aof-awarning-aremained-ain-ahis-aeyes.-a
"William,-amy-aapologies-afor-athe-aabrupt-agreeting."-aHe-asaid-aas-ahe-awaved-ahis-aarms-abehind-ahim.-a
"King-aHenry-ahas-apersonally-arequested-aour-aassistance-ain-aa-acertain-amatter.-aThis-ais-athe-aRoyal-aWizard-aAymon,-aspecializing-ain-aSpace-aMagic."-aHe-aintroduced-athe-aelderly-aman-awearing-athe-aornate-aset-aof-apurple-arobes.-a
"And-athese-atwo-aare-arepresentatives-aof-athe-aFate-aDepartment-aand-athe-aBlack-aLighting-aDepartment-aof-athe-aBorrel-aAutarchy.-aSir-aOblong-afrom-athe-aFate-aDepartment,-aand-aSir-aGraxital-afrom-athe-aBlack-aLightning-aDepartment."-a
The-atired-alooking-aoverweight-awizard,-aOblong,-agave-aa-afriendly-awave-ato-aWilliam,-awhile-aGraxital-amerely-anodded-ahis-ahead-aat-ahim.-a
William-aforced-ahimself-ato-acalm-adown.-aAt-athis-apoint,-ahe-awas-ano-alonger-asurprised-aby-athe-astrange-asituation-ahe-awas-ain.-a
"Greetings."-aWilliam-apressed-ahis-ahands-atogether-aand-abowed-arespectfully,-anot-aletting-ahis-avoice-atremble.-aGaribold-anodded-aapprovingly.-a
"How-acan-aI-abe-aof-aservice?"-aHe-aqueried,-afeeling-aa-abit-alost.
The-aoverweight-awizard-aOblong-astepped-aforward,-a
"I-aam-aa-aMaster-aClass-aWizard-aspecializing-ain-aFate.-aA-afull-acadre-aof-amy-abrothers-ahas-aarrived-ahere-aalongside-aour-asister-aDepartment,-athe-aBlack-aLightning-aDepartment."-aHe-abegan,-awaving-ahis-ahand-aat-athe-aquiet-aGraxital.
"The-aObsidia-aRiver-aEmpire-awas-akind-aenough-ato-alend-aus-athe-ause-aof-aseveral-aof-atheir-aestablished-aSpace-aWays.-aAymon-awas-akind-aenough-ato-aassist-aus-ain-atraveling-ahere,-awhile-amy-abrethren-aspread-aacross-athe-aEmpire-atrying-ato-apinpoint-aa-arecent-aanomaly."-aThough-ahe-aacted-alike-athe-aEmpire's-aaid-awas-aout-aof-akindness,-athe-areality-awas-athat-athe-aEmpire-awas-aunable-ato-arefuse.-a
Spatial-aor-aSpace-aMagic-awas-aa-awell-aestablished-afield-ain-athe-a30,000-aWorlds.-aWhile-ait-awas-aalmost-aimpossible-ato-atravel-abetween-aworlds-awith-aSpace-aMagic,-aor-ato-atravel-aanywhere-ain-aa-aWorld-aBridge-adue-ato-aspatial-ainterference,-atransport-aacross-athe-asurface-aof-aan-aindividual-aworld-awas-avery-apossible.-a
The-aObsidia-aRiver-aEmpire-ahad-aa-anetwork-aof-aestablished-aSpatial-aWays,-aspecial
-apathways-athat-aconnected-adistant-apoints-ato-aeach-aother,-acreated-aand-amaintained-aby-awizards-astudying-aSpace-aMagic.-aOperating-aa-aSpatial-aWay-arequired-aa-alarge-aamount-aof-aenergy-aand-afocus,-aone-athat-aincreased-athe-afarther-ait-atraveled.-a
The-aSpatial-aWay-aOblong-aand-aGraxital-ahad-aarrived-athrough,-aalongside-athe-adozen-aor-aso-aBlack-aIron-aGuards-athe-aEmpire-ahad-alent-athem,-arequired-aa-aGrandmaster-aClass-aWizard-astudying-aSpace-aMagic-ato-aoperate.-a
Aymon-ahappened-ato-abe-aone-aof-aonly-atwo-aGrandmaster-aClass-aRoyal-aWizards-astudying-aSpace-aMagic-ain-athe-aEmpire,-aand-awas-aassigned-ato-ahelp-athem.-a
Oblong-acontinued,
"My-aparticular-aForetelling-ahas-aled-ame-ato-ayour-afamily-ahere."-aHe-ablinked-aand-arubbed-ahis-aforehead,-alooking-aas-aif-ahe-awas-atrying-ato-awipe-aaway-ahis-afatigue,
"Specifically-ato-ayou,-aWilliam."-a
William-anearly-afainted-afor-aa-athird-atime,-ahis-amind-aracing-aahead-aof-ahim.-aWhat-aon-aearth-acould-ahave-aled-ato-athis?!
"I-I.."-aHe-astuttered,-anot-aknowing-ahow-ato-arespond.-aThe-aFamily-aHead-afrowned-aat-ahis-aresponse.-aWilliam-atook-aa-adeep-abreath,-aquickly-arecovering-ahimself.-aThis-asituation-awas-aunprecedented,-abut-ahe-acouldn't-alet-ahimself-aflounder-anow.-a
"Ahem.-aI-ahave-ano-aidea-awhat-ait-acould-abe-arelated-ato.-aThe-aonly-anotable-aactions-aI've-ataken-arecently-ahave-abeen-ato-abreak-athrough-athe-aSky-aClass-awith-amy-aWood-aMagic,-aand-ato-ahunt-adown-aan-aIronhide-aWolf-ain-athe-aNebra-aMountains-ato-athe-asouth."-aHis-avoice-awas-acalm-aand-acollected,-anot-abetraying-ahis-aemotions.-a
However,-acontrary-ato-ahis-aexpectations,-aOblong's-aeyes-alit-aup,-athe-afat-aon-ahis-aface-atrembling-aas-ahe-alet-aout-aa-alaugh.-a
"Aha!"-aImmediately-athe-afat-awizard-asat-adown-aon-athe-aground,-aclapping-ahis-ahands-atogether.-aWhite-alight-abegan-ato-aflash-aaround-ahis-ahands-aas-ahe-amoved-athem-ain-aa-acomplex-apattern.-aSoon,-athis-agleaming-awhite-alight-aflooded-ainto-ahis-aeyes,-agiving-ahim-aa-amystifying-aappearance.-a
