by Koren Rabe
The-acontrol-aof-ahis-awings,-ahis-abody's-amovement-ain-aflight,-ait-aall-acame-anaturally-ato-ahim.-a
He-acarefully-aguided-ahimself-atowards-aa-asmall-aopening-abetween-aa-apair-aof-alarge-atrees,-acontrolling-ahis-abody-awith-aprecision.-aHe-amanaged-ato-asail-athrough-athe-agap-ain-athe-aleaves-awithout-aa-ahitch,-asliding-ainto-athe-aforest.-a
"GRAAAWWWRR!"
The-ainstant-ahe-acame-aunder-athe-acover-aof-atrees,-aDrago-awas-aunfortunate-aenough-ato-aimmediately-aencounter-aa-abeast.-a
He-aforcibly-astopped-ahis-agliding,-acoming-ato-aa-ahalt-aand-acrashing-adown-ahard-aon-athe-aground-aas-ahe-alooked-aat-athe-ahulking-abeast-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-ahis-aeyes-anarrow.-a
He-ahad-alanded-ain-athe-athick-aof-athe-aforest,-aon-aa-asmall-araised-asection.-aTrees-adotted-aeverywhere,-agradually-aobscuring-ahis-avision.-a
Right-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-ajust-abelow,-astood-aa-alarge,-a2-aand-aa-ahalf-ameter-atall-acreature-athat-alooked-alike-aa-abull-awith-adark-agreen-ahide.-aA-apair-aof-afirm-awhite-atusks-astuck-aout-aof-aits-abrutish-amouth,-aits-abeady-aeyes-aglaring-aat-ahim.-aIt-astomped-aits-afeet-aon-athe-aground-aseveral-atimes,-aits-amuscles-arolling.-a
"Hello-athere."-aHe-asaid-aaloud,-astaring-aat-athe-acreature-ain-aconsternation.-a
'Ausra..?'-aHe-amentally-aqueried,-acontinuing-ato-astudy-athe-aboar.-a
'A-aForest-aBoar.-aPowerful-acreatures-aprized-afor-atheir-atough-ahorns,-aand-adelicious-ameat.-aIts-amaximum-agrowth-aplaces-ait-aat-athe-amiddle-aof-athe-aSky-aClass.'-aA-acool-areply-arang-aout-ain-ahis-ahead.-a
Drago-ashrugged,-athe-atiny-abead-aof-aconcern-ain-ahis-aheart-afading-aaway.-aHis-acurrent-abody,-aright-anow,-awas-aat-athe-aearly-astage-aof-aMaster-aClass.-aWhile-ahe-amay-anot-ahave-athe-afighting-ainstincts-aof-aa-aMyyr-aDragon,-aDrago-acould-afeel-athe-adense,-arippling-amuscles-aand-athick-ascales-ahe-anow-apossessed.-aHe-awondered-ahow-amuch-astronger-ahe-awould-abe-aat-athe-aGrandmaster-aClass.-a
"Grrr…"-aThe-aBoar-agave-aa-aquieter-agrowl,-aits-abody-ashivering.-a
He-alooked-adown-afrom-athe-asmall-ahill-ahe-awas-aon,-ashaking-ahis-ahead.-a
"It's-aover,-aForest-aBoar.-aI-ahave-athe-ahigh-aground."-aHe-arattled-ahis-aclaws,-ahis-aeyes-agiving-aoff-aa-athreatening-agleam.-a
"GRAAAWWRR!"-aThe-aboar-aignored-ahim-aand-acharged,-aits-atusks-apointed-aat-ahis-achest.-aEach-astep-ait-atook-athrew-aup-adirt-aand-arock,-aclomping-aits-away-aup-athe-asmall-ahill.-a
Drago's-aeyes-athinned-ato-aslits-aas-ahe-atook-aa-adeep-abreath.-aHe-afelt-aa-afeeling-aof-awarmth-ainside-ahis-abody-aas-ahe-aactivated-athe-aAbility-ahe-ahad-ajust-alearned.-aIt-atook-aa-amere-asplit-asecond-afor-aa-avast-anumber-aof-asymbols-ain-ahis-asoul-ato-ablast-aout-afrom-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix.-a
After-athat-asplit-asecond,-aa-apowerful-acascade-aof-abrilliant-agreen-aflames-aburst-afrom-ahis-amouth,-ablasting-adirectly-adown-atowards-athe-aForest-aBoar.-aThese-aflames-aburned-awith-aa-abrilliant-agleam,-aboiling-aforth-alike-aan-aunstoppable-awaterfall.-a
As-aDrago-alet-athem-aloose,-ahe-anoticed-athat-awhile-ahe-acould-asee-athe-aflames-aburning-athrough-athe-aair,-athe-aheat-aitself-athe-aflames-agave-aoff-adidn't-aseem-ato-ahave-amuch-aaffect-aon-ahim.-aThe-aAbility-ahe-awas-ausing-aseemed-ato-anot-aonly-acreate-athese-apowerful-aflames,-abut-aalso-aprotect-ahim-afrom-athem.-a
He-aabruptly-asnapped-ahis-amouth-ashut,-acancelling-athe-aAbility-aas-ahe-afelt-aits-adrain-aon-ahim.-aEvery-aAbility-aone-aused,-alike-aevery-aspell-aa-aWizard-acast,-awould-acreate-aa-aphysical-aand-amental-adrain,-aon-aone's-abody-aand-atheir-asoul.-aUsing-atoo-amany-acould-acause-ayou-ato-acollapse,-aand-aeven-aphysically-adamage-ayourself.-a
WHOOSH
THUD
The-aForest-aBoar-afell-ato-athe-aground,-aroasted-athrough-aand-athrough.-aIts-aentire-abody-awas-aseared,-acooked-astraight-athrough-ato-athe-acore.-aThe-aLesser-aEmerald-aFlames-athat-aDrago-ahad-acreated-awere-apotent,-awith-athe-astrength-ato-adirectly-aroast-aa-aSky-aClass-abeast-ain-aa-asingle-ahit.-a
He-ablinked-ahard-aas-ahe-aconsidered-athis.-aAbilities,-ait-aseemed,-awere-aextremely-avaluable-atools-ato-ahave.-a
Right-anow-ahe-ahad-atwo.-aHis-aFlame-aClaws-aAbility-afrom-athe-aRed-aSalamander,-aand-ahis-aLesser-aEmerald-aFlames-afrom-athe-aMyyr-aDragon.-a
As-ahe-acontinued-ato-aEvolve,-ataking-ain-amore-aand-amore-aforms,-ahe-awould-again-amore-aand-amore-aAbilities.-aA-asmile-aappeared-aon-ahis-aface-aas-ahe-arealized-athis.-a
Even-aif-ahe-acouldn't-aeasily-afind-aa-aLord-aClass-abloodline,-athat-adidn't-amean-ahe-acouldn't-agrow-astronger.-a
A-amesmerizing-asmell-ainterrupted-ahis-athoughts.-a
He-alooked-adown,-astaring-aat-athe-aroasted-aboar.-a
The-adelicious-ascent-aof-acooked-ameat-awas-awafting-aup-ahis-anose,-athe-afat-aand-amuscle-aon-athe-aboar's-abody-ajust-awaiting-ato-abe-adevoured.-aBecause-ahe'd-acooked-ait-athrough-aand-athrough,-ahe-aruefully-arealized-ahe-awouldn't-abe-aable-ato-aabsorb-aits-abloodline,-athough-ahe-ahadn't-abeen-aplanning-aon-ait.-a
His-astomach-arumbled,-aand-aDrago-arealized-ahe-ahadn't-ahad-aanything-ato-aeat-atoday,-anot-aafter-atrying-ato-aeat-athat-aroasted-adeer,-aand-athen-abeing-arudely-ainterrupted.-a
He-asmiled.-aIt-aseemed-ahe-awould-aget-ato-aeat-aroasted-ameat-atoday,-ain-athe-aend.-aHe-awalked-aup-ato-athe-afire-aand-acut-aoff-aseveral-achoice-aparts,-astuffing-asome-aof-athem-ainto-athe-aSpatial-aPouch-ahe-ahad-atied-aaround-ahis-aneck.-a
He-athen-aturned-atowards-athe-asouth,-ahis-ainnate-asense-aof-adirection-aguiding-ahim.-aHe-athen-aset-aforward-aand-acontinued-aon-ahis-away,-amunching-aon-aa-aroasted-aboar-aleg-aas-ahe-ahalf-adashed-athrough-athe-aforest,-adancing-aa-alittle-adance-aat-athe-adelicious-aflavor-aof-athe-acooked-aboar.-a
..
"I-ashould-athink-aof-aLight-aMagic…-aas-aa-aDao-aof-aLight?"-aWilliam-ascratched-ahis-ahead-aat-athe-athought,-ahis-amind-afocused-aon-aunpacking-athe-ainheritance-aof-amagic-athe-aesteemed-aWizard-ahad-aleft-afor-ahim.-a
He-awas-amore-athan-ahalfway-aback-ato-aYor-aCity,-asmoothly-aflying-ahigh-aover-athe-aforest-abelow.-aHe'd-adecided-ato-alook-aat-athe-amagic-ahe-ahad-ainherited,-atrying-ato-aunderstand-ait.-a
The-athought-aprocess-aof-athe-aWizard,-ahowever,-awas-aextremely-acomplex.-aInstead-aof-aan-aorthodox-amethod-aof-astudying-aMagic,-afocusing-aon-alearning-aone-aspell-aat-aa-atime,-amoving-aforward-acarefully-awith-aeach-astep,-athe-afallen-aAngelic-aClass-aWizard-aHorhavil-aCandor-atreated-ait-alike-ahe-awas-acoming-ato-aan-aunderstanding-aof-ahow-aLight-aMagic-aitself-afunctioned.-aHe-amoved-aaway-afrom-asimple-amemorization,-aand-amore-ato-aunderstanding-athe-apatterns-aand-asymbols-athat-arepresented-aLight-aMagic,-aand-athe-aconcepts-abehind-athem.-a
It-awas-afar-atoo-ahigh-alevel-afor-aWilliam-ato-atruly-aunderstand,-abut-ait-aleft-ahim-afeeling-aimpressed,-aimpressed-aand-asmall.-aThe-auniverse-awas-aso-amuch-abigger-athan-ahim,-aand-ahis-aunderstanding-aof-ait-awas-afar,-afar-atoo-ainsignificant.-a
He-acontinued-ato-areview-athe-aodd-aLight-aMagic,-abecoming-amore-aand-amore-ainterested.-aGradually,-ahe-abegan-ato-afocus-aon-athe-afirst-aspell.-aLight-aMagic:-aHealing-aTouch.-aIt-awas-aa-aspell-athat-afocused-aon-ahealing-aanother-aindividual,-adrawing-afrom-athe-aenergy-ain-athe-aair-aaround-ayou.-a
Light-aMagic-ahad-apowerful-ahealing-aspells,-aand-apowerful-adestructive-acapabilities.-aIts-aone-aweakness-awould-abe-aits-alack-aof-apowerful-adefensive-aspells.-aIt-ahad-aa-afew,-abut-aat-aa-ahigher-alevel-awas-alacking-acompared-ato-aother-abranches-aof-amagic.-a
He-awas-ain-athe-amidst-aof-athought,-atossing-athese-aconcepts-aover-ain-ahis-ahead,-awhen-aa-aloud,-agrinding-anoise-ainterrupted-ahim.-aA-asecond-aalter-ahis-awooden-avessel-alurched-ato-aa-ahalt,-aalmost-aknocking-ahim-aoff-ahis-afeet-aas-ahe-astumbled-aforward.-a
William-ajerked-ahis-ahead-aup,-ahis-aeyes-awidening-ain-asurprise.-aHe-araised-ahis-ahands-aforward-aand-areadied-ahimself-ato-acast-aa-aspell,-ahis-abody-atense.-a
A-amoment-alater-ahe-alowered-athem,-arecognizing-awhat-awas-abefore-ahim.-a
The-afamiliar-alooking-atransparent-avessel-athat-athey-ahad-aoriginal-aflo
w-ato-athe-aNebra-aMountains-ain,-afrom-athe-aspell-aof-athe-aRoyal-aWizard-aAymon.-aSeveral-afloating,-atransparent-achains-ahad-alatched-aonto-ahis-awooden-avessel,-alocking-ait-ain-aplace.-aHe-amentally-abeat-ahimself-aup-afor-amissing-asuch-aan-aobvious-aship-aapproaching-ahim.-aBeing-alost-ain-athought-alike-athat-awas-adangerous.-a
"Hail,-ayoung-aWizard!-aAre-ayou-aalright?"-aA-avoice-acalled-aout-agruffly.-a
A-amuscular-aman-awith-along-ablack-ahair,-aand-aa-ashort-abeard-amotioned-aat-ahim.-aBehind-ahim-aWilliam-acould-amake-aout-aseveral-aother-afigures-ahe-adidn't-arecognize,-abut-aone-ahe-adid.-aThe-aRoyal-aWizard-aAymon.-a
He-acould-aalso-afeel-aan-aincredible-aconcentration-aof-aenergy-aon-athe-apeople-ain-athat-avessel,-aand-ainstantly-aknew-athey-awere-anot-aonly-apeople-ahe-acouldn't-aafford-ato-across,-abut-apeople-ahe-aneeded-ato-anot-aeven-aoffend.-aMost-aof-athem-awere-apowerful-aWizards,-athough-ahe-acould-amake-aout-aa-afew-awarriors-awith-athem.-aBlack-aIron-aGuards-aonce-amore,-apowerful-awarriors-afrom-athe-acapital.-a
"Yes,-aI'm-afine.-aCan-aI-ahelp-ayou?"-aHe-aasked-apolitely,-afeeling-aas-aif-ahe-aalready-aknew-athe-aanswer-ato-athat-aquestion.-a
"Yes,-ayes-ayou-acan.-aYou-aare-aWilliam-aRobel,-acorrect?-aThe-aWizard-athat-awas-ainjured-aand-alost-ahere-aearlier-awhen-aattempting-ato-acapture-aa-acreature-athat-acaused-aa-adisturbance-ain-aFate?"-aA-astern-alooking-awoman-astepped-aforward,-aher-along-ared-ahair-atied-aup-ain-aa-atight-abun,-awith-apiercing-agreen-aeyes-athat-aseemed-ato-abore-athough-ahis-asoul.-a
"Yes…"-aWilliam-aresponded,-anodding-ahis-ahead,-athough-ahe-awouldn't-aquite-asay-ahe-awas-a'lost.'-aMore-alike-aabandoned.-a
"Excellent."-aShe-amotioned-awith-aher-ahand-aat-ahim,
"I've-aalready-aspoken-awith-ayour-aFamily-aHead.-aYou-awill-abe-ajustly-arewarded-afor-athe-apains-ayou-asuffered.-aIn-aaddition,-ahe-ahas-aassigned-ayou-ato-aassist-aus-ain-atracking-adown-athat…-adragon."-aHer-avoice-aleft-ano-aroom-afor-anegotiation,-aher-aeyes-acold.-a
William-asighed-aon-athe-ainside,-afeeling-aa-adeepset-aunwillingness-arise-ain-ahim,-aalongside-aan-aeven-alarger-afeeling-aof-ahelplessness.-aHe-awalked-aover-atowards-athe-atransparent-avessel-aand-aboarded-ait,-adismissing-ahis-aown.-a
"Now,"-aThe-awoman-abegan-aas-ahe-aboarded,-awalking-ain-afront-aof-ahim.-aA-afew-aof-athe-aWizards-ain-athe-asurrounding-aturned-ato-astare-aat-ahim.-aThe-amuscular-alooking-aWizard,-ameanwhile,-aturned-ato-athe-afront-aof-athe-aship,-aignoring-athem.-aUp-aclose-aWilliam-anoticed-aseveral-afaint,-ablack-alines-aof-aenergy-afloating-aaround-athe-aman.-a
"Tell-ame-aexactly-awhat-ayou-aremember,-aor-aknow,-aabout-athat-adisturbance-ain-aFate,-aand-ahow-aexactly-ayou-aare-astill-aalive."
..
The-aWizard-aKing-aTelmon-asighed,-arubbing-ahis-aforehead.-aHis-aviolet-aeyes-apierced-aforward,-alooking-ainto-athe-adistance,-aas-aif-ahe-awas-agazing-aat-aall-aexistence.-a
Instead-aof-ahis-agrand-athrone-aroom,-ahe-awas-acurrently-asitting-aon-aa-asmall,-agrey-apillar,-ain-athe-amiddle-aof-aa-aforest-aclearing.-aSeveral-asmall-atrees-adotted-athe-aarea,-apartially-aobscuring-aa-aset-aof-aancient-astone-aruins,-acovered-ain-amysterious-ahieroglyphics.-a
Instead-aof-ahis-acustomary-awhite-arobe,-ahe-awore-aa-asimple-abrown-asmock,-aand-aa-aset-aof-abrown-aleather-apants.-aClothes-aan-aordinary-apeasant-awould-awear.-aThe-acrown-ahe-anormally-awore-aon-ahis-ahead-awas-anowhere-ato-abe-aseen.
Off-ain-athe-adistance,-aroughly-atwenty-amiles-aaway,-aan-aenormous-afloating-aedifice-acould-abe-aseen.-aA-amassive,-adozen-amile-awide-acircle-aof-awhite-astone,-asupported-aby-athousands-aof-astreams-aof-awhite-alight,-afloating-aseveral-ahundred-ameters-ahigh-ain-athe-asky.-a
Upon-athis-astone-acircle-awere-atens-aof-athousands-aof-abuildings,-apalaces,-aand-aall-asorts-aof-astructures.-aA-achaotic,-aexpansive-acity,-asoaring-ain-athe-asky.-aTens-aof-athousands-aof-afigures-acould-abe-aseen,-aflying-ain-athe-asky-ato-aand-afro-anear-athe-acity.-a
The-aillustrious-afloating-acapital-aof-athe-aBorrel-aAutarchy,-aHeavenseeker-aCity.-aThe-aholy-aland-aof-aWizards,-awhere-aspellcasters-awent-ato-aseek-athe-aheavens.-a
"Cassiera."-aHis-avoice-awas-awarm-aand-agentle-aas-ahe-aspoke,-amotioning-aoff-ato-athe-aside.-a
Immediately-aa-afigure-ablurred-ainto-aexistence,-athe-aworld-aaround-aher-awarping-aas-ashe-abowed.-aHer-asilky-ablonde-ahair-aand-aher-agreen-aeyes-aadded-aa-acertain-afire-ato-aher-aeager-asmile,-amaking-aher-aappearance-aone-aof-abeauty.-aShe-awas-alean-aand-afit,-athe-acurves-aof-aher-abody-avisible-athrough-athe-atight-ablue-adress-ashe-awore.
"Your-ahighness."-aThe-aadoration-ain-aher-avoice-awas-athick.-a
"Your-areport."-aThe-aWizard-aKing-agave-aher-aa-acalm-anod.-a
"We've-agained-aa-adeeper-aunderstanding-aof-athe-acreatures-athat-ahave-acaused-aa-adisturbance-ain-aFate.-aAt-aleast,-aof-athe-a32-ain-aworlds-aunder-aour-acontrol."-aShe-abegan,-aflipping-aher-ahair-aback-abehind-aher-aas-ashe-aclapped-aher-ahands.-aA-asmall-asheath-aof-anotes-aappeared-athat-ashe-abegan-ato-ascan-athrough.-a
He-ainterrupted-aher,
"The-acasualties-afirst."-aHe-aasked,-ahis-avoice-asteady.
Cassiera-alooked-adown,-aher-aeager-asmile-afading.-a
"3-aLord-aClass-aWizards,-amore-athan-a30-aGrandmaster-aClass-aWizards,-aand-aroughly-a220-aMaster-aClass-aWizards.-aThe-anumber-aof-acivilians-aor-athose-aat-aa-alower-aClass-akilled-ain-aaction-ais-aexpected-ato-anumber-ain-athe-ahundreds-aof-athousands-ain-awake-aof-athe-awidespread-adestruction."-aA-ahint-aof-asadness-afilled-aher-atone.-a
The-aWizard-aKings-asat-acalmly,-ahis-avoice-anot-adisplaying-aa-asingle-aemotion-aas-ahe-aheard-aher-areport.
"I-asee."-aThe-aimmediacy-aof-athis-athreat-aseemed-ato-abe-amuch-ahigher-athan-apreviously-athought.-a
"27-aof-athe-a32-aAnomalies,-aas-awe-ahave-ataken-ato-acalling-athem,-apossess-aclear-aLord-aClass-astrength,-aranging-afrom-athe-aearly-astage-ato-athe-apeak-aPseudo-King-aClass.-aAll-aof-athem-apossess-aincredibly-apowerful-abloodlines,-amany-aof-athem-aancient-aand-athought-aextinct.-aSome,-aperhaps-aall,-aof-athem-aappear-ato-apossess-athe-aability-ato-atransform-atheir-aphysical-abody."-aShe-asaid,-afrowning,
"They-aare-anot-aonly-aincredibly-astrong,-abut-aFate-aitself-aseems-ato-awarp-aaround-athem,-ausually-ain-atheir-afavor.-aThis-ahas-amade-ait-aexceptionally-adifficult-afor-aany-aof-athe-ateams-athe-aDepartments-asent-aout-ato-acapture-aany-aof-athem.-aSpells-ago-aslightly-aawry,-acoincidences-aoccur,-aluck-aseems-ato-aturn-ajust-aright-afor-athem."-aShe-acontinued,-a
"Unfortunately,-ait-ais-aextremely-adifficult-ato-atrack-aLord-aClass-afigures-athrough-aFate-afor-aany-aextended-aperiod-aof-atime,-aand-aas-aa-aresult-aseveral-aof-athe-aAnomalies-ahave-aescaped-afrom-aour-asight.-aWe-aare-acurrently-aworking-ato-atrack-athem."-aShe-awaved-aher-ahands-aforward-aas-ashe-aadded,
"The-amanner-ain-awhich-athey-aarrived-ahere-aset-aoff-afaint-awaves-athrough-aFate,-aand-awe-aare-aattempting-ato-apinpoint-atheir-alocations-ain-athis-amanner,-athough-awe-aestimate-athese-awaves-awill-adie-adown-ain-aroughly-aa-aweek."
"Not-aa-asingle-aone-awas-acaptured,-adespite-athe-acasualties?-aWere-aany-aof-athem-akilled?"-aTelmon's-avoice-awas-adangerously-acalm.-a
"Yes-asir.-aThe-aLord-aClass-aVolcanic-aWizard-aPetryon-aperished-ataking-aout-aan-aAnomaly-athat-ahad-athe-abloodline-aof-aan-aAncient-aBoorakian-aWood-aGiant,-aalso-aat-athe-aLord-aClass.-aThe-acorpse-aof-athe-abeast-ais-acurrently-abeing-atransported-atowards-athe-aCapital."-aCassiera-abowed-aher-ahead-aagain,-atrembling,
Telmon-asimply-aglanced-aat-aher,-ataking-athe-ainformation-ain-abefore-awaving-ahis-ahand,
"The-aother-a5?"
Cassiera-abit-aher-alip-aas-ashe-aresponded,-a
"Three-aof-athem-awe-awere-aunable-ato-afind-aat-aall,-aand-abelieve-athey-ahave-aeither-agone-adormant-aor-adecided-ato-ahide-athemselves-aand-asucceeded.-aOne-aof-athem-awe-aaren't-aquite-asure-aon-aits-astrength.-aThe-areports-aI've-agleaned-afrom-aour-aFate-aWizards-ain-athe-aarea-aindicate-aits-aa-aLord-aClass-aDraconic-abeast…-aan-aincredibly-aodd-aone.-aBut…-aFrom-amy-aown-ainvestigation-ainto-aFate…"-aShe-ashrugged,
"I
-adetected-aremnants-aof-aa-aMid-aKing-aClass-aAura."-a
Telmon-afrowned-awhen-ahe-aheard-athis,
"What-awas-aso-aodd-aabout-ait?-aAre-ayou-acertain-aof-athe-aAura-aremnants?"-aA-aMid-aKing-aClass-abeast…-athis-acould-aprove-atroublesome-afor-aeven-asome-aof-athe-aDepartment-aHeads.-aBeasts-athat-ahad-apowerful-abloodlines-awere-avery-adifficult-ato-adeal-awith.-a
"Yes,-aabsolutely-acertain.-aAs-afor-awhy-ait-awas-aodd…-aapparently-awhen-athey-adiscovered-ait,-ait-awas-afound-asinging-aa-asong-ain-aan-aunknown-alanguage-awhile-adancing-aaround-aa-afire…"
The-aWizard-aKing-astared-aat-aher-afor-aa-abrief-amoment,-ablinking-ahis-aeyes-aseveral-atimes.
"Dancing-aaround-aa-afire…?"
"Yes-asir,-adancing-aaround-aa-afire."-aShe-aresponded-apromptly.-a
"While-asinging…?"-a
"Yes-asir,-awhile-asinging."-aShe-aresponded-aagain,-ajust-aas-aprompt.
He-arubbed-ahis-aforehead-aagain,-aclosing-ahis-aeyes,-asighing-adeeply,
"What-ateam-ais-ain-athe-aarea-aof-athat-aparticular-aAnomaly?"
"The-aLord-aClass-aWizard-aHadrion,-athe-aRising-aStar-aof-athe-aBlack-aLightning-aDepartment.-aHe-ais-aall-athe-away-aon-athe-aouter-aworld-aof-aHasnorth,-asir.-aTwo-aadditional-ateams-aare-aexpected-ato-aarrive-ato-aassist-ahim,-afrom-athe-aSundering-aDepartment-aand-athe-aDarkness-aDepartment."-aShe-aresponded-apromptly.-a
Telmon-aclosed-ahis-aeyes,-aand-athen-aopened-athem,-aa-adeadly-alight-agleaming-ain-athem.-a
"Send-aan-aorder-athrough-aFate-awhen-awe-aare-adone-atalking.-aWhich-aFate-aWizard-adoes-ahe-ahave-aby-ahis-aside?-aI-aremember-ahim.-aIt-awas…-aLarah,-aright?-aThe-a5th-adisciple-aof-ayour-a3rd-adisciple?"-aHe-arubbed-ahis-aforehead-aagain,-aa-atired-alook-aappearing-aon-ahis-aface.-a
"Tell-ahim-ahe-ais-ato-apull-aback,-aimmediately.-aOrder-athe-asame-ato-aall-ateams-athat-aare-aattempting-ato-aengage-athis-athreat.-aNo-aLord-aClass-aWizard-ais-ato-ago-aat-aany-aAnomaly-awithout-aat-aleast-a4-aother-aLord-aClass-aWizards-ato-aassist.-aAs-afor-athe-apotential-aKing-aClass,-aonly-aDepartment-aHeads-aare-ato-aengage-awith-ait."-aHis-awords-awere-afull-aof-aauthority,-ashaking-athe-aair-aitself.-a
