• DireSect Itarillè, a court magician of the royal palace, lay sleeping. Just as he’d been taught by his master years ago, he had cleared his mind and released his stress of the day. Without these binding restraints, his mind was free to cross planes into a new world, where he could be everywhere without ever leaving his bedside.
    Crossing over to the plane of existence between the Mortal and Spirit realms had taken much dedication and training, but once mastered DireSect found himself unable to sleep unless he did so. The freedom from his body rested his soul, letting him wander the plane of dreams. He could sense the dreams of others, and the hundreds of spirits around him, some who had mastered the art, most who were without success and unable to truly let go of their earthly ties.
    DireSect caught sight of himself in the mirror of someone’s dream and looked away. His mortal body was of medium height, lightly tanned and layered with a fair amount of muscle. His hair was dark brown, flecked with blonde highlights, considered unusual among the people of his kingdom. But he didn’t care since he had not been born on the island kingdom. At the age of seven his family had boarded a merchant ship out of the desert village where he’d grown up. It had been because of this move that DireSect had discovered his talent for magic.
    DireSect made a small smile at his reflection. Dark grey eyes, reflecting nothing gazed back at him and he was forced to look away again. Though he had grown used to seeing his spirit form, it still came as a surprise to him. A chill ran through his body, something called to him.
    <DireSect…>
    The voice pierced through the barriers he’d set around his mind, examining his soul. This presence was from the World of Spirits! DireSect fought to contain his excitement. He had spent many years searching for a spirit being, though he’d been told they rarely crossed into the Realm of Dreams, the dividing barrier between worlds.
    <I am here.> he responded, bowing in respect though he could not see the spirit.
    <There is no need for courtesy, I seek your aid. Within your kingdom is a young cleric gifted with foresight. This morning she will seek an audience with your Queen… She will try to warn her of what she has seen, only to be dragged away and executed. You must rescue and protect her until she can escape this island. Though you may deny it, I know you seek the truth about your past. Aid in her rescue and I will point you in the direction you should go.>
    DireSect stood in awe, a spirit asking him for help. True enough, he had no love of his kingdom, the island nation of Aquoriou. Exchanging his mediocre guard duties to obtain lost answers excited him. He’d often planned to leave in search of what had caused his parents to leave. The bargain excited him.
    <I’ll help you; tell me her name…
    <Aurélie…>
    DireSect felt his mind pulled back down to earth with a sudden jolt. Something or someone had disturbed his sleep. On instinct he whipped out a dagger he kept hidden in his wrist guard. Nothing stood in the empty room, the memory of his dream hung over him. The small room contained a bed, mirror, window, and a basin with a spout connected to a well below. Focusing his magic on the aquamarine gemstone embedded in the wooden basin, water flowed from the spout.
    Looking in the mirror DireSect saw his own face again. Two orange-brown eyes looked back at him from the mirror, his own mortal eyes. Carefully he tucked his dagger away inside his wrist guard and went to dress himself. As a Magician of the Royal Court of Aquoriou he was restricted to wearing robes, along with the traditional shark-tooth necklace that signified all who worked in the castle. Deciding upon a dark blue colored robe, DireSect quickly dressed himself. Opening his drawer DireSect withdrew a single diamond stud earring, one of several gems he kept on hand to aid in his spellcasting.
    Finally he returned to the corner of the small room and retrieved his staff. Made of oak, and crafted with great care, the staff stood up to his shoulder. The staff’s top was decorated with a dragon’s head made of silver. Within the dragon’s eye sockets were two red jewels, a garnet and a ruby, cut identically and resembling the eyes of a real dragon. A gift from his father, DireSect treasured it dearly. These gemstones embedded in his staff, along with his diamond earring and a small sapphire hidden within his necklace, allowed him a moderate range of spells, as magicians must channel their energy through gemstones to cast their magic.
    <You had best hurry if you intend to reach the castle in time…>The distant voice rang in DireSect’s head, and he nodded in understanding. Exiting the small wooden house, he looked out into the city’s streets and felt the warm morning sun touch him. The island kingdom was always bustling with merchants, sailors, and the people who lived there. Along the coast, he saw ships docked in the harbor. Palm trees dotted the beach, thickening at parts further from the coast. Along the cobblestone roads, DireSect’s house faced out towards the sea and shops selling items from around the world. The smell of fish and fresh fruit, mixed with salt from the sea, lingered in the air. Further in from the beach, upon a large hill stood the castle of Aquoriou.
    Walking up the old cobblestone road, DireSect couldn’t help but notice the loss of many merchants he’d once known. Along with several ships of sailors, they left east in search of new lands. They’d been branded as traitors, and the city had been told to immediately report any sighting of them. Several rumors had circulated about their new kingdom. Once he was free of the island, he would have to see it for himself.
    The loud squawk of a bird roused him from his daydreams, and Castle Aquoriou rose to meet him. Long ago, the ancient magic users had brought fine-grained brown sand to the hilltop and fused it together with powerful magic. Many of these ancient texts had been sealed away within the castle, restricted to only the highest ranked magic users.
    Not being born of Aquoriou, DireSect would never rise to any rank higher than the local Court Magicians, a simple group of weak magic users assigned to assist the palace guards. As if to insult them further, the only magic they’d been taught to use were basic defensive spells, forcing him to study stronger magic in secret.
    Frustrated, DireSect took his post among the guards and scanned the area. A lone figure now traveled along the path he had taken. From his vantage point, DireSect could only see pale blue hooded robes lined with golden runes, though he was too far away to read what they said. The figure held a simple wooden stave in hand and carried a white cloth pouch designed to transport healing herbs. A cleric had come today; the spirit had told him the truth!
    True masters of healing magic were rare. To cast a spell properly, magicians must channel their own power through a gem. Without the proper gemstone, a magician cannot cast magic. Only one gem, apart from their sacred treasure the Orb of Water, had the power to cast healing spells. This rare blue-green gem, known as Indicolite, could channel a magician’s magic for true healing spells. Very few possessed the rare gem though, as they could only be found within the Dracor Mountain Range to the northwest. Though rumors spoke of the dragons’ extinction, there were few who could brave the craggy cliffs, frigid snows, and rockslides that plagued the higher parts of the mountain where the gems could be found. Thus, the clerics of Aquoriou relied mostly on herbs and other remedies.
    A gentle breeze brushed across his face as DireSect took a breath and fought to remain calm. He would have to stay at peace, within a quiet state of serenity. Panic and rage were a Magician’s greatest weakness, should he succumb to either he risked losing control of the delicate magic. To keep this cleric safe, he would have to maintain a cool head and not act rashly.
    Risking another look out onto the path, he saw that the cleric was a girl, as the spirit had told him. Her skin was tanned bronze and her hair was slightly streaked with brown, common of the islanders. She was tall and thin; her hips had a light curve that he took notice of under her pale blue robes. As she came into sight, DireSect could see her hazel eyes that reflected the morning sunlight. Goosebumps flecked her neck, and looking within her eyes he could sense fear. This cleric knew something terrible. Her gentle steps made no sound as she looked to the soldier DireSect had been paired with.
    “I seek an audience this morning. I have documents, signed and sealed.” She spoke simply, but DireSect could hear the lower pitches in her voice. Her cheerful tone was a mask, a facade to hide her fear. The soldier silently waved her on, letting her pass. DireSect knew this was the cleric the spirit had spoken of, the one who now walked into her doom.
    DireSect quickly excused himself and began to walk from his post down the path. Once out of sight, he called upon the sapphire hidden in his shark tooth necklace, focusing the radiant energies of his magic through it. His spell, channeled through the sapphire, turned his body transparent, in essence a spell of invisibility. He took care not to let his heavy steps make noise, a difficult task for him. Turning right, he arrived just as the cleric was announced into the audience chamber.
    “The cleric, Aurélie, healer and scribe in training, here to see her royal highness with tidings of ill doom.”
    Upon her throne, the queen gazed out uninterested as she reached towards a glass of wine. Adorned in a dark purple dress lined with gold, the queen was strict and as most tyrants are, mistook people’s intentions as attempts to seize power from her. She wore no crown, instead letting her whitening blonde hair flow down behind her. Aurélie looked up and took a deep breath, fighting against her fears. DireSect took the opportunity to hide behind a pillar and remove his enchantment to save his energy.
    “Your revered highness, I have come because of a vision I recently received. As the higher members of the order of clerics may have told you, I’ve been gifted with the ability of foresight. Three nights ago a vision came to me. Fire, cannons, and clashing swords surround our fair kingdom. Magic fails in the chaos and in its wake…only destruction. Our sacred treasure, the Orb of Water, stolen… I know not when or how, but I cannot deny the importance of this vision! We must flee Aquoriou, for this doom cannot be prevented so long as we remain, that much I can see clearly”
    DireSect felt his throat tighten; she described these events not as a premonition, but as destiny revealing its secrets to those who would listen. The queen was neither wise nor believing of what she considered fairytales designed to usurp her rule. With a raging voice, she called forth her soldiers to arrest Aurélie. He saw them coming, clad in bronze chain mail, each armed with a long spear. The young cleric was a healer, not a fighter. Taking a risk, DireSect peeked from behind his cover and saw no magicians paired with these soldiers. The arrogant fools had gone up against a potential magic user without any defense. He had a chance to rescue her, but he would have to act quickly and think of a spell to defend them both.
    Focusing upon the ruby within his staff, DireSect ran into the fray and pulled the cleric close to him as he spun the staff and pounded it to the ground. A barrier of red light raised around them as the spearmen poised to strike.
    “Stay close to me,” DireSect spoke quickly in a low voice to Aurélie, “I’ll get you out of this place.”
    Switching his energy to the ruby that the other dragon’s eye was made of, the spell changed from defensive to offensive. A bolt of fire flared out in front of them, clearing the path. Without hesitation, DireSect pulled the young cleric’s arm as they ran down the hall. Focusing again on his hidden sapphire, he cast his magic to turn them both transparent. Keeping close to the shadowed walls, he looked towards his post. The soldier remained on guard, probably more comfortable without a magic user lurking behind him. Slipping out of the castle through the gate, DireSect led Aurélie partially down the path until he turned abruptly into the forest of palm trees.
    "I think we lost them, they won't think to look for us here…at least not for a while. I'm sorry for grabbing you earlier, but if I hadn't you would now be awaiting execution. The queen is insane, taking many things done with pure intentions as attempts to usurp Aquoriou from her."
    "I can't leave them to their doom!"
    "And if you go back they will not listen, you will be doomed with them…"
    "If that is my fate, so be it…I will not abandon our people."
    "They're all fools who ignore the warning signs, and not just your visions. Merchants and sailors are leaving this kingdom to form their own, trade is decreasing, and anyone with half a brain can tell something is wrong! It’s only because of a corrupt monarch that no defense has been raised. Your ‘most revered ruler’ is a tyrant who-"
    "She has guided our people for nearly forty years! I will make her listen and get our people to safety!"
    Aurélie rushed out of the forest and back up the path towards the castle. DireSect sensed her stubbornness, knew he should probably go after her. He took a breath and ran out from his cover of trees, a blunt force struck him from behind the head. As his vision blurred he saw two figures robed in night blue cloaks swoop over him…

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


    " `Ey, you lot! I think `e's coming `roud!" a gruff voice shouted over DireSect as he opened his eyes and the surrounding area came into focus.
    A hulking figure stood over him, wearing pale brown clothes stained from years at sea. Several scars marred his face; a large scar across his left eye could not fully be seen because of an eye patch covering the base of it. A leather strap was slung across his back, and attached to it was a large, two-handed battleaxe. Beside him stood the two figures cloaked in night blue robes. Unadorned and hooded, they appeared to be travelers, in many ways more mysterious than most magicians. Each carried a curved scimitar of iron, a newly discovered metal. Heavier, yet stronger than traditional bronze, it was formidable on both land and sea.
    "We saw ye' was headed for the castle. After teh girl more tan likely." The pirate spoke with a crusty accent that caused him to spit out his words.
    "What our monstrous pirate friend here is trying to say," the taller cloaked figure spoke in a calm, business-like tone, "is we may be able to help you. You know the gates of Aquoriou are guarded by magic, allowing only certain ships to enter."

    “We believe that you could try to dispel the barrier to allow us through. We’ll help you raid the castle dungeons, and then we get our share of the bargain."
    DireSect jolted up, "And what exactly is this share of the bargain?"
    "They want treasure; we want the Orb of Water, sacred to what was once our people. It seems fitting that our new kingdom has the orb. As the old is…"
    "Is what?"
    "What you murmured in your sleep; fire rages, blood spills. We'll allow you to escape of course. All you have to do is lower the magic barrier."
    DireSect reached on instinct towards his diamond earring to cast a spell of lightning, except the gem was gone! Only now did DireSect realize the two figures had confiscated his gems, dagger, and staff, even his hidden sapphire. They’d not noticed he now planned to cast magic now, but had prepared ahead of time for the possibility.
    "Nequoriou…" he muttered the name of the figures' kingdom in a low voice none but he could hear, then looking up he said, "Give me my staff and gems back; and possibly my dagger. Then we'll discuss lowering that barrier."
    The brute looked behind him towards the two figures, who nodded their heads in agreement, and he lumbered over to a locked chest. Fumbling for the key with his oversized hands, he placed it in the chest's lock and opened it. He motioned for DireSect to come forth and take his items, out of distrust. With his staff and gems again in his possession, DireSect was now ready to negotiate. He could probably escape, probably even break into the dungeons and rescue Aurélie; but he knew he couldn't face the entire occupying force of palace guards, let alone his fellow magicians.
    "I've worked with barriers for most of my career, as I've only ever been formally taught defensive magic. The barriers of magic that protect the harbor will not be easily brought down. From what I know of it, removing it is not an option."
    This did not sit well with the three so far, but DireSect had expected such. He needed them to know he had his limits, and more importantly he needed them to be more than willing to provide what he needed. To do so he had to convince them that there was only one way to let them in.
    "My plan then, is not to remove, but to add my will to the barrier. It is a living barrier, only those whom the casters allow through it can enter the harbor. If I can add my mind to the barrier, then I can probably get you through. Of course the spell is quite complex…and I don't have the gems required for what I plan to do."
    "An' what do yeh need for this spell o' yours?"     the pirate looked at DireSect with his only working eye shining with greed.
    "I need an opal, the gem known for aiding dreams. I'll also need a topaz, which from what I've read is a powerful channel for light magic, which is probably what the barrier consists of. I already have the third gem required, a sapphire, the gem of illusion and deception."
    "Yeh say deception, illusion?"
    "Yes. Sapphires come in many colors; red, green, yellow, or as mine is, a pale blue. I've even heard tales of other colored sapphires sighted. Several clear ones have been mistaken for diamonds, and other colors are mistaken for rarer gemstones as well. They are common, but unique, and are powerful aids for illusion spells. Does it make sense to you now?"
    Judging by his expression, the hulking pirate had not understood a word of what DireSect told him. But instead of arguing, he nodded and spoke once more.
    "Aye…I'll see what me crew can dig up. No guarantees mind yeh. Stick 'round this house and me crew'll get yer gems by tomorrow at sunrise. If you don' see the gems, yeh'd best find another way to cast that spell."
    He turned around and left the house, closing the door tightly around him. Looking towards his wooden basin, DireSect took his dagger out and slowly began to carve the aquamarine out of it. He had a prickling feeling he would need the gem soon.
    The next morning, DireSect woke up with a small package next to his bed. Inside he saw a small silver ring with a topaz embedded in it; beside it laid a cracked opal. Beneath the gems, written with small, fine handwriting, was a note from the two figures that read, "Wear the same color robes you wore yesterday so we can spot you. Head immediately past the village to the harbor and lower the barrier. Hurry, for the cleric is to be executed as the sun peaks in the sky."
    Discarding the cracked opal, DireSect placed the topaz ring on his finger. A damaged gem was dangerous for spellcasting. The rift could break chains of energy, and possibly kill the caster. After dressing into a clean set of robes, DireSect exited the house and walked briskly down towards the harbor. About five hundred paces from one end to the other, the harbor of Aquoriou was a powerful monument to their sea trade. Two wooden towers, about ten times as tall as he was, stood out over the docks, with a third, smaller tower in between them. Each tower was constructed of crisscrossing beams, with a wide floor at the top, where the magicians controlled the barrier guarding the harbor.
    Deciding it safer to work his magic from a slight distance, DireSect slipped underneath the crossbeams of the center tower and sat underneath it, clearing his mind as he searched for the magic that his fellow magicians were casting. He sensed it and focused his mind inward again to the topaz ring he now wore, cloaking his mind in a gentle light. His mind floated gently within the magic of the barrier, allowing him to see things from where the barrier stood. A large wooden ship sailed close to point, flying no flags. Though he had not been told what ship to look for, DireSect could sense it was the pirate ship. Other minds within the magic stood confused, uncertain of whether it was friend of foe.
    <Forgive me…> DireSect heard his spirit speak to the light guarding them as he lowered the barrier. He felt tears welling up from his mortal body, knew he had to return or risk losing control of his emotions.
    Snapping back into reality, DireSect immediately took control of his body and forced himself not to cry. There would be time for regret later, he had to rescue Aurélie. Casting his spell of invisibility, DireSect bolted towards the castle. He did not have to run far; as soon as he entered the market square he saw the queen standing in the center square of the harbor, calling her people to her. Beside her stood a battalion of soldiers guarding Aurélie, whose hands were tied behind her with a rope.
    "People of Aquoriou!" the queen called to the people, speaking with a voice of authority, "We have gathered here to witness the death of a traitor to the throne. She spins tales and lies of doom to usurp me! She tells of disaster to force us away from our home, urging us to flee our paradise! Yet we are beyond such fairy tales…and now she will suffer the fate of all who attempt to cause panic!"
    A nearby soldier handed the queen his spear, while the rest held Aurélie to the ground. The queen raised her spear over her head and spun it to make a spectacle and attract more attention before arcing it over her head, poised for a killing strike.
    "Now…traitor Aurélie…Die!"
    A cannonball struck the palace and exploded; fragments of stone rained from the point of impact. DireSect took the cue, sent a jet of red light forward from his staff as he released the magic of his invisibility spell into the garnet in his staff. Designed to burn instead of killing, it was one of his strongest defensive spells. The crowd around him turned into a mob, someone tripped the young mage and knocked him to the ground.
    "Aurélie…come with me…" a white-robed magic user, appearing from seemingly nowhere, cut the ropes and pulled her out of the confused skirmish.
    "The magician who first helped me!" she spoke looking in a panic, pointing towards the mob.
    "I have already paid my debt to him, there is nothing I can do to save him; his life is in his own hands…"
    DireSect saw through an opening in the mob, sighting Aurélie vanish in a flash of light with a white-robed mage; it could only be the spirit who had called to him. Knowledge brewed in his head, the knowledge of where to search, lost memories of the desert people he could spend years browsing through, if he could escape this swarm around him.
    "Spirit, you've betrayed me…" he whispered in rage.
    <"Your escape was never a part of our bargain. You have your information, I have whom I came for, and I've no intention of being a part of her people's doom. I advise you take her advice and flee.">
    "…what did I do wrong…?" DireSect whipped out his dagger in rage, slashing blindly at the masses around him.
    <"You let her go back, you enlisted the help of pirates, and you've now sealed a civilization's doom. One wrong choice led to all of Aquoriou destroyed. You are no hero, all you can do is destroy; it is all your kind have ever done…it is the nature of the desert people …I leave you now, goodbye DireSect Itarillè.>"
    A scimitar blade swung through the mob, and a strong arm pulled him out. It was them, the two figured who had enlisted his help. Supporting DireSect on his shoulder, the larger of the two helped the young mage away from the mob.
    "Come with us, we have to flee here…"
    "The Orb of Water, did you get it?"     DireSect looked to them, too tired to argue with their leading him.

    "That traitorous scum of a pirate captain took it for himself. It can heal any non-mortal wound…and we couldn't inflict more than a few scratches on him because of that oversized tree cutter he carries."
    "So we have both been betrayed…you two go back to your kingdom. I have to get that orb…"
    "You're mad, mage! You'll be killed!"     the shorter of the two, the one who supported him came to a dead stop as he spoke and looked up to DireSect.
    "Don't wait for me…just run. I'll take care of the brute."
    “I still say you’re crazy…but if you do survive…look to the lands east. There’ll be place for you in our kingdom for you…”     The taller nodded to the young mage.
    “Save the formalities and run you fools!” DireSect screamed, not looking back as he turned around towards the castle
    He saw the hulking pirate running towards them, looked behind to see the two Nequorians running away towards the docks. The topaz he carried reflected the burning flames of the town; the brute would regret it to him. DireSect dropped his staff and braced himself, placing his focus on the golden gem embedded in his ring.
    The pirate captain continued to charge, axe rising with full intentions to slay this young mage. As he raised his axe for a killing blow, DireSect thrust the hand he carried his ring on, and a blade of light materialized from the gem’s core. Shock and rage lined the captain’s face as the shimmering blade plunged through his heart. His axe dropped helplessly to the ground and desperately clutched the Orb of Water, begging it to heal him once more. DireSect forced himself to look away from the terrible sight.
    The orb remained its deep blue, refusing to glow for him as the life seeped from the brute’s eyes. DireSect released the spell he had cast and gently took the orb from the pirate’s hand. Examining it further, he could now see the fine features that made it unique from any gemstone he had ever seen. The stone itself was a perfect sphere, six inches in diameter, colored a deep blue. But beyond that single color one could look inside and see the shifting tides, raging seas, and gentle flow of the great rivers. Embedded in a silver casing shaped like waves that added another inch to its diameter, it was a beautiful treasure to behold. He felt the orb glow slightly, a cool sensation tingled through his body as the bruises and cuts he had taken from the mob healed themselves. True healing powers did exist within this orb…the legends were true.
    A shriek in his ears disrupted his awe, and DireSect looked out beyond only to be brought to tears. Aquoriou was burning, people fled in terror of the pirates, looting and killing everything in sight, setting fire to what they did not need. They were destroying the city; there would soon be nothing left but ashes.
    He felt power radiating from the Orb of Water; if he were to channel his magic through it he could destroy this horror. Flames now consumed the docks, a single small ship escaped out into the ocean. The two men of Nequoriou had done as he’d said, fled and not waited for him. Two choices remained, kill the pirates or die.
    “I’ve brought this doom upon them…it seems fitting that I should be the one to stop it. Aurélie…I suppose your prediction was right; I’ll grant you that much, you did have the gift of foresight…but even you couldn’t see this. You didn’t see how, or if, it consumes everything. This whole mess is my fault…but it ends now.”
    DireSect picked his staff up off the ground and reached once more for his magic. Clutching the Orb of Water within his hand, he channeled his energy through it. He heard them, the voices of ancients who long ago had forged the orb. They called to him, studied his very soul, judging his worth. With a gentle glow, the Orb of Water added a fraction of its own energy into the spell. The raw power was overwhelming, but his mind was relaxed, he had perfect control; the pirates would not escape this spell. A terrible scream echoed in the air, the pirates were close; the scream had been that of a young woman. His mind shifted to Aurélie and the spirit who had told him to rescue her. He had been given knowledge, but to pay for it he now risked his life. That traitorous fiend had abandoned him for the cleric. She was all he was interested in, not DireSect.
    Keep in control!
    He felt rage building; he saw the masses of pirates coming closer. No! There was still time, he had to make use of every second to finish the spell! Panic shook his body, rage consumed his mind. He was too tired to fight for control of these turbulent emotions; the magic was slipping from his control. Yet magic does not just vanish; the power must be used. DireSect had put most of his energy into casting his spell, the chaotic and delicate magic now slipped from his control, consuming him as his rage had; he felt the power of the Orb of Water, calling to him. The last thing he heard was the spirit’s distant voice…
    <I leave you now…goodbye DireSect Itarillè…>