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.Zalustus had been transparent, appearing barely there, perhaps he hadn’t really been there, perhaps it had only been a projection of his spirit.“I think I recently saw a projection.My rival for restoring the Dragon Order appeared to me in the forest.He remained in the shadows for most of the conversation, but when he moved into the light, I could see through him.”Jacob nodded.“Yes.It does indeed sound like a projection.”“But,” Flare said, suddenly liking this less and less, “that means he can spy on me whenever he wishes.He could hide in the shadows while I plan for battle.He could know my plans as soon as I make them.”Jacob snorted.“Only if you’re a fool.”Flare’s forehead wrinkled in confusion.“I don’t understand,” he said simply.Jacob turned and began descending the stairs again.“There are certain precautions that one can take to prevent what you’re describing from happening.But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.First you must learn to project your spirit, before you learn to hide yourself.”Flare was not pleased with this answer in the least.He wanted to know the answer, and he wanted to know now.But he felt that pressing Jacob on the issue would be futile.Jacob led them off the stairs and down a long hall.It was opulently decorated with magnificent paintings hanging on either side.They walked about halfway down the hall in silence before Jacob stopped.On their right were several steps leading up to a double door.The door was covered in gold and was beautiful.“Jacob,” Flare asked, “what is this place?”“This was once the king’s palace,” Jacob replied.His words sounded as if they brought great sadness to him.“This is where I ruled my people.Unfortunately, I was away, fighting in the Great War and could not join them in death.I lived to see what the goblins did to my home.” Flare didn’t reply and after a moment, Jacob continued, “I will sleep in this room, as I did in life.” He motioned to a smaller door on the other side of the hall, farther down and on the left.“You can sleep there.”“Aren’t we going to continue the lesson?” Flare asked.Jacob shook his head.“No.Not now.I find looking at the city taxing.I wish to rest a while and then we’ll start again.” Jacob turned to enter through the double doors.“One more thing,” Flare said quickly.Jacob stopped and turned back.“Yes?”“How long will this training take?” He dearly hoped it wouldn’t be centuries.Jacob smiled, apparently sensing the reason behind Flare’s question.“Not long.Depending on how fast a student you are, we cold be done in as little as ten years.”“Ten years?” Flare repeated, surprised.“I don’t think I’ve had a journey to Sha’al that was so short.”“It all depends on you.”“And are there ways that sorcery is mixed with magic?” Flare asked.“Yes, of course.”“And wizardry and magic?”Jacob nodded.“There are indeed many different combinations.”“And each combination has its own master to instruct me?” Flare asked.His spirits sank at the sheer number of visits it would require to complete his training.He had hoped he was nearly through visiting Sha’al.“Yes,” Jacob answered.He smiled, apparently guessing the reason behind Flare’s grim mood.“There are still plenty of masters for you to visit.” He motioned on down the hallway.“Now, go get some sleep.Tomorrow you will begin your training in earnest.”It took just over a decade for Jacob to teach the subtle intricacies of combining wizardry with sorcery.There was precious little time for resting as they spent nearly all of their waking hours together, training.When at last the training was complete, it was with a heavy heart that Flare reentered the pool that sat upon the rooftop.He’d grown fond of Jacob, but it was now time for Jacob’s spirit to return to the realm of the dead.They said their goodbyes, and then Flare dipped below the surface of the water.He broke through the surface of the water and immediately noticed the smell.The pool upon the rooftop in Sha’al had been clean and clear; the lake made by the beavers smelled dank and nasty.He wasted no time in emerging from the water and hurrying up the shore.Then, he shook like a dog, hoping it would get most of the foul water off his clothes and out of his hair.The shaking may have had little actual effect, but it did make him feel better.That was when it hit him.He’d expected a doozy of a headache, but he felt fine; no pain, no soreness, nothing.Although pleased, he was also somewhat worried.Every time he’d gone to Sha’al in the past, he’d always returned feeling like his head was about to split open.Perhaps I’m getting used to the trips, he thought, but that didn’t feel quite right.Something was off and he wasn’t sure what.Carefully, Flare sent his spirit outward, searching for any other people in the vicinity.Two things quickly occurred to him.One, his head didn’t hurt from using sorcery and that was unusual after a trip to Sha’al.The second thing he noticed was that there was only one person anywhere nearby, and that was at their camp.Flare blinked in surprise as he realized Keenan was awake.Uh-oh, he thought, I hope I didn’t do anything to wake him when I left.Dismissing the issue of his missing headache, Flare turned his steps to their campsite.It wasn’t far and he reached it quickly.Sure enough, Keenan sat on this side of the fire, wrapped up in a blanket, with his back to Flare.“Keenan,” Flare began, “why are you awake? Your watch doesn’t start for several hours.”The figure turned to look, and it was then that Flare realized it was not in fact, Keenan.Chapter 25The figure in the blanket turned out to be an elf in a cape with a hood.The elf’s piercing blue eyes were shocking, almost glowing in the darkness of the night.Flare took a step backward and dropped his hand to the hilt of his sword.“Who are you? he demanded.The elf didn’t answer right away, instead he slowly climbed to his feet.He turned to face Flare and lowered his hood.There was something unusual about him.Flare had grown up around some of the most powerful elves in the world, but they seemed like children compared to this elf.He was tall and muscular, and his hair was as white as snow
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