49

  In the High Mage tower, the alchemy lab and Hector’s office were filled with a quiet intensity. Galen and Hector inspected the Karit carefully, intrigued at how Maxi had resisted the influence of the Dark Elf inside and had instead used it to protect Finn and Princess Sophia. Both of them had been briefed on the events at the Redwind Bastion—the sudden transformation of Prince William into a gray elf with horns, one broken, elongated ears, and the chaos that ensued. Hector and Galen exchanged glances of amazement; Maxi had shown extraordinary presence and control, aided by a mysterious connection to the Karit.

  Maxi, ever curious but respectful, shared little of the encounter with the elf he called Mundi, only mentioning that the elf had offered help to protect Finn. The name Mundi lingered in Hector and Galen’s minds, though they did not fully comprehend its significance.

  Outside the alchemy lab doorway, Katherine stood quietly. She was as modest, poised, and beautiful as ever, the simplicity of her dress highlighting her natural charm. Her eyes flickered to the two high mages before her. She hesitated briefly, then stepped forward.

  “Sir,” she said politely, addressing Hector, “may I speak with you for a moment?”

  Hector nodded and gestured toward the window. They walked over, standing side by side as the light of the late afternoon streamed in.

  “I’ve been wondering,” Katherine began carefully, “is there any way for us to return to our world?”

  Hector’s expression softened. He had long studied the mysteries of interworld travel, but he had never succeeded. “I wish I could help you, dear,” he murmured. “There is a book… The Fabric of the World. Its pages are filled with circles, diagrams, phrases… instructions. Each circle is precise in size and composition, each phrase a specific cadence needed to activate it. The energy it draws is connected to every part of the world—the rivers, the mountains, the forests, the very air. If activated correctly, it can open a gate between worlds, but the complexity is immense.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Katherine’s eyes widened. “So… you’ve studied it. Could it work?”

  Hector shook his head. “I have studied it, tried to understand it, but I cannot activate it. The energy is subtle, almost alive, and requires a precision beyond even my knowledge. I know the theory—the circles, the phrases, the alignment with the energy lines—but no living person I have met can bring it to fruition.”

  Her heart sank slightly. “So… there’s no one?”

  Hector’s gaze softened, tinged with frustration and regret. “No one that I know. I have searched, corresponded, consulted, and yet the secrets remain elusive. The gates… they are more than magic. They are… a connection to the world’s lifeblood, and to bend that without understanding is perilous. If misused, one could unravel not just travel, but the flow of energy itself.”

  Katherine’s hands tightened around themselves. She felt the weight of her helplessness in this new world, yet a spark of determination lingered. “Thank you for telling me,” she said softly. “I suppose… I will have to find another way, then.”

  Hector gave a small, sympathetic smile. “I truly wish I could do more for you, Katherine. Know that I will continue to study it in my mind. Perhaps someday, if fortune allows, someone capable will emerge. Until then, you must remain cautious, and trust those who can protect you.”

  Katherine nodded, a mixture of dispiritedness and faint hope in her expression. She turned to leave but paused, thinking of Finn, Maxi, and the danger that still lingered. Her gaze drifted to the tower beyond the lab, to the world outside the castle, and to the energy lines Hector had described—hidden, silent, but pulsing with potential.

  “Sir… one last question,” she asked quietly, “do you believe the gates… will ever be opened?”

  Hector looked out the window, his hand resting on the empty desk. “I do not know,” he admitted. “The world has its own will. Perhaps one day, the right person, with the right bond, will arise. Until then, all we can do is study, protect, and prepare. That is all a mage can do.”

  Katherine bowed her head slightly in gratitude, then walked away, her mind racing with possibilities. She felt both small and determined in this vast new world, her heart tied to Finn and Maxi, yet aware that her path home would not be simple.

  Hector watched her leave, leaning slightly against the window frame. The intricate diagrams, the circles, the precise phrases—they lived only in his memory, etched there by years of study. He sighed, frustration and curiosity intertwined. He would not give up. Not now, not ever.