Firebrand

Chapter 504: Spell-broken

Spell-broken

For a moment, none of the young wizards spoke nor moved. They all gazed at the older mage with varying emotions written on their face.

"Atreus?" Martel stammered. "The Spellbreaker?"

"Is that a common name and epithet among your people?" Maximilian asked.

"You said you were cursed," Eleanor added.

Seemingly oblivious to the questions directed at him, whether through words or expressions, the man claiming to be Atreus glanced around at the narrow alleyway. "If this is Aster, what city is this? Morcaster?"

"Indeed. You did not know your own location?" Maximilian wondered.

"The curse left my mind closer to that of a dog than a man. But we should find a safer place to talk. Clearly, my enemy knows of my presence." He looked at where the smoke creature had been vanquished. "Does the Lykeion still stand?"

"The what?" Martel asked.

"That is the Archean name for the Lyceum," Eleanor explained. "And yes, it does."

"Good. Not all was destroyed when Archen fell. Its wards will protect us. I suggest you lead the way, and we may speak at ease once inside its walls."

The young wizards looked at each other, and Maximilian shrugged. "I advocated retreat all along."

"Very well," Eleanor assented. They turned east and began the journey home.

***

Despite the sense of urgency, their pace was not exactly brisk, hamstrung by Atreus being weak. More than once, he reached out to steady himself against Maximilian or Martel, walking on either side of him; Eleanor, after exchanging a glance with Martel, had slipped behind to bring up the rear, keeping an eye on their new companion from that position. Likewise, Martel found his gaze constantly drawn back to him.

If Atreus was physically worn, his mind seemed sharp and awake. He constantly looked around at the bustling city as they reached the main street, his eyes following pack animals, carts, and day-labourers, craftsmen, and warehouse workers; all of them busy as they conducted the trade of the city. "It's grown so big! I know it has been some years since I was last in Morcaster, but this city is greater even than Archen!"

"You act like you have never seen this before, but we came this way just earlier when you followed me," Martel pointed out.

"That may be, but I can scarcely recall. Already, the memories of my life in my cursed state are fading, like waking from an ill dream you quickly forget, even as the details leave you shaken," Atreus explained, reaching out once again to support himself against his companions. "I do commend you for this accomplishment of lifting my curse. I assume due to your skill and familiarity with the place, you are wizards of the – Lyceum, you called it?"

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"Indeed we are, and all in a day's work for the likes of us," Maximilian declared with a self-satisfied smile.

Martel looked over the head of Atreus to shoot a glance at his friend. "It was Eleanor who recognised the signs, and me who brought the stone along."

"Yes, a commendable effort on our collective part," the mageknight continued.

"But who placed a curse upon you?" Eleanor asked behind them.

"That is a long explanation; not well suited for a public place like this," the older wizard replied. "I shall answer all your questions, once we are safe. I am rather worn from the fight against the jinni, as I imagine you are as well."

"It was impressive what you did," Martel admitted. Regardless of whether this man was Atreus as he claimed or not, he was clearly a powerful mage, and even if he appeared to be on their side, the thought of such spellcraft made him uncomfortable.

"I only dealt the last blow. Your own spells and weapons had done great work against the spirit," Atreus argued.

"How could you tell?" Maximilian interjected. "It was not like the damn thing bled."

"True, but those of my order are trained to fight both magic users and magic beings. Experience gives insight. Ah, that's at least a familiar sight!" Ahead of them, down the far end of the street, the towers of the Lyceum rose against the horizon.

"Where exactly should we go? The castle is full of people. Someone will notice our guest unless we go somewhere secluded." Something about Eleanor's voice sounded unusual, and Martel understood; she was wondering whether they should alert the teachers about this wizard or speak with him alone.

"Well, first, there is one place we have to go," Maximilian declared with a growl.

***

A short while later, they stood in the western courtyard. They had drawn a few glances crossing the entrance hall, but nobody had bothered to ask them for an explanation. Now, they stood in front of the weathered statue of one Atreus the Spellbreaker, renowned for defeating the fiends that threatened Morcaster as explained on the inscription.

"Damn me to the Nether, but it does look like him," Maximilian admitted grudgingly as they looked from the statue to the older wizard in their company.

Atreus frowned. "My forehead is not that big, is it?"

"It's not small," Martel mumbled.

"A mistake in the inscription," he continued, brushing away rotting leaves. "It says 'fiends', but if there had been more than one, I'd surely be dead now. You don't survive two of those."

"What are they?" Eleanor asked.

Atreus did not seem to hear. "This statue is old." His eyes ran over the weathered stonework. "How long has it been? Last I remember, before the curse sank the fog upon my mind, the city crumbled to ruin around me." He turned towards his companions. "How long has it been since the fall of Archen?"

The youths exchanged glances. "Three hundred years, give or take," Eleanor finally replied.

He released a drawn-out sigh. Slowly, the spellbreaker sank down to sit upon the pedestal of his own statue. "Did anything survive? I know the city itself was destroyed, but what of our outposts? Our repositories of knowledge, our centres of learning and study?"

"Only the Lyceum, I believe," she replied.

"Which was never our stronghold to begin with," Atreus mumbled. "No wonder I languished for so many years before someone had the wit and skill to release me. There's none left but me – me and her."

"Who?" Martel asked.

The spellbreaker looked around in the courtyard. "Though I can handle the cold as well as others, could we retire indoors?"

"The astronomy tower is not in use today," Eleanor suggested.

The Archean wizard nodded slowly. "Let us go there, and I shall tell you my story."