Never Look Beyond the Edge of the World - 2, part 1

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The war had left terrible scars on the body of the Empire. Its ghost hung even where it had not reached. I saw ruined castles, pillaged towns and villages with no one left but women and children. I will not describe my adventures during this period, for that is not what my story is about. All I have to say is that after three years of wandering, rumors of a new mage guild brought me here, to the city of Kaldenburg.

During the siege of Kaldenburg, two mages were trapped in the city and forced to join its defenders. These two saved the life of His Lordship Count Eglemar and helped him escape the city during the assault. Their abilities impressed His Lordship, and he wisely suggested that if he had more magicians at court and in the guard, he could have fought off the besiegers. The mages humbly suggested him not to hire random single vagabonds, but to create under their patronage a place where people with the gift would gather and teach their own kind. Thus, His Lordship had revived the Kaldenburg Mage Guild, which had existed long ago. The estate allocated to it was huge, but it had long been in a poor state of repair.

Upon my arrival in Kaldenburg, I passed the tests and was accepted into the guild, moreover, I was soon promoted to a high position and began training neophytes. So, my wanderings came to an end and I found a new home and occupation. Everything was going smoothly, until one night an old friend reminded me of myself.

At night, when I was about to go to sleep, suddenly my chest of belongings glowed with a bluish-green light and a muffled sound like a voice came from inside. I was scared, but I didn't call for help and looked inside. At the bottom of the chest, I found the source of the light.

It was the Filnar's Mirror, and it was working. Its surface had changed from a mirror to a cloudy window with a glowing blue border, and the needle at the top was the brightest green light I had ever seen. In the mirror I saw an indecipherable image that looked simultaneously like a fogged window and ink dripping off parchment. But as soon as I picked up the mirror, looked into it, and concentrated my powers on it, the image became clearer. I saw a dimly lit room and the blurry figure covering the entire space. I recognized the light fur in its shape at once, and concluded with great joy that the owner of the second mirror had not changed. For a moment I could see his green eyes and the black spots around them clearly.

— Johann, — I said, and from "the other side" he called my name in an interrupted voice that sounded like it was coming from under a helmet.

— Yes, — I replied, and immediately Johann's voice was a broken speech, in which I could only hear the question: "Where?". I barely had time to say the name of the city and mention the guild before the image became completely indecipherable and the ensuing response was abruptly cut off. The needle and the blue halo were extinguished, and the window was replaced by the familiar blue metal, in which my face was dimly reflected.

Several weeks had passed since that "conversation". The mirror did not light up again, and I did not know how to make it work. I decided that my words never made it through the mirror. The thought of never seeing my old friend was blue, but it quickly let me go. I was full of worries that would barely have room for him. So, I was taken by surprise when, some time later, I was informed that my old friend from Castal was looking for me.

Johann Safaxer had matured in nine years and was more like a nobleman than in his guild days. But it was his right hand that caught my attention: its hair had turned black for some unknown reason. When I spoke to him, I realized that he was still the golden-haired dog with whom I had formed a strong friendship. It seemed so at the time.

He shook my hand first and then gave me a friendly hug. Anticipating my question about the hand, Safaxer promised to tell me all about it, but later and in private. In the meantime, he wanted to hear my story.