The Wizard

Chapter 12 part 3

The next morning, Ezequiel called Igor to talk alone and they walked away, accompanied by the dragons. They walked alone in the woods for a good while because he wanted his daughter not to hear them.

"Igor," began the wise man. "I see clearly that you are not happy, that although everyone here loves you and you are very comfortable among us, you do not feel from this place. And I also see that you gave up your search for a solution after looking for it with so much concern and urgency for more than three Moons. Why?"

"Because I can't find a solution, Ezequiel," the young man replied, shrugging. "I'm stuck in this time."

The chief of the druids shook his head and looked at his friend.

"However, the logic is very clear and you will be able to return, son, as clear and crystalline as water. Could it be that, deep down, you are afraid of being defeated again? After all, no one likes defeat."

"And what gives you such... say... clarity, to use your words?"

"I am the proof that you will return, son." Ezequiel put his hand on his shoulder. "I like you very much since I saw you for the first time and now you are the father of my grandson, or granddaughter, as you told me. If I am alive and active in the 21st century, it is a sign that I remember you very well, right?"

"It makes sense, since your behavior is that of someone with privileged memory."

"Exactly, but I said nothing about this trap, only that I would have to know about it."

"It's a paradox, but it's real, according to your logic."

"That's right, son, and if I knew that you would be stuck here or even lose your life, don't you think I would have warned you? If I didn't warn you, it was to not alter the flow of time, since you will have to go back, that is, at some point, we will separate. My self from now doesn't know, but my self from the 21st century knows very well that I spent a few hundred years without you around."

"It turns out that this is another paradox: if you warned me and I didn't come here, I wouldn't know, so I couldn't warn you. Then, we enter a vicious cycle."

"I think I prefer my line of reasoning, Igor," Ezequiel insisted, smiling. "You will return and I will not have told you anything to not interfere because you are the great responsible for the outcome of the War of the Warlocks, the true hero who was hidden in history, but that I know very well who he is. You should not fear the battles with that demon. From what we talked, he no longer penetrates your barrier and can be hit in human form. You just need to learn how to hit him in his natural form and I know you will succeed, Igor."

The centenary druid paused a litle and continued:

"As much as I love my little girl, I know that you will never be happy the way you are." Igor made a gesture to speak, but he raised his hand, interrupting. "Calm down. I can see that you have a very strong feeling for her, but that's not what you want. Later, the longing will become unbearable and you will discover that you made a big mistake. Leave her with this happy memory and your baby that she always wanted and return to the one who is the true owner of your heart while you can."

Igor stopped walking and looked into his friend's eyes. He remained like that for a few minutes, thinking, knowing that he must be right as he never failed to happen since he met him. Seeming to wake up from a nightmare, he shook his head.

"I'm going to meditate," he said, very seriously. "Please, tell Ailin not to worry about me, if I take too long." Looking at the bird, said, "Gwydion, I'm sorry, but I intend to be alone."

He did not wait for an answer or move his hands. He just opened a portal right in front of them where Ezequiel glimpsed a dream world, beautiful like he had never seen before, and the young man crossed. The portal closed soon after the passage. Amazed, he asked the bird dragon: