The Dark Sage (Chronicles of Kitirr Book 1)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The rest of the afternoon came and went with the students continuing their research on the book and other artifacts and when they left for the day, what remained was Mandy and Echellin. The soft sound of a pen scratching on paper filled the temporary dig site structure as Mandy continued to translate the Old English text in the book. Every once in a while she would pause to bend close and try to suss out the meaning of some of the Kitirrian. The writing style was largely in the form that Amber had taught her in, but the spellings were strange and the word forms seemed antiquated in comparison.

It was probably another hour later, before the professor called for her to take a break from work. She withdrew from the book with a sigh. She had just translated a bit of Kitirrian that was interesting, especially with this new threat of the Dark Sage.

"As we travailed through the rift, there was a presence of malevolence that pushed against us, trying to follow us into Ethos. Nimue says that it was the Late Emperor of Terror who resided in Celtran, but I do not believe his presence is sufficient to influence anything. The years are too few since his exile."

Curious, she flipped through the book and started reading only the Kitirrian. Near the end, she came across another passage that stood out to her.

"In the end what am I? My time here is ending, the portal will be closing soon and we must leave before we risk becoming trapped on this cold, single race world. Histories are written by the victors and these Christian kings know and care little for those not of their religion. Compared to them, we are little more than the speck of dust on their boots. We are meaningless, fodder for their weapons. No one cares that I was supplanted from my home. No one cares for the struggles I endured to find a sense of normality. No one cares for the hurts I suffered, abuses, heartaches that changed how I saw the world.

"I am likely to be painted the villain forever more. No one will suppose that Morgause to be the true evil in this world. Hopefully she will be locked away before we can return.

"But I've spent so much time here on Ethos. When I go home, how will I be thought of? Will I be a hero returned or a delusional magic user, a heretic gone slightly mad by the backwards world of Ethos? Will I ever be able to return to a sense of normal? Will there be a new normal? I have a proficiency for inherent magic, perhaps it would be safer for me to become a hermit, occasionally loaning out my services as a Tripast to whoever needs me from small villages. There are only a few of us: myself, Echellin, Nimue, and Tripast Dyan who will know my suffering. We will be the only ones to know the hardships each other have endured.

"I almost wish to remain here, where I don't have to force myself to change. But if I remain, I am to be painted The Fey, the archvillan and witch who drove Arthur to his death.

"This is my last entry. Tonight I hide this tome in the bones of this old church. Tomorrow, we go out to face Morgause and her armies of twisted, mutated fey-folk. Then we shall travel through the soul gate and pass through the stars to return home."

Mandy had jotted the translations from the earlier passage down in the margins of her notebook. She closed her book and packed up the tome.

"You look worried," the professor said.

"You don't. I just translated some of the Kitirrian. Nimue saw the Sage in the rift between our worlds."

Echellin paused and looked pensive. "I had forgotten about that."

She picked up her jacket and her bags, motioning for Echellin to take the book. He came over and picked up the box that contained the tome. The ride back to his house was quiet. Both of them quiet as they thought about the current situation.