Bella spoke first:
"Are you sure, sir?"
Uriel stared at her for a moment, his eyes heavy with seriousness. He stood up without saying a word and invited them into his cabin. Once inside, an eerie silence reigned. The walls were covered with old sheets of paper, stuck crookedly, filled with strange symbols drawn in black ink.
Zetch stopped dead in his tracks, disturbed by what he saw.
"What are these symbols?" he asked, frowning.
Uriel gave an enigmatic smile.
"They're runes... mage runes."
Caden, surprised, repeated, a bit confused:
"Mage runes?"
"Yes," Uriel confirmed in a soft, almost nostalgic tone.
He turned, looked at them for a long time, then said in a calmer voice,
"My children... come closer. Let me tell you about a time the world seems to have forgotten."
They stepped forward without a word, captivated by Uriel's serious tone.
"There was a time when magic moved through the earth like the wind through the trees. In those days, mages, wizards, witches, enchanters, and many others lived among us. But magic... magic is an unstable force. It arouses jealousy, lust, and the desire for power. And when used for selfish reasons, it can sow chaos."
He paused. His eyes wandered into space, then he added,
"Yet magic has also offered many wonders. Protection. Knowledge. Hope. It has saved entire peoples." Right here in our city, there were once mages whose role was to protect us from the dark forces. It's thanks to them that we were able to live in peace.
Aletha asked, intrigued, "You mean... there were mages protecting this city?"
Uriel nodded slowly.
"Let's say... in my time, yes. Every city, every village had its own mages, its own protectors. But today... I can't say if they still exist. Many have disappeared, and magic isn't what it used to be."
He went to sit on an old stool, his expression thoughtful.
"Ours were called the Watchers of Azorea. We gave them that name because they never slept when the city was threatened. Their duty came before everything, even their own lives."
Zetch sat down, fascinated. —And… they all left?
"Some died, others faded away over time… And then, the people stopped believing in magic. When something is no longer loved, it slowly fades away."
He was silent for a moment, then continued thoughtfully:
"But I remember one of them. A righteous, kind man. He was part of the circle of mages… they called that group the Order of the Eclipse."
"Do you remember his name?" Aletha asked softly.
Uriel nodded.
"His name was Mael."
Aletha took a step closer.
Do you know where we might find him?"