Freyan grit his teeth. He had to fight not to act on the drive for blood. Even if he might not be able to harm the other person now. It was hard to think. It was as if the spell making him able to keep a clear head could snap and break in a moment. He used too much of his powers and suffered to much injures.

“Listen” started Gilyon in a calming tone. He wanted to add: I know we started a dangerous game here, me searching for these books and all… But he didn’t. Instead he continued, pulling out an other blueish chunk of crystal out of his side pack. “Take this. I wanted to keep them for myself, if got tired casting spells… But take it. You only have to activate it with a keyword.”

Freyan closed his eyes for a few moment, then sat on the ground, taking a more comfortable position.

“What is this?” Freyan’s voice was slow, and had pinch of doubt.

“It’s a healing crystal. It should help heal the wounds and return a bit of magical energy to anyone who holds and activates it.”

“Well… I guess I could give it a try…” Freyan reached for the crystal slowly. He wanted to make sure his hand didn’t tremble. He must stay calm, stay in control. “So what’s the keyword you spoke of?”

“Alzhearam. It basically means to activate.”

Freyan gave the mage a doubtful look. He tried to repeat the word as clearly as he could. The crystal started to glow immediately with a pleasant light blue hue as he held it carefully with both of his hand. In moments he could feel the magical energy emanating from it. He started to feel better almost immediately. By the time the crystal stopped gloving even his hunger weakened.

“Aaand… that’s it” said Gilyon a bit disappointed. He took the used up crystal, which had much darker colour now. “It can be used only once… and it’s not the best type of energizing crystal, so, sorry about that.”

Freyan shook his head.

“No… it’s more than okay. I feel better. Thank you.”

“I would say ‘your welcome’, but you are the one helping me out. I hope you are still up for it…”

“If you think you still have better chances with me… As you could see I have problems with controlling myself if the hunger kicks in.”

“Yeah… there is that… We’ve been doing great on that side as I see, just don’t try to fight the spells I put on you. Plus I have one more energy crystal should we need to use it. The thing is, my friend, that you were the one that proved to me, I can’t go on with out assistance. I found and opened the magic hiding the entrance thanks to you. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Freyan looked behind Gilyon. He indeed could see the rock formations. They weren’t here until now, and they were sure made by humans or some other intelligent specie.

“Exciting, isn’t it?” Gilyon looked the same way his green eyes filled with enthusiasm.

Freyan slowly stood up, and they went to the stone door. An engravement of two lions holding up the sun decorated it. Gilyon held out his hand without touching the stone checking for harmful magic. There was some lingering energy around it but nothing that could be dangerous. So he stepped closer, cautiously trying to open the door with his hands. It didn’t move the slightest.

They stood before the entrance for long minutes. Gilyon turned the pages in his notebook, sometimes going over them multiple times. Settling for one spell to try he started to wave his hand in a peculiar pattern slowly. Only for the spell backfiring on him. He hissed up in pain shaking his hand. His skin was charred black on the surface in a lightning pattern.

“Damn in! Black magic! Nobody told me this involves black magic!”

“Are you alright?” asked Freyan worryingly.

“Yeah…” the mage put away his book and started snapping his fingers on his healthy hand near the hurt one. It took a few times but finally a faint yellowish light shone up. After that his wounds started to disappear. “Much better” he gave a half-smile to his companion. “Sadly that pretty much all I know about healing magic…”

“From my point of view you know a lot about magic.”

“I am far from being a full trained mage, but thanks.”

“So… what was about being black magic here?”

“Oh, don’t give me that look. I figured you were better than some superstitious bunch.”

“Sorry, for asking too many questions. I’ve never learnt about magic before all this.”

“No. No, you are right. It’s just easy to forget. Especially when you are using dark magic so naturally.”

“Me? Really?” Freyan looked at his own hands with disbelief.

“Yeap. Don’t be so shocked. Common folk might fear these two. But not all spells of these categories should be persecuted. Dark magic is collective name of spells that can be… controversial. Like your energy spells. They are made for harming the opponent.”

“I… I never thought about it like that…”

“Don’t dwell on it, mate” he patted Freyan’s back friendly. “Such as the nature of combat magic. Other’s might use fire or lightning. Those are only not questioned because they can be used for something else by original purpose. And black magic is different only from anything else because it harms the caster on failed or not optimal attempt. Still it’s not a good sign” Gilyon turned back to the two-winged stone door. He straitened his robe, and opened his book again. Now he settled on an other spell. He started the pattern but it didn’t work in the end. At least the black burn didn’t harm his skin this time.

“It should have worked!” burst out Gilyon almost shouting after a few silent moments. “Alright… alright. Let’s try it again. Maybe it’s better if you step back a bit” he looked at Freyan for a moment. And Freyan did exactly that.

Gilyon looked at his notes for a few seconds again, then put them away. He started the spell over, this time with both of his hands and just with a few moments delay started reciting a short sentence over and over. After the third time repeating the same words his voice started to sound distorted. Freyan could feel the very air vibrate even where he stood. When Gilyon found the perfect frequency the sigil on the door shone up faintly. The mage looked puzzled and stopped.

‘That’s it?’ he thought disappointed.

“Could you lend a hand?” he asked Freyan.

They tried to open the door pulling the wings apart. With Freyan having more luck. He could get a grip on the stone and pushed it with effort from his powers. In an unexpected moment he flung his side of the door open. The sound of stone moving echoed from the suddenly open corridor.

“Show off” Gilyon shook his head smiling.