‘What sort of things do you believe you understand, when you don’t really know what you’re doing, or who you are… Find that out, and then you’ll know where you should be, and what you should be doing there…’

-The Wisdom of Zug Twill

‘Why not a little more light to it,’ the old Wyzard said, waving a hand, which brought to life all the lanterns in the living room. The light in his one hand doused, and then the door closed quickly and locked. The Wyzard smiled, floated to the love-seat, near the furnace, and sat down upon it. He sighed and glanced around the room, his blue eyes attentive, before turning back to Nell.

‘Go on, son,’ he said, ‘have a seat, and keep your weapon with you if it makes you feel better, I’m quite sure it would me if our positions were switched.’

‘Who are you, and why didn’t you answer me when I called out?’ Nell demanded. He didn’t sit, though he kept his weapon, and held it trained on the Wyzard.

‘I am Dauntilis,’ the Wyzard replied, reaching into his vest and pulling out a sleekly carved pipe, which he popped into his mouth and immediately began puffing upon, and sweet smelling smoke began to puff freely. Nell had watched him since he’d entered the cottage, and he’d not even lit the pipe, which was quite odd.

‘I’m a Wyzard. I doubt you’ve heard of me before, but that’s to be expected, I rather like to keep to myself. As for the reason I didn’t answer you, I saw a Regol in the woods on my way here, and I couldn’t be sure if it was really you inside the house, until I saw you.’

‘Regol?’ Nell asked.

‘Dangerous Dark Spirits,’ Dauntilis replied, shuddering. ‘Terrible creatures from the last war, and indeed part of the reason I’m here… honestly, young man, I would feel much better if you bothered to sit. It’s rather uncomfortable to talk to someone while you’re sitting and their standing, not to mention the rifle pointed at my face is a little disconcerting.’

‘He makes rather sound points,’ Fingold whispered on Nell’s shoulder. ‘In some circles your actions here might be considered rude.’

‘You said he was probably a dreadful beast not ten minutes ago,’ Nell said out the corner of his mouth.

‘That was before he turned out to be so charming… Go on, ask him why he floats and doesn’t walk.’

‘Ah,’ the Wyzard beamed, pulling his pipe out of his mouth and blowing out a bit of smoke, ‘that’s a fine story indeed. You see, I had to battle a Dark Wyzard called Carven once, and though I defeated him, it left me rather injured, and without the use of my legs… after that, rather than-’

‘I really don’t care,’ Nell snapped. ‘I want to know what you’re doing here.’

‘Oh, drat,’ Fingold complained, ‘I was rather enjoying the tale. It was full of adventure and twists and turns!’

‘Hush!’ Nell hissed.

Dauntilis sighed and leaned back in the couch, popping his pipe back into his mouth. ‘Why am I here?’ he said. ‘Why I’m here is because I made a promise – against my better judgement – many years ago.’

‘A promise?’ Nell asked.

‘To your Father,’ Dantilis responded. ‘Shortly after your family fled from your former tormented realm… to this one.’

Nell stared at the Wyzard in dismay, and furrowed his brow. ‘What the blazes are you talking about?’ he snarled.

‘They never told you?’ Dauntilis frowned. ‘What a shame… Well, then this will help.’ The man waved a hand at Nell. Suddenly images flashed through his mind. He saw his family. He was very young. He saw his Father, his Mother, Sister, and baby Brothers. They were all so young.

He didn’t remember any of it.

They were running from a place of fire, torment, and destruction. They were running for a portal. They hurried through it, into a green realm of light and wonder.

Nell saw his Father smile.

Nell gasped and dropped to his knees as the images snapped out of his mind. His heart was hammering in his chest, he was breathing quickly. He fell forward onto his hands and felt like he might be sick. He looked up and glared at Dauntilis.

‘What did you do to me?’ he growled.

‘I showed you what you needed to see,’ the Wyzard responded.

‘I don’t believe it!’ Nell said grabbing his gun up and standing straight again, pointing the weapon at Dauntilis. ‘I don’t believe a word of it. This is my home! I’m not from some other realm. I remember my life… I don’t remember what you showed me.’

‘Maybe you shouldn’t trust your instincts on this,’ the Wyzard offered.

Nell furrowed his brown in dismay. ‘What-?’

‘Your family has a story,’ Dauntilis said, cutting Nell off. ‘You don’t remember the actual event, because you were too young, but your Sister has spoken of it before. A creature of evil and darkness, called Muskura, entered your home during the Shatter Wars. It came to kill and torture your family. Your Father, who has tried to repress his great powers most of his life - powers that were passed down to him from his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather - had to fight the beast. Long has the power been in the line of Sorrows… This was that great power your Father had to call upon again. He cornered the Demon, destroyed it, and got rid of the body and the evidence,’ Dauntilis said to Nell pointedly.

‘No one knows about that,’ Nell gasped, staring wide-eyed at the Wyzard. ‘Only our family.’

‘Which should give me at least some credibility, because I do know it,’ Dauntilis pointed out.

‘He makes a valid argument,’ Fingold defended.

‘Your Parents, Brothers, and Sister-in-law didn’t head off for a business trip – though I do not doubt they are probably using that as part of the cover – they left because the time has come for you to do your part, and I am here to help you off on that quest.’

‘My part?’ Nell asked, feeling all the more confused.

Dauntilis sighed, ‘Shame it has to be me to tell you this… Your realm was dying, great evil had spread… you remember.’

Nell shook his head. ‘No,’ he said.

Dantilis went on, a strange note to his voice, almost like he remembered it. ‘Yes… it was a different Universe… Evil was upon you. Then, almost as if by Mahgic, your Father got you a way out of that realm, into this one. Since then you’ve all lived in relative peace and safety… here. Some might even call it a boring life – not me of course, I rather approve of your family’s existence.’

Nell felt a stabbing pain in his head and he brought a hand up to it, as his right eye twitched.

Memories flickered through his mind.

Like whispers of a dream he didn’t quite recall.

Was this true? Could it be?

But… how could he know about Muskura?

‘What are you trying to tell me?’ Nell asked, the pain in his head fading a little.

‘Your Father made a pact with a group of aliens in this realm… Beings of Light. They contacted him and said they would help him bring his family to safety here, if… you would be offered up – not as a sacrifice, don’t worry on that count – but rather as an… aide, a tool to help them… and not only them, but this dying Universe too.’

‘Why me?’ Nell asked.

‘Chosen one… prophecy, any number of things. Most of all, because you share your Father’s power. The point is, you were chosen, and to save the family, your Father made the bargain. The time for you to fulfil your end has come.’ The Wyzard held up the golden key again. ‘This is the first – well, maybe second – piece of your quest… Would I be mistaken in thinking you saw a beautiful glowing orb today, and a door underwater.’

Nell blinked.

Dauntilis chuckled.

‘Oh, he is quite keen, isn’t he,’ Fingold said approvingly.