he strong light hurt Aglia's eyes, with difficulty she covered the light with her hand. All her muscles ached and her mind was clouded, she tried to open her eyes, but in vain, her eyelids were still very heavy.

“She'll need time to fully recover, but she will be fine.” Aglia could hear the voice, but her mind was still too confused to know where or who the voice was coming from. “In a few hours the poison's effect should wear off and her magic will return to normal.”

“Thank you very much, Madame Erandir, we cannot thank you enough.”

“There's nothing to be thankful for. It's my job to treat and care for those in need, especially Aglia.”

Aglia rolled over on the gurney.

“Aglia.” exclaimed Rox. “Are you awake?”

Aglia murmured in confirmation and once again tried to open her eyes, this time, still with some difficulty, she could see the faces of her siblings. Rox was sitting next to her facing Madame Erandir who was carrying a bowl with some potions and rags.

“What… What happened?” Aglia asked, still stunned.

“You were poisoned, and luckily” Lilla laughed “you had a vision while we were coming, which made your condition deteriorate very quickly, luckily we were very close and we were able to treat you in time.”

Aglia turned to Lilla who was standing across the room.

"If we had taken two minutes longer…" Lilla lowered her eyes.

"I'll leave you alone." Erandir nodded and withdrew.

Aglia started to sit up, but her muscles still ached, she let out a groan and Rox helped her to sit up.

"You said I had a vision…”

“I blocked the memory of your vision for a while so it wouldn't affect you further, so don't even try, because you won't remember.”

Aglia waved. For a moment she stared at her own feet in reflection, which would have triggered such a strong sight, and still, during the day. After a few moments of reflection, she decided to worry about it later and finally asked:

“Did you manage to identify the rain’s poison?"

“Pink Alys.” Rox replied bluntly.

Aglia looked at him puzzled.

“Well, at least one spell with the Pink Alys’ effect, since using one would be very unlikely.”

"So…" Aglia began looking from Rox to Lilla. “Whoever attacked the festival is a darknes mage.”

“It's the most plausible theory.” Lilla replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Aglia thought for a moment. “But who? It would have to be a very powerful mage.”

“Or a group of wizards.” Completed Lilla.

Aglia looked at her, startled. “Do you think… that all this was so carefully planned?”

“It's the most believable theory we have at the moment. Otherwise, why would I have dreamed of it?” Replies Rox. “This attack had been planned for a long time and very hard.” He complemented.

Aglia stared into space for a moment, her mind was racing, so many questions came and went from her mind, she couldn't understand how anyone, alone or with help, would be able to hate so much as to be willing to do an attack like that.

Who? Who would be able to plan such a destructive attack, and why? Who would be able to hate the capital so much as to harm the people? And more importantly, how was her view related to the attack?

Rox and Lilla were also mulling over the same questions, but none of the theories forming in their minds seemed to have the slightest logical basis.

"Even with all the other kingdoms at war, why would they attack the capital? Doesn't seem like a very wise move to me.” Said Lilla breaking the silence.

"Do you think it was some other kingdom?" Rox asked in disbelief.

“I can't imagine who else would have a group of dark mages at their disposal like that.” Lilla replied, an imperative tone in her voice. ”Mirandir has long been pressured to take sides in this nonsense they call war.” She added, a thread of anger became noticeable.

“It's a possibility.” Rox said defeated.

“But Minra, it's the only realm that would have the magical ability to create that attack, Minra and Minnar.” Aglia interrupted. “But both are further apart than would be possible for such complex magic.”

“Doesn't mean they couldn't have moved somewhere nearby.” Lilla said crossing her arms.

“Without attracting any attention? No, it's practically impossible, we're talking about at least thirty dark mages, not counting the water mages, who would have to save their magic as much as possible, that is, they couldn't use invisibility or camouflage spells, let alone illusions.”

“Rox is right.” Aglia pointed out. “A group like that would draw a lot of attention, especially in the current situation. It is already quite difficult to circulate in small groups, let alone such a large group. Lilla, you know how difficult it has been for knights to move from town to town.”

Lilla pursed her lips in a crooked smile as she remembered the wounded she had treated.

“You're right, but if that's not the case I can't think of many possibilities, this is one of the most difficult spells to do.”

“The spell could have been cast from within the city, but everyone was at the festival, and those who weren't are the knights who left in the morning.” Rox said thoughtfully.

"Maybe…" Lilla began. “No, it's very unlikely.”

"What's on your mind, Li?"

“Well,” she began, “this is a sage-level spell, and someone with that much power would be able to cast it from long distances, it would exhaust them for sure, but it would be possible.

"Are you suggesting that there is some mage with the power equivalent to a sage?"

“It's not impossible, Maia and Hadar, for example, are as strong as any sage, especially together.” Aglia commented.

“I don't think whoever attacked the festival was from some other realm, it would be too stupid. No, it wasn't a war ultimatum, not completely.”

“Where do you want to get, Lilla?” Rox asked, already restless. "You're not suggesting that…"

"Yes." Lilla interrupted.

“But he disappeared over forty years ago. They’re just rumors Lilla.”

“It's still a possibility, if not him, someone just as powerful.”

Aglia tried to follow her siblings' reasoning, but she was still very weakened and her mind didn't allow her to think so quickly.

”Who are you talking about?” She finally ask.

“Prince Rean.” Rox replied calmly.

“But he was officially declared dead. Plus, why would he do that?”

“Some say he allied himself with Chernobog.” Lilla said shrugging.

“Rumors, and then, Chernobog is sealed in The Tower.” Said Aglia. “He could not contact anyone from the outside.”

“It's hard to say.” Rox started approaching. “He is a god, even though he was sealed by the power of Alys, Gaia and Arandir together he still feeds on negative energy, maybe he can't contact anyone outside of The Tower, but if the person is close to the seal, maybe that would be possible.”

“Still, it's easier for a group of mages to have enchanted some object to contain the storm and release it when the object was broken or opened, it would be much simpler and only one mage would need to come to the city.”

“It makes sense. That would explain why the rain lasted so short, if the spell was stored, especially if for too long, it would lose power, which already wouldn't be much from being cast by multiple mages.”

“It also explains why there's so much hate, he wouldn't just be one person directing all his hate into an attack.”

"Lilla, do you think you can find out who attacked the festival?" asked Rox.

“Unless the gods want to present me with a vision, I would need to be connected to someone who knew what happened.” She replied sarcastically.

“Well, then we have little to deal with, there's not much point in trying to find the person responsible, that kind of magic leaves no trace.” Rox said defeated. “But I can check around the wall to be sure.”

“I will, you take care of Aglia.” Lilla said, jumping to her feet.

“My tracking skills are better than yours, Lilla.”

"You're dreaming little dragon." Laughed Lilla. “Besides, if you go you'll be worried about Aglia and won't concentrate, you'd better stay here, I'll be back soon.”

Aglia covered her mouth with her hand, holding back a laugh.