Ezra's first night was particularly restless. The images from the mirror invaded his dreams, coffins filled the darkness, and his mother's despair returned relentlessly whenever he closed his eyes.

The next day, it took a lot of effort not to yawn every minute, to concentrate on Mrs. Seleth's words, and to keep his mind from wandering elsewhere...

– My boy, Mrs. Seleth exclaimed impatiently, I wonder if we should postpone our first lesson. You seem exhausted.

– No, no, Ezra cried out in a hollow voice, I'm in great shape, I assure you.

– Well, let's begin our first lesson, declared Mrs. Seleth, brimming with excitement.

She walked towards a corner of the room where a pedestal stood, topped with a strange crystal sphere encircled by thin metal blades, resembling an astrolabe. She placed her hand on the sphere, and her veins glowed with a bluish light, revealing the connection between her and the artifact.

– Dear friend, could you assist in educating this young man with your valuable knowledge? she asked.

Ezra observed the scene, becoming increasingly unsurprised that in this world, speaking to objects was the norm.

The sphere, moved, replied:

– Of course, what can I do to help you?

– I would like you to guide Ezra through the mysteries of Inglorium with this map, she said, caressing the sphere. Under her touch, the artifact activated, the metal blades surrounding the sphere began to rotate slowly, weaving a ballet of constellations and symbols in the air. Each rotation revealed a different concentric sphere, each displaying a unique aspect of Inglorium.

The first sphere shimmered with a gentle green light, revealing rolling meadows under a cerulean sky. Majestic mountains stood on the horizon, their snow-capped peaks shining under a brilliant light. This idyllic view seemed to breathe peace and harmony.

As the metal blades turned, a second sphere appeared, starkly contrasting with the first. Arid lands stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with burning deserts and cracked plateaus. Shadows of creatures roaming these barren lands projected onto the dunes.

As the sphere continued to turn, a third sphere emerged, draped in a dark and mysterious aura. This representation was distinctly different from the previous ones: it seemed veiled, incomplete, its blurry outlines hidden in dense fog and shifting shadows. Territories that seemed inaccessible were hidden there, as if some secrets of Inglorium were still to be discovered, or perhaps created.

With each additional rotation, a new sphere appeared, but each was more enigmatic than the last. The fourth sphere was even more blurred, its shapes and colors blending into a whirl of indistinct hues. Fragments of landscapes briefly emerged before melting into nothingness.

Finally, the fifth sphere revealed itself, but it was almost nonexistent. It was less a concrete representation than a shadow of an idea, a hint of possibility. Ezra peered intently, trying to discern details in this veil of uncertainty. This almost erased sphere hinted at infinite potential, a space where stories, worlds, and realities could be born and disappear.

– I had forgotten how beautiful this representation of the five Realms is! What a masterpiece… exclaimed Mrs. Seleth. Ezra, this map will help you discover the five Inner Realms and some passageways that allow moving from one place to another.

Ezra looked up in surprise.

– But... your map is incomplete.

The lady smiled. Instead of responding, she spoke,

– Prepare yourself for your first lesson, young man, and pay close attention. As you will discover, Inglorium is not merely a place, but an interweaving of multiple worlds. Initially, Inglorium was just a single realm. Over time, rare and mysterious passageways were revealed, opening the way to previously unexplored sub-spaces. Exceptionally and almost miraculously, new realms were discovered throughout history. Today, we know of five, but it's highly likely that others remain to be discovered.

– Have you witnessed the discovery of a realm? asked Ezra, intrigued.

Mrs. Seleth raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. She displayed an amused smile before answering.

– Oh, my dear Ezra, the discovery of the last realm dates back several millennia. I am still in the prime of life, you see, I did not live through such an era!

Ezra, slightly embarrassed by his mistake, nodded gently.

– It must be something, the discovery of a realm... he murmured, more to himself.

Mrs. Seleth nodded gravely.

– You are quite right, Ezra. The discovery of a new realm represents a major turning point in the history of Inglorium. It redefines the codes of entire worlds. Now, let's delve a little deeper into the details.

She placed her hand just above the center of the sphere. A beam of light emerged, and Mrs. Seleth slowly slid her hand from the center towards one of the names inscribed around the sphere. It stopped rotating and came to life: landscapes, peoples, and movements animated it within seconds under Ezra's fascinated gaze.

– Here is the first realm, began the lady, observing the landscape stretched out before them, Pyrenea. It is characterized by vast mountains and rolling meadows. At first glance, it is a place of deceptive tranquility and peace. But beneath this calm surface, the real life of Pyrenea unfolds mostly in darkness. A complex network of factories, tunnels, canals, galleries, and immense caves extends deep underground, where thousands of individuals work tirelessly, far from daylight. It's an austere and oppressive world, Ezra.

Ezra's eyes widened in amazement.

– They work continuously?

The lady sighed slightly before answering.

– It's the fate of the less privileged civilizations. They extract and provide vital resources for all five realms

She placed her hand over the map and slid it to the right, to the second name. On the sphere, Pyrenea disappeared like a mirage. A beam of light crossed the library, illuminating the new realm with a blinding light, revealing vast expanses of arid land.

– Here now is the place called the two realms, Ezra. The first is the realm of Luminara, a realm bathed in light, where civilizations and creatures draw their power and wisdom from it. It's an extremely arid place, many Ashvins have lost their minds there. Well, for some, one might wonder if that wasn't already the case before they went there, but anyway... You must cross the lands to reach the second realm, that of Nocturnia. A world dominated by eternal night, where the mysteries and magic of darkness prevail.

Intrigued, Ezra walked along the table for a better view of the engravings that illustrated Mrs. Seleth’s words. The room had become dark, barely allowing the contours of the place to be distinguished.

– The realms of Luminara and Nocturnia together form the second realm? asked Ezra, fascinated by these revelations.

– Yes, confirmed the lady. And beyond that lies the gateway to Mystara, the third realm.

Ezra hastily placed his hand on the sphere.

– May I make it appear, please?

Without waiting for a response, he slid his hand over the map. He quickly became discouraged: it was impossible to slide towards the third name inscribed around the sphere. He turned to Mrs. Seleth, disheartened. The lady smiled.

– No use, you won't be able to do it. Only Ashvins who have already traveled to a realm can make it appear on the map.

Ezra sat down, looking disappointed. Mrs. Seleth took advantage of this moment and, with a gesture, erased the darkness enveloping the second realm, making it dissolve. In its place, the third realm materialized. Ezra leaned forward, captivated by the map and its new landscape. He quickly realized he hadn't finished being amazed: this time, the sphere revealed a world where the boundaries between reality and illusion seemed blurred.

Mrs. Seleth made a slight grimace.

– Mystara is a world of illusions and mirages, where reality twists into riddles, and appearances often mask deeper truths. It's a place where the quest for knowledge and the discovery of secrets are paramount. An inexperienced young Ashvin like you would easily get lost or be overwhelmed…

– You don't like Mystara? asked Ezra, intrigued by her tone.

– Well, let's just say that every visit to Mystara leaves me with a persistent headache… replied Mrs. Seleth, with a half-smile mixed with exasperation for this realm.

Before Ezra's curiosity also gave him a headache, Mrs. Seleth made the fourth realm appear.

– Here is Elianis, she announced, her voice tinged with renewed interest. It's a world where the fusion of ancestral energy and arcane knowledge forms the very heart of society. Here, cutting-edge technology blends with ancient magic, creating a place both vast and intimately connected with all known realms and perhaps even beyond.

– Is it connected to all the realms, including those yet to be discovered? asked Ezra, his eyes shining with fascination.

– It seems so, she replied, with a hint of ignorance in her voice. In truth, Elianis is not a realm in the traditional sense. Legends say it was shaped by an ancient civilization, the very first to tread the soil of Inglorium.

Ezra's eyes widened in astonishment.

– How is it possible to create an entire realm ?

– The story is silent on the details, but it is certain that this civilization played a fundamental role in shaping Inglorium and its mysteries.

As Ezra reached out his hand towards the sphere, he felt a strange tingling that instinctively made him recoil.

– Ah, this young man is eager to explore everything! exclaimed Mrs. Seleth with amusement. But you will need to learn to moderate your enthusiasm. There is an order to follow here: one cannot access a new realm without having fully explored the previous one.

– Exploring an entire realm must take an eternity! protested Ezra. I'll be old and gray before I even reach the fifth!

The lady burst out laughing.

– That's precisely the point, Ezra. Thorough exploration is essential. It will allow you to wisely choose your rune, one per realm only.

– A rune? What is that?

– The runes are the heart of Inglorium. They bind to their owner until death, granting a unique power. They are scattered across the realms, but we will see this in a future lesson.

Ezra then understood how Hato and Yael had been able to fight the statues with powers that seemed supernatural to him.

– Let's move to the fifth realm.

 With a wave of her hand, Mrs. Seleth changed the sphere, but this time, unlike the previous ones, it remained dark, with no landscape or sign of life. From time to time, a bright flash crossed the darkness, like a shooting star.

– Here is Temporalia... 

The lady's voice took on a darker tone, as if heavy memories clouded her thoughts. Ezra, sensing the change in atmosphere, quickly asked the question burning on his lips.

– Why did the sphere remain black ?

– Because Temporalia is a secret and largely unexplored realm. When this map was created, we knew too little to represent it. And even today, its mysteries remain largely indecipherable. It is a place scattered with temporal anomalies, where time can stretch, compress, or even reverse.

Ezra opened his mouth, and Mrs. Seleth prevented him from uttering another word.

– Enough, Mr. Curious, with your questions! You can't know everything on the first day, obviously. And as I told you: you will find the answer to many questions on your journeys.

Ezra was resigning himself to the situation when he felt a tingling sensation traverse his body, and his hand was drawn towards the sphere, which transformed and slid towards the fourth name. Mechanically, Ezra retracted his hand, but the established contact sparked a blinding light. The young Ashvins turned his head: Mrs. Seleth was speaking to him, but her voice seemed distant, and soon there was the most perfect silence.

Nothing else existed around him: there was only the sphere, which then let images form on its surface. Faces that seemed familiar to him appeared for a fraction of a second before vanishing. Menacing shadows rose, immense, and faded away, bright streaks crossed the map. Then voices traversed the space to reach his ear, but they were only incomprehensible sounds. Then nothing.

A sharp pain in his back forced him to open his eyes. Close to him, he recognized Mrs. Seleth's green eyes.

– Ezra? Can you hear me, Ezra?

– Yes, the boy stammered. What... what happened?

– I think the fourth realm attracts you more than you realize... Fortunately, I closed the sphere, otherwise we would not have been able to detach you! As a result, you fell backwards.

She paused for a moment before asking the question that was troubling her. She hoped Ezra would remember nothing of this strange moment, and she didn't want to worry him or draw his attention. Ezra got up.

– What did you feel? she asked as if it were nothing.

– I... I don't really know, actually. I saw strange images, shadows, I even heard voices but I didn't understand anything...

Ezra leaned over the sphere, intrigued.

– I thought I couldn't make a realm appear myself 

– It's probably because I was in the room, replied Mrs. Seleth without elaborating on the question. Well, let's stop our lessons for today.

She carefully stored the sphere and turned towards her protégé.

– It's almost lunchtime. How about you go up and rest? We will resume this afternoon, you will be more refreshed.

Despite the fascinating revelations of the sphere, Ezra was too tired to oppose Mrs. Seleth. He simply nodded and left the library.

As soon as he closed the door, the sphere manifested itself. Mrs. Seleth leaned over the object.

– My dear, you noticed it as I did: the fourth realm almost imposed itself on this child.

– I know...

– Doesn't that worry you, after all, his sister also possessed some rather strange habits?

Mrs. Seleth thought for a moment before answering.

– No, my friend, no, it doesn't worry me. To tell you the truth, I almost wonder if it shouldn't reassure me in my opinions. Good day, she said, closing the door.