Thothalas sat down in front of Alexia and took a deep breath. He smiled a charming smile and took her left hand."All right, no worries. Take Cadbury's paw with your other hand as I do. Now, I have the charm spell already memorized and ready. I just need your power. Concentrate on the magic, what it means to you. When our forces combine, the charm will take corporeal form between us. This is very important. No matter what, do not break contact until the charm is formed. Once the spell is complete our powers will flow apart naturally. Then," he wet his lips nervously, "I'll do that little portal thingie."
Cadbury chittered reassuringly. The two mages breathing stilled and became one. To observers they appeared asleep. Inside, where the magic lies, much was happening.
Thothalas saw the forest vale of his childhood. The mighty evergreens rose like pillars supporting the sky, and lights far above that spoke of stars he knew to be the homes of his family and kin. Voices sang in the ghostly twilight, telling of forgotten days when magic flowed from the heart of the ancient Realm like a mighty river and the very wind tasted of eldritch rites. Elders sat about the massive trunks, reading, talking, singing and laughing. Other creatures of the forest were part of the gatherings. Centaurs and sprites, gnomes and satyrs, and many more all added their voices to the chorus. Wisdom and light flooded the forest, promising truth and happiness as long as the sky held true.
A chorus of laughter surrounded Thothalas as a group of children ran by. They tossed him a silvery ball of light and called him Lightbringer in a game he remembered from his own youth that had been a sport of young elves since first they awoke beneath the stars. Joyfully they scattered and called for the Lightbringer to follow. Laughing with a truly glad heart, he did follow and ran into the thickening wood. He ran with a carefree heart, always hearing the soft laughter in front of him. His heart felt so glad and free that he did not see at first how the wood began to change. The wood grew darker, and the music grew still.
Suddenly, he felt very alone and very vulnerable. The silvery ball he held cast only a sick, pallid light. The darkness was so great that he wondered if a deep chasm stood just in front of his unseen feet.
"Alexia," he said to the night, offering the silvery ball, "are you here?"
Thothalas
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