You turn to face the Fire Mages around you. They don't look happy to see you, but it's hard to know what they're thinking behind their masks. As an Earth Mage you don't study with any of them and don't recognize them at all but Talik was 16 and a passed her exams last year (2 years before the average age of 18 you might add). Surely she would know these Fire Mages?

One of them steps forward. He looks different — more important, you think you recognize him from the gatherings. He glances at each of you in turn, his gaze making Alster shrink a little.

Talik approaches, and something in his body language changes. "Rek!" she says, grabbing his hand in greeting. Fire flickers from their palms. "This is my old mentor. The leader of the Fire Mages." Talik says with obvious joy.

You relax a little, but Rek still looks wary. "Talik, who are these people? I mean the mage we know, she wears an Earth Mage insignia and we have sent word to Maeka that she has returned to the city. The old man wears a mage tunic but we don't recognise it as any of the school's.  Where have you come from?" He glances at Kiva, still collapsed on the ground, then back at Talik.

Quickly Talik explains what's happened and what the girl asked of you in the tower. "You're the strongest Fire Mage I know. We need to bring the artifact to the academy."

Rek nods, but there's something grim about his stance. "Very well. But, Talik, you and your friends must be careful. You know as well as I that it will not be easy to convince the others." Things have become very competitive lately as mages across the city are experiencing an imbalance. Something is amiss and we are blaming each other for the changes. The earth mages even canceled training last week as a young apprentice was injured badly. Perhaps your news will cast the much needed light on the change we can feel. But we may have already gone down the divisive road too far? Rek and Talik share a knowing look and you wonder at the look between them, but you suppose you'll find out what it means soon enough.

How long was Kiva trapped? How do you know? Answer in Thy Quests

Next: E3Q2 Turn of the Tide