David's face felt hot. He was losing his temper. All he wanted was a bit of information, but Talim was so impatient and paranoid. He had no interest in the king or emperor of this place. He needed to find his way home!

David wanted to throw pebbles at him, but he found nothing he could use. He was so angry. And he had not eaten yet. He wanted to punch him and send him somersaulting in the air.

David suddenly felt him. It seemed like he could mentally reach his body. Was it the same feeling he had when he used VR back home? He understood his moving body, and a small force rolling inside of him like a torpid fire. It wasn't strong or something brilliant. But it was there. It had to be the essence he was talking about.

One arm stretched, David tried to reach into him, forcing him to walk back and talk to him. He felt a faint pain on his head at the attempt. Although he could perceive him clearly, the concentration was slippery, and the pain in his head was getting worse.

It was like trying to tell a stuffed toy to move without directly controlling it. He realized he was like a clumsy puppeteer. He changed his focus. Instead of forcing him to move, he wanted him to stop.

Redoubling his effort, he centered his will on his moving body. He felt his essence was too vulnerable, so he tried to reach into it as well. Was this how people with psychic abilities like he had seen on TV execute their powers?

He felt that his effort was finally connecting. Talim stopped walking. He was trembling. David pushed more of his efforts. It felt good to see that it was working.

Then the connection began to unravel. He could tell he was losing his hold. David began to feel retch. The connection broke, and he collapsed on the ground. The world started to twirl and tilt. He never felt so dizzy in his entire life. It was as if he had been ridden in a roller coaster for hours!

Closed eyes, body sprawled in lukewarm earth beneath him, David took deep breaths of wet leaves. He wondered what happened to Talim. He must be so angry. He didn't know what hit him.

David waited for the arrows to stick on his back while he was lying there defenseless. Nothing happened. Did he get scared? He had power! Maybe he was going to burn him alive, but he needed time to cast the right spell. David embraced the thoughts of getting killed in the middle of this amazing forest. Again, he didn't burst into fire.

After some time, the reeling sensation subsided. When he sat up, he saw Talim's body stretched out awkwardly on the ground. David stood up, though the wooziness vanished, his legs still felt a little wobbly.

He worked his way to a figure of a young man in a lightless robe. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing just fine. He seated beside him and gently slapped the side of his cheek.

It took a few times before he opened his eyes. Talim placed his hand on his chest and grunted. He drew some deep breaths before considering David.

"What did you do to me?" Talim asked in a frail voice.

Though guiltiness lurched inside of him, David managed to reply, "I don't know."

Talim's eyes narrowed accusingly, "Who are you?"

"Someone who does not want people turning their backs on him."

Talim just groaned in reply.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do any harm. It's just... I got so angry with you being so hostile," David professed, genuinely concerned.

"Man, you really hurt me," he threw a dark chuckle, "That was...," and moaned. "That was quite something."

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel wrong inside, and my essence is out of sync. I didn't know what you just did to me, but that was incredibly rare," he said. "I know none of the people with a power I encountered in our place can directly inflict harm with the essence of a separate entity. I've heard that even in the discipline of advanced magic that shouldn't be possible."

"I just wanted you to stop walking away," David confessed. "When I felt your essence there, I just tried to attack it too because it felt so easy for me."

"You didn't just will to entangle me, but you also went straight to my power and hurt it," Talim went on. "I stood no chance. I didn't know such a trick can be done with your odd power."

"But at the end, I lost my focus, and all was a mess," David said.

"I was too late and significantly out of advantage when I felt your power encroaching me. I tried hard to go against your will. That's what we are practiced for in the early days of our studies. In the end, I got my way free as when you've successfully injured my essence."

For a moment David couldn't find a word to say. He didn't know his selfishness could hurt someone. Talim was really rough and unfriendly, but it didn't mean he had to hurt him.

He looked so tormented, and it was because of him. After all, he was just a boy protecting some important information and also looking for his missing dad.

David looked at his two despaired eyes gazing skyward. "Are you going to kill me?"

"I told you I'm not going to kill you. It's just a mistake. I'm sorry," David apologized.

"I want to believe you," Talim said.

"Then it's up to you," David replied. "I want to help you. You have to trust me as much as I need yours. Can you walk?"

"I don't think so. My body felt stiff. I can barely move my legs."

"I think I can lift you," he pointed at the nearest tree. "I'll help you go there so you can lean on its trunk."

Talim nodded.

David extended an arm to Talim. He helped him to his feet and kept an arm around him. He also carried the crossbow and his knapsack. They walked unsteadily towards a nearby tree.

As they neared, David realized it was at least a three-story house in size with its thick limbs enough to shelter them against the sun. He settled Talim's body against the trunk and sat down beside him. Talim closed his eyes and heaved a sigh of weariness.

"So your power's gone?" David asked, hoping the answer would be no.

"Not that it's gone. You didn't strip me out of my power. You just hurt it," Talim clarified.

David was relieved to hear his response.

"You can still feel it?" he checked.

"I know where to access my power and how to wield it. But I lack the strength to use it under this condition."

"Can you heal it?"

"I don't know. Maybe with time. Your power was so strange. It almost felt like it was from Necromoor. What about-" he paused.

"What?"

"You can be of great service to our cause," Talim said.

David frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If I can only use my magic to hurt you now, I'll do it without hesitation. Maybe for vengeance. But you see, I'm not in good shape. And I see you now with another point of view," Talim said. "I see you really talk differently, wear differently, and other manners which are supposedly uncommon to me. Not to mention your ignorance."

Talim coughed and continued, "Now here's my offer. If you are really somewhere outside this world, I understand you want to find a way back to your world. Maybe I can help you, and the people I know."

"Of course I want to go home. But can you do that or the people you know? Can you open a portal or something?"

"I'll be honest, I can't do that. If anyone can help, I guess our Magus will," Talim answered.

"What's a Magus?" he asked.

"That's the term for our leader. He has control of our place but not similar to a king," Talim said. "He's with other personas to help him manage affairs in our refuge. And most places, especially cities and towns, elect or appoint their own representatives or officials depending on their laws. I'm sorry you're very new here. Do you mind if I do all the talking, so you can catch up immediately?"

"Sure," David agreed.

"I was saying?"

"The Magus and the leadership thing."

"So the elected or appointed people usually possess..."

"Wait. Is the emperor and the Magus the same person? David interrupted. "You said there's a wizard emperor who ruled this place."

Talim rolled his eyes. "Of course not, this is a big place. They're both separate entitlement. Every place, city, towns have rulers, but the emperor is above them all. Can you imagine being a king in an enormous kingdom with no constables or other people to supervise the other lands or areas away from your castle?"

"I get it. So you mean there's more Magus in here?"

"Yes, somewhere, or maybe they call it with their terms. And we also have councilors, chancellors, governors, aldermen here and many officers which are supposedly out of our interests for now," Talim said.

"Okay, so what can you tell me first?"

Talim let out a sigh as if preparing himself for a long story. "For a starter, you need to hear the history," Talim started. "Centuries ago Atlantia was divided by three kingdoms: Drundar, Mageyard, and Nercomoor. Each was ruled by an equally powerful wizard. They were known to be the Three Greatest Magi. One is the Master of Natural Force and took over Drundar. He introduced bending, conjuring, and manipulating. Another is the Master of Mind and Knowledge and lead Mageyard. He developed divination, enchanting, and minding. The last one was the Master of Life and Death and oversaw Necromoor. He established the practice of necromancy, shaping, and witching. The three masters agreed to live in harmony and conserve peace and order in Atlantia as they continued to spread their doctrines within their kingdoms. Until one day, Necromoor attacked the kingdom of Drundar. The battle took place, and Drundar fell. Many people sought refuge in another kingdom. It didn't take long before, the Magi of Necromoor and his army of shapers and sorcerers marched to Mageyard and wreaked havoc."

"What happened to the other two Magi?" David asked.

"Nobody witnessed the battle between Magis. But since both kingdoms fell, they were assumed dead." Talim said.

"Then what happened next?"

"This whole world perished. The Magi of Necromoor pronounced his absolute regime. Anyone who opposes will perish or imprison."

Talim said and gazed at the distance. "It's very unlikely, but we are trying not to surrender.

"You are fighting the emperor?"

Talim shook his head. "We are not really fighting him directly as if to contend him in physical combat with our powers. I told you that he is a wizard; an ancient wizard with great magic power. He also has people at his disposal. If we were to fight him directly in a war, we would all surely die."

"Then how do you deal with him?"

"We fight him with silence. We plot our attack step-by-step. Though I know none of them would actually work to raise tension to his regime. Let alone defeating him," Talim said.

"Do you have plenty of your kind? What about other mages who equally hate the emperor?" David asked.

"Of course, we have many. Old, young, boys and girls are mage born. But we are not the only exception like what you might think. It is a race." Talim said. "Stronger ones can practice at least two talents. Some can wield more complex magic. And half of our kind is loyal to the emperor. We are not living in the same place. We are varied in the kind of talents we possess or power that we wield, disciplines that we practice, way of life, and to our cause."

"Is he really bad? What's the emperor like?" David asked.

"I never really met him."

David stared at Talim. He wondered how much of what he had said was true.

"You're doubting. I can tell it in your eyes," Talim said.

"I don't know what to believe. I just got here," David said. "Your tale sounds like a typical fantasy story we had back home."

"From our place, we seldom tread beyond our haven. It is prohibited to go outside the boundary. It is my first time braving the danger outside the fort."

"Then why go outside?"

Talim's voice became resonant. "We can only dispatch some trained people from our place to do a quest that is helpful to our cause-" Talim broke into tears, and his shoulders began to shudder.

David awkwardly patted his back. His emotional response was unexpected. When Talim finished, he wiped his tears and smiled at David uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry," Talim replied clumsily.

"No, it's ok. It's no big deal really. I used to babysit my little sister," David consoled.

They both giggled for a moment.

"So one of the people sent outside was your father," David finally said.

Talim nodded. "I really miss him. We hadn't had a chance to talk since he was sent abroad. I lack the exact information why he would come here. But our aldermen made it clear that he was supposed to come here. I haven't caught wind of him since I arrived here."

"Have you looked around already?"

"Not really. This whole place is weird and unsteady, especially at this part. No one knows his way around here. You are the only person I've seen so far," Talim said.

"Would the emperor find us here?"

"As far as I am concerned, this is the last place that the emperor and his follies would set their foot on," Talim assured.

Suddenly David's stomach made a rumbling sound. He almost forgot that he had not eaten yet. Talim glanced at his abdomen to his face.

"I have some spare food inside my knapsack. I don't mind you eating them unless you desire to starve to death," Talim said, shifting his body to his side. "I think I just need to rest so I can get my strength back."

"Thanks."

David started to ransack for the three slices of what looked like a butter bread. They tasted sweet and melted immediately in his mouth. He devoured every single bits of them with pleasure as he thought about getting home.