It was three hours after sunrise when David woke up. All beds were already made except his. Talim was nowhere to be seen, but his knapsack sat on the side of a bed.

He heard voices as he lumbered to the dining area, where he saw Talim and Mirna sat together. Talim was now wearing a gray button-down shirt and a khaki four-pocket shorts.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Talim greeted.

"You look neat," David observed as he joined them. 

A plate with an omelet and strips of bacon was waiting for him. An empty glass sat beside it. Talim's plate was almost empty. 

"Mirna was too nice. You have similar outfits waiting in the dressing room," he said.

"How do you keep your resources?" David asked her.

Mirna took a sip of her coffee before regarding David. "I run a successful business in the nearest town. I hired trusted people to oversee it."

"This place is amazing. I'd love to have a nice rest house when I get older," Talim expressed.

"This is not a retirement place for me. It has always been my home and to those who seek help," she clarified looking back to David. "What do you drink? We have milk, juice, and coffee."

"Do you have water?"

Mirna casually pointed a finger to his glass. A moment later, it was filled with water.

"How did you do that?" David was astonished while inspecting the glass without touching it. 

"This house is full of enchantment," Talim answered.

"Good eye. No one would live in the middle of nowhere defenseless." Mirna smiled, revealing her bony cheeks. 

"You have powers?"

"I am no enchanter, though, I have a little talent. But all the enchantments done here were from the people I hired," the old lady said.

"We were talking about how we can reach Hanover Village earlier," Talim said eagerly. "There will be a carriage transporting supplies here and Mirna will see that it gives us a free ride to our rendezvous."

"Really?" David asked in excitement.

"It will save us days of traveling on foot. I expect we can reach the small village in four days," Talim said.

"This is so much we could've hoped for. You are a savior," David said.

She nodded. "People tend to get lost elsewhere trying to find purpose in life. But the truth is, it is always within their hearts."

Their ride arrived in the early afternoon. Pulled by two strong black horses, the carriage looked tattered and untidy because of long use. The inside was perfect for four people. 

After waving goodbye to Mirna, David hopped inside. He sat on the bench opposite to Talim.

"She also left us food good for five days just in case," Talim said as the carriage started to roll.

"She was too good of a person to deceive," David said loud enough for Talim's ears to hear.

"We did not lie just to take advantage of her.”

"Looks like we just did."

"Look. Just because she was too nice does not mean we have to confide everything," Talim explained. "Telling about the rebellion is not a big deal for her. I suspect she would still help with or without explaining everything. Also, it would put her to more risks."

"I thought the emperor already knew about the rebellion."

"The emperor is not only powerful but also cunning. He might know about us, only he doesn't know where to look."

"Is there a chance that we might cross paths with his people?"

Talim started to inspect his bag, now bulging with a load of goods. "There is always a chance for that. When that happens, then we play it around."

David clenched his fists. "What if they find out?"

Talim chuckled before answering. "You're unbelievable. Don't be too frantic about that. Just think about how you can survive rather than how you fail it."

"Easy for you to say because you've been doing this since you were born. Don't forget that this is my second day here."

"That is understandable," Talim said. "But will never be considered during a fight. I hope that shouldn't be an excuse of your own downfall."

By the third day, David had fallen into the routine of the carriage. They mostly stopped to rest or when the coachman had to eat. The driver was very friendly and funny. He appeared to be in his middle age. When David tried to engage him once in a conversation about his family, he refused to say anything. 

Talim said it was normal to find coachmen not telling anything about their personal life. The reason was that most of them were also hired or paid to follow some rules, including minding their own business and prohibitively no eavesdropping. The agreement also extended to avoid forcing either of the parties to talk about anything unless relevant to the goal agreed in the contract. 

He had spent most of his time thinking about how he could go home. David knew by now, his whole family would be really worried. He pictured his mom freaking out. What would Joe and his whole team say? Had they been questioned about his disappearance? Did they already find someone to replace him? 

David supposed he would be in the local news and probably even mentioned in the national television. He imagined his pictures plastered around every corner of their town. He didn't want to believe that he would ever find himself in this situation.

During the second day, as David watched countryside go by out his window, Talim asked if he wanted to learn some techniques. He held out a piece of paper and demonstrated how to ignite it. He said that he had to focus and try summoning heat from his power to light the paper. 

David followed exactly how he understood his instructions, but nothing happened. He was not sure where to start.

"There's a power within you. Use it to anchor your mind and will for a direct command.”

"I don't know how to begin."

"Do you sense your power?" 

"Not really."

"Do you remember what you did to me back in the forest?"

"I remember I was angry. It came out all of a sudden.”

"Then try to mimic what you did," Talim suggested.

David focused hard. Where was his power? How could he access it? Was it really there? Talim was so sure he could clearly perceive it. He had done it once in the woods. There was no way he couldn't do it again. 

Out of desperation, he wished for the paper to ignite itself. Again, it didn't comply. Next thing happened were a series of failed attempts. Talim told him that he should seek help to Magus. 

"If anyone could explain best how to accomplish magic, he would be the right person to consult with."

It was late morning hours during their fourth day of travelling when a hamlet came into view. The carriage eased to a halt in front of the entrance of the small village. A muddied signage on the side written in bold letters announced, Welcome to Hanover Village. 

Both of them got off from their ride and expressed gratitude to the coachman. After their belongings were settled, Talim immediately proceeded to the village. Without any words, David silently followed him behind.

The tiny village was composed of typical cottages with roofs mostly made out of ironwood. Some of them had porches and a wooden fence. David counted at least seven people in sight. All of them flashed curious looks as they passed. None were dressed in robes—they all looked normal people.

A man in his fifties approached them as they strolled through the pathway between the houses. David and Talim waited for him. 

"Not everyday we see people passing by here," the man smiled. "What brought two young boys in our humble village."

Talim gestured him to come nearer. The man took a couple of steps and bent a little. Talim whispered something in his ear.

David didn't hear a word of what he said. He forgot to ask Talim why they had to be transported to a small village instead of their safe place he called Ryeland. 

A moment later, the man nodded and gave way for both of them.

"What's that?" David asked, glancing back at him.

"This whole place is a set up," Talim said. "Our leaders put people who sympathize with the rebellion and make it a landmark of Ryeland."

"Smart."

"We just have to walk a little longer to get there."

When Talim said a little longer, David thought it would only take less than twenty minutes. But they were already walking for almost half an hour. 

He was about to complain when Talim stopped at an open field of rocky terrain.

"We're here," Talim announced, pointing his hand at the empty field.

David looked bewildered. The only thing he could see was the empty terrain stretching hundreds of yards away to a field of crops at the distance. 

"I see nothing," he said suspiciously.

Talim chuckled. "Of course you do. This place is covered by an illusion."

"What we're seeing is not real?"

"Yes. It's also protected by a strong distracting spell. But that's not a problem anymore since we have permission," Talim said. "Come on."

He hesitantly followed Talim. Part of him wanted to argue that it could be a perfect set up for a trap. It took only eight steps when David felt a tingling sensation similar to passing through a spiderweb.

The scene before him suddenly changed into a landscape of marvelous steppe. The beautiful view reminded David of several wallpapers he had in his computer. From afar, David peered to the shadow figures of a castle, towering buildings and various infrastructures.

"That's quite a civilization up ahead," David said.

"That's only the background of it," Talim said. "You must see the actual place."

"On your feet!" a booming voice demanded.

They both jerked their heads in the direction of the voice. Three horsemen in shiny silver suits of armor were smoothly galloping their way.

The middle one pulled his broadsword and pointed it in front of them. "Do not even try to move. Get on your feet." 

The other two dismounted.

"What is—" David did not finish what he was about to say when one of the riders shoved him flat to the ground. Strong arms kept his both hands on his back. He could hear muffled voices of Talim on his side.

With an effort, David successfully yanked his head sideways. There, he saw Talim's face flustered.

"Welcome to Ryeland," he said, forcing a smile.