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the way. As you said, an empty space, a window on Ul Darak.”
    When I wanted Vìr to disbelieve, he refused. Where I didn’t see any sign, he did.
    “The grass is shorter here.” He indicated the ground. “See. And not as green, with some yellow. Something was here. It had a square base, with a hollow centre. It was probably light.”
    It had looked so heavy.
    “Using the base as a reference,” continued Vìr, “it must have been significant in size. And if one was to sit on it and look through the natural window over there, it must have been at least this high. Too high to be a normal chair.”
    The enthusiasm in Vìr’s voice was contagious. I found myself following him closely, listening to his every word, seeing as he was discovering. All against my better judgement.
    “This was you,” he said, pointing at a footprint. “But there was no one else. Not in the last few days. It is strange that no other protector made this discovery before. But then, if the object is already gone, it is incredible luck that brought you to it in exactly the time when it was present.”
    I nodded at every word. As Vìr pointed, it was easy for me to see the traces I had left.
    “This is where I woke up,” I said, “lying on the ground after…after I sat on the object and had that strange experience.”
    Just to the right, the heavy footprints of my flight were clearly visible. As I was looking in that direction, the fear returned suddenly, so strong that I almost started running again.
    “Dàr?” asked Vìr, coming closer. “Did you hear something?”
    I looked around.
    “We have to leave,” I said.
    I expected Vìr to offer opposition or to question my statement. Instead, he surprised me yet again. He kept silent and glanced around, vigilant. His face showed a seriousness I had rarely seen in him, an alertness and a savageness unknown until then. In that moment, Vìr looked the hunter, the warrior. His right hand was on the hilt of his imposing blade. I nocked an arrow on my bow.
    “You are right,” he said. “There is a faint smell in the air.” His words gave me chills. I inhaled but couldn’t detect what he was talking about. “Something foul is nearby,” he added. “As you say, we should go.”
    And we did.
     

3. Dreams and Doubts

    Shading 6, year 3001, Dàr is 60.
    Yesterday saw my sixtieth birthday. The day was far from what it could have been. It was celebrated by a small group of chosen people at my oldest son’s home. It was to be my last escapade from the rest home. I am grateful for Faron. He is the only one still acknowledging my existence.
    The worst was the wait. For most of the day, I stood close to the front entrance of Faron’s house, hoping against all odds that my other children would come, knowing it would be my last chance to see them.
    They didn’t.
    Eriéla deserted me many years ago and took the children with her. Although I have an impeccable record of service with the knight protectors, my peculiar interests, especially in regards to reading and writing, were incomprehensible to those living close to me, especially Eriéla. When we should have grown old together and got to know each other better, my interests tore us apart and we became strangers. My random comments about the west, about other cities, about becoming something other than a knight, would only widen the gap growing between us. How strange must those notions have sounded to Eriéla and my children. Even now, I do not fully comprehend the source of these aspirations. I just know they are real and will not go away.
    And so, one day, I asked one question too many and the schism became irreparable between Eriéla and me.
    “What if Vìr was right?” I had said out loud, surprising even myself.
    Eriéla didn’t answer or say a word, but the way she looked at me was enough. Fear was in her eyes. Fear of me!
    We never talked about it, never repeated it. Two months later, Eriéla left our home, taking our two sons and our