Caspian (YJ) the scholar from Istallia, River (JM) the giant from the Misty Woods, and Harp (Brian) the scion of Castle Stormguard set out from Ravenhall. They were on a quest to accompany the Magus to the Land of Shadows where magic was born.
Ravenhall
Harp looked upon his reflection in the water beneath the bridge of Ravenhall. He imagined that he saw in the water a mighty sword—the former symbol of his noble house of Stormguard. Stormguard had waged war against the golden city of Istallia for many years, but ultimately lost the war. As part of the terms of defeat, Stormguard changed its emblem to that of a broken sword. As scion of Stormguard, Harp swore an oath to restore the honor of his house and reclaim the symbol of the unbroken sword.
Before setting out from Ravenhall, Caspian visited the menagerie of Ravenhall. While looking upon the incredible variety of living creatures, Caspian recalled the time when the Magus had appeared in the guise of a small bee. The bee was injured, but wanted to survive. Caspian knew that it was no ordinary insect, but a creature of magic. So he brought the bee back to his home in Istallia and nursed it back to health. The bee remained there while Caspian left Istallia to study at Ravenhall for a time.
River went to the scrying pool of Ravenhall. They remembered the magus and their reasons for wanting to help him on his journey back to the Land of Shadows. River was a spirit of the natural world, and magic was a part of that world. They had taken that for granted for a very long time and ignored their own responsibility as a steward of nature. But now that magic was fading and the power that the world had once relied on may no longer be sustained, River knew that it was time for them to step up and take up the mantle of responsibility.
The Oak Hills
Harp passed through Harper’s Road and listened for the magic melody of the harp that was rumored to be heard there. But he heard no such music. Perhaps the magic that was fading from the world was already gone. He heard only the sound of his own true name inside his thoughts—the name given to him by the elders of Stormguard… He had not revealed his true name even to his closest companions. His name was “Harp” now for all those outside Stormguard. And at times, he wished he could truly forget his old true name and the weight of the responsibilities that came with it.
The travelers made camp along the road, and Capsian sat beside the fire. Peering into that bright blaze, he thought longingly of the candles that he had lit while studying late into the night. Caspian was a scholar of magic and researched the workings of the arcane power that suffused the world. With enough study, he might have one day become a skilled mage himself, not unlike the magus… If only magic wasn’t fading from the world.
At dawn, River went off to perform their morning ritual. The others never did find out what the ritual entailed. For River was a creature of nature, as mysterious as the inner workings and thoughts of the earth itself. Who knew why the sun rose from one direction and the moon from another? Or whether the tempest winds blew in malice and the gentle breeze in delight? Whether the morning dew felt wonder at the coming of the new day, or yearnful longing at the passing of the night?
Barley Town
Arriving in Barley Town, Harp went to the Old Abbey. He waited until all the priests had retired. When he was alone in the place, he made a confession to the silent darkness. He had joined Caspian and River on this journey in the hopes of bringing them to Castle Stormguard. For Caspian was a renowned scholar of Istallia who might prove a useful hostage, and River was a mighty giant who could aid Castle Stormguard in the next war against Istallia. Yet after spending time with them, he came to regret his deception and wondered whether he could truly live up to his responsibilities as the scion of his house. It was then that he heard a voice coming from the darkness, and the words of the voice gave him great pause.
As the company rested for a time, Caspian visited Swine Hill and remembered the great war between Istallia and Castle Stormguard that had swept the whole countryside. It had even come to this peaceful place. The quiet now belied the terrible battle that had been fought here and the many lives that had been lost on all sides. Caspian held no ill-will toward Istallia’s former enemies, for his nation was the victor. The same could not be said for those on the losing side of the conflict.
While his companions were occupied with their own thoughts, River visited Oak Island. It was there among the trees that they recalled their own happy memories from the Mistwood. River did not always walk the earth in the form of a giant. As a spirit of nature, they might appear in the guise of a river or the falling rain, the fresh dew on a leaf or the wind brushing the canopy of a forest. And in each guise that they took, they felt a different kind of joy. But now, River wondered about the sort of happiness that humans felt. What joyous memories did these mortals hold precious that the spirits of nature could not comprehend?
Upon leaving Barley Town, the company came to a fork in the road. On the left was the road to Mistwood, the home of River the Giant. On the right was the mountain path toward Castle Stormguard. Caspian asked his companions which way they wished to go. River already knew what lay in the Mistwood and wished to explore new and unseen places. Istallia agreed that the mountains could be interesting to explore. So the company headed toward Stormguard, and Caspian’s heart sank. For he knew that path would lead to his betrayal of his companions.
Stormguard Mountains
The companions traversed the dangerous passes of Stormguard Mountains, taking turns scouting ahead. When it was time for Harp to lead the company, they had set out in the twilight hours of the early morning. Harp saw the sunbreak over the peaks of the Stormguard Mountains. At the start of a new day, Harp remembered the beginnings of his journey. He had approached the Magus long ago and asked for his help in restoring the honor of his noble house. But the Magus had warned him that restoring the emblem of the Sword of Stormguard could lead to war, while retaining the emblem of the broken sword would maintain peace for the time being. The choice was up to Harp whether to follow the road to war or peace… And soon, the moment of choosing would be upon him.
Next, it was Caspian’s turn to lead the party. While scouting ahead, he received word from the east. It was the Magus himself, who had arrived from Istallia in the guise of a bee! The Magus warned Caspian that one of his companions would betray him. Caspian could not believe it, or did not wish to believe that either River or Harp might have treachery in their heart. Caspian thanked the Magus for his concern, but chose not to abandon his companions upon the road in the present, come what may in the future.
While the company took shelter for a while, River recalled a tale from their homeland. In the Mistwood, it was said that omens could be seen everywhere in the natural world. There was a moment long ago when River saw a vision of a red river. The water had become crimson as if filled with blood. At the time, River had consulted the Magus. The Magus said that it was indeed a dark and foreboding omen of tragic things that may come to pass. As River recalled that premonition, it roused fear and suspicion in their heart.
Castle Stormguard
As the company arrived in Castle Stormguard, Harp was welcomed by a host of knights. They were loyal retainers to the Stormqueen who ruled Castle Stormguard since the death of the Stormking in the war with Istallia. The knights saw the company that came with Harp: a renowned scholar of Istallia and a giant of the Mistwood. And they were delighted that Harp had brought both a valuable hostage and a powerful new ally in the war to come. But as the knights held court, Harp declared his intention to abandon his birthright as heir to the Stormthrone. If the choice were up to him, he did not wish to wage another war against anyone. In the presence of the Court of Swords, Harp became dishonored and forsook his true name. He was merely “Harp” now, a commoner from the countryside.
The company walked past the stockade where Caspian might have wound up, had Harp betrayed him. He was moved by the sacrifice that Harp had made to safely guide the company through the dangers of Castle Stormguard. As they left the scene behind, Caspian gave a sincere apology to both Harp and River. He admitted that the Magus had warned him that one of his companions would betray him, and now he felt guilty for having considered the possibility.
Before the company left the castle, River passed through the Commoners’ Hall and saw a beautiful dancer therein. They watched her dance and listened to the laughter and applause of the crowd that had gathered around her. River suddenly felt a great longing for the ordinary joys and pleasures that humans can feel. The delight that humans express at the sight of the dancer’s movements and the sounds of the musicians’ instruments… it all felt so foreign to one such as River. Yet this spirit of nature now felt a great curiosity and wondrous longing welling up in their heart.
The Ice Rail
When the company left Castle Stormguard and the mountains at last, they decided to take the Ice Rail to Istallia. As they boarded the train, Caspian saw the great engine that would carry the train forward. He wondered what it was that carried him forward on this journey. Was it his desire to become a great scholar of magic, or the burden of responsibility that weighed upon him to fulfill his scholarly duties? Could he truly fulfill his duties to himself and to the world, or would he inevitably run out of steam like a train without fuel? His own uncertainty gnawed at him even as the train gnawed through the ice that was thick upon the rails.
When the company had retired to the dining car for their meal, Harp began an honest conversation with his companions. He confessed the intentions with which he had set out on his journey, to lure them to Castle Stormguard in the hopes of using them for a new war with Istallia. And he also confessed that he had heard a voice in the darkness within the Old Abbey of Barley Town. The voice had told him that his fate was in his own hands. Whether he would fulfill his oath to his noble house or follow his own destiny would be all up to him. At the time, Harp had wondered if it was the Magus or some other entity that had spoken to him. But now, Harp realized that the voice may have been his own voice welling up from deep within his heart.
River listened carefully to the words and thoughts of their companions. But for the briefest of moments, the giant of the Mistwood was distracted. They saw a figure with a white face, perhaps laden with frost. The face was smiling, but it was a cold, hard smile, like that of an eager predator lying in wait for its prey. And a moment later, the figure was gone. Somehow, River knew that the figure had come for the Magus with the intention to do harm. But the giant had nothing more to go on, apart from their own uncertain suspicions. So River held their peace until the company arrived in Istallia.
Istallia
When the train arrived in Istallia’s Na’zhad Station, the company gazed upon the wonders of the gilded city. It was then that Caspian suddenly encountered an old friend. He was a fellow scholar from Starfall Academy. Though the reunion began in gladness, Caspian was soon reminded of his duties as a scholar and researcher of magic. And the burden of his duties weighed heavily upon him. Now, after everything he had seen and been through on the road between Ravenhall and Istallia, Caspian wondered whether he could ever fulfill his scholarly responsibilities, and whether doing so would ever bring the true fulfillment he thought he wanted.
While Caspian was preoccupied, Harp visited the wharf and looked upon the sea for the first time. This was the first moment in his life when he felt truly free, being unburdened by the weight of responsibility as the heir to the Stormthrone. As he began to wonder what paths he might choose in his new life, he noticed a figure with a white face approaching himself and the Magus. Somehow, Harp sensed that the figure meant to do harm. He drew close to the Magus protectively. He never saw the blade that had cut him instead of the Magus. Though the wound was not deep, he felt a fiery sickness burning his body from the place where he had been wounded. It was then that he knew that he had been poisoned by a deadly substance on the assassin’s blade.
Seeing what had transpired, River transformed into a spirit of nature, taking on the guise of a gentle stream to heal their companion Harp, washing away the poison before it could do great harm. This poison came forth in crimson streaks across River’s watery form. It was then that River recalled the omen from long ago. Then he realized that the blood and poison might be the subject of that omen. If Harp had led Castle Stormguard in war, then the omen may have pointed to a greater tragedy. But as it turned out, it was an omen that warned against the threat to a companion.
When the threat against the Magus and the companions had passed, they agreed that they should board one of the sailing ships and continue their path east across the Sightless Sea.
The Sea Wing
The company boarded a vessel called the Sea Wing, whose captain was an elderly woman named Grandmother Black. Captain Black welcomed the companions aboard her ship. But they were not to be mere guests and passengers. On her vessel, everyone had to work. So, Harp manned the crow’s nest and called out all that he could see. He looked upon the horizon and wondered what they would discover when they arrived at the Land of Shadows. But he also saw the Magus, looking longingly at the same horizon. It was then that Harp realized the Magus’s expression was not one of wonder and curiosity, but of familiarity and nostalgia. The Magus was not journeying to a new place but returning home.
Meanwhile, Caspian joined Captain Black at the helm of the Sea Wing. He watched the elderly captain deftly pilot the ship towards its intended destination. Then he wondered at his own rudderless direction in life. All this time, he had been propelled by his feeling of responsibility as a scholar of Istallia. But now, he wondered whether it was what he truly wanted in his life, or if there was some other calling that he had yet to discover. Perhaps he would find it in the Land of Shadows.
While the others looked out toward the east and the ocean, River looked inwardly toward the ship and its occupants. The sailors and passengers alike each had their own hopes and dreams. But as River listened to their conversations, another sound could also be heard coming from the cabin. When River went to the cabin to investigate, he was shocked to discover a woodpecker gnawing away at the wooden floor and walls of the vessel. It was yet another assassin come to do harm to the Magus, this time by threatening an entire vessel full of people. River quickly chased the woodpecker away, but the harm had already been done. The crew of the Sea Wing worked desperately to repair the damage, and they succeeded for the most part. But it still became necessary to land the ship on the shore of a nearby island while full repairs could be made.
The Isle of Dreams
The ship landed upon the Isle of Dreams where the crew worked hard to repair the Sea Wing. Harp joined them in their efforts, and when it came time to rest, he walked leisurely upon a cobblestone avenue. This was the first time in his life when he had a moment of pure leisure all for himself. Throughout his childhood, Harp had grown up and lived as a noble heir with all the burdens and responsibilities of his station. Even as a youth, he never had a moment wholly for himself. As the freedom and pleasures of his new existence dawned upon him, Harp found himself longing to remain in the Isle of Dreams forever.
Meanwhile, Caspian passed by the Old Windmill upon the isle. The windmill stood still, since there was no breeze at the moment. It was as if time itself was frozen. It was then that Caspian remembered all the tasks that he had left undone. His thesis for the scholarly research he had pursued at Starfall Academy, his work as a scholar of magic, and many other duties were yet to be fulfilled. But now Caspian realized that none of that was truly important. He was free to choose his own path—whether to finish any given task, or leave it where it lay. Caspian suddenly found himself longing never to leave the Isle of Dreams.
The companions did not know how much time had passed. For each, it felt like only a moment but also like long eons passing through time. Only River had a sense of how much time was truly passing, and River had grown alarmed. Upon passing through a strange place called the Painted Village, River saw a series of paintings that appeared to magically move in the wind. The figures inside the paintings appeared to speak to River, or were attempting to communicate. What River heard was a dire warning—the companions must leave the Isle of Dreams, or they would be trapped there forever.
Realizing the danger that had befallen them, the companions and the crew of the Sea Wing resolved to leave the isle and continue on their journey.
The Glow
As the Sea Wing arrived at last upon the shores of the Land of Shadows, everyone saw a magical glow coming from that eastern land. Harp heard voices from the east and saw his own face inside the glow. But where once he had seen the emblems of his noble house in the waters of Ravenhall, now he truly saw his own face for the first time. And he realized that his destiny was no longer bound by the wants and needs of his family. He was the master of his own destiny. He could make his own choices and forge a new path ahead.
Meanwhile, Caspian not only heard and saw, but could feel the glow, almost as if it were something solid that he could touch and weave with his hands. It was then that he realized the truth about himself. He was never meant to be a scholar of magic. He was magic itself. Caspian was the Magus. He had always been the Magus. The “Magus” in the guise of a bee was a mere crutch conjured by his own mind to allow him to see what he wanted to see. But now the truth was laid bare before him. And he knew that it was his true duty to return to the world and serve as the last magus in a world of fading magic.
Seeing the realization and revelation that came to Caspian, River remembered their desire to help the Magus at the beginning of their journey. River realized that the path had brought them full circle now, and they were now at the beginning of a new journey. Only now, River was no longer uncertain of their own path. Having accepted their responsibility to take action in the world, River resolved to help forge the road ahead for a new world approaching its own twilight. River would remain beside their companions into the dying of the light.