Richter opened his eyes. Anny was already up, preparing tea as she usually does.

"My my that smells good." he said as he entered in the room that was supposed to be a kitchen, she was just pouring the tea in two cups and smiled as he approached to kiss her. 

"Someone is up early, not." she said with a smile on her lips, he adored that smile of hers. She knew just to make the taste of the tea right. He sat on the table scratching his head, staring at her eyes and her smile, always staring at her with faint smile of his own.

"Rough night, I was....hah... well I forgot the name, of the village, or, I think I never even asked. It matters little, what matters is that the people are safe now." he took a sip from the tea.

"What was it this time?" she asked as she sat next to him, drinking from her own cup.

"Some bloody idiot thought he can temper with forces he does not understands. Ye see, under that village there are ancient ruins of a city long forgotten in time, problem is, there are ways to enter the old caverns of the ruins, places where common folk should not be. One such commoner ventured down there, found a tome he should have not touched and brought it in the village. Literarily, Hell broke loose when he started reading the incantations written in that damn book, had to perform exorcism on half village, purge the graveyard from zombies and kill the prime fiend that was released." he explained.

"I believe you dealt with the book?" she asked, taking a sip from her tea.

"Destroyed the book, sealed the ruins, no commoner will ever find them." he nodded.

"Oh, Spirit brought you a letter this morning." she said as she handed him the letter that the owl has brought. Richter took the letter, his eyes widened when he saw the seal mark, it's been a long time since he saw it last time. Carefully he opened it and started reading, finishing with a sigh. Anny looked at him, a bit worried she was, "What is it", she asked.

"Do you remember, the stories I told you about a land that I used to live at for a very long time?" he started explaining, "The land ruled by that celestial queen? Queen Arilu. It seems the land of Penwyth once again is besieged, and they need my help..." he paused for a moment and smirked, "I wander, is my tower still standing, and in what condition", he smiled again.

"You better pack and leave, it sounds important to you." she touched his hand, "Aye, it is."


Latter that afternoon he prepared for the journey. He kissed Anny before he used one of the portal stones to open a passage that took him right where he wanted, in the back yard of Castle Penwyth, a back door he knew well, he used it so many times in the past. He smiled.

From one little bag hanging on his belt he took another stone and brought it close to his mouth, "My love", he said to the stone, "I have arrived before the castle, as I intended, I'll try to sneak in now, as I used to."

"Very well, I am glad you arrived safe", Anny's voice replied from the stone as her face appeared on the circle that was engraved on it's surface. "Please be careful, I don't want someone to bring your corpse at my door. Good luck and remember the charms, I'll work from here magic that will protect you too", he smiled, her magic was always strong, he would admit, far stronger than his, "I love you", he said to her, "I love you too", she replied before the link was closed.


He knew exactly where to go, where to pass, unnoticed and unseen, at least unseen by the servants. From a distance he could see that eventually his tower saw still standing. Trough stairs and corridors he managed to get to the door of his own room, his old room, at the highest tower. Small room it was, a bed, desk and a chair, one chest, and only one window, that was all he ever needed. He took the key, he still had it in his possession and opened the door. Dust overwhelmed him, he immediately opened the window, to clear the air and wave off the dust.

"Dear Light, I need to do some serious cleaning..."