Drust’s eyes followed Ghent as the boy moved to the fire. The man exhaled then stood, slower this time. Beneath Elayra’s watchful gaze, the man collected his pack and brought it closer to the campfire. He sat with his legs crossed, the trio forming a triangle.
	Elayra raised her hands toward the fire, warming her fingers in the short silence. The crackle of the feasting flames filled the clearing, its snaps and pops drowning out the majority of the moans of the spirits of the woods. 
	At last, Ghent broke the silence with the first of his questions.
	Drust’s jaw stiffened, his neck twitching slightly, while anger joined the rising warmth beginning to color Elayra’s cheeks.
	“[i]What?![/i]” Elayra’s hissed voice echoed around them.
	Before she could say more or Drust silence her, the boy quickly continued, explaining himself. She looked to Drust at the audacity of the question. The dark glare he gave her made her look hastily back to the dancing orange licks as the boy voiced a second question.
	Another short silence fell before Drust answered, a sneer pulling lightly at the side of his pale lips.
	“Wonderland has been Cursed for [i]years,[/i] boy,” he began in a low growl, his eyes on the heart of the flames. “The damage is done. Our world won’t transmute back into what it was. But it’d be a start. The portals [i]should[/i] reopen once they sense the Curse’s threat has been abolished. The only reason the portal to Earth opened now was because of spell cast before the Crimson Curse. That their spell worked speaks hope to all of them opening once more.”
	Elayra suppressed a sigh at the old-to-her news. She only half listened to Drust, paying more attention to his tone than his words.
	Without an imminent threat on their lives to keep adrenaline pumping, her aches and pains slowly began to fully demand her attention. Tiredness settled in, and her stomach grumbled, reminding her of how long it had been since she had last eaten. 
	“As for Wonderland’s magic,” Drust continued, his gaze intent on the fire as if they would keep his mind and emotions where he needed them. “Magic is a living thing, in its own right. It’s even theorized magic is what created the worlds. And it’s different in each one. 
	“Earth and its magic is young. Weak. Wonderland’s is ancient and powerful. And wounded. The Forsaken and Forgen can’t comprehend it. The Omitten were all but completely cut off from it the moment the Curse touched them. But you, boy.” Drust looked away from the flames to Ghent. His eyes bore into him, the man’s face unreadable. 
	“You have two advantages over the Curse:” Drust raised a finger in count, “you were not touched by it when it was enacted, and,” he lifted a second finger, “vinifcium have magic in their blood.” He returned his hand to his lap. “Wonderland’s magic [i]will[/i] answer your call. But a wounded animal won’t come wholeheartedly to a wavering stranger. You must gain its trust and respect. It will get used to you the more you grow accustomed to it. As I’ve said before, magic is equal parts servant, friend, and master. But it’s just as easily and willingly your enemy.”
	“Magic doesn’t take sides,” Elayra put in, tuning in for a moment as she dug around in her pack. “Not exactly. It just takes orders. The stronger your will and conviction, the stronger the magic you can control. Being a race with magic in their blood always helps, though.” She snorted, retracting her hand. She pulled out a wad of thin fabric tied together with a cross of twine. “Might not take sides, but I swear its biased.”