Tales from the Star Realm: Chapter I - Saphira, Witch of the Grey Age (Chapter I)

"Hey, you there! What are you babbling about? I hear you're raving about an old sorceress. But is it really just a fairy tale you're so carelessly joking about?"

A man spoke from a dark corner in an autumnal forest, through which the evening light of the setting sun shimmered. He stepped into the light of the campfire and calmly looked around.

"Do not be startled, travelers. It is only I. A poor wanderer in his old age. Might you have a small bowl of soup and a piece of bread to spare for an old man? That would be most kind, for I have not eaten in days."

The quirky old man was quite tall for his advanced age and hid a magnificent physique beneath his long coat. He already looked a bit aged.

He took a few steps towards the campfire, which was being prepared for cooking by young stone dwarves. More poorly than well, but it should last for a while.

"Is it not the fabled sorceress, the oh-so-famous Witch of the Grey Age, who still haunts the minds of men today?"

The man looked around and laughed loudly: "But what do you know, you tiny ruffians? Don't make me laugh!"

The dwarves sitting by the campfire were barely adults. They joked and drank a tankard of Brainfrost. A concoction that only found favor with the stone dwarves from the region around the Southern Thunder Mountain of the Wrostlands.It was simply in the stone dwarves' nature to keep a cool head. Those who couldn't manage that amidst the roaring clamor of such a merciless land as the Wrostlands quickly became a cheerful dwarf. That a Brainfrost came with an extra kick or two bothered most of them very little. On the contrary.

Southern Thunder Mountain of the Wrostlands: The Thunder Mountain of the southern lands is the only part of the Star Realm where the electrifying weather continuously trembles, lashes, and hisses. With raging thunderstorms and furious lightning, this is not a peaceful land where a human would want to settle with their children. It is an uncomfortable place where only a dwarf could feel at home.

Stone Dwarves naturally possess lightning-rod-like stone skin, through which the thunderstorms in their homeland cannot harm them much. But sometimes their skin imperceptibly becomes electrically charged, which repeatedly leads to trouble for younger dwarves.

The grim-looking man took a deep breath and began to speak to the group.

"Let an old man speak, who has seen more in his old age than you rascals would care to have heard in your wet diapers during your lifetime," laughed the human, surprisingly condescendingly yet cheerfully, seemingly enjoying the sound of his own words.

"Well then. Please honor us with your visit! I was already afraid I would have to endure the babble of this smelly good-for-nothing here all night long. It's good that you've come," one of the dwarves greeted him.

"Oh dear! That's just chatter. All you do is blabber!" scoffed the gray-haired man and continued. "Listen very carefully,for I will only tell it once."

The dwarves looked at each other with big question marks over their heads, as if the story of the decade was about to unfold. Yet, their expectations of the old man were not particularly high. However, they had little objection to a bit of free entertainment.

The stranger sat down comfortably by the crackling fire and warmed his disheveled and unkempt hands. The stone dwarves were pleased with the human visitor, who was always welcome in dwarven circles.

Of course, they had not missed the human's condescending manner. But there was nothing they hadn't already heard from an arrogant High Man in their young dwarven years. They respected a good rhetorical exchange and enjoyed the change that the human brought to their small caravan.

"Saphira. That is her name."

The dwarves listened to his soothing voice as they ate their roasted fish.

"Oh yes, I remember well."

The man seemed introverted. As if he were speaking from the deepest grottoes and darkest corners of his memories. It even sounded as if someone were freeing themselves from buried caves after a landslide..

"Saphira is a wondrous and enigmatic sorceress with two faces. Indeed, unique in this world and not to be underestimated. So who is this woman who has been among us for more than a century and has made a name for herself throughout the land as the frosty sorceress?"

The man, etched by life, set aside his worn battle staff. Its design recalled the enchanted staves of the mages from Khalsur.

Khalsur: A sinister human city on the western edge of the Star Realm with a strikingly tall watchtower and a stone ziggurat at its northern end. It is so densely forested that no ray of sun ever reaches the city. Yet, on some nights, the icy rays of the Darkmoon manage to pierce the darkness and illuminate Khalsur. Travelers speak of a haunting that afflicts the area. Perhaps it is merely the battle mages of Khalsur performing secret rituals in their ziggurat.

The elderly gentleman's wooden companion had also seen better days, which suited the man's appearance and, in a way, lent expression and a touch of character to his rundown countenance. And yet, he seemed like a sad, old figure simply awaiting his demise.

But not this night.

"Every day the sun shines, she serves as a sorceress for the oh-so-powerful Order of the Star Crystal. Have you ever heard of it?"

It was more of a rhetorical question, for he gave the dwarves no time to answer.

"The magical order has always studied the mysteries of this jagged world, ravaged by hatred and sorrow. It maintains the balance in the realm. When the balance went awry in past ages, it was always the Order that was there in time to put a stop to the calamity. And so it still is today, when misfortune approaches. But of course, you already know that. Don't you?"

Although little was known about the secret ceremonies of the five Arch-Sorceresses who met once a year at the darkest hour of the winter solstice, everyone in the northern part of the Star Realm knew the name of the Order and the names of the five Arch-Sorceresses.

"But beware. The Order of the Star Crystal is only a wobbly pillar on which the world can stand like a toddler. So much is certain," the old man yawned.

"Now I must also admit that his work is immensely important. If the Order didn't exist, the Star Realm would have ceased to exist long ago. And you good dwarves wouldn't be able to enjoy this disgusting swill. That much is certain," mused the old man, gazing into the blazing firewood.

Narsi, the youngest dwarf in the caravan, felt addressed and looked at his bearded companions with a frown. But the fish tasted too good for him to pay too much attention to the man.

"And just as well-known as the Order itself are its members: a handful of mysterious figures who even possess the power to be admitted into such circles."

The campfire crackled and a dwarf burped, which pierced through the pleasant atmosphere. But the old man was captivated by his own words.

"True magic is rare in the Star Realm today, and perhaps that's for the best."

An older dwarf interrupted him: "But one thing you should know. It wasn't always like this! It has been rare since the War of the Three Dragon Lords banished almost all magic-gifted High Humans, Stone Dwarves, Berserks, and even the cunning Elf Rangers from the face of this world. Since then, it has been considered a miracle for magic to thrive in a living being, just as it is a harbinger of approaching doom!"

"That's right. And you are?"

"Hackbert. That is my name, worthy sir."

The old man looked at the stone dwarf askance and then lost himself in thought again. He had left his best days behind him, and yet an unmistakable fire blazed within him as he spoke about the Arch-Sorceress. It even seemed as if the gleam in his eyes would ignite like a match.

"A member of the Order of the Star Crystal is the highly enchanting Saphira. She is human... and a rare species at the same time," he continued.

"She radiates a pleasant and engaging wisdom, just like a princess waiting to take the place of a queen. And yet, she mastered the ridiculously rare frost magic already in her youth. She combined her abilities with the great power of the Darkmoon. And a unique power was created, such as had never existed in the Star Realm before. As far as I know, there is no other sorceress who can conjure more than one form of magic at the same time. But I wonder if that is really as rare as the legends say. I have my doubts, to be honest."

The old man was back in the present, staring at his worn battle staff.

"She is gentle and strong, as a masterful sorceress of the northern forest order should be. She is still in the prime of her life and fights with a magical sword from the snowstorm of the icy North Gorge, which she acquired during her sorceress trial. It bears the name Frostbert."

The older dwarf interrupted him again:"She exudes something that masculinity desires. She has long, dark hair, in which blue streaks flash. Despite an eternal and insurmountable inaccessibility, she is the kind of woman who would probably instantly steal a man's mind if he immediately and forever lost himself in her."

The man nodded and began to smile: "The good soul, however, has many facets and truly a second face."

"And that's not just because of her ash-blonde hair and the purple glowing streaks that only show themselves at night when the light of the Darkmoon shines on her hair," Hackbert added, who apparently knew more about sorceresses than was healthy for his kind.

"Every night, when the Darkmoon light shines, she pursues her true passion. It's like a fire that keeps her alive, despite her cold aura," the man knowingly remarked.

Darkmoon behind the Moon: In the Star Realm, there are many creatures whose appearance changes at night. The Darkmoon behind the first moon conceals a magical aura and naturally influences every living creature in the Star Realm. Sometimes its influence is manifested in almost invisible things, and sometimes its sublime power is more than obvious. However, the Darkmoon is mostly hidden by the first moon, so its icy-beautiful radiance only very rarely reaches the earth and its inhabitants.

The legendary sorceress was known throughout the Star Realm, for she possessed rare relics. She hunted magical treasures from bygone days and traded in antiquities from distant worlds even beyond the Star Realm.

The mage looked at his battle staff once more. The human seemed unassuming, yet an ominous aura emanated from him that the dwarves subconsciously perceived.

One of the younger dwarves interjected: "I once saw this sorceress. A chill ran down my spine. It was almost spooky. My comrade Olaf was completely dazed. Her countenance held me so captivated that I could barely move. I had never seen anything like it before. Something so... beautiful and destructive at the same time?"

The dwarf seemed shocked and equally pleased by his sole encounter with the sorceress. Thereupon he bit into his fish with full force, devouring it bones and all.

"But that's not all. She also owns The Darkmoon Bazaar, and that's probably one reason why everyone in the Star Realm knows her today," the old man continued in his warm calming voice.

"As a traveling merchant, she often appears in a hauntingly beautiful, purple, and utterly dilapidated guise of ancient sorceresses, in which she exudes no less grace than in her royal blue cloak of an Arch-Sorceress. Her ash-blonde hair is unmistakably beautiful. And you recognize her by her icy dagger, Frostling, which she always wears on her belt during the Darkmoon hour. As a master of frost magic, only a magic-gifted person like her can wield such a dangerous weapon, from which an incessantly biting cold emanates."

The apparent battle mage stroked his short, wavy beard and delved deeper into his thoughts.

"And there's something else. In the old stories, she always carried an Ur-Grimoire, whose purple cover now appears long faded. It must have been incredibly old even back then. But this little book is brimming with ancient spells and is probably a real treasure that many of today's high-ranking mages would love to get their hands on. Have you ever heard of it?"

Spells of the Ur-Grimoires: In the ancient lore, it is said that something unspeakable is written in an Ur-Grimoire:

"How could a magic-gifted human manage to strike a deathblow to a royal dragon rider? Although the Three Dragon Lords, during their lifetime, were considered unreachable and invulnerable due to their natural magic barrier, they ultimately fell at the hand of a single person who wielded an Ur-Grimoire."

But is that really true? That remains unclear to this day. Yet, these mysteries have persisted since ancient times of war. The power of an Ur-Grimoire is said to be the decisive key.

The old mage changed his tone and looked considerably grimmer than before.

"But beware of a sorceress's magical spell. Sorceresses are indeed dangerous and not to be underestimated!"

He elaborated: "Oh yes, my little friends. Don't deceive yourselves! Our sorceress is a gentle artist of rhetoric, but no one knows what lies hidden within her. When one has lived for so long, one has simply seen too much…experienced and endured."

"Death. Loss. Ruin. There are few people who live as long as the sorceresses in this land," the oldest dwarf offered, then noisily munched on his roasted corn on the cob.

"And besides, she speaks the ancient language. Your kind, dear human, is a mystery to me anyway. It is unhealthy to know so much about the old world. We should rather live in the here and now, if you ask me. There is truly enough to do. Why waste so much of our valuable time on the past?"

First Language: Only a few magical creatures from primeval times mastered the ancient language. With the end of the Grey Age, it vanished from the face of this world. But now and then, writings are found that were composed in that language. Mostly they remain veiled and the content of the scrolls hidden. They are as mysterious as the language itself. But there are a few exceptions. Some scholars can still interpret them today.

The mage pulled a pendant from his pocket and held it in his cup. It was an ice-fire, whose tip ignited into flame or froze into ice at the push of a button, depending on what it was needed for at that moment.

The old dwarf with the gray beard set his bowl of soup aside.

"I remember visiting the Darkmoon Bazaar. But that was a very long time ago. The clientele at the fair? Mostly collectors of rare artifacts. The sorceress would certainly easily charm a prospective buyer for her unique and extremely valuable pieces. After all, she carries rarities such as dragon leather, Tiamat stone, or even magic crystal. But that's probably not her intention. Her artifacts belong in a very special place that she is able to find."

Hackbert looked around and into the depths of the forest.

"At least that was my impression during my visit back then. Unfortunately, the Darkmoon Bazaar only appears very rarely. And then only for a very short time. Which somehow seems to be connected to the Darkmoon. No one really knows why. Perhaps you can enlighten us on that, worthy sir?"

The human old man did not answer.

He now seemed to be slowly coming to the end of his story. The dwarves had finished eating and the logs in the fire were burning down. But one thing was still burning in his soul.

"Tell me. Do you know why this particular sorceress is so well-known throughout the Star Realm, even though there are always five of her kind? That's very remarkable, if you ask me. Despite the fact that she appears transformed in her nightly attire, many recognize her immediately by her powerful frost magic, which she never holds back."

The old dwarf remembered again and knew about her little magic tricks: "I agree. She likes to show them off. She loves this mischief that can be done with frost magic. Deep in her heart, she is a light-footed player. A cheerful person. There's nothing the inhabitants of the kingdom don't love about her engaging personality when they meet her."

The magician clutched his head and laughed: "As if she sometimes forgets that she is an arch-sorceress of the Order!"

He stood up and took his staff in his hand. The stone dwarves were startled, because for a moment it seemed as if he was preparing for battle. Narsi's stone skin discharged with a blow due to his rapidly protective movement. But the man had no fight in mind. He merely wanted to prepare for his departure and thanked those present for the delicious dinner.

Hackbert admonished Narsi: "Watch out, you fool. You truly still have a lot to learn... To be young again at 50 years old. That would be something, wouldn't it?", he addressed the human directly.

But the old man was only little bothered by a tiny lightning charge, which he fended off lightning fast and almost invisibly. Hackbert, however, did not miss this, which only reinforced his initial assumption about the human.

The one ready to depart lost himself one last time in the depths of his thoughts and finished his story.

"Never forget now: Without the five protectors of the Star Realm, there would be no kingdom today that we battle mages of Khalsur swore to protect. Sometimes the sorceresses help people by putting a smile on our faces. And sometimes they fight, like Saphira as Grand Mistress of Frost Magic, in bitter battles. So that we can all experience the next day in our beloved Star Realm. Sorceresses are something special. Don't you think?"

Then a dwarf with a bronze beard spoke up. Norbert said casually: "A nice story. But how do you know so much about the sorceresses of the Order, you strange magic man?"

Hackbert also admonished him, whose companions were obviously somewhat uncomfortable that evening: "You dwarven shit! Tell me, where have your good manners gone?"

"Well, that's a story for another day. An old man is going to rest now. It's gotten late, you long-bearded scoundrels."

He left the campfire that night and returned to the darkness from which he had come. Not knowing what the Star Realm would soon hold for an aging battle mage.

Shortly after his departure, the dwarves froze and looked up at the sky, where a brightly shining lightning bolt was visible, followed by a deafening bang that swept across the entire land.

• Up next: Chapter 2, arriving on Zauberkram.de shortly!