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The two young men walked deep through the woods toward the fast-flowing river. Along the way, they enjoyed nature, were impressed by ants that marched there, and did not care if they got in the way, but simply took their shoes with them as part of their path. They enjoyed the sounds and the clear energy.
The oxygen was so much purer in nature than under the Dome. The heat came from the sun and the earth, not from an artificial climate controlled by a computer.
They went for a swim in the cool river and Patton went fishing so they could have food for the evening. He thought it was a relaxing activity and didn't want to spend magic on it. It was as if the colors in nature came in more and all the senses were more alert.
The men enjoyed the day and Ryder built a campfire and fried the fish Patton had caught.
It was something they had done many times in all the years they had known each other.
Ryder felt completely free and in his element in nature. The sounds of the wolves he heard in the distance just brought adrenaline to his blood and contentment to his head.
After dinner, they lay on their backs and looked at the stars.
They had moved just far enough into the woods not to see the light from the Domen. They dozed off a bit, when suddenly a bright light appeared out of nowhere, short but strong.
Startled, they jumped up.
At their campfire Càdell suddenly crouched down on his haunches and grinned as he saw their fright.
‘I've come to collect the debt,’ he said, his bright blue eyes searching them. ‘You picked up some magic too, I feel.’
They nodded and sat back down by the fire.
Ryder wanted to know what exactly the purpose of that time travel was.
Càdell sat down and began to talk.
He said he took them into history, to the year 2050, and that it was actually his time. Timelines had rippled from there, in the distant future where they lived, causing selfishness and self-aggrandizement to reign again. Where many people would be enslaved again, and the black magic would grow to immense proportions.
‘Do you know Edwy Niesson?’ Càdell asked.
Ryder nodded, that was the young son of one of the senior leaders.
‘This one will become the first ruler to become obsessed with black magic and run off with it,’ Càdell said. ‘That will also be prevented if the ripple can be prevented.’
‘So, what are we going to do in the year 2050?’ Patton asked.
‘I don't know,’ Càdell admitted, ‘my job was just to track you down and take you away.
‘That's a very vague story,’ said Patton.
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