“Where is the Academy?” I asked at last.

  The dwarf pointed again.

  “In the capital.”

  “And where’s the capital?”

  “Over there.”

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “Seven days’ travel?”

  “Seven.”

  I smirked.

  “What kind of nonsense is that…” I muttered. “Seven days there, seven days there.”

  But the decision was already forming.

  I took a deep breath.

  “Still… I’ll go to Merlin.”

  I stepped away from the dwarf, left the construction site, and stopped where the wind moved freely over the open land.

  I closed my eyes.

  Wind magic answered immediately—lightly, willingly, as if it had been waiting for my call.

  The air swirled around me, lifting dust from the ground.

  I stepped forward—

  and rose into the sky.

  I flew.

  Not in haste, but with certainty.

  The wind carried me in the direction the dwarf had pointed—toward the capital, where Merlin should be.

  The first day passed quickly.

  Fields, rivers, and roads stretched beneath me. Small villages looked like scattered toy houses from above. I only descended when the sun leaned toward the horizon.

  I ate simple food.

  Drank water from wells.

  Slept in barns, on rooftops, beneath trees.

  No one asked questions.

  A traveler—that was enough.

  On the second day, my body reminded me that it was not made of wind.

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  I landed more often.

  Allowed myself rest.

  Sat by campfires with peasants and listened to their conversations.

  They spoke of demons.

  Of ruined borderlands.

  Of some boy mage seen from afar—who disappeared faster than rumors.

  I remained silent.

  The wind lifted me back into the sky.

  Two days.

  Just two days—and I had covered what would have taken a week on horseback.

  But inside, there was no peace.

  I was flying toward the past.

  Toward the man who had known me as I was before the cave.

  Before oblivion.

  Before three centuries of silence.

  “Wait for me, Merlin…” I whispered, dissolving into the currents of air.

  The wind carried me onward.

  And somewhere far to the north, another path was already waiting for its hour.

  Chapter: “The City That Became Larger Than the World”

  From afar, the city looked endless.

  Even the capital I had once known now seemed like a small shadow compared to this giant. Stone walls stretched into the distance, towers faded into haze, and roads converged at the gates like veins feeding a heart.

  I landed nearby.

  Folded the wind.

  Concealed the magic.

  And entered.

  People.

  People everywhere.

  Crowds flowed through the streets like rivers. Elves appeared among them—taller, leaner, calmer. Dwarves more rarely—busy and loud. The city hummed, lived, breathed.

  I walked slowly, absorbing everything.

  Shops.

  Squares.

  The roar of markets.

  One shop stood out immediately—an elven one. Lines too clean. Wood too alive. Forms too precise.

  I stepped inside.

  A young elf emerged from behind the counter. Very young—sixteen at most. His face still untouched by time, but his eyes attentive.

  He looked at me—

  then at my sword.

  And bowed politely.

  “Greetings, traveler. Would you like to purchase something?”

  “No,” I said. “I need information.”

  He brightened.

  “Oh… then I have a proposal.”

  “In exchange for answers to all your questions…” he smiled, “will you allow me to examine your sword?”

  I hesitated.

  Then drew the blade and handed it to him.

  He took it carefully. Very carefully.

  “Oh…” he exhaled. “Incredible… I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  His fingers traced the edge as if afraid of hurting it.

  Then he quickly returned it.

  “Thank you.”

  “Where is the Academy?” I asked.

  “Not far from the city. About ten kilometers…” he paused. “Or seven… hmm…”

  “Do you know a man named Merlin?”

  He smiled.

  “And who doesn’t know that name?”

  “Where is he now?”

  The elf’s expression darkened.

  “I don’t know exactly. They say… he’s ill. Weak.”

  I nodded.

  “How did it happen that elves and humans live together?”

  He seemed almost pleased I asked.

  “It wasn’t that long ago. Elves were sold into slavery. Dwarves too. Humans fought everyone.

  The dwarves retreated deep into the mountains.

  The elves withdrew into the forests.”

  He spread his hands.

  “But we took the first step.

  We built a settlement that accepted everyone—humans, dwarves, even those once called enemies.

  That’s how it began.

  And the city grew.”

  “Interesting,” I said honestly.

  I hesitated…

  and asked my final question.

  “What do you know about a man named Zenhald?

  They say he’s an incredibly powerful mage.”

  For a second, the elf froze.

  His smile vanished.

  His shoulders stiffened.

  “Ah…” he drew out. “You mean the one everyone talks about.”

  “Yes.”

  “We… don’t know much,” he said cautiously.

  “But he helped with building the city.

  His assistance… was invaluable.”

  I rested my hand on the hilt of my sword.

  “Why would someone with that kind of power help you?”

  The elf stared at me.

  Something cold flickered in his eyes.

  “Because he is kind,” he said sharply.

  “And now… leave. We are not pleased with such visitors.”

  I didn’t argue.

  I walked out.

  But the feeling remained.

  He wasn’t telling me everything.

  I looked toward where, according to him, the Academy stood.

  “So… there,” I whispered.

  And started walking.