A lone human paused outside the temple, the horse he had ridden there side stepping a bit as he turned it to look as his destination. The Academy of Magic rose before him. He was to make sure this was delivered to the Magister himself. He had promised to go so, and so he would. Jural rode his steed up to the main entrance and had it seen to before asking to see the Magister. One of the instructors looked up at this and came forward. “May I help you?” the instructor asked.

“Are you the Magister?” Jural asked.

“No, but perhaps I can assist you?”

“I have a message and I am to deliver it to only the Magister. It’s important and I must see that he gets it. It’s my duty.” Jural explained. “So can I please see the Magister?” After a moment of silence, the instructor gestured to one of the younger students. The youth came over.

“Can you please take this young man to see Master Ace please? That’s a good lad!”

The boy saluted smartly and grinned up at Jural before motioning for him to follow with his entire arm. “It’s this way, follow me.” Jural nodded and followed the youth into the academy itself. He looked about as he entered. He had never been in a place like this. It was interesting, but after a moment he found himself turned around. The youth seemed to know exactly where he was going though, so he trusted the boy’s lead.

It was then that the boy knocked on a door and looked back at the man following as he waited for an answer from the other side. Jural wasn’t a tall, nor a short man, but of average height. He was a little thin and his skin was a deep tan from being in the sun a lot. His hair was also cut short and black as coal. He was dressed in loose fitting tan pants and shirt with a vest over the top of that made of finely woven orange fabric. He also had a leather satchel over his shoulder, its strap lying across his chest as the bag rested at his hip. Jural didn’t look like he was from around here at all really…

Master Ace was busying himself with reviewing the curriculum's for the various schools of magic within the academy. He had to make sure they weren’t too hard for the students while still giving enough room to challenge them and their magical talents. Personally he liked to teach the classes himself, but he could not do everything for the academy of magic. Ace was saddened that there had not been any exceptionally talented mages attending the academy for some time. There was Solora who was a hard working student with great potential; she just had difficulty tapping into it. But aside from her, there weren’t many other mages of interest. Zorgn had vanished off the face of the earth and even the crazed pyromaniac, Jasmine had parted from the academy, though the crazy fire mage wouldn’t be missed so much, what with the attempting to burn down the academy with blazing meteors and all.

He had issues with some of the instructors but at least he had found a lot willing to teach. He did favor some of the past teachers, though they had also long since gone. Ranewen had stopped meddling with summoning and became the goddess after moving to meddling with the dark arts. He didn’t here word of her after her failed attack against Istan. She was replaced by Seele, another friend of Ace’s though the dark mage had never saw fit to come to the academy. Ace hadn’t really heard much of him so perhaps that had just been a rumor. He missed most of all Kli who had had her tragic death not to long ago. She had been a true friend as well as a capable teacher in the arcane arts. She had skill to rival his own. It was a shame she had died because of the strange child she had tired so hard to help despite it not being hers. Annoyed, Ace tossed the papers into the air stood up from his chair as he noticed how his train of though had diverted to her. The papers fluttered through the air but the came together neatly in pile on Ace’s desk with a wave of his hand and casting of a simple cantrip.

Ace was glad to hear a knocking on his door. He needed a good distraction from his work apparently. The door swung open and Ace strode forward to find out what was the matter. Ace recognized the student, but didn’t recognize the man with him. The man didn’t look enough like the child to presumably be the father so the young mage in training had likely just been selected to bring the man to him. “Welcome to academy of magic. I am Ace, Magister of the Academy and the Archmage Training Master. Do come in my office if you have business with me, conversation is best done in comfort, no?” Ace said invitingly as he gestured for the man to come in. The styling of his clothing reminded Ace of Istan, though he couldn’t recall what he should be expecting from there. Maybe something had happened to the spices he had ordered form there for the alchemist's lab.

Jural blinked when he saw Ace. This was the Magister? Ok, he could handle that. He took a deep breath before walking into the office. As he passed Ace he let out the breath in a "Thank you." He looked around the office a moment before wondering if he should be looking for a seat. There was one that he saw that clearly wasn't the Magister's and sat himself down. Jural felt very out of place. He didn't really know too much magic. Heal and create spark was as far as he had gotten when he had sought out The Burning Fist. He was not done training among them yet, but things had become very difficult for them again after the Goddess had left... He was lucky to have found Ornell, or Ornell had found him. Either way she had thought this task important and had sent him to do the job. He didn't know what the letter said though...

The Letter! He pulled his satchel onto his lap and dug out the sealed message. He paused when he saw the seal, running his thumb over what had been the seal of his Goddess. Determined to make sure that he was in fact before the Magister, he decided to ask a question before handing over the sealed message.

"If you don't mind me asking sir, where was it that you first met m'lady, Ornell?" he asked, knowing the answer of course. Depending on the answer he would know if he had in fact found the right person.

Ace returned to the seat behind his desk as he contemplated what this man might actually be here for. Most logical answer was to join the academy but he did not seem like much of a mage. The answer came to Ace as the man pulled out a letter, though he had no idea who the letter might be from until he asked his question. How could he have forgotten? Ornell had said she would send a messenger before she visited, though Ace had expected that Valen would be the messenger simply for the fact that it was much quicker to fly than ride. It was possible the man before him had a flying mount of his own, but it was all unimportant details.

“We met in the Istan desert. Which means that must be the message she would send before she gave me a visit,” Ace said slightly excited as he pointed to the letter. It didn’t mean she would be visiting soon, but Ace was still excited about the prospect of someone visiting him and quite interested in how soon the former avatar’s visit would be. Ever since Kli died the only people to ever come and visit him had been students. His other friends had moved on to new adventures around the world and had simply slipped out of contact.

Jural relaxed as Ace mentioned how they met. This was the Magister. He nodded at the archmage's words and offered the sealed letter to him, leaning forward to do so. "Yes, this message is from Ornell. She is expecting a reply that I'm supposed to wait for." Jural wasn't the curious type. He had not even wondered what was in the message. He had simply figured if he was to know, she would have told him.

Should Ace break the seal and read what Ornell had written, he would find the following in Ornell's neat and exact print:

Dear Ace,

I wish my visit could be at a better time. I unfortunately don't have that luxury after Lady Era's descendance from the Divine and her return to the Elemental Planes. As you are probably aware, the small group of monks known as The Burning Fist were accepted as Lady Era's Chosen. Upon her departure, they were the ones who were to inherit the Temple of Fire. Someone else acted first. Now they have been scattered and many are dead. I feel that it is my responsibility to aid them in getting their home back. It was an error on both Era's and my part and it needs to be corrected. The Burning Fist existed before the Goddess so they have every right to exist after her.

From what information I have gathered, it is a group of Cornugon who took the place over. I believe they are also called Horned Devils. They also seem to have what they tell me is some sort of magma creature that I have not been able to identify by their descriptions. It is my suspicion that these beings were brought into the temple by the one who calls himself the Smith. He was originally of the same race as Era was before we were divided. A Traveler. He had been killed on this plane though and his soul is now residing in the forum of a giant. If I can prevent his death, I will. Mainly because if I can find a way to return him to what he was, I might also have that same chance to return home.

If you have the time to speak with me on this, I will break off my search for the surviving Burning Fist, leaving those I have found to continue the search. I need more information then I have gained to take back what had been the Temple of Fire.

Sincerest Regards,
Ornell

Ace contained his excitement as he took the letter. "Thank you," Ace smiled as he opened the letter. Ace's cheerfulness, however, sputtered and died as he read the message. Ace had heard form Sarin that the Burning Fist held strong despite Lady Era's leaving, but he had not heard that their home had been taken from them. Quite dreadful. He had to give her his aid. He could most likely help Ornell investigate a way of return returning the smith's soul as well as the flaws and strengths of this curious magma beast, after all he did have all the knowledge within the academy library at his side. Ace wished he could do more, but there was no way he could personally help Ornell at the Volcano.

"Please excuse me for a moment. I need to get something," Ace said as he got up. He snapped his fingers and a feathered pen leap from the desk to scribble hastily a sheet of paper on the desk. Ace seemed to give the pen no attention as he looked through one of the drawers of the desk. After shifting around though the drawer he pulled out two bluish marble stones. He opened another drawer and pulled out an envelope and just as he had done so the pen set itself aside and ceased moving. the paper folded itself and flew gracefully through the air a into the envelope. After dropping in one of the stones, Ace placed the envelope on the desk and picked up his seal. As he pressed the seal on the bulge vanished as if there nothing inside but the letter.

"Here, I won't hold you any longer, Jural. Hopefully we will have more time to chat the next time we meet," Ace said as he handed the envelope to Jural and placed the other stone in one of his pockets.

The message read:

Dear Ornell,

I apologize that I will not be able to help you in person with your endeavors to get back the temple; however, this does not mean I will not be be able to help you. The stone that was also enclosed in the envelope will allow us to keep in too contact no matter the distance. All you need to do is hold it in your hands, speak, and I hear you from the twin stone I hold. I am sure you will do well to keep it safe. By the time you receive this, hopefully I will have useful information on how to deal with the Smith and the devils.

Sincerely,
Arcane Training Master Ace, Magister of the Academy of Magic