With our wounds mended, we made our way south to the gates of Denali. Denali was a much larger city than our own, and well fortified to boot. The empire would be hard pressed to take this city the way they took ours. Nontheless, preperations were obviously underway to defend against invasion.

“Halt! State your origin and purpose!” yelled a rather jumpy looking archer from atop the closed gate.

“We are refugees from the destruction of Altar! We seek our families!” I yelled back.

The guard vanished over the edge of the wall. I could hear some indistinct yelling, then the massive gates slowly opened. A tall, heavily armored woman walked out, accompanied by two body guards.

“Many Altarians have sought shelter here. We will take you to there camp. However, you will have to remain under guard and you will not be allowed to enter the city proper until we can confirm your identity. The empire is devious and a saboture inside our walls could mean the loss of our city and our lives. I’m sure you understand.” She gestured to one of her body guards, who broke formation and nodded at us.

“Follow me.”

The camp was… smaller than I had hoped. Most of the city must have been killed in the fighting. However, that made it easy to find Michael’s parents and my uncle. They had survived! They had escaped! They were here! Joy washed over me as an enormous weight of worry was lifted.

“Uncle!”

“Jenna! Oh thank goodness you escaped! I was so worried!” We hugged.

“Jenna… Oh, I have been remiss. There’s something I must tell you.” he said.

“Yes?”
–
“Your parents dedicated their lives to investigating why magic had gone from this world. Much to their own surprise, they found out. When most people use magic they do it by drawing on ambient spiritual energy known as ‘mana’. This force naturally diminishes with use. However, there are some people who are able to use magic without drawing on mana. These people are known as ‘mages’. Mages are born with a spiritual tie to the world of the Fae and draw their energy from across the worlds. When mages cast spells, instead of diminishing ambient mana, they supply it.”

“You were not destined to be born as a mage, Jenna. There is a place where it is possible for humans to travel between our world and the world of the Fae. Your parents traveled to the world of the Fae and made a deal with the spirits there.”