The burning Mage Tower collapsed with a thunderous crash. At the heart of the Royal Capital, Montreal's symbol, the Ring Mountain Palace Gardens, was ablaze.
Beneath apocalyptic, blood-red clouds, the Royal Capital became an inferno. Scorching air twisted through the ashes as hideous, charred Ratfolk strode down the streets—
Lilith woke from her nightmare of despair.
The cool summer night on the Northern Frontier calmed her. Cradling the Wooden Box, Lilith knocked on Annan's bedroom door, feeling as though someone was watching her.
"...Who's out there?"
"It's Lilith."
Before long, Annan opened the door in his Mage Robe, his eyes heavy with sleep. "Is something wrong this late?"
"I have a terrible feeling..."
"About the Royal Capital?"
"Yes."
Annan stepped aside to let Lilith in. He glanced down the corridor and, sensing Leila nearby, gently shut the door.
He lit a dim oil lamp and motioned for Lilith to sit. "What happened?"
"I dreamed my teacher died."
"Mr. Asimov? He's an Epic Mage..." Annan could not believe a mere charge of treason could kill an Epic Mage. The First Prince would never dare do such a thing.
Lilith described the ruined Royal Capital she had seen in her dream.
"The Ratfolk are still in Far North County. They couldn't get there so quickly... I just got back from the Mage Tower. If anything happened to the Royal Capital's Mage Tower, the Tower Spirit would tell me."
But Annan had been warned by a dream before, so he asked her, "Have you ever dreamed of a similar omen?"
Lilith shook her head, then handed Annan the Wooden Box she had brought. "I took the liberty of watching you for a while. I think I can entrust this to you."
"My teacher said it was the key to setting everything right. I