Welcome Progress

"We're in the same city, yet we might as well be separated by life and death." —Crimson Night

Stepping down from the Carriage, Annan looked at the Winchester Manor and, for no reason he could explain, thought of that line.

The sprawling grounds seemed to merge with the sea of trees beneath the distant Snow Mountains. At the end of a stone road, a red-brick Manor stood hidden like an Old Castle in the Forest.

An elderly Butler waited outside the gate to greet the Carriage. "What brings you here from the Mage Tower, sir?"

Annan tried to sound familiar with Lady Fine Wine. "I'm looking for Margery. Is she here?"

"Do you have an appointment with her?"

"...No, but we're... friends." Annan felt a little guilty.

"May I have your name?"

"Annan."

"Please wait a moment."

The Butler returned to the Manor, went upstairs, and knocked on the Study door.

"Madam, a Carriage from the Mage Tower has stopped outside. A young Mage calling himself Annan wishes to see you. There's a Dwarf with him."

"Annan?" came a puzzled murmur. Then a voice answered from behind the door, "Let him in. Hmm... bring him here, alone."

The Butler returned to the gate and relayed the message respectfully. "Sir Mage, the lady is waiting for you in her Study."

Annan and Soluman Copperbeard entered the estate. Instead of the flower beds and trimmed hedges of an ordinary manor, tall, hardy birches, Pine Trees, and Oak Trees filled the grounds.

Uncle Holin would love it here. He wouldn't even have to leave home to chop firewood.

"Druids wouldn't hate this place too much," the female Dwarf said, thinking much the same thing.

In the mansion's entrance hall, Annan looked up at a giant Oil Painting facing the door. The noble, beautiful