The Return Journey

The adventurers drew near the Portal, weary and worn from their many adventures. But at last their quest was over and it was time to return home. With a sigh they moved to step forward. Priestess stopped.

“I don't want to go back,” she said.

The party looked back at the receding Enchanted Kingdom behind them. Warrior spoke up.

“I don't want to either. I don't wish to leave this place.”

He looked to Priestess and they both smiled. He would not have spoken up had she not. She had always lent him strength he didn't know he could find.

The Old Wizard emerged from a passing fog. He puffed upon a long ornate pipe and grinned.

“Hail my young friends. You have accomplished much. But your quest is not over,” the Wizard said softly.

Sorcerer spoke next.

“But we have completed all our quests. We have conquered the Long Lines. We have had all our tomes signed by the Elder Ones. We have fashioned our garb for all the land to behold, and even found seating at the Mead Hall,” he replied.

Wizard puffed quietly for a few moments.

“That is but one quest. Your next quest lays beyond this portal,” he said.

“But that returns to the Banal Kingdom. The lands of Drudgery and Routine! What possible quest could exist there?” Priestess demanded.

“The quest of Magic. You found it here. You embraced it and shared it. Now you must carry it with you into the Banal Lands, and care for it dearly. Nurture that Magic, keep it alive! And share it with others. Over time, you can create Enclaves of Magic with the Banal Lands. And the Mundane Lords will try to stamp it out of you and destroy your Enclaves. That is when you must bolster one another. You much recharge your energies by sharing your magic with each other.

You may do it with a shared thought. A conjured image. A meeting to build your magic back up when it feels low. But you have the strength within you. All of you. And the quest lies before you.”

The Wizard finished speaking and held his hand toward the Portal.

The Party looked from one to another. Priestess, Warrior, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and the one party member that couldn't make up their minds and decided to 'Multi-Class'. They nodded to each other, held hands, and stepped through the Portal into the Banal Lands.

The Wizard folded his hands and his smile faded. He knew what his young companions would face in the Banal Lands. In his hands he summoned two spirits; Dream and Hope.

“Go with them. Follow them. Guide them,” he whispered to the spirits.

“They will need you more than the air they breathe at times. Stay with them, and pull them together when times are dark,” the Wizard finished. He opened his hands and off they flew.

So the Adventurers began their next quest, followed by Hope and Dream, and empowered by Magic within their hearts.