It's Vestrum Tobias.
The shutters are closed, but it's daylight outside.
It's a beautiful day outside.
Cortez?
Cortez!
Wait... What was that name Cortez told me to remember? Westhouse? Brian Westhouse? I think that was it. Cortez said to look him up when I wanted to go home. Well, I want to go home now.
I have a bad feeling about this.
The story begins and ends here, with this mural. Ages ago, and in ages to come, the Earth was one, and magic and science existed side by side in nature and in all people.
This is the true Story of the Balance, as observed by the Sentinel, the Order of the Balance, the Fathers.
The wall paintings we are looking at became known as the Murals of the Balance, and it is through these images that I will recount our common history to you, April Ryan.
The Sentinel Minstrum committed this story to the pages of the Scriptures, and to these temple walls, thousands of years ago, so that coming generations could learn and understand their past and their future.
There was balance, and there was harmony.
You're saying there was just one world then?
One world, one Earth. Magic and science in balance with each other, within each and every living creature. The power to make the stars dance and to create life itself was within our grasp.
But then, humankind began to exploit this divine power of Two, and they saw fit to use it for their own selfish purposes. The Balance of the Cosmos was in peril.
The Draic... I think I've heard that name before.
Draic-Kin, Drachen, Dragons -- whichever name they go by, they remain the eternal servants and custodians of the Balance.
There were four of them here on Earth. And of the four, one who would found the Order of the Balance, the Sentinel.
The first Minstrum were instructed that magic and science would have to be separated before the Balance collapsed and brought untold disaster. Earth would have to be split in two equal parts...
Arcadia and Stark... Magic and science... Chaos and order.
The first Sentinel were counted Thirteen. Six scientists, six magicians, and One who was between. The Draic Kin. Our mentor, our custodian, our learned guide.
Both magic and science was needed to perform this most difficult of tasks, to split a world in two, to create two worlds from one.
Wasn't the use of that kind of power dangerous to the Balance?
Yes, and so for this purpose they built a tower to channel their powers and focus them on the Divide that they would create. The Kin had brought a disc with them, a disc forged in the fire of their world.
Placed at the base of the tower and the epicenter of the Divide, the disc and the tower would become one -- a conduit for the flow of magic and science.
At the appointed hour, the Thirteen came to the tower, and with them, a woman whose destiny was decided by the purpose to which she had been born.
She would be the first Guardian, the human protector of the Balance, who would stay in the tower for a thousand years to watch over the two worlds, and to ensure that the flows of magic and science were always equal.
And so the ritual began...
After they left the tower, two of the Draic Kin went to Stark, the other two to Arcadia. The Six who came to each world started what is now known as the Sentinel, the Order of the Balance.
But while in Arcadia, the Sentinel thrived, in Stark they did not. In Stark, the memories of magic and the Balance could not survive in the face of the new reality of natural laws, of logic and of science...
And soon, very soon, Arcadia become nothing more than legend, a myth, tales of faeries to recount to impressionable children, and stories to frighten and entertain around a fire.
And while dreams still brought sights and sounds of Arcadia to those asleep in Stark, they were discounted as mere dreams...and nothing more.
So that's it? We forgot about our past, and about Arcadia, and that's the way things are? Then what's wrong with that? And why does magic from Arcadia seem to have begun leaking through to Stark?
That is another long story, but I can tell that you are tired of stories, and so I shall be brief.
As I told you, while in Arcadia, the Sentinel grew in numbers and in strength, in Stark, while flourishing for a brief time, they were soon diminished and powerless.
Some of the Stark Sentinel did not take kindly to this, and they berated the Arcadian Sentinel for their politics and teachings. The Stark Sentinel wanted people to work towards reunification, while their brothers did not.
So the inevitable soon came to pass, and the Stark Sentinel parted ways with their Arcadian brothers, and named themselves the Vanguard. And while, at first, their philosophy was not so different from ours...
...over the years it changed radically. The Vanguard wanted the Divide torn down, the worlds reunited, and the return to what they called the glorious ages, when humankind could control the forces of Cosmos.
But first, they needed their own servant in charge of the Balance, their own Guardian.
Now, every one thousand years, a new Guardian took the place of the old one, because no one can be separated from their souls for any longer than a thousand years.
Every one thousand years, a new Guardian was born. The Balance provided the seed from which a new fruit grew.
Every new child born to the Balance has been taken away by the Vanguard, to be studied in an attempt to control them. In every instance -- so far -- they have failed. But the Twelfth Guardian could wait no longer.
Only a short time ago, the disc in the tower shattered, and the Guardian left his throne. The Balance is now untended, and we have yet to find a new Guardian. Unless we do so, the Vanguard may get their chance...
...and they may be able to place their own puppet on the throne, to rule the Balance according to their principles. And this we cannot allow. It will mean the end of Stark and Arcadia, and the dawn of an era of Chaos.
But now it has been two hundred years since the previous Guardian, the Twelfth Guardian, was to be replaced...
Now do you see?
I understand the history, I can even accept it. But I don't understand why I'm here, and what Cortez wants with me.
The Balance is in peril, April. The Guardian has abandoned his tower, he has disappeared, and there is no one to take his place. He must be reinstated, to protect the Balance until a new Guardian may be found.
And what can I do? I'm nobody. I've just been having a lot of bad dreams.
You are a strong Shifter. I have not seen your like in my lifetime.
A Shifter?
Are you kidding? I didn't do anything. Cortez was the one who opened the -- Shift? -- and he just waved his hands around in the air. I don't think I'd be capable of opening a portal even if I had a magic wand.
Someone capable of opening doors between worlds, a Shift, a portal between the realms of Stark and Arcadia.
Only a Shifter's own power can allow her to travel. No one else can do this for her. Cortez only channeled your power to aid you. He would not be able to step through this Shift himself.
Even if that's true, I don't have any control over my...talent.
Not yet. But in time, you will. How else do you intend to travel back to your world?
God, I hadn't even thought about that yet. Can't you help me?
I'm afraid not. Even if I could Shift, I would not be able to channel through you like Cortez did.
So I'm on my own?
If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them, but aside from that? Yes. Yes you are.
That's so not cool.
No, it has been unseasonally warm. If you don't mind, I will return to my studies now. Thank you for listening to an old man and his long stories.
No, thank you. It's starting to make a little bit of sense now.
That is good news. Come see me again if you have any more questions.
You have returned from your trip north? It is good to see you again. I was concerned.
You worried about little old me? That's sweet. And guess what -- I kicked some alchemist ass while I was up there. Bet you didn't think I'd be able to do that.
Then you have lost your wager. I knew you would. After all, you are... I was worried because of the trouble in the west.
What trouble?
The Tyren. They left the city, all as one, the evening before yesterday, and many of the Vanguard with them. I fear there are dark times ahead.
You don't mean war...do you?
War, yes. It has been an age and a half since our last war with the Tyren, but relations have always been strained. And now, whipped into religious fervor by the Vanguard, the Tyren are thirsty for blood, and for revenge.
They are a people bound by violence, and without honor. And easily seduced by the prospect of a holy war.
God. That's horrible. But this city's safe, isn't it? It's a big city.
Yes, but unfortunately, not well armed. Marcuria has not seen war for centuries, and people grow soft, forget how to fight. It can easily be taken by a strong army. And so I fear our safety, and yours.
What did you mean when you said, "after all, you are..."?
Forgive an old man his misgivings, April, but I should have trusted you before.
Of course you should've. With what?
With the truth. That you are the one who will watch over us for a thousand years. That you are of the Balance, and the Balance is in you. That you are the one born into the heaviest duty of them all...
You are the Guardian to be, April, the Thirteenth Guardian of the Balance.
No. No, that's a lie. I'm not your Guardian. That's not possible.
It is certain. I had my...doubts, unfortunately. It could have cost us the Balance, and I made a mistake, but it is certain now. You are stronger in the Balance than any one before you.
God damn Cortez, he didn't say anything about... If I'd known, I wouldn't have come here. I would've-- I don't know what I would've done, but I wouldn't have come here.
Maybe he did not know, or maybe he did, and he knew it would be wiser not to tell you. But I am telling you now because you cannot stay here. You are too valuable. You must leave.
Goodbye, Tobias.
Wait, April. You cannot leave quite yet. I have something I must-- I have not been completely honest with you.
Regarding what?
Regarding who you are. I should not have kept the truth from you, but I had my misgivings.
You're freaking me out, Tobias. What is it?
You are the Guardian to be, April. The Thirteenth Guardian. You are to watch over the twin worlds for a thousand years.
Oh. No. No, no, no. Don't do this to me. It's not possible. You see, I'm just...I'm me. I'm nobody. I'm April Ryan.
It is true. It is certain. Everything points to you. Your strength, your presence here, now. Your quest.
If that's true, then why didn't Cortez...why didn't he tell me?
I do not know, April. But I do know this. You cannot stay here. It is not safe, and your safety is vital to the worlds. You must leave.
I don't want to leave.
I am leaving for Alais this afternoon.
I want to go back to Stark.
You must, April. The Tyren are gathering their forces on the border to Ayrede as we speak. Come next week, this city may be under siege, and then you will not be able to leave.
You would probably be safer there, for the time being. Have you learned how to use your powers yet, to Shift back into your world?
No.
Then...I cannot help you, April. You must leave Marcuria and Ayrede. North, south, east, any direction but west.
Well...I'm supposed to board a ship for Alais this afternoon.
Then go. The islands are far away, and the Tyren do not have ships.
Good! The Tyren are not a seafaring people, and the islands are probably the safest place to be right now.
What about Alais?
The island? That is good. You will be safe there, for the time being. The Tyren do not like water.
Before you go, I want to give you something to carry with you. I spent the night looking for it in the Enclave...it has been gathering dust for over ten thousand years.
Oh, Tobias, I can't accept anything that old.
You are not accepting it. It is yours. The Fathers have only kept it safe for the day when the Thirteenth Guardian would come to collect it. And now you are here. Please, take it.
It is the Talisman of the Balance, known to but a few. It is mentioned in one text only, the Scripture of Reunification, one of the thirteen Scriptures of the Balance.
What does it do?
The Scripture speaks not of its purpose. But it is yours, whatever it is. I am certain it will help you, once you find its purpose. It has strong magic, very strong.
Thanks, Tobias. I really do appreciate it, even though I wish I didn't have to accept it.
You are the Guardian, child. Your fate is both glorious and terrible...but it is your fate. If you deny it, you deny our future. But I have faith in you, April.
That's what I'm afraid of. What if I screw up?
The Balance provides. The Balance protects. Trust the Balance, and trust yourself. Good bye. And good luck on your journey.
