Snippet #1439345

Xanti closed the book he had just finished and made his way to the shelf where it belonged. He looked content when he placed the book in the empty space. Normally he would pick the next one, but there was no time. He hurried down the stairs, to the outer part of the castle. There was a small well. He lowered the bucket until he heard a splash, and then pulled the bucket up again. The water was very clear. He filled an empty vial with it and added a tiny drop of a coal-black fluid. This was to dilute the concentrated potion he kept with him. The water in the vial turned completely black. He put the vial and the potion away after he took a sip. I'll never get used to that taste, Xanti thought while threw the rest of the water back in the well. He hurried the stairs up again, as soon as he was done.

He climbed all the way to the upper parts of the castle, where the teleport facility was. He saw some wizards working hard on the portal, under instruction of Zhao. “Is everything working out?” he asked while he walked over to him