The sorcerer sat in his hiding place inside the barn, his back pressed against the rough wood, his breaths slow but heavy with fatigue.
He pulled a small hourglass from his pocket and lifted it before his eyes.
He turned it over.
The sand began to flow slowly.
He watched it in long silence, then said in a low voice:
"There is still a long time... longer than I need."
He knew exactly what that meant.
His magical powers had not yet returned, and his body was still in its weakened state—thin, exhausted, as if magic had drained him hollow from the inside.
He moved his hand and noticed it trembling.
He pulled it back at once.
In this state, I can't use magic.
And if I use it now... I might not rise again.
He leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes.
"I have to leave this village... but not yet."
⸻
In the square of Ilmar Village, Rhea stood before the people.
The villagers had gathered around her, their faces tense, their voices low.
They were not used to such meetings, nor to this kind of fear.
Rhea spoke in a clear, steady voice:
"People of Ilmar, last night a strange man entered our village."
A soft murmur spread among the crowd.
She continued:
"This man is a thief... and a sorcerer."
Voices rose at once.
"A sorcerer?"
"How did he enter?"
"What does he want?"
Rhea raised her hand, and they fell silent.
"We don't know why he came, but we know one thing: entering our village without permission is a danger."
She pulled out the drawing and raised it for everyone to see.
"This is the closest image we have of him. If you see anyone who resembles him, inform me immediately."
Then she said firmly:
"I will not allow fear to live among us. We will cooperate together... and I will find him."
....
At that moment, the sorcerer decided to slip out quietly in search of food.
His steps were careful, and when he emerged, the alleys were far too quiet...
But then—a loud voice.
He moved closer and hid behind one of the stone houses, watching the square without approaching it.
He saw his image raised in people's hands.
He heard Rhea's voice:
"We will find the thief together."
A sharp tightness seized his chest.
It's over... I'm no longer hidden.
He glanced at the hourglass again.
The sand was still falling.
He whispered:
"No time... and no strength."
Hunger gnawed at him.
Just food... then I'll return to hiding.
⸻
He went back to search for food.
He slipped toward the farmer Harun's house, taking advantage of the empty alleys.
He entered quietly and began gathering whatever food he could without a sound.
But—
A voice behind him.
"Who's there?"
He turned suddenly.
It was Liza, Harun's wife, standing at the doorway.
She froze for a moment... then screamed:
"Thief!"
He ran at once.
Some of the food fell from his hands as he fled the house, his footsteps fading away between the buildings.
....
In the square, the scream was heard.
Rhea turned at once.
"Who screamed?"
Harun ran forward, and Rhea followed him.
Liza said, trembling:
"There was a strange man... in our house. He was stealing food."
Rhea scanned the area sharply.
"If he was here—"
"Then he's very close..."
She turned to Harun.
"We'll search the area. He couldn't have gone far."
Harun nodded.
"As you wish."
⸻
The sorcerer made it back to the barn before anyone saw him.
He sat in his hiding place, pressing a hand to his chest, trying to steady his breathing.
One mistake... just one, and they would have caught me.
He heard footsteps approaching.
Rhea's voice:
"We'll start searching from here."
Harun's voice:
"I never thought something like this could happen in our village."
Rhea:
"Neither did I... but we'll deal with it."
The voices stopped, then the footsteps moved away.
Rhea remained for a moment.
She bent down and lifted Iris into her arms.
The small ostrich was calm, looking around with innocent curiosity.
Rhea said softly:
"Come on, little one... go to sleep."
She placed her gently on the ground, then left the barn.
⸻
Silence returned.
The sorcerer did not move.
From his hiding place, he looked at the ostrich.
Iris stopped and lifted her head toward him.
She did not approach.
She made no sound.
But the look was enough.
He felt something settle deep inside him.
He pulled the necklace from beneath his clothes.
The blue eye within it was still... yet pulsing.
He whispered:
"Now I understand."
He looked around—
at the barn, at the village, at the place no one would ever think to search.
"I won't use my magic..."
Then he added in a heavy calm:
"I'll leave it here."
He did not say how.
He did not say when.
But the decision had been made.