The Last EleMage

PROLOG

SOMEWHERE THAT IS NOWHERE AND EVERYWHERE;
SOMETHING THAT IS NOTHING AND EVERYTHING PREPAIRS.

The time has come.
Finally, after all these uncounted years, the time has come.
Everything’s in place, everyone knows what they have to do, so all that’s left is to start the ball rolling.
I’m nervous, though I suppose that’s to be expected. I’m going to be placing so much on the shoulders of a child, and there’s not much I’ll be able to do to help once things get moving.
I wish I didn’t have to do this; I wish I could shoulder this burden myself rather that place it on one so young and fragile. But since I can’t, this is the only way.
If this fails, HE will win, and HE will gladly destroy everything that I have worked so hard to build and protect. HE will slaughter the children, burn the gardens, and return everything to nothingness; and then HE will take HER away from me, leaving me all alone again. I’m not sure I could survive that . . . or that I would even want to.
So much is riding on one so small . . . I can’t help but worry. Still though, I need to be strong, for myself, for the child, for HER, and for everyone else who’s fate will ride on this gambit, whether they know it or not.
So many years of planning and preparing, and now it will be placed squarely in the hands of fate. Failure is not an option, so may that fickle force smile upon this act of desperation.
Let it begin.