“Do you weep for me, my teacher?” She whispered. I pressed my lips to her shaking hand and was transported back to when I first met her thirty years earlier.
“Yes, majesty. I weep for you.” I replied.  “And I weep for my soul. I failed to protect you, and I deserve damnation for it.”
My queen smiled, her blood-spattered face serene in the red haze of blood and smoke. “No, 
Lukas, you have fulfilled your duty. And you will serve me again in the glorious halls of our gods.”
“With all my heart,” I whispered. 
Tears glittered in her eyes, “Call me by my name?” She asked, her voice quiet, weak. “Like you did when I was a little girl.”
“Anna.”

At the end of the world, a mage held his student in his arms as the light left her eyes. At the end of the world a mage stared down his attacker. At the end of the world, a mage died. 
And woke up thirty years before the end of the world. 
He's been given a second chance. 
And this time he's going to do it right.

The carriage rattled and bounced its way along the stone road that led to the elven forests. 


"Look, highness, I have no control over her." I said. "She comes and goes when and wherever she pleases."


"Not always." I said, looking fondly at the golden amulet in my hand. "At least not in the way you're thinking."


I shrugged. "It's life highness. At least you got to see her this time."


Miss Rita cleared her throat. "Sorry for interrupting, highness, who are you talking about?"


"The woman earlier, the one that was cradling his head." Anna said, pointing at me. 


"So you saw her too, I take it?" Miss Rita looked relieved. "I thought I was losing my mind."


"She's real." Anna said, glumly, and blew a strand of hair from her face. "And Lukas is her favourite."


I chuckled. "Jealousy is an ugly colour on you, princess." 


Chapter 54 - Chapter 53