Vogel resumes studying the Wand as the demon gasps and writhes, an expression of pure agony on his face.

“We are not Evil Ones,” Vogel says, his voice almost gentle. “We are the Blessed First Children of the Pure and Holy Magedom. I was warned of your presence here in a vision. The blade is solid iron. You are destroyed in the name of the Ancient One on High.”

The demon’s horns once again draw in and the whites of his eyes return. His tongue retracts into his mouth, all arms vanishing but two.

He sets his devastated eyes on Alaric. “This is how it starts,” he rasps. “You’re doomed if you let him take that Wand back. You’ll turn where you’re going into this.” He motions wildly toward the world above. “And the end will be the End...”

A dark vine-bolt collides with the Death Fae, and Alaric flinches, a gasp tearing from the Fae as the vine drives the iron blade deeper. Lateral branches of shadowy smoke burst from the blade, winding around the Fae.

Alaric whips his head toward Vogel to find him pointing the Shadow Wand at the Fae. The Death Fae gasps again, and Alaric turns in time to catch his impassioned look of warning before the Fae’s eyes turn blank.

Alaric can barely move, barely breathe, as the demon’s body dissolves, morphing into thick, curling black smoke that rises into the air then vanishes. Alaric hesitantly looks to Vogel, his mentor’s eyes flashing like silver fire.

“It will take time to learn how to destroy this Wand,” Vogel says, low and firm. “Until then, it is best to say it was obliterated.”

Alaric nods shakily. Of course, they should keep it secret, this Wand that is supposedly impossible to destroy. And, of course, Vogel should be the one to take hold of it and work out how to obliterate it, as no Mage is as pure as him.

For a moment, Vogel studies Alaric and Alaric can feel that silvered gaze straight down his spine. Then Vogel slides the Wand under his cloak, raises his hands, and calmly performs the Exorcism of the Demonic. Alaric forces himself to echo the prayer’s words, but he finds that his gaze is pulled, relentlessly, toward where the Shadow Wand is now concealed.

As they sail away from the continent, color returns to their world.

The Mage crew begins to compose ballads about their journey. They sing of Vogel’s defeat of the Death Fae. How he destroyed the Wand of Shadow power before the Evil Ones could take possession of it. And how they have only to find the Ancient One’s Blessed Wand of Myth to complete their sacred quest.

Alaric’s hands clutch the stern’s railing as he looks west, his brow knotted.