Dexter Montoya

[Topaz]

It was late that night as Dex determined to push this new spell to the limit. Already aware that his techniques had undergone serious repercussions. Slowly, methodically, chanting in the grove where he practiced the arcane arts he concentrated and underwent a temporal shift. It ripped seams in the crackling air as he focused on the blue crystal staff. Then it became quiet. There was separation, his body left in a protective shell encased by the blue aura, his spirit travelled through the ether. He was, in this state, pure mana.

After having traveled through space without the encumberances of his physical being Dex made his way first to the arena, then to the outback, finally to twilight isle. Testing his presence with others he was unsure if he was truly spirit. He closed the spell with his appropriate ending and returned to the places he visited. He thought his body was there but quickly it was apparent that he was of the same form.

Not Good.

He returned home and slipped into bed where fortunately Ann was sleeping and hopefully by morning he would be normal.

Morning came.

No comments. No questions. It appeared that things were normal indeed. Or were they? Much had happened since those early experiments and Dex must have scrambled his mind with testing the new spell that he developed because certain incidents had faded from memory. He struggled to recall them and then shrugged it off.

[Topaz]

Reclining in a chair with the sounds of his children in the back Dex in his mind could remember the relief of retiring from DoF to focus on his duties at home, the nearly simultaneous retirement from DoM also allowed him to focus on things.

It had come almost full circle now. He began in the Arena and now he would end there. He started to prepare in silent training, not even Ann knew what he prepared to do. It was time. In general. He needed to wait for some small circumstances to be completed before he would attempt for him what he hoped to be history. The time spent in secluded training was complete. He gathered the requisite information for the officials of the rings and sent of the letters required. It would be the first time someone stood at the most three matches from the triple. He had only dreamed of it long ago and here he stood alone in his office in the Atreblian manor on the verge of the historical approach. Should he find success .... It had happened. Success.

He was quite disturbed by the fact that Jeff went renegade, even more so that he had not responded to the question Dex had asked ... Why?

What he should do? Dex was unsure. One thing for certain Dex had a challenger and that must be met in Atreblian dignity. He had met the first challenge and was quickly rewarded with another with he had failed to succeed at. The path he had to chose now was elusive to him as he sat in the study and pondered.

He attended a wedding with Anne and was reminded of the value of family, something perhaps that he should spend more focus on.

They had snuck away late one night, Dex Anne and the kids. Dex dared to not tell anyone nor leave even a clue as to where they had disappeared to. He did take the tome Topaz had given him fearing it may need to be used.

Not a trace except the fact he was mysteriously absent.

(Note: Dex did return eventually. But he was closed about what had happened. Topaz figured out where he went, and they did talk about it, but even in that conversation he gave nothing away about the current conditions in Krondor or about the portal’s development.)