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"I already told you the Elders are gone. The Hall of Wisdom was destroyed," Sorceress insisted.

"And I am telling you they are not as dead as you have been led to believe," Screech countered.

Sorceress frowned. "Why would they lie? Assuming they are still alive? Why hide?"

Screech explained, "Keldor caused the destruction of the Hall of Wisdom in his pursuit of power. If he knew there was a better way of taking Grayskull, and holding onto it, one of the Elders would be that means. I don't know where all that knowledge and power went, but I can make a pretty good guess."

The Sorceress already knew this history. She lived it, after all. The Elders were long gone along with the Council of Wisdom. Why would either choose to hide? King Grayskull's original council gave their lives and power to form the Orb of Power, which is accessed by Prince Adam's Sword of Power and Princess Adora's Sword of Protection. Sorceress thought about petitioning the Mage Council for an audience to discuss this. If anyone would have an idea about the Elders, or the Council of Wisdom, they would.

Were clues left behind in order to find any surviving members of either council? If so, where and why? All known libraries had been investigated many times to no avail. Even the hidden ones like the one Screech ransacked in the Mage Tower. That left the ones still missing like the recently discovered abandoned library she and Teela briefly visited.

"If some of them still exist," Sorceress said, "why are you so determined to find them? Why bother.?"

"Of course you won't know the circumstances of my downfall," Screech said, voice choking for a moment. "I won't bore you with the details. The Elders stopped me from doing what I planned and punished my arrogance by locking me in the form of my chosen avatar. A falcon. They named me Screech and sent me to roar Eternia intended it only to be a hundred years, or so. Or when I had changed my ways. It never happened. When the time came, they refused to see me or allow me to plead my case. They abandoned me to a life of torment! A human mind locked in an animal's body! Long did I search for a way to break the spell binding me to that form. It took many years, but I had time on my feathers because those hated Elders gave me the 'gift' of extremely long life as part of the punishment.

"Finally, I broke the spell and relished freedom for the first time in a very long time. Relished having my human body returned to me with all the good and bad that goes with it. For years, I wandered exhilarating in the life I had not experienced before. Then I came across a woman here and there abandoned by society and a plan began to form. I built a group of women who have become masters in various arts. I teach them magic and they teach me about living. The dregs of the lands now put to good use assisting me in my quest."

"Revenge on the Elders? Payback? Vengeance?" Sorceress asked, absorbing all the woman had said. No details of fallen Sorceress existed. She thought the woman a pathetic creature who had succumbed to the temptation to use the power of Grayskull for selfish means. Whatever Screech had done, she had more than paid the price for her transgression. But that did not absolve her of blame for her actions since freeing herself from the form she had locked into and left to rot. "That will only lead to your own demise."

"Then I welcome it. I have lived long enough. Until that time, this is all I have."

"What about the people you have saved?"

"They come and go. Live out their lives with whatever time they have. Eventually, I will find one worthy of carrying on in my stead. Until then, I press on." Screech shoved herself to her feet warily and stretched stiff muscles. Now I must be off." Screech cocked her head at the chorus of cacophony coming from the forest. "Sounds like the Calcarians are having their fun. At Evil-lyn's expense."

Sorceress turned toward the sounds. Evil-lyn might not be the most reputable of people, but she hardly deserved to be tortured by the denizens of the forest no matter what she had done to the Calcarians.

"Oh, don't worry, Sorceress. They will frighten her and put the fear of the Ancients in her, but she won't be permanently damaged. Might even do her some good. Who knows? Now, I have tarried here long enough. Don't worry about your precious Teela. I will return her soon enough."

"When?" Sorceress demanded.

"When I find out all she knows about the Elders." Screech walked away despite the Sorceress' demands she stay. Screech opened a magic portal and disappeared.

Sorceress cast a spell trying to follow the woman's path, but whatever she had learned in her long life, Screech knew how to hide her path. Sorceress could not discern where that portal had taken her. Frustrated, Sorceress opened a portal back to castle Grayskull to continue her research and await Teela's return.

Description
"I already told you the Elders are gone. The Hall of Wisdom was destroyed," Sorceress insisted.

"And I am telling you they are not as dead as you have been led to believe," Screech countered.

Sorceress frowned. "Why would they lie? Assuming they are still alive? Why hide?"

Screech explained, "Keldor caused the destruction of the Hall of Wisdom in his pursuit of power. If he knew there was a better way of taking Grayskull, and holding onto it, one of the Elders would be that means. I don't know where all that knowledge and power went, but I can make a pretty good guess."

The Sorceress already knew this history. She lived it, after all. The Elders were long gone along with the Council of Wisdom. Why would either choose to hide? King Grayskull's original council gave their lives and power to form the Orb of Power, which is accessed by Prince Adam's Sword of Power and Princess Adora's Sword of Protection. Sorceress thought about petitioning the Mage Council for an audience to discuss this. If anyone would have an idea about the Elders, or the Council of Wisdom, they would.

Were clues left behind in order to find any surviving members of either council? If so, where and why? All known libraries had been investigated many times to no avail. Even the hidden ones like the one Screech ransacked in the Mage Tower. That left the ones still missing like the recently discovered abandoned library she and Teela briefly visited.

"If some of them still exist," Sorceress said, "why are you so determined to find them? Why bother.?"

"Of course you won't know the circumstances of my downfall," Screech said, voice choking for a moment. "I won't bore you with the details. The Elders stopped me from doing what I planned and punished my arrogance by locking me in the form of my chosen avatar. A falcon. They named me Screech and sent me to roar Eternia intended it only to be a hundred years, or so. Or when I had changed my ways. It never happened. When the time came, they refused to see me or allow me to plead my case. They abandoned me to a life of torment! A human mind locked in an animal's body! Long did I search for a way to break the spell binding me to that form. It took many years, but I had time on my feathers because those hated Elders gave me the 'gift' of extremely long life as part of the punishment.

"Finally, I broke the spell and relished freedom for the first time in a very long time. Relished having my human body returned to me with all the good and bad that goes with it. For years, I wandered exhilarating in the life I had not experienced before. Then I came across a woman here and there abandoned by society and a plan began to form. I built a group of women who have become masters in various arts. I teach them magic and they teach me about living. The dregs of the lands now put to good use assisting me in my quest."

"Revenge on the Elders? Payback? Vengeance?" Sorceress asked, absorbing all the woman had said. No details of fallen Sorceress existed. She thought the woman a pathetic creature who had succumbed to the temptation to use the power of Grayskull for selfish means. Whatever Screech had done, she had more than paid the price for her transgression. But that did not absolve her of blame for her actions since freeing herself from the form she had locked into and left to rot. "That will only lead to your own demise."

"Then I welcome it. I have lived long enough. Until that time, this is all I have."

"What about the people you have saved?"

"They come and go. Live out their lives with whatever time they have. Eventually, I will find one worthy of carrying on in my stead. Until then, I press on." Screech shoved herself to her feet warily and stretched stiff muscles. Now I must be off." Screech cocked her head at the chorus of cacophony coming from the forest. "Sounds like the Calcarians are having their fun. At Evil-lyn's expense."

Sorceress turned toward the sounds. Evil-lyn might not be the most reputable of people, but she hardly deserved to be tortured by the denizens of the forest no matter what she had done to the Calcarians.

"Oh, don't worry, Sorceress. They will frighten her and put the fear of the Ancients in her, but she won't be permanently damaged. Might even do her some good. Who knows? Now, I have tarried here long enough. Don't worry about your precious Teela. I will return her soon enough."

"When?" Sorceress demanded.

"When I find out all she knows about the Elders." Screech walked away despite the Sorceress' demands she stay. Screech opened a magic portal and disappeared.

Sorceress cast a spell trying to follow the woman's path, but whatever she had learned in her long life, Screech knew how to hide her path. Sorceress could not discern where that portal had taken her. Frustrated, Sorceress opened a portal back to castle Grayskull to continue her research and await Teela's return.