This is the continuing story of my adventures in the tale: Save me a Story. If you wish to read the introduction to understand what is happening, click this link:
https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=3431
Otherwise, I’ve tried to summarize what happened at the beginning of most of the sections of this story.
Wizards’ Wisdom
Sitting together in an open field were two of Selat’s greatest wizards, Gandalf and Merlin. They were having a discussion. 
“We are almost spent,” said Gandalf.
Merlin remarked, “I have tried everything I know to stop Necroma.”
“We are no match on our own to defeat her,” Gandalf replied.
A third wizard appeared and joined the discussion. Both Gandalf and Merlin turned to greet him.
“Hail, good Dumbledore, what news do you have to share?” asked Merlin.
Dumbledore stroked his long white beard and sat beside the other two. “None that is good. The number of captured individuals on Lorn has grown. There are not many left for Necroma to collect. I do not have the power anymore to help. I am too weak.”
“As are we,” added Gandalf. “We must find another way.”
At that point, they heard a large group’s approach. Looking up, they recognized most of the characters heading their way but not the person leading this group.
All three wizards, at the same time, cast a protection spell around themselves as the piper and I went on ahead to talk with the three wizards. I recognized all three of them from afar.
When I almost reached them, I could see they were concerned about who I was. A clue was that Dumbledore had cast a “Petrificus Totalus” spell on me, and I could not move further. The pied piper walked up to them and, since he was recognized, and explained to them my identity. At that point, Dumbledore released me, and I could continue forward to talk with them.
I went through my whole story again. The trip to Selat, the meeting with the Caretaker, meeting up with all the characters from Selat, both good and bad, the clues left by the Caretaker we had followed, and now the search for Lorn.
All three of the wizards were very impressed. They explained to me that the evil person we were looking for was the sorceress Necroma and that, at this point, she was the most powerful user of magic there ever was. They explained to me how she controlled everyone, what she did with everyone who had been captured, and what they guessed was her intent once all the stories and characters were eliminated. They were also impressed that we had gotten as far as we had.
“So how do I defeat her and return things to the status quo?” I asked. “If the three of you have failed, what hope do I have?”
The three wizards were quiet for a while. They told me to wait where I was and took a few steps away from me. They spoke in hushed tones to each other, so I couldn’t hear a word they said.
When they returned, each gave me a piece of advice.
Gandalf stared, “Necroma regains her strength after she casts a spell. But as she is casting her spells, her strength weakens. There must be a limit to how much magic she can use, so she casts her spells on individuals and small groups. She may not regain her magic if she goes beyond her limits.”
Dumbledore said, “We were no match for her because there were too few of us. As a group, if you were all connected, she would have to use more power to control you. This will weaken her more.”
Merlin ended with, “Necroma cannot repeat a spell on someone she has already bewitched. If a person possessed by her stands in her way, between her and you, she has to work even harder to get through to you.”
Gandalf added, “At this point, we are too depleted of strength and magic to help you. You and that army you have behind you must complete the task that was foretold on your own.”
I thought about what they had shared with me. Even though some ideas began to emerge, it would be better to explain to everyone what was said and ask for their input. If we were going to succeed together, we needed to all be part of the planning.
I thanked the three wizards for their words of wisdom and promised that I would do everything in my power to have this quest succeed. They all wished me well and said that they would be watching.
The pied piper and I walked back to the awaiting group. On our walk, I explained my idea to the piper. He agreed. The time had come to listen to others.
Continued in…X – Marks the Spot
