They arrived to find the air teeming with electric energy and the town abandoned. Half a year later, Li-Ming and Valthek headed back to Lut Bahadur, as they sensed that a great spell had been cast there. Valthek, for all his regrets, remained intent on non-interferance.
They left soon after, Valthek and Li-Ming fearing for the future of the town. Isendra, who was present in the city at Valthek's request, broke up the debate, siding with her former student. Valthek was incensed yes, rising the water would help the city, but removing water from below could possibly affect another location, given that they did not know its source or where it flowed to. Li-Ming went to a well and caused water to rise up from further underground. On the way, they stopped off at Lut Bahadur, the city dying due to the effects of the drought. Li-Ming was convinced that a mortal hand or some other great power was causing the adverse weather, and Valthek was inclined to believe her, though he maintained that it could indeed be a natural event. After several months, they'd found nothing, and were forced to head back to the capital. He sent a message to Isendra asking her to investigate the cause of the weather while he took Li-Ming with him away from Caldeum to head into the desert. Valthek became concerned as Kehjistan became afflicted by a drought, one that persisted for over a year and caused the empire to begin to crumble. Yes, there are times when we can use our magic to aid people, but it cannot be every time, and we must weigh the costs carefully before we act. "Your altruism is a credit to you, Li-Ming, but we mages cannot do this.
Isendra was convinced that Li-Ming would play a role in defeating the Lords of Hell, as per the existence of a prophecy, but Valthek was more skeptical. He tried to introduce structure to Li-Ming's life and present a course of study that would turn her interests toward "more acceptable pursuits." Isendra left, but they remained friends, and in contact. When he caught Li-Ming looking at material in the Yshari Sanctum's library that held forbidden texts too dangerous to study, he took over the girl's training despite Isendra's protests. The training went ahead, but Valthek was concerned as to how not only did Li-Ming treat Isendra as her equal rather than her master, but that Isendra let the girl's attitude persist. Nonetheless, Valthek allowed the Sorceress to take Li-Ming as her apprentice. Isendra offered to train the girl, much to Li-Ming's chagrin. However, he was impressed with her claim of ending the drought in the Heron River Valley. The girl gave him a demonstration of her magic, but he was umimpressed. He was amused at her rebellious attitude, not to mention her declarations of being a Wizard. The Sorceress Isendra brought Li-Ming, a rebellious student at the Yshari Sanctum, to Valthek. History is littered with forgotten wizards who amounted to nothing." You will have her, or we shall see how you fare on your own. Were I you, I would hope that I had not convinced Isendra to reconsider. "Isendra's knowledge of elemental magic rivals mine, and I believe that you and she will find you have much in common. At some point, Valthek wrote the Compendium of Exotic Weaponry.
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