Black Magus

With Amun’s demonstration complete, a long period of awed silence spread throughout the coliseum. That silence continued long after he made his exit and abruptly came to an end an indiscernible time later when the air itself was shocked with a wave of cheers, praise, and applause aimed not only at Amun but towards each demonstration we’ve seen tonight. While I did my part in adding to the noise, I paid close mind to the mages, guild officials, soldiers, nobles, and royals giving their opinions or remarks to make a mental note of them all and set them aside for later.

The others hung around for a little while after Law walked off to dismiss the Initiates I, however, stayed put to mentally replay what I’d just seen. It went without saying that we were given the show we were all anticipating. Each of Amun’s affinities was truly something to behold, but his knowledge of their natures and the ways he applied them was what truly astounded me. To have developed such a suite of spells in just a tenday was impressive, to say the least. And then there were his rabbits. Clearly a summon of some type; though, strange as it was, I had a strong feeling it was an otherwise normal rabbit rather than a denizen of the Shadow Realm. A rabbit that’d been corrupted by his sorcery and thus turned into a magical creature bound to his will.

‘Do you have more, I wonder?’

Judging from the mixed reactions of the Necro King and his grandson, it was clear one disapproved and the other was overjoyed. Not much of a surprise for the former, as High King Everandus Cole was infamous for his unrelenting usage of necromancy and thus rarely used the shadows. As for the latter, he wasn’t exactly famed for his prowess in battle. That wasn’t to say Archduke Emeric Cole was weak. Quite the contrary, in fact. Everyone in his Empire and beyond knew that he too held the power hidden within the House of Cole’s blood. Unlike his son and grandfather, however, he seldom unleashed his power. And so his true potential was a mystery to us all. It was quite the auspicious dichotomy if one were to take into account the aura that made everyone walk on eggshells around the man. It seemed like not a single soul in all the realms wanted to make him angry. Perhaps for good reason.

I rose from my seat after an hour with my conjectures and analyzations complete to return to our lodging and gather each proctor’s reports. As I somewhat expected, they were gathered around the table like animals, stuffing food into their jaws while rattling on about the Initiates' performances.

Or, most of them were.

I took the mass of papers from Law before making a detour, shifting my mind into a motherly state and sitting down next to my girls.

Like me and Katia and Irini and Idonea, Sicilia Velasco and Yolanda Tubs were raised as sisters in the slum city of Gray Peak. Looking at them now felt just the same as when I gazed upon them back then. They were polar opposites in most ways, and yet like twins in all the ways that mattered. Both were sociable, but Yolanda drove strangers away due to her sometimes off-putting demeanor. Both were intelligent, but only Lia received an education; if hardly any. Both were mentally strong and contained immense potential, but Lia was petite and started out with a fear of fighting while Yolanda was huskier, sickly, and enjoyed the fight but was frail. Most importantly, they both had Amazonian blood. While in only half proportions, they retained our night vision and elemental resilience but were lacking in our strength and stature. Despite that, they retained not only the culture that dwelled in our blood but our dreams as well.

As of today, they were on the cusp of becoming Magi on the large scale, and have ascended the internal ranks of the Association without the aid of an affinity core. An accomplishment that could bring about despair in her superiors, just as much if not more so than pride.

“How unbecoming of me,” Velasco snorted. “To be nearly killed by a fifteen-year-old.”

“To be fair, you almost killed him, despite your handicap.” I meekly shrugged. “But-”

“Almost means death in battle, I know.” She solemnly sighed. Though, there was something else hidden within that gesture. Admiration, I assumed. Or desire, maybe. “It’s just…” Velasco sighed again. “A part of me wants to see him again.”

“A natural reaction,” I assured her. “We desire the strong.”

She quickly shook her head. “It’s not that, Madam. When we see him again- when he returns to Maru, if what they say about him is true, our dream will finally be in our sights.”

“While true.” I sighed. “It’s a shame we have to entrust our dreams to an outsider.”

“Oh, no, madame.” Lia gestured to the papers in my hand. “He’ll point out the motherland for us. Nothing more.”

“So you say.” I smiled reaffirming, then departed for my office.

After placing myself behind my desk, I took a moment to transition back into my business state of mind and attempt to throw away my biases for the time being. Only then did I carefully read through each report, make annotations where I thought necessary, and summarize the information in my mind before retrieving the new tool we’d been issued from my satchel.

Like the Grand Duke of Odissi, the rune-etched shard of silver flowed with arcane mana. Compliments of the new Magus and administrator of the Association. An old soul like me was still used to familiar-based communications. As such, I felt like an utter fool while preparing myself to speak as clearly and professionally as I could to an inanimate object.

Just as I’d been instructed, I fueled my voice with mana and set the receiver by saying. “Arcane Mage Katia Garaki.” In turn, the enchantment responded with a subtle hum along with a silver-white glow. Then, I recited my message. “Grandmaster Mage Gysil Vilignin, 5th Marulean Division Commander, reporting on assessment one-four-nine-zero. The number of Deapouan and Odissian citizens to attempt core awakening: one-hundred nine thousand four hundred eighteen. The number of successfully awakened initiates; one thousand, one hundred ninety. The number of candidates eligible and willing to enroll at the Bodhi Tree: Six. Their reports are as follows.

“Item one. Name, Lucia Pike. Mana well; Ice, twelfth grade. Intellect; thirty-eight. Strength; twenty-five. Constitution; twenty-two. Agility; thirty-seven. Dexterity; thirty-nine. Combat Ability; forty-nine. Elemental Proficiency; forty-two. Most proficient element; Earth. Magical Assessment; fifty. My remarks are as follows: Lucia Pike showed no signs of hesitation during her assessment and displayed mastery over the basics of her magical affinities. Her match proceeded with flawless gracefulness, yet needed some fine-tuning to be brought to its full potential. Regardless, her engagement against a necromental powered by the soul of an orc was over in mere moments. Her spells are rudimentary and basic in nature, but with training, she can ascend to a higher realm of magical ability. Total score: three-hundred two.”

I allowed myself a pause before continuing, fluidly this time, as I’d now worked myself into a groove and overcome the silly feeling of speaking into this thing. “Item two. Jaimess A. Corey. Mana well: Ice grade, tenth grade. Intellect: forty-eight. Strength: twenty-eight. Constitution: twenty-nine. Agility: thirty-nine. Dexterity: thirty-nine. Combat Ability: forty-nine. Elemental Proficiency: fifty. Most proficient element: Earth. Magical Assessment: fifty. My remarks are as follows: Jaimess is an Initiate with a non-combative occupation. Yet, he is far more capable than one would assume based on that aspect alone. First and foremost, it must be noted that he holds complete mastery of elemental manipulation; furthermore, Jaimess’ display makes one rethink the supposedly harmless affinities one may come across in life, as seen by the use of his paper magic to not only defend but to attack with a swarm of creatures born from folded paper. Additionally, he displayed extensive knowledge of his paper, carbon, and silicon magic and has shown a level of mastery that enabled him to form materials one would not think possible. Such as his instance in creating paper shields, quartz, and even diamond. While he is physically fit, his weakness lies in his overall strength. After mitigating that weakness, Sir Corey will surely become a well-rounded force to be reckoned with. Total score: three hundred thirty-two.

“Item three.” I sighed. “Name: Edward Pascal. Mana well: Ice, ninth grade. Intellect: forty-nine. Strength: twenty-five. Constitution: twenty-four. Agility: thirty-nine. Dexterity: forty. Combat Ability: forty-five. Elemental Proficiency: fifty. Most proficient element: Air. Magical Assessment: fifty. Personal remarks are as follows: Despite being another non-combative Initiate, Edward displayed no signs of hesitation against a necromental and displayed mastery of not only his elemental practice but of his magical abilities as well. While his assault against his opponent was indeed one-sided and he showed an aptitude for a destructive position in any military or guild, Ed’s magic appeared to be the most useful for crafting, aligning with his profession. However, he has found a way to merge his knowledge of crafting with combat, given the way he cemented the necromental's to the floor before finishing it off in one powerful blow. Total score: three hundred twenty-two.

I took a break for a long sip of water before continuing and sighed in relief at being halfway through; still, I could only curse the powers that be for enacting such a system in the first place.

“Item four. Name, Toril O’Connell. Mana well: diamond grade, eighth grade. Intellect: forty-seven. Strength: forty-three. Constitution: forty-seven. Agility: fifty. Dexterity: fifty. Combat Ability: fifty. Elemental Proficiency: fifty. Most proficient element: Fire. Magical Assessment: fifty. My remarks are as follows: In the whole of Maru, Toril O’Connell is without a doubt the most capable knight to take this year’s assessment. He is capable of becoming the center of power in any unit he finds himself within. And he has the potential to rise to the level of an elite combat specialist. Most impressive was his display of situational awareness and power control, seen when he negated the risk of collateral damage by the containment of his own wide-reaching attack. My immediate impression was that with his application of magic, his opponent was effortlessly overpowered. Leaving him without a challenge. With training, he will only grow stronger. Though like others gifted with such talent, I fear he may find himself with an inflated ego. Thus bringing about the need for a mentor of wisdom. Total score: three hundred eighty-seven.”

“Item five. Name, Roheisa Deapou. Mana well: diamond, twelth grade. Intellect: twenty-nine. Strength: forty-eight. Constitution: forty-nine. Agility: twenty-six. Dexterity: twenty-eight. Combat Ability: fifty. Elemental Proficiency: forty-one. Most proficient element: Earth. Magical Assessment: fifty. My remarks are as follows- Roheisa displayed expertise in all her magical affinities and showcased a particularly powerful reinforcement spell that allowed her to physically fight a demon soul necromental toe to toe. Like Toril before her, the golem stood not a chance in the face of her magical onslaught and was reduced to a similar pile of rubble upon completion of her assessment. In short, she showed the unmerciful nature that the Iron Magus was infamous for. Though she remains hotheaded and naive. Total score: three hundred twenty-one.”

“Item six.” I sighed in a mixed mess of relief, glee, and pride. Finally, I could finish my report and take some much-needed time off. More so, I couldn’t help but feel like countless others as I shared what I’d witnessed with the realm.

“Name.” I beamed with newfound vigor. “Amun. Mana well: Arcane, eighteenth grade. Intellect: fifty. Strength: twenty-nine. Constitution: fifty. Agility: fifty. Dexterity: fifty. Combat Ability: fifty. Elemental Proficiency: fifty. Most proficient element: Air. Magical Assessment: fifty. Remarks are as follows: First and foremost, let it be known that Amun is only half-human. His nature as a half-drow grants him an agile body beloved by mana; one we struggled to properly assess. While his body is naturally fragile as a result, Amun displayed a level of pain tolerance and mental fortitude only a sorcerous necromancer could hold. This allowed him to not only remain conscious but remain willing to fight long after he should have been incapacitated. Such weaknesses are naturally made up for with his magical abilities, potent enough to allow him to toy with an empowered necromental; but even without them, Amun defeated Staff Sergeant Sicilia Velasco in martial combat.

“In short.” I sighed. “Amun is the most powerful initiate I have ever seen. Yet, he is weakened by his apparent lack of humility on the battlefield. His failure to take his opponent seriously may turn out to be his eventual downfall. He would be wise to rid himself of his habit before it comes longstanding. Total score: three hundred seventy-nine points. As such, Amun, Roheisa Deapou, Lucia Pike, Toril O’Connor, Jaimess Corey, and Edward Pascal have accepted their offers to enroll at the Bodhi Tree. Expect them at Rook Island on the thirtieth of the month.

With my reports closed out, I ceased the flow of mana to my voice once and for all. In turn, the shard glowed brightly one final time before pulling away from my arm and eventually pried itself free of my grasp to sail out the window towards the southeast.

"So many things need to change in this realm," I complained to myself. But it was true. Gone were the days when humanity flourished on Maru. Now, we were spread across the Mortal Plane with little hope of contacting each other. Considering they were still alive. Considering his dream, everyone assumed Amun would take up the mantle and do what countless guilds couldn’t. But then, what if his guild became the opposite; I couldn't help but wonder. If it became a den for thieves, deviants, and degenerates who had no regard for laws or morals, then spread across all of Maru. A frightening situation indeed. If someone as powerful and uncontrollable as Amun were to lose his sanity, few could ever hope to stop him; and even if they did, the aftermath would see the Plane itself ripped asunder.

Surely a terrifying thought to ponder.

As such, my excitement soon turned to anxiousness while the dreams that’d been rekindled in my mind were replaced with a thought-provoking question that repeated in my mind without end.

‘What kind of place will you create, Amun? An eternal empire that unites the realm? Or an undying legion that breaks it?’