Black Magus

Whatever the fuck this beast was opened up a wide sinkhole beneath our camp. Breaking our sandstone foundation into a cloud of pebbles and chunks that loosely supported the tent floating above it. I watched it all in my slowed perception of time.

And I acted.

While the others retreated into the sky with their weapons half-drawn, I stood within my domains to take note of the smooth ridges repeating down the dank cave that appeared and continued below us for what looked like hundreds of meters. Seeing it reminded me of only one thing. One absurdly large and disgusting thing. So I spawned an Artificial Well to pull our immediate environment up and out of the maw of the colossal worm to watch it gracefully arc over the sand sea from a safe distance.

Once in the clear, everyone sheathed their weapons and went to watch the worm squirm through the dunes in circles while I sent the debris raining back down and sorted through our gear. Where, to not much surprise, I found a little visitor orbiting helplessly around the stove. A small, black scorpion.

I captured it with a grin and turned to see the others peering down at the worm, muttering to themselves.

“Should we kill it?” I heard the Princess ask. “It’s a potential danger to any travelers.”

“What travelers?” Toril laughed. “We haven’t seen a soul since we started crossing the mountain.”

“Most people would go by ship.” Ed casually pointed out.

“I don’t see the point either.” Jaimess chimed in. “This creature may be a vital part of this desert ecosystem. Killing it may do more harm than good. And you never know what kind of creature its presence keeps away.”

Following that, they all turned to me with raised brows.

“Do what you want.” I shrugged. “I’m not gonna kill it.”

“Okay.” She nodded, looked down to the surface, then back to me and the others before she took off to the southeast.

‘Desert adventure over, I guess.’ I fell after her with a snort. In hindsight, though, I couldn't exactly blame her. The journey to Rook Island was not only a long one but a boring one as well. She and the others saw no combat outside of a few hunting trips and training sessions. And the animals I faced were nothing more than ordinary creatures. Even the humans and their scarce use of magic were lacking. Perhaps, I assumed, it was different on the other continents, but this journey convinced me that Maruleans were weak. And it was all because of the birdcage draped over Ulai centuries ago. The Tree of Life was dead, and the only thing capable of bringing new life into this realm was blockaded, which made for no challenge here. Not for me, my companions, or anyone with a modicum of power. Even the worm wouldn’t have been a challenge to any of us. Nor would anything less than those of the Guild Association. But individuals among that tier, I assumed, were few and far between in this realm.

‘Strongest in the world?’ I pondered. ‘Or, the strongest in this world?’

'Both,' I eventually concluded. 'I doubt both.'

It was clear that Telin had many trials planned for me. Based on his words, my handouts would soon run dry, and I’d face endless challenges, tasks, and tests to prove to him and the other Eternals that I deserved a place at their side. However, I’d long since decided I didn’t want a spot in the proverbial Mount Olympus. At the very least, I wanted to retain the knowledge, experiences, and memories I spent so long cultivating. At most, I only cared to customize my appearance in the next universe I’d be born into. With that in mind, I didn’t see a reason to plan for whatever fate or destiny Telin had in store for me aside from ensuring my subordinates could survive the game of survival. Instead, I spent the flight across the desert using the mental map of the Plane I created at the summit to plan out a route to answer and accomplish the many questions and ambitions burning within my mind and heart.

And it all started in Maru.

After finding the Cole Crypt, a large chunk of history would have then been uncovered to me. Furthermore, my Guild would have undergone at least one test deployment and would be ready to breach Ulai and handle the portals. After that, I planned to develop my allies into an Empire if one hadn't already been formed. My Guild would then grow into a proper military grow and my subordinates would create their own subsidiary guilds. And then the grandest expedition in history would begin.

Our period of peacetime would end with our departure to Betrarth. As the weakest of all the realms, yet one populated with countless orcs, goblins, and other creatures, it was the obvious choice for a full-on expedition. After establishing a foothold in the verdant lands closest to us, we’d cut north and turn south to explore the western coast before heading toward the center, where that vast Tree of Life was seen. And after that, it was south through the Steam Line and into Vagua. Even with enchantments, however, I was confident that not all of us would explore the Inner Reaches. The environment aside, it was said to be home to powerful demon families and vampire clans. And the environment only got more volatile the closer we’d get to Gray Terminus.

As for Youtera, I felt it’d be appropriate to enter the land after my journey to the sun. While my mother did say I’d be fetched to be taught mana forging when I 'matured as an elf,' she never specified what age that was and if it'd be affected by my human blood. Regardless if there was, I lived on my own terms. I wasn’t one to go chasing whoever appeared before my eyes with promises of a higher power. And I certainly wasn’t going to go along with Telin’s whims like the rest of the elves. If I didn’t learn the art myself, I decided I’d pull up in Youtera when I felt it right. And once my business there was done, I’d climb the White Wall and make the final voyage to Egedil. But by then, I would hope I found out what happened to that vast realm of galaxies I saw in Telin's palm. And I assumed that we’d all be dead.

Or rather, undead. Including me.

‘But then what?’ I asked myself. 'What will you do if Tiatus is among the last generation stars? If there is nothing in this universe except the void; you?"

If what Roheisa said was true, I assumed I could explore the realm of the gods. Or bring them here, to the Mortal Plane, to challenge them, god-to-unproven eternal god. Given that and what Telin said, it was also safe to presume I would become enemies in the eyes of many of them. But even then, their defeat would put me back to square one.

I supposed I could take my place among them as the God of... something. Or create my own infinite space for my people to thrive in. But even that came with the threat of endless boredom. While a part of me knew that the endless possibilities of life made it pointless to think about such far-off things, my mind still churned until nightfall. Perhaps only to burn the day by, if not to truly find a reason to live on in this world indefinitely.

Regardless, we halted two hours before midnight. I promptly captured everyone’s attention by withdrawing my and Roheisa’s ships from my Shadow Pocket and giving them both a flick of gravity mana, imbuing them with just enough energy to make them buoyant in the atmosphere like the floating cities of Venus. With that done, I attached a magnetic tether between the vessels before boarding my own. Then, I peered over the railings to motion the others aboard.

“Alright,” I said once everyone came to a shaky landing. “I only need a little concentration to keep these ships floating. I won’t be able to meditate until we come to a landing. But once the engines are primed, we’ll be able to travel through the night in luxury.”

“Will you be alright, staying up all night?” Roheisa asked.

“I’m nocturnal by nature.” I smiled at her. “We’ll be at the coast by morning and I’ll be able to sleep then. Ed.” I threw my chin at him. “If you can prime the drives, we can get underway.”

“Sure.” He quickly nodded, then trotted off to the aft end with force magic gathered in his palms. After dumping the energy into the enchantments, he flew over to Roheisa’s vessel and repeated the process before flying back to lounge about in the salon next to Roheisa, sprawled out on the deck, staring up at the sky.

After a few more words, the others retreated below deck for the night while I accelerated the ships up to cruising speed, then pulled out my Annals to begin scribbling away and answering Roheisa’s off-handed questions for the next several hours.

We talked about a mix of things; me, her, and Ed. Titles. Classes. Evolution. Guilds. And more mundane things as well. Our favorite snacks, foods, or colors. As well as deeper topics. About Sorcerers, Witches, and Wizards. Devils and Demons. The Hells and the Under. Of Nonus and the other realms.

By two in the morning, Ed drifted off to sleep and Toril, Jaimess, and Lucia awoke another two hours later to join in on the small talk while whipping up some breakfast. We talked more about dreams and ambitions until the sun rose above the Plane to saturate the gray wash before us with the blues and beiges and grays of the southern coastline. Not to mention our destination, Rook Island, sitting beyond it in a pocket of swirling, foamy seas.

With our goal in sight, Roheisa and I decided to use our combined magic to dash madly to the finish. With my Artificial Well pulling on the vessels in tandem with her Attraction spell, we arced over the steep shores at breakneck speeds and crashed onto the waters like a pair of meteors.

I sighed in relief after canceling the spell and relaxed in my seat for a long moment. Though the mana taken from my Well was negligible. Weakening the gravitational pull of so much mass required considerably more focus than maintaining the domains surrounding me at all times. And it wasn’t as if I could keep those spells active in my sleep either. That, I assumed, was what enchantments were for. And that assumption only made me all the more eager to learn the art in the near future. Before that came, however, I had to get through the final trial set by the Guild Association: Seven days of waiting.

I was confident I’d be bored within a few days sitting idly at sea. Even with a schedule filled with training, experimenting, overseeing the Menagerie’s development, and communing with my ancestors, I figured the anticipation of the adventures ahead would leave me unable to meditate or sleep for days on end and that time would crawl by at a snail's pace. But only because I wanted it to. I could’ve dilated time and made the days pass by in seconds. But instead, I resolved to enjoy this time to my heart’s content, for my plans didn’t allow for another long period of carefree rest for at least a year. Maybe more.

And our trials wouldn’t be over for at least a few centuries.