Ends of Magic

It seemed to Nathan that he’d barely fallen asleep before Sarah woke him for his watch. He shook his head blearily as she gave him a silent salute and went to her own bedroll.

It was a pretty busy day. Multiple armies of constructs destroyed. I went from level 88 to 117 over four fights - any one of which could have been deadly. Five if you count that thing with Kozar. It did give me a level, so it probably should count.

Nathan hefted his blanket as he climbed up one of the rocks that surrounded their camp. He sat down atop the smooth pillar of stone, arranging the warm fabric around him and appreciating the view. The extra height let him look out across the desolate landscape. There were no clouds to hide the world above, and a blue-green glow illuminated the cracked and sere wasteland that the Heirs were camping in. The rough landscape smoothed out into a series of low dunes to the south, while the mountains to the west stuck into the sky like jagged splinters.

Beautiful. I feel like I’m on one of those backpacking trips I did in college, taking a few days off from the academic grind to head out into the wilderness for some peace.

Nathan snorted. It sure wasn’t peace he was finding out here, but in moments like these it sure felt like it. He looked down at the campsite, noting Stella’s prone form.

We found the next limit to her spellcasting - mana burn. Turns out it’s pretty mentally exhausting to channel enough magic to destroy an army. I hope her new Talent Development helps with that. I bet that little event will lead to some future Developments that help specialize in grand battle magic like that - next class-up? Not too far off at this rate.

He ran his eyes over the rest of the Heirs - his teammates - and thought of the incredible potential in each of them. They’d avoided death over many close fights, and been rewarded with levels and power. They were well on their way to becoming elite Adventurers, able to stand on their own.

At which point Nathan would leave them - to pursue his crusade against Giantsrest. If he didn't do it even sooner.

We just need to avoid notice for a bit longer. At this rate it really won’t be long before I stop worrying about being hunted, and start doing the hunting.

Nathan furrowed his brow. He could have sworn he’d just heard something. From… up? He looked up, scanning the world overhead. After a moment, he caught sight of a small haze that partially obscured one of the continents.

Tilting his head back and forth, Nathan observed the blurry spot. It wasn’t moving, but it was getting bigger.

As if it’s getting closer.

Nathan concentrated on the haze, trying to pierce through any illusion magic to see what was hiding. Earlier today he’d seen that his antimagic, when combined with [Notice], would let him see through illusions. If this was an illusion - or invisibility spell - he could pierce it.

The first trace that it was working were sounds reaching his ears. “... just lazy. You call upon me to do your work. This is not how one advances as an archmage.” Then Nathan saw double, the image of two robed men superimposed on a blank night sky. He couldn’t see details, but one of the silhouettes was plump enough to be Taeol.

Shit shit shit. What do I do? Be smart.

Nathan spent a moment calculating angles. He might be able to jump up and catch the flying mages, who clearly thought they were hidden by their spells. But while the rest of the Heirs weren't specialized to fight mages like he was, they were powerful.

Especially recently. Trust your team, Nathan.

"Wake up! Mages coming in!" That was as far as Nathan got before the second mage - a gaunt man whose robes hung without adornment - started casting.

[Zone of Silence]

[Soporific Bubble]

[Mass Levitate]

He cast quickly, efficiently. The first spell covered the Heirs even as Nathan was speaking. He saw Khachi roll over, but that was all as the soporific gas took effect. The Heirs rose smoothly into the air, until they were suspended just behind the two mages floating thirty feet in the air.

He just… grabbed them. So fast. Shit. I can jump fifteen feet vertically, then glide nearly horizontally as long as I’m spending Stamina, but I can't reach them unless they come lower.

The gaunt mage turned attention towards Nathan, staring directly at him with huge eyes that glowed with a galaxy of multicolored light. The second mage also looked over, his own eyes casting an orange glow.

Those are Taeol’s eyes. Well this is fucked.

Nathan’s supposition was confirmed a moment later as Taeol’s voice sounded loudly across the darkness. “Won’t you capture him too?”

The other figure snorted derisively. “And deliver a giant’s meal to you? Bad enough you requested my aid with this, and I accepted. You will only master magic through seeking its limits, and this man” he pointed a bony finger at Nathan “is a limit of magic. You will overcome him, or you will die. I have aided you since he ran and hid, but you have burnt my generosity to a stub. Now clench your fist around the prize and make something worthy of an archmage of Giantsrest.”

Shit shit shit. With the way that other mage is talking they’re probably the Questor. Or just a more powerful archmage. I… don’t know what to do.

Taeol clasped his hands together before his chest in a ritual gesture and bowed over them. “I am but a finger in your hand. This humble student thanks Master Badud for his aid.”

Yup. The Questor. Not good.

Badud waved his hand at Taoel dismissively. “Waking the Fortress Foundry to flush them out was clever. If the old mage-killer hadn’t been around you could have collected the whole bunch. But even after he departed you insisted upon my aid. Pathetic. An archmage must be superior to all others.”

Then he turned and addressed Nathan. “Well, do you have a voice, boy? I find myself disappointed in my students on my return to Giantsrest. Will I also be disappointed in my enemies?”

The majority of Nathan’s thoughts spun through ways to attack the two mages floating overhead, but he reached for something to say. “Who are you?”

The faint overhead light illuminated a slight smirk. “I am Badud. A founder of Giantsrest, and a Questor. Other titles I clasp by the handful, but those are the titles of today. And you are Nathan Lark, from another world. Earth, or so Taeol tells me. He wants your secrets, but I find myself uncaring.”

Badud shrugged languidly. “If such secrets will help him master his magic, he should take them. It seems they might - he has told me of the young mage’s actions against the constructs. An impressive spell for one so young.” He tilted his head, gauging Nathan’s reaction. “She will serve Giantsrest well.”

Nathan’s Rage activated of its own accord, and he wracked his brain for a way to get toBadud and tear him limb from limb. He looked around for a loose rock before dismissing the thought.

Throwing a normal, nonmagical rock at an archmage is not going to work. It would make me feel better, but that's about it.

Nathan pulled up his status, confirming the state of his Talents. [Slow Fall] was only rank 8. If it was two ranks higher, he could Develop the Talent into [Airwalking] and go up there to punch the sly grin off Badud’s face.

While Nathan thought frantically, Badud tilted his head to watch. “Not a Questor, it seems. Or one so deeply in cover… it matters not. Maybe I will capture you for my own curiosity.” He raised a hand, casually casting a spell of breathtaking complexity.

[Mind Control]

The spell attacked Nathan’s skull with an icepick of mana, the specialized magic reaching for his frontal cortex and… bouncing off his skull. It was clearly an elaboration on [Dominate] that was an order of magnitude more subtle and more powerful.

I can Develop [Magic Absorption] to let me reach them! I just need to give it some range. About fifteen feet would do it, then I can jump and knock him out of the sky. Once he’s on the ground, he’s mine.

Badud frowned. “Fascinating, not the slightest penetration. He truly is immune. How does conjuration fare?”

[Soporific Bubble]

This spell summoned a sweet-smelling gas around Nathan, and he held his breath before realizing the gas was diffusing through his skin and instantly transmuting back into harmless air before it even penetrated the top layer.

High-tier Spellsense 9 achieved!

Badud seemed intrigued by his failure. “Indeed a worthy subject. And a worthy foe. I believe you will be more amusing to leave free - and as a trial to my students.”

Nathan snarled, expressing his impotent fury. “I’m going to kill you.”

Badud’s pleased expression transmuted into a wide grin. “By all the gods of Davrar, I believe you will try. And I will welcome it! Giantsrest offers me creature comforts, but I wish for a challenge. More than these stale dungeons can provide. There is no agency to them, no locking of wits.”

He gestured as if dispensing favor. “Go. Provide Gemore with all the secrets you wish, it will avail them not against my power, and Giantsrest will absorb the secrets that help us. But you, you might stand a chance. Become a Dragon, Nathan Lark. It has been too long since I had a rival worthy of attention.”

Badud’s voice became derisive as he gestured towards Taeol. “But first, you will be the adversary to my disappointing protege. Your friends will go with Taeol to Halsmet, and be in his care. You will be seeing them again, if not in the manner you would wish. Let the experience strengthen you, and if you defeat Taeol, I will consider you a rival.”

Nathan had been concentrating on his antimagic, focusing on stretching it beyond his skin. Closing his eyes, he bore down on casting it forth like a spear. It stretched, and Nathan hissed with the effort, throwing all of his focus into the feeling of his Talent flexing.

It has to be close.

Opening his eyes, Nathan judged the distance. His antimagic extended towards Badud - about six inches. His hope died as Badud gave a jaunty wave, Taoel hovering behind him like a scolded child who’d convinced a teacher to intervene in a schoolyard dispute.

Badud’s smile was serene as he examined Nathan’s strained expression. “I have other things to accomplish in Giantsrest.” He buffed his nails on his robe. “I’m here to revamp the curriculum, extinguish a few dungeons and send an army or three to recapture Gemore. I will reside at the top of the Ascendent Academy for as long as it takes to ensure my little kingdom is growing and guide the flow of this continent back onto the desired path.”

Then he winked, the jovial expression looking out of place on the stern and ascetic face. “I await your actions, Nathan Lark. If you should challenge Giantsrest, know you challenge me. If you should survive the fall of Gemore, I encourage you to chase me. Will you track me on my travels when I do not have a city of mages behind me? I am curious to learn the answer.”

[Mass Teleport]

Once more, Nathan was alone in the serene darkness of the broken wasteland.

—

Nathan screamed at the sky. He was fully aware that it was a pointless exercise, that he needed to be doing something productive, instead of standing atop this rock in a desolate wilderness, yelling his frustration at the uncaring world above.

But his fury seemed bottomless, and it needed some kind of outlet. As part of Nathan enjoyed the strength flowing through his limbs and exulted in the demonstration of his wrath, the rest of him was carefully cataloging his resources.

The most important one is Stamina. With Stella gone I don’t have easy sources of magic anymore, and my food is limited too with the loss of the Heirs' dimensional bags.

As soon as he felt able, Nathan deactivated his rage, and sat cross-legged atop the rock, setting his jaw as he gazed down at the camp. The empty camp. He took several calming breaths, resisting the urge to jump up and act.

It’s more important I avoid panic, or bad decisions. Taking five minutes now to arrive at a carefully considered plan is more important than executing a bad plan five minutes earlier.

Nathan had a hard time convincing himself of that, his imagination throwing up images of what could be happening to the Heirs right now - in Taeol’s power, exposed to whatever mind magic the selfish mage wanted to utilize.

Yes. Time is an important variable. The Heirs all have inherent protection from mind magic - so they can probably hold out a little while. Except for Stella, who uses items to resist mind magic. And those can be removed. Shit.

Nathan shook his head, interrupting his frantic inhalations and resuming a slow breathing pattern. His emotions were valid - and they were a vital part of his decision making. The most rational choice was probably to abandon the Heirs and start a careful campaign against Giantsrest - the same way he would have if he’d left them safely in Gemore.

I could unleash all of the Insights of Earth on Gemore, try to build them up to where they can really fight Giantsrest.

But that wasn’t what he was going to do. That would take time - Nathan wouldn’t abandon his friends to that evil. Besides, Badud hinted that was what he expected Nathan to do.

And I don't want to do what he expects. But am I just falling into a different trap? They can’t teleport me, so they’re dangling bait to get me to come to them. They might not have even taken the Heirs to Halsmet. This might be a shell game to lure me in.

With a sigh, Nathan recalled everything that Harthi had told him. Taeol was based out of Halsmet, specifically out of the manor atop the second-tallest hill.

And Badud is a Questor. Why would he run that kind of trickery if he’s just that powerful? No, I think he was being fairly honest about his intentions. He wants Taeol to get stronger, and is setting me up as an adversary to force the issue. And if I do overcome Taeol then Badud himself will actually welcome the challenge. And Badud implied he's busy in Giantsrest, at the academy. That squares with what Harthi told me.

The real question was - did Nathan go to Gemore or to Halsmet? There were sub-options, but first he had to decide if he was going to communicate with Gemore.

I would be asking for help launching a rescue mission. And I might get that help - the Guardians would probably be in. But that would elevate this to a full-scale war between Gemore and Giantsrest, and the Heirs would be prizes in that fight. No way that ends well for them. In fact, given what Badud said, I wonder if a trap at Halsmet isn’t laid for me, but for the Guardians.

Nathan tilted his head back and forth, considering the options.

Going back to Gemore would take time. A day back to Tarren, in the wrong direction. Probably a few days back to Gemore, then time to coordinate things. I’m not that far from Halsmet here. I could just… go.

That plan appealed to Nathan. A lot of it was emotional - that was for damn sure. Nathan wanted the best ending, and that was one where Taoel didn’t have weeks to carefully worm his way into the Heirs’ minds. If Nathan could catch the man in a day or two, then he might be able to prevent anything truly horrific from happening to his friends.

I wonder if they’re expecting me to just hate them and work against them slowly? At most, they might expect me to go to Gemore, bring in all of the Guardians and every other Adventurer I can for a rescue mission in a few days. And if I can mobilize the Adventurers against Halsmet, then Giantsrest will know because of the spy Harthi mentioned - who still hasn’t been dealt with.

Nathan could feel himself coming to a decision, his breathing quickened with excitement and fear.

I don’t think they’ll be expecting me to go straight to Halsmet. Or if they do, they’ll expect me to be out of my mind with anger - and how could one non-mage, non-elite Adventurer pose a threat to an entire town with multiple archmages? But I’m not fighting the town, I’m fighting Taeol. Freeing the Heirs is all I care about. If I go in smart, then this might work. And I'll take that.

Nathan stood. He mulled his plan over in his head as he descended the rock. It was barely a plan at this point - and certainly very risky. But it was what Nathan wanted to do. It was motivated by his Rage, by his desire to help his friends. But he wasn’t convinced it was a terrible idea - doing the unexpected had its own appeal.

Badud mentioned that his ambitions weren’t just about me - he wants to reconquer Gemore. Drawing out the elite Adventurers would be a big part of that. It might be Taoel’s plan to draw me to Halsmet and capture me, but I don’t think it’s Badud’s.

Nathan inventoried the camp while he thought. The problem was that his options were simple, but all of those options were bad. The only way to act outside of the expectations of his foes was to demonstrate some unknown capability, some method that was outside of their plan.

It’s too late to Develop something new. I need to think of some capability I have that they don’t know about. [Magic Absorption] doesn't count. [Airwalking] would, but I don’t know how I’ll get two more ranks in a high-tier Talent quickly. I can’t just find cliffs to jump off of, that won’t be enough. I’d need to find cliffs to jump off during a fight, and that’s risky and would take too long to set up.

Let’s prune this back. How can I surprise Taeol?

When Nathan thought it in terms of surprise, an answer suggested itself. It was a mundane kind of answer, but one that might work nonetheless.

If I sprint all the way to Halsmet, how quickly can I get there?

Status of Nathan Lark:

Permanent Talent 1: Magic Absorption 10

Permanent Talent 2: Perfected Body 4

Talent 3: High-tier Slow Fall 8

Class: Implacable Antimage level 117

Stamina: 3717/3810

Antimage’s Impassivity

Antimagic Momentum

Raging Thrill

Implacable Inertia

Unarmored Resilience

Improved Antimagic

Strenuous Agility

Hand-to-hand Expertise

Utility skills:

Battle Meditation 5

High-tier Earnestness 9

Mid-tier Sprinting 10

High-tier Spellsense 9

High-tier Notice 4

High-tier Identify 4

High-tier Dodging Footwork 5

High-tier Enhanced Memory 7

Mid-tier Lecturing 8

High-tier Tumbling 2