The Magi's Society

Mevi was mostly conscious when Kalesi had saved her. The writhing pain was like hot irons under her skin that tried to infect and travel within her blood vessels. Yet as Mevi closed her eyes, in the safety of her mentor’s arms, she felt the light around her disappear and with it a dull cold air enter. The cold was almost soothing against her burning skin. She tried to open her eyes, only to be met with a dark expanse and rushing air as the two traveled at a marvelous speed downwards. After an agonizing amount of time, the fast movements stopped, and the cold chill permeated around her.

The worst of the pain dissipated quickly, morphing from an agonizing fire into a sharp throbbing. Mevi could feel her skin shifting under her clothes, and she ripped at the fabric. Invisible hands seemed to sense her discomfort and helped remove the robes. Those invisible hands, presumed to be Kalesi, attempted to pull free the gloves to no avail. Mevi settled against a cold metal, noticing only now that she was laying down. It was flat and chilled beneath her. Grime and dust seemed to cover it, but the stimulation of the filth was a preferable distraction.

Soon the pain disappeared fully, or at least comparably so. A dull ache throbbed under Mevi’s skin if she moved too suddenly. As her senses became fully her own again, she realized the darkness around her was thick and real. She didn’t like the dark, and wished it away so she could find Kalesi. She wanted the one stable figure in her life so far, the one person that seemed to try to protect her in this short span of time. She wished for light, but remembered the resulting pain from her previous explosion. Her mind almost naturally attuned a dim glow that slowly started to fill the darkness with a warm orange hue.

Mevi and Kalesi were revealed as the slow light crept around corners and up walls. Mevi felt a quiet complaint from her body, but it dissipated as she lowered the strength of the light slightly. Kalesi looked concerned, but only spared a few glances at her pupil. As the light fully illuminated the two, Kalesi moved to the only entrance to their lopsided hideout. She began pulling at weak metal and loose frame, closing a decrepit door to block the outside. Mevi noticed a shrill wind blowing outside that echoed against the metal husk they had made camp in.

Kalesi confirmed the security of the door, and moved to Mevi’s side. Mevi took the chance to glance at her arms. There were dark veins sprawling from her wrists and chest, where her Maige conduits rested against her skin. Before their eyes the dark veins were retreating to their beginning, and most of the bubbling welts had completely disappeared. Mevi was recovering surprisingly quickly, but she didn’t know why that was surprising. Kalesi bent down to inspect her young ward’s skin, “What happened? Do you know?”

Mevi was unsure, “I activated the Maige… I summoned a light in my panic and excitement. It was too strong. I should have tempered it like I am doing now, but I was almost… consumed, by the moment. It was strange.”

“You are at least healing. We escaped the bandits, and both of us are safe. So that is all that matters right now.”

Mevi was curious about her new surroundings, “Where are we Kalesi? It is almost impossibly dark here.”

Kalesi sighed, “We are in ‘The Depths’, or at least that is what I have heard it called. It is an accurate description, if anything.” Mevi’s confused look was an adequate response, Kalesi unconsciously sighed thinking about the situation they were in. “There is a strange, and incredibly dense, layer of… well everything. The Rust, it is an ancient infection of the body, metal, stone, and anything else it touches. It can be dealt with using thorough, and civilized, cleaning methods. But here, they haven’t the tools or means. The Rust eats away at material, then begins to spore like a fungus. Those spores make up the dust, rust, and debris that billow like wind. I have heard it begins to become as thick as water far enough down.”

Mevi was fascinated, and waited for Kalesi to continue explaining. Yet Kalesi stopped and entered a pained contemplation. Turning around, to keep her face towards the door, Kalesi grimly said “This Rust can turn any and all into simple air. It infects a host like a parasite and makes them deranged. Before they are completely eaten away. Then they become one with the infection that claimed them.” Kalesi sat down on a slanted pillar that once stood by the door. The two sat in silence, save for the shrieking wind battering the metal hull of the fallen tower.

After a while of waiting, and silent thoughts, Mevi’s affliction subsided into almost nothing. The black veins receded into nothing, and few hints were shown that they were ever there. Mevi’s skin was as perfect as it is after a fresh wash, save for the growing layer of grime and dust. Kalesi helped Mevi back into her robes, as the chill was beginning to set in. Mevi was wondering what their next step was, and if Kalesi’s expressions were translated correctly she was planning that very thing. Kalesi eventually turned to Mevi, “I think I will let you make our next decision. Despite my initial concern, the ambush left us mostly unscathed. Your ability to recover was faster than I could ever have assumed, or maybe it looked worse than it was.”

Mevi chuckled grimly, “It was quite painful in the moment, but I am fine now I think.”

“Then… Our choices are to continue this Barge-cursed mission, or begin our escape. Both are dangerous, for various reasons…”

A thought plaguing Mevi finally won its way out, “Would we be helping people with our mission?”

Kalesi smiled at her pupil’s undaunted innocence, “Yes, I think. From what I was provided, we need to head towards known population centers. We would gather who we can find, and attempt to evacuate them outside of the Rust’s influence. We shouldn’t have run into any bandits or scavengers, but that is something to report later.”

Mevi thought for a moment, but her mind was mostly recalling the strange exteriors of those ‘bandits’, “I think I would like to continue. This is my first mission, and if we are sent to help people I don’t want to abandon them.”

Kalesi’s smile widened a bit, she tousled her pupil’s hair playfully, “Good choice. If we weren’t sent to help people we would already be returning to the nearest uninfected edge.”

The two were in agreement, as much good as that did in the situation. After resting for a few more minutes, Kalesi scooped up her pupil once again, and they escaped their metallic cover into a sharp breeze. Kalesi looked down to her pupil, and then at the light emanating from her gemstones. Picking up on her mentor’s thought, Mevi silenced her light, and in the shroud of darkness Kalesi traversed the abyss.

From Mevi’s perspective, within Kalesi’s arms, she could see very little. As they suddenly soared then quickly landed, Mevi could see only the briefest impression of ground beneath them. Then they would soar back into the air again, apparently jumping from ledge to ledge. Kalesi’s vision seemed to pierce the darkness in a way Mevi’s couldn’t. Yet as they rose, small pins of light shone above their head like stars. The small stars grew steadily in size after every new leap into the abyssal space. As the light grew, their sources began to move and shift. The most potent light from above stabbed through the shroud laid out by the ambient material created by this strange ‘Rust’. As they grew higher and higher in altitude the shifting storm of debris overhead eventually softened to allow some small amount of light.

Almost suddenly, from the perspective of Kalesi’s powerful leaps, the light flooded back into full view. One ledge there was darkness, with thousands of small pricks of light peeking through the blanket of fugitive dust. Then suddenly, after they landed on the newest ledge, their full view was coated with grimy light again. The swirling clouds allowed the shining ambient light to enter the world once again. Kalesi stopped for a moment, and motioned for Mevi to look down. Below them, only one or two meters, was the thick darkness that created an impassable shield to block light. The winds below were slow and sluggish compared to the virulent storm above. Yet even the above storm held no sway or influence over Kalesi’s strong movements.

The two had evaded the darkness that seemed so permanent just moments before. With their newfound vision the pair began soaring from one ledge to another again. Mevi could now properly see the outline and description of their targets. The massive pipework twisted and spiraled in impossible directions. In every facet of her vision, Mevi saw nothing but rusted metal or twisting pipework. The amalgamation of construction around them made it difficult to discern how far any given target could be, and the swirling gusts of material shadowed any further investigation. Yet while Mevi marveled at the strangeness, and density, of their surroundings Kalesi seemed to know exactly where and how to travel. Despite the intercorse of metal and stone that persisted its confusion, the travel across and up continued after the brief rest for awe.

After several leaps upward, traveling at least one hundred meters after exiting the darkness, the density of construction lapsed. Loosened, and suddenly extremely large, the platforms Kalesi traveled were easier to discern between near and far. The time they spent climbing upwards was twice, if not more, as long as their adventure downward. When Kalesi eventually found a large pipe-road she was satisfied with, and put Mevi on her own feet again, the winds settled to a slow breeze.

Around them was, once again, the vast expanse of metal and stone that descended to unknown depths. The platform chosen to be their path was much wider than the one they were dropped off at. Many meters across, it was more similar to the large winding roads within the city than any type of plumbing. The material transported within such a large construct could only be imagined.

After Mevi had recovered her barings, and was finished exploring the vastness around them, Kalesi readied herself to move. Mevi hadn’t initially noticed, but Kalesi had stopped as if to rest briefly once Mevi was released to the ground. Mevi was concerned, but was waved off quietly. “Don’t worry. I am fine.” replied Kalesi, as if anticipating her questioning pupil.

Mevi was still concerned, she hadn’t ever seen Kalesi winded or truely tired, “We can take a longer rest if you would like. You are the only one who knows where we are going after all.”

Kalesi sucked in air, only to release it in a deep breath followed by coughing, “I can rest while we walk. My wargear is similar to your Maige, I think. Even its more robotic enhancements can tire someone’s muscles. Turns out, ‘normal’ people aren’t meant to soar several hundred meters as fast as we did.”

Mevi couldn’t hold back a small laugh, and Kalesi chuckled herself. The clarity of oddness of the situation seemed to return in lapses to the both of them. She seemed to have fully recovered herself, and the two began walking their path once again. As they walked, Kalesi was noticeably on edge, but smiled when she caught Mevi’s glances. As if to reassure or calm her pupil, while she redoubled her own perception of potential dangers.

The duo walked for a while, and nothing seemed to change. Yet as they continued along the chosen path, the air seemed to become thicker. Subtly, and almost unnoticeable to Mevi, the air made itself denser and slower. Less wind was blowing, as if the materials in the air were actively resisting the billowing currents. What light that shined through was dimmed, where before its ambience was like a clouded day it was now like an evening shroud.

The terrain around them was still perceivable, and Kalesi hung on every motion or noise, but the dark tint continued to thicken. It eventually became stuffy, almost hard to breathe, even with their masked mouths and noses. They continued and as they did Mevi couldn’t help thinking to herself that she missed the open air in the city, despite its claustrophobic towers. Then Mevi realized something, and looked down to her gloved hands. The clear gemstone was dull and dead, deactivated by her own command. She had been trying to maintain a consistent command of suppression on it, just in case her mind wandered and it activated again. Yet now she saw a potential use.

Quietly grabbing at Kalesi’s sleeve, who turned to see what was wrong, Mevi realized she wasn’t sure if they should be talking or not. Pointing at her glove’s gemstone, and gesturing around her, only caused Kalesi to look confused. Mevi’s attempts at charades continued until Kalesi whispered softly, “Mevi, just speak softly. We should be safe for now.”

Mevi summoned her breath, and realized her charades were almost required with the lack of good oxygen, and she managed to squeak a reply, “Should I try to make an air bubble?” Her voice was scratchy and like a prolonged gasp, she didn’t realize how in need of good air she actually was.

Kalesi thought for a moment, “You can try, do not strain yourself. If you revert to your previous condition again I will carry you out regardless of your opinion. Our safety comes before this mission.”

Mevi nodded eagerly, deciding further speech might be too difficult. She focused on the idea of her gemstone, and it pulsed slightly as if to respond. Unsure how to proceed, she tried to summon the idea of pushing air away, or creating wind of some kind. After several moments of nothing happening, Mevi attempted to summon wind around her again but with less conflicted feelings. This time short gusts emanated from her palms, blowing the ground below her. Both Kalesi and Mevi were surprised by the reaction, and Mevi was invigorated to attempt an additional experiment.

Focusing on a single, solid, mental image Mevi held her arms out, palms pointed forward. She imagined a gusting wind to blow away the particles that clustered around them. As she did, the child of wind billowed from her hands, a stream of low current air pushed outward and into the heavy fog. Mevi jumped up in excitement and looked to Kalesi, who was surprised and seemed confused but impressed at the short outcome. Kalesi gave a nod as if to encourage a repeated attempt, and Mevi focused once more. Imagining a current, a bubble of wind, to blow around them and dispel the thick fog. Mevi’s instincts moved her body, she held her hands at her center as if holding some delicate orb. As she focused, air began to swirl in a small concentration around her hands. The effect began to expand as she tempered her desire to explode the effect, she maintained her precise control over her excitement and eagerness.

The bubble of wind expanded beyond her hands, to her elbows, up to her shoulders, and eventually past her knees. Then her entire body was engulfed in a whirling wind that pushed away the heavy fog around them allowing clear crisp air, Mevi began to expand the bubble further when Kalesi placed a hand on her shoulder. Mevi looked up, Kalesi had ducked into the bubble of clean air, “I think this is enough. This is amazing, Mevi!”

Mevi blushed, she was impressed with herself as well, “I think I can make it bigger, so we can both fit!”

Kalesi gripped her shoulder with a warm smile, “I think this is wonderful, and incredibly impressive I might add. If I need a breather I will duck into your little bubble, my lungs are more durable than yours so don’t strain yourself.”

Mevi was still maintaining her hands at her center, and half of her focus was on maintaining the wind bubble’s form, “I think I can do this for a while. I got a headache before I hurt myself with the light.”

Kalesi looked serious when she said, “If you feel that sense coming over you, dispel this air bubble. Or whatever you are doing, unless vitally important.”

Mevi nodded with an excited grin. The strange novelty of this tool was amazing to her, to be able to summon wind without any fan or propeller. No real device beyond her own hands and a strange gem. It defied what she thought possible. Regardless of her prior beliefs, she continued to maintain the bubble of pure air. Maintaining its form eventually became easier, and she could soon walk normally while maintaining its shape. As the two walked, Kalesi occasionally ducked her head in to breathe. The further they traveled into the heavy fog, the less often Kalesi stopped for breath, instead preferring to keep a constant vigil around them.

While the fog was dark, Mevi could still somehow see through the thick material. If this was in part due to her Maige, or the natural feature of the fog, she couldn't tell. As they progressed, it almost seemed like Mevi could see and hear better than Kalesi. Mevi could notice a falling rock, or hear a crumbling strut, before Kalesi’s head darted in its direction. While on a smaller level than before, Mevi’s natural senses seemed heightened again. It was because of this that Mevi could soon see writhing bodies below on a distant pipe-road. Dense with old structure and fallen architecture, it looked like a strange hanging city kept up by old struts and strong wire. Few structures were built directly into the pipes, instead being attached by wire that wrapped around the thick pipe or attached via ancient hanging struts that looked older than the reliant buildings. Mevi could see stumbling bodies on the rusted pathways, shambling forms of various sizes. All slowly moving forward along the suspended walkways and eventually onto the main pipe-road above the hanging ‘city’. The stumbling figures then continued along the pipe, into the darkness of beyond. But as Mevi stared in the direction they traveled, she realized it wasn’t darkness.

The forms of creatures, of people, below were traveling along the metal roads to a great wall of dark. As Mevi quickly realized, it was exactly that; a great wall or cliff stretching impossibly high up. The upper lengths were lost on her, its cliff’s edge was out of sight and well beyond the dark fog’s length. The shambling forms seemed to crawl against, and up, the great cliff. Unnaturally motivated to climb such an intimidating structure.

Mevi pointed down to the movement below them. Kalesi looked hard, and after several moments seemed to spot what Mevi saw. Her eyes strained against the dark fog. Mevi, despite being told otherwise, subtly expanded her air bubble’s reach. The upper edge was now high enough to reach Kalesi’s head at her full height. Now encompassed in the less-corrupted air, Kalesi seemed to spot the bodies gathering below them. Her face fell grim as she seemed to notice something beyond Mevi’s initial survey. Kalesi’s eyes darted back and forth, then beyond to the imposing cliff. Kalesi turned to Mevi, with some amount of sorrow in her eyes, “Mevi I think we should leave. I doubt there are many left to save.”

Mevi was confused, she could see many people down there, and several different clusters of buildings, “Aren’t we supposed to go down there?”

Kalesi seemed to debate with herself, as she sometimes does when determining what to say, “Those people, they are already lost Mevi. Those people are what we call ‘Rusted’, they are infected. Their minds are scrambled, and can only move towards the newest movement or sound. They are herding themselves up the cliff, following each other because the one in front moves and so the one behind follows.”

Mevi looked down with a sadness gleaned from Kalesi. As she peered out towards the several clusters of homes, buildings, and small villages, almost every single one was filled with dark figures. Each stumbling forward with a slow, but unstoppable, progress. What even was this ‘Rust’, it infected people like a fungus? How could so many, who are native to the Pipes, fall victim in such a vast quantity? Mevi searched below, peering into the abyss. As she followed the trails of marching figures, she found an oddity. Far off, further past the largest cluster of population, the figures were marching the wrong way. In much smaller quantities, one or two noticing from the main horde every minute or two, a short line of figures progressed away from the cliff. Mevi was curious, and began to walk carefully up the pipe road. Kalesi followed, sighing out the depression felt in her chest.

The two traveled further along the pipe road, Mevi leading them this time. Kalesi content to allow her pupil to explore this grim reality at her own pace. Yet as Mevi continued along the winding path before her, following the trickle of shambling forms, she noticed something hopeful.

Far detached from the main cluster of population, there was a partially detached pipe coming out of the cliff that was thinner than the rest of the strange colonies. Few bridges led in its direction, and those that did had to wrap and curve around various connected pipes and cliff structure. Yet there was a small collection of buildings, built into the side of the cliff itself rather than hanging against their thin pipe. The cluster of buildings were attached near the base of the pipe that exited the cliff, bent and twisted, yet serving as a main road out and into the Pipes regardless. In the small settlement there was some kind of mounted effort for survival. Mevi could see fast moving figures, many people that were rushing in more directions than forward. At the edge of their settlement there was an attached metal strut that stretched farther than normal. Its wide frame produced a natural road, and on said road were the detached groups of Rusted. Only a few here and there, spaced out by several meters. Accumulating at the metal road’s end, and the entrance of the small settlement. There was a large wall built up, and many shambling bodies tried to rip and climb at the metal protecting the small village.

Mevi pointed out the rebellious natives as they fought desperately against the march of Rusted. Kalesi was in disbelief, she hadn’t noticed the individual Rusted nearly as clearly as her pupil apparently had. Kalesi’s hope was rekindled, and she smiled at her pupil’s discovery. Before Kalesi could congratulate Mevi, Mevi’s head began to throb. Mevi instinctively grabbed at her head and closed her eyes, the sudden wave of nausea and ache washing over her. Kalesi caught Mevi as she wobbled, “Mevi, if your senses are telling you to stop, do it. Do not strain yourself, I can guide us to our goal now. You’ve done well.”

Mevi was glad, she helped in some small way. She allowed her Maige to deactivate, and the clean air was absorbed back into the dark fog. Suddenly very little could be seen other than vague shapes and the dark towering cliff before them. But Mevi had done her part, and will focus on her own recovery so as to help her mentor again. But now they had a clear goal. Their reconnaissance finished, experiments with the Maige underway, and now to move onto evacuation. To finally help people, and to do so with her strange powers however they might manifest. Mevi dedicates herself to master these abilities, and vows no harm would come to Kalesi if her will prevails.