"On the aspect of magic regarding divination, any mage worth a damn would explain that it is tough to predict the future, or even get a readable image via the tough ritualistic spells they have to employ. You would face interference from the Nameless Divines that watch over Fate and Destiny, the Goddess of Time Gwennarius, and even the All-Father himself! but not all is lost to you dear reader, for under the auspice of my extensive research we will make a proper Diviner out of you"
Tome of Seeing, by Arch-Mage Lunicius the Pale. First Volume.
It had begun a few days after the news that Lucrezia would birth a potential calamity, a terrifying piece of news that had the Duchess moving every piece of hers towards a peaceful and bloodless solution, one that she thankfully managed to eke out via no small amount of political maneuvering and Divine intervention not to mention postponing her crusade in the great expense of the cosmos.
Her beloved had shown her the scale of the war Lucrezia was about to launch, her mind was taken back by the sheer size of the spaceborne fleets, the machinery and weaponry needed to field the army, and the personnel themselves as Lucrezia was ready to move heaven and earth for her promise to the Spirits. The woman did not do anything by halves that's for sure.
And then Kaede had the first dream. In it, she was walking along the streets of Lucrezia's capital as Spiritflame choked the air around her. Yet the people of the city cheered and hollered with never-seen-before weapons pointed at the skies, wordless chanting something to a looming figure that was being broadcasted via pannels of crystal and magical light everywhere.
A woman, who couldn't be more than 19 winters old pointed an obsidian greatsword that pulsed with magma veins towards the capital of the Kingdom, how Kaede knew this fact she couldn't say. It was a nagging feeling at the pit of her stomach, then she saw the face and fell to her knees as green eyes, piercing and fierce locked into her. Kaede gasped for air as the shock of the pressure washed over her, before walking up.
The second dream was inside the castle proper this time, its corridors known to her after a few visits to the place in her off time with her beloved. Kaede followed a thong of tall warriors, decked in a version of Lucrezia's battle suits that betrayed the future she was beholding, weapons she knew had weirder more sleek forms and even the heraldry of Lucrezia's Knight Order was changed.
Sound made itself manifest in the second dream, the words were clear from the warriors "The Warmaster of the North" They spoke in reverence "Vengence for the great humiliation, blood will flow to cleanse the sins of the great evil" as they breached the throne room Kaede gasped in sheer wonder of the sight—banners from all corners of the world, All races that had any ties with Lucrezia's lands.
Yet the throne was empty, and Kaede beheld the young woman once again standing to its side, behind her shone the crystal image of a young man, also of the same age and decked out in what had to be Magi-Tech gear from the future, weapons included in what was a scout get-up. At the sight of this young man's image, something stirred at the Kitsune.
The spitting face of a certain Dragonkin, dearest friend of Richard.
The young woman's armor was one she knew as well, for that was Richard's armor, tailor-made by Idun in the forges beneath the city. It was adapted for a smaller frame and had the head of a Dire Eagle instead of the Wolf that she knew. In its chest was an incredibly detailed portrait of a mighty phoenix. Kaede gasped when she realized that was no portrait but a Summer Spirit!
Not just any summer spirit, but a mighty Spirit at that!
----------------------------------------
"Let's take a break. People are waiting for us, and I must process these visions," Lucrezia said as the spell broke apart. Kaede felt the aftershock, nodded, and the women made their way to the commotion caused by their friends.
It was a fun time, Kaede saw how Lucrezia was taken back by the visions but the woman moved around the room with purpose, food and drinks, music and cheers as she commanded the place as if it was a battlefield, the others joined in or fell back as needed and before long even the weary Kitsune found herself enjoying a good time. Kane, bless his soul came to talk with her, see if she was doing alright.
"It was an intense experience, the spell structure to recall, share, and broadcast the dreams was spotty in some areas," she said and he nodded "We ought to fix that soon, see if we can borrow your father's notes on the subject, maybe even speak with Castra and get some manuals out of her people, the necromancers there often have to delve into the memories of the dead via their souls after all" Keade spoke, feeling the mind work out the issues she had.
"Wise move, but it would be imperative to communicate with Lucrezia first, her soul has odd constructs and they could affect you, she is no slouch when it comes to that aspect of Necromancy or Mind Magic so there shouldn't be any issues on that front at the very least...did you show her the image of the man?" Kaine rubbed his chin, that little factoid was digging into his mind of late given he often interacted with Hvtial and Richard.
"One person alone is already hell to track, given how uncertain anything related to prophecy is, even with Gwennarius doing the lion's share of the work while I tried to pierce things together, now two? accursed omen I say...but we can't be all doom and gloom, if she's informed then she will act with good information and that's all we can do for her in what will be her hardest battle" Kaine nodded as to reassure himself.
As the party died down, Lucrezia called for Kaede again and both women went outside, seeking the cooling winds of the night as Kaede explained that the next set of dreams would involve no small amount of necromancy and mind magic, Lucrezia asked for a few minutes and Kaede watched with keen eyes as she began casting very complicated sets of spells and incantations, then switched to Miracles.
Even meditative intonations were being displayed in what had to be a truly wonderous mash of technique, raw ability, and discipline the young Kitsune didn't know Lucrezia had. It was humbling even as she dispelled the doubts she didn't think she had. After a while, Lucrezia took a deep breath and signaled for Kaede. It was time for another dive into the last set of dreams she saw about Lucrezia's daughter and the mysterious man.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The spear din of war took hold as both women dove into the dream. As ethereal ghosts clashed on familiar grounds, banners were high in the skies. These were the Fields, and another monumental battle was taking place in them. Kaede recognized the weapons and armor derived from Magi-Tech, but these had a mean, lean look to them. Automatic spells and gunfire came out of the combatants as the battle raged.
Kaede watched as Lucrezia's face betrayed surprise, something was happening!
Suddenly the dream became sharper, someone was interfering with the self-illusionary part of the spell and it wasn't mortal intrusion at that, Kaede was very paranoid about her wards and she had deployed a triple custom setup to avoid any intervention from Gods or Demons, but whoever this was managed to bypass it like it wasn't there! Kaede did not wait for another tell, casting spell after spell she detected the source of the intrusion.
It was Lucrezia!
Kaine was right huh she thought to herself as the dream took a realistic turn, and Kaede beheld for the first time who the forces that had Wulfgrem banners were fighting.
Deep blue aquamarine eyes, pale complexion, and a sneer that would make any kid run to their parents, sword and shield fashioned out of deep sea creatures and minerals, scaled armor, and ears that pointed upwards.
The ancient enemy, Sea Elves.
"They can't hurt us!" Kaede spoke as she saw Lucrezia's hand twitch "Somethin within you is altering the structure of the illusion, making it sharper! more real!" the Kitsune's ears rang as the roar of artillery shells slammed into the ground next to them, Sea Elf infantry going up like ragdolls thanks to it.
Both women ran towards a small hill that would overlook this particular place where the battle was happening, phasing through solid ghosts armed and decked with future gear that had Lucrezia gasp more than once, Kaede even pointed out the fearsome Catraphract Heavy Armors acting as honor guard for Lucrezia's daughter, who herself had one custom made for her bearing the likeness of Richard's original Warmaster armor.
"...Why is it that she's only wearing gear made for him? This bothers me more than I am willing to admit..." Kaede heard Lucrezia say, the woman sighed "Look at me worrying about something so superficially stupid when we are likely seeing a future civil war unfold" Lucrezia pointed to a particular set of banners "See those? mercenary Sigils, at least I think they are, as they follow the same underlying designs of our time, but some of these combatants are fighting like Royal Knights."
The Duchess sighed "Even in dreams, visions, or what have you, that woman haunts me like a bad fart" Kaede laughed at the turn, not expecting Lucrezia to speak like that in the middle of such a revelation "Then it would be wise for us to prepare in advance Lu, I am sure Kaine and Arthur will be more than happy to aid you in this" Kaede waved her hand "The battle will grow more fierce, watch closely now"
They reached the crest of the hill and Kaede saw the sight that to this day still made her lose her breath,
A majestic dragon appeared in the skies above, its scales black and gold with purple lines crossing its body, the roar of the mighty beast was enough to freeze the Elves and their allies as the dragon bellowed out pure energy beams at the ground below, diving in and out of battle to target important fighters, until a giant made out of stone rose from the ranks of the elves and grappled with the dragon.
And yet, another change happened to the vision, Kaede always saw the dragon being killed. even if inside the protective barrier of the Fields, this time the giant did not pierce its neck and bled it dry. This time Lucrezia's daughter did not fly into a mad rage to avenge the beast as before! She spoke of this as the scene happened and Lucrezia could only stare at the sight in silence.
A golden light shone from the far left of the field, washing over them as if the summer sun was right there. Both women turned towards it but couldn't see much, the dream dismantling into itself as Kaede's protective measures kicked into place and they were booted into the real world once again. Silence followed for a while as Lucrezia got her bearings. "Impressive, It is no small wonder you managed to craft this environment Kaede, you should be proud of yourself" A pat on the back left the Kitsune blushing a little.
"Thank you, Lu still it seems I had an incomplete or beheld another future, Kaine himself had entered the same dream before but it remained the same with the Dragon dying and your daughter going berserk, which means..." Kaede failed to come up with a theory, why had Lucrezia's presence changed the outcome of the dream? the words Kaine told her echoed in her mind at the question. something inside her changed it.
"I must be there, a part of me at least has to be in those Fields, watching over until it is time to save the Dragon..." Lucrezia sighed "That Stone giant wasn't a random spell, the form it took is exclusive to Royal members of the Sea Elven Kingdom, which means either a scion of the Royal House is in the academy shortly, or the Royals themselves which I find hard to believe..."
Lucrezia smiled "What a mess, but Godsdamned it I am getting excited about it! It's a shame I will likely be in space by the time this happens but I won't be caught with my pants down, time to put plans into action!" she pumped her fist up and turned to Kaede "I can't answer all your questions dearest Kaede, but as long I live and breathe I will aid you, Kaine and the rest, that I swear"
----------------------------------------
Kaede left the final dream unspoken and hidden, stowed away via selected spells and rituals that not even Kaine could pierce without her knowing about, it was a...foolish decision she felt, but it would no doubt rattle poor Lucrezia to her core, stonehearted and resolute as she was that was quite the horrible scene she had hidden from the woman, and she would take it to her grave.
Unless it happened in the waking world, that is.
"She will fight him, and both will fight Queen and Duchess in the end..." she murmured to no one as she finished casting a series of divination spells based on some ancient book Kaine had found the other day, able to tap into a higher form of power that ran together with the River of Time apparently, this was not a powerful spell by any means but the results were the same as her last dream.
"I wonder if Gwennarius will notice? then again She is terrified of Lucrezia and Hope and the vision of Hope killing her with that Spear gifted by the Hivemind...she didn't blame the Goddess for being honest about that fear. Hope would put anyone down for Lucrezia after all. Sometimes she was a bit scared of the intensity of the woman, Lucrezia was a cool winter breeze, and Hope was a raging ball of molten magma and fire.
Done with her rituals, the Kitsune dusted herself off and got to work on preparing for the future, both near and far as she was aware something was coming for all of them soon, this little competition the Queen had set up was a clear attempt at getting revenge and she had to be ready for when the hidden daggers sprung, poised to kill Lucrezia and the others, she was made aware weeks ago that Kaine himself had been "targeted" by the mad woman and her thralls, truly tragic stuff especially coming off the revelation that she had used foul magic upon Kaine's mother.
"A calm before the storm, preparations must be done in haste..." With her staff in hand, she teleported over to the Academy's Fields, and so the great work started as she darted around the grass and trees with enough reagents to fund a small estate in the rich part of the capital that wasn't the noble quarters! a smile danced on her face as she made the mental math, yes with all of this plus a few more coins she would be able to get a proper mansion.
"To think I used to worry about this before, time does change a person huh?" Kaede spoke to herself as she finished the first set of sigils and moved to the next, only someone with a keen eye and no small amount of magical knowledge would know their true meaning, as she sprinkled deceptive marks and runes all over her ritual sites, another teleport and she was ready to do it again.
The sun rose and went down before she was done, sweat dripping from her brown but at last, it was done! "Gods may this work" Kaede whispered to herself as she cast a spell to clear herself and remove some of the fatigue, she looked upwards into the stars and sighed "Come what may, we will be ready"