Sometime later, I woke up in a white space with no walls, sky, or floor and no end in sight. It was serene and yet terrifying.
I sensed someone nearby though I couldn’t see anyone. Then, a figure appeared next to me wearing a hooded robe. Her hands were clasped together in front of her and her eyes closed.
I could see her face clearly, and yet the details escaped me. The only thing I could say definitively was that when she opened her eyes she had the most beautiful silver irises.
“Hello Silvon.” She spoke without moving her lips, or maybe they did move and I was just confused. “You are…”
Her smile was sad when she finished speaking. Whatever she’d said I couldn’t remember, but her expression brought tears to my eyes. She was frowning woefully, her eyes hopeful and bright with fury…
Everything about her seemed strange and disorienting. The more I tried to focus on or understand her, the more I found that didn’t make sense.
“Who are you?” I asked.
She responded by pulling me into a warm embrace, her hands tucked comfortably into holes beneath my rib cage. “I am…” she whispered sweetly into my ear as she stood several feet away, but upside down.
Was the room twisted?
“Soon, it will be time,” she added.
“Time for what,” I asked, addressing a pile of bloodied clothes—all that remained of the silver eyed woman.
“Time for you to awaken.” Her voice sounded far away, but I felt her wet hands on my cheeks. Her soft breasts touched my back then her lips caressed my neck.
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“Silvon!” Auriella demanded harshly. “Don’t blame me if this hurts—”
“No no no!” I shouted rubbing sleep from my eyes. “I’m awake, but…” I scanned the room.
I was in a canopy bed decorated with sheer drapes and lace curtains. My sheets were rumpled and warm, like they’d been stored in an oven. Fluffy pillows, like dense clouds, rested beneath my head and light filled the space.
Auriella huffed angrily. She pivoted to drop her raised foot on the floor; the sound echoed through the chamber. "If you’re up, then why aren’t you training? I thought you wanted to get back home as soon as possible."
"Where are we," I wondered aloud.
The room itself looked like something out of a fairy tale. Everything was made of crystal or obsidian stone and all the furniture seemed to blend right into the surroundings. Various gemstones were set in the floors and pillars, creating marvelous works of art. It definitely wasn’t the cell I remembered.
With a dumb look, Auriella rolled her eyes then stomped toward the door. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “hurry up and meet me in the arena.”
My head was spinning so much that I tripped and nearly fell as I stepped out of bed. My body felt heavy, but not like I had any extra weight, it was more like multiple hands were grabbing onto me and pulling me down.
I pushed myself up from the floor, breaking free of the strange feeling. I looked around in a fog, trying to get my bearings. Seeing a naked elf reflected in a vanity mirror jolted me, I nearly leapt out of my skin; then I realized the elf was me. Feeling somewhat foolish, I grabbed the pile of clothes laid out on a dresser next to the vanity.
As I dressed myself, I wondered how and why my appearance had returned to normal. I had no horns, my skin was pale white, and I didn’t have scales or claws. There was something like a hickey on my neck; it hurt a little, but only enough to be annoying. It must have been from the woman in the white place.
Even though I didn’t feel pain, I checked under my ribs for holes. Finding that none existed, I decided that I must’ve just had a really strange dream. I touched my neck, remembering the feel of her lips on my skin. ‘Maybe it was Aura?’ I thought. The possibility didn’t seem very likely, but I couldn’t think of any other.
I examined myself in the mirror, admiring the impossible craftsmanship of the divanory. The clothes were simple in design; it was their material that impressed. The boots made from an odd combination of crystals and turtle shells felt as light, and more comfortable than any shoe I’d ever worn. Pants fashioned from the near impenetrable hide of a rubber back bear were surprisingly flexible, breathable, and elastic. Impervious to most blades and piercing attacks, these paints offered perfect balance between freedom of movement and defense.
The shirt was perhaps the most interesting piece of the ensemble. Crafted by weaving together individual behemoth whiskers. For a shirt made from highly conductive wire-like material, it was far softer than I expected. Like fine silk it felt smooth against my skin; its texture similar to velvet cloth.
As I adjusted my collar, I noticed the mark on my neck was gone. There was a woman’s face reflected in the mirror standing behind me. I whirled around with a jolt, but no one was there. I looked again at the reflection, but she wasn’t there either. Then I realized I couldn’t recall what she looked like and I wasn’t sure she had ever been there at all.
“Silvon,” a man’s voice called from beyond the door. “Lady Aura is—”
“Not known for her patience,” I finished for him as I pulled open the door. “Thanks for the reminder, Aldin.”
The young divanory nodded, taking a breath before he added, “Well, if you’re ready…” Aldin extended a hand to open a portal, but I grabbed his arm and gently pushed it back down.
“I am ready, but I think I’ll walk today.”
The boy shrugged. “Your funeral…but when The Mother comes to investigate your death, make sure you let her know I did my best to save you.”
With a nod and a wave, I went on.
As I walked from my room to the arena, I recalled the events of the past two weeks. I had spent the days alternating between the forge and the arena. Any day not spent in the torturous device was spent in the arena being tested by Auriella.
She’d pit me against vicious beasts and forbid me from using magic externally. I also wasn’t allowed to transform, instead the divanory wanted me to train my sword skills. She insisted that until I could maintain a constant level of mana, while inside the forge, there was no point in training my magic.
Her logic was beyond me. I didn’t understand her training methods, I still had no idea what the divanorys wanted from me either. I was already strong enough to confidently face Gerald and Styrmir, but Auriella insisted that my true enemy would be even more powerful and I wouldn’t be allowed back until she felt confident I was ready.
Auriella was already in the arena when I arrived. She sat in the lotus position with her wings spread out behind her. Her crystal staff lay across her lap and she appeared to be deep in thought.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"You took your time," Aura said as she stood.
I approached her at the edge of the platform, saying, “Sorry about that.”
With a smile, she replied, “It’s fine, you’re the one who has to clear the arena. My part is already done.”
“What do you mean?”
Aura didn’t answer; instead she pointed down, prompting me to look over the edge of the platform.
Down below there were all manner of beasts. Some of them fought among themselves, others rested peacefully or hid. The weakest among the beasts were the serpent-like creatures I had fought before. Rather than training me, it felt more like Lady Aura was intent on killing me.
With a smile Auriella said, “I just kept to the usual schedule and set the field to generate one beast every ten seconds. You should get started soon or you might have trouble clearing them without breaking the rules.”
She said that, but I knew she was hoping I’d fail. It would give her another excuse to torment me further. In either case, I needed to get started before something really dangerous, like a behemoth, spawned.
I dropped down from the ledge, landing with a heavy thump. Summoning a long slender blade, I used a combination of body enhancement techniques to strengthen myself, enhance my speed, and improve my mental processing ability. Using all three skills together allowed me to move six times faster than normal. Using accelerate was the only hope I had for clearing these beasts.
I dashed toward the nearest beast, a creature that resembled an enormous scorpion. As soon as I was within striking distance, I thrust my blade between its pincers. The blade pierced easily through its hard carapace, penetrating deep into fleshy muscle tissue. Without slowing down, I ran along the creature's back, dragging my sword through its body.
The beast screamed with pain, igniting my heart with pleasure. I sprang off the beast’s back up onto a tree branch. A furry creature with wide set eyes and long curved claws slept peacefully on the branch. The beast reacted to my presence immediately, raising its head and claws in a threatening posture. The beast itself was no threat, but using some strange power these creatures could make others experience their dreams or nightmares.
The world lurched, blurring as I moved at pace my enhanced vision couldn’t comprehend. I was falling, but there was nothing beneath me. “Damn,” I cursed. I was already caught in the nightmare. With a deep breath I extended my senses in search of anything solid. The fall was more or less an illusion, but I really would fall if I made any careless moves.
Feeling the tree branch under me, I followed it to the dream eater. The beast was already beside me, moving faster than I anticipated. It hooked its claws in each of my shoulders then sank its long fangs into my neck. The beast pulled violently with its claws, it lurched backward pulling a small chunk out of my neck.
The nightmare ended immediately as the creature launched itself out of the tree. The beast wimped with every move it made, corrosive mana spreading up its arms and through its face, began to twist the creature into something else. Its blood curdling screams drew in every nearby beast. At least fifty creatures responded to its panicked cries. Doubtless they came seeking an easy meal, but each of them would instead provide nourishment for me.
My wounds healed swiftly, but the beasts below didn’t wait for me. They began ripping at each other almost immediately. The corrupted beast soon joined in as well. Leaping down from into the fray, I lost myself in the rush of blood and severed limbs.
I wasn’t sure how many beasts had been spawned, but I didn’t stop the slaughter until every moving thing lay in pieces. I was covered head to toe in blood and entrails, but rather than disgusted, I felt invigorated and refreshed.
Auriella nodded approvingly when I leapt back up to the platform. “You were like a different person today. It was a little scary to watch.”
She couldn’t have been serious. My skills didn’t even compare to a divanory in infancy, but I smiled and accepted the compliment with a, “thank you.”
“Now you just need to improve your mana control, then you’ll be ready to go back to Aeros.”
It had already been two weeks since Silvia was taken by Styrmir. I didn’t have time to keep wasting like this. Neither Lady Aura nor The Mother of Light would tell me why they insisted on pushing my training so far, but they did make clear I wouldn’t be allowed to leave Lumosa until I achieved acceptable progress. I couldn’t help gritting my teeth at the thought of another day in the forge.
I could handle the mana flood phase at this point, but the mana vacuum phase felt like someone was trying to suck out my soul. I didn’t want to, but the thought of Mirina, Lumia, and Silvia…even knowing Melinda was waiting for me, motivated me to face the challenge. “Let’s go then,” I said walking past Auriella.
“You don’t want a break?”
I shook my head. “I feel better than ever, besides I can’t relax knowing I’ll have to go back in there eventually. I’d rather just get it done.”
“You mean, to the forge?” She grabbed me by the shoulder and moved in front of me. “No, Silvon. You shouldn’t use the forge two days in a row.”
“It’s the last obstacle between me and getting back home. I’ll use it every day until I can leave if that’s what it takes.”
Auriella bit her lip as her forehead wrinkled with worry. I’d never seen the divanory looking so anxious—especially not on my behalf. Maybe her concern was more for herself, it didn’t really matter. I broke free of her grip and kept going. “I’ve seen you turn it on several times now. If you don’t want to take me I can just set it up myself.
Aura rolled her eyes. “There’s more to it than you realize, but if you’re that determined…”
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After one of our sessions Auriella had explained that the forge’s primary purpose was to help a mage improve their control over mana, but it did other things as well.
Through each of its cycles the forge also refined the mana core; it also strengthened the body some. I learned to survive in an intense mana zone, and what it felt like to be without mana now that my body had grown to depend on it so much. It felt like a bad case of flu.
During the first phase maintaining a constant level of mana was fairly simple in principle, though still required a firm grip and masterful control of one’s own mana. The two options were to release mana at the same rate it was being forced into my core, or to create a barrier separating myself from the space inside the chamber.
Option one worked well during the first few waves of incoming mana, but it got more difficult with each wave. At a point there’d be so much mana inside the chamber that it became near impossible to push any out of my core. Maintaining a barrier was easier as long as I cast it before the mana density got too high.
The decompression phase was the real challenge. It was impossible to keep up the barrier without letting my own mana level drop and once it was gone, there was nothing to stop the machine sucking the mana right out of my core.
I strained against it, trying to maintain control of my mana. Each passing second caused me greater pain and suffering. With great effort and concentration I managed not to lose consciousness, but staying awake for a few extra minutes didn’t mean much. I’d already failed the challenge. Fatigue and the suffocating lack of mana pushed my body to its limits.
“Have you returned to me so soon?” A woman’s voice asked. “Did you miss me, Silvon?”
My mind felt sluggish and foggy as I scanned around for the source of the sound. I was in the white space again.
“You look tired,” she said,” you should rest.” Then her soft laughter filled the air.
“Where are you?” I roared in confusion. The endless expanse appeared empty, yet her voice came from all around.
She giggled again. “I don’t know, but is it really me you should be asking about?”
An endless number of corpses appeared all around me. The bodies seemed to rise from the ground, and some looked familiar. I couldn’t say I knew all of them, but among the faces closest to me were those I cared for most. Lumia had been run through together with my sister Mirina, who she was coiled around protectively. Melinda was badly burned and there were bruises on her neck as if she’d been strangled. Silvia was unrecognizable, melted into a lump of flesh, I only recognized her by her sword.
Further out were the council members, then the light bearers and Lila. Lord Andrei was beside her, although his head had been separated from his body.
My heart beat like a hammer inside my chest. As I glanced over the dead, wrath and pain filled me. My rage boiled until everything else seemed distant; even the agony in my heart didn't hurt anymore. All I wanted to do was kill every last thing.
"It seems your anger has reached its limit." The woman laughed softly. "But what can you do? You’re still just a weak child.”
I didn’t answer her, just stood silent. The corpses disappeared then Vale—no, Liriel appeared with the other cursed mages. Extending his hand in welcome, Liriel smiled broadly as if everything was fine.
“Do you want more power?” he seemed to ask, but it was the woman’s voice I heard. Without waiting for an answer, they added, “Then take it!”