“She will surely be coming to me soon. I did not think her capable of such anger, yet there is no doubt she will seek justice. As the realms begin to collide, the last remaining Keeper will be spurred into action. By the time he arrives, it will be too late, and the dream will take the Time Keeper’s life.”
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Madia
Madia looked down the stone stairs into the cavernous tomb below, a silent crowd gathered behind her as the darkness below practically choked the air from her very lungs. Rune was huddled closely to her left, not a single sound escaping the young girl, but her agony clear as she gripped Madia’s clothing. Moments later, two women stepped out of the suffocating blackness, stopping in front of Madia.
They bowed ever so slightly, before one of them spoke. “My lady…” The somberness in her tone nearly flung Madia back into her tears as they locked eyes. “We have sealed her within. Her body will remain undisturbed here.”
Madia closed her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Would that she could rest next to her mother and father in Elra.”
The women stepped past her as Madia continued staring into the catacombs. She could still hardly believe it; she had fought so hard to protect the child for the last year, and - in mere moments - she was gone. A mixture of frustration, loathing and sorrow clouded Madia’s mind as she tried to think of something to say; words to uplift, or honor the young princess that had been lost. Yet now, as the sun grew low in the sky, and the shadows stretched across the garden path before the tomb, Madia knew no words could do the young girl justice, nor hope to bring comfort to the sister she had saved with her own life.
She could hear Rune sniffing as she buried her head into Madia’s robe, tears streaming down her face and her eyes red with strain. I have to say something, Madia told herself again and again. But saying something for the sake of saying it would be hollow and meaningless. At last, she let out a shaky sigh as she patted Rune on the head and slowly turned around. Rune followed, refusing to let go of the only family she had left.
Madia faced the crowd behind her, which consisted of students and teachers of magic, war veterans, and housekeepers. The garden was filled with people, much to Madia’s own surprise as the sheer size of the converted stronghold sunk in. She took a deep breath and spoke.
“There are no words that I could say without them seeming empty when placed beside what was lost today,” she began, her voice cracking a little as she cleared her throat. “I am not a speaker, nor am I a leader.” Madia paused as she looked down at Rune before sighing. “But I can tell you what I was, and what I still am to her majesty.”
The crowd had raised their heads to watch Madia, whose voice was starting to gain confidence. “An inspiration; a dear friend, and most importantly - though not by blood - a mother…” She stammered as she uttered those last words.
“I remember only a few days ago, she visited me in my dreams,” Madia recalled as she looked up into the dimming sky. “Asking me if I had seen her parents within the Realm of Dreams. She missed them.” Madia closed her eyes as she felt the tears starting to drip down her cheek again. “And now she goes to join them, and with them she will stay.”
Madia seized up as she opened her eyes, forcing herself to stay focused and positive for the people surrounding her. “Though she lived her whole life as a princess,” Madia looked over her shoulder back into the darkness. “Tonight, she has died a queen.”
The people murmured softly and nodded in unison. Madia could not help but smile painfully as she shook her head slowly, wiping her nose a bit. “There wasn’t a single person that Rell couldn’t get along with if she was given the chance to know them,” Madia continued. “She was eager to listen… always ready to learn and to grow. Her heart was too much for one body contain, and she shared it with everyone.” Madia scanned the crowd, before looking down at Rune once more, still smiling ever so slightly. “And that is the make of a great leader.”
A silence fell over the crowd as they all stared at Madia. She felt her heart freeze as they did not respond. I said something wrong… she fretted, but moments later, one person in the crowd began to lower themselves down, until stopping on one knee before Madia. The Keeper opened her mouth a little bit in confusion before the rest of the crowd began to follow suit. She stood there with Rune, looking upon the gathering as – like a wave – they descended to their knees.
“Madia…” Rune’s voice broke the silence. Madia looked down to the princess, who was looking up at her expectantly. “You sound like you’d make a great leader to me.”
Madia nearly stumbled backward as she blinked the tears from her eyes, shivering a little as she maintained her footing. She raised her free hand to her mouth, covering it as she sobbed a little.
I just described everything I have ever wanted to be. Madia’s thoughts overwhelmed her emotions. When all along, to Rune… to Rell… maybe even to Alarulin, I already was exactly that.
Something was building within Madia; a feeling coursing through her veins as the people lowered themselves before her. She knew in her heart that Rune needed her, Fendra needed her - no, all of Alarulin - needed her. She was not simply a mother to Rell and Rune. As Harmony’s chosen Keeper of Mind, with or without her magic, Alarulin was hers to nurture, just like anyone else’s.
Keeper of Mind or not, Madia knew that she was still Alarulin’s Dreamer.
She finally opened her mouth, addressing those kneeling. “Thank you. All of you… but I must ask that you all stand, for I am in dire need of your help.”
The crowd stood tall again, once again beginning to discuss among themselves. Having seized their attention, Madia went on. “Tuulin and the Dragonkind are laying waste to the kingdom of Fendra, having claimed the city of Elra and its palace as their own. My comrade, Cael, will be attempting to retake it tonight,” Madia explained. “We parted ways over disagreements earlier, which brought me here. I now realize that I cannot abandon my home, nor my people. Most importantly, I cannot abandon her.”
The people seemed anxious as they shifted and spoke among themselves. “Many of you are scholars of magic; people of great wisdom and experience… Tuulin is a cunning opponent. I need something to outsmart him. Will you lend me your knowledge and your experience?” Madia pleaded.
“Absolutely.”
“Of course.”
“Always.”
The resounding replies from the crowd brought a smile across Madia’s face. “I will need someone to take care of Rune. We only have a few hours before Cael strikes back against Tuulin, and Rune cannot come with me,” Madia reasoned. “I will not burden you all with fighting by my side, but with your help, I believe I can strike Tuulin with something that he will never see coming.”
Everyone seemed excited now, people starting to fidget about, awaiting Madia’s next statement. She smiled, knowing what needed to be done. “Bring me reagents - be they raw or page - aligned towards the sensory affinity. I will need coals, a quill with ink, and a spool of firefly silk.” Madia ordered as she looked around at everyone. People immediately began splitting off, rushing around the campus as Madia narrowed her eyes, gears turning in her head as she began to come to her solution. “We shall create a form of magic Tuulin has never heard of.”
A deep boom echoed across the landscape as Madia opened her eyes, seated in the center of a great library. Towering shelves of books and ladders were scattered throughout the chamber, and magicians formed a circle around her, looks of deep concentration on their faces as magic flowed around them. Their focus was broken briefly by the thundering as they all looked around warily.
Madia took a breath, contemplating what she was about to do, before pulling herself to her feet and picking up Aevum’s staff. “You hear it too, yes?” Madia asked as she approached the nearby crowd.
A few of them nodded anxiously. Madia looked towards the entrance of the library. “That may very well be the sound of Cael’s final stand. We’ve not a moment to waste.”
One of the students piped up. “Truly? From so far away?”
“Even prior to becoming the Keeper of Magic, Cael had no rival or equal save for perhaps the great magician Armeil himself. What one can do when ignoring the limitations of the flesh exceeds even the late king and queen,” Madia explained.
The one asking the question gulped, but Madia simply smiled. “Is the circle prepared, then?”
They nodded as Madia stepped over a line on the ground, examining the pattern that was traveling across the floor, a light glow shimmering from its outline. “Thank you. Please, take your positions.”
The magicians gathered began to spread out around the circle, Madia raising the staff above her head and examining it. It was filled with freshly engraved markings and letters, a deeper hue of crimson within as Madia lowered the staff to stand upright in the center of the marking on the floor. After a taking a moment to balance the staff, Madia released it, holding her hands just to the side of it in case it should fall, and slowly stepped back.
“Are the reagents in place?” Madia asked.
“Yes, my lady. Shall we bring your cloak?”
“Yes please. In the meantime, begin the spell,” Madia ordered softly.
Immediately Madia felt energy begin to course through the room, the lights on the ground growing brighter as they hummed, casting a violet tint upon the staff in the center of the room. Some of the magicians were visibly struggling to stay focused as they winced, as though in pain. Madia, standing just outside the circle, glanced around to see the materials she had requested placed into position within the circle, the light beginning to consume them as they started to smoke. Madia raised a hand to her head and with a quick motion, she plucked a hair from her head. Madia reached out into the circle, holding the dark strand of hair, before releasing it. As soon as it hit the floor it fizzled and curled, smoldering until it disappeared.
At that moment Madia felt her heartbeat rise violently in her chest. She gasped as, with a thump, it hit her so hard, she stumbled back a bit. Her head started to throb as she stared at the staff in the center of the circle, her eyes transfixed upon it as she refused to pull her gaze away. There’s no time to waste; this has to work.
As soon as the thought entered her head, there was a crackling sound like that of a vicious bonfire, and the markings in the staff began to glow, light traveling through them as the air grew hot.
“Quickly, the quill and ink!” Madia demanded as she continued staring at the staff. A young man quickly rushed over, quill in hand as he took Madia’s hand and raised it. On the back of her hand, he carefully patterned out an identical circle to the one on the floor. The black ink felt sticky on her hand, but she did her best to ignore it, not breaking focus or even blinking as the vision of the staff amidst the purple light was etched into her eyes.
She raised the hand with the markings upon it, letting it enter the light as sapphire tongues of fire began to rise from the lines outlining the pattern on the floor. Her hand started to burn as she opened her palm towards the staff. Feel everything, do not block anything out.
Another boom echoed through the halls, provoking some anxious stirrings from the mages gathered around. “Don’t lose focus!” Madia shouted, her eyes reflecting the flames before her and her teeth clenched in strain.
Her eyes narrowed as they saw past the light that was now becoming blinding. Her head pounded, her senses becoming rapidly overwhelmed as the staff started to release steam, shaking where it stood. She watched as the staff’s patterns and letterings were filled with light, until Madia felt a hard tug on her hand. She nearly stumbled into the circle with a yelp as she gripped her arm, keeping it outstretched as she stopped herself from tumbling in.
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Her eyes were filled with determination as the fire began to whine. At first, the sound came out like a screech, rough and coarse, before beginning to soften as though it had a tone to it. It began to hum and take form into something much more beautiful. Like a song of magic, the crackling dimmed, and the tones echoed through the library as they bounced from highs to lows.
The pain in Madia’s arm seared her as the ink on the back of her hand adopted the same shine as the pattern on the floor. Come on… come on-!
There was a loud pop, a flash of light emitting from the center of the circle. In that same instant Madia felt another tug, but refused to let it move her this time, her eyes burning as tears of strain dripped down her face and sweat slid from her brow. At last, a beam like a lightning bolt erupted from the staff, colliding with Madia’s hand. She screeched in shock as she felt it shoot through her veins. In that same instant the light vanished, and she stumbled backwards.
Madia collapsed to her knees, gripping her wrist as the staff in the center of the room fell. The magicians gathered stepped backwards in bewilderment as the spell dissipated. Madia panted heavily as she clenched her eyes shut against the pain. The only light remaining of the spell now emanated from the back of her hand and the text across the staff, which now seemed to throb and hum gently.
A voice nearby her whispered. “D-did it work…?”
Madia’s mouth hung open as she caught her breath, before pulling herself up a bit. She extended her hand again, being instantly reminded of the heat that had plagued it moments ago. She willed the staff towards her. Without a moment's hesitation, the shaft lifted itself off the ground and flung itself into Madia’s palm. She gripped it immediately and took a breath, as a smile spread across her face. “Yes… it worked!”
A silence filled the room for a moment, before the people began to laugh, then cheer as Madia used the staff to prop herself up as she stood. The students and teachers gathered around her, patting her on the back and examining her and the staff with fascination, as the ink on her hand had now turned violet to match the writings on her weapon.
“We did it… we actually created an artifact of magic,” one of the teachers muttered in wonder.
Madia smiled at him tiredly. “It is nothing compared to the likes of Harmony and Revrian, but for its purpose it will certainly suffice,” she spoke breathlessly.
“Your cloak, ma’am?” A lady stepped up, holding the garment forward.
“Thank you, did the silk blend well?” Madia asked.
“Yes, my lady, much to our own surprise. Have a look,” she responded as she turned the cloak around.
Against the blackened cloth, there almost appeared to be faint stars that looked like fireflies scattered across the fabric, sparkling and reflecting the purple light from Madia’s staff like a mirror, as the lights danced across the floor and the walls.
“Beautiful… an unforgettable sight, and equally as functional,” Madia mused as she accepted the gift, quickly donning it as it shimmered. “The firefly silk will serve as my reagents, and the staff my conductor.”
The crowd sighed in awe as Madia spun in the cloak, gripping the staff loosely. Madia could feel every movement around her and hear every little sound. It was as though her senses had been heightened. “People of Vaira, we have done the impossible,” Madia raised her staff. “Not only have we created an artifact… we have realized the beginnings of a new subsect in sensory magic…” Madia paused for a moment as she stared at the staff in her hand, her heart aching as she gazed upon Aevum’s weapon. “This new subsect will henceforth be known as… ‘daydreamer’.”
Cheers erupted as Madia spun the staff in her hand, slamming it back onto the ground with a crackle, a pulse of light bursting from its impact point.
“Lady Madia!” Someone called from above. Madia looked up to see upon the balcony leading to the library doors, a man leaning over the railings. “There is some sort of dark fire spreading across the fields t’wards Elra!”
Madia’s expression immediately grew solemn as she broke away from the crowd, running up the stairs past her messenger as she came out beneath an overhang in the cliff the stronghold had been built into. She continued forward and jumped onto another flight of stairs, sprinting up them as the overhang was left behind. She leapt over the last few steps and stumbled to a stop on the fortress walls, to see an enormous fire far in the distance, painting the evening sky red.
Numerous other residents were lined up along the wall, exchanging anxious words as they gazed out at the destruction. As Madia took in the sight, she suddenly found herself capable of hearing the fire as it roared, sputtering and spitting as it consumed the fields. This form of magic truly is incredible, she thought to herself, as she looked through the flames. Beyond them she could see Elra positioned upon the hills, smoke rising from it.
There was no time to waste.
She turned around and rushed down to the courtyard, where a horse was already waiting for her. As she approached, she found Rune and a small collection of students.
“Madia!” Rune cried as she ran to meet the Keeper. Madia knelt and embraced the young princess, holding her closely as Rune gripped her.
“I have to go, Rune. Cael needs me. You’ll be safe here though, I promise,” Madia said as she held the girl in front of her, looking Rune in the eye.
Rune nodded slowly. “Okay.”
Madia looked to the others gathered. “Thank you; all of you. I couldn’t have done this without you,” she addressed them.
“Be safe, my lady…”
“Let this mark the end of Mennic’s presence in Alarulin.”
Madia smiled at the words of encouragement as she mounted her steed. The horse bucked at first in response, before calming down. Her steed shook its head and stamped its hooves as it sensed the urgency in the air. “I can truly feel anything with this magic. You will all be remembered when this is over, I assure you!” Madia said with a grin to everyone as she turned around. “And Rune…”
Rune flinched and looked up at Madia, eyes wide with wonder. Madia gave her a comforting smile. “I’ll make sure your family’s kingdom is returned to you.” Madia raised her hand, showing the mark on the back of it as she gripped the staff. “Even to my dying breath, I will make him regret what he did to you and your sister.”
Rune held her arms around herself and looked down. “Just don’t you die, too.”
Madia nodded, taking one last look at the rest of those around her, before turning her head towards the open gate. She let out a long sigh as she calmed herself. “This is for you, Rell…”
With a shout, she whipped the reins, before bursting into a sprint out the gate. She took one last glance over her shoulder at the fortress, something catching her eye as she did a double take.
There, upon the walls, she could have sworn she saw the young girl she met in the Hivoria Basin; Star Dance. However, just as quickly as she appeared, she was gone.
Wind blew through her hair as she launched past the crevice opened earlier that day during her encounter with Tuulin and his soldiers. She pulled to the left, steering towards the fields.
Pulling away from the mountains, it took only a matter of minutes for her steed to jump out of the woods and into the open field. Up ahead, fire danced and spattered the sky with sparks as the grass below parted to let the rider through. In her head, repeatedly, she chanted, no time to waste… no time to waste. She looked up into the sky, seeing the moon coming up over the mountains. The festival is in only an hour, if even. “Hya!” With a crack, she whipped the reins again, forcing her horse to grunt and break into a sprint.
As she approached the wall of fire, she widened her eyes and concentrated, seeing through the fire as she tried to identify the best path around or even through. The flames were traveling fast, rapidly blanketing the field with smoke and ash, but before long Madia managed to spot a dark spot. Her mount seemed to hesitate, but she patted its neck and kept leaning forward, whispering “Keep going. We will be fine!”
It whinnied in response, rearing its head back before resuming its pace.
As they approached Madia felt the heat rise and the sound of the fire enter her ears. She hardly blinked as she gazed through the waves of heat, finally seeing the path she had to take. Before long, the horse leapt with all its might, flying over the flames that bit at Madia’s pants. She did not break focus as she immediately veered to the right, landing in an untouched patch of grass. The light of the fire cast a crimson glow upon them as she steered to the side, once again running through the open flames into yet another field of charred grass.
Even then, they did not slow as they jumped straight through a curtain of smoke. Madia narrowed her eyes as she held her breath, nearly choking on the ashes in the air as she kept forward. Her free hand gripped her staff behind her, before she concentrated her energy into her hand, feeling heat rise off the circle on the back of it, before in one swift motion she swung the staff forward. There was a powerful gust of wind that seemed to blow down from above her, as the fire and smoke up ahead was suddenly forced to split, making a perfect path for her. She held the staff in position, the wind and fire roaring by her ears as she saw Elra up ahead. The fire closed in behind her as the wind ceased, the lights in the staff flickering as her cloak flapped behind her.
At last, they broke free from the brush fire, and Madia released a breath she had not realized she had been holding. There was still fire on either side, but they were now pulling away from the dangerous heat, and before long it was left behind them.
They continued forward, the horse panting and snorting as it kept on sprinting. Minute after minute passed, and as Elra came closer and closer, Madia knew it was time for the next step to begin. You are right to fear me, Tuulin! she thought in her head as she raised her staff up above her head, pointing one end into the air. Allow me to paint a picture to haunt you and your troops minds...
There was a flash of light from the tip of the staff, as what looked like a shooting star flew into the sky. In that moment, the sky burst with colour, lights of all hues filling the air and bathing the land in a pink and blue glow. The sky sounded as though it was bursting with life now, the very heavens opening to reveal a magic as terrifying as it was beautiful. Nothing escaped Madia’s mind as the land was shrouded in a magic that had never before existed. She could already feel the hearts and minds of her opponents filling with chaos as she saw the western gates just ahead.
Madia clenched her teeth as she focused her gaze upon the walls. “OPEN THE GATES!” Madia commanded loudly, her words echoing across the earth, resonating with the strength of a hundred voices. In an instant, there was a clunk as the metal bars rapidly rose. Madia ducked as she launched through the only partially opened entrance into the city, her steed now running against the stone paths of the city.
Around her she saw Arden men holding their hands to their heads as though in pain or confusion. Some stood in her way, and Madia swiftly struck those ahead of her with her staff, steering around one and jumping at another, who ducked to avoid getting trampled by the rushing horse.
As Madia ran through the city streets, she found buildings burnt and collapsed throughout the plaza. She turned towards the castle where she saw the destroyed walls from the prior attack. She whipped the reins again as she worked her way up the hill, the horse starting to slow down as it finally reached its limits.
Madia reached her senses out, working with her combined memory and extended vision as she mapped out her route, leaping over rubble and taking the path of least resistance as Tuulin’s disoriented soldiers attempted to keep up with Madia while staying sane. She could hear the clanging of metal and the song of magic in the air as she swung her staff to strike another would-be attacker out of her way.
It was a straight shot to the castle now, the walls in plain sight as she began to lift herself up off the horse while it was running. She held the reins and carefully balanced herself until she was standing on the saddle, until she spun the staff around behind her. With a battle cry, she pulled the reins back hard, causing the horse to skid to a stop. In that same moment, heat burned through Madia’s fingertips and she launched herself into the air. She soared for a moment, flying over the collapsed wall.
With another swing of her weapon, her feet grew hot as she flipped and collided with the earth, her feet catching her as she skidded to a stop, kicking up dirt and grass.
In the same instant, several Arden clad in armor rushed at her. Yet, even as Madia landed, she had already noticed their approach. She twisted her staff over her head as she ducked, evading a sword swung at her neck, and striking the same opponent upside the head, sending him to the ground immediately.
As she began to rise back up, she jumped backward, each movement flowing into the next as she felt the wind of another blade graze by her leg. She brought her staff down with a resounding CLANG as it landed square on the helmet of a second Arden man.
Nothing escaped her senses as, once again, she ducked to evade another blow, one leg swinging out from beneath her as she tripped the third warrior that would stop her, sending him head over heels from the momentum he had built up with his sword.
Madia let the staff spin in her hand before it landed with a thump against her back, one hand raised in front of her chest defensively as her eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings now that the immediate threat had been dealt with. She let her senses wander, and immediately identified Cael and Tuulin’s voices, accompanied with the crackling of magic in the main courtyard.
Madia did not hesitate for even a moment as she ran through the flowers and gardens, another guard rushing at her, only for Madia to leap over him and swipe at his head with her staff. He immediately collapsed as Madia stumbled to the ground and resumed her run. Hold on Cael, hold on!
Madia rounded the corner just in time to see a burst of light to rival the very sun. She screamed as her sensitive eyes were overwhelmed by the brightness. She nearly collapsed then and there as her ears rung, a thundering around her as she tried to regain her vision. Her eyes blinked the blindness from them as her ears rang, until at last, she was able to make out what was in front of her.
“Cael!” Madia called.
Cael was standing before Tuulin, slumped over as she had her hands raised as though to cast magic. Tuulin was standing back defensively, his sword raised to block. The ex-Keeper of Magic turned to look at Madia, her eyes filled with exhaustion. It was then that Madia realized her hair had turned completely white, and the colour in her eyes had faded. She was panting, and her legs shook beneath her.
Madia realized too late the condition her friend was in. “Cael-!” she cried out as she ran forward to Cael’s side, only for the once vibrant magician to collapse to the ground before she could even take a step.