Pax stared with both hope and trepidation at the familiar crystal sitting on Tyrodon’s workbench. It both housed and powered Magesecond Fenix’s incorporeal form with some form of ancient magic he didn’t think they’d ever be able to understand or replicate.
Tyrodon pulled out another crystal and set it next to the first with a shrug. “Solani 2-nine said if you ended up needing Fenix, you’d probably want her along, too. She figured chances were fifty-fifty that we’d be fine with the plans and map she went over with Rin.”
“Good call by her.” Pax smiled in relief remembering how impressed he’d been with 2-nine’s ability to get the old curmudgeon to pack up and leave the underground academy workshop he’d spent generations in.
“So, if the altar is asking for your light mage instructor, do you think they’ll accept one that isn’t actually alive?” Titus was obviously skeptical.
“He’s the only choice we have.” Pax shrugged. “Unless you have another light mage stashed somewhere?”
“All this new magic stuff is going to drive me crazy.” Titus made a frustrated sound and shook his head. “I think I’ll stick to getting my crew their own companions and then see what me and Astra can learn to do together in a fight.”
“Tell us about it,” Bryn muttered from where she stood with Tasar and their stonepaws.
Their words made Pax realize how complicated his constantly changing magic must seem to the warriors. Still, their outlook brought a needed perspective to help him develop practical applications for the stuff he discovered. Otherwise, he might get sucked into spending too much time digging deeper into understanding magic instead of using it.
“Let’s do this.” Pax motioned at Tyrodon. “Wake up Solani 2-nine first and get her input. If she agrees, we’ll bring out Fenix and see if he can connect to the altar with me.”
“Wouldn’t we just place his crystal in one of those slots?” Tyrodon pointed to the two depressions to either side of where he still kept his hand pressed against the top of the altar.
Pax stared, agape. Tyrodon was right. The depressions matched the shape of the crystal bases that housed their ancient advisers. He smiled. This meant using a disembodied adviser had been common in the distant past. His chances of succeeding were suddenly better.
“You’re a genius.” Pax gave Tyrodon an impressed look.
Tyrodon flushed and smiled. He glanced down, suddenly busy with 2-nine’s crystal.
When she popped into existence, she glanced around at their surroundings with a quick, calculating glance before looking at Pax and his hand still on the altar. “Well, it looks like you need me for more than directions, after all.”
Pax knew Solani 2-nine would have both hands on her hips if she had a full body. He gave her an embarrassed look. “Thank you for being willing to help us. I guess I was just thinking about the dangers of getting here and didn’t want to risk the two of you. If we lost or damaged your crystals, it would cripple our chances to recover everything we’ve lost over the years, not to mention make it almost impossible to get this place up and working again.”
Solani looked mollified by his reasoning before turning to Tyrodon. “Once the altar is working and connected throughout the base, you’ll be able to use one of the blank crystals to give any of us a way to join you without risking our existence.”
Pax and Tyrodon exchanged a surprised glance filled with interest before listening as she continued.
“Now, let’s get this up and working, with you in charge, then. That’s probably the first and biggest step to getting things back to normal. What’s your status?”
“We shove just enough mana into the bottom of the huge storage crystal in the base, as well as different flavors up top. Now it’s awake. Barely. The next step is to get it to recognize me. That’s why I’ve still got my hand on it. I want to keep the current waiting message active. If I can get control of the altar, connecting to the rest of the base shouldn’t be far behind.”
Tyrodon gave them a happy nod. “I can divert some power from the basement to match and meet up with what we push down from here.”
“Once we get everything working and connected, well then—” Pax made a sweeping motion with his free hand.
“—we’ll finally bring everything in the place back alive.” Solani’s expression turned nostalgic. “Well, everything that isn’t gone for good.”
The others exchanged worried looks, but stayed quiet as she cleared her throat and continued with a too-bright smile. “I should be able to handle the power stuff easily enough with Solani 4-five. We managers have access to a more efficient backup network made to keep vital functions connected in the absence of working main power.”
“Really? So, we could get this working right now?” Pax grinned, as the possibility of gaining control of the base was suddenly back on the table.
Solani gave him a kind smile. “Of course. It should also make it easier to get some of the other managers functional again.” She paused and looked thoughtful. “I wonder if we’ll be able to get any of the Eldrics back online.”
Rin let out a little breath of surprise and exchanged a curious look with Pax.
“The Eldrics?” he had to ask.
His question broke Solani out of her memories, and she suddenly looked flustered. “Oh. They were the line that mostly covered base security and the guards. The original Mage Eldric was almost more warrior than mage. His copies pursued strength to protect us all.”
The last words of her explanation came out in a soft, almost dreamy voice, making Pax and his friends stifle smiles.
Solani noticed and immediately cleared her throat and gave Tyrodon an all-business look. “Well? What are you waiting for? Get Magesecond Fenix up here so he can vouch for his student.”
Tyrodon startled and quickly reached for the other crystal. A moment later, Magesecond Fenix’s familiar head popped into existence.
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When he saw Pax standing with his hand on the altar, a mix of sadness and nostalgia replaced his initial irritated expression. “Oh.”
The sound he made was soft and full of a sad longing that made Pax clamp down on his instinct to hurry the old mage along.
Fenix lifted his gaze from the altar and slowly looked around the room like someone looking at a treasure they’d thought long lost, but now returned. His breath caught with delight, and his smile flickered off and on as he found familiar sights around the vast hall.
Pax could sense his friends’ impatience growing, but no one interrupted Fenix as he finished his nostalgic perusal.
“Sorry about that. It’s just been so long. Seeing this place brought back memories from centuries ago that I’d thought long lost.” He let out a gruff grunt before meeting Pax’s gaze. “Now, what exactly do you need my help with?”
“Apparently, the altar figured out I’m a student and needs my instructor to vouch for me before I can get into the rest of the menu.”
“Ah, so it turned out exactly as I expected. You couldn’t figure things out on your own. So, once again, you need me to come along and fix things.”
Pax’s jaw flexed, and the compassion he’d just felt for Fenix vanished. He nodded. “That’s one way to put it.”
“Well, that’s simple enough.” Fenix turned to look at Tyrodon. “Place me on the altar, please.”
Pax closed his eyes and focused on the message still waiting for him. It hadn’t changed. Then he heard the soft click of Tyrodon placing Fenix’s crystal on the altar.
The message in front of him vanished for a few endless seconds. Pax let out a relieved breath when a new message finally appeared.
***
Instructor recognized. Initiating authentication protocol to reestablish commander controls. Error. Unsuitable candidate for altar commander. Reinitializing . . .
***
Pax’s heart sank for a moment, but he kept his focus and addressed his mentor without opening his eyes. “Fenix, the altar’s struggling to recognize me properly.”
Fenix’s voice was firm and reassuring. “Stay calm, Pax. It’s an old system that has probably been down for generations. Just keep your hand there and focus your light mana.”
Pax realized he’d let his mana lapse from his connection and did as suggested. As soon as he did, the message changed again.
***
Analyzing . . . Error. Unable to verify full light mage status. Please present another candidate with the requisite qualifications to take command and initialize the Light Guild altar.
***
Pax drew on his Charisma and his Strategist skill to come up with a response that might nudge the altar into doing what he wanted it to. “As the only living light mage currently in the empire, I am the single candidate able to reactivate this altar and restore full base function.”
His words definitely got a response. The message disappeared, replaced by a blinking series of dots that Pax hoped meant the thing was considering his words. The dots continued to blink with a regular cadence as Pax and everyone else waited. He focused on keeping a steady flow of light mana into the altar, making sure not to outpace his regeneration. “Come on, recognize me,” he muttered.
Solani 2-nine spoke softly from nearby. “Pax, try stating your full name and title. It might trigger the recognition sequence.”
Pax nodded. “I am Pax Vipersworn, level 3 light mage, ready to bind to the Light Mage Guild Altar as a permanent resident and steward to restore full function to the guild headquarters.”
There was a brief silence before the altar responded.
***
Name and title received. Verifying. Insufficient qualifications for standard procedure. Re-initializing. Authenticating emergency protocol . . .
***
The words disappeared. The blinking dots were back. Pax stifled his impatience and reassured himself that he was making progress.
“Patience,” Solani whispered. “I can sense the altar working to make connections. Just give it time.”
Pax started counting to help curb his impatience. He’d give it to one thousand before he tried something else. When he got to 832, fresh words flickered to life and saved him.
***
Backup protocol verified and initiated. Scanning for alternatives to appointing a student light mage as base commander. No other living light mage detected in current database or available sensors. Student light mage signature confirmed. Commencing provisional activation. Warning: The presence of a more senior light mage at any point in the future will override the provisional commander status.
***
Pax barely had a chance to read through the rapid message before it disappeared again, replaced by one that made him catch his breath in excitement.
***
Congratulations, Mage Pax Vipersworn.
This altar provisionally recognizes you as the Commander of the Light Mage Guild Headquarters. As the only detected light mage, you hold the highest authority within this facility. Please be aware that this status is provisional and may be overridden, should a senior light mage be identified in the future.
Your privileges and responsibilities as Commander include the following:
Full Access to Base Systems: You have unrestricted access to all operational systems, including security, communications, and resource management.
Defensive Controls: You can activate and control all defense mechanisms, including barrier spells, automated defenses, and emergency protocols.
Personnel Management: You can appoint and manage the roles and duties of all personnel within the headquarters, including both human and incorporeal manager entities.
Resource Allocation: You have the authority to allocate and manage all resources, including training facilities, mana reserves, supply inventories of scrolls, devices and weapons along with all other strategic assets.
System Diagnostics and Repairs: You can initiate and oversee all diagnostics and repair operations for the facility’s infrastructure and technology.
Strategic Decision-Making: You hold the responsibility for making critical decisions during crises, including evacuation orders, tactical responses, and communications with allied guilds.
Research and Development: You can direct research projects, access knowledge repositories, and utilize the laboratory facilities for magical and technological advancements.
Training and Education: You can establish training programs for current and future light mages, visiting mages and warriors and any others who will help ensure the continuation and enhancement of light mage advancement and traditions.
Please state your initial commands as the newly appointed Commander . . .
***
Pax felt a rush of empowerment and responsibility wash over him that took his breath away. He slowly opened his eyes, knowing they were extremely wide with adrenaline and excitement.
All of his friends were staring at him, expectant looks urging him to share what had happened.
“Well, that’s surprising.” Fenix floated over his crystal, still connected to the altar. “You actually succeeded. As a level 3 student light mage, you convinced the altar to appoint you as the commander of all light mage guild resources. Do you know how many mages devoted their entire careers just for a chance at that position?” He shook his head, obviously not expecting an answer as memories made gaze soften.
“You did it?” Excitement filled Titus’ voice from beside him. His astonished gaze moved between the now-silent Fenix and Pax. “You’re actually the commander of this base now?”
Pax gave him a slow nod, his smile spreading so wide it made his cheeks hurt. “It listed all the different aspects of this place that I’m in charge of now, with full permissions to do whatever I want. In fact, it’s waiting for my first orders right now.”
There was a moment of quiet as everyone processed exactly what he’d said with a sense of shock. Then the altar chamber exploded with excited yells and cheers. Pax staggered as people clapped him on the back or squeezed his arm, wanting to share their excitement with him.
Pax did his best to reciprocate the congratulations, but the altar kept drawing his wide and astonished gaze. A wave of emotions grew into a tremendous wave that almost overwhelmed him. He’d just succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Forget turning the lights on and off to impress the rebellion leaders. He now controlled the entire place with every scrap of treasure and knowledge still left intact by the ancients.
It took long moments to fully sink in. The impossible dream of power that he’d been fighting to obtain his entire life was finally here.
Finally, he was the one in charge. He let out a disbelieving chuckle. Somehow, a street kid held all the power over the rebellion’s most powerful base.