EPISODE 97: BE
— Edryan Queendom, Year: 7291. Season Color Fading.
I… did not think the outside was what I thought it would be. Their gazes… they gaze at me like I’m not human… well, elf but still. They gaze at me like I am better than them—as if it’s only natural. I know I am the [Chosen of El] and will eventually lead this world, but… I don’t think I ever understood the nature of my position. To the people of Elysium and beyond… I am their light, their hope.
There are more [Chosen] on the continent—two others in fact. One is the rising prince of the magi-humans. The other is some sort of religious ruler of the regular humans. I don’t understand what a [Chosen] is… not truly… not yet—however, I intend to meet both .
There is a… tension in the air—I sense a change I know not how to describe. Perhaps—
— Excerpt from the Journal of Wilarax Indrius.
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The Aspect of Knowledge stood there silently. His gaze penetrated into my own. However, there wasn’t the cautious expression I experienced earlier. No… Aspect Rasheed was… excited…?
A sharp, toothy grin was plastered on his face. “Come.”
The Aspect of Knowledge didn’t wait for a response, and only began to walk — forcing us to jog to keep up with his pace. He left Minerva’s study area and continued his way past rows and rows of books. Our steps echoed softly on the dark marble floor as we followed — wariness and a sense of unease in my heart. It was clear what Aspect Rasheed wanted… and I wasn’t sure if the knowledge I held would be enough to help him.
When the Aspect finally slowed, and we paused our light jogging, barely a stamina point down as we came to a set of doors me nor Minerva had never seen. I glanced at Madria, and her eyes replicated the very confusion I felt.
The doors silently slid apart and revealed a dark opening — the light of lanterns barely illuminating the way. Aspect Rasheed didn’t hesitate to enter. However, I paused and so did Madria.
“ Follow, ” he commanded. My legs moved on their own as his Intent swept over me.
How in the hells can he do that? I barely understood what exactly he was doing, and something I was only just recognizing. Yet when he spoke in Kair-unian — with barely a trace of magic in his voice — it forced our bodies to obey.
Originally, I thought it was like my bloodline skill (Unrivaled Might).
Unrivaled Might — Divine
Description:
Who dares challenge the might of Edryani to rule?
Function:
Challenge the might of your opponent’s Intent. Those who lose the challenge are {Enslaved} to your will. Failure to successfully inflict this skill leaves opponents with the opportunity to enslave the user.
Cost:
NULL
It was a… distasteful skill and one I’d never used to this day. Not out of an unwillingness, but more because I hadn’t had a reason and the failure was not an option I wished to experience.
What Aspect Rasheed was doing wasn’t magic… or it wasn’t just magic. I’d begun to understand that there was far more to Intent than what I was initially taught as a child and in Imperius Academy. I’d only begun to understand this right before the train to Laguu was complete. If there was this much move you could do with the Intent attribute… what else was I missing?
It took a minute of jogging before we finally exited the hallway and stopped before two large new doors — not a door, no, a gate . A single simple Kair-unian rune was upon the gate. I’d only just removed Aspect Rasheed’s control from my legs as we arrived before it.
‘Careful Law, I sense powerful magic before us.’
‘If Rasheed wanted to kill us, it would have happened long ago,’ I responded to Minerva.
We studied the gate—black steel with a simple rune was carved over it. The moment I locked eyes with the rune—a compulsion—one that I’d never felt before, came over me.
“|Be|.”
It was one of the seventy-two base runes. A word that established connection when constructing runic spells—here it was more. The characters runes covered were complex and could hold different meanings for each rune, no matter how basic. Then, when you put these runes together, you’d arrive at a myriad number of combinations.
“Be,” I repeated.
Create, Become, Exist, Live… Be —was the general meaning of the rune but the one in front of us…
It felt… more.
I’d never seen the rune written this way. The only reason I recognized it was the character it was formed from always started with two jointly connected likes that were similar to the letter V.
It was only here that Aspect Rasheed turned and glanced at us.
“There is an ancient tale, lost to the realm now, but remembered by the hearts of men. When there was none but chaos and darkness and Creation—Realm Lord Elrunian was born from the chaos… a single word was on the cusp of his lips. A single word to shape the chaos into order. A single word ignited the light and revealed the darkness. A single word to separate them both.
“ Be. ”
I spoke for the final time, and the gate opened. A bright, blinding light cast the shadows of the hallway away.
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Aspect Rasheed’s eyes narrowed as the [Chosen of Madris] spoke. His voice echoed in before the gate and the magic of the world obeyed—Lawruthian’s voice like an irresistible force they were unable to disregard. The elemental magic particles listened to him in a way that was abnormal for a mortal. No matter, the Aspect gaze was bright with excitement. The small knowledge of medical practices contained in the book the [Chosen] handed over was enough to advance the thinking and practices of the Genesis realm by a few hundred years. It was unfortunate that the knowledge he seeks was far from what the book held. The Aspect of Knowledge refocused on the [Chosen of Madris] and the living perk on his shoulder.
'What game are the Gods playing this time… and how were they able to access souls from outside the realm to select as their [Chosen]? Such feats should be impossible.’
Over the last few days, the [Chosen] was not the only one doing research. Aspect Rasheed was asleep for a few hundred years—the lives of Saphens had changed plenty. It was only through his recent awakening, the Aspect of Knowledge came to discover the multiple [Chosen] presiding within the Genesis Realm.
“Do you know what a dragon is [Chosen]?”
Aspect Rasheed voiced the question as the gates beyond opened.
The question broke the pair of magi-humans from their concentration on the rising gate—their shadows lengthening as the light of the gate shown.
“Giant magical creatures of phenomenal strength,” he responded to the question cautiously.
Rasheed laughed, a booming, heartfelt thing that came from the belly. He gestured for them to follow and began to enter through the gate.
“ A dragon is the great equalizer. ”
As they began to enter through the gates—large chambers filled with a clear red clay colored liquid revealed countless creature parts.
“Dragons were known to be an in-between for the creatures of the Genesis Realm. Ahh, such were the days when we interacted with those in the Genesis Zone and creations of our Realm Lord’s peers.
The [Realm Guards] are such creations—gifted to our Realm Lord as the first of a prototype. Fragile in comparison to what the average level of strength was during the days of old, but here, in this… Elrunian Conitent, ” Aspect Rasheed uttered the ending in disgust before continuing.
“They are a match for the weakest of Gods. If they joined their strengths together, then—even the first of the new Gods must be wary.
Alas, I am veering off-topic.”
As the Aspect led, he kept close watch on the magi-humans, but specifically the [Chosen of Madris]. Together, they made their way deeper into the room—the Chosen’s face grimaced as body parts— Rasheed’s failures — presented themselves. The moment they stepped through the gate, large containers filled with scaled creatures showed themselves.
Failures.
Just as all the wyverns were… but perhaps with the knowledge stored within the perk of the [Chosen]—Rasheed could reverse these failures and find a way.
“ Dragons are… were the great equalizer.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
…
I’ve taught you of what paths are available to follow once you level sufficiently. Now I will teach you what the Gods, Titans, and Dragons were created for.”
The Aspect of Knowledge ensured the following two magi-humans were listening before he proceeded.
We—dragons—were a force that kept the balance of the realm—an extreme of both good and evil. Whereas the Gods rules above and were responsible for expanding the natural laws of the world—Titans below, who expanded the earth and realm itself. Dragons were the great equalizer who brought both necessary destruction and creation…
We were natural disasters but given form.
What do you believe happens when one of the forces necessary to stabilize the realm is removed?”
Aspect Rasheed halted as they reached the center of the room. In front of them, six dull and lifeless grey gems were held in place by six equal distant stone platforms raised from the ground. Hovering over the gems, surrounding them in a protective embrace, was a highly detailed marble carving of a blue dragon. Love, compassion, companionship, and more radiated from this life-like carving—telling a story within itself.
A continuous swirl of magical energy—potent enough to be visible, a feat that should be impossible—continually pumped into the gems. Yet with each passing second, it became clear that nothing happened. The magic was absorbed, but the gems did not retain any properties—aside that of the one they already held.
Dull… and… Lifeless.
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“The balance is interrupted and Order and Chaos becomes disharmonious,” I guessed—shoulders shrugging.
I wasn’t sure what Aspect Rasheed was shooting for, nor did I have any intentions of finding out after following him past thousands of scaled body parts for several minutes.
“Yes, although your explanation is basic, that is in essence what happens. A Realm Lord could easily solve what problems we face now, but it is impossible for any to reach such heights in the limited time we have remaining.”
The Aspect of Knowledge walked up to the six lifeless gems. I could not see his face, but his steps were careful and light, the intense mana circling him. He carefully reached forward a gently grabbed one of the gems—holding it with both hands as if it were the most precious thing in the entire world. He turned to face us and his gaze settled on Minerva and me.
“It is impossible for another Realm Lord to rise and address the issues with Genesis before it is too late… but if another piece of Genesis once thought lost can be reignited and returned to help balance the missing elements…”
The dragon didn’t continue, only gazing lovingly at the gem within his hand.
Madria moved closer to me, unsure of the Aspect's intentions. Her left-hand hand tightly clasped the dull necklace my mother gifted me on my third birthday. The usual radiance it kept was dull… and lifeless.
“I wish to give life to my children—who never received the opportunity to be born—to return dragons to Genesis and save this realm before it is too late. Gods have returned long ago, expanding the capabilities of the natural and unnatural laws—even Helcantruim, a more refined version of the Realm Guards, has managed to become a titan alongside another. Together, they keep the Underneath stable and prevent the Mortal Realm from collapsing within upon itself.
Your knowledge may very well hold the secrets—no, it does hold what I need to save my species. To save the last of the first of Elrunians creations.”
And here it was. Here was the opportunity I’d been waiting for. The sequences of books Minerva handed out was part of a long plot that we didn’t know if it would work.
The Aspect of Knowledge did not hide what he was looking for—not truly—or simply he didn’t care what we discovered.
The medical science book I gave him held information that would be considered common knowledge to anyone with a high school diploma from Earth. The mitochondria is the power house of the cell—that type of knowledge you learned in middle school. Yet, it also held a small bit of information about reviving dead cells and other matters.
Now, it was clear the Aspects position wasn’t as hostile when I first came. It was clear he wanted something from me.
“The medical knowledge your world possessed is far advance of its lack of access to high-grade magic. To be able to peer into the secrets of Creation is something only Realm Lords and their peers can do.
It is clear what you showed me was simple and written in a way even children could understand… if even a common child no older than a teen could have access to such information…”
‘ Then what access would an adult or professional in the field have? ’
“…then the knowledge the high mages and researchers of this Earth used to possess must be that of the divine. There is no God of health or healing in the Genesis Realm currently. They were amongst the first to fall. Most of the new dominion possessors are related to combat, especially as the first of the New Gods came to be,” the Aspect continued.
There was a… strangeness to his gaze and age yellow-gold eyes. The Aspect didn’t appear to be his usual self. I almost felt like he was being compelled, as his words were nothing like our first introduction.
“I seek the knowledge you possess… name your price.”
A heavy sigh of relief resounded through my thoughts as Minerva straightened up. There was only one thing I wanted a guarantee of from the Aspect of Knowledge.
“Release me and Madria. Allow us to return to Edrya safely and you have a deal.”
Rasheed chuckled—it was a deep rumble that felt like gravel crashing down a mountain as the floor underneath us shook.
“That is… permissible yet,” Aspect Rasheed paused—carefully, he returned the dull and dead dragon egg to its proper place next to the rest.
“Are you certain that is what you will want? The Trial of Six was established by your first predecessor—within it is an inheritance the [Knowledge Breaker] failed to grasp. It was only after the second [Chosen] left my home—unable to grasp the contents within.”
My left hand clasped tightly… and I stayed silent for a moment. Alidra Edryani… the [Magi of the End] and the first [Chosen of Madris]. There was little information about her found in the library. Unlike [Knowledge Breaker]—Carno Edryani—little information was found on my supposed ancestor.
The silence continued to creep—my thoughts flashing as I attempted to come to a decision. I pulled up my quests and stared at both—while the Aspect continued to peruse his six eggs.
His eyes gently watched them, and several times they paused on the marble statue of the blue dragon, whose wings surrounded the eggs in a protective embrace.
Chain Quest: [Born To Be King] (System Generated)
Quest Details:
The Demigoddess Kubrat has left you with cryptic words that lead to a startling ancient history of the Elrunian Realm. Find clues as to who the previous [Chosen of Madris] were.
Rewards:
Titled: Born To Be King
Failure:
Destruction of the Elrunian Realm. WARNING: A time limit of fifty years is in place for this quest.
I first read over my second quest—one generated by the system after the revelation of the previous [Chosen] to me by the Demigoddess of Illusion.
A doomsday clock.
That’s what the quest was… wasn’t it? A clock ticking to the end of the world. I didn’t know where this quest was leading me… but perhaps I ended here at the home of Rasheed in hopes of finding the answers I seek. I held a subtle understanding of Carno Edryani. He was the second [Chosen of Madris] and is the reason this world lost much according to the Aspect. There are six lesser attributes and only three remain. I didn’t know his reasonings behind his actions, but at least I now hold an idea of who he was.
Crusade: Holy War of Unification
Quest Details:
Goddess Madris has tasked you with a quest for unification. Unite the lands of the Elrunian Continent underneath one banner. You must start a war within the next ten years or face the consequences.
Rewards:
Didn’t I save your life three and a half times? What more do you want? I guess you can have one thing:
Emperor of the Edryan Empire and detraction of a half favor you owe Goddess Madris.
Failure:
Your potential and soul are reaped by yours truly. 😘
It was then I looked at the first quest I ever received—beginning to decide when a voice interrupted me.
“Are you alright Lawruthian?”
Madria’s voice knocked me from my thoughts—her concern evident as she gently grabbed my left hand. Her warmth invaded me and I held on tightly. I hadn’t realized how much I missed the touch of another human.
“I’m with you, no matter what decision you make.”
I squeezed her hand but stayed silent—unconsciously my posture straighten far more than it already was. I allowed myself to show my true feelings to Madria, and she listened. For that, I would be forever grateful, yet right now, I needed to be the shoulder for Madria to lean on. I needed to reignite who Lawruthian Edryani was supposed to be—who I was supposed to be. A man [Born To Be King].
Alidra Edryani left an inheritance here and the second [Chosen of Madris] failed to receive it—why? I wondered if I could find more information in this trial. This was the first I heard more of it and if I could gleam more information from the Aspect of Knowledge about what I may face…
“When did she leave this trial behind?”
The Aspect turned to face me. “The moment after, she was announced as Madris’s first [Chosen]. When the tension between the magi-humans and the rest of the Saphens were at its height.”
The Aspect smiled at me. Sharp, shark-like teeth appear in a vicious, heart-devouring grin. He understood he held my attention and interest.
“If I give you the knowledge you seek, will you immediately allow Madria to leave?”
Before the Aspect could respond, another voice did, as a hand tightly squeezed my own.
“I’m not going anywhere. In this trial, can more than one person face it?”
Yellow-gold orbs aligned on Madria’s face. A response came before I could say anything.
“Yes. There are six stages—each dedicated to one of the six attributes. It is a trial to gain greater strength and understanding. Yet make no mistake from this—failure will mean death.”
“Then I too wish to undergo this Trial of Six.”
“Madria-“
“I will not abandon you, Lawruthian. I am a [Hero] and when your mother fought to keep Edryan together—my mother, the other heroes—were right there with her.
…
Why do you want to fight alone when I can take up some of the burden? ”
I gazed into Madria’s eyes, the rustic gold with hints of divinity—a soft brown—gazed strongly into my own.
I turned to face the Aspect, my palms outstretched, as a book after book began to materialize into my hands. Hopefully, this was not a mistake.
His grin grew wider.