In Terasheth the second largest city in West Crescent and the seat of power for all of the crescent kingdoms mages associations, the high mages council has convened for their annual meeting.
The Association's main meeting hall is a grandiose thing seated atop a large mana crystal that powers its flight over the cityscape and providing a faint light during the night so that the city is always dimly illuminated. The Hall isn’t the only such flying structure in town but it is distinct in that only individuals who have mastered flight magic unassisted may enter. A series of shifting magic circles floating around the structure indicate the presence of a complex monitoring and repulsion barrier. The building itself is wreathed in gold, mithril statues dot the landscape and adamantine gates sit uselessly at the entrance. All this existing solely as an obscene show of wealth and power.
On the 12th and final floor of this monstrosity a meeting between 37 representatives of three parts of the once whole crescent kingdom. 12 representatives from each country and the head of the mages college, which was established before the country split nearly 400 years ago. The room was quiet as all members looked on at the center viewing orb that displayed a fight between one Dellam Naris and East crescents best tracking squad. “He was able to heal without the use of a potion or a spell at a rate that would put any troll to shame” master Rodrick of north crescent exclaimed transfixed on the orb. “And that summoning was performed in the heat of combat without a magic circle while summoning no less than 6 tier 5 earth spirits” remarked master Einera the eldest of the representatives her expression showing equal parts disgust and awe at the man displayed. Many such remarks circled the room comments on his unnatural speed and strength that allowed him to shatter through the protective barriers of his opponents only to deliver non-lethal sleep spells.
Shouting master Wendell told the room in a fury “ now do you fools see we don’t need capture squads, but subjugation units. I want to know where the man’s research has lead as much as any of you but, he grows stronger every year and may even be a match for some of our best attack squads at this rate. Alira was no pushover and clearly held back since the forest is intact but she was supposed to be more than his match based off of our assessments from last year.” the greying man now out of breath fell into his seat to stare at the rest of the representatives, his eyes stopping when they meet the headmaster’s. “What say you now Headmaster Brontes, now that you see the laughable student who everyday grows more powerful and less human?”
Brontes who was nearing his 200th year betrayed no signs of old age despite being nearly twice as old as any in the room with the exception of einera. Brontes was a half-elf of great power and knowledge which had earned him the respect his blood denied him in his youth. A dark skinned man whose eyes shone gold in the light of the room, those eyes now trained on Wendell.
“Is being in-human now a crime in this council’s eyes Wendell?” he said softly to the man in the way an elder speaks to a child. Wendell glared at him for but a moment but then smiled, which Brontes returned in kind.
Brontes rose from his seat to address the room,”many of you have expressed concern over this boy the last 5 years and your words did not fall on deaf ears. I have had Nihlo shadow the boy for nearly 2 years now and he has informed me that your fears were not unfounded. He has learned soul magic and seems to be researching ways to alter his connection between the mind, body and soul.” murmurs of disapproval spread through the room while some struggled to hide their interest.” it seems he is looking to defy the laws we have set forth and create an entirely new species of human using his own body as the base. What we have seen today is but the tip of a very large iceberg. I kept him alive in an attempt to discover his lab and research notes but Nihlo discovered no documents in any of his known hideouts.”
Stills the southern Crescent head stood across from Brontes “you unleashed that psychopath Nihlo onto the public in all our domains without warning? Why have you not simply had him retrieve this man and return him for interrogation?”
“Nihlo is under the effects of several restraint spells to keep his power limited and focused on his mission. His infiltration abilities are legend on their own which is why i needed him. 10 others were sent before him but none could get past Dellams magical protections. Nihlo himself says he can only get to within 10 meters of the man before his improved senses can detect him. To Have Nihlo fight him would mean releasing his combat magics in full and i can't guarantee he won't slip through my controls entirely at that point. Besides at full power he is more likely to obliterate him entirely, which i felt would defeat the point of this operation.”
“One of us could go.” Master Quinland said smiling as he watched the battle playing on a loop. “He is still in the north, my territory and i haven’t had a good fight since those Tolgothy bastards invaded 10 years ago. I can be there in a heartbeat.” He was a large man scarred from head to toe the scars on the boarders of his mouth made it seem like he was always smiling but when he did the skin split to reveal rows of teeth canine in nature.”or are you all scared to lose to this pup?”
“He he” gigled the woman next to him a green haired, green eyed girl who looked to be no older than 20. “You will take me with you, i am tired of missing out on all the fun. Last time you killed that silver dragon before i could even catch up and after i teleported you to the foot of the mountain to.” she said feigning a stern look.
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Yelling once again Wendell remarked. “Enough the boy has already damaged our reputation with the populace by overturning nearly everything we said was possible now you want to risk him defeating some of the highest members of our order? Though you hardly deserve that distinction." Wendell remarked, the disdain in his voice clear as day." No i say we activate Nihlo and end this if need be we can have 6 of us subjugate him if he rampages. At least he was a former Member of the high council.”
“I will remember that remark old man, if you want to test me i am ready, coward” Quinland’s smile widened as his eyes narrowed, muscles bulged and hair began to grow. Shouting started to spread through the room and spells were readied by everyone present until all magic fizzled out trans formations ceased and silence reigned. Brontes eyes glowing, spoke softly his voice echoing in the now silenced room. “We will put it to a vote. Quin and his ward or Nihlo. I will abide by either decision but i will not have violence between high mages in my territories.” the spell faded and soun returned to the room. “Now all for releasing Nihlo in full...and Quinland. Alright it Is settled.”
Dellam
Del sprinted through the forest slow enough for his golems to keep pace sighing in exasperation on occasion. “How the fuck do they keep finding me.” he whispered to himself.
“I have every countermeasure imaginable active i should be hidden from all magical detection but still here we are. Again. And i know my physical sensors work since they easily pick up the grey eaters in this forest, which is good because they are unsettling to look at to say the least.” in the corners of his eyes his detection magic displays the 3 meter tall almost human looking creatures leaning against the forests massive tree trunks. The creatures grey of skin and long of limb stalk prey using speed and strength that could rival the giants of the southern isles. “ i can see every twitch of their elongated clawed fingers from nearly 3 km awaaaay!” dellam contorted his body and forced himself to the side with accelerated flight magic, narrowly avoiding a mass of grey fur that blew through the forest like a lightning bolt. “Holy shit that was close, it came from the absolute edge of my detection spells.”
A deep throaty laugh echoed from the wreckage of trees in Dellam’s path a large were-wolf emerging from the wreck. “Gooood reflexes boy i can't wait to tear your limbs off and take you to the council.”
“ That wasn’t the kind of thing i expect from your average tracker, so you must be someone of note.”
“Where are my manners? I am master Quinland.”
“Quinland of the howling death? A little on the nose by the way.”
“It’s for the sound my enemies make before they die smartass.”
“Quin you jerk you said you would wait this time.” A young woman decked in a brown and black tunic severed at the midriff, green eyes smiling at Dellam as she brute forced her way through his teleportation wards. Emerging seemingly from thin air and landing on Quin’s head foot first.
“ restrain them.” Del ordered his Shaitan, while pulling three reagents from his side pocket. He downed them quickly cringing as the acrid taste of as the last one spread through his mouth. Watching as his assailants dispatched his summonings, the world slowing around him and his mana surging around him visibly.
“Oh” Quin said holding the head of a golem in either hand realizing that a series of magic formations had spread throughout the forest for nearly a km in every direction. “Impressive.”
A series of deafening shockwaves followed lightning magic strong enough to melt rock and ice pillars turning the surroundings into a sea of flames and steam. Several of the spells finding their way back to Del. The woman stood unflinching within the maelstrom casually opening teleportation gates connecting the attacks with Del’s location. Quin was more terrifying in a sense simply shrugging off attacks one could expect some dragons to falter under.
“My name is Mira by the way” The woman said finally seeming to tire from her constant use of mana. She then teleported Quin to within striking distance all while maintaining her defense.
Del dodged a series of punches only able to return on in ten even with his accelerated reaction speeds. Continuing his onslaught of spells he managed to land a firm blow on quins chin, but his arm was caught in quins vice-like grip as he tried to retract it. “You cracked my shields with a single punch that glove must be something else.” Quin tightened his grip then punched Del in the cheek sending him flying through the forest leaving his arm behind. “I did say you were coming back in pieces.”
The magic onslaught ceased much to Mira’s relief. She fell to her knees breathing heavily. “He is almost as much of a monster as you. Who can attack that often that fast at full power for that long?! He is cheating.”
“Oh quiet if you are tired it’s because i haven't trained you hard enough.” Quin barked briefly holding his jaw whose pain was increasing for some reason. Fear began to spread through him as he realized his mana was rapidly starting to drain.
“Mira.” he started only to find her unconcious at his prey’s, no this demons feet.
Blood soaked and all to calm Del pulled another vial from his breast pocket and drank it in one swift motion. A new arm started to grow replacing the one Quin held in his hand. He was looking noticeably less enthusiastic now his shielding now gone and support stripped away.
“She had to go first, obviously i can’t have someone that adept at redirecting attacks around if i am going to go all out. Besides i have some questions for you.” The mass of mana surrounding dell began to rotate around him and dig into the soil, arc’s of electricity burning a massive magical formation into the ground. “So how do you keep finding me?”