The Mistress mediated, floating a few feet above the cushion she had been resting on. The serpents that comprised her hair quietly drifted around her head contentedly, only letting out an occasional hiss. They had long since moved from the cave where Valgrath had summoned her, having moved to a port city in Esteron. Since they basically controlled both sides of this civil war, she didn’t even know who technically controlled this city currently. Either way, the war was going exactly as they wanted and even their global endeavors had seen positive results.
There were some concerns, of course. The dragons and fairies had already started moving against them and their allies on the Mistborn, Askavindur, and Heartstone continents. As for the other continents, they were working on making in roads, mainly focusing on city states and major trading hubs. They had started right after their success on the northern continent, which also made their enemies move more activity against them.
Her brow furrowed. The Northern continent still didn’t have an accepted name by its inhabitants, nor by the international community, which meant nothing changed from when she was still mortal. Sheer stupidity can truly be remarkable. Thousands upon thousands of years and they couldn’t get their shit together to select an official name. No. They had to be insanely stubborn fools. More focused on their rivalries, infighting, and gods know what else those crazy northerners came up with. It was a goddamn miracle they could pull off the ley line manipulation like they had. Even with the success, they lost half of their group after the ritual because of those crazy northerners.
She let out a long breath, centering herself once again. Then something pulsed through her. An eyebrow raised. What could have caused….
Thud!
The shroud she had over fate thrummed with a pulse of energy. She focused on the infinities of tangle threads and paths of fate. There were the ripples from the Ancient Ones slowly awakening. They were going to be a pain to deal with, but had plenty of time before they became an issue. The next ripples she paid attention to were all related to powerful mages. Most were hidden from her view, as the Mystic Eye had been using their influence to mess with her ever since she had obscured and manipulated fate. Nothing stood out amongst them and a supermajority of fate was positive in their favour. But…
Thud!
It felt like a flame was trying to ignite. Something small, but somehow related to something larger. The energy was clear to her, but it’s effect, not so much. She frowned, not being able to see the effects from the ripple was…new. The list of things that it could be were limited. First was a Fate Beaker, but they wouldn’t be that strong if this was their moment. The second was the most likely one. It could be someone reaching a tipping point in their fate, creating a large deviation. This deviation could lead to many potential changes in those around them, hence the pulsing ripples. Many possibilities were connected to this deviation, which meant they were well connected and had great potential. With that in mind, it helped her reduce the possibilities.
The first that popped in to her mind was Escanar, the current Lord of Flames. They had spies that informed them the dragon was searching for candidates to become his chosen. They found a few possibilities in their lands and killed them, but this…this could be a problem if it was related to the selection process.
A memory long suppressed flashed through her mind. Marcus coming out triumphant from the trials of the chosen bloody, but more powerful, his eyes shining when they met hers. Him and her fighting and growing stronger together. Him dieing in her arms when she went through her last fate breaking moment. No matter how many times she went over it, she never saw herself surviving without him.
With a flare of her willpower and rage, she buried the memories once again. Using the anger raging through her, she focused on fate and flexed her power. The Mystic Eye’s power clashed with hers, an unseen battle of willpower and concepts. A battle the Mistress knew she would win, as the god was limited by the Accords far more than she was. She might be overstepping, but she wanted, no, demanded, to get a glimpse at where this ripple was coming from. Even though she knew she would win, it didn’t mean the Mystic Eye would make it easy for her. A headache built up before the god’s power let her see just a little more. This would only be a glimpse, but she would make it worth it.
“Son of a bitch, I knew it. A chosen selection,” she muttered to herself.
The Crucible was active and there was nothing she could d-
Gazes of externally powerful beings landed upon her. They weren’t local gods, but what…Oh, this could be fun. She grinned maliciously.
“Using an aspect of me to test your future pawns?” She taunted to her observers. Usually they wouldn’t have been able to find her, but clearly her guess about overstepping was correct. She sighed, trying to stay unnoticed on a powerful world such as this had always been futile. But she was already here and was playing by the rules, well other than what just happened, but still, everything was fine and she was untouchable currently. At least this could work in their favor. After all, she had broken many a person with mere fractions of her presence, willpower, and even just a glance.
“By all means, take a little taste. Let’s see how many of those hatchlings will become a true dragon or will they break,” she taunted again. Dragons were prideful, so she hoped for some reaction. When nothing came, she choose to annoy them again as she felt a tingling sensation as they analyzed her. “I’m honestly shocked that you all haven’t sent your own ascendent down. It’s almost like you don’t care about this world.”
The observers vanished. There had been plenty of times she dealt with dragon demigods, gods, and ascendents. It was all too easy to provoke a reaction out of, but this time, nothing. That made her worry. Could it be possible she was missing something? Or worse, those were the primordial dragon gods, which would mean they would have to be extra careful. Because if those gods were watching and didn’t even react, then they were confident in this potential chosen.
Which begs the question, what about the other chosen? There were always two. Each selected by the opposing affinity. Together, they represented balance and change. So, if the Lord of Flames was selecting now, what about the Lord of Water? Loose ends were not something she liked to leave alone for very long. Over a thousand planets had fallen thanks to her efforts and she wouldn’t fail now. Maybe it was about time they had some minor setbacks. After all, even before she had arrived, they had already dealt several blows without meaning to.
Months before Valgrath had arrived, remnants from that failure had appeared along with quite a few void dwellers. Evidently, they had killed one of the most powerful dragons on the planet, along with quite a few casualties amongst their allies. It was a pity that Valgrath’s memories of the failure were fuzzy. She would have liked to learn of the events that lead to their force’s appearance and how they had failed. But it was expected, having gone through an unstable portal like he had would have that effect on anyone. However, with the death of that dragon, they had made significant progress. In fact, if he hadn’t died, the ley line alterations would have failed since the dragon lived on that continent.
“Mistress,” Valgrath said, interrupting her thoughts. “We have gotten confirmation that the doppelgangers in the Burning Plains have died. The Lotus has some sort of plan in play along the coast of Heartstone. From what our spy says, they will strike after the intersection ends.”
The Mistress smiled. The doppelgangers had been a long shot, but they probably had caused plenty of trouble before dying. As for the Lotus himself…
“That man has a vendetta against a Trevel in Heartstone, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, as long as it doesn’t impact our dealings, then let him get struck by lightning. Either way, it’s not our problem. But what of our spies elsewhere?”
“We have confirmed low level infiltration into the Mage guild or whatever they call themselves, Adventurer guild, and have potential students in place ready to attend some academies. As for our spies in noble families and higher in the guilds, we are still struggling to get past the soul contracts. But-”
“But we still can bribe plenty to join our side with promises of gaining power when we take control,” she said, guessing correctly what Valgrath would say next. “Then we need to start selecting those that can use our soul opening techniques to get spies in place and bypass that soul contract nonsense.”
“My Lady is wise. I’ll start gathering a list of potential spies that can be trusted to use that magic correctly. But may I suggest we pass it to The Lotus?”
“Hmm, he would know just how useful that is. Very well, but make it clear to him to be wise with whom he trusts with this magic.”
“It shall be done.”
“Then you may go.”
When she sensed Valgrath vanish, she let her smile grow till it revealed her pointed teeth. This magic wasn’t as rare as she made it sound. When Valgrath told the Lotus about this magic, he would use it and certainly be discovered. That would inturn make their enemies focus on hunting the Lotus, meanwhile letting them get away with plenty of preparations. Sure, it might cause more scrutiny, but the way they opened souls wouldn’t be so easily discovered. Something told her the Lotus wouldn’t be as careful.
***
Zerine and family left the compound, planning to walk through the city, which was alive with the celebration preparations. It was still quite early, the sun only having just peaked over the horizon, but the streets were bustling as people got ready for the all day celebrations across the city. Her father and Gary were already out helping the temple district with their celebration preparations. Once that was done, she knew they would go off to other sections of the city to help where they could. That was what their group was going to do as well.
Zerine was walking slightly behind Milli and Naro, already acting as their guard even though there were S and Gold-ranks surrounding them as the entire compound went out in full force to help prepare for the day. Her gaze took in the fact there were more than the usual amount of city guards already out.
“They’re getting paid triple for today’s routes and we made sure there was a rotation so everyone could spend plenty of time with family,” Ava said, following Zerine’s gaze.
“Concerned about something?” Zerine wondered, eyeing her mother suspiciously.
“Celebrations like this bring out many thieves and would-be bandits to go after people while they are distracted or drunk.”
“I figured, but wanted to double check. I would hate for their to be a surprise today,” Zerine said, looking for any sign that her mother was hiding something, but all she got was a shrug. Her mother was also scanning the surrounding area.
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“Its good that you're aware of things like the guards, but we have everything under control. There will be four Iridesium-ranks and an absurd amount of S-rank and Gold-rank adventurers,” Ava commented idly.
Varino, who was sitting on Zerine’s shoulder, whistled, impressed. Zerine had to agree with the spirit that the number of Iridesium-ranks in one place was impressive, but that just confirmed her parents were prepared for trouble. What kind of trouble, she had no clue, but they were prepared, so she would just have to trust that they were ready.
“Just focus on having fun and guarding Milli,” Ava said, patting Zerine’s free shoulder.
Varino whistle cheerfully.
“Wait…you did what!?” Zerine said, while Ava face palmed.
Varino chittered excitdely.
“Oooh, so Raith’s avatar, Zara, and Vinessa nudged you in that direction. Gods, I don’t know whether to be exasperated or excited,” Zerine said.
Varino burble saying, “It’ll be fun! And you’re kinda back to full strength…right?”
Zerine snorted a laugh.
“Sure, I feel better, ah,” a sudden realization made her shake her head. “Training never stops, huh?”
“That sounds about right,” Ava said, sighing. “Just don’t get hurt when that starts up.”
Varino cheered while Zerine grinned. Maybe this celebration would be even more fun than she had expected.
***
Neil stood next to his father, Zachary Garnier. It made Neil feel small compared to the large man his father was. Large muscles bulged under his dark green shirt and even his pants which were loose hinted at his muscular legs. His father ran a hand through his short crop brown hair before rubbing his chin, which was covered by a trimmed beard as he eyed a floating board.
His green eyes were sharp as he read the posts that explained each event taking place all over the city.
“Did you sign up for one of the teenage hand-to-hand fighting tournaments? They are just for fun, but you could win some nice prizes,” his fathered said, his gaze flicking to Neil, who smiled.
“I did for the partner matches with my friend Cory, you know him. He and I plan to go to an academy together,” Neil said, his own gaze looking for Milli and Naro’s team, which he knew had also signed up as a pair.
“Ah, yes. Good choice in partner. He focuses on speed while you're more strength focused,” his father said, nodding to himself, his gaze looking over the list of D-rank pairs. Most team names were initials of the pairing up fighters. The D-rank list was substantially shorter than the E-rank tournament. There weren’t many fifteen through eighteen-year-olds that reach D-rank, so this list had nineteen through early twenty-year-olds singed up as well.
“I thought you would have paired with Zerine since these matches only allow magical movement,” his father commented, his brow furrowing as his gaze landed on a strange team name.
“Crown of Thorns,” he muttered to himself.
“She was recovering from,” Neil paused. He wasn’t supposed to tell anyone why Zerine was recovering. “from an injury. But honestly, she has bounced back faster than anyone expected.”
“Team Zappy Zappy?” his father muttered, finding yet another strange team name chuckling to himself. “I heard about her recovering. I’m glad she is doing well. Ava and Cal told me she will act as Milli’s guard for a time…what’s wrong?”
Neil was staring shocked at the D-rank team names and didn’t even realize that he had let out a groan.
“I think Varino signed her and Zerine up for the D-rank fights. Do any of the prizes seem like something a storm elemental would want?” Neil said, already guessing the answer.
“Alchemic materials, doometallic ingots, pick of mana stones and quintessence, tailored leather and hide accessories…” his father listed off some more, but Neil suspected the first three were what the elemental had focused on.
“Yeaaah, Varino probably saw the prize of quintessence and didn’t even think about it,” Neil said.
His father laughed. “That elemental will probably beat the hell out of everyone. Zerine might not even need to do anything.”
“It’s a team match. I’m not sure if they will let a crestless fight,” Neil said.
“Nah, they will let her fight, but the first fight will determine it if anyone complains, I bet.”
Gods, that tournament is going to be a shit show, Neil thought. Already imagining the antics, Zerine and Varino would get up too.
***
Zerine eyed the spirit who was sitting on her shoulder, whistling a tune, trying to look innocent and failing. They were standing in front of a floating board with the day’s events listed. Along with events were the teams that had signed up for the tournaments held later that day.
“How did you sign us up when you and I weren’t even here during the sign up period? And Team Zappy…Zappy, really?”
Varino burbled and whistled, saying it was a perfect name. Pointedly avoiding the other question.
“What about Storm Bringers? Thunder Struck, Storm Strikers, Storm Chasers, oh, what about Lightning Legends?” Zerine wondered.
Varino opened her mouth to protest, but paused and began tapping her check. She chimed, saying those were good options to think about for their adventuring name, but their opponents will learn to fear this name like the riders did.
“The riders? Oooh, right,” Zerine said, remembering the fact that Varino and Kamar had beaten the crap out of an entire group of challengers. “You only chose that name because it sounds fierce when you say it,” Zerine teased, knowing the answer already.
Varino gave Zerine a sheepish smile, which made Zerine laugh. Either way, their team would certainly be remembered.
“Those were better names…you agree?”
“Nooo! No! Zappy is love, zappy is life,” Varino whistled as they headed into the temple distract following Milli, Naro, and Estel.
“Wh-what!?” Zerine said, giggling, but Varino couldn’t answer as she was giggling too clearly, having said the first thing that popped into her head. When the others gave them weird looks, the two lost it and burst out laughing.
“They’re going to be crazy to fight,” Estel staged whispered to Naro, who laughed while Mili grinned.
“May the gods have mercy on the souls to whoever fights them,” he said theoretically. They laughed as they headed towards the temple of Magic and Knowledge.
***
Giry Alrusj jabbed with his ancestral spear, its doometallic point pierced deep into an armored foreleg. He was fighting something more akin to a small dragon than the metal and scale covered salamander it was. Spikes petrified from its back and covered its whip-like tail. Dark green and black scales and metal cover the creature’s thick hide. It used both ground and fire affinities, proving them to be quite the potent combination as Giry’s attack had little effect.
He scowled as the wound he had inflicted healed before his eyes. This C-rank creature was formidable. There were tales of these creatures migrating through the Burning Plains once every five hundred years. In fact, one of the carvings on his spear was of this very creature that his great grandfather had fought and brought home as a trophy. Now it was his turn to prove himself worthy of his family’s legacy and to become the chosen.
Glowing green eyes glared at Giry as the creature let out a deep ground shaking growl. Giry snarled back, building his mana towards his feet and channeling it in to the spear.
“Who’s flames are hotter,” he taunted the creature.
Red flames roared out in a condensed stream right as Giry released his own stream of green flames that blasted out, covering Giry’s harsh laugh. This is what all hunts should be like. Putting your strength and will against that of worthy prey.
Giry got his wish as a mana to mana collision occurred lighting the entire plains in red and green light. Their wills clashed as the two spells collided, creating a brilliant explosion rocking the area.
He gritted his teeth, his hand gripping the spear tighter as the two spells kept their collision, creating even more explosions, both pouring their will in to the spells. This test of wills would determine who would win the fight.
Both intensified their flames. Slowly, the impact point of the two spells became a swirling mass of volatile energy. The creature roared, putting everything into the struggle. The volatile energy crackled ominously, but Giry dug deep within himself. This would not be where he failed. His path went on far past this and the other trials.
With a guttural roar, Giry put his remaining willpower into a surge of flames. The renewed wills slammed into one and another, warping the mana where their wills collided. The tipping point occurred without warning. Giry felt it as his will began pushing the creature’s spell back. He put just a little more mana into his spell, and the torrent of green flames punched through the other spell. He used his remaining mana to launch himself back, flames propelling him at a blur.
The world lit with a shining red and green light as the volatile mass of energy connected with the creature. An enormous explosion erupted outward, incinerating everything in a large radius. Giry, who was still trying to flee, got sent flying from the shockwave.
Breathing heavily, he shakily got to his feet. A crater was all that remained from their fight.
Giry grinned a blood stained smile. “So, this-”
Everything swirled around him. Then he stood in darkness. A presence crashed over him and for the first time this trial Giry truly felt fear and, worse, hopelessness. He was the prey of a terrifying predator.
***
Aliwin Leodithas, or Ali for short, slammed her staff on the ground. Fiery vines grew from the ground that rippled as her spell moved in a ring outwards. The monsters attacking her village wouldn’t make it to them, not this time. Her vines tore through the horrific bear sized masses of flesh and bones had long spider-like boney legs with a single mass that acted as its body. Eyes covered the fleshy mass, which had spikes of bones and a mouth full of tendrils.
The grotesque monsters got tangled in the growing vines, letting out ear piercing shrieks as the flames started burning through them. One of them lept at her it forelegs ready to stab her chest. As it moved to strike, she realized just how many were charging at her. Easily close, fifty of these things were rapidly approaching and her vines were too slow at killing the ones that had been caught.
Rage filled her. The gems atop her staff shone brightly as she smashed it into the monster. An internal orange glow started within the monster’s body who fell tot he ground writhing, letting out child-like screams of agony before flames burst forth sending bits of burning flesh everywhere. A flaming flower bloomed where the lifeless corpse had once been.
“Take this!” she shouted.
Petals of fire rushed in a swirling mass coming from all the corpses of the fallen monsters where other flowers had bloomed. The glowing mass of petals tore through all the rushing monsters. Screams and shrieks filled the air as the fire cut and burned. Soon all that remained were puffs of ashes on the wind.
Alli now stood in a meadow of purple, pink, and red flames.
“My, aren’t you a violent one,” a woman's voice commented as the world turned into a dark void.
***
“Is this all you can do!?” Derek shouted as he pummeled his old man. The bastard deserved this, leaving their mother to die with her dragon. The trial had somehow known to have him fight his Beastkin father. He didn’t care if this was trying to get him to learn a lesson. First, this rat bastard who abandoned his family would learn his own lesson.
He didn’t seem to notice that when he started punching his father’s face that tears had begun streaming down his face.
“Its down to me to guide my brother!”
Crunch! His father’s nose broke. His old man staggered back but quickly recovered and move to lash out.
“Me to uphold the family name!”
Thud! His fist slammed in to his father’s gut, his mother’s swords long forgotten.
“Me to bear everything that you two left behind!”
Crack! his father’s arm broke.
“I-”
His fist stopped as the world around them shifted, and his father faded away. A presence beyond anything he had felt before quenched his out-of-control rage in an instant.
“Family issues…how original,” came a mocking female voice.
***
Jez ran through the city laughing following his old sister’s dragon and she flew overhead. A newly bonded pair, it was an incredible sight to watch her orange dragon fly with her. The first out of their family and a promise of something new and safe.
Part of him watching the two fly yearned to be up there with them. But another part of him said he would never find a partner like that. Hell, he would be lucky to be considered for the advanced training.
He clenched his fist, his eyes locked on to the flying pair. He wouldn’t let those thoughts get in his way.
“I will stand by your side some day,” he said.
Suddenly, the world faded, and he remembered he was in the trials. He-
A scornful laugh filled the air, sending chills down his back.
***
Kamar felt her and her mana becoming closer and closer aligned as she fought endless waves of monsters and Metal Heads. It felt surreal to her as she seamlessly combined and moved with her mana. At a mere thought, her flames and light combined, vaporizing her enemies or propelling herself so fast that everything seemed almost frozen as she moved.
A smile graced her face, even though she was facing what many would describe as a nightmare. This was it, the feeling that Varino and others had described. This energy, ease, and freedom had her nearly in tears from the sheer joy she was feeling. Nothing could compare to this feeling.
In a blink Kamar flowed between attacks, while simultaneously spears of light and fire left scorched holes through monsters. She had hidden her wings, which she now allowed to manifest. With a blast of air, Kamar spun, dashed, lept, flew, and danced through the fight. Kamar and her mana were nearly one when the world suddenly became a dark void.
A presence crashed over Kamar, but this wouldn’t stop her. Not when she was so close to something that she just knew would lead her to something more. Or was it something deeper? Whatever it was, something inside her was flaring to life with a flickering light. So, if it was flickering, then she would fuel so it would become a flame. Everything she had flared to life. Her will, her mana, and even her thoughts would resist this presence. Nothing would quench her sparks.
She would ignite.