If Divines are meant to be treated with respect, why do I have to answer every little question a mortal asks? Let’s display some confidence. Besides, I’m tired of this one’s attitude towards me. What’s her problem? Ada sat up straight and stared back at Eilin. “Is there a need for you to know? I have already passed your test.”
Eilin glared back at Ada and was about to retort with a presumably unpleasant pushy reply but the Magister took over at the moment with a wave of his hand. He looked at Ada sternly but calmly. “Lady Ada, as a formal request, no, but as a matter of common social etiquette where one side introduces himself whereas the other side does not, it does matter. ”
“Speaking of honorifics, please stop with that. I am fine with you just talking to me like one of your colleagues. No need for a Lady Ada at the start of every sentence. I’m fine with just a casual conversation but I hardly know anything about either of you. I know Master Eilin’s name and her status as a noble. I also know that she has some interesting artifacts. I know nothing of her capabilities or her role at the Academy. I know even less about you except that you’re the Magister of this school. I don’t think I even know your name.”
“My name is Roon Thornspell.”
There was a pause. He appeared to be waiting for a reaction from Ada. Seeing no such reaction, he frowned. Ada shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m a terrible actor so if you were expecting me to pretend to know who you are like probably most of this world does, then you’ll have to forgive me. You’re just a guy with a really long beard and some powerful magic who also happens to lead this school.”
Thornspell chuckled. “Then, that should already inform you of much of what you need to know about me.”
“That you’re the wisest oldest one with the most magical powers here who makes all the rules? Honestly, I really don’t know what that’s supposed to tell me. I mean if we go with how politics work where I come from, that’s probably not even true.”
From her peripheral vision, Ada saw Eilin grimace at her angrily. Surprisingly, Thornspell took it quite well and chuckled as if she didn’t just insult his possible credentials. “Indeed, I admit that I am neither the oldest nor the most magically endowed here. In terms of whether I am the wisest, some say that is also open to debate.”
“So as true for any institution, it’s politics on why you’re the Magister and someone else isn’t.”
“Politics may run rampant in the form of corruption in some circles such as our coastal cities but I can assure you that here at the Academy there was no blackmail, bribery or hidden deals. It is primarily due to my Aspect and my understanding of the Great Mysteries if nothing else.”
By the way the old mage was using these words, Ada suspected that both the word Aspect and Great Mysteries were meant to be capitalized and meant something of significance. She must have looked confused for he took a slight pause.
“I can deduce that you have not been awake for very long. The introductions can wait until I’m sure we’re on the same plane of understanding. Let me explain. The so-called Great Mysteries are the hidden wonders of the Divine which we mortals have yet to divine. Pun intentionally intended. I wonder since it has been a while since we’ve seen the Goddess of the Sky. I don’t think I even remember that one’s name. And what happened to that Goddess of Love? These goddesses were part of the Great Mysteries. Now, you might be one as well.”
“You just lost me. I’m not following you.”
“Ah, forgive my ramblings. I just say what I think half the time. That’s hardly the greatest attribute of a politician if you’re still stuck on that notion.”
He did have a rich melodious voice befitting that of an elderly mage so she didn’t mind hearing him ramble. Ada nodded and gestured for him to continue.
“A new goddess existing is part of the Great Mysteries. There should only be a set number of Divines upon creation according to the allowable energy from the origin of the universe according to our best theories. Your existence and those others I mentioned who have appeared in the past run contrary to the most accepted magical theory of creation today.”
Well, he can probably talk to God and try his luck in why exactly Ada could exist as she does. Maybe God brought new energy into this world? Or perhaps their creation theory is just wrong or incomplete. Like our Big Bang theory doesn’t explain everything and the Grand Unified Theory as of yet doesn’t exist either.
Thornspell continued. “On what I was saying earlier, the other important part is on the topic of Aspect. I would argue that would be the primary reason I was voted into this role. You see, I have the Aspect of Truth. So, blessed Divine, if you’re not keen to reveal your name, can you at least tell us what Aspect your Domain falls under?”
“I really can’t answer that when you haven’t explained what an Aspect is? Can you tell me what the other gods have as their Aspects? That way I can understand it a bit better.”
“Astounding! A Divine born without an inherent understanding of an Aspect?” The mage bobbed his head with surprise. Looking askance at Eilin who has kept quiet this entire time, Ada noted that the grouchy elderly woman looked at her with suspicion. Hey, I’m the truly ignorant one here. I might have all the Divine powers but no one gave me a manual on what’s common knowledge on Urth. Ada turned her head slightly and glared back at Eilin. To Ada’s satisfaction, Eilin quickly averted her eyes and shifted her attention to look at her colleague.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Thornspell in the meantime appeared to not have noticed at all the brief non-verbal spar. He waved his hand in the general direction behind him which from Ada’s perspective could be pointing to any possible book out of at least a hundred. He truly appeared to be playing the absent-minded professor very well. “Usually, I’ll refer you to the book Fundamentals of Magic on that third shelf from the bottom there to the furthest left but since we’re just talking, I’ll give you a quick summary. The first fundamental law of magic is that ether cannot be destroyed or created. Any magic that a mortal magician of any variety uses is not from the mortal within but rather pulls ether from the environment. Mortals manipulate the ether in the environment to create what to the layman appear to be magic. To those of us who understand, we call it a systematic implementation of the ether but since no one wants to say seven syllables when you can just say magic we still use the terminology of the layman.”
“And Divines are somehow able to break the first fundamental law? That doesn’t sound like a law if there’s an exception to it.”
“No, I am not quite there yet with my explanation. No one can break the first law. Not even Divines. No new ether either.”
Ada thought she heard the man mutter “Another pun? No, just word alliteration.” What a strange man but when you play around with magic, excuse me, systematic implementation of the ether, only a certain breed of people is probably willing and capable of doing that? Maybe they’re all eccentric in one form or another.
Thornspell continued. “However, what Divines are able to do that mortals cannot is to change the Aspect of ether. Think of Aspect as the shape that an ether takes. Some mages actually visualize Aspects as certain geometric shapes or patterns. They say it helps with spellcasting. For myself, I’m not so inclined visually so I don’t bother with that. It just gives me a headache like convoluted chess notations. You ever played chess while trying to write down chess notation? It’s confusing but some people seem to like doing that as well. The modern day equivalent of what constitutes descriptive notation is really excessive. Is there a need for instance to denote two identical pieces with different notation just because one of them is captured in a different order than the other?”
Eilin was looking increasingly frustrated and finally broke her silence. “Magister, I hardly think that a discussion on your thoughts on chess notation is what we’re here for. If we can stay on topic, that would be ideal for all of us present.”
Thornspell didn’t look embarrassed at all. “I’m still on track. As I was saying, for instance, for coastal areas such as the city of Czitu where our Master Arbon just went, they have a high percentage of the Lightning Aspect which makes lightning and electric based skills much easier to use for mortals. However, if a Divine was present with an Aspect directly antithetical to that of Lightning, the ether around it will rapidly have all its Lightning Aspect changed to that of the Aspect of the particular Divine. This would make electric based spells very difficult or impossible to cast for any mage even if that mage is very adept at those kinds of spells.”
“What you’re saying is that as a Divine, I should be able to change the ether around me to a type that follows my Aspect. You mentioned you have an Aspect. How is that possible when you’re a mortal?”
“Ah, that’s another one of the Great Mysteries. Why are there certain mages who are able to create Aspects. To take it to a bigger scale, why are there certain mortals born that have any affinity to the ether, in other words, why can some people be mages but most people have no inherent capability to cast any spells?”
“You’re telling me you’re born with an ability to create an environment where most people can cast truth sensing spells?”
“An oversimplification. There are Aspects which are not so tangibly obvious. Truth is one of them and it is quite rare. Ethers which are of Truth Aspect enables the usage of artifacts or spells for discerning true valid information. As a Divine you indubitably have noticed that this room and this entire building has a more rarefied atmosphere than other buildings of the Academy.”
Ada nodded in agreement though really she felt nothing different about this place than any other place. If I told him that even thought I’m a Divine, I can’t sense ether at all, would he fall out of his chair in fright or excitement? It’s best to just shut up about it for now until I can figure out why I can’t sense something that anyone who can do any magic is able to do. Maybe this implies that what I’m doing with the System is not magic at all. Ada mused internally for a brief moment but still managed to return her thoughts to Thornspell’s lecture.
“Since I mostly study and reside here, much of the ether here has been converted towards that of the Truth Aspect. I would estimate that the ether here is about 50% Truth, 20% Air, 5% Water, 5% Wood, 5% Metal, 5% Life, 1% Null and 9% everything else.”
“Wouldn’t it be 100% Truth?”
The Magister smiled. “Do you expect me to be a god or goddess? It’s rare enough for a mortal to be able to generate an Aspect to 50%. I haven’t noticed anything changing immediately though so maybe your Aspect takes longer time to effect change than others.”
“If I give you my Aspect, wouldn’t that be the same as answering Eilin’s original question? I’m sure every god has an Aspect that matches what the god is responsible for. For instance, if I said life, you might think I have similar powers as that of Ayula.”
Eilin looked annoyed whereas Thornspell only appeared amused. He wagged a finger. “Lady Ada, you have certainly successfully sidestepped our first inquiry. I understand why you might wish to keep this close to your metaphorical heart. You never know if one of us mortals wish to manipulate a new goddess for our own ends. Yet, you must understand that from our perspective we need to know your motivation of being here. Surely even you must know that the historical relationship between mortals and the Divine have been tumultuous in the past. We don’t have much direct dealings with any of the gods these days except for occasional necessary interactions with their temples for magical research. With any new god or goddess, we have to be very careful for either the direct or indirect conflict that may result.”
Ada smiled. “My motivation? It’s simple. I plan to keep a low profile if you would let me. I just want to read books and maybe audit a few classes if I have time.”