Carl Woese

‘’Look, our agent was clear that Divina woman and her family are in the delegation.’’

‘’Lets be frank and call an army of savages an army not a delegation and our neighbours are not too happy with the Crown’s decision to allow the barbarians through unchallenged.’’

‘’What did the Maori ambassador say this time?’’ Lord Aizen asks in a drawl tone.

‘’Let’s just say our newly established ‘peace’ with Polynesia may be put to the test soon.’’

‘’Has the one that killed Susannah been spotted yet?’’ A tired eyed Forstern asks for the umpteenth time. The man obsessed with avenging his old lover.

‘’No, but their shielding is impressive and some of my scrying is being impeded. Still there is no doubt that his family is there but there is no way of picking them off, not with so many eyes and swords about.’’ Anton says dishing out information. ‘’Look, I’m not saying we should storm the bloody army but we should pick off the stranglers and take any opportunity we can. While the barbarians deplete themselves against the Maori we could easily reassert our dominance in the land. I’m not the only Master Magus appalled by the current state of affairs and if things go south many would be willing to back us politically, even amongst the Houses,’’ he says gesturing to Lord Aizen.

‘’There was a time when we didn’t fear swords, now we each have our own guards on top of the power we’ve already accumulated with our learning and Awakenings. What has happened to the Mages of this once great kingdom mhmm?’’ A drunk Cassian asks everyone rhetorically. We all ignore him having had similar conversations for years now.

We have expanded as far as we currently can in all directions, we thought we were so great conquering all these minor territories stopping only to skirt around powerful Ancients and Ancestors of the land. Now we have highlands we can’t tame on one side, Maori we can’t trust on another side, an ocean we can’t pass on another side and blood thirsty savages on another that birth and raise children faster than we can groom and train a proper magus of the arts. Let alone fact that these savages have fae as patrons and not just any fae but Sidhe.

Anton’s sentiment is understood by many in the dim room warded from eaves dropping. We magicians meet fairly regularly, a circle of friends concerned by the stagnation of the kingdom and its isolation as it becomes starkly clear how far behind the rest of the world we actually are. The killing of Susannah by one of those savages and there not being any repercussions was the last straw for many. Already the story of how an ordinary axe killed a magus has had effects on some of the lower class citizens thinking they can somehow become our equals Awakening the barbarian way.It's even become a fucking saying, ''Awaken the barbarian way,'' fuck.

‘’Do we still not know how they are Awakening in such numbers so quickly?’’ I ask still not believing the reports.

‘’No Idea,’’ A bewildered Aizen says quickly. ‘’It’s been driving me insane with curiosity and the one agent that got any useful intelligence went silent years ago.’’

‘’How are they discovering the Ministries agents Lord Aizen?’’ Seri asks, the boy the youngest in the room having only recently been promoted to the ‘ostentious’ rank of Magister. But groomed by his mentor to be ruthless in looking after the kingdom, a disciple of Lennox, the reclusive Peak Grandmaster Magician and silent patron of House Sanderson.

Cassian snorts, ‘’What I want to know is why we let that clearly incompetent ‘king’ sit on the fucking throne after so many blunders, the Mages and Houses could act to-.’’

‘’Do not speak of things beyond your stations!’’ Anton growls with power, the wave of force unseating the drunk Cassian and rattling both Ser and Aizen into activating their mana shields. Aizens an aura variant secret from his House, Seri’s a general mana shield taught to any disciple as part of the basics.

‘’Do not forget that you are only a Magistr and have people that know better than you do, do not think us asleep just because we take no direct hand in the running of the bureaucracy.’’ Anton van Leewenhoek says glowing with oppressive power, his ire directed at the visible startled Cassian.

The is already a headache forming at the back of my mind for using my aura to block the force quickly enough and not look like a complete novice in front of this asshole. Some of the others in the room are caught scrambling to erect shields or let passive defences deal with the fallout. This is why I no longer hang out with Anton, this occasional need to remind all his old friend’s that hes now a Master Magician and above us in the Arts. Know a man for 80 years and he changes on you like that, I tchn. its all I can do not to stand and leave the room, but i show defference to the man, for now.

*

Sachihiro

With a thump and billowing dust I fall forward on hands and knees as we ‘land’ on solid ground for the eight time since we started this gods-forsaken trip. I heave leaking fluids from my mouth struggling to breath yet there is an invisible hand pulling the fluids from my guts painfully and my lungs can’t seem to pull a breath. Sparkling at the edges of my vision lets me know I’m dizzy and likely to lose consciousness but I’m not panicking, if only my awareness would wake up.

Spirit cleanse does nothing to relieve me of the malaise and I feel the Rage far away open its eyes lazily wondering if its finally time to play. Then I feel a shielding suffuse me and I quickly interpret everything my senses are now telling me, taking in large mouthful breaths greatfully while assess the situation.

We are between some sort of totems that make a platform, landing platform, two men in the circle of six people are shielding us in the same way Western initially did through the ‘traveling’. I open my eyes blinking them slowly in the bright light of the rocky place we find ourselves. Someone helps me up and I let them, not making myself stand out as a threat in case I actually need to be a threat. Besides, Hagan and Seth are both tier two Awakened and in much better condition than I’m in from that last jump so they can handle any necessary fighting first.

‘’Are you okay? Here, drink this,’’ old wizen hands shove a vial onto my face and it goes into my storage ring with a gesture as I pretend to down it whilst actually drinking aexe aega because it has the closest similarities in colour with what I was told to drink. The thing tastes horrible and leaves my tongue feeling hairy but it will help me focus and probably fool them into thinking I drank their concoction.

I see the details I wasn’t able to ‘see’ as I look around whilst letting the man lead me aside. Shadow is having a hard time staying on his feet and the pile of bile not far from him is a testament to his own misery. Even as we are shuffled aside another pathfinder comes in with another mix of people in varying degrees of misery from their trip.

‘’There is a rest area over there where you can find some refreshment before the long track up the mountain,’’ a man says to Hagan pointing up at a peak far up a mountain of black stone. Yea, I think I’ll take them up on that offer of rest, with shaking legs I move to the rest area.

*

‘’I thought you’d never make it, come on.’’ I’m woken by Ragnar pulling on my boot indelicately. I frown at him but get up, the old guy hasn’t changed much. The same unruly silver hair rolling on his shoulders, the same quiet intensity in his stare even when he means no particular challenge, patterns criss crossed across his naked torso, the ugly hilt of his zanpakutō over his left shoulder held in a harness of rusted chain. He is barefooted and the lean muscles on his feet are bulging with the slightest movement, the lower portions of his pants are torn. Creepy buggy Isis’ Grand Uncle but the man is a warrior through and through, I’ve seen him fight.

Besides, I like him. ‘’You’re as ugly as ever,’’ I say in greeting, getting up and testing my body for any lingering effects.

He grunts and we clasp forearms warmly, I grin at him, he pats me on the back, its a heart warming reuninion.

‘’How’s the family?’’ He asks. We’re walking leaving the shade of the rest tent the peak of the mountain intimidating to look at up high in the distance.

‘’Isis is well, with child now-‘’

‘’About damn time,’’ he interrupts placing a hand on my shoulder. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile before, I don’t think I ever want to see him smile again I realise as I shake off his embarrassing enthusiasm and walk where I see master making a fool of herself.

The sight of her talking animatedly with the people arriving sick onto the platform is refreshing, I never know what to expect from this one. Master Zaraya is short standing at about 170cm, her weapon of choice seems to change between a fighting staff and short swords, but I can’t say for certain since I’ve never really seen her fight.

I had so much to ask her through the years since I saw her last, but now I can’t seem to think of anything as I watch her chat with one of the shielding people.

*

"Have you met your brothers in teaching?’’ Master Zaraya asks pointing me to the 3 men and 2 women that make up the train hiking up the mountain towards this meeting I’m speculating about. I have no idea where we are, the constellations seem slightly off and there is just something foreign in the way the air tastes here. I can see two familiar moons though shining our path as we transverse through up the twisting narrow path all alert in our own different ways but also feeling secure in some inexplicable way.

‘’Yes I’ve met some of them, a large and diverse group, I wonder how you picked us all.’’ There are 6 of us here ‘Chosen’ but apparently I have 26 other brother and sister disciples sharing her attention.

‘’I do not find my disciples,’’

‘’My disciples find me.’’ Suri and Nora finish in unison.

The two women couldn’t be further alike in appearance but alike in behaviour. Suri a beastman raptor, a type of bird of prey humanoid that gives her feathered face the human dimensions that make it easy for me to understand her mirthful expressions even with her intimidatingly sharp teeth. Her strange beautiful wings are a foldable extension of her slender arms, her scaled slender bird legs ending in clawed pseudo feet that so far seem well adopted for walking. I am yet to see her weapons which concerns me but is hardly an issue.

Nora a seemingly human woman, tall with lean muscle and carries her wooden staff with practised ease. An dark eyed, dark humoured woman from a place called Croatia. There is so much I don’t know about the world still, so many places to explore and though I have enjoyed meeting all these people there is no joy in my heart.

‘’As someone who has used this method of Awakening for so long tell me, how do yu know what you can and can’t do?’’ I ask openly for all to hear. The air is getting crisper, the wind louder broken here and there by clumps of trees or rock outcroppings, the birds of the night sing their calls.

‘’I have recently asked myself a similar question, having only Awakened 3 years ago I thought it was only natural to discover new abilities as time progresses, you’re telling me it isn’t?’’ Azizi exclaims to the giggles of everyone.

‘’Oh trust me, other people that Awaken know exactly watch they are capable of.’’ Simon says quietly.

I nod in affirmation, still wondering how Master Zaraya managed to have a halfling under her tutelage, and why Simon who clearly isn’t a fighter would be invited here.

‘’I’ve been asked a similar question a number of times before and the honest answer is I don’t rightly know everything I’m capable of. That’s the big crux of this philosophy of doing it.’’

‘’And likely the only thing we’ll ever truly learn from you,’’ Ragnar adds.

‘’Hey you’ve all learnt afterimage, each of you is well rounded in a variety of disciplines and I’ve made sure you know the basic regiment to Awakening, the rest is just dogged training.’’ Master Zaraya adds defensively. ‘’Besides, I have a sort of ‘inheritance’ of my own for each of you. ‘’

‘’Gifts, I love gifts.’’ Suri says clapping lightly.

‘’That you will all receive at the end of this training,’’ she adds quickly then picks up the pace.

"I am grateful to Master Zaraya for the awakening path she has revealed to me," Simon the reticent halfling says quietly. "Though our path seems unfocused we all have a broad foundation upon which to build ourselves, that foundation is the true genius of the nonspecific Awakening that is Master Zaraya’s path."

"At least one of my disciples isn't a wasted investment, " Zaraya says with a playful grin slapping the halflings back enthusiastically.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

We discuss the merits and disadvantages we've come across along our path following Master Zaraya’s Awakening strategy. Displaying some of our mana abilities while some have none to show but boast other advantages that enhanced their natural abilities. We are all Master Zaraya's disciples but each of us is completely unique in every way imaginable.

*

It takes almost 43 hours to eventually reach the citadel even with our physical fitness and master Zaraya setting the pace. The dark crystalline stone of the mountain seems to have been moulded to make the deep cave-like archway we pass through to reach the buildings beyond. There are two tall towers that turn into spires made of an almost white stone that stands in stark contrast to the dark stone of the mountain. The courtyards are open and spacious with a bubbling fountain sculptures as a winged woman stabbing a two handed sword into the ground the first sight that draws the eye after the towers.

The buildings on either side of the causeway seem to be in liveable condition even though not a stitch of furniture can be seen, not even panes on the glassless windows. People are about walking under the dim illumination of the few lanterns burning from their pokes along the walls. The temperature isn’t hard here and breathing isn’t difficult, nothing like the long hike up the side of the mountain. I look up at where several more hours of hiking and climbing would take me to the true peak.

A figure enters my awareness from the shadows, ‘’right this way.’’ It says with a bow then leads us up the large ‘campus’ of interconnected buildings to where the greatest light and the brightest aura can be felt.

*

A pair of Conclave elders stands at a podium explaining to the hall how we were chosen and why we are here.

There are thousands of us and each supposedly having gone through a careful vetting process before being chosen here. First each recommended by a conclave master then vetted by the Divining division of some secret part of the Conclave then those names given to the Ancient, who then chose 2000 names out of the 80 odd thousand filtered down to him.

‘’Each of you received a package as you came into the hall, please reach into those packages.’’ The polished wood square cases each click and hiss open with the words from the little man on the podium. Whatever is in there pulses with a wave power my own heart rate increasing as I set my eyes on the red glowing ruby like stone and the silver fuming stone the size of a pebble my senses tell me is a soul.

‘’The crystal is an atomic birth molecule that is a fundamental part of the working, the soul stone is to fuel the working and help anchor it to your souls. These are very rare ingredients so it helps us save a lot of money if none of you die from these experiments.’’ The man keeps talking, most of us are still gawking at the precious objects within our grasps. I don’t even know what an atomic birth particle is but a soul stone is something I’ve only ever read about, to think I have one within my grasp.

I almost salivate, there is so much I could improve with this little stone, maybe grow my soul a bit, make it more resilient or more present. Or maybe improve my Soul Art, I know it is something related to frequency and vibrations but it has mostly eluded me for years and the Hito are closed mouth about it. Maybe improve my zanpakutō, Honour has been away from me many years now and she would appreciate the quick boost in power. I could theoretically use it as a storage device for the souls of my slain foes if I had the knowledge to do such a vile thing, maybe have a piece of the pervert Albert around my waist to gain power from, if I could stomach the contact.

"All power comes at a cost and these ingredients and the relationships we've built are the greatest treasures we can leverage to attain usable power quickly to weather the coming struggle." The man on the podium continues to explain the Conclave's intentions.

"With these you will each be changed, each of you can aquire the racial advantages of some the most power, most resilient most resourceful beings known to us. The psionic prowess of an Elder being, the resilience of a Cosmic Elf, the durability of an Archaean, the adaptability of an Ancient, the power of a Dragon. With these ingredients and our knowledge such racial advantages can be imparted unto you."

Basically the gist we are an experiment to receive racial traits of a being of our choice out of the various choices available. The announcements are made over a delicious course of roast pheasant and grilled vegetables, all mana rich fair and enhanced wines. We sit around tables grouped according to the beings we’ve been recommended to choose for ourselves, there are some beings I’ve never even heard of. Even besides that though I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed.

Instead of being shown yet another avenue to grow my own power and grow in the few things I seem to have only just been able to get a proper grasp on they offer us artificial power. Is this what I left my family for, some vague promise of maybe gaining one or two racial benefits from creatures that are born with advantages? I try to find out more about what these Archaeans are that I’m recommended for but its no dice, no one knows more than is in the brief talk while we eat.

I think I see a familia face in the distance and move closer to get the person within my awareness so as to be sure, there is no need. ‘’Kichiro, it has been many years since last we met.’’

I wonder how many of the Hito are part of the Conclave's inner workings.

‘’Sachihiro, the gaikoku that bought himself a zanpakutō, so little honour amongst your people.’’ The number one talent in the Hito hidden clan during my time as a student there says scathingly.

Shit, even at a time like this this guy is snarls because I was his training rival years ago? Or is it really about elitist soul samurai nonsense? How disappointingly petty, my mood sours immediately.

‘’I’m grateful your people prostituted yourselves to me so quickly, I would have hated to have to pay more for such little return.’’

‘’You ungrateful shit,’’ he says almost foaming at the mouth, right arm on his katana on his waist. An ordinary artifact katana and not a zanpakutō as I suspect to see. ‘’You dare?’’ He asks, eyes almost bulging, a stance subtly taken.

"Oh, I see you still weird an artifact weapon, by now I'd have expected you'd qualify for a zanpakuto. Cowardice holding you back?"

He foams at the mouth, his weapon gleaming before a hand stops his draw. He bares his teeth at the man holding him back but moves his hand away from the weapon.

"You may have bought yourself a zanpakuto but you'll never be a soul samurai!"

Ah.. he's jealous I have a soul weapon while he doesn't.

‘’Hirihito, take your unruly disciple, it is not time for us to fight amongst each other,’’ the soft voice of the old man says cutting between the tension that was built up. Immediately we are in a throng of disciples, my masters and her brother in teaching apparently.

*

Though I don’t really know what I expected this meeting isn’t what I expected. People openly discuss things that for so long I've had to keep secret and talk about the various advantages and disadvantages enjoyed by each of the beings offering to ‘sponsor’ us. Many are flocking towards dragon based attributes but the spaces are filling up quickly.

A few groups of sorcerers with ink and needle are going around the hall tattooing some sigils on the Chosen that are hoped will act as catalyst for the changes if all goes well. There are multiple plans happening simultaneously I gather from being in a crowd of such well informed individuals. There are people that ave gone for training in Celest with under Royal directives, there are dungeons that the conclave has gained access to where people can enter in their thousands at a time, there are training programs conducted in time chambers to give those people that mainly need time to mature their power instead of constant grinding.

Another great working has apparently been under way for years now aimed at reinforcing the foundation of the continent of Pangaea apparently. How these people can even speak with such lofty ambitions and about outrageous plans that are actually underway is shocking and frustrating to me. How many times will I only later realise how small my ambitions, how many shocks do I need to get in order to get an inkling of the power some beings could eventually wield with their collective strength.

Planar spells they are called, spells that need extensive preparation in claimed territory and a large number of Awakened working in tangent to accomplish. I listen, I interact, I ask questions I answer questions posed on me. I get a broader picture of what is expected and how the Conclave and a large majority of the kingdoms in Pangaea affiliated with the Conclave plan to act. But it’s not just the conclave I quickly learn, there are multiple forces organisational and private, some long since established that have representatives here Chosen by the Ancient.

The sorcerers start on a tattoo above my right hip on my abdomen, it burns painfully as they draw the sigils with mana while anchoring them on my spirit.

*

‘’Tell it plainly master, besides me and the other four crazies I know of, how many disciples do you have?’’ Master Zaraya asks her master.

The Ancient smiles, ‘’can’t a man keep his secrets to himself?’’

‘’Huh, I imagine you have plenty of secrets you keep to yourself, I’m just wondering how common the way you thought me to Awaken is.’’ Zaraya says demurely, Sachi has never seen his master act this way and is now caught between being openly amused and possibly getting a punch in the face or stifle himself and miss the moment.

‘’There are multitudes of way by which to view Awakening, but remind me, which way did I teach you?’’

‘’Say you jest Master, I have taught all my disciples to Awaken using the technique you taught me and it has been without a doubt been working well for me.’’

The old man scratches his beard, ‘’did I teach you how to Awaken as well Hito?’’ he asks the quiet yet intense Hito man who ia apparently Master Zaraya’s senior martial brother.

‘’Yes Master, you told me to follow the path laid before me by my zanpakuto. ‘The unbridled part of your soul knows what weapon it wants to become,’ I believe are the words you used.’’

‘’That sounds about right,’’ the old man says with a nod then looks at Master Zaraya with the question plain on his face.

‘’You said I should resist the urge to direct my own Awakening as I do not know enough about the universe t know where to place my limits.’’

‘’That also sounds about right,’’ the old man says seemingly unconcerned that he teaches his acknowledged disciples different things. Following in the wake of my master and eaves dropping for all I’m worth I’m realising how difficult it is to get straight answers from the old man.

‘’Pardon this lowly ones audacity in daring the speak and worst of all to ask a man of your exalted statute such a personal question.’’ Kichiro practically prostrates himself on the floor as he speaks.

‘’Go on,’’ the Ancient encourages without missing a beat.

‘’This lowly servant seeks to know which is the superior path in Awakening, which path you yourself chose to follow in your Awakenings.’’ He asks still on the floor, I understand why he had to lower himself before asking suck a personal question of such a powerful man. I try my best to pretend I haven’t noticed how silent the hall has suddenly gotten and how the attention of so many dangerous people seems to be on the group I’m standing with.

‘’Mhmm....,’’ the old man muses visibly, seemingly unbothered by the attention and eaves dropping. ‘’I’ve Awakened many times and used a different strategy each time depending on where I was and what I was trying to accomplish. I cannot rightly say one method is superior to another as every Awakening is unique and achieves a different goal.’’ He says looking at his two disciples.

‘’Why the different teachings master?’’

‘’Hirohito has always wanted to be a blade for his people, the most powerful and direct path to his goal is the one I have pointed him towards. You have never wanted to be just any one thing but your ambition is great. Directing you own Awakening you would have greatly limited yourself by walking a narrow path. It would be a shame if you didn’t eventually Awaken to godhood simply because your mana foundation is that of a aspiring to be the most powerful ‘human’ you can be.’’

‘’I bow to yur wisdom master,’’ she says with a literal bow.

‘’And you young man, I can see you working up the courage to say something, speak freely.’’ The words are directed to me and I cringe slightly as almost all the attention in the room focuses on me. Here goes nothing.

‘’Grandmaster,’’ I say using the title of familiarity because I don’t want to seem disrespectful for not prostrating myself. ‘’I greatly appreciate the honour of this summons and being chosen as your representative with these Archaeans under whose tutelage I have been recommended. But I ask leave to make sure my family is secure in Conclave controlled lands before head to these Archaeans for an unspecified amount of time.’’

Master Zaraya has a little grin on her face she is unsuccessfully trying to hide. Both Suri and Nora are looking at me bugged eyed like I’m the stupidest person they’ve ever come across. Many n the room are openly scowling at me, showing their displeasure.

‘’Surely your family is nothing when compared to the fate of our entire world,’’ Kichiro's master Hirohito says.

I ignore him, but my anger is stirred, bubbling below the surface of my eyes as I keep them on the ancient man before me.

‘’Where is your family now?’’ he asks casually.

‘’Heading south from my homeland the Tundra in Sandaria, likely in the Sandorian kingdom now.’’

‘’That is still very far from the nearest conclave outpost, why not have them stay in Paradisum? I have heard the sidhe in your city are unlikely to abandon it in the coming struggle.’’

I answer the question truthfully for the first time in my life, ‘’I don’t know, but I want my family far from Sandoria when the Gates fall, intuition maybe.’’

‘’Are there no conclave forces close enough to act as escort?’’

‘’No father, we are stretched very thin as it is. If they manage to mage it to the Six-Cities we can provide an escort.’’ A voice says carried from somewhere directly to our hearing.

The man nods, ‘’Very well, another will take your place while you see to your family. Godspeed,’’ he says signalling with his hand an another one of those uncanny pathfinders is by my side.

I bow respectfully and am pulled aside by Master Zaraya as the Ancient continues his leisurely walk around the hall talking to everyone. ‘’Are you sure about this,’’ Zaraya asks sternly, the hall already back to its noisy ambience.

‘’Positive,’’ I say and she smiles at me placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. Next thing I know the short woman has me engulfed in a hug before she saunters off pointing at the quiet Ragnar and shouting something inaudible at him. Crazy woman, sometimes I don’t know why I attached myself to her wagon, she really isn’t that hands on with her disciples. Having us scattered under different teachings that hardly seem related to each other at all but I do seem to be turning out well enough.

‘’Let’s go,’’ the pathfinder says and starts walking. I follow, the storage ring Master Zaraya smuggled into my hand seeming heavier than it should for some reason.