“What tier?” Alex had pressed Professor Mangal.

“Ninth,” she’d told him grimly. “Without a doubt. The spells would likely be Conjure Ultimate Ally or Conjure Grand Gate, both at ninth-tier. The former would allow you to conjure the most powerful of planar entities, while the latter creates a full portal between planes. But…very few summoners can cast those spells, Alex.”

Ninth-tier.

The pinnacle of spellcraft in wizardry.

At least, as far as he knew.

Deep down, he suspected that there were magics, rituals and other forms of power that could do things even ninth-tier spells could not—Baelin likely had secrets that even wizards capable of ninth-tier magic would not understand—but for all practical purposes, ninth-tier spells were the ultimate in spellcrafting.

Many considered any wizard who could cast ninth-tier spells worthy of the title: ‘archwizard’.

And now Alex stood on the precipice of this milestone.

With no small amount of reverence, the young wizard reached for a thick spell-guide. The name of the spell was inscribed on the spine in gold ink: Summon Astral Engeli.

Astral engeli were powerful celestial beings. The mighty entities—of a higher order than their lesser brethren—would serve as another strategic addition to his summoned armies, but—more importantly—they would be a stepping stone to what he truly wished to summon.

Something that could only be conjured through one of two ninth-tier spells: Conjure Ultimate Ally, and Conjure Grand Gate. Two spells used to summon the most powerful war-spirits from across the planes.

Of the two spells, Alex had only managed to get his hands on one spell-guide; Conjure Ultimate Ally, but for his purposes, was much better suited than Conjure Grand Gate.

‘Conjure Ultimate Ally’ is a more secure spell,’ he thought. ‘Conjure Grand Gate literally makes…well, a grand gate between planes. But, you could get more than one monster coming through it, if you're not careful. Conjure Ultimate Ally summons exactly what a wizard wants it to, and it’s also better at holding the summoned creature back from mauling them before they even get a chance to establish a relational contract with it. Either way, I’ll try to break through to ninth-tier using Summon Astral Engeli, since it'll be much safer to practise with.’

He examined the intimidating ninth-tier magic in excitement, carefully making note of its complexity. There were aspects of the magic circuit that Alex had never seen before: little parts of the spell array to control mana, and weave magic in ways that were completely new to him.

If lower-tier spells used mana to bend reality to a wizard’s will—as Hobb so proudly described on the first day Alex had registered at the university—then ninth-tier spells broke reality in half and remade it in a wizard’s image.

It was exciting, but nerve-wracking.

‘A ninth-tier spell that's left to run amok won't just cause something like a mana reversal,’ Alex thought. ‘It could tear holes in time and space, melt matter down to nothing, or even create an explosion that could rip most of this sanctum apart. I can't go for speed with this one, I'm really going to have to take it slower and steadier for safety’s sake.’

Alex was thinking and planning his strategy, when he felt Claygon reaching out to him.

‘Father…I want to tell you…first of all…are you doing well?’ The golem asked.

‘More than well,’ Alex thought excitedly. ‘I just broke through to eighth-tier spells!’

‘Really…?’ The golem’s surprise poured through their link. ‘That's fantastic…news, father…! Does…that mean…you’re almost…ready…for retaliation…?’

‘Not quite yet, buddy,’ the young wizard thought. ‘There’s a few more things we need to do. But what's up? Are you just contacting me to check in?’

‘No…I wanted to tell you…that…Lucia…will be finished delivering the supplies for golem making…tomorrow…’ Claygon thought.

Alex clapped. ‘Perfect! Let me know when they’re all at the drop-off point: I'll wait a few hours to give her people plenty of time to leave the area before I teleport there. I want them to be long gone in case the church goes poking around. If everything’s clear—then I’ll pick them up and be making golems in no time.’

‘Good…I will tell Toraka this…’ Claygon thought. ‘She'll be very…relieved.’

‘Yes, I'm sure she will,’ Alex thought. ‘How’s the family?’

‘Selina is doing…very well in school…though she misses you,’ the golem thought through their link. ‘Theresa has…been away a lot.’

‘Hunting more dungeon cores?’ Alex asked.

‘No…she’s been going to Uldar’s sanctum with Grimloch,’ Claygon thought. ‘They are looking for leads…hoping to discover…where the Ravener might be.’

‘Oh?’ Alex paused. ‘Well, the sanctum is still being guarded by the Watchers, right?’

‘Yes, it is…Theresa’s mother, father and brothers are worried for her safety…but I reassure them that the Watchers have the area well-protected…and that the church is busy looking for you…father…’

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‘Okay, that makes me feel better. Hopefully, they find some kind of lead. Maybe if…’ he paused, thinking about his plan to bargain with Asmaldestre.

If he planned things just right, then maybe they could…

‘No, that's a bad idea,’ he thought to himself. ‘The quicker I do what I have to, the less time the church will have to do anything drastic.’

His heart hurt at the thought, but it was the best he could do.

‘Maybe if what…father?’

He turned his mind back to Claygon. ‘Nevermind for now, buddy. You're doing okay?’

‘I have been training…father…’ the golem thought.

‘Good, is it going well?’

‘Theresa…says that it is…but I don’t think it’s enough…’ he thought.

‘You're always your toughest critic, Claygon,’ Alex thought. ‘I'm sure you're doing well. And things are going well with the bakeries?’

‘Business is still growing…’ Claygon thought. ‘Troy is suggesting opening another location…’

‘Great news! We’ll talk about it when I get back…’ Alex thought. ‘And speaking of getting back, I’d better get back to this spell…even though I wish we could talk longer.’

‘I miss you…father…’ the golem thought. ‘I hope we see each other soon…Bye for now.’

‘I miss you too, buddy, I miss you too,’ the young wizard thought.

‘We’ll talk soon.’

The wizard sighed, fighting off a pang of homesickness.

He squared his shoulders. “The faster I break through to ninth, the faster I get rid of the church, and the faster I can go home.”

Alex went back to the spell-guide, studying it from cover to cover. He called on the Mark of the General, letting it guide him through memorising the spell’s details.

After that, he prepared to cast the incantation, shaking his head.

“Most wizards never reach sixth or even seventh, let alone ninth-tier, and here I am, trying to get there in a matter of hours, or maybe days. Professor Jules might be right, maybe I am crazy.”

He flipped open his notebook again, making a new note:

Ninth-tier (holy crap!) summoning spell: Summon Astral Engeli.

Beginning Progress: 0%.

Attempt 1 Progress:

He stretched, cracked his knuckles, and began the incantation.

The instant the first syllable left his lips, he felt like he’d been slapped between the eyes. This was the sort of power he felt when Baelin cast a spell, or when a chaos explosion ripped through the countryside. Cosmic forces were gathering around the words on his tongue, their power pulsing through the room.

The very air seemed to shake around him and mana poured from his pool like a tidal wave, reminding him how necessary the artificial mana pool was: without it, the mana he needed for this spell would have drained his power well before he completed it.

But, it wasn’t the time for wandering thoughts.

He needed all of his focus.

The spell’s force and complexity were pushing his concentration to its limits, and even with the Mark of the General helping him, ninth-tier magic felt like a herd of wild horses, kicking, lurching, trying to break free.

Fighting.

Trying to destroy him.

He kept tight control as best he could, grappling with the magic, trying to tame the ultimate pinnacle of spellcraft. Mana circuitry formed in his pool, blazing with power that threatened to buckle his knees.

Cold sweat stood on his brow, soon drenching his face.

The syllables continued pouring from his mouth, each more difficult than the last, until—finally—he cancelled the spell. The flood of mana dissipated, and Alex dropped to the ground, panting.

“Even having Hannah's power and the Mark, this is one backbreaking spell,” he gasped. “Definitely need to take it slow…but…”

He recorded his progress.

Attempt 1 Progress: 3%.

“Not bad,” he said. “Let's try that again.”

----------------------------------------

“Find anything?’ Grimloch asked, chewing on a piece of jerky the size of a towel. It looked like half a cow had gone into its making.

“Nothing yet,” the huntress said, looking through Uldar’s lab for what felt like the hundredth time. “We all thought we picked this place clean, but it feels like there should be something left. Something we missed, like a map that says where the Ravener will appear each time it reforms.”

“Convenient, if it exists.” The sharkman said, watching Brutus sniffing around Uldar’s ancient equipment. “Don't think we're gonna find anything this time. Should leave, come back another day.”

The huntress let out a growl of frustration. “I hate when you're right. Brutus and I are tired, we're not gonna find anything now.”

Grimloch shrugged. “I'm right a lot.”

Theresa chose not to respond to that one, instead, calling Brutus to her side. “Come on, boy. Let's try again another day.”

Together, the trio left the laboratory, walked down the hall past Uldar’s armoury—still filled with his divine weaponry and armour, waiting for the final battle against the Ravener—then continued through the hall until they reached the god’s silent throne room where his corpse lay beneath a shroud.

They kept going, walking past it.

Grimloch, Theresa and Brutus went down the stairs and left the sanctum, passing the Watchers guarding the entrance.

The sanctum was left in silence once more.

For all of five minutes.

Within Uldar’s armoury, a broad shouldered young man appeared, gripping an aeld-staff that seemed much longer than it once was. Not only was it longer, but the upper third of its length was wrapped in cloth.

He looked around, sighing in disappointment.

“Should've known I wouldn't be that lucky,” he whispered, walking through the armoury. With a few quick words and twitches, he conjured two elder earth elementals. “Oh well, it's probably for the best this way: I need to be quick, and if I ran into Theresa here, the last thing I’d be would be quick.”

Going silent, he looked through Uldar’s divine weaponry and armour. Most pieces were outsized, built specifically for the immense god. They were still spread around the armoury, left by the Expedition team for now, not wanting to raise questions by appearing with an armoury of weapons from the god’s days in the material world.

They weren't ready for those questions. At least, not yet.

Fortunately, the reasons didn’t matter for the purposes Alex had in mind…

“I'll take this one first,” he said, pointing to the largest two-handed axe in the armoury. “Would you mind grabbing that?” He asked one of the elder earth elementals.

He selected several other weapons from among the largest: an immense trident, a curved sword, a massive hammer, and lastly, a spiked mace with a ball the size of a bull’s head.

The elder earth elementals carried each one as though it was as light as air.

“Good,” he said. “Oh, wait now, could you get that too?”

He pointed to a thick, broad, archaic breastplate: the largest piece of armour in the sanctum.

“Let's take that piece of armour along too,” he said as one of his earth elementals picked it up. “Alright, on to the next spot.”

----------------------------------------

In a remote region of the wilderness, on the southern boundary of Kymiland, several immense crates waited among the trees. Among them were a few small boxes, all magically sealed, bearing the sigil of Lucia's company.

There were signs of wagon tracks leading away, heading back southward.

Perched in a nearby tree, a messenger construct watched.

No one was nearby.

Until suddenly, someone was.

Alex and the elder earth elementals appeared. The hulking stone beings carried a collection of massive, divine weapons and armour.

“Let's move!” he said, conjuring more elementals. “We've got to get those boxes and be gone from here. There’s no time to linger.”

Together, the young wizard and the summoned elementals loaded up the crates of golem-making materials.

Alex touched each one, then teleported everything back to the sanctum.

Though he could not hear the exasperated sound—deep within the fae wilds—a certain bearded hunter howled in frustration.