Originally uploaded Mar 2, 2023

Arthur Pov

Bairon stared at me, his rage blatantly visible as a heavy aura around him. Raising his arm a bolt of white hot lightning roared out of his palm. But his spell didn't even have time to reach me. A cage made of cool-blue ice encased both Bairon and I and Varay stepped in between us.

"His fate is the council's decision." She made without a hint of emotions in her words. I felt a certain kind of kinship with Varay. A soldier who had thrown away her emotions to be more effective in what she does. She truly reminded me of my past self.

"Where is my brother!" Bairon yelled, the lightning around him coiling around like a great serpent. But unable to break free from Varay's spell.

"Bairon." Varay spoke again, this time with a more authoritative tone this time. "I shall not tolerate insubordination. Understood?"

Before I could waste any more time I spoke up. "That won't be necessary."

"What did you say-" Bairon's angry words were cut short as I flexed my body, shattering the ice that felt more like stone, that held me.

It took longer than I thought for the rest of the Lances to process what had just happened. But Varay was the first.

In a instant a barrage of ice spears and swords of varying sizes rained down upon me. As a legion of stone warriors were birthed from the ground.

It would be suicide for any regular mage, or even for the most talented white core mages to take on all six Lances at once. Despite their lack of teamwork and coordination with each other, six Lances were still six Lances.

I began gathering aether in one hand while conjuring a thin hexagonal panel in front of me. The water attribute mana bombarded the shield, while a torrent of raw aether ripped across the front lines of Olfred's summons, reducing them to their base components.

Bairon was then on me, charging me like a madman. Completely ignoring Varay's own spells. Instead evaporating them away as the lightning coating his skin made him light up like a light-bulb.

He extended his fist for a punch, and I grabbed it. Pinning his hand, I deliver a quick knee strike to his abdomen. With just enough force to not out right kill him. In response he spits out his last meal.

Before he has the time to recover I send him flying like a missile with a strike of my own. As he crashes through multiple layers of marble and stone walls of the school buildings.

'I guess I can consider this as my last lesson as a teacher and assistant director.' I mused in my head, thinking about how I should 'educate' and humble these Lances.

When suddenly a large shadow loomed over me like death. Craning my neck upwards I was met by a large stone hammer bigger than my entire body hurtling through the sky towards me like a meteor.

I brace my body, enforcing my bones and muscles with aether as I catch the hammer in my hands. Under the weight and increased gravity my feet sank into the cracked ground.

"I thought you guys wanted me alive?" I jokingly said as I heaved and pushed Mica away. She had a big childish grin on her face as she dashed towards me again. Moving at impossible speeds if you consider the sheer size and weight of her weapon.

Pushing aether into my legs I appear behind the dwarven Lance, before she could figure out what had just happened I plucked the hammer out of her hands as I used it like a baseball bat to swat her away. I then quickly turn, using that momentum to throw the hammer at Alea.

It was a risky gamble, revealing myself to her, but seemingly proving my point with my strength was effective enough. She and Aya seem to be acting just as instructed, but I still need to at least pretend to deal with them. Of course if she didn't comply I had other ways to force her to follow my commands. I did have a close relationship with the Eralith family after all. And she say firsthand what I was capable of. So if they knew what was good for they will keep their involvement here at a minimum.

Quickly turning my attention back to the remaining Lances, I am met with Bairon having recovered from his little wrecking ball lesson and was now looking at me with a look that would kill me if looks could kill. His rage was still palpable and made the air heavy.

All four of the remaining Lances were floating above me, keeping their distance. Seemingly waiting for me to make a move.

'They learn fast, they seem to have caught on that I don't want to kill them.' I noted in my mind. I still had to wrap up things quickly, I did have two new guests I have to take care of.

I began channeling aether into my back. Into Realmheart. I could feel the rune glow warmly on my skin as the building blocks of the material world were laid bare. Like seeing the very code running this reality.

While I could control and manipulate basic mana based spells without Realmheart, for more complicated or stronger spells the godrune made things a bit easier.

I reached out to grab the mana, aether forcing it to bend to my will. While most lessers could only utilize the mana their core purified, with conjurer's using their own mana from their bodies to act as catalysts to cast long distance spells. The members of the Indrath clan possessing Realmheart they could more directly study and use the natural ambient mana.

Mana is slightly different for every person, like how our bodies are naturally different with genetic variances. Each of their bodies have their own different ways of purifying and synthesizing mana within their cores. Hence the reason why mana transferring is not a studied subject, thought to be a waste of time. The mana with their cores are coded and synced in a sense to be only used by the wielder.

But I had no such restrictions. With my lack of mana core and unique physical makeup. With Realmheart active I could reach inside and control the mana inside of beings to some extent. Like how a dragon wielding Realmheart would manipulate the ambient mana. While it was increasingly difficult with stronger and more numerous foes I could handle this much.

The aether heeded my command as the mana was forced to move. The Lances, all of which were floating in the air, dropped out of the sky like a rock. And without the mana strengthening their bodies let's just say they didn't have the softest landings.

"What did you do you bastard!" Bairon said with gritted teeth and a bloody face. He was desperately trying to peel himself off the ground.

For a white core mage, mana control was second nature. They instinctively breathe in mana to power their bodies. So it is understandable that with their source of energy cut off they aren't having the best of times.

Ignoring Bairon's question I approach them. All of them having uneasy faces as they sat powerless against them. But it wasn't empowering as most would think. Here I was standing above all the Lances. They were at my mercy. If I wanted to I can change the course of history for this continent by killing them. But I knew what was to come. What will be brought upon this land and to all the creatures on it. I truly felt empty.

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I was now a arms reach away from Bairon when I spoke up again.

"I am not your enemy. My actions are for Dicathen's best interests. So I advise you to not get in my way. Next time I won't be so merciful."

My words hung in the air, and Bairon didn't refute. He knew he was no match for me. And he didn't even know my identity.

I left them with my last words and feelings of failure and shame as the aetheric pathways carried me far away from Xyrus city.

Varay Pov

"You what!" King Greysunders yelled as he smashed his fist into the table. He huffed in disbelief as he continued. "All six of you were beaten by a single man!?"

"Now now Dawsid. We need to at least hear them out-" Alduin tried to calm down the dwarven king but that only seemed to enrage him further.

"What is the point of this alliance and council if we can't even deal with a single person! What is the point in even having the Lances!" He shouted, pointing an accusing finger at us.

"Could you at least gives us some information on this individual?" Priscilla spoke up. Trying to make sense of the whole situation.

"My apologizes your majesties, all the info we know were in the report." I replied as I bowed my head.

We didn't have much info to go off of. He concealed his face. The only defining features we could gather was his blonde hair and gold eyes. As well as his above average height and figure, which didn't seem to fit the kinds of strength he exhibited.

"And the school has been secured? Any surviving traitors?" Blaine Glayder asked with his face resting on his palm.

"We have our team currently occupying the school for the time being. But unfortunately none of the traitors seems to have survived." Olfred reported curtly.

Blaine fell back into his chair as he looked up at the ceiling. "Are we sure this wasn't some weird ploy by them to cover up their tracks?" he asked with a sigh.

"While there is no direct evidence to disprove that. With eyewitnesses from the students and facility members present seemed to say otherwise your majesty." I replied again.

"Capture this person this instant! Put out a search warrant! Scour the entire continent if you have to!" Dawsid shouted again, spit visibly flying out of his mouth.

"And what? Ignore the fact that an academy in the heart of the city was attacked? You seem to be focusing on the wrong thing here Greysunder." Aludin countered. The tensions between the three races were never good. But this alliance was a step in the right direction, at least for any outsiders looking in. In reality, forcing them all to work towards a common goal was a headache inducing task. And it seemed that this whole council could be dissolved at any moment.

"The Lances are a extension of the royal family they serve. Him disrespecting the Lances is him in turn spitting in our faces! Do you not get that?" Greysunder snapped back. While I did agree with him to an extent we had more dire matters to attend to.

"We can't just pour all of our resources to find a single individual. We don't even know his face. And if six Lances wasn't enough to subdue him then what will?" Blaine asked more inquisitive in the Greysunder's new found anger.

"That won't be necessary." A new voice cut through the argument. We all turned to face the new figure who revealed himself from the shadows.

I urged my body to move, to fight back against the unknown intruder. But it felt as if my entire body was turned to stone. My limbs just wouldn't heed my command.

Donning a black battle robe with purple markings, he was dressed like a master monk. With decades of combat experience. He possessed the face of typical old man, his long with hair swept clean and into a ponytail at the back.

But none of that mattered, the only thing that drew my attention was the only eye open. A eye set on his forehead, just above his two sets of regular eyes. It seemed to have a piercing gaze, I felt as if I was just a transparent piece of glass and he was looking right through me.

I screamed internally for my body to move, but it didn't. It felt as if I was trapped in stone, no... it would be more adept to say I was turned to stone. A overwhelming pressure I have never felt before. Not even the highest class mana beasts could compare.

I instinctively knew... he was someone I couldn't even hold a candle to.

He took a shallow bow, not of obedience or respect. Just a common greeting. "Greetings Dicathen council, my name is Aldir." He spoke softly but I could feel the suppressed force behind it.

"Who are you? How did you get here?" Greysunder stammered, having difficulty properly breathing under the intruder's pressure.

"I have arrived to give Dicathen a fighting chance in the coming war." Aldir announced as his purple eye scanned the entire room. And when his sights landed on me I felt a cold chill go up my spine.

"So war truly is upon us." Aludin muttered while covering his mouth in disbelief. While info of Alacrya's existence is still new to the public, the council has been mulling over their intentions. Having discovered several alien technology and sleeper cells we could only assume the worst.

"Yes, that it is coming sooner than even you've realized. Agrona has been planning for this for some time now." Aldir said directly to Aludin, confirming his suspicious.

Greysunder, however seemed more taken aback by the nonchanlant nature of the whole conversation. "How can you not question an intru-" Before he finished his words Aldir's glowing eye stared directly into his eyes.

We all knew, if he had wanted we would have never even known his presence. And that he could just as easily dispose all of us if he truly wanted. If we wanted any chance of survival we had to listen well.

Lucas Pov

My eyes snapped open. My body despite the state it was in before felt light, almost weightless. The terrible aching in my limbs and core were also gone. It felt as if my body was created anew. Looking at my surrounding it was a grassy field. Seemingly going on for miles. The sun suggested it was around dusk. As it painted the sky orange. It felt like I was in dream, is this what death was like.

"Ah good, your awake." A baritone called out to me. A voice that I was sick of hearing. I push my upper body up as I look around for the source of the voice.

And there he was, dressed in simple black robes. Still donning the white mask, with his piercing gold eyes.

"What have you done to me!?" I yell at him, I willed the mana to respond to my will. But when I reached out for it I felt... nothing. I couldn't understand it. I had awakened at a very young age, a prodigy. Not felling something that you have felt for almost your entire life felt like losing a limb.

Grey only seemed amused by my bewilderment that was clearly on my face. "I have given you a second chance." He spoke, this time his voice seemingly coming from all around me.

Anger bubbled up inside me. 'He thinks he can give me a second chance. How dare he!' Giving up on utilizing any mana I charged at me, like a raging bull.

When I was only a few inches away from him he disappeared. Spinning wildly I try to locate him again.

"You never got the recognition you deserved did you, Lucas?" His voice came from inside my head.

"Get the fuck out of my head!" I snarled. Who does he think he is, not knowing what I have gone through.

"Oh, but I know a lot about you Lucas. Your elder brother was my battle brother after all." He spoke, almost mocking me. Spewing blatant lies. Why would my brother of all people be involved with a lowly adventurer. Let alone be close enough to call each other brothers in arms.

"Reveal yourself coward!" I yelled, balling up my fist hard enough to draw blood.

I only blinked for less than a second, but when I opened my eyes he was face to face with me. His cat-like eyes staring deeply into mine. It almost had a hypnotizing effect as I felt his gaze draw me closer.

"As you wish." He coyly said as he reached up for his mask. I was still furious, but I was also curious. Just what kind of person was he?

He grabbed his white mask, and removed it.

I fell backwards in disbelief. As I began crawling away, desperate to get as far away from him as I can.

"No no no... that's not..." My words failed me as I could stare at his own bare face. An almost milk like colored skin, flawless and ageless. His wheat-like blonde hair complementing his topaz eyes. It was...

"Assistant Director, Arthur Leywin at your service." He said with a smirk as he took a slight bow.

"You... how... why?" I stammered out. You are telling me that no good adventurer who couldn't even show his face was... was under my nose this entire time!?

"I'll say this again. I can give you a second chance, Lucas. Your skills and talents can not be wasted." He said, with a more easygoing face this time. It almost seemed like he was pleading.

"Why should I help the likes of you? You won't be able to survive for long anyway. My brother will rip this entire country apart to search for me!" I mocked confidence. In truth I don't know if my brother, or anyone in my family would care. I was always the second-rate son, constantly overshadowed by Bairon.

"I had a feeling you would say that." He said with a sigh. And the next thing I knew was a amethyst blade directly in my chest. I didn't even feel it. Just tasting the blood rising up into my mouth as I looked down at my wound.

His blade slid effortlessly out and left me with a cold chilling feeling. I could feel my body begin to fall as the grassy ground filled my vision.

I awake with a jolt. Sweating profusely, I began looking around. Trying to confirm my surroundings, maybe it was all just a bad dream after all. I sat in a shallow pool of some blue liquid. It wasn't water, it felt different. More relaxing, as if it was some miracle liquid that heals you.

"Even with your soul damaged you handled that better than I thought you would." The same voice called out to me. And turning my head I was met by him again.

I began walking over to my with a towel and some water in his hand.

"Why don't we try that talk again?"