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LADY AMBER OF SNIPPY,
[HEIR APPARENT OF MAGOGENIC ZONE 74, BASQUENATE EMPIRE DOMINION TERRITORY, ANDROSS.]
CHRONICLER OF INTROSPECTION:
I couldn't sleep.
The Life-Walkers were out, re-seeding the Magogenic Zone affected forest next to our Estate.
The majestic, massive shapes of the enormous creatures loomed over the treetops. The biggest of them were tall enough to pierce the low-lying clouds.
image [https://rom.ac/img/92RRnmore/dbvlah.jpg]
Were there more of them than usual?
This many usually didn't show up... unless... unless they were waiting for something?
The air was too calm...
Perhaps there was a storm coming?
The silver light of the shattered world and one of the architect's stars lit the forest. Inaria wasn't visible tonight, but I knew it was there too, on the other side of Andross... looming, calling out to me in my dreams of the infinite, dead city.
The Life-Walkers stirred ever so slightly, silently marching onward, emerald stars sparkling on their horns.
Feeling slightly unnerved, I retired to the Tower Chapel to admire the mosaics within.
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The biggest and my most favorite mosaic there depicted the Architect carving mountains with the Word.
The World Architect, the Master Builder, the savior of souls, preserver of humanity as they called him.
I drew him myself a few times during my study of Depictomancy.
image [https://rom.ac/img/92RRnmore/dbvl8t.jpg]
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Father often told me that I should go to study in Illatius Nemendias, but I firmly refused such.
I loved our peaceful, lovely Estate, the time-worn castle and lush life and death critter filled gardens away from busy, crowded cities of the Basquenate Empire. Crowds and people stressed me out, brought out the worst in me and I likely wouldn't be able to tolerate rooming with some rich pompous prick for years and years.
It was supremely annoying, but mother had already enrolled me in Nemendias... starting this autumn.
I could always flop the interview on purpose. Nemendias only accepted the best of the best. All I had to do was fail the entry exam. Father could always hire instructors to teach me here afterward, I reasoned.
I pushed my thoughts of higher education away and stared at the mosaic, reciting the hymns of legend.
He, who laid out the rules. He, who was the first to use the Word and pass it onto others.
Below him, etched in darker shapes were his most loyal followers, his chosen Sons and Daughters.
The first Mods, protectors of humanity. Armed with the Word, blessed by the Master Builder, able to do anything.
...How many centuries ago was this?
image [https://rom.ac/img/92RRnmore/dbvl9v.jpg]
How many Words were forgotten since then, erased, lost in time?
I tried to think back to my education.
What else did father teach me about the Magi that called themselves Mods? They were mostly gimmick-type summoners.
Many of the Mods in our Barony were a total joke, their Words only good for summoning pointless, confusing objects that nobody knew how to use.
What else did the local Mods accomplish?
I remembered hearing about a Mod mageling who could summon only a left shoe. Some of the Mods were only slightly more amusing, that's why the nobility kept them around at all.
One of the highborn Mods could make large mustaches appear on anyone's face. Most entertaining!
Another one was able to summon oddly shaped, horseless carriages and glass screens. Utterly useless of course, since the carriages were too heavy to move by horses and since the screens could not be activated, lacking hexagrams.
I recalled that the Magistrate had smelted the shiny carriages into Armour and turned the screens into fancy coffee tables.
What else did father teach me?
Oh! Right. There were Searcher magi that constantly dug the libraries and searched the world for something. What was it?
Oh yes, the First Architect's lost journal.
The key to Unlimited power, lost in time?
One little book that could change everything.
Such silly speculation.
The Architect's journal was just as non-existent as the Endless Chalice of Time.
I glanced out one of the stained glass windows and saw a creepy, lonely, black horseman standing on a hill facing our castle.
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The horseman raised a hand to the air. Was this the Mod of the Equality Revolutionaries? He was... alone, without backup?
Pffff.
It would be funny to see what nonsensical magic he could possibly summon that could challenge our ancient wardstones...
...
Light. Light from all directions.
Fire. Hellfire all around.
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Everyone makes mistakes.
I shouldn't have...