A desert stretches for as far as the eye can see, sand dunes mark the shadows and an imposing mountain range looms in the background. Someone breathes deeply, they can sense what is wrong with the seemingly mundane landscape and even from so far away struggle with its foul nature. Another is sweating profusely the droplets illuminated by the flicker of candlelight the dark hood they wear does nothing to hide their fear. Several more stand around a crystalline ball all in similar distress as they watch the object projecting the most hostile place on the planet, the Scar.
The only one not suffering from the images is the sole member to not hide their identity, she alone is used to this desert as she is one of the few to return from its depths, unharmed. Long purple hair reaches down to the back of her legs, a pair of glasses obscure her blue eyes, and a set of scars run from one side of her face to the other. Her outfit holds the unique blues and golds of the mages academy in Falluge though her uniform carries far more embroidery than any student or teacher would ever be allowed to use. This woman despite being at the beck and call of the hooded figures around her is the strongest mage in Falluge and the Headmaster of the mages academy, none other than Victoria Ligsworth herself, a living legend.
The scene within the crystal ball shifts slowly panning across the landscape the burden on those present lessening more and more as the desert fades into the distance. The instant the scene is replaced by that of a meadow the room collectively sighs in relief many struggle to catch their breath.
“Ligsworth what can you tell about this anomaly you spoke of? I know my expertise isn’t mana sight but if this was such a grand development shouldn’t at least one of us noticed it?”
Her head shakes in disappointment.
“Yes, there was indeed a sign of disturbance in the scar though I suspect the reason you were unable to see it wasn’t a result of inability. Rather it was that you lot were looking at the wrong thing.
Catch your breaths and I will show you again this time don’t look for abnormal mana, look for a lack of it.”
“You torture us with a smile on your face.”
The figures calmed and once again the desert came into view although this time they were able to watch the scene without the risk of collapse. Gasps were forming on faces as even those high and mighty could not contain the shock at what they saw. Victoria admired the scene, her finger tracing the thick line weaving its way from depths not even her spell could reach.
The Scar, ignoring its history and using only known facts, is an area spanning roughly fifty percent of the continent the entirety of that space containing a phenomena known commonly as chaotic mana. Deeper in the effect only grows stronger and stronger to the point that even monsters and the dreaded Prealus can no longer survive. And yet here she was witnessing a line of that same mana, gone, more intriguing was that this line went from the border all the way to those invisible depths.
Whatever being or force caused this would be of immeasurable strength, for anyone to enter the Scar they must push away their mana using it to force the ambient mana around them into a tunnel-like shape.
All to prevent their body from absorbing it, even Victoria was not an exception to this rule she was simply able to achieve this feat far longer than any before her, still a feat it was nothing compared to what was being displayed on the ball. To absorb mana from the environment without a proper spell was tantamount to suicide, if such a spell had been used there would be a trail of the spent mana hard to see but with a room of experts, someone would’ve noticed it.
But none did.
The images on the crystal ball fade leaving only an expensive if mundane sphere of pure diamond, the object useless for another two days.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“T-this can not be.
If this is not but a fabrication then the kingdom, nay, the world as a whole is in grave danger, Ligsworth tell me you’ve tracked this somewhere!
Tell me that there’s not some abomination rampaging around Falluge that we can’t hope to stop!”
‘Inhale, exhale. Remain calm and they will calm’
“For the moment I am aware of its location but as I can tell the only mana it absorbed entirely like that was within the Scar. I recommend we amass troops and await a visual report if this thing gets spooked it will become impossible to track.”
“In other words, you are going to study it by yourself while we prepare for annihilation on the sidelines.
Very well Ligsworth I’ll agree only because I know that when you push this thing and it devastates you the battle will be the perfect gauge of what is required to kill it.”
The room nods in agreement.
—{}{}{}{}{}—
Victoria.
Careful not to slam my office door I enter, I mustn’t let the students become aware of my mental anguish lest their studies be ignored in favor of useless rumors. I’ve spent too long cultivating my image here for it to be ruined because I cannot control my anger. Damn, the council!
If they wish to push me under the cart then so be it, I’ve played these paltry games for years now it’s time I take proper action instead of awaiting their idiotic plans. The first step is going to be calming down it's not unusual for a teacher to enter my office around this time of day. Deep breaths Victoria.
Hiring a Black Shield is obvious, anyone weaker would alert the unknown thing risking a rampage should it flee away from the Scar. Results are unlikely but tracking it should become easier once I have physical eyes on it. Next, I should find a few students at the tail end of the magical research program, no nobles, I can’t risk one leaking groundbreaking info to the public when they brag to mommy and daddy about the special privilege. The council aside those students would need to be guaranteed into secrecy though that should be the easy part with a spell or two.
I should also plan for eventual combat and not just with the unknown, Nomads would likely snatch it away to hells knows where if even a whisper of it leaks, the good news is that the only thing the council is good at is secrecy. Aside from human threats, a spy from across the ocean could just as easily kill it thinking it a super weapon. What else? There's a minor chance that it dies of natural causes I suppose, it’s unlikely the thing has any clue of the world outside the Scar it’s possible it survived off mana entirely.
I’ll be beyond pissed if it dies of starvation before I get a good look at it.
Someone knocks on my door, the one to enter is not a teacher but rather the head of combat magics, Markus Grey.
He enters timidly and I’m set on edge, the man rivaling my strength would never be afraid of anything, anything but. . . Oh, hells he’s here to ask a favor.
“Yes Grey, what do you need this time?”
“Well you see Headmaster, an old friend of mine has sent me a letter and while I’m sure it’s acceptable I thought I’d run it by you first. He’s asking if we could waive the tuition for a pair of students and while I know it’s normally frowned upon I’m indebted to him greatly.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose I sigh, of course, it’s just some petty nonsense. I’ll accept his request just to get him to leave me alone.
“Fine, you may admit them free of charge but know that if they cause any trouble I’m blaming you. Who are these freeloaders anyway?”
“Well um, it’s the daughter of Hilda BlackArrow and what was described as a close friend of hers.”
“Wait as in the woman who pioneered ambient mana research to the point that she became the second strongest mage in history?
Her daughter has asked to attend?”
“Yes, I’m friends with her father.”
“Give them anything they need, food, housing, spending coins, anything! We must let them in at any cost, if she knows even a tenth of what her mother did it would advance magic research by a hundred years!”
And it would give me the perfect start to my personal team of researchers but he needn’t know that part.
“Yes ma'am!”