Dreaming as a mage who saved the world was a self-satisfaction for Alicia Crimsonmane, making her less eager to return to the mortal realm. Too bad, her body said otherwise. Her body remained abiding by the normal biological clock, so staying in the sky of wishful thinking for another eternity was an impossible reach. Lids still shrouded her eyes. They could feel a glimmer of light piercing the curtain gap.

Her ears caught the sound of a suppressed scream from afar. Maybe the usual hustle and bustle in a big city. Then someone else knocked on the door.

Alicia was immediately aghast; the mood of being struck by lightning in the middle of summer resurfaced. Putting on a truculent visage, Alicia grabbed the door and prepared to unleash a dawn tantrum on anyone who disturbed her slumber.

It was revealed to be Leith, again with his annoying face. Good, Alicia could get her anger out to the fullest.

“Thank goodness you woke up early.” Alicia had not said a word, but Leith had already interrupted her first. “Pack your things immediately!”

“What’s with the rush?” Alicia asked.

Leith disregarded her on purpose and rushed into the living room. Alicia heard the conversation between her father, her two best friends, and a familiar faint voice. It was just that she tried hard to summon into mind, who the owner of the voice was.

Still wearing her pyjamas, Alicia approached those who had spruced up. She saw the figure of Haddock, the owner of that familiar voice. He and his two bodyguards were conversing with her family and friends. Unfortunately, their expressions were not quite impressive.

The Grand Magus saw Alicia with sleepy eyes behind her glasses and slightly messy hair. “Looks like we woke the sleeping beauty,” he said.

“Oh, no.” Donar slapped his face. “Why do you still look like that?”

“I just woke up!”

“Then change your clothes and pack your things. We’re leaving, right now!”

“Wait, why is everyone in such a hurry? It’s six in the morning. What did I miss?”

A winged creature suddenly breached the living room window directly behind Haddock. Everyone in the room recoiled in terror.

“Oh, bollocks!” Haddock exclaimed. What was before him inches away was a rotting, mutated corpse with dragon wings on its back. Fresh blood waterfall flowed from his jaw to his chest, implying the undead had just eaten several living beings (humans?). It bared its sharp, zigzagged teeth and grunted behind its damaged vocal cords, producing a harsh fury sound.

“Sunchester Vampire!” Gilmore screamed like a girl.

“No, not vampire!” The creature pulled out claws from all its fingers trying to lay them all to the Grand Magus. He elegantly spun away from those deadly claws.

“Winged zombie!” Gilmore screamed again.

“Stop screaming!” scolded Haddock.

His two bodyguards on both sides showered the undead with magic fire. It was smart enough to protect itself with a pair of thick armoured wings. The zombie ran towards Haddock. Haddock swung his wand and cast a spell.

“Lux Schimasticus!”

From the end of the stick came out an unexpected thin metal blade that struck through the gap in the undead’s defence, stabbing it in the chest and staggering it. His golden twig was now a peculiar Épée!

Slash after slash melted the dead's already foul flesh. Every time the sword tip pierced its being, flowed the pure Arcane magic that Haddock had prepared in advance, sickening the undead even more and weakening it.

When the metal blade vanished, Haddock concluded the battle with a forceful shot of Omen Lucem. A massive hole was created in the dead’s chest and the force pushed it out of the window, welcoming the cobblestone road on the ground floor.

Haddock looked down to make sure the corpse remained a corpse. “The answer to your question, Alicia.”

Alicia took a step forward in disbelief; she relied on her fixated senses this time. Only then did she realise the commotion earlier was a sign that great chaos was drenching the entire city of Eidyn. Smoke puffs everywhere. Residents ran here and there, some intercepting other residents and tearing their flesh apart.

One more reason she did not want to leave the dreaming.

“What is happening?” asked the girl, stunned.

“It turns out that our necromancer friend is back, terrorising the city on a large scale,” Haddock replied

“By turning an entire city into flesh-eating cadavers?”

“Exactly. He polluted the graveyard with his black magic, raising an army of the dead. They then invade the citizens, and through that, his black magic passes on to them, too.” Haddock again pointed at the lying lifeless earlier. “See that zombie? Black magic randomly causes some infected to mutate into even more peculiar beings.”

“Shouldn’t you stop him? What are you still doing here? Use Orb to fight him!” Alicia urged the three elite wizards.

“Oh, this magic orb?” One of the bodyguards delivered the sealed box containing her favourite orb to Haddock. “He doesn’t just come for Orb. He comes for you too.”

“What do you mean, Sir Grand Magus? I’m not Orb wielder anymore!”

“Do you remember when he said you were special? He just sent his ultimatum through my office this morning. He still intends to kill you and turn you into an Arcane-controlling puppet. Talking about the unhinged mind.”

“And that is why we must haste and get out of the city!” said Donar. “They will help us out to safety, Alicia, dear, don’t worry.”

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Alicia understood the meaning of the Grand Magus’ words. “You’re here to bring me to him.”

All eyes were on the Crimsonmane bookworm.

“Alicia, what on earth are you talking about?” asked Leith.

“Agosh Grendi is not any mage, is he? He is the necromancer. A practitioner from the Demon Continent. If the Grand Magus takes his ultimatum seriously, he does have the ability to destroy Eidyn with his necromancy arts. He’ll keep burning the city until he finds me.” Alicia’s eyes then stared intently at the three Magisterium mages. “... And it seems there’s something that you can’t do with Orb unless I’m the user.”

“Oh no, not that idiotic haverin' again.” Of course, Leith showed his annoyance towards her statement.

Haddock examined Alicia with excitement. “You…! You are indeed a genius! Truly the daughter of Ailsa Crimsonmane!” With a deep grin, he opened the sealed box, revealing a brightly lit Orb.

“You’re right. What a shame at a time like this, but we do need your help,” Haddock said. “Say, have you ever heard of the Law of the Ascetic’s Whisper in the mystic art theories?”

“‘That not everyone shall feel a power except with the concession of the master of power?’” Alicia had proved herself to be well-versed in magic theory. “What does all this have to do with it?”

“The energy of the Protos particle is powerful, and all beings can absorb it. Pure Arcane is not like that. It is… very selective in choosing its users. I was able to use Orb’s power because I asked one of the wizards to tamper with your hormones and nerves, so that you would grant me the might of Arcane.”

“Now, jist hold on. I dinnae remember ever giving you Arcane might.”

“Of course, you didn’t. I received it at the courthouse. While you were still unconscious. But still, I can’t completely control Orb’s power at will. No Magisterium mages could wield it, not even the agents of Roma—not with your permission. After all, Orb has chosen you to be its true wielder.”

"Don't you all have the Arcane might that comes from magical equipment? Like Arcane grenades? Just use them already!”

“Not enough. The wizards still can't control the might. They just use the magic items that happen to be enchanted with pure Arcane. In other words, they use what’s already in there, spontaneously and instantly,” he countered.

Alicia did not learn much about the pure Arcane nature as much as the Protos particles; other than it existed, it was the strongest energy, it chose the worthy, and it served as an antithesis to Khaos. However, when she listened to the Grand Magus’ brief explanation, she understood why she had the potential to be hunted by the mages of the world of thaumaturgy. They needed the pure Arcane source as well as its wielder. It would be easier to abduct a girl with divine power in the middle of a city street than to take an Arcane-bending monk who was isolated yet heavily guarded by the Empire of Roma.

“You want me to bless all mages with pure Arcane.”

“Not only that,” said Haddock. “No one can neutralise Protos’ power core of Agosh, other than a true wielder. You’ve exorcised the Protos particle user, haven’t you? You’re a perfect—“

“I don’t accept it!” Donar rebuked them both. “Grand Magus, we just agreed to keep my daughter out of trouble. Now you’re leading her to it instead? Have you gone mad?”

“Perhaps I was wrong, Lord Donar. But I think your daughter has potential,” Haddock said.

“Just have the Eternal Empire send monks of the Celestian Order by Ototravel!” Donar started to lose his composure. “Or bind that mage with Gleipnir restraints until he can be neutralised! Anything, as long as it doesn’t involve my daughter anymore!”

“Donar, your daughter was chosen by the source of Divine Grace. How could she escape that fate?”

“That corpse mage almost killed her yesterday. Now you want her to face him one more time, and for what? My daughter won’t be able to harness the Arcane fully. She’s not a mage, she’s never meant to be!”

“All eyes saw she controlled the pure Arcane! How does that not make her a mage? You’re just like the elders, who cling to obsolete notions. Maybe it’s time for such thoughts to be banished from Europa’s magical culture!”

“How dare you say Europa’s noble values are obsolete? These are the values that have kept you alive until now!”

“And the same values ironically stunned the mystic art of Wizardry from developing like the others!”

“You have no right to take my daughter for granted. I have every right to keep my family out of harm’s way! I am a member of parliament! I order you to obey my rights and step down!” Donar drew out his wand.

“The Grand Magus of the Magisterium of Arcane Plane is not subject to any government hierarchy other than the magic itself.” Haddock spontaneously pointed his wand as well. “For the sake of the balance of the world of thaumaturgy, I also have the authority to protect it from harm.”

Just as the adults started fighting, Alicia got in their way. “I will go with the Grand Magus!”

Donar and Haddock stopped chattering in an instant. “Alicia, don’t meddle in adults’ affairs—“

“No, you stop meddling, Papa!” snapped the girl.

Donar was at a loss for words.

“Since when are you talking like that?”

“Since everyone thinks of me as an absolute disgrace who can’t do anything, without caring about my feelings!” The bitter feeling she had been holding in overflowed. “What do you want from me, being trapped at Trinketshore all my life?”

“Do you know the risk if everyone in the city sees you utilising pure Arcane might?”

“Every mage in all corners of the world seems to know my existence already. There’s no need to worry about that anymore.”

“Alicia, listen to me—“

“I’d rather die a mage than live a thousand years being a person I hate!”

The infuriated Gilmore was about to admonish his childhood friend, but Nadine grabbed his shoulder, asking him to back off.

Alicia’s mind was shrouded in a fog of feelings. Donar contemplated himself. Did he really not pay attention and care for his daughter all this time? He rarely saw his daughter. Since losing her mother figure, she felt lost and out of reach. He was not as good as his wife at looking after the children, even though he tried his best. It was not enough, leading him to this moment. How fed up Alicia was with her life being meaningless and wanting to go out seeking it. Searching for a purpose in any way, even if she could only taste it for a moment before—who knew—dying as part of the consequences.

“I really can’t stop you, can I?” asked Donar. He sighed and had to lower his wand. “If you really feel Orb is a part of you now... fine. But we’re going with you, no questions asked!”

Haddock also lowered his wand. “Fair enough. So, Alicia, you desire to be a mage?”

Alicia turned to look at him.

“Then welcome to the world of thaumaturgy. This is how the world of thaumaturgy comes to appear. Forget the sorcerer Aeetes from bedtime stories. You will battle the forces of darkness, the black magi, the avatars of Khaos. You will see horror, misery, death, and emptiness. You will always question your choices and morals whenever you act as a mage. Shadows shall lurk you to the grave, your life will never be safe. But all of that is for the sake of keeping mankind from evil. Are you ready to carry that burden for the rest of your life?”

Haddock said it seriously. Alicia brooded for a moment. She imagined her life track would record many battles and gruesome deaths as she had experienced so far. Did she want this? Watching people cursed into something unclean in her eyes and mind? Even if she was the one being cursed or causing the curse? Filling all her thoughts with traumatic memories that even centuries would not perish them? Unable to close her eyes for just one speck of time, knowing that fate would be as sinister as the evildoers who desire her head?

Was this the only way to achieve the girl’s dream?

“I have a dream. I can’t help but go through what I have to go through to achieve it, Grand Magus Haddock.”

“Then help us channel Orb’s might throughout the wizards, and remove the influence of the Protos particles from Agosh Grendi!” Haddock hands the Orb into the girl’s palm. The moment Orb touched her fingers, Alicia's bitter aura changed to one of calm and warmth.

Haddock added again, “Help us, and I promise Orb will be yours. I will also submit a proposal to the Eternal Empire to take you to the Celestial monks. Perhaps they could help you unleash your potential as an Arcane-bending mage!”

Alicia was lost in the sensation of resynchronising with Orb. Now her body glowed full of stars. Donar could hardly believe his eyes as he witnessed her goddess transformation.

“I accept your offer. Let us crush that necromancer together!” Alicia declared, her voice firm as Orb floated in the air beside her. []