Theodore Wilks was a low grade mage, barely passed entry level. Though by most standards he could be considered a genius, he simply didn’t have the mana capacity to catch anybody’s attention. That was fine with him, he was born to a family of farmers and he enjoyed making plants grow. He also had a woman he cared for dearly, Isabella she was the daughter of a local merchant and they interacted often when he would go into town to sell his crops.

Those were times he would cherish, as it stood though, the world was ending. A blight of unknown origin was sweeping the land and everything it touched would fall apart. Nobody knows just how many have fallen victim yet, but all mages were required to help slow the advance long enough for the High Magus to open a portal to another plane.

The city of Thunderward was chosen as the last bastion of hope, mainly for the fact that it was where the High Magus had lived for the past 300 years. Many people flooded the streets, and even decided to camp outside town. In hopes that they would be able to get to the portal before it was too late.

Even Theodore was called, while most would laugh at the thought of seeing him on the front lines of anything, it was such dire times that they appreciated his help. Two weeks was all the time they managed to buy, and to get even that many men sacrificed their lives some used soul magic. A method in which when you run out of mana you start using your soul as fuel.

Not many would do this because it can damage the soul enough to keep it out of the rebirth cycle for thousands of years, there was even the risk of completely destroying your soul if you used too much of it. Theodore had heard of what the magus was planning, and hoped that Isabella would have gotten through the portal. He knew she would be in the city, the entire town traveled as a caravan to Thunderward.

As the last few mages started falling the blight started to spread faster, even patchy at some parts. Theodore realized this would be his end, he decided to feel out the city and make sure the one he cared for most was safe. But to his horror she and a couple hundred still remained, before the blight could take him he broke into a magic driven sprint. His reserves already half way depleted, he could barely make it to the city.

It took an hour to get to the city, and the blight would be maybe an hour more behind him. The feeling of mana he had gotten from the portal was gone, and the people he saw had looks like they had given up. He felt out with his magic again to find her, she was in a tavern with 10 other people. When he arrived he saw her drunk and barely able to sit right crying in a corner while others sat at a table bitter-sweet looks on their faces.

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He recognized a few of them, people from his farming town, one had just had a son, another had a daughter of 3 years, he realized by their conversation that they had made sure their children got a spot before the portal had closed. As he approached Isabella she seemed to notice him, she smiled sadly, and he pulled up a chair.

It was the end of the world, and he didn’t care much because he would spend his time with her. They talked, about their childhoods, the first time they met, what they once hoped to achieve, the talk had lasted almost an hour. Screams from some of the people outside could be heard, the blight was catching up.

“I….I don’t want to die……but…it’s all that’s left” –Isabella

She had looked him in the eyes, tears still lingering, Theodore knew that if there was any chance he had to give it to her. He took her by the hand and led her outside, if there was a way to make this portal it would be in the magus tower, and that’s where they went.

As they ran the blight started to catch up but as soon as they neared the tower it started to slow down, the tower was fairly tall, but it wasn’t the tallest building in the area. Once they got inside they didn’t find any stairs, but a large box, a sign that said “up” hung in front of it. The ride up was jarring to them but once they made it to the top Theodore felt a heavy presence, after looking through the rooms they found the High Magus. They stood there watching the most powerful man in the world singing a song while nursing a bottle of what smelled like orcs brew, a strong alcohol that almost no species other than orcs could handle. When he noticed the two watching him, the High Magus gave a bit of a jump.

“Ah, you saw that? Well I guess it doesn’t matter much, would you like some?” –High magus

He offered his bottle to Theodore and Isabella but they both declined.

“No sorry we are looking for the portals spell.” –Theodore

Isabella gave Theodore a slight shocked look when he said that. ‘What would we do with that, and why would you tell him that?’ she thought to herself. The High Magus laughed.

“Well, if that’s what you’re looking for, look no further….the spell is in my head” –High Magus

Theodore once again shocked Isabella, he bowed as deep as he could and begged the Magus.

“Please, I don’t care what it costs please just send Isabella somewhere safe with another portal” –Theodore

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I wanted to provide a bit of backstory to the fantasy world.