Magic is the act of imprinting will onto reality. In the same way an artist draws a painting, a mage will draw the elements. The theory of elemental mages is fundamentally flawed, there is no innate imprint on a soul that will predict what, if any, element, a person will be capable of. The existence of the great aristocrat families does not counteract my thinking. If anything, it proves it. Does the children of musicians not become talented in music themselves? The descendants of blacksmiths become smiths themselves. To pretend that a learned art is in the blood is as farcical as saying that farmers are naturally attuned to ploughing the land.

I have proved this theory in life. I already know how to work flame, water, winds and the earth. Supposedly, this is a feat. I do not think it. I am simply following the theories of magicians who have already written on this art. I am indistinguishable from an artist who can paint in a thousand styles, each one traced from a master. Fundamentally, the feat of mastering four elements is rare because the skills and thinking are not transferable. A magician will have to work from the ground up once again, train different methods of thinking, to learn new elements. Past a certain age, I am sure this is impossible, but I am still young, so I have done it.

However, I am still not happy with it. We read stories of tyrant-magicians from eras prior, who could turn day into night, night into day, oceans into deserts and vice versa. No magician is capable of such an act, no one is able to paint the moon as they once did, no one can force the seasons to move either. Why? I have come to a conclusion, magical theory is flawed in itself. The repetition builds up patterns within our mind that we subconsciously rely on. But is not magic simple thoughts in the first place? Why must the thoughts make sense? If it is the strength of the thought, why does it need to be rational? All magical theory is ultimately a crutch, to convince ourselves of new realities which we then create.

Thus, my proposition is simple: A mind utterly certain even in the face of reality will make reality crack first. If all it takes to achieve victory is confidence, then delusion is all it takes.

I will embrace insanity.

Written by Aggriyana. Work preserved by Goddess Elassa, of Magic. Kept within the Divine Library of Arcadia.

Neneria watched Helenna go out to meet her at the airport. The Goddess of Love was coming in a black suit, although that was common at this point. The only markings she had of her own demesne in her clothes was the burning heart of passion on her belt, the same emblem on her high cap. Today, her hair was bright red, so she was feeling good and excited. Neneria sighed, she had nothing against Helenna. She supposed she liked the woman, but she would have preferred not to need a procession back to Arascus’ new Imperial Governance Centre. It was simply the National Assembly, repaired from the damages of the fire of the coup, with flags replaced, but it would do.

Helenna had come with a full platoon of Kassandora’s soldiers, with a large bus that would transport them from the airport and to the IGC. Neneria thought little of it, frankly, she didn’t care. It was basically a modern carriage. “Hi!” Helenna shouted and waved as Neneria closed the distance. Olephia had gone to Nanbasa yesterday, with Iniri, but Neneria had waited until the day of the meeting. Frankly, she enjoyed going through Allasaria’s various writings. Most of them weren’t important information, largely it was just talk about various miscellaneous world events and Allasaria’s various schemes to deal with the Epan economic crisis.

But for every three pieces that were simply boring bureaucracy, there was a nugget of gold in there. Parts were Allasaria complained about Maisara and Fortia, where she talked about the distrust of Kavaa, Helenna and Iniri, were she wrote them off as mere followers and largely irrelevant. Kassandora’s best-case scenario had not reared its head though, Allasaria did not write anything about the locations of potential allies to Arascus’ cause. “I wouldn’t have come if Arascus didn’t ask.” Neneria said flatly as she looked at the huge bus. It was painted black, the windows as dark as the metal. “Why did you pick me up?”

“He wanted me to fill you in on what’s happening.” Helenna said, her hair changing to pink. Neneria had no clue what that emotion could be.

“So?” Neneria said as she stood. Raptor Two turned its jets off and started to drive off towards one of the hangers in the distance. KAF planes were taking off from here, heading west and south. Helenna raised an eyebrow.

“That’s it?” She asked. Neneria sighed and rolled her eyes. She wanted to return to her job. It wasn’t even that enjoyable, but it was better than this.

“That’s it.” Neneria replied as they started walking towards the huge bus.

“No hello? No I missed you Helenna?” Neneria rolled her eyes as she looked at the door. Did this require a button or what?

“Hello, I missed you Helenna.” Neneria said dryly. “Can you fill me in now?” She didn’t even bother pulling a tone to hide the sarcasm.

“I wouldn’t mind if you even got mad.” Helenna replied.

“Why would I get angry?” Neneria asked. This was merely annoying, but it wasn’t Helenna’s fault, so there was no reason to take it out on her. Frankly, Arascus wouldn’t have called her if this wasn’t important.

“I meant if you had more…” Helenna said and stopped. “You press the button underneath the handle.” She said. Neneria looked over the black door. There was supposed to be handle somewhere here?

“It’s here.” Helenna reached past Neneria’s waist, her fingers pressed a panel, it flipped, she pressed a button with her thumb. The door started to move. Neneria merely sighed. Whatever. “Well, for one, we’re moving south.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“It’s definite?”

“It’s definite now. Kass made the plans.” Helenna said. Well, at least they would work then.

“Am I needed?” Neneria asked as she stepped into the bus. It was tall on the inside, Fer and Arascus both could fit comfortably in here. There were couches on either side, a table. Neneria looked around to find a cabinet. Work-bus then, there was no alcohol in easy reach. She sighed again.

“Not for the southern expedition.

“So I am needed somewhere then.” Neneria said dryly as she sat down. Helenna sat on the other side.

“Kass wants you to stay on the ready. In CR, but you’ll have Raptor Two assigned permanently to you in case you’re needed.”

“Ah.” Neneria said. “So no drinking.” Helenna smiled.

“Well you can’t hold it, can you?” Neneria let the comment slide, she merely turned and looked out the window as they left the airport through a back road. It was a quick trip to Nanbasa’s northern section from here. The Goddess of Love sighed from the other side of the bus. “You can comment on me you know.”

“There’s nothing to comment on.” Neneria replied. “I know you’re simply trying to annoy me.”

“Did it work?”

“No.” Neneria replied. “I’m sisters with Fer and Anassa and Baalka, trust me, you don’t know what annoying is.” Neneria replied, her dark eyes caught a glance of Helenna’s dismal expression and Neneria allowed herself a smile. Here Helenna thought she could be annoying? She didn’t know a single thing about pushing buttons. Neneria was the worst of them all when it came to being annoying. “You can continue. What is Elassa and Anassa doing?”

“Arascus wants to start an Imperial School of Magic in Kirinyaa but Elassa doesn’t know about that yet.”

“Will Elassa be at the meeting?”

“No.”

“Anassa won’t be there either then.”

“She won’t.” Helenna replied, again annoyed that Neneria had worked it out. There we go Helenna, watch and learn what a Goddess older than the calendar could do. The tips of her hair started to a dark red. Neneria didn’t bother to hide the smile. Frankly, with that hair, Helenna made an easy target.

“Anything else?”

“Iliyal’s reports on the five Goddesses will be covered. He sent a letter that Fer found an open hold. They should be in there today.”

“Will we do anything about it?”

“Apparently he’s taking the five in.” Helenna said, some curious emotion in that as if Neneria was supposed to have any knowledge, or any statement about what Iliyal was doing. Neneria let the silence hang and Helenna changed her posture. “Are you not going to say anything?”

“Should I?”

“Well, do you think they’ll find anything?”

“They have Fer with them. I assume they’re in no danger. Kavaa is there too, Iliyal himself is intelligent. Unless they come up against a threat akin to the Jungle, nothing will happen. If there was a threat akin to the Jungle there, then it would be public knowledge already. I assume there’ll be some enemy, or maybe the dwarves have simply turned.” Neneria finished her explanation in one breath and took a sigh. She purposefully made it as dry and unimpressive as possible. Slowly, the red tips of Helenna’s hair coloured her locks to the roots.

“Are you ever not this?” She said dryly.

“Not what?” Neneria asked innocently.

“Not annoying.” Helenna said.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” Neneria replied. There it was. The game was won, now that someone’s day had been made worse, hers had gotten immediately better.

But Helenna did not stop. “You know exactly what I mean.”

“I have no clue.”

“You’re too old to not know.” Helenna said and Neneria raised an eyebrow. Well, that was one way of speaking to the Goddess of Death.

“I think you’ll have to enlighten me.”

“If you’re truly this stupid, I’m not going to humiliate myself by explaining it.” Helenna said. Her hair had changed to black now. It fit the suit. And it annoyed Neneria that she was getting more confident. The words weren’t even hurtful or annoying, it was the fact that Helenna had managed to put Neneria on the back foot in this game of words.

“I thought you were the Goddess of Love, I assume you would be good at working me out.”

“I know you’re not as cold as you say you are Nene.” Helenna said and Neneria felt her eyebrow jump. It was one thing to call her stupid, it was another entirely to use Fer’s horrendous nickname.

“Helenna.” Neneria said. “Don’t use that name.”

“Why not?” Helenna said. And Neneria blinked.

This woman… She… Neneria stood there. She had never considered herself weak in word games. She lost to Fer all the time true, and to Kassandora, but those were the exceptions. Frankly, outwitting Fer and Kassandora in a debate was an achievement worthy of praise. But Helenna? Puny little worm Goddess of something as tiny as Love? What did she even do? Read emotions? Just be naturally alluring? That wasn’t even a power, that was called being beautiful, Neneria could do that if she wanted to. “Why not?” Neneria asked. “Why should I even explain that to you?”

“Why shouldn’t you? I’m too young to know better.” Helenna said slyly. And Neneria felt a wall crash behind her.

“Well I’m to old to care teaching this lesson.” Neneria replied.

“Ah.” Helenna said. “So we have a conundrum then.”

“I don’t think we do.”

“I think we do.” Helenna continued. “One is too old to care, and one is so young she cares so much.”

“You’re not that young.” Neneria replied.

“And you’re not that old.” Helenna replied.

“I’m quite possibly one of the oldest living beings on this world.” Neneria replied.

“Older than the trees? The Titans too?”

“Things with cognition.”

“The titans have them.”

“You know it’s different.” Neneria felt another wall close around her as Helenna smiled.

“You can just not be annoying.” Helenna replied.

“I don’t mean to be.” Neneria lied through her teeth.

“I don’t believe you.” Helenna replied so smoothly Neneria was at a loss for words. “But you’re not so bad Nene.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“You can think up of a stupid nickname for me too.”

“I’m not that creative.” Neneria replied quietly.

“Then ask Fer.” Helenna said. And she switched topics. Just as smoothly as Kassandora would order an assault from the rear, or as Fer would go for the throat, Helenna simply went and just changed the topic. “How’s your day been?”

“I was just reading.” Neneria replied.

“Anything else?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well did you read anything interesting?” Helenna asked and Neneria thought of something.

“Allasaria just wrote about how much Fortia annoys her. This was before the preparation.” Helenna rolled her eyes.

“Boring!” She said. “Did she write anything about me?”

“She wrote that you think you’re smarter than you actually are.” Neneria replied dryly. That was true, Allasaria really did write that. Helenna burst out in laughter.

“Well what does that make Alla then?” Neneria didn’t know why, but she found it funny. She recalled another meaningless bit from Allasaria’s diaries. Just a comment on how healing wasn’t as impressive, and how Kavaa was annoying. Kassandora would try to read into it no doubt, but to Neneria… well, she just took it at face value. The complaints of the Goddess of Light and the childish remarks she made.

And Helenna laughed this time. And so Neneria recalled another sliver of gold she had found in the diaries. Utterly nothing important, just a comment on how Allasaria would complain about Invention Divines. And the both of them laughed.

Neneria did know how Helenna did, but she didn’t look out the window at Nanbasa once throughout that entire drive. She simply decided to sit and talk with the Goddess of Love. Frankly, Helenna wasn’t so bad after all.