Entry: Elemental Conjurers

Status: Evolving World

There are many different ways to use magic. A finite number of ways are currently used, but an infinite number of ways are possible. Three examples are weaving the Ether into constructs to impact the physical world, creating runes of differing usage and complexity, and pulling Ether into the body to enhance one's strength by varying degrees.

-Yggdrasil's Echo, Lexicon of Souls

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Section 1: Explanation of Elemental conjuring

A unique way to manipulate the Ether comes from the world Gargantial(Gar-gahn-chi-al). The inhabitants of Gargantial(the Gachial) have conceived a unique way to manipulate the Ether through their physiology. They typically take on attributes from one of their four "Elements". They call them Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. With their usage of the elements they never developed advanced technology, they developed their Conjuring. They call their way of using the Ether Elemental Conjuring. They can use their method of Ether manipulation to affect different aspects of the physical world.

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Section 2: Power

I get up from my bed, and I groan. I wish I had more time to sleep, but I need to go to school. What are we doing today? Oh yea... my eyes widen. Oh Yea. I need to go, and I need to be ready. Quickly I throw on my clothes and eat breakfast. My older brother and sister aren't in school, I guess they are probably sleeping in. Lucky bastards, they graduated and now they are getting ready to choose jobs. I rush outside, but I am proven wrong. My brother is up and he stops me.

"Woah there brother. Stop, I would like to talk to you about your upcoming trial. It is important that you understand what you are going into."

I stop and we sit down in the living room.

"Normally our parents would have had this conversation with you, and they would have had it ahead of time, but oh well. You know what happened to them. Anyways, you are about to choose your element based on your aptitude tests. I got fire," he raised his hand and a flame appeared.

"And I chose water," My sister said while walking into the room.

My brother looks at her, but then back to me, "Our parents chose the other two elements, which is why your results could be very interesting. Normally, families have one element because people with the same element are typically attracted, personality and stuff. Sometimes there are a couple of outliers, but that is rare. We are extreme outliers, happening to have multiple people across our family with different elements. You are very likely to have an aptitude for multiple elements. I had the aptitudes for fire and earth. Your sister had the aptitude for water and air. We each chose to focus on one element because it was easier."

"I know all this. Why are you telling me this? I'm already almost late, I have to get going."

"Because you need to know the risks you are taking," my sister answers, pausing to consider her next words before saying, "you might have an aptitude for three elements, or even four. Because our family has had the results we have had, you are highly likely to take on a trait of that type. The risk comes from the Elemental Lords. Even when someone has even two elemental aptitudes, the Lords at least check their history and try to find a way to take them in. I'll let that settle in."

That is... not good. They might be watching me because of my family. Depending on if any of the Lords decide they want me, they may use subterfuge to accomplish their goal. I don't want to be taken by the sculptor of flesh and made into an elemental abomination. I mentally shudder, but out loud I say, "I don't like the sound of that, what should I do?"

My brother says, "Hide the result if you get three, they are more likely to do something if you get three. If you get four, it depends on you. If you are okay with the attention, just let everyone know. If not, just say air. Air should draw the least attention."

"I get three, but could you explain the reasoning behind having four elements? Why would I not choose to hide it?"

"The attention," he says, taking a breath. "I know two of the eight Lords, based on what I know they will not go after someone with four elements. They would watch you instead. They couldn't afford to try, as the others would notice. It could lead to a war if any of them tried to take you."

"I understand. Thank you both, thank you for the information."

We hug in a circle, and I then leave.

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Section 3: The Elemental Lords

I think about the three Lords I know about. Most of the Lords are very secretive, but my brother and sister have told me about the Lords.

The least dangerous, but the most terrifying of the Lords is the Sculptor of Flesh, I know that for sure. A normal Gachial starts out somewhat gray, with their own features. Once they begin using the elements, they slowly take on aspects of the elements they use. This is the only reason I could hide having three or four elements, by removing the parts I did not tell anyone about. The Sculptor of Flesh has the earth, fire, and water elements. Instead of using them normally, he has a different understanding of our biology. He shapes people, changing them. He turns them into creatures. He has no sense of morality, only a sense of fascination by other people's suffering, joy, pain, and their bodies form. He changes minds, and is considered evil by my siblings.

Another Lord I know about is the Protector. The Protector has only one element, the element of earth. He is a newer lord, but he is the weakest of the Lords. His main goal is the preservation of life in general. He can shape earth, metal, and other minerals on another level. Normal earth Conjurers can mostly shape simple forms of earth, like stone, concrete, dirt and the like. They tend to be used in construction. The Protector is different. He has absolute control over the earth element, being able to condense it into powerful barriers, and sharp weapons. It is odd he was able to rise to the level of a lord so quickly, he became one five years ago.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

I don't know much else about him, my siblings almost entered his service, but they decided that he was too zealous. They said he was seeking a goal they had no desire to pursue. He pursues justice and equality to the absolute, and he wants to reform our society. Most people don't know that, and my siblings said they couldn't tell anyone. He said if they did, he would know and find them. I don't want them to be hurt by him, so I'm not going to tell anyone.

The third Lord I know of is the Lord of Power. He has the least followers of any of the Lords, and is the most illusive. He focuses purely on himself and he has the fire and air elements. He wants power to the absolute. The other lords have thousands in their services. He has twelve. Each of his followers is a direct subordinate of him, and are powerhouses nearly on tier with the lords. Some of the Lords rose from his service to be their own Elemental Lords. He is the most powerful lord, when it comes to pure power on his own.

I reach my school. There are a dozen schools on the continent, and each of them are staggered by a month for their graduation date. The Elemental Lords like to sometimes witness Evaluations and graduations. My graduation is in a few years yet, I would be surprised if there are more than a couple lords present. Well, maybe not. From what my siblings said, there might be more here in hopes that I will be the first person to have four elements.

I make my way to my classroom, but I am stopped in the halls by a classmate.

"Hey, your Haldaren's younger brother right?"

"Yes, he is my older brother. Why do you ask?"

"I know that my element is going to be interesting, and I don't want the Lord's attention to be on me. Could you draw their attention while I am evaluated?"

I ask him, "How could you know? Why do you want this? Why should I?"

"I just do, it's a secret. I don't want anyone to know about my status. I'm asking you, no I beg of you. Please."

His eyes are pleading. I could do this for him, I think.

"Yes, I can do that. Do you know how many Lords are here? Also, why not just lie and say you got something else and drop out?"

"Those are good questions. I will only answer your questions if you hold up your side of this agreement. Ok?"

"No promises, but I will try. Where can I find you after the evaluation?"

"I'll find you."

He disappears quickly into the hall.

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Section 3: Evaluation

There are six elemental Lords here, as well as representatives of the other lords. They are watching other rooms right now, but I'm pretty sure they are here to see what I do. I am still thinking about what the other guy said. Why should I help him? Why did I agree? I stand outside of my classroom awaiting the instructor to open the room. I'm about 5 minutes early. I see the guy from earlier entering the room across from me. So that is probably why he asked. I can, but the question is should I? If I have all the elements, I should have enough power to create blinding light. The number of elements typically contributes to the overall power of an individual.

When I enter the classroom, I await my turn. I decide on my choice of action. The Lords and their representatives are all here. I walk up to the podium. I reach out to the stone and it evaluates me. I have all four elements.

I hope he does what he said he would do. If not, this could be very bad for me. I walk up to the podium and reach for the ball. I wait a second. Then five. A white flash of light draws my classmates, and the instructor out of the room. I evaluate. I receive exactly what I expect. I get storm, a subcategory of a mixture of fire, air, and water.

I stand in silence. Everyone does. No one has received all four elements before. None of the Lords make any moves. No one does. I walk away from the stone and sit down, out of breath. I haven't used any power before, this is new. I feel the power coursing through me. I didn't need to activate all the power at once, but I did. It's just like Haldaren said. The first use drains you. He waited a day before he chose to use any of his power, and it still drained him. This is a different level.

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Section 4: Gifts

Over the course of the next few days, each of the Elemental Lords Sends me something. They call them "gifts". I think they want me to join them, or to become one of them. I don't know if I will, for now I will finish school and go from there. I got four books from the Lords about each of the elements, a lot of money, an invitation to eat a meal with one of them(not a date, specifically stated in the card), and three magic items I don't have any idea how to use.

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Section 5: New abilities

I continue through school, but it is so very boring. A lot of it is no longer general knowledge, it's about building power bases. Most people don't have any power to start with, but I've learned how to increase my base on my own. I still want to meet with the strange guy that asked me to make a scene, but he hasn't contacted me even after a month.

I went to eat a meal with one of the Lords, the Lord of Unchained Knowledge. He was very tall, and he glowed white. He has the fire attribute, he became a Lord through the hoarding of knowledge. He can control the colors of his flames. He told me he doesn't really care about what the other Lords think. He told me he would sponsor my education if I wanted it. I told him no at first, but now I'm close to leaving the school. I am just bored there, I'm not really learning anything I couldn't figure out on my own. The school is good to build on what is already there. I just have the power already, and I'm already tinkering with my power to create new avenues to explore. I am years ahead when it comes to power.

I dropped out of school and took up the Lord of Unchained Knowledge's offer. My siblings were concerned, but supported my choice.

"Conjuration is simple to enact, but extremely complicated when you look at what is happening. In your school, they would not teach you about the fundamentals of how Conjuration works. You though... I will teach you how to use the elements. I will show you the concepts behind actions. Then the real work can begin."

He then started to lecture me. For an hour we talked, and my understanding of Conjuring grew. Anyone can use any of the elements, but to manipulate an element that you have no affinity with is like a fish trying to fly. It isn't really possible typically, other than for specific circumstances. Like flying fish, some can do more. I am one that can do more.

We use the elements through an overwhelming power that surrounds us. Our bodies allow us to use it through unknown means, but we call it elemental energy.

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Section 6: Rise

After six months we have a more in depth conversation.

"I have taught you much about how to use lesser Elemental Conjuration. I have not really talked to you about anything else. Tell me, what do you really want? So far I have taught you, but without a more solid goal I can't keep teaching you."

"I want to protect my sister and brother. I want for no one to be able to stop me if I choose to do something. Most of all, I want to assist in the direction of our continent. I want to take over and make changes. I want to reform our society to be more pure. I want to bring about a new era."

I don't tell him about my idea to remove the Lords from my path. Not to kill them, no, to bring them into line. They have too much power. Some of them earned where they are, others not. I don't like how unbalanced our world is. I will save this world. Even if it costs me everything.

"I understand. Some of the other Lords would support you, myself included. The Elemental Lords time has begun to cause our world to stagnate. I wish for knowledge to grow. It has slowed to a crawl. You have the power to change our world. The Lord of Power, and the Protector will likely join you, but the others will fight this change. They wish for their reign to continue indefinitely. The elemental lords are dangerous. What will you do to the ones that won't listen? Will you change them?"

"I don't know. They may need to be destroyed."

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End of chapter