I CAN SEE MANA

In this world, mana flows like water in the deep sea. It ripples, twists, dives, and soars. It encircles, surmounts, unites, and diffuses, creating a never-ending dance. This is a world of magic where magicians reign supreme. They are revered and honored. However, the ability to use magic is a rare gift, and not everyone is fortunate enough to possess it. Surprisingly, those without the ability to use magic may be the lucky ones.

Rupert can be considered one of the unlucky majority, unable to use magic in the traditional manner. Yet, an unusual event was now unfolding: he, the one who should not have been able to harness magic, was now teaching magic to the current era's lord of the demons - the beings most attuned to the flow of mana. Her name was Faiger Sloth; despite being one of the oldest beings to exist, older than humanity itself, she appeared no different from a young human girl in her 20s. Her face was ordinary - not lacking beauty, but her demeanor was certainly unladylike. She acted coarse and blunt, yet her eyes remained animated and curious. With her snow-white hair and unnaturally light-colored eyes, standing at about 5 feet 7 inches, she moved around like a little kid, which gave her a strangely unusual appearance.

"Magic is a complex art," Rupert began, "everyone begins the same, but as their abilities grow, the possibilities become vast. Some may specialize in a single element, while others can combine two or more elements to create intricate spells and more."

"Teacher, teacher, me, me!", the eager demon lord raised her hand and interrupted.

Rupert sighed, "You're the only one here, you know."

Faiger persisted, "I know you can combine magic from different elements, something that even us demons can’t do, but what is 'more' than that?"

"We'll discuss that some other day. For now, let's focus on understanding what mana truly is," Rupert replied.

In this world, mana existed in the form of various elements, each with its own fundamental nature. These diverse elements possessed distinct properties, overlapping like waves upon waves within the vast expanse of magical essence: some could manipulate energy, others had the power to create and destroy, while a few controlled space or manipulated time.

Calling them elements might not be correct in the traditional sense. For example, people in this world thought of Fire as an element. However, Rupert knew that the true nature of mana wasn't just limited to burning; in fact, it could be broadly thought of as an interaction with the amount of energy. The lack of proper understanding of the nature of mana and the true capabilities of magic, and was in Rupert's opinion, the biggest gap in knowledge in this world.

"Teacher, before that, I know you are the only one who can see mana. Before meeting you, I thought humans could only interact with one type of magic, unlike us demons who can interact with all types," Faiger pondered.

"That's what I was getting to," Rupert said cutting her off. "The belief that only thirty percent of humans can use magic is a misconception. In truth, everyone likely possesses the potential to use magic, but only around thirty percent have a body composition that allows them to interact with one specific type of element. This limitation confines them to specialize in that one form. The rest, however, have compositions that enable them to interact with more than one type of element. Sadly, this world lacks the knowledge and techniques to harness that potential, leading them to believe they can't use magic at all. It's a sorrowful fate for those whose potential remains untapped."

Rupert, the human magician with a unique ability to see mana, and Faiger, the demon lord, his curious student, were holding this “session” just outside the Imperial capital of the largest and most perilous empire in the world. Even calling it an empire might be a disservice, for its power and influence surpassed conventional boundaries. Baani Invictia it was called, and it stood for one reason only. To eliminate the hatred and racism that existed between all the different races of the world.

Baani Invictia was a mighty empire that comprises four diverse and vibrant Kingdoms:

1. Quiverron - The Kingdom of Beasts and Demi-humans: This domain is governed by an elder dragon, known for her indomitable strength and fearlessness. Within its borders reside a variety of beastkins, including dragonewts, and demi‑humans such as dwarves, merfolk, and witches.

2. Whispersong - The Kingdom of Elves, Fairy Kin, and Dryads: Under the rule of the High Tryent, an ancient and wise tree spirit, this enchanting realm is home to elves, fairies, spirits, and dryads. The elves embody beauty and grace, while the fairies exude mischievous playfulness. The revered dryads serve as the forest's guardians, communicating with the very essence of nature.

3. Cognoscia - The Kingdom of Undeads: Ruled by a High Lich, this mysterious kingdom is inhabited by vampires, ghosts, zombies, skeletons, and phantoms. The air is thick with restlessness and shadows.

4. Partisita - The Kingdom of Humans: King Janleva Ringlrebro, known for his caring nature and fairness, rules this realm. With its diverse cultures, Particia stands as the most heterogeneous of the four kingdoms. Humans here are celebrated for their resourcefulness and adaptability, embodying the balance between the other three domains.

Indeed, the sprawling empire of Baani Invictia, bound by the four Kingdoms and led by Emperor Rupert Laazim and the Senate of Just Four, embodies a realm where hope and dread, life and death, coexistence and diversity entwine to form an extraordinary tapestry of wonder and challenge. As a beacon of harmony and equilibrium, the empire strives to maintain a delicate balance that shall shape the destiny of the entire realm.

I AM A MAID

In a serene and tranquil forest, nestled in another corner of the world, the deep hours of the night belong to nocturnal creatures seeking their prey. Tall trees and thick undergrowth with only the moon and stars providing a faint glimmer of light made the forest dark and mysterious. An eerie calmness hung in the air as if every living being understood the consequences of breaking the silence – the first to make a sound would be at a loss; for the predators that meant losing their dinner, but for the prey, their very life was on the line. This tense standstill gripped the entire woodland.

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Suddenly, a loud thud shattered the silence, setting off an alarm that resonated throughout the forest. The intrusion compelled every creature to break its hush, resulting in a cacophony of screeches and roars, marking the end of their silent agreement. The thud transformed into a low, rumbling growl, which, to a human ear, might have resembled the sound of a golem wagon hurtling through the forest.

Golem wagons are like horse-drawn carriages, just without the horses. They are magical devices (automata) that move on their own as long the mana-gathering devices within them are active. Depending on the type, they could either be driven by a trained driver, or they could be ordered to move to a particular location, and they would drive themselves.

The wagon responsible for the commotion earlier was of the second kind, though visually unlike any other. It was a strange and unsettling sight, made of dark wood and iron and adorned with peculiar symbols. It emanated a sinister aura. Inside it, women and girls of different ages were seated, packed together on the floor. As the strange sound approached, it mingled with the cries of terrified creatures of the forest and the heartfelt prayers of frightened young women. They were dressed in what resembled beautiful maid uniforms, but their true fate was far darker. Shackles bound their hands, and slave collars adorned their necks. That's what they were, slaves bound to their masters – having no freedom to even breathe unless their masters allowed so.

Among them was Sierra, a young girl who had just turned 16 but looked somehow older. With dark brown hair cascading like curls, giving her an appearance of nobility. Her clothes, though similar to the others, didn’t quite suit her. She was seated in the corner. Her arms wrapped around her knees, and her head hung in the space between her arms. Her face, if it were visible, would reveal fear and desperation as she clung to a single hope and fervently prayed.

“Dear God if you can hear me. Let this wagon plunge into a canyon, throw a lightning bolt at it, or burn it with your almighty fire! Whatever it takes, destroy it, and us with it.”, she prayed. She was not alone, everyone seemed to have the same feelings as they knew that the fate that awaited them was far worse than death.

Suddenly, as if in response to their prayers, the racing wagon collided with an obstacle, sending everyone flying as it got destroyed. At that moment, Sierra and the others believed their prayers had been miraculously answered, but they soon realized their fate hadn’t changed. They were falling, awaiting the relief of death, but instead, they landed on a giant creature that broke their fall. Sierra came to a startling realization: a young dragon had fallen from the sky right in front of the wagon. Unable to avoid the collision, the wagon rammed into its body, getting utterly destroyed in the process. Now, the women lay upon the dragon, unharmed.

The dragon stirred, letting out a mighty roar that terrified the women. After the roar subsided, the dragon gazed directly at Sierra, its eyes seemingly filled with loneliness.

“You seek death too, I see. But I won’t let you die. You’ll survive.”, Unfazed, Sierra began a peculiar dance‑like movement, casting a spell. The other slaves stared wide-eyed, knowing what was happening. Sierra was performing a healing spell. “Let your ailments drown – Cure!” she yelled, and a white light enveloped the dragon. It jerked up as if finally emerging from an ocean to breathe.

“There, your injuries are gone now, but you still need energy, right? Eat me! With this collar and shackles, I have no life ahead of me. So, do it and survive!” Sierra stood fearlessly before the dragon, a smile on her face despite the dire situation.

I AM MONEY

"Thorn Hangfruit is my name – and it's an honor to be in your presence, Your Supreme Highness," Thorn said with a nod and a friendly grin.

King Janleva Ringlrebro maintained his composure despite the strange sight in front of him, and asked, "And what brings you to our kingdom, Thorn?"

Thorn shrugged, " So, the reason I'm here? Simple, your highness. I wanna be filthy rich. But turns out you gotta work for that. But hey, I've heard you guys - I mean, you and your Highness’s crew - are great trade partners, so here I am!”

The king raised an eyebrow, almost amused by Thorn's demeanor. "Indeed, we do engage in prosperous trade here. But tell us, what goods do you intend to trade?"

Thorn scratched his head, "Well, I'm not exactly sure yet. I'm open to anything that turns a profit, ya know? Flexibility is the key to success!"

The king’s expressions remained unchanged. "Very well. By the way, how did you manage to find your way into our court?"

Thorn panicked, “Ah! You can cook me or boil me, but I am no snitch! … your Highness”

“That’s Good!", The king nodded, "Guards, take him away and cook and boil him!”

As the guards, who were also getting tired of this charade, started to take him away, Thorn started to panic again –

“Wait—wait, I said!! Your Highnessness, please have mercy!!!”

"It's “your Highness” ” The King sighed, intrigued by Thorn's audacity, “Guards, hold your actions. Now, let’s hear what you have to say" he commanded.

Thorn let out a sigh of relief, "Phew, thanks, man. I appreciate the chill vibes."

The king arched an eyebrow, "Chill vibes, you say?"

"Yeah, your Highendness, I think I have said what I wanted to... So, you okay with me trading right? " Thorn replied with a grin.

"And why should we do that? "

"I am lucky you know" Thorn, oozing confidence, took out a piece of paper from his pocket – his oracular report. He handed it to the king's courtier, who then presented it to the king.

The king glanced over the paper and remarked, "Ah, such a high luck. No wonder we had a hard time deciding your fate. Very well, Thorn, we shall trust this report. But be aware, you are to return and report on how your trade is progressing."

Thorn beamed, "You got it, Your Highnestleness! I'll make sure this partnership is a win-win for both of us."

He bowed with a theatrical flourish and turned around to leave. As he was about to leave the King’s earshot, he heard him say, “Where did you say you hail from?”

He turned around, facing the King, “Harmonia”, he said

The King almost jumped up from his throne and said wide-eyed, ”Harmonia, you say!”

Everyone in the court had a similar expression. His prime minister, Lord Laazim, stepped forth, “That’s a bold claim youngin’. Harmonia was destroyed by demons some 20 years ago, wasn’t it.”, he said, his sharp eyes trained on Thorn as if attempting to gaze in his very soul.

Thorn shrugged, “I said I was lucky din’ I. It’s true I am a survivor of that Harmonia.”

The prime minister didn’t look away, “I see, well we will soon know if you are lying or not. Guards, take this man away and lock him up on suspicion of being a demon.”

“Wait!! Wait I said! You have seen my report, you know I am Human. It says so right there - row 1 column 2; race: Human. Hey Highbrewness, you can read right?”

The King banged his scepter on the floor. “Enough of this ruse. We will ascertain the truth our own way. This is Partisita, know that if you speak the truth, we shall cherish and protect your words as we would our life, and if you lie, we will eat your soul even if we have to fight the world. – “

“But –-“

“No matter! We have laid the decree. You shall face the Observer and the Recorder. Guards! Take him away and administer justice for all!”

Thorn fell on his back, wide‑eyed and mouth agape, as a loud cheer echoed in the courtroom.

“What just happened?”