???
How do you kill an omniscient and omnipresent god?
That was what I was thinking. Well, technically it isn't omniscient as it can't read my thoughts, it could be anywhere in an instant but not at the same time and it isn't as cohesive to be called a single entity. But regardless of any nitpicking, the simple fact that the closest thing my mind can find is a god, makes the task daunting. Maybe I’m not smart, but at least I’m not alone in that, and pretty sure that one or two people here have to be smart.
Well, even if what we were about to make was stupid, if it works, it ain't stupid… Right?
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Solaria
I woke up in a world of pain. Well, ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but that made me feel more badass. Or at least less pathetic than saying that I was grumbling because I was sore after having exercised the day prior.
When I was done thinking how I am Veltic's most tortured person, as well as a bit of a drama queen (no, I will not be drawing any conclusion from both statments, thank you very much), I got out of bed. Almost as if the pain wasn't that bad, I ran to the mirror room to see my results.
The mirror room was closer to a closet, being just enough space to enter comfortably, having two portals on the front side by side with a bit of an angle so I could see myself and with two standard portals in the sides connecting with each other so I could see my back more easily. There were mirror rooms much more complex than this, with portals meant to show every fiber of your being, which I always thought is such overkill.
Looking at myself, I could see some improvements in my musculature. A bit more and I could ask some help from Auvrey to rearrange some stuff, but for now it was all fine as they are helping me way too much already. Still, happy with the results, I pick some clothes and get dressed up for another day.
Picking up some cheese from the (soon to be made by me) conservation drawer and distracted with how I would soon to be a Time mage, I proceeded to take a slice of the cheese using the edge of a cutting portal, as well as nicking my finger. "Auch, fuck!" I shouted, quickly grabbing a piece of cloth and covering the cut. Luckily it was a shallow cut, since portal edges go through flesh, bone or steel all the same without a hint of resistance.
The pain hurt, but what was going to kill me is if my roommate heard it and appeared with that smirk of theirs. Because I’m the unluckiest girl alive, the moment that thought comes to mind, I hear footsteps behind, turning from the kitchen counter to see that unmistakable smirk in that towering, muscular figure.
"That's the second day in a row" he said in a deep, hyper masculine voice, almost as if trying to compete with that chin line that almost could cut as well as portals; well, no need to ask for his pronouns today. "Auvrey…" I respond, trying to think of a good response and utterly failing. "Just pay more attention, let me help you with that" and that is the worst part with him, that annoying way that the smirk makes all the heavy lifting in making fun of me.
Auvrey comes closer and encloses the cut finger with his hands and does some spells, from basic organic shapes meant to speed up parts of the regeneration that's already happening from angular designs meant to change the very nature of parts of my physiology. I could just feel the drawings of mana on my skin, though I doubt that even if I was seeing it I would be able to comprehend it. 'Such overkill, a little mistake and he can give me a tumor in seconds' I thought, but I trust that he would never do me harm.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Auvrey
I did have to hold myself not to give her an allergic reaction, not anything close to trouble of course, only a mild reaction that would make her sneeze during a whole day. That would teach her to keep her mind on Veltic instead of the stars. Unfortunately she had an important day ahead of her, so I let it pass, no matter how amusing it was.
"Thanks. You didn't need to do so much" said Solaria, with a note of curiosity in her tone. Of course, I couldn't say that was because I was deciding if I should punishing her and wanted to be unnoticed if I sneaked something in her blood. So instead, I respond: "Well, finally you can learn some magic yourself, so better to go in one piece and your best shape possible" and any risk of getting caught goes away, as her face goes to absolute excitement. I can understand her, having started at magic by 12, I could imagine the anxiety to only get started at 21.
"Yeah, finally I can start. It’s so unfair that you can start so early and have so much more utility.” She says while deflating a bit, and the only thing I can answer is: “Honestly, it is unfair, but you have to make due with what you have.” It seemed to have an effect, as after a few moments, she stuffed up her chest in an exaggerated manner and said: “You are right! I’m going to be the best Time mage and prove that time magic is the best!” and proceeds to walk toward the front portal.
While I appreciated the enthusiasm, I had to say: “You forgot to finish your food!” which makes her stop in the spot, turning with a red face.
Ok, that is amusing.
Solaria
"That smirk will be the death of me."
I leave home as soon as I can through the front portal, it's a close range one, only meant to get you down to the floor. Looking around at all the residential stacked houses, all built with wood, with a grand stone wall, circling the entire city and a second inner wall to make it be prepared for massive sieges that plagued the realms history. Of course it could be made irrelevant, were there be any portal mage on the atack, but the time of portal warfare is long gone.
I was always a bit jealous when seeing her residential area, with houses built on top of other houses by placing the ever convenient back of a portal as foundation for every house. I looked up before going, "If only my magic was so convenient," she thought "all I can do is preserve food and age up wine".
That wasn't all that could be done, though in comparison with having the ability to make a permanent portal anywhere for practically forever, using it as either a perfect cutting tool, an actual portal or a fixed immovable platform, is super unfair. But, no matter how many complaining I did, it wouldn't change that the rules of reality were as they were, and even if Auvrey’s magic was called casually as “stuff magic” because of how it seemed to change reality itself,but it can just change the position of things that are already there. Looking again at the portals I say out loud: “I wonder what restrictions space magic has.”
Wallowing in self pity was doing nothing for me, so I started walking, since it was a long way to the Academy of Time, located inside the second gate. I decided on the spot "No complaining about magic", just then realizing that Auvrey probably gave me something for the soreness while fixing my finger because I felt great. "Such a mischievously good person should not be possible" I proceeded to complain about. Still distracted with that infuriating roommate of mine, I bump into someone not too hard, but is enough to take his balance, falling ass first into the ground.
I look at him and instantly know he is rather one of two things, either he is a Position mage spie and picked a generic white man, with dark hair, brown eyes and a black robe to blend with. Or he is just like that. “Oh sorry, are you okay?” I ask and he instantly answers with: “Thanks, you too”.
Ok, either he is a genius spie, or more probably just an awkward guy. I offer a hand to help him up, now getting a “thanks” at the appropriate time and after more pleasantries are exchanged, I start heading towards the academy and see that he starts walking in the same direction as well. Oh, that’s fine, going to the inner city is a common practice to go to do work, surely we aren’t going to the same place and this guy surely isn't my classmate.
Surely one girl can only be so unlucky.