NOVEL WEB 9 - A New Mystery
After showing Grandpa Lich my progress, I stopped by the service wing for a quick meal before returning to my nursery to relax and meditate. Though, with my recent birthday it wasn’t entirely viewed as a nursery anymore, rather than my residential wing.
The bathroom and bed remained for my own needs while I was promised the rest of the wide room would be filled with whatever I desired. Though, there wasn’t much on the list of things I wanted at the moment. So it was only filled with a table and a few chairs at the center. My playroom was much the same as before. Excepting the fact that half the floor had been replaced with wood panels while I was training one day and my desk had grown to fit my size.
The only other addition was a walk-in closet filled with two more sets of my familial clothes, as well as empty chests and cabinets meant to hold bracelets and necklaces, and other pieces of jewelry I’d never wear.
As I did every night, I entered my room and closed the door behind me. And before too long, I heard Jonet’s footsteps approach to stop next to the door, wherein she’d wait for a few hours before walking off to retire for the day. Only to wake up and report straight to my door at dusk.
She’d never directly spoken to me. Though, I had never spoken to her either. Thus I was unsure what her job as a caretaker truly was. I imagined it was to follow me and pick up any messes I happened to make. The problem was, I wasn't a messy person. I always cleaned up behind myself.
In short, she had nothing to do.
Shrugging such thoughts aside for a later time, I climbed on top of the bed and assumed the lotus position to begin meditating. I first cleared my mind, then regulated my breathing into a slow, steady cycle. And after reaching a certain state of calmness, I then turned my attention to the mana around me. Not to interact with it. Only feel it out. To observe as it moved around the ambient environment towards me and the dozens of enchanted items strewn about the room to be absorbed and somehow replaced with fresh energy in a never-ending cycle.
This brought me to hypothesize that either the saturation of ambient mana was simply absurdly high and only appeared to be replaced instantly. That, or the energy was truly infinite and new mana was being replaced or created the moment a unit of mana was absorbed or transformed. Whatever a unit of mana even was.
With Telin being a self-proclaimed god of science, I had doubts he’d design a simple, infinite source of energy and be done with it. Though, I was also aware that could have simply been my biases speaking. If it were true, it meant that if I lived long enough, I’d have to prepare for the possibility of magic ceasing to exist in this universe. As slim as the odds were that it’d actually happen; I’d have been a fool not to at least consider it and form a contingency. After all, it was always better to have and not need, than to need and not have.
Before I began pondering on it post-meditation, however, my mother waltzed into my room to find me sitting at my desk, my chin resting on my clasped hands as I stared through the window.
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<< Elves have senses far greater than humans, my son. With a nose like a canine; ears like a bat; eyes like a raptor. More so than these animals also.>> She added. <
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Mother’s grin widened before she continued. Somewhat widening my own smile. << As elves, we’re unable to be charmed and can assist our spells and arrow fire using mana. As denizens of the underground realms, we Drow have a slight connection with metallic ores and ferrous metals, much like dwarves; but to a much lesser degree. We can at least sense ore deposits hidden underground. Unlike dwarves, however, we’re significantly lacking in excavating and smelting.
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<> I nodded in thanks. Then turned towards the sound of a shuffle near the other side of the door. <
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In truth, my assumed bodyguard only motivated me to prove myself to her and Grandpa Lich so I could have some actual privacy. Though, my mother’s words sparked within me a new obsession to fawn over. And so I couldn’t help but ask. <
<> Mother explained. <
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I decided that I’d actually try and get some sleep. As I’ve been training for days and began to feel mentally exhausted in ways meditation did nothing for.
---
I awoke a few hours before midnight and immediately rolled out of bed for my wake-up routine before jumping into the shadow realm. And after a short ‘swim’ I was in the service wing to bother Gerolt while he cooked my meal and listen to him talk about his latest hunting venture
"I'd like to come with you next time you go hunting,” I said through bites of steak and eggs.
“Really?” Gerolt’s brow raised in tune with his increasing grin. “I think I can arrange that for Your Grace.”
“Something more than just a single rabbit,” I added, pointing my fork knowingly. “I need to build a nice foundation for my stock of provisions.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Gerolt smiled. “You have my word.”
I nodded my affirmations, then gathered and washed my dishes before heading for the nearest shadow, smiling at Gerolt over my shoulder. “I’ll hold you to it.”
As always, I could see Jonet’s ghostly figure following me through the material plane towards the training court and decided now was as good a time as any to talk to her. And so I approached her as soon as she passed through the threshold.
“My mother tells me you’re a healer,” I said in response to her bow.
“I’m only trained in recovery magic, Your Grace.” She apologetically shook her head.
“What can you tell me of recovery magic?”
“It accelerates the natural healing of the patient.” She calmly yet clearly recited something from a book. Not that I held it against her. “In exchange for fatigue, minor wounds can be healed. Life-threatening wounds demands the transfer of life from another living being; allowing them to take the inflicted wounds of the patient. Else, the patient’s life span will be shortened significantly.”
“Jesus,” I commented aloud.
She shook her head in confusion but otherwise said nothing. She only looked at me expectantly as if she were waiting for something. And so I asked her what she knew of proper healing magic.
“As far as I’m aware, healing magic refers to the spells developed by someone with an affinity with healing potential. The most common are those with affinities for fire or water.”
“I see.” I nodded, scratching my chin to register the data in my actual mind before turning back to her. “And what affinity do you have?”
“Ice, Your Grace.” She formally bowed.
‘That explains the eyes, I guess.’ I commented to myself before saying. “You may have been ordered to be my caretaker, but I need you to be my first vassal. My first friend.”
She blushed a little and began visibly fighting the urge to look around in an attempt to hide her smile.
“As my vassal.” I continued after the short pause, bringing her embarrassment under control again. “The most important things are that you’re able to protect yourself and that you’re well educated. I do not need a protector, nor will I protect you. You must grow as strong as possible and learn to protect yourself. So, make sure to train with your ice magic and elemental manipulation instead of just staring at me train all day.”
I tried to give her a reassuring smile before jumping off in the shadows to meet up with Grandpa Lich. But my words were nothing but the truth. Before or after I awakened the rest of my cores, I had no intention of ever relying on another for protection. And I realized long ago that not everyone could be protected. That aside, I’d long since been theorizing how to best use the abilities Telin gifted me and had worked out multiple forms of passive defense that would make it difficult for me to be harmed, if not touched.
In short, my main goal was to become un-fuck-with-able. Yet, if I were to have followers in this life, they needed to be as capable as possible in all facets of life so that they could operate independently while I pursued more... important matters. Whatever they wind up being. Thus the first objective on that list was to spend the next few years working to become as magically proficient as possible before I was a bit older and could begin training up my body without the risk of stunting my growth.
I was hardly over five years old, after all. And while that was the same age monks often began training, I was half-drow. Thus I assumed it’d be best to wait a bit longer for my vassals to arrive so I could train them myself.
After descending into the Shadowfell and taking a look around, I saw Grandpa Lich’s ghostly figure waiting for me above the decrepit platform of volcanic stone.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed them, Amun.” He grunted upon my emergence in the material plane, wasting no time to get to his lecture. “The growth attached to your mana well and the words appearing in your vision?”
‘How could I not.’ I snorted internally. ‘A big abyssal leech attached to my Well. Even a blind man could see it.’ Nodding as stood in place before him. I spoke slowly, hearing my voice echo through the throbbing silence of the Shadowfell. “I have.”
“That is your Affinity Core. With that, the mana within your Well will automatically have its attribute changed to that of the void or any of its derivatives. All you have to do is guide it through. Try it now. Bring out your shadow magic by having your mana skim through a thin layer of your Affinity Core.”
“Very well.” I nodded. Then closed my eyes to focus on what felt like my ethereal second body. The ‘heart’ at its center; my mana well, had grown in tune with my developing body but was still the same relative size- slightly larger than my heart. And below it was the black growth that was my affinity core.
As directed, I began withdrawing the mana from my well. Almost immediately, it drew it toward the core on its own accord and funneled into the abyssal organ like water going down a drain. Once there, something seemed to click in my mind. It felt almost like growing a new limb. A magical limb that I’ve had since birth, but had been unaware of its existence until now. Like an amorphous hand that was the affinity core itself; the attributed mana leaking out of it akin to its digits. Writhing with energy on that bean-shaped island of abyssal energy.
Studying it closer, I realized the core was in actuality, composed of three distinct layers or individual cores that were neatly separated. Viscous darkness sat closest to the well, waiting like a faceless maw. Death, with an aura like the shadows, infused with a wicked smokey aura sat in the middle. And the head, the numbing emptiness of the void.
After pulling mana out of the shadow core, I saw a black foggy cloud spread throughout my second body while a vacant cold simultaneously spread from my diaphragm outward. Opening my eyes, I bore witness to the same, smokey trails of pure darkness pooling off of my body and rolling across the floor into an ever-widening shadow.
It was, for lack of a better word, fascinating. Like a dense, ethereal fog of darkness that felt like an extension of my body itself. Be it spread around me or pooled into my hand, the shadows felt like a type of exotic matter that was metastable in its triple point. Gaseous like the energy seeping from my body and yet amorphous like an inky, viscous liquid. Yet still solid and malleable enough to grasp and mold into any form like dough.
“The power of darkness and shadows precedes death.” Grandpa Lich explained, forcing me back to the present. “Or, to use an old quote- ‘If our death is born from the Underworld; our darkness stems from its gates.’ The effect it has on living creatures isn’t particularly useful for direct combat, but it's the perfect affinity for a rogue.” He grinned wickedly. “Its most obvious use is stealth and espionage. So long as we’re in darkness, we can remain unseen and unheard without even stepping into the shadow realm. And when compromised, the true power of darkness can be used.
“Fear!” He declared after a dramatic pause. “To nearly all, an unnatural cold will come upon those who roam in our night. Followed by uneasiness, intense dread, or panic. Lethargy. Even fatigue. Fear and uncertainty are the power of the shadows, Amun. Use it smartly and wisely.”
“Yes, Sir.” I bowed.
He grinned wide at my response as if he’d suddenly won the lottery. Then continued with newfound vigor. “The second item of today’s lesson revolves around the visions I mentioned earlier- your Grimoire. While you’re most likely familiar with the wallet function, its main use is to catalog the spells you’ll develop over time. It’s an invaluable tool that’ll record the intricate processes of rituals or elaborate spells as you learn them. It will allow you to relearn spells in the event you ever forget them. It’ll make it easier to cast documented spells. And most importantly, it’ll give your most proficient spells the chance to evolve over time.”
While he was talking, I went ahead and pulled out my grimoire. And judging from his missing reaction, I gathered that it was something that only I could see. As it nearly put me in shock.
Unlike my wallet, which was simply a banner that appeared at the top of my vision with the slightest thought. My grimoire was a blank and abyssal spot in reality like the void within me. Yet, I was able to see ridged edges, ruffled trims, and the finely stenciled lines of an actual book floating before me; fanning its vacant pages to the cover, wherein my name and ever-growing gold were neatly annotated in the common language.
“Your grimoire will automatically order itself according to your spells and affinities.” Grandpa Lich continued. “To add spells to your grimoire, you must first develop or learn one. Then practice casting to grow proficient before you finally name the spell.”
“So, my time will be spent developing my own spells.” I nodded in comprehension.
“Not quite.” Grandpa grinned. “Before that, I will teach you each of the basic spells before we move on to giving you a grasp on death and void. For the first spell, I want you to gather shadow mana within you before evenly distributing it around us as far as you can. A basic Domain Spell.”
Hiding my excitement, I quickly begin pulling mana through the shadow core and gathering the soupy ethereal mass between my hands. With the passing of several seconds, the energy began to drip and pool at my feet, making me feel I had a little more than enough concentrated. So I imagined an explosion forcing the darkness to spread to the largest radius possible before releasing the energy between my hands.
***
Jonet Fischer.
***
'Protect him. Monitor his progress. Cater to his needs, and report only to Ebbet and myself.'
Those were the four orders, Her Grace, Eved, gave to me before His Grace, Amun began taking instruction from High King Cole. Despite the honor such a task would bring to my family and I, I was scared at first. Initially due to the potential arrogance of a royal child. But then as a result of overhearing His Majesty's talk of the void mixed with the memories of my first experience with magic. All combined, it made me more than apprehensive to get close to him.
I was glad he kept me at a distance. But back there, I saw how different His Grace, Amun, was.
For starters, he asked of nothing from me; not even passively. I couldn’t recall a single time I had to make his bed, clean up after his meals or pursue some odd request. I only followed him and watched him eat, train, and returned to his room to sleep. Day after day after day with not much else in between.
At first, it was a blessing: A caretaker with a responsible host. But that quickly grew to boredom. And then frustration as His Grace took to frequenting the shadows more often. I began to feel as if he enjoyed having me search around the estate for him. But then he began to learn elemental manipulation.
Though I’d never say it aloud, Amun had a lousy teacher. Thus his progress was as slow as mine had been, despite him being royalty. But then something seemed to click. And to this day, I know not if I was awestruck or terrified when I laid my eyes on that infernal cyclone. Twisting and churning up towards the ceiling while its wielder smiled and laughed in wicked satisfaction.
After witnessing such a thing, I had no idea what to expect the night Amun began to learn of his darkness. Thus I stood idly as far back as I could. As far as the entrance of the training court. So far I had to strain my eyes to focus on his small figure holding a cloud of pure darkness in his hands.
Watching His Grace work on his own affinity made me think about his words regarding mine. I’d have been lying if I claimed I had no impressions other than brash overconfidence and naivety after hearing his earlier words. But I couldn’t help but feel in my heart; then and now, that his words were no mere boast.
And so I found myself refocused. Fully attuned to the progress of His Grace, Amun of Odissi.
After receiving a bit of instruction from His Majesty, His Grace refocused on his hands. And soon after, the dense pocket of darkness surrounding his hands began to swell.
Then, all changed.
I knew not what happened in those moments. In a split second, my awareness had been reduced to but a single thought. a realization that the light; all light, had disappeared. No other thoughts crossed my mind, and no senses were picked up by my body. There was only my soul, trapped in that overbearing darkness with a cold so deep it my ice magic feel like lava. It was as if everything had simply disappeared from existence in an instant. All but my senses. Existing in a nauseating rush of sensation. Damnable cold in my soul. Metal in my mouth. A bloody roar in my head. Hissing echoes of my lungs. Bangs and thumps of the heart; rushing and racing at an ever-increasing pace until it became a persistent hum- a pitch- a whine that grew louder and louder until my mind could no longer take it.
And I screamed.
---
After an indiscernible length of time had passed, the grass under my knees, the air, the courtyard; light itself, returned.
Coming to my senses, I realized I was down on my knees as if I’d fainted and quickly rose to my feet, looking around the courtyard for His Grace.
“Apologies.” His voice came from behind me. And I turned to see him bowing slightly at the waist with hints of amusement written over his semi-apologetic mask. “That was an accident.”