ULTRAMagic Prelude - Chapter 2
Dreaming was an interesting experience for Blood-Wraith. At first he thought he had been woken up early, but then it became clear that he was somewhere else. He found himself floating in a sea of clouds that billowed and shrunk. They were all gray and rumbled every now and then. A rhythmic droning could be heard, yet it had no obvious source. He tried to move forward, but nothing changed. And interacting with the clouds was like grasping at air. It felt like something was supposed to be there, but Blood-Wraith woke up before he could figure out what that thing was. A tad annoyed, he sat up in his bed.
“I was wondering when you were going to wake up,” Dragoslava remarked, sitting in a chair near the beds.
“Did I leave the tower last night?”
“I don’t think so. Why? What’s the matter?”
Blood-Wraith thought for a second, then began talking about his experience. “It was so odd and foreboding…foreboding? Um, I’m not sure how to describe it, honestly.”
“To me it sounds like you had your first dream” Dragoslava replied as she rummaged through a bookshelf.
“What’s a dream?”
“Read this when you get the chance, it has everything you need to know in it…”
Blood-Wraith studied the book he had been handed. “The Dream Realm and the Complexity of Dreams…” He quickly skimmed through it. “So I was in another realm last night?”
Dragoslava nodded. “Yup, and a pretty odd one at that. Now come, Desislav has got breakfast ready.”
Back at the dining hall, the tall satyr was waiting patiently by the same trolley from before, rhythmically tapping his hoof. This time there was pancakes, eggs, toast, bacon, and drinks ready to be served. Happy to see Blood-Wraith still around, Desislav sat both of them down. It was nothing fancy, just a basic breakfast to wake everyone up. Plus he did not want to overwhelm the juvenile entity given how young he was. Regardless, Blood-Wraith was fascinated by how different the food was from the stew. He did need to be taught how to use a knife and fork, but was able to quickly get the hang of it.
“Pancakes aren’t the most typical breakfast food if you ask me, but they’re one of my favorites, especially with homemade syrup,” Desislav pointed out.
“So Blood, we’re not going to head to the planet you found quite yet” Dragoslava announced, then ate some bacon.
“Why’s that?”
“I haven’t quite figured out how to get there yet…” It was easy to tell she was a little disappointed.
Desislav chuckled. “Well, you could always consult that Corentin person. Rumor has it that he stayed in the city.”
Dragoslava gave him an incredulous look. “How in blue blazes did you find out about that?”
“Who’s Corentin?” Blood-Wraith cut in.
“Oh, he’s just a self-professed scientist that vanished one day… more of a mad scientist if you ask my parents” Dragoslava explained. “I don’t trust him and we don’t need him. I got a demon on the horn who can take us there.”
This caught Desislav’s interest. “So you’re using Necromancy? I always wondered how that would work in a place like The Unlight. Earth makes sense, but the Unlight?”
“The thing is that I tried to use Alchemy to build a craft, but it didn’t work out the way I thought it would.”
“Heh, maybe you should ask you-know-who…” Desislav noticed the slight glare Dragoslava was giving him. “Ahem, yeah, that-that stuff can happen.”
Dragoslava exhaled as she facepalmed. “I love it when things refuse to work… So anyways, Blood-Wraith, we are going to head out to another location I scouted out. It’s called The Great Stone Lake.”
“Well then… Erm, what’s so great about it?” he inquired.
“Glad you asked. The lake is unique in that it is as big as an ocean and has a bed of stones that jut up to the surface. Rumors say that an entire civilization lies at the center, unaware of what lies beyond the waters that surround them… Supposedly on the last bit, however.”
Blood-Wraith was hooked. “Are we going to go visit them?”
“Well firstly we need to confirm that they exist, but secondly, no. My first expedition to The Valley of Eons taught me when in doubt, leave it be.”
“Oh, okay then…” Blood-Wraith was disappointed.
“Don’t worry, buddy; Some people are just best left undisturbed” Desislav reassured him with a pat on the back. Something then occurred to him. “Hey, wait a second! Drago, what about your biplane?”
“I’m working on fixing it. Kind of hard when all of the mechanics are off chasing The Beast of Old and the main routes to the Market District are being patrolled by goons and cultists…”
The journey to the lake was taken on foot, just in case anyone was at the shore. It took longer, but it allowed Blood-Wraith to properly experience The Unlight and what it was like. That day, the sky was full of swirling clouds that were pale orange with hints of pink and soft yellow. A light showed through the clouds, but it was unclear if it was a moon or a star. Something of particular interest that he noticed was that the landscape did not seem definitive. It felt like it could alter at any moment, despite not changing all that much. It was definitely worth making a mental note of, if incredibly confusing.
“You may not have realized it yet, but we’re actually quite far away from The Iron City by now. I believe we’re out at least half a lightyear” Dragoslava pointed out, referencing a book with a shifting map in it.
It took a second, but then it hit Blood-Wraith like a bag of bricks. “Wait, how exactly?!” One of the books he had read previously had given him basic knowledge on the concept of distance.
“Time is irrelevant here. We experience it, but we’re not subject to it. This lets us go wherever we want.”
“My goodness… no wonder that walk felt so long!”
Dragoslava patted Blood-Wraith on the back. “Yeah, it threw me for a loop the first time I realized it too. Don’t put too much thought into it, or it will utterly boggle your mind… but hey! the best thing is that we’ll be home in time for lunch.”
Fortunately the two had finally arrived at the lake. It was just as it had been described: as big as an ocean with giant stones rising from the surface. An older rowboat was sitting there on the shore, so the two took it. It was likely the best option if they did not want to raise suspicion. Naturally Dragoslava had no intention of paddling the distance of half an ocean, so she cast a spell that summoned two spectral hands that began rowing at a quick, yet steady pace. They went past many stones forming islands, looking for one close enough to the center. Once they had found an island that was just right, they docked and exited the rowboat. Looking ahead, they could see a faint hint of a shoreline. The sky also appeared to be light blue over the center. Getting out her binoculars, Dragoslava could see what looked like buildings on a beach.
“Yup... it’s real alright: a civilization unaware of its surroundings… supposedly, given some odd things I’ve heard of recently”
“Do you think they’ve ever come out here and beyond?” Blood-Wraith asked.
“If the rumors are true, then yes. Although me thinks they didn’t get too far. That boat is clearly from their land given that very few have actually been to this lake. I’d imagine that they had no idea what they were doing.”
Blood-Wraith thought about the center for a second. “How do you think they got there in the first place?”
Dragoslava shrugged. “No idea. I’d have to either ask around or dig through their knowledge. All I can do is guess at the moment.”
The two spent some time observing their surroundings and taking notes. It was a fascinating lake given the stones and how they interacted with the body of water. Dragoslava began collecting some of the smaller rocks so she could study them back at the tower. Meanwhile, Blood-Wraith was fixated on the shoreline. He wanted to meet those people out of sheer curiosity. After Dragoslava was done, she tapped her friend on the shoulder, gesturing towards the boat.
“And now we head back.” Dragoslava snapped her fingers, causing the spectral hands to return. “I’d say that was pretty fun.”
As they left, Blood-Wraith noticed something on the island they had departed from. “Uh, Dragoslava?”
“What’s up?”
“There’s people on the island now…”
“Hey there!” A young man’s voice called out.
Dragoslava quickly thrust her palm towards the island, causing the rowboat to speed off. “Shoot! We better skedaddle!”
As they jetted across the water, Blood-Wraith sighed. “Aw, I wanted to meet them…”
“Well I suppose if they venture out further, we could encounter them in the future. Look at it this way: we don’t know who they are, what they want, or what they are capable of. We’re explorers, not ambassadors. Plus I’m obligated to keep you safe… because obviously. And if it’s any consolation, opportunities to meet new people will pop up in the future” Dragoslava responded.
“...but why not them?”
“Rumors and odd happenings.”
“Oh…” Something was telling Blood-Wraith that they had dodged a bigger issue. “Well gee, they’re awfully noteworthy for a bunch of rumors…”
“I did some research back when I scouted the location out, despite the lack of credible information: Those people seem to be quite capable and ambitious, if a bit chaotic.”
The rowboat continued to speed along until reaching the shoreline they had departed from. After pulling the boat to where they had found it and tidying it up a bit, the two began their trip home. This journey was insanely short. One minute they were at the lake, the next they were back at The Iron City, leaving Blood-Wraith incredibly confused. Dragoslava promptly explained that because of knowing where to go, they could drastically decrease the time of the journey. What felt like ages to Blood-Wraith was a mere ten to twenty minutes for Dragoslava. Adding insult to injury, Desislav stated the two had only been gone for an hour.
“I told you we would be back in time for lunch.” Dragoslava giggled a little, as she knew Blood-Wraith was skeptical the entire time.
Blood-Wraith groaned. “This is so confusing…”
Desislav nodded. “It definitely takes some time getting used to it, especially if you’re from somewhere like Earth, like me.”
“So I take it that lunch is just like dinner and breakfast?” Blood-Wraith asked as he stretched his arms.
“Yup! Come along, I have some sandwiches ready for you two” Desislav answered as he led the way.
Thankfully lunch did not require any lessons as Blood-Wraith was still a bit steamed. The sandwiches were quite good though, so that calmed his nerves. After lunch was some free time as Dragoslava had to prepare her summoning ritual. Unsure what to do, Blood-Wraith went back to the office to find that one Alchemy book… he still had no idea what it said. Thinking for a second, he planned to rectify this issue. He then zipped off to one of the many libraries in the tower. This led him to the North Spire library. Once he located the books he needed, he began blazing through them, reading whatever he could get his hands on. Eventually Dragoslava came looking for him.
“Oh there you are Blood! What’cha doin?”
“If the capability and ambition of other people is our concern, then I shall learn Alchemy and be ready for whatever gets in our way…”
Dragoslava noticed a simple, metal sculpture on a table loaded with books. “Hey, did you make this?”
“Yup. I’m trying to figure out how to make it more detailed.”
She gave Blood-Wraith a light applause. “Well done. That’s quite good, for a beginner. Huh, maybe we should give you an aptitude test…”
“Pardon?” Blood-Wraith paused his reading.
“A test to figure out what your magic abilities are. Personally, this tells me you’re a natural alchemist. Again, this is very good…”
“So I take it that the summoning is ready?”
Dragoslava nodded. “Yes indeedy. You still want to check out that planet?”
Blood-Wraith put down his book. “Sure, let’s go. I need a break either way.”
Back at the lift station, Dragoslava had placed a cloth with a well woven pentagram on it on the floor. Surrounding it were candles and burning incense. After speaking an evocation, black birds began gathering outside. Soon a figure calmly emerged from the shadows. He was an upright, semi-elderly man who was dressed in regal attire. This was the raven demon that Dragoslava had called upon. He was quite impressed with her skill, given that she was relatively new to Necromancy.
“Dragoslava, getting the hang of the rituals I see?”
“Yes indeed, Stolon… Although I am having trouble getting a hold of the materials required at the moment.”
“Don’t worry, lass. I was never that picky of a demon in the first place. Who’s this?”
“Oh, this is Blood-Wraith. I sort of just found him out in the wilderness…”
Stolon shook Blood-Wraith’s hand, who was a little nervous. “A pleasure to meet you, lad. I am Stolon O’Corvidae.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. O’Corvidae,” Blood-Wraith replied.
Dragoslava naturally requested that Stolon fly them to the planet Blood-Wraith had discovered. Stolon took a moment to process that-a simple task, no two ways about it. Leading the two outside, he took the form of a giant raven. Flying up into the air, he swooped down and picked up Dragoslava and Blood-Wraith. They were then off to the planet, with a flock of black birds following close behind.
The planet in question was a beautiful, brilliant orange, which became more pronounced as they approached. What also became apparent as they got closer was that the planet was made of fire. Landing on the planet’s surface, they all learned that the fire was not actually hot. In fact, it behaved like the four classical elements. The only fire that was hot was actual fire. Looking around, the firescape was a truly gorgeous sight to behold. Seeing fire replace everything had to be seen to be believed.
After a bit of wandering, Dragoslava and Blood-Wraith discovered a village of fire people. Seeing the outsiders was a shock, but the villagers quickly welcomed them in. It was a standard town of farmers, hunters, and gatherers that was quite lively, being near a road and a large river. Thankfully these people knew that they were in The Unlight, so Dragoslava did not have to explain or hide any details. As she walked and talked with the townsfolk, Blood-Wraith was randomly pulled aside into a house.
“Hey! What was that all about?” Blood-Wraith exclaimed.
“The seer wishes to speak to you” a young villager replied while pointing to a room shrouded by a curtain.
Blood-Wraith slowly entered the room, pushing aside the curtain that served as a door. “Hello?”
“Greetings, Blood-Wraith. Come, sit.” The Seer was an androgynous entity who wore a blindfold and had a crystal hovering before them. Their voice was distinctly masculine, however. Interestingly a few ethereal feathers were scattered across the floor. What was odd was that they were not made of fire…
“Who are you?”
“I am nothing more than a humble seer. What matters in this discussion is you. Do you have any idea of what your future holds?”
“Not really. I don’t even know who I am” Blood-Wraith answered.
“Then things are as they should be. Child, your future will be a great and fantastic one. Do you plan to keep exploring with Dragoslava Raynot?”
“Yes?”
“Then begin looking for an ancient dragon, flying in the sky towards the mountains to the north of the Iron City. He will be of great help to you two. Not only that, you may also end up helping him too.”
“Okay then… Do you know who I am though?”
The Seer chuckled. “Absolutely, but that is for you to discover… and it will be very obvious once you do figure it out. Now go, Dragoslava is looking for you.”
“Oh, well, thank you. Have a good day.” It was quite an odd experience, to say the least. Blood-Wraith left the house and quickly ran into Dragoslava.
“There you are! I was searching all over for you… and trying some of the local foods.”
Blood-Wraith thought for a moment about what the Seer had said. “Can we go back to the tower? There’s something I want to look into.”
“Are you sure? We got as much time as we need…”
“Yes. I think it’s something important.”
Dragoslava shrugged. “Alright then. We can always come back at a later date. Besides, my field journal is pretty full.”
And with that, the two returned to Stolon and flew back to The Iron City. Before departing, Stolon left Dragoslava with a feather of his so he could easily be summoned again (plus he had taken a liking to Blood-Wraith). Desislav was thrilled to hear about the journey and was kicking himself for not going with them. Once settled down, Blood-Wraith returned to his library. He tried to go back to studying Alchemy, but what the seer had said was distracting him.
Blood-Wraith was up late, looking through all sorts of encyclopedias he thought would help him. He had to know what a dragon was and what they typically looked like. Annoyingly there were many types of dragons, ranging from bipedal to quadrupedal to serpentine. When dinner time finally arrived, he was slumped over on his desk, mumbling about dragons. All that reading had left him exhausted, with Dragoslava having to peel him away from his books so she could bring him down to eat. Dinner was great, but it naturally made him sleepy. Once he was finished eating, Blood-Wraith drowsily attempted to head back to his studies. Desislav saw this, chuckled, and took him off to bed. Despite all the excitement, Blood-Wraith slept soundly. His intrigue over the enigmatic dragon would have to wait until the next day.
Next: Chapter 3
ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)
Comments
Post a Comment