ULTRAMagic Prelude - Chapter 12
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Blood-Wraith was having trouble studying, being interrupted by a disruptive noise on numerous occasions. This disturbance was not coming from the tower, rather from realms other than the Unlight. The exact cause of this was unclear and it was driving him nuts. In one particularly egregious instance, a screaming match assaulted his ears while he was trying to look through his book. In a bout of rage, he crossed over to that realm with a seemingly untapped power. After roaring at the auditory offenders to shut up, he punched both of them. Following that, he returned to the tower and calmed down. Thankfully things stayed quiet after that.
It then occurred to Blood-Wraith what had just transpired. “Wait… what did I just do?”
“I agree, what did you just do, Blood?” Dragoslava asked.
“I guess I… well I was trying to study, but there was all this noise. So I yelled at them to be quiet… And then there was a screaming match and I guess I lost it on those two people.”
Dragoslava was stunned. “That’s a lot to take in. Give me a second…” It was quite the conundrum. “It sounds like you have another latent power, most likely some kind of warping or teleportation. Although I’m not sure about the noise.”
“Were those realms those universe things Corentin and Valentina were talking about?”
“Probably. They were likely close to the Unlight too. Either way, try not to use that power until we can test it. We have Leif on call, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“Sister? Did your… our parents ever argue like that?”
Dragoslava shook her head. “Nope. Heated discussions? Sure. My dad is a Duke after all. Outright screaming matches? Absolutely not. They’d actually tell us the issue if me and sis asked.”
“A duke? Interesting. Anyways, can we go somewhere? I need some fresh air…”
“What perfect timing, my buddy chum bro! I just so happen to need to do some shopping. Want to go to the Market District with me?”
Blood-Wraith was intrigued. “What’s that?”
“It’s an entire city dedicated to selling, buying, trading, stores, markets, salesmen, blacksmiths, and everything in between. If you know where to look, you can buy whatever you want. I’ve also been there a lot.”
“Sounds fascinating, let’s go!” Blood-Wraith said while closing his books.
It was time for the biplane once more, albeit Dragoslava’s was finally up and running again (thanks to Corentin, to her chagrin). Out of respect for Blood-Wraith’s mood, Dragoslava kept the flight simple. It was a short trip thanks to the Market District being located in the Central Unlight, much like the Iron City. The district itself was an unreal sight to behold. Buildings were as far as the eye could see, impossibly stacked on top of each other. Wires and cables ran everywhere while countless chimneys billowed smoke and steam. The airspace was quite busy itself. Planes, jets, blimps, airships, zeppelins, and hot air balloons moved all over the place. Once she approached the airport she needed, Dragoslava brought the plane in for a landing.
After checking in and securing her plane, Dragoslava took Blood-Wraith into the Market District proper. The city was even more incredible on the ground. People of all sorts were everywhere, the air was filled with plenty of different smells and sounds, and there looked to be so much to explore amongst the winding streets. Sure things were a bit dirty and messy, but that was to be expected. Blood-Wraith was so giddy that he was shaking like a washing machine.
Dragoslava laughed. “Easy bro, easy. You’ve barely set a foot in here. Come, let’s get something to eat while we wait for my guy.”
“Your guy?”
“Yes. He’s a friend that helps me get around and find good deals. You’ll like him.”
“Okay. Be calm… This is so exciting!”
Dragoslava made her way to a cafe and entered with Blood-Wraith. She then dinged the bell at the main counter. “Gustav? Are you in at the moment?”
“Drago! I’ll be with you in just a moment!” A voice called out. A moment later, a large, muscular man approached the other side of the counter. He had a buzzcut, a handlebar mustache, and wore a chef’s apron over well worn clothes. “Glad to see you again. And who’s this new face?”
“Oh him? I don’t know, he’s just a random stranger…” Dragoslava had a wide grin on her face. Blood-Wraith looked shocked, but Gustav knew she was joking. Both of them promptly laughed. “HA, I kid: This is my newfound brother, Blood-Wraith. He just sort of popped up out of nowhere a couple of months ago and I took him in. Blood, This is Gustav Dahlberg. He owns this Cafe.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dahlberg!” Blood-Wraith stated as he held out his hand.
“For real though, we actually don’t know who he is yet…” Dragoslava quietly slipped in.
Gustav shook his hand. “Likewise, and welcome to the Market District. It’s a little chaotic here, but you’ll get used to it. So, what’ll you two have?”
“I’ll take a large chocolate cannoli for myself and a funnel cake with whipped cream for Blood-Wraith” Dragoslava requested. “And also a chocolate milkshake for each of us”
“Coming right up.” Gustav had certainly been around the Market District enough times, but Blood-Wraith was a bit of a new one for him. And he was so young from what Dragoslava was getting at? He had to do something special for the boy. “Oh! Drago, I got a few extra funnel cakes from an earlier order, still fresh. How about one on the house as a late birthday present?”
“Sure. Blood?”
“Oh, um, sure. Thank you, Mr. Dahlberg.”
A few moments later, Gustav was back with the order. “Here you go and happy late birthday, Blood-Wraith. Enjoy. I’d light you a candle, but I haven’t done birthdays in a while. I’m thinking about starting them up again though. The only reason I stopped the first time around was because I couldn’t keep up with them.”
Blood-Wraith inspected the cake at first. It looked delicate, so he broke off a piece with whipped cream. The flavor was fantastic, very sweet and fluffy. “This is really good.”
“So we sort of snuck into Herman's ice cream parlor back home and had some soft serves not too long ago” Dragoslava pointed out. “I may have given Blood a bit of a sweet tooth.”
Gustav chuckled. “You little rascals. Speaking of which, how are the rest of the Descendants doing by the way?” He inquired.
“It seems like things are fine. My last letter from dad said they were at the Orange Megafalls and heading off to Ebony Rock Plains.”
Just then, someone else entered the cafe. He was an odd man wearing strange, organic armor. It was almost like it was made of bone. His blue eyes had a soft glow to them and his untamed, periwinkle hair invoked the idea of electricity. “That Beast certainly is a slippery one, isn’t he, Ms. Raynot?”
“Odo, just in time!” Gustav announced. “Drago arrived with her younger brother not too long ago.”
“Well then, I didn’t expect this event to transpire so soon… Or maybe I just lost track of time, ha,” Odo said as he sat down next to Blood-Wraith. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same… but why does it feel like I know you already?”
Dragoslava patted Blood-Wraith on the shoulder. “Everyone gets that feeling since he’s living Prima Materia. Anyways: Hey, Odo. Is Red Rock street finally clear?”
“Yes, yes it is. Certainly took long enough. Speaking of which, Gustav? Can I get a large shortcake with extra cream?”
“I take it things were a bit tedious?”
Odo nodded. “Yup… that’s putting it lightly though. The Eternal Church hasn’t gotten it through their thick heads that they’re not welcome here.”
Gustav went to the kitchen and came back with the shortcake. “I had a feeling this would happen, so I made one ahead of time. What would we do without people like you, Odo?”
“Thank you. So Drago, what brings you here on this occasion?”
“I need some tools for analyzing unique ores. Also Blood needed some fresh air.”
Blood-Wraith burped. “Excuse me. Aside from that, I actually want to purchase some alchemical stuff. One of my friends gave me an Alchemy book that’s really cool…”
Everyone continued to talk about this and that for a bit afterwards. Dragoslava brought up how she was a regular at the cafe, Gustav mentioned that he had been in business for 500 years, and Odo explained how he usually patrolled the Market District and spoke of his younger brother. Blood-Wraith was very interested in all of this. Once everyone was done eating, the three departed with Gustav wishing them luck. It was fortunate that Dragoslava had to go to Red Rock street as it was a hot spot for alchemists. Blood-Wraith was sure to find what he needed. Things were a mess though, consisting of the remnants of Odo’s battles with entities known as shadow constructs. It was not going to stop a day of business for the street, however.
Dragoslava gave Blood-Wraith some money. “Here you go, Blood. You should be fine, just make sure you don’t leave the street. If anything happens, call for me. If you need more money, let me know.”
“Alright, thank you, sister.”
Blood-Wraith wandered around from shop to shop, with Odo keeping an eye on him. The shops were all very interesting, having a wide variety of materials and ingredients. What one shop lacked, another had. Going down his list, all Blood-Wraith needed was fire infused iron. Entering the last shop, he was welcomed with a familiar feeling from an earlier adventure. This shop had a wide collection of rocks, metals, and crystals for alchemical experiments. Thankfully he was able to easily find what he needed. Heading to the counter, Blood-Wraith was greeted by a recognizable face.
“Hey, wait a second! You’re the seer from Fire World!”
“Haha, we meet again, Blood-Wraith,” he replied as he straightened out his clothes. “I take it everything went well with The Dragon of Old?”
“Yeah, Leif is pretty cool. Also I’d like to buy this chunk of iron.”
The Seer wrote this down and took the money owed. “I see you got wrapped up in his family drama, unfortunately. I figured that would happen.”
“It’s not that big of a deal. Things are a little messy, but I’m getting stronger and making friends.”
“I noticed. Also it’s very good that you’re embarking on the path of ULTRAMagic. And don’t worry about the Lich, he’s made an enemy of someone crucial to him…”
“That wouldn’t happen to be the strange weirdo Tusk mentioned, would it?”
The Seer grinned and chuckled a little. “He might be, he just might be. Of course, there may be other people you have yet to meet… Now before you go, a word of advice: Your transformations are nothing to fear. They are you and you are them. Embrace them and you shall control them.”
“Noted, thanks.” Blood-Wraith left for the door. “See you later, Seer. Stay safe.”
“You too, Blood-Wraith. And say hi to Val for me next time you see her.”
With his bag full of stuff ready to go, Blood-Wraith returned to Dragoslava and Odo. He was looking quite satisfied. “Hey guys, I’m back.”
Dragoslava gave him a pat on the back. “Well look at you, Blood. First time shopping and you got everything you need without a hitch” she complimented.
“I figured he’d do fine,” Odo pointed out. “We’re not on Black Iron street and this place is pretty strict with business practices. No scams happening here.”
“What’s Black Iron street?” Blood-Wraith asked?
“One of the more seedy and unsightly areas of the Market District,” Odo answered. “It’s off the beaten path and attracts all sorts of ne’er-do-wells. It’s not the only area like that, but it is the most noteworthy.”
“I see… so only go there if you’re really desperate?”
“Exactly,” Dragoslava replied. “My dad was able to get a special rock he needed one time, but he immediately advised me and big sis to never go there.”
Following that, Odo wanted to show Blood-Wraith a few places he could go if he ever needed help or specific items. The boy made a mental note of these as they walked. After stopping by the homes of a few of Dragoslava’s district friends, she and Blood-Wraith returned to the biplane. They bid Odo farewell and took off back to the Iron City. All of that was a lot to take in for Blood-Wraith. No matter what, he had to go back in the future. Upon arriving home and getting out of the plane, the two were met by some of Corentin’s ravagers, who greeted them with a bow. The fearsome-looking robots were hulking and brutish, but remained cordial and orderly.
“An escort?” Dragoslava questioned. “Alright, that’s pretty cool…unless…”
“Why are they called Ravagers again?” Blood-Wraith asked.
“Edge. That’s why.”
Back in the tower, the two split up and went to a different alchemical lab each to begin working. Dragoslava began analyzing the ores while Blood-Wraith started on his experiments. Tusk had joined him as he was very curious. Valentina’s experiments were simple, yet creative. Some were mere parlor tricks while others had legitimate usage. Meanwhile, Dragoslava was dealing with slow progress. The ores were tricky to work with given their unknown properties. What she was finding out was worth it, however. Suffice it to say it had been a good day for both of them. All of this was going to keep them occupied for the next couple of days.
Next: Chapter 12.5
ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)
Blood-Wraith was having trouble studying, being interrupted by a disruptive noise on numerous occasions. This disturbance was not coming from the tower, rather from realms other than the Unlight. The exact cause of this was unclear and it was driving him nuts. In one particularly egregious instance, a screaming match assaulted his ears while he was trying to look through his book. In a bout of rage, he crossed over to that realm with a seemingly untapped power. After roaring at the auditory offenders to shut up, he punched both of them. Following that, he returned to the tower and calmed down. Thankfully things stayed quiet after that.
It then occurred to Blood-Wraith what had just transpired. “Wait… what did I just do?”
“I agree, what did you just do, Blood?” Dragoslava asked.
“I guess I… well I was trying to study, but there was all this noise. So I yelled at them to be quiet… And then there was a screaming match and I guess I lost it on those two people.”
Dragoslava was stunned. “That’s a lot to take in. Give me a second…” It was quite the conundrum. “It sounds like you have another latent power, most likely some kind of warping or teleportation. Although I’m not sure about the noise.”
“Were those realms those universe things Corentin and Valentina were talking about?”
“Probably. They were likely close to the Unlight too. Either way, try not to use that power until we can test it. We have Leif on call, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“Sister? Did your… our parents ever argue like that?”
Dragoslava shook her head. “Nope. Heated discussions? Sure. My dad is a Duke after all. Outright screaming matches? Absolutely not. They’d actually tell us the issue if me and sis asked.”
“A duke? Interesting. Anyways, can we go somewhere? I need some fresh air…”
“What perfect timing, my buddy chum bro! I just so happen to need to do some shopping. Want to go to the Market District with me?”
Blood-Wraith was intrigued. “What’s that?”
“It’s an entire city dedicated to selling, buying, trading, stores, markets, salesmen, blacksmiths, and everything in between. If you know where to look, you can buy whatever you want. I’ve also been there a lot.”
“Sounds fascinating, let’s go!” Blood-Wraith said while closing his books.
It was time for the biplane once more, albeit Dragoslava’s was finally up and running again (thanks to Corentin, to her chagrin). Out of respect for Blood-Wraith’s mood, Dragoslava kept the flight simple. It was a short trip thanks to the Market District being located in the Central Unlight, much like the Iron City. The district itself was an unreal sight to behold. Buildings were as far as the eye could see, impossibly stacked on top of each other. Wires and cables ran everywhere while countless chimneys billowed smoke and steam. The airspace was quite busy itself. Planes, jets, blimps, airships, zeppelins, and hot air balloons moved all over the place. Once she approached the airport she needed, Dragoslava brought the plane in for a landing.
After checking in and securing her plane, Dragoslava took Blood-Wraith into the Market District proper. The city was even more incredible on the ground. People of all sorts were everywhere, the air was filled with plenty of different smells and sounds, and there looked to be so much to explore amongst the winding streets. Sure things were a bit dirty and messy, but that was to be expected. Blood-Wraith was so giddy that he was shaking like a washing machine.
Dragoslava laughed. “Easy bro, easy. You’ve barely set a foot in here. Come, let’s get something to eat while we wait for my guy.”
“Your guy?”
“Yes. He’s a friend that helps me get around and find good deals. You’ll like him.”
“Okay. Be calm… This is so exciting!”
Dragoslava made her way to a cafe and entered with Blood-Wraith. She then dinged the bell at the main counter. “Gustav? Are you in at the moment?”
“Drago! I’ll be with you in just a moment!” A voice called out. A moment later, a large, muscular man approached the other side of the counter. He had a buzzcut, a handlebar mustache, and wore a chef’s apron over well worn clothes. “Glad to see you again. And who’s this new face?”
“Oh him? I don’t know, he’s just a random stranger…” Dragoslava had a wide grin on her face. Blood-Wraith looked shocked, but Gustav knew she was joking. Both of them promptly laughed. “HA, I kid: This is my newfound brother, Blood-Wraith. He just sort of popped up out of nowhere a couple of months ago and I took him in. Blood, This is Gustav Dahlberg. He owns this Cafe.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dahlberg!” Blood-Wraith stated as he held out his hand.
“For real though, we actually don’t know who he is yet…” Dragoslava quietly slipped in.
Gustav shook his hand. “Likewise, and welcome to the Market District. It’s a little chaotic here, but you’ll get used to it. So, what’ll you two have?”
“I’ll take a large chocolate cannoli for myself and a funnel cake with whipped cream for Blood-Wraith” Dragoslava requested. “And also a chocolate milkshake for each of us”
“Coming right up.” Gustav had certainly been around the Market District enough times, but Blood-Wraith was a bit of a new one for him. And he was so young from what Dragoslava was getting at? He had to do something special for the boy. “Oh! Drago, I got a few extra funnel cakes from an earlier order, still fresh. How about one on the house as a late birthday present?”
“Sure. Blood?”
“Oh, um, sure. Thank you, Mr. Dahlberg.”
A few moments later, Gustav was back with the order. “Here you go and happy late birthday, Blood-Wraith. Enjoy. I’d light you a candle, but I haven’t done birthdays in a while. I’m thinking about starting them up again though. The only reason I stopped the first time around was because I couldn’t keep up with them.”
Blood-Wraith inspected the cake at first. It looked delicate, so he broke off a piece with whipped cream. The flavor was fantastic, very sweet and fluffy. “This is really good.”
“So we sort of snuck into Herman's ice cream parlor back home and had some soft serves not too long ago” Dragoslava pointed out. “I may have given Blood a bit of a sweet tooth.”
Gustav chuckled. “You little rascals. Speaking of which, how are the rest of the Descendants doing by the way?” He inquired.
“It seems like things are fine. My last letter from dad said they were at the Orange Megafalls and heading off to Ebony Rock Plains.”
Just then, someone else entered the cafe. He was an odd man wearing strange, organic armor. It was almost like it was made of bone. His blue eyes had a soft glow to them and his untamed, periwinkle hair invoked the idea of electricity. “That Beast certainly is a slippery one, isn’t he, Ms. Raynot?”
“Odo, just in time!” Gustav announced. “Drago arrived with her younger brother not too long ago.”
“Well then, I didn’t expect this event to transpire so soon… Or maybe I just lost track of time, ha,” Odo said as he sat down next to Blood-Wraith. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same… but why does it feel like I know you already?”
Dragoslava patted Blood-Wraith on the shoulder. “Everyone gets that feeling since he’s living Prima Materia. Anyways: Hey, Odo. Is Red Rock street finally clear?”
“Yes, yes it is. Certainly took long enough. Speaking of which, Gustav? Can I get a large shortcake with extra cream?”
“I take it things were a bit tedious?”
Odo nodded. “Yup… that’s putting it lightly though. The Eternal Church hasn’t gotten it through their thick heads that they’re not welcome here.”
Gustav went to the kitchen and came back with the shortcake. “I had a feeling this would happen, so I made one ahead of time. What would we do without people like you, Odo?”
“Thank you. So Drago, what brings you here on this occasion?”
“I need some tools for analyzing unique ores. Also Blood needed some fresh air.”
Blood-Wraith burped. “Excuse me. Aside from that, I actually want to purchase some alchemical stuff. One of my friends gave me an Alchemy book that’s really cool…”
Everyone continued to talk about this and that for a bit afterwards. Dragoslava brought up how she was a regular at the cafe, Gustav mentioned that he had been in business for 500 years, and Odo explained how he usually patrolled the Market District and spoke of his younger brother. Blood-Wraith was very interested in all of this. Once everyone was done eating, the three departed with Gustav wishing them luck. It was fortunate that Dragoslava had to go to Red Rock street as it was a hot spot for alchemists. Blood-Wraith was sure to find what he needed. Things were a mess though, consisting of the remnants of Odo’s battles with entities known as shadow constructs. It was not going to stop a day of business for the street, however.
Dragoslava gave Blood-Wraith some money. “Here you go, Blood. You should be fine, just make sure you don’t leave the street. If anything happens, call for me. If you need more money, let me know.”
“Alright, thank you, sister.”
Blood-Wraith wandered around from shop to shop, with Odo keeping an eye on him. The shops were all very interesting, having a wide variety of materials and ingredients. What one shop lacked, another had. Going down his list, all Blood-Wraith needed was fire infused iron. Entering the last shop, he was welcomed with a familiar feeling from an earlier adventure. This shop had a wide collection of rocks, metals, and crystals for alchemical experiments. Thankfully he was able to easily find what he needed. Heading to the counter, Blood-Wraith was greeted by a recognizable face.
“Hey, wait a second! You’re the seer from Fire World!”
“Haha, we meet again, Blood-Wraith,” he replied as he straightened out his clothes. “I take it everything went well with The Dragon of Old?”
“Yeah, Leif is pretty cool. Also I’d like to buy this chunk of iron.”
The Seer wrote this down and took the money owed. “I see you got wrapped up in his family drama, unfortunately. I figured that would happen.”
“It’s not that big of a deal. Things are a little messy, but I’m getting stronger and making friends.”
“I noticed. Also it’s very good that you’re embarking on the path of ULTRAMagic. And don’t worry about the Lich, he’s made an enemy of someone crucial to him…”
“That wouldn’t happen to be the strange weirdo Tusk mentioned, would it?”
The Seer grinned and chuckled a little. “He might be, he just might be. Of course, there may be other people you have yet to meet… Now before you go, a word of advice: Your transformations are nothing to fear. They are you and you are them. Embrace them and you shall control them.”
“Noted, thanks.” Blood-Wraith left for the door. “See you later, Seer. Stay safe.”
“You too, Blood-Wraith. And say hi to Val for me next time you see her.”
With his bag full of stuff ready to go, Blood-Wraith returned to Dragoslava and Odo. He was looking quite satisfied. “Hey guys, I’m back.”
Dragoslava gave him a pat on the back. “Well look at you, Blood. First time shopping and you got everything you need without a hitch” she complimented.
“I figured he’d do fine,” Odo pointed out. “We’re not on Black Iron street and this place is pretty strict with business practices. No scams happening here.”
“What’s Black Iron street?” Blood-Wraith asked?
“One of the more seedy and unsightly areas of the Market District,” Odo answered. “It’s off the beaten path and attracts all sorts of ne’er-do-wells. It’s not the only area like that, but it is the most noteworthy.”
“I see… so only go there if you’re really desperate?”
“Exactly,” Dragoslava replied. “My dad was able to get a special rock he needed one time, but he immediately advised me and big sis to never go there.”
Following that, Odo wanted to show Blood-Wraith a few places he could go if he ever needed help or specific items. The boy made a mental note of these as they walked. After stopping by the homes of a few of Dragoslava’s district friends, she and Blood-Wraith returned to the biplane. They bid Odo farewell and took off back to the Iron City. All of that was a lot to take in for Blood-Wraith. No matter what, he had to go back in the future. Upon arriving home and getting out of the plane, the two were met by some of Corentin’s ravagers, who greeted them with a bow. The fearsome-looking robots were hulking and brutish, but remained cordial and orderly.
“An escort?” Dragoslava questioned. “Alright, that’s pretty cool…unless…”
“Why are they called Ravagers again?” Blood-Wraith asked.
“Edge. That’s why.”
Back in the tower, the two split up and went to a different alchemical lab each to begin working. Dragoslava began analyzing the ores while Blood-Wraith started on his experiments. Tusk had joined him as he was very curious. Valentina’s experiments were simple, yet creative. Some were mere parlor tricks while others had legitimate usage. Meanwhile, Dragoslava was dealing with slow progress. The ores were tricky to work with given their unknown properties. What she was finding out was worth it, however. Suffice it to say it had been a good day for both of them. All of this was going to keep them occupied for the next couple of days.
Next: Chapter 12.5
ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)
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