《Tainted Reverie》


 Awaken again

    I am re uploading this because I can no longer use my old account therefore I''ll stick them all into this single thread. Since I''m re-upping it, might as well modify it.


    Chapter 1


    The stench clung to my frail body, and violated my nose. The gastric juices from my stomach could no longer force itself out of my burning throat, and cracked lips. The rippling pain continued to tear into my body, and something slowly ate at my flesh and blood from the inside.


    I stared at my fingers, bony, and frail, no different than the living dead. As I ignored the pain, I stared at the white mountain in front of me. A mountain made of varying sizes of decayed bone, from children, women, and men. The sky rumbled violently as something tore open the blackish red sky, breaking away the thick dark clouds, and created an overwhelming shadow on the barren ground below. It was a fat, bulbous red hand, several kilometres wide, with thick dark claws, that had torn flesh and body parts clinging to it.


    It scooped the mountain of decayed bone, and brought it into the dark abyss above, the loud sounds of crunching reverberated throughout the sky.


    I could only stare idly, where the gigantic hand disappeared to.


    ¡°So that bastard is having his snack, huh.¡±


    The head of the creature was so high up, I could never see it''s face, that thing was the one that devoured, and played with, all life on this planet. It was an existence that hid in the far corners of the terrifying universe, devouring races, souls, planets, and gods. The time in this world was made meaningless, the cycle of death, and rebirth on this planet was already at a state of limbo.


    Someone who I knew that died fifty years ago, is now crawling on the ground, begging the world for him to finally die.


    As I stared around me I could see the marching of transparent humans, tied up in chains, marching in a ghostly procession towards the distance, where that thing sat. They were the souls of those devoured, the flesh of mortals were not enough to sate it''s appetite, even the souls would be destroyed, made anew, and toyed with. Everything was at it''s whim, the laws of this world were merely it''s play thing.


    This world is dead, it had died one thousand year ago, the last vestiges of what could have stopped this things birth had long been soiled by the empires, heroes, and men long past. If not for those damned fools, how could the world have ended this way?


    I slowly felt my life trickling away, I closed my eyes to accept my end. As I await for my body to dissolve, and face the world as a disembodied creature, a tiny shard of light escaped me, and I felt me eyes  and consciousness grow dark.


    As I opened my eyes again, a loud rumbling could be heard in the distance.


    The bright blue sky started to form a ripple, the birds flew away in panic, and the army of soldiers watched in terror, as a gigantic eye the size of the morning sun distorted the very reality of the world itself.  The horses neighed in fright as wagons, and men toppled over. I stood up from my frenzied horse to shout out commands, I felt a sharp cold steel piercing into my flesh. I turned around to look at my assailant, but all I could see were the trees flying past me, and eventually the dirt on the ground. No thought entered my mind as I sunk into a deep abyss.


    Explosions woke me up, I got out of my bed and put on my shoes, after exiting the tent I could hear the screams of men. Balls of fire decorated the skies, as they bombarded the land below, men were burnt to ashes, and tents were set aflame.


    I could only stare idly in shock, when I was about to finally regain my senses, I felt something slam into me, causing my flesh to burn in agony.


    The series of deaths repeated again, and again.


    I died while fishing when I was a farmer. I discovered something in an ancient temple, as I ran away with the prize, my fellow adventurers murdered me. When I went to magic school, I studied as an artificer, I learned to imbue magic properties into weapons. When I went home in the middle of the night, I was robbed and murdered, the pool of blood escaping my body, caused me a slow, cold death.


    I was the sister of a young noble, the noble one day discovered something he shouldn''t have learned in the ruined fane. My brother disappeared many days later, and I along with him, a week later.


    The lives, and deaths flashed across me over, and over. Eventually all things stopped, and only a warm darkness could be felt. The darkness was thick, and heavy, I felt something tickling my cheeks, as I woke up, I saw a rough pink tongue licking me. It was a fluffy white cat, the cat immediately stopped when it noticed me awake, and gave a cute mew sound.


    I shook my head trying to get rid of the momentary dizziness, as my mind began to clear up, the images of all those deaths, and experiences, bombarded me like a tidal wave. The anger, revulsion, hatred, and despair, consumed me, threatening to tear my soul into shreds. The disembodied voices seeped into my mind like cool water, pouring into the dry soil.


    The images frightened me, the experiences made me want to vomit, and the things I''ve seen caused my spine to freeze.


    I quickly closed my eyes, and curled up in my bed, trying to absorb the information crushing me. My body slackened as I was continuously assaulted.


    The tiny white cat lay beside him in concern. Large tendrils of blue light leaked from the walls, and slowly converged on the boy, creating a thin blue film protecting his body.


    Day turned to night, the warm gentle winds, turned into frigid cool winds, clear green grass, turned to white fluffy snow. Days became months, and months into years.


    The sparse forest around the single black tower jutting out, steadily grew over time. The thin frail branches grew thick, and ancient. The sparse forest grew thick, and bountiful,and the flawless black marble tower lost it''s lustre. Vines started to spread across the black isolated tower, forgotten by man, and time.


    The inhabitant of the tower remained still and silent, not a single person could be seen, nor a sound made.


    The silent scenery that had been still for many years, finally saw movement. A small young boy in a large black robe walked out of the solitary tower, his deep red eyes looked aged, and tired. Not a trace of innocence could be seen, it was the exact opposite of his cute, and childish face.


    ¡°That was fucking horrible, I felt like my damn body was about to be torn for the fifth time!¡±


    Any who heard the young boy cursing violently would be shocked in dismay over his choice of words, and, actions.


    ¡°I can''t believe those fools actually allowed the world to become ruined!¡±


    The young boy around ten years old was cursing, and gesturing violently.


    The boy rampaged over 20 minutes before finally calming down.


    ¡°Oh right, what was my name again?¡±


    Due to experiencing many branches of future lives, his own identity became blurred, and distorted. Likely his original personality had long been wiped out. All the experiences he felt, and saw merged together into a wholly new being.


    He stared at the unusual tree in front of him.


    ¡°Fine, Acacia it is.¡±


    Names were merely labels without substance, it did not matter what people called him, even wood was fine, since the tree he first recognized is an Acacia, then that was the name he decided on.


    The boy named Acacia gripped his hands tightly, and punched the tree in front of him. The knuckles were white, the skin was torn, and barely a dent was made on the tree.


    ¡°Can''t believe I''m in the body of a little kid, so weak, so frail, and so disgusting.¡±


    The end of the world gave him many bitter experiences, even though this was his original body, it angered him no less. There were too many things he had to accomplish, and too many errors that needed to be corrected. The frail body of a ten years old boy stuck in bed for many years, was not an ideal starting point at all.


    Occasionally torturous images of the future, clung to his mind, and made him nearly vomit. The disgust at what was done to the world angered him, the hatred of his fellow man who allowed it to happen disgusted him, and the weak frail body he had, gave him despair.


    Men were used as play things, women were violated, broken, and devoured, children were cannibalized, and tossed around like broken toys. The thick red blood formed lakes, and rivers, and the faint ghosts of the dead wandered around in agony.


    The boy coughed violently as he smashed his fists against the nearby tree, further bruising his pale, delicate hands.


    His eyes were filled with complex emotions, and his smooth childish face, looked terrifying. The white fur ball whined, and patted his leg lightly. Acacia saw the cat looking worried, and slowly calmed down.


    ¡°Those useless leaders, that stupid hero,  that annoying demon lord, that arrogant church, those idiotic citizens, so many people to blame! They ruined the world for the rest of us!¡±


    Acacia took in a deep breathe, and slowly breathed out, clearing his fragmented mind.


    ¡°No, the main point is to prevent those fools from preventing her birth, ugh what year is it today?¡±


    Acacia shook his head as he marched back into the black tower. The first floor was completely invaded by plants, and animals. Bunnies, deers, and insects roamed about. Acacia climbed the stairs to the second floor where a bunch of pixies were darting left, and right, occasionally tugging at his robes in a playful manner. He ignored them completely, and arrived at the third floor, in that chamber was a large room, and in the centre sat a large skeleton of what was once a person,


    Acacia bowed deeply to the skeletal remains before reaching the fourth floor. Where his room was, he continued on, and on until he reached the final floor at the 20th level.


    It was a large observatory with a telescope jutting out from the tower, the floor was filled with books, constellation charts, calendars, and mapping tools. Acacia was breathing furiously trying to catch his breath.


    ¡°I hate this damn body!¡±


    He manipulated the large telescope with tools made from clockwork, springs, and hinges, trying to find something in the sky. The top of the tower rotated slowly, along with the telescope. Eventually it stopped, and Acacia saw two moons floating closely to each other. The twin red, and blue moons, only intersect once every 100 years. When he entered a deep trance to peer into the future by fragmenting his soul, the moons were just out of intersection, meaning over a decade had passed.


    He stared at the calendar pasted on the wall,  That said year 1450 of the imperial calendar.


    ¡°So it''s around year 1550 now.¡±


    Sifting through his distorted memories, he remained still for over an hour, finally he remembered a certain incident.


    ¡°I have seven years to take advantage of that. At the moment I''m too weak, let me first gain a better body before I try anything too dangerous.¡±


    He stared at his frail hands, and sighed.


    ¡°Better fill my body with some meat first. Everything else will come later.¡±  The cat mewed lightly and sniffed him. Acacia sniffed his arms, and curled his lips in disgust.


    There were too many worldly matters he had to do, but apparently eating, and bathing was at the top of his current concerns.


    With a large exaggerated sigh, he slowly walked down the tower, while the hunger was torturous and his body smelled horrible, he had felt much worse, and had encountered scents from much more disgusting sources. Compared to what he''s seen, and experienced, this was nothing.


    Chapter 2


    Three days had passed since Acacia had regained control of his body, after a century of merging together the aspects of his future selves, desperately containing their thoughts, emotions, consciousness, and knowledge. If not for the protective runes embedded within the black tower, his soul, and body would most likely have been broken down into an empty husk.


    Loud violent coughs echoed from the walls in the enclosed tower.


    ¡°Damn it! I thought this was a health issue, but this is abnormal!¡±


    Acacia coughed violently, he felt an empty chilliness from inside his very soul growing larger, and more deadly.


    A black scar tattoo formed on his chest, and a deep profound fear enveloped him. While Acacia did not see the scar, he felt it''s existence underneath his clothes, and could feel the darkness converge at the centre of his body.


    ¡°To think temporarily being in the same time period as that creature already tainted my soul. That bastard is actually trying to consume me from the future!¡±


    Acacia''s face distorted in fury as he drew the vast mana residing in his body to isolate the growing black scar forming on his skin.


    ¡°Scram!¡±


    With a violent roar, Acacia forced his internal mana to crush the invasive magic in a primitive, and violent manner.


    After a vicious episode of coughing; did he finally calm down. That thing lives at the end of time for this planet, however that thing still lacked the power to exist in the present, and the past. But who knows how long before that reasoning no longer holds, and it obtained a state of omnipresence in this world.


    From the corner of his glowing red eyes, a white fur ball eyed Acacia curiously with it''s large blue eyes.


    ¡°Mew?¡±


    Acacia talked to the cat casually, about the things he planned to do.


    After an incredibly long conversation between child, and cat, Acacia went out of the tower to collect food by picking plants, herbs and berries.  In one of his future selves he was a hermit that lived off the land, so he could discern edible plants from non-edible ones.


    He could only sigh in depression occasionally, ¡°I could not control who I latched unto in the future, or affect their actions, so a lot of useless information was passed on to me. Apparently one of my future selves was a lousy, and useless debauchee that spent most of his life, visiting brothels, and gambling, what kind of a useless bastard I was, If only I could strangle that asshole for wasting my time.¡±


    He also witnessed scenarios where he walked into a well and died, when he died from food poisoning over a mushroom he found in the woods, or was caught cheating with a powerful noble''s wife, and executed.


    Acacia wanted to strangle each, and everyone of those idiots.


    While picking fruits he accidentally pricked his finger, the bright red liquid oozed out of the tiny wound.


    I stared at the blood absentmindedly, a powerful headache assailed me, and vicious images of the future caused me to choke on my spit, and nearly scream in terror. I bit my lip tightly till blood oozed out, the shock of pain cleared my mind, and allowed me to regain control of my body.


    My entire body shivered as I desperately tried to blot out those memories.


    ¡°Shit! Even though I''m going to see alot of blood in the future, to think just a little sent me into a frenzied mess!¡±


    A deep sense of hatred, embarrassment, and anger enveloped me. But those feelings were useless if nothing productive came out of it. After exhaling a long, slow breath, I decided on my course of action.


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    ¡°For now, I should train in my magic, it''s not good if I have memories of it, but no physical foundation, or training in my body for it. Since my body was made inactive for so long, and my soul finally became anew, I need to re-familiarize myself with the world.¡±


    I walked up the spiralling staircase into the entrance of the 8th floor. My master has made some of the floors as a training ground for harmonizing oneself with the elements. Unlike Wizards who primarily spend a vast amount of their time studying, us sages feel the laws of the material, and immaterial world with our bodies, and minds.


    My teacher sought to gain a deep understanding of the laws of fire, wind, earth, water, and spirit. While studying also has its merits, it is secondary to first hand experiences that us sages value. However that same precept causes the majority of the civilized world to look down on sages, because our training borders on self torture.


    I entered the empty room, that had runic carvings plastered all over the walls. A single elevated stone platform sat in the middle of the featureless room. I closed the metal door behind me, and went to sit on the platform. After crossing my legs, I emptied my mind, and allowed the mana to flow around my body from the centre of my being.


    Mana felt like a gentle warmth expanding in my body, I moved the mana towards my eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and exposed skin. By moving mana towards all my senses, I heighten them to become more sensitive, and alert. Mana has a multiplier affect towards physical characteristics of the host that it covers.


    For example, if mana was poured into a spider web, it could enhance several specific characteristics. A spider web can be sticky, soft, flexible, and depending on the creature that created it, hard. By manipulating the transferred mana into an object, I can multiply specific attributes of the web.


    The same theory can be applied to the human body.


    As I cleared my mind, a gentle tingling sensation could be felt in the room, drops of water slowly rained from the ceiling. The cool water brushed gently against my skin. Eventually the gentle summer rain turned into a thunderous rain storm, pounding against my body. I could sense a building pool of water growing larger, and larger.


    It reached my legs, then my arms, then up to my neck, eventually the entire room was filled with water, and I was locked in the platform I sat in. I could feel the oxygen leaving me, the cool embrace of water enveloping me, and the silent pressure weighing down on me threatening to crush me.


    My body eventually felt rigid, and I could feel the threat of death looming. The cool water, turned colder, and colder. At first my skin felt itchy, then numb, then the water felt like thick cold blocks that burned my skin with an icy cold flame.


    My body was frozen in Ice.


    I could feel my mind slowing down, my warm legs eventually turned into numb lead, my body rapidly shivered in futility trying to warm up, and flashes of pain extended all me. I could feel bit, by bit, inch by inch, that my body was slowly slowly dying.


    The elusive grasp of a bony hand mired by the stench of death reached out to me. As it''s bony hand was about to touch my soul, the ice turned to a thick mist, and the walls sucked up the mist, leaving the room completely empty.


    The lone figure in the room sat still for many hours like a frozen statue. Eventually the eyes wavered, revealing piercing red eyes.


    ¡°To be at the imperceptible border of life and death, is to finally know your true self, and the world around you. I don''t think I can ever get used to this, master.¡±


    Acacia weakly hobbled to the exit, the tiny cat sat patiently outside the door waiting for him, it began to rub against his leg.


    ¡°No need, I''m not gonna feel warm from something like that.¡±


    The cat eyed Acacia curiously.


    Acacia coughed irritably, he transferred the mana to his muscles, organs and bones. He then stared back at the cat.


    ¡°Can''t stop now, I still have to deal with the other elements.¡±


    ¡°Mew.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell are you calling a masochist!¡±


    Chapter 3


    The howling sounds of a dark wind blew violently next to my ears, in front of me was a large endless tunnel made of a vile wind. My body moved forward walking in the endless tunnel, the speck of light in the distance gradually faded.


    The time within the tunnel was long, and endless. How far should I walk? When Can I stop? Why am I still moving forward? As I slowly wandered into a continuously dark abyss, the sound of the violent wind stopped.


    I could hear whispers, and giggling. Try as I might, I could not hear what they were saying, or know where they are. I felt agitated. I wandered about, trying to reach the source of those noises. Gradually as I continued to walk forward, the noises became louder, and louder. The soft whispers became shrieks, and the odd sensation of something drawing closer to me became more apparent.


    ¡°Help me.¡±


    ¡°Save me¡±


    ¡°Kill me.¡±


    ¡°It hurts.¡±


    ¡°Where''s my mommy?¡±


    The loud voices, grew angrier, fiercer, more desperate, and more numerous. From my sight a ghostly light in the shape of a little girl floated towards me. As she moved towards me, her hair started to fall out, her skin grew flabby, and her form quickly melted. When the misshapen girl reached me it moved it''s mouth, and disappeared.


    Why only you?


    The image slowly melted away and the bright room came to view. A hollow and chilly sensation bombarded me, I quickly looked over my body. Black inky scars formed all over me, tendrils of black vines slowly tried to envelop me.


    A deep rage burned inside.


    ¡°Fuck off!¡±


    Pouring out all the mana from the centre of my body, I bombarded the invasive magic, wiping it away violently.


    Acacia stood up and stared at the room. In the centre were scorched tiles, and broken bits of cloth from his own black robe.


    He stared idly at the scorched scenr in the centre. He exhaled slowly, trying to calm his mind.


    ¡°So I was rejected?¡±


    In that room he had attempted to practice basic magics that he learned before, however the results were far from what he expected. He not only failed, but the resulting backlash knocked him unconscious. Acacia laid back down and thought deeply.


    The difference from the him before, and the him now was the soul merge. In order to tap information about the future, he would shed a part of his soul, and latch on to the future; clinging to a random person that met the conditions. However that practice would normally last one month to a year, time flows differently for a fragmented soul to a different branch of the future. It was an alternative form of training for the spirit, and studying the paths of the world to be.


    Normally the memories, feelings and experiences became vague once they reached the main body. Acacia did not know if it was the fault of the taint, or because of  the extended exposure to the future life times.


    His master had also done the same, and often, and the results should not be what Acacia experienced before. One day when his master performed the soul projection, he never returned. After many years, he eventually died in that chair his skeletal remains sat on.


    His master had raised him ever since he was little, but not as a son, but as a disciple, there was no love, but there was admiration. In order to discover what went wrong. Acacia made preparations to investigate the matter.


    After many protective measures were set in place, and years of preparing, he began the magic ceremony. He first shared the life of a  middle aged knight whom died in battle against the lich king. Normally he would have returned back to his body, but something prevented him from returning, constantly dragging him deeper, and deeper into the future; splitting his soul more, and more.


    What was supposed to be a single life, spanned generations, upon generations, eventually reaching a time where that thing officially gained power. Pretty soon the cycle ended, and he was trapped in the same time period as that thing. Forced to live for countless years, being tortured by that thing, and it''s minions.


    The sights, sound, smells, memories, and feelings were the strongest in this lifetime, and also the longest. However Acacia felt something strange happen, and his body was dragged back to the past, reliving all his deaths once again.


    ¡°The thing that changed from before I could use elemental magic, and now, was the taint my soul received from that thing.¡±


    A sudden thought entered his mind.


    ¡°However if that same thing happened to my master, did it affect all the other sages in this world as well?¡±


    Acacia stood back up, and marched to the library, on the 19th floor.


    The magic he primarily dabbled in were taught by his master. In short, it was elemental magic, and spirit magic. He had used a basic spell of each category, only to find each spell was a failure. From what he understood of magic there was one simple explanation.


    ¡°The world rejected my tainted soul.¡±


    From that understanding, Acacia isolated himself in the library. He only came out forage, wash, and relieve himself, in the blink on an eye, several months had passed.


    Summoning was a failure, necromancy failure, holy magic failure, dark magic failure, each, and every book he learned the most basic spell, and simple magics to test out, and they all failed. Along the way he suffered countless backlashes, and injuries.


    He even used the memories, and experiences of his future lives to no avail.


    ¡°The only thing I didn''t try is.....¡±


    The very last life he lived, before time stopped.


    He was a student at a magic institute in the year 2016, magic advanced to the point where civilized races lived in floating islands, while the land was dominated by the monsters, and beasts.


    Acacia back then was called Arcturus, and was also one of the students that attended a lecture by one of the leading magic researchers of their time. Through that course, two types of magics systems were introduced, and had yet to truly exist in the world.


    Acacia immediately got up, walked towards the the 20th floor, rummaged through a desk for a pen, and started to furiously jot down notes. Desperate to throw everything on his mind, to the paper in front of him.


    A few months passed, and Acacia turned eleven, and it was the year 1551 of the imperial calendar. Something as insignificant as a birthday for his first life was long forgotten, in order of simplicity he merely made the first day, of the first month, his birthday.


    During that period he merely observed the stars, and jotted down the planets, and celestial bodies. Other times he would desperately dig on his memories of Arcturus and jot down notes. Sometimes he would go through various books, stick a book mark in them then pile them up on his desk. Other times he would realize he was starving, and forage for food.


    On many occasions he would mumble to himself while sketching something, occasionally he would go  into coughing fits that lasted a few minutes. His hair grew long and unkempt, and his eyes grew more calm, and focused.


    The anger, and irritation at the beginning, was all poured into his work.


    Acacia mumbled to himself as he jotted down some notes.


    ¡°Arcturus born on the 11th month, under the celestial body of the blind dragon...¡±


    ¡°Helen born on the 10th month, under the celestial body of the water maiden...¡±


    Acacia mumbled constantly.


    On the 7th  day of the 6th month, Acacia walked towards the roof of the tower.


    He began to sweep away all the clutter, from the leaves, dirt, dust, abandoned birds nest, branches and insects. After a good hour of cleaning, he knelt down, and took out a thick ink brush, and freshly made paint. He started to draw on the roof of the black tower.


    He slowly, but surely drew out an incredibly intricate magic circle, occasionally placing runic symbols in specific areas. Sometimes he would draw on it, place a star somewhere and often times place a large out of place circle in a weird area of the magic circle. Then he would wait till it became night, and started to pour his internal mana into the magic circle.


    The magi circle would glow, and Acacia would meditate on top of the weird circle. After he was done, he would completely wipe away what he drew. The very next morning he would repeat the process but change the symbols, runes, the location, and size of the out of place circle.


    He repeated the process again, and again. After two weeks passed, Acacia drew the magic circle on the roof again, this time however he only drew the basic outline. In the centre of the circle he sat down, and concentrated. When the morning light dimmed, the blue sky turned dark, and finally when the stars decorated the skies, did Acacia finally mutter something under his breath.


    He looked deep into himself, a consciousness of pure black, slowly but surely gray outlines started to appear, and form shapes. At first it looked like indistinct sketches, but slowly the sketches became more defined, and the images felt more, and more real. Eventually a single grey circle slowly rotated, gaining rough contours, shapes, and colours; eventually forming into a single small blue planet.


    The activity spread throughout the darkness, and the images started to move. Planets, stars, meteors, and heavenly bodies started to interact, it was almost like a mini solar system. However everything was faded out, and grey, except the single blue planet.


    Acacia slowly opened his eyes, the magic circle underneath him mirrored the picture inside him, he slowly looked up at the night sky, and saw something very far away.


    He slowly felt inside his being, and for the first time ever, he wholeheartedly smiled. As he finally got up to stretch, a single white fur ball, stared at him.


    ¡°Mew.¡±


    ¡°As sorry, for ignoring you for so long.¡±


    The cat snuggled up to him and closed it''s eyes. Acacia smiled as he walked back in the tower.  He took a nice long shower, cut his hair, and changed his clothes.


    He went to the room he spent so long being absent from, and slept.


    The same torturous image came back to haunt him, the soul of the trapped begging for release, all of them looking for someone to blame, to pour their hatred, and despair on.


    The ghastly images of tortured souls desperately shot out their arms, trying to cling to him, but eventually being sucked into that unfathomable vortex.  A single frail hand stretched out to Acacia.


    ¡°Why only you.¡±


    Acacia thrust his hand out, and gripped it tightly.


    ¡°I''m sorry it''s only me, but.....¡±


    The little girl slowly started to dissolve.


    ¡°I''ll do something about it.¡±


    Before she disappeared, the little girl gently patted his arm, and disappeared. Acacia couldn''t see her face, but she formed a small, and barely noticeable smile.


    Notes:I am not making it a habit of doing combined chapters, I''m just re-uploading things I already did.

 Direction

    White mist that extends deep into the skies above, the angry howling of a fierce wind screaming into my ears, and a silver lake glowing in the barren icy landscape. The lake situated in the middle of an icy plain remained unfrozen, clouds of thick ice particles floated into the sky, and the surface remained pure, and dazzling.


    I can feel it, a pulse humming in the air, drawing me to the silver lake. It was calling me, welcoming me, and offering itself to me. I walked naked across the freezing ice, ignoring the numbness in my body, the cold needles piercing my skin, and dived in.


    My lungs drowned in freezing agony, my body was embraced in a sizzling cold, and I could feel my heart beat growing slower, and slower. Even as I move towards my death, I could not help but admire how beautiful that lake was. There in the centre of the lake I saw something, but as I tried to focus on it a terrible pain assaulted my astral body, and darkness enveloped me.


    The sound of water droplets hummed against my ears, my eyes opened to stare at the white ceiling above me. My body was covered in a thin layer of frost, as I tried to get up, my hands felt freezing cold liquid. The room was flooded by a stream of silver water, around 2mm high. Compared to the water I saw moments before, this form of silver looked dull, and drab.


    ¡°The purity is low, and I could only manifest a tiny portion of the lake.¡±


    I stood up and stared at the sparking water flowing on the floor. A deep biting cold caused my body to shiver violently, ice particles leaked from my breath. I noticed a chair in the corner of the room, with a simple hand gesture, a small orb of water floated next to my finger tips, using my index finger I pointed towards the chair.


    The silver bullet shot out and splashed against the chair, knocking it down, and leaving permafrost where the collision happened. The bullet did not melt back into water, and leak to the ground like what one would normally expect; it simply disappeared. Acacia brought another water ball to his fingers, this time he poured concentrated internal mana from his body into it. Once again the bullet shot out, a loud crack sounded as splinters of wood danced in the air, and an icy hole formed on the chair.


    If mana was concentrated into a materialized form of magic, the density raises, if the magic happened to be a projectile, the damage output would be increased. Acacia repeated the process again, this time the bullet fired at a blinding speed, hitting the chair again. By applying mana into the acceleration, the base speed of the spell increases.


    Acacia put back the chair a little to his side, once again he prepared a water ball, this time he was to the left of the chair, he poured mana into the water ball again and pointed forward. The water ball accelerated but curved left and hit the chair again. By applying mana to the left side of the manifested projectile, it changed direction leftward.


    The same experiment was applied again and again, the water ball would be formed quicker but result in less damage, and sometimes it would form into an edged shape, piercing the chair before disappearing. All spells had specific properties to them, manipulating those properties were the sign of an experienced magic user, how well they do it will depend on talent. The more defined, and the more characteristics strengthened, the more the mana was drained.


    Two people could use the same spell, however the speed, effect, shape, power, and movement would differ according to talent, ability, and concentration.


    Acacia walked to the chair and exhaled loudly, a breath of white mist froze the chair underneath him. It caused his body to finally warm up, he poured mana into his lungs, and arteries to reinforce his organs. Slowly but surely he shifted mana to different body parts to strengthen them, and combat the frost invading him internally.


    Acacia coughed loudly, after a few minutes he calmed down. The silver water had already receded over time, leaving the room empty, and dry, as if the water never existed in the first place, and never belonged to this world to begin with. His body that should have been soaked was completely dry.


    Acacia picked up the robe that had several tears in it, and put it back on. At the moment he resembled a a beggar,


    He quickly exited the room, and went to the 18th floor. As soon as he pushed open the door, he was greeted by the smell of grease, and metal. Shelves of tools, weapons, and trinkets lay stacked all over the room. It was the store room for master''s storehouse, and collections. He walked past many of the tools, and stopped in front of a long black staff, that seemed to suck in all light.


    Elegant red runes were carved deeply across it, and the staff hummed gently as Acacia grabbed it.


    ¡°Master''s prided staff, for my selfish goals I will be using your personal items, forgive me master.¡±


    Gripping the staff firmly, he walked to the general training area on the 10th floor.


    Loud thuds echoed in the solitary floor, however after several minutes the sound of the staff clattering on the floor could be heard. Acacia was coughing violently, as droplets of blood leaked from his mouth, and unto the floor.


    Acacia stared absent minded at the blood, he furiously shook his head, and exhaled slowly, his pearly white teeth was dyed a crimson red, as he swallowed his frustrations.


    ¡°It seems I can only last around ten minutes under physically harsh conditions. The taint is affecting me in more ways then I expected.¡±


    There was no point in having combat knowledge of his other selves, but not being able to perform them physically. From a pragmatic standpoint he could not rely solely on magic, and needed to expand his skill set, however his tainted health was a major problem.


    Acacia glared silently at the staff.


    ¡°No I still need to do it, at the very least I need my muscles to remember the stances, and movements.¡±


    Due to constantly coughing up bits of blood, Acacia could only limit the physical training of the staff techniques for a few minutes every hour, sometimes he would push too far, and end up coughing out blood.


    Over the course of two weeks, aside from magic, and physical training, and reading books, and notes left behind by his master.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    After spending so long cooped up in the tower, did he finally begin walking out side. This time he wore new clothes made of black leather, a back pack, and his staff.


    He stared at the bright sky, and mumbled to himself.


    ¡°Let''s see how much has changed in this area.¡±


    Acacia had never wandered very far, only enough to collect food to last him the day, he ate berries, leaves, plants, flowers and mushrooms. While the option of hunting animals existed, he could no longer stomach meat, after what he experienced at the end of time.


    The trees towered mightily in the sky, but still not as obscenely tall as the black tower, the leaves were a vibrant green, and the weather was fairly warm. Acacia wandered in circles, occasionally carving a sign on a tree, sometime he would take out an empty notebook, and write something down, and other times he would draw out a rough map.


    The goal was to simply survey the region, and the process was meticulous.


    ¡°The forest grew a lot farther, and more dense than I expected.¡±


    At the moment Acacia concentrated mana in his ears, and eyes; trying to detect the slightest of movements. The farther he went from the tower, the more he detected signs of life. Some claw marks on the trees, grass bent in unusual ways, and tiny footprints.


    ¡°Judging from the uneven depth of the foot print the creature was likely carrying something, from the size of the print, the creature should possibly be around 4-5 feet tall. Judging by all the different types of prints, it was travelling in a group, roughly ten in that party.¡±


    Acacia slowly followed the trail, marked a tree, and looked for signs of life.


    Break


    The creature had an earthy green skin, brown coloured coloured hair, large roundish heads, and big floppy ears, in a way they were oddly funny looking more than anything else.. They were about five feet tall, and had scrawny bodies, with some muscle. They wore pelts, and carried primitive weapons made from wood, bone, and stones.


    Several deformed, and poorly built mud huts littered the small valley next to the forest, a quick estimate showed the village to have over one hundred members.


    Right now Acacia was overlooking the village from afar on top of a tree, using a telescope.


    ¡°Looks like a subspecies of gremlins.¡±


    A small smile formed on Acacia''s lips.


    ¡°How lucky of me, they also have opposable thumbs.¡±


    Throughout the day Acacia merely observed the small village, and jot down notes. When it turned evening he would leave, and come back the next day. The same process repeated itself for a few weeks.


    He watched them hunt animals, grab fruits, and dig for plants.


    On one sunny day Acacia grumbled lightly as he recited his notes.


    ¡°Primitive society, omnivorous, slightly cowardly and follows idolatry, constantly worshiping a statue in the center of a village. Their tools constantly break, their hunting methods are clumsy, and they have a large cowardly racial trait inside them. Often running from aggressive prey they could have killed.¡±


    Acacia pondered for a Moment on their cousins. Their cousins were smaller, social, and had an affinity for construction. But due to their weak nature, they were easily dominated, and made into a slave race by others.


    In 1555 of the imperial calendar, the archbishop of Thasis for unknown reasons declared the gremlins were an affront to god, starting the gremlin genocide. In the year 1600, the last known gremlin breathed it''s last breath, officially signaling the extinction of the race from this world. Apparently during the genocide a new slave race was promoted. Rumors say the new business dealings had financial connections to the church.


    ¡°However, I never read about a gremlin subspecies before in the racial encyclopedia, guess even after all the years of advancement, our knowledge is still incomplete.¡±


    A low sigh escaped his lips, there was no point thinking too far in the future, first he had to build a foundation, he stared idly at the village silently before he decided to act.


    --------------


    The sky was dark, and the looming trees caused the forest to become an impenetrable shadow. A small green figure walked clumsily across the night, with his spear in hand. In front of him was a young deer, occupied with drinking water from a stream. A silent rustle was heard, a small sound was made, and a body collapsed on the ground.


    Acacia stared idly at the collapsed humanoid, next to it''s head was a small shattered vial releasing purple gas. It was a mix of wulberry, catonic ivy, and other ingredients that made it a vial filled with paralytic gas. Acacia waited for the gas to subside before walking up to the body, and slowly flipped it over.


    The paralyzed creature eyed Acacia in fright.


    ¡°You''re about as big as I am, pretty heavy.¡±


    He bent down to the creature. and smiled, he pointed his index finger, and touched it''s forehead.


    ¡°Don''t worry I won''t kill you, you''re too precious for me to kill.¡±


    Acacia said so in a gentle, and calming tone.


    ¡°Be glad, you''ll be the first to help me with my goals, and.....¡±


    A strange smile crept into his childlike face.


    In a far off area, a giant white mountain stands proudly amidst an ancient forest, occasionally brown feathers fall from the skies above.


    A deep dark ancient swamp with towering trees, sunken land, and gigantic traces of clawed foot prints embedded deeply into the soil.


    In a massive valley hidden from light, and shrouded in mist, thousands of thundering foot steps echoed throughout the valley.


    In a barren land large holes littered the dry soil, from the darkness within, sharp piercing gazes could be seen.


    On the massive emerald lakes, and clear streams, a slow hiss echoed from the waters, as hundreds of shadow skittered across the shallow depths.


    Acacia''s eyes glowed a brilliant red.


    ¡°I''ll have everyone do their part, whether they want to, or not.¡±

 As expected

    Dull murmurs echoed in the dark world without light.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°.........¡±


    ¡°Can you understand me?¡±


    ¡°.......¡±


    The small unintelligible murmurs started to grow with clarity.


    [Can you hear me now?]


    [.... Who are you?]


    [Someone interested in you.]


    [What have you done to me? Why can I not see anything but darkness?]


    [I borrowed you, and the reason you can''t see anything is because your eyes are closed.]


    [....]


    [No matter how much you struggle you won''t be able to open your eyes, just focus on the conversation with me. I''ll free you from this soon enough.]


    [Are you a magic user!]


    [In a way, yes.]


    [What do you want from me!]


    [Your desires.]


    [What!]


    [What does your kind long for? For what purpose do you exist?]


    [To serve our guardian deity.]


    [And what do you ask of this deity?]


    [Are you mocking us?]


    [Just answer the question.]


    [Survival.]


    [Survival? Do you lack food? Do you lack safety? Or does your kind seek something more?]


    [Our people are weak, our kind is prone to disease, and we die everyday hunting for scraps of food. Our numbers drop by the day. Our ancestors were enslaved, and those that escaped were driven off our native home land. We know very well that we are all a dying race.]


    [Has that deity answered your wishes?]


    [Do you seek to humiliate us?]


    [It''s a simple question.]


    [..........]


    [Silence is also an answer.]


    [......]


    [Power, do you want it?]


    [What?]


    [I''m saying if you follow me instead of your god, I''ll offer you power.]


    [Why me? What proof do you have that you can change our lives?]


    [Whether I can or not, will come out eventually, right now I want an answer. Do you, or do you not want power to change your lives?]


    [I do!]


    [Heh, talking to your soul really makes any creature more honest.]


    A brilliant flash of light drowned out the darkness, as I opened my eyes a young human child was staring at me with his domineering aura, and mature eyes that did not belong to a human child.


    Two days later.


    Acacia stared at the bumbling gremlin sub-species. After the soul communication, Acacia fed, and properly clothed the creature. He could not verbally communicate with it due to the different language used. Therefore he forcefully communicated with it''s soul where the language can be converted into something beyond language, that resonated with the souls in order to form a median understanding.


    A form of soul magic that Acacia could not actively cast, but can do so manually by drawing magic circles on the ground, and placing his body on one of the two relays to communicate. The creature grunted, and made chattering sounds.


    Acacia communicated with him, using the soul bond they now share.


    [Come with me, I''ll be teaching you the finer points of alchemy, and basic magic.]


    For several months, Acacia spartan drilled the floppish creature into what plants to pick, what to be wary of, and how to mix ingredients. He brought the creature into learning magic the way sages follow. However he found the creature incredibly cowardly, and prone to run away from danger. It was only after a few threats did it break down, and endure. Occasionally he would teach Grimlok how to use a knife defensively.


    During this period the emotions in Acacia slowly came to a compromise, and his mood grew more tolerant, and mature. His emotions did not reflect his age, but the calm unity of his soul.


    Right now Acacia was monitoring the creature sitting down in meditation, in the room of fire.


    ¡°Unexpectedly your kind has some affinity with this element.¡±


    A few more months have passed, and the creature was now dubbed by Acacia as a senior alchemist, and it was given a name called Grimlok. He now wore leather armor, a veil to cover his face, goggles given by Acacia, and belts strapped all over his body. He was carrying a wooden casket filled with herbs, and mixtures filled in cheap metal canisters decorated his body. On his waist were a few small knives, used as defensive measures, and could be thrown.


    Grimlok walked to where one of the wolves lay, and hurled a canister at it. The canister leaked out a thick gas, that caused the wolf to drop to the ground twitching.


    Acacia smiled at the sight, and told Grimlok.


    [Showcase what you learned from me, towards your kin, tell them the same message I told you. But if you in anyway betray that trust..]


    Silver streams leaked from Acacia''s feet, eventually forming a large shallow lake of silver, that emitted a chilling mist.


    Grimlok shivered uncontrollably at the ghostly silver lake surrounding him.


    [O-of course.]


    [I''ll give you a week.]


    Acacia no longer worried about Grimlok as the figure disappeared in the distance, while making his way back to the tower, he sensed a strange malleable something in the atmosphere. As he walked in the tower he saw flecks of black snow floating in the air, the animals residing on the first floor were covered with strange black patches, and lay dead on the floor.


    With a small glare, a magic circle formed beneath his feat, and the image of a silver lake formed. The lake was ethereal, and did not touch physical objects, it resembled a ghost. But the cold mist that floated out started to freeze the black flecks, and turn them into ice particles. Small pieces of icy hail fell down on the floor.


    When he went up to the second floor, the colony of pixies staying in that room were all collapsed, and covered in that black substance. Once again Acacia repeated the process of cleansing the room.


    ¡°Black death disease spawned by the western region''s undead necropolis ruled by the lich king, to think it came so soon, heh..... Heheh..... HAHAHAHA!¡±


    Acacia walked up to the pixies, they were around two feet tall, had pointy ears, small bluish butterfly wings, and were fairly androgynous, while some developed female traits, others developed male traits, even though they reproduced asexually. They looked like short elves, with wings attached to them in a way.


    He walked up to the lead pixie slightly larger than the rest. During their stay in the same tower, they had pretty much ignored one another, aside from some playful pixies interacting with him. There was a wordless agreement to tolerate each other.


    He didn''t perform the soul connection like he did with the gremlin sub species, pixies could understand human language, and had an interesting racial trait in which they could communicate telepathically with all species.


    [H-human boy....]


    [What happened pixie queen?]


    [Human boy, is that you? My eyes cannot see very well anymore...]


    [Yes, It''s me]


    [A strange disease has spread through the forest, and infected my kind, I cannot suppress the decay. Can you please help us?]


    [Sadly your kind seems especially weak to this disease, I am afraid I cannot save them.]


    [Is that so........]


    Acacia watched small tears leaked from her emerald eyes, as she covered in black patches scarring her face, and wings.


    [Human you should leave, it might infect you too.]


    Acacia merely ignored the warning, and continued a different train of thought.


    [I can''t save your entire colony, but I can still help you. If you survive, then your colony can be rebuilt.]


    [Please...]


    [But if I were to do this, I wish you will lend me your aid for my future.]


    The pixie queen coughed violently.


    [Anything...]


    [The verbal contract is accepted.]


    Acacia started to draw two large magic circles, with runic symbols that related to the body, and the image of a pixie was carefully drawn out, as well as a list of characteristics on the magic circle. It resembled a pixie spreading out her limbs in a pentagram, with many variable listed on the edges.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Acacia carried the pixie queen to one very complex magic circle, and the rest of her kind on the other.


    [Pixie queen, what type of magic does your kind specialize in?]


    [ ...... Light magic.]


    Acacia left the room, and climbed hurriedly to the warehouse. There were many types of elixirs, materials, and preserved body parts of mysterious origins. These were the   legacies left from his master.


    He grabbed a few bottles, and made his way back into the second floor.


    He placed specific items, on specific parts of the magic circle. Near the area the represented the soul he placed an item called the holy amber, a condensed crystal of syrup spawned from the holy tree in a far off Island.


    Near the wings he placed an item call monarch dust, said to belong to an immortal butterfly that caused whirlwinds with each flap, and released strange golden spores. Near the body he placed a skull, said to have belonged to a a distant cousin of the pixie called a black kin pixie.


    [Pixie queen, I will start.]


    Acacia slow poured his mana into the idle magic circle, the pile of pixies started melt away into particles of light, the pixie queen, turned into a giant ball of light, absorbing the other smaller lights. One by one the items that Acacia placed on the magic circle disappeared.


    Now a large ball of light, with a mixture of gold, black, and blue colours swirled around in a vortex. Acacia remained perfectly still with his eyes closed, as he slowly poured in his mana.


    The process lasted a good hour, Acacia coughed violently throughout the process, and blood leaked from his lips. Finally when it was over he collapsed on the floor, and concentrated on suppressing the black scars tearing open in his body.


    After a long struggle Acacia got back up, and watched over the large ball of light, after awhile the ball exploded, and a figure flew out.


    The pixie in front of him was now about five feet tall, she had four large butterfly wings coloured in black, and gold. Specks of gold light leaked from every flap of her wings, and a crown of black light floated above her head. Her hair still remained a deep red, but traces of black could be seen. Her child like looks, now looked more mature, and exotically beautiful, and her emerald eyes, had a hint of darkness to them. She now wore an elegant dress made of red, and green petals.


    [My apologies pixie queen, it seems the dark attributes of you cousin, overpowered your light attributes.]


    [I do not know how you did it, but thank you for saving me, and my kind. As for the contract, I will promise to aid you in whatever you desire.]


    [What I desire leads to war, will you be fine with that.]


    [As long as I am alive, I can restore my kind, what you desire no longer worries me.]


    [Thank you.]


    Acacia remembered in one of his lives as a monster researcher, alot of the current species were offspring of more powerful primal species, that diverged into separate weaker branches due to hybrid breeding, and less hostile environments. Hidden in those genes lies ancient bloodlines of mythical creatures. It could be said the missing genes, could be found in other similar creatures to compensate. If one were to theoretically combine the two relateable species, a new species would potentially be born.


    [Pixie queen, your kind are no longer simple pixies, it is best I give you, and your kind a new name.]


    Strands of light flew from the pixie queen''s wings, and attached themselves to Acacia. Acacia lifted an eyebrow.


    [You want to form a magical contract with me?]


    [Please accept it.]


    [I gratefully accept, I hereby name your kind black light pixies, and I will grant you the name, matriarch Lumina.]


    [Thank you master.]


    Immediately later, she began to spread pollen with her wings to the soil, and started to cast magic on each seed that was magically formed by her pollen.


    [How long do you expect them to grow to maturity?]


    [My instincts tell me a month.]


    [Is there a way to speed up the process?]


    [If we manage to get better soil nutrients, more condensed mana, healthy seeds to cultivate into flowers, or if I personally had more magical power, the process can speed up.]


    [Roughly how many of your kind can be born?]


    [My current limit is ten a week.]


    [I see, thank you.]


    [It is my pleasure, master.]


    Acacia stumbled away with his exhausted body as he calculated the growth rate of the black light pixies. If he wanted a higher growth rate he would need to choose a larger, healthier, and more mana dense area compared to his tower. He would also need to increase Lumina''s strength as well.


    While leaning against a wall, a telepathic message reached him.


    [Tree it is I Grimlok.]


    The term Acacia did not exist in Grimlok''s vocabulary, so he was called Tree by Grimlok. The reason the sentence structure was legible was because the words translated into the soul auto-corrects itself to the hosts understanding.


    [It is terrible! A strange disease has spread to my village, it is said to have reached many other distant tribes, and villages!]


    Grimlok rushed in the tower, followed by his kin, among them he could see one dressed fairly well, for a gremlin sub-species anyways. They all talked to each other in what could be described as nails to a chalkboard. Grimlok relayed the message.


    [Please help us Tree, we will follow your desires, just save our families!]


    Unlike the pixies, the gremlin sub-species were not as vulnerable to the undead disease, but over time they will definitely feel the effects, right now they should feel weaker, and duller. The cure was either a powerful resistance inborn to a race, powerful magic resistance, or a set of herbal mixtures that killed the early symptoms caused by the black death.


    [Grimlok, gather all the chieftains of all the villages to meet with me, if they offer themselves to me I will help them. Know that once you all form a magic contract with me, your lives will be tied to mine.]


    [But if we don''t cure it now...]


    [Nice try, but the symptoms are only the early stages. Only animals, and  magical creatures are affected instantly, the lives of your kin are not in immediate danger.]


    [But how do we know you can even cure it?]


    Acacia glanced at the ten sub-species in his room.


    [Have those in this room right now form a contract with me, I will cure them first.]


    The creatures talked among themselves, but finally came to a decision.


    [Tree, we accept.]


    Acacia sent a communication to Lumina who was nearby, she rushed into the room releasing specks of light that covered the creatures. Only Grimlok seemed unaffected since his face was covered.


    [Ooops, I am sorry master, my pollen accidentally paralyzed them.]


    Acacia couldn''t tell if it was an accident or not, but did not care. He had Lumina form a magic contract for him. Then brought out an elixir of his own making, and forcibly had the creatures swallow it. The effects were instantaneous, and the black patches covering their skin disappeared.


    He stood in front of the gremlin sub-species.


    [Well for now I''ll have you follow my orders. Take off your clothes, and take a shower, you guys stink.]


    Later that day, Grimlok had left as a messenger for the other villages. Meanwhile, nine of his kind were now dressed in similar brown uniform. Their nose, and mouths were covered in a black cloth soaked in a type of liquid, covering their face like a veil. They each had a small casket made of wood on their backs.


    [Well before Grimlok comes back, I''ll teach you simple alchemy, and methods for choosing, and collecting plants.]


    A wicked smile formed on Acacia''s face.


    [You guys will no longer call yourselves anything else but alchemists, I hope you are ready to devote your entire lives to this.]


    The new alchemists gulped in anxiety.

 Foundation

    Over a week had passed since Grimlok left, and now Acacia was standing in front of ten gremlin subspecies in various different clothing, and markings. He expected their to be some sparsely scattered villages, but this slightly exceeded his expectations. Grimlok slowly walked next to Acacia, and made a report.


    [Tree, these were the chieftains I found willing to listen.]


    [Did you tell them my message?]


    [Yes, however many remains unconvinced, and some of the ones that refused are even considering hostile actions to forcibly take the cure.]


    [Heh, how lucky.]


    [Lucky?]


    [Just sit back, and watch.]


    Acacia stared at the black tower.


    [Lumina, I need your assistance.]


    [As you wish master.]


    In moments a black, and gold blur rushed from the tower, floating beside Acacia, her appearance startled many of the chieftains, causing some to stumble. Acacia clicked his tongue at their show of cowardice.


    Lumina nodded, and quickly flew around the group, the pollen from her wings flew to the ground, and formed a simple magic circle.


    [Greetings chieftains, my name is called Acacia, since you no doubt heard the message from my servant, I will keep my words brief. In return for me curing your clans, I want your people to lend me their powers. Naturally aside from getting rid of the black death disease, I will also provide you with many benefits to be discussed in the future. Are there any questions?]


    [How can we believe you?]


    [Isn''t it possible you were the one that started the disease?]


    [Hey he''s just a kid, if we gang up on him....]


    [This is just a plot to enslave us, like all humans do!]


    [What kind of stupid name is Tree?]


    As the chieftains continued to voice discontent, Acacia turned his eyes to a clearing where over thirty armed gremlin subspecies were coming. They were armed with primitive spears made from rocks, and wood. They came forward in a disordered, and amateurish fashion. The leader of the group was slightly larger, and wore a black fur cap with a rusted sword.


    The creature in the lead shouted loudly, and made various declarations that threw the chieftains in a frenzy, but since he was not linked to the communication magic; Acacia could only vaguely guess the intent.


    Grimlok turned to Acacia.


    [That one is the chieftain of one of the villages that refused, he leads one of the five great clans called the black root gnawers. Right now he is threatening to take your head, if you do not hand over the cure.]


    Gold, and black light were already gathering in Lumina''s fingertips, as she stared at the direction of the hostile force, her face remained casual, and impassive. Acacia smiled at how composed she is. Was this because of her age? Her new found power? Or was it simply a racial characteristic?


    [Lumina stand down, this is the perfect opportunity for me to handle.]


    For a primitive society, the easiest form of domination was to show overwhelming power. Acacia just walked towards the new hostile force casually, and with confidence. This was not meant to be a duel, war, or fight, it was meant to be a stage for a grand play, meant to bring him into the spotlight, with the other chieftains as the audience, and the antagonist as the willing sacrifice.


    The hostile chieftain looked visibly shaken but continued to shriek, and chatter something incomprehensible to Acacia. The silver lake slowly formed underneath him, the ghostly liquid started to push forward, while also wrapping around Acacia''s legs, arms, and hands.


    The liquid looked more like an transparent ghostly image, rather than something with physical substance.


    With a loud shriek the attackers rushed forward.


    ¡°Primitive, no hint of formation, or strategy, and the weapons are a joke.¡±


    Acacia lifted up his palm. A geyser of water burst form the ground, and rushed into the air, sending several flying. On Acacia''s fingertips five orbs of water, the balls of water formed spikes, and quickly froze over into ice, as the geyser ended, the bodies were about to drop to their deaths. He smiled as he swiped his hand, sending the spikes of ice, flying through the air, impaling each body, as they smashed into the floor, leaking dark blood from their broken bodies, and forming a small pool of thick, red liquid.


    Acacia continued walking forward to meet the charge, the next one he met was immediately impaled by a pillar of newly frozen water, that tore a fist sized hole into it''s belly. Acacia formed a fist towards the impaled corpse, the water surged around the corpse forming a ball, and flung itself into another group.


    Spears flew through the air, but the water on flowing on Acacia''s skins started to bubble, and shoot water bullets to intercept the spears, breaking the cheaply made projectiles, and knocking them away.


    All around Acacia spikes of sharpened ice started to dance around him, impaling everything that got within a certain radius, sending red blood flying in the air. The blood frozen by the water''s mist made it seem like rubies were raining from the sky, and dancing around him.


    Acacia twitched at seeing the blood but continued to maintain a smile, albeit a very stiff one. Each attack caused the silver lake to shrink, eventually the lake formed a small puddle, and in that puddle a large carnivorous face resembling a wolf was formed.


    Acacia flung his hands forward, the large wolf head made of water, flew from the remaining silver water leaving a trail of ice particles, and dived into the black root gnawer chieftain, and his guards. They screeched, and shouted in alarm, as the giant wolf opened it''s jaws to swallow them whole, and caused an explosion of frozen mist, and water.


    Moments later when the mist subsided, statues made of ice were the only thing left, and the silver water disappeared.


    ¡°Disappointing, I was going easy on you just to see what you could do, but this really is disappointing.¡±


    Acacia truly wanted to test the limits of his would be followers, but this truly was below average.


    ¡°At the very least you guys saved me the trouble of threatening the other chieftains.¡±


    Acacia looked at the fear, and surprisingly awe in some of their eyes. Needless to say the conversation later went smoothly. In the brief meeting he went over what he could do for them, and that they would see the results in the long run.


    He, and Lumina would later spend two weeks visiting all of the villages, and forming contracts. During that period he would take volunteers from several villages to help collect edible plants, and be briefly taught by Grimlok.


    One week later, Acacia successfully created enough elixirs to cure the villages, those who became alchemists were taught 90% of the cure, but only Acacia knew the final piece. For the moment even though the villages were already under Acacia''s control, nothing dramatic changed, and no new rules were provided.


    He was currently staring at a large list, while frowning, and Lumina was floating next to him while looking over the paper.


    [Lumina, how is your colony coming along?]


    She smiled, as if beaming in pride.


    [Thirty seven flowers blossomed, ten of them should reach maturity soon.]


    [ So around three failed to bloom huh?]


    [Yes, sadly they were premature, it may take longer for them, not all the children will grow according to plans.]


    [Well at least that''s some good new, but the Grems are a problem.]


    [Grems?]


    [Honestly those guys don''t have an official name so I just gave them one, they call themselves grakalifusan which is a not something I want to use.]


    [So what is the problem with the Grems?]


    [Everything.]


    [What do you meant by that?]


    Acacia started to go down the list of cons. They had a primitive society, cowardly social traits, lack of commitment, and concentration. Did not have a concept of math, or cohesive written language. Did not have farming methods, do not have the concept smithing, the wheel, animal domestication, or even literature.


    Their methods are crude, their discipline is lacking, their thoughts are narrow, and they lack curiosity, and drive.


    What he wanted aren''t mindless dolls to act like zombies, or primitive animals, but moving, thinking, and constantly evolving servants seeking to push the limits, and conquer the unknown. How on earth could they compete with the angels, devils, adventurers, wizards, templars, and whatever else in the world.


    Thankfully Lumina, and hopefully her children have high intelligence, and learning capacity, so they could master concepts easier. He would have to thoroughly train Grimlok, and have him instruct the other grems.


    ¡°No, I''m thinking too far ahead.¡±


    [Grimlok.]


    [Yes, Tree.]


    [Call me master.]


    [.... Master..]


    [How many of your kind is not under my control?]


    [The villages living in the northern region where the disease did not reach them, and also where the five great clans reside. Of the ones that attacked before, only a small portion of the black root gnawers were infected. So they were not too pressed for a cure.''


    With a tired nod, Acacia walked towards the second floor where large flowers were in bloom, that were over one feet tall. They had green inner, and red outer petals, and on the centre of the blooming flower, gold, and black light danced.


    Lumina was flying over the three flowers that were still closed, and was paying more attention to them. Her wings were constantly sending bursts of wind around the room. It would have been better to place them in a space where the sun''s ray could reach them, but there was a concern for security. Therefore they relied on the mirrors located around the tower, to refract light into the second floor.


    [Lumina, can I have you deliver a message?]


    She stopped what she was doing, and floated next to Acacia.


    [Deliver a message to all the Grems'' villages under my control to send forth five of the brightest people from their respective villages, and five of the most hard working. Tell them the deals I made before, I plans to put them into action. Can you make the journey?]


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    [I''ve honestly never tested the limits of my endurance, but I feel it should be doable with this current body.]


    In mere moment she flew out of the tower in a blur. From what Acacia surmised, while her wings allowed for fast acceleration, it did not allow her to reach high altitudes.


    [Wait for the good news master.]


    Later in the day, nine tired looking grems alchemists lay, Grimlok the leader of the bunch was now adopting Acacia''s methods, and drilling information into their tired bodies. Acacia was meanwhile observing the inventory left in the tower.


    ¡°Dust of the lesser fire elemental, scales of the land wyrm, feathers of the gold roc....¡±


    A light fluttering sound interrupted his inventory counting. Lumina was now right next to him.


    [Master, they will be here in about a week.]


    [Thank you.]


    [No, it was an honor.]


    In a weeks time one hundred grems from the ten villages under his control showed up. Fifty of them would be trained in magic like Grimlok had been, but they will be focusing on it as a specialty. In the mean time they were to make their homes in the fifth floor. The black tower was originally made to resemble an academy for like minded students, and sages, so a few hundred was not an issue.


    Lumina who was familiar with magic to begin with, was asked to to go over theories, and experiences in magic, for the sages in training. The other half was led by Acacia himself, they were all parked in the third floor, as they would be going outside fairly often.


    There were many, many, things Acacia needed to accomplish, but not enough resources. So barring all the complex things, he focused on more simpler matters. Dealing with the grems more basic problems, like food, and security.


    In front of the fifty grems he placed several items on the ground.


    [This is a hoe, these are seeds, and this is a picture diagram.]


    Slowly but surely began his long lecture on farming methods, soil nutrients, types of seeds, and how to assemble simple tools. He led them on trips outside to look at the soil, sources of water, and good spots to plant for specific foods typical to the region. These lectures lasted months. During the process he told them how to scavenge for food, eat bark, and edible plants. He showed them the usefulness of the wheel, and planning ahead.


    When the lecture ended he had them return to teach their villages, and brought in their hunters. There he taught lessons regarding pit fall traps, rope traps, proper hunting methods, usage of nets, and conservative hunting to ensure future reproduction of food. He taught them on how to domesticate animals to help with hunting like hawks, and wolves. Then used the humans as examples on what they have accomplished.


    Then he showed them how to move silently, and efficiently in order to stalk prey. Acacia taught them to always use up every single part of the animal they hunt down, from the bones, to the fur, to even their blood, and organs.


    Lumina had taught her students magic concepts related to theory, concept, and utility. The existence of other types of magics available, the existence of foreign gods, and the utilization of mana.


    Acacia also taught the ten alchemists more information on herbs, plants usage, recognizing diseases, poison, and proper handling methods. He would sometimes go into theory, and force them to join the lectures with the sages in training. He also imposed a ''game'' where he would split them into teams to answer test questions, the losing team would be forced into manual labour to scavenge food for the winning team.


    Of all the groups, the alchemists, and sages were taught the longest, and most thoroughly.


    He taught them the concept of math, written language, and the benefits from it. A majority of their lessons were related to their specific fields, but Acacia, crammed every extra piece of information into them when possible. He especially drilled them on the concept of philosophy. Occasionally he would find chances to force discipline into them by giving them chores, tasks, and goals to achieve within a time limit.


    Well over a year had passed, and Acacia was now twelve years old.


    The grems students went from fur clad, and dirty, to clean, and wore fresh robes taken from all the left overs in the tower. During a lecture on gravity, a grems raised his hand.


    [Master, why should we care if an apple falls from the tree?]


    [Let me ask you this, why is it that the apple doesn''t remain still?]


    [Isn''t it obvious, that''s just how it is!]


    [Can you explain why though?]


    [Eh, what''s the point?]


    [Why do you exist? For what purpose do you live? Why can you speak? Why do you have eyes? Why do you have two hands? Why is the sky blue? Why is my skin pale? Why do you need food?]


    [Eh, umm.. Er?]


    [Asking questions is a fundamental part of life! To stop asking questions is to stop being aware! You might as well be dead!]


    The grems students were all shocked into silence.


    The students all clasped their hands, and bowed.


    [Yes, great master!]


    One month later the ten direct students have been selected, and the forty were now standing outside the tower waiting for Acacia''s departing speech.


    [We have been together for over a year now, you have endured harsh training, rigorous lessons, and barely took any breaks. You have learned much, but know you are still lacking, as there is so much more in this world to learn. Never stop learning, and moving forward. Every obstacle is not there to get in your way, but there for you to overcome, and be that much stronger! Use that knowledge to lead your kind into the future, and for the prosperity that is your birth right!]


    A loud clear message reverberated in his mind.


    [Yes, master!]


    [Continue to learn, and continue to advance in your magic, the goal, and ambition we hold is not something so simple as to be confined in a mere village. One day I will need you to come back, and for you to answer my call. Sharpen your minds, and skills, until that fated time of our reunion!]


    [Yes, master!]


    [Good! You may leave! But remember, I will be keep tabs on you, so if you go astray, realize there will be consequences!]


    [Yes, master!]


    With a single unified screech the robed grems left for their respective villages, to bring enlightenment to their kind.


    Acacia turned his back, and entered the black tower, when he reached the 2nd floor he noticed it being filled entirely with black Light pixies, unlike Lumina they were only 3 feet tall, and sported child like looks compared to their matriarch.


    [Lumina.]


    [Yes master?]


    [I think it''s time to claim territory for your kind, or else their growth would be limited, and this place would be crowded.


    [Yes, I have already considered that master, I found a large valley surrounded by mountains, shall we inspect it together?]


    [Later.]


    [As you wish.]


    He turned to Grimlok.


    [How is the news with the northern tribes?]


    [It''s as expected, seeing the resurgence of the southern villages, and their expanding culture, a lot of defectors from the north are showing up, and moving into southern villages. It would not be surprising for the great clans to act.]


    Acacia turned his head to stare at a black light pixie in the corner, he motioned for her to come.


    The pixie wore something resembling a satchel, and a cap. He had formed a small communication network of black light pixies that delivered mails, and messages. Unlike the previous pixies, the black light pixies had larger wings, and could fly faster.


    [Go to break jaw village, and inform that chieftain to deliver any emergency messages related to the northern tribes, to me.]


    The pixie nodded, and immediately flew away.


    He turned to Lumina.


    [How is your kind doing in relation with combat?]


    [As a pixie we do not have aggressive tendencies, but after becoming a black light pixie, the concept of battle no longer frightens us, if anything, we are strangely excited.]


    [Hmm so the fusion process changed your psyches abit, I guess that came from the devil kin genes.]


    Acacia murmured gently.


    ¡°I need a favor.¡±


    ¡°Mew?¡±


    Later that week, all the northern chieftains of the great clans were found murdered in their homes, as well as their families, sowing chaos in the north, and infighting broke out to fill the missing power.


    In the middle of the night Acacia was now fast asleep, sweat poured from his face, and minor black scars started to leak out. Lumina was watching all of this from the side of the room. She floated silently next to Acacia, and stretched out her finger to wipe of the sweat.


    The black scars emitted a dark aura, as it latched unto her skin. Her round emerald eyes, formed an eagle like glare, crushing the black scars biting into her fingertips.


    Who are you? What are you? And how many secrets are you hiding? Your eyes, actions, and words do not suit someone of your age.


    She thrust her hand out, taking in all the black scars digging into his body, she felt the dark tendrils eating away at her flesh, and biting at her soul. They engulfed her; covering her in black decay, like ants swarming over food on the ground. Lumina revealed a vicious smile, as she ripped away the darkness trying to violate her.


    ¡°Do you plan to dye the world red? And will the path you take lead us to ruin? No, I suppose it doesn''t matter at this point, I can only move forward.¡±


    After that silent whisper, she slowly started melt into the shadows.


    For the sake of our collective futures, that is. Let''s do our best.


    Notes:Power void = power vacuum

 Chronology + Area of events

    Notice: This chapter is going into chronological order of events mode, and not story mode.


    The sky was dark, and the stars were shining brilliantly in the night sky. Acacia was currently cooped up in the corner of a room, looking at report sent to him by the sages, in regards to information regarding the clans, and villages.


    ¡°Slow, far too slow. In order for their population to grow faster, the basic need of food is still necessary. While their hunting, food gathering, and farming skills have improved, it is merely on a small scale. If I want a high population growth I''ll have to find a way to increase the production of food to exceed it.¡±


    With a light sigh he casually ruffled his short black hair, and stretched his pale arms, causing his black robes to wrinkle. His red eyes shone in an eerie glow, despite the lack of light in the room.


    ¡°Hmm, in that case I should..........¡±


    Later in the morning hundreds of black light pixies shot forth from the tower in all directions, all of whom wore a strange armband on their greenish red flower dresses. They flew all over carrying paper, and pens. Like and endless high way of flying pixies throughout the night, and into the next day.


    After a a week, and a half the actions ceased, and Acacia had a pile of papers on his desk. Each piece of paper had words, and descriptions. Some were followed by drawings, and sketches, filled with a few numerical indicators. Acacia slowly but surely drew out images, using the information, slowly forming a rough map.


    The pixies while weak in physical strength, and hardiness, had high intelligence, and learning speed. Things like math, written language, measurements, and drawing were something they had no problem with. Because of these racial features, and their ability to fly, and communicate, they were used for several utility roles.


    Scouting, mapping, communication, and mail delivery. If the creatures they were sending a message for did not know how to write, the pixies could do it for them, and since they had communication magic, it was that much more effective.


    Lumina personally organized her kind for several different functions.


    When Acacia finished the map, he stared with interest at the lakes, and the one especially near the southern villages.


    Later that day he personally set out on a journey to inspect the lake. He touched the soil, took out a handful of dirt, and felt it with his fingers. Then he turned around to stare at the vast open grassy plains.


    ¡°Hmm fine, let''s go with that idea then, I didn''t plan on doing it so soon, but I don''t want to waste anymore time.¡±


    A week later a message was sent too all ten chieftains to send forth five of their best warriors to the black tower. Upon arrival Acacia gave them a few basic lessons on self defence, proper movements, how not to be caught flat footed. How to correctly use force by combining muscle movements, and went through simple combat theories.


    Throughout one month he had them spar with each other, use wooden weapons of various types that he personally carved, and had them face off against many different opponents. Eventually he had them all fight in a non-lethal combat tournament. Throughout those many grems, he picked six of notable skill. The rest were sent home, and asked to help train their fellow militia.


    These six under went intense training, by Acacia personally tortur... Teaching them. He taught them simple theories regarding combat. The relations with the environment, weather, time of day, and food.


    On one occasion he demonstrated how the force of a hit increases depending on the posture, and set of muscles used in unison. While the physiology of a grems is less flexible then a human, and shorter, they generally have the same muscle structure. Sometimes he would go over basic strategies he learned personally, and those he read from books back in his future lives.


    [Even if your opponent is stronger, and smarter than you in every way, you still have a chance to win, why is that?]


    One grems put his hand up.


    [Because he''s poisoned?]


    [Hmm, nice try, consider several factors. A strong opponent at his peak that had a high probability of killing you, will lose that probability if several other factors come your way. What are those factors?]


    [.....]


    [The answer is not simple but, an enemy who is tired, fought too long, did not eat properly, is hampered by the weather, suffering emotionally, or psychologically would weaken them. The answer is not to wait for them when they are like that, but to bring about a situation that produces that result before fighting them. To understand their habits, predict their movements, thought process, and prepare to deal with them, before they even begin.]


    The lecture on theories, historical, and ''soon to be historical'' scenarios were brought up. The concept of signals, formations, command structure, morale, rallying, and strategies were hammered into them. The advantage of higher ground, suitable terrain, understanding weather forecasts, planning ahead, learning when to run, and logistics were thoroughly analyzed.


    Acacia showed examples, diagrams, and sometimes physical demonstrations. He also emphasized weapons types, and uses.


    [Steel armour usually meant the sword would ricochet, when not heavily infused by mana, that is prevalent in humans. That''s why a war hammer proved more efficient in..........]


    The lectures were long, and the training was suffering. The six grems were forced into harsh situations, and exercises.


    [Daggers are mostly used as secondary, and sometimes tertiary weapons in close combat. Never rely only on a single weapon, consider long range, medium range, and close range weapons.]


    The lessons lasted many months, Acacia written down all the lesson in notebooks for future use.


    Near the final months of the lessons, Acacia brought each one of them into his warehouse. He had many exotic materials left by his master, but he could only use some of them specifically to fuse with the grems. Monster fusion magic did not actually exist in this world, it was a theory from the future that never came to realization because the end of times occurred. Therefore the items in the tower were never meant for fusion but for research, and making elixirs out of them.


    The devil kin material for the pixie was pure luck. Pixies had high magic affinity, and several characteristics that could be individually improved, therefore several items that related to the pixies existed. Lumina was a pixie queen that lived for a few hundred years, therefor the fusion with several high level ingredients was possible, the same could not be said for the grems.


    They were a physical race, with no true hybrid qualities. In order to strengthen them he needed objects that related to them, so the things remaining to give the grems were limited. Acacia presented them with a type of bone, an eye floating in a solution, some elixirs, plants, and a few other things.


    [Choose which one you want, and I will use it to make you stronger. The bone will strengthen your body, the eye belong''s to a beast that could see very far, this elixir allows for fast healing, and this plant.......]


    Eventually when they all chose an item, Acacia began his long term plans.


    In the year 1552 of the 6th month, and 10th day, Acacia formally declared war on all the other grem villages, and clans. The invading army was lead by six grand generals, five hundred militia grems, thirty grems sages, and five grems alchemists.


    On the 20th day ten villages fell under control of Acacia, the five great clans quickly mustered an army of over five thousand grem militia. The allied villages afraid of the invading threat aided the great clans, producing a coalition force of ten thousand grems.


    On the 1st day of the 7th month, a great battle near the great lake erupted. The six generals gained great infamy devastating enemy lines, outflanking the coalition forces, ambushing reinforcements, and quickly crushing defences. Aided by Sage magics, and deadly alchemists concoctions, the coalition''s forces had their numbers shaved, and battered.


    On the 14th day of the 7th month five hundred black light pixies lead by matriarch Lumina, tore open defensive lines, and forced the collapse of the coalitions defences. The five great generals pushed forward to take village, after village.


    Five days later, the heads of their leaders were offered by the grems citizens of the remaining coalition forces, and hereby surrendered.


    By order of Acacia, the remaining citizens were to be absorbed by the ten southern villages. In order to accompany the mass influx of the new citizens, Acacia already planned a great migration. Twelve designated areas were long planned to be resettled, two of them were personally led by Acacia to be formed. New sages were trained, and reshuffled across the tribes.


    A mass effort of relocation, was lead by most the grems, and black light pixies.


    When the 8th month came to an end, twelve newly formed grems tribes were created. The old farms, and hunting grounds were to be managed by small farming workers, and some hunters. The twelve new tribes were ordered to send forth thousands of men to the lakes, and started the construction of the great dams, and irrigation tunnels.


    The great project was led by Acacia, the black light pixies, and the sages. The dams were built by stones, and mortars made of mud, and clay. A network of tunnels, and reservoirs were extended to control flood plains, and drinkable water. Eventually a large field meant for large scale farming was undertaken.


    The project was finished later in the year 1553 of the imperial calendar, and Acacia became 13 years of age. The crops introduced were a type of rice, wheat, and fruits. All of these seeds were gathered beforehand, by Acacia, and the black light pixies.


    Some small villages were left to only farm, some areas left for only hunting. An effort was made to breed, and raise livestock in specific regions, tasked personally by Acacia, and managed by the new tribe chieftains of the region. A newly formed group of black light pixies were tasked by matriarch Lumina to monitor the events, and act as the secret military police to prevent wasted resources.


    The six great generals were ordered by Acacia to travel around, and continuously improve themselves. They also held a task to seek an area they would like to settle, and train their armies. When a land was found, Acacia would provide the necessary resources.


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    On the 3rd month, a new project lead by Acacia was under way, to clear land, and make dirt roads available to connect all the tribes, villages, and farms. The sages created the wheel cart to transport items, and food. Using a mixture of earth magic, and grems labourers, the dirt roads were completed on the 4th month.


    On the 10th day of the 4th month general Gu''har black tooth discovered a small valley surrounded by mountains, there he witnessed massive armoured beasts grazing on the land. He believed these beasts to be an asset, and so he chose this area to train, and breed them. Gu''har was given one thousand militia, an accompanying sage, a squad of black light pixies, and three thousand peasants.


    And so the 1st legion was formed, and the stronghold called the Black Gate was built, home to the grey riders.


    General Mul''maw settled near one of the lakes, in a shallow forest. There he discovered sturdy yet flexible wood that could be made into short bows, and later cross bows. He believed ranged weapons were the most useful weapon. The 2nd legion was formed later, called the silent eye. The strong hold was dubbed the Silver Tide, because of the shimmering lakes reflecting against the stronghold walls.


    Frau''silak liked the idea of mounted beasts from Gu''har, but disliked how slow they were. Later when he wandered the plains he came upon the wild horses running along the plains to the north. The 3rd legions was founded there. Not only were they to be trained, and bred, but the sages recommended them to be used as transportation. As such, the horses were later introduced domestically, and the strong hold Swift Wind was founded.


    Legion of the fleet foots, was officially adopted.


    Si''shka discovered a strange ore near a mountain, later confirmed by Acacia as iron. Small mining towns were set up near the area, and the ores were slowly extracted using earth magic, and tools. Acacia later set forth thousands of labourers to mine the ore, finally introducing iron to the grems. With the help of the alchemists, sages, and Acacia, iron made weapons, and armour started to spread.


    The introduction of swords allowed Si''shka to find his desired weapons, thereby forming the 4th legion silver bane, and the birth of the strong hold, Iron Road.


    On the 5th day of the 5th month general Backroc wandered the land, eventually finding himself far north near the ocean, where he fell asleep from he soft winds, and smell of the ocean. When he woke up a long thin branch rolled up to his palms, he gripped it tightly like a spear, and found the feeling nostalgic. He built the stronghold in a place far north to enjoy the wind, and called it Ha''Dilak. in grems tongue, meaning gentle wind.


    Forming the long overdue 5th legion called the wind seekers.


    The last general wandered far east walking deep into the mountain spines in which one of the remote tribes Acacia created lay, and where stone quarries were set, up, and other stones were being mined. There he realized something strange, and founded a strong hold called Stone Valley. Ironically the last general did no have a name, and what that legions specializes in remained a great mystery to this day, as they are very secretive in that distant strong hold.


    Forming the 6th legion, Unknown Silence.


    On the 12th day of the 5th month, Acacia created an alchemist''s secret academy, lead by high alchemist Grimlok to test various substances, and create chemicals, and mixtures. The work shop was built in secret, and not openly known to most. They aid the great grem generals, and sages with weapon designs, and new materials. The ten great sages remain training in the black tower, but also support the alchemists in the secret academy.


    Should the alchemists require more staff, Grimlok is given free reign to recruit anyone he sees fit.


    Matriarch Lumina overseas all of her kind, they act as messengers, scout, spies, and aides to chieftains, and great generals. However in the end of the day, she controls all the information, and is aware of all their movements. She claims the entire forest around the black tower, and her outer colonies remain hidden from the public sight, and record.


    Rumours have it her outer colonies are filled with trained elites. Those who see her, notice that day by day she grows somehow different, and more mysterious.


    Year 1553 of the 6th month.


    Acacia, slowly realized the papers stored in the tower were quickly disappearing, and so were the pens. There were currently a few methods of making paper, one was create a woven mat of reeds, and scratch words on it, the other involved dried animal skins. The final one involved wood pulp, bleaching chemicals, a mesh, a chemical to strengthen the paper, and etc.


    He ordered the secret academy to create the needed chemicals, and machinery to make the paper, and also the mixtures used in ink. Chieftains from the tribes were ordered to have their hunters to secure bird feathers for quill pens.


    Meanwhile over fifty black light pixies were writing something, while Acacia recited the words.


    ¡°The goddess of the greater good loves all creation, regardless of race, or gender. She believes that we should all strive for the sake of the future......


    When we die she will embrace us, and send us into paradise to live in eternal happiness. She wants us to fight all corruption, and obstacles that in-danger the greater good....¡±


    After many long hours, lores, and rules were written into paper, and Acacia had all them compiled, and binded. In front of a cover, he drew an eye, with a single tear, followed by a pentagram over it. The black light pixies copied the process. Eventually a horse pulled wagon came to collect the books, and were spread to all the sages.


    The sages were to push the information of the books unto the populace, and worship the symbol for every class.


    Year 1553 of the 6th month, and 15th day.


    Acacia ordered a temple to be built near stone valley, due to it''s close proximity with the quarries. Six nearby tribes were to send thousands in the construction, overseen by Acacia himself. A large pyramid made of white stone was slowly constructed.


    Acacia, and the black light pixies worked to draw a giant magic circle in a several hundred mile radius around the temple. Marked by measurements, and flag markers. To be inspected by Lumina from the sky.


    On the 7th month, of the 23rd day it was finally finished. In the middle of the pyramid stairs were made that lead to the very top, where an inner chamber lay. There hundreds of grems were sent to construct the inner chambers.


    When it was all finished on the 33rd day, the grems all mysteriously died a week later, the magic circles were all coated with a strange mixture, that made the magic circle permanent. Small temples that looked identical to the giant temple were constructed throughout all the tribes, even the outskirt mining colonies, farms, and ranches were given a symbol to worship.


    It was recorded that master Acacia was seen staring at the sky, and smirking in contempt.


    Present day.


    Acacia walked away from the tower, and slowly began to travel north. These days whenever he sees Lumina he noticed a surge of magical power coming from her, more so than before.


    ¡°We''ll unlike the grems who grow individually, the pixie''s limits are what Lumina''s are. So the more powerful Lumina becomes, the higher upper limit her colony has.¡±


    Acacia was carrying a large travelling pack, filled with dried plants, and fruits. From the reports he received strange creatures have shown up in the skies near the swift wind strong hold. The area is called by Acacia as ivory mountain. An isolated mountain surrounded by a dense, and ancient forest, located north near the ocean shores.


    The forests were far more ancient then the ones growing around the black tower, they look as tall as mountains, an created a permanent shadow in the depths of the forest. Everything was wild, and lacked traces of modern civilization. However this was to be expected.


    The Vajra lands were a vast expanse of wilderness situated between the ocean to the north, and a great wasteland to the south occupied by the green skin hordes. To the east a spine of rocky mountains lay forming an impenetrable pass, and the only hint of a connecting civilization was to the far west, where the decayed lands extend far, finally meeting the empire borders.


    There the lich king, and his undead army wage war with a great empire of men. The black death that came from the west was most likely the human tribes at the border being wiped out, and used as fodder for the lich king''s undead army.


    If Acacia traveled west, he expected swaths of empty tribal villages left by the humans in the Vajra land borders.


    A cold breeze gently blew from the depths, as Acacia slowly walked into the darkness. The forest had birds chirping, and guttural yelping of strange creatures, darting in, and out of the shadows. His left hand casually gripped his staff, as he used it as a walking cane.


    An acrid smell slowly wafted from a small clearing inside the forest, as Acacia slowly wandered forward. What slowly became visible was the giant skeletal remains of some long, and bulky corpse lay. It''s innards were leaking out, the dull sheen of it''s white bones still glistened with traces of red, and flies were buzzing around.


    The creature looked about ten feet long, it was shaped like a snake, but had thick hardened scales resembling a giant lizard, with two clawed frontal limbs. The carcass had several slashes across it''s body, and something like a burnt scar near it''s neck.


    Around the carcass Acacia noticed a few brown feathers swaying gently along the cool wind, blowing through the forest.


    A shadow raced, a powerful screech sounded, blood danced in the air, and a single body fell to the ground.


    Notes:Yea this chapter was mostly a list of events, but imagine the pain of actually detailing each one into a chapter, on how to dig land, and make roads.

 Entry

    The dark skies rumbled as thick ashen clouds blotted out the stars, and the lightning danced wildly in the rain. The heavy rain hammered everything below, as shadows flickered in the darkness.


    The muddy ground left deep imprints, of man, and beast, as thick red liquid flowed into the foot prints that were left behind. The Screams of dying men, the echoes of clashing steel, and the shouts of anger all converged into a single terrifying song.


    A single girl stood atop dozens of corpses, her body covered in scars, her hands twitching, and leaking blood. Her left arm was singed black, and dirt smeared her long golden hair. All around her buildings were set aflame. Plumes of smoke rose into the skies, and flecks of embers rode the winds that smelled of ash, and charred flesh.


    Corpses decorated the dark streets, bloody hand prints marred the windows, and the sounds of war enveloped her world.


    Amidst this scene, men, and undead clashed in the streets, towering giants made of rotten flesh, and bones swept away columns of armoured knights. The skies burst apart as brimstone, and flame reigned death to the city below.


    Buildings collapsed, blood flowed, and corpses littered the open streets. Men, women, and children fled from the creatures invading from the night, and lurking in the alleys. The once tall, and sturdy walls were broken, the proud defenders lay dead in the outskirts, and the citizens were slowly being massacred.


    A thick dark magic was now floating along the streets, and houses like a black mist, slowly raising the freshly killed corpses, and causing the living to slowly weaken.


    In the skies giant beasts half lion, and eagle cried aloud, as the armoured men riding on them above them charged the undead dragons. The bone dragons, with a black putrid energy replacing their organs, and tattered wings clashed with the griffin knights.


    Each purplish black flames from the bone dragons sent men, and beast tumbling from the skies, crashing into houses, and collapsing on the soldiers fighting below.


    The lone girl pushed her body forward amidst this chaotic battle, her right arm soaked in blood, as she forcefully continued onward. Every skeleton she met, was slashed to pieces, every zombie was decapitated, and every golem was dismantled by her sword.


    Each swing of her blade, caused the blood on her hands to turn darker, and flow stronger. She eventually kicked in a door, from a burning building, and rushed inside.


    The crackling flames billowed violently, as the thick sweltering smoke distorted the insides of the house. She couldn''t feel the heat, only the blood pumping in her veins, and a single image floating in her mind.


    The kitchen was in flames, the rooms were burning, and the thick smoke dug into her eyes. She let out deep painful coughs, as she burst into one of the rooms, there lying in bed was a small girl. She immediately took the young girl, with her charred hand, and lead her out.


    The small girl had a round face, and brown hair. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was mild, and slow. The frilly yellow dress was flailing wildly as she was carried outside into the rain. Despite the heavy rain pounding unto her frail body, the little girl did not utter a sound. From her charred hands, light leaked out, and enveloped the young girl.


    Slowly, but surely, the girl opened her eyes.


    ¡°Lilia?¡±


    ¡°Shh, we''ll talk later.¡±


    The little girl merely nodded, as she hugged Lilia''s neck, and closed her eyes.


    Lilia''s left arm formed several widening cracks on her skin, as blood started to trickle down, her right hand was firmly gripped to her sword as she marched into the streets. As soon as she saw more fighting in the distance she started to run in the opposite direction.


    While marching past a group of dead people, a small child grabbed her leg. The child''s eyes were glowing red, and his body showed decay.


    She immediately impaled the boy''s skulls, here eyes wavered, but steeled itself as she marched onward. The corpses were slowly getting up, one by one, their anguished moans drowned out by the powerful winds.


    The two that stood in front of her she cleanly sliced off their legs, and rushed past them, another lunged at her from behind, she side stepped, and in a quick sweeping motion, severed it''s neck. Two, became ten, and ten became twenty.


    Teeth marks, claw marks, and gashes started to litter her arms, and legs, as she cut down throngs of undead.


    In the distance she managed to spot a still standing building, and she noticed the little girl in her arms was starting to twitch violently. Without a second thought she rushed to go in.


    When she was about to opened the door, a subtle chill could be felt in the very depths of her being, she twisted her body, as a single spear pierced through the door, and drove into her right abdomen.


    The little girl still remained safe on her left, side but a bloody hole was open to her right side.


    A single blade of light formed on her sword edge, as she flung it into the door. The blade pierced through the door, and exploded. She immediately kicked down the door, and looked inside.


    All she saw was ashes where the explosion of light occurred, and left over clothes, and weapons a soldier would wear.


    ¡°Even the soldiers are being raised as undead...¡±


    Lilia rushed into a room where she placed the soaked little girl, and started to change her clothes, and dry her. Only after the little girl looked safer, did she address, and clean her own wounds.


    ¡°Should I wait it out, or move again?¡±


    While they managed to invade deep into the city, it will still be awhile before the undead would make any significant gains due to an ample amount of soldiers still within the city. During that small period, she would let her sister recover slightly.


    While pondering what to do, the little girl''s small hands reached outwards.


    ¡°Sister?¡±


    ¡°I''m here Lea.¡±


    Lilia smiled as she clasped Lea''s frail hands.


    ¡°Sister, why can''t I see?¡±


    It was only then that Lilia started to notice her sister was getting the same symptoms as the others.


    She answered Lea in a small whisper.


    ¡°Because it''s dark, silly.¡±


    ¡°Oh.... Sister.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I feel so weak.¡±


    ¡°You''re just tired that''s all, you''ll be fine tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    Lea smiled, as she cuddled with the thick warm blanket.


    Illia watched as Lea'' face grew more pale, and she could feel a small darkness growing inside Lea''s small body. She stretched out her right hand, and placed it gently on Lea''s cheeks, and gently stroked her. Something began to flow from Illia''s body into Lea''s.


    The beautiful blue eyes on Illia started to grow dull, and transparent, her white teeth started to be dyed red, as a crimson liquid leaked from her mouth.


    ¡°Sister, I''m cold.¡±


    ¡°Hold on I''ll get more blankets.¡±


    ¡°Hug..¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I want a hug.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Illia went, and held Lea tenderly against her chest.


    A small tired smile formed on Lea''s cute face.


    ¡°Ehehe.¡±


    Lea tried to hug Illia but her arms grew weak, as Illia tucked her back in.


    ¡°Sister.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I want to be with sister lots, and lots, but you were missing all day.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Stay with me tomorrow all day, ok?¡±


    ¡°I defiantly will.¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡±


    ¡°I promise, when you wake up tomorrow.¡±


    Illia smiled as she gently stroked Lea''s pale cheeks, she could feel the darkness growing stronger, and Lea growing colder. Lea''s face started to form a small uncomfortable frown. Illia opened her bloodied lips, and began to sing a small lullaby that their mom used to sing.


    Lea''s small face smiled, and looked more peaceful.


    ¡°Sis...ter?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I.... Love you.¡±


    ¡°I love you too.¡±


    A weak smile formed on Lea''s face.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Good night.¡±


    ¡°Night.¡±


    Illia''s smile trembled as she continued to sing, the soft melody felt hoarse, her eyes started to leak blood, and the wound on her abdomen reopened, forming a small red pool on the floor. Tears leaked from her closed eyes, as she desperately continued singing.


    The darkness inside Lea''s cold body was gradually being swallowed, to prevent her from becoming undead.


    Pretty soon Illia''s body slowly felt cold, and weak. She gently stroked Lea''s cheeks as she sang. During this moment the blood on the floor formed a magic circle, threads of gold light leaked from her mouth, as it escaped the house, and started to rise slowly into the dark sky.


    Illia''s voice grew stronger, and louder, as the wounds from her body started to reopen, and grow worse. Her ears drew blood, her eyes, and nose leaked red. The pool of blood underneath her body grew larger, and thicker.


    Pretty soon Lea''s face disappeared from her sights, and all Illia could see was red, eventually she could only see darkness. The hoarse singing no longer reached her own ears, the breathing felt clogged, and in her mouth she could only taste blood. The sharp pain all over her body, felt numb, and the warmth she once had, was now chilling.


    Across the city the song grew in pitch, power, and tone.


    Despite the raging winds, violent thunder, and screaming men, the song still managed to drown them all out. Eventually even the sky itself started to rumble, and split apart.


    The dark cloud broke into halves, the lightning was shattered, the rain was sucked into a vortex in the sky, and a giant beam of light enveloped the city.


    As I held you in my arms I began to tremble, and my heart felt pained.


    Why wasn''t I there for you sooner? Every minute longer I could have stayed by your side...


    Was I a bad sister? Could I have done more? Will you ever forgive me for lying?


    Lea... I can no longer make it up to you. I can no longer see your face, or hear your voice.


    I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m so sorry.........


    In order to let me atone, I will protect the place where we once smiled, and the dreams we shared.


    If I should join you soon, then we''ll play together forever.


    So wait for me....


    Ok?


    During this moment Acacia was sitting atop a frozen tree, a portion of the forest was frozen in ice, and snow. His cheeks had a deep red gash on it, and his shoulder was leaking rivulets of blood. All around him soft snow was falling from a strange white cloud above, and a thick mist was drifting outwards. Beneath the field of snow, dozens of creatures with a pretty feminine faces, female upper bodies, and bird like limbs were frozen in pillars of ice.


    One of them radiated sparks of electricity, frozen atop a tree shrieking wildly from it''s prison. Acacia ignored all the shrieking harpies, and stared at the massive explosion of gold light in the far distance.


    His face remained solemn, peaceful even, and his red eyes were bright, and clear.


    He breathed out a sigh of admiration at the colour of gold.


    ¡°How terrifying, but strangely beautiful. The birth of the child of light, and the hero of this age. Welcome to the world stage, great hero.¡±


    A small bitter smile formed as he talked to himself.


    ¡°At only sixteen years of age, her legacy begins now.¡±


    He stood up on the icy leaves, with his arms folded behind his back, as the winds blew violently against his black robes.


    ¡°By now the first floating city of angels should have manifested into this world, the first strong hold from the heavenly realm, flying fortress avalon, servants of one of the primeval gods.¡±


    As Acacia stood there looking into the distance he could hear it, a gentle, and sad song, drifting along the winds.


    Acacia''s face remained impassive, but he could feel something warm on his cheeks, as he felt that warmth with his hands, a puzzled look formed on his face.


    ¡°Tears?¡±


    He looked into the distance, as tears leaked from his eyes, his red pupils slowly widened, as he realized something.


    ¡°Ahh, so that''s how it is....¡±


    Acacia slowly wiped away the tears, his face looking slightly nostalgic, and calm.


    ¡°How unexpected.¡±


    A slow sigh escaped his lips, as the gold light vanished, a part of him wanted to watch it longer. A bitter smile formed on his face, as he turned around.


    ¡°I hope we never meet again.¡±


    Acacia''s face distorted as he closed his eyes.


    Memories of having lived long fulfilling lives, of unfulfilled lives, of lives that were cut far too short, and of people that he met. As these memories actively reopened inside his mind, a strange sense of nostalgia, and understanding came to him.


    Eventually as he reopened his eyes, a slow tranquil look formed on his face, he stared at the wounds on his body, and sighed.


    ¡°I was sort of expecting it, but really....¡±


    He stared at the gold coloured harpy, frozen into a tree a few feet away from him.


    ¡°A unique monster, how rare. I wonder if your sisters are similar?¡±


    The harpy''s face, revealed a mocking grin.


    ¡°Human, my sisters will make you pay for entering our territory!¡±


    Acacia smiled lightly, and asked in interested tone.


    ¡°Are they stronger than you?¡±


    The gold feathered harpy laughed.


    ¡°Of course! You better run now human!¡±


    Acacia didn''t respond, he merely nodded his head, and went back to sitting on the frozen tree. He stared at where the golden light appeared from in a contemplative manner.


    ¡°Birth place unknown, blood related relatives unknown, how she obtained those powers? Unknown.¡±


    He went through the historians account of her, but surprisingly not much was known about her past.


    ¡°At the young age of sixteen she underwent a drastic change during the undead invasion of the castle city, Horenwald. Eye witness accounts talk of a powerful song latching unto the winds, and summoning forth a miracle.¡±


    Acacia sighed yet again, as he leaned against a throne of ice.


    ¡°A human said to have shed her mortal flesh, and blood, and became an aspect of the divine.¡±


    ¡°..............¡±


    ¡°What a terrifying person.¡±


    Acacia''s eye slowly sharpened as he heard distant cries, he stared at the gold feathered harpy, and smiled.


    ¡°Your sisters are finally coming.¡±


    He stood up, and stared at two shadows flying in the distance. A thick white mist floated around him, and sharp lifeless eyes started to manifest around him.


    I will stop at nothing to attain that far off possibility. No matter who stands in my way.


    How thin the branch? How faint the dream? And how unlikely the result?


    The only thing I''m certain of is that I can only move forward.


    Will anything really change in the end?


    I hope so.


    Notice:


    This Chapter was brought to you by a song that was stuck in my head. I translated the feelings I got from it into the story.


    I''ll say this now for future reference, but I take priority on personal interest first. Therefore if a song, scene, or concept, captures my interest, I''ll somehow translate that into the story in some shape or form. Even if the story flow is sacrificed for it.


    Well you have been warned.

 Details

    Atop the forest of ice, and snow, shrouded by a thick white, mist three shadows were moving across the tree tops. Acacia flinched as single claw tore through the sleeves of his arms, and slid across his pale flesh, causing the drawn blood to seep into his sleeves. He immediately dodged to the side, and slid across the icy tree tops, with a single arm hidden in his back.


    Tendrils of flames skidded across his fresh wound, charring his torn flesh, and burning his blood. A wave of energy immediately wrapped around the wound dispersing the flame. Acacia''s eyes looked away from the attacker, and stared at the shadow above. The harpy with flaming wings dove past him to the tree''s below.


    He stared calmly at the other harpy circling in the outskirts, likely waiting for him to expose his guard, Acacia only gave his wound a momentary glance.


    ¡°My body can''t keep up with my reactions, how saddening.¡±


    The ice around him started to melt slightly, as a burst of warm air could be felt from below. The moment Acacia turned around, and looked downward at the flaming harpy coming for another flyby attack, the harpy in the sky above dove.


    The silver feathered harpy condensed her body into an arrow, while sending bursts of air that caused the ice around her to break apart from the sheer force that was emitted. Acacia''s left hand was still to his back hidden in his sleeves, as her sharp claws drew closer.


    The clothes on his back burst apart, as needles of ice shot out from his robe slamming into her wings, chest, and clawed legs. The impact from the barrage of needles, knocked out her balance, and sent her spiralling into the tree, right next to Acacia whom merely side stepped. Seconds before she made contact, a surge of water, and ice engulfed her on the tree tops, trapping her in a prison of freshly frozen ice.


    In that moment, Acacia jumped from the tree, into a free fall unto the flaming harpy. The Mist around the area started to converge into a single point above him, and followed him an like an intangible avalanche.


    In that narrow view blocked by the trees, the harpy only noticed Acacia''s body, and her flaming wings glowed brighter as her face formed a predatory grin, revealing her sharp canines.


    Acacia was about to move the hand hidden in his back, when the mist rushed past him, and formed into a solitary hand that rushed into the harpy. The hand gripped the harpy''s head, and slammed her to the ground below. The mist converged into that hand, giving it a sharper, smaller, and more dense form.


    As soon as the harpy hit the ground below, the hand burst apart into a giant explosion, sending waves of white mist dispersing in all directions.


    Acacia''s free fall continued as the frozen trees rushed past him, he moved his free arm, and a pillar of water rose from the ground, and enveloped him. The water quickly changed into snow, and from soft snow, to thick hard ice. The ball of ice crashed into the winter landscape, the outer ice shell cracked, and fluffy snow burst out, from that pile of snow Acacia walked from it, with a light frown forming on his face.


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    He stared idly at the fiery harpy flash frozen to the ground, and finally brought out the hand hidden in his sleeve, that was also latched unto his back. From his clenched fist, he opened his fingers, revealing five heavily condensed orbs of ice in his palm, and he threw them away.


    The moment he tried to walk, Acacia felt parts of his body starting to weaken, and he ended up landing backwards on the snow. His eyes stared up at the sky, as the snow was gently falling downward above him.


    ¡°Twelve minutes..........¡±


    Acacia ignored the fact that he was now lying on the snow, and focused on everything else on his mind.


    Regeneration of mana under intense conditions are two times slower. Ability to react to attacks, unsatisfactory. Efficiency in the transition of mana, sub par.


    He turned his head to stare at the gaping wound on his right arm, and the lacerations of flame that charred small portions of his skin.


    My magic resistance was slow to react, but the durability seems acceptable.


    The snow from the sky continued to fall, and threatened to bury him, when a shadow suddenly appeared over his body.


    Acacia stared at the young girl with long red hair, that had traces of black, her delicate, and youthful face revealed a small grin, and her green eyes occasionally leaked black mist from her pupils.


    ¡°So you were here all long, Lumina.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Lumina smiled as she placed a black staff next to Acacia''s body.


    ¡°The adjustments you made to the staff is finally ready.¡±


    Acacia nodded, but as he tried to get back up, he felt a soft pressure on his head. Her fingers touched his forehead, and gently pushed him back down.


    Acacia frowned slightly.


    ¡°What''s the meaning of this?¡±


    Lumina''s pale face glowed, as she revealed her pearly white teeth in a bright smile.


    ¡°I''m not letting you get up, master.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Acacia felt his head being lifted, and placed on something soft, and a sweet smell invaded his nose.


    He ignored the lap pillow, and said in monotone. ¡°I need to negotiate with the harpy sisters, before the phantom ice dissipates.¡±


    ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll deal with it. Master however, should rest. You took your experiments a little too far.¡± To emphasize the point, she ran her fingers near his wounds. Her wings released spores that covered Acacia''s body like a thin shell.


    ¡°..... Are you ignoring my orders?¡±


    ¡°Yes I am, master.¡±


    ¡°.... You are not afraid of the consequences?


    Lumina closed her eyes, then opened them, and looked downwards at Acacia.


    ¡°Unlike the grems, I have more knowledge about magic. You, and me, both know the loopholes existing in a magic contract.¡±


    ¡°..........¡±


    ¡°... And I also know you need my kind, so you won''t do anything to them, and even if I die, a replacement for me already exists.¡±


    Acacia''s eyes narrowed slightly, and glared at Lumina. She ignored that glare, and casually brushed away the snow on Acacia''s face, while gently combing his forelocks.


    She moved her left hand to gently touch her own eyes. ¡°Do you want my eye as an apology? Or my limbs?¡±


    She casually traced her finger along her smooth, frail neck. ¡°My neck?¡± Eventually her hands moved downward near her modest chest, and placed it on her heart.


    ¡°Or my life?¡±


    ¡°.............¡±


    A small grin escaped her rosy lips.


    ¡°No matter what you choose, I will give it to you. However, only after you rest your body.¡±


    The thin shell surrounding him grew more dense, and Acacia could feel his entire being grow more relaxed, and drowsy.


    Acacia closed his eyes, and muttered.


    ¡°You win this round.¡±


    ¡°Thank you master.¡±


    ¡°.... Lumina.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master?¡±


    A small silence that lasted several seconds filled the personal space.


    ¡°Are you curious?¡±


    ¡°I would be lying if I said I''m not.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to ask?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because I''m patient.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    The spores released from her wings, condensed in her palm, as she gently touched Acacia''s cheek, sending him off to a deep sleep.


    The snow slowly fell, trying to blanket everything in pure white.


    Lumina stared at Acacia''s sleeping face.


    ¡°Has it been fifty years already?¡±


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    ¡°...o.¡±


    ¡°.....lo.¡±


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°............¡±


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°..............¡±


    ¡°Well it doesn''t matter, it seems you''re also barely alive.¡±


    ¡°Ah ah.¡±


    ¡°Looks like your throat was crushed huh, a pity. Can you open your eyes?¡±


    ¡°Ahaa.¡±


    ¡°Well thanks to me you managed to live a bit longer, but how ironic..¡±


    ¡°........¡±


    ¡°To think after a millenia, a person would finally reach this temple, truly a shame. Because without me, this temple will soon collapse as well.


    ¡°Ah?¡±


    ¡°If only you came a few hundred years sooner....¡±


    The androgynous voice continued to sigh.


    ¡°Really, if only you came sooner.....¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    ¡°Well... At the very least I''ll let you catch a glimpse of where you are before we die.¡±


    The thick darkness slowly changed, as a small beam of light shone in the epicentre of the darkness. The brilliant light grew, brighter, and brighter, until an explosion revealed the dark room. A giant ball of dark glass appeared in front of me. Thick massive chains covered in runes, emanated a terrifying aura, as it trapped a vague shadow hidden within the ball made of crystals.


    The vague shadow glowed inside the dark glass, as it whispered into my ears.


    ¡°It was nice meeting you, and goodbye.¡±


    The vague shadow started to tremble, and react violently, eventually the form shattered inside the glass, and turned to mist. The stone walls in the room trembled, as pillars collapsed, stone blocks fell, and water quickly flowed into the room.


    I knew I was about to die, I only survived a few seconds longer because of that thing, but it was a shame I couldn''t speak.


    I wanted to say goodbye to that thing as well, it sounded lonely, and tired.


    But, it was nice to have someone to talk to before I die as well.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Life was short, unfair, and painful.


    But, at least I won''t be dying alone.


    So, even though you can''t hear me, goodbye, and thank you for the company.


    I closed my eyes, as I felt the rushing water engulf me.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Acacia''s eye''s flashed open to stare at a black ceiling, a soft blanket was now covering him, and a nostalgic warmth covered his face. When he stared at the side, a small white furball was nestled near his cheeks.


    Acacia turned back to stare at the ceiling.


    ¡°It seems more, and more are showing up lately. I thought it settled down, but I guess I was wrong.¡±


    Pinky''s ears perked up at Acacia whispering to himself, it purred gently, and licked his cheeks a few times, before going back to sleep.


    Before Acacia could even think about what to do next, Lumina appeared right next to his bedside.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Morning.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a report?¡±


    ¡°.......¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I think you should have your breakfast first.¡±


    Lumina put down a wooden bowl filled with fruits, and vegetables. A cup of milk, and sweet nectar was mixed into the warm drink.


    Acacia started to eat, as Lumina made her report.


    ¡°The sisters accepted a contract with us, as long as we offer an alternative source of food that would allow them to increase their population growth, land sovereignty, and expanded territory.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°No, we have to finalize more details, before all the harpies will lend their aid, and accept your rule.¡±


    ¡°So they made a contract with you already?¡±


    Lumina, nodded.


    ¡°I can transfer it to you, when we meet them again.¡±


    ¡°No it''s fine, You can coordinate with them.¡±


    Acacia took a sip of the milk, and nodded.


    ¡°Not bad, where did you get the milk from?¡±


    Lumina blushed, and touched her cheeks in an embarrassed manner, as she swayed her head left, and right.


    Acacia face stiffened.


    Lumina then stopped, and replied in a monotone manner, ¡°mare''s milk.¡±


    ¡°Ah ok. It''s good.¡±


    After finishing the cup he asked another question.


    ¡°What of the final details?¡±


    Lumina paused for a few seconds in thought before answering.


    ¡°I told them we would visit them when you are ready, so they sent a guide to us. She''s currently in the tower.¡±


    ¡°Shall we go now?¡±


    Lumina did not answer, but instead lifted up his arms that were bandaged, and inspected various area''s on his body. After the silent probing, she turned back to Acacia.


    ¡°Yes master, let''s go.¡±


    This time instead of going alone, Lumina accompanied him for travel, and outside the tower a single harpy roughly six foot tall, with brown feathers, led the way. The sky was sunny, and bright so travel would not be hindered. The harpy carried a sack filled with food as a courtesy, and Acacia was now carrying a black staff, that seemed to mirror the night itself.


    When they travelled far enough they entered a dirt road, where a small convoy of horse drawn carriages await, followed by a small escort of grems armed with bows, and swords sent from Iron Road. Each legion had a specialty the majority focused on, but still contained training, and weapons for different roles, to make each legion more well rounded.


    The travel could be said for a lack of a better word peaceful. After a few days, the convoy stopped at the outskirts of the ancient forest, and the guide flew ahead to announce their arrival. Pretty soon, a small vanguard of harpies appeared, and lead the way.


    Instead of the other grems following, only Acacia, and Lumina went ahead.


    ¡°Master, are you sure you don''t want them to stand guard at the base of the mountain?¡±


    ¡°Do I look like a helpless, senile old man?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm.¡±


    ¡°Anyways, it''s easier to escape with just us.¡±


    The harpies flew slowly always waiting a few step ahead, as Acacia slowly walked through the forest. Lumina floated beside Acacia, and stared at him silently.


    ¡°So what did your experiments tell you?¡±


    Acacia cupped his chin, as he stared at the thick tree trunks covering his view.


    ¡°It''s inefficient for me to fight single targets. Each magic I use is more suited to fighting groups, while I can target individuals, it is simply put a needless strain on my mana reserves.¡±


    ¡°How long can you last?¡±


    ¡°Probably twelve minutes in intensive movement.¡±


    ¡°So you making a move would probably be best as a last resort.¡±


    ¡°Well I am the leader after all, it would be absolutely pointless to have an army, but I end up doing all the work, right?¡±


    ¡°I guess you''ll have to be the type to send an army against a single powerful person, then swoop in like a coward to deal the final blow?¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, something like that could work, we''ll see.¡±


    As they continued the conversation, they faced the foot of the mountain. It was dyed in pure white, where the peaks were covered in a thick clouds. The familiar harpy guide swooped down next to Acacia.


    ¡°Please allow me to carry you.¡±


    Acacia only nodded, as the harpy gently clasped his arms with her legs, as she carried him upward. The higher up they flew the more thin the air was, and a mysterious pressure weighed down on him.


    Even Lumina had to give up flying, and let another harpy carry her upwards. They eventually reached a massive rookery to the side of the mountain, where thousands of nests lay. Acacia recognized the three sisters in the center, followed by a strange multicolored harpy, that surprisingly had arms, detached from her her wings. It looked no different then a human with wings, albeit with birdlike limbs.


    ¡°An evolved form?¡±


    The multicolored harpy walked forward, and bowed courteously.


    ¡°I am the brood mother of this nest, welcome.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for having us.¡±


    Both Lumina, and Acacia displayed a form of courtesy. Acacia then faced the harpy.


    ¡°That bow, you know human customs?¡±


    The brood mother nodded.


    ¡°I''ve traveled around.¡±


    He glanced at the three sisters.


    ¡°Those sisters, don''t seem to have common blood normally found in harpies.¡±


    ¡°I found a lot of interesting lovers, hehe.¡±


    Right I almost forgot, harpies are an all female race, they mate with males from other humanoid species to fertilize eggs. It''s been known for harpies to capture males of other races, and force them to breed with the entire colony..


    Acacia spotted bones of animals, and some fruits, and plants.


    So these ones are omnivorous huh?


    The brood mother stared at Acacia, and smiled revealing her fanged teeth.


    ¡°Aside from alternative food, more territory, and the right to govern our own land, we require one more thing.¡±


    ¡°That is?¡±


    ¡°We want you to supply us with men. The humans we usually targeted have been wiped out, and are now all missing. I know that you lead those short men, I want them as breeding material to increase my colonies population.¡±


    ¡°.........¡±


    Acacia remained silent for awhile. Harpies in general were born attractive as a racial trait to entice males, mainly humans, or humanoids. There existed many types of subspecies, some hedonistic, some pragmatic, some violent, and some were plain wild animals. To offer up men to them, would mean that a man would have to breed with thousands of beautiful harpies for their entire lives.


    ¡°Do you want to just increase population, or to just breed with men?¡±


    The brood mother stared at Acacia in a confused manner.


    ¡°Is there a difference?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I''ll like to offer a counter proposal.¡±


    After a good long while, a decision was made, and the brood mother formed a contract with Acacia. Later in the night a long conversation was held on terms, and benefits, later Acacia was escorted back down the mountain. He eventually walked back to where the grems were waiting, and they rode back to the tower.


    Along the way Acacia turned to Lumina.


    ¡°Do you think they''re usable?¡±


    ¡°They can fly longer, higher, and generally have more endurance. They could make for decent lookouts, scouts, and messengers.¡±


    Acacia nodded, and added to the point.


    ¡°Aside from those three sisters, the rest can only do dives, flyby attacks, and melee. They have the ability to deliver a sonic based attack at mid range to paralyze their opponents, but that''s about it.¡±


    ¡°So to improve the harpies'' utility what do you suggest?¡±


    Acacia remained silent as he stared at the sky.


    ¡°We can develop tools to overlap their clawed legs, with metallic blades, or make some device for them to use, that resembles ranged weapons, I could synthesize their leaders with stronger materials, or ¡­..¡±


    ¡°Or?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I''ll think about it later.¡±


    Acacia sighed as he leaned on the carriage, staring at the water in a small canister, and a small memory that resurfaced.


    ¡°A shame, was it?¡±


    Comments: Meh I did label this action, but not really feeling it with the opponent type match ups. I''ll make a real one eventually, when the situation/mood presents itself.

 Did I change?

    The dark sky was a sea of floating balls of light carried on the trails of purple, and red mist that was floating aimlessly, and expanding slowly. Underneath the scene was a small open clearing inside a dark decrepit forest of lifeless trees; there in the shadow lay hundreds of corpses.


    Atop a certain mound of dead men sat a woman, her glasses were plain, and two black horns were protruding from each side of her skull. One of the horns were decorated in a luxurious golden chain, similar to an amulet.


    A gentle wind blew, causing her long violet hair to sway gently, the woman wore a long black dress, with floral decorations made of fine gold. The sleek black fur that decorated her neckline was ruffling relentlessly. Despite the blood that continued to form into a small puddle on the ground, her clothes remained spotless. Her dark red lips formed a small smile, as she turned the page of a book in her gloved hands.


    Every time she turned the page, her actions was subtle, and refined, her violet eyes stared at the page in rapt concentration, despite the lack of light, and her expression revealed complete serenity, despite the bodies of the dead underneath, and around her.


    Her beautiful, yet elegant expression quickly soured when she snapped the book shut, and stared at an approaching figure, leaving the shadows of the forest. A slim shadow in black robes bowed gently to her, it was a wiry old man, in elegant black clothes, and unassuming features. The man asked in a low but measured tone.


    ¡°How was it my lord?¡±


    The woman smiled, and said in a soft tone.


    ¡°It was interesting.¡±


    ¡°That''s it?¡±


    ¡°For now that''s all I can really say.¡±


    He walked closer to the pile of dead she was sitting on, and frowned.


    ¡°Someone of you stature acting in such a manner.....¡±


    A bemused expression appeared on her face.


    ¡°Oh? Do you expect me to act like all the previous demon lords?¡±


    The man remained silent for a few seconds before answering.


    ¡°All the previous ones, had overwhelming power, desire and charisma. The four great families do not see you as someone fit for the position, I merely hope you take precautions, to protect your influence.¡±


    With a small ironic smile, she chuckled softly.


    ¡°The former lord had a personality with the depth of a pancake, the one before that was a vulgar thug, and the one before that was merely a debauchee, lusting for every woman he could find. You expect me to learn from them?¡±


    ¡°They may have had their flaws, but they were well connected, and knew how to play the ''game''.¡±


    ¡°How boring.¡±


    She reopened the thick book, and continued reading.


    ¡°Will you not continue our dream?¡±


    ¡°..... Never chase a reflection.¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure what you mean?¡±


    The woman smiled to herself, and remained silent. The man likewise did not push her for a response but merely stood still waiting for her to continue. After a good ten minutes she stopped turning the pages, and stared back at the man.


    ¡°Charae, what do you believe is important for a living being?¡±


    ¡°A goal.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean you''ll finally.....¡±


    ¡°Yes, and no.¡±


    The man looked confused for several milliseconds, but regained his composure just as fast.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    The woman stood up, and jumped down from the heap of dead, landing quietly, and softly next to the man. She took a crumpled piece of paper from her sleeves and gently tossed it to the man.


    ¡°This is?¡±


    ¡°A map.¡±


    The man frowned, and opened the crumpled piece of paper, after scanning it for a few times he turned to the woman.


    ¡°The map seems to be wrong.¡±


    The woman smiled again, as she slowly walked away, while the man followed.


    ¡°No it''s right.¡±


    ¡°But how can that be?¡±


    ¡°Interesting isn''t it?¡±


    The woman casually lead the way into the darkness, however Charae remained still, and spoke in a low, and deep voice.


    ¡°My lord, have you decided to accept Asaih''s proposal?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you won''t change your mind?¡±


    The woman''s voice turned softer, and uttered a whisper.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I see, then.....¡±


    ¡°Charae.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°How long have we known each other?¡±


    ¡°Has it been 120 years?¡±


    ¡°Quite awhile, huh.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The woman turned around, and smiled.


    ¡°Charae, you were a wonderful attendant.¡±


    ¡°Thank you....¡±


    A small sigh escaped her lips as she touched a nearby tree.


    ¡°I like Rosaia trees, do you know why?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, I have no idea.¡±


    The book in her hand suddenly burst open, and a single page flew out, a black liquid leaked from the surrounding shadows, and quickly engulfed the place. Blood splashed in the air, and a small object flew to the ground. The woman walked up to Charae''s decapitated head.


    She picked up the object, still leaking blood and gently kissed his forehead.


    ¡°It was the type of tree that we first me under, goodbye my dear butler.¡±


    The book in her hand continued to flip through the pages, and eventually ripped themselves from the book until they floated around her like a barrier. She placed the head on the ground, and slowly took off her glasses with her bloodied gloves. Small runic symbols revolved around her pupils, each time changing color, and shape.


    She stared at the sky and sighed.


    ¡°How long will we live under this lie?¡±


    She turned her head gently staring at the shadows around her, and revealed a smile.


    ¡°How uncouth, do you gentlemen not understand how rude it is to spy on a lady?¡±


    A giant rumble sounded, and shadows started darting in, and out of the trees, and crawled from the ground. They came in the hundreds, and thousands, silently and quickly. The silence of the forest quickly ended.


    During this moment a small ray of light shined on the light less forest, into the small clearing, and covered the corpse of the butler in a thin blanket of light. There in his hand, was a small silver shine.


    ------------------


    ¡°Forge nation Havanwald... Have you ever heard of it Lumina?¡±


    She lightly shook her head, as she gazed idly at the direction he was referring to.


    ¡°It''s a nation with relatively low population, but rich in magic minerals, and raw natural resources. They maintain healthy trade relation with neighbours for their innovative products, refined materials, and pragmatic approach to things. Despite their low population, they are arguably among the most powerful of the human nations in the southern regions.¡±


    ¡°I''m not to keen on human matters, but I''m guessing that is because of their connections?¡±


    ¡°No, they have one of the strongest military forces compared to their neighbours, because of their specialty.¡±


    ¡°Specialty?¡±


    ¡°You know how I taught alchemy to the some of the grems right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, through creating concoctions, and theories in changing chemicals, and ores.¡±


    ¡°Havanwald specializes in the same thing, but follow a distinctively different path.¡±


    Lumina brushed a few strands of hair, she then tilted her head, and looked at Acacia curiously.


    ¡°The alchemy I use are common every day things, that can be acquired generally by anyone willing to learn. What they follow is the principle of animation, change, and construction though the aide of magic, and tools.¡±


    ¡°General terms please.¡±


    ¡°It means they use alchemy as an all encompassing form of magic in creating weapons, and armies.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never heard of such a thing......¡±


    ¡°With the amount of resources available to them, in relation of magic resources, they have managed to forge a quite the construct army.¡±


    ¡°That sounds quite amazing.¡±


    ¡°No, what''s more amazing is the head of the technocratic government''s, daughter.¡±


    ¡°You''re using terms I do not understand.¡±


    ¡°All you need to know is that everything they have accomplished, pales in comparison to how bright the future of a single girl is.¡±


    ¡°Then that nation will have a prosperous future?¡±


    An ironic smile formed on Acacia''s lips as he stared idly at the stars.


    ¡°That''s what it should have been.¡±


    A small frown formed on her face, after hearing him speak,¡°you''re being vague again.¡±


    ¡°That aside, what was that report about a murdered patrol?¡±


    ¡°A small militia of grems were sent to survey uncontrolled areas, at the southern tip of the river. After a few days of missing reports, we sent a few harpies to track them, their corpses were recently found.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately we do not have anyone skilled in analyzing corpses, do you want to have a look?¡±


    Acacia nodded, as Lumina lead the way to the last floor of the tower, there lain in straw mats were several dead bodies of adult male grems.


    He looked over one, and knelt down, bits of torn flesh, melted skin, and he could feel large concentrations of mana on damaged body parts. The next one was cut in half, the one after, had black lacerations across his body. He walked up to another that had, an awkward posture, after feeling the body he nodded, and let go.


    ¡°His spine was snapped.¡±


    There were a few common points, the attacks used venom that was natural, and not magical. The mana drifting around certain wounds indicated a form of dark magic, which had characteristic of leaving decay in the wounds, and tainting the mana around it.


    ¡°Lumina, what happened to their tools, and weapons?¡±


    ¡°They were most likely taken by the assailants.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm. Dark magic, uses bladed weapons, strong physical power, and venom.¡±


    ¡°Have you found any foreign material on the bodies, or near the area?¡±


    Lumina walked up to Acacia, and placed dark scales roughly 5cm long in his hands.


    Acacia''s face paled slightly, and formed a slight frown, the scales were leaking negative energy, similar to dark magic.


    ¡°....Deathmist Nagas.......¡±


    Luminna frowned, and looked slightly curious, ¡°nagas?¡±


    ¡°Half-human, half-snake, with four arms, generally a militant matriarchal society. Naga''s in general have high magic aptitude, and inhuman physical strength. It is said they grow stronger with age, the oldest recorded living one was a silver scale Naga, that supposedly lived for 1200 years.¡±


    Lumina merely stood by his side, as she watched him mumble to himself.


    ¡°..One of the few races that were blessed by the former living god of night, Agralesh.¡±


    A small sigh escaped his lips as he turned to Lumina.


    ¡°Can you lead me to where the bodies were found?¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    As Acacia walked out of the tower, Lumina turned towards a nearby black light pixie, and whispered a few words to her, before Lumina also left to where Acacia was waiting.


    The sky was shining brightly, and the cool light reflected off of the flowing water of a wide lake flowing into a large stretch of trees. Underneath the sky grunts of horses could be heard as two primitive carriages were being pulled, and driven by two grems.


    Acacia idly admired the glimmering water, as the occupants talked among themselves. In his carriage Luna was sitting beside him with a very thin blade strapped to her side, resembling a rapier, and was found in an old armoury in the tower. An odd choice for a physically weak pixie. She was talking to three grems armed with crude short swords, with light armour made from treated beast hide, and one junior alchemist.


    The other carriage trotting slowly next to them had a single harpy sleeping in the carriage, with slight electrical sparks dancing on her feathers, and a three grems huddled in a corner away from the harpy, with similar basic armour and weapons, there also were several sacks on that carriage.


    Although they were named carriages, they resembled more like modified wagons.


    Acacia could feel the carriage go up, and down on the bumpy plains, because the ongoing project of building dirt roads did not reach very far. He yawned lightly as he nearly nodded off. The warm winds, the sounds of running water, a long ride of several days caused his mind to seem dreary.


    As Acacia eyed the river in an absent mind, he noticed his body growing tired, and gold dust slowly smothering him, immediately he eyed Lumina who was smiling beside him.


    She whispered in his ear, in a cheerful voice, ¡°I''ll wake you up when we get there.¡±


    Before the words could come out of Acacia''s lips, he was already asleep, and feel into Lumina''s arms.


    ¡°Sweet dreams.¡±


    ------------------------


    I could see his torn body impaled into the hill, the bright red liquid flowed from a mangled body, his legs were bent in an awkward position, his arms were torn away, and a painful gasping noise echoed in my ears; I drew my face closer to him trying to hear him speak.


    ¡°Ah cough* cough* ..... agh...sorry.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you should be saying with your body looking like that.¡±


    After a few coughs, his bloodied lips formed a awkward grin.


    ¡°The coalition forces managed to break through, we''re finally going to stop the source of chaos, hehehe....¡±


    I could see John''s erratic breathing turn slow, and tepid, his eyes glazed over, and his body remained still, his forced smile permanently etched on his bloodied face.


    ¡°John?¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    ¡°It was nice knowing you.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    I reached over, and closed his tired eyes.


    ¡°You''ve done enough, rest now.¡±


    As I stared at the endless sea of bodies strewn across the hill I could see bright lights flashing in the distance, and massive creatures dancing in the skies far ahead, where the war rages on. Massive craters littered the landscape, trees destroyed, hills burst apart, and the resting dead all over the place.


    Far off in the distance I could see a pillar of iridescent light shooting into the heavens, the unnatural birth prophesied by the grand seer has come to pass. Instead of going forward towards that great expanse of light I knelt down, and sat next to the dead body beside me. Surprisingly the heat of war died, off, and I could only feel a slight chill.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Haah, I couldn''t move even if I wanted to.¡±


    As I stared idly at the sky, I could feel my body temperature slowly drop, my arms felt stiff, and tired.


    ¡°.........I really don''t want to die.¡±


    The last thing burned into my eyes was the distant pillar of light, as I slowly drifted off into the darkness.


    Acacia slowly opened his eyes staring at Lumina looking down on him with a smile, and he noticed a dull orange glow colouring the sky.


    ¡°Did you have a good rest, master?¡±


    ¡°.......... It was ok.¡±


    After answering, he immediately got back up to notice that a small camp was set up near the river. The crackling flames sent wisps of smoke drifting to his nose, it was charred meat.


    Immediately Acacia shook his head, as several distorted images of bloody lumps of flesh that were formerly sentient beings floated in his mind.


    ¡°Lumina, can I get some vegetables instead?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    After a quick nod, she went over to where the grems were roasting the meat, and brought out some vegetables from the sack. Acacia stared vacantly at his frail arms, and clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    ¡°What irony....¡±


    The campsite was built near the southern tip, and a fair bit of distance from where the first surveying team was murdered. The smoke would likely attract anyone near the area, and the fire would most likely keep primitive beasts away.


    Half of the original group was currently off completing some tasks, and Lumina was now focusing her efforts on roasting the vegetables.


    ¡°I guess I shouldn''t waste time.¡±


    Acacia found a comfortable spot in a thick patch of grass to sit on, and sat down, after breathing slowly he closed his eyes, and drowned out his consciousness. Slowly but surely, the outside world disappeared.


    The darkness was eventually replaced by the furious wind, and blinding snow. His flesh felt like it could shatter at any moment from the frigid cold, and without a single thought he decided to walk forward. He walked past the snowy landscape, past the giant silver lake, and witnessed a massive shadow in the distance covered by the snow.


    It remained still and faint, it looked as tall as a mountain, and yet no matter how much Acacia walked towards it, the distance between the two never closed. As he was wondering what it was he noticed the scene distort, and within an instant the scenery disappeared, and he was looking at two planets swirling to the left and right. Rather than say the planets were right next to him, it was more accurate to say the images of them were imprinted in his pupils when he looked at the specific direction.


    He himself was floating aimlessly in a sky of black, where distant stars were glowing lightly, a thin white film was covering his flesh, preventing him from moving. The planet on the left was white, and black, surrounded by contrasting mists. The planet on the right looked like a massive fireball glowing brightly, with small moons floating around it. It was definitely not the sun, but could rival it in every way.


    He had no idea, what to do, or where to go. The concept of this space was only at the initial stages, Acacia himself was at the level of trial and error.


    What exactly am I supposed to do?


    As he floated aimlessly for what seemed like several hours, a powerful force dragged him into the white, and black planet. The force was so strong he felt incapable of any other action, just nearing the planet, caused his body to crack, and his skin to melt.


    As soon as he broke past the atmosphere he slammed into a strange wall, the flesh that housed his body was no more, and he merely became of ball of light, without a human form.


    ------------


    Acacia''s eyes remained closed, his breathing seemed calm, and his face seemed oddly peaceful. Lumina had already tried to get him to wake up for his meal, but to no avail, instead or persisting she merely watched the unresponsive body quietly without batting an eyelash.


    During the long silence a wooshing sound could be heard, and something landed beside her.


    ¡°Mistress Lumina, a strange group has been sighted heading to this location from the south.¡±


    ¡°That was faster than expected.¡±


    The harpy called Leine eyed Acacia sitting in a fixed position in curiosity. Lumina merely smiled, and walked into he distance where the harpy came from.


    ¡°You''re.. Going alone?¡±


    ¡°He''s busy after all, the noise would disturb him.¡±


    ¡°Should I...¡±


    ¡°No need, who knows if that''s a distraction, or if there''s a splinter group. In the worst case scenario grab master, and escape.¡±


    ¡°I couldn''t see them directly, but I could sense they were dangerous., and there was quite alot them.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Isn''t that being reckless?¡±


    ¡°There''s something I want to confirm.¡±


    Without waiting for a response Lumina flew into the distance, to meet the group head on. She flew past the trees in minute, and quick motions. Barely a sound was made, as a light blur swerved past trees, grass, boulders, and tall foliage. Instead of slowing down because of all the obstacles, her speed actually accelerated, leaving a subtle vibration of wind.


    In mere moments a figure burst out of the trees, and rushed into the plains, causing the grass underneath to bend unnaturally, eventually a large lake came to view. She flew directly over an expansive lake, and ignored the looming shadows underneath it.


    Eventually her flight stopped, and she landed on a plain field of grass, where she unsheathed a thin rapier, covered in artificial leaves, and stabbed the soil beneath her.


    A smile spread on her lips, as she whispered gently to herself, and merely stood their staring into the distance. At first they seemed like shadows, darting in and out of every crevice, but since the plains had no obstacles the creature were easily in view as they rushed out of a suspicious looking fog.


    Their lower bodies looked to be of a snakes, with thick black scales, they were over 5 metres long, and wore surprisingly enough, well forged armour, and weapons. Their upper bodies had human qualities, with an occasional scale in different areas on their hands, and face. The most striking characteristic were their four arms, armed with various weapons that looked well made in design, and form.


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    A small smile spread across her lips as she stood stock still. The Naga''s that saw her alone, and waiting, were cautious at first, and some at the front even slowed down their movements. Pixies had a racial trait of mischief, and trickery.


    But compared to a Naga, especially a group of them, why would they stop for a mere pixie? This reasoning wasn''t communicated to each other, but a natural train of thought. The more cautious of the group stayed back, and spread out, while the majority rushed in with a vengeance.


    The green grass around Lumina started to bloom with vibrant flowers of various colors, a subtle flap of her wings caused the wind to stir, and waver restlessly, as gold dust seems to float in the air, and gravitate around her. She placed her delicate fingers on the hem of her dress, and curtsied.


    A cheerful chuckle escaped her lips, ¡°I''ll be you partner for tonight, treat me well.¡±


    The flowers around her grew more vibrant, and gold dust started to dance violently in the sky.


    ....................


    Did the me from back then die on that day? What is that feeling I occasionally feel? That black desire slowly growing inside of me? What have I became?


    Was this always what I have been? Or..... Have I truly been led into insanity?


    If the blood that flows in my body is lit aflame for every time this blade of mine rips apart flesh...


    If that flash of red looks more beautiful than any jewel, then have I finally walked to that side?


    The ecstasy in seeing the lifeless bodies fell one by one by my hand, of walking the thin divide in life and death, and the cold winds blowing from the future?


    If that darkness consumed me then so be it, let this thrill live on, and let me drown in this darkness.


    If the me back then already died, then allow me to be someone else. If insanity is my current self then I will embrace it.


    Will they shatter my bones? Dye my flesh red?And see me with eyes filled with hatred, and fury?


    How beautiful is the malice directed at me?


    Hate me, destroy me, let your blood adorn my dress, that is more beautiful than any gold, or jewel.


    Show me the true worth of my existence!


    A wicked smile formed on Lumina''s lips while she stabbed the rapier into a Naga'' eyes, as she swiftly flew sideways narrowly dodging two silver arcs. The single slash was more than enough to sever her limbs, and the flow of blood was a lustrous red.


    ¡°Your scales are too hard, and your physical force is indeed powerful, as a pixie I should really be using magic, but something about a melee weapon....¡±


    The Naga that lost it''s eye ignored her, and spat out a dart of venom at her blurry form, only to be met with an expanding shield of petals, that was quickly dissolved, and Lumina disappeared from view.


    A sharp pain could be felt, and the Naga screeched in agony as something pierced through it''s neck, a gentle whisper sounded in the Naga''s ears as it began to fall.


    ¡°...Is just so satisfying.¡±


    As the corpse slowly fell to the ground the blood that came loose slowly dried, up and a black flower started to form from the corpse itself, from the mouth, nose, and area''s she pierced. The gold dust slowly became more vibrant, some of them glowed black, while other started to glow white.


    A beautiful smile formed on her lips, as her speed suddenly increased, causing her to dodge a cluster of venom that landed on the grass making a terrifying sizzling sound. Three more rushed at her from the front, emanating a powerful negative energy.


    The dust floating in the air start to grow rapidly into seed, then grow into flowers, while dancing along the wind. Instead of charging in, she flew back wards baiting the attackers closer. A naga weighs over 500 pounds, the rushing speed, and weight alone would shatter her body, and break her bones if they made contact.


    As the three naga''s charged forward, she discovered her left, and right flank were slowly being enclosed as well. Leaving only the back empty, but instead of going backwards, she charged back into the three at the front.


    ¡°I know you''re deliberately leading me to that route, I won''t fall for it.¡±


    As three male naga''s charged forward, their movements became stiff, and clumsy. The grass underneath them housed many black flowers leaking a strange black light, during this awkward delay Lumina already appeared near the naga in the middle, and thrust her rapier into the naga''s forehead.


    That single explosive power was aided by the wind from her wings, and acceleration, however the naga barely dodged, while the rapier glanced past him. Flowers bloomed on the blade, releasing a burst of paralytic pollen. After inhaling a bit of it, the naga slumped to the ground. Lumina ignored the fallen naga, and went for the one on the left, as she was about to reach him, a barrage of black light pierced the space between them.


    Causing the air between them to decay, instead of moving she uttered a single sentence.


    ¡°Thorn burst.¡±


    The naga behind her started to leak blood from his lips, and eyes, after convulsing he fell to the ground, bits, and pieces of his scales fell apart, as bloody thorns burst out from the skin, and shot outwards. All around the area naga''s coughed out blood, cried tears, or had flowers blooming from their skulls, and eyes.


    Despite this scene Lumina danced around the corpses, and flew along the flowery plains. The dead bodies were covered with thorny flowers, leaking black light. The skin, and vitality of the naga''s slowly decreased, but for some reason Lumina''s skin looked more glossy, and her dress became more, and more vibrant.


    Petals fell from the sky, causing the insect that were buzzing around to drop dead from merely passing them. As Lumina casually danced around the dead, the sky above the field grew dark, and the blue sky burst apart, revealing a pillar of darkness. The pillar rapidly expanded, until it slammed down on where Lumina was, scorching everything black.


    In the end only a patch of decayed grass lay, even the bodies of the dead naga''s were turned to dust. Far away hidden in the trees were a group of naga''s lead by a single female naga, in fancy obsidian coloured armour.


    Her mature face furled in disgust. ¡°To have all that trouble from a single strange pixie.¡±


    As she was about to order her men forward a strange shadow floated next to her.


    ¡°So that''s where you were?¡±


    The female naga looked on without emotion as she watched Lumina floating passively in the distance to the right of her.


    ¡°Are you that confident?¡±


    ¡°No, I''m just here for negotiations after all, let''s talk¡±


    She placed the rapier in it''s sheathe and revealed her bloodied hands, with some bruises visible.


    ¡°You see my body isn''t really suited for this, so I can only do this for a short time. My hands are also hurting.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Does that mean we can kill you now?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.... I wonder?¡±


    Comments: Comp crashes, and the general heat kinda killed my motivation. That, and just finding out some new games yay. Lots of gaming time used up, anyways eventually found time to write a chapter.


    Also realized I should probably make it longer because it''s been awhile. But don''t really want to progress the plot past this point, what to do... Insert a random battle scene of course. Shameless aren''t I?