《Messenger from beyond》


 Interrogation

    ¡ª Claude, mage of the North, explain your journey to the West. ¡ª The firm voice echoed through the cold, dimly lit stone chamber.


    Claude sat on an uncomfortable chair in the center of the room, surrounded by unfamiliar faces¡ªformer enemies who now might be his only hope.


    The stone walls exuded a damp chill, as if they, too, were judging him. Torches mounted on the walls cast unsteady shadows that danced across the faces of the interrogators.


    In front of him, a worn wooden table separated him from three imposing figures: Queen Maiza, with her critical eyes and impeccable posture; Guilherme, her right hand, who observed him with an indecipherable expression; and L¨ªvia, the counselor, whose fingers were rhythmically drumming against the table.


    ¡ª Start from the beginning, ¡ª Maiza insisted, leaning slightly forward.


    Claude took a deep breath. He wasn¡¯t sure his words would be enough to convince them.


    ¡ª I¡¯m not from here, I mean, not from this reality, ¡ª he began, looking at his own hands bound in front of him, still trying to process the events that had brought him to this place.


    ¡ª It all started when I went to sleep. Before waking up, something inexplicable happened: I was pulled, out of nowhere, into a realm outside my universe. I woke up disoriented and with an inexplicable feeling of happiness, as if I wanted to be there, dressed in a white robe I had never seen before. That was the first step they took when they summoned us.


    ¡ª My past was nothing but a white fog in my mind. The only thing I felt was satisfaction at being in that place.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    He paused, searching for the right words.


    ¡ª They called me to fight. To help. A chosen one of the gods¡ªthat¡¯s what they told me.


    The silence in the room was almost deafening. The three at the table exchanged glances again, as if silently debating something. Finally, L¨ªvia broke the silence.


    ¡ª And why the North? Why would a mage like you be summoned?


    Claude hesitated.


    ¡ª I don¡¯t know. I only know it wasn¡¯t my choice. I wasn¡¯t even a mage. Now I have some flashes of my life before coming here.


    L¨ªvia stopped drumming her fingers and leaned forward.


    ¡ª We shall see. Your presence in the North didn¡¯t go unnoticed during the last war, Claude¡ªthe young mage who earned the title Messenger of the Beyond for taking more lives than an army of a small nation.


    Claude¡¯s amber eyes glinted under the dim light of the room. He sighed deeply, averting his gaze for a brief moment, as if the words had to be expelled quickly.


    ¡ª You know as much about me as I do, ¡ª he finally replied, his voice calm but measured. ¡ª I didn¡¯t ask to be what I am. What happened... was an accident, something beyond my control. They manipulated me. They manipulated everyone.


    L¨ªvia leaned even closer, her eyes fixed on Claude¡¯s, as if trying to extract the truth from him.


    ¡ª Accident or not, no one earns a title like that without doing something to deserve it. Ashes follow you, mage. You cannot escape suspicion. Here in the West, your presence is both a threat and a promise. And we... ¡ª she paused deliberately, letting the weight of her words sink in. ¡ª We will uncover what you truly represent.


    The interrogation continued, but Claude knew this was only the beginning of his journey.


    Then L¨ªvia murmured:


    ¡ª Mana deorum nos adiuvabit, veritatem tuam dic.


    She extended her hand, and a pale red light began to emanate from her fingers, enveloping the air around Claude like a mist pressing against his skin. He instinctively recoiled.


    ¡ª What are you doing? ¡ª Claude asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.


    ¡ª Ensuring that we hear only the truth, ¡ª L¨ªvia replied, emotionless, as the light continued to envelop Claude.


    A suffocating sensation overwhelmed him. It was as if an invisible weight pressed against his chest, forcing words out of his mind before he could even organize them.


    ¡ª It all began... ¡ª Claude¡¯s voice trembled, and he heard with horror that he couldn¡¯t stop speaking. ¡ª ...when I went to sleep.


    He tried to resist, but it was like fighting an invisible current.


    ¡ª Before waking, something inexplicable happened: I was pulled into a realm outside my universe. I woke up disoriented, but... happy. As if I wanted to be there.


    Claude shot a horrified look at L¨ªvia, but she was unmoved. The glow in her fingers intensified as she maintained her focus.


    ¡ª I don¡¯t know why I was summoned. It wasn¡¯t my choice. They... I was transformed. They manipulated me. Manipulated everyone... ¡ª The words came out like a forced confession, torn from his very being.


    L¨ªvia finally closed her fingers, and the glow around her hand flared even brighter.

 Two years ago.

    The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was King Patrick. His dark eyes seemed unfathomable, and his silver hair shone under the light. He was robust, of medium height. When I saw him, I thought he must have been training since birth.


    Beside him stood a blonde mage named Dayanne. She had violet eyes, an athletic build, and seemed to embody all the beauty in the world. Dayanne was apparently the one responsible for summoning us to aid in the fight against the demons of the West.


    However, before I could understand the situation, I heard King Patrick speak:


    ¡ª Welcome to our Kingdom of Light. Our motto is to help others. Feel free to enjoy your time here.


    To this day, I remember those words perfectly. That¡¯s how they tried to start brainwashing us.


    ¡ª Hypocrites.


    When I came to my senses, my eyes were drawn to a spectacle of vibrant colors. The gold of the ornaments and the emerald green of the gemstones intertwined in a mosaic, creating a cozy yet almost surreal atmosphere.


    The air, perfumed with incense and exotic flowers, carried a mystery that sent shivers down my spine. Looking at the stained glass window behind the king and the mage, I noticed the ancient runes seemed to pulse with their own light.


    Glancing to the sides, I saw four other young people: one woman and three men. I, along with them, was one of the chosen ones of the season to help these people.


    Dayanne, the beautiful mage, explained that in this world, there exists a magical system that grants special attributes to those chosen by the gods.


    She explained that magic could develop in different ways, but not all users were suited to receive the gift. At first, she would analyze the affinities of the chosen ones.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Of the five candidates for the season, two gained affinity as soldiers, one as a tank, one as a mage, and one had no magical affinity at all.


    Dayanne said:


    ¡ª Based on your affinities, you will train with the commanders of your respective areas.


    My magic manifested as that of a mage, with mana circulating through my body that could be transformed into matter. It was something unique but also terrifying, as if my body was merely a vessel for something far greater.


    Dayanne explained that mage magic is divided into two major categories: attack magic and support magic. This occurs because mana¡ªan essential energy that permeates all existence¡ªseems to have a sort of ¡°will of its own.¡± From choosing who can wield it to how it will be used, it¡¯s as if mana decides its purpose within each person.


    This energy flows through both the environment and living beings, but its manipulation is neither universal nor standardized. On the contrary, it adapts to the needs and limitations of each user. It¡¯s this adaptability that gave rise to the two main branches of magic: Attack and Support.


    The division between these two types reflects how mana condenses and flows through the body. Attack Magic is directed toward offensive objectives, such as defeating enemies or breaking defenses. This branch transforms mana into explosive and destructive energy. Conversely, Support Magic, also called defensive magic, is essential for protecting allies, healing damage, or amplifying abilities, ensuring strategic advantages in prolonged battles.


    I broke into a huge smile, almost bursting with happiness. Having magic was anyone¡¯s dream, even if it was only for support.


    What I didn¡¯t know was that magic was incredibly complicated. Studying spells was extremely tedious, especially because it required an understanding of Latin. Another problem was that mages stayed in the rear, meaning it was mandatory to stay at the back of the army or your group during combat because they claimed mages were fragile. Fragile is the face of that phony king.


    ¡ª Focus! ¡ª L¨ªvia¡¯s deafening shout pierced into Claude¡¯s mind.


    ¡ª Okay.


    After Dayanne¡¯s evaluation, the troop captains arrived at the palace¡¯s main hall, and the king gave a brief introduction of each to the summoned ones.


    The first to be introduced was Rafael, the captain of the soldiers. With hair as golden as the sun and silver eyes that reflected his determination, he stood out for his colossal stature and the imposing nature of his presence. His figure was so intimidating that many compared him to a true monster of strength.


    Next, the king presented Marta, the captain of the mages. Despite her short stature, which left her overshadowed by the other captains, Marta was a living legend. Famous for having defeated an entire troop of dragons on her own without exhausting her mana, her aged appearance only reinforced her wisdom and the magical power she possessed.


    Finally, Felipe, the captain of the tanks, was introduced. His short hair, a deep navy blue, perfectly matched his eyes of the same color, which conveyed a calm that was almost lethal. Although he wasn¡¯t as tall as Rafael, Felipe compensated with a robust physique and dense musculature that reflected his strength and resilience.


    Each of the captains, with their unique characteristics, made it clear to the summoned ones that they were in the presence of true legends.


    The summoned were reassigned to their areas along with their respective leaders, leaving behind only the young man who had no affinity with magic.

 Region of the Mages

    "I went to the southern part of the castle with the old mage, Marta. She had brown hair, black eyes, and seemed to be around eighty years old. Her S-shaped spine left no room for doubt.


    At the heart of the southern part of the castle stood the imposing Southern Tower, the base for training and studying magic. The tower, with its slender and almost menacing structure, was a vertical, robust construction with multiple floors and staircases.


    The main structure of the tower was made of polished black stone, which reflected a faint bluish glow under the moonlight. The windows were narrow, strategically positioned as slits that looked more like watchtowers. However, instead of being used to observe the outside, they served to focus light into the vast study and training halls.


    At the top, a large translucent crystal dome shimmered, acting as a magical beacon emanating a greenish aura, marking the territory of the mages. It was said that the glow''s intensity varied depending on the concentration of mana in the area.


    The interior of the tower was a maze of spiral staircases and narrow hallways. On the lower levels were the mages¡¯ quarters. I lived in one of the rooms near the entrance, while the study and practice halls were located from the third floor onwards, featuring large dark wooden tables worn from constant use, and walls filled with papers and brushes we used to transcribe spells. Light was provided by floating crystals that hovered in the air, softly illuminating the environment in shades of blue and purple.


    Higher up, the rooms became quieter and emptier, reserved for advanced-level mages. These floors contained private chambers for meditation and intense training, with walls inscribed with runes that absorbed excess mana during practice. It was said that the top of the tower was restricted to captains and experienced mages like Marta and Dayanne. Invokers were not allowed up there, especially because of a barrier that prevented us from ascending.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    The gardens around the tower were peculiar, with plants that looked exotic, almost supernatural, with leaves that glowed faintly at night and flowers that exuded a scent that stimulated concentration. Each garden connected to one or more libraries crammed with tedious grimoires on all types of magic.


    Since I was at a beginner level, I could only enter the library of basic magic. Foundations of Magic, Introduction to Magic, and Latin were what I studied during my first months there.


    There were very few beginner mages, so Marta did not hold group lessons for us. She thought it wasn¡¯t worth wasting her precious time on three or four beginner mages. For her, basic guidance was enough. Because of this, that old hag wanted me to spend the entire day memorizing grimoires in Latin, which were overly complicated and enormous.


    She believed everyone was a self-learner. Honestly, what an annoying woman.


    One of the first important things I learned was that magic in this world had to be recited to work. However, there was the option of writing spells on the body, which made casting them faster and more practical.


    The problem was that it wasn¡¯t feasible to cover the entire body with writings during a battle, as it would create more surface area for opponents to target. For this reason, only a few spells could be written on the body.


    Essential spells such as healing, barriers, and attribute enhancement were written on the body by almost all mages. To activate them, one had to concentrate mana at their fingertips and pass them over the area where the spell was inscribed.


    More complex and powerful spells, however, demanded more mana¡ªthis magical energy bestowed upon us when blessed by the gods. Since they were larger, they took a few seconds to recite¡ªseconds that could prove fatal in a war. This is why mages stay in the rear.


    The better the mana concentration, the stronger the spell becomes. However, more mana is consumed to activate it.


    As I mentioned before, the rear¡ªwhere mages stay during wars¡ªis divided into three fundamental levels: support mages in the front, whose function is to assist soldiers, tanks, and other attack mages; attack mages in the middle, whose main role is to break through the defenses of other armies; and finally, healing mages in the back. The number of high-level healing mages is extremely low, and they are tasked with healing all allies returning from the front lines.


    ¡ª Seriously, I¡¯m appalled by you all! I don¡¯t see anyone taking notes on the important information. It¡¯s like you¡¯re idiots. That¡¯s why it was so easy to decimate your army.


    ¡ª Claude, the Messenger of the Beyond, do you wish to continue your story or die now? ¡ª said L¨ªvia¡¯s voice serenely in his mind.


    ¡ª No, no, sweetheart. I¡¯ll talk right away.


    ¡ª No jokes, mage, ¡ª L¨ªvia focused more mana, and the glow intensified once again."