《Saving Mysteria Volume 1: From Earth to the Arcane》 Prologue: The Seers Vision I have seen the end of Mysteria. Not in dreams nor in whispers of prophecy, but in visions as clear as the rising sun. I have seen the rivers run dry, their waters no longer shimmering with the glow of magic but reduced to lifeless streams of dust. I have seen the floating spires of Arcelis, once brilliant beacons of light, collapse into the abyss, their enchantments stripped away as if they had never existed. I have felt the tremors of a dying world, the land itself cracking open, its breathless cries swallowed by the void. The sky, once vast and endless, darkens under an unnatural eclipse. The stars that once danced above our world flicker and vanish, their light devoured by a force far beyond our own. Magic, the very essence of Mysteria, is fading. And with it, everything we have ever known. This fate was never meant to be. For more than a millennium, Mysteria has stood strong, its balance maintained by the ten Cardinal Mages¡ªthe chosen vessels of the Gems of Cardinal Magic. These were not merely gifted sorcerers; they were living embodiments of the arcane forces that governed our world. Each was bound to a Gem, their power inseparable from the ancient relic that chose them. The Pharaoh of the Heavens, sovereign of the skies, who commanded the winds and storms with a mere breath. The King of Fire, whose flames burned with creation and destruction alike, stood as both a force of renewal and ruin. The Duke of Supremacy, an unshakable force, bent all to his indomitable will. The Emperor of Earth, the unyielding foundation, shaped mountains and valleys with a single step. The Czar of Changes, ever-shifting like the times, wove fate and transformation at his whim. The Queen of Waters could call forth the tides with a whisper. The Duchess of Creations, the master artisan, molded existence from the void. The Angel of Life, a beacon against darkness, stood as the eternal guardian of vitality. The Czarina of Senses, the keeper of secrets untold, unraveled the mysteries hidden beyond mortal perception. Lastly, the Empress of Reflections, the perfect mimic, could become all that she beheld, mirroring both form and power with flawless precision. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Together, they were the Mystic Knights of Mysteria, warriors and scholars, rulers and wanderers, each carrying a duty far greater than themselves. They were our shield, our guiding stars, the guardians of all magic. But time is merciless. The last of the Cardinal Mages has long since perished, their souls returned to the flow of magic, their legacy nothing but stories passed down in trembling voices. The Gems, without their vessels, fell into silence, waiting for the next to be chosen. And now, as Mysteria stands on the precipice of ruin, the invaders come. They are not from our world. They do not belong to the order of magic. Their presence is an abomination, their existence a hunger that can never be sated. They come from a place devoid of true power, their own world withered and drained. And so, they set their sights upon ours. Not to conquer, not to rule, but to consume. They will leave nothing behind. But I have seen something else. A glimmer in the darkness. A future unwritten. The Gems, though silent for centuries, are not lost. They have stirred once more, but their gaze has turned away from Mysteria. They have reached beyond our skies, past the veil of worlds, to a place untouched by magic. Earth. A realm where sorcery is but a story, where spells and incantations are nothing more than words on a page. It is there that the Gems have found their new vessels, their new Cardinal Mages. Ten souls, living lives unaware of the destiny that awaits them. They are ordinary in their own world, but in ours, they are everything. I have seen them standing at the threshold of fate, bewildered and afraid. I have seen them struggle, torn between two worlds, bearing a burden heavier than they could ever have imagined. I have seen them rise, wielding magic that has not been touched by mortal hands in an age. And I have seen them fight. They do not yet know it, but they are Mysteria¡¯s last hope. The battle has already begun. The question is, will they be strong enough to win the war in Saving Mysteria? Chapter 1: A World Not My Own Blood soaks the earth beneath my feet, a thick, metallic scent clogging the air. The sky overhead is a swirling chaos of dark clouds and crimson streaks¡ªan unnatural storm raging over the battlefield. Screams pierce through the cacophony of clashing steel and searing magic. I tighten my grip around my bow, its silver inlays glowing faintly as I weave another arrow of condensed magical energy. Why am I here? It¡¯s been ten years. Ten years since I arrived in Mysteria. Ten years since I last set foot on Earth. And yet, I still have no answer. No way home. A blast of energy rips past me, throwing dust and debris into the air. I raise a barrier just in time, the shimmering veil of bluish-silver light absorbs the impact. A guttural roar echoes through the battlefield¡ªanother beast falls, its monstrous form collapsing into the mud. My friends fight on, pushing forward. I do the same, my magic flowing instinctively now, my body moving as though this has always been my life. But it hasn¡¯t. I remember who I used to be. I remember my last night on Earth.
It was almost seven o''clock on a Friday night when I arrived home, exhaustion settling deep into my bones. The office had been suffocating as usual, another dreary day spent in front of a screen, answering emails that barely mattered. My place was quiet, save for the familiar soft thuds of tiny paws against the wooden floor. Three gray tabby cats approached me, their tails flicking lazily. I managed a tired smile. ¡°At least you guys are still here,¡± I muttered, crouching down to scratch behind their ears. ¡°You¡¯re the only reason I haven¡¯t lost my mind yet.¡± Lumine, the only girl of the three, purred in response, a comfort in an otherwise dull existence. Gizmo, the oldest of three (he just turned ten this year), was screaming at me, demanding food. Cosmo, Lumine''s brother from the same litter, meowed at me softly, brushing his face against my legs. That''s his own way asking for food. I took my phone out and opened the app that controls their feeder. I tapped Dispense, and surely, their feeder let out a handful of kibbles. The three of them ran across the room at the sound of the kibbles falling onto their metal bowls. I considered taking a shower, but the thought of standing under running water felt like too much effort. Instead, I threw myself onto my bed, barely bothering to remove my tie. The sheets smelled faintly of detergent and something uniquely mine¡ªfamiliar, grounding. Sleep pulled at my consciousness, and I let it take me. And then¡ª A soft hum. A glow of bluish-white light. I opened my eyes, but I wasn¡¯t in my bed anymore. Cold. The ground beneath me was solid, unyielding. Concrete? No¡ªstone. I pushed myself up, my fingers brushing against smooth, ancient carvings. A vast emptiness stretched around me, punctuated only by the glow of floating symbols and the eerie melody that filled the space. I followed the sound, the light growing brighter with each hesitant step. And then, standing before me, was a figure unlike any I had ever seen. He was tall, his frame both lean and powerful. Long hair, the color of the sky at dusk, cascaded down his back. Great feathered wings extended from his shoulders, a shimmering mix of silver and blue. His eyes, piercing yet unreadable, met mine. ¡°Welcome,¡± he said, his voice smooth, resonant. ¡°Where I am?¡± I asked, mostly annoyed than confused. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°You are in Mysteria.¡± He smiled. ¡°Excuse me? Mister what now?¡± I replied. I stared at him, my mind sluggish, still clinging to the notion that this was a dream. He inclined his head slightly. ¡°I am Yashka,¡± he said. ¡°I understand this might be very confusing for you, but I am here to offer you insight and answers.¡± I hesitated before answering. ¡°¡­Right.¡± ¡°Czak Alastar,¡± he murmured, as if confirming something. ¡°You have been chosen.¡± ¡°First of all, chosen for what?¡± I asked, my voice dull with annoyance. ¡°Second of all, how did you know my name?¡± He let out a soft amused chuckle. ¡°Chosen to protect this world,¡± he said, ¡°and I know your name because the Gem that chose you told me.¡± ¡°The what chose me now?¡± I frowned. ¡°You, along with nine others, have been chosen by the Gems. They¡ª¡± ¡°The gems?¡± I echoed. ¡°The gems? How could a gem choose?¡± He smiled, as if this question had been asked and was expected. ¡°The Gems are semi-sentient beings,¡± he began. ¡°Think of them as artificial intelligence, so to speak in your world. These Gems are the vessels of every magic that has ever been and will ever be in Mysteria. They hold the greatest power known in existence. ¡°Every form of magic flows from these gems: the Gem of Heavens, Gem of Fire, Gem of Supremacy, Gem of Earth, Gem of Changes, Gem of Waters, Gem of Changes, Gem of Life, Gem of Senses, and Gem of Reflections. These gems recognized your potential, your aptitude for magic.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Magic? I¡¯ve never cast a spell in my life.¡± Yashka tilted his head slightly. ¡°Everyone from your world has the potential for magic. But Earth is devoid of magical energy. Mysteria, however, is filled with it. Here, your potential can be realized. I can help you weave spells, cast incantations, invoke hexes, engrave runes, conjure illusions, summon energies, harness mana, wield sorcery, and manifest phantasms.¡± I smirked. ¡°That¡¯s a tempting offer, but I still do not see what it has to do with me.¡± Yashka¡¯s wings shifted slightly as he took a measured step forward. ¡°Mysteria is under threat. Invaders from another realm seek to consume its magic, to drain it until nothing remains.¡± I let out a slow breath, crossing my arms. ¡°That¡¯s rough. But, again, what¡¯s that got to do with me?¡± Yashka¡¯s gaze darkened, his expression grave. ¡°If Mysteria falls, the balance of the universe will be disrupted. Simply put, all worlds will fall¡ªincluding Earth.¡± ¡°That sounds a little dramatic.¡± I wrinkled my nose. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Mysteria is the core of all magical energy,¡± Yashka explained. ¡°It maintains the balance of existence, ensuring that worlds remain separate and do not collapse into each other. If it is destroyed, that balance will shatter. Every world, yours included, will cease to exist.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°¡­So, saving Mysteria means saving Earth.¡± Yashka nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± I let out a dry laugh, running a hand through my hair. ¡°Well, shit. I wasn¡¯t exactly having the time of my life back home anyway.¡± Yashka¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°I understand this is difficult to process.¡± I sighed, shaking my head. ¡°No, you don¡¯t. But that¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s say I believe you. What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°You must accept the power bestowed upon you,¡± Yashka said. ¡°The Gem of the Heavens has chosen you, but you have to accept it. To give the Gem consent to be its new vessel.¡± ¡°And what is the Gem of the Heavens, exactly?¡± I asked, trying not to sound so skeptical. Yashka gestured towards the humming light. ¡°It is the source of all sky, wind, and celestial magic.¡± I let the words sink in. A part of me still thought this was a dream. But another part¡ªthe part that had long since grown numb to the monotony of my old life¡ªwas whispering, urging me forward. ¡°¡­Fuck it,¡± I muttered. ¡°What am I going to lose anyway?¡± Yashka offered a small, knowing smile. ¡°Then it is decided.¡± He lifted a hand, and a soft, celestial light surrounded me. ¡°You were chosen by the Gem of the Heavens,¡± he repeated. ¡°And now, your journey begins.¡± I barely heard the rest of his explanation¡ªabout dominion over the heavens, about the nature of the Gems. I was still stuck on the absurdity of it all. When he led me toward the exit of what he called the ¡°Plane of Consciousness,¡± I followed without question. What else was I supposed to do? And then, in the blink of an eye, I was somewhere else. A temple. A massive chamber, its walls lined with intricate murals of swirling skies and starry expanses. Standing within it were others¡ªnine humans, three elves, two . . . talking bears? And then¡ª ¡°Star?¡± A voice, familiar and raw with relief. My head snapped toward the source. My breath caught in my throat. I knew that voice. I was not alone in this world.