TCOB: CHAPTER EIGHT

The Mage’s Circle… Pear?

The Tower of the Azorth

Eldar mountains,

Eris - Ethania.

…

The cavernous meeting hall was alive with the faint buzz of hushed whispers. The room was without doors or windows―only the faint glow of runes inscribed into the wall and a few floating magical orbs of light to provide illumination. In the centre of this cavern was a large pear-shaped table around which a number of figures dressed in hooded robes sat. But despite the heated whispers travelling around the room, an aura of solemnity hung in the air. A few mages looked tense as they conversed discreetly with their brethren.

Suddenly, out of thin air, three whirlpools of mana formed―twisting the fabric of space―as three more hooded figures walked out into the room.

"I want to believe everyone is here?" one of the new entrants asked in an airy tone as she―with an unsteady gait―walked towards the pointed end of the pear-shaped table to take her seat. Her frail fingers curled gently around the staff(walking stick) in her hands, revealing wrinkled skin hidden underneath her hooded robe. Although, the mage's whitened hair projected a feeling of ancientness, her clear eyes shone intelligently.

Watching as the group's whispering grew nonexistent after her question, the elder's eyes glinted contently. "I am sorry for the abrupt summons," she began with a standard apology, "I am sure I interrupted more than one revolutionary research at the cusp of completion with this stunt of mine, but we have something of a major problem on our hands. A few, if I reckon correctly."

"Thena, is this about the mysterious phenomenon that occurred a few days ago?" one of the mages asked, leaning onto the table with a dead-eyed look on his face. His gaze held a hint of impatience. "I thought we had already confirmed that the rends were just a result of Tyrone experiencing another childish outburst? Do we really need to get involved in this matter? A large majority of the scars have already healed, and the rest too would with time… right? Even if they don't, the temple should handle it, no? It is their Patron’s fault."

"Don't be senile, Doss," Thena replied coldly. "I expect you to know that if it were just that, I wouldn't have gone as far as to declare a gathering."

Glancing around at the expressions of the mages present at the table, Thena continued. "To begin, I would like to once again mention the greatly alarming increase in the occurrence of dungeon breaches, both here on Eris and the distant Nae. To punctuate this, I propose increasing the incentive allocated to dungeon clearing to encourage mages―external, reclusive or in-training― to work with the existing nobility to suppress the possibility of more outbreaks. Although this would cost more of our resources, I want to believe this is for the best as no one here would want to see a repeat of the Lindel incident. All in agreement, please signify by raising a hand."

All twenty mages present raised a hand to which Thena nodded. "Now to the main crux of today's summons."

Thena paused solemnly before continuing.

"Our goddess has gone into… seclusion," she said with a forced smile, causing the mages gathered to stiffen visibly. "For a while, at least until she decides to show herself again, goddess Vera would not be responding to any sort of contact."

"I-is there a problem?" one woman asked hesitantly. The mage had turned pale and appeared particularly worried.

"...I am not sure," Thena replied hesitantly, "but before she left, the goddess left a word of instruction and a divine prophecy.

“‘Find him. And bring him to Azgaar. Unarmed' the goddess said," Thena added in quote. "As for the prophecy…" the ancient mage simply extended her open palm, placing it on the table. Golden tendrils extended from her hand across the table before mist began to gather from the surface. The mana in the air coalesced into esoteric runes that floated in the air.

"Upon the eleventh hour,

An ancient evil at last awakens from his eternal slumber.

The first infernal grows stronger,

His demon armies shall march, in their wake, great chaos and slaughter.

An unfettered soul shall arise.

Ethania's last hope. The harbinger of chaos, perversion and demise.

His name, Usurper. Bane of all.

Perisher of gods, demons and men. By his hands, the pantheon shall fall…

And through destruction, the old world is born anew."

The gathering of mages descended into a gloomy silence.

"That sounds… ominous," A mage, appearing to be in his late forties, said solemnly.

"No shit!" Doss cursed as he threw a hand in the air. Some mages in the group frowned disapprovingly, but no one appeared to be in the mood to berate the foul-tongued man.

"What do you suggest we do?" Thena finally asked, her sombre voice breaking the silence.

"...What other choices do we have?" one dark-skinned man scoffed. "I suggest we recall all in-house mages on non-critical expeditions and redirect them towards finding this 'god slayer' as per the goddess's wishes, no?"

Thena sighed. "I guess we better get started immediately, then."

"What's with urgency?" the woman from earlier asked. "I would suggest we not rush this given the delicacy of the situation," she added, to which several mages murmured in agreement.

"If we are going to find this person and bring him back to Azgaar alive, we had better hurry," Thena replied tiredly. "The temple of Order just issued a manhunt, shortly after I received the goddess's instructions. The target of their manhunt is an unfettered soul.

“...The order?” Doss asked.

Thena sighed in response.

“Kill on sight."