Void followed the trace of energy through this universe, hunting for its source. Its feeling was unmistakable. Not only had someone jumped between universes, but the power on display here could only come from one source.
An Aeon.
She wondered who she’d find, who this person traversing the Multiverse was, and would it be someone she could work with?
The trace brought her to a rather unremarkable part of the Milky Way Galaxy, and back to the planet she once called home, millennia ago.
Earth.
Before long, after marvelling at the changes that Earth had been through since her last visit, she found the fading traces of energy centred around a Magus. She was a slim, curvy woman with long bright red hair who was talking with some friends.
Void decided to watch and wait, she’d catch her alone at some point soon.
She didn’t have long to wait though, and when this Magus, who she now knew the name of, Ported, Void intercepted her and pulled her into her realm.
“Greetings, Amanda-Jane Page. I am Void.”
Future Whispers
Void’s Realm
“Void?” Amanda asked, narrowing her eyes and looking up at the strange-looking being that floated in the air before her. She boosted her Aegis, pumping energy into it, pleased that there was Essentia here that she could use.
“Please,” Void said, raising her hands. “I mean you no harm. I just wish to talk with you.”
“I’m a little pressed for time,” Amanda answered, thinking about Nefertiti and how she would be fighting Yasmin off as she stood here talking to this Magus, and yet, as she thought about it, she sensed that something was different with the flow of time here.
“Time isn’t an issue. You will be returned to your destination at the same moment you left. We have plenty of time.”
Amanda looked at Void for a few seconds more, and then looked around at the featureless black environment she was in. She didn’t feel under threat, and this Void had so far, apart from waylaying her, done nothing that could be considered hostile. Not yet, at least.
She looked at Void again with her Aetheric Sight. She seemed to be living as some kind of exotic energy, making Amanda guess that she had chosen to transform herself into something without a physical body.
Amanda was quite aware that some of the Arch Masters were capable of transforming their bodies like this and living as energy, but on Earth, at least, this kind of thing was rare since it wasn’t practical for moving through the mortal world.
Void was glowing with Essentia in Amanda’s Aetheric Sight, marking her as a powerful Magus, and someone who might be difficult to deal with if the situation arose, but she had a feeling that it wouldn’t.
Relaxing her stance, Amanda inclined her head and smiled. “Alright, sure, let’s talk. Who are you and why are you interested in talking to me?”
Void’s strange, reflective chrome-like face smiled. It was an odd-looking expression and as the smile faded, Amanda thought she recognised her.
“I’m a Magus, like you, but older, I suspect. I left the Earth behind many millennia ago when the Archons still walked on its surface.”
“You’re an Un-Sundered Magus?”
Void nodded. “That is correct.”
“Sorry for asking, but, did you maybe go by another name, all that time ago?”
“I did. I was once known as Voress.”
“Ah, yes,” Amanda answered, remembering the vision that Sophia had shown her of those early Magi discussing leaving Earth behind. Void had been amongst them, but she had looked much more human then. “So, you were unaffected by the Archon’s Magic.”
“Correct. A long time ago, I learned how to leave this universe and travel to other, adjacent universes.”
“The Multiverse,” Amanda stated, understanding what Void was telling her.
“Correct,” Void said. “I’m not the only one who learned how, but we are few and far between. I brought you here because you have recently made a journey outside of this universe, correct?”
Amanda nodded, unsure how Void could know about her time with Sophia. “I guess you could say that, yes.” Another thought occurred to her suddenly, as she remembered the events at Bob’s Bar. “Two, in fact.”
“As I said, few people can do that, and of those who can, most are benevolent and use it purely to see more of this reality… Hang on, did you say two?”
“That’s right.”
“Intriguing.”
“So, most are benevolent, but not all, I take it?” Amanda asked.
“Indeed. Some choose to use the ability for their personal gain. Something that can be devastating for other realities.”
Amanda nodded. If she understood the Multiverse theory, then there were potentially an infinite number of other universes out there, each one slightly different to the others. Some would have Magi in them, some would have other kinds of Magic within them, and then there would be those which didn’t have any Magic in them at all, or, at least, no one there who was able to use it. A Magus visiting such a universe would have an incredible advantage over anyone else, and the chaos they could cause would be unprecedented.
She thought back to her life before becoming a Magus, and her belief that Magic didn’t exist. What if that was true, and a Magus came to our universe? They would be akin to a god, and no one would be able to stop them.
“I think I understand,” Amanda said.
“Good. Then, maybe we can work together sometime soon? I require some allies in my quest.”
“I would be open to discussing it,” Amanda said cautiously.
“That is all I wish to know,” Void said with another smile. “So, if you’ll allow me, I’ll return you to the destination you were planning to travel to.”
Amanda smiled cautiously. “Thank you.” Essentia flared, and Amanda felt the familiar rush of Flux Magic rushing through her as she left Void’s realm behind and suddenly appeared back on Earth. She found herself standing in the middle of some ancient Egyptian ruins in the Sahara Desert. The broken columns of sandstone stood on a rough floor of stone slabs with the desert creeping in on all sides. Ahead of her, Amanda could see and feel the otherwise invisible Portal that she guessed would lead her to Nefertiti’s Null Realm.
It was incredibly hot, and the ruins were located in a shallow depression of sand with huge dunes on all sides, creating something of a sun trap.
She knew right away that despite being held up by that strange Magus, barely a second had passed between her leaving Tibet and appearing in Egypt, meaning that Void had been true to her word.
Their conversation had been short, but interesting, and had given her plenty to think about. But these were thoughts for another day. She had much more pressing matters to deal with right now, and she didn’t want to get distracted.
Taking a breath she worked her Magic, brought her Aegis up to full strength, and then split her mind using the Multitasking effect. As confident as she felt, she wanted to be ready for Yasmin and be prepared to defend herself. Still, she couldn’t help the slight grin that spread over her face as she thought about the shock that Yasmin would probably feel on seeing her.
With her defences up, Amanda reached out with her Magical senses, testing the Portal. It was open and, at least on this side, unguarded. She stepped through and felt the momentary sensation of being pulled off the Earth to somewhere other.
She found herself in a corridor of sandstone. There was little in the way of decoration, and the hallway led off straight ahead, but Amanda could already feel Essentia flaring in the distance. Amanda concentrated and Ported close to the end of the corridor with a snap of air.
Walking to the end of the passage, just a few steps away, Amanda looked out over a large square room, lined with fat pillars and doors leading off to other areas.
In the middle of the room, Yasmin stood over a beaten and bloody Nefertiti. The ancient Egyptian crouched on the floor, protecting another Magus, a young woman who looked severely h
urt. Three lifeless bodies lay on the floor around Nefertiti and the girl. Amanda guessed, from their style of dress, that they had been a part of Nefertiti’s coven, and were Yasmin’s latest victims.
Standing beside Yasmin, Amanda recognised Kez, Anastasia, Raphaella, along with a couple of others she was less familiar with.
“This is the end for you,” Yasmin hissed at Nefertiti, her attention utterly focused on the former Egyptian queen.
Amanda stepped calmly into the room, her eyes on Yasmin.
Kez spotted her first and did something of a double-take, unable to believe her eyes. The expression amused Amanda to no end, and she struggled to keep her face neutral as Yasmin and the others all looked up at the newcomer.
“New meat t…” Yasmin stopped as a look of recognition fell over her face. “No.”
“Surprise!” Amanda said, her voice giving the word a sing-song quality and she wiggled her hands in the air.
“No, I killed you, I saw you dead…”
Amanda shrugged. “You did, but I just couldn’t stay away. I was missing out on all the fun.”
Yasmin blinked, staring at her in shock.
“Close your mouth, you look like a fish,” Amanda quipped.
Yasmin clamped her mouth shut and took a breath as her face twisted with hatred. Nefertiti took the opportunity to back off from the Nomads, pulling her friend with her.
“Well, I killed you once before, it’ll be twice as sweet to do it again,” Yasmin replied with a smirk, her confidence returning.
Amanda returned the smile and took a long steady breath, filling her lungs with air and letting it out slowly as she reached for her link to Sophia. The Aeon answered, and power flooded through her as Yasmin unleashed a raw, powerful battering ram of Essentia. The energy hit her Aegis hard, the Orb’s power boosting Yasmin’s Magic to incredible levels. The Aeon’s power bolstered her Magic, and fended off the Essentia blast with only a small amount of damage to her Aegis.
“Death really doesn’t suit me,” Amanda said, and pulled on her reserves of Magic. She focused on Kez, Anastasia, and the others and sent a flurry of Magical attacks at them. The Nomads were sent hurtling back towards the far wall with shrieks of pain. Yasmin, who had braced for the hit, seemed confused when it didn’t come. Yasmin glanced back at her coven, sprawled out on the floor behind her. Their Aegises were in tatters as they struggled to get back up again. Yasmin looked back just as Amanda sent a wave of strikes at her this time.
Energy flashed and exploded from Amanda. It hit Yasmin square on and flung her back. She landed and rolled, but found her feet and got up. Yasmin looked up at her with a frown and a clear look of worry and concern.
“What are you?” Yasmin asked, concern filling her voice.
“What do you mean? It’s just little old me,” Amanda answered. “Not scared, are you?”
Yasmin stared at her in confusion and took a step back.
“Wanna dance?” Amanda asked.
Yasmin’s eyes narrowed. Essentia flared, and the Nomads were gone. The Portal Magic flared at the same instant, marking their passage out of the Null Realm.
“Hmmph,” Amanda grunted, as she let the Essentia she’d been readying for an attack fade. “See you soon, Yasmin,” she said to herself.
Yasmin could wait; she’d track her down later. She’d only been back for a matter of minutes and if she were honest, she was still feeling a little disorientated and stiff. Yasmin’s day of reckoning would come soon, just not today.
The room fell silent as the Portal’s Magic faded. Amanda waited for a moment, just in case Yasmin decided to reappear, only for Essentia to bloom from Amanda’s right as Nefertiti cancelled the Portal, effectively closing and locking the door behind Yasmin.
Amanda looked over to Nefertiti as she sat back against the wall, the Essentia she’d used fading back around her. Walking over, she saw that Nefertiti’s unconscious friend had been partially healed, probably by Nefertiti, so Amanda reached out and worked her Magic on her as well, healing her the rest of the way.
“You’re back, then?” Nefertiti asked.
Amanda crouched down in front of her. “What gave it away?”
Nefertiti smiled. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” Amanda said, looking over her shoulder at the three corpses on the floor behind her.
“That’s okay. I’m just glad you came when you did.”
Amanda gave her a thin smile as she finished healing the girl, who started to stir and then woke up with a start. “Ugh,” she yelped and looked around wide-eyed, her gaze quickly fixing on Amanda. “Who are you?”
The girl’s Aegis snapped into place.
“She’s a friend,” Nefertiti explained.
The girl seemed to notice Nefertiti for the first time and lunged forward, grabbing her, and hugging her close. “Oh, you’re alive, I thought…”
“Yasmin’s gone, thanks to Amanda here.”
“Amanda? You mean the one who’s dead?” she asked.
“Was. She’s back,” Nefertiti said.
The girl looked over at Amanda as she pulled away from Nefertiti. She hesitated for a moment and then offered her hand. “Hi. I’m Bast. Thanks for helping us.”
“Any time,” Amanda said, taking Bast’s hand and shaking it. Then she turned to Nefertiti. “What’s your plan? Are you staying here?”
“I think that’s best. I’ll move all the exits, probably close most of them. If Yasmin can’t find a Portal, then we should be safe.”
Amanda nodded, agreeing with her. Null Realms were very safe places to hide out, and nearly impossible to get into if you didn’t know where the doors were.
“Okay, but you reach out to me if Yasmin somehow returns.” she said.
Nefertiti nodded. “I will. How are Liz and Maria and the others?”
“They’re fine,” Amanda answered.
“You know, you have a pretty amazing apprentice. She took control of your coven and led them as effectively as I have seen anyone lead any coven. She stepped up when she had to and did what needed to be done. You should be proud of her.”
Amanda nodded. “I am, very proud.”
***
Anastasia appeared in the Black Cathedral in Yasmin’s Null Realm. Standing amongst the other Knights, she watched as Yasmin turned and stalked away without a word, clearly angry and frustrated. Anastasia also felt she sensed fear in the Arch Magus. The idea that Yasmin would be afraid of Amanda troubled Anastasia.
Whatever the case, Amanda was back it seemed, and Yasmin looked weak. The appearance of the redhead had clearly shaken Yasmin, as well as the other Black Knights. As she watched, they broke away from the group, looking lost and worried, and their leader wasn’t helping by withdrawing from them.
The Nomads walked away, whispering to one another in concerned tones.
Pressing her lips together in consternation, Anastasia strode off after Yasmin, catching up with her towards the edge of the room.
“What’s the plan? What’s next?”
Yasmin turned and looked at Anastasia with her dark eyes. “Plan?”
“Nefertiti will be out of reach for a while and the Council is on the run, so what’s next?”
Yasmin seemed utterly distracted, as if she couldn’t quite wrap her head around what Anastasia was saying. She went to say something once, twice, but nothing came out of her mouth. She seemed to regroup after a moment, and looked back at Anastasia.
“I don’t… What do you suggest?” Yasmin said finally.
“We need a new target. We need to build on what we’ve already achieved. We can’t stop. We need to find the Archons, too.”
“I guess…” Yasmin answered, but she didn’t sound convinced.
Anastasia struggled to keep her face neutral. She wanted to scream and shout at Yasmin that she needed to pull herself together, or even better, kill her and take over.
Anastasia eyed the pulsing green Orb in Yasmin’s chest as the t
hought of attacking Yasmin played in her mind but felt sure she’d lose that fight.
No, she needed another tactic.
Looking back at Yasmin’s pale face, she decided to try another angle. “If we find another target, something big enough, maybe it will draw Amanda out again. Maybe we can kill her for good this time.”
Yasmin’s eyes snapped up to hers, filled with sudden intensity. “You think?”
“Of course.”
“Do it,” Yasmin replied. “Find somewhere.”
Anastasia nodded. “I will. Leave it with me.”
Yasmin nodded, her intensity fading as the worry seemed to creep back in. Anastasia backed away from the Arch Magus and left the Black Cathedral, making for one of the exits. Before long, she left the Null Realm and returned to her ship, in orbit above Earth. She made for the room that Lyka had claimed as her own.
Leaning against the doorframe, she looked at Lyka where she sat on her bed.
“So?” Lyka asked.
“You were right,” Anastasia replied.
Lyka nodded. “Then, you know what to do.”
- The Red Temple, Tibet
Liz stood on the ledge overlooking the majestic mountains with Gentle Water standing beside her, holding her arm for support and guidance.
“She will come back,” Gentle Water commented.
“Am I that transparent?” Liz asked.
“I not need eyes to see that, but I’d appreciate a railing,” he said, humour in his voice. “These cliffs are dangerous.”
Liz smiled. “I’m sure that can be arranged. Are you thinking of staying on here for a while?”
“Perhaps. This injury, it change things for me. I not much use in fight now,” he said.
“I understand. You don’t have to be on the front lines if you don’t want.”
“I know,” he answered her. “I have been wondering. How you holding up? You take large responsibility leading Amanda’s coven. And you kill Mary Damask.”
“I did, didn’t I?” she answered, thinking back to the fight she had with Mary. It had felt good to finally get her revenge, and although dealing with Mary had satisfied that need she’d been nurturing over the past few years, she wondered if it was enough.
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