The Accidental Archmage

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  The party continued towards the stone-covered temple. As they turned the corner of a large boulder which still felt warm to the touch, two more cloaked bodies greeted them.

  “It appears your job isn’t over, Liam,” said Tyler.

  The flood of curses which erupted which came from the Aussie came too fast for Tyler to understand, though the word ‘buggers” was repeated several times.

  By the time the party reached the vicinity of the structure, Liam was carrying two small sacks on his back full of gold bracelets of varying sizes and designs together with gold and platinum rings with white or blue diamonds. The Warmaster was already continuously complaining. Thankfully, the man’s bitching was in English.

  “Put it this way, Liam. You’re carrying a fortune on your back. Those blue diamonds are rare ones. A senior partner in the law firm I worked for back on Earth showed us a blue diamond ring he got for their wedding anniversary. That one-carat light blue diamond ring cost around 200,000 dollars, American. The bluer, the more expensive it is. You’ve got a lot of really blue ones there,” the mage reminded him.

  “Hah. As if I could find someone here willing to buy it for your currency or even mine,” commented Liam.

  “Gold and diamonds still have value on this world, you know,” replied Tyler.

  “And buy what? We’re both major players here already. A Warmaster or a High Mage could get what they want with a minimum of fuss. And the temples and rulers would give it willingly. I’d exchange all of this for a nice giant pizza made on Earth, with a collection of drinks and a big crate of Colombian coffee. With all the artificial ingredients. Enough for us,” sighed Liam.

  “Yep. Look at me, a High Mage. And I can’t even manifest french fries. Which reminds me, do they have potatoes here?”

  “Maybe. I never got around to asking. Been busy fighting bunyips, mate, in case you’ve forgotten,” replied the Aussie with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

  Tyler laughed and gave him a pat on the arm.

  “At least I got to have acorn coffee,” the mage said.

  “Bastard.”

  The two were already near the broken structure as they were talking. Suddenly, the stone platform lit up. The outer symbols which lined the edges of the dais glowed a radiant red, while the inner sigils blazed a brilliant blue.

  “Back!” immediately shouted Tyler. Shit. I don’t need Asem to tell me that red means buckshot ahead.

  The party hurriedly retreated. When the group had gone back several feet, the lit symbols dimmed and went out. They all stopped. Puzzled by what happened, Tyler walked a few paces forward by himself, ahead of the party. As he neared the platform, the symbols lit up again, but this time all were in blue. He walked backward. The radiance blinked out.

  Curiouser and curiouser, thought Tyler. He repeated what he did and the phenomenon happened again.

  “There seems to a difference in how the platform reacts to people. Let’s try what I suspect. Tyndur, see the marks my feet left in the ground? Walk alongside it but don’t go beyond the last one,” instructed the mage.

  When Tyndur approached, the dais again lit up, but the color displayed was entirely in red. Everything shone with an intense crimson color. Tyler told the einherjar to return, and the glow went out. Then he asked Liam to do what Tyndur did.

  “You know, Tyler, if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you’re intentionally putting my arse in harm’s way,” said the Warmaster.

  “Go, you sissy, I’ll bet that thing glows blue,” said Tyler. It did.

  “That platform reacts to the nature or origin of the person approaching it. I don’t doubt that the crimson color means danger, death, soul-sucking, take your pick. Blue would mean an acceptable presence. Apparently, visitors are free to enter the place. It must be a ward set by the Followers to guard the entrance to their shrine,” explained Tyler. He didn’t think of clarifying things further. The simpler the explanation, the better. “Or the effect of the colors could be the opposite if I am wrong.”

  “I do sense unfamiliar energies, sire,” volunteered Asem.

  “Only one way to find out,” replied Tyler.

  “My liege!” exclaimed Kobu, followed by a chorus of objections from the rest.

  Oh, right. I still haven’t told Kobu about that “liege” thing.

  “Serves you right, you bugger,” said Liam with a smile.

  “I don’t think I am at risk,” said Tyler. “I have my shields and any power that ward had must have been already drastically reduced. I doubt if it has enough energy to pierce through my shields if I am wrong.”

  “Am I right, guys?” the mage asked his guides for confirmation.

  “We wish you’d ask us first, Elder. You could have been wrong, you know. But you are correct. Scanning indicates a simple mechanism, passive but still powerful enough to disintegrate unauthorized mortals. It is attuned to Elder physical characteristics. You and the Warmaster meet some of the necessary qualities, enough to let you pass,” replied X.

  “What do mean ‘some?’” said the alarmed Tyler. “You mean there’s a chance I could trigger that trap?”

  “A 12.8 percent chance, Elder. Acceptable under current parameters,” replied Hal.

  “That’s quite high, as far as I am concerned!”

  “To ease your mind, we’ll be refocusing the strength of your shields downwards. We believe we can handle anything that platform can throw at you,” offered the AI. “And you already volunteered yourself.”

  “It’s ‘us,’ in case you have forgotten. The phrase should be ‘throw at us,’” reminded the mage. Me and my big mouth. I do hope I am right.

  “But what do we do with the rocks covering it? We don’t have to concern ourselves with the stones piled on top of it, but large boulders cover the entrance,” asked Tyler.

  “Our sensors indicate that the opening is but a double-paneled stone door. Tall but otherwise of the usual dimensions. A lift spell throwing the obstructions to the side will be sufficient. Once you step into the dais, we believe the door will open automatically,” explained X.

  Tyler didn’t reply but instead focused on clearing the space before the door. He carefully examined the placement of the fallen boulders and found an appropriate area to force an opening. The mage then created two lift spells beside each other, each facing outward. As the mage was in an irritated mood, he just pumped a lot of energy into them and then let loose. The boulders blocking the entrance suddenly flew to sides with extreme force, crushing other stones in their path. The ones on the right buried themselves in the rocky hillside while some on the left smashed through the narrow ledge on that side of the plateau. Loud successive reports echoed throughout the area in a noisy and dusty affair.

  “Too much energy,” observed Hal.

  “Well, it worked, didn’t it?” grumpily replied Tyler.

  “Mate, mind if I borrow Habrok?” the mage heard Liam ask. Tyler looked behind him.

  “Huh? Why?” the mage asked.

  “With your exhibition, my men would be wondering what’s happening. I need Habrok to tell them everything’s fine,” explained Liam. “But that was a doozy of a spell!”

  Tyler gave the needed instructions to Habrok and with a nod to the smirking Liam, started to move towards the stone platform. The area was now cleared and he could see the outline of the door. It was recessed within a semi-circular area. The walls around it appeared to be smooth and made of a dark hard material.

  The things I get myself into, thought the mage as he walked forward. As he neared the platform, the now familiar blue glow greeted him. He stopped at the edge of the stone pavement, his figure bathed in a sapphire light.

  Damn it. Tyler slowly lifted a foot and gingerly placed it on the dais. Nothing happened.

  “We sense the door opening, Elder,” Hal suddenly spoke up, startling Tyler.

  The mage looked at the dark entrance now yawning before him. It was then that he noticed the hemispherical design around the door. A row of white ac
cents, engraved with more arcane symbols, lined the top of the crescent.

  Freaking bastards. Why did they have to design the door like this? With a weird stone pavement too. Looks like a fanged mouth with a wide tongue sticking out.

  “Hal? X? Do your sensors work? Anything in there?” asked Tyler. Despite the telepathic mode of communication, the mage found to his embarrassment that he was whispering.

  “The passive power of this stone dais is interfering with our sensors, Elder. It is Elder energy. We might be able to extract it once you leave,” said X.

  “Nice! It’s virtually impossible to find it on this world,” Tyler replied enthusiastically.

  “Not impossible. It’s just that our knowledge of converting natural magic to Elder energy is lacking,” Hal reminded the mage.

  “Oh, right. We absolutely need to find another Elder shrine,” said Tyler as he tried to peer into the waiting darkness. Unfortunately, even his enhanced eyesight was unable to pierce the gloom. A light form cast into the shadows behind the door failed to come into being.

  What the…? reacted the astounded mage. Don’t tell me. Another dampening field?

  “X, I guess this is your expertise. A dampening field? My normal spells don’t work,” asked the mage.

  “Yes, Elder. It’s standard protocol for Elder structures to have such a precaution. Elder spells would work though. In Hal’s situation, the absence of such a field can be attributed to the heavy damage his base structure suffered.”

  “At least I have my staff,” said Tyler as the weapon went into spear mode.

  Slowly, he advanced to the door and peeked inside. The mage knew his careful and wary approach would look comical to his watching audience, but Tyler decided that he’s better funny than dead. As his head went past the opened door, a sudden blaze of light momentarily blinded him. The inside of the structure had lit up, revealing a high but narrow passageway leading downwards. It was a smooth incline, and the walls were of the same material as those found outside. The mage went in. After a few steps, Tyler paused and looked back. He expected the door to close, but it didn’t, though the blue radiance of the stone pavement was gone. He continued down.

  Eventually, the corridor leveled and Tyler could see open entrances along the narrow hall. As he continued past them, the mage saw the rooms were empty. Bare but lit chambers.

  “This is weird. No furnishings? Nothing at all?” he told his guides.

  “They were Elder beings, though lost and debased. They create their own environments as they see fit,” said Hal. “But a positive conclusion can be obtained from the emptiness of the rooms – the occupants are dead.”

  “Here’s to hoping we don’t see any furnished ones then,” replied Tyler.

  The mage counted eight such rooms along the corridor which branched out to the left and right at its end. The new passageways were similar in material to the main hall but had a broader width. More openings met his eyes. Each hallway also had eight chambers, but at the end of each passage, a closed door waited.

  “Guys, that makes twenty-four rooms. A lot of Elders. All dead, I hope. But that many escaped your makers’ attention? And I am not even including the squids and those who destroyed the Followers of Zin, assuming they are also Elders but of a different… congregation,” Tyler asked.

  “It looks that way,” replied X. “But this world is a huge place. Too many nook and crannies. Secret places. With the right abilities and knowledge, one could hide forever.”

  Tyler didn’t reply. He knew X was right. The Ismenian race and the dark beings they held in check would be another example. The ancient entities probably knew of the Elders, but it appeared the latter knew nothing of the true nature of the draken race. A classic example of hiding in plain sight, he noted.

  He decided to examine the right corridor first. As with the main hallway, the rooms were empty. When he neared the closed door, it slowly opened, revealing a cavernous room with numerous shelves on the walls. In front of him was a pair of tall open cabinets arranged lengthwise and behind it was more of the same. A seemingly endless line. All were full of brilliant orbs of different colors and sizes. Their multi-colored radiance lit up the room, overriding any illumination the Followers provided for the chamber.

  Their power station. Or reserves? Or were they gathering energy for something else? And so many! thought the shocked mage. Then anger and outrage set in.

  This is beyond anything I have seen. I thought what I saw back in the Aztecah temple city was evil – those orbs we destroyed – acts to fuel some repulsively malignant magical ritual. But this! This is beyond evil. Beyond genocide. It’s… harvesting. No recognition at all of mortals and magical entities as sentient beings. Just cattle. For the slaughterhouse. Cattle.

  Tyler stood in traumatized shock at the opened entrance for several minutes, the kaleidoscope of colors playing over his figure. His mind was dazed, overpowered by the enormity of what was before him. And what it meant.

  So many, the thought unceasingly impressed itself on his mind as the mage continued to look at the multitude of luminous orbs. A flood of emotions engulfed him. He could feel sorrow, anger, disbelief, outrage, a desire for revenge, all rolled into a chaotic and confusing mix. Each would rise to the fore, only to be overwhelmed by another powerful reaction. His hands hurt and Tyler saw he had balled his left hand into a fist and his right had a strong grip on his staff. The mage eased off. He touched his cheeks and found they were wet. A heavy sigh escaped him as he shook his head in sheer sorrow.

  So many.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  A Way Home

  “Looks like Christmas in there, mate.”

  A voice broke Tyler’s stupefied mood. It was Liam. The Warmaster had followed him into the structure.

  “What are you doing here?” asked the surprised mage. Liam was in his hauberk, without a helmet, but was carrying a short sword.

  “Everybody was worried about you. Considering you said I am not in danger because of the visitor status, I got volunteered. Fortunately, the place is quiet as a tomb,” said Liam. Then the man noticed Tyler’s composure.

  “Anything wrong?”

  The mage looked back at the room and raised a hand, sweeping it across the scene.

  “That,” Tyler merely said.

  “What are those?”

  “Each orb is a human soul or the captured essence of a formerly magical being. Could be a deity, a demigod or demigoddess, or a minor spirit. All dead but not at rest,” replied the mage as he leaned against one of the door supports.

  The Warmaster’s eyes widened. He looked at Tyler, then at the room, and back to the mage.

  “You’re not giving me a crock of shit, are you, Tyler?” said Liam, his voice taking on a serious tone. “If you are, it’s not funny.”

  “I wish I was, Liam. Welcome to one of the dark sides of Adar, and the things I have to struggle against,” replied the mage.

  Liam looked at the scintillating display.

  “This shit is too sick for me,” said the Aussie.

  “Makes two of us. But there are worse things out there,” answered the mage, thinking of the dark things the Ismenian race kept at bay.

  “No shit. Now I really want to go home. So far, it’s been just war for me. Terrible, yes. Frightening at times, yes. Those bunyips do that to you. But none of this soul-stealing magic thing.”

  “And please don’t ask me to explain how I know and what I have to do. Looking at this room is already heavy on the soul. I don’t want to be reminded right now of more,” asked the mage.

  “No, I won’t. And I don’t want to know. I guess its High Mage stuff. But what do we do now? We can’t just leave those souls and spirits there,” said Liam.

  “Breaking them will free human souls and enable magical beings to return to the energy flow of this world. But ordinary magic doesn’t work inside this structure. A dampening field,” explained Tyler.

  “We’ll work something out. But let me go back to
the entrance first. I have to signal your group that everything’s fine. Otherwise, they’ll start digging their way inside and bring the entire structure down on us.”

  “No problem, Liam. Take your time. I’ll try to think of something,” answered the mage.

  The man put down the sacks on his back and turned to go back to the entrance. Tyler noticed.

  “Still carrying those?” he asked.

  “You blasted wombat! What was I supposed to do? You never told me to put them down!” retorted Liam as he walked away.

  When the Warmaster left, Tyler started to think about how to destroy the room. Elder spells could do it and he could make use of the passive energy of the stone platform. If his guides could extract it. The mage thought about coursing power through his staff. Its complex energy pattern was a new one, created by the mixing of the energies given by different entities. It was possible if the dampening field would allow it, which he doubted. The origin of the powers it contained was still of Adar.

  Then he thought about the Hephaestus stones given by Dionysus. Tyler hurried to check his belt pouch. He remembered using a lot back at the Aztecah temple city but there was a chance a few were left. The explosive items were magical yet have been altered for use as conventional mining devices. They’re more tools now than magical artifacts. They could work, he thought as he checked all the pouches attached to his belt. To his relief, he found four left over.

  “Guys, will the Hephaestus stones work here? Even with the dampening field in place?” he asked the two AIs.

  “I doubt it, Elder,” answered X. “The cores of the items are still based on normal magic.”

  “Oh, shit,” replied the mage. “I was hoping I could use them to destroy the room and free those captured souls and energies. Physically smashing everything would take ages.”

  “The only way you could use them is to cover the stones with a thin layer of Elder energy. As they explode, the Elder film would also expand. That way, the dampening field won’t interfere,” suggested Hal.

  “Good. Though that would mean extracting it from the receiving area outside. You think you could get the energy from the pavement?”