Chapter 23: Encounter Therapy

  Mocking, malevolent laughter made for a menacing melody as Riley and Tobias stepped into the dark.

  The familiar box with a red line appeared over their normal mana bar, while their ether bar remained unaffected, just as a new prompt flared to life.

  You have entered a realm where the Ashen School cannot function. Your ability to cast via this discipline is suppressed.

  As the door shut, it began to fold in on itself, pulling inward as if it were made of paper, until a glowing white cube fell to the floor, landing near Tobias’ boot.

  A bracket appeared around it while a prompt faded in beside.

  Damarian Astral Cabin (Safe)

  1-10, Masterwork, Rare

  This is a doorway to a pocket reality containing a small room for you to rest within. Be warned, a sustained magical assault can affect its cohesion, but you already know that. Its exit may also be relocated by an entity with sufficient magical ability.

  Tobias took it up and regarded it with a strange look of wistful regret, “To think of how much was lost. My entire life, there’s only been one way, one kingdom, one path; I thought I knew what magic was...”

  He trailed off, looking from the cube towards Riley, before raising his hand shakily, willing mana toward the astral space of the sword.

  The small box flickered, then vanished. A victorious grin spread across Tobias’ face all as an arctic wind seemed to converge on them, gusting from every direction, with a mournful howl riding in chase just behind.

  “The world is bigger than you thought it was. That’s something we all learn,” Riley replied with a shudder, her coat fluffing up.

  “You'd know that better than anyone, wouldn’t you?” Tobias smiled sadly, “but it’s more than that. The world is more colorful, it’s more beautiful, there’s so much more there. Magic has always been my purpose, its balance and order, and the way it suffuses and touches the universe, yet I never truly saw it. I never knew it... My greatest hope when I was at the academy was that I would have spent my life in study, and now I realize it would have all been shallow.”

  “It wouldn’t have been shallow. It would have been different. You know I like movies,” Riley began as Tobias interrupted.

  “You don’t say?”

  “Ok, no, duh, but there are all kinds of movies; the older ones were black and white, and the oldest ones didn’t have sound, but like... they were never my thing, but some people spend their whole lives studying them. Just because the magic we know now is bigger and deeper doesn’t diminish what you could have done,” Riley’s ears twitched as she stretched, “It's getting colder.”

  Tobias nodded and looked out into the black, "It’s more than that. It’s more than just the magic. I feel like something’s got a hold of me and is shaking me hard like it’s trying to wake me up, and I’m finally rousing.”

  “Me too. There are parts of my life that scare me, but I can’t help but feel like I’m truly starting to understand who I am in all of this. Here, in Calaria, I can help, I can make a difference, we both can,” Riley replied.

  Chadrick appeared before them, much as he appeared at the academy, “Do you think you’ve accomplished something? Do you think you set them free? Here, all falls to the dark master's will. Reality is his to command. His madness is the only law, filthy copper.”

  Tobias’ grip on his sword tightened as his look hardened to ice.

  “You know that’s a lie. Mavora is gone, redeemed, and reunited with Utred. Maybe we could help you too? We could all help each other,” Riley offered like an olive branch.

  His face twisted, melting as he slammed his hands over his ears and screamed, “Lies! Lies!”

  In a blink, Chadrick was gone. A growl echoed through the chasm like the distant peals of thunder.

  Fools, blinded by nobility, for a thousand years, they were my playthings. Now, you shall serve me for far longer, Riiilleeeey...

  “Dude, if you’re gonna speak my name, do it right; otherwise, keep it out of your mouth,” Riley sneered.

  Tobias shot her a look before giving her a gentle nod, “What is the saying in your world? Don’t feed the trolls?"

  “But sometimes they’re just asking for it,” Riley whined.

  “But Chadrick wasn’t?” Tobias said with a cockeyed smile.

  “He’s a prick, but he’s also a victim. I think maybe they both are,” she replied.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  A rage-tinged roar hit, forcing her to duck. Paws came up over her ears as Tobias dropped his sword to cover his ears, hunkering down.

  “There is only revenge! Only regret! You will see in time!” The gravelly voice bellowed.

  “Ow, seriously, ow,” Riley trembled with nausea and vertigo. Shaking out her ears, she scanned around, yet there was nothing save for an infinite sea of dark spreading out from around them.

  Tobias, with shaking hands, grasped his sword, pulling it towards it. The glyphs set into the blade began to emit an ethereal blue glow before brightening until a vast pool of light spilled out from around them, illuminating six cobblestone paths forward, floating in the dark.

  You may cling to whatever dying magics you wish, but it will not save you any more than it aided them in the end. Not even death could save them from me. Choose a path; where shall we go together? What memories shall we walk in? There is no hiding from me in my realm, no way you can keep your words from me. I know all, I see all.

  “Blah, blah blah,” Riley taunted.

  “What's that you have there, Servant? Did your grandpa sell the business in a last-ditch attempt for you to amount to anything, or did your mother hang out her shingle? I hear she’s a fine lay for those with low standards at that Inn she works in… It’s not going to help; shiny trash is still trash.”

  Tobias took a deep breath as his rage spiked, only to flatline as he recalled memories of sitting with Riley in the forest, looking up at the stars.

  “I know how to control my anger. It doesn’t control me,” He said to the dark, letting out a deep breath.

  "Is someone there? Please, help me!" Cried a young voice that sounded as if it came from all directions.

  “I hate reruns,” Riley sighed.

  You could not save your Granda. You could not save Zorna. You will never save the Page. Failure and death will be your only legacy.

  “Rage is a Kraus that only knows one trick. It doesn’t matter how it starts; it always ends in the same way. Feeding the flames won’t extinguish them,” Tobias recited as if the words were a well-worn path.

  Another angry growl rose from the dark as if it were a wolf ready to pounce. Riley felt her fur stand on end.

  “So it’s ok when you do it?” Riley looked up at Tobias, scowling over their soul connection.

  Choose a path; Page Westphalia is waiting...

  New screams echoed around them like hell's own choir.

  “Six paths, but which one is the right one?” Tobias wondered.

  “We're looking with our eyes, but there’s more than one way to see,” Riley replied, closing her eyes.

  “Find the crystal, drain the crystal. If it’s pulling ether, it would glow to our ether sight!” Tobias closed his eyes as he got the idea.

  The once-empty void of black space sparkled with colors as lines of mana tracing in fractal grid patterns defined its walls, and ambient particles across the color spectrum danced in between.

  On the horizon were a collection of bright dots, like beacons against an eternal night, but one stood out like a lighthouse.

  With a deep breath, Tobias took a step forward and to his left before breaking into a jog towards the brightest light.

  The particles coalesced, and a familiar face formed out of the particles of mana as Venosicipher spoke again.

  "You’re running toward your death!" The disfigured face of Chadrick morphed into a rage before vanishing again.

  At that, Tobias broke into a run, with Riley easily keeping pace behind him. The shape of a door made out of particles of light came into view.

  Only oblivion waits beyond that door. You only see what I allow you to see.

  “Was that how it happened for you, Chadrick? You believed his lies?” Riley challenged.

  A low-throated grumble like the peal of distant thunder echoed around her.

  He is mine now! All will fall before my rage and come to regret.

  “No, no, we will not. There are different paths, better paths,” Tobias replied with pity dripping from his words.

  The light seemed to be just above them now, pulsing brilliantly, whiting out their spectral sight.

  “Riley, be ready,” Tobias whispered over their soul connection before opening his eyes to find an ornate wooden door carved out of black wood covered in spikes that formed vine-like patterns that formed into Mythril bands bracing the wood.

  Slowly, Tobias rotated the ring set into the door, the mechanism released with all the dulcet tones of grinding metal, setting Riley’s teeth on edge and flattening her ears.

  Now you die... Venosicipher taunted as the orange light of flames and a burst of withering heat washed over them.

  https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/81852/second-tier-sorcery