Mark of the Fool

Chapter 569: The First Spell of a New Generation

Thatsa magic circuit I drew, Selina said suspiciously. It was for my assignment. Whats wrong with it?

Well thats the thing, Selina. Theres nothing wrong with it. He said, pointing to the diagram. Honestly, theres suspiciously nothing wrong with it. Your teacher told me thatthere have been eleven year olds that have drawn magic circuits this accurate. But theyve been few and far between. And honestly? Most of those had cheated.

Oh she said, not sure how to feel about that. Well, I didnt.

And I convinced her of that, Alex assured her. Honestly, Im super impressed. I couldnt draw a magic circuit this accurate at your age.

Okay she said, carefully. Whats this all about, then?

Well, your teacher also said youve been asking more questions about heat and how it moves.

Selina paused. And?

And I noticed that the magic circuit you chose to draw for this assignment was a Spark spell.

The young girl swallowed, her heart pounding. Old feelings of guilt rose in her. Is that okay?

Are you kidding me? Its great! Alexs voice echoed through the lab. You said that you wanted to get more used to fire, didnt you? Well it sounds like youre really working toward that.

She swallowed as the guilt rose inside of her. A part of her wanted to tell Alex the truth: that she loved fire, and how much that made her wonder about herself. What kind of person would love the thing that killed their parents? But there was another part of her that screamed: not yet!

Her brothers eyes were so serious right now. What would she do if they suddenly clouded over from rage? Or hate?

She kept silent.

For an instant, Alexs gaze seemed to sharpenas though he was looking right through her, seeing everything that was going on in her mindbut as quickly as that feeling came, it left; his eyes softened again.

Listen, theres something else about this thats important: its not just about you drawing a spell array or a mana circuit. Anyone with a penand like, at least a little bit of drawing skillcan trace a spell array from a book, he explained, tracing his fingers along the mana pathways of her diagram. But you took a description of a spell, what it did, and how the mana flowed through the circuit and you were able to accurately draft a diagram from that. You know what thats like? Thats like walking through a house, and being able to accurately draw its schematics after a few measurements.

So? Selina asked. I drew the inns floorplan when I was a lot younger.

Thats the thing: not everyone can do that. You always had a talent for building things, and it looks like that talent crosses over into understanding mana structures, he said carefully.

She felt a bit of pride over that, and beamed at Claygon, whod been with her every time shed done her homework. All those hours pouring over her books sounded like theyd paid off. Still, she could only wonder what all of this had to do with her birthday.

The golem nodded at her. You have workedvery hardand you can still teach me. You arevery smart, Selina.

Thanks! she grinned, before looking back at Alex.

Her smile died.

Again, her older brother was looking down at her with that same piercing gaze, like he was looking inside her mind and taking apart her thoughts.

Hmm, he mused. So, I bet youre wondering what this has to do with your birthday?

A chill went through her. Y-yeah, howd you know?

Well, Id be wondering the same thing if I were in your shoes, he said. Solisten, I was going to bring this up when you got older, but honestly? I think youre ready now.

Her brother glanced at the bookshelf.

Instantly, a crimson glowing Wizards Hand flew up to the book shelf and fetched a thin volume off of a shelf. Something about the book looked very familiar as the glowing spell floated down and placed it in Alexs hand.

Listen, its not technically recommended that you start learning actual spells now, Alex said. Remember when you started learning about magic in school? Remember that I asked you to promise never to start learning spells on your own?

Yes she said, as a desperate hope began burning in her chest.

Isis this what I think it is?! she thought excitedly.

Technically, the junior school wont teach you spells. Not for years, but I think youre more advanced and more mature than I was at your age, Alex said. And I started teaching myself magic when I was only a little older than you, andwhen I look backthat was probably one of the stupidest and most dangerous things I could have done. But hey, thankfully, it worked out.

Okayyeah it did, she said slowly, almost afraid that if she said too much, hed second-guess what she thought he was about to do.

Honestly, Selina. Alex tapped the book in thought. You know a lot more magic than I did at your age, and I didnt have a teacher. And I think you deserve one. Not later. Now. He flipped the book toward her, and she caught it, finally recognising it: a spell-guide for Forceball. Thats the spell I started with, and theres few spells I know more inside and out, than Forceball. Sofor your birthday giftId like to start teaching you magic using the same spell I started with years ago. Youve earned it, Selina. When you start toOof!

Selina had leapt from her chair and nearly hug-tackled him out of his, almost sending them both flying to the floor. Thank you, Alex! she cried. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Yes, thatd be the best gift ever!

Goodfor youSelina Claygon congratulated her.

Listen, Alex, you wont regret this, Ill do my very best!

I expect you too, he said, seriously. If were going to do this, were going to do it right. You have to follow everythingI say. All my instructions. You can never try casting spells without me there to supervise you. You cant show off to anyone else, or tell anyonebesides our family and the cabalthat youre learning spells. If you break any rules, Ill stop teaching you, put the book away, and we wont try it again until the school starts teaching you years from now. Okay?

Okay, okay! I promise! she said quickly.

Im putting a lot of trust in you, Selina. He patted her on the back. Dont make me regret that: its too dangerous for you not to listen to me.

I got it, I got it! But wait She leaned away from him. You do your own thing with magic all the time. Selina pointed out. Professor Jules always gets mad at you, you said.

Look, Selina, Im not stupid. Alex took her by the shoulders, looking her in the eyes. I know thateventuallyyoure probably going to do the exact same kinda stuff I did. Blazing your own path, doing crazy things.but thats not going to be how you start. Im going to teach you properly, safely and thoroughly. That way, if you want to explore the wilder parts of wizardry later, youre going to have a very stable foundation. And all good houses need good foundations, right?

Yes, she agreed.

Good. Stick with me, and by the time youre my age? I bet youll be twice the wizard I am. Well, maybe not twice the alchemist or summoner I am, but for certain spells? I guarantee youll be better. But thatll only work if you do exactlyas I say. If you dont? You could destroy your ability to work mana.

Right, she said, imagining herself as a mighty wizard, building wonders and saving people from demons and fire. Ill pay attention, and Ill be an awesome wizard.

Thats the spirit! Alex laughed, picking up his little sister and hugging her tightly. Youre gonna be an awesome wizard! Happy birthday, Selina!

She giggled as her brother twirled her around, laughing as Claygon watched them both in silence. But as Alex spun with her, she saw part of the room that had been previously blocked by the bookshelf.

And the strangest thing hung from the stone wall.

There was a massive sheet of parchment therelarge enough to cover the entirety of a big tableand on it was a diagram of a familiar shape. It looked like anwhat did her brother call them?

Anatomical diagrams?

Shed seen them in his blood magic textbooks: they were drawings of people and animals, with all the bones, organs and other internal stuff drawn and labelled in great detail.

This drawing looked like those, but instead of organs and bones being labelled, Alex had drawn a series of strange pathways which were labelled lifeforce. She had no clue what those pathways meant, but there were some things about the drawing that made her pause.

For one, it was canine in shape.

For another, it had three heads.

Is that Brutus? she asked.

Alex looked at the diagram. I cant say.

What is it?

He smiled. Oh, youll find out soon enough. Before summers end.

At last the snows of winter and the rains of spring had passed in Greymoor, leaving summers warmth in their wake.

The days were still cloudy, but the air had finally lost that briskness of winters final chill. Summer was high, and the bugs were out in force, only driven away and picked off by Alexs swarms of elemental beetles.

Hills around the Research Castle were dotted with watchtowers, outposts and other fortifications that would make future invasion a nightmare for Ravener-spawn coming overland. Each tower was topped by a ballista with a mighty enchantment on it, capable of launching entire storms of spears with one pull of a trigger. They would devastate all creatures attacking by air, while other defences were readied against attack from beneath the earth.

Every tunnel was now inlaid with glyphs that would suppress mana seeking to warp the earth around them, and magic to detect the presence of dungeon cores within a one mile radius.

The researchers had now quantified enough of the cores energies to be able to detect them at far distances with the right equipment, which made both early detection, and hunting them far easier than before.

Now, as soon as a dungeon core was detected by the wards, high tier summoning circles would be activated, conjuring elder earth elementals to dive into the earth and crush both Ravener-spawn and their cores before a dungeon could establish itself.

Teams of Watchers were now always on stand-by, ready to use Planar Doorway and Earth Glide spells to strike deep into the earth. In addition, each outpost had additional dwarven-crafted fortifications beneath their surfaces, serving as waypoints, mustering grounds, and healing centres.

If Ravener-spawn attacked, the expedition would be more than ready this time.

In addition, the Generasians lead more and more strike forces out into the wild, hunting for samples. Within the Research Castle, analysis had progressed to the point of active experimentation with dungeon core substances.

There had been exciting chattering about a possible breakthrough in communications devices and other wondersas well as lots of talk of the innovative golems that Toraka Shale was starting to produce.

The golem crafter hadnt advertised what went into her new, cutting-edge constructs, but it didnt take a genius to make the connection: Alex Roth, one of the main figures of the expedition, worked closely with Toraka and it was an open secret that he and his friends regularly went into the wilds to harvest dungeon cores.

Spurred by the goals of glory and coin, more expedition members had begun putting together their own private teams to go in search of their own fortunes. Meanwhile, those Thameish nobles who paid attention to the expeditions works and movements, quickly realised what a proverbial platinum mine their country was sitting on.

In short order, they had arranged their own private forces out of their vassals to join with Generasiansor act on their ownto harvest the Raveners prized orbs.

It was the summer of the second year of the cycle when The Dungeon Core rush began, and it was already showing signs of spreading through much of Thameland.

Of course, to otherslike the Heroes of Thamelandsuch activity meant less work for them, and more time to train for the real battle that was to come.

And that was what they were doing on this cloudy summer day.

The Games of Roal loomed close for Alex and his cabal, so they trained whenever they could.

On the moors, Theresa, and Grimloch tested their skill against the mightiest opponent they could find.

Hart Redfletcher, the Champion of Uldar.

While Alex searched for the Travellers power, and Claygon practised forms with his spear, and Thundar taught Drestra more illusion magic; the three warriors prepared for an epic mock battle.

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