This story is completely original with obvious references to Minecraft and certain Minecraft mods. I am in the process of writing it, so expect changes every now and then, even to old content. Any suggestions to existing content is welcome and any suggestions on what you would like to see in the future would be great! I'm not even close to done with this story. I hope you're all as excited as I am about this!
Edit #1: I have revised a few grammar errors, changed a slight bit of the story, and added a little bit more in the process.
Edit #2: I've added in a good amount of new content, with a gorgeous cliffhanger.
Edit #3: A few spelling errors have been fixed (no doubt creating more), and more of the story has been written. Expect some more detailed revisions to be coming later in the writing of this story. I really want to get the baseline story down on paper and then go back to add missing details and create a more in-depth story. I will undoubtedly flesh out more of the other characters, especially Atrius' relationship with his family and what kind of people they are as well as a better description of his village and how the world is laid out. I hope you all enjoy! And also enjoy the Latin!
A Different Kind of Person
My name is Alta. My story is an interesting one. Many of you may not believe it, but for those who do… you will be enthralled by the tale that follows. Let me start at the beginning. The very beginning.
The Overworld began at the start of the first era. In the beginning, this world was inhabited by animals of all sorts. From crocodiles and snakes, to eagles and hawks, deer and antelope, and so on. However amazing, none of this life is what one would consider intelligent. They were simply instinctual creatures, loving and emotional yes, but not concerned with power, wealth, or other selfish desires. It was a simple world, one of complete and utter balance. Maintaining order was an aura of magic that resided within all things.
At some point in the first era after many long years, an aspect of this magic, residing inside a few simple creatures mutated itself. It’s unknown why this happened, however the effect was extraordinary. The animals, who once had no thoughts of their existence, of their future, of their fate, were now exposed to a whole new world. The magic morphed their bodies, making them humanoid in stature and mutating their mind and thoughts, so thus, the Pigmen race was born. They quickly advanced, discovering tools, building rudimentary structures, and near the end of the first era, after many millennia, they had nearly mastered the art form that would become known as Witchery.
The Pigmen however became ignorant to the consequences of misused magic. At the peak of their civilization, they believed they had such a mastery over nature, that they could even create new life. Therefore, in a particularly gruesome act of powerful, dark magic, the Pigmen rounded up thousands of creatures, big and small, and collected all of the enchanted and magical items that they could find, and, in the middle of their greatest city, pushing their magic to the limits, the Pigmen began the ritual.
However, the Pigmen could not hope to control the massive amount of arcane energy present. This magic, that once provided utter balance and order, began exploding out of control and the unbound arcane energy spread throughout the environment, causing a vast array of unnatural events. Realizing the atrocities they had just committed, in a last ditch effort to survive, the Pigmen turned to magic once again in order to rip a small hole in space that led to an unknown dimension. Only a few Pigmen made it through the hole before it collapsed in on itself and annihilated the surrounding area for hundreds of thousands of miles in all directions. For hundreds of years following, the unleashed arcane energy swept across the land, mutating some of its creatures and organisms, as well as reshaping the environment and natural laws.
The second era began as the arcane turmoil settled. Out of the destruction emerged many new races of intelligent beings. This was the time in which humans first wandered the land. My story takes us to this era, and how one man discovered and harnessed a new form of magic that would unite the world for eras to come. But first, fast forward to my time, just over 800 years into the eighth era. The world is a much less magical and natural place. At the end of the seventh era, humans began to advance technologically, leaving magic, and balance, lost to history.
In the eighth era, humanity began to become ever more selfish and full of desire. Unavoidably, humanity split into many different regions. Eventually most of these regions took one of two sides. On one side was the powerful empire of Ithea, with its grand city of the sky and on the other was the nation of Kathos, with its greatest city lying within a ring of volcanic islands. Both were equally advanced, but had differing views on what the future should hold. I was 23, a young man, but very valuable in the eyes of Ithea. I had graduated from the Ithean military academy at the age of 17 in the field of specialized weaponry. However great I was in my field, my true passion was history. Ever since I was a child I had been enthralled by the past and what I could learn from it. Unfortunately, I knew that to move up in the ranks I could not simply be proficient in the field of history so I focused on specialized weaponry and its evolution. I was considered a master of my trade. At age 21, I was appointed head of weapons development for the Ithean government.
As someone who enjoyed history, I was extremely educated in the field of politics and was studied in the history of humanity. I knew what I was. I was one of the few fortunate individuals in Ithea. Over 90 percent of the population was poor. As machines advanced, the number of workers needed dwindled. Most people worked as farmers, supplying food for the elite. The others were miners simply trying to get by. I knew this society was wrong, and I was also in no position to change it, but it was what I was working towards. War was looming on the horizon with Kathos. The two empires had been butting heads for decades and they were on the brink. Both empires wanted control over all resources. Kathos wanted control of the Aether and Ithea control of the Nether. Both had extremely valuable resources that the other desperately wanted but could not have. As a result of these two monopolies, my job was never more important.
With lack of access to the Nether, our weapons were less powerful, yet more focused. The advantage we held was that the Aether had two specialized materials: Gravitite and the ever rarer, Continuum. Continuum provided us with a near unlimited, fusion-like power source and Gravitite helped hone our aerial army. Gravitite also is what allowed Ithea to build its great city of the sky. Kathos however had access to the Blaze element as well as the destructive assortment of elements that were produced by the Nether, including Vulcanite, Ignatius, Shadow Iron, and more. Even though they had a limited aerial presence, their weapons were capable of far greater destruction than ours.
With war so close, the heads of Ithea held daily meetings. On one particular day, they called a meeting and requested me as a special guest. The meeting room was extravagant, truly displaying the wealth of Ithea and the view couldn’t be beat. At the top of the tallest spire is where we met, able to see for miles in all directions.
“Alta, you have shown so much promise,” proclaimed Lucius, the president of Ithea. “With your work, there isn’t any doubt that our victory over Kathos will be secured. However, troubling information has arisen. We have learned from our inside sources that Kathos is beginning research on a new type of dimensional travel. As you know there are only two dimensions besides our own, the Nether and the Aether. We believe that Kathos is trying to find a way into the Aether. Should they succeed, and retrieve any of ourprecious materials, they may overwhelm us. This is why I am putting you in charge of a new task force. From this point forward, you will be researching a way into the Nether. It that understood?”
“Yes sir,” I responded firmly.
“Good man. Your team is waiting for you downstairs. Make us proud.”
I moved quickly, as each second I wasted walking was one second closer Kathos was to entering the Aether. I met up with my team downstairs, which was admittedly smaller than I had expected. There were only two other people, a renowned particle physicist, Davian, and the leading mind in Aether studies, Harun. After brief introductions, we immediately went to work experimenting with different theories on how to gain access to the Nether. Kathos and Ithea were both incredibly secretive with their dimensional studies. Only two people from each empire knew the inner workings of dimensional travel, a master and an apprentice. I was working with the master of the Aether, Harun, and even he was baffled on how to get into the Nether. Making matters worse, Harun was forbidden to share details about the inner workings of the Aether portal with Davian or myself.
Several months passed with no results. In that time, Harun had “accidentally” revealed small bits and pieces about the inner workings of the Aether portal. I knew that it revolved around focusing extreme energy through a tiny space but also required natural substances, such as plants and flowers. Even Harun had no explanation for this, but I wondered if access to the Nether required similar conditions. It was late one night and everyone was exhausted. We were running out of time. War was imminent. On this particular night, a storm was brewing. We had surrounded a pool of water with plant life and were using a diamond encrusted lens as our focus. We lowered the lens until it brushed the surface of the pool and flipped on the machine.
“It’s not being powered!” yelled Davian, standing near the arm connected to the lens. “Try it again!” I flipped the switch again and still nothing. We all went to the arm and were inspecting the power conduits, searching for any broken wires when a large clap of thunder struck overhead. There was a flash of light as lightning arced across the sky and then, faster than we could react, a bolt of lightning made direct contact with the pool. It released a shock wave powerful enough to knock us against the wall of the testing area. Dazed, we all got to our feet and checked if everyone was okay. We walked up to inspect the machine and were dumbfounded at what we saw. What was once a pool of ordinary water was now glowing a pale, purplish hue. We all looked at each other in confusion, then with excitement.
“We… we did it!” yelled Harun. “We have opened the portal to the Nether!” We all were cheering, rejoicing in our achievement. How were we supposed to know what we had created wasn’t a Nether portal? Calming down, we were about to call HQ when the portal started emitting a strange sound. It was ghastly in nature. Purplish particles started firing off in all directions and the portal itself started to flow, upwards out of the pool. I was fascinated, but also a little worried. As we watched this purple liquid flow across the ground, it suddenly jumped, and wrapped around my leg. Harun and Davian tried to pull me away from it but the more I struggled, the more it took hold. I could feel it surrounding my body. The last thing I saw was a shade of purple cover my eyes and then nothing.
A Strange New World
I felt exhausted. I couldn’t explain it. I slowly realized that I was awake and slowly came to the realization that I wasn’t dead. I flicked my eyes open and adjusted to the light, or the lack thereof. I slowly sat up, my entire body aching horribly. I looked around, attempting to take in my surroundings. What I saw baffled me. I knew I wasn’t in the Overworld anymore. My surroundings were alien. I first noticed the trees. Their trunks were a dark color, nearly black. They stretched into the sky and interwove to form a canopy overhead, blocking out most of the little light that was present. There were other trees too, that grew beneath the canopy. They resembled common oaks and birch trees that used to be common in the Overworld. It seemed to be dusk, around sunset. I got to my feet and started to really take in the environment.
The terrain was flat, yet cluttered with a wondrous assortment of colored flowers, both big and small. The “canopy” trees pulsed with a blackish color. The sky was a mix of a starry backdrop and the light bluish hue of daylight. I walked through the woods and my ears were filled with the chirping of birds, the humming of bugs, and the sound of crickets, hidden in the grass. I was completely enthralled. Never in my life had I seen this much nature. I most trees I had ever seen was in a history book. Ithea and Kathos had destroyed most of the natural environment that once existed in the Overworld. After my amazement had subsided, I began to wonder about this place. I had no idea where I was. Was this the Nether? Why had the portal pulled me in so violently, like it had a mind of its own? I had a thousand other questions, none of which I had answers to. I neared the edge of the woods and traversed onto a vast open field with a tree in the center that seemed to stretch beyond the limit of the sky. At the base was a modest wooden home. I had never seen a house of wood before. I wandered towards it, trying to determine if someone lived there. The grass seemed groomed and there was a small garden. I walked up to the door and knocked. No answer. I knocked again and this time someone opened the door. What I saw what astonishing. It was a man, just an ordinary man, standing clear as day in front of me. We stared at each other for what seemed like hours until he started to crack a smile. I found that slightly disturbing.
“Sir-,” I started to speak but was instantly interrupted.
“I was wondering when someone else would finally discover this place,” he said plainly. “How did it feel, travelling through the portal? Exhausting?
“Wha… what are you talking about? What is this place?” I asked quickly.
“Oh it’s a simple dimension really, one of eternal dusk. It’s one of the more peaceful ones that I have discovered though.”
“Discovered? Wha… is this not the Nether dimension?!”
“The Nether,” he chuckled. “Heavens no dear boy. The Nether is a vile and hellish place, and uninhabitable for the most part.” I couldn’t fathom what was happening. I think I may have had an intense anxiety attack because the next thing I knew, I had passed out.
I awoke sprawled out on a couch, in the small home. I looked over and saw the man that had answered the door.
“Oh good you’re awake! I thought you might have died or something,” he chuckled. I sat there again dumbfounded.
“I can see that you are in shock. Why don’t you let me talk and see if you can comprehend what I’m saying?” He seemed to be enjoying my misfortune. I managed to nod.
“Let me start out by saying that you are not dead. Let me also say again that you are not in the Nether. Have you not ever been to the Nether?” I managed to answer him this time.
“No one from where I’m from has been to the Nether. We were trying to open a portal to it though.”
“You said no one from where you are from has ever been to the Nether?!” He started to laugh hysterically. “I don’t understand how that’s possible. When I was in the Overworld everyone could freely travel to and from the Nether! It was a daily routine, gathering vital resources!” What was he saying? Was he originally from the Overworld?
“Wait, you’re originally from the Overworld?” I started to form a though, albeit somewhat irrational. “Which empire are you from!? I became extremely defensive. Only Kathosians could travel to the Nether. “Are you Kathosian!?” I reached for my repeater, but realized it was gone.
“Don’t worry. Your “toy” is over in the kitchen. Kathosian? What is that?” I noticed the repeater on the table in the other room. I was acting purely instinctively. I made a dash for my weapon. I reached the table and turned to face the man. He was nimble for an old man for he was already on the other side of house and was holding some sort of stick. Thinking it was a weapon, I raised my gun and pointed it at his chest.
“Don’t move!” I commanded.
“What are you going to do with that piece of iron son?” He walked towards me slowly.
“Stay where you are or I’ll shoot!” I yelled. He didn’t stop. I panicked and pulled the trigger. Time seemed to move in slow motion. As my finger squeezed the trigger, the firing mechanism activated the quantum chamber of the gun, releasing a focused beam of pure energy towards the old man. There was an audible bang from the discharge and I lost focus for a moment. Then I looked back at the man. There he stood, completely unharmed. His mood changed slightly. My gun flew from my hand across the room, breaking against the wall. I stood there, confused at what had just happened.
“Now, if you’re done with your childish behavior, let’s sit down and talk,” he ordered. I was still reluctant and didn’t move. With a flick of his wrist, the stick started to radiate a dull yellowish light. All of the sudden I felt myself being lifted off of the ground and flung onto the couch. What had just happened?
“How…?” I managed to mutter.
“It’s simple magic my dear boy. Have you never seen magic before?” He laughed as if what he just said was absurd. It was my turn to chuckle.
“Magic? What are you talking about, magic? It’s a myth,” I explained.
“A myth!” He became incredibly defensive. “Magic is what holds the world together! It’s what links all realities! Magic is as real as nature itself! Magic is what brought you here, to this dimension.” He was more serious now.
“Science brought me here. A random lightning strike is what brought me here,” I responded.
“Are you telling me that you do not know of magic? Have you never seen magic? Where are you from my boy?” He looked as dumbfounded as me.
“I’m from the Overworld, like you said you were. And no, magic doesn’t exist, in our world, in any world for that matter.” He pondered what I had said for a moment.
“Wait… wait. What era are you from?”
“Wha… we are 800 years into the eighth era.” Shocked, he leaned back in his chair. After a minute, he spoke again.
“It’s the eighth era already? When I left the Overworld, it was the end of the third era.” What he said seemed impossible to me at the time. The third era? The third era took place was well over 30,000 years ago. It was impossible that this man, had lived for 30,000 years. I laughed.
“That’s impossible. The third era lasted 4,000 years and ended over 30,000 years ago!”
“It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I suppose time does flow differently here.” I just sat back, not being able to comprehend what this man was telling me. It was ridiculous the things he was saying. But there was something about him. I couldn’t explain it, but he seemed to radiate energy. I thought that I had to be dreaming.
“Well, we can waste time with you not believing what I am saying, or I can show you.” He caught me off guard. “Look into my eyes.” His voice changed. He muttered something in a language I couldn’t understand and then the world flew past me at incredible speeds.
Then a rush of light. Everything came into focus and I was in the middle of a gorgeous field of tall grass and flowers. It was a warm summer day. A small breeze rustled the leaves on the few solitary trees. In the distance was a small cottage. The world warped around me and I was standing on the porch of this cottage. Then next to me the man appeared. He looked at me and me at him then we both looked in the open door. A young boy was in a chair, reading a piece of crude paper. Then the man started to speak.
The Origins of Greatness
“That is me at age twelve. My name is Atrius Thaum. The time is the beginning of the second era. My family and I are part of 210th generation of humans. It may not sound special but it’s quite close to the beginning of our race. You see that parchment in my hand. That is the beginning, the beginning of everything that will be. You may not believe in magic, but here, in the second era, magic is widely known. It’s so widely known that everyone can use a little bit of it. There are schools that teach magic and its many different branches. Towns are small. Everyone knows everyone and there really isn’t conflict. From what little I’ve heard about your time, this lifestyle is probably alien to you, am I right.” I couldn’t even come up with the words to answer him. I knew what I was seeing was the truth. I knew every word that came out of this old man’s mouth was the truth. I didn’t know how I knew, but I simply understood that this man could not lie to me.
“I’ll give you a quick history of magic up to this point.” He told me of the Pigmen civilization and then described the different branches of the arcane.
“There is the basic magic everyone knows. This is simple potion craft. One can take substances, boil them in water, and produce certain helpful or harmful effects. Masters in the trade can even slightly distort nature, dabbling in more advanced magics.” The world flashed to an old brick building.
“This is the best potion maker in the world at the time. I am great friends with him as well. He started me out in the world of magic. He created a potion so powerful once, that when he drank it he literally disappeared.” Atrius looked at me and smiled, knowing I was in a constant state of awe at what I was seeing.
“There’s also Witchery. This is a higher level magic. The magic of Witchery, if used right, can lead to some great benefits. The greatest witches and warlocks have even been able to alter the natural environments, turning deserts into fertile grasslands and revitalizing ravaged biomes. However, Witchery has always been cast in a bad light due to its more questionable practices, those having to do with body manipulation and sacrifice. And obviously we had to be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the Pigmen civilization.”
“Then there is the highest level of magic, or so it was known as. It is the most powerful, yet also the most dangerous. It is not taught in schools and is only practiced by the bravest of creatures. It involves self-sacrifice, drawing arcane energy from the life force of those who with dabble it its practice. Blood Magic has led to great advancements though, allowing us to grow entire fields of crops in a days’ time and even allowing limited flight to the masters of the trade.”
“All of these forms of magic are great in their own right, but pale in comparison to what I would soon discover.” We flashed back to the cottage and were seeing a visibly older Atrius Thaum.
“At this moment, I am just sitting in this field. I’m reading some of my notes and I look over and see it, a distortion in reality. I moved over to it, trying my hardest not to let it slip out of my gaze. This “distortion” blended in with whatever was in the background, quite transparent in nature. I pulled out a book and began to record what I was seeing. I moved my hand into it and out, with no immediate adverse effects. I tried to capture it, in jars and boxes, to no avail.”
“One evening, close to sunset, I was sitting next to it, feeling the slight energy radiating off of it. After a while, I saw a flash of light emit from the distortion. Then a few more, and then one every few seconds until they were occurring faster than I could count. Then a bolt of lightning-like energy flew out and at my journal. The distortion ripped the journal out of my hands and consumed it entirely. Then the distortion disappeared. However, a moment later, it exploded back into existence and floating down from it was a book, my journal, but changed. An aura of light was about it as I reached for this newly formed book. The light faded as I opened to the first page. All there was were some letters that I translated to Infusae Scriptum, which literally meant, Infused Text. Below it was a description of the distortion I had seen. It introduced me to the basis of all magic, the omnipresent Aura.”
The Aura flows through all things, sentient or not. The Aura is balance. It is life and it is death. It has no beginning and no end. It cannot be created. It cannot be destroyed. The Aura is all that is. The ability to manipulate the Aura, to change its direction, to alter its course, to use its power, is a gift bestowed upon a few. Those worthy of the Aura’s knowledge will receive it. Those worthy, will have secrets revealed.
“Of course I was confused at first. The book told me nothing else. Who sent me this book? Another creature? The Aura itself? I looked up, at the sky, then at the ground. The Aura, flowing through all things, and yet invisible to me. I had to know more. I looked at the book once again and noticed wisps of magic, flowing into my fingertips. I lifted them from the page and the tendrils receded into the book. I placed my hands down once again and this time I could feel the magic enter my body. This book was a catalyst. It had immense arcane power, and knowledge. I should’ve shown it to others, to see if they could make sense of it, but something held me back. I didn’t know what at the time, but I felt the urge to keep those events a secret. I fell asleep, under the stars out in the field. I awoke the next day to find the book opened, and to a new page, filled with new information.”
To manipulate the Aura is to control its movement, but for one to think that they are the master of it is false. One may briefly borrow a piece of the Aura in order to use it to their advantage, but this energy must always be returned. To use a portion of the Aura, one must construct a tool to harness and even store magical energy. This tool is called a wand. To create such a thing one must take the core of a Greatwood tree and adorn it with caps of gold.
“My mood was beyond words. To retrieve the core of a Greatwood tree would be difficult. These trees were protected, as they were the rarest of all trees. I only knew of one person who may have a piece of one, and that was Leandra, my mother. She was the greatest witch in our village, a kind and loving mother, yet she protected her craft with her life. Any time I would venture into her room, I would be punished, severely. To retrieve a piece of a Greatwood tree would be nearly impossible. But my need was great, so that very night, while she slept, I crept into her study, and searched through her supplies. My movements were slow and quiet, yet deliberate. After a time, I finally discovered it, resting behind a dresser. I hoped she wouldn’t miss it and I bolted from the house. Out in the field again, I realized that in my haste I had forgotten something. I had no way of constructing this tool the book described. I was no blacksmith and knew nothing of forging metals, let alone molding them into shapes. However, the greatest potion master in the world happened to also be the only blacksmith for miles around. I would have to ask him for help. And so, the next day as the sun rose above the mountains, I walked into town, met with my friend Hadassah and asked him for his help. Surprisingly, when I told him that what I was doing could be known by no one, he still agreed to help me.”
“That day he helped me forge two golden caps and to carve out the shape of this wand from my mother’s piece of Greatwood. When all of the pieces were ready, we laid them out on his workbench. As we went to connect the materials, they suddenly molded together, with no aid from either of us. Hadassah gave me a suspicious look, but before he could say a word, I thanked him and bolted out the door.”
“Back in the field, next to the distortion, I opened the book once more. Tendrils of magic flowed into my fingertips, with some barely visible wisps flowing out and towards my newly crafted wand. A new entry in the book had revealed itself.”
The Greatwood wand is a necessary tool for any who wish to study the Aura. One may notice distortions in reality, scattered about the world. Barely visible to the naked eye, but potent, these distortions are places where there is an excess of Aura. Instead of spreading out, the Aura concentrates a part of itself into pockets of magical energy. Aura nodes are the only focus where a mage can draw energy from the Aura. The Greatwood wand is an excellent tool and will store the energy within itself.
“I jumped up from the ground and grasped the wand. I directed it towards the aura node and instantly magic flowed from it and into the wand. I could feel the arcane energy pulse, filling the wand with power. It felt marvelous. The energy started to affect me, encasing me in its warmth. It filled my soul with power, but also-- with desire. I looked around, at all my discoveries. They were all mine. A voice escaped my lips, a voice not my own. Ours.
“I was oblivious to what had happened, and would be for a long time. New research opened up after I discovered the wand. The first practical research I had seen was the attributes I could give my wand. I discovered that there were ways to augment the wand, for it to obey my wishes.
The Greatwood wand is a fantastic tool to store magical energy, but to harness this energy, to use it to your benefit, additions to the wand must be made. Strapping the wand with enchanted fibers has proven useful, and capping the wand with certain materials has provided for even greater feats.
“I was ecstatic. Finally, a practical use for this magic. I went to work right away, bringing in the great potion master himself, Bard, on my endeavors. I revealed to him all of my discoveries, even giving him a copy of the enchanted book which fantastically kept up to date with my copy of the book. He was a little taken aback at first, but he came around and soon the first augment for the Greatwood wand revealed itself.”
The most basic enchanted fabric, Panno Mentis, is simple to make, yet powerful in use. To make this cloth, simply let flow the aura into a piece of parchment and then lay it upon the wand. The magic properties of both items with attract, allowing the Panno Mentis to infuse itself within the wand. One will find with this material infused with your wand that while maintaining a strong mental focus, one can manipulate the mind of other creatures. More cognitively developed creatures will not be so easily controlled, but the simpler the creature, the more control one can exert over it.
“At first it seemed a somewhat dark magic. Bard expressed continuous concern that this ability should not be used. I assured him that I would not use it to inflict harm to any creature, yet he was still wary. However, I became aware of its benefits. No longer would one have to herd sheep. The need to train animals would be non-existent. These simple creatures would be at your beck and call. They could be our slaves. That was the second time a thought not my own had crossed my mind. This time I slightly noticed, and was unsettled that I couldn’t control my own thoughts. I had no idea what was truly happening. I moved on. We discovered more cloths, and more attributes that had less, dark, potential. Panno de Mentis allowed one to move small objects with the wand. Pannis de Mari allowed a simply control of water and Pallium Ignis allowed a basic control of fire, even being able to spark one.”
“As powerful as these augments made me feel, they still paled in comparison to the feats able to be performed by Witchcraft and through the magic of blood. Those great witches and warlocks were able to make nature bend to their whims, creating great prosperity for those who benefitted. Before I made my discoveries public, I had to have something, something unique.”
While strapping wands is useful, those augments are limited in the scope of what they can accomplish. Even the most powerful archmages could only do so much with strapped wands. Capping wands proved to be infinitely more prosperous. Using rare materials and infusing them with certain metals and a piece of the aura, archmages were able to perform feats that would change the very course of history.
The first cap is no less powerful than the rest. In the great art of Witchery, the most powerful magic that could be performed was to change the very fabric of nature, to form it into something else entirely. Deserts could be changed into forests, jungles into snowy wastelands. Those arts pale in comparison to feats that can be accomplished with only the Focus Commutationis. Augmenting even the simplest of wands with this focus allows for one to perform great acts of exchange. At its most basic form, one can exchange certain items for others. At its most complex, the very air, the very ground, the very fabric of nature can be exchanged.
“I was astounded. At first I noticed something odd. The entries in this enchanted book had never mentioned that its knowledge had been used elsewhere. It mentioned great archmages and their feats. Had a people used this magic before? If so, where were they, and where was their history? I pondered that for a while, but then focused on creating this focus. It took weeks, having to trade for the materials we needed. We had to retrieve quartz from the Nether and a handful of diamond. Thankfully Bard had an abundance of powerful potions to trade. He didn’t ask for anything from me and said that he was as intrigued as me about this new form of magic, so he handled all of the expenses. Finally we infused the materials and before us laid the Focus Commutationis. I equipped it to the wand, letting it mend itself upon it. I then moved to a nearby hill and began to ponder what I wanted to try first. I imagined sand, sand of the great desert Atum, appearing before me and aimed the wand. The wind picked up. The sky became cloudier. The wand shook in my hand, nearly to the point of cracking. Bard watched in horror as the sands of the great desert erupted from nothing replacing what was once a fertile grassy mound. I was swept down the slope of what was now a sand dune, still clutching my wand. Sand rolled like waves in all directions. Soon the sand enveloped me. I scrambled, trying to find precious air but only finding more darkness. I began to suffocate, unable to breath. I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness. What have I done?
Well, I can without a doubt say that this is the best new story we've had in the lit section since A Tale Known Only By One. 9/10
The dialogue is good. The idea is fairly original by Minefic standards. The world definitely has potential and the main characters are surprisingly interesting for a Minefic.
A new great could be in the works here. Please hang around stryker
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Like fantasy? Like Minecraft? Check out a blend of the two here! Fall and a Rise: A Vanillacraft Tale!
This story is completely original with obvious references to Minecraft and certain Minecraft mods. I am in the process of writing it, so expect changes every now and then, even to old content. Any suggestions to existing content is welcome and any suggestions on what you would like to see in the future would be great! I'm not even close to done with this story. I hope you're all as excited as I am about this!
Edit #1: I have revised a few grammar errors, changed a slight bit of the story, and added a little bit more in the process.
Edit #2: I've added in a good amount of new content, with a gorgeous cliffhanger.
Edit #3: A few spelling errors have been fixed (no doubt creating more), and more of the story has been written. Expect some more detailed revisions to be coming later in the writing of this story. I really want to get the baseline story down on paper and then go back to add missing details and create a more in-depth story. I will undoubtedly flesh out more of the other characters, especially Atrius' relationship with his family and what kind of people they are as well as a better description of his village and how the world is laid out. I hope you all enjoy! And also enjoy the Latin!
A Different Kind of Person
My name is Alta. My story is an interesting one. Many of you may not believe it, but for those who do… you will be enthralled by the tale that follows. Let me start at the beginning. The very beginning.
The Overworld began at the start of the first era. In the beginning, this world was inhabited by animals of all sorts. From crocodiles and snakes, to eagles and hawks, deer and antelope, and so on. However amazing, none of this life is what one would consider intelligent. They were simply instinctual creatures, loving and emotional yes, but not concerned with power, wealth, or other selfish desires. It was a simple world, one of complete and utter balance. Maintaining order was an aura of magic that resided within all things.
At some point in the first era after many long years, an aspect of this magic, residing inside a few simple creatures mutated itself. It’s unknown why this happened, however the effect was extraordinary. The animals, who once had no thoughts of their existence, of their future, of their fate, were now exposed to a whole new world. The magic morphed their bodies, making them humanoid in stature and mutating their mind and thoughts, so thus, the Pigmen race was born. They quickly advanced, discovering tools, building rudimentary structures, and near the end of the first era, after many millennia, they had nearly mastered the art form that would become known as Witchery.
The Pigmen however became ignorant to the consequences of misused magic. At the peak of their civilization, they believed they had such a mastery over nature, that they could even create new life. Therefore, in a particularly gruesome act of powerful, dark magic, the Pigmen rounded up thousands of creatures, big and small, and collected all of the enchanted and magical items that they could find, and, in the middle of their greatest city, pushing their magic to the limits, the Pigmen began the ritual.
However, the Pigmen could not hope to control the massive amount of arcane energy present. This magic, that once provided utter balance and order, began exploding out of control and the unbound arcane energy spread throughout the environment, causing a vast array of unnatural events. Realizing the atrocities they had just committed, in a last ditch effort to survive, the Pigmen turned to magic once again in order to rip a small hole in space that led to an unknown dimension. Only a few Pigmen made it through the hole before it collapsed in on itself and annihilated the surrounding area for hundreds of thousands of miles in all directions. For hundreds of years following, the unleashed arcane energy swept across the land, mutating some of its creatures and organisms, as well as reshaping the environment and natural laws.
The second era began as the arcane turmoil settled. Out of the destruction emerged many new races of intelligent beings. This was the time in which humans first wandered the land. My story takes us to this era, and how one man discovered and harnessed a new form of magic that would unite the world for eras to come. But first, fast forward to my time, just over 800 years into the eighth era. The world is a much less magical and natural place. At the end of the seventh era, humans began to advance technologically, leaving magic, and balance, lost to history.
In the eighth era, humanity began to become ever more selfish and full of desire. Unavoidably, humanity split into many different regions. Eventually most of these regions took one of two sides. On one side was the powerful empire of Ithea, with its grand city of the sky and on the other was the nation of Kathos, with its greatest city lying within a ring of volcanic islands. Both were equally advanced, but had differing views on what the future should hold. I was 23, a young man, but very valuable in the eyes of Ithea. I had graduated from the Ithean military academy at the age of 17 in the field of specialized weaponry. However great I was in my field, my true passion was history. Ever since I was a child I had been enthralled by the past and what I could learn from it. Unfortunately, I knew that to move up in the ranks I could not simply be proficient in the field of history so I focused on specialized weaponry and its evolution. I was considered a master of my trade. At age 21, I was appointed head of weapons development for the Ithean government.
As someone who enjoyed history, I was extremely educated in the field of politics and was studied in the history of humanity. I knew what I was. I was one of the few fortunate individuals in Ithea. Over 90 percent of the population was poor. As machines advanced, the number of workers needed dwindled. Most people worked as farmers, supplying food for the elite. The others were miners simply trying to get by. I knew this society was wrong, and I was also in no position to change it, but it was what I was working towards. War was looming on the horizon with Kathos. The two empires had been butting heads for decades and they were on the brink. Both empires wanted control over all resources. Kathos wanted control of the Aether and Ithea control of the Nether. Both had extremely valuable resources that the other desperately wanted but could not have. As a result of these two monopolies, my job was never more important.
With lack of access to the Nether, our weapons were less powerful, yet more focused. The advantage we held was that the Aether had two specialized materials: Gravitite and the ever rarer, Continuum. Continuum provided us with a near unlimited, fusion-like power source and Gravitite helped hone our aerial army. Gravitite also is what allowed Ithea to build its great city of the sky. Kathos however had access to the Blaze element as well as the destructive assortment of elements that were produced by the Nether, including Vulcanite, Ignatius, Shadow Iron, and more. Even though they had a limited aerial presence, their weapons were capable of far greater destruction than ours.
With war so close, the heads of Ithea held daily meetings. On one particular day, they called a meeting and requested me as a special guest. The meeting room was extravagant, truly displaying the wealth of Ithea and the view couldn’t be beat. At the top of the tallest spire is where we met, able to see for miles in all directions.
“Alta, you have shown so much promise,” proclaimed Lucius, the president of Ithea. “With your work, there isn’t any doubt that our victory over Kathos will be secured. However, troubling information has arisen. We have learned from our inside sources that Kathos is beginning research on a new type of dimensional travel. As you know there are only two dimensions besides our own, the Nether and the Aether. We believe that Kathos is trying to find a way into the Aether. Should they succeed, and retrieve any of ourprecious materials, they may overwhelm us. This is why I am putting you in charge of a new task force. From this point forward, you will be researching a way into the Nether. It that understood?”
“Yes sir,” I responded firmly.
“Good man. Your team is waiting for you downstairs. Make us proud.”
I moved quickly, as each second I wasted walking was one second closer Kathos was to entering the Aether. I met up with my team downstairs, which was admittedly smaller than I had expected. There were only two other people, a renowned particle physicist, Davian, and the leading mind in Aether studies, Harun. After brief introductions, we immediately went to work experimenting with different theories on how to gain access to the Nether. Kathos and Ithea were both incredibly secretive with their dimensional studies. Only two people from each empire knew the inner workings of dimensional travel, a master and an apprentice. I was working with the master of the Aether, Harun, and even he was baffled on how to get into the Nether. Making matters worse, Harun was forbidden to share details about the inner workings of the Aether portal with Davian or myself.
Several months passed with no results. In that time, Harun had “accidentally” revealed small bits and pieces about the inner workings of the Aether portal. I knew that it revolved around focusing extreme energy through a tiny space but also required natural substances, such as plants and flowers. Even Harun had no explanation for this, but I wondered if access to the Nether required similar conditions. It was late one night and everyone was exhausted. We were running out of time. War was imminent. On this particular night, a storm was brewing. We had surrounded a pool of water with plant life and were using a diamond encrusted lens as our focus. We lowered the lens until it brushed the surface of the pool and flipped on the machine.
“It’s not being powered!” yelled Davian, standing near the arm connected to the lens. “Try it again!” I flipped the switch again and still nothing. We all went to the arm and were inspecting the power conduits, searching for any broken wires when a large clap of thunder struck overhead. There was a flash of light as lightning arced across the sky and then, faster than we could react, a bolt of lightning made direct contact with the pool. It released a shock wave powerful enough to knock us against the wall of the testing area. Dazed, we all got to our feet and checked if everyone was okay. We walked up to inspect the machine and were dumbfounded at what we saw. What was once a pool of ordinary water was now glowing a pale, purplish hue. We all looked at each other in confusion, then with excitement.
“We… we did it!” yelled Harun. “We have opened the portal to the Nether!” We all were cheering, rejoicing in our achievement. How were we supposed to know what we had created wasn’t a Nether portal? Calming down, we were about to call HQ when the portal started emitting a strange sound. It was ghastly in nature. Purplish particles started firing off in all directions and the portal itself started to flow, upwards out of the pool. I was fascinated, but also a little worried. As we watched this purple liquid flow across the ground, it suddenly jumped, and wrapped around my leg. Harun and Davian tried to pull me away from it but the more I struggled, the more it took hold. I could feel it surrounding my body. The last thing I saw was a shade of purple cover my eyes and then nothing.
A Strange New World
I felt exhausted. I couldn’t explain it. I slowly realized that I was awake and slowly came to the realization that I wasn’t dead. I flicked my eyes open and adjusted to the light, or the lack thereof. I slowly sat up, my entire body aching horribly. I looked around, attempting to take in my surroundings. What I saw baffled me. I knew I wasn’t in the Overworld anymore. My surroundings were alien. I first noticed the trees. Their trunks were a dark color, nearly black. They stretched into the sky and interwove to form a canopy overhead, blocking out most of the little light that was present. There were other trees too, that grew beneath the canopy. They resembled common oaks and birch trees that used to be common in the Overworld. It seemed to be dusk, around sunset. I got to my feet and started to really take in the environment.
The terrain was flat, yet cluttered with a wondrous assortment of colored flowers, both big and small. The “canopy” trees pulsed with a blackish color. The sky was a mix of a starry backdrop and the light bluish hue of daylight. I walked through the woods and my ears were filled with the chirping of birds, the humming of bugs, and the sound of crickets, hidden in the grass. I was completely enthralled. Never in my life had I seen this much nature. I most trees I had ever seen was in a history book. Ithea and Kathos had destroyed most of the natural environment that once existed in the Overworld. After my amazement had subsided, I began to wonder about this place. I had no idea where I was. Was this the Nether? Why had the portal pulled me in so violently, like it had a mind of its own? I had a thousand other questions, none of which I had answers to. I neared the edge of the woods and traversed onto a vast open field with a tree in the center that seemed to stretch beyond the limit of the sky. At the base was a modest wooden home. I had never seen a house of wood before. I wandered towards it, trying to determine if someone lived there. The grass seemed groomed and there was a small garden. I walked up to the door and knocked. No answer. I knocked again and this time someone opened the door. What I saw what astonishing. It was a man, just an ordinary man, standing clear as day in front of me. We stared at each other for what seemed like hours until he started to crack a smile. I found that slightly disturbing.
“Sir-,” I started to speak but was instantly interrupted.
“I was wondering when someone else would finally discover this place,” he said plainly. “How did it feel, travelling through the portal? Exhausting?
“Wha… what are you talking about? What is this place?” I asked quickly.
“Oh it’s a simple dimension really, one of eternal dusk. It’s one of the more peaceful ones that I have discovered though.”
“Discovered? Wha… is this not the Nether dimension?!”
“The Nether,” he chuckled. “Heavens no dear boy. The Nether is a vile and hellish place, and uninhabitable for the most part.” I couldn’t fathom what was happening. I think I may have had an intense anxiety attack because the next thing I knew, I had passed out.
I awoke sprawled out on a couch, in the small home. I looked over and saw the man that had answered the door.
“Oh good you’re awake! I thought you might have died or something,” he chuckled. I sat there again dumbfounded.
“I can see that you are in shock. Why don’t you let me talk and see if you can comprehend what I’m saying?” He seemed to be enjoying my misfortune. I managed to nod.
“Let me start out by saying that you are not dead. Let me also say again that you are not in the Nether. Have you not ever been to the Nether?” I managed to answer him this time.
“No one from where I’m from has been to the Nether. We were trying to open a portal to it though.”
“You said no one from where you are from has ever been to the Nether?!” He started to laugh hysterically. “I don’t understand how that’s possible. When I was in the Overworld everyone could freely travel to and from the Nether! It was a daily routine, gathering vital resources!” What was he saying? Was he originally from the Overworld?
“Wait, you’re originally from the Overworld?” I started to form a though, albeit somewhat irrational. “Which empire are you from!? I became extremely defensive. Only Kathosians could travel to the Nether. “Are you Kathosian!?” I reached for my repeater, but realized it was gone.
“Don’t worry. Your “toy” is over in the kitchen. Kathosian? What is that?” I noticed the repeater on the table in the other room. I was acting purely instinctively. I made a dash for my weapon. I reached the table and turned to face the man. He was nimble for an old man for he was already on the other side of house and was holding some sort of stick. Thinking it was a weapon, I raised my gun and pointed it at his chest.
“Don’t move!” I commanded.
“What are you going to do with that piece of iron son?” He walked towards me slowly.
“Stay where you are or I’ll shoot!” I yelled. He didn’t stop. I panicked and pulled the trigger. Time seemed to move in slow motion. As my finger squeezed the trigger, the firing mechanism activated the quantum chamber of the gun, releasing a focused beam of pure energy towards the old man. There was an audible bang from the discharge and I lost focus for a moment. Then I looked back at the man. There he stood, completely unharmed. His mood changed slightly. My gun flew from my hand across the room, breaking against the wall. I stood there, confused at what had just happened.
“Now, if you’re done with your childish behavior, let’s sit down and talk,” he ordered. I was still reluctant and didn’t move. With a flick of his wrist, the stick started to radiate a dull yellowish light. All of the sudden I felt myself being lifted off of the ground and flung onto the couch. What had just happened?
“How…?” I managed to mutter.
“It’s simple magic my dear boy. Have you never seen magic before?” He laughed as if what he just said was absurd. It was my turn to chuckle.
“Magic? What are you talking about, magic? It’s a myth,” I explained.
“A myth!” He became incredibly defensive. “Magic is what holds the world together! It’s what links all realities! Magic is as real as nature itself! Magic is what brought you here, to this dimension.” He was more serious now.
“Science brought me here. A random lightning strike is what brought me here,” I responded.
“Are you telling me that you do not know of magic? Have you never seen magic? Where are you from my boy?” He looked as dumbfounded as me.
“I’m from the Overworld, like you said you were. And no, magic doesn’t exist, in our world, in any world for that matter.” He pondered what I had said for a moment.
“Wait… wait. What era are you from?”
“Wha… we are 800 years into the eighth era.” Shocked, he leaned back in his chair. After a minute, he spoke again.
“It’s the eighth era already? When I left the Overworld, it was the end of the third era.” What he said seemed impossible to me at the time. The third era? The third era took place was well over 30,000 years ago. It was impossible that this man, had lived for 30,000 years. I laughed.
“That’s impossible. The third era lasted 4,000 years and ended over 30,000 years ago!”
“It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I suppose time does flow differently here.” I just sat back, not being able to comprehend what this man was telling me. It was ridiculous the things he was saying. But there was something about him. I couldn’t explain it, but he seemed to radiate energy. I thought that I had to be dreaming.
“Well, we can waste time with you not believing what I am saying, or I can show you.” He caught me off guard. “Look into my eyes.” His voice changed. He muttered something in a language I couldn’t understand and then the world flew past me at incredible speeds.
Then a rush of light. Everything came into focus and I was in the middle of a gorgeous field of tall grass and flowers. It was a warm summer day. A small breeze rustled the leaves on the few solitary trees. In the distance was a small cottage. The world warped around me and I was standing on the porch of this cottage. Then next to me the man appeared. He looked at me and me at him then we both looked in the open door. A young boy was in a chair, reading a piece of crude paper. Then the man started to speak.
The Origins of Greatness
“That is me at age twelve. My name is Atrius Thaum. The time is the beginning of the second era. My family and I are part of 210th generation of humans. It may not sound special but it’s quite close to the beginning of our race. You see that parchment in my hand. That is the beginning, the beginning of everything that will be. You may not believe in magic, but here, in the second era, magic is widely known. It’s so widely known that everyone can use a little bit of it. There are schools that teach magic and its many different branches. Towns are small. Everyone knows everyone and there really isn’t conflict. From what little I’ve heard about your time, this lifestyle is probably alien to you, am I right.” I couldn’t even come up with the words to answer him. I knew what I was seeing was the truth. I knew every word that came out of this old man’s mouth was the truth. I didn’t know how I knew, but I simply understood that this man could not lie to me.
“I’ll give you a quick history of magic up to this point.” He told me of the Pigmen civilization and then described the different branches of the arcane.
“There is the basic magic everyone knows. This is simple potion craft. One can take substances, boil them in water, and produce certain helpful or harmful effects. Masters in the trade can even slightly distort nature, dabbling in more advanced magics.” The world flashed to an old brick building.
“This is the best potion maker in the world at the time. I am great friends with him as well. He started me out in the world of magic. He created a potion so powerful once, that when he drank it he literally disappeared.” Atrius looked at me and smiled, knowing I was in a constant state of awe at what I was seeing.
“There’s also Witchery. This is a higher level magic. The magic of Witchery, if used right, can lead to some great benefits. The greatest witches and warlocks have even been able to alter the natural environments, turning deserts into fertile grasslands and revitalizing ravaged biomes. However, Witchery has always been cast in a bad light due to its more questionable practices, those having to do with body manipulation and sacrifice. And obviously we had to be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the Pigmen civilization.”
“Then there is the highest level of magic, or so it was known as. It is the most powerful, yet also the most dangerous. It is not taught in schools and is only practiced by the bravest of creatures. It involves self-sacrifice, drawing arcane energy from the life force of those who with dabble it its practice. Blood Magic has led to great advancements though, allowing us to grow entire fields of crops in a days’ time and even allowing limited flight to the masters of the trade.”
“All of these forms of magic are great in their own right, but pale in comparison to what I would soon discover.” We flashed back to the cottage and were seeing a visibly older Atrius Thaum.
“At this moment, I am just sitting in this field. I’m reading some of my notes and I look over and see it, a distortion in reality. I moved over to it, trying my hardest not to let it slip out of my gaze. This “distortion” blended in with whatever was in the background, quite transparent in nature. I pulled out a book and began to record what I was seeing. I moved my hand into it and out, with no immediate adverse effects. I tried to capture it, in jars and boxes, to no avail.”
“One evening, close to sunset, I was sitting next to it, feeling the slight energy radiating off of it. After a while, I saw a flash of light emit from the distortion. Then a few more, and then one every few seconds until they were occurring faster than I could count. Then a bolt of lightning-like energy flew out and at my journal. The distortion ripped the journal out of my hands and consumed it entirely. Then the distortion disappeared. However, a moment later, it exploded back into existence and floating down from it was a book, my journal, but changed. An aura of light was about it as I reached for this newly formed book. The light faded as I opened to the first page. All there was were some letters that I translated to Infusae Scriptum, which literally meant, Infused Text. Below it was a description of the distortion I had seen. It introduced me to the basis of all magic, the omnipresent Aura.”
The Aura flows through all things, sentient or not. The Aura is balance. It is life and it is death. It has no beginning and no end. It cannot be created. It cannot be destroyed. The Aura is all that is. The ability to manipulate the Aura, to change its direction, to alter its course, to use its power, is a gift bestowed upon a few. Those worthy of the Aura’s knowledge will receive it. Those worthy, will have secrets revealed.
“Of course I was confused at first. The book told me nothing else. Who sent me this book? Another creature? The Aura itself? I looked up, at the sky, then at the ground. The Aura, flowing through all things, and yet invisible to me. I had to know more. I looked at the book once again and noticed wisps of magic, flowing into my fingertips. I lifted them from the page and the tendrils receded into the book. I placed my hands down once again and this time I could feel the magic enter my body. This book was a catalyst. It had immense arcane power, and knowledge. I should’ve shown it to others, to see if they could make sense of it, but something held me back. I didn’t know what at the time, but I felt the urge to keep those events a secret. I fell asleep, under the stars out in the field. I awoke the next day to find the book opened, and to a new page, filled with new information.”
To manipulate the Aura is to control its movement, but for one to think that they are the master of it is false. One may briefly borrow a piece of the Aura in order to use it to their advantage, but this energy must always be returned. To use a portion of the Aura, one must construct a tool to harness and even store magical energy. This tool is called a wand. To create such a thing one must take the core of a Greatwood tree and adorn it with caps of gold.
“My mood was beyond words. To retrieve the core of a Greatwood tree would be difficult. These trees were protected, as they were the rarest of all trees. I only knew of one person who may have a piece of one, and that was Leandra, my mother. She was the greatest witch in our village, a kind and loving mother, yet she protected her craft with her life. Any time I would venture into her room, I would be punished, severely. To retrieve a piece of a Greatwood tree would be nearly impossible. But my need was great, so that very night, while she slept, I crept into her study, and searched through her supplies. My movements were slow and quiet, yet deliberate. After a time, I finally discovered it, resting behind a dresser. I hoped she wouldn’t miss it and I bolted from the house. Out in the field again, I realized that in my haste I had forgotten something. I had no way of constructing this tool the book described. I was no blacksmith and knew nothing of forging metals, let alone molding them into shapes. However, the greatest potion master in the world happened to also be the only blacksmith for miles around. I would have to ask him for help. And so, the next day as the sun rose above the mountains, I walked into town, met with my friend Hadassah and asked him for his help. Surprisingly, when I told him that what I was doing could be known by no one, he still agreed to help me.”
“That day he helped me forge two golden caps and to carve out the shape of this wand from my mother’s piece of Greatwood. When all of the pieces were ready, we laid them out on his workbench. As we went to connect the materials, they suddenly molded together, with no aid from either of us. Hadassah gave me a suspicious look, but before he could say a word, I thanked him and bolted out the door.”
“Back in the field, next to the distortion, I opened the book once more. Tendrils of magic flowed into my fingertips, with some barely visible wisps flowing out and towards my newly crafted wand. A new entry in the book had revealed itself.”
The Greatwood wand is a necessary tool for any who wish to study the Aura. One may notice distortions in reality, scattered about the world. Barely visible to the naked eye, but potent, these distortions are places where there is an excess of Aura. Instead of spreading out, the Aura concentrates a part of itself into pockets of magical energy. Aura nodes are the only focus where a mage can draw energy from the Aura. The Greatwood wand is an excellent tool and will store the energy within itself.
“I jumped up from the ground and grasped the wand. I directed it towards the aura node and instantly magic flowed from it and into the wand. I could feel the arcane energy pulse, filling the wand with power. It felt marvelous. The energy started to affect me, encasing me in its warmth. It filled my soul with power, but also-- with desire. I looked around, at all my discoveries. They were all mine. A voice escaped my lips, a voice not my own. Ours.
“I was oblivious to what had happened, and would be for a long time. New research opened up after I discovered the wand. The first practical research I had seen was the attributes I could give my wand. I discovered that there were ways to augment the wand, for it to obey my wishes.
The Greatwood wand is a fantastic tool to store magical energy, but to harness this energy, to use it to your benefit, additions to the wand must be made. Strapping the wand with enchanted fibers has proven useful, and capping the wand with certain materials has provided for even greater feats.
“I was ecstatic. Finally, a practical use for this magic. I went to work right away, bringing in the great potion master himself, Bard, on my endeavors. I revealed to him all of my discoveries, even giving him a copy of the enchanted book which fantastically kept up to date with my copy of the book. He was a little taken aback at first, but he came around and soon the first augment for the Greatwood wand revealed itself.”
The most basic enchanted fabric, Panno Mentis, is simple to make, yet powerful in use. To make this cloth, simply let flow the aura into a piece of parchment and then lay it upon the wand. The magic properties of both items with attract, allowing the Panno Mentis to infuse itself within the wand. One will find with this material infused with your wand that while maintaining a strong mental focus, one can manipulate the mind of other creatures. More cognitively developed creatures will not be so easily controlled, but the simpler the creature, the more control one can exert over it.
“At first it seemed a somewhat dark magic. Bard expressed continuous concern that this ability should not be used. I assured him that I would not use it to inflict harm to any creature, yet he was still wary. However, I became aware of its benefits. No longer would one have to herd sheep. The need to train animals would be non-existent. These simple creatures would be at your beck and call. They could be our slaves. That was the second time a thought not my own had crossed my mind. This time I slightly noticed, and was unsettled that I couldn’t control my own thoughts. I had no idea what was truly happening. I moved on. We discovered more cloths, and more attributes that had less, dark, potential. Panno de Mentis allowed one to move small objects with the wand. Pannis de Mari allowed a simply control of water and Pallium Ignis allowed a basic control of fire, even being able to spark one.”
“As powerful as these augments made me feel, they still paled in comparison to the feats able to be performed by Witchcraft and through the magic of blood. Those great witches and warlocks were able to make nature bend to their whims, creating great prosperity for those who benefitted. Before I made my discoveries public, I had to have something, something unique.”
While strapping wands is useful, those augments are limited in the scope of what they can accomplish. Even the most powerful archmages could only do so much with strapped wands. Capping wands proved to be infinitely more prosperous. Using rare materials and infusing them with certain metals and a piece of the aura, archmages were able to perform feats that would change the very course of history.
The first cap is no less powerful than the rest. In the great art of Witchery, the most powerful magic that could be performed was to change the very fabric of nature, to form it into something else entirely. Deserts could be changed into forests, jungles into snowy wastelands. Those arts pale in comparison to feats that can be accomplished with only the Focus Commutationis. Augmenting even the simplest of wands with this focus allows for one to perform great acts of exchange. At its most basic form, one can exchange certain items for others. At its most complex, the very air, the very ground, the very fabric of nature can be exchanged.
“I was astounded. At first I noticed something odd. The entries in this enchanted book had never mentioned that its knowledge had been used elsewhere. It mentioned great archmages and their feats. Had a people used this magic before? If so, where were they, and where was their history? I pondered that for a while, but then focused on creating this focus. It took weeks, having to trade for the materials we needed. We had to retrieve quartz from the Nether and a handful of diamond. Thankfully Bard had an abundance of powerful potions to trade. He didn’t ask for anything from me and said that he was as intrigued as me about this new form of magic, so he handled all of the expenses. Finally we infused the materials and before us laid the Focus Commutationis. I equipped it to the wand, letting it mend itself upon it. I then moved to a nearby hill and began to ponder what I wanted to try first. I imagined sand, sand of the great desert Atum, appearing before me and aimed the wand. The wind picked up. The sky became cloudier. The wand shook in my hand, nearly to the point of cracking. Bard watched in horror as the sands of the great desert erupted from nothing replacing what was once a fertile grassy mound. I was swept down the slope of what was now a sand dune, still clutching my wand. Sand rolled like waves in all directions. Soon the sand enveloped me. I scrambled, trying to find precious air but only finding more darkness. I began to suffocate, unable to breath. I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness. What have I done?
The dialogue is good. The idea is fairly original by Minefic standards. The world definitely has potential and the main characters are surprisingly interesting for a Minefic.
A new great could be in the works here. Please hang around stryker
Like fantasy? Like Minecraft? Check out a blend of the two here! Fall and a Rise: A Vanillacraft Tale!
Began playing during Alpha 1.2.6.
Please write more.
-K
Like fantasy? Like Minecraft? Check out a blend of the two here! Fall and a Rise: A Vanillacraft Tale!
Expect a fairly large update to the story before next Wednesday. I have lots of exams to study for.
I understand man. Exams are hell.
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Edit #3 has been published. Thanks for the encouragement! More coming soon!