,Taaprish, Outskirts of the Kingdom of Valen, Planar gate.
Planar gates, relics of a forgotten age. They are not actual gates but rather age-old altars that could be found on any and all worlds within the five thousand realms. Around each of them were four pillars of a magnitude that would make one's mouth hang open in awe for they had pierced the clouds.
So old were they that their true purpose was long lost or had failed to be passed down. So complex was their making that the most learned practitioners could not comprehend the sheer magnitude of the mind that made them manifest.
But it was theorised by the archmages, hermits and other great scholarly minds that the gates were but foundations for great magic- portals. Tremendous portals, they think, were on each world linking them to each other. The claim is given further recognition owing to the fact that each gate seems to have an interspatial connection to another specific gate.
Sadly, no one knew how to operate these millennia-old vestiges. However, it was another matter to take advantage of the effects of the gates. Space was oddly unsettled near these incredible constructs, a condition that any capable space element practitioner (assuming you could find one) could take advantage of. It was easier to use space type abilities and set teleportation coordinates from one altar to another to which it was linked. So even though the altars could no longer be utilized they had no fallen out of purpose.
And above one such gate on the world Taaprish...
*Kreeeeeee*
A deafening screech erupted as space twisted and warped fiercely. Countless spatial rifts appeared pulverizing and greedily devouring any form of matter as though a hungry beast. Nothing was spared- nothing aside from the massive circular altar atop which the anomaly took place. It was so massive in fact that it could fit a mansion, estate and all, with room to spare. Hundreds of rune-like markings gave off a dim violet light a shrouding the platform with a tone of archaic mystery.
Shortly the pandemonium settled and a total of 20 figures appeared on the altar amidst a flash of bright lights.
One of the figures, the only one wearing a hooded robe, looked around noticing the hundreds of knights, clad in silver armour, encircling them. Ferocious glares and drawn weapons told of the consequence of any foolish action yet the robed figure showed no fear at the impressive display of military might.
"Name yourself and state your purpose." before long one of the knights, in markedly more decorated armour and seemingly the leader of the squadron roared menacingly.
" Ugh so annoying." The robed figure groaned in a whisper, annoyance lacing every word before flashing the embroidery on the right side of his robe- a silver ant.
The squad leader inspected the emblem before sheathing his blade, and naturally, his troops imitated his action putting their own weapons away.
"My apologies, your Grace. We were not given prior notice of any potential visits from the higher realms." The captain said with reverence and respect.
"Are you suggesting, captain, that I inform you every time I have business on Taaprish?" The robed figure said, a benign smile barely visible under the hood of his cloak.
"I dare not think of such a thing." The captain quickly replied.
"But if I may be so bold your Grace, might I ask if there is anything I can assist you with." he continued trying to shift the topic.
"As a matter of fact, there is." the robed figure answered almost instantly as though he was waiting for the question to be asked.
"I wish to have an audience with your king. Also, I am in need of escorts to take me to the capital." the robed figure requested.
"Consider it done. Vice commander Nylhor!"
"Yes sir?"
A young knight responded as he briskly walked over.
"Contact the Head knight and inform him that his Grace, the Diligent, is here and requires an escort for himself and his entourage."
"Yes sir. Well then excuse me, sirs."
With that, he went off to a corner and took out a small green tablet decorated with runic symbols.
"How long will it take for it to arrive?" the robed figure- Diligence asked.
"About half a day at most, your Grace. If they make haste you will be at the walls before dusk." The captain acknowledged helpfully.
"That would be for the best." Diligence asserted.
🐍
Yet another tree joined its brethren in tree heaven or wherever trees went when they die complement to a certain blue snake. Azra had been practising his new skills while getting accustomed to his new body which turned out to be surprisingly fun.
His larger frame was appallingly fast! This was one of the things he found out about his post-growth body. His abdominal muscles had become more flexible and powerful giving him a speed boost.
"It was no wonder that thing was so fast." he mused casting his thoughts on the giant python.
Unsurprisingly he tired quickly. Even on earth snakes weren't known for their stamina and were mostly ambush predators.
Of course, even with his increased strength, he couldn't knock down a tree. So how did he do it? Magic! Prior to his accidental discovery, he found that he could change the form of the water he invoked from liquid to solid ice and even gaseous vapour. Using his newfound knowledge he had the water spread around the base of the trees before freezing it.
This caused the liquids inside the trees to freeze making its fibres brittle and easy to break. Then he would charge towards the poor unmoving plant with his body clad in arcs of electricity. Yes, electricity! This was the lightning magic he'd learnt. It wasn't useful for far range attacks. The arcs of lightning hardly got to about five feet before being tugged towards the ground similar to natural lightning.
The whole process was tedious and exhausting but it was good practice so he kept at it until he could do no more. Stamina and origin spent Azra collapsed into a pile of coils.
After recovering his strength Azra took the last remaining food from his storage and prior to a moment of hesitation gobbled them up. In his ravenous state, he had eaten all his prey raw and found that he preferred it that way.
"Probably my new taste buds." he thought.
"Well, time to find a new home," he said whilst glancing regrettably at the fallen trees amongst which was the one his burrow lay beneath.
"I couldn't fit in it anyway." Azra uttered while he slithered deeper yet in the vast sea of greenery.