"White Mandrake. A bar of Cinnamon. Lavender. Blue dart frog venom, and lastly..." Haddock took out a plant with an excited manner, "Stillmajik Chamomile!"
He played it in front of the still-gloomy Alicia to lure her in. His efforts were unsuccessful. The depressed girl was still looking down at the floor, sometimes greeted with hiccups after crying. Creating an awkward atmosphere for himself, Haddock then cleared his throat and began concocting the potion.
He lit a fire and boiled frog venom in a round glass bottle. While boiling, Haddock mashed White Mandrake and Lavender together using mortar and pestle, then stored them in a container. One step was passed, he ground the cinnamon separately until a powder it became. When the poison boiled, Haddock added a red powder called "Splitting Dust" to it. A cloudy white liquid–a protein from the frog's venom–appeared over the yellow liquid precipitate. He strained it through a filter glass, then mixed the white liquid with ground mandrake and lavender, and slowly added cinnamon powder. Haddock whispered a few incantations as he stirred the potion.
Last touch. The Grand Magus added his favorite ingredient, Chamomile Stillmajik. The liquid reacted and changed color. Voila! The healing elixir potion was complete!
Haddock immediately approached Alicia and knelt down. "Miss Alicia, here is the elixir. Drink it."
A subtle and reassuring pink elixir. Albeit it was made of venom, the perfumed aroma of Lavender and the warmth of cinnamon subdued any doubts from its dangerous temptations. Without further ado, the girl gulped down every liquid down her throat. Her mood grew even more chaotic after drinking the great Grand Magus concoction.
"Just hold it, Miss. It's like taking medicine," innocent Haddock said.
"It's better to take the doctor's prescription medicine," she replied.
"But not as effective as magic potions."
Grand Magus was not erred. Her tensed muscles slowly loosened. Her body became warmer and calmer thanks to the mixture of lavender and cinnamon. However, Stillmajik's strange bitter taste and the venom of frogs she could not forget.
"How are you feeling now?" Haddock attempted to make the atmosphere of the room more comfortable, again.
But the small talk made Alicia irritated. "What do you think?"
"You're still dismal. Silly me. I apologise."
They sat next to each other, again lost in awkwardness.
"Do you think Orb is better kept with the Magisterium instead?" Alicia asked awkwardly.
"But that's your right. Orb has chosen you."
"I'm sure there will be someone else who can take my place if you gather all the magicians in all Camelot."
"Or should I just give it to Roma?"
"If that's Your Honourable' decision. After all, I 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘦 think Your Honourable would just hand over the Orb just like that." The girl pondered. "Perhaps you can give it a try, too.
"I can't control Orb."
"You just need to mingle with Orb more, I guess," said Alicia. "Surely Orb will allow synchronisation with you after a while."
Haddock gave a small chuckle. "Young lady, that is not how it works. And really, what's with all those questions? You're going to give up being a mage?"
A question that was enough to grab the girl's conscience for a moment before she sighed. "I… I don't know, sire. I think I was too pompous, thinking I could do anything as long as Orb is with me. And look at me, it has not been two weeks since I made 𝘺𝘰𝘯 promise, and I'm already giving up like a washout I am."
"I know that my life will not be safe. But it's difficult to accept the fact that those who want to kill me are part of my own flesh and blood," explained Alicia again. "Am I really that weak, sire, even though I've been through the same thing a few times before?"
Haddock just nodded, concerned. He gently pressed the girl's shoulder. "Life as a mage… is not a simple matter. No matter how strong you are, you will always find yourself in depressing times. But that is not a weakness, dear. You are not weak. In fact, you are steadfast enough to live until now. You are still struggling with life. What is that if it's not a proof you are a sound person? The deeds of your kinfolks will never be justified, no matter if they adhere to the customary laws of pure magician descent. Those laws are worthless. And stupid."
"I always thought that all the people in this world were the chosen ones, sire. The Superiors," said Alicia as she removed and wiped her misty glasses. "It is said that the Divine chose and redeemed our ancestors from the sinking primordial realm–the old world. It was as if he saw something in them, that they and their descendants could create a new, better life in the new world. They and their posterity would be prepared to protect the new world from malicious forces, preventing them from drowning the earth like it did in the old one. But is it true? Was everyone in this world chosen? Am I chosen? Because I think we drowned this world ourselves noo. Nonsense. I can't stop that kind of thing."
"Who still believes in that tale? Let me guess, it must be your mother."
"Mama told me that almost all the time. It's etched in her brain."
"Your mama was just trying to motivate you to keep fighting for your life. Though I admit, it's kind of sad and cruel at the same time, providing unrealistic motivation."
Alicia was surprised at the Grand Magus' response. She turned to him. "You're so mean! I thought you were on good terms with mama!"
"Of course, we were, we're still!" said Haddock. "Your mom and I and Barthie have always been honest. We've fought a lot over that, but that's what keeps us together. We know each other well. Not much different from your friends outside the room, right?"
"Fair enough." Alicia's response was curt.
The Grand Magus suddenly thought of something. Something related to her he found in the library. "Even so, don't forget. You may suffer, but you are never alone. And you are wrong, miss. You were chosen by Orb, so you are the chosen one. No facts can refute that."
Alicia turned her head towards the Grand Magus. A glimmer of the sun pierced her heart. It quite amazed her that every time Haddock said something, there was something that inspired her. Alicia wondered if she was sure that a person as impressive as a Grand Magus was single in his thirties. Even with his dashing looks, let alone his amazing rhetorical ingenuity, he should have been married and had children long ago. There was no way the reason was not possessing spare time for romance. After all, he often skipped work.
"W-why… why can Your Honourable believe that I'm the chosen one?" Alicia asked.
"Because as you know, I just borrowed some books from the national library…."
"Uh, aye, I can see that towering pile on your desk."
"And there's one that explains it all so clearly! Well, it's rather odd looking for magic books there when you should have the most complete wizarding resource in the Magisterium's library!" Haddock instead babbled out of context. "But anyway, I have something to tell you. 𝘉𝘶𝘵, only if you still want to be a magus."
One could tell that the Crimsonmane lady was captivated by Haddock's offer, but the haunting cloud of despondency obscured her decision.
"W-what is that about?"
Haddock with his bulging mien gave an electric shock to the bespectacled girl's right wrist–the wrist that had scars from a larger sting, the sting of Arcane might. Alicia jumped from her seat.
"GRAND MAGUS!"
"Just a small sting, just a small sting. There's still a lot of healing elixir." Haddock points to a glass vessel full of a nasty pink potion.
"That's the sole reason I want to avoid being electrocuted again!" she said. "What did you find? Tell me!"
Out of the blue, Bartholomew Strongbark ruined the two's soon-to-be-lived conversation with an awful look on his face, a sign of bad news. "Something is happening!"
Alicia's and Bartholomew's eyes met each other. The girl understood the wizard's cloudy eyes. "It's related to me again. What about this time?"
"It would be nice if Haddock and I discussed this one-on-one," said Bartholomew.
"If it's about me, I have the right to know! Grand Magus, I beg of you."
"Haddock, come on–"
"It's all right," Haddock said. "What's that?"
Bartholomew sighed in resignation. "The MP, Donar Crimsonmane, and his son were attacked by a group of masked wizards in his apartment."
"W-WHAT?"
"I knew it was not a good idea."
"Oh no, no, no, no, not them! 𝘖𝘩, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮!" Alicia's panic attacks returned. She tugged at her hair and wandered.
"Alicia, calm down," Haddock said.
"No, I can't calm down!" Alicia then turned back to Bartholomew. "Where? Where are they now? I have to see Papa and Leith! Please tell them they're alright!"
"They're safe for now, young lady, my goodness," the Grand Magus' Right Hand explained.
"Then why are they still not here?" The giddy Alicia could not trust Bartholomew's assurance just like that. "Grand Magus, let's go pick them up right away! Let's go pick them up!"
Having said that, she rushed out of the door in a hurry. She met Nadine and Gilmore, but she ignored the presence of the two friends. She kept running down, stair after stair.
"Alicia, wait! Where are you going?" Nadine and Gilmore went after their best friend.
"My papa! Leith! They were attacked too!"
"They were, too?" Gilmore's response. "With the same person?"
The girl did not reply. She kept on stomping her feet until she was finally in the lobby of the first floor, a pair of giant doors in front of her. Alicia was preparing to square off to get out of Skycastle, which she had not even thought about with what the girl would descend from Skycastle back to earth. Haddock did not seem quick to respond to the girl's request. Believe it or not, freefall is one that is on her mind. Of course not as the first option, silly.
People see her acting weird and running. It was not an unnatural phenomenon for the strange girl in the air castle to behave like that. What was unnatural was out of thin air, a large yellow crack appeared, getting bigger and bigger. Alicia with her glasses again fogged–or her eyes that were too teary–did not notice the strange crack in front of her, so she had to be lunged away by Haddock, who flew with his magic broom.
"ALL STAND BY!" The reverberation of Haddock invited all wizards from all over the castle to gather and surround the strange crevice in the centre of the horizon.
Alicia, who had just woken up, saw the magicians on her left and right stiffen facing the door. "What happened?"
"You, young lady!" Haddock, who was in front of her, approached. His face looked unfriendly. "Are you mad? Can you not control yourself a bit?"
"Papa and Leith are still out there! Why didn't you hurry–"
"Look in front of you! Can't you see that crack of light in the middle of thin air? Can you think of what might happen if you hit the crack recklessly?"
It was a slap that sent her back to the mortal realm. It was only then that she could see a crack in the air that looked like an unusual fissure in the middle of nowhere. Alicia felt ashamed of herself. "I… I'm sorry, Grand Magus."
Haddock caught both of the girl's arms. "You should be sorry!" He then sighed as he added, "Hear, young lady. If you don't want to trouble people, no more panic attacks and rash actions while under my watch! If you can't control your panic, even with the Silent Divine next to you, it can only watch you die silly!"
"I a-apologise, Grand Magus. I am a fool and reckless. I'm just worried about losing Papa and Leith...."
"They don't have Arcane powers like you, but your father and brother are wizards, Alicia. They have lived as magi. They shall experience this, and know what to do at such times. As for you?" Haddock pointed at him. "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥. There's still so much for you to learn."
A second slap for Alicia. Even though he had just given a motivational speech to the girl, Alicia's reckless actions put the Grand Magus' patience to the test. Alicia was speechless, so she lowered her head and decided to leave.
"Now let us see what kind of odd banter this is!" Haddock walked closer to the crack than any other wizard. The crevice spread and became more visible, then shattered into pieces like a blast of glass! It left a vast hole, with an irregular shape, showing a strange setting, and a band of strangers as well. A portal connecting spaces appeared between the wizards and the entrance. A few human beings had not yet known what the door was used for.
The people behind the portal one by one came out in pairs. The unknown faces did not represent one ethnicity or race. Some were eastern, some came from the desert region, even some familiar Europa faces were present among them. Their clothes looked different from those of the dapper and elegant wizards. Their bodies were covered in simple clothes full of bandages and ties of cloth, several layers in abundance. They wore bracelets, amulets, and other accessories, foreign to the eyes of the Europeans. From their restrained temperament, they looked like a group of isolated monks.
A Magisterium mage whispered to another. "Aren't they…?"
"Sorcerers? Yes, they appear!" replied another wizard.
"But they are not like Roman ones."
"Because they're not Romans." Haddock stopped the brief debate. Those suspected of being the sorcerers then lined up. European mage's wands were already glowing into their vision, but they remained calm, idling. They seemed to wait for someone who might be the leader.
After the last few people came out, a loud thudding sound of footsteps approached the portal. Behind a portal that displayed a dim backdrop, a green leather boot treaded itself onto the glowing castle floor tiles. The wizards were still petrified, wondering who would come out next. The echo of each firm footstep made the atmosphere tenser. Even the Grand Magus Haddock could not fool himself as the hairs on his spine shuddered. There was a thick magical aura in this person.
A middle-aged man, with a thick beard and long hair, revealed himself to the crowd, who still mounted a tight stance. He did not look too different from the others, but everyone could easily guess that he was the leader. They judged by his stature and the way he walked while holding both hands from behind with great charisma. Do not forget another fact that he brought with him three young men who walked behind him as if his little bodyguards. It seemed absurd to see the three juveniles escorting him. It would have been more appropriate if the youths were escorted instead, by the bearded father earlier. The face of the leader of this monk showed the features of a European!
Like patching a broken wall, the bespectacled guardian sealed the portal. The sorcerers had all gathered, sixteen of them in total. The sorcerer chief was standing right in front of the wizard commander. Haddock's expression changed, indicating that he was familiar with the figure.
"You know...." Haddock started the conversation, "if you come out of goodwill, you could have used the front door. Bring as many followers as you want, we will serve you with a whole heart."
The man looked back. "I see," he said, "if we do that, it's for the highest possibility, you will throw us out of the sky."
The wizards immediately cornered them. Haddock, still calm, raised his hand to keep them in place. "Who am I talking to right now?"
"Ah, Your Honourable the Grand Magus. I know you, I know you know me."
"Everyone knows me, correct. But not everyone knows you."
"You want me to introduce myself so you can embarrass me in front of your good men?"
"Oh, no. I'm a man. I don't speak ill of other people." Haddock pauses for a moment. "Not in public."
The man looked around him. He scanned everyone in the office one by one. The man's vision instead penetrated the crowd, finding Alicia Crimsonmane's figure riveted in the back, anxious. Confusion swarmed the girl's mind. Then, the man revealed his identity.
"Greetings. You should already know who I am. You adore me, draw me on your building murals. I am everywhere."
The mages of the Magisterium began to ask one another what this man's chatter meant.
"But that's fine. I shall clear up your memories again," he added. "I am… known by many epithets. I am… a Servant of the Pendragon Dynasty. I am… the Advisor of the Round Table. I am… the Traitor of the Albions. The Mad Hermit of the Caledonian Forest…."
The room was slowly filled with wonder and incomprehension. Some had guessed–including Alicia, the most knowledgable of magic–and they felt this person was spouting the most ridiculous baloney they had ever heard. The middle-aged man had not even finished his introduction, let alone said his name.
The man stared at the awkward bespectacled Crimsonmane. "I am the Founder of the Magisterium of Arcane Plane! I am the First Grand Magus!"
"This person is insane," Alicia muttered.
"I am Lailoken!"
"He's absolute insane!"
"And the world once called me Merlin, the Earth's Greatest Magus!" []