"So the Demonlord has finally started to wreak havoc?"
Lady Aztera, The Great Witch of the Black Forest, rang a question to break the silence in the Magic Appraisal chamber. Guildmaster Paris and the witch were preparing a round, smooth glass, like a snow globe, above a weirdly purple-green cloth, as if it were something important for Magic Appraisal. It was akin to the ball used for fortune-telling, yet a little different. There was no reflection, it was but a see-through crystal similar to a diamond, was it actually a diamond?
On our way here after our awkward encounter in the Guildmaster's Office, I was briefed with what story was brewing in the capital city of the Kingdom of Argus after knowing I was not normal, that something in me was wrong and not even the Great Witch could comprehend.
"The Demonlord began to strike," the Guildmaster replied.
Although the foreboding name Demonlord consists of the word demon, a Demonlord is not necessarily a demon. Lady Aztera, as what she wanted be called as, claimed that in the recorded history of Venland, the name of this world analogous to how we refer our world as Earth, hidden in the depths of the Holy Church which only high officials have access to, Demonlord was called Demonlord only because the first one to bear the title was a demon, hence was called Demonlord. However, from that history onward, where many moons had passed and evil dispersed, new Demonlords had risen from different timelines and had their eras, yet none was a demon—and strangely, most were humans. Due to past history, people mistakenly referred to them as Demonlord when another evil incarnate was born anew, and the mistake carried on up to this date.
Monsters had different strengths and intelligence, thus separated by The Monster Classification. In the witch's words, The Monster Classification is a ranking system that defines the level of power for all monsters. Monsters include Direwolf, Goblins, Orc, Dragons, Ogres, Wyverns, Demons, and all forms of life that know nothing but evil—even humans can be a monster. Certain attributes including physical strength, level of demonic energy, and other latent talents contribute to a monster's rank, though no criteria has defined the level of power for each category, the sacred eyes of the Holy Church can identify them.
There are different monster classes: the Subservient, which is the lowest, can be easily slain even by a frail human; the Barbarian, pure physical strength; the Magi, magic-born weak monster; the Sinister, both physically strong and magic-born; the Jack, when such a monster comes to your land, it can control the weather and strike lightnings to your home; the Queen, similar to an imperial mage with high magical attributes, can wipe out your land only with its breath; the King, similar to high priest, wields a magic that can suck a whole kingdom with its power; the Ace, magicians of minds and illusion, you will lose touch of reality; and finally a Demonlord, the magic wielder that is above all, immeasurable and dark.
Legends had it that there was one more, yet was not really part of Monster Classification due its credibility to be proven correct, the Dark God. When humans ascend, they become Gods. When they fall and are banished from heaven, they become Dark Gods—the Joker.
"What did the church say in the matter? I was busy protecting my forest from the invasion of monsters, I was unable to attend the Moonfall Meeting," Lady Aztera then again asked, tidying the cloth around the round crystal ball.
Dust began to conquer her nostrils and was paused by a cough. I was sitting on the wooden chair, stuck on the very side of the wall where the painting of the Guildmaster in his prime was hung.
It was a little room, on the side was a mini table only enough to hold a porcelain vase of flowers and nothing more. After all, it was only a Magic Appraisal chamber, the room used for testing your mana, magic affinity, and magical power. Lady Aztera added, Magic Affinity is affinity for specific kinds of magic spells. It is like a colour spectrum, only one or two colours are the limit a human could have—like red and blue, or only red and only blue, or yellow, distinct from person to person—although it is also different from other races, which the majority bears none, and few bear three or more. Bearing the affinity for elements, there are six elements in the spectrum: Water, Earth, Fire, Air, Light, and Dark. Completely out of science handiwork!
"They said they were taking action. But knowing how corrupt the Holy Church has become, it is no surprise these will be taken into account by the Four Heroes instead," the Guildmaster.
Heroes? I thought. Lady Aztera had not mentioned what or who they were.
"The Holy Church has really fallen. Even their practice of holy magic was run-of-the-mill. They've become incompetent, pure dogs of golds and treasures, none is really holy." Lady Aztera clenched, but halted when the Guildmaster swayed over the table where the crystal ball was flumped above.
"Don't mind them." The Guildmaster calmed the witch down, she was burning in anger and enveloped with bloodlust. "There's nothing new. It's been like that for decades. Holding meetings only to maintain their authority, they don't really care about the people."
The witch only nodded, submitting to the Guildmaster.
Was the uprising I had heard outside the Guildmaster's Office about the Holy Church? Was that why the Duke was angry when the Guildmaster declined offering more funds and stormed out?
To my surprise, the royalty wasn't the highest position you could attain in Venland. In this world, the High Priest was higher than a king, and the Holy Church was more authoritative than the palace. Political matters could be handled by their Majesty, but actions could not be fully undertaken without the words from the Holy Church. They believed the one closest to God should be the one ruling the people, because they had divine guidance; they had holy protection. After all, who could go wrong with God? Or was God really always right?
Perhaps that was the reason why there were High Priests circling around the palace fountain during my flight to travel here with the broom, knowing they had more rights to be there than those figures with crowns on their head. Even in this world, religion took over people–that even the existence of magic could not tear down faith.
This world is strangely dark and mysterious if you peer on lenses intently enough.
"Enough of those imbeciles in the Holy Church and Demonlord, let's focus on this demon instead." It was satirical, but I knew it was half-meant. She motioned her head towards me, and gazed in wonder. "Aren't you excited, little one?"
She giggled.
I gaped my coal-dark eyes, and she expectedly was taken aback.
"That look." She swayed her hands side to side, as if trying to erase herself from my line of sight. "Don't read me, young man! I dare you!"
I sighed, containing laughter in my jaw. "What are you so scared of?"
"Enough of us, you've seen enough, I know. Why not commence Magic Appraisal and know more about you? You have no idea about who you really are, do you now?" She reasoned. "I was certain of what I said a little while ago in the festival circle, young man. You're not human."
It was the first time I nodded and also submitted to the Great Witch. They knew something I didn't know about me. I shouldn't act aggressively.
"Place your hand above the crystal ball," the Guildmaster instructed.
The second I began to caress the crystal ball, my heart skipped a bit, unsure if I should continue. Their eyes were curious and stirred, like those of kids' watching their favourite cartoon shows, and none dared to blink. So intent and enliven, as though I was creating miracles that even this magical land had not witnessed.
"This crystal ball will begin to test your conserved mana. It will glow after a long second passes. Mana is manifested through the brightness of the crystal ball. The brighter means the more mana, faint light means your mana isn't much—but don't worry about this so much. Mana can be worked out through time. Just relaxed," explained the Guildmaster.
I heeded every word he said, and a second later, light began to emerge within the crystal ball.
"It's coming! It's coming!" Out of character, the witch was joyous.
The light at first was faint, like a bulb nearing its end to serve when nightime invaded our homes. But as a short second passed, it grew and grew brighter, no different from a star in a night sky. When the room was almost fully devoured by a beam none had witnessed before, I thought it would stop, but the light kept growing. The room was set ablaze with the blinding light and even the figure of the Great Witch and Guildmaster were enveloped with the intense flash. My hand and my body disappeared, yet were still there, I could feel it and I knew my hands were still tightly locked on the crystal ball but with dazzling brightness all over the room, I couldn't see it. That's how immense the process was.
"Let go of it! I'm going blind!" The witch hollered, blindly motioning her hands that randomly touched every inch of my face.
"Boy, pull yourself together! Let go!" This time, it was the Guildmaster.
"But is my mana measured?"
The witch hissed, "Can't you see!"
"Well, I really can't!"
"For the Six High Elves' sake, LET GO OF IT!"
It was a deafening yell and I almost broke my eardrum. I let go of the crystal ball and rummaged my ear for liquid to know whether there was blood streaming out from my ear canals. It was a full blast of vocal cord echoing and echoing every time the sound waves hit the wall. It was volumed by fury and fear, something I knew would be rarely heard from the Great Witch of the Black Forest. Did I anger the witch?
With my hands out of the crystal ball, the light did not fade, but was strangely sucked back inside the see-through crystal promptly. It was like a black hole that only devoured light, even the ceiling lights that lit up the room were consumed, bit by bit, until the room fell into darkness.
The witch flicked her fingers, so did the Guildmaster, and flames glinted. Fire magic I supposed. The room was lit up faintly, but enough for me to sense their unsettled mood. Later after a short silence of pulling themselves together, recovering from shock and flustered looks, the witch flicked her fingers again, and the room began to light up more brightly. The ceiling bulbs were bustling with new flashes, and it twinkled for a bit as if it had life thanking the Great Witch for her deeds.
"I'm sorry...' I started, "I broke your crystal ball.. And almost blind us."
While the witch remained out of thoughts, it was the beam of smile of the Guildmaster that surprised me. He sat beside me. His tall and bulky figure almost removed all my presence, and I was not even shoulder tall. I had to look up to see his face. The ceiling was high to fit his height, there was no problem for him roaming around, but seats were those of average human reach, he thus had a hard time settling down beside me.
He gently patted my head. "Boy, you can trust my magical devices. They are of the best qualities, you know."
I held his hands above my head, stopping his pats. Although it appeared gentle to him, with his hands bigger than my face, it felt like boulders bombarding my scalp.
"Magical devices?"
"You seem to be very ignorant with things in this world." He leaned back hands behind his head, with eyes glaring towards the high ceiling above. "Magical devices are rewards after clearing a dungeon. Magical devices are tools manually created with handicraft and magic. It contains magical power that helps it operate and perform applications with more repeatability than humans."
So magical devices were like machines in our world? Instead of technological advancements, this world pursued alchemical ascent to keep up with modernity?
I nodded in content, but the witch further spoke history as though she was primordial, "In ancient times, alchemy was at its peak. Alchemists created magical devices to aid their daily needs. Although alchemists are humans, the Holy Church believed they have hands similar to those of a God. They tinkered and tinkered all day until such a time came when their works began to bear a life. It moved on its own and functioned on its own. Alchemy classes dominated academia, even the royalty was dethroned and replaced by alchemists. The alchemical age was then beginning.
However, it did not last long. Although alchemy can be learned, in sooth, only few can practise it. After all, only the very minority bore hands similar to those of a God. Thus, a revolt was triggered. It is believed that one member of the royal family was an Ace, and due to jealousy after being demoted, the former royalty came to blows. In The Magic Classification, the Ace was second to a Demonlord. They are magicians of minds and illusion; they manipulate the people. That power alone was enough to control the mind of the mass; fifty thousand people were put into a dark trance. Then a huge swarm of people under a mind magic only performed by a single Ace lunged through every capital of every kingdom in Venland and began ravaging."
I gasped in horror.
Fifty thousand people and only one Ace? Ace monsters were that powerful? Then how powerful was the Demonlord alone? No wonder why adventurers were afraid to take quest and venture into the forest outside the city walls of this kingdom. The Demonlord could annihilate an entire continent in an instant, why dare make an appearance before the Demonlord?
Then the Great Witch continued, "Alchemists were not evil. They had only been pushed forward due to people's perseverance. They did not like positions, all they wanted was to tinker. However, politics appeared to be bigger than people. They had no choice but to assume the throne given to them. Now that the revolt had begun, they had to flee their countries and settle in remote areas far from people. Yet, it was not enough to conceal their presence. People pursued and wanted them dead, even at the end of the world, they would haunt them down. Alchemists are not magic-born humans, all they have are hands and creative minds. Thus they could not fight when the onslaught was initiated. So in caves, they settled. However, they understood that underground chambers could not protect them.
Thousands of alchemists scattered all over the world hiding for their dear lives. In their caves, they built and dug cellars. Mechanisms powered their caves, and months of tinkering later, with magical devices aiding them, every cave of every alchemist was alchemically developed. From architecture to mechanisms, everything was very advanced as if the knowledge and creativity they bore was from another world. Before one could land a foot on the core of the cave where the room of the alchemist and their tinkered magical devices lies, those who dare invade will face traps and trials and life-and-death challenges to protect the alchemist themself from invasion.
However, since alchemists were separated from one another and built their own cave alone, they could not populate their caves. And when human nature took its course, even their magical devices could not save them from ageing and, then on, died in their own cave. Later, those alchemy-inclined underground chambers were then called dungeons. Alchemists protected their caves by monitoring through crystal balls to observe the happenings outside, and sharing ideas with other alchemists through exchanging conversations via crystal broadcast, but its powers held more than that. Thus every dungeon has a crystal ball for communication. And since alchemists were once the royalties, treasures of golds and pearls and extravagant jewelries can also be found in every dungeon."
It was a story from ancient times, but Lady Aztera spoke of it as if she were there. I did not have to ask to clear why the story was told. It was about the crystal ball, how it was that of great quality. Reason was: The crystal ball we used was from the dungeon Guildmaster Paris must have cleared.
"Does Alchemy still exist today?" I asked.
"It does." This time, it was the Guildmaster who spoke. "However, it was not as great as in ancient times. When the revolt began, all academia was set ablaze. Years of alchemical research were burned down to ashes, nothing was left. Now, alchemists are mediocre and unguided due to the lack of reference."
Like humans in our world, this world also relied on research to effectively practise what could be improved. My, after all this magical defiance over scientific status, magic was really not too distant from science.
"Are all dungeons cleared?" I asked again.
"Most are cleared—" It was the Guildmaster, but was cut short with Lady Aztera bringing forth her knowledge.
"Incorrect," she cleared, "in 4,000 recorded dungeons, estimate tells only 27 percent was cleared."
Mathematically, 1080 dungeons were cleared, and 2920 were still left untouched. Considering the date, the dungeons were many centuries old. Magic-borns and intelligent monsters could have paved their ways in those long, long years.
"So why aren't they all cleared?"
Both sighed in my ignorance. Though I felt a little ashamed, I had no means of knowing this world other than them.
"Because they were buried whole underneath the ground due to erosion. After all, it was in ancient times, too many calamities had befallen this land, and..." she paused, contemplating if she would want to continue but only a second later, she submitted. "There are ancient labyrinthine runes marked in every area of the dungeon."
"What about runes?"
"After the revolt, ancient runes became foreign to this world, boy. No one could read them to dispel its negative magical power. It's lethal when exposed to its presence." The Guildmaster.
"Every knowledge in every book in the library of the first ever Holy Church, including those of ancient runes, after that revolt, was engulfed in fire. And because of the runes, even with Divine Eyes of the Holy Church, they could not be located unless you randomly bump into it and discover it yourself. Research about runes filled the plate in academia today, hence Alchemy was then left neglected for centuries," Lady Aztera further explained.
The witch folded her arms and hmp, boasting the knowledge-base she had inside her head towards Guildmaster Paris.
The Guildmaster sneered. "You only know that because you lived your childhood life inside the Holy Church library! You're so full of yourself!"
"Whaaat?" It was a long whaaaaat that the witch vexed in disbelief. With one brow raised sky high, she motioned denial to the fact I assumed was also true. "As high officials, we're supposed to know that! You're just too occupied with womanising, you barely had time for reading!"
Such a word also exists here, womanising?
"Here you are again with your baseless reasons. What's there to be ashamed about living your childhood life in the library? It's something to be proud of!" The Guildmaster.
The witch summoned her staff again.
"I am the Great Witch of the Black Forest, the Ruler of the Night, the Late Queen of the Kingdom of Argus, the Far Descendant of High Elf Black, and the Master of Illusion and Dark Arts! Do you think a bookworm fits my title, idiot?!" Lady Aztera declared caterwauling.
Every title she declared, she banged her staff on the ground and shockwaves shot forth. Tremors were felt every time she finished her words. Louder and louder, the wooden floor creaked, until the room began to shake so frantically on her final blow as though the Magic Appraisal chamber carried a life. Her nerves were popping out and voice was growing hoarse.
"U-Uh..." The Guildmaster scratched his head and face was crumpled in submission. "Hehe. You are absolutely right! That was dumb of me. Very."
"You have angered me, Paris!"
I remained quiet, but I did not panic. I did not know even the Great Witch was sensitive. Their relationship was hostile, yet was actually soft. They treated one another as enemies, but it was but a tough love they were trying to convey, too shy to wear their hearts on their sleeves.
"Hehe. We have a guest here, Aztera. You should calm down a little. And..." The Guildmaster rummaged his eyes around for damage. "Don't destroy my guild!"
Now, both of them were angry!
"Are you two kids, fighting over a bookworm title?!" I squealed, standing between them with arms stretched to cover both of their faces with my hands. Their nostrils were flaring and jaws as tense as rocks.
However, even that did not stop them. Their exchange of words became more and more nonsense that my forehead began to crease. The room continued to shake as the witch did not stop banging her staff on the floor and I almost lost balance. On the other hand, the Guildmaster was stomping his feet fiercely to counter the shockwaves, yet it only contributed to the damage the witch had caused to the Magic Appraisal chamber. I thought he did not want his guild to fall into ruins? What on Earth was he doing?!
"CALM THE FUCK DOWN!" I hollered.
With my force applied on my hands holding their angry faces, there were light flashes that loomed at the tips of my fingers. It beamed through the painting of the Guildmaster and burned in an instant. It did not turn into ashes, even the ashes were set ablaze, defying the nature of combustion. It vanished completely, like it was not there hung for entertainment in the first place. They stopped their fight and were taken aback, even me, staring absentmindedly at the now empty wall where the painting was once displayed.
"What happene–" A voice cut me off guard.
"Elemental affinity detected... Magic Identification commences..." It was a voice akin to a computer-generated voice powered by a machine. The pitch and rhythm were irregular, yet monotone. I searched my sight of where it was coming from. Not being able to comprehend what I was seeing, we were rooted in our place and remained frozen.
The crystal ball spoke!
"You burned my great painting!" the Guildmaster.
"SILENCED!" It was a serious command of the witch, curious to what the crystal ball would say further.
Attentively listening, her staff submerged again to the floor as if it were a rock thrown in the water, sinking into the rock bottom of the ocean floor.
The crystal ball then continued.
"Identifying magical attributes..."
Beep!
"Earth..."
"Affinity to Earth Magic failed. Immeasurable."
"Lava Magic, Earthquake Magic, Metal Magic, Creation Magic... Error. Error. Error. All subtypes of Earth magic obtained."
"Earth Magic Power Appraisal starting..."
"Earth Magic Power Appraisal failed. Earth Magic Power immeasurable."
Beep!
"Water..."
"Affinity to Water Magic failed. Immeasurable."
"Serpent Magic, Storm Magic, Flood Magic, Ice Magic, Withering Magic... Error. Error. Error. All subtypes of Water Magic obtained."
"Water Magic Power Appraisal starting..."
"Water Magic Power Appraisal failed. Water Magic Power immeasurable."
Beep!
"Air..."
"Affinity to Air Magic failed. Immeasurable."
"Tornado Magic, Dragon Breath Magic, Gas Magic, Air Manipulation Magic... Error. Error. Error. All subtypes of Air Magic obtained."
"Air Magic Power Appraisal starting..."
"Air Magic Power Appraisal failed. Air Magic Power immeasurable."
Beep!
"Fire..."
"Affinity to Fire Magic failed. Immeasurable."
"Blue Fire Magic, Flame Solidification Magic, Pyro Surfing Magic, Fireball Magic... Error. Error. Error. All subtypes of Fire Magic obtained."
"Fire Magic Power Appraisal starting..."
"Fire Magic Power Appraisal failed. Immeasurable."
Beep!
"Light..."
"Affinity to Light Magic failed. Immeasurable."
"Holy Magic, Healing Magic, Sun Magic, Blindness Inducement Magic, Bio-Light Manipulation Magic... Error. Error. Error. All subtypes of Light Magic obtained."
"Light Magic Power Appraisal starting..."
"Light Magic Power Appraisal failed. Immeasurable."
Beep!
"Dark..."
"Affinity to Dark Magic failed. Immeasurable."
"Shadow Magic, Black Hole Magic, Mind Manipulation Magic, Death Magic, Atomic Magic... Error. Error. Error. All subtypes of Dark Magic obtained."
"Dark Magic Power Appraisal starting..."
"Dark Magic Power Appraisal failed. Immeasurable."
Beep!
"Unknown Magic found."
"Unknown Magic Appraisal starting..."
"Access denied. Unknown Magic Appraisal failed."
Beep!
"Body Appraisal starting..."
"Body Type: Average."
"Searching for possible Body Enhancements."
"Possible Body Enhancements found."
"Searching for Enhancement Application..."
"Enhancement Application found."
"Poison Resistance, Magic Resistance, Pain Resistance. Error. Error. Error. Unknown Forces detected. Unknown Forces detected. Forced Body Enhancements Application is necessary to allow the unknown source."
"Verification success."
"Body Enhancements Application starting..."
It was a long silence. Chills ran at the back of my spines and my hands clutching their flabbergasted faces slid down through my sides like a lifeless leaf swiftly falling from a tree.
Before another mouth dared to speak, as feather intensely blown from a wing, light and magical, I slowly levitated.
"W-Wha— What— WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" Panicked and curious, I posed.
But not a single figure answered my query. They were silenced by the crystal ball, still not recovering from what they heard. Unmoving and absentminded with mouth agape, they weakly fell on their knees. They did not blink, eyes still locked on the crystal ball even after the thud.
"You two, help me!"
It was too late, my feet no longer touched the floor and my eyes were forced to shut, not even my mouth was under my control. It was as if I were prisoned in my own body. My chest hunched forward and my head fell on my shoulder, dead and heavy. I, levitating, defied another law of physics.
What is happening to me?
Just then, I felt my skin crack open, and even with my eyes shut, I could sense lights spilled from the crevices. Soon after, my skin fragments dishevelled and gravitated to the floor, and like a snake in their shedding cycle, my body completely moulted my skin. Body Enhancements, the crystal ball called it.
At last, in a gentle manner, I descended.
"Body Enhancements success."
"Body Type: Unknown."
Beep!
"Guild Registration starting..."
"Guild Registration success."
"Summary Analysis: Affinity to six elements, immeasurable. Conserved Mana, infinite. Magic Power, immeasurable. Body Resistance and Enhancements, successfully applied. Guild Registration successful."
It was a long beep that indicated the Magic Appraisal finally concluded.
I gazed over the crystal ball, although see-through, I could strangely perceive my reflection on its surface. I might have undergone body enhancements, but not a single part of my body was actually changed, even my hair remained raven black and my eyes were still coal-dark and bewitching.
Just then, akin to a boat eventually floating on the surface of the ocean, a card arose from within the crystal ball. It was similar to an ID with my face etched on the right side and personal information on the left. On the top, bold and inviting, it read Adventurer Identification Card.
"I did not sign up for thi—"
When I diverted my gaze to Lady Aztera and Guildmaster Paris, strange light was coming out around their bodies that shut me off. It was fearful and provoking, and it spoke authority. It wasn't any fire, it was something neon and moving, a mix of different colours but nothing like a rainbow, as though it was always clinging there and a part of them.
"What you're seeing is a Magicule." Lady Aztera picked up the card, finally reserved and composed. "Every magic-born being has a Magicule extending out of their body, including you, like a visible aura. While it can be seen by anyone with magic, non-magic beings could not see Magicule. The more large-scale the Magicule the more powerful the being is. But do not be fooled, high power beings can conceal and tucked away their Magicule."
"So tuck your Magicule away, boy. It is not good flaunting it around. You will pose a threat to the Holy Church, considering how large-scale yours is, even the gods will be threatened." The Guildmaster rose from the floor and assisted the witch to stand.
"You think I can do that?"
The Guildmaster scoffed. "With all the immeasurable and infinite appraisal and blinding mana, you think we will believe you cannot?"
I coughed. Fair point.
"How?"
The witch meddled, "close your eyes, think of it like compressing."
"I'll give it a try."
I shut my eyes. Appearing to be ascending rapidly to the sky, the universe spun around me and cosmic powers began to surge. It was of different lights similar to the explosion of a star, a supernova. I imagined myself like a black hole sucking every pint of stardust I could see. Then all I saw, with cosmic force sipping the universe in me, was nothingness.
"Impossible," it was the voice of the Guildmaster.
"How did I do?" I opened my eyes, but it was two dumbfounded faces that greeted me again. "What's wrong now?"
"Your Magicule is gone." The Guildmaster.
"Completely gone!" Now, the witch.
"Is it bad?"
Her brows lowered. "It's extraordinary!"
"But isn't it gone? How is it extraordinary?" I panicked.
"Not gone like gone. It was completely concealed, boy." The Guildmaster.
"So I did it wrong?" Confused, I tilted my head.
"You did splendidly!" The witch leapt in joy. "No one has ever managed to completely conceal their Magicule! Magicule is one of the wonders of the universe. To be able to control it means your bloodline must be one of the primordials."
My bloodline must be one the primordials? Who even are they? I asked in my head.
"Give me the card!" Curious, the Guildmaster bellowed and snatched the card from the witch's grip.
I watched them again exchanging fierce glances with flaring noses.
When his eyes landed on a card, his face grew pale and began to shrink away. He fought a rising panic but fear eventually enveloped him. The card slipped off from his grasp and fell on the floor after his knees wobbled in weakness. He was weighed down by the dread, like his beloved guild crumbled before his eyes.
"W-What's going on?" I asked, in daze about the reaction of the Guildmaster.
I had seen them both sweat in raw panic, but this was nothing similar. The Guildmaster was edged with fear too great he could not even speak.Curious, the witch remained still.
"He must have seen your name." Lady Aztera.
I heard in the crowd a moment ago that I dared assume the name of the God, but I was certain I was no God. So what was the horror for? Besides, you could just assume any name you like, couldn't you?
If your name is worth remembering. The Guildmaster's voice rang in my head. It was what he said when he insisted that I appraise him.
"You are..." Finally, the Guildmaster muttered words thick with fear. However, a long pause came after. Out of voice and too afraid to even speak about what I was. It was a minute before he continued, "...you are...a Heid. This– This– Utterly impossible...How could that be?"
"I told you you will be surprised if you dug further," the witch then interfered.
"You know?" The Guildmaster.
"Since the first time I landed my eyes on him."
Was it the reason she read my palm?
"That's why you bring him forth, to be appraised...to confirm."
"And my, it has been confirmed."
It was that confusion I had in the festival circle that crept on my blank stare again. My name became the cup of tea once more. A look of puzzlement crossed my face before I spoke,
"What is wrong with you, people? Just tell me what's in my name!"
They both fell in silence, diverting their gazes on me.
Lady Aztera explained legends had it that long, long ago, even past the ancient times where the alchemy was on its peak, before the creation of this world, six high elves resided in the giant star. Threat came along when an unknown supreme being knocked on the door and engendered destruction in their home. Feeling nothing but blind terror, high elves created a world parallel to their former homeland and sparked a universal magic to protect it up to its core. However, it was not enough. While the unknown being could not pass through the universal magic, unknown energy however haunted them to the bones and penetrated the magical protection. To be remembered in their world, one elf sacrificed their life and living beings, such as humans, elves, beastmen, dwarves, and many more sprouted over the land and engraved them the history that the elves had been through. But with the additional surge of unknown energy running amok, evil, such as ogre, goblin, wyvern, the face cards, and many more also began to prosper. Then, one high elf sacrificed for the creation of the moon; one for water and earth; one for fire and air; one for light; and one for dark. With the last pint of Magicule in their sleeve, the elves began a ritual. Later, the elven world was completed, hence the name Venland, rooted from the terms elven land. The spirits of the six high elves ascended somewhere and vanished into existence.
"I don't see how they were connected to me," Befuddled, I declared
"High elves bore no surnames," the Guildmaster started, "but their names end with a -heid."
Petrified.
The surge of Magicule in me paralyzed my core. It was something like an explosion of energy when the -heid rang my ears. Was my grandmother one of the High Elves? Or Was it our ancestors? Why were they on Earth, and... was this only a coincidence?
My organs rattled, but with my burning throat gathering courage from the life force I had, I asked, "But can't people just name their children -heid? I'm sure that was attempted."
"You can't," the witch then said.
A second later, she flicked her fingers and a card appeared. It was hers. On the left it read Aztera de Vince. She peered intently on the cards before she chanted, almost mutely, a spell. The card lit up and a black fire carved letters after the word Aztera, at the end added a -heid. The de was overwritten, and her name on the card became Azteraheid Vince. When I was about to open my mouth and speak my comment, the card burned into ashes so instantly you would miss it if you blinked.
"What happened?" This time, I finally mouthed something, but instead of a comment, it was a question.
The witch glanced. "That is what will happen."
"Burning?"
"It did not burn, it vanished," said the Guildmaster, "thus, you could not assume to be a Heid. Even if you tried it all over again, the same outcome will happen. Worse, when attempted too many times, you will vanish, too. But, seemingly, you are a real Heid, like those of a God. So what's your race, really, Kraftlosheid?"
He spoke my name, perhaps now I'm worth remembering. I thought.
"See the card," Lady Aztera suggested.
When their gazes fell on my card, both fell silent again. So I peered through my card to help myself.
It said Null.
"Null?" I noted, questioning. "If your claims are true, wasn't I supposed to be a High Elf, too, considering I am a Heid?"
"You really are full of surprise." Lady Aztera, stimulated. "It is the first time I have seen such a word. Even I, The Great Witch of the Black Forest, don't know what that is."
"And no..." The Guildmaster butted in. "I was wrong. With the ignorance and unfamiliarity you expressed, I thought you are one of the Reincarnated Ones or the Summoned Ones. But then, you are neither."
So I, too, was wrong about me being reincarnated? "Then what am I?"
Dazzle flashed on their eyes with excitement bursting away every time they blinked. They rubbed their palms together, hyperventilating with a glowing face, like a bottle of a shaken soda about to explode. Then in a wind of emotion, with a river bubbling through their veins, excitedly in unison, they answered. I was left in the corner befuddled as an old person trying to learn the nature of smartphones.
"YOU ARE AN AWAKENED ONE!"
***