It's been a year since the declaration of war. Cael spent most of his time researching different types of magecraft he has seen using Eye of Enlightenment.
He left 5 of his homunculus in the Observation room of Oziran to help out in dealing with the threats, occasionally he would check the situation himself.
The number of attacks from malicious flying phantasmal species increased this year alone. The barriers couldn't hold on to the overwhelming horde of phantasms.
They are targeting Oziran which leads to many Faltho members and other protection forces leaving the islands to thin down the numbers of the phantasmal beasts.
This didn't produce much results, because the concept of death itself is meaningless here.
Every being here is made of pure magical energy, as long as a being is replenished with Magical energy, they won't 'die'. Even if their magical energies are reduced to zero, they just need time to replenish the magical energy.
The time to accumulate magical energy varies for citizens of Oziran and outsiders. phantasmal species take a lot more time to manifest again.
Cael believed this is due to the presence of Goddess Nammu. Unlike the Beast version which is a small part of the goddess, the True primordial Goddess exists here. Her Authority on life is absolute on the reverse side, especially to those under her.
So, 'killing' the phantasmal species is just stalling the time.
Cael visited the Observation room which surprised a member of Faltho present in the observatory. He immediately got up and said "Magician Cael, my apologies but Zidikle is on a mission"
Cael paused, and with his right eye twitching he asked in an annoyed voice "Have I asked about her?"
Efreet manifested on Cael's shoulder saying "Can you blame him? Whenever you come here, it's always about her"
"Enough playing. Luvon, Summon everyone who is on a mission. It includes the other islands protection force too"
Seeing the serious Cael, Luvon immediately took action. Luvon announced to every warrior that is on a mission to return.
Cael provided special armor to the warriors of Oziran, crafting unique suits for each individual warrior to enhance their damage output. So, they have a special respect for Cael.
All of them returned immediately, and Cael got straight to the point.
"Warriors of Oziran. I know you have been working hard and pushing the beasts back. But this is not the battle you should fight, it is merely the enemy weakening us, the true battle lies ahead. So, For now, I have created a solution for our problem"
A portal opened up and a Golden shield studded with jewels dropped.
"This is a special Magical Item I have made, this will erect a barrier around the entirety of Oziran. However, unlike the barriers which protect the Islands. This will make the islands a separate space and hence even if the phantasmal beasts try to invade our islands, they will just phase through the islands"
The warriors liked the decision. Since they too have been continuously fighting without a break.
Cael got praise from magicians who are present there working in the observation room. They are already his fanatics when he introduced them to his homunculus.
After activating the Barrier, the Entirety of Oziran got covered in a blue dome.
As everyone are leaving, Cael saw Zidikle looking at him. She signaled him to come out.
"Can't you come in person?" She asked seeing Cael.
" I'm just a soul you know? I replicated one of my student's abilities. How did you see through me?" Cael laughed it off and asked.
"You know the answer anyway, why bother....Where are you exactly?"
"In my workshop? Why?"
"Since you robbed my freedom to go outside, I would like to demand compensation from you"
"You are a bad liar, Zidikle" Cael said as he vanished from the spot. A portal appeared in front of Zidikle and Cael's originally body appeared from it.
"It is unfair to rob my fellow adventurer's freedom. So, I have to compensate indeed" His magician's robe transformed into simple clothes.
"Come on, I will show you something you'll love"
Cael dragged Zidikle with her into a new portal. They both appeared in a beautiful place filled with waterfalls and snowy surroundings with trees filled with snow.
When Zidikle is about to say something, Efreet manifested and said "Wow! I didn't know this place existed. Cael, you have to bring m-"
Before she could finish, however, Zidikle held Efreet in her fist and threw her into the portal.
"How are you keeping an annoying familiar like her?"
"She is fun" He laughed it off.
Zidikle removed her armor, she changed her clothes right in front of Cael.
'Right, Alien common sense. She has different emotions compared to mine' Cael thought.
Zidikle sighed, she stood in front of Cael and pushed him on to snow smoothly. She then sat on him
"Hey Cael, you want to spend your life with me right?"
Cael bluntly said "Yes but I don't-"
"Think I'm ready or will ever understand your feelings" Zidikle continued his words like she's reading his mind.
Cael replied with a small smile "I know you have a special place in my heart but to think I always let my guard down completely and allow you to read my soul. I am really crazy over you"
"You know demons can read thoughts through their souls, yet you still leave yourself open to me. We may be different but we share the same feelings towards each other. So, Cael, allow me to stay with you for the rest of your life"
"Stay?"
"I don't know your traditions. I lived my life like an elf until now, we stay with our partner as a sign of love for the rest of our lives. We commit to each other, supporting each other. That's our way of love"
Cael stayed quiet for a while and said
"Zidikle, As much as I want you and live with you. I want to reach my goal. I want to break my shackles"
"My actions had consequences and I won't stay here for much long....I don't want to hurt the only person I ever loved in my life"
Zidikle bent down and kissed Cael on his lips "I see, I'll wait then. I know you will return for me no matter what happens"
Cael is surprised that she knows kissing but more than that, the kiss caught him completely off-guard. Elves only know Hugs, their reproduction varies from humans. So, kissing and sex is a foreign concepts to them.
"No matter how much of a monster you may be, you are still human right? I know how much physical intimacy means to you. I learned about it from your familiars"
"...That explains why Efreet didn't come here. I should learn to not drop my guard around you with the surprises you give me"
"Cael, Let's travel the world in the future. Just you and me"
"I will show you the wonders of the world, I promise" Cael expressed his feelings.
Zidikle stripped off her clothes "Why don't I show you the wonder I'm hiding first"
"You learned too much about humans, didn't you" Cael replied with a laugh.
Let's say they both just sealed the deal then and there with their bodies.
--Outside of Oziran---
"Why are you here, why now? Do you have any idea of what you have done? How long do you think it will take for the people to figure out your identity, Haleth?"
Vaeri exclaimed at a man in a magician's robe. He replied with an exhausted smile
"I'm doing this for our sake, Vaeri. Trust me, I just want to protect you"
"How? Stealing the Light and threatening the entirety of Oziran? Do you have any idea what the Goddess will do to you?"
"Just trust me on this, I will be ready for my punishment, when I set everything righ-, I- I have to go!"
Haleth left suddenly in the middle of the conversation.
He warped to another space. At the same time, Cael who observed the entire conversation with his clairvoyance is surprised to see the Magician himself.
'He has roughly 3 months for his identity to be exposed but that won't change anything. He's a competent magician to sense the clairvoyance' Cael calculated, he didn't care who the magician is or the identity of the Magician.
Leaving that thought aside, Cael drew a sigil on Zidkle's back.
"Is this Magic of some sort?" Zidikle asked feeling her life force running rampant inside her.
"I'll keep it simple, this magic will give you an ability based on your spirit using life force as the medium. Your life force will manifest in a physical form, like mine "
Cael opened his wings.
"My wings allow me to manipulate the concept of Access and Occlusion"
"Hmm? I think mine is rather simple" Zidikle said as a yellow-armored ethereal warrior stood above her with giant arms.
"I can feel the strength of the spirit. It eclipses mine by a large margin" Zidikle said, the moment she punched the ground with her stand.
The Entire land caved into dust. The Island they are on shook. Cael used his Magecraft to stabilize the island.
'....She's hot'
"The yellow spirit complements well with your hair. This should help you in war" Cael said standing in the crater like nothing has happened but he's just glad that she is a lot stronger now.
'With her armor that can enhance her strength and the extra set of arms from the stand with such strength. I can take it easy from now on '