Chapter 3 - Seer of Everwinter

787 I.C, September 13, Everwinter: Castle Garden, Night

Peace and tranquility, it was a wondrous sensation and I soaked up every moment of it. The air was cold, crisp, and I could hear the ice sing around me as I looked up at the night sky.

My cheeks burned from the cold but my clothes kept me warm as I huddled together.

I loved it, the vast sky that seemed to go on forever, the twin moons that bathed the world in a gray glow, the wide band of stars that twinkled like wisps of magic. It made me feel free and I couldn't help but smile as I dreamed of adventure beyond the walls of Everwinter.

A sudden gust of wind tore through the garden and rustled my clothes with enough force to sneak a chilling breath of air along my chest. It made me shiver for a moment as I hugged myself and leaned back against the tree I was sitting by.

What if I could create an aetheric shield that could block wind?

Or a shield that could make me invisible? Block my scent? Hide the sound of footsteps?

I could escape that way... I need to visit the library...

A sudden creak and whine of metal could be heard as one of the castle doors pushed open, my heart skipped a beat as I froze and listened.

*crackle* *crunch* *click* *tap*

Someone had entered the garden and I could hear the click of claws mixed with the heavy crunch of snow, a wulfkin. It made me shuffle back as I hid by one of the bushes near the tree.

*crunch* *crackle*

The footsteps sounded as if they were coming from the entrance I had used, it made me wonder if one of them had tracked me here using scent.

*sniff* *sniff*

Dammit...

I took deep slow breaths and listened to the intense sniffs, moments later the wulfkin emerged by the wall that split the garden in two.

Pure white fur, blue eyes, large muzzle with a black nose and fangs big enough to make the lips bulge.

Clyde...

To my surprise he only seemed to be wearing a loincloth, it made me wonder if he had come here looking for privacy or actively sought me out.

Clyde looked like a big beast, his legs were fully digitigrade and his upper body was rounded while leaning forward in a way that gave him a hunchbacked bestial gait. White fog wafted from his muzzle as he drew breath and searched the area with perked ears.

"Avery?" Clyde asked out loud without warning.

My heart burned with hatred but I had to wonder if he might have come here to set things straight.

Clyde took another step closer and huffed the air, "You're not supposed to be in the gardens."

You fucking bastard...

Escape became my priority and I considered running to the door, it seemed foolish though as Clyde would follow and alert others in the process.

"Come out Avery, I won't hurt you," Clyde said as he moved around as if trying to catch the wind.

My eyes caught on one of the balconies that led to the hallways, it was rare for them to be locked and they had ample vegetation and piping to climb on.

Clyde's sniffs picked up pace as he seemed to catch my scent on the wind, moments later he faced my way and stared at the bush I was hiding behind, "There you are."

An escape plan formed in my mind as I drew a deep breath and focused. Threads of magic emerged and started to spread like a gigantic web. The aether became an extension of myself and allowed me to feel the trees, the ground, loose rocks, branches, pieces of ice.

Clyde's presence in the sensory web was like a gaping carnivorous drain that distorted the aether, it burned and shredded every thread that dared get close to him.

A light growl was heard as Clyde stepped closer and flexed his hands as if showing off his wicked claws.

"I don't make the rules you know, now stop fucking around Avery!" Clyde exclaimed.

The threads of magic found a path to the balcony and climbed along the old pipes and vegetation, moments later they touched the massive door and found the handle.

I focused and pulled on it as warmth began to radiate from my chest. A click was heard as the handle snapped into place and made the door open, my heart leaped in relief as I had found my escape route.

Clyde was almost within reaching distance as I rose up and faced him, "Hey Clyde."

The big wulfkin stopped for a moment and sniffed the air as if expecting a trap, "Get over here or I'll kick your ass Avery."

I frowned, "Why?"

Clyde's black lips twitched, "Because you're breaking the rules, and I fucking say so, that's why!"

I drew a deep breath and readied myself for a sprint while I let the threads of magic grab hold of the tree next to me, "All I wanted was a bit of fresh air Clyde, just let me go."

"I'm not going to tell you twice," Clyde warned.

I pointed to myself and pleaded, "It's me Clyde, Avery. We're friends... remember? Can't you recognize me or did the transformation make you forget?"

Clyde gritted his teeth as another low growl escaped his muzzle, "You're not wulfkin and we're not friends Avery, you're just another human who's supposed to be in the lower levels."

There are no words to describe how much I loathe you for those words...

"Please Clyde, I don't want to fight you. There's no need for this."

Clyde's lips pulled back in amusement and revealed rows of canine teeth, "You don't want to fight me? You almost make it sound like you had a chance."

"Why are you doing this Clyde? When did you turn into this evil monster?"

Clyde frowned and his brow twitched, "You're the one breaking the rules! You're the one causing trouble! I'm not the bad guy here!"

"... I wanted a breath of fresh air Clyde. If I apologize, will you let me go?"

"Apologize all you want Avery, but I know you and you'll simply return here at a later time. You need to learn your lesson and obey, human."

I gritted my teeth while my heart thumped in anger, "Don't underestimate me Clyde."

Clyde smirked as he raised his stubby hand revealed big black pads and thick fingers tipped with claws, "Big words for mere prey, now stay still and I won't have to hurt you."

"Fuck you Clyde!" I hissed as I pulled at the tree and made it bend.

Clyde launched forward without warning and tried to snatch hold of me, I released the tree in an instant and let it swing back like a whip while bolting to the side.

Old branches and a large puff of snow slammed into Clyde's face as he stumbled back in surprise.

I took off on a running start and burst through the bushes as I ran toward the balcony. An angered growl accompanied by rumbling footsteps followed.

My human body may have had its limitations but I considered myself an agile runner, compared to a wulfkin though the winner was clear. Another distraction was needed and magic came into use once more as I gripped hold of the threads I had spread throughout the garden.

I stopped running and turned around while reaching out with my arms to help focus what I was about to do. Clyde approached at a frightening pace and glared at me with his piercing blue eyes as I ushered forth enough magic to make my body tingle with warmth.

Branches, rocks, clumps of ice were sucked from their resting places as I slammed my gloved hands together with a loud clap. The flying debris took Clyde by surprise as it started pelting him from the sides.

Clyde snarled in anger but stumbled to the side as he raised his arms to protect his head.

One large clump of ice hurled through the air and slammed into his digitigrade legs, it knocked him off his paws and a loud yelp could be heard as he slammed into the frozen ground.

I sprinted to the wall and made a flying leap as I grabbed hold of a pipe and the dead vegetation clinging to it.

RAH!

A feral snap of anger along with rumbling footsteps could be heard while I focused on my physical strength and climbed in desperation.

GROWL!

A ferocious growl tore through the air as I heard Clyde leap into the air. Something slammed into my leg and almost made me lose grip of the pipe.

Vegetation tore loose from the pipe and Clyde made a distorted snarl as he fell down once more. The mere touch left an uneasy sensation that rattled the aether inside me, I ignored and climbed in panic as I heard the wulfkin hit the ground.

I gripped the balcony and climbed over it as the pipe began to groan and creak in torture.

GRAH!

I landed on the balcony, rose, and then glimpsed down as I came upon a frightening sight. Clyde was climbing the groaning pipe with a feral expression that made his eyes burn with a hunger and anger that I couldn't understand.

Why do they hate me so?

Clyde's encroaching presence disturbed the aether but it hadn't crippled me yet as I held out a hand and resorted to magic once more. Threads flowed out and gripped the fasteners holding the pipe in place.

A jolt of energy through the threads and a simple pull turned them into superheated cutters that made the pipe loosen from the wall and shatter into pieces.

Clyde fell and flailed his arms with his eyes locked in surprise and fear, a loud slam was heard as he hit the ground and was pelted with debris and pieces of the pipe.

I watched from above as Clyde shook his head with a growl of anger, moments later he looked up and locked eyes me while baring his fangs.

"To believe that I once considered you my friend Clyde, now you're more than a brain-dead pelt and a traitor to boot!" I yelled out.

My insult seemed to have an effect as he began to shake from anger while his fur rose like bristles. Clyde jumped up and grabbed a piece of the pipe as he made an insane roar of anger and hurled it toward me.

The piece hit the wall with a resounding clatter but I ignored as I pulled the balcony door open and disappeared into the depths of the castle once more.

787 I.C, September 22, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Morning

I could feel Rastlin's presence by my shoulder, he was judging me in silence while waiting for me to notice so that he could lecture me once more.

As usual I glanced back and met his eyes, "Yes?"

Rastlin motioned to the obsidian plate I was working on, "Your designs are improving Avery, you would make a good trap maker."

I blinked in surprise, "Thank you."

"However..."

Here it comes...

"Yes?"

"Constructs made out of obsidian are potent but heavy. They can be useful as tools but no mage worth his salt will on it in a duel between mages."

"Because it's not flexible?" I asked.

"That is one of the reasons, battles between mages are very dynamic, your dependence on tools is a weakness that cannot be overcome by a strong focus."

"Oh?" I said.

"Your ability to multitask is lacking, something as simple as maintaining an aetheric shield requires conscious effort for you. You need to learn how to maintain spells inside your subconscious."

"And how does one do that?" I asked.

Rastlin glanced back and reached out with magic as he fetched a glass of water, "You will hover this glass over your head as you continue to work. At times I may throw things at you, be ready."

I glanced up as Rastlin raised the glass over my head with a bemused smirk, "Ready?"

I drew a deep breath and reached out with a thread of magic as I held the glass in place, "Ready."

Rastlin let go and stepped back, "Now get back to work."

"Yes, Rastlin," I answered with a nod.

787 I.C, October 3, Everwinter: Transporter Room, Night

I stifled a yawn, knelt beside Rastlin, and watched as he adjusted the crystals. Transporter duty was tiring, twice so when you were summoned for a second shift.

"Pay attention," Rastlin muttered under his breath.

I straightened myself and drew a deep breath, "Of course, my apologies, Rastlin."

Rastlin returned to his crystals and I noticed something odd, the crystals weren't the usual ones. I held my hand near one of the crystals and tried to sense its purpose.

Order...

The natural vibrance of the aether structured itself like coal-dust in the presence of a magnet. These were stabilizing crystals, powerful and rare ones that seemed like overkill for a regular journey.

Something didn't make sense though, stabilization crystals were only needed in long journeys that required extreme amounts of energy.

"Are the other mages going to assist us?" I asked.

Rastlin shook his head, "No."

"So who's providing all the aetheric energy?"

Rastlin made a tired groan and stood up with a crackle of bones, "I need you to listen carefully, do you understand, Avery?"

"Of course," I answered as I stood up.

Rastlin walked over to the wall, "An entity will emerge from the transporter, it is known as a sentinel. Do not speak in its presence."

I joined Rastlin by the wall, "Understood, anything else?"

Rastlin shook his head and spoke with a cool voice, "No, things will be fine as long as you keep your mouth shut."

Minutes passed before something shifted in the aether, a moment later the transporter powered up and the crystals began to glow. The aether began to quiver, the air grew cold, and a whisper like the gentle rustle of leaves could be heard.

Light radiated from the crystals as shadows formed on the obsidian platform. It felt eery and my instincts were riled as wisps of magic formed in the air.

A sudden clap was heard and a gust of air burst from the platform along with a flash of light. It made me squint for a moment before looking up once more.

What had been little more than whispers were now a distant shriek and the source of it was a floating cylinder in the very center of the platform.

The cylinder was about the size of a mature wulfkin and seemed made out of pure obsidian carved with intricate patterns. Four wulfkin surrounded the cylinder but their gaze was directed elsewhere, as if they avoided looking at what Rastlin had called a sentinel.

It radiated with power and the aether in the room felt different, cold, structured, it reminded me of an alternate form of the disturbance emitted by blessed wulfkin.

None of the wulfkin said a thing or even seemed to notice us as they started walking while the sentinel floated along. The unease and strange sensation in the aether began to fade as they left while Rastlin walked up to the massive door and pushed it shut once more.

"What was that?" I whispered as I approached Rastlin.

"A sentinel, it is a remedy for the weakness that is inherent in being almost immune to magic."

"What do you mean?"

Rastlin nodded, "An immunity to magic has many advantages but it is also an Achilles heel as they cannot protect themselves against physical objects, arrows from a bow, bolts from a crossbow, boulders thrown at them by using of magic."

So my suspicion was correct...

"So that thing... the sentinel... It's like a mage? Or rather, an aetheric construct built to negate that vulnerability?"

Rastlin nodded, "Yes, among other things."

"But it was so close to the others, it shouldn't have been unable to function?"

"The sentinels are built by the master and are tuned not to be affected by the disruption field emitted by blessed wulfkin."

"I didn't think something like that was possible?"

Rastlin shrugged, "I do not know how it is done."

"So what is a sentinel? A powerful arcane construct?" I asked.

Rastlin nodded once more, "That is... an apt description."

"How come I've never seen one before if it plays such an important part?" I asked.

"They are elite troops, regular excursions either go without support or are borrowed one of us mages."

"So what mission did they have that was so important?"

Rastlin made something of an irritated frown, "We are responsible for running the transporters, we are tools, nothing more."

787 I.C, October 17, Everwinter: Storage, Midday

"Come on Avery!" Ben exclaimed with a big grin as he settled next to me in the sofa.

I raised my brow, "What?"

Ben motioned to the wooden tankard in my hand, "You're barely drinking, not saying a word, relax, engage, have fun, talk to the ladies, it's not often we get to enjoy something like this."

My mind woke from its daze as I glanced around and took in the world around me. The place stank of hormones, sweat, beer, and the air had a humid rather oppressive pressure to it. It was loud and there was the rather disturbing banging of sex beyond the walls.

I wasn't a stranger to wild times in the upper floors, but this was something different. It was messy, wild, out of control, and it screamed of a desperation that made me want to flee rather than join in.

It was difficult to judge them, after all, they had adapted to their surroundings and were like starving children given more candy than they could handle, it was a disaster, just as expected.

"Are you listening!?" Ben hollered as he waved his hand at my face.

I raised my tankard and then took a big gulp, "There, see, I'm enjoying myself."

Ben cocked his head, "It's been half a year Avery, let go of it, accept fate, life isn't 'that' bad down here."

Not that bad? Are you serious?

Ben pointed at me with a sheepish grin, "I know something that will cheer you up."

"Uh huh?" I asked with some doubt.

Ben stood tall and motioned for me to follow, "Come on."

A sudden retching sound came from the corner of the room followed by a few guffaws as the others pointed it out. I frowned in disgust and rose as I followed Ben out of the room.

Ben walked over to another storage room and glimpsed inside before motioning for me join him, I did as told and glanced over his shoulder.

The storage room seemed to have a calmer tone to it and to my surprise there were several well dressed females mingling with the other guests.

Ben made a sly grin and glanced back, "The girls like you Avery, they call you Red Eye. The strong mage, a wolf in human clothing. A bit intimidating, but a good looking stud."

My eyes grew wide as I inched back in surprise, "Mating is the last thing I should be doing."

Ben raised his brow, "You don't get it do you? You'd be screwed in more ways than one if you were bred with a wulfkin from upstairs. But one of the girls down here, you'd be buying her a ticket to a life far better than the rest of us, at least for a year that is. They'd love you for it Avery."

I felt my face flush red from embarrassment, "Are you serious?"

Ben glanced down at my crotch as if trying to make a hint, "I've seen you sniff the air Avery, you're male, you've got a drive, it's tempting, isn't it?"

The strong tone of hormones and raw musk in the air had an appealing hint to it, but I found myself confused regarding Ben's actions, "And why the hell are you so keen on me screwing someone Ben?"

Ben huffed, "Because the self-pity, sourpuss, angry at the world, attitude you have is getting tiring. Get your rocks off and chill out for fucks sake."

I frowned, "... I consider you my friend Ben, but watch your tone will you."

Ben made a big grin, "See? That's the attitude you need to drop. Now, focus on that auburn hottie over there."

I looked into the room once more and saw a female clad in a short skirt and a light blouse. Her hair was deep auburn and seemed to flow as she moved. She was beautiful and carried a natural smiled as she over at the door. Our eyes locked and she seemed to freeze as if stunned.

"See, her name is Miria," Ben whispered in glee.

"Miria huh?" I whispered as I made a gentle nod in her direction.

Miria smiled and made a polite bow that took me by surprise.

How did someone like her end up in a place like this?

"Interested?" Ben asked.

"Curious at least," I said as I pushed Ben aside and stepped inside.

Several other males in the room turned to look as I entered, I ignored them and focused on Miria as I approached.

"Hello Miria, I'm Avery," I said with a warm smile as I held out an open palm in greeting.

Miria's smile grew and something shifted in her long auburn hair as she reached out and let her palm touch mine, "Delighted to make your acquaintance, Red Eye."

I drew a deep breath through my nose and enfolded her hand in my own, she smelled sweet and fertile with a hint of pleasant herbs, "The pleasure is all mine fair maiden, I must admit that I am surprised to find such beauty in this place."

Her auburn hair shifted and parted to reveal ears tipped with red fur, it made her reach up in an instant as she covered it up, "I have been called many things, but never a fair maiden."

I inched closer and cocked my head while my instincts stirred from deep within, "You are very beautiful Miria, I'm surprised to hear you say that."

One of the males caught in my field of vision, he was glaring at me and seemed to be growing red in his face.

"You're different from the others, like they said," Miria whispered.

"Said who?" I asked.

Miria shook her head, "Nothing, you are quite good looking yourself, and you smell nice."

I tightened my grip on her hand and leaned in as I caught her scent, "Your scent is most exquisite as well, may I ask though, how come you are so refined?"

"We're not all brutes down here," Miria answered.

Something in the back of my head screamed for me to stop, this was insane, she was fertile, any coupling would lead to pups... real children.

Miria stared at the floor for a few moments and then glanced up as she met my eyes, "Shall we withdraw?"

That's it? Two minutes of playful courting and you're giving in? No competitors? No fighting?

I glanced around the room and in wonder why the other males weren't rising to the challenge.

Then it hit me... like a sledgehammer to the head. In my stupidity I had fallen into the trap of thinking I was back on the upper floors. These weren't wulfkins to be, they were low percentage hybrids.

This was the real purpose of the beer, the party, this setup. We were breeding stock and this was the tactic used by the upper floors to usher forth new children.

"Is something wrong?" Miria asked all of a sudden.

It was a setup, someone wanted me to mate with this woman and they had even used Ben as a pawn.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"What happened? Did I do something?" Miria asked.

My playful if hormonal daze shattered like glass and was replaced by disgust and hatred, I was not breeding stock and I refused to be a pawn in their games.

I pushed her hands off me, "I can't do this Miria, I'm sorry."

Miria's expression turned from shock, to confusion, to anger in mere seconds, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I refuse to have my offspring raised in a place like this, under circumstances like these... I'm sorry that I can't give you what you want."

Miria blinked in shock and remained frozen for a few moments, "... This is how things are, it's not like we have a choice."

I frowned in irritation and stepped back, "There's always a choice."

The others stared at me like a madman as I turned around and marched out.

787 I.C, October 20, Everwinter: Transporter Room, Midday

"You'll be fine Avery," Rastlin said as he stepped out and shut the massive door.

I gulped with unease as I considered the responsibility he'd thrown in my lap, transporter duty, all by myself. It wasn't lack of skill or ability that worried me, rather it was the fact that bad things tended to happen when I was left alone with them.

Nevertheless I crouched by the obsidian platform and began to set things in motion.

One stabilizer... a few charge crystals to act as a buffer... one trigger mechanism... two field sensors...

My worry led to bad memories which in turn rattled my hatred and anger for the others. It had a soothing quality to it and I embraced it as I began to think of means to defend myself.

It made me grin for a moment as I realized that the transporter was not only a means of transportation but also a potential weapon. All it needed was a sudden burst of static at the right moment and the result would be disastrous for anyone caught inside it.

At best they'd be evenly distributed through the aether, at worst they'd end up on the other side in a state that no sane mind should consider.

I'm turning into a monster...

"I'm not the monster around here," I whispered to myself.

With the crystals in place I got up and fetched the map, it showed most of the transporter locations around the world and it was one of the few intact maps that weren't sealed in some wulfkin's office.

They hadn't told me where they were going or even how big the group was going to be, but Rastlin's instructions had indicated a short jump that could be handled by a single mage.

I observed the map and began to draw conclusions on those hints as I trailed a circle with my hand.

Maybe they were going north, beyond the mountains into the wild wastes, or perhaps south to the border kingdom of Telish.

Approaching footsteps snapped me from my daze as I began to flood the room with magic. Warmth radiated from my chest and spread to my arms as I stepped back and funneled it toward the platform.

The crystals began to sing and charge as they warmed up while wisps formed in the air.

My perception of the aether expanded and I began to feel the presence of other transporter nodes in far beyond Everwinter. It felt like candles of light hidden in an endless ocean of darkness and strange whispers.

The door to the transporter room opened followed by the marching click of claws, heavy footsteps and the rustle of armor. It was difficult to ignore them as I leaned back against the wall while focusing on the transporter.

"Well hello again little mage!" The voice was dark and full of ill intent, it made me bite together as I recognized it as Doros.

The flow of aetheric energy stabilized and I felt confident enough to give them a sliver of my attention.

To my surprise I found myself looking at a portion of my previous class, there were about eight of them and it included both Clyde and Raymond. They were dressed in leather armor augmented with strips of metal and carried scabbards with big swords.

They looked intimidating, strong, proud, the sight of it infuriated me and I doubted it was a coincidence that we met once more.

"Where are you going Doros?" I asked with a cool and detached voice.

"How about Krobia? I figured a well deserved feast would be appropriate," Doros teased.

Doros teasing was too obvious to be funny, "Then there must have been a mistake, I will inform Rastlin at once."

Doros reaction made my inner self grin with amusement as I watched his ears fold back in surprise.

"It was a joke you fucking idiot!" Doros snapped.

"I see, where are you going Doros?" I asked once more.

Doros stepped closer and held out his clawed hand as if he was about to wring my neck, "Careful filth."

"Touch me Doros and the transporter will stop or even break, the master won't be happy about that."

Doros black nose flared as his lips twitched in anger, "We're going to outpost 43."

I turned my head and focused on the map, the outpost was set in a mountain region near the wildlands to the north. The compass next to the map served as a guiding line to help me lock onto the right beacon.

"Well?" Doros asked with an impatient voice.

"Enter the platform, you'll be on your way in a minute," I whispered as my focus took precedence.

It took some fiddling and counting of the various beacons hiding in the aether but I latched onto a spot I felt was the right one.

The arcane runes on the platform began to glow as the crystal construct began to latch onto the wulfkins. It was amazing to feel as it formed spikes that enveloped and began to invade their so called magic immunity.

I didn't understand how it worked and Rastlin seemed unwilling to teach me, but the potential it held, it made my mind tingle with excitement.

The wulfkins were staring at me and Clyde glared in a way that told me he was still pissed after our earlier encounter. For a moment I pondered killing them all but that thought caught in my throat as I locked eyes with Raymond.

Raymond was staring like the others but his ears were folded back as if ashamed. He may have hunted me through the castle but he was still my brother, surely that still meant something.

Some of the wulfkins murmured to each other as I raised my hand and snapped my fingers.

A clap was heard followed by a gust of wind as they disappeared in an instant.

787 I.C, October 26, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Morning

I glanced around the workshop and then focused on Rastlin once more. He was staring at me and it made me wonder what he expected from me.

"... How much longer do I have to sit here?" I asked.

Rastlin cocked his head as he observed me, "Do you sense something?"

"No? What's the point of this lesson... having me sitting on the floor?"

Rastlin held out his bony hand and then snapped his fingers. The surrounding air quivered as something formed in the air. It looked like paint filling a tube as it spread outward from Rastlin's body like tendrils.

I sat straight in surprise and began to realize that they were threads of magic that were being revealed to me. To my horror the threads kept growing outward and spread along the floor and roof before starting to encroach on me. Moments later I was staring at what looked like a cage that surrounded me.

I gulped and realized that it was the equivalent of having a knife held to one's throat.

"How... did you manage to create an aetheric construct that big... and powerful... without me even noticing?" I asked.

The smile formed on Rastlin's lips and pulled at his beard, "As a mage you have an innate ability to sense changes in the aether, like a drop in water there are ripples in the aether. But what if one is careful and keeps leakage to a minimum so that there are no ripples to speak of?"

"I understand the concept, but how can one accomplish such a thing?"

Rastlin reached into his robe and fetched some kind of obsidian device fashioned with crystals and metal. He set it one the floor and then reorganized the threads of magic so that they flowed through it.

A very fine red thread formed above the device and Rastlin pointed at it, "This device is a detector, and it is also your only way out. Cut this thread and the trap I have built around you will dissolve. If you're detected the trap will shock you instead."

"... I see," I answered.

"Trial and error boy, there is no specific spell for concealing ones magic, just a lot of focus and skill."

"How does one counter a thing like this?" I asked.

"By being aware of your surroundings, for example, one could create a ripple in the aether and listen to the echo, or you could send out threads of your own and let them wander."

"I see."

Rastlin rose and started walking toward the door that hold his inner sanctum, "Good luck Avery."

Wonderful...

787 I.C, November 1, Everwinter: Mess Hall, Evening

It felt like an eternity since I had first tasted the horror of cooked cave mushroom. To my relief and disgust I hadn't yet grown used to it and every bite remained an exercise of willpower.

Ben was sitting opposite to me but something seemed off about him as he stirred and played with his food rather than forking it down like usual.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

Ben stabbed at the plate with his fork and glanced up, "Wulfkins are fucking slobs."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You lived in the castle, your parents... the ones who took care of you, they were wulfkins."

"What are you getting at?" I asked.

"What was it like? A big den with carcasses and old skulls strewn about?" Ben asked.

I pushed my plate aside as I answered, "Not at all, hygiene is very important to wulfkins, sure... it gets messy at times and the scents can be rather powerful, but that doesn't mean we... they live as beasts."

Ben huffed, "I find that difficult yo believe."

"Why? What happened?"

Ben stuck his tongue out as if disgusted and pushed his plate out-of-the-way, "I was assigned to clean out the baths... it was revolting."

I raised my brow, "How so?"

"There was a half eaten rabbit in one of the baths... I've never been that disgusted in my life."

I blinked in surprise, "... I don't get it."

Ben stared at me, "Blood, guts, it looked like a damn bloodbath."

I licked my lips as I thought back to the olden days, "Yeah, so?"

"... It doesn't disgust you?" Ben asked as if flabbergasted.

"I guess it's something you get used to, I've skinned and prepared many rabbits and even bigger game throughout my life. But I thought you liked roasted rat?"

"That's different, you catch it, skewer it, and then chew off the well cooked parts. But this... blood and guts... bone and all... it's like looking inside a person, doesn't that scare you?"

I made a mischievous grin, "It tastes great."

Ben leaned back in shock, "You've eaten things raw?"

I smirked and chuckled, "No, not really. I can eat it raw but the taste for blood only sets in following the transformation. Actually I'm a bit surprised that you would be so averse to it, after all you've got quite a bit of wulfkin inside you."

Ben glanced away, "Maybe."

"So did you see anything else in there?"

Ben nodded and met my eyes, "Yeah, you have no idea what hides inside those pipes, there's so much gunk, fur and other shit that you have to wonder what they do in there. Not to mention the smell, and I don't mean the pipes... that other smell clinging to the walls."

"Yeah," I answered with a bemused smile.

Ben leaned over the table and lowered his voice, "Do you still want to become a wulfkin?"

What kind of question is that? Of course I do...

I kept a neutral expression as I focused on him in wonder, "You don't?"

Ben shook his head, "I don't want to turn into a monster like them, stomping on everyone... there are people around here that would have no problem with that, but I'm not one of them."

I watched Ben in silence as the gears of my mind churned to a halt.

"Do you?" Ben asked.

"I don't know," I answered.

"I see," Ben answered.

I gave Ben a quick glare, "Don't you even try Ben, you're not exactly a saint yourself."

"Me? What did I ever do?" Ben asked.

"You tried to set me up with Miria, what did they offer you for it?"

"I... I don't know what you're talking about."

I cocked my head and glared, "Do you think I'm stupid Ben? The others want me to breed but I didn't do it on my own so they leaned on you in an attempt to make it happen."

Ben looked away in guilt, "... I was only trying to help you."

"So what did they offer you?"

"... Food, but I didn't get any... since... you know."

"Sorry about that," I said.

Ben made a slight smile, "It's OK, being friends with one of the most powerful mages down here has its benefits as it is."

787 I.C, November 15, Everwinter: Rastlin's Workshop, Midday

Rastlin's beacon still glowed as I stepped into the workshop, "Rastlin?"

The old seer emerged from his inner sanctum moments later, "15 minutes Avery, you're slow."

I shut the door as I answered, "... Sorry, I was caught up with repairs in the lower levels."

Rastlin motioned for me to come closer, "It's time that you take the place as my apprentice and next seer to be."

I walked up to a nearby worktable and felt butterflies in my gut, "Oh, and how does one accomplish such a thing?"

"You will fight in the arena against my current apprentice."

"Fight?" I asked in wonder.

"It's not strictly to the death, but that's often how it ends up."

I stared at Rastlin in disbelief, "Excuse me?"

Rastlin motioned to his inner sanctum, "Come, we must prepare you."

I gulped and followed as I tried to wrap my head around what he'd just asked, "Rastlin, are you serious?"

"Do I strike you as the joking type Avery?" Rastlin asked with a tired voice.

"No," I whispered as I stepped up to the door and glimpsed into Rastlin's secret room.

One of the walls of his inner sanctum was a gigantic plate of obsidian carved with intricate runes. Stacks of books and piles of crystals rested in the corners. An old bed made out of faded wood stood along one of the walls while the other side of the room had several large closets.

"You may know my apprentice, his name is Zachary and he works in the foundries below."

"I'm afraid I've never met him, I tend to avoid the foundries."

"He's strong like an ox and has a high magical aptitude, but you will persevere if you take my lessons to heart," Rastlin commented as he stepped up to the closets.

"... You said to the death?"

Rastlin opened the closet and revealed large rows of clothing, "Most of the time, yes, but you are free to spare him of course, provided that you can make him yield."

"Why would you seek replace him? I mean, I'm eager for the role as seer, but what's your reason?"

Rastlin glanced back, "Zachary may be strong but he suffers from a condition of the mind that I have been unable to cure."

"And that is?" I asked.

"Stubbornness, stupidity, he bows to no one yet he is so easy to manipulate that he bends to everyone. As a seer he would be useless, as my apprentice he is an ignorant annoyance who picks and chooses from the wisdom I share."

"... How long has he been your apprentice?"

"For five years now, after he killed the last one."

I clenched my fists, "Rastlin, I've studied under you for little more than half a year."

Rastlin cocked his head, "You don't believe in yourself?"

"I do, but this is a matter of experience. It seems hasty..."

Rastlin looked back at the closet and motioned for me to approach, "My decision has been made, you will enter the arena tomorrow morning."

I hate this lack of power... being thrown around like a damn pawn...

"What can you tell me about him?" I asked as I stepped up to the closet.

"Are you asking for advice on how to defeat him?" Rastlin asked as he began to trail his hands along the clothes.

"Yes, I guess I am."

"That would be cheating, wouldn't it?" Rastlin asked as he pulled out a garment.

I don't understand you Rastlin... You're devious yet honest...

"What do you think?" Rastlin asked as he held up a fine blue doublet with a black trim.

The fabric looked smooth but it didn't glint like silk yet the fibers were so small that I couldn't distinguish it.

"It's very foreign, what is it made of?" I asked as I touched the garment with one hand, it felt comfortable and it tingled as if enchanted with magic.

"Woven from the silk spiders that live deep in the caves below the burning sands of Karashak."

"It's enchanted? How? With what?" I asked.

Rastlin handed over the garment, "The enchantment is for the garment, it will repair itself and you can change its appearance to suit your purposes with a simple spell."

I took the garment in my hands and noticed that it felt rather heavy, strange for a simple garment.

"Thank you," I said.

"Rest, you have a though day tomorrow."

787 I.C, November 15, Everwinter: Arcane Arena, Morning

The arena was set in a crater of obsidian and the very bottom of it was filled with sand. It provided little in the way of tools and the obsidian wasn't easy to damage with magic. It made for the perfect scenario of testing raw magic power and skill.

Two rooms with protective shields were set on each side of the arena and provided an ample view of the battle that was about to take place.

I glanced up toward one room and caught sight of Rastlin and a group of wulfkins, one of them glared at me and I recognized the dark hide and piercing yellow eyes as Doros.

A few of them seemed to chatter and their hands and made signs as if betting who was going to win.

It made me wonder what father would have done if he was up there, would he have bet on Zachary and yelled out in triumph as I lay dead on the ground. The thought twisted my insides but even if my father was a monster, was he that much of a monster?

A large crystal in the roof of the cavern emitted a strong red light, it was the signal to start preparations for the battle.

I took a deep breath and glanced down at myself as I forced the troubling thoughts from my mind.

The aether woke to life as I brought out the magic inherent in me. One shield to protect and intervene with physical objects hurled my way.

Another shield to counteract and interfere with powerful spells hurled my way.

And finally, one fail-safe meant to protect my life at any cost if my protective spells were to be breached.

Rastlin considered the fail-safe a waste of aetheric energy better used for other things, but I found it a comfort that held my fear at bay while allowing me to focus on the battle itself. The surrounding air shivered and then grew still as the transparent shields stabilized while I shuffled it to my subconscious.

I looked up and extended a web of threads meant to probe the arena while focusing on my opponent.

Zachary was big, muscular, and he glared at me as if already trying to choke the life out of me. He was clad in simple but sturdy clothing and his eyes were a stark yellow while his hands were tipped with blunt black claws.

Yellow light flared across the arena and signaled that the battle would soon commence.

To my surprise the threads I had sent out encountered no magic, no detection webs, no big shields, nothing.

What are you up to?

I sent one of the threads closer and felt a zap that disrupted and disintegrated the thread while sending sparks of energy back into my outer shield so that it crackled like lightning.

Shit...

Zachary's tactic became clear, he was like a wulfkin in temper and he'd race in with all he got, slam through my shields, and then disable or even strike me dead. A slight smirk formed on Zachary's lips and revealed sharp canine teeth.

My tactic changed to compensate as I spread more threads of magic and started to build on a construct in the center of the arena. I would build a trap inspired by my experience from the transporters, it would invade his shield, burrow through it, grow and fester like a parasite until he had no choice but to yield.

I needed time though, and a distraction to make sure he didn't notice.

"Hello Zachary, I'm Avery," I called out.

Zachary's frown hardened as he took on a crouched stance and held out his arms in a strange pose. Moments later he slammed his fists together with a burst of magic that made the air shimmer in blue.

Something began to form around his body, massive aetheric armor with a dark blue transparent hue. It grew all over his body and took on the form of plates, massive boots and a helmet sporting a canine muzzle with big glinting teeth.

Even his hands formed gauntlets tipped with claws that looked like short blades.

Static danced across the sand as the armor grew and solidified until he looked bigger than a wulfkin.

"My name is Titan," Zachary spat out his answer with a canine growl that made his human lips quiver.

Titan huh...

My threads of magic continued to grow and took on the shape of serrated spikes while they protective plating, rejuvenating spells, defense mechanisms, and stabilizers to withstand the huge amount of flux that would be created.

I tried not to smile but I found myself rather intrigued by the impromptu design that made each thread its own aetheric machination.

"Well Titan, may the best one win," I said out loud.

Titan made one dark chuckle and grinned, "Yeah."

A sudden flash of red was emitted from the crystal above, it signaled the start of battle and Titan took a leaping start that sent sand scattering behind him.

I raised my hand and focused on a spell that I hoped would distract him from my real plan.

White shells formed in the air and I filled them with raw but distorted energy meant to poison the aether. A few of the bolts shot from my hand while I watched Titan raise his hands as if forming a shield.

The bolts slammed against Titan's outer shield and turned into crackling puffs of aetheric energy. Titan sprinted through it with a bemused grin as I played the role of a fool and played shocked.

Titan couldn't see it but my trap now looked like a writhing of tendrils tipped with large spears.

I shunted energy to them and felt them grow and strengthen while my hand kept blasting the useless bolts meant to soften his shield with flux.

Something materialized in Titan's gauntlet and began to glint like a sword made of pure aetheric energy. It was a beautiful display but quite arrogant and it made me understand Rastlin's comment.

I stumbled back as if frightened and watched as Titan entered the center and tripped the trap I had set for him. In an instant the powerful construct looming over him launched its payload.

The large shift of the aetheric energy caused it to leech into the visible spectrum and reveal the massive trap to the visible eye. A gust of air sent ripples in the sand followed by a large crackle as the spears struck.

Titan's outer shield tore in an instant and thrashed as it ripped itself apart and disintegrated. The aetheric armor withstood the initial blast but began to crack and crumble as the spears turned into energetic torches that started to dig in.

I panted from exertion as the heat inside my body grew and made me feel as if I was being cooked.

Titan screamed as the spears pulled and forced him to remain in place. Like a feral animal he flung his arms and created large jets of aetheric energy. The spears had already gained a foothold though and used the very armor as an anchoring point to maintain itself.

I've won...

A nauseating sensation filled my gut as the aether began to feel poisoned with the overwhelming pressure of flux flooding the arena. I could taste it on my tongue as tingling metallic sensation and the air itself seemed to hum and crackle as wisps began to twinkle in and out of existence.

Something changed as Titan clutched his own chest and crouched, moments later the aetheric armor began to bubble and lose its shape.

He's trying to discard his old shield and build a new one underneath...

I made a squeezing motion with my hand and let it reflect on my trap as the spears pushed hard.

The changing armor buckled and several spears burst through like a popping bubble. Titan made a pained cry as they slammed into his back and began to poison the very essence of his body.

It must have hurt like hell as it made him buckle and fall to his knees.

"It's time to yield Titan! You've already lost!" I yelled out.

Titan bared his teeth and seemed to swear with a distorted growl as he reached back and gripped hold of a spear invading his body. Like a bolt cutter something tore into the defenses of the spear and crushed it.

I frowned and sent another pulse that made the armor warp and buckle. Titan shuddered from the pressure and a trickle of blood emerged from his nose.

The spears clinging to his armor now looked like a gigantic tick of ghostly whispers feeding from him.

You're moments from being crushed... Just give up...

Titan looked up without warning and locked eyes with me as a pleased formed on his lips.

Did I underestimate him?

My gut tightened in worry as I focused on my own shields in preparation for whatever last act of desperation that he had in mind.

I sensed something... weak... nearby... something odd... underneath... beneath the sand... oh no...

I just had time to glimpse down as something burst from the sand in front of me. It was like a hundred pitch-black jagged crystals with a thousand edges that glinted in the light.

He's from the foundries... Molten sand... Glass...

It pierced my shield like claws through wrapping paper and I saw my own end play out in front of me as imagined myself like minced meat on bristling glass.

The fail-safe triggered in combination with an instinct inherent in life itself, fear of death.

It felt like fire had burst from within and it made every nerve in my body flare as if I had been dipped in scorching water.

The fail-safe swallowed it all and created a massive bubble that exploded outwards.

Everything grew white in an instant followed by a roar as if the world had been torn asunder.

Unknown

The first sensation to strike me was a piercing pain along my side, it stung and made me wince in pain as it stirred my mind and body. It made me open my eyes and presented me with a warped image as if I was laying against dark and polished mirror.

I tried to move my hand but found that it was shaking. It wasn't fear or panic though, my nerves were scrambled and the very air tasted of metal while the aether quivered as if it had become a toxic soup.

The dark and reflective surface was cool to the touch and there was a steadying hum to it that reminded of obsidian.

The arena... made out of obsidian... covered by sand...

My mind snapped into gear as I realized that I had somehow ended on the bottom of the arena.

The piercing pain in my side took precedence as I glanced down and caught sight of something jutting out of the stylized doublet Rastlin had given me. It was black shard of glass and I could see blood trickle down its length before dripping onto the obsidian floor.

I tried to reach down but my body refused to work.

Rastlin's lessons... flux...

I closed my eyes and thought back to the rather complex design Rastlin had showed me, I had built it, tried it, and now had a firm grasp of the theory behind it. The obsidian became my conduit as I connected with it and gathered the last of my strength.

Arcane runes spread around me in a circle as I summoned forth a construct that would siphon the wild amount of flux and repurpose it. The runes began to glow as the circuit became self-sufficient and enveloped me in a protective bubble.

My nerves calmed, the air cleared and I drew a deep breath of relief as the immense pressure eased.

The tingle in my nerves faded as I reached down to my abdomen and felt the shard that had pierced me, it stung but the wound felt shallow. It gave me confidence as I gripped the piece with my fingers and pulled.

"Ah!" I whimpered in pain as the piece resisted and then popped loose.

The shard clattered on the obsidian as I let go and pushed myself up while glancing around. It looked as if I was sitting in an obsidian circle as all the sand had been blown out of the way.

Titan...

A victor hadn't been announced and I forced myself to stand up even as the exhaustion made the world spin. My eyes caught on a body not far from me that was half buried in sand.

Titan stirred and the sand shifted around him as I heard a weak cough. I raised my hand in an instant and drew on the last of my reserves as I sent a single thread of magic his way.

The thread wrapped around his throat and made him squirm with a wheezing breath.

"Yield, or forfeit your life Titan!" I demanded.

Titan clutched his throat and wriggled around as his eyes caught with mine.

"I will kill you!" I yelled.

Titan gripped the thread as if trying to cut it, I responded by sending a pulse strong enough to sear his both his hand and throat with a hiss of heat.

"AHH!" Titan fell on his back with a pained cry.

"Yield or I will fucking decapitate you!" I screamed.

Titan's eyes grew wide in panic as he let go of his throat and flailed his hands.

"Yield! I YIELD!" Titan choked out with a hoarse voice.

In an instant the arena lit up with blue light and signaled that a victor had been chosen.

I released the thread of magic and then glanced up toward the room watching over the arena.

Doros ears twitched and I could almost see the fury in his eyes while Rastlin made a bemused smile and said something.

Say hello to your new seer Doros...