Chapter 1266: The Joy of Magic

For a moment, I could scarcely comprehend what I was feeling. The entirety of Enusia lay open before me, its mountains and valleys, its oceans and forests, all bound together by the endless currents of mana flowing through the World Shard. I could feel the smallest streams winding through the earth, the great rivers of power sustaining the continents, and the countless souls drawing upon them.

And all of it was at my fingertips.

I shivered, shifting my weight as the power surged through me. My soul burned with the brilliance of a billion stars, and though I could feel the strain upon my mortal body, it seemed insignificant compared to the warmth filling every corner of my being. Even my thoughts felt clearer, as though the countless mysteries of magic I’d spent my life studying were suddenly laid bare before me.

"Magnificent," Magic murmured. "The connections are taking hold. Fate, maintain the flow. Oblivion, a little more restraint, if you please."

Their powers shifted, and I gasped as another wave rushed through me. Somewhere beyond the formation, Luke called my name, but his voice seemed terribly distant.

"Xiviyah! Are you alright?"

I didn’t even know what I mumbled in response, or if he heard me. The shard beckoned, and I couldn’t resist its pull. It was fascinating how the delicate threads came together. I’d known every spell that could be cast in a world was contained within, but now I could actually see them.

Slowly, the flow moved the World Shard toward the True Shard, and so did the shift of mana. It mostly out, but there was a small backflow that grew stronger, bringing foreign, alien mana into my soul. It felt as awkward as opening my eyes underwater. Not painful, but uncomfortable in every way.

"Enough," Magic said at last, lowering his hands. "The initial attunement is complete. We shall allow the formation to settle before proceeding."

The pressure eased, and I made a small sound of disappointment as the immense flow of mana began to diminish. I reached after it instinctively, trying to hold on to the extraordinary warmth, but Magic severed the connection with a flick of his wrist. Cold and uncaring. Couldn’t he see how much I–

My knees buckled.

Luke was there before I struck the ground, catching me beneath the arms. I blinked up at him, struggling to understand why he looked so concerned. My soul was still humming, the divinity shining brilliantly within me, and a pleasant warmth lingered throughout my body.

"Xiv? Are you all right?"

The warmth was fading, but it wasn’t gone. I tried to sink into it, grasping at straws.

"Everything’s so...warm." I murmured. Something like a giggle escaped my lips, and I pressed a hand against my mouth, rather embarrassed by the sound. Where had that come from?

Luke looked toward Magic, his expression darkening. "What’s wrong with her?"

"Nothing unexpected," the god replied dismissively. "All mortals crave mana as they do food or reproduction, and she’s been channeling the power of two immortals. A little disorientation is hardly surprising. Give her some time to recover."

Fate approached, resting a gentle hand against my cheek. "You’ve done wonderfully, child. The hardest part is over for now. Why don’t you get some rest?"

"I...I don’t think I’m tired," I protested, though my words came out rather slurred.

Luke sighed, shifting his arm around my waist. "Come on, Xiv. Let’s get you some fresh air."

I allowed him to guide me from the circle, though walking proved rather more difficult than I expected. My legs felt light, almost as though the floor had lost its substance, and I kept finding myself distracted by the brilliant stars shimmering throughout my aura.

I didn’t give the command, but Haven listened to someone, teleporting us above ground. We emerged into one of the great cathedral halls, where the shattered remnants of the church’s defenses lay scattered across the marble. Fatesworn soldiers hurried past, carrying wounded companions and supplies, though all stopped to salute as we passed.

Everything was too dull and lifeless. None of the colors seemed right. The air was heavy with dust and ash. The shadows were starting to gather, and dusk was approaching, but it all seemed too muted. Even the growing shadows felt pale.

Luke kept an arm firmly around me, guiding me toward the enormous doors at the far end of the hall. I leaned against him, enjoying the familiar warmth of his body, and gradually the strange exhilaration began to fade.

The doors stood open, revealing the great courtyard beyond.

I blinked against the afternoon sunlight, breathing in the cool air. Smoke drifted across the broken terraces, mingling with the smell of blood and scorched stone. The once magnificent statues of the gods lay shattered among heaps of rubble, and beyond the walls, great columns of smoke rose from Radia. A few flurries danced amid the ruins.

Fatesworn banners flew from the surviving towers, but the fighting hadn’t stopped. Distant explosions echoed across the city, and I could make out the shapes of demons battling among the ruined fortifications.

I rested against Luke, looking out over the devastation. Through the Primordial Mark, I could still feel thousands of battles unfolding beyond our sight.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

A cold wind swept across the courtyard, and I shivered, drawing closer to Luke. The warmth was fading from my soul, leaving an unpleasant emptiness in its wake. Soon, there was almost nothing left. Even the divinity seemed dull and lifeless compared to what I’d just experienced.

"Feeling better?" Luke asked.

I shook my head, blinking away tears as they gathered.

Luke frowned, looking down at me. "What can I do?"

"No, I’m not...it’s not that. I just..." I struggled to find the words, rubbing my arms as another shiver passed through me. "It felt wonderful, Luke. I could see everything, every spell in Enusia, and there was so much mana. I didn’t want it to stop."

"You always have loved magic."

I laughed weakly, though there wasn’t much humor in it. My body ached, and the familiar pressure of Sunpurge had begun creeping back into my soul. It seemed almost cruel that something so wonderful could leave me feeling so miserable afterward.

Luke brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. "Perhaps it’s fortunate he stopped when he did. You’ve already put your soul through enough."

I nodded reluctantly, leaning into his touch. "Do you, Luke?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you like magic? Is it...fun?"

He was silent for a while, then released a long sigh. "No. Magic is a tool, same as a sword. It’s just power. Power doesn’t exist for itself, but to enact a change. The pursuit of power is the pursuit of change."

"You make it sound so logical."

"In some ways, it is."

"But I don’t think that’s true. Magic is wonderful. It’s like...flying. You can do it simply for the sake of doing it. You don’t have to use the spells you learn. Just because you have a powerful aura doesn’t mean you need to make others kneel. It can just be for you."

He smiled faintly, caressing my cheek. I blushed a little, suddenly realizing I was lecturing.

"Sorry," I mumbled, dropping my gaze.

"No, it makes me glad to hear you enjoy things. I hope you’ll find many more things to enjoy out...there." His voice fell a little, and the space between suddenly felt oppressive.

"Luke..."

"You have to go. It’s the only way," he murmured, though he didn’t meet my gaze. "So long as you’re safe, nothing else matters."

"That’s not true," I protested.

"It is for me."

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I didn’t, shivering despite his warmth. My tail pressed against his, lost and forlorn.

A distant explosion drew my attention toward Roann. Beyond the courtyards of the Divine Throne, through the rubble of the fallen walls, flashes of magic and cannon fire illuminated the gathering dusk.

"How much longer will it go on?" I asked.

"The main resistance has collapsed. There are still commanders refusing to surrender, but they won’t last long. Keeping the Horde in line is another matter."

"Oh."

"Such is the power that brought us here. The infernal horde isn’t pretty, but none can deny its results."

I nodded, watching a group of Fatesworn escort prisoners through the courtyard. Among them were several servants, their coarse clothing and lowered heads painfully familiar. A young girl clung to her mother’s sleeve, and I noticed the lingering traces of mana from a recently removed slave crest upon the woman’s chest.

The girl glanced toward me, her eyes widening at the sight of my horns. I managed a small smile, but she quickly looked away.

"Are they taking them somewhere safe?"

"Bethiv has established shelters in the lower quarters. They’ll be cared for."

I watched them disappear into the cathedral, remembering how frightened I’d been when I first left Lord Byron’s estate. There had been so many people there, and none of them had escaped.

Aurle hadn’t.

"Luke? There’s something I want to do before we finish with the World Shard."

He looked down at me. "What is it?"

"I want to return to High Valley. I’d like to make a monument for Aurle, somewhere peaceful, with flowers and..." I hesitated, my tail curling. "Something nice. I promised myself I’d go back to her."

Luke considered that for a moment before nodding. "I still have matters to settle with the Horde, but I’ll come with you when they’re finished."

"Thank you."

He drew me closer, and I rested against his side, grateful for the support. The strange emptiness in my soul hadn’t improved much, and I was growing exhausted. Perhaps Fate had been right about getting some rest.

I glanced once more toward the city, then reached for Haven. The attunement would continue without me for a few days, and I still had so much I wanted to do before returning to the World Shard. I had a feeling there might not be an after.