Time to end this.
Krsto stood, raised his spear above the ritual circle, and began to pace slowly around the perimeter. Opposite him was Gospodice Florinda. Flo, as she called herself. Carefully, deliberately, she began the chant that would set the ritual in motion.
How much do they think I’m like her? he thought. Another foreign mage caught up in abstract study. Another fighter on a mission of certain death. Another lunatic talking to imaginary voices.
Florinda was certainly capable. All six of the party that had set out, he had to concede, were capable, but only Florinda had abilities that he really respected. True power was to be found in the arcane arts, in the six elements on which she was now calling. Only the two of them had the ability to end this corruption forever – granted, Vitez Anthony had given his life to restore the seal, but it had been shown empirically that merely restoring the seal wouldn’t be enough – and so it was Krsto and Florinda who would ensure that the seal could never be found.
It’s a shame, really, he mused. She has the potential for truly great deeds, and yet she uses that potential for nothing more than arson. A true master would set their sights higher. I’ve hinted as much to her and she doesn’t listen! None of them do...
As Florinda paused her incantation, Krsto began his own. In Albionese – they deserve a show.
“I, Krsto Mstislavić Vrbnic, by my might and by my mastery of the arcane art, summon the element of Air...” It was the only element that he had truly mastered, but it was a start. In turn he called on Fire, Darkness, Earth, Water, and Light. He exhorted their powers to crush the corruption – to blast this place from the earth – from memory – from reality.
Look at us! Two of the most powerful humans alive. We could achieve so much more than this. I will achieve so much more.
He had been careful. He was always careful, even if it was only being careful to appear harmless. He followed advice. He always kept his paperwork up-to-date. He did not murder. He kept his room clean, no matter what sort of experiment. He cartwheeled like a clown in front of dignitaries.
Wouldn’t it be nice if that prince were here? That general? Wouldn’t that wipe the smiles off their faces?
They wouldn’t understand. They were petty, squabbling, like children for all their centuries of experience. Anything as dangerous as this corruption had to be eliminated before it devastated or destroyed the world – for the world, too, had so much potential – infinite potential.
You’ve underestimated me, Gospodice. You’re powerful, yes, but what do you know of controlling that power? Not as much as me...
Things were moving quickly now. Krsto finished his incantation and looked at Florinda: “Now.”
Alferwen flickered out of sight at the edge of the circle. Florinda at last spoke the words that would unleash the full fury of her magic and at the sixteenth word she started to burst into flame.
But by then Krsto had called out: “By my mastery of the arcane art and the six elements, I draw upon this power and claim it for myself.” And then, at the top of his voice: “I OVERCAST– MANA DRAIN!”
I’ve tasted power. Now I will become power.
He brought his spear down at the centre of the circle.
* * * * *
I–
He had planned something like this moment for a long time. The details had kept changing, certainly; he hadn’t known about the ritual circle for long, and it had only been a few weeks previously that he’d given up on extraplanar assistance. But he knew his chance would come. He had studied and experimented day and night to perfect the most powerful Grey spell ever cast by a mortal. He had analysed the power flows as best he could. He had identified the two most powerful available sources of magic and examined them carefully.
But nothing could have prepared him for this.
His body was being consumed – he had expected that; nobody could survive this – but the agony was unbearable. His flesh and bones were dissolving into pure mana, all too quickly. Sight, hearing, touch, all broke down before the onslaught.
I–
But through the blinding pain he sensed something else. A blaze of fire and darkness, like a beacon, calling to him. Krsto gathered the only strength he had left – his will – and pulled.
I– aha.
The inferno that had been Florinda was drawn towards Krsto. He thought of how he had cast the spell before, how he had spread his hands and felt the power flow through, and the blaze made contact and Krsto was more.
I– need more!
With this strength, though, he reached out his mind and grasped for the real prize. The ley lines beneath the circle. They were depleted, sluggish; they felt slippery, touched by corruption, but the force Krsto wielded was inexorable, and he pulled and slowly at first but then faster the lines unravelled from the earth and reality crumbled in their absence and Krsto seized the last of the power and consumed it.
I–
My gods, it’s full of stars!
The cavern was collapsing around him. But Krsto’s body, too, was collapsing. Rays of pure magic streamed from his eyes and mouth. The sheer power that he had absorbed was too much for anything physical to contain, and like a mountainside finally succumbing to gravity and giving way, Krsto felt himself tearing free from reality.
I can see infinity!
Briefly, just briefly, he felt he could glimpse ultimate cosmic truth. The six colours of magic blazed around the jewel of the material plane, while shadows gathered beyond – the Gods themselves?
Now I am invincible!
* * * * *
Krsto’s body was seared to less than dust. But Krsto remained. From the glorious colours of the elements he felt himself fall, a thing of pure power and pure consciousness, yet possessing all the memories of the mage, the researcher, the traveller, the fisherman’s son – and all the ambitions.
Thank you, Gospodice. You have served your purpose in a way you couldn’t have imagined. Just think of the gains to be made! Back in Grantabrugge I had a body to take care of, paperwork to fill out, academics to please, a room to keep clean. I had the warlocks trying to frame me as a cultist – if only they knew. I had a schedule. I had a tiny research budget that kept getting lost in arguments between two colleges.
What do I have now, Gospodice? Science! Energy! Cosmic power! The multiverse is my laboratory. There is no limit to what I can achieve. I have everything I need.
Something else stirred.
Ah... and I have spiders.