Underworld - Book 5 - Chapter 39

On the smallest scale that Mel and I could manage, we joined Dark and Light Magic to watch the cataclysmic reaction for an extended period of time. We kept the reaction about three feet from our faces to stay safe during the experiment. My Light Magic was drawn to a small point the size of a period. His magic was focused to one about the same size. It had taken us a while to match our magics just right so that one didn’t overwhelm the other. The key had been in the ratio of Solar and Life Aspects. 50/50 didn’t cut it, but 60/40 was perfect.

On this scale, neither one of us would run out of mana and it was fairly easy to keep it active. It wasn’t Solar versus Darkness that we were worried about. It was the reaction between Life and Corruption. It was that realization that made observation easier. Eventually, my mind differentiated between the reactions and looked past the first to what really mattered. On a larger scale, you’d see them sizzling apart and both magics dissolving in the air. On the smaller, you could see them join together. When equal in power and proportion, they acted like Decay, except in an accelerated manner. So was there an explosion, or did they just dissolve one another like acid?

It wasn’t clear whether Light and Dark Magic were turned into its simpler magic form during the process or destroyed altogether. I started with the assumption that magic, like energy, can’t be destroyed, but changes to a simpler form in use. I was beginning to think that that wasn’t the case.

During magic use, every spell left residue mana in the air. Some spells were more efficient than others, but all left something. In studying both our magic’s separate, we were able to see how much residue each period size ball left. When bringing them together, there was less residue, not more. It was possible that Calamity wasn’t a different school of magic at all, but the destruction of mana itself…

When we’d been experimenting for five days in a row and nothing else revealed itself, I began to rethink my approach. Even if learning Calamity as my First was impossible, it still might be possible to master the reaction between Light and Dark. Better control over Dark Magic by unlocking it might also be necessary for me to understand Calamity enough to discover it.

How many creatures in the Underworld had unlocked Light and Dark? And how many of them were talented with one and unlocked the other as their First? It was more likely that monsters like the Head Mistress used Blue Magic versions of Light Magic spells. They would probably be more powerful in most cases than if they chose Light Magic as their First. Only if they happened to be talented in Dark and Blue Magic would unlocking Light Magic even make since. They’d need Blue Magic to get the most use out of unlocked Light Magic in the first place. In that I had an advantage. Zorik had said that the most powerful Succubi and Incubi have only a single talent.

If I unlocked Dark as my First, I’d be among the most proficient with Dark and Light because my Blue Magic would help me boost Dark. Shamash had said that the best I could hope for was 20% Mastery in Dark Magic, but with the help of my Blue Magic it could be as much as 40%. If Calamity did exist, having Light as my Primary and Dark as my First would give me as much as 70% proficiency with it. If there was no other way to unlock Calamity, that would still put me on a level playing ground with anyone else in the Underworld who had unlocked it except for the ultra-rare person that might naturally be talented in it. That’s if such a person could even exist.

To find such a person was highly unlikely. Finding anyone with any proficiency with Calamity at all was in the realm of impossibility. From what I could tell, it wasn’t its own alignment—it was the death of magic itself.

“I think your theory is as good as we’re going to get,” Mel said while still watching our magics fight it out.

“So do I,” Shamash said from the other side of the tunnel. He’d been watching us periodically each time we met. More so now that he’d done as I requested and talked to each of the guys about what schools of magic they should consider.

I couldn’t decide whether it was strange or appropriate for Mel to be as comfortable as he was in the lich’s presence. Travis, who had traveled with Shamash for more than a month, was more warry of him than Mel was.

“Are you going to choose Dark Magic then?” Mel said.

I dropped my Light Magic spell and Mel dropped his. “I think that’s the most logical choice if I want to pursue this,” I replied.

“I don’t blame you. If you could learn to control that power… Since Light Veins are so difficult to find, I’ll probably go for something else. Maybe Earth Magic so that I can manipulate the battlefield in my favor. Or maybe Blue Magic as a First, but that might be just as hard to find as Light Magic.”

“Either would be excellent choices,” Shamash said. I felt his gaze land upon me. “Are you ready to continue your quest?”

Was I? George and Travis were ready to go and were only waiting for me to tell them it was time. To my pleasant surprise, Trevon had decided to stay. 

“Richard,” I said, waiting for him to respond from the Master’s Chamber. “I don’t want to make a scene, so can you private message George and Travis to tell them to meet me here?”

“You got it boss!” He said a moment later.

I wasn’t trying to sneak away, instead of having some big farewell, I was going to message them one at a time as I went. Besides, I’d still be in range to talk with them for over one hundred miles and we’d already had the goodbye party two days before.

When Travis and George arrived, I found it difficult to speak. This could be the last time I saw either one of them. I knew it would be the last time I saw George, so I approached him first. He held out his hand and I moved to take it, but instead knocked my skeletal beast plate against his chocolate Earth Armor.

“Chest bump,” I hollered.

It brought a smile to his face, so it was a success. I didn’t know him well, but he worked as hard as anyone in Sanctuary. He’d also shared his expertise and got us set up with the Cave Swine so that we could turn our dungeon into more than just a short term place to hide. We owed him much.

“Thanks for all you’ve done, man,” I said genuinely.

“Its been my pleasure,” he replied. “Take care of everyone.”

I promised I would do my best.

Travis was still in his human form with his helmet removed, but the large Metal Armor Leeman had gifted him made it difficult to embrace him. I tried to think of something funny to say, but I was too distracted at the real possibility that he wasn’t coming back.

No words passed between us, but we shared a knowing grin.

They had to go back through the Outer Perimeter on their way out, so I had a feeling there would be a few people there waiting for them.

As they walked away, I saw Travis changed into his Werewolf Form before he disappeared around the corner. I felt his grief through bloodlust’s connection. It hit me like a tidal wave.

I transformed without a second thought to make sure he knew I felt the same. There was a melancholy twinge of joy that cut through the rest of his emotions in response. I couldn’t respond to him with words but knowing was enough to cause a similar reaction in me that I know he felt.

Waiting a full minute, I changed back to my human form and turned to Mel. “I’ve enjoyed geeking out with you,” I said, offering him my hand.

He took it. “Same.”

“Keep everyone safe while I’m gone, and I’ll be sure to bring you a genuine vampire skull.”

“Deal.”

I watched him go.

“If you want, you can bring me back something as well,” Richard said through a private message.

“You think I’d forget you?” I replied as I walked away from the Head Mistress’s barrier toward my golems and an undead horse named Brat.

“Reminders never hurt.”

“You better enjoy that Metal Armor when Russ finishes it.”

“I’m drooling even thinking about it.”

“And Queen Degima. Feed her a Fire Orb if she starts acting weird. She’s our guest, so if she wants to leave, don’t try to stop her.”

“No problem. I think she has a crush on Khun, so whatever. Be safe.”

Transforming into my Incubus Form, I straddled Brat and sat there staring down back the way I’d just come. I’d been home, or as close to it as I could get, for six days. It had gone too fast. If it weren’t for Aeris asking me to stay longer, I’d be who knows where.

“Leaving is the only way to keep this place truly safe,” Shamash said.

“Then let’s go,” I said, and turned my Embar to go. Besides a detour or two, next stop, the Vampire Gate.

“Aeris, I’m leaving,” I said hoping to connect with her. “What are you up to?”