Theurgy: The Journey's Dawn (Book One)

Chapter 36 The Grandmaster

Remmus Mythweaver. The Grandmaster of the arts, the sovereign of the magical kingdom of Torlak. Being the grandmaster, he has a special role of monitoring, governing, and protecting the mystical arts taught uniquely to the citizens of his country and protecting the needs of the people. Over the years, he has learned of so many ways of doing such a thing. Firstly, he can always fall back on the judgment of the council of Six Arms, advisors to help guide the nation in its smaller sectors. He has made friends among them, and he trusts their judgment sometimes to get things done. Though they are wise men and women, however, he finds that going out and seeing for your own eyes often yielded some of the best results. this is something he has found himself doing more and more often. Either by disguising himself to go through the street unabated or venturing into whatever unique situation found in the ruins of the old world, he finds a bit of solace doing so, despite the anxious pleas from the council to refrain from doing such reckless acts.

None of these things had determined his rule, however. What determined it was the safety of his home taking priority over anything else. To protect his citizens, to protect the teachings of magic, and the land they walk upon. It was during the civil war of the clans when Torlak was diplomatically twisted into joining this conflict, did he see the dangers of Torlakian magic used on the battlefield. And when he returned from that battlefield, he knew that change must come if he is to bring lasting peace to his home. The first step was to restrict the ability of secrets to be shared with any other nations. No one showing an ability in manipulating aura, the universal source of mortal magic, is forbidden to step foot onto Torlak. this may not last forever, but it is much easier to keep an eye on any mages. The next was restricting trade and making Torlak as self-sustaining as possible. He will never fully cut the diplomatic ties that Torlak, Hath, the Umani, and the Thirian Empire share. No matter how strenuous their relationship may be, the council agreed with him that if the time comes, having allies as powerful as those three will come to the benefit of Torlak.

But, he was naïve in one state. One obstacle to an everlasting piece he dreaded to confront, even in his own home. That threat that calls itself Talin. A perversion, in his eyes, of the very values Torlak has had for eons. And at some point in time, he was grateful that they had been squashed by his own hands. But it turns out that what he thought was a dried carcass of Talin had turned out to merely be the shed remains of what it had been. That Talin, in the satisfaction and celebration that he shared with his comrades, had in fact turned into something far more unsettling. They have returned and savagely attacked one of the members of Theurgy, kidnapping one of their own children. And soon, they may even declare war on the entire world. All their squashing was for nothing. And even at that, he is deemed unworthy to draw more power from the pendants, as Fate determined himself. That honor, that curse, is to be bestowed onto another victim, an innocent bystander who must now dawn the sword of justice and continue a fight that rightfully should have ended a decade ago.

That conversation he had with the former members festers in his mind, feeding his fears. James has sent Celia's son, Lyse, to discuss what may come next for Theurgy and find his sister. He couldn't help but wonder exactly the type of boy that Celia and Wilbur have crafted. What values he had? What he holds to be the answer to peace. but most importantly, is he fit to be one of them? As he sat at his desk, looking pointedly at the door some dozens of paces away, he couldn't help but ponder. There is so much he doesn't know, and that ached him. He learned all that magic could teach, and beyond. He learned the dangers this world is capable of, and beyond. He learned the trenches of depravity, and so much more. And yet, as the sun rises, and he must now face the ugly monster of Talin, he realizes that though he is the grandmaster, the supposed all-knowing, he knows nothing at all. He doesn't know what they are planning. He doesn't know who may be leading them, this time around, though he has suspicions. their weapons, how much they have evolved. Who they will summon to combat them. How far does it go, and how much are they hiding?