Blue Nexus #58 - The Mage of All Magic

Previously in "Blue Nexus": In the wake of a grand, global awakening happening, new mages, like a Demon mage named John, arrive in Magus Forest. Kyle and Andreus get in a fist-fight over a misunderstanding about Kyle's powers, until the fight is interrupted by one of the Six Pillars of Magic, one of the strongest mages on Earth. Kyle is utterly embarassed by him and heads to the Zanderia Moon Base to discover more about them, before he decides to head over to Magus Forest. 

            It was only when Kyle noticed Tania floating in the sky next to him that he realized how clumsily he could fall into her traps, even under the protection of the Nexus. He’d grown a bit used to seeing her, or at least her spooky likeness, lingering around the halls at the school, but this far up and the air? And able to keep up with the record-breaking speed?

            He slowed down to a halt over the Atlantic, ready to jump right back into his regular speed to make it to Magus Forest. Tania’s reality image above him fizzled out and then reappeared in front of him.

            “What’s the rush, Blue Nexus?” she asked. Her voice was quiet, as if she were trying to tell him a secret. Or it was just the strain of her magic on her, since she was probably projecting herself from thousands of miles away and several thousand miles into the sky.

            “Headed to your favorite place in the world,” Kyle said. “Wanna race?”

            “You’d win, there’s no point,” Tania said. “Why go there, though? Want to rally your troops after the beating you just took to Axel?”

            “Yeah, the beating you were so keen on helping Andreus with, too,” Kyle said. “What’s the point of getting so many together if you aren’t even going to do anything about it?”

            “I wanted to keep them safe,” Tania said. She shrugged. “I still do, but the fact is we’re running on borrowed time. The Six Pillars are stronger than I could’ve ever anticipated.”

            “Not if you bring your mages to Magus Forest and we all work together,” Kyle said. “They can learn, fast, from the people there, and I can, I don’t know, help be a guardian there or something.”

            “You already lost to one of the Six Pillars.”

            “Not as the Blue Nexus. I can take any one of those people with the Nexus, I guarantee it.”

            Tania shrugged again. Her image began to fade, slowly becoming more see-through. “I doubt that.”

            “Tania, please,” Kyle said. “Just once. Bring Andreus, too. Come to Magus Forest, see what they have, what kind of lives they have. That place is good for any mage, you just need to see it and not act on some sort of pretentiousness that you’re better than everyone else. Clearly you aren’t!”

            Her image stopped fading for a moment. She glared at Kyle, as if trying to see through him. He was unsure if he should say anything more; but he was worried that if he did, she would see it as him overreaching to get her to join his side.

            “Fine,” she said. “We’ll stop by for a chat with the Grand Elder. You’d best make sure that they are ready for our arrival.”

            Kyle didn’t say anything more, anyway, instead beaming ahead of her for Magus Forest. Excellent. This was turning out excellent. Not only could he get a status update on the Six Pillars, but Tania could be there to hear it as well.

            The Magus Forest appeared over the horizon within minutes. The ocean roared beneath him until it was replaced by rushing lands. His speed created a breeze below, much like how a cruise ship might boost the wake on the shoreline of a beach.

            Kyle cut off his energy surge and flew ahead, doing a few flips before extending his arms and slowing himself down with his cape. His controlled descent allowed him to fly right into the Magus Forest zone, where the entire area opened up around him. It expanded, too, and Kyle hoped that was the forest’s way of telling him that they’d gotten new arrivals.

            He flew over the entire forest until he came across the large clearing, where there was a pit of ashes sitting in the middle. Several large huts surrounded it as well, and he spotted Brenda among the crowd. She had a slight red veil round her, as if meditating or practicing some magic.

            Kyle floated gently to the ground, landing just outside the pit of ashes. He swiped his fingers over the bracelet, cutting off anyone that might realize that the Blue Nexus had just arrived. Brenda must’ve sensed the wild energy shift and opened her eyes. She smiled.

            “I thought you’d be here sooner, why’d you stop?” she asked.

            “How long have you been tracking me?” Kyle asked.

            “Since you and a Power mage decided to get into a fight at your school,” Brenda said. “You don’t think I’m keeping notice of your Demon mage powers? I don’t want you getting loose again. Though sometimes I don’t mind wanting to punch you.”

            “I get that a lot,” Kyle said. “Tania stopped me, she said she was going to bring Andreus here as well to check the forest out.”

            “You finally convinced her?”

            “It was more like a ‘do this and I’ll never ask again’ type of thing,” Kyle said. “So, yeah, I guess so. She seems pretty set on just letting the Six Pillars do their thing, though.”

            “We haven’t encountered any so far,” Brenda said. “We’d notice. The one you were fighting—at least I assume that was a Pillar—was holding back so much he just felt like a regular mage.”

            “How’d you tell he was one of them?”

            “Sandy noticed it,” Brenda said. She gestured for the rest of the forest. “She’s been doing a lot of meditation lately. Guess it’s paid off.”

            “You don’t see her much?” Kyle asked.

            “Since the best meditation place is in the thicker parts of the forest…no,” Brenda said. “She’s really gone headfirst into this whole thing.”

            Kyle smiled. “Good for her!”

            Brenda smiled as well. She told him about her growing time with the Grand Elder, how she was becoming less of just someone around the area and something more of a friend. Kyle noticed how excited she got about it. She seemed so energized, so electric, just talking about magic some of the tricks that the Grand Elder was helping her learn.

            She was also learning new things from some of the new mages that came along as well; things that they could just do naturally that she hadn’t even though to before. Kyle wondered if this was really the first time she could do this with anyone. After all, she was a prisoner across the galaxies for most of her life. She wasn’t allowed to be taught magic and had to, apparently, do most of her learning and training on her own.

            It almost seemed as if she didn’t even take a breath while she spoke. Kyle was blasted with so much new information he found himself digging out of it to discern what jumped out at him. The Grand Elder was increasing her guard, Brenda discovered new ways of using her magic offensively, she found out she could absorb or take away others’ magic—which would be vital against Kyle if he ever turned, she mentioned quickly—and there were at least five new mages a day that were coming along.

            “And you wouldn’t believe—” she finally stopped. Kyle sighed, letting the information process and insert itself into his memory banks. “She’s here. Tania.”

            “You know what her magic signature is, too?” Kyle asked.

            “It’s the strongest Reality mage I’ve ever come across,” Brenda said. “So it’s either her or we’re in big trouble.”

            “It’s her,” Kyle said. “But she’s really so strong?”
            Brenda nodded. Suddenly Kyle felt a little better about his abilities.

            Kyle and Brenda were ready to go out to meet them when Tania and Andreus appeared before them anyway. The guard around the village tensed up. That was three mages—albeit one that was entirely friendly—that slipped right by them.

            Tania didn’t bother looking around. Instead she looked right at Brenda, as if sizing her up. Andreus did the same, but his look was more for familiarity. He’d no doubt seen her around before last year.

            “A powerful Shield mage,” Tania said. “Not bad.”

            “Told you,” Kyle said. “I guess you two decided to come in the back entrance?”

            “We didn’t want any attention drawn to ourselves,” Tania said. She looked around the village. The populace was carrying on, though their work was slower while they looked at the new arrivals, as if judging them. “Or distract anyone from their otherwise normal lives.”

            “You’re welcome here,” Brenda said. She bowed her head slightly. “My name is Shindari.”

            “I am Tania,” the Reality mage said. “This is my apprentice, Andreus.”

            “Apprentice?” Kyle asked, though it was directed at both. Andreus was clearly still shaken a bit from both his fight with Kyle as well as the clinic Axel put on. He ignored Kyle’s remark. Tania did the same.

            “Where is the Grand Elder, I’d like to speak with her immediately?” Tania asked. “Perhaps have her personal guard take me for a tour of the forest.”
            “I’d be happy to do so,” Brenda said.            

            “After I meet with the Grand Elder,” Tania said.

            A tent flap opened and the ground softly crunched behind them. Kyle turned. The Grand Elder moved toward them, slowly. She wore her usual smile on her face, as if it were just painted on. She still looked healthy for a woman that was known as the Grand Elder. That never ceased to amaze Kyle.

            Brenda took a few steps back to stand closer to the Grand Elder. Her personal guard was in a diamond around her. Tania smiled at the Grand Elder.

            “Hello,” she said. “My name is Tania.”

            “A Reality mage stealing some mages away from my protection,” the Grand Elder said, without even batting an eye. “Dear, you must be quite the fool to think you can help those mages better than we can.”

            Kyle kept his lips sealed tight. He tried to be a little more civil in his pitch to Tania.

            “A fool is someone who thinks they can face an unconquerable force,” Tania said. “I’m prepared to do what is necessary to help the mages of this world survive.”

            “By hiding?” the Grand Elder asked. “No. With you at our side the forest can flourish better than ever before. Reality mages come around rarely anymore. You would be a great help to all of us.”

            “And serve under you?” Tania asked.

            Kyle saw the superiority complex rise in her. Tania clenched her fists as if she were ready to lash out at the Grand Elder. Andreus was acting like a tree.

            “No,” the Grand Elder said. “You would do as you please. Teach as you please. You serve the greater good of magic in this world. Mages are forming under this global awakening and are afraid of what their powers can do, or are going to abuse their powers. Don’t be the fool you appear to be.”

            “Insulting me does not help your cause,” Tania said.

            “I just want to cut you down a bit,” the Grand Elder said. “Before any of the Six Pillars cut you down for good.”

            “I’m not going to confront them,” Tania said. “Don’t you get it? If they find no suitable champions on this planet they’ll move onto the next world brimming with magic and forget about the Earth. Then we can return to normal.”

            “Living in fear that they’ll be back?” Brenda asked.

            “Living nonetheless,” Tania said. “Under such time my mages will be better prepared to take on the Six Pillars.”

            “Then they still require training?” the Grand Elder asked. “Training they can receive here much faster than they will with you. How many master magus do you have under your tutelage? Just from where I am standing, I can see two in my direct line of sight. One, though, that is hidden.”

            Kyle looked around the forest. He couldn’t sense or see anyone hiding out in the trees. Brenda was trying to the same to no affect. The Grand Elder sighed.

            “It’s for the betterment of the mages you care for,” the Grand Elder said.

            “A thin bond between sides in a war?” asked Tania. “I’d like to avoid that war at all costs.”
            “That war has already started,” the Grand Elder said. “It started when our dear demon mage witnessed the rebirth of a threat I thought long dead.”

            “That golden man?” asked Kyle.

            “Rafael,” the Grand Elder said. “A mage from the world we built over. His name has lived on for centuries, though has dwindled as magic has become less of a commonality and more of a parlor trick. His resurrection sent shivers throughout my body. He is your greatest threat, not just the Six Pillars.”
            “That’s ridiculous,” Tania said. “Nobody is stronger than the Six Pillars of Magic.”

            “The gods are,” the Grand Elder said. Her smiled widened just a second. “Gods that almost included Rafael within their ranks.”

            War Gods, Kyle realized. Rafael was almost a War God, the enemy that the Nexus of the universe were sworn to destroy. Gargador was just a demi-War God and often gave Kyle trouble—although he seemed to have just vanished following Alucard’s reign against East City. Rafael having that kind of power was insane, especially for a dude that was taking a nap that sounded like it lasted over some millennia.

            “You’re insane,” Tania said. “And I won’t be bringing my mages to the home of an insane woman, or the people that follow her.”

            “If you honestly think you can hide from Rafael, or any of the Six Pillars, you are indeed a fool,” the Grand Elder said.

            Tania took a step toward the Grand Elder who didn’t flinch. “Why’s that?”

            “Because they heard everything you said,” the Grand Elder said. “They’ve been here this whole time.”

            Kyle and Brenda sprang to action. Brenda washed a wave of magic over her body, weaving her Shindari-Zanderia outfit on while Kyle morphed right into the Blue Nexus. He held out his hand and the lance formed from the ether.

            Andreus’s jaw dropped, and he mouthed “Blue Nexus” but didn’t make anything of it as Tania held her arm around him.

            Kyle felt the heat of the flames before they appeared. He sprang back, getting closer to the Grand Elder. The flames changed from a dazzling orange to a more royal gold. Five silhouettes appeared on the other end of what appeared to be some sort of door before the flames dissipated and four people stood in the large bonfire pit.

            Rafael led them, standing brazen and looking just as he did in Pacific City. Axel was the same, looking around as if he were scoping out the place. Another man, this one much burlier and with the Power mage mark stamped on his cheek, was looking directly at Andreus. A reality mage, indicative by the mark on his calf, stuffed his hands in his pocket. A woman was at the far left end. She had red hair, though it was much darker than Brenda’s. Her eyes were the same color red but she had long nails at the ends of her fingertips. She appeared quite bored.

            “Grand Elder,” Rafael said. His voice alone made it sound like he were casting some sort of spell. “I see even thousands of years later they’re still choosing the oldest women the village can find.”    

            “And I see after thousands of years our defenses against men like you aren’t strong enough,” the Grand Elder said. “Or was it help from you mages that got you in? Inside help?”

            “Of course I had inside help,” Rafael said. He held out two arms.

            A woman leapt from the bushes. Kyle tried not to be startled but that was a hard face to shut down. The woman came out of almost nowhere. She must’ve been the one in the bushes.

            From Rafael’s other side, a man emerged and stepped up to him. He was basked in a thin black aura, similar to one Kyle sported when he used the Demon magic. Brenda took a step toward him, a fist clenched.

            “You?” she asked. “John, you’re a Pillar?”
            “I decided to come here after Rafael found me to check you guys out,” he said. “Wasn’t that impressed.”
            Rafael looked around. He stopped at Tania. His smile was small, but effective. Tania wasn’t charmed.

            “You’re that mysterious third faction, correct?” he asked. “It’s strange. Magus Forest has always been such a serene place. If mages chose not to go to it it’s for personal reasons but they often leave others out.” He smiled a little more. “At least that’s how it used to be, I suppose. You’re just being selfish for others.”

            “Who the hell are you?” Tania asked.

            “You know who I am,” Rafael said. He held his hand out to her. They were a good distance away, but when Tania reached out, it appeared as if they were shaking hands. Kyle blinked a few times, but still couldn’t wrap his mind around it. Did he just use Reality magic so easily? Was he just a Reality mage, was that how he could sleep for so long?

            Rafael dropped his arm. His attention finally turned to Kyle and Brenda. “Heroes. They had them in my time. You.” He pointed to Kyle. “Are the new Nexus. We had one back then. Aequitas, I believe was his name. Dragon slayer, killer of Mogül, conqueror of the East. Do you live up to that name?”

            “You’re not even good enough to be a War God,” Kyle said. “Why should a Nexus be worried about you?”

            “Not good enough?” Rafael asked. “You’ve got that wrong, Nexus. It wasn’t that I was good enough.” He opened his hand up to Kyle. “It’s that I’m in a league of my own.”

            Brenda cast a barrier around Rafael before he could do anything with that glowing hand. Kyle readied his lance. Rafael tapped against the magic barrier.

            “Impressive construct,” Rafael said. “Quite some powerful magic here.” He waved his hand over it, and the construct dissipated. His hand glowed red. Shield magic, now? That…no. That one mage, Oz, he could use multiple magics, but for Rafael to do so would be absolutely insane.

            “Leave us,” the Grand Elder said.

            “Not until I’ve gotten a moment to show the good people what they’re up against,” Rafael said. “I want them to know who they will do war with.”

            “It doesn’t have to come to war,” the Grand Elder said. “We can have peace.”
            “Indeed,” Rafael said. “If you’d simply keel over and die for me and give me possession of the forest and all the magic laid within its roots and soil.”

            The Grand Elder remained silent. Rafael sighed, bowing his head. “I’ve not enough magic with me now to defeat you, Grand Elder. And if I were going to kill you now, I wouldn’t want to do so while the forest still stands. I certainly don’t have the magic do that yet. I need to stay a while on this Earth.”

            “You’ve stayed long enough,” Brenda said.

            “Then banish me,” Rafael said. He gestured at her. “Come. You too, Nexus. If you think I’m unfit for being a War God, then prove it. The Nexus should topple me with ease, then.”

            “Don’t listen to him,” the Grand Elder said. “Leave him be.”

            “If I can beat him and end this here, then I’ll do it!” Kyle shouted.

            He blasted at Rafael, casting the lance at him. He dodged it and waited for Kyle to come at him with his blue fist.

            “Power,” Rafael said.

            Kyle launched the attack, slamming it into Rafael’s open hand. The man slid back several feet, but chuckled, holding Kyle’s fist in his hand.

            Impossible.

            “Demon,” Rafael said.

            Black enveloped Rafael’s arm and a blast of it crashed against Kyle, knocking him through the air and into the Grand Elder’s hut. Kyle saw stars before he got right back up, powering up and letting more Nexus energy flow through him.

            Kyle shot out of the hut and right back for Rafael. He feigned one move and went to the other. Rafael laughed, reappearing to Kyle’s side.

            “Reality,” Rafael said.

            He elbowed Kyle into the ground. Kyle bounced back up and flipped away from one of Rafael’s kicks.

            “Deception,” Rafael said.

            Kyle looked around, but was too late to notice the two hands below him slam him into the dirt again. Kyle spun his legs around. All the muscles in his body screamed for him to stop.

            He punched at Rafael again, this time with all of his power and with an energy ball trapped in his hand.

            “Shield,” Rafael said.

            Rafael spun around with an open hand and a red barrier appeared over Kyle’s hand right in front of Rafael’s chest.

            “Combat,” Rafael said.

            He spun again, this time with a purple blade in his hand. He moved so fast that Kyle could barely even see the sword. The blade sliced through the air, leaving a purple streak behind it. That streak was followed by a crimson one.

            Kyle stepped back, realizing what’d happened. His shirt was ripped and blood spilled down his torso. He fell back with another blast of energy, watching the world fade to black around him.

           

            Even before Kyle hit the ground, Brenda sprang into action. She had two barriers up, using one to block an attack and the other to try and hit Rafael across the head. He dodged the other and flipped Brenda over, then brought his foot down on her gut and slammed her into the ground. He kicked her away, closer to the Grand Elder.

            She tried getting back up, but found a ring of black Demon energy around her that shot up out of the ground. She screamed, feeling pain unlike anything she’d ever felt. Her muscle was gone and she hit the ground, somehow still conscious.

            “A taste,” Rafael said. “I’m sorry you couldn’t see what my subordinates are capable of, Grand Elder, but I believe you’re aware of what the Six Pillars can do. I suggest you start gathering some semblance of a force before I return to claim what will be mine.”

            The large plume of fire from the pit appeared again. Brenda saw Rafael lead the Six Pillars out of Magus Forest through the door wreathed in golden flame before it faded once again, leaving ash in the air. Brenda shut her eyes, biting down on her lips. She couldn’t feel her body and her magic was probing her to make sure she was still alive. She knew she was alive. She would be better.

            But she wasn’t sure if that even mattered anymore.

           

Next time: Andreus has a big decision to make while Kyle and Brenda recover from their decimation at the hands of Rafael. Kyle knows there's more to his powers than anyone is letting on, but is still unsure if this is an avenue he wants to take. Check it out in "Blue Nexus #59 - Decisions, Decisions"!