I've seen Zara's sparring matches before, and I know they're not timid. So, expecting a potentially dangerous environment, I properly donned my physical enhancements and magic armor before teleporting to Nina's old nest where I left Zara and Alara. Still, I wasn't prepared for the scene I walked into.
Shortly after arriving, I make several strange observations. First, there are no visible people around. Second, lightning and fireballs are flying wildly. Third, and in response to the first two points, I check the area with magic sense and detect three invisible presences in the immediate area.
The first two presences, recognizable as Zara and Alara, are the sources of the fireballs and lightning. They seem to be directing attacks at the third presence, but their aim is uncharacteristically poor. From magic sense, I can tell that the third presence is about a 4 ½ power level. Unnervingly, though, it's not registering as any species I've met before. More importantly, it doesn't have a clear spell class, so it either can't use magic or...it's like me.
As I'm getting ready to ask what the hell is going on, an intense beam of white light originates from the third presence and flashes towards Zara, barely missing her. It scorches through some of the trees past her and leaves them burning.
What the shit!? Was that a laser beam? If so, that's not good...I can rule out this entity being magic-less. I can't afford to be a passive observer anymore…this is obviously not a friendly sparring match, and that could have killed Zara if it connected.
"Zara! Alara! Get behind me!" (Mizuki)
As I call out, they both run over to me quickly as they drop their invisibility spells. I summon a forcefield around the third presence and imbue it with the additional property of reflecting all radiation – I don't want any more laser beams aimed at us. The result is a giant, mirrored sphere.
I turn to Zara and Alara to see their sweaty and relieved faces.
"They're trapped in that big reflective sphere now, so don't worry. Are you both okay? What is going on here?" (Mizuki)
They both nod furiously.
"We're okay, but I sure am glad to see you, Mizuki! I don't think we would have lasted much longer. A strange woman accosted us about being in Nina's nest, and Nina's absence. When we tried to explain, she didn't believe us, and it devolved into the fight you witnessed. Her abilities were…concerning." (Alara)
"Indeed. She could disappear at will, track our movements while we were invisible, and our attacks went right through her as if she weren't there. Lightning, fireballs, my sword…none of it affected her. The most troubling thing was…I couldn't sense her, even when she was visible. No smell, no sound…nothing." (Zara)
Their words make my blood run cold, and I'm sure the shock flashes across my face. If none of those attacks affected this mystery woman…
I quickly reactivate magic sense and probe for the third presence – it's no longer in my containment spell! Without a moment's hesitation, I teleport Alara and Zara back to the mansion without me, and I probe the environment for the mysterious presence...THERE!
It's a few meters away from me, stationary. I turn quickly to face the familiar but unknown presence – it's still invisible, but it's not moving. I stare directly at the center of its magic signature.
"I'm not particularly forgiving towards people who try to hurt my friends. Fortunately for you, I also dislike killing mysterious invisible people without meeting them. So, I'm going to give you one chance – show yourself and explain everything right now, or else…" (Mizuki)
I wait a few seconds, and the woman in question doesn't show herself, but she still doesn't move either. Is she thinking over my half-assed threat? If so, I'll give her a little push.
"If you're wondering whether it's worth being afraid of my threat, I'll save you the trouble. At the very least, I've learned that you don't have a physical body I can attack – I'm guessing you're one of these spirits I've heard about. While I don't know exactly what you're made of, I know you have magic. So, I'll take it away to weaken you, then start experimenting with different attacks until I find something that works." (Mizuki)
The effect is almost immediate…a mid-20s looking woman materializes in front of me. She has dark blue hair, white skin, and bright blue eyes, and her whole body has a holographic appearance to it. Most importantly, she looks absolutely terrified. Normally that would bother me, but until I know what I'm dealing with, I'm all for her having a healthy fear of me.
I direct a menacing glare at her.
"That's a good start. Now, tell me who and what you are." (Mizuki)
The woman nods furiously.
"I'm Y-Yona, Tchar'jee! You are w-wise indeed, I'm w-what the people of this p-planet call a G-Greater S-Spirit!" (Yona)
Oh wow…a Greater Spirit? No wonder Zara and Alara were so outmatched. I think Azazel implied that they're like the second strongest race on the planet. Even this random one has almost three times as much magic power as Ilina, the strongest non-dragon I've ever met.
Also, she said people of 'this planet'…does that mean she wasn't born here? I don't know how long Greater Spirits live.
Finally, what's with this excessive flattery and 'chargie' nonsense?
I continue glaring at her.
"Okay, Yona, why did you attack my friends?" (Mizuki)
"I was s-searching for Goddess Nedonera, but instead I found that wolf-kin and elf. When I asked them where she was, and what they were doing here, they told me some preposterous story about being friends with her! Elder Dragons like my Goddess would never do such a thing, so I intended to punish them for trespassing on such holy ground without permission! I now realize the truth, though – you have slain Goddess Nedonera and taken her nest as your own! I beg of you, forgive me for my insolence, Tchar'jee!" (Yona)
As she responds, Yona rushes forward and kneels on the ground, then bows fearfully.
Where the hell should I even start with that word vomit? Also, this worship-adjacent behavior is so not going to work for me. Most importantly, it's…unnerving…that she already thinks I could kill Nina. That feels like trouble.
I sigh deeply and hang my head, then begin rubbing my temples.
"Yona, first off, please don't kneel to me like that, and you can call me Mizuki. Second, I did not kill Nina, the one you call Goddess Nedonera…I'm her mate. What Zara and Alara, the wolf-kin and elf, told you is true. Nina gave them permission to train here, and we're all friends." (Mizuki)
Yona thankfully stands up, but her eyes are wide in shock.
"I could not possibly use your name like that, Tchar'jee! Please don't ask so much of me! Is what you say true, though, is my Goddess still alive and mated to you!?" (Yona)
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at Yona. I…think I'm tired of dealing with this alone.
[Hey Nina, can I bring you to me? I could use some assistance here.] (Mizuki)
I sense curiosity from Nina.
[Fufufu…of course! I do so love it when you need me, Mizuki. Bring me whenever you're ready.] (Nina)
Ohhhh, I bet she's going to regret that.
I reach out through our connection and teleport her in front of me. Seeing me, Nina flashes a beautiful smile and leaps over to wrap me in a hug. She plants an uncomfortably passionate kiss on me, then pulls away grinning.
"Mmm…now, what did you need your mate's help with, Mizuki? Fufufu…it's not often I get such requests from you!" (Nina)
Still a little dazed from the kiss, I gesture behind her towards Yona, who is staring at us with her holographic mouth wide open.
Nina gives me a puzzled look, then turns around to face Yona. I sense a rush of annoyance from Nina in response. Oh yeah, they're totally acquainted. Looks like Nina finds her company as enjoyable as I do.
"Goddess Nedonera, so it's true, you are mated to Tchar'jee! This is wondrous news!" (Yona)
Without responding to Yona, Nina turns back to me with an exhausted expression.
[Mizuki, what is the meaning of this?] (Nina)
I shrug back at Nina.
[The hell if I know! She was looking for you and I showed up as she was attacking Zara and Alara – they were sparring here. When I threatened her, she started calling me that name and refuses to stop. She also accused me of killing you. So, I brought you here to prove otherwise…and I didn't want to suffer alone!] (Mizuki)
Nina rolls her eyes at me, but she just turns back towards Yona. At that moment, I remember something concerning.
"Yona, earlier you accused me of killing Nina. I'm curious…why do you think I could do that? Most people consider it impossible for other creatures to defeat Elder Dragons." (Mizuki)
Yona gives me a puzzled expression.
"Tchar'jee, surely you jest? Even I can see that, while my Goddess towers above any Greater Spirit, your magic power is incomparably greater. To think that she could stand against you would be like declaring that the embers of a fire could outshine the sun." (Yona)
Her poetic nonsense aside…it seems my fears were justified. She really can sense my magic power level. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but…the implications of that are not good for anyone. I'm not aware of any spells that create that laser beam she used or that allow you to gauge someone's magic power level without touching them.
"I see…thank you, Yona. Could you tell me about that spell you used to attack my wolf-kin friend, Zara? The white light that also burns…how did you do it? I'm not mad, just curious." (Mizuki)
Yona becomes confused, then nervous. Eventually, though, she responds.
"To do what you describe, I merely spread my magic in the sky above me to collect all the sun's light and warmth, then focused it together towards the wolf-kin girl. However, I feel certain that you already know this…you also surrounded me with your magic and blocked out the sun's light. I confess, Tchar'jee, I am confused by this test of yours." (Yona)
I feel my heart sink…she knows how magic really works. Just from that description, I can tell that she knows magic is a separate and manipulatable source of energy, that it can be willed to interact with different aspects of the natural world, and that incantations are unnecessary. She's a walking violation of Azazel's rules.
"I see…how long have you known how to use magic like that? Specifically, Yona, how long have you known that magic is something you can manipulate and send to other places outside yourself?" (Mizuki)
Is this somehow my fault? If not, was it just a coincidence? Does Azazel know about it? Will he expect me to...deal with it?
To my surprise, Yona just shakes her head in confusion.
"All my life, Tchar'jee…that is the nature of a Greater Spirit. We are beings of pure magic, so we are keenly aware of it from the time we come into existence. For us to not know how magic moves and is influenced by our desires…it would be like Goddess Nedonera not knowing where her tail is." (Yona)
I hear Nina snort at the mention of losing her own tail. Putting aside that hilarious analogy...that's, unexpected. If all Greater Spirits understand magic like this intrinsically, then why the hell would Azazel bring them here? This just raises so many more questions.
Also, if Greater Spirits are made of pure magic…that raises its own set of questions. Would me dispersing Yona's magic have killed her? How does a being of pure magic exist and think? What's their lifecycle like?