How do you fight an enemy who can destroy your body with a single blow or two? Once, while travelling through one of the parallel worlds of Kairn, Castor saw a fellow sufferer who had managed to break through the limitations of his body and gain the regeneration and power of a god. But that man had the powers of another world and the blessing of Mengir, while Brinel had only knowledge and magical abilities. And thanks to the latter, he was able to push his own powers to incredible heights. Plus, the training of charoloms included not only ways to destroy mages, but also to survive in combat with them. Superhuman reflexes and speed of movement, various barriers, and even instant teleportation. The latter is very risky: you can lose a part of your body. Any part. From your hands to your internal organs.
Mystics knew how to create various amulets and protective domes, which helped in open combat. With the right skill and training, such protection could even withstand the blow of a god. This had already happened in his practice during the battle with Corvaak. It gets better: a sorcerer named Ereoktis created a spell capable of completely reflecting any energy back to its source of attack. It didn't matter if it was kinetic or magical. There are some significant drawbacks to this spell: you need to have decent control over magic, as well as the ability to read the battle. After all, the Mirror only lasts a few seconds, which should be enough to change the course of battle. It is not possible to use such a powerful and "heavy" spell constantly: either your internal reserves will be exhausted, or your body will not be able to withstand the constant flow of magical energy.
Charoloms partially circumvented this restriction. Thanks to pneuma, the life energy that can be drawn from the environment through proper breathing, they can quickly restore their energy reserves and heal wounds. In addition, it speeds up metabolism, although all these effects are short-lived, but no one forbids frequent extraction of pneuma. This cannot be compared to the endurance of the chosen ones of Mengir, but it will allow you to survive in a critical situation. This technique greatly enhances instincts, senses, body speed and reactions. So much so that it allows you to dodge even the fastest attacks and spells.
Without these adaptations, the only thing standing between flesh and danger would be armour. Castor had something similar: with the best enchantments, metal and leather, but Brinel did not want to use it. During his time in the Dark Dawn, it had gained the status of an artefact capable of changing the world. He didn't want to show it to the local creatures. And even though Serafall seemed normal (for her kind), it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Come on!
Another blow from an icy boulder flew past as Castor dodged to the side with a sideways step. His eyes closely followed the movements of the Lord of Hell, who looked back at him with displeasure. Yes, he had managed to drag her outside the city, where they danced under a magical barrier, testing each other's limits. Well... Relatively speaking. Brineel continued to demonstrate his acrobatic feats and speed, evading all of Leviathan's attacks. At first, she attacked with direct, but fast and powerful blows, using only her fists and feet. There was not even a hint of martial arts in her movements: only raw power and speed. When that didn't work...
"How are you doing this?!
She resorted to simple ice spells: spears, spikes, pillars. She simply threw them, but after accepting their ineffectiveness, she began to make various turns. She flew up on wings and attacked from the air, unleashing a stream of small, sharp needles, various geometric shapes made of ice, or simply a pure stream of frost. The projectiles performed incredible somersaults in order to hit her back or other blind spots. But it didn't work: Brinel dodged everything. And if he couldn't get out of the way, he blocked with the Sphere of Mayven or his own ice.
"Damn...
The air frozen in front of Castor stopped the icicles in mid-flight, and the stakes sent at his back scattered, hitting the Sphere, which flickered for a moment. This was the pinnacle of third-era empire magic. Mayven created this defence, which experienced magicians use on a regular basis. They don't even remove it while they sleep. Of course, that's if they have the concentration and magical energy.
"Honestly, I'm starting to envy your abilities," Serafall said with a small smile, lowering her wand. Yes, she really did use it as a focus for her spells, although she was definitely only skilled at using her hands.
"For a demon, you have pretty good control. I should also add that you have plenty of imagination for creating different shapes," Castor praised the woman sincerely, adding warmth to his smile. "I have rarely seen such control over ice among your kind.
"Because it's not my family! I'm not like your demons at all! Neither are any of my friends!" Serafall cried out from the other side of the clearing. Castor just shrugged. The type of energy was similar, as were the names, so they were all related. Yes, it wasn't the best indicator, but the mage had nothing else to go on.
"Talking about the end of the world during a battle and humiliating the Lord of Hell... Which one of you is the evil spawn of the abyss?"
Brinel ignored the dragon's sarcasm. Because objectively, he was right. The mage had no idea of his own condition or current species. And yes, talking during battle was an impossible luxury and a waste of breath, but this wasn't a real battle, and the "enemy" wasn't the strongest. Oh, no. Serapho would have done well in a fight against the Ethereals and the Chthonians... Until she encountered their leaders and strongest representatives. Corvaak himself would not have left a trace of the demon behind. Literally and figuratively. After all, the Cruel Sun despised the spawn of the abyss and H'ton, and its flames literally wiped these creatures from reality.
"You have almost identical energy flows and shades, as well as the same way of using spells. The identical names also give us a sufficient clue," the mage calmly explained his conclusion, causing Serafall to pout like a small child.
"I don't kill children or use people as a source of blood!
"That's why you're still alive, isn't it?" Castor raised an eyebrow. The lord clicked her tongue and crossed her arms over her chest.
"At first, I thought you were logical and cold. But you turn out to be a sneaky troll.
"Exactly! That's the truth!" the dragon chimed in, but was ignored by the mage, as always.
"These lustful and stupid creatures are incapable of such an emotional reaction," Castor looked at Leviathan in confusion. Honestly, how could Ddraig and she confuse him with these huge creatures, whose heads contain fewer thoughts than any cultist's?
"See!" Serafall smiled and even giggled. Brinel opened his mouth, but then shut it again. This world... Very strange.
***
Serapholl slumped wearily in her office chair and rubbed her closed eyes. In addition to mental fatigue, she felt resentment towards one mage. He's a bastard, that's who he is! No respect or even consideration — only cold indifference. This Castor certainly showed emotion, but it all had a hint of mockery and humour that only he understood! Or was she hallucinating? Perhaps. The lord no longer understood anything, and the information she had received only made things worse.
A different world, consumed by terrible monsters and psychopaths, radically different from theirs. A world where technology had not reached their level, but magic had long since surpassed it by several centuries, if not millennia. When Serafall explained to Brinel the principle of human magic (formulas and calculations, as well as the need for magic circles), he did not laugh, but the coldness in his smile increased. Nor did he laugh at the fact that human magic was a modified form of demonic magic. In the latter case, there was no warmth, sympathy or joy left at all. Leviathan felt genuine contempt. She had never felt this way, not even from the council of elders in her clan!
Yes, the information had worn her out mentally. Completely. Monsters beyond the bounds of logic and understanding, magic that had never existed for them, other deities, some kind of cosmic entities... Too much, too much unknown! And Castor hadn't lied! All his words formed a logical, albeit twisted, picture of another world and other beings. So she had to accept it all as fact... And the books she had read, which she sent back to the library with a snap of her fingers, only made her headache worse. Zero information! Zero! No one had ever encountered anything similar in the entire history of biblical mythology!
The insult came from the fact that Serafall had been spanked. Not physically, but morally, which was worse! Leviathan ran her hand over her face and exhaled irritably. Who knew that the mage was so skilled and fast?! How is it even possible to move so flexibly and swiftly while still managing to cast spells so effectively?! What is this?! She couldn't hit him once: either the ice shattered against the ice, or Brinel dodged at the last moment! Yes, her! Serapholl Leviathan, the great sorceress Levi-chan, had lost the fight! And without even taking a single hit! What the hell? What was that? And Castor had mockingly claimed that many mystics could do the same! He was definitely a troll!
"It's okay. It happens to everyone. The moon is just in the wrong phase today," Leviathan remembered the magician's mocking words and tone, which made her growl softly. N-o-o-o-o-t... He's not a troll, he's a pure bastard!
The woman exhaled and took a sip of water. How strange... The whole situation seemed like a dream. Of course, the existence of other worlds was no secret, and Ajuka had even dreamed of travelling somewhere, but the Great Red — a huge dragon that flies in interdimensional space — destroys any intruder, and the space itself quickly corrodes the newcomers. But how had Castor managed to get to them? The mage himself did not know or did not want to say, and she herself had no ideas except to help. But who or what could help Brinel?
"To desire the ordinary life of a commoner... whispered the Lord. Serafall closed her eyes and leaned back in her office chair. It was an unusual desire for someone like Castor. It seemed that a logical and cold person would need knowledge or power. But to this extent? Truly, the world is full of all kinds of things. However...
"It wouldn't be bad," Leviathan looked out the window and then sighed heavily. She envied the young man. He had no obligations, no job, no expectations from anyone. Castor could go anywhere and do anything. Complete freedom of action, and personal power only reinforced that right... She wanted the same. The title of Lord was not only a huge privilege, but also a responsibility and a heavy burden. When was the last time she had seen her family normally? When had she not smiled falsely to appease someone?
Sazeks was right when he said that they had paid a high price for peace among their kind. The current Lucifer is called the Beast behind his back, reviled and constantly undermined, especially by the old folks. She has to build relationships with everyone at once and not start another war, put up with outright jerks and keep quiet when she wants to speak. And people love to whisper behind her back, especially the old men from her clan... Ajuka was constantly studying something, stuck in his laboratory, seemingly forever. When was the last time they saw him outside of meetings? Research, prototypes, new discoveries — it became a hobby, a job, and the only driving force in her friend's life. Asmodeus? He may seem lazy and sleepy, but that image is just a cover for the chief tactician of hell. He is constantly searching for enemies and spies, devising plans and tricks. Even when he sleeps, it becomes part of some plan.
But Leviathan did not regret it. They brought peace to their people, prevented internal conflict from leading to the extermination of an entire species, and were able to pacify even the most violent. Before... Before, the reborn and slaves were treated terribly, their individuality ignored. Now the situation had changed for the better, but she would not have let Brinel go to hell. A person may seem indifferent to everything, but his story of fighting for his kind... As if the old folks had not faced an insurmountable natural disaster.
"And now I have to keep information about Castor secret and protect him from the attention of hell. Great..." She said the last word with undisguised sarcasm. And she would have to! Brinel was completely unpredictable and could do anything if particularly active members of her clan started to bother him. But her intuition told her that the mage didn't need her help — he would go to them himself and declare that he wanted nothing and could kill them all.
"I need a holiday. Until the end of my days.
The woman stood up and chewed her lips irritably. Perhaps she could win Brinel over to their side. Perhaps. After all, the world was unstable right now. It could flare up like a match at any moment. And any strong personalities on their side could help them weather the coming storm...
"I'm sorry, Castor, but a grey life is not allowed for a magician of your calibre, nor for Securite."
***
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