"So this will take me to Zootopia?" Nathaniel asked as he gazed cautiously at the glowing white sigil in the floor of the library.
It wasn't like Wylde's glyphs. For the most part, his glyphs are simple. Some are designed to seal certain items within that can be unsealed in a moments notice, other glyphs can conjure elements (fire, ice, lightning, that sort of thing), he can increase the potency and power of what is conjured by 'leveling' up the glyph, and he can also summon things that he's previously marked with his glyphs to his side. A simple, yet effective ability and in most cases unpredictable. He can also fuse glyphs together to have them do more complex things, he calls that Glyph Union.
He's a glyph weaver. Magic users can conjure glyphs and cast them but that requires time and understanding, not to mention the magic power to conjure and cast. That's why most magic users tend to solely glyphs for big spells and ceremonies. Wylde can so more complex glyphs too, it just takes too much time to be practical in most situations.
"Yes or at least that's the plan," Tricks answered.
"You don't sound that positive," Nathaniel noted.
"That's because, given the circumstances, even the best ways are going to be risky." Wylde explained, "We're aiming for about two years prior to the arrival of Rufus. That should give you the time needed to recover completely, and giving you time to find what you're looking for."
"Exactly why is it so risky?" Nathaniel inquired.
Wylde and Tricks looked at eachother.
"We're not talking about a simple hop in time. We needed to make a bridge to a world, a specific version of that world, and the right time frame in that world. We thought about it for a while and this," Tricks gestured to the sigil, "is the best way to get there."
"The issue is," Wylde began, "the world won't recognize you so it might treat you like an invader fighting against your arrival."
"But you are Wylde's shade so you might be confused with him."
"However, there's a version of me already there so it might fight you to prevent two of me being in the same place at the same time. Like I said, It's risky."
"And this is the best way to get there?" Nathaniel askes.
"Unfortunately, it is."
"Welp, better go pack. Since I'm not going to be back for a while." Nathaniel stated as he left the room.
Nathaniel headed for his room first. That's where his bag was. Nathaniel made that bag himself. It started as a regular over-the-shoulder kind of bag, and then Nathaniel got creative. He wove an infinite dimension within its fabric so that it could carry anything and everything he'd need. Then, he found out that carrying a bag like that out in the open made him a target more often than sometimes, so he made it completely unnoticeable and inaccessible to any but him whenever he's wearing it. Unnoticeable and invisible are not the same thing. Invisible just means that light bends around it, however unnoticeable means that its completely undetectable.
Once Nathaniel got to his room, he grabbed his and dumped out the contents on the floor next to his bed. Tricks watched as objects started flowing out of the bag like a river, rapidly making a pile that very quickly became a mountain before the flow tapered off.
Nathaniel looked back at Tricks, saw his opened-mouthed expression, shrugged, and said, "What's the point of using magic if you can't do things comically ridiculous at times."
Tricks chuckled as Nathaniel began shuffling through the mountain of his belongings, deciding what he should take on this next adventure.
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"I imagine that was why you followed me into my abode," Nathaniel responded while gesturing for Tricks to continue.
"You bare Wylde's mark on you, making you in all technicality, his mate."
"Yes. What about it?"
"You don't know what that really means, do you?"
"No more than what it would mean to be anyone else's mate, although I always felt like there was more to it."
"There is. Let me ask you this, what is a Sovereign?"
"A Sovereign is a lord of Creation. As magic is key to creation, a Sovereign could be considered a king or queen of magic itself."
Trick's nodded, "And as such, what do you think happens when they mark someone as their mate?"
"Honestly, never gave it much thought. I'm with Wylde because I wish to be."
"What exactly happens, is unique to each mate, but given the circumstances between you two, it is safe to assume a couple things. First, as his mate, you are automatically given the rite of succession. Meaning if Wylde were to be incapacipated in some form, you'd be the immediate heir to his throne and by proxy his magic."
"You mean I'd inherit the…"
"Cumulative magic of the Nevermore and Occulted as well as the four clans?" Nathaniel nodded. "Honestly it's hard to say for certain, normally only a Sovereign could handle that kind of power. However, you aren't a normal case are you? No, You're a magician. One who," he gestures to Nathaniel, "can somehow survive the unsurvivable. Which I'm starting to think has something to do with your magic ability."
"Magic ability?"
"Magic ability is a specific term that's used to describe the kind of magic and its limitations. Take Wylde for example. You could say he has three. A Sovereign, the Heir of the Four Clans, and the one he was born with, Glyph Weaver. You're a Magician so that's certainly one of your abilities, but you have a more core one, I'm sure. Either way we're off topic. Being a magician along with Wylde's shade, knight, and mate gives you a certain amount to access to Wylde's magic. You might even be able to summon and use his Blade."
"That's impossible. No one but a Sovereign can summon their sword."
"Normally, yes. However, You aren't a normal case. You have an extreme amount of synergy with Wylde. Which brings me to another point. You're connected to this Wylde," He gestured to the direction Wylde was in, "Once you back, you'll still be connected to this Wylde, to switch that connection to the younger one, you'll need to be touching him and to speak his Sovereign Name."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"You won't which is why I'm telling you. The younger Wylde … Well he's not quite laid back as this one and with the fact that you look like Jaison I'm not sure howl he'll react, especially if you say his name, a name that no one else knows. He'll likely keep you at a distance. And that is the best case scenario in this case, because if he keeps you close it'd mean he was suspicious enough of you he decided to watch you as closely as possible."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because, I believe it's in your best interest to stay as far away from that Wylde as you possibly can, given what else will be happening."
Nathaniel nodded and Tricks left the room. It took Nathaniel an hour and a half to get everything he believed he would need for this venture. Everything from medical supplies to spare rations, He packed certain inventions of his, throwing knives, shurikens, a pair of twin daggers, all three of his swords, A long sword made from Living Metal called Dragr, a katana made from the claws of the Warrior wolf, and a short sword forged by the Fae, quite a few of various plants and other ingredients for medical supplies, a few grimoires, and quite a few other things Nathaniel deemed useful enough to bring along.
Before he left the room, he looked back at the room from the doorway. He was sad because he knew he wasn't gonna see this place again for awhile. This place was his home. He let out a sign and headed to Tricks and Wylde. There were more important things than standing that feeling nostalgic.
"You all set?" Wylde asked with what can only be described as concern as Nathaniel entered the room.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
"Great," Tricks declared, "now all you have to do is jump into the sigil and it'll take care of the rest."
Nathaniel walked up to the edge. He looked back at Wylde, shot him a smile, and spoke one word before jumping, "Geronimo!"
"I don't understand, Dad, why are we here so early? Rufus won't even arrive here for another five years. Why bring us here before anything happens?" The young hybrid asked confused.
"Because, Jacquerin, there's a difference between nothing happening and nothing obvious happening. I felt something … new arrive here. Something strange yet familiar, foriegn yet recognizable, a stranger yet an old friend," a smile slowly grew on Orin's face as he spoke, "Whatever or whoever it is, reminds me of you."
Jac scoffed, "There's only one of me."
"And yet you feel something too, no? A faint pull."
Orin wasn't wrong. Since they arrived here something kept Jac looking in a single direction. Something was out there, something that wanted to be found. Jac didn't like it.
"What do you mean by 'obvious'?" Jac asked, changing the subject.
"Where we are now, when we are now, is before the angels have cast their gaze upon this place, before demons have over run it, before it has yet reached the point of being beyond saving. I've always wondered what led it to this path. Who led this world down the path of destruction. The first domino to fall is often the smallest."
"So you're saying there are people there trying to lead the world to its demise?"
"Whether they're actively trying to do so remains to be seen, however the catalyst of the world's end has yet to occur. In terms of an infestation, once it is discovered that you have one in your home, it is often too late to do anything but the most drastic of measures. What's occurring now is merely the seeds being sown."
Jac looked off in the direction of the pull. It wasn't moving. And it seemed like it was fading. Which was not good.
"So, that new thing that arrived, definitely a person, right?" Jac asked Orin
"Yep definitely."
Jac pointed off in the direction of the pull, "And that would be in Tundra Town right?"
"Yes I suppose it would be, Why?"
Jac mentally rolled his eyes. How his dad could be so smart sometimes and yet so stupid is beyond him.
"He's not moving, in the place that is perpetually sub-zero temperatures, and his Lifestream is fading."
"Oh… OH!" Orin looks over to Jac, "well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Jac chuckled as they ran off towards whatever was causing the pull. What would have taken anyone else hours, only took them about ten minutes.
What they found was not an animal, but a human. Unconscious, clearly in the early stages of hypothermia. He was dressed in very light clothing. A dark green short sleeve shirt, a light brown vest, dark brown pants, he had his left right bicep wrapped with a white cloth, his shirt had a hood that was drawn down on his head, he black shoes that were clothlike similar to moccasins but thick and well insulated. His breath was coming out in short, rapid breaths. Under his hood, his eyes were closed so Jac couldn't see what color his eyes were, Jac had a suspicious feeling they'd be green, his hair was long, like it wasn't cut for quite a few years, despite this, his hair didn't unkempt, it looked freshly brushed and clean even though it was a little messy, and he had a green woven band around his neck that was tucked under his shirt.
When Jac saw him, he was dumbfounded. This human looked exactly like one Jac already knew. Jaison, was his name. They had trained together when they were teenagers. They resemblance between the two was impeccable, however there were subtle differences that Jac noticed immediately. Such things like this strangers choice of clothing, greens and browns however not camouflage. It had a certain motif. Life, forest, nature that kind of thing. Jaison typically preferred reds and blacks whenever he wore solid colors. Another difference would be their aura. Jaison's aura was harsh, like the scorching heat of a desert. The aura of this one was soft and kind, like a soft spring breeze.
"We need to get him out of the cold," Orin asserted.
"And where should we bring him?" Orin shot Jac a look, "Our place?," Jac realized, "Why?"
"Think about it. Here's a human in a city where there are no humans, he obviously came here through non-mundane means," Orin gestured to the area around the body, which all around his body there was at least a foot of snow and ice just gone not melted but gone like it melted and instantly evaporated, "so we can't take him to a hospital or wait for someone else to find him, and besides, even unconscious I'm sure there are some answers he can give me."
"Don't get creepy."
Orin shot Jac a grin and in a flash of light all three of them were gone.
Orin carefully laid the stranger on the bed. He was still breathing erratically and his body was far too cold to be ok. There were no noticeable discolorations on his exposed skin which was a good sign. It is entirely possible what ailed this one was not caused by the cold. He did look like he was in pain. Orin was uncertain how to help him recover.
"So, what are you gonna do with him?" Wylde asked.
"I'm not sure yet. Gotta figure out what's wrong first. He certainly has a lot of presence. He has enough magic in him that he should have recovered by now. I wonder what's preventing that. Either way you don't have to stay here."
"What do you mean?"
"He's out there," Orin nodded his head in the direction of the window, "The one you really came here for. Go to him. Talk to him. I know you want to."
"What if he wakes up?"
"If he wakes up, I'll handle it. I'm not so old and frail that I can't look after myself. Besides I doubt he's waking up anytime soon. His Reiku is all over the place. He'll be comatose for at least a day if not a week," He looked to Jac, "go on Wylde, go find that fox of yours."
And thus Jacquerin Wyldern Mesotta left to find Nicholas Wilde.