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Chapter 30: Blake

"First order of business," Integra began. "We need to take Vollu off the board. I moved us to the Mirror Realm last night to buy us some time, but we need to act before he can find us."

It was early in the morning, and the three magi had met to discuss their next course of action.

Rin and Blake rubbed their eyes tiredly, but nodded their heads.

"Ok? But how do we do that?" Blake asked. "You and him are nearly equal, and Rin and I would just get in the way if we tried to tip the balance."

Integra frowned. "I was hoping to resolve the situation without fighting him. If we could get to Jondor and explain the situation, we could have Vollu exiled and stripped of his power."

"Jondor has the power to do that?" Blake asked in shock. "Why didn't you get his help sooner?

"Because convincing that man of anything is a difficult task in itself, and as you know, I was a bit occupied." Integra sighed. "Not to mention it would take both of us to actually strip Vollu of his power. If it were someone like you, only one would suffice, but Vollu is a Master of Arcana."

"He can do that?" Blake hung his head. "Then a realization hit him. "Master, why didn't Vollu strip me of my power when we fought? He had multiple chances to do so."

Integra thought for a moment. "Most likely, he didn't deem you enough of a threat in your current state. In terms of being a magus, you're very strong. But in terms of being a diviner, you still have much to learn."

"Fine," Blake grumbled. "Then let's get a move on."

"That's the thing, my young Apprentice," Integra sighed. "By now, I'm sure Vollu has made contact with Jondor and told him about us and declared us traitors. Jondor could attack you two on the spot if he bought Vollu's lie and I can't risk that."

"Then what do we do?" Rin asked.

"WE will do nothing," Integra smiled at the girl. "I will go see Jondor myself, and convince him of the truth. You two will remain here and wait for my return. If I do not return within a couple of hours, you two are to escape by any means to the Realm of Life."

"So we're supposed to just wait around?" Blake sighed. "You can't expect me to just let you go alone."

"You absolutely will not be waiting around. In fact, I expect you to be at a level where you can survive against Vollu by the time I return."

"Do you have some secret training method that I'm not aware of, or something?" Blake chuckled nervously.

"Oh no, my dear disciple," Integra smiled wickedly. "It's a method that I know that you are aware of. I think it's time you entered your inner world again."

Blake's jaw dropped. "What?! For the whole time you're gone?!"

"Yes," Integra smirked. "And Ms. Tohsaka?"

"Yes, Madam Integra?"

"You are to ensure that he stays in there for the whole time that I am away." Integra said sweetly.

Rin smiled back in wicked understanding. "Yes ma'am."

Blake's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped further.

"Good girl," Integra smiled. "Our boy needs a lot more training, especially if things do not go our way. Two hours worth should suffice."

"You're kidding me!" Blake exploded. "I barely made it back in one piece after one millennium! Now you want me to go back for two?"

"How about this," Integra sighed. "If you promise to train hard every day in there, Rin is permitted to visit you every ten minutes in our world's time."

"This is beyond cruel!" Blake argued.

"I'll make it every fifteen if you keep arguing," Integra smiled dangerously.

Blake's head hung in defeat. "Fine."

Integra patted her protégé on the cheek. "Good boy," she smiled as she turned and began to walk out.

"Master!" Blake called after her.

"What is it, Ryan?" she asked as she stopped.

"Be careful out there," he said seriously.

The diviness smiled. "You be careful in there." She retorted. And with that, she walked out.

"I really don't want to have to go in there," Blake sighed. "It's horrible. It gets so lonely.

"Quit complaining," Rin huffed as she hugged him. "Just get stronger while you're in there."

"Well, I actually know what I'm doing now. So it shouldn't be an issue," Blake laughed.

"Just remember that I love you," Rin said, tilting his lips down to hers.

"I won't be the same person when you see me next," Blake sighed. "What if I change too much."

"Oh, shut up," Rin smiled. "You'll always be the same idiot that I love."

The magus kissed the diviner one last time and let him go. "Now go. I'll see you soon."

Blake smiled sadly and began his chant.

When the diviner opened his eyes, he found himself back in the grassy fields of his mental scape. The cottage he had spent his previous years of training in still stood strong. But now there were slight differences. Eight other houses decorated the fields. Each one was allocated with a number. He saw numbers 0, 1, 2, 7, 8, 14, 21, and 22.

Blake's eyes went wide as realized that those were the numbers of his mastered arcana cards. Would they be able to aid him in his training too?

"Ah, Master Ryan," a friendly voice called. "How nice it is to see you."

Blake turned to see The Magician walking towards him from the house displaying the number 1.

"Arcan," Blake smiled. "How have you been?"

"Much better than you, I suppose," the magician sighed. "I heard Vollu did quite the number on you. At least you were able to purge that nasty little pest that has been scurrying around here. Nice touch by the way. You used the pain to increase your anger, which in turn amplified your willpower."

"You saw all of that?" Blake asked, taken aback.

"Oh yes!" Arcan smiled widely. "We call it Arcana TV! And I must say, it's quite juicy."

"Aren't you guys a little too busy to be watching all of that?" Blake sweat-dropped.

"You seem to misunderstand," Arcan chuckled. "We are your personal higher arcana. Every diviner creates their own when they realize their power. If it weren't that way, you wouldn't be able to use a card if it was already being used."

"So do all of the higher arcana cards in my deck have physical forms?" Blake asked.

"No," the magician answered. "Only the ones that have achieved mastered arcana are permitted to have physical form in your inner world, as they have absorbed the essence of your life years and may do so."

"At least there's that," Blake sighed. "I have too many voices and beings floating around in my body already."

"That's about average for tarot magi, actually," Arcan nodded in reassurance.

"Great," Blake sighed once more.

"But anyways," Arcan continued. "What brings you here, my young master."

The diviner looked up at Arcan and smiled. "I need to get stronger. You think you can make that happen in two thousand years? I have two hours out there."

Arcan's face went grim. "Unfortunately, that will no longer be possible."

"What do you mean?" Blake asked, anxiety creeping in.

"Every time you enter your inner world, the time dilation weakens and becomes a tenth of your previous visit, until the time matches that of your outer world." The old man explained. "Seeing as this is your second visit, the translation will only be one hundred years for every hour out there."

"You're kidding," Blake chuckled humorlessly. "So I may not be able to become as strong as Vollu anymore?"

"That's not true," Arcan smiled as the other mastered arcana spirits began to emerge from their houses. "Because in that time, we can teach you the Tarot Art Infinium. The Divine Overdrive."

A/N: Another chapter down and our hero is about to learn a new technique! Will he be able to defeat Vollu? Will Integra reach Jondor in time? Find out soon!

Thank you to my readers for staying faithful to the story so far. The fact that you guys are reading is great motivation. Another great motivation is reviews! If you could drop one and let me know what you think so far, that would be a great help, and help motivate me to get chapters out more frequently! But anyways, thank you for reading and I hope that you all have an awesome day!

-B