MAGNUS CONSTANT
Prologue
A Forgotten Power
1283 – Demon's Playground
A small team departed from the border of Ragako to venture into the wilderness of the cursed country known as the Demon's Playground. The head of the team was Dr. Ceasar Kirishina, a renown archeologist from New Essia. He was accompanied by two associate archeologists from Hizuru and Marinia.
Dr Kirishina brought along his young son, Faust, much to his dismay, to accompany him and learn the profession. Faust was a tough, yet mild mannered 11 year old boy, whose high intelligence made him question his father's state of mind, as he brought his child to the most dangerous place on the planet.
The journey was one of introspection for Faust, as he realized then just how twisted his parents were, as his mother also consented for him to go with his father. Up to that point, he trusted his parents completely, but now had reservations about them. His only solace on the journey was the explorer dog of the team, Bruno, owned by his family and brought along as a tracker.
After an hour of walking, the team reached a noticible border within the forest: from that point on, a few kilometers ahead, there were a multitude of ruins covered with moss and vegetation. These were the remains of an ancient nation called Paradis which was completely destroyed 300 years ago by a religious motivated international Alliance in an event called: The Darkness.
From where they stood, they could see several of the tallest buildings, which fascinated Dr. Kirishina, but the purpose of the journey was a far off figure that was visible even at that distance: a gigantic tree, known as "Hell's Horn".
Dr Kirishina: There it is… it's more Majestic in person…
Faust: It's just a tree…
Dr. Kirishina: Oh no… it's not just a tree. It's a forbidden place. Even asking about it could get you in trouble.
Faust: Huh?
Dr. Kirshina: That place… could change history as we know it. And that's why we are here.
The dr. takes out a book with photographs and military reports from various countries, documents provided by the Arlert University to aid in the research.
Dr. Kirishina: Here take a quick look at the pictures.
Faust is confused: These… are all blurry
Dr. Kirishina excited: EXACTLY. No matter what camera or technological equipment is used in the 200 meter perimeter surrounding that tree, it always causes the equipment to malfunction. But that's not all son. This is the fact that changes everything:
No person has ever been able to reach that tree beyond the 200 mt. Perimeter. No one, in over 300 years. Ever since the destruction of Paradis.
Faust: That's impossible
Dr. Kirishina: RIGHT? But it happens. When someone tries to reach it through the thick Woods surrounding it, they end up in the opposite direction. EVERY TIME. Not even machines can get pass it. They all cease to function.
Faust felt a rush after hearing that story. He now understood the importance of that place.
Faust: So… is it magic?
Dr. Kirishina: As of now. It's the only explanation. But that's why we are here! To unravel the mysteries of that tree. Remember all magic is just science waiting to be discovered.
Faust: Hmmm… this seems to go beyond that to be honest.
Dr. Kirishina: HAHAHA I like your thinking son. That's our challenge right now. To change that notion.
Faust: If this place is as strange and dangerous to the establishment as you say… how did you get authorized to come here?
Dr. Kirishina: That's what influences and family name are for son! You'll understand a bit more later in life. Why you think those two gentlemen are here? They are military scientists, to collect the data we gather.. and to keep watch to us. They are more at ease because you are here… as I wouldn't try to do something crazy as I know they would kill you haha
Faust: So you are just using me and putting my life in danger… figures.
Dr. Kirishina: Come on son don't see it that way. You are at a forbidden place to every normal person in the world? Isn't that exciting?!
Faust: Sigh… let's just go.
Dr. Kirishina: OK! Then STOP RIGHT NOW
Faust got startled: WHAT'S WRONG?!
Dr. Kirishina: YOU'LL DIE!
Faust: WHAT?!
Dr. Kirishina: We stopped here because this is the threshold of radiation.
Faust: WTF…
Dr. Kirishina pulls out a Geiger Counter: This placed was bomber by a radioactive bomb during the Darkness. Everything BUT that tree was leveled. Another reason why we are investigating it!
Faust: THEN JUST HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE IF IT'S RADIOACTIVE?!
Dr. Kirishina pulls out a couple of pills: WITH THIS! Iodine penta-titanium pills!
Faust: Pills?
Dr. Kirsihina: Courtesy of our friends here. These pills protects your body from radiation. They are extremely expensive due to the titanium, as there is very Little left in the world. So go ahead, you'll be fine.
Faust: Pretty sure this is poison.
Dr. Kirishina take one of the pills and swallows it: ABSOLUTELY NOT… (in the short term at least)
All of them took the pills, including Bruno, and head on into the Hell's Horn.
An eerie and somber feeling swept over Faust. He could see the ancient roads covered in moss, cars, decayed and crumbled buildings…
Dr. Kirishina: As part of the study and preservation of this place, there have been no plans to restore or even remove the ruins. This place was declared a Patrimonial Site of Historic Memory, so it's being kept like it is. A message that in the end, lives goes on, nature takes over. Very ominous isn't it?
Faust: Yeah…
After an hour of walking they reached the vecinity of the Horn's border. The drs started to set up their equipment and base center.
Dr. Kirishina: Faust, here take this. He gave him a hunting rifle and gear.
Faust: What the…
Dr Kirishina: Remember this place hasn't been touched by humans for hundreds of years. This is nature's territory… and that includes animals. So just for precaution keep that with you ok?
Faust: You brought me here to kill me didn't you?
Dr. Kirishina: HEH… Well…
Faust's eyes widened
Dr Kirishina: I'm kidding haha. But take this as an experience on survival. In any case the most dangerous animal in this part of the forest are foxes and Paradise Wolves, which are smaller than Bruno. So you'll be fine heh.
Faust: That reassuring… I still don't get why I'm here.
Dr Kirishina: Well you are here to help us scout anything of interest. As you are small you might find someway to enter the Horn's area. Take Bruno with you.
Faust wandered into the forest, not too far from where his father was, as he could hear them talking.
Even if he did not want to admit it, he was quite fascinated by being there. He looked closely at the ruins, the Woods, the strange shape of the tres, the Horn at the distance…
He kept walking around for about half an hour, when he realized he could see a border where the trees ended…
He walked through it accompanied by Bruno and was shocked to see where he was: inside the Devil's Horn area.
He was confused as to how he managed to get there, as he was just walking around aimlessly. He looked at the immense tree in awe. It was on top of a Hill, surrounded by ruins. The area was clearly destroyed by explosions… all but the area surround the tree… which seemed intact.
He felt drawn to the tree… and noticed it had a massive opening on it's trunk. He had never seen or heard about trees that had openings like that. He thought maybe it was man-made.
He got curious and thought: Well, now that I'm here… maybe I should help my dad by looking around…
He approached the tree with Bruno… who stopped just before the entrance.
Faust: Hey what's wrong?
He caressed Bruno and could feel he was uneasy. It made Faust even more curious.
Faust took a peak inside the opening… and could see nothing at all. It was pitch black. Too black he thought. It seemed unnatural.
As parto f his gear, he had a flashlight, so he took it out and turned it on. The light did not enter the opening. It was like there was a black wall. He reached out and there was nothing. It truly was something unexplained.
It scared Faust… but got him excited, so he ventured in a bit further.
The Unknown
Faust, in a second, found himself in a strange place. The floor was like a desert, made out of White sand. The sky was strange: it was dark, but like a full moon sky, yet there was no moon or stars, but beautiful auroras the flowed gently.
In the near distance he could something like a forest… but with trees made out of light that touched the sky. There were countless of them. In the middle there was a larger tree that erected like a colum to the sky.
Faust noticed the branches connected the trees with each other and the auroras where actually the branches.
He was terrified yet fascinated by the scene. Time seemed to have stopped. He felt like only seconds had passed and at the same time, that he had been there for a very long time.
Suddenly he saw a faint, traslucent figure near the larger tree. It started to get closer without moving.
It was getting bigger and bigger each time.
The figure got a bit clearer: it was glowing with faint White light, like the trees, it seemed connected to the ground.
It had a faintly femenine figure, like it was wearing a dress that never ended. It had a thin, long neck and a round head.
It didn't seem to have a face, but it had two round shaped eyes, or eye-like features, that glowed in an intense green light that seemed to flow out of them, leaving a trail like floating smoke.
As closer it got, the figure got more clearer. It seemed to have floating, long, smooth hair on it's head, the same color as it's body.
At moments he glimpsed some sort of snake like figure inside the body of the entity.
Faust was in shock and stunned at the vision. He fell to the ground as the entity approached closer, it was about as tall as a skyscraper.
It then stopped, while it was looking at him. Faust was trembling, unable to speak.
The Entity spoke in a loud, yet gentle voice that could be heard on the entirety of that place:
Oh… so we are at that point.
It then dissapeared.
Faust then felt something move in one of his pockets.
He turned and saw the entity, now of the size of a normal adult, holding something in it's hands.
Faust looked at the object and recognized what it was: it was a very old, worn down dagger that he had on him. It was given to him by his father when he was a small child to keep with him at all times.
The entity spoke to him, in a voice that was both femenine and strange:
A key… always finds the lock… innevitable… as change… and eternal… as the will to perdure…
The entity looked at Faust, and it's ghostly figure seemed to gain a bit more mass. Three long marks formed beneath it's eyes.
The entity: It's truly unfortunate…
The entity held the dagger in one hand, and in an instant it was restored to pristine condition.
Faust was so confused and scared he could barely process the situation.
The entity kneeled in front of him and handed him the dagger: I guess it was innevitable…
The entity then appeared behind him… without the marks on it's face.
Change… change it all…
Faust suddenly woke up. He was lying on the ground, outside of the border of the Horn. Bruno was besides him barking at him.
Faust: What the fuck was that…
Faust got up and checked himself. He seemed to be alright.
Faust: Those pills must have been drugs or something…
He then remebered about the old dagger, so he took it out of his pocket and was shocked to see it: it was restored and looked Brand new. The rust and the symbols that were deteriorated were now in perfect condition. It had two crests that he couldn't recognize and one he could, the Azumabito one.
He got nervous, yet very excited for reasons he couldn't understand. It seemed nothing was different, but he felt something extraordinary had happened.
He remembered the words his mother had told him all his life: our family is destined for greatness…
Faust returned to the base. It had only passed one hour, the time from getting to the border of the Horn and back.
He decided to not tell his father of anything that had happened… as the other doctors would want to take the credit, steal the dagger, or kill them.
He coudl feel something extremely important had been given to him, yet he couldn't understand what.
He thought the only person that could understand was his mother… yet felt apprehensive about telling her.
Dr Kirishina approaching Faust: Hey there, did you found something?
Faust: No… as you said, I got to the border of the horn… and ended up back here.
Dr. Kirishina: Damn… well we made some progress and found some interesting objects at the ruins.
Faust: Ok…
Dr. Kirishina: Are you alright? Are you feeling ill?
Faust: No… not at all. Quite the opposite… I like this place.
