Chapter 3: The War of the Magi
11,999 B.C.
Magus sat in his current dwelling; it was a small earthen cave, a small campfire in the middle of it. Magus had kept to himself, and also ensured his privacy by spreading rumors of a warlock living up on the mountain who would kill anyone who dared trespass on his territory. Magus was rather proud of his lie; it was something that sounded like the villagers in 600 A.D. used to say about him. A girl about nineteen years of age sat in the corner, she was shaking, but not from the sheer cold outside, from fear. Magus dipped a bowl of stew out of a small pot hanging above the fire. "Here, if you don't eat something, you'll only get worse." Magus said. "Please... Don't kill me... I didn't mean to trespass on your mountain... Please don't kill me." the girl pleaded, "I won't kill you, now eat." Magus said, placing the bowl before the girl. The girl sniffed at the bowl, "Smart girl." Magus thought to himself, Magus walked over and ate a mouthful of stew from the bowl. "See, no poison. It's safe." Magus said, nudging the bowl towards the girl. The girl picked up the bowl and took a taste, then another, "Th... Thank you." the girl said. "What where you doing up here anyway?" Magus asked. "I... I was going to prove to my friends that the stories about the warlock where simply a story to scare children." the girl said. "And what if I had killed you like the stories suggest?" Magus asked. "I was sure you where fake, but I was attacked by monsters, and I fell unconscious in the snow." the girl said, her tone was a little more calm, but her eyes still showed fear and distrust. "Tomorrow I will return you to the village, now it is getting late." Magus said, he began to remove his shirt, suddenly the girl set down the bowl and curled up in the corner, whimpering. "What?" Magus asked. "You're going to rape me aren't you? That's why you kept me alive isn't it?" the girl asked. "What? No! I was simply going to sleep, relax, the stories are highly exaggerated, I know, I started them." Magus said, removing his shirt and lying down on his makeshift bed, Magus had always slept standing up, but in this time period, there was little need for alertness. The girl didn't move, "Fine, stay like that for all I care. No skin off my back." Magus said, closing his eyes. The girl slowly came out of the corner and lay down on the floor, for several hours she watched Magus like a hawk, but finally fell asleep.
Magus awoke with the sound of a loud boom, he stood up and put his armor on quickly and walked out of the cave to investigate. Outside a group of men riding giant yellow birds rode forward and attacked a group of armored men in large mechanical humanoid suits, the suits fired several types of lasers, and the bird riders used magic. "What the hell...?" asked himself. "What's going on?" the girl asked from behind Magus. "I haven't got any clue. But it looks bad, change of plans... we go back to the village TONIGHT!" Magus said, Magus swept the girl up in his arms and flew towards here home, strangely there where large cities now and other continents. "What is going on?" Magus thought to himself. Magus reached the last village and took the girl to the commons where the people where gathered.
"What is going on here?" Magus asked the village elder, "Another world merged with our own, we where told that this is the war of the magi." the elder said. "Well, you people aren't safe here, come with me to the mountains. We can be safe there." Magus said. The people gathered all of their possessions and followed Magus to the mountains; they made temporary homes in caves to wait out the war. "Warlock, I'm scared." the girl said. "The name's Magus." Magus told the girl. "My names Deborah." the girl said. "We can wait the war out here, we're safe." Magus said. Outside explosions rang out; Magus prayed he would not have to get involved in this war, as he knew that even he was outclassed at this time.
"Sir, the small village has evacuated into the mountains sir! What are your orders sir?" a soldier in asked. "Kill them, we do not need anyone spying on us, burn them all, we don't want those damn magi gaining the upper hand." the general said. "Yes sir! Burn the people!!" the soldier shouted and several soldiers in Magitek armor opened fire with fire beams on the mountains.
Suddenly a large red beam cut through the cave and struck Deborah. All the people hit the ground, Magus held the girl in his arms. "Deborah?" Magus asked. "Magus, I thank you for taking care of me... I hope that we meet again in another life." Deborah said and coughed up a mouthful of blood, a small smile appeared on Deborah's face and she stopped moving. Magus took his index and middle fingers and closed Deborah's eyelids. Magus set the girl on the ground and turned toward the beams exploding from the mountain outside, many hit him, but they simply where absorbed into him. Magus stepped out on the mountain and looked down upon the magiteks. Magus pointed his finger towards the group of armors, a large black portal opened below them, and they fell through. More Magitek armors came to avenge their allies and died in the same way.
"Sir, some man has wiped out an entire platoon of Magiteks!" the soldier said. "Well, blast him!" the general ordered. "We have tried, they don't harm him, and he simply absorbs the attacks and becomes stronger." the soldier said. Suddenly Magus descended between the soldier and the general. "Hello gentlemen." Magus said. "Wha... What are you? Are you an Esper? A magi?" the general asked, fear in his eyes. "I am not. I am Magus, a name which you will not soon forget." Magus said. "P... Please don't kill me." the general pleaded. "Hm... The villagers where defenseless and you didn't even hesitate to have them killed. Why should you get the special treatment?" Magus asked, "I'm sorry! Please don't kill me." the general said. "Grovel." Magus said, the man got down on his knees and kissed Magus' boots. Magus drew his scythe and placed his foot on the man's back. "See you in hell." Magus said, Magus swung the scythe down, there was a small swish, and a spurt of blood was thrown upon Magus, with a single gesture, the blood disappeared from Magus' face and clothing. Magus turned towards the soldier, his blood red eyes glowing in the moonlight. The soldier was scared stiff, not even daring to move. Magus raised a hand to the soldiers face; black smoke shot from Magus' palm, and surrounded the soldier. Suddenly the soldier screamed in pain, the dark mist was eating at him, the man's hair fell out in large clumps and his skin melted from his body, his eyeballs dropped from their sockets. "You know what I love about this spell? It keeps you alive until the very end, so you may feel every moment of torture and torment, the mist eats your ears last, so that you may hear your own tortured screams as you die." Magus said, the man's screaming stopped; only a pile of dust and corroded armor was left.
"What do you mean disappeared? An entire platoon cannot just disappear!!" General Gestahl barked. "All we found sir, was the general's body and a pile of ashes and corroded armor. We have no idea what happened." the major apologized. "No matter, we cannot afford to lose this war, attack!" General Gestahl ordered. Suddenly the wind in the room picked up and the figure of Magus appeared. "Who are you?" Gestahl demanded. "General, I am here to make you a proposition." Magus said. "I'm listening." Gestahl said. "My proposition is that you can continue this war, but any civilians will be spared. If not, you and your army will suffer the same fate as your general here." Magus said, holding up the general's head. "How do I know you did all that?" Gestahl asked. Magus pointed his hand towards the major; the black mist enveloped the major. "Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!" the major's inhuman scream rang throughout the entire valley as his flesh melted from his body and he too was reduced to a pile of ashes. "That was one of my lower level spells. I'm warning you general, kill a single civilian and you will suffer the same." Magus said. "Y... Yes." Gestahl said, Gestahl suddenly felt like crawling in a hole to avoid Magus' red eyes. Magus turned to leave, then turning back with one last glare, "I'm warning you." Magus said, and then disappeared. Gestahl set up and shivered from the chill Magus had put in him, he would order the troops to avoid the mountains at all costs.
11,999 B.C.
Magus sat in his current dwelling; it was a small earthen cave, a small campfire in the middle of it. Magus had kept to himself, and also ensured his privacy by spreading rumors of a warlock living up on the mountain who would kill anyone who dared trespass on his territory. Magus was rather proud of his lie; it was something that sounded like the villagers in 600 A.D. used to say about him. A girl about nineteen years of age sat in the corner, she was shaking, but not from the sheer cold outside, from fear. Magus dipped a bowl of stew out of a small pot hanging above the fire. "Here, if you don't eat something, you'll only get worse." Magus said. "Please... Don't kill me... I didn't mean to trespass on your mountain... Please don't kill me." the girl pleaded, "I won't kill you, now eat." Magus said, placing the bowl before the girl. The girl sniffed at the bowl, "Smart girl." Magus thought to himself, Magus walked over and ate a mouthful of stew from the bowl. "See, no poison. It's safe." Magus said, nudging the bowl towards the girl. The girl picked up the bowl and took a taste, then another, "Th... Thank you." the girl said. "What where you doing up here anyway?" Magus asked. "I... I was going to prove to my friends that the stories about the warlock where simply a story to scare children." the girl said. "And what if I had killed you like the stories suggest?" Magus asked. "I was sure you where fake, but I was attacked by monsters, and I fell unconscious in the snow." the girl said, her tone was a little more calm, but her eyes still showed fear and distrust. "Tomorrow I will return you to the village, now it is getting late." Magus said, he began to remove his shirt, suddenly the girl set down the bowl and curled up in the corner, whimpering. "What?" Magus asked. "You're going to rape me aren't you? That's why you kept me alive isn't it?" the girl asked. "What? No! I was simply going to sleep, relax, the stories are highly exaggerated, I know, I started them." Magus said, removing his shirt and lying down on his makeshift bed, Magus had always slept standing up, but in this time period, there was little need for alertness. The girl didn't move, "Fine, stay like that for all I care. No skin off my back." Magus said, closing his eyes. The girl slowly came out of the corner and lay down on the floor, for several hours she watched Magus like a hawk, but finally fell asleep.
Magus awoke with the sound of a loud boom, he stood up and put his armor on quickly and walked out of the cave to investigate. Outside a group of men riding giant yellow birds rode forward and attacked a group of armored men in large mechanical humanoid suits, the suits fired several types of lasers, and the bird riders used magic. "What the hell...?" asked himself. "What's going on?" the girl asked from behind Magus. "I haven't got any clue. But it looks bad, change of plans... we go back to the village TONIGHT!" Magus said, Magus swept the girl up in his arms and flew towards here home, strangely there where large cities now and other continents. "What is going on?" Magus thought to himself. Magus reached the last village and took the girl to the commons where the people where gathered.
"What is going on here?" Magus asked the village elder, "Another world merged with our own, we where told that this is the war of the magi." the elder said. "Well, you people aren't safe here, come with me to the mountains. We can be safe there." Magus said. The people gathered all of their possessions and followed Magus to the mountains; they made temporary homes in caves to wait out the war. "Warlock, I'm scared." the girl said. "The name's Magus." Magus told the girl. "My names Deborah." the girl said. "We can wait the war out here, we're safe." Magus said. Outside explosions rang out; Magus prayed he would not have to get involved in this war, as he knew that even he was outclassed at this time.
"Sir, the small village has evacuated into the mountains sir! What are your orders sir?" a soldier in asked. "Kill them, we do not need anyone spying on us, burn them all, we don't want those damn magi gaining the upper hand." the general said. "Yes sir! Burn the people!!" the soldier shouted and several soldiers in Magitek armor opened fire with fire beams on the mountains.
Suddenly a large red beam cut through the cave and struck Deborah. All the people hit the ground, Magus held the girl in his arms. "Deborah?" Magus asked. "Magus, I thank you for taking care of me... I hope that we meet again in another life." Deborah said and coughed up a mouthful of blood, a small smile appeared on Deborah's face and she stopped moving. Magus took his index and middle fingers and closed Deborah's eyelids. Magus set the girl on the ground and turned toward the beams exploding from the mountain outside, many hit him, but they simply where absorbed into him. Magus stepped out on the mountain and looked down upon the magiteks. Magus pointed his finger towards the group of armors, a large black portal opened below them, and they fell through. More Magitek armors came to avenge their allies and died in the same way.
"Sir, some man has wiped out an entire platoon of Magiteks!" the soldier said. "Well, blast him!" the general ordered. "We have tried, they don't harm him, and he simply absorbs the attacks and becomes stronger." the soldier said. Suddenly Magus descended between the soldier and the general. "Hello gentlemen." Magus said. "Wha... What are you? Are you an Esper? A magi?" the general asked, fear in his eyes. "I am not. I am Magus, a name which you will not soon forget." Magus said. "P... Please don't kill me." the general pleaded. "Hm... The villagers where defenseless and you didn't even hesitate to have them killed. Why should you get the special treatment?" Magus asked, "I'm sorry! Please don't kill me." the general said. "Grovel." Magus said, the man got down on his knees and kissed Magus' boots. Magus drew his scythe and placed his foot on the man's back. "See you in hell." Magus said, Magus swung the scythe down, there was a small swish, and a spurt of blood was thrown upon Magus, with a single gesture, the blood disappeared from Magus' face and clothing. Magus turned towards the soldier, his blood red eyes glowing in the moonlight. The soldier was scared stiff, not even daring to move. Magus raised a hand to the soldiers face; black smoke shot from Magus' palm, and surrounded the soldier. Suddenly the soldier screamed in pain, the dark mist was eating at him, the man's hair fell out in large clumps and his skin melted from his body, his eyeballs dropped from their sockets. "You know what I love about this spell? It keeps you alive until the very end, so you may feel every moment of torture and torment, the mist eats your ears last, so that you may hear your own tortured screams as you die." Magus said, the man's screaming stopped; only a pile of dust and corroded armor was left.
"What do you mean disappeared? An entire platoon cannot just disappear!!" General Gestahl barked. "All we found sir, was the general's body and a pile of ashes and corroded armor. We have no idea what happened." the major apologized. "No matter, we cannot afford to lose this war, attack!" General Gestahl ordered. Suddenly the wind in the room picked up and the figure of Magus appeared. "Who are you?" Gestahl demanded. "General, I am here to make you a proposition." Magus said. "I'm listening." Gestahl said. "My proposition is that you can continue this war, but any civilians will be spared. If not, you and your army will suffer the same fate as your general here." Magus said, holding up the general's head. "How do I know you did all that?" Gestahl asked. Magus pointed his hand towards the major; the black mist enveloped the major. "Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!" the major's inhuman scream rang throughout the entire valley as his flesh melted from his body and he too was reduced to a pile of ashes. "That was one of my lower level spells. I'm warning you general, kill a single civilian and you will suffer the same." Magus said. "Y... Yes." Gestahl said, Gestahl suddenly felt like crawling in a hole to avoid Magus' red eyes. Magus turned to leave, then turning back with one last glare, "I'm warning you." Magus said, and then disappeared. Gestahl set up and shivered from the chill Magus had put in him, he would order the troops to avoid the mountains at all costs.