It had been roughly a year, or so Harry assumed, since he came to this weird world. Truthfully, he had lost count of the days since he came to this strange world. Of course, someone like him being in the prison for so long, guards thought something was wrong. They had figured he would leave by now.
"Harry, come with me please." A nervous guard asked of him one day.
"Sure." Harry replied pleasantly, putting his book away. He was currently reading about magic, and different types of magic. There were two category of magic, the Arcane art and the Divine art. Divine art died out when the gods have abandoned the world, but Arcane art branched into many division. He was interested in Elementals, power of elements were interesting to him. Another interesting field was Shamans, the power of spirits. The third blanch was obscure art, the book said only few people in the world knew how to perform. It was categorized as Black magic, the power of demons. He followed the guard, still reading his book, ignoring the stare of other inmates. It wasn't uncommon for guard to take a prisoner out for visitor, or to even have some fun with. But, it was very uncommon for the guard to ask politely and be so nervous about it. Ellen watched on from the side, worried frown marring her face. Seeing her in corner of his vision, he smiled pleasantly and walked over to her. "It'll be alright, I'll be back soon."
"If you would hurry, we don't want to keep him waiting." The guard hesitantly told him. He didn't know how to treat the boy before him.
"Lead the way." Harry replied, following the guard out.
Harry was surprised at how long the walk was. He had expected a short trip, but it seemed as if they were leading him away from prison side of the fortress. His suspicion was confirmed when the guard unlocked a metal gate leading towards outside.
As the two walked down the ramp, Harry watched on as many of the soldiers saluted him. It was weird, to be saluted at by people many times older then himself. Especially when he was wearing dirty rags and a manacle. Walking down the camp, they entered into another building. Inside was large room with big round table. His eyes settled on a man dressed in fancy looking clothing being served fruit and wine by servants on their knees.
"So you are the young noble they mentioned on the reports." The man replied haughtily. "I don't see what is so special about you, I barely feel anything at all."
"And you are?" Harry asked, sitting himself on the opposite side.
"Don't they teach you ruffians manner nowadays? You may call me Lord Ivan. So tell me boy, why are you in the holding cell and how did you manage to keep your magic?"
"For you to just march in here, I take it you are of high noble class?" Harry asked.
"You have not heard of me?" man asked increduously, "why, I am lord Ivan, one of fifty high nobles, first file."
"First file… that means you are one of top ten right?"
"Correct, now answer my question before I lose my patience! I haven't got all day."
"What was your question again?"
"Why you insufferable peasant, are you as stupid as you are daft?"
"Err…. Don't they mean the same thing?"
"SILENCE!" the noble roared.
Harry set in silence and stared at the man. After several long drawn out seconds, the man tilted his eyebrow up and shouted once more. "Aren't you going to answer me!"
"You told me to stay silent, so I was." Harry replied with a shrug. He could hear many of the guards chuckling. He had met many of the over the year, having freely walked out. They didn't seem to care, and no one bothered to question him at all, so he decided to hang out with the guards once in a while and to train with them.
"Just answer me! Who are you and how did you get in this prison with your magic intact! And what crime did you commit!"
"Hmm.. first of all, I'm Harry Potter. As to how I got into the prison, I just simply woke up here. As to what crime I committed…. I think I took the wrong door."
"What? You aren't making any sense here boy." The man growled, "But, it seems that you aren't lying either. Explain to me, what do you mean wrong door?"
"Well, I was inside of a library you see, and one of the rooms had many doors that lead to many different places. I think I took a wrong door, and it sent me to this prison here."
"If you got in there by accident, why didn't you get out of the prison?! It's not like the guards would have stopped you." The man replied with a frown.
"Well, at the time I didn't know that. But, now I do. Besides, where would I go? It's not like I have anywhere to go. I also don't want to leave my friends behind."
"Friends?" the man's eyebrow twitched. "You are telling me you made friends with the prisoners?"
"Yea, who else am I supposed to make friends with, the guards? For all I know, I was stuck in weird world, and to top it all off, in prison no less. I was able to learn more about this world with my book but, I still have much to learn. And I sure as don't know anything about local environment."
"Wait, did you say you are from different world?"
"Yes, I did." Harry replied.
"… do you have… do you have a strange book with you?"
"Yes I do."
"Is… is the book by chance named book of darkness?"
"No, its named book of power, why?"
The noble's eyes widened at the title of the book. Before he calmed himself. "Don't you dare lie to me, there is no way you could be owner of that book, you are far too weak! I don't know where you had heard of that title, but you should know better than to tell lies about it! Just for that, I'm going to…"
"You are going to?"
"Impossible, how… how did you…"
"How did I stop you from severing my magical core?"
"Yes."
"I didn't." Harry replied, letting go of his tightly wound magic. If the title of the book had startled the noble, unleashing of his magical power made him down right coward in fear. "If there are only ten more people in the empire that is stronger then you, then I must say that the empire is… weak."
"No sir, you are mistaken on that. Empire has one of the strongest army on the realm. You just happen to be … ridiculously strong sir." One of the guard that had been listening in answered. Having stepped into the room when he felt Harry unleash his power.
"So… how strong is he lord Ivan?" the guard asked, it was Sergeant Brock.
"I… I'll be frank with you captain. This in confidential information but… you may as well know of it since you are neck deep in it. There are two books in our world named book of light and book of darkness. Our emperor is supposed to control the book of darkness and someone in the alliance is known to control the book of light. Well… emperor's book of darkness disappeared roughly two hundred years ago or so."
"Isn't the book an artifact of tremendous power?" the sergeant asked.
"Yes, it was one of the reasons why we were winning the war Sergeant. The book allowed the emperor to control and summon the monsters."
"Which terrorized the people of alliance for years, destroying their villages and farms. And since no one could control the book of light, they couldn't effectively fight against it until now." Sergeant replied with a nod, sitting down also. "I don't see how this is relevant to anything so far."
"The book of power that this boy claims to own, can only be made when two books merge Sergeant. If what he said is true… his… I don't know what he is. He isn't part of our empire and he isn't part of the alliance."
"But tradition dictates the emperor is the person who can control the book of shadows."
"Yes, but… even if book of power contains book of shadow… it's not book of shadow. You know as well as I that politicians will try to use technicality, especially the emperor to keep his power."
"Um, is there a problem here?" Harry asked, tired of being ignored by two older man.
"Well yes. To put it simply, we don't know what to do with you." The noble man stated.
"Why not just leave me alone?"
"Well… that's not what we meant as what to do with you." The sergeant replied. "He is debating rather you are our new emperor or not. The problem is, book of shadow no longer exist in this world."
"Let me see." Harry replied, willing his book to change into book of shadow. He flipped through the pages, reading some of the notes. If he was reading this right, he was supposed to take over the world and become its ruler. With a frown, he passed the book on to Brock. "Is that book serious?"
"Err…. Yes. I believe so." The man replied, passing the book onto lord Ivan. Whom simply set there staring at the book.
"Err… um… I…" lord Ivan stuttered.
"What if I don't want to take over the world?" Harry asked.
"Err… um…….."
"I can answer that." Another voice replied as she entered the room. Harry looked over to see a woman dressed in dark blue armor with large sword strapped to her side. He couldn't help but stare at the lady before him, if she had white wings, she would have been what he imagined an angel to look like. She moved with grace, and he couldn't help but feel the power emitting from her. Tremendous power, more so then even his own.
"Lady Sylphi." Lord Ivan said, standing from his chair and getting on his knees. "What brings you here, my lady?"
"How could I not? I felt his link across the continent Lord Ivan. I put Lord Sig in charge and teleported over as soon as I was able. As to your answer lord…"
"Potter, I guess." Harry replied, mesmerized in her beep blue eyes.
"Lord Potter, you don't have to do anything. But, I have taken the liberty of tracking down book of light and have read it in my youth and I believe it states that weirder of the book is destined to unite the land in order to fight against the dark one."
"And the dark one is…?"
"That would be you my lord."
"Ok… and book of darkness basically tells me to conquer the land and kill the chosen one."
"Which is also you at this point my lord." Sylphi replied with a slight smirk, the situation must be amusing her.
"So.. I'm supposed to unite or take over the world and kill myself?"
"If you follow any of the two books, it would seem my lord. I recommend that you read the book of power before killing yourself though. But before that, you still need to take over the world. So I would put killing yourself on hold for now."
"I would take it, that the emperor probably doesn't want to just let me take over right?"
"Yes sir, which will mean civil war for those who does not wish to. But, if I am correct, since you control the bulk of the army, it shouldn't be any problem." Sergeant replied.
"You mean those monsters I keep hearing about."
"Yes sir."
"Now, say that I do become the new emperor. Why can't I just unite the land through peaceful treaty?"
"Because there is too much hate between two races my lord." Sylphi replied, "Most subjects of empire are not human. And Humans doesn't accept us as equal creature for they consider many of us monsters. They have frequently hunted us in the past, driving some of the races into near extinction or driving them away from our homes. They call us the monster race, and condemn us."
"I see…But in their eyes, are we monsters?"
"We are no less monster then they are. They hunt animals to feed and cultivate farms and scavenge herbs for food. We do the same, we hunt for our food, and some farms our food sources. Some of the races diet happens to be human meat or blood is all."
"So… basically because some members our race happens to eat human, they consider us monster right?"
"Correct."
'Oh what in the nine layer of nether world am I supposed to say to that? If I heard in the past that there were creatures that ate human, I would fear it too. "Wait, you said we farm also right?"
"Why yes, we protect human settlement from other predator, and in return they offer us their own as a sacrifices. Usually the old, fresh corpses, or dead infants. Other farms only collect blood. We even figured out how much blood is safe for average human to give us without suffering from lack of blood."
"…." Harry remained silent. What was he supposed to say to something like that? Especially if he happens to become their overall ruler. "I take it, some of the races can't live unless they eat a human?"
"No, they can survive without human meat just fine."
"…. Then why hunt humans?" Harry asked puzzled.
"Because without human meat, they would go insane and will go into something called blood frenzy. They will literally kill everything and eat anyone except others of same species until they eat a human meat."
"Great… that's just all I wanted."
"If that is your desire, I can order all Were-bugbears to stop eating human meat my lord."
"What? No, I don't need any insane monsters killing others randomly until they find human meat to eat." Harry noticed how Sylphi had frowned at the word monster. "So I take it this alliance isn't keen on peace treaty?"
"No sir, they would much rather kill all of us then to coexist with so called monsters that terrorize their people." Sergeant stated, taking a drink from the goblet before him.
"Do you terrorize the people?"
"Some of our race feeds off of negative emotion sir. Fear, anger, hate, depression, and envy just happens to be most easily obtainable." Sergeant couldn't help but chuckle at Harry's expression.
"You two are also humans, aren't you? What do you think?" Harry asked, the other two.
"I have met and served with many of them in my life. Other than their eating habits, they are good people sir." Sergeant Brock replied. "I would trust some of them to guard my back over some of other soldiers I know in my rank."
"I am of the same opinion my lord, some of the races I dislike in general because I get the feeling they are staring at me like I am delicious pork chop but, some of the finest people I have met had undesirable eating habits." Lord Ivan replied.
"So, what are your plans toward me?" Harry asked with a sigh, things were getting even more complicated.
"It is up to you my lord. You may do as you wish. After all, you are supposed to be the emperor."
"You mean, you aren't going to try and kill me off or something?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Oh heavens no. Many of the high lords are follower of tradition. And tradition dictates that you are the new emperor. Anyone who does not acknowledge that is considered an heretic. Besides, last time they killed an emperor. Monsters went on rampage for ten years before new emperor were chosen. No one wants to experience that again."
"I need time to think about all of this." Harry replied with a sigh.
"Take as long as you wish my lord. Monsters are still following our command, so you do not need to take any action currently." Sylphi's eyes turned soft as she stared at Harry. "Besides, you are bit too young to deal with palace politics. It would be better for you to simply travel for a while and learn what our world is really like. We of the old are biased in our views. Some wounds go deeper then what mere words can convey. If I were you, I would learn that alliance is like first hand. You being a human boy could easily walk into their country and they wouldn't even bat an eye."
"What kingdom does this prison fall under?"
"None sir, it belongs to the empire." Brock answered.
"I guess that explains the multiple races in the prison. But, I don't think I've seen any of the blood suckers or human eaters."
"They fall under different law sir, if they have done something horrible enough to send them to prison for life, they are usually executed. As to blood suckers, they cover up their feeding as part of… physical activity they part take in. It keeps human prisoners happy and the woman more so."
"Arg, too much info." Harry moaned, rubbing his temple. "I'm going back for a rest. Lady Sylphi, send a peace treaty to the alliance for now. Ask for temporary cease fire. If they decline, I want you to utterly crush one of their more fortified city. Not most populous mind you, just one of their more fortified and ask for temporary cease fire."
"I don't think they will accept sir, especially if some of the were species attack towns."
"Tell them those attacks has nothing to do with the empire, and they may take care of such attack as they see fit. Also, criminals who have committed crime deserving execution is to be fed to the were species, which means no more public executions. I want all scholars to develop some type of wards, runes, potions, enchantments, or any type of way to keep were people from going insane when they don't feed on human meat for while. For now, find out minimal amount of human meat they need eat to maintain their sanity. "
"We will get right on it sir." Lord Ivan replied with a sharp salute, before teleporting away.
"Lady Sylphi, could you get me some books or tomes about magic? I am afraid my magic is much different from magic of this world. Not to mention… I actually don't have much training in the area."
"What do you mean lord Potter?"
"Well, from what I have seen. Most magicians needs to go through some sort of hand symbols, or say some sort of spell or chants, I've read some even drawing rune on the ground to cast their spell. I wish to learn their methods also."
"If you don't use any sort of medium, how do you…" She trailed off as giant ball of water simply materialized above of Harry's index finger which was raised above his head.
"I simply will it to happen and it happens." Harry replied, making the water disappear.
"I will see what I can do." Lady Sylphi replied, looking surprised. "You are telling me that you have no prior training what so ever in the field of arcane?"
"Yes." Harry replied with sheepish nod, as if embarrassed. "Most of my knowledge comes from this book." Harry indicated the book of power. "And I've been reading mostly on how my power works, and it seems to be different from that of arcane."
"Can you…" She trailed off, as if deep in thought. "Can you summon food?"
"Hmm… I haven't tried, but lets see." Harry said, as the table was covered with entrees Sylphi and Sergeant had never seen. "I guess I can, those are some of food from my home world. Lasagna, coke, and French fries."
"Tell me, I can feel that your magical potency is about same as mine, but how deep is your resolves?"
"What do you mean?"
"How many spells can you cast before you get tired?" she asked in simpler terms.
"I don't know, I don't know any spells so I can't really say." Harry replied.
"But… how did you summon the food?"
"Oh… that… I just will it to happen and it happens."
"And this doesn't make you tired at all?" She asked, incredulously.
"Not at all." Harry replied.
"If you would allow me to try something out, I would be greatful."
"Sure, what do you want me to do?"
"I need you to just relax, you will feel a slight pull in your power. Just let your power flow out and don't try to block its flow."
"That sounds simple enough." Harry replied with a nod.
"The chosen of the prophesy, I call upon thee. Grant me the power of harvest, allow my will to shape thee power." Sylphi whispered. Harry looked on as she glowed slightly in some sort of aura. He felt slight tug in his magic, as if it were trying to flow away from him. Having been warned before, he allowed it to flow, and he could feel his power enter into her. Being shaped and manipulated by her will. Before him, the table was covered in banquet enough to feed good twenty people.
"That… that was divine magic wasn't it?" Sergeant asked in surprise.
"Yes, one of higher level magic at that." She replied, between heavy breaths. "I haven't cast something like that in good seven hundred years, it seems I'm slightly out of practice." She replied with a laugh. "Thank you my lord, now, do you feel tired at all?"
"No, should I be?"
Sylphi shook her head. Sitting down once more. "I figured not, you did most of the work anyway. I just let my power flow."
"The arcane magic takes the power of the user and sometimes the power of great beings to fuel the spell. But usually, it relies on the spell caster. Greater reserve they have, more spells they can cast. Greater the potency of the core, greater the power of the spell. Divine magic on the other hand, only ten percent of magical energy is from the caster, rest is from the greater source. In this case, that greater source of power is you my lord."
"You mean I'm some sort of deity?"
"No, you aren't a deity yet. I don't know what you are really but, you aren't a deity. For you to become a deity, you need believers. When enough people start to believe that you are a god, that belief becomes power that you can wield."
"So anyone can become a deity if they can get enough people to believe that they are god?"
"Yes, but in our world, such thing is impossible for normal people. Magic is common, no one is going to believe you are a god unless you can do something that normal magic can not."
"Like what?"
"Something only divinity could do, like bringing people back from the dead, or something equally impossible for normal mage to do."
"I see… I really should be going." Harry replied with a yawn. "I've learned a lot this day, thank you."
"You shouldn't thank your subjects lightly my lord. You are to command your people to do as you desire, not request of them. You do not thank your subject, you congratulate them, praise them, or reward them for job well done, but you do not thank them. You only thank someone when they are equal to you, close to you, or when you owe them."
"Is that the way of the nobles?"
"It is. Just as you never kneel or bow to anyone, unless they are your equal, friend, or superior."
"Then for now, I should thank you Lady Sylphi. For I have no way of rewarding you for your efforts, and I doubt my praise will mean much for someone of your experience. Only thing I can give you is my gratitude, which I convey in simple words. Thank you."
Sylphi let off a soft laugh. "You have a silver tongue, my lord. You are wrong when you say you don't have anything to reward me with. If you would allow it, I have a request."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I was wondering if you would allow me access to your power."
"…." Harry stared at her, pondering what to do. "Sure, I don't see why not. Although, if I feel too tired, I won't let my power flow and if you use it for something I don't agree with, I will not let my power flow."
"Thank you. I will only let few selected people know. You are more interesting then I have first thought. I look forward to our next meeting. When you are ready to step onto the stage, call for me." With that, she opened a portal and step through.
"Sergeant Brock, do you mind telling me who lady Sylphi was?"
"She is also of the first file my lord. She commands the emperor's army in battle against the alliance."
"The way lord Ivan bowed to her, means she is even higher ranking then he is?"
"From my knowledge, she is highest ranking noble in the empire sir. Rumor is that even the emperor is weaker then she is, he only rules because of the book he was thought to posses."
"Please send me the books when they arrive. It seems there is much more I need to learn."
"Couldn't you simply will yourself to know everything?"
"How could I will myself to know what I don't know? I need to know what I need to know so that I can know what I don't know you know."
"No I don't know." Sergeant Brock replied with a hearty laugh. "I guess knowledge must come from somewhere."
"I know, if I knew as much as lady Sylphi…" Harry trailed off, his eyes wide. "No, that feels like cheating. I'm here to have adventure anyways, and I wouldn't want random people to know what I know…" Sergeant Brock simply watched on as the young lord mumbled to himself as he walked towards the prison. Opening the locked door without a thought and entering. Staring at the feast that lay before him, he shook his head in wonder and went to fetch the troops. They would be feasting tonight.