Magic: the Gathering
Chronicles, Volume 11
By Louis Kemner 2008
In a rough wagon road mid-way up the Sokenzan mountain range of reddish rock, Delta stopped and scratched the side of his head in ponder.
"Isn't this the fourth Akki village we've found that wants us dead?" he commented, watching a horde of goblins charging en masse with assorted weapons and wearing crude, samurai-like armor. "The Enslavement isn't easy with this kind of resistance. Maybe I should have just settled into that crevice a while back and rested."
"You don't need any rest right now," Epsilon told him, irritated at his companion's impulsive laziness. This village was one situated near the trading road along one of the flatter parts of the Sokenzan Mountains, bringing supplies from merchants and craftsmen from the Eiganjo section of Kamigawa. These Akki were fond of raiding the wagons of swords, helmets, armor, grain, anti-Kami talismans, and other goods. Human Ronin and ogres partook in similar acts, unless the wagonloads were intended for them. It was common to have two parties fighting over one wagon load; one with the right to the goods, the other just wanting to raid it.
"Fine," Delta consented, drawing a pair of heavy metal brass knuckles. Every one of the Five Hunters bore a unique weapon with unmatched skill: Gamma wielded a golden pike, Epsilon had a sword made of ivory, Delta wore heavy metal knuckle gloves, Beta had a scythe blade that came out of his armor, and Alpha had a dagger. Delta himself was a being of red-green nature: he had wooden and iron armor that was enchanted well beyond the strength of either material, had fierce, animalistic eyes and features, and a wild flow of brown hair speckled with black and white, like a wild cat's pelt.
Epsilon, as green-white, had sage-like robes armor of grass green and gold, with soft white trim at the hem and sleeves and red border along the front. He boasted a regal and princely face of intelligence, and a heart unlike those of the other four Hunters. He kept it secret, but the slaying of dozens of Akki and other Kamigawa inhabitants disturbed him. He was here to carry out Elena's will, and fully intended to see triumph over the Planeswalkers and become a dominant figure of the Multiverse, yet he had slight doubts of how to achieve it. This unease was reinforced slightly by the horde of Akki charging at them who would receive a swift death.
"First one for today!" Delta cried, and his heavy fist thudded into an Akki warrior, sending him flying away with broken ribs and ruptured organs. Two more faced a similar attack in the next few seconds. Epsilon sighed and unsheathed his ivory sword, dicing Akki into pieces as they came. He also bore the ability to control plants, in accordance with his colors. He could, at will, summon a swath of his leafy and vine-ridden fighters, using their venom, thorns, and deadly scents in combat, as well as other abilities. Before long, half the Akki village had been decimated, and the remaining half of the warriors, rather than fleeing, dropped their weapons and groveled at the rocky, snowy ground.
"What's this?" Delta wondered out loud, lowering his armored hands. "They've given up. This hasn't happened before."
"I believe," Epsilon said, "that the Akki have messenger moths that allow them to send messages from village to village, as far as Alpha told me. The Akki know of us as the two strangers, and must be giving up on trying to kill us. I suppose they are now trying to swear fealty to save themselves, and maybe even have us lead them to bloody victory over rival races such as the human Ronin or the ogres, or even red Kami who frequent these parts. This gives us an advantage."
"You mean Enslavement?" Delta suggested, now slipping off his metal knuckles. The Akki were now chanting lines in their primitive language, presumably in fealty, bowing up and down. "Should be easy by now, right? Maybe we can Enslave these and have them send messages to other villages to follow us, too."
"Right," Epsilon said. "Elena should be told about this as soon as possible." He started to sheath his ivory sword.
"Don't you worry about that, dear," a silky woman's voice called from all around. Shocked at hearing his mistress' voice, Epsilon dropped his sword to the snow and scrambled to pick it up. Out of a green-black portal, Elena herself stepped into the Plane, looking as beautiful and deadly as ever, and accompanied by Beta in his iron and red armor. Elena took in the Akki before her, who all looked taken aback by the two visitors.
"My Lady," Epsilon quickly said, bowing. Delta did the same from where he was.
"What devotion these little ones are showing," Elena noted happily at the submissive Akki. "This could be a vital step towards Enslaving Kamigawa. These goblins' loyalty can be a useful tool, I think. Start with the measly ones, then work up to the higher races, then to other parts of the Plane."
"How do we start?" Epsilon asked.
"Watch," Beta said. With a nod from Elena, Beta strode forward to the Akki mob, causing them to cower and tremble with his mighty presence. Beta extended his hand and touched one of the Akki on the forehead. At once, the beast gave a yelp as green energy surged from Beta's hand and into it. When the process was over, a small green diamond shape glowed on the Akki's forehead. Before long, similar symbols blazed to life on the other Akki's foreheads, a symptom of Enslavement. Bound by Elena's will, the Akki as one rose.
"Lovely," Elena approved as she inspected them. "As flawless as the ShadowMoor natives. Listen, all of you: it is your mission to have every Akki, bandit, and ogre in this mountain range to be under my will. Scour every bit of the Sokenzan mountains, even the tops of the Tendo Peaks, until everyone is your ally. There will be those who resist, however. You must destroy them, mainly visitors from other parts."
"How will they do that?" Beta asked. "These Akki are loyal but limited. There are thousands of others in the mountains, plus the Kami."
"I've taken care of that," Elena said. She waved a hand, and then a small black circle appeared in the air, ten feet above the ground. It rapidly grew until a black, storm-like portal roared to life, leading from somewhere else. Beta, Delta, and Epsilon watched as a metal hand poked out of the black currents, and its owner, a Scarecrow, staggered out. Another Scarecrow emerged, and another and another; before long, hundreds of assorted Scarecrows, from the measly Pili-Pala to skulkin to Lurebounds spilled forth in a chaotic mass.
"This is the Scarecrow battalion of my fledging Enslaved Army," Elena explained. "They will help the Akki on their mission. Each is imbued with a hint of Enslaving power. Their might will subdue the mountains' inhabitants and have them following me."
"Impressive," Epsilon noted. "A grand display of power, my Lady. But who will lead them? Such a mob could become disoriented."
"There's one more," Elena said. Then, a vine-like hand emerged from the portal, large and nearly two-thirds up. The fingers grasped and flexed like restless snakes, and a second hand like it emerged from the other side. Then, a grotesque green head like a flattened pumpkin appeared near the top of the giant portal, releasing a dull, resonating roar like a titan awakening from eons of slumber.
The hands were connected to branch-like arms, then a woody, ragged body came out. A trunk-like vine that split into ten, like a spider, supported the whole assembly. The beast emerged from the portal entirely, and the black circle vanished, leaving the monstrosity standing alone, nearly thirty feet high: the Reaper King.
"Here is their leader, Epsilon," Elena said, sprouting a pair of angel's wings and soaring to the level of the Enslaved Reaper King's eyeless head. She hovered there, stroking and patting the monster's head like a beloved pet. "Now, you will help my minions gather plenty more Enslaved, won't you, darling?" the Reaper King gave a low growl in consent, relaxing its fingers.
"And that will be it," Elena said, swooping back down to her three Hunters and standing. "This will help the Enslaved Army grow. Plus, I know that Ryusei, the Falling Star is in hiding, terrified of the power I wield. Nothing will drive it out into the open, save for an extreme disruption on its mountain range. Reaper King's conquest will help with that. Be ready, Delta and Epsilon, for that. Now, Beta, if you will."
Elena and Beta re-opened the green-black portal and vanished into it, even as the Scarecrow and Akki army, led by Reaper King, began its march deeper into the mountain range.
**
The cold grip of death and decay literally frosted and withered the grass and other life forms as Alpha strode relentlessly across the Onean terrain near the road. His mana aura could leech the life and warmth from all life within its range, and every plant, weed, and small herbivore died and was covered in a creeping layer of frost as Alpha passed by, leaving a trail of this wherever he went. The energy was then added to Alpha's own; in the event of injury, this ability discarded the need for time-consuming treatment and recovery. It was a grim display of the wretched and unnatural power the man possessed, and his cold and efficient nature. His next destination was a cluster of buildings just outside the major city, Telomano, where outcasts and pariahs lived.
Manually suppressing his deathly aura's effects, Alpha stood before the main house and knocked four times. Ten seconds later, the door was opened and a ragged man in wizard's robes opened it, wary and cautious. "Who be you?" he asked in a raspy voice.
"I am one who you must admit," Alpha told him simply. "I bear great news."
The man hesitated briefly, glanced back inside, and nodded. "Enter, stranger."
Alpha's feet, in intricate, black armor, clunked loudly on the creaky wooden floor of the large house. Within, there was a fire going in the fireplace, with an iron pot supported by poles over it. There were at least twenty people in the room, of varying ages and both genders, all with ragged black robes. Bookshelves sported hundreds of old and forbidden volumes and archaic items of evil magic, from vials of blood to mummified imp hands. Alpha had the eyes and ears of everyone in the room, captivating their interest. He was highly knowledgeable of every plane, even the countless kingdoms and civilizations of Dominaria, and Oneah was no exception. Stopping in the middle of the room, Alpha began to speak.
"Good ladies and gentlemen of the Raungir Cult, I know of your plights in the past and the burning hatred and fear that dwells in the hearts of all Oneans. For years you have hidden, like wolves shunned from a pack, in the cold and unforgiving wilderness, where you eke out a pitiful existence, stubbornly persisting in your forbidden ways. I come tonight with a rallying cry: I have studied your ways in secret for years on end, and the time is ripe to exact bloody and gleeful revenge on the ones who shun and shame you so!"
The people of the Raungir Cult began to whisper and nod energetically, apparently moved by Alpha's words. He rang true of their plight: for years, the Raungir Cult practiced demonic and black magic, intent on making Oneah one of the most powerful kingdoms of all Dominaria. Their ways were archaic and defiled, however, and they were slaughtered and the survivors were shunned to the outer lands. The capital city of Telomano, for example, was scarred by the horrors of the Raungir Cult's magic and the unexpected power and destruction it caused. The city and others were peaceful now, but hadn't forgotten what they had experienced.
"I go on," Alpha told them. "Do you really think that hiding like this, in secret, will satisfy the demons you worship and revere? No! The likes of you will always make their ways known, and if you perish, let it be in conflict! Rise again and remind the Oneans why you are feared as the shadows of the night, the causes of terrified whispers and glances, why you were persecuted before. I have great arcane ability, and I will be your pillar. I can, and will, revive your ways and make Oneah tremble! Will you join me?"
Ravenous for the glory and might Alpha falsely promised, the Raungir Cultists roared and cheered in approval and agreement. They had lived in desperation and gloom for the longest time, and now their shining savior had arrived at last. It was too bad they didn't know the real plan Alpha had in store for Oneah and Dominaria. They were merely tools.
**
It was not long before Alpha had assembled hundreds of Raungir Cultists from dozens of square miles and had begun to renew their forbidden magic. He had become their ring leader and motivator, preparing them for an onslaught in Telomano, the unsuspecting city of scholars and honor. They were heading to a fool's demise, however. Alpha knew that the citizens of Telomano and neighboring cities would be capable of handling the Raungir assault and infection. It was exactly what Alpha wanted; not a revolt, but a disturbance in general. A mental one.
**
The interior of King Teramont's castle was just as luxurious and grand as Viktor had expected it to be. The entrance hall was twice as tall as any house and nearly a hundred feet long. Pillars of swirling blue stone stood at the walls, supporting curving arches high overhead to reinforce the ceiling. Nobles, vassals, and other inhabitants in brightly colored robes and other attire walked in and out of the hall to other destinations, and a few knights passed along here and there. The extra planar group was led through hallways lined with training rooms, libraries, studies, and more until they reached the Hall of Kings.
Here, everyone's footsteps echoed loudly as they walked on the smooth stone floor. Along both walls were life-sized marble statues of past kings, all gripping swords with both hands and planting the tip on the ground at their feet. There was Heronth the Unruly, Feldor the Wise, Powan the Empathetic, and more. On a tall, gold throne at the end of the hall and atop circular steps sat King Teramont, a man in his mid-forties.
"Welcome, Bardon and others," the King welcomed, spreading his arms wide. "I am King Teramont of the Reitha Kingdom. I apologize for the rather modest housing I can provide you, but I'm sure you will enjoy it nonetheless."
"Wait… modest?" Devin wondered out loud, taking in his grand surroundings.
"To the point, Your Majesty," Georgi stated, taking a few steps further. His youthful appearance remained, and Viktor burned to know how and why it happened and why people called him "Bardon". What was going on here? "I'm sure you know what business we come on behalf of."
King Teramont gave a weary sigh devoid of any rudeness. "Yes, the Planeswalker War. I know that Ajani Goldmane, Elspeth, and Liliana Vess have visited often about that, with tidings of Elena's blazing conquest of Enslavement. She also seeks something else, something Ajani mentioned as 'Key Creatures.' What is this?"
Georgi dived into a brief explanation as to what the Key Creatures were, and how the five kids used them to Planeswalk and that Elena needed to absorb them to become invincible. Teramont listened quietly the whole time, and some of his nobles and philosophers tried to eavesdrop, only to be shooed away by sigil-bearing knights. When Georgi finished, Teramont rubbed his small beard.
"Such a large-scale battle… I never thought it would escalate like this so quickly. The ShadowMoor plane is already hers, then? And the Five Hunters, four of whom still live and roam free, more dangerous than any other being… yes, Bardon, I will give you full access to my training grounds for however long you need."
"That is much appreciated, Your Majesty," Georgi bowed.
"I am not sure I'm your majesty," Teramont noted. "I was new to the throne and a piping young man when my father gave it up for a life in solitude near the shore. Your acquaintance with me is shallow; you vanished before you established yourself too well, considering what you were."
"Hold on," Viktor cut in, unable to control himself any longer. "What is going on? How did my grandfather get here before? He only now got his Key Creature card… And he's lived in Bulgaria his whole life…" his voice trailed off when he started to feel self-conscious. Everyone was watching him.
"Is 'Bulgaria' the land you retreated to, then?" Teramont directed at Georgi.
"It is," Georgi told him. "And I suggest we move on. Viktor, I'll tell you more in private. For now, we must realize Elena's eminent danger, and the fact that Bant can be considered a stronghold for the Planeswalker resistance. It will be some time before she is capable of breaching its defenses and admitting her Enslaved army. The military might of Bant and the white magic it wields is vital for our cause, but there is division."
"It's not as bad a before," Teramont said. "The main kingdom, Angellight, and its king, King Haraven, are secretly cowardly and afraid to be involved in the struggle. They don't realize that sooner or later, Elena will have the power to overwhelm Bant's defenses, and she, her Hunters, and the Enslaved will destroy and or conquer us all. King Haraven insists on neutrality, neutrality that will lead to our demise. Not even Ajani's or Elspeth's great words can convince him. Several other minor kingdoms share the same philosophy as him; only two others agree with me to raise arms against extra Planar foes."
"Perhaps if I train the children, their prowess may convince King Haraven that not all is lost," Georgi put in. "So, I must excuse us all from your halls very soon. We have work ahead of us."
"Agreed," Teramont said. "But I hope all of you will attend a welcoming feast I will prepare. You four kids will be our saviors, I'm sure. The other Planeswalkers may want to visit you as well. I hope Tezzeret isn't too busy with his Etherium toys to miss out."
"We all appreciate it," Georgi said, bowing. He escorted the four kids out of the hall, up stairs and through other wings until they reached private quarters overlooking a clear azure lake surrounded by small trees and brush. Down there, a trio or Rhox warriors waddled in line, talking among themselves in low grunts.
Devin, Makoto, and Kelly settled onto the bed, but Viktor stood. "Grandfather, I need an explanation," he said, hoping he wasn't too direct.
"Right," Georgi said, closing the wooden door and locking it. He rubbed his face a little and sat in a desk's chair. "I owe it to all of you. It's now time that I reveal a pivotal fact: I am a retired Planeswalker."
Viktor's eyes widened in shock at his grandfather's words. "That… can't be…" he mouthed to himself.
"Whoa! You kidding?" Devin exclaimed.
"I'm not lying," Georgi told them, lightening his mood. "I was born in a village in Dominaria, a long time ago. I'm much older than you think, grandson. Two generations older."
"But how could you have grown up on Earth, then?" Viktor cried. "You were born in Bulgaria! Near Sofia!"
"I was found there," Georgi pointed out. "Not born in a hospital, in 1931 as some presume. I was found abandoned as an infant near a country road by your great-grandparents, Viktor, Sergei Dimitrov, for whom your own father is named, and his wife Mila. They adopted me as their own, but they didn't know the truth about me. You are my Earth family, Viktor, with my now deceased wife and my son, Sergei, my daughter-in-law Petya, and their son Viktor, you, as my grandchild."
"Then where's the rest of your family?" Viktor asked, feeling strange. "You said we were your earth family."
"The others are in my birth-Plane, Dominaria. I was born as Bardon, and that's the name everyone in the Multiverse knows me by. I gained my Planeswalker spark but kept it secret from the village, and I had a normal family. I had a son, and he married and had my Multiverse grandson, by the name of Merdin. He is your cousin."
"Now that's just weird," Makoto commented. "You've got a cousin here? We could meet him."
"Perhaps, if time permits," Georgi relented. "But it would be a very awkward meeting, Viktor. You see, Merdin is as old as I look right now. He has a grandson your age."
"What the h—" Viktor was about to utter an obscenity in his shock but controlled him self. "How can that be?"
"When Merdin, my first grandson, was born, I was rapidly losing my Planeswalking powers," Georgi told him. "By the time I had traveled here to Bant to inform them that, I retreated to Earth and transformed my body into that of an infant. Earth was the only safe place for me, for reasons I won't share yet. But I was found 'abandoned' when I had really Planeswalked there. I relived the stages of life, even though I still had my mind. Two generations later, and we're all like this. The Multiverse passes along at the same time as Earth, meaning I became my grandson's age in appearance. That's how your cousin is an old man and my great-great-grandson is your age, my Earth grandson."
Viktor's head spun as he tried to understand these implications. It seemed inconceivable that he had Multiverse relatives! He had at least half of his family in a world wholly different than the one he had lived in. Viktor's perspective on his grandfather had drastically changed over the past few weeks; from knowing about the Multiverse, to getting a Key Creature of his own, and now this. What other secrets were kept hidden from him? What more was there to this whole mess?
Viktor tried to speak but his voice refuses to work out of the shock. Hardly anything was spoken for a short while, until Georgi left the room, stating he had other affairs to tend to and that the kids were free to do what they wished within reason.
**
Later that day, as the glowing sun fell near the grassy horizon, the inside of the castle was busy. King Teramont had spread word of the kids' arrival and their role, and the fact that several Planeswalkers would be coming as well. It wasn't long before a long, wooden table was set up in the dining hall, and hundreds of dishes, bowls, platters, and goblets were set out. The people of the Reitha Kingdom were supporters of the Planeswalkers and their war against Elena, and were ecstatic to welcome the kids' assistance and the other Planeswalkers who would arrive. Viktor welcomed the attention but found it unusual to be hailed as a hero.
**
"And this one is to success in the Planeswalker War!" King Teramont boomed that evening, raising his silver goblet high. Everyone else imitated him, roaring "Hail the Planeswalkers and Gifted Ones!" and four gallons of drink were consumed total. Gerbie, who sat on the table with the kids, lapped alcohol from a tiny bowl set out for him and said, "The Planeswalkersh are gonna win th' war and we'll all live'n peace! Hooray!" The food was a mixture of items Viktor knew from Earth and unusual ones, many unique to Bant. This wasn't the first time Viktor had taken part of a feast in the Multiverse; the last time was the Kithkin celebration of the slave liberation, with that event ending in disaster and death. Viktor knew Bant was a safe hold and base of operations for the Planeswalkers, and he hoped it would stay that way.
"And now," King Teramont declared halfway through the event, "Please welcome three Planeswalkers who will enchant us with their glorious presence!"
The band of banjos, harps, flutes, and drums, which had played throughout the evening, started a bright and welcoming score. The music was very similar to Renaissance music Viktor had heard at festivals. Everyone waited, and in unison, three Planeswalkers appeared to the side of King Teramont.
"This is the biggest feast I've ever seen," Garruk Wildspeaker said gruffly, adjusting his rough iron armor for comfort. "Must have taken days of hunting to get the meats together."
"There's more to this than just eating, Garruk," Elspeth said, stepping forward. "This is an event that welcomes us and promotes our cause against the Defiled One."
"True," Tezzeret agreed, looking around. "Such rich delicacies and sustenance for the flesh are uncommon on Esper, where Etherium artificial perfection takes priority over natural desires."
"That's nonsense talk," Garruk huffed. "What manner of freak would live like a hunk of enchanted metal and forsake creation's intentions of our bodies? Nature's wills encompass all things."
"The sphinxes of Esper would have your head for such talk," Tezzeret told Garruk, but without malice and with a hint of humor.
"Anyway," Elspeth said, lowering her white hood, revealing her long, beautiful auburn hair and tossing it, "We're mostly here to meet the children Bardon brought from his foreign lands and train them to aid us against the Defiled One. Is that them over there?"
"Four young scrappers," Garruk agreed, locking his glowing emerald eyes on them. "They'll have to do."
Viktor saw the three new Planeswalkers talking about himself and the others and felt honored and unusual about it. Throughout the evening, the small band played tunes in honor of the guests and King Teramont gave a speech on the importance of the kids, the Planeswalkers, and rallying the kingdoms of Bant against Elena, the Enslaved, and the Hunters. Viktor noted Teramont's powerful, rich, and convincing voice; he was an excellent orator. It was a surprise any man could defy the wills and convictions of such a man.
**
The rich Bant sun was just over the horizon, evaporating the mists that hung over the endless plains and ponds. A pair of white doves flew overhead, cooing their music even as a small stream gurgled its clear, cool water and fat fish swam in its currents. A massive, dark bronze scaly paw thudded on the grassy plain with a thoom, followed by three other paws similar and a long tail after those.
Viktor yawned widely as he rubbed sleep out of his eyes. Georgi had insisted on starting training as soon as the sun was up, and the four kids had reluctantly roused themselves out of their beds, had a quick breakfast, and joined Georgi on the lands surrounding King Teramont's castle, along with two other Planeswalkers: the fierce Chandra Nalaar, with her blazing inferno and wild spirit, and Elspeth. Both women looked on as the kids started their work.
"Come on, everyone, you know how important this is," Georgi reprimanded lightly. "Don't you have any enthusiasm for what you're about to do?" The head of Pallida-Mors the Elder Dragon, Georgi's Key Creature, loomed far overhead and yawned. Viktor found that amusing; even the dragon was groggy.
"It's early, Viktor's grandpa," Devin complained. "Seriously."
Gerbie would have commented that at Georgi's old age he probably only need five minutes of sleep, but he himself was snoozing in Kelly's pocket, a warm, furry lump. He occasionally mumbled something about a flustered Szadek and a highly doting Selesnya Evangel.
"Yes, it's early," Georgi said, looking at the sunrise. "But that gives us the beauty of this Plane, its sunrises. If Elena took total control of the Multiverse, who knows how she'd alter it to suit herself? There may not be another sunrise again."
"I guess," Devin said, subdued.
"Anyway!" Georgi said abruptly. "Let's not stall any more. To use your mana auras, you must feel the will and power within you. It isn't easy to detect or take hold of, but it's not impossible to any degree. Simply will it to appear, focus on the energies inside you, and manifest them. Go on and try it."
"Umm…" was the initial response the kids gave, until they tried to follow Georgi's instructions. Viktor closed his eyes, closing himself off from the massive castle, the early morning plain, and the massive Pallida Mors dragon wandering around. He felt normal at first, just a lump of warm flesh. He probed around his insides and mind, trying to feel something there: a pulsating nugget of mana, or mana flowing inexpectedly throughout his blood like a second cardiac system, or anything. There was nothing.
"Um, I'm sorry, grandfather, but I can't feel anything," Viktor shrugged in apology, opening his eyes.
"Try harder," Georgi told him.
"Nothing here either," Makoto said.
"I feel something!" Devin cried.
"Manifest the mana aura!" Georgi instructed him. "Before you lose it!"
"No," Devin said. "I… feel hunger. I knew I should have taken that extra roll. Darn it."
Kelly suppressed a giggle and Viktor felt compelled to laugh, too, but tried to maintain a straight face and make more of an effort.
"Be serious about this," Georgi called. "Being distracted by things like hunger can make it harder than it should be. Be calm and observant."
Viktor once again dived into himself, desperately probing through the mundane to find something extraordinary. Georgi commanded them to keep their eyes closed, and they obeyed. Viktor felt slightly but increasingly annoyed as his own self thwarted him. In ShadowMoor, when he used his green aura, he was able to use it in the event of Beta's onslaught and save his companions, not to mention capture Isperia the Inscrutable. Where was that power now?
There was a green spark inside Viktor just as he heard something whistle through the air.
"Whoa —!" Viktor exclaimed; his eyes snapped open to witness Pallida Mors diving straight for Kelly, its vast bronze jaws open and intending to eat her whole. Sudden energy surged through him and made his skin warm and tingle; Kelly gave a cry as Viktor dived into her and tumbled away with her just in time to avoid Pallida Mors' head slamming into the ground. The force was tremendous; the bronze dragon sent a shockwave of dirt flying even as it lashed out with its claws.
"V-Vine Trellis!" Viktor roared, and the small, leafy wall of vines erupted in time to thwart Pallida Mors' onslaught. The dragon's talons got stuck in the primeval barrier, snorting in surprise and frustration.
"Viktor… what was that?" Kelly said in a tremble. "What…"
"Grandfather!" Viktor bellowed at Georgi. "What was that?!"
"You needed a push," Georgi answered with perfect calm. "So I provided it with my Key Creature."
"You could have killed her!" Viktor cried, tripping over his words. "That's an Elder Dragon! If I hadn't dived and cast Vine Trellis —"
"Don't you find it strange that a 0/4 defender can easily stop an Elder Dragon's attack?" Georgi pointed out. "Well?"
"Uh…" Viktor faltered. The old man was right: the Vine Trellis was starting to break with Pallida Mors' struggling, but for it to last this long against a super powerful dragon struck him as extraordinary. "You're… right."
"Only by having your mana aura up could you make your creature that powerful," Georgi told him. "This applies to all of your spells. Handy, isn't it?"
"And look at yourself!" Devin called. Viktor observed his arms, and witnessed flowing, gas-like green mana flowing around them. He looked at his body, and a whole mana aura like Gamma and Beta's surrounded him, except green. He felt sharp, powerful, and capable.
"Well done, grandson," Georgi beamed. "You've got your mana aura up! Unsummon the Vine Trellis to free my dragon, please."
Viktor complied, soon allowing Pallida Mors to haunch himself behind Georgi freely.
"Hey… Viktor?" Kelly said in a slightly muffled voice. "You can get off."
Viktor realized that he was still half-piled on top of Kelly; he had cast Vine Trellis from that position, getting up a little to raise the card. He hastened to get up and dust himself off, feeling warmer than usual.
"And," Georgi continued, "lower your mana aura. Will it to cease to exist. Make yourself ordinary."
Viktor tried to comply, focusing on the green mana and willing it to fade away. It took a minute, but he eventually got it to completely disappear. His heightened feeling was gone as well.
"Calamity and danger are what help you get your auras up," Georgi explained, taking a few steps closer. "Viktor was oblivious to his surroundings, as I wanted him to be. But he knew when danger was coming, and was in time to save Kelly from a certain death and even cast a powered-up spell after that. You have to feel at least a mote of your man aura first, or it won't work. I presume, Viktor, that you felt something around that time?"
"Yeah," the other answered. "I felt a spark of kind of… green mana just as I opened my eyes and moved. It felt like instinct."
"And that's how this exercise is going to go," Georgi announced, clapping his hands once. "Each of you will train with avoiding Pallida Mors, until your bodies are 'used' to the auras and you only need will to raise them."
For the next few hours, rigorous aura training was what occupied the kids' time as the radiant Bant sun rose and glided over the pleasant rolling plains and scattered forests. Planeswalkers appeared in and out of the area, offering help and advice on the work, until the four of them had finally achieved the ability to raise their auras by will alone.
Further, they devoted effort to infusing their spells with the mana from the auras, amplifying their effects. Georgi warned them that every infused spell drained away their auras' strength, which would regenerate only after being lowered, and slowly even then. Viktor felt that he was working to not only better himself and help liberate the Multiverse from Elena's evil hand, but to protect those he cared about: cheery Devin, supportive Makoto, kind Ashley, and reliable Kelly. Viktor still felt slightly more protective of her than the others, for a reason only his gut knew. He had indeed saved her from Beta's onslaught and the others too, and he figured that that was the reason, to avoiding another near death, or worse, complete death on her part. However, he felt a little different when he thought of her or was around her, and it kept him mystified. Maybe Georgi could help him out later.
"Well, that's very good progress," Georgi praised when noon approached. "I'm proud of you all very much! Now, it's nigh time we stop and break for lunch. King Teramont's finest chefs will assemble and —"
A swirl of red mana burst out of nowhere, only a few leaps' distance from where Georgi stand. A second later, an ordinary-looking man appeared, except for a series of nasty wounds and bruises all over his body, including a broken leg. Using his staff for support, the man hobbled to Georgi, wheezing an urgent message.
"B… Bardon!" he sputtered.
"Mernol!" Georgi exclaimed, rushing forth to help support his fellow Planeswalker. Viktor realized this Planeswalker was an "ordinary" one and was not on a card. "What happened? Those wounds are most grievous."
"It's… Kamigawa," Mernol told him with difficulty, coughing bloodily.
"Pardon?" Georgi said.
"The… Hunters! Two of them!" Mernol exclaimed, coughing some more blood "They've found Ryusei the Falling Star!"
Deep concern crossed Georgi's face, because of both the news and the Planeswalker's condition. Adopting a supportive tone, Georgi told him, "Don't worry, these children are just as capable as the fellow Planeswalkers, and we will deal with the Hunters and Key Creature. Now, we have to get you to the castle quickly: to reach Teramont's best healers."
"No… I… it's…" Mernol gasped, then fell out of Georgi's hold and fell on the soft grass, the gleam of life absent in his eyes. Grave, Georgi stooped and closed the man's eyes and stood back up.
"This… isn't the way I hoped for our next capture to be," Georgi told the four kids. "Mernol was a good man; may his spirit rest easily. If two Hunters already found Ryusei, we have no time to waste! Even the successful capture of one Key Creature on Elena's part spells grim news for us all. Jace, can you help?"
"I am here, Bardon," Jace Beleren said grimly, appearing out of enigmatic blue mana. "I am sorry for Mernol's death, but his warning will be for nothing if we don't act. Children, assemble around me; I can take us directly to the Hunters and the Key Creature in the Kamigawa plane."
Once the four kids were in close proximity, Jace prepared the group Plane walk.
"Wait, grandfather, won't you help us?" Viktor asked of Georgi. "You have magic power."
"I'm sorry, Viktor, but my power is far too meager to be of use," Georgi said. "I have only my Key Creature, and Elena cannot be allowed to know it exists, or she will by certain find a way to release and capture it. Best of luck."
"Bardon will stay here for his own work," Jace told the four. "We have our own mission. Let's not tarry!"
With a massive wisp of blue mana, the group was no more.