I have a story that I originally wrote on Wattpad, where I allowed readers to vote on the protagonist's actions. However, for this retelling, I will not be using the voting system. This story is also my first attempt at writing on this website, so please let me know if I have made any mistakes with the chapters or tags.
To help readers understand the magic system, I will draw inspiration from the system used in Dungeons and Dragons. This will only apply to the main character, but I will also explain the magic used by the maidens, Salem, and Ozpin. In the original RWBY series, magic was never properly explained, so I am defining the rules of magic to make the story more coherent. These rules will differ slightly from those in Dungeons and Dragons to better fit the world of RWBY.
As a non-native English speaker, please forgive any imperfections in my writing. I will do my best to improve as I continue to write
Long ago, on a piece of land that would one day be known as the continent of Anima, near the Domain of Light, there existed a place of worship for the God of Light. This sacred place was home to the Fountain of Life and a giant city that housed an academy which served as a school to teach magic to the youth. Inside one of the dorms of this city, a young man named Maos woke up.
Maos was an 18-year-old boy with red eyes and black hair. He was not particularly attractive, nor was he in great physical shape. However, his appearance or physical abilities had nothing to do with his occupation. Maos was a sorcerer in training, which was different from a magician. Sorcerers could use magic like second nature, known as wild magic, from birth, while magicians had to learn magic to use it. The wild aspect of a sorcerer's magic made it dangerous, even for the sorcerer himself.
As Maos slowly opened his eyes, he was awakened by the sound of many people walking at the same time. Confused, he got up from his bed and looked out the window. To his surprise, he saw an entire army of magicians and sorcerers, some coming from different continents and kingdoms. They seemed to be leaving the academy, and he saw some of his classmates and even some professors in the army.
"What in the God of Light is that?" Maos wondered aloud.
Quickly, he made his staff appear in his hand and used a magical ring to rapidly change his clothes. Maos was now dressed as a sorcerer and not as a student. His outfit consisted of a blue robe covered by a single leather band that closed the robe. He also wore a belt on top of the robe with several pouches attached to it. His staff was a wooden staff that was thicker at the top extremity and had a lot of different markings on it, each about the size of a fist.
He then left his room and ran through the corridor. He quickly realized that he was the only one in the dorm.
He kept running until he reached the entrance of the academy, only to find himself standing near the Archmage of the academy who seemed to be observing the students and teachers leaving, as if preparing for war.
The Archmage was an elderly man with a magnificent beard, though it was not entirely gray as most of it was still brown. He was slender, and his physical prime had long since passed. He wore a gray robe and carried a staff made of a strange metal. The tip of the staff was a dark orb with a golden ornament surrounding it. Despite his age, he was known as the most powerful magician in history.
The entrance to the academy was a grand door made of painted wood in a shade of red. The main pathway leading to the first building of the academy was lined with statues of ancient magicians and sorcerers.
"Master Osiris!" called Maos as he approached the old man.
The Archmage turned around, and Maos immediately realized the sadness and disappointment in his eyes.
Maos went next to the old man and looked at the departing crowd.
"Where are they going? Did something happen? Why do they all seem to be heading to war?" asked Maos in a strangely calm tone.
"Because they are going to war," said the Archmage as he slowly walked back inside the academy.
"What?... With whom?" reacted Maos as he followed the Archmage.
"the gods, they intend to steal immortality from the fountain of light" said Osiris
"But that's insane! The gods would never let that happen. They're all just headed towards divine punishment," said Maos.
"It's too late now. They've made their choice, and they won't stop. I tried to convince them, but no results came out of it," said the Archmage.
"Who convinced them to go to war? Anyone with a brain knows that stealing from the gods is blasphemy," said Maos
"A witch named Salem. She stole immortality from the gods," replied the Archmage.
"Her? She's been the center of attention since she entered the city, but I never bothered to go talk to her," said Maos.
"She's been spreading the idea of immortality to every student she meets. The rumor has gone pretty far. I'm surprised and happy that you weren't affected by those rumors," said Osiris.
"I mean...it's not like there are a lot of people talking to me," said Maos with an emotionless tone.
Osiris pinched Maos's head.
"Ouch!" Maos reacted as he backed down slightly.
[Huh? I literally didn't feel it. It usually hurts a bit.] Maos thought.
"That's because you barely try to talk to other people," explained Osiris.
"But for once, it was a good thing," said Osiris.
For an instance, Maos could still see the sadness of losing his student in Osiris's eyes.
"Now come on, I have one last lesson to teach you."
[Why last?] Maos thought.
"Are you finally going to teach me a new spell?" Maos reacted.
"No," said Osiris with a smile.
"I will teach you how to enchant a weapon," lied Osiris.
Maos started complaining like a child.
"But I want to learn another spell! I've been practicing magic missile and mage armor so much that I can even cast those spells without chanting! It's something even some professors can't do at their level," said Maos.
"I already know how to make every magic potion, how to create every component with alchemy. I've even learned to paint a magic portrait. I know every type of Grimm, and I know how to make a magical scroll. I even know how to use my staff as a weapon... but I only know two spells, and they're the most common spells. Everybody sells magic missile scrolls!"
"Most people my age already know ten spells."
The Archmage suddenly stopped walking.
"Indeed, do those magicians and sorcerers know how to do alchemy? Do they know how to make parchment? Can they cast those simple spells without incantation? Can they do all of those skills that you have learned and perfected?" Osiris suddenly asked as he stared Maos in the eye.
"I mean... no... since the time I've been learning how to make parchment, they were only learning spells," said Maos, who was a little bit scared.
"Are they like you, under my direct teaching?" said Osiris.
"No..." said Maos.
"Exactly," responded Osiris.
Maos wasn't just a student; he was the direct student of the Archmage Osiris, the man who had only taken two apprentices in his three hundred years of life (according to the rumors) so far. The first apprentice was a man named Ozma, and Maos was the second apprentice.
Osiris wasn't immortal, but his lifespan was way above that of any normal human with the help of magic. He was definitely the greatest magician in history and also the high priest of the God of Light, teaching mortals about the existence of the gods.
Osiris started walking again while Maos remained silent.
They quickly reached the Archmage's classroom, which was empty. Even though Maos was the direct student of Osiris, Osiris still had other students. But unlike the other students, Maos was going to be taught spells by only Osiris. However, the only spells Maos had ever been taught were level 0 spells like magic missile and mage armor, which he learned by simply reading a spellbook by himself.
Osiris approached a wall and made strange hand gestures in front of it. The wall suddenly disappeared in smoke, revealing a corridor.
[Why is he opening his secret laboratory?] Maos thought. He was never allowed to go inside, even though his teacher had shown him the door many times.
The Archmage gestured for Maos to enter the corridor.
"Come in," said Osiris.
"Really?" Maos reacted, simply following the old man without hesitation.
They walked for several seconds.
They found themselves in a small room with a single table placed in the center, bearing a book. However, it was the walls of the room that astonished Maos the most. Each wall was adorned with thousands of differently colored gems, reminiscent of soul stones.
"The walls... are they made of soul stones?!" Maos reacted, his voice filled with surprise.
"Oh, you recognize them?" Osiris responded, slightly taken aback.
"I read about them in a book. They are formed through the mineralization of a mage's mana after their death," explained Maos.
"Indeed," confirmed Osiris.
"You see, the abundant presence of soul stones provides a protective shield against all types of magic. If a mage were to attempt to perceive this room's contents from the outside, the sheer amount of mana would disrupt their power, rendering them unable to see for a considerable duration," Osiris elaborated.
Maos glanced around, sensing a distinct and potent magical presence.
"Oh, you can perceive the magic domain. Here's a little test , reminds me of the nature of a magic domain and its properties !" the Archmage remarked.
"A magic domain is a pocket dimension, a place where its creator has full control. Nothing can enter unless the mage who owns the domain permits it. According to legend, if cast at a high enough level, even the gods of light and darkness cannot enter or see through it," Maos explained.
"And that's precisely why I created it, to prevent the gods from spying on me," Osiris stated.
"Huh? But aren't you the great priest of the god of light?" Maos reacted.
"Before being a priest of the god of light, I am human," Osiris replied.
"I'm seizing this opportunity, with the academy being nearly empty, to reveal this to you."
Suddenly, Osiris adopted a cold tone.
"As you know, I used to have another disciple named Ozma," disclosed Osiris.
"Yes, his statue is near the academy's entrance," responded Maos.
"He passed away long ago, but his wife, Salem, still lives. She sought help from the gods, hundreds of years ago."
"Like the person we encountered earlier?" Maos slowly realized.
"It is the same person. She is immortal. I am uncertain of how she became immortal, but I believe the reason is the same as mine," explained Osiris.
Maos took a step back, his demeanor slightly subdued.
"So, she's immortal as well?" Maos said, displaying a sense of detachment. He appeared less surprised by this revelation compared to before.
"I assumed you were already aware," Osiris remarked.
Maos began to explain, his voice calm and almost robotic in nature.
"I've delved into so many spell books, and I've noticed your handwriting in too many of them. Some of these books are centuries old, and some are even older than that. I understand the limits of alchemy and magic, and while it's possible to increase one's lifespan with them, it wouldn't grant immortality like a lich. However, I didn't consider the involvement of the gods, even though it was one of the theories," Maos explained.
Curiously, Osiris asked, "What was your theory then?"
"I believed that you were ancient enough to surpass the magic spell level limit imposed on mortals by the god of darkness. I thought that achieving a higher level than 9 would grant immortality. Clearly, I was mistaken. I never expected the great priest of the god of light to be a thief," Maos admitted.
"You're not entirely wrong. I am bound by the spell level limit, but there was a time when I could cast spells above level 9. However, that is no longer the case. It's not the fault of the gods, but my own," the Archmage revealed.
"Wait, higher-level spells actually existed in the past?!" exclaimed Maos, nearly hitting the table in the middle of the room. However, the table moved magically, avoiding his hand, causing Maos to fall to his knees. But with the telekinesis of Osiris, he quickly brought himself back up.
"Yes," Osiris replied, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
Author's Note: This story is inspired by Dungeons & Dragons lore. In the past, mortals were able to use spells above level 9. However, due to one individual's misuse of magic that led to their ascension as a god, the balance was disrupted. The gods then imposed limits on spell levels to prevent a similar catastrophe from occurring again. In this story, Osiris is the individual who caused the disruption.
For further explanation, spell levels range from 0 to 9. Level 0 spells are relatively minor in terms of damage, similar to a sword attack, but magic offers more versatility. On the other hand, level 9 spells can have extraordinary effects, such as stopping time or summoning a meteor swarm.
"However, I lost the ability to cast such spells. The gods implemented the spell level restriction because of my actions," Osiris confessed.
"Really?" Maos, who was slowly losing his composure, questioned in disbelief.
"Long ago, I became obsessed with immortality. I grew so powerful that I no longer valued life. Any life lost in my presence could be easily resurrected with a simple spell. I could even revive entire armies with a single incantation, without turning them into undead. I had the ability to shape cities with a mere movement of my hand!" Osiris reminisced.
"Of course, despite my immense power, I continued to age. Alchemy and magic still had their limitations, and the spell that could make me young again came at the cost of losing my magical abilities. That's when I thought of something... I attempted to use the wish spell," Osiris revealed.
"The wish spell? Isn't that the ultimate spell a mortal can use? The spell that allows a mage to manipulate the very laws of reality and bend them to their desires?" Maos interjected.
"Indeed, and I made the mistake of attempting to cast it at the 12th level," confessed Osiris.
"The 12th level?!" Maos nearly screamed, his mind reeling from the revelation.
"Of course, it went wrong. Casting the spell Wish is already hard enough at level 9. Casting it at a higher level was useless in my attempt to make myself immortal—it was pure madness. However, I was arrogant, and the whole world was affected by the spell. I erased the concept of death with that spell... Death was no more... And, of course, the chaos it caused was nothing but pure madness. People were killing each other again and again, knowing they wouldn't die. Old men on their deathbeds were still aging... but never dying."
"Now, as a result, everyone lost the value of life during that time. The gods had to intervene and bring back the concept of death. As punishment, I was made immortal by the god of light and darkness. In the end, I did get what I wanted—I ended up being young again while retaining my power. But I deeply regret it. Immortal life is no life at all. Some people may think they have the guts to endure it, but they are wrong..."
Maos was in shock, completely frozen. It took him 15 seconds to process everything.
"Wait... you're old now!" said Maos as he pointed to the few gray hairs of Osiris.
"Indeed... after the death of my first apprentices, a child whom I raised as my son, the gods gifted me with mortality, and I became the great priest. Though I still lived a long life thanks to the remaining alchemy and magic in my body," said Osiris.
"Lived?" said Maos.
[Why does he say it in the past tense?] thought Maos.
Maos stared into Osiris's eyes and realized that Osiris started smiling.
"Indeed, I was getting to it... I am dead. I was killed by Salem in my sleep. She wanted revenge because I chose not to resurrect Ozma. That's how she managed to convince the students without much resistance from me. That's why even the teachers went with her without much resistance."
Maos fell to the ground in shock as he easily saw through the illusion of his master, the man who had almost raised him.
"What? That can't be!" reacted Maos.
Maos threw his staff at Osiris, but it simply went through him.
"No... No!"
"I don't believe it! You're the Archmage! You can't just die in your sleep!"
Maos was in denial, trying to find an explanation, as tears appeared in his eyes and his red eyes started glowing due to a wild magic surge caused by his sudden loss of control. Maos was now covered in a strange green aura, even if he didn't realize it.
"Indeed, however, I was poisoned by a fellow teacher and weakened in my sleep. I did not expect Salem to act so soon. I would have defeated her if it wasn't for the poison. And no resurrection is possible as my body was burned to ashes."
Maos started walking around to calm himself, as he almost had a panic attack. The sound of heavy breathing could be heard from him.
After a few seconds...
"What is the point of this illusion? It's only temporary, isn't it?" said Maos.
"I mentioned it earlier. It's my last lesson, and mostly my last gift to you," said Osiris as he pointed at the book.
"Grab it."
Maos immediately grabbed it after calming himself a bit.
The book started to glow with a mysterious blue light, blinding Maos.
After a second, Maos could see again, but the book was no longer there.
"What... what?" reacted Maos as he looked at the illusion of Osiris.
"Say 'Book of Magic,'" said Osiris.
"'Book of Magic,'" repeated Maos.
Suddenly, a book appeared in front of Maos, with strange numbers all over the place, and a list of spells and different recipes for various things, thousands of rituals. It seemed like the book was never-ending.
"What is that?" asks Maos, confused.
"I call that the Book of Magic. This is the work of centuries. I have been making it in secret, something even secret to the gods themselves."
"It contains knowledge of everything that currently exists and will gather information on this world as much as possible. It will teach you spells and even help create new ones... It contains every ritual currently known to man. It can conjure objects at your will using the different ethereal planes. You will be able to create any potion with it or any weapon you wish with a bit of luck, of course. The Book of Magic is still not perfect, but it's close."
"This is the ultimate book, one which contains everything, and I am giving it to you... As I am dead, the next Archmage shall be you. This book will allow you to learn every spell I didn't have the time to teach you. It will even teach you how to control your innate wild magic!"
"This book also contains all the known spells above level 9s, as the basis for this book was created when I could still cast such spells."
"But... Even if I wanted, I wouldn't be able to cast those spells. The gods put a lock on the soul of man to prevent it."
"I am aware. However, it is still important for the next generation to know of their existence, to learn a lesson about the past."
Maos smiled, while his red eyes were incredibly red, trying to stop himself from crying without much success.
"This book is impossible to destroy, not even by the gods themselves. It is now linked to you. It cannot be stolen nor given until you die."
Maos wanted to cry while trying to keep his composure. His father figure was dead and still teaching him for one last time. This was his last gift.
"Let's go outside, would you? I would like to see the sky one last time," said Osiris as he talked, walking toward the exit.
The book suddenly disappears in thin air, and Maos looks at the empty place that used to be.
"Book of Magic."
And the book appears in Mao's hands (I can conjure it when I want).
Maos then follows Osiris, and they both went outside, to the entrance of the academy.
Osiris stops in front of Ozma's statue and seems to touch it a bit.
"Ozma, I hope wherever you are, that you are in peace. I will join you soon," said Osiris.
Maos was not crying anymore, but his eyes were still red and not in a magical way.
Osiris looks around and stops at Maos.
"A school without a teacher and only one student, such a disaster... I hope someday people will rebuild it. The new teacher will fill in the ranks, and new students will come here to learn," said Osiris.
Suddenly, a giant light could be seen coming from the direction of the fountain of light, the place where the army led by Salem went to attack the gods.
Osiris and Maos witnessed the wave of dark energy erasing everyone in its path.
Maos backed down, greatly scared for his life, as a sudden look of rage appeared in Osiris's eyes.
"Time stop!" suddenly said the apparition of Osiris.
Time suddenly stopped.
"I thought you were an illusion!" said Maos.
"This is not an illusion. It's closer to an astral projection, a spell I created... I can still perform a few spells. A regular illusion would have disappeared long ago," said Osiris.
"I needed to make sure I passed the book of knowledge onto you."
Osiris looked enraged as he stared at Maos, the one holding the knowledge of magic and the means to teach it. It was something that took him several lifetimes to create. The gods were now destroying magic itself, weakening humanity as a whole, in a dangerous world full of Grimm.
Both Osiris and Maos observed the wave of dark energy being frozen in time. Humanity was on the brink of extinction, and for them, it was only a matter of time.
"The gods are going to reset humanity, just as they did before... when they imposed limits on the spell level mortals could cast. However, this time... they are completely erasing magic from mankind itself. Why go so far just to punish Salem?" said Osiris.
"A power restriction on mortals made sense... but this... this is crippling humanity. We will never evolve as a civilization. We may never experience happiness or comfort. The new academy may never be built!" exclaimed Osiris, filled with rare rage.
"No... I cannot let that happen. As a magician and a teacher, I cannot allow this," declared Osiris.
Osiris turned to Maos, his last student, the future of magic.
Osiris seemed almost ready to attack the gods themselves, but then he glanced at Maos.
The one who could be considered his own son.
Osiris was about to lose another son, and he refused to accept it.
"Maos, you have to survive," said Osiris.
"But how? The gods wish to erase us. I don't think we can stop them," asked Maos, in a state of panic as humanity faced extinction.
"We may not be able to stop them... but I can help you escape," said Osiris.
"It's simple. I have to make a wish stronger than theirs."
"When you get there, I want you to become the greatest sorcerer you can be. I want you to surpass me in my prime and reach a spell level of 12th, or even higher if you can! The book will help you. And I want you to bring back magic to humanity!"
"But that's impossible! It's impossible for a mortal to cast a spell above 9th level!" exclaimed Maos.
Osiris threw his own staff into Maos' hand and clasped his own hands in a prayer-like manner. Maos had to release his own staff to catch his master's staff.
"Master Osiris, what are you doing?!" screamed Maos, backing away as he noticed the time-stop spell slowly wavering.
"I can still use a few 10th-level spells. I just need to utilize my own soul as fuel and break free from the lock around it by consuming it," said Osiris.
"What?! No! That means there will be no afterlife for you, just nothingness!" warned Maos as he grabbed his master's staff and stood up.
"I wish, Maos, my student, to no longer be bound by the spell level limit imposed on mortals by the gods," said Osiris, deciding to put his soul on the line and cast a 10th-level wish spell.
The spell worked.
Maos felt a weight lifted from inside him, experiencing a sudden burst of power.
"And now, one last wish... one last spell," said Osiris as he felt his soul being destroyed.
"I wish for Maos to be transported to a time where the gods can no longer rule or walk among mortals!"
Maos started running towards Osiris.
"Master Osiris!" cried Maos.
After Maos passed out, a sudden flash of light emanated from Osiris.
The spell seemed to have worked as intended.
Maos disappeared into thin air.
"It worked... it worked!" said Osiris, realizing his projection was fading away, his soul being destroyed.
"Osiris, do you realize what you have done?!" asked a sudden draconic form that appeared near him. The gods of darkness and light manifested beside Osiris.
Two draconic figures appeared—one made of pure darkness in the shape of a Western dragon, and the other made of light in the form of an Eastern dragon.
"What? I simply valued his life," said Osiris with a grin, gazing at the gods.
"You spent hundreds of years trying to teach me the value of life. I am just following your teachings."
"But you have been quite murderous yourself, god of light. Humanity itself disappeared, and you don't seem to be bothered by it. The same goes for you, darkness."
"How dare a mortal speak to us in such a way?" said Darkness as his body began to glow.
"You both created the human race, remember?" Osiris replied calmly.
"Brother, there is no need to punish this human further. Although he unlocked the soul of his student, this student was still in training and probably won't be able to reach a high level of magic within his current lifespan or even with his current knowledge. He is too young," said the god of light.
[Those idiots aren't aware of the Book of Magic], thought Osiris as he chuckled.
"What are you laughing at, human? At your fading soul? There will be no afterlife for you," taunted the god of darkness.
"Nothing much. I resign as your high priest, god of light! I refuse to further obey the gods' will. You both see no value in human life or even in death, yet you try to teach us about it... You two are terrible teachers."
Osiris smiled broadly.
"I am happy that Maos is in a place where neither of you exists."
Osiris looked at the statue of Ozma and at Maos' staff on the floor. Maos had dropped his staff during the spell.
"Maos, Ozma... I'm sorry. I won't see you in the afterlife. Sadly, you two never had the chance to meet each other. I hope you will meet in the afterlife."
Maos woke up, finding himself surrounded by a pristine white environment. He looked around, feeling a sense of confusion and unease.
"Master Osiris? Are you here?" he called out, hoping for a response.
A sudden golden figure materialized beside Maos, taking on the form of a human. It was the god of light.
"He's not here," the god of light spoke, his voice calm and solemn. "He passed away peacefully."
"Peacefully? No, he was killed in his sleep! His final spell was meant to protect me from you, and now he won't have an afterlife!" Maos exclaimed, his shock and anger evident. Gripping his master's staff tightly, he felt it was his only anchor.
"What do you want, god of light?" Maos asked, a hint of defiance in his voice. He sensed a barrier between himself and the god, making him feel untouchable.
"To have a talk," replied the god of light.
"You will be transported to a world where my brother and I no longer reside. We departed soon after your master's death. The moon was shattered into fragments, and in this new world, magic is merely a myth. You will be alone, unable to attain great magical power due to your lack of knowledge. You may reach a certain level, but only your potential descendants will have the ability to surpass it. They will inherit your magical prowess and build upon it, though they may not even awaken their powers."
"While an instant passed for you, billions of years have elapsed in reality. Your master's magic was such that he froze you in time, ensuring that you would land in a godforsaken world," explained the god of light.
Suddenly, the god of darkness also appeared before Maos.
"After we punish Salem, I decided to eliminate magic," darkness declared.
"However, it was a mistake. Humanity is now defenseless against Grimm and especially against Salem, who seems beyond redemption," added the god of light.
Maos couldn't help but interrupt, "Then why not bring back magic?" It struck him that they were unaware of the existence of the book of magic.
"And why do you suddenly care about humanity?" he questioned further.
"And if this world is devoid of gods, how can both of you be here?" he pondered, expressing his doubts.
"We wish to strike a deal with you," said the god of light, finally addressing Maos' concerns.
"We want you to eliminate Salem and aid Ozma in his mission. In return, we will restore magic to the world, just as it existed in your time. However, there will still be a limit on the power of spells, capped at the 9th level."
"We intend to appoint you as our new representative in the mortal world, much like your master before you. Your role will be to propagate our new teachings and ideas, guiding mankind towards the goal we have set for them. In exchange, we shall bestow magic upon humankind once again," both gods of light and darkness spoke simultaneously, their words echoing in the air.
Maos remained silent for a moment, his eyes beginning to glow with a reddish hue.
"Something feels off about all of this," he thought to himself.
end of the chapter, see you in the next one