The two of them walked out into the frigid environment, Ruby showing her surprise at the area quite visibly. "How the heck can it snow under a mountain?" She asked.
"It's a bit more complicated than you'd expect. But the short answer? Magic." Toriel stated, Ruby remembering about how this element, Celestium, is apparently magical.
"That reminds me, what even is Celestium? Like, how is it magic at all, and why haven't we found any yet?" Ruby asked.
"It's possible that it's an element exclusive to this region. More specifically, this mountain. You see—" But before Toriel could finish her sentence, a razor sharp bone was planted in the ground right in front of them. Ruby took a defensive stance while Toriel stood in front of her.
"HALT, TRESPASSERS!" A nasally voice pierced the tense air as the two of them looked up to the source of the voice, and seemingly the bone spear. It was a skeleton, draped in a bizarre outfit even for Ruby's standards. "Tremble in fear, and surrender, for you have come under the watch of the Great Papyrus! The strongest monster in the underground! Because all the other monsters stronger than me have already gone to the surface!"
Ruby and Toriel were both a bit shellshocked. The first monster they encounter just so happens to be a warrior. "Well, just my luck." Ruby said.
"Please, Papyrus sir, we're simply looking for safe passage to the surface." Toriel said to the lengthy calcium warrior.
He… seemingly, squinted at the pair before responding, "Say, that's a weird monster behind you. If I were anyone else, I would have mercilessly attacked you on account of how human you look. But obviously, a human would never come down here! That wouldn't make any sense at all!" Papyrus laughed to himself loudly.
"So he thinks I'm a monster? I'd be offended out of context." Ruby said. But right now it was a relief, so long as Papyrus saw her as a monster they wouldn't have to fight.
"Say, you're probably wanting to join the war efforts up top! Of course! A human-looking monster would be a great spy! Well fear not! I, the Great Papyrus, will personally escort you two to the surface! After all, if you were in that ruin for your entire life, you wouldn't possibly know the safest path there! And I know you haven't left because I've never seen you! Allow me to lead the way!" He walked confidently in front of them, leading them further into the woods. Reluctantly, they followed him, Toriel still not sure if he'd be smart enough to figure out that Ruby wasn't a human, while Ruby had a pondering look on her face.
Toriel took notice of this and asked, "What's wrong, child? Are you nervous about Papyrus?"
"Huh?" Ruby snapped out of her mind palace and turned to Toriel, "Oh, no, it's not that. I figured if he found us out, we could just make a break for it." She lowered her voice so Papyrus wouldn't be able to hear them.
"Then why the perturbed look?" Toriel asked.
Ruby looked at her right hand for a moment, a faint silver glow coursing through it. "It's about the Aster Sword. Something about it doesn't sit right with me."
"What specifically?"
"Well… it's that weapon nerd part of me screaming at it, honestly. Its design makes no sense when you stop and think about it."
"Is it really that peculiar? I didn't notice anything off about it."
"It's the circle that connects the hilt and the blade. It's not thick enough to be a viable support for the blade, and it looks as if it would break with its first use. And yet, it's considered a 'legendary weapon' despite those structural flaws."
Toriel blinked as if remembering something. "I forgot how new you were to magic." She said.
"What is it? Magic somehow reinforcing the structural integrity?"
"I'll explain later. When we have a bit more privacy." Toriel gestured over to Papyrus, who still trotted along like a man on cloud nine. "He acts childish, but his strength is real. I saw with that warning shot, we should avoid confrontation with him as much as possible."
Ruby glanced at him while keeping her head turned to Toriel, still wary of him. But that thought was soon replaced with confusion and dread as the ground shook beneath them, as if a titan had just used the mountain as a stepping ladder. "The crap was that?!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Nothing to fear! We deal with them enough every day, we'll be fine!" Papyrus exclaimed, not a hint of worry in his voice surprisingly.
"Them?" Ruby repeated, worried that there was something down there that even the monsters had trouble with.
They would continue to walk for another hour with only faint rumbling occurring occasionally before they came to a fireplace with benches around it made of logs. "We still have a ways to go until we reach Snowdin! We sh- I mean you two should rest up while you can! Who knows if we might encounter a Chimera between there and here!"
"Pardon me, but what is a Chimera?" Toriel asked.
"You don't know what a Chimera is?! They've terrorized the entire underground since a few decades ago! Nobody knows where they came from, but they started in small numbers and gradually grew over time! They're mindless beasts that attack anything and anyone, even other Chimera! Hence why you'll see a lot of destroyed buildings here and there between major settlements!" Papyrus explained.
"I see. They don't exist within the ruins, so I never heard of them." Toriel said.
"Lucky you! They're beasts that only members of the royal guard are equipped to deal with! Hence why I stayed behind! Generous, aren't I?" Papyrus struck a flaunting pose as Toriel and Ruby sat by the fire, Toriel using fire magic to ignite it.
It was only then that Ruby realized how cold she was as the fire melted the numbing coldness in her away. Since her clothes were ruined in her fight with Asgore, they didn't cover as much, even with her aura keeping most of the cold away it was still freezing.
As Papyrus walked into the distance to survey the area, Toriel and Ruby finally had some privacy to talk. "So, about your concerns. You know, with the Aster Sword." Toriel said.
"You said it had something to do with magic, what about it?" Ruby asked.
"Can you bring it out for a second?" Toriel asked. Ruby nodded and summoned the sword for a few seconds before it vanished. "As I thought."
"What is it?"
"The circle at the center of the sword is no design mistake, in fact it could be an explanation as to why it's so powerful." Toriel said as she took a stick and drew into the snow, first creating a circle, "Magic is complicated and has many rules, sometimes changing between types of magic. But one constant throughout all forms of magic is the circle. It serves as a conduit for power, cycling magical power through it."
"So it's like a perpetual motion generator!" Ruby exclaimed.
"I'm not sure what that is, but if that helps you understand it, let's go with that." Toriel then began drawing a symbol in the center of the circle, "Within the circle forms a symbol, a translation for magic to take form. A way to understand it is like—"
"Like the code in a video game!"
"...Sure. Symbols all have varying levels of power, but each one can be further increased by the power coursing through the circle. A powerful symbol combined with a powerful mage might be able to forge something so complex as the Aster Sword. Though many have tried to combine Celestium through intense rituals, and in recorded history, none have ever succeeded." Toriel began rubbing her chin in confusion. "Still, I have a bad feeling about how it was created."
Ruby glanced at her with curiosity before the ground began shaking violently. In the distance, Papyrus was running at them with a giant beast on his tail. "WE'RE IN TROUBLE!" Papyrus shouted as it drew near, Ruby able to identify all of its details. Its body was like a deer's, with massive wings reminiscent of an eagle's, and a large head with a giant maw. It was a beast unlike anything Ruby had ever seen, not even the Grimm compared to it.
Toriel acted quickly, coating her palm in flames and unleashing them at the beast, but it seemed to be hardly affected by it as it continued its charge at them. Before it got to them, Ruby took Toriel's hand and moved the two of them out of its path with her semblance, the dispersal of rose petals saving them both as they rematerialized behind it. Toriel gave a confused glance at her before immediately turning her attention back to the beast, snarling with its gaze focused squarely on the two of them now. Papyrus was uninjured from what Ruby could tell, so at the very least he could initiate an ambush attack if they kept the aggression focused on them. And even if it turned back to Papyrus, they could counterattack in turn. But then there'd be nobody to keep Papyrus safe if it failed, while Toriel had Ruby to keep her safe.
On top of that, Toriel's magic seemed to not affect it at all, or if it did it was great at not showing the pain it was in.
Suddenly though, a sharp ringing pain went through Ruby's head, and the sound of ear-piercing screams could be heard, like a whole family was being tortured to death. But its source was unknown, as if the souls of the damned had suddenly come to torment her at the worst time. But in the beast's chest, she could see a blinding white light.
Without knowing it, the beast was already charging at them again, but Papyrus made his counterattack, summoning a giant bone-like spear from the ground and piercing the monster. Black blood spewed from the gaping chest wound, and a nightmarish screech came from it as it crashed to the ground. The screams in Ruby's head began to intensify, it felt like her head was about to split open from the pain she was in.
"Ruby, what's wrong?" Toriel asked, seeing her double over in pain.
"It hurts! What's… happening?!" Ruby groaned in pain before letting out a horrific scream as a sudden burst of pain went through her entire being. Though her vision was blurred, she could see the beast's body slowly repairing itself, strands of crimson flesh sewing itself back together.
"That thing regenerates too?!" Toriel said in shock, unleashing more fire at it. When they made contact, Ruby's head was filled with even more screams, and her screaming also intensified. It was like she was feeling the same pain as the beast. She then finally began piecing together the puzzle, the white light in its chest, every time there was a scream, it shone brighter, as if trying to communicate with her. Then suddenly, it clicked with her. The screams were that of the beast's. Somehow, she was linked to it, able to feel its pain and suffering, its very existence was causing it pain, as if someone had forcibly created the Chimera.
She stood up, trying to drown out the screams as a ring of light appeared in her hand, staggering on her feet as she charged at it, ignoring the cries of concern from Toriel. The Chimera stood with its chest now fully healed, and its jaws ready to devour her in one chomp. Ruby evaded them by sliding under it, and at the same time, thrusting her hand forward, the ring of light forming the Aster Sword in her hand, the power within it quickly forming into a giant blade of light that pierced through the mountain and the sky. In the center of the circle was a symbol formed from light that translated to "Celestial". In one slash, the Chimera was cut in half, at its center a glowing shard, which that too was sliced in half, but as soon as it was it created a massive shockwave that pushed Ruby into the ground and everything around it away from the Chimera.
Then after that, silence fell. Only the falling of snow, leaves, and rocks could be heard as sunlight seeped into the underground from the hole in the mountain that the Aster Sword left. Even Ruby's mind, which just a moment before was about to break from all the screams tormenting it, was now silent. Though that pain was now moved from her head to her back, injured from the shockwave slamming her into the ground at point-blank range. Toriel rushed to her, picking her up with ease, though it made the pain in her back worse, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Gimme a second before you mess my back up worse." Ruby groaned.
"Sorry, but you made me so worried! At least tell me something before you rush in like you're going to your death!" Toriel said.
Ruby let out a weak chuckle, "Sure."
Toriel looked up at the hole in the mountain, even the clouds seemed to have parted from the Aster Sword's power. "Astounding. To think it could even pierce the sky…"
Even Papyrus was in shock, jaw almost literally dropped to the floor staring at awe at the wake of the supreme power shown to him. A sheer impossible feat of magic performed right before him by a novice.
Toriel looked back down at Ruby, a faint shimmer of silver light emitting from her palm. "I wasn't sure before, but now I am after seeing that. The Aster Sword's power, it's Light Magic."
Papyrus blinked, his confident face all but gone. "L-Light Magic?! But that's impossible! It would take a person at least a hundred years to master such a thing at the fastest!" Papyrus exclaimed.
"It should be impossible. We monsters live for much longer, and yet none have ever reached that level of mastery. Yet she, a child, is able to use it with little effort."
Ruby groaned as she slowly stood on her own. "W-What are you talking about? I can barely handle Fire Magic, let alone Light Magic."
"Then how—"
"I didn't control it. If I could, I wouldn't have rushed in like that. That's why I aimed for the sky, so I didn't cleave the planet in half." She looked down at her hand, any sensation of magical energy, as well as any of the silver light in her veins, having vanished. "It was terrifying. To know that one slip-up could end all life in the world."
Toriel looked in awe at Ruby, 'Does the Aster Sword really have that much power?' She thought, putting a hand on her shoulder, "You did fine, child. Just… be more careful in the future. It pains me to see you get injured so much."
Ruby nodded, her Aura slowly healing her injured back allowing her to stand on her own. Papyrus walked over to them, narrowing his eyes. "You really are human, aren't you?" He asked.
Ruby turned to him and nodded solemnly. "I didn't want to lie to you, but… well, I knew humans weren't well received among monsters."
Papyrus stood straight, a strange determination in his eyes. "Why did you come down here then?" His speaking pattern took a sharp turn suddenly, as if the old Papyrus had suddenly been replaced with a serious persona, similar to the army that had gone to the surface.
"I didn't come here to take vengeance if that's what you're asking. I just want to return to the surface to stop this war. If I can stop both sides from killing each other, if I can stop another genocide, then wouldn't that be good for everyone?" Ruby said, not faltering in Papyrus's sudden change in tone.
"And how would you do that?" He asked.
Ruby looked to her hand, silver flashes coursing through, "If I can master the power of the Aster Sword, I can force both sides to listen. I can make them see sense. With its power, I can stop this needless war!" Her eyes were ignited with an inspiring fire. Her words held no deceit in them, and it rang true to Papyrus, whose facade faded after hearing that. His usual smile and warm face came back.
"Glad to hear that! I fully support you then!" His tonal shifts caused whiplash for both Toriel and Ruby, both of them stumbling over his words.
"Just like that?!" Ruby exclaimed, Papyrus nodding. "Okay. I thought we were about to fight there, so… Well, I won't complain."
Toriel let out a chuckle at Ruby's child-like response to Papyrus. Even so, she was still concerned with Ruby. Why was it that she was able to pull the sword from the mountain but not know anything about magic to begin with? And if it could, why did it choose her?
"Child… may I ask you something?" Toriel asked, Ruby nodding. "Are you sure there aren't other humans that can harness magic?"
"No, I'm sure that—" Ruby said before remembering the scene that played out after pulling the sword from the mountain. The other two huntsmen that helped them get away, their power was astounding at the time, but when magic is a possibility, suddenly their power became clear. "Wait. There were two others, they helped us out when the monsters attacked us. Wu and Keira, I think that was their names."
Toriel contemplated for a moment, "Papyrus, do those names sound familiar?"
"Huh? Of course they do!" Papyrus paused for a moment, "...Except they don't."
"It doesn't make sense. Nothing adds up. If it's not common outside of this mountain, then it's unlikely that they stumbled upon two shards of Celestium. So how…" She shook the idea, it was unlikely that mere speculation would yield any worthwhile results.
"Toriel." Ruby said, shaking Toriel out of her confusion.
"What is it, child?"
"I… If I have the ability to use magic, and if it'll get me closer to mastering the power of the Aster Sword, then would it be too much trouble to ask if you could teach me how to use magic?"
Toriel pondered the idea for a moment. If the Aster Sword's power was sourced from Light Magic, then it could be possible that mastering individual facets of magic could hasten Ruby's mastery over it. "I think that's an excellent idea. Then, if we will, let's begin now."
"Huh?! Wait, right now?!" Ruby exclaimed.
"You want to master its power as soon as possible, yes? Then you need to master the basics." Toriel said, using a stick to draw a circle in the disturbed snow. "As we discussed, magic begins within a circular conduit, where it builds in power. Then, when a symbol is introduced to the conduit, it becomes a matrix that translates the magic into a physical form. The symbol is the most important part of harnessing magic, as they all range in power. For now, we'll start with a basic symbol." In the center of the circle, she wrote a symbol that translated to "fire". "Now, place your hands on the edges of the circle and concentrate."
"Concentrate on what?"
"On containing the power, forcing it to bend to your will. Show weakness and the magic will fight back. When harnessing its power you must be like a wall, make the power obey your command."
With that knowledge in mind, Ruby placed her hands next to the circle and focused. Remembering what it felt like to harness flames for the first time, the fear she had that it would consume her, the exhilarating sensation of harnessing something so powerful, the hope it gave that she could gain the strength to stop a war.
Suddenly the snow went alight with fire, bursting from the symbol. But it felt different than before, when it erupted from her body. It felt like it was from her own hands that it was being shot from, as if she had some level of control. It felt bizarre, going from power that could slice planets in two to creating fire that could fill the inside of a firepit.
"Surprising, just an hour ago you were barely able to contain that power. Yet now, you're able to control it. Not many have your aptitude for magic." Toriel squinted at her eyes, silver in color, "Though maybe you were born with that aptitude."
The fire quickly faded after that, though the questions in Ruby's head didn't. "But wait, if a circle and symbol are required for using magic, then how do you and Papyrus use magic without either?"
"That level of magic is one step above the one you just performed. In a way, our bodies form the necessary tools to use magic. The blood that flows through us has traces of Celestium in it, tiny enough in amount to not repel itself and tear us apart, and that forms our circles, our conduits. And our minds hold the knowledge to replace symbols. No matter how strong you are, all are capable of using high levels of magic if they seek it."
The more Ruby thought about it, the more questions she had. This new level of power that was at her fingertips, it was more than her mind could grasp. And yet, there was some level of her that understood fully the power she acquired. She understood everything and nothing at the same time. "So what are magic's limits? What can't it do?" Ruby asked.
"If I had to name one thing that limits it, it's the types of magic. There are four base forms of magic: fire, water, earth, and air, the four elements that make up most of the physical world. While those four control most of the world, there are also elements that can only be harnessed by combining them. For instance, combining knowledge of fire and air creates lightning magic. Every form of magic can be combined with the other, but that power is always limited by knowledge and time. For a human, you would only have time to master one element."
"It takes that long to master even one element?" Ruby rubbed her forehead, now a bit more stressed out about mastering the power of the Aster Sword. If she was supposed to master all the elements in order to achieve total mastery, she would be an old woman before she even got close.
"However, there is a chance for you." Toriel said, bringing Ruby out of her internal debate, "You've just begun your path into magic mastery, and you already have the ability to harness fire. I can tell, you're a prodigy for magic."
Somehow, that made sense to Ruby. She had to be taught rigorously by her uncle just to be proficient with a scythe, and even then she felt like she was falling behind in comparison to everyone else. And yet, the moment she came into contact with the Aster Sword, she felt like that all changed. Something about what Toriel said resonated with her, as if it made her realize that she was born to fight with magic.
"Still a bit of a shock to me, though! Just a moment ago, light magic was nothing short of a myth!" Papyrus exclaimed.
"Indeed, the irony that a human would succeed where thousands of generations of monsters failed is not lost on me. However, it is a possibility…" Toriel's statement trailed off into her mind, 'If she really can master light magic, then it might really be possible to end the war without the extinction of one side.'
Ruby still had her focus on her magic powers though, silver flashes occasionally coursing through her veins. But sometimes, that silver light would change red. Parallel processing, that's what she needed, she thought. Mastery over one element would give her the strength she needed to at least control a percentage of the Aster Sword's power. That alone could be enough to change the outcome of the war.
"I want to master fire first. Offense is gonna be key to getting out of here if those Chimeras are anything to judge the rest of the underground by. Toriel, can you teach me how to control fire on my own as we go to Snowdin?" Ruby asked.
"You're gonna try to master it in that short of a time?!" Papyrus exclaimed.
"That's a stretch for even prodigies, child." Toriel stated.
"I'm not trying to master it by then. Just control it. If I can use a percentage of fire magic on command by then, I'll be on track to at least having two elements learned and maybe mastered by the time we get out of here." Ruby said. Both Papyrus and Toriel recoiled from how she seemed to bounce back from her lack of knowledge of magic.
"Well, if you need mastery over earth magic, I, the Great Papyrus, will effortlessly teach you in its ways!" Papyrus said dramatically, striking a heroic pose.
"Wait, your bone magic is just earth magic?" Ruby asked.
"Of course. It's actually a highly advanced aspect of it, you'd need to understand the elemental makeup of bones to transmute earth into it. I don't think you'd find a better earth magic teacher, honestly." Toriel said.
Suddenly, Ruby was filled absolutely with confidence. Mastery over two elements was already within sight, and the combination of those elements could prove useful too. She held out hope that everyone on the surface was doing alright in the face of the war, but that hope finally had reinforcement. For the first time since falling into the underground, it felt possible to bring peace between humans and monsters.