David Wells - Linkershim

“Your magic seems to be progressing rapidly,” Constantine said, “especially given your experience with Siduri.”

“I agree. My ability to see coming threats has proven to be reliable and it’s dramatically improved my abilities in a fight. My all around sight continues to gain in range, though I still can’t see as far as my eyes could. My illusion magic is becoming easier and more versatile, though I still have to be meditating to use it.

“My most important questions center around Siduri.”

“Understandably so,” Balthazar said. “Are you certain that you transitioned physically into the firmament?”

All of the sovereigns leaned in with interest.

“Yes, absolutely. I was on the ground choking to death and then I found myself in the firmament. When I returned, I was standing in the cage and the slave collar was lying on the floor. Later, the Babachenko revealed that he has magic capable of showing all that has transpired in a given space over previous hours or days. His spell showed me locked in my cage, lying on the floor one moment, then simply gone the next, only to reappear standing up several minutes later.”

“Remarkable,” Dominic said.

“Indeed,” Balthazar said. “While in the firmament, what was your sense of it? How was it different than your usual experience?”

“Usually, I feel like I’m floating on an ocean, at the surface. I can focus my attention on any point in the world or I can spread out across the entire surface and listen to the music of creation, but this time, it felt like I was drowning in the ocean, like my consciousness was scattered and I couldn’t get it back. I’ve been scattered before by Phane and by the wards around the fortress islands, but I was always able to reassemble my consciousness. This time, it felt like I was slipping away-dying. Then I thought of Siduri and I was there with him in a constructed world of his making.”

The sovereigns shared looks across the table.

“Lies,” Malachi said, sitting back with a scowl. “None of that’s possible.”

Alexander ignored him.

“There is great risk in what I’m about to suggest,” Balthazar said, “but I see no other way to pursue this capability.”

Alexander nodded.

“I suggest that you project your mind into the firmament and then deliberately cause it to be scattered, but don’t reassemble it immediately. Allow yourself to reach that place where you feel like you’re fading away, and then think of Siduri.

“If you can place your mind into the same state as it was in while you were physically within the firmament, then you may be able to reach out to the first adept at will.”

Alexander felt a little thrill of fear. He had always felt panic and desperation when he’d been scattered into the firmament. Every time, it had been a mad struggle to reassemble his consciousness. Letting himself go-letting himself cease to be-allowing his unique identity to melt into the firmament was a daunting prospect.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

“You may die,” Balthazar said.

“I see. Are there any other suggestions for how I can pursue this new capability?”

“You could always kill yourself,” Malachi said with a malicious smile. “After all, that’s what it took to make it happen the first time.”

Alexander glared at him.

“Perhaps that’s not an entirely meritless suggestion,” Darius said.

“Yes, my son may have inadvertently offered something of value,” Demetrius said.

“How do you mean?”

“Your life was being threatened very slowly when you transitioned into the firmament,” Demetrius said. “If you were able to re-create such an experience in a controlled environment, you may replicate the event, though I would be concerned about exiting the firmament given that you required Siduri’s assistance the first time.”

“That seems a bit extreme.”

Malachi snorted derisively. “That’s why you’ll lose.”

“I would recommend that you pursue the first avenue and seek out Siduri’s assistance in the matter,” Balthazar said. “He may be the only one who can help you learn to control this ability.”

“He seemed reluctant to help me.”

“Then you must be persuasive,” Balthazar said. “From your account, this Siduri has a conscience. He feels guilt and remorse for the damage that he’s caused the world. He wants his children to be redeemed. Use these desires to help him see his only true path to redemption.”

“He’s afraid, and I don’t blame him. I’m not sure that anything can overcome that.”

Balthazar shrugged helplessly.

“Perhaps this constructed world of his deserves some attention,” Darius said.

“How so?” Balthazar asked.

“I would be interested to know how real this construct actually is,” Darius said.

“It felt as real as the world of time and substance.”

“More to the point, how detailed is his re-creation? How faithfully has he rebuilt the world?”

“Ahh …” Balthazar said, realization lighting up his face. “A proxy world.”

“If it’s actually a creation rather than an illusion, the implications are staggering,” Darius said.

“I don’t understand,” Alexander said.

“Of course you don’t,” Malachi scoffed.

“It may be that Siduri has in fact created another world,” Darius said, “a world where he can do and be as he wills because it is entirely his creation.”

“That may explain how he was able to travel into the netherworld in the first place,” Balthazar said. “Theoretically, in a world that was his creation, he could simply step into the aether and then open a portal to the netherworld, provided the assumption is correct, that he has omnipotence within his creation.”

“Did you see any limitations to the environment while you were there?” Darius asked.

“Not that I recall,” Alexander said, “but I had other things on my mind at the time.”

“Understandable,” Darius said. “I suspect that you would find a less than complete world if you did some exploring within his construct.”

Alexander nodded to himself, thinking about his magic. He’d reached a point where further advancement required him to take real risks, yet the potential gains could easily prove to be the decisive factor in the entire war. He had no choice but to make the attempt, even though the idea of becoming lost in the firmament was terrifying.

“Thank you,” he said as he stood up. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“One other thing,” Balthazar said. “Luminessence may have the power to destroy the Nether Gate, though I believe it would destroy the staff in the process.”

Alexander sat back down.

“If the staff were thrust into the portal while it was open, I believe that both items would be destroyed. Light and dark cannot coexist in the same place at the same time … the rules of reality won’t allow it.”

“Huh … that is good news.”

He walked away from the table and opened his eyes to find Lita sitting nearby, waiting for him to return. She cast her healing spell on his leg again, putting him into a deep sleep for another six hours. When he woke, he felt good enough to get out of bed, provided he had his cane. He frowned when he realized how familiar it felt in his hand. He’d spent much of his time on the dragon isle leaning on his cane; now he needed it again, though he suspected his leg would be much better by the following morning. Lita’s healing magic wasn’t fast, but it did work.

He went to his magic circle and sat down with some effort, crossing his legs gingerly and grimacing at the pain.

Jack frowned questioningly. “I thought the door had to be open for you to go anywhere.”

Alexander paused, weighing how much he wanted to tell his friends, knowing that they would object if they had any idea what he was considering, but deciding that they deserved to know.