My mom staggered over to me, and picked me up. She hugged me tight and mumbled something. Solomon cast a <Spell> which hid the <Tear of Fate>. She, my dad, and Solomon left the statue room, where Helga, Cesar, and Magus Erli were waiting. The group moved through the library towards a different room. I can’t tell if this is efficient, having different rooms for each thing or is this just a poor layout? Maybe there is a reason due to <Magic> for this? It was at that point I made a different observation: this place is much larger inside than it is outside. What type of <Magic> is this? Is this some type of <Space Magic>?
We reached a plain room with a simple barrier around it. Upon looking closer, the room had panels with intricate designs on them covering the walls. Whatever the design was, it almost looked like a plain panel because of how dense and intricate it was.
“I hate how each room is designed for one specific thing. Always have to change rooms when switching activities.” Cesar muttered under his breath.
“You may hate it Cesar, but it allows for the rooms to be much more efficient at their purpose.” Solomon chided.
Solomon instructed my mom to set me in the middle of the room. He twisted his neck to let out a large pop, and began rolling his shoulders. How does that help him do <Magic>? Maybe it’s a mental thing? Or like a little ritual he does perhaps? I don’t know why, but the fact a Grand Archmagus had such a small little ritual before performing what was probably some super basic <Magic> to him was interesting to me. Maybe the method is more difficult than I realize.
“Azzeck, pay close attention. I will help your son <Acclimate> his <Tear of Fate> to begin his <Temper>. As <Tear of Fate> has an incredibly low <Will> there should be a very low chance of <Rejection>. The <Technique> for helping or forcing one to <Temper> I will demonstrate and I believe you will have an easier time than Senna replicating it because it appears he has your <Affinity>. We will have to start to <Acclimate> the <Tear of Fate> for him, so be ready. If he does not naturally replicate the process, it will kill him.” Solomon explained. My parents nodded with grim faces.
My dad walked over, sat behind me, and placed his hand on my back. Solomon sat in front of me, took the <Tear of Fate>, and stabbed it into my heart. Some <Magic> was shot into my heart, which seemed to make a bridge, immediately after it felt like my nerves were on fire. My skin felt like it was melting off my body. Then I felt a surge. My <Mana> reserve was being forcefully cycled through my body, which felt like waves of ice rushing over it, cooling the burning sensation.
Then another wave of heat emitted from my heart. Then my <Mana> was forcefully cycled through my body again. So this is what <Acclimating> is. Most babies probably won’t be able to replicate the <Mana> flow because they won’t grasp what’s happening. I could already see the sweat forming on Solomon. The third pulse of heat was way worse than the previous one, and the following cycle of <Mana> felt as if it was trying to crush the <Tear of Fate> as it cooled my body. It was compressing it into my heart.
The cycle repeated again. The third pulse was by far the worst each time. So the <Tear of Fate> releases something that makes my body burn, I use my <Mana> to coll and counteract it. On the third pulse I try to compress the <Tear of Fate> into my heart. I don’t need to understand why at this moment but let’s see if I can replicate this. I looked at Solomon, who was definitely sweating profusely.
I steadied my breathing, then opened my mind. I felt the <Mana> within me absolutely surge, and unfortunately, so did the <Tear of Fate>. Solomon let out a gasp as he clearly tried to put the brakes on this. A pulse of heat went out, and I surged my <Mana> through my body much faster than Solomon had. On the third pulse, I took the <Mana> surging and forced it into my heart. The cycle continued. After the third iteration of me in control, my dad and Solomon took their hands off me. This process continued for thirty minutes until on a compression I felt a massive click, or maybe more like a gate being opened. Immediately proceeding, a surge of something coursed through my body. It didn’t hurt. It felt amazing. It was like jumping into a pool on a blistering hot summer day. The cycles stopped.
I flexed my hand, and it felt different. I moved my arms a little, and there was this sensation there. What happened to my body? Is this what happens when you <Temper>? I surged <Mana> through my body again, and when it reached my heart it felt like it brushed against something. I surged again, this time slamming my <Mana> against it. Immediately a wave of heat pulsed through my body. I immediately cycled my <Mana> again, trying to slam it back into whatever it was. After a few times of forcing my <Mana> as hard as I could against it, the burning pulses stopped. So that process is <Tempering>. What part was <Acclimating>?. Was that the bridge sensation?
“I will personally perform an <Appraisal> on Nil when he turns one, as long as you provide the materials, free of charge.” Solomon told my parents.
“Why so generous?” my dad asked.
“Well he is to be my apprentice, and I am curious as to what he possesses. I want to make sure it is done right.” Solomon replied.
“Now for the <Arcane Eyes> you promised.” my mom reminded.
“I am just admiring your son. I am a man of my word.” Solomon snapped back, pulling a plain black case from his robes.
“Now, to warn your Imperial Highnesses, <Arcane Eyes> do have a chance for <Rejection>, especially the stronger ones, like the <Lord’s Eye>. I will try to combat that and help him <Acclimate> them, and it should all be pretty smooth. Usually <Arcane Eyes> are easy to <Acclimate>, but I am just warning you.” Solomon warned.
“Do you think something might happen?” my mom asked.
“<Lord’s Eye> are mythically rare. Documentation and research on them is non-existent. I am just saying there is a chance for something to happen, and I am not sure how much. Do you accept the risk?” Solomon explained.
My parents nodded and he walked over to me. He opened the case, and pulled out two eyes made out of glass. I could feel their power. The room was just filled with their authority. It was similar to when my dad got tense, except these weren’t holding back for my sake. Solomon took a deep breath, grabbed my head, and forced them into where my eyes were. What the hell are you doing old man?! I screamed which came out as mildly distressed baby noises as the glass was forced into my sockets.
Oddly enough, it didn’t hurt. Or change my vision. They seemed to meld with my eyes. Solomon unleashed some immensely complicated <Magic> at my eyes. Where whatever bridge he formed in my heart was pretty easy to brush off, and was barely noticeable as he did it, the same could not be said for my eyes. It was indescribable how uncomfortable the sensation was. The best I can compare it to is my eyes became a liquid and resolidified with the glass. He weaved some delicate <Magic>, creating a bond between my eyes and the <Arcane Eyes>, and as soon as he finished, an immense surge of power exploded from them. How my skull didn’t explode was beyond me. This power was hostile, it was angry, and it was domineering.
WHO DARES TRY TO TAKE ME AS THEIR OWN? A voice blasted in my head. Or maybe yelled in the room. I couldn’t tell, it was quite loud, and just oozed a level of <Mana> I had never felt before. My vision was getting extremely blurry. Can you turn down the volume please. My head can only take so much. I thought. A BABY?! SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BOND MY <LEGACY> WITH A BABY?! The voice snarled. Hey this baby can understand you. I snapped back. My vision was all but gone at this point.
What? How is a baby forming such coherent thoughts? The voice snapped at me, as I felt my brain get forcefully searched through.
Can you stop that, it is quite unpleasant. I asked.
Hello interloper. I am Kron, Lord of Fate. What is your name? Kron asked. Their voice was quite hard to tell if it belonged to a man or a woman.
Nil Sathanas Crowthorne. Nice to meet you. I am so glad to be able to finally talk to someone. I replied.
I meant your previous name. Kron pressed.
No. I am Nil Sathanas Crowthorne. That is the me of now, and for the hopefully long future. I retorted.
So what are your intentions in this world? Kron asked calmly.
No idea, live I guess. Currently looking like I am going to succeed my dad as Emperor which is kind of cool. So what is a Lord? What powers over Fate do you have? I asked.
So you have no plan? Just go with the flow of things? Kron questioned.
I answered your question so you should answer mine. And yes, I have not seen much of this world so I don’t have much of a plan. I like this world so far. Currently infinitely better than my previous one. Now answer my questions. I replied.
Infinite? What is ‘infinitely’? We Lords created Tenebrae. We are <Deities> that formed this world and gave it life. I am called the Lord of Fate as I can see what outcomes are possible, the branching paths, things that may come to be or will never happen. I can peer into the future, and see how time flows. Kron explained.
That’s pretty cool. Infinite is a mathematical concept of a number that is so large it has no defined size, a number that never ends. What I stated previously can also be phrased I like this world more than my previous one by an amount that cannot be measured. I replied.
You are awfully casual and familiar in how you are talking to me. Kron groaned.
So are you actually here in the <Arcane Eye> or is this some projection? I asked.
Curious one, aren’t you? This is a <Lingering Will>, as my body and presence have long since passed from Tenebrae. Would it kill you to have some reverence towards a Lord? Kron said.
I am sorry, your most esteemed Lord. You are so highly venerated, of such high and noble standing that it temporarily made me lose my sense. If you could forgive that one of such low birth and standing as I addressed you in an improper and informal manner, it would be a blessing and gift I would carry with pride for my entire life. Please oh great Lord, if you could enlighten my mortal mind with the reason as to why I am being graced with your presence? I replied, with the utmost sincerity.
Listen here you little punk, you realize I could kill you with a thought right now? Kron threatened.
My most gracious and esteemed Lord, what have I done that you could take offense to? I am addressing you as desired, with immense reverence of such divine stature. I am aware my life is but a speck in the grand cosmos of your life, but please be merciful. I soothed, again, as sincere as I could possibly be.
Go back to how you were speaking originally. Kron sighed.
Why thank you. Now why am I able to hear and talk with you? I pressed.
Because you are trying to <Acclimate> the <Lord’s Eye> left by my passing. Each <Lord’s Eye> contains our <Lingering Will>. We left it to judge who is inheriting it, and keep it out of the hands of those we deem either unworthy or will do nothing but harm with it. Now you are a much more curious case and I am still deciding whether to smite you or let you keep them.
To argue my case, I would greatly appreciate not dying. Now you don’t have a lot of actions in this world to judge me on, but I can honestly say I am really enjoying this life. I pleaded.
Your personality is not bad, which is good for you. You are also from another world, which is a wildcard I do not like. I can see your <Karma>, which is at a whopping 0, which isn’t surprising given you are only three months old. You honestly don’t have any plans in this world, which is another factor that makes you hard to judge. You seem to just want to live your life and let the cards land where they may. You have been training your <Magic> because it is cool and different rather than out of a desire to be strong. It makes it hard to judge what you will do. Kron rambled.
You could say it is, Fate, we met like this if that helps. I joked.
Another pun like that and I will end your life with zero hesitation. Kron snapped.
Sheesh, no need to hate on the pun. No appreciation for the craft. I pouted.
I am determining whether you live or die. You would think you would be trying to butter me up or something. Kron suggested.
That’s not how I like to do things. How long do you have to decide? I asked.
About another five minutes then the timer expires. Stupid rules. It was more to keep us from holding someone in limbo forever as we determined if we wanted them to inherit our <Lord’s Eye>. The rule may have been instated as some of us are a bit indecisive. It does default in your favor if I don’t decide. Kron informed.
So I just got to stall. So, Kron, how’s life? What do you think of your parents? Is there someone you don’t like and would like to vent your frustrations about? Even a powerful and magnificent being as yourself is bound to have had to deal with people you didn’t like. I interrogated.
Such petty tricks are not going to work on me mortal. Kron replied.
What petty tricks? I would not try and pull a trick on a Lord. That would be heretical. I retorted, to which Kron laughed.
I am curious, your body is barely <Tempered>. What did you use as a <Base>? Kron asked.
A <Tear of Fate>. The singing was quite beautiful. I answered.
What color was the tear? Kron continued.
Brilliant white. It seemed to radiate light all on its own. It was very pretty. I explained.
Kid, I guess Fate is on your side. Live your best life. Enjoy my gifts. And thanks for making my last conversation interesting. Kron replied as I felt their presence fade.
A barrier lifted. Something changed. It felt like my eyes had just opened. That’s when I realized I had been severed from everything. Kron completely severed me from existence while they thought about my fate. My brain finally registered what my eyes were seeing. The exact same thing as before, but my parents looked immensely distraught. Solomon was barking orders around. Helga, Cesar, and Magus Erli looked on with a gloomy silence. I took a breath, and could feel the <Mana> circulate around me. I took another breath. It felt like my soul reconnected to my body. I took another breath, and this time, my <Mana> stretched out from my body as it usually did. It formed the normal <Magic Sense>. I circulated a little <Mana> through my body, and felt something was being exerted. Everyone looked at me with a strained expression. What did this <Arcane Eye> even do? Everything felt the same. Just an odd little exertion from my eyes. Probably the feeling of <Mana> circulating that I was still getting used to.
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