The Magi's Society

Mevi followed as quickly as she could manage, Zelkan leading her with a great haste through the winding hallways within the unexplored facility. New places and rooms Mevi had never discovered before, all with strange residents, passed by quickly as Zelkan navigated them out of the facility proper. Mevi was led out onto an open platform that overlooked the City of Light from a great height.

The infinite grandness of The City of Light stretched out before them. The gleaming light shone with the brilliance of countless stars of all colors. Tall spires and vast sectors filled with alien structures stretched farther than Mevi’s eyes could perceive. The Barge’s size was entirely inconceivable and the City of Light stretched across its entire length, or at least that is what people say. The mixture of thousands, if not millions, of cultures and people created a landscape of truly alien design. Yet all the structures fought to breach higher and higher into the artificial clouds, all the while attempting to outshine the rest of the structures in their sector. The brilliant display was enough to shock Mevi into unconsciousness the first time she beheld such strange and bright creations, even after living within the Barge for a time, the city’s brilliance still nearly blinded her.

Zelkan guided Mevi to the center of the platform overlooking the City of Light, while the Sentinel followed Mevi like a second shadow. The three stood in the center of the unassuming viewing platform, until Zelkan motioned his hand in the air as if interacting with an invisible panel. After pressing an invisible button the platform began to shift and move. A muffled electrical whirring sound buzzed around them as the platform began to rise upwards, yet the platform was not obviously attached to any structure or mechanism. Mevi looked around, startled, and noticed a barely visible column of light surrounding the platform. As if guiding the platform’s path, the column of light led upwards along the trajectory the moving structure followed.

It was now, as the platform began to rise upwards to unknown heights, that Mevi noticed the facility’s exterior for the first time. The strange place Mevi had wandered and lived within for the last few months was a collection of towering spires which all met at a collective base that itself was a towering monolith. Mevi could count at least ten spires twisting high upwards, past the slow moving clouds, yet there could easily be others hidden by the infrastructure that stretched to connect the spires and buildings.

The platform Mevi stood upon continued to climb upwards, guided by the soft light along its path. Mevi dared to inch close to the edge and look downward, only to be met by her racing heart and a panic after realizing how high they actually were. The monolith itself was already a rival to the tallest skyscrapers and towers within the City of Light, but the structure’s spire-crown reached even higher than the tallest tower Mevi could currently perceive. As Mevi was met with the sudden realization of how high she was, and how there was no visible safety mechanism, she was sent reeling backwards into the arms of the Sentinel. The golden-clad guardian held her firmly by the shoulders once again, but this time to stabilize her and hold her still. Guided back to the center of the platform, Mevi sat down while she awaited the device to reach its destination.

The travel into the skies didn’t take long, but was still much too long for comfort to Mevi’s perspective. As the platform neared its target, a tower that was made of a gray stone in contrast to the gold and marble of most of the others, the device’s whirring slowed to a halt. A mechanical clank echoed as if a great shifting of gears, and the platform was almost yanked into a stationary place against the side of the gray spire.

Mevi was helped to her feet by the Sentinel, while Zelkan looked towards the entryway with worry. The three of them continued forward, Mevi glad to be on more solid ground again. As they disembarked the platform, the mechanical clank echoed as the platform detached from the spire to return to some unknown destination. The three were left in a sort of open garden filled with strange plants and rocks, as if they were brought to view an assorted display. The only doorway was on the far side of this garden, and as Mevi regained her bearings, the door opened.

The creature that exited into the garden was not what Mevi learned to expect, even from the many forms of creature she had encountered. Rather than a white and blue robed servant of Maphet, there was instead a brass person. A person, or at least sculpted to look like a person, was standing without any clothes or adornments. They were a hollow construct of metal, with exposed gears and alien technology twisting and moving within them. The only thing about this creature that made it seem like a person was its humanoid shape, other than its frame the creature had holes in its body one could peek through as well as poking wires that sparked with electricity. Arcing currents could be seen within the strange tubing of the entity and as its feet lifted it left short trails of arcing electricity as it walked. As Mevi marveled at the creature, it bowed respectfully and spoke in a perfectly enunciated manner that was almost too well crafted, “Greetings, Magi Apprentice, Mevi. We have been expecting you. Please leave your attendants here, and follow me.”

Looking back towards Zelkan and the Sentinel, Mevi wasn’t sure, but Zelkan spoke, “It is alright, my Lady. We will await your return.”

Mevi worried to herself, and asked, “But what if I don’t know what to do or say?”

“Just do your best, my Lady. If you do not know what to say or do, simply say nothing.”

It was sound advice, Mevi thought. Despite the words of encouragement Mevi was still worried, but had learned not to keep the Magi waiting when they called upon you. So Mevi followed the brass construct. The construct led her through the door and into a rounded hallway that seemed to follow the curve of the spire. The gray stone was bare, the walls and floor made of the same solid material the spire seemed to be sculpted from. Solid, unimpressive, and simple stone was all that lined the spire’s corridor. The brass construct led Mevi to the right and down the hallway, but they walked only for a very short time before reaching a large set of already open doors.

As the brass construct stopped and bowed, as if beckoning Mevi to enter, Mevi could see a large room open up. At the far end were two tall thrones, one shorter than the other but both towering above the room. Below the thrones was a long table, where ten robed and masked figures sat. At the base of the thrones were two chairs, larger than the others and acting as the head of the table, the one below the shorter throne already held an occupant but the other was empty. Of the nine other individuals who populated the rest of the table, one chair was empty as if there should be another member gathered. Mevi suddenly felt incredibly underdressed, and realized she had no idea where her hooded mask was last left. The brass construct offered no hint what to do or where to go, two chairs were left empty and one sat with an imposing importance at the base of the taller throne. Mevi felt her heart sink as anxiety of the situation began to swirl. Not knowing what to do or say was beginning to creep in and Mevi realized how often she had relied on Zelkan knowing what to say and do.

As Mevi idled by the door, occasionally peeking her head in to look at the impressive figures gathered and waiting, she was noticed. The figure sitting at the shorter throne’s base raised their head in her direction as if Mevi was seen. Mevi quickly darted her head back and hid against the wall, hoping they were just adjusting in their seat and didn’t actually see her. As Mevi hid a man’s voice began to speak with an amount of authority, “Once our great Lord Magi Maphet’s Apprentice arrives and takes her seat at the head of the table, we may begin. Until the newest Magi’s Apprentice arrives, we wait.” A murmuring from the other individuals could be faintly heard, some seemed confused at the sudden proclamation, but Mevi understood it was her signal from one of those gathered.

Mevi gathered herself in as noble a fashion as could be mustered, and stepped out into the doorway. Entering the full view of the others, Mevi remembered just how untidy her robes were from her long days in meditation alone. Mevi could only imagine the many creases, dust, and imperfections that certainly displayed themselves for all to see. Mevi dreaded the fact that she was advised to sit at the head of the table for all to see. Yet Mevi always did as she was directed and so she walked the path around the table to the seat she was unfortunately assigned. The scrutinizing gazes from the others already gathered pierced Mevi’s social defenses and her confidence was already beginning to crumble.

As Mevi finally sat at the head of the table, in the much too large throne-like chair, she was able to look out at the other masked faces gathered. Mevi could not see their expressions from behind their elegant masks, which all shifted and swirled with white clouds on a blue sky, but Mevi knew their looks were that of disappointment and judgment. Mevi might’ve saved some face if she had been able to retrieve her own hooded mask, but instead had to bear their invisible gazes without reaction for fear of breaking down. Mevi fought the desire to look away or stare at the floor, even her basic knowledge of noble etiquette warned to never show fear or weakness.

As Mevi became fully seated the person to her right, who sat at the base of the smaller throne, removed their mask. Revealing a fair man’s face with short, almost military-cut, blonde hair, but bearing a wicked scar across their forehead and down their left eye. As the man fully removed the mask, and placed it onto the table, the others gathered followed suit. The stern-faced man looked briefly at Mevi before turning to the rest of those gathered before speaking, “We are now all gathered, and may officially begin our meeting. I have been given a directive to, once again, lead our number despite the arrival of our Lord Magi Maphet’s Apprentice. So I will conduct our focus as I usually do.”

A voice from Mevi’s left called out, a dark-skinned man with four horns spiraling out of their head in an elegant manner, “Should not even a word be said by our newest, and most glorious, Magi’s Apprentice? We, who serve directly under our Lord Magi Maphet, would be honored to hear the wisdom of one so skilled they became our leader in such a short time.”

Mevi became like a deer in headlights, the man stared daggers into Mevi from his position so close to her. It seemed, by the way they were dressed slightly differently, in gold versus silver, that Maphet’s direct followers wore gold and sat on Mevi’s left. There were four gathered opposed to the five under Odion, excluding the man that sat beside Mevi at the base of the shorter throne. Mevi tried not to dart her eyes, or to give into panic, but she risked a short glance towards the authoritative figure to her right. The man, who proclaimed himself in charge of the meeting, began to speak as if to respond to Mevi’s silent plea, “This is not the time nor place for such introductions or petty politics Tamar. Our matter concerns the directive given by Lord Odion and Lord Maphet; we must gather ourselves and our teams to form a full scale operation to gain favor with this new planet the Barge has gifted to us. Our lords are, as we speak, coordinating with the other Magi to designate roles and territory. As such we must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice to secure said regions to secure populations with our lord’s mana.” As the man finished his reprimand of this, Tamar, the authoritative man sighed. Beginning anew the man in charge of the meeting continued to explain what little was known about this new planet.

The planet in question was quickly identified as ‘Demnos IV’, and seemed to be the only inhabited planet in the same-named system of ‘Demnos’. The information given to the man in charge, who Mevi learned from a single comment of "But lord, Alestair, how can we organize a subjugation without knowing the class and habitability of the planet?” The man speaking, who seemed to be called Alestair, explained that the few and distant readings they’ve received from the planet describe it as a jungle world. Thick vegetation, tall trees, and impossibly rich with life. According to him, it is a prime candidate for subjugation as there is likely to be incredibly dense communities built up over so long isolated. He additionally dissuaded fear by reminding the outspoken questioner that even their formal attire provided a breathing apparatus and all teams would be additionally equipped with special outfits to combat any unknown weather.

As Alestair continued to speak on the information known on the planet, and began organizing those present into teams, Mevi’s mind spiraled with the strange and new information. She was still, at times, struggling to realize the moon she was born on wasn’t the only inhabited world. That there were countless planets and systems populated by many diverse creatures and people. It was entirely inconceivable to Mevi that she was, even now, on a massive vessel rather than on some other part of her moon that was simply closed in with solid walls of gold rather than the thick glass of her colony’s protective dome.

The debate on what type of people could be inhabiting Demnos, what their technology had developed to, and what type of resources could be demanded was entirely confusing to Mevi. Yet, thankfully, none of those gathered paid her any mind as she silently observed their meeting. Once Alestair began the open debate, then later assigning jobs and teams, any hint that those gathered were worried or interested in Mevi had evaporated. Mevi could feel her focus slipping, as she had long since lost any semblance of understanding on the topics at hand, but as she struggled to digest the information received she saw Alestair finally turn to her as the last member of the gathered to receive their mission. Alestair stared for a moment at Mevi, and the rest of those gathered quieted their own conversations to see what kind of mission the new Magi Apprentice would receive. Alestair finally addressed Mevi directly, “Mevare Bensari, Magi Apprentice to Lord Magi Maphet. You have been assigned a special task directly from our lords Magi. You must assemble your attendants and travel to, what is believed to be, this planet’s ancient capital. It is long since abandoned, as far as our sensors can perceive, and you are to collect and archive any and all information present. One of my own staff will attend you and assist you in the archival process; they have already been sent a missive to meet with your chief attendant.” Alestair sighs to himself, as if exhausted or disappointed, “Normally archival of ruins would be a job given to one from my own order, but in light of your special instructions for the Lords Magi and your newness within our ranks, this task is given to you. Do you have the staff to perform this, or will you require us to assign you some from our own beyond my own attendant?”

Mevi’s mind raced to catch up to the current conversation and she searched for all those that might be considered her ‘attendants’, “As you correctly point out, I am new to these sort of missions. What type of people would I need to accomplish this mission?” asked Mevi.

“You will need one that can easily operate the technology required to retrieve the data we desire, a linguist or other specialist in languages, I will provide my attendant who will know what is and isn’t of significance, and likely one or two that would act as bodyguards or those assigned to help move the heavy equipment required.”

Mevi thought for a moment, and if she was right in her thinking she knew exactly each person that could fit those descriptions. Mevi was, for the first time in this meeting, confident of her answer, “Yes! My attendants can fit those descriptions, I believe. If they do not, I trust my chief attendant to help me find those that we need.”

A small smile, as if pleasantly surprised by her eagerness, crossed Alestair’s face, “Good. If you require additional advice simply ask the attendant I send you. They will also be able to assist you, but it sounds as if you already have a team in mind for this task.” Alestair looks back to the rest of those gathered at the table, and stands to his feet, “Then we have all been fully briefed on the situation, and have our assignments given. I wish us all luck and glory to the Magi.”

Those gathered rise from their chairs, almost in unison, and declare, “Glory to the Magi.”

Mevi attempted to follow their example but almost stumbled when she noticed she needed to stand. Her words were delayed behind the rest, not anticipating the sudden oath. As the meeting was adjourned those gathered began filtering out of the room. Mevi wasn’t sure exactly what to do, as Alestair continued to stand at the head of the table and watch the others leave. Mevi, without further hint of what to do, simply followed his example. Two from the followers of Maphet idled for a moment. Tamar, the dark-skinned man with elegant horns, and a man with coal-black skin that almost looked as if he was covered in dark lizard scales. Yet as the rest of those in attendance left, they too turned to leave to their own duties. When the last of them left the room, and the meeting was fully over, Alestair slumped into his chair and put a hand to his face then sighed. Mevi knew it was because of her, and instinctively moved a step closer to Alestair before apologizing, “I apologize, Lord Alestair. I was slow in my arrival, and I do not think I presented myself well in the meeting. I thank you for your timely assistance when I didn’t know what to do, I greatly appreciate it.”

Alestair removed his hand and leaned forward as he looked up and down at Mevi, “I was hoping for one to match the Lord Magi’s description of you. Regardless I only did as I was commanded to. We must leave now, the Lords Magi wish to speak with us the moment their meeting with the other Magi concludes. We should go to meet them before their own discussion ends.”

Alestair stands quickly and begins to walk around the table, Mevi moves to follow as fast as she could. Alestair’s eyes begin darting across the blank air, and Mevi knew he was interacting with the invisible display everyone seemed to have access to except for her. The two walked out of the room and continued down the corridor. They walked past the door Mevi recalled Zelkan and the Sentinel waited behind, and instead walked further into the spire. The circular corridor eventually split to lead deeper into the spire’s center, and Alestair took the path further within. The floor was slightly slanted upwards as they began to climb up the curving corridor. As the corridor’s turns became sharper and sharper, it was obvious they were climbing high up the spire’s length. Eventually one of the many doors they passed seemed to interest Alestair, and the two of them entered.

Entering into a dark room, dimly lit by an aetherial blue glow, Mevi and Alestair walked into the strangely empty room. Lights began to slowly glow to life around them, and there were strange circular pads positioned along the ground at the base of the walls of the room. Pristine metal circles embedded in the ground, large enough that each could fit two or three average-sized humanoids atop. The strange metal circles were about a meter apart from each other, while the in between was covered in strange glowing runes and exposed wiring. Alestair looked to Mevi and simply said, "step onto the platform there,” pointing at one closest to the entrance wall, “I have already given orders to your attendant, and the Sentinel that accompanies you, as to where we are going. They will return to your facility and await your return.” Mevi was confused but did as she was told. Alestair stepped onto the metal platform beside her own, and they were both suddenly thrust upwards at an incredible speed.

Similar to the various types of elevators and moving platforms from before, but this time much smaller and incredibly fast. Mevi did her best to maintain her balance on the platform, being able to see out from the platform she caught glimpses of Alestair when images of him appeared like stop-motion as they passed uncountable floors. While they flew upwards Alestair stood apparently unfazed by the immense speed. The metal platform seemed contained within a glass-like tube that passed upwards through the many floors they passed by. They moved at an alarming and dizzying speed past so many floors they must’ve been above the cloud layer by now.

Suddenly, Mevi and Alestair stopped seemingly arriving at their destination and then Mevi stumbled out from the platform and onto the floor. The great speed had spun her head around and made her dizzy, Alestair appeared next to her and offered a hand to help her up, Mevi gladly took it to balance herself once again. The moment she regained stability Alestair began to lead her out of the strange room filled with incredibly fast elevators.They continued into another hallway that quickly led them into their final destination; a small room with ornate marble walls mixing with the gray stone of the tower. Blue arcane runes etched into one half of the room while grassy green runes seemed to almost grow from the wall on the other half. The room almost seemed to represent the spiritual essence of both Odion and Maphet, clashing together in a physical sense, before them. Mevi could barely remember anything of what Maphet or Odion looked like in her long-ago dream. Only the earthy stone and infinite sky, which seemed plainly present in the motifs scattered across the walls.

At the center of the room was an opaque cylinder that stretched to the ceiling and covered what looked like a small meeting table not dissimilar to the one Mevi and Alestair had just sat at. Yet this one seemed perfectly circular, with no obvious head of the table. The figures inside were shrouded and darkened, and there looked to be many more figures within than possible in the small space. Like the perspective within was one of an outsider who was faraway, and so the view was drawn back where you could see more, albeit blurry, of the scene than normally possible.

Mevi was so intently interested in the strange scene, that she didn’t even notice Alestair began kneeling with his head down. Mevi took the hint and knelt herself, bowing her head to look at the floor. She was not sure why Alestair was doing this, but Mevi thought he was as good as anyone to take the example of. The two of them sat there like that for a long while, the time spent in a stationary position like that without anything to do warped time into a dreadful length. Yet eventually a high pitched hissing sound began to leak from the cylindrical shield around the meeting table. Steam or smoke began to spill out from under the opaque shield, and it clouded the room’s visibility. As the smoke began to fill the room, the shield slowly began to raise itself up towards the ceiling. Mevi noticed Alestair stiffening and readjusted himself to an even more straight posture. As the smoke cleared, two radiant figures remained. The god-like Magi who were Mevi’s patrons and masters; Odion the Lord of Archives, and Maphet the Lord of Knowledge.