The Magi's Society

Mevi awoke almost instantly. Shooting up from a lying position, her body groaned in response to the sudden movement. She ached and her limbs were stiff, but she was awake once again. The amount of time that had passed was unknown, and her surroundings were equally unknown. As seemed normal with her more lucid dreams, it took several moments of disorientation before past memories from her dream-scape began trickling back. As her mind caught up with the wakefulness, her instincts told her to begin investigating her unknown surroundings.

Mevi was inside of a large room, strange devices and tools lined the walls and stretched overhead with peculiar connectors or large pipes. Some of the unknown equipment escaped the walls and divided the room into sections with their pure bulk. Few of the walls were noticeable, as the room was almost entirely covered in odd devices and alien apparatus. The few walls visible looked to be made of a strong white marble, or some other similar substance, and were reinforced with overlapping bolts of metal. The odd contraptions whirred and buzzed around her, tiny devices clattered in hidden places of this strange lab. As she looked around, and attempted to understand her new environment, she heard a mechanical skittering behind her. Jumping at the sound, Mevi turned to face the sound, and there on the floor looked to be a spider-like metal creature.

Made from polished brass, a small spider the size of her fist skittered across the floor only to stop less than a meter away as it noticed Mevi’s gaze. The creature remained paused, as if pretending to not be animated at all, until its willpower caved and some fear took over instead. The strange thing’s confidence fled, and its legs followed, as the brass spider raced away into the jungle of metal and equipment. Mevi was in a realm that seemed truly alien, even to what she had experienced so far.

As the creature fully escaped from sight Mevi could hear other types of skittering that had gone unnoticed among the cacophony of mechanical noises. Still confused after so long asleep, Mevi’s attention was easily stolen by movement and noises. Darting creatures shined with finely polished metal as they sped in and out of view. Several creatures, of various sizes and shapes, ran from one device to another as if operating the strange tools. Other creatures carried items of unknown purpose around the large room to other, hidden, storage places. Like small workers, the constructs tried to rapidly escape Mevi’s gaze while also attempting to complete their assigned tasks. It was almost amusing, to her dreary and confused mind. Mevi’s awareness regenerated quickly, and her common sense began fully returning as it pierced the haze of a long sleep. Her amusement ended, as she realized the many unknowns around her could very well be dangerous.

Mevi became more acutely aware of her surroundings, and began to properly observe her surroundings without her previous curious mirth. She finally noticed she was sitting atop a cushioned examination table, on the cushion under her was a scattering of glittering dust, accumulating alongside a loose metallic chain and simple blue gloves. A fragment of Mevi’s dream made its impression on her, and she knew this was the remains of her once-Maige and that it was fully destroyed. The memory of her dream-adventure was still mostly foggy, even now, and the exact details melted away as her sleep fatigue slowly dispersed. Yet, even as her smallest memories of the encounter faded, the strong impression of the event seemed branded on her soul. As Mevi focused on the deep impression, and attempted to recall her dream-quest, felt as if there was now a second presence within her; her dread companion had always been present and watching but content to torment during her weakest moments only, but now her daemon seemed almost awake. It seemed grateful. Some strange connection was bonded between the two that Mevi couldn’t completely comprehend. She found herself unconsciously reaching her hand to her heart as if she could somehow feel its cold presence.

As Mevi bonded with her soul’s daemon, a calm hum began echoing around her. Daring her eyes to the strange equipment, which blocked her vision of most of the lab, the noises sounded like mechanical breathing. Yet the hum came from all around her, and her panic began to overtake reason as she realized she was in a completely foreign, and potentially hostile, situation. As the realization of how endangered she might actually be flooded over her, and the truth of not knowing how she got there set in, a voice came from behind her, “Good, you are awake. I will archive your quick recovery.”

Mevi turned to face the source of the words, recognizing the familiar manner of speech. Behind her, standing as if he had always been there, was an unfamiliar figure. Cloaked in white robes, and bearing a mantle of blue and gold knowledge within arcane scripts, was a figure who bore a radiant nimbus etched with arcane blue scripture. Their mask bore the accumulation of all known knowledge, which animated itself as scrolling archives. The unfamiliar figure was paired with the familiar stern, and almost earthy, voice of her dream-companion, “The archives suggested your potential confusion. To alleviate the haze you are experiencing, I am Odion. The Grand Archivist, Husband of Maphet. I have been commanded to tend to you.”

It took several moments before Mevi mustered any words at all, the being before her could only be a Lord Magi, “My lord! I, um, I apologize for my current state…” The memory of her companion, and the way she treated him so casually, came back suddenly in a wave of embarrassment.

“Strange, your reaction was not as the archives suggested. I will amend this. Regardless, dispense with honorifics and hesitation. Supplication is not required for my archival of your condition.” The Magi spoke plainly, and didn’t hold the superior tone Mevi had assumed was typical among his kind.

Mevi processed the new arrival, and the words he spoke. Then it hit her, he had said ‘Maphet’ was his wife? Kalesi told her, what felt like so long ago, that the Magi who saved her was named that. Looking up at the Magi, trying to hide her embarrassment, the two did look very similar. Both wore white with mixtures of arcane blue scripture, and both seemed to have eccentric personalities. Mevi was almost tempted to ask questions, but hesitated without the proper recourse Kalesi had always provided. Odion waited patiently, his emotions were masked under the vestments of the Magi. Mevi finally built her courage, remembering their almost cordial interactions within her dream, “May I make a comment, Lord Magi?”

“As I mentioned, I do not require engraciation. My archives will benefit from knowing your personality.” Declared Odion, with some amount of authority to stress his meaning.

“Then I will say what I am thinking… You look entirely different than I imagined. I remember you very differently within my dream.”

Odion didn’t seem surprised by her comment, but seemed to tilt his head in curiosity, “That is not what my archives suggested would be at the forefront of your curiosity. Yes, I look different. Within your ‘dream’, you and I saw each other as a fragment of what our spirits are fathomed as. In this, physical, realm I am dressed in tribute to my wife, Maphet. Just as you are dressed in similar fashion to your mentor, who I believed would be the spearhead of your questions.”

Mevi’s mind was still recovering from the strange fog of a long sleep, but her worry raced back to her as memories of Kalesi’s wounded form, “Kalesi! Odion, can you please take me to her? Where is she?”

Odion straightened and gestured for Mevi to step down from the examination table, “Of course. I was instructed to do this much. You may follow me.”

Mevi quickly climbed down from the table, and Odion was already hovering away from her towards a closed door. The entire room was covered in so much brass, metal, gold, and strange devices that the door was almost camouflaged against the wall. Mevi quickly caught up to her guide, and dream companion, almost tripping over herself as her body was still numb and slowly awakening. As the door opened, light shone in brightly to a degree that almost blinded Mevi. It was only then did she realize how incredibly dark the lab actually was, her heightened vision in the dark had made the room feel naturally lit but in reality there was little to no real light.

As the two exited the dark lab, and Mevi’s sight returned after the blinding, they began down a hallway. As she recovered, Mevi noticed she was flanked by two silent golden Sentinels that held an arcane blue brand on their chest armor. The Sentinels made no sound, even as their metal boots met the stone floor, and followed Mevi and Odion without comment. The hallway was a simple gray stone floor with marble-white walls. There was light from above, but as she had grown assume she couldn’t find the source of its radiance. Odion moved forward, waiting only a few seconds for Mevi to recover when she would stumble or trip on her sleepy limbs. The Magi’s elegant attire hid most of his body, if any of his true body was even visible at all; the Magi were so alien to Mevi, she could not tell where elegant sewing ended and actual skin began. It was very likely that a Magi never showed their skin, or that their clothes were somehow their bodies, any curious thought seemed just as possible while the Magi seemed to fly over the ground silently.

The journey was short, and was only a small distance from the lab where Mevi had awoken. As Odion stopped, suddenly, in front of a white-iron door he turned to Mevi with a serious disposition, “Your mentor was wounded. I archived the nature of her injuries and instructed our staff how to tend to her. You are in a delicate state, so maintain your composure and emotions as best you can.” Mevi almost made a comment to ask what he meant, or why she needed to maintain composure, but before she could the door opened and Odion entered the doorway. The two Sentinels turned to flank the doorway so as to guard it, and Mevi walked inside carefully.

The new room was dimly lit, and maintained several consoles near the door with various buttons and devices. Near the open door were three white and blue robed individuals. Their ornate masks were hanging behind their heads like hoods, but still gleamed with a mixture of sky and cloud. As Odion and Mevi entered, the three individuals placed themselves out of the way of the main path, and when they saw Mevi they averted their gaze in an almost shame-filled way. As Odion led Mevi inside, a single large capsule stood at the center of the room. Filled with an unknown green-blue liquid, and housing a single resident. Kalesi.

Kalesi levitated in the strange liquid, hanging in its center as she bobbed up and down slowly. A line of tubes connected to Kalesi’s mouth and wired to the top of the capsule before disappearing in the technology of the liquid vat. Kalesi’s wound seemed to have stretched farther than even Mevi’s enraged visions assumed. Kalesi was dressed in very little, and her bare skin displayed the char and burns that were produced by the concentrated plasma. In parts, Kalesi’s skin was completely burnt away to show ravaged muscle and bone. As Kalesi slowly spun in the vat of liquid, Mevi beheld the full view of damage caused by such a small weapon. The waregear didn’t seem capable of full protection, and Kalesi’s back was almost entirely burnt with her right shoulder being mostly raw bone.

The sight of Kalesi brought tears to Mevi’s eyes the moment her injury was even hinted at. She could only have imagined the damage that could bring down Kalesi. She had been so stoic, and unconquerable, that only damage of this degree seemed capable of even pausing the strong woman. Despite Mevi’s delusions of Kalesi’s strength, the evidence levitated right in front of her in a vat of unknown liquid. Yet even as Mevi’s eyes welled, Kalesi’s closed eyelids twitched with activity and her intact limbs flinched occasionally. There was still life inside of the undefeatable woman. Mevi, at some point, had walked to the vat’s edge. She was almost within reach of the large capsule that held Kalesi, only meters away from her touch. The attendants watched with caution and worry, looking to Odion for some kind of command or instruction. Mevi ignored her spectators, and reached out a hand towards the container sustaining Kalesi, and with her mind she could feel the dreaming thoughts of her mentor. Kalesi was still there, slumbering in a deep sleep, and her soul remained intact. Mevi, still with tears in her eyes, turned to face Odion, “I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you for caring for her… But I don’t know what to do now.”

Odion walked down the short steps of the lab, reaching the main floor that Mevi was about to collapse onto, “My wife has commanded, a beneficial trade. I am to be her messenger as she is away, declaring her claim.”

“What does she want? What could I possibly give in exchange for Kalesi?” Mevi struggled to fight back her sobs.

“You will become her Magi’s Apprentice. You will become entirely, and exclusively, hers. You will submit yourself to her will, and vow your loyalty while in her service. You will trade yourself, for your mentor. So declares the Archivist.”

Mevi’s heart seemed to stop. What kind of declaration was that? How could Mevi possibly be of such value, and wasn’t a Magi’s Apprentice some high rank? Mevi was stunned into silence, and even her tears began to dry from sheer surprise. It took several moments for her to compose herself enough to process the demand. But it took no time at all for Mevi to make her decision. She would do whatever it took to secure Kalesi’s safety, but she held a question regardless. “If I may ask, why? Why could anyone possibly want me?” asked Mevi with genuine confusion.

“You are more than you know. My archives have proven this. What lays dormant within you was witnessed today, and proves my wife’s instinct to me. Her knowledge is boundless, and her power is unequal in the realm of foresight. If she says you are valuable, I and her followers know this as fact.”

“But what if I am not what she hopes? What would happen to Kalesi?”

Authority seeps from every word as Odion declares his promise, “Her contract is absolute. She asks for your everything. For your complete loyalty until your death, or her release of you. In no words does she declare failure, and so if you bind yourself to her; your contract is absolute, and will be fulfilled.”

Mevi already knew her decision. There was no decision to make. For her mentor’s safety, no promise was too much. Mevi bolstered herself, and wiped what tears had dried on her face, and with as much confidence as she could muster she said, “I will submit myself completely to Maphet, The Lord of Knowledge.”