Undertow: The Reaching!

The next generation of training mages began.

Nearly a month ago, the Undertow had suffered its greatest battle yet, or so many think. An infamous group of mages, known as the Barded Ones, left a wake of destruction in their path. Even with their defeat at the hands of one Liana De’Marquis -- and how she was a vessel for an entity known as ‘Davinri’ --, the land still had to rebuild. A new generation had to learn both the diversity and tenacity of magic.

Juliana Georgia De’Marquis -- commonly called Liana De’Marquis -- decided to join up with a young mage named Mikaiah Zirie. Mikaiah was an apprentice to a much older man, named Mr. Gracious. Mr. Gracious proved to be quite the mysterious man. And he wasted no time with starting their training. As Liana got dressed in an outfit of a dark blue underdress and an indigo overcoat, she put a flower in her hair and tied it up in the back.

Mikaiah dressed similarly, save for the flower and the ponytail. He had medium-length, bright red hair. He also had a pair of teal eyes, both green and blue. The old mage, Mr. Gracious, supposedly led the behind-the-scenes maintenance of the Ratelle District.

Whatever that meant! He wore a long, red coat with a cape around it that button at the collar. He had tan skin and wrinkly, but muscular, arms. He had long, white hair. He smelled of sage and cotton, contrasting Liana’s signature scent of cherries and magnolias.

As Mr. Gracious blocked a swat from Liana’s Grappling Sword, the old mage lifted up a single finger. He kept it concealed behind his back. A red twinkling began to glow around his hips, causing platforms of glass to surround his rear. Underneath the glass, the wildlife of the Lavender Clams in the Ratelle District started to squeal and squirm.

Liana stifled a giggle, and she watched all of the clams as they waddled around Mr. Gracious’s wrinkled, tanned feet. As the old mage brought his staff down over Liana’s head, the young woman spun to the side. She smashed her blade into one of the clams, her eyes wide in realization.

“Oh my, how cruel.” Mr. Gracious smirked. “But strategic.”

“‘But strategic’, indeed.” Liana licked her lips. “Bloody, I’m getting awful thirsty. Do we have any nice smoothies around here? Hopefully without the yucky clam-juice.”

Nearby, Mikaiah blinked. “I don’t-- I don’t get it. What’d she do?”

“If magic is just a sensitivity to the energies of a District -- Even if it draws upon one’s stamina, too -- then to swat at the organic pillars of such a district is a keen technique to weak the enemy.” Mr. Gracious said. He spoke slowly and with a rasp.

Mikaiah gulped. His brow was still furrowed in a tight confusion. He turned to Liana, both of them donning blue capes. He scratched his cheek. “Liana, what does he--”

“And here I was, thinking that you knew more than me!” Liana rolled her eyes. “Look, the less Lavender Clams for him to draw power from with that staff of his, the better.”

“Though their energy does not just dissipate into nothingness once they become deceased,” Mr. Gracious began. Then, smacked at Liana’s sword once again. “Granted, it does become weakened and thin, as such ethereal vibration does travel throughout the rest of Ratelle. One day, the energy will recycle itself into the Void Rivers.”

“Oh, really? I just love a good history-lesson while training for my life.” Liana huffed, catching her breath. She fiddled with the snap-buttons and collar of her new blue cape. She then dual-wielded her sword. “’cuz why should learning ever be about just desks and sitting, eh?”

“Hmph. Welcome to being a Covenant Mage, Liana. Of course, I need you to actually use your newfound magic. That Grappling Sword has overstayed its welcome. Also, if you want a real history-lesson, shall I tell you the tale of Mad Willing the Painter?”

“Erm,” Liana shivered. Then, she tripped back over a colony of Lavender Clams. She caught herself only by jumping over to another colony. In the distance, the taverns of Ratelle carried on with their alcoholic charm and merriment. The smell of fermented lavender sickened her nose. It tickled her gag-reflex at times. “I met a painter once, actually, by the name of Will. It was, you might say, ‘off-screen’. It was an off-screen sort of affair. Alternate-Universe guy. Is that what your story is on about?”

“Hah. Perhaps.” Mr. Gracious closed his eyes. Then, he stood tall and lowered his staff. In contrast to his two students, he wore robes of a dark red. He had long, silver hair and chestnut skin. His eyes were an earthy green. “Such was the tale… of Mad Willing the Painter. He painted. And painted. And… wait for it… painted.”

“Dang, sounds like he was a real painter or somethin’.” Mikaiah chuckled from the sidelines. He leaned against one of the abandoned saloons on the outskirts of the district. Ratelle had many saloons, but many more were occupied. Instead, Mikaiah enjoyed the empty dank.

“I’d has-at a guess and say he wasn’t much on cooking or astronomy. Was he, perchance, a fan of painting?” Liana put a hand to her chin. “Just a guess.”

Mr. Gracious let out a boisterous, wholesome laugh. His silver hair swam across his old, seasoned face. He stood by a tree that had Lavender Clams colonizing its bark. “The sense of humor from you two is magic in itself! It has, throughout my many years, been seen as sorcery to craft a good joke. There are three different types of overall magic, after all. At least, that is what I wished to instruct people of. Many listened. Many did not.”

Liana squinted, her ears perking up. “What are the three types, then?”

“Why, you should know. You once knew a man from the high dimension of Zodicropolis, did you not? Creation. Destruction. And Paralysis. And as all good painters will come to find, the magic of Creation has a habit of… drifting right through their fingertips.”

Mikaiah shivered. “Oh man, where’s he going with this? I swear, Mr. Gracious, you sure do talk in riddles a lot.”

“You know, speaking of creation, I tried getting into painting once. Had an old friend, Regen, who really inspired me.” Liana smiled. She sat herself down over some dark, tall grasses of catmint and sage. She wore white thigh-highs and white sneakers, as well as a black dress top.

“In this multiverse, those who are sensitive to magic must be careful. All mages come to learn, in time, the three fundamental forces of… inspiration. Mad Willing went by such a moniker, because he painted so much that one of the Zodaian Gods had to stop him. He would soon cover his entire planet with his paint. And he would’ve gotten away with it, too, had it not been for a certain kind of nightmare… from Caldusa.”

“Cal-- Caldusa? Why, I don’t recognize the name.” Liana’s brow furrowed. Her blue eyes went narrow with suspicion. Then, she appeared like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. She dropped her sword. “Wait! That sounds an awful lot like--”

“The feminine form of Calduze, the Zodaian God of De-Inspiration and Paralysis. Yes. And, after a certain nightmare of a pale-white, sexual demon straddling his chest, Mad Willing could one day paint no more. And, as the legend claims, he went--”

“Mad?” Liana pursed her lips.

Mr. Gracious merely nodded. Then, he drew circles in the soil with his staff. He looked at Liana with an aged and tired smirk. “Librion Zodaius made you very keen, indeed.”

“Well, I was always a tad shrewd, thank you.” Liana winked.

“Hmph. I don’t think so, no.” Mr. Gracious gave a challenging grin. “But protective, yes. For yourself and others. Reasonable and headstrong. And so, from these three main facets of ‘magic’, we so see a plethora of sub-strata. Come, let us give pause… and break bread. I sense that a break will encourage you two to use more of your magic. Even in my aged form, I require a sandwich.”

Mikaiah sighed. “Ugh, I was aboutta say! I’m gettin’ hungry, gramps.”

“You seem like the hungry sort.” Liana teased, nudging his shoulder. “You and that nasally protagonist voice. So, what do mages from Wopashai like? Crackers?”

“Hah-Hah. You’re real funny. Nope. I’m actually a fan of protein-cookies!”

“Protein-Cookies? Why, that sounds like it’d be an awful lot of fun to bake.”

“I actually know a few bakers in Wopashai! I could take you to them sometime. If-- If you’d be down, that is.” Suddenly, a blush about as red as Mikaiah’s hair spread across his face.

Liana shook her head, but laughed. “Don’t know what the sudden shyness is for. I’m always ‘down’ to see more of the Undertow!”

Mikaiah scratched his hair. This is the girl… who helped beat the Barded Ones? Damn. I’m really in high company. And she’s-- She’s way prettier than Lancra Manami. Heh. Maybe one day, I could introduce the two of them.

“And when we’re done with our feast, I also feel a change of scenery is in order. Liana and Mikaiah, I’m going to show you something that only few mages and sorceresses alike have ever seen in this district. The Springs of M’Vel. It is a large creek of natural mint-water, and tall sage-trees. And then, I have a story to tell for the two of you.”

“Ooo, story-time!” Liana cheered.

“Oh boy. Ya just don’t get it, Liana. This guy likes to hear himself talk.”

“I’ve been around quite a few men who like that.”

“And do they ever… stop telling stories?” Mikaiah shivered.

“No.” Liana smirked sardonically. “You just try and get them to tell the good ones.”

Mr. Gracious nodded. “I reckon this one is a very… ‘good one’. For you see, it’s how… all of

this came to be. How the Ratelle District shifted over time. How I’ve seen too many years for my liking. How I’ll see yet a few more to come. How heavy the invisible crown is that I wear. How war painted this land, especially from the antagonisms of your forefathers, Mikaiah Zirie.”

“M-- Mine?” Mikaiah gulped. “Uh, sorry, uh, I think.”

“It went by a few names, but we called it… the Unrick Wars.”

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