Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Excerpt, "Sapphire Crucible"


“Colorful Magic?” Linvin inquired. “I do not remember you mentioning that when you explained magic to me.”

“I did not discuss it before because I believed it was extinct,” answered Anvar. “You see magic is a complicated subject dating back to the dawn of time. When people were first created, there were very special and rare individuals who were given the gift of magic. It was meant to safeguard all of The Creator’s works. The magic was said to look very much like that which Necromancer uses. It could take any form or color but in its pure state it most resembled sunlight. According to legend the several chosen Original Magicians did not tire from channeling the power and their strength could grow or decrease based on factors of which I am unaware.

“As time crept forward, the Magicians grew evil and corrupt with their excessive power. They used their tremendous gifts to dominate all life in the world. One by one they fell into darkness. Each insidious being became more twisted and wicked than the last. Their bodies contorted with their fall until their forms were unrecognizable and grotesque. They set their wills and subjects against one another in brutal wars that nearly wiped out life for good.

“Again, as legend states, The Creator was angered and displeased by the wanton misuse of his greatest gift. It was clear to him too much power had been concentrated in too few hands. He created a Grand Prism of the Cosmos. By passing it across the world he reclaimed the magic from the Original Magicians and diffused it into the colors I recounted to you previously.

“The gift was dispersed to a larger number of his creations and given limitations. Though a greater number of people could be born with the power, the numbers were still relatively few. When they channeled the power it would tax their endurance, making them subject to their own mortality. In that way The Creator limited the potential for one person to dominate the world.

“To further prevent misuse, He used the Prism to create the Hierarchy of Magic.” Anvar brushed aside the straw from a section of the floor and drew a triangle in the dirt with his finger. He made two horizontal lines crossing it at different places, dividing it into three sections. The first line was drawn two thirds of the way up the triangle. The second line was drawn just before the tip of the triangle and made a smaller almost undetectable area near the top.

Anvar pointed to the largest region. “The Magicians here are the Violet and Green Magicians. As I said before, they are the most common and possess the least power. They can only block magical attacks from their opposite color.” He pointed to the second region. “Next are the Orange and Yellow Magicians. They are considerably fewer in number and can channel more power. They can block any attack from a Green or Violet Magician or their opposite color. The final area is reserved for the Red and Blue Magicians. They are so rare I have never come across one in all my years. Their powers can dominate all but their rival color. They can channel the most power and unleash it with both amazing and terrifying results.

“Another legend states the Red Sapphire was actually part of the Great Prism the Creator detached and gave to the world to ensure freedom and stability. Whether that is true or not is a matter of debate. What is not argued is the breadth of its power. Even so, Colorful Magic would inherently be stronger.

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