“The blending of mana and insight is one of the foundations our world is based on. If others don’t have this knowledge, our world itself will begin to crumble. We must share this knowledge to guarantee our world prospers, not keep it under wraps for only the elite to hold power. Greater threats are coming and those with corrupted mana are breaking down the barriers. Though nothing significant happens now, we still have to watch out for our future so I beg the high council to please let us open the book of spirits and pass it down to all beings that can harness mana.”

 

A man with brown hair and blue eyes stands in the center of a council room looking up as he makes his plea. Right under his faux hawk his mana mark is revealed, 12 marks glowing brightly. His overcoat shows many medals of past battles, and his stature is firm as he stares down the council, waiting for their reply.

 

One of the councilmen stands up. “Commander Altis, we have been over this! There is no proof that the barriers are weakening and the corrupted on the other side do not have power to break down the barrier even if it is weakened. Our technology as well as our mana marks continue to grow, we will continue to get stronger and stronger. No one can stand in our way or stop us, yet you suggest giving our sacred text and techniques to lesser beings when we can’t even understand all of it ourselves? Have you seen how intelligent they are? They probably can’t even gain insight in any of the lesser books let alone the book of spirits.”

 

With a calm demeanor, Altis spoke, “You say that, but didn’t we all gain help from the lesser beings a millenia ago? Weren’t they one of the reasons we were able to push out all the corrupted from our realm? Weren’t they the ones that came up with a way to create a barrier that keeps the corrupted out? Our ancestors considered them as partners and not lesser beings. Councilman Harg, I think we should understand our past and how that can help with our future.”

 

Harg responded briefly with a face of disgust, “Us as equals? Look at the lessers right now. There is war, famine, kingdoms divided and they constantly seek power to rule over each other? Back then they all lived in harmony under one ruling king, but those days are long gone. Back then they were considered respectable enough to be considered as partners. But now, they don’t deserve our help. I ask the others on the council to take a vote on this matter.”

 

The other 6 seated council members looked at each other and nodded. 6 of the seats voted in denying the request, with only one voting for it.

 

Harg, with a smile, nodded and looked at Altis. “I’m sorry Altis, but it seems your request has been denied. Furthermore, this topic will not be brought up again.”

 

Altis walks out of the chamber with no change in his expression. The chamber door closes and he is escorted by his first class knight Mira. She had short black hair and brown eyes. She was carrying two daggers on the hilt of her uniform. On the upper left shoulder of her uniform was an emblem with the number 1.

 

“How was the meeting commander?”

 

“A bunch of idiots who only care about power, like usual.”

 

Altis gritted his teeth, annoyed with the council, he looked back at Mira with a hard determination in his eye.

 

“We follow the plan tonight, ready the knights under my command.

 

Mira nodded her head and left.

In Altis’s private barracks,12 knights with the same uniform as Mira are waiting about. Each of their uniforms had a number ordering from 1-12. The knights were chatting, until they heard the door open. The moment Altis steps in, the room fell silent. All the knights lined up in numerical order with their fists across their chests.

 

Altis looked at his subordinates, pleased

 

“ I told you all that I may one day do something against the council, and it might cause me and all those associated with me to be labeled as traitors to our kingdom. Today is that day. If any of you would like to leave and not be a part of this, now is the time. I will not blame you nor hold any grudge against you as this is your life. For those that are willing to stay, I will fill you in on the details.”

 

None of the knights moved

 

Altis smiled

 

“As expected.”

 

Altis waved his hand and the mark on his forehead glowed, an energy emanating from his body created a bubble around him and his knights. Soundproofing the room so no one can listen in.

 

“Tonight we steal the 12 books and the book of spirits, then I shall bring them down to the lower realms and cast a barrier that will stop anyone from the upper realm from coming down using the book of cosmics. You may stay in our realm and go into hiding or join me and live in the lower realms guiding the right people with the 12 books.”

 

The knight with the number 11 on his shoulder raised his hand

 

“Commander, can we peek at the books to gain insight ourselves?”

 

“All the books are locked with a magic seal as a countermeasure, and the books themselves are entities with their own minds. If the book accepts you, it will allow you to understand it, otherwise you can break the magic seal made by the council and commanders then overpower the book's spirit then you can peek. Let's save the peeking for when we succeed Jayden.”

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

 

“Now I’m going to assign you all a book to retrieve and we shall rendezvous at the realm gate.”

 

Cosmic - Mira 1

Space - Jayce 2

Time - Caleb 3

Shadow - Larson 4

Light - Andre 5

Spark - Aria 6

Cold - Jack 7

Heat - Rundel 8

Air - Cain 9

Earth - Nero 10

Fire - Jayden 11

Water - Belle 12

 

The knights nodded as they received their assigned books

 

“I’ll personally be going for the book of spirits as that one is weird to handle.”

 

“Now, to tell you a little more about the books before we go, when you come into contact with the book, imagine a form in your mind and the book will transform into it, that way if someone sees you, they won’t notice you carrying a book. This is a secret only the commanders and council knows.”

“Any questions?”

 

The knights remained silent.

 

“The mission starts now, be at the realm gate in 30 minutes.”

 

As soon as the barrier went down, the knights rushed towards their mission.

15 minutes later Altis and Mira arrive at the realm gate around the same time.

 

Another 5 minutes pass and Caleb, Larson, Andre, and Aria show up.

 

Another 5 minutes pass

 

Jack, Rundel, Cain, Nero, and Belle arrive.

 

5 more minutes and Jayden arrives

 

“Phew, made it! Man, I was so nervous.” said Jayden

 

5 more minutes

 

“Hmm, it's not normal for Jayce to be late. I wonder if something happened.

 

As soon as Jayden spoke his words an ax came down between his neck and shoulder. Blood splatters and Jayden falls down. Jayce is behind him.

The Knights and Altis are all focused on Jayce while keeping aware of their surroundings.

 

“Jayce! What is the meaning of this!!!?

No words came from Jayce, only a smile

 

The sound of footsteps coming out from the shadows

 

Harg and 3 other council members show up with the other commanders, encircling them.

 

Altis quickly deployed a solid mana barrier around the gate and his knights.

 

“Quickly!! Get in.”

 

The knights, without hesitation, ran in.

 

A flurry of fireballs started crashing into Altis’s barrier.

 

“How long can you keep up the barrier when you are facing the force of 3 other commanders? Just give us back the books and die an honorable death. Jayce here will take over your spot as the new commander.”

Harg sneered.

 

Altis slowly approached the realm gate. Maintaining a barrier of that size while fending off heavy firepower took all his concentration.

 

He kept getting closer and closer to the gate. One by one his knights went in as well. He finally made it to the gate and released the barrier jumping through.

 

A small fluctuation and a flash of light,as Altis walks through the gates, he notices another commander and their knights fighting against his.

 

Nero, with a wry smile.

 

“Commander, I guess this is it for us.”

 

Altis took a quick look at the surroundings, noticing that there was nowhere to run, they were completely surrounded in the lower realms.

“Give me all the books and buy me some time.”

 

The Knights quickly threw their books to him and went on defending themselves against the barrage of swords, arrows, and spears.

 

The other commander halted his soldiers and slowly walked to the front.

 

“Altis, just surrender. We have blocked your escape route and on the other side of the realm gate are the other commanders. Give me the pleasure of taking your head myself. I will spare your subordinates if you do. Otherwise you are all finished.”

 

“Malkis, you may be right, but if our history has taught you anything, you should know that I will never surrender. Everyone! Defensive stance!”

 

The knights formed around Altis and each deployed an overlapping mana barrier around them protecting Altis in the center.

 

Altis opened up the book of Cosmos, and recited a spell. The books all gathered in one white barrier between his hands.

 

“Stop him!! NOW!”

 

A bombardment of different types of spells, powered up weapons and array of arrows bombard them from all sides. The knights' mana barriers began to crack.

 

The white barrier in Altis’s hands shot up into the sky carrying the books and spreading in all directions just like a shooting star. An energy fluctuation left the book of cosmic before it shot into its own direction.

 

The fluctuation was drawn around the realmgate, creating a barrier and sealing it out of sight through a crack in invisible space.

 

The knights started falling one by one, getting hit by the different attacks. Only Mira and Altis are left standing.

 

Malkis Fuming

 

“WHAT DID YOU DO!!!!!?”

 

“Sealed the realm gate and gave the lower world a chance. Haha the book of Cosmics is the only way to go to the upper realm, and where it landed, even I don’t know.” Altis Commanded

 

Altis turned to Mira

 

“Goodbye Mira, find the books and help the lower realms.”

 

“Commander, wait!” Yelled Mira

 

Altis envelops Mira with wind magic and sends her flying in the distance. The knights under Malkis surrounded Altis. Malkis approaches and stands about two feet apart from Altis, holding his sword towards Altis.

 

“Open the way back and I will give you a quick death.” Malkis said as he glared towards Altis

 

“That is not something you can decide.”

 

Altis smirked

 

In the distance as Mira is flying through the air, she looks at the realm gate’s direction and a big explosion of Mana and fire enveloped the whole area.

“Goodbye Commander. It was an Honor.”

 

Malkis looks around, most of his Knights are dead, only 3 remain uninjured. Malkis, being at the front of the explosion, did not look too well. Lots of steam was emanating from him, most of his uniform was burned as well as the top of his right eye.

 

“Let’s find the books and get back home, I don’t know how long I can stand being in the lower realms.

 

The books fly all over the continent Thousands of kilometers apart and even further, morphing into different trinkets and objects. The book of spirits landed at the bottom of a private lake in the mountains. The book shapes itself to a rock and lays below the water.

 

Various other books did the same. Morphing and changing into forms and landing in environments that suit their name.

 

Back in the upper realms as the council was waiting by the realm gate with Jayce.

 

“Commander Malkis should be back soon, Jayce, thank you for informing us about Commander Altis’s plan. I’m happy I placed you as one of his knights, but your skills are what brought you up to this point. Well I guess I should say Commander Jayce now.”

 

Jayce and Harg smile at each other with a small green glow from their eyes. Jayce gets on one knee.

 

“Thank you for the promotion Councilman Harg, I will serve the council well.”

 

*******

2 years later. The cries of a baby being born in a medium sized estate can be heard. The Mother that is holding the baby has brown hair and brown eyes, her husband can be seen with his hand on her shoulder. Around 5’7, white hair and yellow eyes, slim, but fit. He looks down at his son, white hair and yellow eyes.

 

“He’s so small, but he is definitely an Arnell with those features. What should we name him?

 

“Let's name him Nicholas.”