Chapter 31

Gotham had to physically stop Archer from practicing his spells before he could pull him out of his deep trance.

When Archer finally returned to a normal perception of reality, he saw Anka, Sol, and Mailik standing nearby.

“Yes?” Archer asked.

“We have a problem,” Sol said.

“Tell me.”

They left the practice hall, and Sol began to explain.

“The Arkonians have stopped their advance.

“Arkonia has issued an ultimatum.

“We must evacuate every Lilian from Planet to another world.

“Otherwise, Arkonia will take radical measures and destroy both our forces and the Lilians.”

“An empty threat?” Archer asked.

“No. I don’t think so,” Sol said.

“Do you remember our second meeting with Akbert?

“The one immediately after we made contact with the Dreurgs?”

“Yes. I remember.”

“During that meeting, while speaking with Kronveld, King Akbert mentioned the Dark Archive,” Sol said.

“Yes. I vaguely remember that.”

“The Dark Archive is what he meant by radical measures,” Sol said.

“King Akbert has the power to open a volume of forbidden magic capable of transforming Akbert and the entire population of Arkonia into undead beings.

“It is extremely ancient sorcery, completely unlike the magic you’ve been practicing here at Mos.

“You don’t need to be a mage to use the Dark Archive.

“All it requires is the sacrifice of someone of royal blood.

“Akbert could sacrifice himself.

“In doing so, he would become the first of the undead—and the ruler of all the undead created beneath him.”

“How do you know this?” Archer asked.

“I studied hundreds of books on the history of magic,” Sol said.

“And now the larger picture is beginning to come into focus.

“The Dark Archive and Arkonia’s ultimatum aren’t the whole story.

“The Dreurg prophecy.

“The Erians’ Last Catalyst.

“The Dreurgs themselves.

“The Lilians.

“They’re all cards from the same deck.

“Pieces of a much larger design.

“Have you ever heard of higher magic?” Sol asked.

“No,” Archer said.

“Remember how Kronveld used magic the day before he attacked us.

“He didn’t speak any incantations.

“He simply moved his hand, and magic obeyed him.”

“Yes,” Archer admitted.

“The ability to command magical forces without a verbal component is one of the prerequisites for what is known as higher magic,” Sol explained.

“And here is where things become interesting.

“Higher magic hasn’t been practiced in Arkonia for thousands of years because Planet does not have a positive magical coefficient.

“Planet’s magical coefficient is neutral because the mere existence of the Lilians and the Dreurgs alters the magical environment of the world.

“But remove the Lilians and the Dreurgs from Planet, and the balance shifts sharply toward a positive magical coefficient.

“Higher magic becomes possible once again.”

“You think they revealed their hand with the ultimatum?” Archer asked.

“I think so,” Sol replied.

“If I’m right, then to someone trying to restore higher magic, it makes no difference whether the Lilians die or are evacuated.

“All that matters is that there are no Lilians left on Planet.”

“And no Dreurgs,” Archer said.

“Correct,” Sol replied.

“Sinking the Dreurg fleet while it crosses the ocean is entirely within the capabilities of present-day Arkonia.

“And it would become far easier if they used the Dark Archive.

“Mages become particularly dangerous when transformed into undead.

“The use of magic literally burns them out and quickly destroys them, but the magic they can wield is far more powerful than anything you’re being taught here at Mos.”

Archer considered this.

“Surely Trinity can prevent the Dreurgs from being exterminated,” he said.

“Absolutely,” Sol replied.

“The simplest solution would be to sink the entire Dreurg fleet before the Dreurgs board their ships.

“They would be stranded on the continent of Holika, but the overwhelming majority of their population would remain safe.

“And most importantly, higher magic would remain inaccessible.”

“What does Arkonia want with higher magic?” Archer asked.

“That is the most important question,” Sol said.

“On the one hand, higher magic can grant its users immortality and tremendous power.

“Fairly mundane ambitions.

“On the other hand, higher magic can perform rituals on a planetary scale.

“One such ritual is known as the Black Harvest.

“All life on a planet is transformed into pure mana, which can then be harvested by anyone who knows higher magic.”

“Every living thing on the planet?” Archer asked.

“Just like the Dreurg prophecy.”

“Yes,” Sol said.

“That is why I’m concerned.”

“Why hasn’t anyone figured this out before us?” Archer asked.

“Because higher magic hasn’t been practiced for thousands of years.

“It is ancient, long-forgotten knowledge.

“Even I found references to it only in the section devoted to legends,” Sol said.

“And until now, no one has possessed all the pieces of this complicated puzzle.

“I’m the only one who has all the facts gathered in one place.

“That’s the only reason I was able to reach these conclusions.”

“And Kronveld is our primary suspect?” Archer asked.

“He’s the magician and deceiver from the Dreurg prophecy?”

“Yes,” Sol replied.

“Kronveld is our primary suspect.

“He is the most powerful mage in Arkonia, and probably on all of Planet.

“But I want additional confirmation.

“That’s why I came to you.”

“What do you need me to do?” Archer asked.

“Very little,” Sol said.

He handed Archer a book, opening it to a particular page.

Archer looked down and saw an illustration and description of a magical artifact.

“The artifact is called the Shard of Cosmic Providence,” Sol said.

“It allows its user to see into other dimensions, including the magical and spiritual realms.

“The Shard consumes the user’s mana, which limits how long a person can spend observing another dimension.

“But I think I’ve found a way around that limitation.

“Mos has a well of inexhaustible mana.”

“That’s right,” Archer said.

“I found unconfirmed accounts suggesting that bathing in such a source can provide a person with unlimited mana for as long as they remain immersed.

“You could enter the well and, while surrounded by that source of mana, use the Shard to observe the magical dimension.”

“All right,” Archer said.

“And what am I supposed to see there?”

“Kronveld,” Sol replied.

“Try to find Kronveld.

“And use your Glasses of Omniscience.

“Perhaps they’ll reveal something.

“One more thing.

“Once you find him in the magical dimension, turn the Shard over to its other side so you can observe the spirit realm.

“Theoretically, the spirit realm can reveal a person’s connections to other people, other beings, and other spirits.

“If Kronveld truly is the person described in the Dreurg prophecy, then a great many such connections should converge upon him.”

“You keep saying ‘theoretically,’” Archer said.

“Yes,” Sol replied.

“The spirit realm can be thought of as something alive, with a character of its own.

“We don’t know how it will respond specifically to you.

“It reveals itself to some people.

“To others, it does not.

“Hence, ‘theoretically.’”

“Understood,” Archer said.

“So the first thing you need me to do is draw the Shard, correct?”

“Yes,” Sol said.

“All right,” Archer replied.

“Meet you at the well of inexhaustible mana?”

“I’ll meet you there,” Sol said.

Archer returned to his room in the monastery, opened the chest, and found the magic brush inside.

It was fully charged and giving off a faint glow.

“I actually missed you,” he told the brush.

He looked once more at the illustration in the book, read the three pages describing the artifact, took the brush in his right hand, and drew a flat magical shard above his bed, roughly the size of a human head.

The Shard materialized and dropped onto the bed.

Archer picked it up and immediately saw another dimension within it.

Remembering that using the Shard consumed mana, he quickly placed it back on the bed.

Then he removed the pillowcase from his pillow and slipped the Shard inside the improvised bag.

Archer returned the brush to the chest, retrieved the Glasses of Omniscience, put them on, and headed for the well of inexhaustible mana.

Sol, Anka, Mailik, and about fifty other monks were waiting for him there, eager to witness the unusual experiment.

“Well?” Archer asked.

“Do you have the Shard?” Sol asked.

“Yes.”

Archer pulled the Shard from the pillowcase and placed it on the edge of the well.

“Get into the water,” Sol said.

“Take the Shard and look through the side that reveals the magical dimension.

“I’ll stay beside you.

“Tell me what you see.”

Archer followed his instructions.

He climbed into the water and picked up the Shard.

Immediately, the magical dimension appeared within it, filled with shades of beige, yellow, and white.

He could see the outlines of the monks standing around the well, watching him.

He could see the outlines of his companions.

“What do you see?” Sol asked.

“All of you,” Archer replied.

“And I can see energy circulating inside you.”

“Turn your attention toward Arkonia,” Sol said.

“Toward Pogrimar Castle.

“Try to find Kronveld there.”

Archer allowed only three thoughts to remain in his mind:

Arkonia.

Pogrimar.

Kronveld.

Clearing away every other thought and focusing completely on the task came easily to him now.

After learning the techniques of spellcasting, he understood what total concentration truly was.

As though obeying his command, the Shard of Cosmic Providence began revealing lands farther and farther away.

Through the Shard, Archer crossed the ocean.

He reached the continent of Arkonia.

And he was approaching Pogrimar.

“Don’t go quiet on me,” Sol reminded him.

“What do you see?”

“I see Pogrimar.

“I see the royal castle.

“There’s a bright glow coming from inside the castle walls.

“It’s coming from a figure.

“A man.

“It’s Kronveld.

“I remember his glow.”

“What do the Glasses of Omniscience tell you?” Sol asked.

“One moment.

“I’ll activate them.”

Still holding the Shard in his left hand, Archer tapped the lens of the glasses twice with his right.

The Glasses immediately displayed Kronveld’s information:

Name: Sim Kronveld.

Age: 132 years.

Profession: Archmage.

Current action: Communion with Something.

Current state: Bliss.

“Very interesting,” Archer said.

“Sim Kronveld. One hundred thirty-two years old. Archmage.

“Current action: communion with Something.

“Current state: bliss.

“And ‘Something’ is capitalized.”

“Turn the Shard over and look into the spirit realm,” Sol said.

Archer flipped the Shard and looked through the other side.

Now he saw the ghostly spirit realm.

Against a black and dark-gray background, objects, figures, and Kronveld himself appeared in dim shades of blue.

“I can see the spirit realm,” Archer said.

“The Glasses have stopped displaying information about Kronveld.

“It’s almost as though he isn’t there.”

“Look at Kronveld’s feet,” Sol said.

“Are there threads connecting him to other spirits?”

“One moment.

“I’m looking.

“Yes.

“There are a great many broad threads extending in every direction.

“A tremendous number of them.”

“Is there a thread leading straight down, deep beneath the ground?” Sol asked.

“Looking...

“Yes.

“There’s a very broad thread leading deep underground.”

“Is that thread brighter than the others?” Sol asked.

“No,” Archer replied.

“It’s very broad, but it isn’t any brighter than—

“Oh.

“Wait.”

“What?” Sol asked.

“The brightest thread,” Archer said slowly.

“It’s also the thinnest of all the threads.

“It leads straight upward.

“And up there, I can see something...”

Archer hesitated.

The next instant, a sharp pain tore through his eyes.

It was so intense that he dropped the Shard, squeezed his eyes shut in agony, and clutched his face with both hands.

“Ah!” Archer cried.

“What happened?” Sol asked.

“What did you see?”

“I didn’t see anything,” Archer said, rubbing his eyelids as the pain began to fade.

“Archer, are you all right?” Anka asked.

“Yeah.

“I’m fine.”

Archer opened his eyes.

And in that moment, he realized he was blind.