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Cort destroyed the world, Marissa lives in its ruin. Both are determined to restore it. |
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THE WORLD is layered, with nine realms stacked neatly atop one another. In the past, we could see creatures now only mythical: dwarves, elves, fairies, and even dragon-kind. Something happened, but the details are lost to history, something about the god's wrath at humans. Barriers were erected against our senses, cutting us off from the other realms. In the past, we had mages. We had magic. The loss of magic is Cort's story, the details alive in his memory. CORT, now perceived to be the most evil young man to ever walk the earth, was just like any other who went through Stanley's Cavern hoping to become a mage. Walking through the cavern depths, one would become gradually more perceptive of the other realms, each cavern room inhabited by a small outpost representative of a different creature-kingdom. The first cavern contained a dwarf, but not everyone would see him. Those that don’t see, leave. Magic begins with perception of the realms. He guided Cort to the second room, inhabited by two elves. They in turn guided him to the third room, inhabited by six or seven dwarves, one who would lead him to the last entry cave, the Element cave. It is large and contains four orbs. Air, guarded by a winged scorpion. Water, guarded by a fairy because there was no way for the mermaids to be represented. Earth, guarded by two dwarven brothers. He received their elemental magic. Some of his group did not receive any power at all, while others gained a combination of the four. Then, when all the magic was distributed, one of the dwarf brothers led them all into a cavern so large and deep that they could not see ceiling or floor, just a bridge connecting to the base of an astonishing underground pyramid. Five additional orbs, with powers of their own, were situated at its flattened peak. Excitedly, the group reached the orbs and a small percentage got one or two of the powers they held. Except for Cort, who received them all, and those who were in line behind him, who gained no power. He did more than gain a bit of magic from all nine orbs. He drained the orbs, the givers of magic, of their power. He broke magic. He cut off future mages, forever the villain in the story of magic. Before anyone realizes it, he runs through the exit and disappears. MARISSA lives in the ruin of today. No magic, just hard work and sweat. No dwarves in the earth, no mermaids in the water, no fiery djinn in the deserts... cut off from human perception. Except hope remains. The ritual of the Cavern remains, and she is soon to be able to touch the rock that once made a young girl into a fire mage. She may gain nothing, but even a girl who leaves through the entrance keeps the memories of the creatures in the cave. The true depth of the cavern was now locked behind doors without keys. There was only one way into the cave and it was also the only way out for her. The way forward, the true exit, was now blocked. And going backward through the cave's entrance meant losing the perception gained there. Cort broke the bridge across the realms. Marissa dreams of seeing the fairy that now guards the fire orb. She couldn’t care less about the magic. She dares not hope for that. But today she will enter the cave and see what reality unfolds. This is her story, but Cort's as well. He lives, secluded, hunted. Powerful, but powerless to undo what he has done. Together, they might have a chance. |
| Chapter | 1 | Chapter One: A History Lesson | 4.53k |
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