Chapter Thirteen: The Mysticist
The end of the world is near, He wrote, quill scratching on the paper noisily. It was midnight, and he had to get some sleep. But sleep could wait. This was more important. Yes, the apocalypse is at hand. I’m just glad I won’t be alive to see it. I’ve seen it in a vision, though. I wish I didn’t have the burden as the Mysticist to do this, but I must.
It started before my time. It started before anyone’s time. But it will escalate soon. The world will collapse in fear of the creatures that roam it, and anarchy will reign. No one will be safe. I wish this was a lie. But I’ve seen it. And oh, what horrors!
The apocalypse begins with a Parliament. But for Zade the ball really starts rolling with a boy. Astil. He shall get the fire going in Zade. Zade and Yue will be two who shall oppose Dautha and Leah. And for Zade, it all starts with Astil. Because of him, Zade shall fight. And what a glorious fight it will be! He shall slay and save many, and, while not the strongest mage in force, in will shall he stand strong. This I have seen, and this is the truth.
For Yue, the start will be the tournament. She shall truly learn what she values most there, and, while already knowing she would lay down her life for her friends, she shall not truly understand what she believes until the time of the tournament is at hand. Then shall she become the woman she is meant to be and stand above all others in fearlessness and stature.
I do not know how the apocalypse ends. I do not know if any side wins. All I know is that the apocalypse will irrevocably change the world. Nations will be judged, peoples torn, and the world shall burn! Mountains shall become like the ocean, and the ocean like flaming suns. Let the peoples cry out to their gods like worms, because when the time comes, worms shall they be! Only those strong enough to fight shall survive until the war. I do not know who shall win the war. Even me, the Mysticist, does not know the answer to that question.
Well, it is time! I know my death is upon me. I’m weary, old as the dust of the earth. How to describe my life of healing and pain to those who do not know what it is like to carry the earth on their shoulders? It is impossible! I dare not try. I shall lay down to sleep for the last time now. I shall not wake up. Nor do I wish to. I’ve led a fulfilling life. All I hope is that if people remember me, it is in a good light.
I look forward to seeing the afterlife, if that exists. I look forward to the end.
And for Zade, I do not know if you are on the right side or not. Just be ready. Times are coming where everything you know will be tested.
This I have seen, and this is the truth.
The Mysticist looked at where Zade would be looking at him and winked. He couldn’t see Zade, but Zade would be watching. Maybe Zade was seeing through him. It was possible.
Signed, The Mysticist.
He stood up, yawning. Time for the last rest of his life. He wondered how long he would sleep before death took him, He wondered if he would even feel sleep. He shrugged. It was not time for philosophical questions. It was time for rest.
He sighed and sat on his bed. He scratched his head in thought. He’d promised himself he would go to sleep quickly, but now he was having doubts. He was Mysticism.He was supposed to be able to help the world.
But his time was up. And he knew it.
He had to face the truth.
He lay down waiting for sleep to overtake him. He trusted the world to take its course, whatever it would be. He wouldn’t be there to see it happen, so what did he care?
With that final thought in his head, he closed his eyes for the final time.
The Mystucust was dead.
The Apocalypse was near.
— — —
I wake up sweating. I was having a dream of a man, the Mysticist. He was dying, and…
The dream is getting fuzzy. I don’t know why, but I know I need to remember it-
As if knowing I need him, Master Thul comes into view, and as he appears, I realize for the first time that his name is similar to one of my friends. I wonder why that is?
“Zade, do you need my assistance?” He asks.
“Yes, I had a dream, and I need to talk about it before I forget it.”
He nods. “Go ahead.” So I tell him the dream, and as I do, it becomes much more vivid, as if it doesn’t want me to forget it. I tell Master Thul of the Mysticist and his letter. Of his death and the upcoming apocalypse. Of his prediction of me and Astil and Jade. When I’m done, he smiles grimly.
“I knew the Mysticist personally when I was alive.”
I cock my head. “What do you mean, when you were alive?”
“I’m not just a teacher in a book, Zade,” He chuckles. “I was once a mage myself, and a revered one at that. I died during the great Mage War.”
“And the Mysticist was alive during that time?” I’m extremely curious now.
“I don’t think I should tell you,” He replies. “I think it’s the High Mage’s responsibility to do that. Tell him you had a vision.Tell him about it. He’ll know what it means and what you should do.”
“So you think it was a vision?”
He grimaces. “I know so. You better hope what he said about the apocalypse is wrong, Zade. Because if he’s right, we’re in major trouble.”
“Was he ever wrong about what he saw?” I ask Master Thul, dreading the answer.
He shakes his head. “Never. Not once. He was never wrong about a vision. Every single one came true.”
— — —
I tell Xavier and Astil about my vision, and Th’ul listens in. I don’t know if I trust him, but I didn’t want to be rude. Astil is very confused about it.
“What am I supposed to do?” He asks.
“I don''t know,” I shrug. “You’re supposed to start the fire in me or something.”
“You want me to set you on fire?” He asks helpfully.
I laugh. “I’ll get back to you on that.”
Th’ul jumps in unemotionally. “Visions, huh? Ever had them before?”
I nod. “Two. Both about an apocalypse.”
Xavier shaked his head. “They can’t be real visions, right? You’re not actually seeing the past and future. It’s impossible.”
Th’ul shrugs. “I’ve heard about it happening. It’s not common, but it happens sometimes.”
I groan. “Why me? Why can’t a High Mage have these issues?”
Xavier laughs. “Karma, man. Karma.”
“For what,” I shriek.
“Everything.” Xavier says, and smiles wide. I shake my head ruefully.
“Master Thul tells me I have to talk to a High Mage about this.” I venture.
“I agree,” Th’ul replies. “It’s of vital importance that you do. Just one thing: Did you say your teacher’s name is Thul? Like mine?” I nod.
“Yes, it is. Do you know of anyone with that name?”
Th’ul bites his lip. “No, I don’t.” He shakes his head, but I narrow my eyes. I think he’s lying. I shouldn’t press the issue, though. I don’t know him well enough.
Anni walks over to us and smiles. Her blonde ponytail is bobbing like always, and her slight frame moves lithely and quickly. “Hey, Astil! Hi, Zade!” She’d been really nice to me since I saved her life. It’s a token of gratitude, I guess. “How’s your stomach, Astil?”
He smiles. “It’s better.” He lifts his shirt, showing the bandage going from his chest to his stomach. “It’s just a scratch. Barely even hurts.” His wince disproves it.
Anni smiles and kisses his cheek. “That’s great. What are y''all talking about?” I don’t know if I want to tell her. It’s not that I don’t trust her, but I really don’t want word getting out. I fumble for words, and Astil glares at me.
“Anything you tell me you can tell her.” I shrug. Fine. So, for the third time today, I tell someone of my vision. Anni has the best reactions out of anybody. She’s so hooked that I tell her of the other visions. She gasps at the right times, and, by the end, looks both terrified and hooked.
“Woah! And you think all of this will happen?”
I shrug. “Some of it already has, apparently. But yes. Supposedly, if this is a real vision, it will happen.”
Anni grimaces. “An apocalypse? That sounds horrible.”
I nod. “It was. It’s another mage war, and just being there, I wanted to throw up. So much death. So much pain. So much hopelessness. And the aftermath, somehow it was just as bad.”
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“When is it supposed to happen?” Astil asks.
“I’m not sure,” I reply, “But I think we’ve got at least a couple of years. I look so much older there. We definitely have time to prepare.”
“Were any of us in your apocalypse dream?”
“I don’t know,” I respond. “It’s possible, but I don’t remember any of you. Yue, me, and Jade were there, but that’s all I remember.”
“Who are Jade and Yue?” Anni asks, puzzled.
“Yue is a Vanguard soldier who vehemently opposes Dautha. Jade is my best friend.”
“How is she involved in this?” Th’ul says.
“How should I know? Most of this is a mystery to me as much as it is to you. I’m still trying to figure it out too. That’s why I need to talk to a High Mage about it.”
“Which one?” Th’ul questions me.
“I’m thinking High Mage Aegon. What do you think?”
Th’ul nods approvingly. “He’s a good choice, a wise man. He should hold the truth you seek. Just be careful what you tell him. He’s a good man, but I do not know how trustworthy he is. If he feels the need, he would definitely tell other mages, possibly even the Parliament, about this.”
“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. Do you know how I could reach a High Mage?”
Th’ul nods again. “Across the hallway from the entrance to the game room is a chamber called the Calling. There you can place a request to see a High Mage. Do you need any help getting there?”
I shake my head. “I think I’ve got it.” I wave goodbye and walk off, excited to get some answers.
— — —
I walk into the Calling. The wooden door creaks open slowly, and I step into the room. I look around, confused. I’m thinking I should’ve brought Th’ul with me.
The room is empty. There’s no furniture, no wall hangings, and no windows. It’s a big, circular room with simple texture and design. It has almost an ethereal look to it, and it glows softly in a blue color, just like Magefell does to the outside.
In the middle of the room there is a circle inscribed on the floor. It has a green glow around it, extending up to the domed ceiling. I slowly step forwards in the direction of the circle and tentatively touch the glow. It disperses around my finger, and, when I pull it out, returns quickly to where it was before. I don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to do, but I’m guessing it starts with this inner circle.
I step in and immediately feel a rush of cold. I shiver and hug myself. I have my cloak, but somehow that wasn’t enough for the chill that I get. I look around the circle I stepped in. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here, so I stop for a second to think about what I’m supposed to do.
There’s nothing here containing instructions. It’s just a simple circle. I feel stupid, but decide to give something a shot.
“Um, excuse me,” I yell. “I need to talk with High Mage Aegon, please. It’s slightly urgent, I guess. Um, I hope this works. I feel kinda stupid, so a response would be nice. I’m looking for High Mage Aegon. I had a… let’s call it a strange dream.” I wait, feeling dumb. I really should’ve brought Th’ul. I don’t know what else to do. It’s not like High Mage Aegon will just appear in front of me like…
Something pops in my vision. I yell and back away. Standing in front of me is High Mage Aegon, looking amused. I straighten myself, coughing to save some dignity.
“Oh, wow,” I can’t resist saying. “That worked.”
“Of all the people I’ve seen trying that for the first time, yours is definitely the most comical,” High Mage Aegon laughs. “I don’t like being disturbed, but whatever it was for, your reaction makes up for it. What’s on your mind, lad?”
“I had a dream, High Mage,” I tell him. “According to Master Thul, it’s a vision. About an apocalypse. And about the Mysticist. I need some help decoding it all.” High Mage Aegon’s eyebrows rise.
“Let’s talk in my study.” I nod and follow him as he leads the way.
— — —
I finish telling High Mage Aegon my story. I’m burning with questions, and he can tell. He smiles, but it seems fake. Like he knows something’s wrong.
“I have questions myself,” He says. “But you’ve been waiting longer. What do you want to know?”
“How to start?” I chuckle. “First, who is the Mysticist?”
“To put it simply, the Mysticist was a man with visions. A little like you, but more extreme. He lived during the Mage War, and he had a crucial role in the victory of the Visionaries.” At my quizzical glance, he sighs. “You can ask your teacher about the war later. Suffice it to say, he provided the Visionaries knowledge of the future through his visions. That was why he was called the Mysticist. He saw the mysteries of the past and future. During his time, no one else had visions. Since his death, many people have had it. It’s a rare gift, but not an unusual one.
“The Mysticist grew burdened with everyone asking him their needs. He died in his sleep with one last letter found, which was subsequently burned and kept secret since.”
“So,” I say, “You’re saying that the letter was about me?”
He nods. “It certainly seems that way.”
I cringe. “Is there any way we can stop this?”
He shrugs. “The Mysticist always said that the future was unchangeable. What he saw always came to pass. Other men with visions think it may be possible, but so far nothing has been proven.”
“If the future is unchangeable, then how was the Mysticist able to win the Visionaries the war?”
High Mage Aegon smiles. “Great question. One that not many would think to ask. The Mysticist was able to control his visions, see. He didn’t see the outcome of the battle. He made sure he didn’t see how anything ended. What he did see was the plans the other side made. He would fall asleep and have dreams of the future where the Loyalists would have meetings discussing their plans. Or the Mysticist would have a dream of a letter passed between encampments filled with important information. Often, he would even have dreams of potential technological advancement. He didn’t change the future, Zade.” His voice turns into a conspiratorial whisper. “The Mysticist took advantage of the future. And that’s what we must do with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have visions, Zade.” He says mysteriously. “Do you know how many people alive have visions that we know of?” I shake my head. “Five. And they only have visions rarely. It’s a very rare talent, Zade. One that we must keep hidden, for your safety and our advantage. And you must use your visions well. Every time you have a vision, you must come to me. Tell me about it. We must prepare for anything coming. Especially if that something is an apocalypse. I know you cannot control your visions as of yet, but we must analyze the ones you have and strategize accordingly. If the apocalypse is coming, and it seems like it is, we need to be ready. If not, God help us.”
“High Mage Aegon?” I ask.
“Hmm?”
“The Mysticist wrote about Dautha, but along with Dautha, he mentioned someone else. Leah. Do you know anything about her?”
He looks at me sharply. “Leah? I don’t know.” He shakes his head softly. “I’ll see what I can find. I have a question for you, Zade. You said the Mysticist mentioned Yue? Is that your Vanguard friend?” I nod, and he smiles in response. “Good. You must befriend her. She is important to this.”
I glare at him. “I don’t befriend people for profit, High Mage.”
He nods curtly. “I understand. I apologize. Still, Yue must be put on watch. You can choose to befriend her or not. But the point stands. She must be watched so she helps us. This is bigger than friendships, Zade. The world is at stake. Do you want to keep friendships or the world?” I sigh. He bites his lip. “I understand that you have your morals, Zade. That’s a good thing. But sometimes, morals must take a step back. Killing is bad. But I would kill hundreds of people if it meant saving thousands. Wouldn’t you?”
“I… don’t know.”
“You must decide, Zade. Unless you get your priorities straight, soon enough, the world will destroy you.”
“You’re right. But I’m not ready for those decisions yet.”
“Zade,” He says sternly. “You turn eighteen soon. You are not a child. Kill or be killed, Zade. That’s the way of the world. And I think you already know that.” I cock my head. “I heard of your incident with Raakhshas.” I suck in a breath. “This is serious, Zade. I’m not telling you to pick a side. But I am telling you to decide how you will fight. Sometimes the only way to fight fire is with fire. Violence is not the best resort, but many times, it is the only one.”
“I don’t know if I can believe that.”
“You’re inexperienced, Zade. I’ve lived long enough to know the truth. And, as you know, something is coming. Will you stand around and do nothing?”
“Supposedly, Astil will light the fire in me or something. Do you know what that means?”
High Mage Aegon shakes his head. “It could mean anything. I know that he’s definitely a key in this, though. You two are good friends, right?” I nod. “Good. Keep him close. As a friend, as support, as hope. He’s a good boy.”
I smile. “I love him like a little brother.” A face comes into my mind, but I force it out. “I would protect him no matter what. He’s the one person I would save no matter what.”
“I heard that’s what you did with Raakhshas.”
I grimace. “Are you going to do anything about Raakhshas?”
“He wasn’t on Zenyth grounds. I can’t. Yue could, though,” He says, winking. “You could ask her to arrest him. I don’t think she would, but it’s always an option.” He chuckles to let me know he’s somewhat joking.
“I have one last question for now, High Mage,” I tell him. “What are we going to do about the parliament?”
He looks at me quizzically. “What do you mean?”
“Well, the Mysticist said the apocalypse starts with the Parliament. Can’t we do anything about that?”
“I have a couple of friends in the Parliament,” High Mage Aegon says. “But I don’t think we can do anything. No big difference anyway. Remember, the future is set. The apocalypse will happen. The most we can do is hope to weaken it a little. If that’s even possible.”
“But if the future is set, does that mean we don’t make our own decisions?”
“No. Time is not as linear as you think. If the Mysticist saw the future, that means that time is different than our minds can comprehend. The future is essentially a different perspective of the past. Think about it. Can you change the past?”
“No.”
“But you made those decisions yourself, right?”
“Yes.” I reply hesitantly.
“Future you will look back on the you one year from now. One year from now would then be the past. But the same applies. It can’t be changed, and you still made your own decisions. The future exists because we made our decisions. It can’t be changed precisely because we make our decisions.”
My mind is boggled right now. This discussion is so confusing and I’m not sure I understand. But I decide to take his word for it.
“Is that all?” He asks. I nod. “Feel free to leave any time you want. Remember, come back if you have another vision, or if you need to talk. I’ll always be here.” I thank him, and leave, mind swirling.
I have a lot to think about. Too much.
— — —
Back in the gallery again, I meet up with Astil and Xavier. I really should practice my magic, but today is not a good day for that. I’m drained today, as if talking with High Mage Aegon was an exercise. It’s not even that late yet, but I need a nap. Before this, I need to fill my friends in on what happened.
“So High Mage Aegon said you were really having visions?” Xavier breathed. “I can’t believe it!”
I laugh. “If only the visions meant something good. I would be glad I’m having them then.”
Astil grunts. “I think it’s better for you to have these visions. That way, we know what’s coming.”
I look at him strangely. “When did you get so serious?”
He smiles. “It was just for a couple of seconds. Don’t worry.”
“Anyway, you are right, Astil,” Xavier says. “But why you, Zade? No offense, but why doesn’t a High Mage get these Visions, or a member of Parliament? Wouldn’t they do much better with the information?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I do have a theory that maybe the Mysticist writing about me might’ve had something to do with it. Because if not, then it’s a crazy coincidence. And I don''t believe in coincidences.”
“That makes sense,” Xavier nods. “But, still. What makes you so important? You’re a mage-in-training. How can you do anything to stop or win a war? You’re not even at Level 3 yet. Oof, that sounded mean, but I’m only on Level 3. It’d be the same problem with me.”
“I understand your issue,” I respond. “I don’t know the answer. My best guess is that since this happens in the future, we’ll all be more powerful. Plus, there’s whatever Astil does to me.”
Astil shrugs. “I don’t know what I''m supposed to do.”
“Don’t worry about it. The future can’t be changed, so it’ll happen whether you like it or not.”
“How is that supposed to stop me from worrying? I would like to know what I’m supposed to do!”
I laugh. “It could be a long time before that happens. For now, we should focus on training. Do everything you can to be ready when it comes. And watch out for Raakhshas. He’s pissed.”
Xavier cringes. “He injured you, right?”
I shake my wrist, and feel a little shock of pain. “Just a little. I’ll be fine. I’m not supposed to fight with it for a week or so, but if I need to, I’ll do it anyway.”
Astil looks at me critically. “That’s not a good idea.”
“I don’t care,” I respond. “My life is getting dangerous. If the doctor thinks I’ll stop fighting because I’m a little hurt, she’s wrong.” I yawn. “I’ve got to take a nap, guys. I’m tired. I’ll see you after.”
“See you soon,” Astil says. “I have to find Anni. We’ve got a date in an hour.”
I smile. “That’s good. I’m glad you’re happy.” My friends look questioningly at me, but I wave it off, and walk toward my room. I open the door wearily and crawl into bed.
“How’d it go with the High Mage?” I hear Master Thul ask me.
“It went fine,” I say. “I have a lot to think about now. I need you to tell me about the Mage War, but not right now.”
He nods. “I’ll remember that.” He doesn’t speak again, and I know he’s gone. I yawn again, and close my eyes, but it’s a while before sleep reaches me.
To tell the truth, I’m a little scared. I don’t know anything about what will happen next. All I know is that it will be dangerous. I need to be strong, though, if only to save my friends. I let sleep overtake me finally, dreaming nightmares of the end of the world and my death.