Chapter Text
It is the Rise of Ium 762702 in the third era. After the bloodbath of the victory over the War of six Iums and 120.000 years of fighting, Mezchinhar is rebuilding what was lost.
With their numbers decimated it will take time.
The old wizards know, as Order grows again, so does Chaos. But the young primal wizards coming into time now are ignorant of it. They come into a time of growth and rebuilding. A time of peace. Unaware that their role in the fight to come is all but inevitable.
—
"I'm here in the ancient catacombs of Kantro where construction precedes even our awakening. We have found these catacombs 40.000 years ago, or well, the planet Kantro itself which was at the time still encased in kilometers of ice.
Kantro lays in the Kan system, Xetalon Cluster, a very old system. Its star, B147, is a G2V-type Star near the end of its lifespan and currently expanding into a red dwarf.
This development caused the melting of the thick layers of ice that previously kept this wondrous structure of ancient and lost civilization hidden."
Zargothrax' eyes were glued to the screen to his side as the wizard on the cast was slowly walking through the ancient structures presenting more facts and information about the planet itself and what they had found out so far about its long gone inhabitants.
Linked to the library console directly (and supposed to focus on the historical topics Grand Wizard Vajano had given him to read this cycle) the sound of the cast was directly played back in his mind to not disturb the perfect silence in the reading room.
The wizard on screen was Magister Yobiganapati, who had dedicated all of himself to the exploration and discovery of time and space. One of the most prevalent and well known Timetravelers in Mezchinhar. This one was his keeper, a tall, lean wizard wearing a wonderful and intricate designed robe of green and white that flattered his built. He looked so well put together that Zargothrax was sure not a single detail of his appearance was left up to chance. He was gorgeous and Zargothrax admired the dedication. But more than that, he adored this cast.
His heart yearned to get out there, to see the multiverse himself. To explore and discover.
So everytime he got the notification he hung at Yobiganapati's lips like his words alone were enough to nourish his souls forevermore.
Yobiganapati spoke with the high credence and clarity of voice mostly associated with wizards out of Mezdovat. He lacked the sense of dismissive arrogance though, Zargothrax liked that about him too.
“Zargothrax, I hoped to find you here.”
He flinched and, still connected to all of the console, his reflexes immediately switched the cast of Yobiganapati over to - well, the things he was actually supposed to do. Where his quick action would have been perfectly adequate to hide the fact, the smile on his face as he turned around was not.
“Where else would I be?” he almost chirped, and everyone in every chapter and plane of Mezdovat would have immediately known of his guilty conscience.
Leshodimar mustered him with a smile and the sense of parental resignation.
“You’ve been watching Yobiganapati again?”
“I would never! Not when there is-” Zargothrax vaguely gestured at the consoles “all this important stuff to learn!”
Leshodimar had stepped up to his console and gently pushed his hands down. “Please, less of that. You’ll make the others nervous.” Leshodimar was no longer talking about the cast, but Zargothrax’ passionate use of hand movement.
“I know.” Zargothrax sighed.
“Who taught you that anyways?”
Zargothrax shrugged and Leshodimar sat down next to him at the console, acting as a good role model he even kept the proper distance again.
“I’ve got news about your applications,” he said and Zargothrax peaked up, but immediately saw that it wasn’t the news he hoped for.
“Trebebona and Octidete both declined, very politely of course and with good reason. Trebebona currently already has a Scion and an Acolyte, and he seemed rather - let’s put it like this, he looked very tired.” Leshodimar said with an excusing smile. “Octidete on the other hand is otherwise occupied. I didn’t ask further into it but in my talk with him I got the impression that it is some very sensitive work he is in no position to speak about.”
“I can wait till he’s done!” Zargothrax said eagerly. Octidete was a very renowned Timetraveler, one Yobiganapati had mentioned several times already of being instrumental in discovering new systems and worlds. If time was all it took to get tutelage under a wizard like him, he could wait. Surely. How long would it take? A few ticks? A year?
“No you can’t. You’re already short of crawling up the walls here. And as it stands it's possible that he won’t be free for at least a few decades," Leshodimar explained.
“Oh.” Zargothrax’ eagerness faltered. That was… a little bit long to wait. But he could do it if he had to, he was sure of it. A challenge of patients. But Leshodimar had other plans for him.
“Also I want you out there. Distracted as you currently are dreaming about the multiverse, you’ll make more progress there I'd assume. I admit it's not so easy right now, with the current influx of Primal Wizard; They sure can have their pick of the litter."
"Does that make me the runt of the litter?" Zargothrax murmured unhappily.
Leshodimar chuckled. "Your grasp on idioms is remarkable considering you've never been out there yet."
"I've been watching some movies." He admitted sheepishly.
Leshodimar nodded, "Probably not what you were supposed to do, but not useless either as it seems." Then he returned to the topic at hand, "I took the freedom to inquire with some wizards you haven't considered, one of which was Moldiana. And they are willing to take you in.” Leshodimar beamed, trying very hard to convince him that it was fantastic news.
“Never hear of them,” Zargothrax said, only short of a pout. He didn’t want to be the Scion of any random wizard.
“Shows the lack in your reading,” Leshodimar reprimanded and turned to the console and gave the access panel a light touch that sparkled in the runes of his fingers. “Lord Wizard Moldiana.” The public file flashed up on the screen.
“Lord Wizard?” Zargothrax immediately rose from his deflated position with high attention scanning over the profile.
“Knew that would tickle you.” Leshodimar chuckled. “They are of the first circle, though not a Wizard of the Lords and they don’t resign in Mezaiz. Consequently, they have a little bit of a reputation of being difficult, you will hear of that, but do not let that fool you. I'm only distantly acquainted, but from all I know Moldiana is a proud wizard, but a fair one. If you treat him with respect, he will treat you in kind.”
“What do they do?”
“I’m not privy to the locations or the purpose of all his parts, but you’d stay with their Engineer.”
“A Timetraveler?” Zargothrax leaned forward, by now an excited sparkling filled his eyes.
“Unfortunately not, but-” Leshodimar added sharply before Zargothrax could deflate again. “A Prospector. He never lost his love of exploration. You won’t be the first to set foot in any new system, but you’d be right behind to survey and analyze.”
“That’s perfectly fine! That’s great!” Zargothrax jumped up. “When do I start?”
“Sit.”
Zargothrax groaned as his excitement was unceremoniously reigned in again and he dropped back down on the seat like a stone. “What?”
“First you need your second part.”
“Ohh. Right. Totally forgot about that.” Zargothrax laughed and that was the first disturbance in the quiet reading room that drew the judgmental gazes of several other wizards in here. “Sorry, sorry,” he said in pretended whisper that was loud enough to be heard in the room and ducked his head in a submissive manner to signale to the others that indeed he was sorry and they went back to their own work. Then Zargothrax turned back to Leshodimar.
“Can we start on that? Now?”
Leshodimar chuckled lowly, both of them talking considerably more quietly now, reducing Zargothrax’ voice to a conspiratorial hiss. Leshodimar seemed pleased, maybe a little bit proud even.
“We can once you finish your lessons with Vas and Dano. Once we’re at it, I need you to be available and it will take time.”
“I know that.” His wandering attention aside, he had spent a lot of time with Leshodimar so far and so he had gotten a pretty good grasp over the whole Soulturner thing. At least in broad basic strokes to know it would take a lot longer than a tick. “And I already know all the things Vas and Dano are talking about. I’m basically done already.”
“Not as far as they tell me. Dano does confirm that you're ahead of the group but that doesn't mean you don't have to participate. There is importance in following the steps closely, especially in matters as delicate as engineering and magic weaving. On the other hand, Vas tells me you’ve been rather - distracted as of late. Which he finds most puzzling as you were so very dedicated during the history lessons of the known multiverse.”
Zargothrax ground his teeth with a frown. There was the urge to talk back and justify himself, but he had learned at least so much to know that talking back to any of his teachers, Leshodimar included, wasn’t getting him anywhere. But he couldn’t help but murmur, “Vasjano is just so boring.”
“It’s our history, it’s not boring, it’s vitally important for you to understand. Especially this last part. And you won’t make any good impression on Moldiana if you show ignorance to events they are old enough to remember.”
There was a logic to that.
“Alright. I’ll get it done. And I’ll do it properly. I pomis.”
“Good.” Leshodimar stood up, and then, turning back around by the strike of a nonchalant afterthought. “Ah, before I forget. You won’t be Moldiana’s only Scion.”
“That’s alright.” Zargothrax shrugged. Having the singular attention of a wizard of as high rank as Moldiana was an unlikely thing to ask for. He had heard of some Lord Wizard that had up to ten Scions at a time.
“Good.” His Soulturner smiled gently. “It will only be the two of you. You and Yoctotyr.”
“Oh to hell with that! No!”
“Language and Volume, Zargothrax!”
Angry glances all around shot him in the back as he had considerably raised his voice. He didn’t care. But before he could air more of his anger Leshodimar said,
“There is value in this; This won't be the last time you'll have to work alongside someone you dislike. And Moldiana is sure to make both of you get over this childish squabble of yours.”
Zargothrax had physically bit his tongue to not snap back at that, stressing that Yoctotyr was plainly a dick and constantly nagging him for stupid reasons, but at his forceful silence Leshodimar nodded appreciatively.
"I'm glad you can see my point."
"Wait!" Zargothrax said as Leshodimar had almost turned to leave again. "Why is Yoctotyr with them? He never wanted to be a Timetraveler, or Prospector."
"Moldiana's a wizard of great experience. The purpose they hold now doesn't limit them." Leshodimar said stiffly which struck Zargothrax as odd but he didn't know what to make of that. It was like there was something Leshodimar wasn't telling him - but he couldn't figure out why or what it would be in the first place.
"Ah." He just said in lieu of a better answer and with that Leshodimar nodded satisfied and finally left.
Leaving Zargothrax with a flurry of mixed feelings he'd have to work through before he could even consider any further history lessons.