Maledictus Terra Book 3: Vetitum Nemus Part 82
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Introduction
Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.
If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!
Maledictus Terra Book 2: Sanguifex started HERE with Part 1 and ends at Part 111 HERE
The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found here!
Part 82
Within the castle there was a brewing of power. There were seals and barriers that dampened the feel of magical energy, but even the least talented of the castle Magi could feel the power and they knew exactly where it was all coming from.
There were only a handful of Mages left that were still loyal to the throne. The rest, spineless and deceitful, had left with the High Mage Christoff, a coward.
Among those that remained, the most skilled and powerful mage was elected as the new High Mage but the man had refused to bear that title. That man, Nemus, now stood before the dozen or so Magi. And he had the cause now to ratify his beliefs he pointed in the general direction from where the power emanated.
"What did I tell you brothers?!" He cried triumphantly. "Feel that power! Would it not have been sensible for myself to claim the loft title of High Mage! The Prince and his esteemed Uncle are the true bearers of such a title!"
There were several heads that bobbed in agreement. One man stood leaning with his back against one wall with his arms crossed in front his chest. This was an older man. He was more like the former High Mage Christoff and was definitely of that same generation. Why he had decided to stay instead of leaving the Kingdom was a mystery.
"It ain't natural." He grumbled loudly.
Nemus regarded the man with a frown and sighed. "What is it now Tiberos? You grumble a lot but let us hear the thoughts and meaning behind these noises you make!" A few of the gathered Magi laughed at his jokes, Tiberos did not seem to be happy about it at all.
Everyone looked round at the older mage. He was not very powerful, but the man had seniority about him and plenty of experience. He saw that he had all of their attention. "Adiran has been in this castle for many years. I have been there since the beginning. I remember the child that had come to be called the brother to the Prince. The Prince that then became our King!"
"And what of it?" Nemus said, quieting the grumbles from the assembled magi.
"I was there." Tiberos insisted. "We tested the boy. A youngster of ten years of age. That was when we first got hold of him. At that time we detected some magic but barely any power at all. We decided to leave him be."
"What's your point?" Nemus retorted.
"It's not natural!" The old man exclaimed. "For years, he had no power at all and then suddenly, the power to make all the mages in the castle pale in comparison?"
"It's called magic Tiberos." Nemus said with a smirk. "Of course it is not natural. There were wards and shields, allowing him to hide."
"That's hardly the issue here." Tiberos retorted. "He had no teacher! I was there! I am older than he and I saw him grew up! He had no teacher here! I have been thinking about it since we discovered his power. The High Mage Christoff knew long before us, but he had been bound by a spell that prevented him from explaining it. At the time, we were keeping it hush. None of us knew what had happened to Christoff but we knew someone had placed magic on our High Mage that we ourselves could not undo."
This time Nemus said nothing.
"I then began thinking of all the times he might have left the castle, that he might have gone somewhere else to study and learn in secret. While I cannot say I knew of his whereabouts every single day, I can tell you - he never left for long times until he was old enough to live on his own in that tower of his!"
Nemus rubbed his chin. "Indeed. That is a puzzle. But it does not rule out many a possibility. He could have had a tutor that shielded themselves from us too." He held up a hand to forestall the old mage's ramblings. "And if you pull on that threat we are suggesting that the old King Fredrick had something to do with it. He was not like King Jonathan. And, more to the point - even that is all before your time. We cannot know what royal contingencies may have existed."
All around the room the mages murmured their appreciation and assent. All but one. He said nothing and left the room some time after. It was all just too convenient for him to ignore like this. Tiberos would need to do his own research before he was satisfied.
A bit off an off-angle load-up. Over to you Lex!
Thank you for reading!
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Vetitum Nemus
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