The winter set in, the earth froze solid, and the wilds hibernated under snow. Only human civilization continued moving despite everything. The war effectively stopped; the cold would decimate armies with illness before they could clash. I was still in the town of Sheffield, enjoying a hot chocolate from Laterano while reading and writing letters.
-"Eno."-Guinevere came to my side with a notebook covered with letters from my dream.
-"Still working on your Darnassian?"
-"Yes. It's nothing like English, Latin, or French. Even Lateran is somewhat similar to languages native to this world, but Darnassian is entirely different. On the subject, how did you learn so many languages? All major dialects from Terra, now you speak almost all languages from this world. How did you do this?"
-"Because I'm a mage. At the core, magic is a fusion of linguistics and logic. The base of the magic formula is well defined and orderly, with strict rules governing how it works, but the blocks between the formulas, you might call them predicates, are where language enters the equation. Changing some words or symbols can change how the spell works, its power, or properties. Even minor replacements for synonyms, symbols of similar meaning, intonation, or even the rhythm of the spell, can create interesting outcomes."
-"Is that so?"-Guinevere looked unconvinced; in her eyes, magic had nothing to do with things like logic.
-"There are interesting examples of those principles. First, a spell created purely by the formula; technically, it's not a spell as it only makes magic energy flow in a certain order, but look at the outcome."-I waved my hand.
In the air before me, a blue glow of magic power appeared, but no spell circle or runes, just magic power changing shapes and flowing in strange ways. It stayed in the air for some time, seemingly doing nothing, until Guinevere noticed that her hair was getting damp. She focused her senses. As a trainee druid, she could perceive the surroundings more clearly and felt that the moisture was separating from the air.
-"This."-She looked incredulous.-"Then why make so many complicated magic theories if you can make such simple spells?"
-"This 'simple' spell is something that I worked for over a month to create, and the magic power required for its existence could drain ten or so mages. Strict rules are good in some aspects, but they are also rigid, requiring longer and longer formulas to adjust them, causing the spell to require more power. That's why magic utilizes things with meaning. Runes, magic circles, incantations, all those are but predicates that change the spell depending on their meaning."
I created two magic circles in the air, and they were exactly the same in all but language; one was in Lateran while the other was in Latin.
-"Now look at these. Simple spell of light, but in two different languages. Try to feel the difference."
She nodded and focused. The spell in Latin behaved exactly as expected: a ball of light suspended in the air, bright enough to light up the whole room. But the spell in Lateran not only had a different shape, it was less bright, but the light felt warm, one could say more holy.
-"Then why are spells cast by two people the same?"
-"They are not. Due to slight changes in understanding of the meaning behind those words or even emotions put into them, two people won't cast exactly the same spells; there are always slight changes."
-"So that's why you always read every book you find. I thought you just liked some strange novels."
-"Even fantasy can give you some strange idea, who knows, it might prove useful one day."-I shrugged.
-"You two are truly bored."-Scáthach rolled her eyes.-"While he isn't wrong, few can control their emotions or nuances of understanding to the point of isolating them in spells, even I can't do it reliably. Just remember to take his theories with a grain of salt."
Guinevere nodded, but a twinkle of interest appeared in her eyes.
-"Eno."-Cellinia appeared with Viviana.-"There is a messenger wanting to talk with you."
-"Who sent them?"
-"Vortigern."
This made everyone silent.
-"I'll see him in my office."-I stood up.-"Cellinia, make sure there are no rats that can report this meeting."
-"I will."
I moved to my office, Viviana accompanying me. A few minutes later, Cellinia entered with a Saxon man.
-"Your Excellency."-He greeted me with respect.
-"Welcome."
-"My king wished to talk with Your Excellency, but due to certain difficulties, he is unable to do so personally, thus he sent me to deliver his words."-He handed me a sealed letter.
I took it from his hands and opened it carefully. Inside, there were a few pages of elegant script and a small vial filled with blood. I read the letter and, ignoring the introductions, it basically talked about the man's age and how it's harmful to the world. He somewhat knew that I was contracted with Gaia, so he assumed that I was on their side.
While this assumption was a mistake, the point he raised was indeed concerning. While the end of the age of gods was an absolute, the age of man was not exactly something to look for. I looked at the vial of blood. According to the letter, this was the blood of Albion, taken directly from its heart, a pure and concentrated essence of a dragon.
Vortigern didn't propose any alliance, nor ask for understanding, just stated his position and arguments, leaving all the thinking to me. And there were things to think about. This blood was not just a rare material; this was a possibility to change the future of these lands.
But the problem was, I didn't know how to use it effectively. Biology, be it the magical or scientific side, I had close to no actual experience or knowledge on the subject. Using it in alchemy or as some reagent in ritual would waste the potential it held, causing me to sigh.
-"I read the letter. Give me a day, and I'll prepare the response."
-"Please take your time, Your Excellency."
After he left, I stayed in the office looking at the vial. The age of man will begin with the death of Vortigern, so any idea I might have, I needed to achieve it before that. This meant I didn't have time to learn how to use it; I needed to find help.
But none of the people I knew could help me with this; they also lacked the abilities necessary to achieve anything on this scale. Vortigern drank the blood of a white dragon to become an abomination barely capable of resisting the change of era. Such an outcome was unacceptable to me.
Making a decision, I held the vial before me, focusing on it while using my Cyclops bloodline to make a divination. Instantly, everything around me disappeared, leaving me in a dark space. Slowly, Stars started to appear, and images started to form.
The first image showed me bathed in the blood of a white dragon, spear lodged in its heart. From some clues, I could deduce it was Vortigern, but I couldn't tell when and how it would happen. The next image showed me holding a heart of some other dragon, this one emanated with magical power far beyond anything I saw to this day, even Solomon's ray of light paled in front of this power.
The third image showed the reason why I avoided divinations. It showed Artoria kneeling in front of a ruined city, the body of Bedivere lying before her. The destruction was far beyond what a simple war could incur; whatever caused it had the power of real divinities. Then the image showed something unexpected: the strange orb I had almost forgotten about. I couldn't tell much from the image of this orb, but looking at it, I felt one thing: this was the start.
Just then, the images disappeared, and I returned to reality, a wave of exhaustion and pain enveloping me. I quickly supported my head with my hand, massaging my painful forehead. Then I felt two more hands on my temples, moving in gentle circles.
-"Are you alright, Eno?"-Viviana asked in worry.
-"Just slight backlash, must have seen something I shouldn't."-I forced a smile.
-"Then you should be careful. Many people depend on and care about you. Don't make them worry."
-"Then let me rest for a moment and keep it a secret from others."
Viviana nodded and walked toward the sofa. She sat down and looked at me, patting her knees with a shy smile. Not one to waste opportunity, I moved and lay down, resting my head on her legs. I closed my eyes and quickly drifted to sleep while she played with my hair.
While I slept, a change occurred. The backlash loosened the seal that confined the orb, causing it to leak out. This caused my dreams to change, from the usual fantastical world to a gray modern city. I looked around, but there was no familiar landmark that would allow me to know where I was. Then I noticed something.
Looking up, there was no LED light I was used to; the same situation was behind me. I even looked at my left arm, and it appeared normal. People around also didn't seem to see any abnormality with me. With nothing to do, I decided to wander around, looking for anything interesting. I walked for about an hour when I encountered a drunk woman stumbling around.
She wore a lab coat, stained with something red, but strangely, this didn't seem out of place on her. Her slightly dirty green hair made her look as if she hadn't cleaned herself for days, and the dark circles under her eyes suggested that she didn't sleep for even longer. As we were about to pass, she tripped, causing her to fall. Reacting instinctively, I caught and supported her, making her lean on me.
-"Ugh. Sorry."
-"Don't worry. Do you need help?"
-"Yes, would you mind taking me to **** hotel?"-She told me a name of some hotel nearby.
-"Sure, can you walk?"
-"I'll try…",
In the end, I carried her on my back, admittedly enjoying the process. As I walked, we talked about some random subjects.
-"So, what are you doing?"-She asked.
-"I?"-I thought for a moment before answering.-"You can say I'm a manager, arranging jobs for others."
-"A high-ranking corporate slave?"
-"Consultant for the CEO."-I joked, thinking of Britain as a giant company.
-"Then how about changing jobs?"
-"Are you poaching me?"
-"Yes."
-"Quite direct. Well, sure, what are my tasks?"
-"Take care of me, my money, property, and keep some bastards from annoying me."
-"Sounds hard. What's the pay?"
-"How about me?"
-"Let's stick to more legal forms of repayment."
-"Then I'll tell you later."
-"We're here."-I looked at the hotel before us.-"Should I call someone?"
-"Just take me up."
-"Miss, why are you so insistent?"-I shook my head, wondering why such beauty tried so hard to take me to her room.
-"Sigh. I just want to understand… How can someone throw away their talent and prospects to start a family? I can't comprehend it, it's just illogical…"
-"Emotions can be confined to logic."
-"You don't feel like someone who would say so."
-"Because you don't know me, one more reason why I shouldn't follow you."
-"Sigh. At least stay with me to drink more."
-"You sure?"
-"Yes."
And so, we sat in her room, drinking some wine and talking about our problems without holding back. Two strangers just venting without a care. But just as I was three glasses deep, I felt faint, and then darkness.
When I opened my eyes, I was met with Viviana's face, her eyes looking at me with care.
-"Have you rested?"
-"Yes, thank you. How long was I asleep?"
-"Not even two hours."
-"I see."
-"Did something happen? You, you seem off?"
-"Strange dream, but I have to work on something that would give me immunity to drugs."-I could feel my eyebrow twitch as I thought about it.
-"Heh, it's not so easy to stop me, my dear white mouse."
I looked to the side, when a child-like figure with familiar green hair stood.
-"Have I finally broken something in reality, and my one stand in a dream resulted in a child?"
-"You'll know one day, for now let me introduce myself. I'm Mobius, and as you see, I'm dead. You'll promise me someday that you will revive me, so I'm here now."
-"Future tense? A time paradox?"-I closed my eyes, the pain in my head returning in force.
-"Don't know, but is that important? You need me, and in the future you'll repay me."
-"What can you do for me?"
-"You need a biologist, don't you? I dare to say that you won't find a better one than me."
-"Why should I trust you?"
-"You told me that you'll ask this, so you gave me something to convince yourself."-She smiled and leaned close to my ear, despite her voice appearing directly in my mind.-"Your first love was none of those girls close to you, but rather that pink..."
-"If you know this, then you must know me well. I'll leave the job to you."
-"Just give me some equipment."
-"Prepare a list, and I'll have Lemuen prepare everything from Laterano."
Mobius nodded and disappeared.
-"Another ghost?"-Vivian asked after a moment.
-"Yes, but this one… I feel that her arrival is the beginning of many headaches in my future."
With Mobius' arrival, my plans changed. While the war was still important, now preparing for what came after was the priority. Britain was always the land of dragons, so that blood was the link for everything, but it alone wouldn't achieve much. I needed a way to turn the age of men into an age of magic.
Then I remembered my first conversation with Morgan, about turning the world into a Lostbelt. I read the whole plan long ago, but I doubted its possibility due to many things that needed to go perfectly for it to succeed. But the things shown to me by my divination showed that there was a possibility to achieve it, along with preventing the era of men from descending. But the issue was still the time. For now, I could only count on Mobius finding something that will resolve it, but just in case, I decided to look for some more 'drastic' alternatives.
I got up shortly after and started to write my reply to Vortigern, consulting him on some matters I needed to understand. When I finished writing, I handed the letter to Viviana and told her to hand it to the messenger the next morning.
I also wrote a quick message to Morgan; the matter of Albion's blood was something that I needed her consultation on. After having Spectral Hawk deliver it, I once again looked at the vial on the table, wondering if this would be the breakthrough I needed or just another sidetrack.