Mark of the Fool C.812: The Dangerous What-Ifs

Recently, Alex had been feeling like he was walking through a mist of nostalgia. Since he'd come home to Generasi, hed been experiencing things that he had missed terribly when he was in the Empire.

Conversations with his professors, time at home, time with his family, being on campus and in the city, in Greymoor, and being back in the lab doing research on the Ravener.

And now he was feeling more nostalgia.

He was in Baelins office, looking forward to enjoying a cup of pineapple juice, tarts, and other treats with him, just as he used to in his early days at the university.

Back then, hed been a novice at wizardry, trying to learn what he needed to learn to be a wizard, while having to navigate the Mark of the Fool. Now, here he was, sitting with Baelin again, but now, they were both archwizards, though Baelin was literally hundreds of times more experienced than he was.

It was calming sitting there in the ancient wizards office again, simply enjoying a cool drink with him.

It has been quite some time, hasn't it, Alex? Baelin put the cup in front of him, I must tell you that with all of the grim tidings I just received, congratulating you quite nearly slipped my mind. So, let me do so now, my young friend. Congratulations! You have accomplished a great deal. You have overcome the limits placed upon you by Uldar, and continued to master the power granted you by the Traveller, youve crushed your enemies, embarrassed those stuffy fools at Brightfire, broke through to ninth-tier spells, and have come to make peace with the ruler of your realm, by your own terms.

The goatmans eyes twinkled as he sat down at his desk. All Proper Wizard activities. Congratulations again!

Yeah, a lots happened. And thanks, Alex said. I just wish youd been here to see even half of it.

As do I, Alex, Baelin said. Though I am here now, which I hope will be of some consolation. I am excited to watch you graduate, and am very glad I did not miss that.

Me too, Alex said, looking at Baelin. I'm really glad about that too. But, if you dont mindis it okay if I asked you a few questions?

Of course I wouldnt mind, the chancellor said. If I minded, I would have asked you to leave with Isolde and Professor Jules.

Okay goodfirst, I wanted to ask what you got up to with your cabal, Alex said. If you can tell me.

Oh, the story would be both detailed and far less interesting than you might imagine. Baellin took a sip of juice, before reaching for a tart. I was helping Magun-nobu obtain rather unique materials for a palace hed been commissioned to design and build for a pantheon in a star system quite a distance away. Getting our hands on the unique and rare materials was quite the challenge, but worth the effort for my friends vision. The star kraken that watched over one particular resource was most determined to keep it from us. My cabalmate also needed help with matters of Irritation flashed in Baelins eyes. Let us just say that parenthood can be a most challenging thing, even for those who are among the most intelligent and wise in the universe. That task proved to be challenging as well, but less pleasant and successful than our interaction with the kraken, so I shall not go further.

Baelin looked out the window at the evening sky. Sanii had vowed to rescue an entire people from imprisonment within a demiplane, a place well guarded by a powerfuland entirely too arrogantarchlich. Together, she and I were able to destroy the undead creature, unravel the demiplanes magic, and release its prisoners. Cra needed me to test a promising apprentice of hers by becoming the antagonist to their quest for power and wisdom.

Did they pass? Alex asked.

Baelin winced. No, they did not, which was unfortunate, especially when the apprentice turned out to have made a deal for power with a greater devil. It was a foolish deal that would have seen him give up entirely too much, while the devil gave him the veneer of true power, without actually giving him any true power. Still, we combined our efforts to punish the devil that took one of Cras for its own. She then broke that apprentice for his foolishness, but by then, I was elsewhere. After that, I was off to Anaxadars palace where he needed help in crafting a rather fascinating magical device whose nature unfortunately, I am not at liberty to divulge. That was the most peaceful of my tasks, though it took quite a long time to complete, especially since Anaxadar was dividing his attention between our project, and the war that he insists on continuing to wage.

He shook his head. Someone is going to kill him one day, I swear it.

Sounds like you were up to a lot, Alex said after wondering if his life would be as epic when he reached Baelins age, ifhe chose to live that long. It sounds like your skills were challenged. Even the experience ofparenthood. He thought about Uldar. Waitdid youdid you ever have children, Baelin?

The archwizard paused for a moment, leaving Alex wondering if hed crossed a line with such a personal question.

But the ancient goatman showed no animosity and soon answered, By blood? No, no. But, I have raised many apprentices, and taught many students. Some of those apprentices looked upon me as a father, after a fashion. An aura of sadness suddenly touchedhis words. But, that was long ago.

Sorry, Alex said.

Do not apologise, Baelin said. It does not bother me, and one must learn to weather the endless storm that is time. Hurricane winds will blow you where you wish to go, and at other times they will blow against you. At other times, you might be threatened by the lightning accompanying the storm; and all you can do in that case is simply continue walking on.

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Right Alex said. I wonder what would've happened if Uldar had just walked on. It seems like he spent his entire life after he was poisoned doing anything he could think of to change that storm you were talking about.

Baelin gave Alex a bitter smile. Now that you have reached a new pinnacle of power, let me give you a little advice that Uldar might have done well heeding. A powerful wizard knows how to change the storm, and can do so, but a Proper Wizard knows when to change the storm, and when not to.

Just like with Carey and me? Alex asked. When you chose not to send us back to Generasi?

The situation is similar, Baelin said, his shoulders sagging slightly. For a moment, he looked quite vulnerable, surprising Alex. I do hope Vernia can forgive me, as I value her respect more than she will likely ever know. I would regret it greatly if I were to lose that.

I hope she can as well, Alex said. For what it's worth, I'm glad you didn't send us back home. We had to walk this path, no matter how winding, no matter how straight, no matter who it parted from. We chose it, so we had to walk it.

Indeed, Baelin said. The trouble with the powerful who presume to know whats better for the meek, is that it is the meek that must live with the consequences of the powerfuls decisions. If I told you to return to Generasi, and you found that this choice robbed you of growth and understanding, then you would have had to live with that consequence. Not me. So I know when not to change the stormor at least I hope I do. None of us are perfect though, me included.

Yeah Alex said. You know, to me, it used to seem that you knew everything. I used to be convinced of that. Right now, you know so much more than I do, but I feel I've taken a step closer to understanding your perspective. Ill probably never be where you are, unless I live at least ten thousand years, but having gained the power I now havemakes me empathise with you a bit more.

In what fashion? Baelin asked.

Well, Alex took another sip of pineapple juice and leaned forward. When I used to look at you, you seemed like you could do anything. Anything. So I assumed that if I got to higher spell tiers, I'd be able to do anything, just like you, and Id also know what to do with all that power and potential. But, instead, I find I'm more confused than ever. I've got all this pressure on me to stop the Ravener, but I don't know for sure if I can. Then there's what happens afterwhat will I do? If anything, I felt more sure of myself when I was in first year than I do now.

Ah, of course, Baelin said. Troublesome, isn't it? To grow to new levels of power, and find that new understanding does not automatically come with it. We spoke of something similar before.

We did, Alex said. But this feelsbigger.

The ant has no need to worry about what it steps on, but the titan does. Baelin nodded. Welcome to the realm of archwizardry. But let me advise you not to become one of those individuals who begins looking at power as a curse, when in fact, it is a gift; a tree that bears the endless fruits of opportunity.

I suppose you're right, Alex sighed. I'll think about it. Actually, that brings me to my next que He paused. No, there's another one I should ask you first. Its more important. Considering everything that we've told you about the Ravener, do you think you could beat it? In single combat? Id like to know exactly what cards well have to play, or if youre even willing to fight it.

Of course I would be willing to stand against it, Baelin said, looking somewhat insulted. I am no coward, after all, nor do I feel that the contest would be so against my favour, that it would be pragmatic for me to avoid such a confrontation.

Alex paused, a chill running through him. You think a fight with it could go against you?

Baelin went still, his eyes darting back and forth like he was reading unseen text, calculating something. He finally spoke, wearing a grim expression. As to whether or not I could defeat it in single combatquite frankly, Alex? I am not sure.

Really? Alex said, his heart sinking. Hed been hoping that Baelin would just be able to blow up the Ravener with a single spell.

Really. Baelin stood and walked to the windowhooves loudly clapping against the stone floorhands clasped behind him. He was quiet for a long time, his back to Alex. Do you recall the battle at Greymoor when we first encountered that petrifier?

Of course, Alex said. You teleported to those dungeon cores underground.

I did, Baelin said. And those cores were channelling mana directly from an outside source. In hindsight, we can safely assume that the source was the Ravener. It took me quite a while to eliminate the threat of those cores, a much longer time than I was comfortable with; enough time enough for that petrifier to wreak havoc. I dont know if you have sensed it yet, but whenever I am in Thameland, I can feel the Raveners mana hanging overthe entirety of your kingdom. That's how far its power reaches. Were it to channel its full strengthI do not know if I would be the victor. There is a good chance I would be, yes, but there is also a chance that I would fall, or be forced to withdraw. Right now, I am lacking sufficient information to give you a sure answer, and quite frankly, that is not ideal. A Proper Wizard gathers as much information as they can before engaging in any battle.

Thats what youve always taught us Alex murmured. Does its mana really reach all across Thameland?

Like a shroud, Baelin said. I felt it in Ussex, the Crymlyn, Greymoorall over. I have to give Uldar one thing, he was brilliant and Im eager to hear his journal entries, and look at his notes; I wonder if he truly understood what he had created when he made the Ravener? Its a marvel of alchemy, spellcraft and divinity. truly a marvel.

If it has so much power that it might even give you trouble, Alex paused. What about your cabal? I know thats asking a lot, but if you all got together, would you be able to beat it?

Well, that is conceivable, Baelin said. But I doubt that solution would be something you would find desirable in the end.

Why do you say that? Alex asked.

Questions of greater moralities within the universe are something that I do not spend a lot of time thinking about. Morality seems to change with every society that rises and falls. With every new philosophy. With every new deity. That said He looked over his shoulder. With the exception of Sanii, I can safely say that I am likely the kindest and most altruistic of my cabal. They would undoubtedly do me this favour, while looking at both the Ravener, and the fact that there is a torrent of divine energy that is now unclaimed somewherewould likely demand a price that you would not be willing to pay. It is possible that they might have no interest in destroying the Ravener, preferring to study it instead. Even Sanii would likely be fascinated by the construct and wish to analyse it, however long that took, before it was destroyed. I admit to having my own curiosities about it as well, with the difference being that I am personally invested, and would have no problem eliminating it.

Alright, that makes sense, Alex sighed.

His mind lingered on something Baelin had said.

Unclaimed divine power.

That bothered him, but before he could give it more thoughtsomething else occurred to him.

Wait, you said that its mana covered the whole kingdom? Alex asked.

According to my senses, yes.

Howdeep do you think its connection with Thameland runs?

A possibility had occurred to the young archwizard.

And he didn't like it one bit.

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