The Collab...

Chapter 56

By Young Sage

Staring blindly into the mezmerizing dance of the Ether inside the meld, Ran barely noticed as his hand fell flush against the side of it. Suddenly a bright flash fell across his vision a sharp pain shot through every bone in his body, he felt like he was being torn apart from the inside out. He tried to scream but his voice seemed to be blocked by the rush of Ether, all the came out was a gush of green light.

"I'm dieing...I have lived for hundreds of years, and now...now i'm going to die because of my damn curiosity!"

The thought drifted through his mind again, and again, taunting him, the stricken face of the boy that was in trouble, screaming for help...and here he was dieing because of his stupidity.

"I will NOT DIE!!!"

Screaming the thought through his mind, he tried to mentally push the Ether out of his body, tried to condense it and push it away...but it was no use...there was to much, a hundred ancients like himself couldn't have held this much Ether and controled it... closing his eyes, he surrendered himself to the waves of Ether that coursed through him, letting it pull him where ever it may.

The pain stopped as suddenly as it started, replaced instead by a gentle rhythm. Opening his eyes he saw he was immersed in blackness as he had been for so many years before, but this time, this time he was riding on a network of Ether that pushed through the darkness making new paths, some joining back up with other already existing networks.

He couldn't believe his eyes, turning around, he stared directly down one of the Ether flows, "No!" he couldn't believe it, down this particular Ether path he saw an old stream that he remembered very well, but it was who was by the stream that had shocked him, there splashing in the pool, was him, and his old friends...he didn't know how but somehow the Ether network had found and brought back old memories from his past...

Not caring what would happen he pushed himself down this Ether stream wanting to see what was happening...suddenly there was another flash of light...

Blinking his eyes to rid himself of the light bugs that kept flashing infront of him, he focused on the scene that was unfolding...there were 5 children playing in the stream, he smiled as he recalled each of them, the tall gangly boy that would have been around 13 was Thar, one of his best friends that had met an unfortunate accident at the later age of 18.

Shaking his head he looked at the other children, the small pudgy faced girl was Analice a 11 year old that he could never once remember not smiling no matter what was happening. then of course there was Mari, even at the age of 14 she showed that when she fully matured she would be the affection of many young mens hearts, he and Mari had grown up right next to each other, both of their fathers had been on the government council.

Then there was Dal a strong featured black haired youth that pressed the virtue of honor before all else, he didn't know Dal very well infact...as he thought back, he didn't think that anybody know Dal very well except for maybe Dal himself.

Smiling he looked at the last young man knelling on one knee on a huge boulder, as he looked down smiling on the others, this...this was him, with dirty blond hair, that went down to his neck, strong features, and dark green eyes.

He watched as his younger self made a dramatic pose and then dove into the crystal clear water, surface next to Thar, and pulled him under...listening, he tried to make out the conversation that they were having...

Mari rolled her eyes and looked over at the two younger boys wrestling around in the water.

"You know you don't 'always' have to show off Ranni.."

Ran looked away from Thar and pushed his hair away from his eyes.

"Of course i do! If i didn't then who would? Answer me that oh wise and knowing Mari?"

Grinning from ear to ear he tried to slowly wade over to wherw Mari was reading wit out her noticing.

Mari answered without looking up from her book "Plenty of other people...oh unwise and unknowing 'Ranni'!"

"ARGH! you know i don't like that name 'Marionia' just plain ole RAN i'm not 3 any more incase you hadn't noticed."

Mari finally looked up from her book and with a false expression of shock..."You aren't 3 anymore? When did this happen?"

That was it he had had enough of this, he was finally close enough, smiling he opened his mouth like he was going to answer her remark with a comment of his own, but instead he grabbed both her ankles jumped up on the rock she had been reading on, put his hands around her waist lifted her and tossed for everything he was worth...

Still smiling when Mari's head popped out of the water.

"Yep i'm sure that a 3 year old couldn't have done that, don't you agree?" he couldn't help it any more and started laughing, soon Thar and Anna joined in as well when Mari hopped out of the water looking like a wet rat.

Glaring at all of them Mari grabbed her books and stomped off turning around before heading into the woods " You all need to grow up a little you aren't going to be kids all of your lives." and with that she hurried off, Ran lounged back on the rock that Mari had been on and soaked up the sun until a shadow blocked it out.

Opening one of his eyes he looked up at the figure standing over him, "Hello Dal you just missed the best thing..." before he got any farther he felt a foot slam into his stomach, curling up he tried to breath but couldn't get any air into his lungs.

"That was for throwing Mari into the water, that was very dishonorable of you Rangarion, I thought you had more honor than that." with that he followed after Mari. finally able to breathe he stood up and watched Dal's back as he disappeared into the forest...

Rangarion watched as the memory faded into blackness and he was again being swept away in the ever flowing Ether current, why were his memories being shown to him? was there something he was supposed to see?

Before he had time to finish the thought another cross section in the network came up infront of him, with another memory being played out in the farthest right current...to curious to care about what might happen he pushed off towards his other memory.

He was about 21 in this memory, and he was standing in front of the Tower of Initiates, Mari was standing on his right, and they were conversing about something. He knew that Thar would have been dead 2 years now, and Anna would have already have left at the young age of 18 for the Healers school. He pushed himself closer trying to hear what the two were discussing.

"Where the hell is Dal? he said he would be here already, this isn't like Dal at all."

Mari looked over at him " It is very unlike Dal isn't it? he probably got caught up studying or helping some old lady across the road." almost as an after thought she retorted"and would you stop cussing its not good for you."

Ran looked down, "Sorry i forget sometimes."

Mari smiled and patted him on the back."Its alright 4 years working as a Fisherman will do that too you unfortunatly.."smiling she almost laughed " You remember my uncle don't you? Nastian? Remember how his language used to be?"

Ran thought a minute and then smiled as well "As a matter of fact I do remember, he couldn't say a single sentence with out having every other word be a cuss word."

A hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him around , startled he through a right hook catching how ever it was in the stomach.

"ARGH!!" looking down Ran saw that it was Dal who had grabbed him "Oh NO! Dal i'm so sorry, you shouldn't have startled me like that, oh i'm so sorry!"

Grabbing Dal underneath his arms he pulled him to his feet and pushed his hands above his head " Breathe Dal, just breathe, oh i'm so sorry"

A couple of minutes later he heard a low laugh from Dal .

" A few years as a fisherman and you've got a right hook that could take out a Werjul.." Dal patted Ran on the back,"I'm ok really you don't have to hold me up, I should have known better than to do that anyway."

Ran backed away looking Dal up and down, making sure he was ok.

"So what took you Dal? You're usually right on time."

Dal looked over at him and smiled "I got caught up with studying and lost track of the time."

Mari chuckled and poked Dal's ribs "See? Didn't Itell you Ranni?."

Smiling Ran nodded "Yes, you did."

Dal looked between the him and Mari "Guess I'm becoming too predictable, i need to get out and do more things..."

Mari nodded "Well if we all get in and get registered you'll have your chance, but standing out here won't get us anywhere"

Agreeing, they all started towards the huge arched double doors. Once inside they asked directions to the registration hall, finding it fairly easily, they all stepped up to the desk and filled out their personal registrations.

"Please, take a seat Head Master Alanius will be with you shortly."

Smiling they all took a seat, looking across Mari to Dal he asked "So what did you sign up to master in?"

Dal looked over at him" Necro. How about you?"

Ran caught his breath; " NECRO? Why would you want to go into that!?"

Dal looked surprised "Because it's something that i've always liked... Why else? It interests me."

Ran shook his head "But...but you know that you'll be looked at as an outcast by almost every town? Every one sees necromacers as evil people that just want to hold the power of being immortal"

Dal nodded "Yeah i know, but still it interests me, so what did you go into?"

Ran shook his head "I went into Elemental Ether Magery!"

Dal smiled "I always figured that you would...from the first time we talked about joining i new you would become an EEM"

Looking over at Mari, Dal asked "So what about you?"

Mari smiled "Astrological Ether use"

Ran squinched his face up..."Sounds kinda confusing to me, are you sure thats what you want to go into?"

Mari nodded "Of course I'm sure."

Ran shrugged his shoulders "Alright, whatever it's your life."

Hours passsed with nothing said, all too nervous to bring up a conversation topic, finally the secretary stood up"Miss Marionia D'Amesia, Head Master Alanius will see you now."

Smiling at both him and Dal she walked into the back office.

Another hour passed before Mari finally emerged, smiling she looked at them both "I'm in!!!"

They both jumped up and ran over to hug her, " Oh Mari thats wonderful!" Dal hugged her then backed up to let Ran in.

"Well i guess that since you got in you jinxed the rest of us...congrats Mari" smiling he hugged her and let her go watching as she walked towards the equiping hall.

"Mr. Dalsius Malckavian, the Head Master will see you next"

Ran walked back over to sit down and wait.

This time 2 hours passed before Dal came out...but he did finally come out.Dal smiled over at Ran"Of course i'm in.."

Ran stood up and shook Dal's hand.

"You always were cocky..."

Dal shook his head "Not cocky, Confident."

Dal walked off towards the equiping hall.

The secretary turned towards him "Mr. Rangarion Salvistar the Head Master will see you now."

Turning away from where he had watched Dal walk out, he slowly took a deep breath to calm him down and started towards the door.

Inside the Head Master's Office was nothing like he would have expected, he had thought that there would be ornate tapestry's all over the walls, an expensive desk where the Head Master would sit and interview the new prospective students. But there was nothing like this, a small simple wood desk and chair was all the Head Master had, there were a few tapestrys but nothing fancy, the floor was a hard stone, no this was nothing like he had imagined.

"Hello Mr. Salvistar, you dont' mind if i call you Rangarion do you?" Breaking him from his thoughts Ran looked up into the headmasters dark sea blue eyes.

"Uh j-just Ran if you wouldn't mind sir." taking a deep breath he turned his eyes away not able to bear the interagative look that the headmaster seemed to have.

"Ran, sounds good i like it, alright Ran, take a seat and we'll get right down to business."

Bending down to open a lower drawer the head master disappeared from view for a second, giving Ran a moment to sit down and try and collect his thoughts.

It wasn't long before the headmaster found what he was looking for and popped back into view with a folder in his hands.

"Alright lets see what we have here." the headmaster shuffled through a few of the papers"Well it says here that you get good grades you seem to have a love for the elements and nature, and that you have alot of potential", tipping his head forward the headmaster studied him with those eyes that seemed to take in everything. "Hmmm...You look like a good egg son...But looks aren't always everything, you'd do well to remember that." Ran just nodded his head not exactly trusting his voice at that moment"What would you say if i was to put you into the immediate advanced class...no training so far what so ever, you think you could handle it?"

Ran could just see his eyes as they bulged out of his head right at that moment, (what was he saying, it took most people years before they even started becoming familiar with Ether and yet here he was being told that he would be put into and ADVANCED area?) wetting his lips he finally responded.

"Well sir i would decline your offer." seeing the shocked expression on the headmasters face he hurried to give a reasoning as to not sound cocky.

"Not because i wouldn't be grateful, i would be i really would, but i don't think that i'm ready for that kind of responsiblity, and it really means alot to me that you think that i am, but sir i really don't think that would be a good idea? Do you?" a few minutes of silence passed, Ran was sure that he was doomed he had offended the Headmaster, he saw his hopes and dreams of becoming an elemental mage going to pieces.

"Thats the smartest thing that i've ever heard any young man or woman say lad..." Ran's head shot up.

"W-what did you say sir?"

The Headmaster smiled at him as their eyes met."I said that that was one of the smartest things that i've ever heard...you're accepted, get your equipment at the equiping hall..."

At a loss for words Ran just stuttered and stood up, shook the headmasters hand and walked out...'you're accepted', the two most beautiful words he had ever heard.....

Again the memory faded out...still confused as to the reason of all of the memories he again drifted into the current of the Ether network, trying to piece together something that would make sense as to what was going on...

As he flowed through the ever changing currents he found a different memory at every intersection where the network split off into different areas, he didn't know how long he was flowing along the network, it seemed like there was not real time...only the blackness surrounding him, and the Bright green Ether flowing through it.

Startled by a load roaring noise, Ran looked up from his contemplations, infront of him was a huge White space, swirling in all different directions, it seemed as if the Ether flowed underneath this white swirl, but he had a sinking feeling that he wouldn't.

Suddenly another image appeared infront of the White mass, another memory, like the many others before it, he didn't have much time to think of any thing else before he was thrown into it.

He was 38 now, and had been proclaimed as one of the youngest Elemental Mages ever. Smiling to himself he looked at the sash over his shoulder that now proclaimed him an Ether Mage of the Elemental Order.Some where even saying that with in a few more years he would become an Ether Master, although he didn't think so, many others did. Looking around he scanned the crowd again for Mari and Dal, they were both supposed to meet him here, it had been years since they had all joined as apprentices in there respective orders, and he was eager to see how they were faring.

Engrossed with searching through the crowd he barely felt the tap on his right shoulder, thinking it at first to probably be a merchant he spun around to tell them that he wasn't interested...instead he nearly fell off of the step he had been using to get a better look at the crowd.

"Hello Ranni! You're looking well!" Smiling from ear to ear he could barely contain himself, jumping up he rushed over and scooped Mari up into a huge hug.

"Mari! Oh It's so good to see you after so long!"

Laughing, she pushed his shoulders trying to get out of his bear crushing hug.

"Funny you seem happy to see me, yet you try and kill me in the first second." laughing he put her on the ground and took a step back, "My, you look just as beautiful as you always did"

Smiling Mar patted him on the cheek .

"And you're the same old flatterer that you always were."

After looking at Mari for a few more seconds he got back up on the stairs and started looking for Dal.

"So what do you think he'll look like after so long? you don't think that he'll look to different do you? i mean with him working with...you know...what he is?"

Turning to Mari he waited for her to answer, she only shrugged and looked over the crowd again"I can't really say for sure, he might look just like he used to, then again he might look absolutely nothing like he used to maybe he looks like..."

"A horrid thing of the undead? Azombie or ghoul maybe?"

Jumping off the stairs for the second time Ran spun around to see Dal staring and smiling at the both of them"DAL!"

Rushing up he grabbed his old friends arm and shock it vigourously.

"Well its good to know that you at least remember me in my undead like state." turning from Ran, Dal stepped over to Mari and embraced her as he had when he had first saw her...only quite a bit more gently.

Mari turned to Ran"See? That's how you're supposed to hug!"

Ran rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out" yeah yeah.."

After a few minutes of laughter he turned to his two companions "So what do we do now? Anyone feel like getting a bit to eat maybe?"seeing the consenting nods from both his friends he smiled and motioned them to follow him."I know this place like the back of my hand just follow me."

After twisting and turning down numerous lanes they finally came to one of Ran's favorite resturants, "The Magik Maker".

It wasn't anything fancy but they gave a good discount to full Mages, and the food was exceptional. After getting inside, they found a table and ordered.

"So how has everyone been this oh 18 or so years?"

Dal smiled ;"It couldn't have been better I love my classes and it seems they just keep getting better."

He turned to Mari "And you? How have you been?"

"Well", she started , "It has been going alright, but there seems to be alot of trouble on the southern borders close to my school." raises his eyebrow Ran asked her to continue.

"Well I don't know to much about it, but it seems to have alot of the Master's upset, and i can see at least a little bit why."

Mari took a sip of her drink and continued "It seems that there is a new race of creature or something that has burrowed it's way out of the Hindigon mountains and has been making raids on some of the smaller villages."

"Making RAIDS?!" Ran couldn't believe it, nothing like this had happened in hundreds of years...what was going on?

"Is it just a rumor or has in been confirmed?"

Mari looked over at him "I wish it was just a rumor but unfortunatly it isn't, a few days before i left, they brought in a body of one of the creatures under the cover of night, i only saw it because i was up late studying for a final, and had gone out to the garden to get a breath of fresh air when they brought it through the gates, it was horrible."

Mari shook her head, and took a deep breath before starting back up "It had four arms, each with only 3 fingers, the head had two huge eyes almost like a flys, and the body was a dark black color...thats about all i could tell with out getting right up to it."

Suddenly it hit him...

"Wait a minute...isn't your school built right on top of the Hindigon mountains Dal?"

Dal looked over at him and nodded slowly.

"Yes, it is, why do you ask? Iknow nothing of such creatures if that is what you are wondering."

Ran looked into his old friends eyes, and saw something that he hadn't bothered to notice before...Dal's eyes had changed color, they were now a dark black with shots of purple running through them...why hadn't he noticed such an obvious thing before? what was going on?

"What the hell happened to your eyes Dal?"

Dal blinked a couple of times and swallowed before answering.

"It is the effect of using so much Ether, at least that is what my instructors say."

Ran shook his head, something was not right...something was screaming that something was a amiss, he just couldn't put his finger on it.He didn't want to but he had to know...he had to, slowly and inconveniently he started to pull a small amount of Ether into him, and weave into a lie detecting spell, that would allow him to ask questions and be told wether the answer was truth or not. Hoping that neither Mari or Dalsius had seen him he looked over at Dal again.

"So you really haven't heard of any mystery creature that has been raiding villages around your area?"

Dal shook his head"No" LIE! screamed his spell...

Ran squinted his eyes and glared at Dal "Don't lie to me, old friend, you never were any good at it...now tell me the truth, what do you know of these creatures."

Mari looked wide eyed at the both of them, apparently wanting to break them up before something started, but unwilling to because of her curiosity.

Dal shut his eyes and opened them again, a small smile splayed across his lips.

"Very good Ran,your more cunning than I had thought...well seeming as I'm in the company of friends i might as well tell you.", leaning back in his chair Dal started to talk,"It was about 4 years ago that my Order found an unknown being living within the mountains of Hindigon, we didn't know what they were or what they wanted...so we transported on of our diplomats down to talk with them to see if they were friendly."

Dal gave a smile that displayed no compassion.

"They weren't, friendly that is", Dal said as he turned his head Rans way "They cut him up and roasted him before he even got to say hello."

Giving a throaty chuckle he again closed his eyes and continued "So we decided to next to try and communicate with them telopathically, it worked, we didn't get far, they seemed to want to have nothing to do with us at first, but later on as we continually kept pressing them to talk, they broke down and finally consented, we talked with them about everything from cultures to harvests."

Again he looked over at him and smiled that horrible smile, "They aren't really a new race, they've actually been here before we have, 'we' being humans of course..."

"Anyway to conclude they told us that they would give us a secret that only they possessed." Ran looked into his old friends eye's and was sorry to find only greed and lust in his once innocent eyes "They said they had a power that would give a man control over a whole world, allowing him to tap directly into the main Ether flow of the world"

Dalsisus looked at both of his former comrades"Can you think of it! being able to tap into the main Ether source think of the power you would wield!I get shivers just thinking about it."

Ran shook his head..."So what did they ask in return for this 'power'?"

Dal looked over at him as if he had just awakened him from a great dream, and scowled before answering "They said that they wanted to be released...to walk onwhat once was theirs."

He was insane, this was not the honorable man that he had once played with as a youth, this was a power hungry demon!

"You make me sick Dalsius, why would anyone want so much power for themselves, and if you tapped into the main Ether network who knows what kind of catastrophies would occure! you'd be sticking your hand into a bonfire wondering if it would burn you or not."

Dal shook his head" You never will see the big picture will you Ran, if one person held such power...there would be no need for a government, the government is what is killing this land, if one man held such power he could keep peace, there would be no wars because he could stop them without them ever starting."

"Can't you see, it would be a Paradise." Dal's eyes glazed over with the thought of that kind of power... Ran stood up, knocking his chair backwards"you son of a bitch, you'd risk killing this whole world just for the chance to gain power?"

Dal looked up at him"Yes...and hundred times over YES."

Ran looked over at Mari"come on...i don't want to be within a thousand leagues of this...this THING!" not waiting for her to respond he grabbed Mari's hand and yanked her up, and stormed out of the resturant....

Holding back the tears of pain of being stabbed in the back by someone he had grown up with, and always looked to as a friend, he didn't even notice that he was no longer swirling in the white mist, but neither was he floating along in the Ether currents either... Wiping a single tear that had managed to escape him, he looked around him to see where he was, what had become of him...

All around him stood huge buildings, that seemed to scrap the sky, the towers and cathedrals he had known and thought were huge as a young man, were as nothing compared to these. Ran looked at the two buildings that he stood inbetween, and decided that they must be some sort of an appartment complex or something of the sort.

Walking out of the alley, Ran took a second to take in everything before asking a youngman setting out wrapped stacks of parchments where he was, the man looked at him funny and answered"Well incase your just daft, your in Central District, welcome." Smiling at his own joke the young man turned away and went back to his stand of strange papers, Central district...well he had better try and find out as much as he could about this Central District before he did anything that might get him in trouble... Ran turned around looked at everyone staring at him, and finally realized that the first thing he was going to have to do was change his clothes...