I was stunned, leader of an alliance between my Luminosity and Merlin's Academy of Magic?
.....
For reference, the Academy of Magic, is a neutral faction just like Luminosity. It is an academy, which main reason for existence is to teach the best and brightest future mages from all round Magedom.
It does not matter your background, you could be either an orphan, just like Kyros was, or a prince. The teachers are all either Emperor Mages while some faculty are Great Mages. These are some of the brightest of their generations, who have decided to stay and work within the academy.
The academy itself is situated within a mega city, similar in size to Luminosity, where the academy itself takes up nearly half of the city. Due to the fact that the academy takes people from all over the world, it is also very diverse demographically.
The Academy of Magic and the city it is situated within, often called City of Mages, because of the academy, but actually doesn't have an official name, are not the only territory under it, essentially, the centre of the continent is academy territory, with large grasslands, forests with magical beasts, where students go to train and do missions, in addition to mountain ranges that stretch into the horizon.
It is like its own country.
Towns and villages dot its landscape and Luminosity is actually bordering it, if you were to look on a map, it would be placed in the top right of the Academy of Magics territory, north-east of the City of Magic, across vast grasslands.
The land around Luminosity in comparison, is quite small, just a forest and a grassy plain that surround the perimeter, however, that did not stop people from creating villages and hamlets that dotted the landscape as well.
...
As I was thinking, Merlin spoke up again "We will not survive on our own Kyros, we will be overrun and subjugated, everything both of us have built, will be in ruins. You are strong, Kyros, incredibly so. But you and your city cannot face the whole world on your own, you need allies and so do I. Us together, with our resources and manpower combined, will be able to stem the tide of the abyss that is coming."
As Merlin stopped his speech, I said sharply "Tell me, Merlin, tell me the information I need to know, I do not make rash decisions, I need to know that I am dealing with before agreeing."
My sharp, cold eyes, drilled into Merlin as he replied "Fine, fine, I will give you the quick overview for now and fill in the missing pieces, later, when we can have a proper discussion. Where do I start?" He murmured as he stared of into the horizon of this hellscape "Ah! Yes, the abyss. From my knowledge I have accumulated over my long life, there are two worlds, known as 'Divine Worlds' one, was a place of beings that were Gods, a place of harmony and peace, that radiated everything that is holy and just in the cosmos." He then straightened his beard out slowly with his hand, as he was thinking of what to say next, I was still listening intently.
He went on "Then there was another, the World of the Abyss, the opposite in everyway, a place of horror and death, a place that exuded everything that is wrong and unjust in our cosmos. It was thousands of years ago at this point, I am not too sure on the specific time scale, when the two worlds eventually went to war, and the abyss, came out on top. Now the Gods have gone silent, and the abyss runs rampant through the cosmos, taking over worlds, harvesting them for what they can get, usually the deaths of mortal souls to feed them and their power, while corrupting and turning the world into something foreign. They feed on death and injustice, they corrupt, they are a plague."
He continued "One of the reasons they do not just come and take the world/s themselves, which might be something you are thinking, is because of the laws of the cosmos, they cannot circumvent them. So, they do the next best thing and something that arguably benefits them more, which is corrupt the inhabitants with whispers of their desires. In this case, what does the inhabitants of our world desire most? Power, of course." He said in his characteristically wise way, like he was back to teaching me again in the deans office. "So they do what they do best, corrupt and twist the inhabitants of worlds, until they essentially take them over and offer the world to the abyss, in that way the cosmos has to accept the, hmm, how to put it, ah, yes, 'ownership change'."
He then took a break as he said more seriously "Then the descent begins, once the world has changed 'ownership', and has been fully offered to the abyss, that is when the creatures and inhabitants of the abyss, can descend onto the world... By that point, we have already lost."
As Merlin finished, I was astonished, before I said sternly "So, what do the ones who are serving this so called abyss get?"
Merlin's face scrunched up slightly as he said "Power, Kyros. That, and they have deluded themselves into thinking they will become something more, something higher, like a God. While, the grunts of this.... cult, yes cult that is what they are, they are hoping they can break the unfairness of our world, to overcome the curse of talent, to become powerful in their own right. For some, like the nobles, there is only so far resources can take you, and as you know, they never fill in the gap that talent leaves, they make you essentially artificial in what ever level you reach with them. While others, the mages who are not born into wealth and power of a noble family, are hoping for the resources the cult affords and maybe to gain the recognition of the cult leadership and the abyss itself."
I studied Merlin for a second, before shaking my head in controlled fury "Pathetic, the lot of them. They would sell out their world, the people of it and even their very souls for power? These nefarious means are beyond expectable; I will not let them succeed."
Merlin looked at me as if expecting such a response, "Good, Kyros, as I expected, as much as you followed the path to power, you never crossed lines that should not be crossed. We may have had disagreement on your outlook on life and your choices, but I hope we can put them to one side as we face this common enemy, this enemy of our world."
I nodded "Of course, Merlin, I am not as conceited as you may think, I would like to think I am more in control than my younger years to allow something like words to stop me from joining you. Onto my next question, why me? Why do you want me to be the leader and not yourself, with all your years of experience?"
Merlin nodded knowingly at me as he replied "I thought you would ask, however, my reasons are not some highly thought out rationale. I simply believe you to be best, what you have done in such little time in the grand scheme of things is remarkable, building the city of Luminosity, the amount of people you were able to draw to it, the people you also drew to yourself like a magnet" He looked at Diablo as he said this, then turned back and continued " While never faltering from your path, even if I may have had my reservations, you stuck to your principles in life and did not allow anyone to change you, that might be something you are regretting in light of recent events."
As he said this I could see the slight sadness in his eyes and understood that he knew about Elenora. I sighed slightly at this, as he went on "However, right now, that Kyros, that is the type of person we need. This world, the people, they need you. The One Blessed By The Light, that will light the path forward."
Once he finished, I replied uncharacteristically playfully "You still have the same silver tongue?" Merlin simply smiled in that infuriating way before saying " What do you mean? I am simply telling it how it is."
I sighed, heavily, before replying "Of course I will accept, I am not one to back down from a fight or flip flop. However, I will say, I am not going to allow myself to be drawn back into who I used to be, I am not saying I will change who I am at the core, but I have had my eyes opened recently, by someone I thought I would never, in my potentially long life, have enter my life. my daughter, Aurora. I cannot allow myself to slip back into that self destructive mentality, I do not want to make the same mistake, and I will not, I am someone that learns and adapts from previous missteps."
Merlin looked at me with that same, proud expression, he always had on his face when I was being taught by him in magic, when I would grasp the meaning behind a theory or master a spell quickly "Good, Kyros, I am glad, I would never want that type of life for you nor for you to revert back. However, the concept of a strong mind and unwavering perseverance, those are the good qualities of that mindset, that I hope you never lose."
I nodded my head in agreement.
"I better get back and prepare, I am guessing you need to as well, we need to meet again to organise this as quickly as possible, before they attack. They will not sit on their hands now that they know they are exposed"
As I said all this, I heard Diablo stirring awake as he opened his eyes, he quickly focused and locked his eyes on me, while lying on the ground. "Your Excellency" He groaned slightly as he stood up as he looked around "You went a bit overboard didn't you?" He smirked.
I simply shook my head exasperatedly as I said "Seems you are back to your usual self, I did not know you had self sacrifice in your toolbox." Diablo laughed lightly as he said "Neither did I."
I stood and dissolved the chair I was on as I looked over to Merlin, I will be in touch soon old man, we have a lot to get into order. He stood too and replied "Of course, My Lord." Before he disappeared, I simply rolled my eyes, so insufferable, seriously.
Diablo looked at me with confusion "Later, lets get back."