Hours passed in tense silence. Astraeus and Lyra kept watch, their essence slowly recovering, while Thomas and Kira drifted in and out of a dazed, semi-conscious state. The twenty civilians remained motionless, their minds lost in the Ethereal's transcendent trap.
Just before midnight, they saw lights approaching from the south—the bobbing lanterns of a rescue party. Darius had made it back.
A dozen guild members arrived, led by Guildmaster Crane himself. His presence underscored the gravity of the situation; the guildmaster didn't personally lead rescue missions for anything less than a major crisis.
"Report," Crane said, his voice calm but authoritative as he took in the scene—the unconscious civilians, the dazed mages, the lingering scent of Ethereal essence.
Darius, who had returned with the party, gave a concise summary. "Ethereal incursion. Rift was silver-white, not void. It trapped twenty civilians and two of our team members in a mental stasis. Astraeus sealed the rift, forcing the Ethereal to retreat. We have two conscious but exhausted mages, two psychologically compromised, and twenty civilian casualties requiring immediate medical attention.
"Crane nodded, his expression unreadable. "Helena, assess the victims. Everyone else, prepare the wagons for transport. We're taking everyone back to Thornhaven tonight.
"Helena Voss moved among the victims, her hands glowing with diagnostic essence. She checked Thomas and Kira first. "Moderate Ethereal exposure. Their minds are intact, but they'll need specialized healing and at least a month of recovery. They were lucky.
"She then moved to the civilians, and her expression darkened. "Severe exposure. Their minds are... fractured. We can heal their bodies, but their consciousness is damaged. Some may never fully recover."
I told you, Kha'Zul said grimly. Ethereal essence is not meant for mortal minds. It burns them out.
Astraeus felt a pang of guilt. He'd saved their lives, but not their minds. Was that a victory?
As the guild members began carefully loading the unconscious civilians onto the wagons, Crane approached Astraeus. "Your report, Apprentice Ren. And I want the full truth. I can sense the residue of immense power here, far beyond that of a 'protective spirit.' What happened?"
Astraeus met the guildmaster's gaze. He knew he couldn't lie, not to a Master-level mage who could likely sense the truth anyway. He took a breath and made a decision.
"Sir, what I'm about to tell you cannot leave this conversation."
"Agreed. Speak freely."
"The entity I'm bound to is not a spirit. It's a demon. A Demon King, to be precise. My name is Astraeus Ren, and I died three weeks ago in the Valdris ruins, killed by that same demon. A system of unknown origin intervened, resurrected me, and bound the demon to my soul as a condition of my continued existence. I am what the system calls a 'Reality Anchor,' tasked with preventing the dimensional collapse that is currently underway."
Crane listened without interruption, his expression unchanging. When Astraeus finished, the guildmaster was silent for a long moment.
"A Reality Anchor," Crane said finally, his voice quiet. "The concept is mentioned in the oldest texts in the restricted library. A mortal bound to the fabric of reality itself, capable of reinforcing the barriers through their own existence. It was considered a myth, a legend. There hasn't been a confirmed Reality Anchor in over a thousand years."
"I didn't choose this," Astraeus said. "It was forced on me."
"Few ever choose their burdens. The question is how they bear them." Crane looked at Astraeus, his eyes sharp and analytical. "And the demon? Kha'Zul?"
He knows my name, Kha'Zul noted with surprise.
"He cooperates out of necessity. His survival is tied to mine. He provides knowledge and, when necessary, power. He is the reason we survived today."
"I see." Crane was quiet again, processing the incredible story. "This changes things. Everything." He finally looked at Astraeus. "Your secret is safe with me. For now. But we need to discuss this further, in a more secure location. When we return to Thornhaven, you will report to my office immediately."
"Understood, sir."
"And Astraeus? You did well today. You saved your team and prevented a larger incursion. Despite the... unconventional circumstances, your actions were commendable."
[QUEST COMPLETE: REPORT TO GUILDMASTER CRANE]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 200]
[REPUTATION INCREASED: THORNHAVEN MAGE GUILD (SIGNIFICANT)]
The journey back to Thornhaven was somber. The wagons carried the unconscious, a grim reminder of the mission's cost. Astraeus rode in silence, his mind reeling. He'd revealed his greatest secret to the most powerful man in the city. What would happen now?
He's a pragmatist, Kha'Zul said. He sees your value. A Reality Anchor, even one bound to a demon, is a powerful asset in a dimensional crisis. He won't discard you. He'll use you.
"And you? What will he do about you?"
What can he do? I'm bound to you. As long as you're valuable to him, I'm safe. For now.
They arrived back at Thornhaven just as dawn was breaking. The injured were taken directly to the infirmary, where a team of healers was waiting. Crane instructed Astraeus to get some rest and report to his office at noon.
Astraeus returned to his room at the Copper Bell, but he couldn't sleep. He showered, ate, and spent the morning pacing, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities.
At noon, he presented himself at the guildmaster's office. The room was large and sparsely decorated, with a large oak desk and shelves filled with ancient-looking books. Crane was there, along with Marcus and Helena.
"Thank you for coming, Astraeus," Crane said. "I've briefed Marcus and Helena on the situation. Your secret is safe within this room."
Helena looked at him with new eyes. "A Reality Anchor. And a bound Demon King. I've read about such things in the oldest texts, but to see it in person... it's almost unbelievable."
"Believe it," Kha'Zul's voice echoed in the room, startling everyone. The demon's shadow form manifested behind Astraeus, more solid and defined than ever before. And know that this boy is the only thing standing between your world and utter annihilation.
Crane didn't flinch. "I am aware of the stakes, Demon King. Which is why we need to establish some ground rules. You are a powerful entity, but you are bound to a member of my guild. That makes you, for all intents and purposes, a guild asset. You will not act independently. You will not harm any member of this guild. And you will lend your knowledge and power to our efforts to resolve this crisis. Are we clear?"
Perfectly, Kha'Zul said, a hint of amusement in his voice. You have courage, mortal. I can respect that. For as long as it serves my interests to cooperate, I will.
"Good." Crane turned back to Astraeus. "Your situation presents both a unique opportunity and a significant risk. A Reality Anchor is invaluable. A bound Demon King is a weapon of immense power. But if your secret were to get out, it would cause panic, fear, and could make you a target for those who would seek to control or destroy you."
"What does that mean for me?" Astraeus asked.
"It means your training is now the guild's top priority. You will no longer be an Apprentice. Effective immediately, you are promoted to Journeyman, with all the rights and privileges that entails. You will have unlimited access to the essence chambers, the restricted library, and private instruction from any Master-level mage in this guild. We are going to accelerate your development, because we don't have fifty years to wait for you to become a god. We have maybe five, if we're lucky."
[PROMOTION: APPRENTICE → JOURNEYMAN]
[GUILD RANK: JOURNEYMAN (RANK 1)]
"What about my team?"
"Lyra and Darius have been commended for their bravery and will be given access to additional training resources. Thomas and Kira are receiving the best care we can provide. They will recover, in time."
"And the civilians?"
Crane's expression hardened. "We've sent for specialized mind healers from the capital. But the damage is severe. We will do what we can, but we must be realistic. Some may never wake up."
He stood and walked to the window, looking out over the city. "The Ethereal you encountered was a scout. Its 'projects' were likely probes, testing our defenses, gathering data. The simultaneous rifts were a coordinated attack. This confirms our worst fears: the dimensional crisis is not a natural disaster. It is an invasion."
"An invasion by who?"
"We don't know. But they are powerful, organized, and they are escalating their efforts. Which means we must escalate ours." He turned back to Astraeus. "Your accelerated training begins tomorrow. Be prepared to work harder than you ever have before. The fate of this world may very well rest on your shoulders."
Astraeus felt the weight of that statement settle upon him. It was a burden he'd never asked for, but it was his nonetheless.
"I understand," he said, his voice steady.So it begins, Kha'Zul murmured. The real war.
Astraeus left the guildmaster's office with a new rank, new responsibilities, and a terrifying new understanding of the conflict he was caught in. He was no longer just a survivor, just a student, just a mage. He was a Reality Anchor, a weapon, a symbol of hope in a world on the brink of collapse.
He had a war to win.
And he had a lot of training to do.