He did it.

He had no idea it was because he had a better command of Gnosis and the artifact was at least physically in Gnosis, if the gnomish machine responded to all wills around it, if they were insistent enough or if he had just gotten lucky.

He wouldn’t normally consider the third option, but Michael managed to be there, bartering with Kelunad, even when there was no sane reason he should have had any right to do that. So… luck, maybe. Plain or Spell-induced. Who knew?

The only thing Michael knew was that he had managed to scrape together one more chance. One more tidbit of time. It had to matter.

Just… just delay him. Until Regitris and the others got here. They have to. They couldn’t be out cold… could they?

No. Kelunad was a fierce warrior and the memory of him that Michael just witnessed added credence to that. A commander capable of fielding an assault group strong enough to break a horde. A warlord to all warriors. And he had been enhanced by an amulet capable of protection, healing and intangibility.

But he called Regitris ‘the Slayer’. Even without his former Class, the old elf was fearsome. Worrying to Kelunad. He couldn’t have beat him so hard that help wouldn’t be coming.

Right?

Michael leapt out of his own thoughts when he saw the orc smiling at him with a knowing look.

“Help will arrive, Michael. But far too late. I am not without allies of my own.”

“How do you do that?” the young man honestly asked. “It has to be a Skill, right? The effect it’s too powerful for a Spell.”

“There are Spells that can replicate its effect. But I am not that kind of mage.” He shrugged. “Yes, it is a Skill.”

“Odd Skill for a warrior.” Michael muttered.

“Not so much for a warrior caught among deceivers. Levels reward actions. But also will.”

“Right.”

Maybe I can get a Level up?

The orc’s smile grew wider and he turned to the three projections.

“Let us see what this artifact offers as solutions. The first, I believe, is mine.”

Michael turned to look at it and… the circular pane of magic displaying images and sounds and feelings didn’t change. But Michael suddenly felt as if that representation became his entire world, his mind fixed on it. Understanding it.

He saw a wave of magic hitting Gnosis all at the same time. Reality shuddered and lost its form when it struck, but in doing so, the border between the physical and the magical thinned. Mages were no longer body, mind, soul and magic but all together. Strings twisting against each other. And the pressure left by the wave burned. Light a light that could sear and warm at the same time.

Michael didn’t know if he saw or imagined, but he knew that the twists of magic would leave those unable to hold on to them. They would depart from the weaker mages. Not weaker in Levels or pure mana-stores, but weaker in potential and…

Will.

The free magic would rise and find worthier hosts. And so, by the time the pressure diminished, those that had been able to resist it would find their magic stronger. Some would acquire increased Levels, some Spells and others just knowledge. A few, all three. But all will know their magic to be stronger, their Levelling quicker, at least for a time.

And Kelunad would come. Remove those who had lost magic and rebelled. Accept those who chose to stay as helpers. But build an army of the few and now strong. And with that army, fight. That option did not show how the war would end. But it showed Keluand obtaining his much-desired chance for a fair fight.

“I imagine the mechanism of obtaining my wish does not endear you to it.”

“It does not.”

“Very well then. On to the second option.”

Michael was curious as well, so he looked. The second representation caught his mind just like the first and he saw.

He saw the same pulse of magic and it once again loosened reality. But instead of targeting the mages, it targeted the Academy itself. Gnosis screamed itself raw and Michael felt grief and pain gripping at him, but the effect was finished. A gaping wound lay in the academy. Not in the physical part of it, but in its magic. Its wards, to be more precise, those silent and mighty wards that had been there almost from the beginning and which very few though off. The wards that contained Gnosis in a world all of its own.

Gnosis had come back into reality, a part of the outer world once more. And what would that accomplish, except giving the encroaching army a more approachable army?

The fact that part of the magic fueling those wards was the same one which held back the horrors of wonders of the upper and lower floors. Michael was surprised and he thought Kelunad was too. The magic that had kept them all safe wasn’t built by mages, except only the tiniest part of it. Their safe-haven on the floors which they controlled was given to them by Gnosis itself. It was its magics which contained the perils, which protected them like a giant beast nurturing its young.

But the coming army was not its own. And Michael saw millennia of walled off secrets spilling over their invaders. Monsters and creations and sentient artifacts. Old cursed and Spells that would permanently change the land. A mindless attack, impossible to be controlled, only guided by the last magics Gnosis could extend.

By the end of it, the Academy would reside in the outer world, its reserves depleted too much to make the transition back. But the enemy would be gone. The army destroyed and the outer world? It would be plagued by the remnants of that magical horde. Where once the Wild and the Green ruled according to its whims, chaotic gods subjecting the world to an age of wonders, but also horrors, now Magic did the same. Wondrous and terrible.

“No.” Kelunad said. “No! Michael, this is too much. I would stop the coming army, slay them if I must. But this… this would slay the world. It is the old rule reborn, only with a different hand holding the leash.”

“What are you telling me this for? I don’t want this. I’m all for keeping everyone alive.”

“Then it is now your wish that this vision represents?”

“No. I guess the artifact is just showing us what it can do. I don’t think this wish is guided by any of us.”

“I see.” The orc said, calming down. “That it could present this as an option… I’m starting to wonder if this artifact is truly mindless or if its makers imbued it with a kind of immoral intelligence.”

“Maybe it’s just what’s more efficient. In terms of whatever if considers as efficient. Machines from my world are rumored to do the same, if they ever gain sapience.”

“Perhaps. Then should we observe our third option?”

I just hope it’s a long one.

“Yeah.”

They turned and Michael was pulled into observing a final time.

This time, the effect wasn’t do drastic. Not at the start. The pulse of magic spread through Gnosis, but it didn’t target the mages and nor did it target its wards. Instead, the pulse… focused. It changed reality, instead of loosening it. Where there was once only stone and metal, not open space remained. Walls were turned into passages and floors into stairways. A myriad of them, spreading throughout all of Gnosis.

The upper and lower floors were now open to those brave enough to challenge them. They were open before, true, but safe passages needed constant warding. New passages had to be found. And only but the most secret were known to all. Even those that were only went up so far.

Now, Gnosis lay open its secrets. Michael could feel the Academy groaning in protest, but the machine was not without thought. Those passages would be there. Would have always been there, since time was not a constant to this artifact and all would know of them. But they would be warded too and those who would not stray from their protection would not find themselves in harm’s way. …not too much. But the perils of the lost floors would find themselves blocked by the same magic which protected its travelers. Connected and fueled by Gnosis’s own magic.

Yes, it would be a danger. Fools may come knocking and lower-year students might find themselves in danger simply for going on a joy-ride. But the choice would be theirs. And for those who braved them and challenged themselves and the academy both?

Michael saw legends rising. Fueled by Levels and experience both. Students and faculty members alike gaining in magic and power. A host formed by the champions who had passed the gauntlet. One capable of withstanding an army. Not without peril. Not without cost. But tempered by their choice.

Michael saw the vision end and knew it was his.

It was fair. It might now work, if the faction’s politics barred the way. But it gave them a chance. A chance instead of an assured win, but one not paid for in loss.

“This is what you wish.” Kelunad remarked.

The orc sounded perturbed.

“It is. Yeah. I didn’t know it until now, but… yeah.”

“The artifact made your dreams into a plan. That which you had not even thought of yet. It is… appealing. Distressingly so. But tell me, do you believe this will be enough? That those that would rise will do so fast enough? Even with these safe-passages, they would still need to challenge themselves. Do you believe enough will do it? That they will grow in time.”

“I think they will. If they manage to do it before the army arrives… how long do we have?”

“Predictions vary. More than a year. Less than ten. Between that, I believe.”

“But it’s a sure thing.”

“It is.”

“Right. Then… I don’t know Gnosis as well as you do, but I see potential here. Even among the first years. I think they will, Kelunad. My only worry is that the factions might decide to fight over the right to pass. Try to be the only ones who have access to them.”

“The very thought passed my mind. So, you do see the dangers.”

“I do.” He admitted. “And there are probably others that I can’t think off. Mana drain to maintain them, but I think Gnosis is strong enough. But we can work through this.”

“We?” The orc asked, sounding amused.

“Look, I don’t like what you’ve done. And for what it’s worth, I don’t forgive you. But that won’t prevent me from working with you. I acknowledge the coming danger and I understand why you did what you did. I just don’t condone it. Now will I accept your plan of action. But… work with me here. You’re strong and you’re the leader of a three-faction coalition. You can take care of the politics.”

“Not all will accept to work with me as easily as you will.”

“I think many would if you let them know what’s coming. And if you accept this option, I’ll put my own weight behind you.”

“As pleasing that is to hear-“

“Don’t.” Michael snapped and the orc stopped, looking taken aback. “Don’t make little of this. I don’t have any pull on Ravena, but I can guide the Ascentionalists. You know my power and what Regitris thinks of it. I can work on him and on them. Besides, we’re the faction of growth. We have high chances of them accepting the new status quo, with both a reward and a penalty in play.”

“And the others?”

“Four factions aren’t enough? I have some knowledge on the mystery faction. Maybe some pull, depending on how this all plays out. All that’s left are the Naturalists and they won’t sell out Gnosis to an invading army, no matter how many old races are part of it.”

Kelunad stood there, deep in thought. For a minute. For more. Until he finally sighed heavily.

“No.”

“What?”

“Your proposal… it is the most tempting offer I have seen. More tempting than even my guilt. But… it’s only a chance. A dream. I can not consciously exchange that for a certainty.”

“But you would consciously sentence two thirds or more of the academy to losing their magic?”

“For an assured chance of being able to defend ourselves? I will.”

“Why- Damn it! Why are you so stubborn?! This can help us grow and save everyone! Let go of your damned pride!”

Michael was screaming, incensed enough that he didn’t flinch when Kelunad bellowed back.

“It is you who should let go of your naivety! You offer me a dream! A chance! You’ve seen my past, child. I’ve taken a chance on my people, I’ve dreamed of changing them, I’ve tried! And their army almost marched upon Gnosis. The army that’s coming is even greater than that of my kin. A chance to win is also a chance to fail. And you have not had your dreams crushed enough times for that lesson to be truly learned.”

“You’ve failed. In the past. That does not mean we will fail!”

“It does not mean we will succeed either.”

“No. But it means we have a fair chance. And that’s all we can ask for.”

The orc looked at him, tired and depleted.

“Spirit.” He laughed slowly. “So much like me in my youth. Are there truly no orcs in your home world?”

“Just accept it, Kelunad. Let me help you.”

Kelunad looked at him, but shook his head.

“I’m sorry.” He said, his hand touching the vision of his wish.

The world shuddered and the void in which they were standing disappeared. Instead, the room housing the artifact winked back into view.

“No!” Michael shouted, his hand touching his own wish.

“Release it, Micheal!” Kelunad said, straining.

He would have forced Michael away, but the act of will required all that they were to choose.

“You release it!” the young man snapped back.

“This artifact cannot grant two conflicting wishes.”

“Accept my wish, then.”

The shuddering felt like an earthquake. Michael was sure the entirety of Gnosis was rumbling.

“You are going to break it!”

“Then take your hand off!”

“Michael!”

“NO!”

“Alright.” A voice said.

The rumbling and pandemonium stopped, as if it had never happened in the first place.

The visions were gone, all three of them. The machine… was no longer moving. It now looked like a particularly intricate sculpture, but just that. No sense of wonder or power emanating from it. And before it stood a frowning figure, staring right at them.

“Which, if not both, of you idiots didn’t read the manual?” asked the gnome.