|Class Level Raised: Mage|

|Class Level: 15|

Michael woke up with a start. And subsequently felt a little miffed.

One Level?

But he had just averted an academy-wide calamity. Then again… he didn’t do it by acting as a |Mage|. He barely cast any Spells. Come to think of it, that Level was probably won just because he had been subjected to a lot of magic around him. Which was… fair. Not all adventures end in personal prizes.

And that was when he heard the second announcement.

|New Class Available: Diplomat|

|Class Level and Skills accessible after acceptance. |

|Accept new class? |

Diplomat?

For a new Class, he expected something like |Negotiator|. Yet, he didn’t exactly negotiate. A sledgehammer of an opinion, instead of a pitcher of water. He held his own. He still found it odd, simply because he could honestly admit that the way he handled the situation may have turned out for the best, but it hadn’t been exactly diplomatic.

That being said, if you were going to go by the textbook definition, a diplomat was also someone who represented something. And that… he did. He represented Gnosis. And its students. And he kind of met the official representative of a… larger foreign force.

Like I’ll ever forget that.

But did he wasn’t that Class?

He didn’t have to think overly long. Sinestra’s case still rang clear in his mind. If it wasn’t something he could directly use, it wasn’t worth the risk.

“No.”

|Class Denied|

Michael got out of his bed and went to get ready. There was a big announcement today. And it wasn’t even the one about his grades. No, Gnosis was changing. For the better, he hoped. It would be an uneasy ride for a while, but… they had to get better.

The talks from last night hinted to a better future.

Kind of.

***

Michael walked down the same long stairway by which he had arrived. Only himself and Kelunad. He had managed to order a Spell circle initiated for Alex and Narana and had them transported to the medical wing.

Hector got to treat Michael’s friend instead of Michael himself for a chance.

Of course, the orc only managed to do it after Michael coaxed Gnosis back out of hiding. It seemed that where the academy wasn’t magically present, certain mana-intensive Spell worked harder or not at all.

“And you got nothing from the experience?” Kelunad asked.

“Nope. But I didn’t use much magic. It’s normal, I guess.”

“It seems normal for me too. But I have learned not to expect the normal from you.” The orc wryly noted.

Fair.

“Yet I notice that your command of Gnosis comes easier now, does it not?”

“Somewhat.” Michael answered, tentatively. “But I don’t think ‘command’ is the proper term. More like Gnosis trusts me more now, after I’ve defended it.”

“From me.”

“And from the gnome. It felt to me like it viewed him as a danger.”

“Given his proposal, I can believe that readily.”

“Yeah. That… that was insane.” Michael remarked quietly. “Did you know there were Levels and Spells after Level 100?”

“No. No I… This must be shared with the other factions. The faction leaders, at the very least. Despite our contradictory opinions, to learn that we have fallen so low and that there is so much to climb… it’s disquieting. And also exciting, in a way. These are strange times, to make me feel so young again.”

“I’m glad you have your energy back. You’re gonna need it, since this won’t be an easy talk.”

“I know. Believe me, I kn-“

“Michael!”

The two stopped, at the bottom of the stairs. The shout caught them unguarded and when they looked forward, Michael could see a miniature, magically-created fortress ahead of them. Layers after layers of wards and physical constructs guarded the mages inside. The entire area looked like a battlefield and with good reason. Though the side entrances to this corridor were guarded by panes of magic, they could still see constant attacks by what seemed to be Bloodlinked and Artificer mages.

Yet the stronghold stood. Regitris and Ravena were at the center of it, fighting to advance without letting the defenses crumble. They were joined by ragged-looking Ascentionalists and equally battered Naturalists.

And they all stopped quickly enough, after finally noticing them.

“Michael! Get away from him!” Regitris shouted again. “Run, lad, we’ll cover you!”

The old elf was sweaty, but wards instantly popped into being around him.

“I’ll hold the wards.” Revena snapped. “Go and get him.”

“Clicko, with me!”

Yeah, no. Not aain.

“Hold it!” Michael shouted. “Kelunad and I have reached a truce. Hold the fighting.”

They two slowed down in their advance, bewildered and Kelunad reinforced Michael’s statement.

“Bloodlinked, Artificers, stop the attack. Mage Michael speak the truth. We have reached an accord.”

Personal wards disappeared and Michael could feel the attention of the entire audience on him.

“Accord.” Regitris asked, sounding hurt. “Is this true, Michael?”

I didn’t betray you, old elf.

“Better an armistice than a bloodshed. But we need to talk. Faction leaders and high-mages only for now. And someone get the Ga- the shadowy mages.”

It was little funny seeing them all snap to attention at his word. A little odd. Sad too. None of them were soldiers and they were all looking for an excuse to end the fighting. Few warriors among them. But they will have to be, for what lay ahead.

A room was secured and warded. The three factions present brought their high-mages and the Martials had been summoned as well. They stood a little ways away from Kelunad, seeing as how they had just betrayed him. Little did they know Kelunad actually respected that.

The Gatekeepers were present as well. Only three. A figure at the front, who Michael knew was actually an old human mage named Hamil. And two others. And now they were all here, Michael started his tale, helped along by Kelunad. He didn’t mention the time-travel or the help he received covertly. And though the smart ones probably noticed the inconsistencies, they kept it to themselves. Besides, there really were bigger fish to fry.

They told them about the room and the machine. About the visions, the options. About their feud and about the one to end it. That was one of the things that shocked them most. The Gnomes. The Second Tier Spells. They spoke of the other worlds, but they… missed to mention Michael’s. And for all the horror and wonder of meeting one of them, the gathered mages had to stop after just one hour of questioning.

Because then came Kelunad’s revelation, only hinted at before. An army was gathering. Would gather. Has gathered already. They couldn’t be sure of the timing, only that it was coming. The final revenge of the Wild and the Green, helped along by the one of the youngest races, utterly clueless in their ambition. And they would end Gnosis and Magic both, if the factions couldn’t agree to work together and grow.

“That’s why Kelunad finally accepted my option.” Michael told them. “It’s the only one that gives us a chance without sacrificing our own in the attempt.”

“And you can confirm it?” Regitris asked First Shadow.

“We did.” He answered, voice warbling. “One of our own found proof of it, for elected to keep the findings to themselves. After learning of it, our faction corroborated her methods and replicated the results. They are coming.”

“And this mage?”

“Dealt with.”

Regitris looked curious still, but nodded. Ravena spoke up his place.

“The Wild and the Green… Kel. Why didn’t you tell us? Why try and to… that? We could have found a solution.”

“Lack of heart?” The orc answered painfully after a moment. “I admit I had lost faith in others. I thought only sacrifice would help end this threat. I… was willing to give my own life for this choice. But I will not make excused for myself. I will accept any punishment you deem necessary.”

“Kel-“

“I did not even think of Michael’s solution. True, that machine thought of it for him, but that was only because his will guided it to it. His frame of thinking. That it was not showed to me… that only shows what I have become. No. I will not fight my own again. Not after what I almost did. I… I-“

“Mage Kelunad.” First Shadow spoke. “You recent most actions may not have been entirely your own.”

The repentant orc looked up sharply.

“I will not place guilt on others, First Shadow.”

“Perhaps you must. Our recent… discussion with our faction’s mage responsible for this found interesting details. Do you know that there are Spells meant to affect the mind? Guide it?”

“I am. I… I am ashamed to admit that I knowingly allowed such Spells to be placed on Mage Sinestra.”

“Then-“

“But that did not happen to me.” He said, sardonically amused. “I have Spells placed on me against such attempts. And Skills.”

“For mind magic. Yes, I’m sure you do. But there are other Spells, less-known ones that affect one’s emotions. Enhance some, diminish others, until the emotional layer reaches a specific enough shape that it can pull the conscious mind along with it, down certain sets of decisions.”

“And you say that was what happened to me?” he disbelievingly asked.

Perhaps afraid to hope.

“We were quite thorough in our questioning. And we have mind Spells of our own. Make no mistake, the decisions have still been made by you. I am not relinquishing you of your share of the guilt. And for their magic to work so profusely, you must have felt despair and hopelessness for a long time and quite deeply too. But I do not believe it wise to lay all the blame at your feet.”

The orc was speechless, wrestling with what he had just heard. So Michael spoke up.

“Kelunad should be punished for what he did. I, more than most, have a reason to want that. But even with… that mage’s Spells working on him, in the end he still found the will to compromise. And for what is about to come, we need him. We need everyone.”

“That’s… true.” Regitris spoke slowly. “My friend, it is still not to late to make amends. If what was said is true and you feel it too.”

“I… do.”

“You’re still getting your ass kicked.” Ravena snapped, but Michael could see she was afraid to smile.

“That as well.”

“Then are we all in accord?” Michael asked. “We need every faction on this. Even before we play out a plan, we need to know we can work with each other, before we can speak of trust.”

“The three-faction alliance needs to grow. The Artificers and the Ascentionalists are invited. As my final act as the alliance leader, I ask you all to join.”

“I accept the new faction.” Mage Agharal said. “This coming conflict needs all mages. Internal disputes are illogical.”

“I do too.” The Ascentionalist leader said. “We never really wanted this.”

“Perhaps in time, this alliance will become a more united and powerful form of the Gnosis council. Very well. We accept.”

“Us too.” Ravena said. “Nothing is forgotten, though. But… maybe it’ll be forgiven.”

“Few times before, we have officially taken part in gatherings such as this. And though rare, each time we did, we have offered others our name, so that they will know who stands besides them, for as long as the reason why persists. The Gatekeepers stand with Gnosis, as they have always done. But today, they stand with its factions as well.”

Great. Only took us two hours to accept to discuss what we’re going to do as a unified front.

But that was how these things went.

What followed were endless discussion about the new tunnels and stairways, access to the lower and upper floors like never before. What Michael and Kelunad knew and what they were going to do about it. It lasted for hours and only the beginnings of a plan were concocted.

But for the grand alliance’s first that, that would have to be enough.

***

“Hey!”

Michael barely got to open is door before he got tackled.

“Erea! Ho- Umph.”

His elven girlfriend seemed to have missed him more than usual, going by the way she threw at him.

“Whew! Needed that.” She grinned. “Now, are you ready?”

“For what?”

“For this.”

Michael doubled over, his abs protecting his stomach as much as a paper tissue would have in front of Erea’s punch.

“You jerk! You never told me what you were about to do! Going up against Kelunad? That was insane!”

“I thought you liked insane things.” He groaned, watching out for any other loving signs of aggression.

“I do. Just not… when you get yourself in harm’s way that much.”

“You’re hopelessly romantic, you know that?”

“Oh, shut up!” she said, kissing him again.

He closed the door behind her, since he could see he wasn’t going anywhere.

“I thought you’d be with the others. I was going to come find you.”

“They’re in the main hall, waiting for the announcement. But we all learned what you did.”

“You did? How?”

“The rumor mill.”

“So… Micah?”

“Yup.” She laughed.

“I would have told you, Erea. But I didn’t know what to expect myself.”

“So. You went in, wands blazing, without knowing what to expect?”

“Other than the ‘wands blazing’ part… yeah. Pretty much.”

She just laughed at that.

“I knew I was right when I picked you. But next time, take me with.”

“No promises.” He grinned, and put up a |Barrier|. “Wait, you picked me? You sure that’s how things went down?”

“Positive. Now, did you know I learned a Spell just for you? Thought you’d maybe wanna learn it too.”

“Now?” he asked, incredulously. “I’m always looking for battle Spells, but we only have… what, an hour?”

“Fifty minutes and counting. So, for today, you’ll only get to see it in action and enjoy its results.”

“Results. Uhm… Erea, are you still angry with me?”

“Furious.” The elf grinned. “But I’ve learned how to take out my anger in an enjoyable manner. Ready for it?”

“…as I’ll never be.” He shrugged.

The elf smiled triumphantly and pointed her wand at herself.

“|Strip|.”

Michael heard the sound of clothes hitting the floor. His eyes were busy somewhere else.

“I guess I’ll have to do yours the old-fashioned way.”

A grand adventure. A plot uncovered. And new threats to prepare for. For all of this, Michael only gained one Level and some additional pull with Gnosis. Hardly the reward of a lifetime.

But now, finally, he had his |Hero|’s welcome.