As they moved the malevolent spirit directed its attention away from Mar and he was gradually able to become more aware of what was happening around him.

The trial was absolute chaos. Everywhere bolts of lightning and balls of fire flew freely through the aether of the spirit realm. So much magic was being used that the air had grown hazy with wild mana. Mar’s first instinct would have been to avoid any and all battling mages, but Jinn seemed to be directing the both of them straight through with no care or heed for their surroundings.

Mar projected.

Taking apart spells to recover the mana inside was a very high-level technique. Mar knew only a few masters who could do so with any efficiency. But without a mana producing aura of its own, the stone likely had much greater need of the ability than any human mage would.

The demon took the two of them at a rapid pace towards the thickest portion of the fighting.

Jinn’s malevolent magic had been drawn closer to their shared body, forming something that approximated a billowing black cloak. The light cast down on them was twisted and diminished as it passed through the many disruption fields layered on him. To the other mages, they looked like a ghost. A shadow come to life. Most wouldn’t even notice them unless they were actively looking. Jinn’s work. The stone wanted to produce more elaborate spells, but Mar was cautious to allow it only the mana it needed as part of their bargain. Mar had hoped that with careful rationing he would be able to ensure that the stone had nothing left if it wanted to renege on its promise to return Mar’s body, but if it was able to cultivate large amounts of mana from other sources, that could be a problem.

It wasn’t long before they came upon the first challenge. A spell construct that took the form of a giant spider, two separate teams of competitors seemed to have already engaged it in combat, though their strategies were conflicting with one another. One of the mages trying to distract the construct and bumped into Mar and Jinn. The mage turned around in surprise, having not noticed them before because of Jinn’s cloaking spell. Then something strange happened. One of Jinn’s inky black tendrils reached out and grabbed at the other mage and burrowed deep into the flesh of his manifestation. The black tendril seemed to swell as the other mage’s manifestation seemed to turn ashen and gray, the vitality from it rapidly draining. After a few moments, the mage disappeared in a puff of wild mana.

While the offender was gone, his actions had drawn the attentions of the spider-construct, which was now looming over them. Mar silently braced himself for impact, but Jinn threw up several inky black tendrils and interwove them to form a barrier. There was a jolt when the constructs leg impacted, but then it was gone. When Jinn removed its tendrils, Mar noticed that the spider-construct was struggling to regain its balance, having lost one of its legs. The limb had vanished without a whisper as it’s mana was dissolved and devoured by Jinn. The demon made no comment, but Mar could tell that it was pleased.

Soon other mages noticed the lone stranger in their midst and began to turn away from their individual fights onto what they presumed should be an easy point. A half dozen attack spells across the elemental spectra hit Jinn’s disruption barriers. The first and second tier magic was no match for Jinn’s spellweavings. The mana fell apart easily, joining Jinn’s artificial aura that wrapped around the two of them. It was inhumanly large now, and several mages who had their mage sight activated gasped at the sight of it. There were only one or two mages of this Trial class who could boast such a high innate capacity for mana.

A fire and air mage stepped in to block Mar’s path. Mar paid them no mind and Jinn engulfed them with his aura, sucking them dry of magic in seconds.

A figure with a sword moved in close. That was unusual for the trials. He must have been a ki user to move as fast as he did. Technically the trial was for mages only, but sometimes some of the entrants from other cities arrived with skills beyond just magic.

Mar was nervous for a second as the sword passed harmlessly through Jinn’s disruption field, but the moment the blade hit the fluttering edges of Mar’s cloak it came to a dead stop, as if it had just hit the side of a mountain.

The boy holding the sword looked up into the dark shadows shrouding Mar’s eyes with shock on his face. Jinn raised their hand and backhanded him across the face.

The sword wielder flew through the air, crumpling into the ground off in the distance.

Another mage moved in towards Mar, but one of his comrades gripped him by the shoulder and yanked him back. The mages in front of Mar quickly cleared out of the way, and Jinn moved through them.

Jinn announced when they were a short distance away.

Suddenly three huge shapes appeared on the horizon. Three more constructs just like the one they had previously faced.

Mar whispered.

Jinn returned the closest mental approximation of a snort.

Jinn kept them moving forward, straight at the three looming constructs.

For the second time in as many minutes Mar prepared to be squished flat, but nothing happened. The constructs remained locked in place.

Mar could feel a light flare in the magic around him. Glowing tendrils of power wormed their way from Mar’s hand to the inside of the golem. For a moment, thousands of mana veins were visible. That was the spell matrix, the elaborate enchantment that allowed the constructs to move and function. At first, they were brownish green, some hidden stream of energy flowed through them, both from Mar and from somewhere deep inside them, turning them a deep and dark red color.

A few moments latter it was done. All three of the constructs stood stock still. stood back up and gave Mar a salute. It stepped aside and allowed Mar to pass unhindered.

The demon scoffed.

Mar looked back to see the constructs take up their original positions, blocking off the otherwise open path.

Mar asked in wonder.

After subverting the constructs, they came to a fork where three paths diverged.

There was a moment of silence before Jinn responded.

Mar felt a tingling sensation as a region of his mind that had been quiet flooded back to life.

Mar mentally smiled as he squeezed the left fist of the spiritual manifestation and received the sensation in return.

They had initially fallen behind at the beginning because of their ordeal with Chetz, but they were rapidly approaching the people in the lead.

Before them lay a gorge, at the bottom of which appeared to be an oily black tar that was burning quite hot. An ice mage was trying to create a path across by making bridges of ice but they were melting as fast as he could form them.

They came to the edge of the precipice. Below him was open air and the brightly burning oil.

Jinn didn’t stop though. They continued moving and Mar looked down, noticing empty air beneath them.

Mar stuck his foot over the edge. Testing his weight on it, he felt an invisible barrier. Trusting that Jinn had a spell in place, Mar continued walking. The nearby mages looked on in shock as Mar strode effortlessly across the open air.

With Jinn’s magic, Mar effortlessly avoided every obstacle in his path. Shortly thereafter they came to the door of the palace.

Jinn pressed their right arm against the door and began channeling mana.

Mar spotted movement at the corner of his vision. Suddenly there was a thunderous crack across the back of his head. It surely would have turned his manifestation’s head into paste if not for the shielding spell Jinn still had active.

Said a voice from behind Mar.

Mar turned around and emerging from their hiding places were a dozen mages, all in black robes with war wands at the ready. Mar met their gazes evenly from the shadows of his cloak.

stuttered a nervous voice.

Jinn commented.

The twelve black-robed attacker’s spells were stopped dead in their tracks in a matter of seconds.

Mar didn’t even have to twitch his hand. With a blast of energy Jinn threw all his attackers into the dirt. Mar winced slightly as he heard a cracking sound at the impact.

Jinn made a sound of displeasure, but Mar felt the tingling sensation begin again. Feeling returned in his right arm. Mar opened his well and released a jolt of mana.

The two of them turned back to the door so Jinn could work. Mar looked up staring at archway above the doors rounded top. A line of light sprouted in a line down the doors center, growing brighter by the second. Runic patterns lit up all across the doors length as they wared with Jinn's intrusive magic. The brightness of the glowing sigils built as the enchantmants were bled of their mana. Suddenly there was a violent erruption of power and the doors burst asunder splintering like wood rather than the stone it more clostly resembled.

The representation of the royal palace here in the spirit realm took the form of an inverted tower. A long spiraling staircase lead downward, deep into the earth. It likely would have taken many minutes to descend, but Jinn skipped the stairs and jumped down, using magic to cushion their fall. At the bottom, they came to a simple but well-crafted door.

Since Mar was in control of both hands he reached out for the handle and opened the door. there was a sharp clicking sound and Mar found it slid open with ease.

Inside was the most beautiful and intricate display of enchantment Mar had ever seen. Arcane runes covered the floor, walls, and ceiling. They each tiny, but interwoven in complex and ever-shifting patterns. Mar could have stayed here for weeks just copying the runic patters and not even finish transcribing a fraction of what was there.

In the center of the vast array of runes, sat an ancient and powerful pulsing heart of ruby. It was twice as big as Mar’s head and infinity more valuable. This was the Realmstone. It provided and controlled the vast macroscopic magical workings that held the realm together, everything from roads, to walls, lights, the floating paths, and the leagues defenses were all carefully controlled by the Realmstone. To the Keeper, it was a source of near-infinite power. Even if the keeper never advanced beyond the third tier of magic, mages far above them in ability would tremble before the great forces a keeper could wield through the might of the Realmstone. Beyond raw power, it also provided instant sight and knowledge of anything inside the its territory. Of all the tools and weapons Orlem had at its disposal, the Realmstone was the most sought after.

Mar looked around, half expecting someone to jump out and murder him. He doubted mundane were ever allowed to see the Realmstone itself.

Mar shook himself out of his silent reverie. Others would be reaching the finish line soon and they would come here to claim first place and bond with the Realmstone.

Jinn stated, more than a touch of eagerness in his voice.

Mar demanded.

The tendrils of energy that wrapped around the both of them condensed into a point in the center of Mar’s open hand. In his hand, a small gray disk began forming, identical to the artifact the demon usually inhabited. The tingling feeling returned as Mar found that the rest of body returned to him. Mar began channeling all the mana he could into the stone. It was coming to him much easier now. In fact, ever since he had had that vision he seemed to be remember all sorts of little things about manipulating mana that he’d forgotten.

Jinn instructed.

Mar pulled out the demon from his pocket and pressed it against the glowing red surface of the Realmstone. The light of the Realmstone faded for a second as contact was made, then quickly began shining even brighter than before.

The stone was no longer the tiny jagged shard it had been before. It had smoothed out, jagged edges becoming round and it looked like it was on its way to becoming perfectly circular.

Then the light on the Realmstone started to flicker. Mar watched with horror as the color or the Realmstone dimmed as mana was diverted to Jinn. He tried to pull Jinn back but he was stuck firmly to the surface of the Realmstone. It even seemed as though some of the red ruby-like substance was being pulled out of the Realmstone and into Jinn.

Finally, Jinn released the Realmstone, which was looking much greyer and flickered a dull red. There was a sudden snap, and suddenly a huge crack formed straight through the Realmstone.

Mar hissed in alarm.

Jinn replied. He almost sounded embarrassed.

Jinn’s voice was growing slower and quieter.

Mar was about to reply when suddenly there were voices audible from the staircase. More contestants had made here and they were blocking the only exit. They would have to fight. To have made it this far though, they would all have to be incredibly skilled. Without Jinn’s abilities, there was no way Mar would be fit to fight one of them, let alone all of them.

Mar silenced any further words he had for Jinn and hid behind a pillar. Perhaps they would wander by him and he could slip behind. He only needed a minute of concentration to slip back into his real body.