A Mage Under Labyrinthian​

Liam stared at the dark-skinned man with a mix of fear and curiosity; the blue-robed man's eyes were gleaming white as he stared back. The boy's fear started to ramp itself up as he thought Is he another counselor?

Ignoring the dull aching pain from his side the fledgling denied: "C-Come on. I'm not a monster, just a camper like ever-"

"Do you think me a fool vampire? I know your kind masquerading in the dark; fearful of the sun's rays..." interrupted Falion with his eyes looking annoyed.

Liam quietly pondered, I've never had any trouble with the sun...

The Mage strode forward with no fear present on his face; the man's right hand seemed to be curling with the same ethereal blue glow from before. Nervously Liam licked his dry lips at the sight. Even standing naught but a few feet away he could feel it.

The almost beautiful way the air itself seemed to bend at the energies presence, almost like the world was trying to through it out. It called to him in a way he never would have thought possible like he was meant for it. The glowing blue wisps felt like home.

"Answer me! Are you from one of the Clans? A Coven? None of your kind should be able to approach this place let alone come inside!" demanded Falion with fire in his eyes.

The boy looked over as more fear began to sprout in his heart; the glowing blue magicka in the man's hands started to change. It was slight at first with the same subtle movements nears his fingers which was followed by a chain reaction.

The blue-shifted to a fiery orange that made Liam feel his irrational fear grow, just glimpsing upon the flame made cold chills run down his spine. In its own way, the vampire's body was telling him of a weakness all undead had.

"Out with it creature!" growled Falion taking one thunderous step forward firmly grasping the now argent colored fire in his hand.

Liam's mind came back to what the voice said when he first entered the camp before he yelled back, "I-I don't know. I just came here with one of my friends; he was a Satyr...a hole. I ripped a hole through the barrier!"

Falion's heated glare sifted through Liam's features before finally coming to a decision. Apprehensively, the Mage brought down his hands and let the blazing energy fade. Something between disdain and pity came across Falion's face as he looked down at the other boy on the ground.

Fletcher was currently face down in the forest's leave-covered dirt; his bow was laying just a few feet to his right golden paint muddied by the same floor. The boy's limbs were taught against his sides, and he was not moving a single muscle.

"You still haven't answered my other questions," commented Falion as he stepped over the Archer in front of him.

Liam's eyes went wide with an inkling of the panic from before as he explained, "I'm not from either of those things. Hell, I don't even know what they are!"

The boy could definitely make a guess though; he's seen a few vampire movies before. Although- Liam involuntarily shuddered as he thought back to a certain vampire movie his mother made him watch. -they didn't really seem accurate. (1)

Falion's darkened face seemed to keep on its scowl before slowly melting away. All the hostility seemed to vanish as he pulled out the book strapped to his waist. Opening it with one hand Falion reached down into the folds of his robe before pulling out what looked like a home-made pencil.

The Mage's eyes took on an inquisitive look as he flipped the book to an open page titled 'Vampirism.' The pencil met the journal's paper insides as Falion started to quickly scribble away below it. Looking at it Liam could barely tell the difference between his writings and the paper behind it when compared to title. His home-made pencil wrote in a light gray that seemed to almost blend in with the tome's pages.

Another instance of the downsides of color-blind night vision.

Just as quickly the man's research journal opened it shut with a loud snap. Quickly shoving his pencil back within his robe and the book back on his side Falion ordered, "Follow me."

Liam took a second to take hold of himself before he replied "No, I don't even know who you are. Why-"

"Falion. Now, come hither." cut off the man with an annoyed expression.

A defiant look came onto Liam's face as he growled, "I said no."

Falion almost seemed to be amused before he threw his patented stoic expression back onto his visage. The Mage opened his mouth as a familiar glow appeared near his arms bubbling in the air.

"I don't think you understand vampire. You have no power here. Now, follow me or burn." said Falion speaking like he was talking about something as simple as the weather.

Liam felt the tips pf his ears burn as a quiet part of his mind told him that the man wasn't lying. The fledgling could still feel it even from here. That, that energy was wrapping around the man like a blanket, like he was a conduit of it.

The man felt like a beacon of light in the bleak dark.

Looking on at the blue swirls swaying around the man Liam gulped down a glob of saliva. Trying his best to hold his emotions down Liam ground out, "Fine."

However, despite what he said Liam was not 'fine'; he was anything but. Once again the boy wasn't in control, and Liam could confidently say he hated it with a fiery passion.

-Deep within Camp Half-blood's Forest-​

"Where are we going?" asked Liam for the twentieth time.

Starting to regret his earlier decision Falion groaned, "Can you say anything else? I've already told you, my lab."

Well if I'm going to get kidnapped I might as well have fun with it. Thought Liam with a shit-eating grin.

Keeping the same annoying grin on his face Liam questioned, "Are we there yet?"

Falion still with the same glowing eyes ignored his as they trudged through the thick woods. Falion was starting to regret bringing the little hellion along with him. Giving out a low sigh the man repeated in his mind, I should have just left him to the camp. I should have just left him to the damn camp.

Looking over to a misshaped pile of rocks in front of them Falion thought No, he's a means to an end. Another lead...

In front of the pair, the forest opened up into a small clearing with what looked like a large pile of rocks in the middle of it. Liam had no real idea on what it was but most of the other campers would. To them, the landmark would be named Zeus' Fist.

"What about Fletcher?" asked Liam sounding more serious this time.

Falion stopped his fervent walk and inquired: "Who?"

"The kid, golden blonde hair with a bow to match. You turned him into a literal stick in the mud. Ringing any bells?" explained Liam while still taking in the environment around them.

The Mage started to head towards the fist as he replied, "The camper will be fine. A few hours from now he'll awaken probably thinking you are the one who knocked him unconscious."

A grimace appeared on the boy's face as they both reached the landmark. Fletcher would be back that's for sure; Liam still couldn't figure out what in the hell he had done to him to make the Archer go off like that in the first place. Liam couldn't remember talking to the boy much at all besides early that morning when Fletcher first came to wake him.

I guess he just has a stick up his ass like Nick...although Nick never tried to kill me. thought Liam as Falion searched around the rocks in front of them.

The Mage was pushing smaller rocks out of the way rubbing his hand along the rocks rigid surface searching for...something. Slowly Liam felt the blue energy that always seemed to coat the man forge a path down to his fingertips before a bright light flashed on the rock.

A glowing green triangle appeared on the rock before quickly fading the magicka encroaching on the man's hand faded as the rocks in front of the two shifted. A passage seemed to open up leading down into the ground below just between two of the large rocks.

Taking a single step down into the cave-like entrance Falion said, "Stay behind me."

The inside of the place was even more unexplainable.

The seven-foot-high dirt ceiling quickly switched to what looked like bricks before slowly turning into a metal structure just a few feet in front of them. Then the path split. In front of the pair, the winding cave split into two directions with one being of machines while the other going back to the Earth.

The place seemed to be in a constant state of change.

Liam could feel Falion once again send the energy out the dark before it lurched back wrapping around something large in the dirt-filled path. Falion walked forward towards the hall filled with golden machinery. For Liam the place was mesmerizing; in a way it was beautiful.

A mix of stone and bright metaled machines surrounding them spewing out warm steam or other things with no input from anything at all. Up ahead a small skittering noise could be heard, almost akin to metal grinding on metal.

"What is this place?" asked Liam still giving wide-eyes to the golden wonders surrounding them.

Falion trudged forward into what looked like a gate made of the same material before answering, "A ruin...an old Dwemer ruin." (2)

The man lightly tapped on the gate shooting magicka in its lock before the barred double doors swung open. The old metal didn't make so much as a sound as the bottom ground along the flat stone floor. Inside was Falion's 'lab' as he called it.

The rather small stone room was filled to the brim with what looked straight out of a Dnd player's wet dream.

Dead center in the middle some kind of dried white paint was laid out on the floor in a large swirling pattern. Looking down Liam could see words written all over which curved to follow the painted markings. In the middle of the array was what looked like a very large black crystal.

Near the back, there was a bubbling noise coming from a brown wooden stand with beakers and flasks galore sitting on top of it. From what Liam could see there was a free-floating flame flying right above a large blue crystal that appeared to be heating whatever was in the middle of the apparatus.

To his right was another piece of magical furniture. Laying on top of what looked like a repurposed desk made of the same golden material from outside was a pentagram made of black iron. Drawn within it was a star with some strange symbols and the letter 'O' glowing a deep blue near the bottom.

From the back of his mind, the voice commented, Oblivion.

The only other piece of real furniture was a large stone bed next to a few bookshelves filled to the brim with a mix of rolled up pieces of paper and large tomes. Falion quickly walked over to the bubbling mixture atop the lit crystal before pulling it off.

The black bubbling substance pulled away from its heat ceased to boil. The Mage turned the beaker swirling at as he did. Inside the blackened liquid started to crystallize letting off a sound akin to breaking glass as Falion grumbled "Another failure." and put the beaker back in its place.

Liam's eyes were absentmindedly drawn to the bookshelf; a small purple book was sticking out from the ones surrounding it. The dark purple seemed to appeal to the boy in a way he didn't truly understand. Quietly Liam stalked towards the shelf. Giving a small glance over towards Falion the boy pulled it from its place.

Trying his best to not make a noise Liam shoved it down inside his back pocket. He was doing the Hermes Cabin proud.

"Who said you can touch my things?" asked the Mage as he pulled an empty vial from the table where he stood.

Maybe not too proud though...

Liam guiltily removed his hand from his back before he replied, "I-I didn't touch anything; I was just looking."

Giving Liam an unbelieving look Falion said, "By Ruptga's name you're a bad liar...You know what? Keep it." (3)

The fledgling dumbly nodded before the man continued by saying, "Think of it as a gift because of my previous-" He let out an awkward cough. "-behavior. I'm not so used to your kind being as...amiable."

Pulling out the small dagger from his belt Falion ordered, "Come here."

Liam obeyed as he approached the station keeping a keen eye on the weapon in the Mage's hand. Not that Falion would need something as mundane as a dagger to kill him. The fledgling felt another shiver at the feeling of the Mage.

The thick cloak of magicka was wafting all throughout the room; Liam could feel the intangible substance rolling all over his body. The ethereal power was something that he should have; it was his right to have it. A burning prickle came from the boy's throat as Falion thrust the tiny vial in front of him.

"Here, fill it." prompted the man shoving both the vial and his iron dagger into Liam's hands.

Liam looked down at the minuscule flask then asked, "With what?"

"What else? Your blood." answered the man looking at Liam like he was stupid.

The other occupant of the room gave Falion a wary glance before questioning, "Why in the hell would you want that?"

Falion's eyes seemed to drift off for a second as he thought of a reply. With an almost haunted look, the man explained, "I want to correct a mistake."

"A mistake? That still doesn't explain crap. Why in the hell should I help you?" scoffed the vampire while angrily staring at the Mage.

Like everything else that's happened recently; it just didn't make sense to Liam. First, it was Sam, then Chiron, and now Falion. Not a single person was willing to just outright say what they mean, and it was starting to get to the boy.

"Just tell me what's going on already! I'm tired of every fucking person I talk to answering with the same vague nonsense or just pushing it off!" exploded Liam forgetting how the Mage held the boy's life in his hands.

Falion's eyes widened a bit at the yelling before he finally caved. It was better than the alternative at least; the Mage wasn't going to have another life on his hands. Not unless he absolutely had to.

"I was younger, stupid. I-I got someone important hurt...really hurt, and I need to fix it. A vampire's blood is said to have regenerative properties. That's what I was out in the camp for in the first place, searching for flora with the same effects." stammered the man doing his best to keep a swath of guilty emotion present on his face.

The Mage's eyes narrowed as he looked on at the boy's own; it was surprising at how much you can learn through the subtle movements one makes there. He could see it; the emotional ploy worked. The vampire slowly brought the pointed blade towards his finger then lightly bit his lip.

Falion was practiced in this craft, lying. He could still remember the first time he had to learn it, back in his home town after he first became interested in his magic. Like always he left a little bit of truth in the lie, a little flavoring to make the 'dish' more palatable.

Letting out a low hiss Liam sliced open his finger and squeezed it. Pushing a few drops of his cooled blood into the vial.

A smile came onto the Mage's face as he thought That's another ingredient down. Pure Blood freely given. Let's hope what the tentacle-faced bastard said was true.

Letting go of his thumb, Liam handed the vial back over to the Mage. Falion grasped the tiny flask with an almost religious reverence. Carefully the man stalked back over to his lab before putting it within a small holder.

Liam stared on as the man continued to fumble about within his lab haphazardly checking the myriad of different colored containers on his desk completely ignoring the boy. Curiously the fledgling looked back over and asked, "What now?"

"What now? Now, you leave me and my workshop well alone. Follow the path back and go to your little camp fledgling. Tell them what you've seen here, and you'll regret it. I promise." badgered the man keeping his eyes level to a long cylindrical flask in front of him.

Liam said, "That's it?" with a disbelieving look plastered onto his face.

Falion ignored him once again this time pulling out his notebook before carefully studying the blood Liam gave. The fledgling could feel him pushing and prodding at the substance with his magicka. Although for some reason it seemed as soon as the Mage's own power touched the ruby liquid, it disappeared.

Deciding to take the anticlimactic end as a boon Liam hurriedly left the room with the golden doors slamming shut behind him.

Slowly Falion pulled himself away from his lab and turned towards the painted array in the middle of the room. The face of his little girl flashed in his mind. Slowly walking towards the black soul gem in the center of the ritual chamber he swore, "One day I'll get you back, no matter what...I swear it."

The purplish-black gem sitting in the middle of the array seemed to glow a bit before fading.

Falion turned back towards his lab with a fervent gleam in his eyes. Slowly pulling out another black book off his shelves the man repeated, "No matter what."

-The Surface near Zeus' Fist-​

As Liam ran back through the tunnel and out onto the surface he thought of what had just happened. There was something wrong with that man; his presence alone felt controlling in a way that was far too unsettling. Squinting Liam kept up a fast pace as he pulled out of the clearing and into the Camp's woods.

Falion's very being made the boy uncomfortable, as their conversion came to end it just became worse and worse. It was the exact opposite of the magicka that surrounded him like a cloak.

That was besides how the man's mood seemed to change every few seconds; it swung about like a pendulum, one second he was nice then the next the man was filled with anger. Then the look in his eye as Liam handed him the vial; it went from curiously eyeing him to staring him down like Liam was a piece of meat. To the boy, it was almost as confusing as the book in his back pocket.

He could have killed me. Thought Liam stopping next to a tree to catch his breath.

The boy's brown eyes flashed red as he growled, "I could have died! All for a stupid book."

Liam couldn't explain it. Whenever the fledgling felt that...that energy it was like a part of him called out for it, wanted it. Stupidly he decided to steal from the Mage that seemed all too happy to throw around fireballs at a moment's notice.

In the distance, Liam could see bright lights coming from a ring of buildings. By the looks of things, it seems the boy missed dinner. All around the camp, it appeared that everyone was turning in for the night.

Liam stalked forward heading towards the Hermes cabin thinking, Here's hoping they didn't notice I was gone.

The boy was never that lucky.

Liam tried his best to tiptoe his way up the creaky wooden stairs the led to the Caduceus covered door on the wall in front of him. Inside he could hear talking; it came to an end as the old boards below him let out a telltale squeak.

The door burst open revealing one Luke Castellan features marred by a scowl who growled, "Where have you been?"

Liam tried to think up an excuse but to be honest his creative thinking was just about all tuckered out from the night. A deadpan expression came across the boy's face as he explained, "Went on a walk, got into a fight, went into a secret cave of doom, can I go sleep now?"

Luke's own showed a little surprise before he chided, "Just don't do it again. If you don't show up to dinner roll call the whole cabin has to run laps in the arena. I-" Luke's eyes trailed down the side of the cabin before the widened in much-deserved anger.

"Don't think I can't see you Connor! I'm not chasing you two around camp again. Get your ass back in here or by the gods you'll regret it!" yelled the scarred Counselor glaring at a window that had a single leg peeking through.

One of the twins pulled his appendage back in before a nervous laugh could be heard from inside. A teen with black, shaggy hair stuck his head out the window before saying, "Come on, no harm no foul right?"

Castellan turned his glare away as he replied, "For the love of all things holy just give me one night, One fucking night where I don't have to deal with your guy's antics..."

The twin pulled himself fully back inside before cheekily mumbling, "Fine..."

"So can I come in or...?" Liam prodded taking a step towards the opened door.

Luke's eyes switched from the window towards the direction of the fledgling before he said, "Sure just make sure to make it to roll call next time...and if you do sneak out, don't get caught. Light's out at twelve."

The scarred Counselor turned his back to Liam and walked inside the cabin leaving the door open behind him. Liam quickly followed after closing the rickety wooden door with a small click.

Once inside the two boys went their separate ways. Luke retreated into where most of the rest of the cabin resided, a fairly large lounge area with a couple of sofas and chairs spread throughout. Meanwhile, Liam went back to where most of the beds were.

The fledgling gave a wary glance over his shoulder to make sure no one else was nearby before approaching his bed.

When he first arrived Luke made a suggestion to the newest member of the cabin of thieves. He should take some time to hide his stuff. Now Liam didn't really have much to hide in the first place but despite that, he tried his best.

Liam ended up finding something under his bed that would work perfectly for the occasion.

Just underneath his bed frame and mattress was a wooden plank floor. Having been already loosened due to years of misuse all Liam had to do to uproot one of them was apply a little pressure.

One of the long wooden boards underneath his bed popped up revealing the soft ground below. The boy decided to keep his backpack down there along with just about everything he owned inside of it. Not that he really had much besides his pocket knife and book.

Well, two books now.

As quickly and quietly as he could, Liam leaned down near the foot of his bed and popped the board out of place. Down below the fledgling could see the abundant color fade to gray in the darkness below to reveal his book-bag, hopefully untouched.

Reaching his arm down, Liam grabbed the bag by one of its long blue straps.

A small creak came from one of the nearby beds; Liam's ears twitched before he quickly gave a long glance around the room. After a quick scan, the boy ultimately saw no one so he popped the board back into place then sat down on his bed.

Just down the hall and through two doors the more rowdy members of Hermes cabin continued on messing with each other and playing games. A single deck of well-worn cards was passed around like the holy grail with each group taking turns to play. Luke was sitting in the rooms only recliner, a silent opposite to the cabin's chaos.

Slowly Liam stuck his hands into his back pocket to pull out the tome that he 'stole.'

A black purple cover came out with the same letter printed on the front. Liam's eyes narrowed as he stared at it; who would title their book a letter?

His anticipation building the boy flipped open the book in the hopes of something good.

It opened to reveal a wall of blackened text, on what looked like ancient papyrus. Liam's eyes traveled down the page as he read, Runic Translation of A Novice's Guide to Conjuration.

The anticipation building continued to grow to that almost akin to nervousness. Liam actually had a chance to learn some magic. The skitter-like feeling traveled all the way up from his stomach while the boy proceeded to read.

First off let me preface this by plainly stating my intentions with this book. Some of you may know me as the apprentice of the great Morian Zenas, this is true. I've never publicly spoken of my true name, not yet at least. In your language, I would be called Seif-ij Hidja. (4)

Liam quietly looked down at the page before whispering, "Sei...Seif-...you know what? Hidja's good enough. God, your name is hard to pronounce."

I am a master of conjuration in my own right. Now let us go back to the reason I'm penning this work in the first place.

I am dying.

I dedicate this tome to the greatest work I've ever created. My daughter. One day she will want to learn my craft and I'll have no one but the best teach her. Even if she has to do it without...me.

The boy gulped down a glob of saliva then flipped to the next page. Unbeknownst to him in a bed behind him, someone was watching with great interest.

To truly understand conjuration you must first truly accept what magic itself is. Each and every race, person, or thing have their own ways of thinking about magic but there is one way they are similar. Each and every practitioner seeks to bend the laws of the world around them to their will.

Think about it, truly think.

A mage's greatest spell is no different from the ones they learned as a novice. The only true change is in their application of it. Most races innately have the aptitude to make fire by hand. Whether it be rubbing two sticks together or something else less mundane. That fire is nothing but an exchange of heat, caused by breaking down the residual energy stored within an object.

If one were to try and use magic to do the same with magic it would kick start that exchange making fire by using magicka as that fuel.

Each different school takes this simple idea in its own direction.

Sitting directly behind Liam was a rather young girl with dark brown hair kicking her legs back and forth off her bed. She had been quietly watching the boy in front of her for almost five minutes now as he stared at his little book.

A small frown came onto her face as she thought I wonder what those symbols mean?

The school of conjuration seeks to use this principle in an entirely different way than the rest. We seek to control a different energy than Magnus' gift. All those who practice the art of conjuration seek to control a part of Oblivion.

Many years before my time an agreement was met. Any who were granted Magnus' gift could siphon it to the realm, in exchange the practitioner would gain access to a litany of abilities from the plane. They could use any number of summons, spells, and even necromancy if they wished.

All the Mage would need is great enough willpower to control the energy they receive in the exchange.

Slowly Liam thought back to the only other book he had in his possession, scribbled on by a mad man seeking immortality through the Princes. Oblivion, it was one word mentioned frequently but never truly explained other than it being another 'realm.'

From behind him, Liam heard a loud wooden creak before a female voice asked, "Whatcha do-in?"