Chapter 3 Mage’s Tower #2
Finley had an idea that Rhalyf had seen things in the Under Dark and Kindreth society that he hadn’t liked, but hadn’t done anything about them.
Maybe because he couldn’t or maybe because he didn’t care to risk himself.
Some might think that too strategic–or hypocritical–a way to live, but Finley had a sense that Rhalyf had been on the defensive his whole life and that was why he had lived so long and gotten so powerful without being taken down.
“I am rather surprised that you know anything about how we shape our cities. How Vex creates them isn’t exactly talked about much…”
“He told me about it. A little bit anyways when I noticed that Illithor seemed more grown than built,” Finley explained.
“Ah, Vex told you about that, did he?” Rhalyf tilted his head to the side. “You really had quite the conversation and I swear we did not leave you alone with him for that long.”
Finley shifted from foot to foot. “He doesn’t waste words. And I asked a lot of questions.”
“I bet you did.” Rhalyf shook his head. “The bravery of that. Really astounding. Gods have been tongue-tied in front of him. Or so they say.”
“He did not wish to intimidate me,” Finley answered with a shrug.
Rhalyf wiped the glowing triangle away and nodded. “Clearly, not, though I wonder if it would have mattered? You value knowledge above all else really. Do you know, I believe he talked more to you in that one conversation than he has to me all my life?”
“Why did you not seek him out to speak to him? How could you not take that opportunity?” Finley blurted out.
If he’d had Rhalyf’s connections to Vex, he would have been shadowing the Night King every second of every day.
Rhalyf blinked a little. “Well… because… my mother didn’t want me to.”
Finley frowned. “But why not? She’s Vex’s sister, right?”
“She… they aren’t… He showed an interest in me once, I think. And she made it very clear I was not to show any back,” Rhalyf answered, but there seemed to be oceans between those sentences of hidden meaning.
“I wouldn’t have let anyone stop me.” Then hearing what he had said, and realizing it might have sounded insulting, Finley added, “Not that your situation and mine–”
“No, no, Finley. You’re quite right. You wouldn’t have been stopped by anyone’s approbation.
That’s probably why Vex had so much to say to you and welcomed your questions.
You’re a risk-taker. Rather like he is,” Rhalyf said.
He grimaced. “But life in the Under Dark taught me different lessons. Or I took different lessons from what happened there. Stick your head up and get it lopped off. Go against someone and you’d best be ready to fight them to the death. And my mother–”
“Is your mother,” Finley said, cutting this off. “That you respect her opinion isn’t bad, Rhalyf. I just… didn’t have that kind of relationship with my mother. She always found me strange.”
And dangerous, but I don’t really want to talk about that, so I’ll leave that alone, Finley added silently.
“Oh, I didn't have a good relationship with my mother,” Rhalyf said, looking away. “I didn’t stay away from my uncle because I respected and loved her, but because I feared her. Quite a bit different.”
“I’m sorry,” Finley said, knowing that was inadequate, but realizing it was the only thing he could offer.
Rhalyf waved it away. “My terrifying upbringing is nothing unusual in Kindreth society. I’m sure the books you’ve read have told you that.”
“Yes, but you aren’t like the books, Rhalyf,” Finley told him. “So I hoped maybe your parents weren’t either.”
A raised eyebrow. “Oh, I’m not, am I? Is that good or bad?”
“I wouldn’t be friends with the Kindreth they describe in the books,” Finley answered.
I would never trust them.
“Very wise. Now!” Rhalyf brought his hands together. “Let me take you to my special place.”
Finley’s brows drew together. “I am trusting you that your special place isn’t some kind of euphemism for something sexual.”
Or am I wishing it was?
Rhalyf let out a snort-laugh that Finley found utterly delightful. The professor sighed in his mind.
“I admit that I do have names for many special places on my body, but no, this is truly a place. A location. Outside of me. But it is… very much me. I admit that I’m curious what you’ll think.
It’s something I made alone. My own… creation,” Rhalyf said.
“And now that I know my uncle isn’t going to kill me–well, not yet anyways–it is truly safe to go there. ”
Rhalyf turned towards one of the large walls that depicted a hunting scene. Finley frowned. Was it the Forever Hunt, but with Vesslan’s face on that of the hunter? But before he could confirm one way or another, a line of amber light cut the carved hunter down the center.
“A rift…” Finley breathed. “You can make one even under the dome?”
“Oh, yes. The domes aren’t meant to stop rifts being opened from Earth to the Under Dark. They just stop rifts from the Under Dark being opened to Earth,” Rhalyf explained.
Finley frowned. “But don’t you think that’s rather shortsighted–oh!”
His objection was lost as the rift expanded into a circle that would allow them both to easily pass through together.
And on the other side was a magnificent purple tower that rose up over a hundred feet high next to a large body of water.
The tower was shot through with red crystals and tipped with silver.
There was an inner glow about it. At its base was a magnificent garden of glowing mushrooms–all jewel-toned and taller than he was–that illuminated winding paths that led to a set of stairs into the tower.
And just like in Illithor, this tower and sea were in a cavern.
The ceiling was covered in the glowing, twinkling lichen that made it look as if they were staring up at a cloudless night sky.
“You… you made this?” Finley asked even as they both stepped through the rift.
“Well… yes. I call it Isilnor,” Rhalyf said quietly as the rift closed behind them.
They were set upon one of those winding paths that led to the tower’s silver doors.
“A mage’s tower! It’s perfect!” Finley laughed delightedly.
“It seemed an appropriate place for you to study your magic as it is where I study mine,” Rhalyf admitted with a shrug.
Finley spun towards him. “This is a very sacred place to you, isn’t it, Rhalyf?”
Rhalyf lifted an eyebrow. “Well, it’s… yes, it is.”
“And you… you are sharing it with me?” Finley’s heart seemed to grow larger in his chest.
“As I said, you need a safe, secure place to learn your magic, and I just happen to have–oomph!” Rhalyf was silenced by Finley hugging him.
Finley normally didn’t hug. He didn’t launch himself at people and squeeze them as if he wished to mash them and him together into one body.
But he did with Rhalyf. His glasses were askew.
His face was smashed against Rhalyf’s chest, which was making it hard to breathe.
And he felt wetness on his cheeks, which may have been tears.
“Finley,” Rhalyf said softly and one of his hands gently stroked over Finley’s head while the other curled around his back.
“It’s a… a dream,” Finley’s voice was muffled. “You don’t understand. You don’t… all my life… reading about things like this… and it’s real and you’re sharing it with me. I’m going to learn magic in a real mage’s tower!”
Rhalyf’s hand in his hair was so tender. Stroking him tenderly. His voice was warm and gentle as well. “Magic has always been my respite from the world, too. It has always offered me a way to… escape. I can see it means much the same to you.”
“Magic is everything,” Finley’s voice sounded rough.
He slowly pulled back. He had no excuse this time for clinging to Rhalyf like a limpet.
No pollen. While Rhalyf had acted as if what he’d done and the interest he’d expressed were welcome, he couldn’t quite believe that.
“This magic… Rhalyf… it’s not like yours.
Well, maybe a little bit like it with the blood sacrifice. ”
“Ah–”
“But I just… I’m not sure…” Finley raked his teeth over his lower lip. “I’m not sure what I’ll be bringing into your sacred place. You might not want me or it there when you see what it’s all about.”
What are you doing, Finley? Why are you telling him anything? The professor sounded sharp.
Because he has to know. He has to agree–
There’s nothing wrong with your magic! Your magic is superior! I assure you that your powers will exceed anything that life can provide, the professor’s voice went dark for a moment.
Finley frowned, but his thoughts were lost as Rhalyf tipped his chin up with two fingers so that they were eye to eye.
“Finley, I know that you have read much about the Kindreth, but I can assure you that whatever was in those books did not come close to the truth of Kindreth magic. Maybe not Aravae either,” Rhalyf said with soft sigh.
“In the end, magic is about power. It is mastering the Void. Making it do what you want. So, at its very basest level, magic is… violent.”
Finley blinked. “Violent?”
“Oh, yes. A battle of wills. A wrenching of the natural order. We bleed our enemies dry for spells. I’ve told you that.
But there are far darker things that I… Just know that nothing you share with me will shock me,” Rhalyf explained.
“In the end, it is perhaps only the why that differentiates the good from the bad mage.”
“But you’re a good mage–”
“No, Finley,” Rhalyf said. “I’m really not. I’m a Vex. And that means…” Rhalyf’s eyes grew distant as he stared off into the water and the far shore. “I will not judge you for making this power bow to your will.”
“Thank you, Rhalyf,” Finley whispered. “Thank you. I shall seek to be a moral user of–”
“Don’t make promises like that, Finley,” Rhalyf interrupted him, focusing back on his face once more. “Life throws things at us that challenge them. And I… I am no moral arbiter.”
Finley nodded slowly even though he would beg to differ about that.
“Now, let’s show you inside.” Rhalyf grinned. “The view from the top can’t be beat.”
Finley smiled back and they both ran up the path. Hand in hand. And Finley noticed that Rhalyf was the one to link their fingers together.
A still and silent female figure watched the Night Elf and the human run laughing towards the tower.
She cocked her head to the side. There was a slight twinge in her calves.
She had been waiting here for some time.
A few cycles. She’d almost given up hope that Rhalyf would return.
But when the Night King had disappeared from Nhamashel, she’d known that it was about her brother.
Rhalyf had either betrayed their uncle or he was working for him. And it appeared to be the latter.
Dearest brother, Haera thought, what have you gotten yourself into?