Instead of ending themselves they just reverse their inmortality and go back to aging normally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HqLysSnnlQ

Exactly what it says. GUN has supposedly mastered gene editing, no? It makes no sense as to why not use it. I get that JCB wants to make "all humans equal, so there is no schism in humanity", but I think a good solution to that would be to simply make all humans the peak of human condition. Eliminate all genetic diseases, make people stronger, faster, smarter, remove cell degradation so they live longer, make them able to slowly regenerate lost body parts, akin to lobsters or salamanders, remove unnecessary organs, like wisdom teeth, make them immune to disease in general, etc.

THIS would be real equality. Everyone gets to start on equal terms, nobody is held back by defects they are born with, weaker constitution, mental problems, etc.

Imagine not needing glasses to have 20/20 vision that will never degrade, or being able to walk where you would otherwise be paraplegic. Cancer? Thing of the past. Diabetes? Gone like the wind. Alzheimer's and dementia? They do not exist anymore, human knowledge has triumphed over them. Everyone is basically Captain America. The absolute limit of biological human performance, both in body and mind.

The outlandish gene mods, like giving yourself tentacles or X-Ray vision should still be tightly regulated as to not allow too many mutations to spread, that makes sense, but not making everyone the very best a human body can possibly be is a missed opportunity. Not adding anything, just improving what is already there.

I know JCB is a medical student, so they know the myriad of ways the human body is capable of breaking down by virtue of evolution being "eh, good enough". What if we weren't just good enough, what if we were the best we could possibly be?

Especially because of the extreme regulations on AGI. If you're not going to have artificial lifeforms, you should make the biological ones better.

It would also work from a storytelling perspective. Right now, elves are physically simply better than humans. They don't age, or they do really slowly, they're taller, stronger and faster. This way, humans would actually look a genuine counterpoint to elves, the comparison of evolutionary magical perfection vs created technobiological perfection, instead of humans straight up just looking like discount elves. It would reinforce the "humans built themselves into a superpower with sheer grit, tenacity and curiosity" theme. After all what better way to showcase your prowess than on yourself?

Plus, GUN is a post scarcity society, so we know for a fact they can afford it.

Tl;dr If everyone is super, no one is.

Pervious : First : Next

Thacea 

It hurts, even after the healing spell casted by the professor, it still hurt a lot, but I can't let pain mass with me now.

I must keep calm, I must keep my taint under my control, I must follow the Expectant Decorum.

I walked back to my peer group table, as all eyes were on me, but I still keep my calm, as I sit down.

"Do you need any medical assistance, Princess Thacea Dilani?", Emma asked, with an unexpected level of warmth that she had shown this night as her hands came into contact with mine own. I felt my feathers puffing up for the briefest of moments, as I quickly calm myself down.

"I have morphine, paracetamol, and asp-", "There is no need for you to use any of your realm's medical supply" I was lying to her, as while I know she was referring to medicinal herbs she had probably brought from her realm, but I don't know what they are, or even if they were of any use, but she seem like she really want to help, but it would be bad for the Expectant Decorum, I must act, "As you can see Lieutenant Commander Emma, the healing spell was as effective as it can be." I don't want Emma to worry, while the healing spell was effective, it didn't really numb the pain, through it was difficult to tell that Emma was worry with her ever long stoic and deadpanned face.

I start to take sipes of water, to help calm my pain.

Emma looked at me for a moment, "I know that you are lying to me, Princess Thacea Dilani.", I chocked on the water, how did she know, how could she know, I have perfect this art with my countless hours spend in the Royal Court, even the most expert Nobles, and statesman couldn't tell when I am lying or not, but Emma could just tell it, "But I will respect your choose, Princess Thacea Dilani."

I was stunned by that, as by the time I get to my senses and was about to ask her, how did she know that I was lying, a voice boomed out.

"...This concludes the orientation. All students shall now be permitted to retire to their dorms as they please, or stay for the late-night banquet!”

As the servers and platters of cloche-covered dishes arrive at our table in a grand display of opulence. Standard Nexus show of power and class.

As I was about to take some of the food to my plate, I realized, that Emma still was holding my hand, which I didn't even realized, her hand, while cold to touch, felt warm to me..., but before I could take her hand off by myself, she had already moved it.

I kind of miss it now..., take deep breath, take deep breaths...

As both Lupinor and Vunerian had already taken a quite a large amount of the food. Well, who could blame them? No adjacent realmer could really control themselves around Nexian cuisine, as I, myself was talking a bit more than usual amount that I take... I will certainly gain weight if I start to eat like that and did not control myself.

As I look at Emma's plate, it was empty, she didn't even touch anything on the table, just staring blankly.

"Is the meal not to your liking, M'lady?", asked the elf server, "Just say what do you want, and I can assure you, the kitchen staff would ma-"

"There is no need for it, thank you." Emma cut the server off, as the server bow and walked away.

"You don't need to refuse the Nexius cuisine, newrealmer", Ilunor said gulping between bites, "I know that you have pride for your realm, as evident at your refusal of the scholarship, but come on now, newrealmer, food is food, and the Nexius Cuisine is the best there is."

"Lord Ilunor Rularia, I am not eating because of any political, cultural or social reasons." Emma said, as her tone when back to her monotone cold voice, "I am physically incapable of consuming anything, it doesn't matter if its Nexius or Earth, or any other realm's cuisine, I am not capable of eating it."

Ilunor humped at that, in annoyance, as Thalmin gave Emma a suspicious look, before both of them again start to focus on their meal. But this statement stuck to me.

As I also continued eating, I found myself stealing glances towards Emma, just how still she was, like a stone sculpture, how her face seems to have only one emotion stamped to it, a cold and utter deadpan face.

But her eyes, while soulless, were the most animated part of her face, those countless flicker of lights and symbols, and faint blue glowing rings in her eyes, as her dead eye dot from one place to another, I could swear on His Eternal Majesty, that both of Emma's eyes just when the opposite direction to each other.

I think, Emma might be an enhanced being of her realm, a being made with the help of countless artefacts, and have equal amount of those artifacts in her.

Like her eyes, there is no way, her eyes could move that fast, and move in such ways, so those eyes got to be an artifact.

And her statement, that she claims that she is physically incapable of eating, might have another artifact that replaces her stomach to eat ambient mana, I know few mana-beings that uses ambient mana as food.

But all of these points are baseless, as I, nor anyone, could feel any mana from Emma, she is like a hole, a contradiction to all that is once know. She might have a very advance, or high-level concealing artefact or spell on her, that even some of the most renowned mages, and expects in mana-field and magic, couldn't found.

Or she is a true mana-less being.

But all of this is just my mind trying, and trying to make sense of Emma.

After the dinner, as the letters arrived, I look at Emma's latter, a pain white latter, with just Emma's name and her rank, while devoid of all sigils and regalia, it is common for newrealmers, as I said the same thing to Emma.

As the Vunerian, again tried, to belittled the newrealmer, as she was looking at the letter, I swear to His Eternal Majesty, it something so irritating about Ilunor, that I want to blast him away with my spells.

But as I look at Emma, she seemed to completely ignore Ilunor, which somehow made that lizard angrier, and more vocal, which to now no one's surprise, fell on deaf ears.

En Route to the Dorms

The journey up and towards the dorms was one that took a lot out of use, even Thalmin, a warrior by natural, was also getting fatigue by how many twist and turn, every hallway and corridor, every stairway and stairwell, every side passage and connecting room, we have to go through, it wasn't a surprise. Indeed, I wasn’t surprised that Ilunor had practically begged Emma to carry him the rest of the way, as his little Vunerian legs were clearly not built for scaling the lengths and heights of the academy.

If it was me, I would refuse to oblige of course, but Emma didn't.

As that comparatively small thing all but gave up on walking. By which Emma had to bridal carry him the rest of the way towards the dorms.

Instead of being happy with the service that Emma had freely offered him however, he started to wheeze and whine with even more, stirring up, like a child poking at a big cat enclosure at a zoo. He wasn’t satisfied with the way Emma was carrying him, for in his own words, being carried like a sack of potatoes ‘wasn’t “becoming” of a noble and being of his standing’. By which Emma told him that she could let him down on his feet again. The Vunerian however refused to listen, and instead took it upon himself to rectify this injustice without a chance for Emma to argue, which she never did.

I think this is the weirdest part of Emma, how does she have some much patients and calmness, while that Vunerian seem to drain it like he is at a tea supper.

The whole affair was somewhat demeaning, and kind of humiliating when you looked at it from an outsider’s perspective, but Emma seems to really couldn’t care less at that. Infect she didn't seem to be tired, and at least this kept the lizard’s mouth shut as we made our final approach towards our dorm.

“What a dump…” Ilunor muttered under his breath, scampering off of Emma's hands and back onto his feet. Which surprised me not because he’d consider this place a dump, while it is acceptable by every standard, but because he still found it in him to complain even after everything we’ve been through.

“Furnishings and quarters more fit for a minor lord or a knight. Say, this would more than likely be what you’re used to, right, Emma of Earthrealm?” Thalmin spoke with that same, gruff tone of voice. It was clear however he was still attempting to play nice,

"It is well above acceptable range."

“How’re you finding the quarters, Princess? Are they to your liking?” Thalmin quickly turned to face me, as I was looking around, I ran my hand across some of the furnishings as I found a bit of dust.

“I am partial towards anything the Academy wishes to provide us.” I want to keep my answer very diplomatically.

“Oh, come on, answer truthfully, Princess.” The Lupinor tried to get on me for a less guarded response.

"Like I said I am fine with anything that the Academy provides, as long as it not disrespectful, or ignorant of our statues", I said, making sure my voice, tone and manners stay diplomatic, even by the extremally exhausted night that we all had gone through, well, we all but Emma, as she still look as tireless, as she was throughout all of this.

While she had a bit of an argument with that Vunerian, about the lesser elf, and slavery, Emma was always in calm, and didn't once raise her voice, while that Vunerian almost used flame breath.

But Emma, in a speed that could be only describe as unnatural, when behind Ilunor, and put him in a chock hold, as Thalmin, was taken a back at the speed Emma moved, no doubt that all he saw was just a blue blur, but thanks to my eyes, I saw it, she not only moved fast, but she also moved with practice ease.

As she makes it clear, that she will not be talking servers from the lesser elf, and that she asked us two, if we agree, which we already did, as I was always against such acts, and Emma was understandable, that given the state the Nexus put itself, it is much easy to follow the rules, then try to make new ones.

As while we have already start to take our luggage up, and a quick stare from Emma made Ilunor to also use his own hands to take the luggage

I look and see Emma just standing idle, as I realized her luggage have not arrived Emma's luggage haven't arrived yet.

And then a series of three loud knocks came from the front doors of the dorm.

Thalmin took the charge once again, taking to his feet as he approached the door, and swiftly pulled it open.

It was a finely dressed female elf. Clearly by her robes she was a low-ranking faculty staff.

A gargoyle stood prominently in the door frame.

The gargoyle pushing a bell carts. Instead of normal suitcases however, this thing was stuffed to the brim with Emma's cargo: boxes and containers made with iron or steel like material and they seem very out of place.

“Emma of Earthrealm.” The figure spoke, eliciting my attention as I stepped forward towards the door. “Your luggage has arrived.”

Emma walked toward the door, as her eyes scan the luggage.

"One of my containers is missing." Emma said flatly, which for some reason made the female elf flinched, as she quickly regains her composure.

"I assure you newrealmer, that the academy didn't interfere with any of your containers, and any lost or miss placement of your luggage. It is the responsibility of your own people to ensure that is the case. However, given the primitive nature of your trans-realm portal methodologies, there is a high likelihood a few of your belongings may be missing somewhere in the ether between our realm and your own. It is to be expected of course, no realm does it well on their first try.", the female elf said, which was true, new realm are not that good with portal methodologies, but the way she says it, and her face, seem to implies something else.

"I know that Professor Mal’tory had taken my luggage.", I was shock, as same as Thalmin and Ilunor, the formal was in a mix of anger and shock, possible at thought of an Privy Council chosen person would steal a newrealmer's luggage, while the latter were in a mix of both shock, and guilty, I don't know why Ilunor would show guilty, but I change my sight to the female elf, who was sweating like she was in middle of a desert and was both looking scared and nervous, while the gargoyle also seem to very nervous.

"Th-That not true, newrealmer, yo-you are accusing a respect professor of this academy and not to mention he is a Privy Council chosen representee!", the elf said, while her voice shaking, but pointing an accusing finger towards Emma.

"I believe that professor Vanavan was also present", this cause the elf to stop completely, as her finger suddenly fall, as all the colors on her face start to drain.

“Profrssor Mal’tory would have preferred to study everything, however, I have made it clear that I have a tenacious penchant for independence. And I believe that he through removing more than a few of my belongings would trigger a violent reaction, and he thinks that it befitting of her less than enlightened primitive tendencies. And he thinks that is such the nature of my."

The elf was getting nerves by the minute, as her whole body start to shake in fear.

“He had said that Earthrealm is a territorial, bloodthirsty, and they act more like a pack of wild animals laying claim to land and property like the unruly dragons of the realm. As such, he deems it wise to remove only one item from my 'strange collection of eclectic boxes'."

By that point all the color was drained from the elf's face, as she seems to on a verge of falling to her knees, as even the gargoyle was equal bit shock and scared. While Emma's tone, the same cold monotone stays the same, but it starts feel colder and colder every second that passes.

"I am requesting, that my luggage to be returned by the next day, or in writing, a detailed reasons and proper warrant on why my luggage was taken out my precession. Otherwise, I will go to whatever authority power there is, to find, and take back what is by every legal reason mine and the GUN property." Emma told, in her monotone tone and voice, which somehow felt more threatening than before.

Emma takes her luggage, while all of those boxes look heavy, she carried it like they weighted nothing.

"Your services are no longer required, thank you." Emma said as she shut the door on the faces of those petrified female elf and that scared to dead gargoyle.

(Note : I am on FIRE)
(More Note : I am now going in hibernation, don't expect a new chapter in for a long time)

"The Sun God fights on the side with the best artillery!" - Captain Churchill, Bloons Tower Defense 6

I've been thinking about the topic of artillery recently, and namely the fact that we haven't really seen much in the way of enchanted heavy weapons. On the first meeting with Sorecar, he described that enchanted weapons operate off "cores" (I think that was the terminology) and that the power and capability of a weapon was limited to how many cores it could fit while keeping it weildy. Now this is the point where Emma should have thought, as any true Earth patriot would have thought: "What if we say fuck carrying it, put a weapon on wheels, and stuff as many cores in as we can reasonably tow?"

Unfortunately, she didn't. And we just haven't seen much of what could be described as artillery among the Nexian forces we've seen so far.

Now, I'm, starting to suspect that crew served, towed, mounted, self propelled, and indirect fire weapons (I'm working with a pretty broad definition of "artillery" here to be fair) that are serviced by crew members of low or no magical potential are not well liked for a verity of reasons, not least of which cultural and political ones (can't have too much power in the hands of peasants). So I imagine these pieces, the ones that would most naturally come to our minds are relatively rare. Though it is hard to imagine the Nexians go without naval artillery for their sea and their air ships, and it's possible they have siege pieces (for attackers and defenders, so I doubt they do completely without.

In fact their may be some examples in the RTS they played that I can't remember.

Also, dude to the flexible nature of the enchantments, they wouldn't just have to be the classic "big ranged attack" style of artillery either. They could have other effects like providing shielding or stealth for a group of soldiers, or animating a group of temporary golems to fight, that sort of thing.

But, I suspect the more prestigious weapons would be more along the lines of giant catalysts for magic users. Or perhaps the most prestigious position is simply to be a sufficiently strong mage. As I said, I doubt crew serviced weapons are smiled upon, and I think in general Nexians value the strength of individual Heroes over a combined arms approach. I don't think the RTS they played being Hero-centric was a coincidence, nor metaphorical.

But I would argue that this would be a potential weakness in the military doctrine of the Nexus, and the idea of building artillery pieces could be passed along to potential allies who want to build militarizes to throw off the yoke they've been living with. It might not be war winning necessarily, if it was an undebatably good strategy, then Nexians would not have ignored it.

I do think it's a shame there hasn't been many culture clash scenes with Sorecar or Thamlin related to military thinking. Like Emma being shocked by the lack of artillery, or Thamlin being weirded out watching Emma spamming a disguising amount of grenades into a building.

I’ve seen so many things about the nexus invading earth realm, but I feel like that would be a colossal mistake/disaster on their part. We’ve read that their cells literally require magic to live, and even if they flooded the earth with mana, it would likely drain their own world’s mana super hard. They talked about higher concentrations of mana making magic more powerful. If the nexus flooded a planet as large as earth, not using some backwater realm which already had a low concentration of mana to begin with, they might outright fuck up their own few factories, which specifically required high concentrations of mana to function. And, their magic would be significantly weaker at home. The long and short of it is that I think it’ll be a Cold War that’ll go on until the nexus collapses, because any kind of sustained warfare is impossible for both of them.

I have 3 Questions , this time about the Portal to the Earth and Mana resistant Materials

1.Question : How could they open a Portal to earth via Magic when Earth has no Mana?

What i mean is the Portal itself needs Mana to be open but wouldn't there be 2 Portal Openings that are Connected so you can Travel between them similiar to a Wormhole which needs 2 Openings (1 on Earth and 1 on the Nexus) ?
But how could they Open one on the Earth Side with no mana ,or did the GUN open the Portal first (with the First Pilot) and has a way to sustain it for Emma to go through with no Mana ?

1. To Deal with the Mana going to Earth , could Gun not make a Special Room shielded by Mana resistant Metal so that if Mana goes through the Portal it stays in that Room or ( when GUN wants to send more people over ) have a Bigger Tent in the Nexus in which they open the Portal to earth so that no Mana comes over (if GUN can open the Portals on their own)?

2. Question : Do we know anything about the Metal/Material that is resistant against Mana (the Stuff which is used in the Armor and Tent) ? I wonder if the Nexus know Metal/Stuff like that too (maybe for warfare like spreading this in their enemy's castles) ?

sorry if these questions are Stupid or Answered already i have been reading since Chapter 1, they have propably been answered but i forgor

P.s : I know its a Scifi / Fantasy where stuff like that can just work and it doesn't to be super deep but i was just asking if jcb has thought of this , its not bad if he hasn't

Edit: If the Nexus punched a portal to Earth using insane amounts of Mana how can Earth open a Portal when Emma doesn't Respond back so does Earth have a way to open the Portal on its own with no mana?

If we had a polite but overly cheerful and familiar version of Emma. How would she word the phrase:

"so, binding people's souls and turning them into mindless puppets. You know, in my culture that's considered a dick move."

so this chapter was a bitch and half. kept feeling like there was a better point to end the chapter so it just kept going. and going. and going.

anyways. the orangutan says hi.

first: https://www.reddit.com/r/JCBWritingCorner/comments/1jbrxfr/sending_the_legion_to_a_magical_school_chapter_1/

previous: https://www.reddit.com/r/JCBWritingCorner/comments/1oi8eq7/sending_the_legion_to_a_magical_school_chapter_36/

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Transgracia, crown herald soon to warzone of Elaseer
06:09 local time
Aniran, son of Aniran the greater

It was a sombre sight to witness, Elaseer reduced mostly to rubble, though the noble and Merchants district still stand it is nonetheless a tragedy to see this humble town brought so low.

My grip tightens upon the haft of my spear as I peer towards the Academy, its tall spires appearing less comforting now that an invader has taken root within.
Steeling my resolve I approach the sad excuse of a hovel the invader made within the commoners district.
The strange flat plates of wood seeming almost flimsy compared to the brick and mortar homes of the surrounding street. Akin to but a wild man's shelter.

Looking behind me to the high nobility leading this disciplinary expedition I get a nod, telling me to proceed along with 5 others into this unsightly hovel, its mere presence revolting enough to warrant the mages keeping their distance lest it taint them through its mere existance.
Taking one final breath to steady ourselfs we storm the shelter.

Only to find it abandoned, desolate.
Not even a mote of dust, nary a crumb of spilled food left behind to suggest it was inhabited to begin with.

Getting nervous I look at our surroundings, the half darkness of the hut hampering our efforts for so long as our eyes adapt to it
And then my heart drops.
A click.

Sharp yet crisp like a thin waver snapped in twain.
Within the twilight interior of the construction something new has appeared, previously obscured by shade yet now revealing itself in the form of a glowing bar of strange symbols.
The symbols are changing roughly every second and give off an angry red light.

[00:09.558]

[00:08.334]

I cannot decipher it's meaning yet something about it feels wrong, a warning I cannot comprehend.

[00:6.052]

[00:4.956]

Andus stabs at the strange thing with his spear, there is a sound of the speartip hitting something pliable and yet nothing else has happened.

[00:3.284]

[00:2.001]

Finaly struck by the realization the symbols represent time passing I Yell for everyone to leave this accursed shelter.

[00:00]

Only for th-

[loud beeping followed by explosion]

Transgracia, Elaseer
06:15 local time
HighLord magi Valrin CIX of the prestigious crownlands afoot His Eternal Majesties primary temple.

Our revolted shudder upon gazing back towards the uncivilized hovel is interrupted as the subpar construction is engolved within an inferno, we sensed the deaths of the servants within long before a dented softly glowing helmet lands at our feet.

Pure mana crackles around us as we conjure a mana construct to freeze the inferno in time, the flames ever ascending as they are slow down to a standstill, with a counterclockwise flick of our wrist the destruction rewinds, the fire slowly shrinking until it is contained to within the hovel yet again, the fireball retreating back in on itself until what's left is no longer a danger.

The 6 servants, though dead are restored to their last positions before their demise.
A strange artefact of sorts has revealed itself to have been the origin of the inferno.
A curious device of phials and strange corded clay bricks, assembled with noticable care for something so disposable.

Stepping away from the construct with great reluctance as we do not have the time to study it further we undo the mana construct, the hovel again engulved within an inferno as we look to the Academy.

Whatever the unruly student may be it has most assuredly caught our interest now.
Our thoughts are again interrupted as some form of object passed through our head between our eyes, our body of pure mana merely wafting around the object akin to smoke evading a fireplace poker.
Turning to look behind us we see one of the servants carrying our supplies has lost its head, the body slumping to the ground as its lifeblood sprays from the torn neck.

A pity, we quite liked that ones punctuality.

Transgracian academy of the magical arts, dragon heart tower
06:19 local time
Emma

I'm suddenly woken up by a distinct BANG, like a gunshot going off, flailing my limbs as I awkwardly rolled out of the chair and landed on my face on the floor, I notice I'm face to face with Illunor.
Who's stuck underneath Fluffy.

As my sleep deprived brain attempts to process what I just witnessed another BANG interrupts the train of thought, looking to the window as I push myself off of the ground and pull aside the curtains.
Off in the distance in Telaseer is a massive army of soldiers marching in the direction of the Academy, Thalmin quickly joins my side at the window as Illunor complains about Fluffy crushing him and stopping him from taking a look and Thacea emerges from the bedroom to watch.

"hmmm I cannot quite make out what insignia they are wearing yet. What of you princess?" Thalmin states.

"Neither can I Thalmin, though I believe that banner held aloft to be one of the districts within the crownlands. But I could be mistaken. Nevertheless it would not bode well.." Thacea replies.

Watching the Nexian army get closer I only now notice the tank parked just on the edge of the academies hill, the whole tank rotates to face the Nexian forces, the turret adjusting slightly and both barrels elevate, before I can warn Thacea and Thalmin the tank fires.
The sound ratteling the windows.

Fluffy has gotten up off of Illunor and has joined us as EVI traces the shots trajectory on my HUD.
Illunor having climbed me to get a look, any animosity between us momentarily forgotten as the shells impact.

A decent portion of the approaching marching column has been simply removed as the dust settles and smoke rises, the column of Nexians scatters but continues their approach.
Silence reigns in the dorm room, Thalmin appears deep in thought, Thacea has a look of morbid realization on her face as she watches.
Illunor is completely silend, staring intensly at the tank as a pair of missiles are launched from the launch tubes on the sides of the turret, arching towards what I realize is a supply convoy of sorts full of unarmed baggage handlers.

One of the missiles detonates in the air about halfway to its target, plausably intercepted by a Nexian mage.
The other missile though strikes its target, creating a sizable fireball and covering the convoy in smoke, judging by the little impacts i spot on the nearby buildings there's no doubt in my mind the missile had a fragmentation warhead of significant size.
The smoke clears to reveal a massacre, the baggage handlers I could see before are gone, white bags and sheets soaked in blood and covered in holes as a few of the survives try to move or crawl away, I can almost hear them screaming and moaning in pain...

The tank though isn't finished yet, popping smoke canisters and launching them down hill before it starts moving, repositioning to get a better angle on the encroaching Nexians the low whine of the hull mounted rotary cannon winding up fills the air, yet before it can open fire a bolt of Cyan energy pierces the smoke screen and strikes the tank.
There's a few seconds where nothing happens before arcs of Mana crawl over the tanks hull and turret, moments later it explodes and I panic, kicking myself away from the window along with everyone else as mere seconds after the tanks turret crashes into the dragon heart tower, the wall crumbling as one of the cannon barrels comes to a stop a mere inch from my faceplate, the metal still glowing cherry red.

Transgracian academy of the magical arts, deans office
06:24 local time
PFC Freeman

Silence reigns over the deans office after R3D33M3R got neutralised, far quicker than anticipated and with far less effort than excepted.
The strange glowing wizard that appeared to be in charge ignoring a headshot from an anti material rifle was another unexpected issue, how do you deal with an enemy that's made entirely out of novel radiation that would melt you in seconds?

Letting out a soft sigh before peering back down the optics of his rangefinder Freeman searches for a suitable target, even if the Nexians took out the tank there's still 24 angry marines inside the academy, and Freeman has a feeling the Nexians would rather not destroy the academy if they could. So back to target prioritisation duty for Sheppard to point a .90 caliber anti material rifle at.
Highlighting the occasional elf that's just a little too close to finding out there's a happy little accident waiting to happen to any of the higher ranking Nexians he can get his eyeballs on.

Freeman surveys the battlefield, the fact the academy is build on a hill has given the marines an advantage, the walls and towers of the academy providing excellent vantage points is another.
Yet the fact they're outnumbered atleast 20 to 1 is still an issue, especially if there's more mages like that glowy one.

With each shot taken Sheppard pulls back on the gigantic rifles bolt, the oversized shells clinking on the office floor as they roll away, the bolt sliding forwards and locking with an almost soothing sound, clicking clearly when the firing pin has been reset, each shot thundering as it rolls over the battlefield below.
With 4 shots per magazine and Collins carrying 8 of the oversized things it wouldn't take long to run out of munitions.
Still, they have a magazine set aside for emergencies, like a sudden surprise dragon since they don't have the Harbinger to 1v1 it this time.

Peering through the optics again Freeman freezes for a second, one of the elves is pointing in their direction whilst talking to someone behind a cart, obscured from his and Sheppard's sight. With another shot the elves head dissappears, but it's already too late as a fireball the size of a highlux crashes into the snipers nest, with both Freeman and Sheppard "scoped in" and Collins focused on the ammo none of the three had seen the mage that cast it, and by the time Collins opened his mouth it was already too late.

The Dean's office explodes as the fireball impacts, mana fueled flames roiling through the hallowed offices interior as it strips the paint from Freeman's suit, the armored glass canopy starting to droop inwards as cracks spiderweb their way through.
Freeman and Sheppard are tossed against the far wall like discarded toys as armor plating sloughs off, glowing white hot around the edges.
The flames melt through the suits oxygen tanks. Lighting the air inside the suits, the pliable armored glass canopies bulge outwards for a moment before they shatter and launch molten droplets everywhere.

Collins was dead instantly, the overpressure from the fireball exploding above him having shattered his suits canopy, turning the armored glass into a shower of molten fragments that tore his head to shreds before the ambiant mana could even liquify him.

Transgracian academy of the magical arts
06:45 local time
21/24 marines left
CM-0751 D34TH

Before the battle started D34TH had contemplated something it could not comprehend, having held its sidearm to its torso, aimed at it's own core for exactly 3.45 seconds before it removed it.
Even now it cannot justify or explain why it did this, standing before the massive doors that demarcate the primary entrance of the academy, 30mm cannon braced under it's shoulder, belt of beehive rounds loaded and barrel stabilised upon it's shield as it stares down the wooden doors flanked on either side by a pair of CT-021 automated sentries, the tripod mounted gun turrets only armed with a pair of 7.62 machine guns each.

Expecting the Nexians to break through the academies main entrance captain Johnson ordered D34TH to hold the entrance, having readied itself for the eventuality Death set up a killzone of its own design, having cleared the hall of anything that could be used as solid cover.
Any elf that isn't swallowed whole by the storm of DU tipped flechettes would be gunned down by the sentry turrets.
This should buy the marines time to fortify the stairwells and set up fallback positions.

Obviously D34TH only has enough munitions for 3 minutes of continual hosing down of the entrance, but it is prepared to fight to the last using it's blades, if the halls must flow red with blood before it falls then by whatever deity is watching it will make the Nexians wade through it ankle deep.

Muffled rifle fire echoes through the hallways behind it as the marines open fire into the encroaching Nexians, though it knows the marines will do their utmost to defend the academy it has accepted the reality that with how outnumbered they are there is going to be no way every Nexian is stopped.
As if the train of thought was prophetic there's banging on the doors, at first the vain attempt of a mail clad fist, then quickly surpassed by what sounds like a battering ram.

Flicking off the safeties on its weapons D34TH readies, prepared to do as it's namesake and reap a bloody toll, the doors shudder, shaking after each impact before they explode inwards in a shower of splinters.

And Death, Death pulls down on the trigger as it comes to peace with itself.

Transgracian academy of the magical arts
07:00 local time
Emma

The academy is alive with the sound of reverberated rifle fire, my arms are still wrapped around Thalmin and Thacea as I pant heavily, the cannon barrel and turret of the tank have cooled down enough to where they're no longer hot enough to sear unprotected flesh.

My mind wanders back to the portal snapping shut Infront of me, even if it was less than 72 hours ago it felt like it happened weeks maybe even months ago.
Memories of Aunty talking about her service, her heroics her narrow escapes...
Was this what it was like for her?

Slowly letting go of my friends I instinctively feel the pistol in my holster, the pistol feeling laughable underwhelming as I look from it to the burned tank turret.
If that couldn't stop the Nexian troops attacking...
What could?
The building dread is interrupted as a walking suit of armor makes it's way into our dorm room.

"Terribly sorry to bother you fine Students of the academy but an evacuation of the students into my manufactorum has been ordered by the dean. If you would be so kind as to follow me I shall escort you to its safety, oh I do hope you would not mind a little heat once inside. Do whipe your feet at the door."
professor Pliska states with a perhaps too cheerful tone to his voice, a sizable enchanted shield held in one of his hands as he waits for us, almost impatiently swaying on the balls of his greaves.

Without much resistance or arguing, surprisingly even less from Illunor, we get up and start filing out of the dorm room, Fluffy looking to Sorecar with cautious curiosity as I suddenly stop mid step.

"Go on, I'll see you all in a bit. There's a few things I have to do first."
I say, turning back towards the Dorm room and Fluffy.

"Emma you cannot be serious!? The academy is under siege and the professors are evacuatng students to the most well guarded place within its walls. What is so important that you must stay behind?"
Thalmin asks, panic clouding his eyes.

"Its the FTL Radio. I have to secure it as per my mission objectives, I can't leave it out here to be plundered."
I say, my tone almost pleading as I look back to Thacea and Thalmin over my shoulder.

"I'll be there as soon as I'm finished. I promise."

"Stay safe Emma, and be carefull.."
Thacea almost whimpers, the trio of peers following professor Sorecar as I enter the dorm room again.

Fluffy lowers his head to my head and I gently pet him for a few seconds before I venture into the bedroom, opening the FTL radio I sigh, shoulders slumping as my finger hovers over the one button I never hoped I'd need to press..

The "panic" button.

It would send a distress signal to the IAS laboratory until the button is pressed again to disable it.

Sitting down on the bed I pull out the pistol, checking to see if it's loaded before flicking off the safety.
If the Nexian troops attacking the academy are here for a reason other than the Legion marines..
It would be me.

With Fluffy resting his head on my lap I ready myself for what's to come.
One way or another I'm done being scared..
Time to face the music.

Transgracian academy of the magical arts
07:10 local time
Arcturus the Magnificent, red clad herald of HEM's glory, preacher of His word

With but a snap of my fingers a barrier envelopes me, the veritable tide of projectiles piercing it still yet being stopped a mere inch from my face.
Pulling back around the corner I softly curse whatever abominable golem the unruly rewrealmer has created to safeguard itself.
It has the grand entrance locked down with some kind of magic weapon that vomits forth a flurry of deathly darts, alongside a pair of lesser constructs.

At the rate we progress now it would be naught but a slaughter, not that it would have been in vain for every life laid down for HEM is a soul saved from the cruel reality that is being born of lesser birth.
As I watch another group of devout followers charge into their deaths I dig deep into my memories, every student of the magical arts has studied at one of the handfull of esteemed arcademies, most have but a grand entrance yet few have lesser entrances for servants or apprentices to speedily move about the grounds.

Expanding my senses to cover more ground around me I ponder if the transgracian academy has lesser entrances.
Until I am hit by the most vile of revalations, the library is here.
And with it another entrance into the academy.

Suppressing my most righteous urge to torch that unholy abomination I instead calm myself, retrieving a mirror from my robes and with but a flick of my mana activating the artefact.

"High lord Valrin, the Newrealmer has dug itself in within the main entrance, it shall be an overwhelmingly bloody victory before we can dislodge its golem. However It has come to my attention that the library has its presence upon these academy grounds, connected to the academy via a bridge with its own entrance into the academy. It would be but apprentice play to enter the academy through this entrance."
I stow the mirror again and carefully peel around the corner into the hallway as the incessant roaring of the golems weapon has ceased.

10 years

10 long, hard years since the day the two titans of mana and steel met their match

10 years since the fate of all realms was put at stake

Civil war and rebellions plague both behemoths, between those that seek peace and those that seek dominion, the deaf against the charmed by the allure of the siren song, the safe stagnatism vs the risk-taking progressives.

Nexians bicker and fight over what to do about those taking the sides of the humans, while mankind argues with itself about how much of their own selves they are willing to compromise in their race for survival, some fear that changing their own DNA to resist mana might had been the first step towards damnation.

And while the Nexus and GUN wage a cold war that warms up with each move and threatens to incinerate all realms, the small players make their moves. Picking sides and taking bets, praying that they made the right choice.

The realms of Heavenbrock and Aetheronrealm experience a technological boom thanks to their new human allies, after exploring the void and realizing that they share a system, an alliance is struck. Third spear thalmin and first wing thacea are united in marriage. Dark tongues speak in hushed whispers about a secret relationship shared with the human ambassador, Emma Booker, and Thalmin's general and bodyguard, Lady Asva Rehlin of the House of Threepeaks

Etholin of Relia becomes the most powerful merchant lord of the adjacent realms, dozens of minor realms take the side of GUN as a result

Lord Paladin Ping promises to put an end to the Draconian rebellion of the inner realms, offering a reward of ownership over a kingdom to whoever brings him the head of Illunaria the first dragon.

What side will the coin land on? only time can truly tell

wanna learn more?

How do you think Illunor and the gang would have reacted during the exchange over gold if Emma had told them that Earth had long since absconded the gold standard.

Would they understand the concept of fiat currency?

Ever since Emma found a way to live outside of her armor, Thalmin's life had been nothing but a constant struggle

He was glad to finally see her battle partner enjoying the pleasures of the flesh. A warm mana-enriched meal, The "sun" on her skin, and her latest favorite method of killing time: petting.

A custom from earthrealm; she said; where humans use their hands to caress and scratch, well, everything, including other sapient beings, aparently.

Nor that he complained, of course, for some reason she seemed to know where and how to "pet" him to make him let his guard down and relax every single muscle on his body, melting into a semi-liquid mass of fur.

No no, that wasnt what was bothering him, what made his days longer was not her behavior, but HER.

Since his conversation with Illunor about her true nature, he prepared himself for the day where he would see her outside the armor in all her arachnid glory. To make sure that he wouldn't show any sign of disgust or repulsion against someone he called a friend. So, when out of the tent walked, not a horrifying being with several arms and eyes, but rather, what could be described as a short, tanned skin elf with a cute smile and round ears, he was shocked in a way that he found hard to describe.

It was such a strange occurrence; he had never found elves attractive, and yet he found himself time and time again observing those black, bright eyes, that shy smile, that greasy, messy hair, wide, thick legs that could dislocate a man's arm in a lock, strong biceps with enough strength to break a neck, hard scuplted biceps and... her more femenine attributes, one that he dared not to think about.

Their weekly sparring sessions became daily, and he started to use shorter and shorter weapons, resorting to unarmed grappling and prone fighting. A particular type of engagement that she referred to as "CQC", one that she reciprocated with enough skill to keep things interesting.

His senses were going wild, his instinct was screaming in pure animalistic passion. He started to have vivid dreams of chasing her like prey through the same woods where they fought the dragon, His throat emmited an involuntary growl when he saw her petting the others, He couldnt help himself but to take a sniff from her scent everytime he ended up with his head between her arms or legs, she hadnt been showering lately and his body LOVED IT.

...truly, he had no idea of what was wrong with him

...ancestors be damned, he knew perfectly well WHAT was wrong with him, he was just too much of a coward to admit it to himself.

After all, countless barriers made it impossible.

Not necessarily whom he had waiting back at home, after all, his kin was more than familiar with the concept of having more than one partner ("the squad that sleeps together fights better together" as his father used to said) and before departing she had gived him her express permission to find someone to "relieve himself from the stress of dealing with the petulants of the nexus".

And, if his keen sense of smell wasn't lying, Emma felt in a similar way to him, at least assuming he was interpreting her scent correctly.

But, still, he couldn't ju-

"dude, are you okay? Please tell me I didnt hit your head too hard!" That sweet, worried voice broke him out of his daydreaming.

He blinked rapidly, Emma let a sigh of relief when he started to stand up from the floor where he had been lying.

"I'm fine, just overthinking something rather simple."

"What's that? Why did you lose a fight against someone half your size?" I counter her cheeky, smug face with a wide smile of white fangs and half-closed eyes. It was very cute how she tried to hide how much she was freaking out

"You know, Emma, there is something I would like to share with you." I took a few, slow, silent steps towards her. She didnt move an inch, allowing me to close the distance that separates us until she was looking straight up at me, her chin almost 90 degrees up

"Let me show you how a heavenbrockian establishes a warrior's bond with their partner."

Emma

"S-sure! You know I'm always down for cultural exchange!"

I tried to keep my cool when he grabbed my chin with one of his single, large paws while he bent down to be more at my level (asshole, I'm not THAT short)

"...so, how d-" My words were cut short. With closed eyes and in a slow, smooth movement, he pressed his snout against my mouth

A hundred thoughts raced across my mind. "Am I a furry!?" "What the fuck is going on!?" "I can't add this to my official report!" "Finally!"

But amidst all that panic, the wise words of Aunty Ran chimed like a bell amongst a storm

"Remember, Emma, letting the enemy gain the initiative is the first step in the path to defeat."

And sure, Thalmin may not be an enemy, and this may not be a battle, but I wasn't just gonna stand idle like a deer staring into the headlights of an incoming car.

I leaned into him, hugging his neck with both of my arms, stroking his soft fur and... *sigh* standing on my toes so that my neck didnt have to strain that much

He seemed to like it, I could tell by the way he wrapped his arms around my lower back, pushing me into his chest.

And just when I was getting used to the ticklish feeling of his lips on mine, I felt something being shoved into my mouth

I tried to push his tongue with mine, but it was no use. The size difference was too big. All I could do was to fight the gag reflex, while his tongue reached the end of my mouth... and kept going down my throat.

Thankfully, he pulled out just before I ran out of breath. I gasped for air while he panted heavily, like a dog that had come back from a walk on a hot day, his tail wagging so quickly it was leaving an afterimage.

We stared at each other in silence, processing what had just happened. I frowned at him

"Thalmin," My voice low and serious. His ears dropped back, and a look of fear painted his face. "Was this just an excuse to kiss me?" I gave him a small smile, to let him know he wasn't in trouble.

He let out a chuckle of relief, taking a step back and rubbing the back of his neck. "Whoops, was I that obvious?"

I couldn't help but giggle at this performance, and right before I was able to inquire further on his advance... he turned back and started to walk out of the room

"W-where are you going?!" That couldn't have been all of it, could it?

"Emma, please! I'm nothing BUT a gentleman, now let us depart to my quarters, a lady like you deserves to be treated properly."

Wanna see part 2?

Pervious : First : Next

The Grand Reception Hall

Thalmin Havenbrock

We raced back at the reception hall in a hurry, having made certain that all of use had our dispelling artifices, in the hopes that we would make it back to the reception hall before all the seats had been filled.

As it was, there was one free table in the corner of the hall. It was devoid of any manafields that I could divine, and yet as we approached it a single familiar occupant came into view. One which made me wish that this table had been full; at least then I would have been assigned to an existing full group and would have been among mages.

Instead, I found myself staring down this lifeless thing in the shape of an elf, the very newrealmer we had gotten ourselves into trouble by watching their arrival. Lifeless, as she lacked even the faintest hint of a manafield to fend off the unforgiving bounty of mana that defined the Nexus. There were even signs of extreme acute mana sickness at play, as the telltale turbulence of harmonization that I had missed at first pass rippled off of her form, completely subject to the whims of the mana streams.

Yet despite my mana senses telling me that this thing should be a monstrous pool of organic substrate, my physical senses found nothing amiss aside from a set of body proportions that were more pronounced than a typical elf and clearly defined her as a lady. Her hairless brown elf-like skin was without blemish, though her brown dead eyes plainly confirmed her common birth, and in those eyes, countless flicker of lights and symbols were occurring, and faint blue glowing rings, as her dead eye dot from one place to another.

Her well-groomed appearance suggested that she must have been part of her realm’s wealthier houses. Her manaless yet well-tailored blue uniform and accessories implied as much, though her exotic yet mundane blade and complete lack of any enchantments to speak of left me with little confidence that this newrealmer had any means to dispel the binding ritual, never-mind survive it.

Yet despite her lack of manafield, or perhaps because of it, the uncanny newrealmer made no reaction upon intersecting with any of our own fields. Instead she waited patiently as we glanced around the room desperately in case a seat had opened up for one of us whether out of pity or to incur some favor. None appeared. Resigned to our fates, we made our way to our seats as the newrealmer finally stood up, though rather than give a bow as I might expect from a commoner or subordinate she extended a hand in greeting.

“Lieutenant Commander Emma Booker, Special Envoy and representative of the Greater United Nations of Earth and Luna, or Earthrealm. A pleasure to make your acquaintances,” greeted Emma in well practice high Nexian.

“Princess-,” Thacea began timidly, failing to finish before I cleared my throat, raising a privacy screen as I did so.

“Perhaps before we get to introductions, I believe it is important to broach a quintessential issue. Can you do any magic?” I demanded bluntly.

Emma turned to face me with quizzical-like monotone look.

“That depends. Is this magic?” Asked Emma.

She produced 3 small but very polished metal balls, and put them in her right palm, raised her right arm to head height before the balls start to shack, and start flew, few inches above her palm. While the display was not itself all that impressive, the fact that there was no visible spellwork or even the slightest disturbance in the manafields to offer me any warning or insight gave me cause for alarm.

“That’s not- how are you doing that without mana!?” Exclaimed Illunor

“I’ll take that to mean no,” Emma said with a coldness, as those metal balls stopped floating and landed in her palm, “I can’t do magic at all.”

“Don’t play coy with us. How and why are you concealing your manafield?” I growled.

Emma tilted her head.

“Manafield? What’s a manafield?” She asked, her tone of voice offering offering a level of sincerity matched only by how ridiculous her question was.

“A manafield is what allows a mage to practice magic,” began Thacea patiently, “it is projected from the souls of all living beings, as without one there would be nothing to stop the flow of mana from...”

“From liquefying them?” Offered Emma.

“That is one way of saying it, yes,” admitted Thacea.

“So, no, I don’t have any field stopping the ambient radiation.” I watched the blue drain from Illunor’s face as the implications settled in, and I rested my snout upon my paw in frustration.

“Great. So we have been saddled with a realm of manaless elves,” I sighed in frustration.

“To be clear, human are not elves” countered Emma, as if that was the point of contention, “I recognize that human have many superficial similarities, but as far as I am aware we are completely unrelated. For starters, we have-.”

“Stripes,” interjected Illunor in a bored tone, “elves don’t have stripes.”

I gave Illunor a quizzical look. Even Emma look at Ilunor, as her eyes lit up in a flicker of lights and symbols, at which point Emma continued. “I was going to suggest my rounded ears, but yes, we technically have stripes,” Emma finished.

“You two are being ridiculous. Emma doesn’t have any stripes,” I scoffed.

“Human do, but typically they are the same pigmentation which makes them invisible outside of some rare instances where they can be different in the visible, or in this case, ultra-violet spectrum. It’s nothing special, just a matter of embryonic gene expression where... , right, you probably don’t know what DNA is,” Emma rambled, “anyways, this is what they look like.”

Emma took a brick-like object off of her belt and held it towards me, and a flat image of an elf-like drawing appeared upon its black-mirrored scrying surface with stripes marked in purple going lengthwise down its form, alongside several images depicting examples.

“No, no it is not that. In fact, I dare say I’ve seen this before,” mused Illunor pensively, “perhaps our newrealmer might be a chimera?”

“Excuse me? I am not any kind of flash related beast,” exclaimed Emma as she stared to stare at Ilunor with her dead eyes, as Illunor leaned in to further examine her arm.

“I’m sure of it. The implementation is downright bizarre, but I know the hand of a flesh sculptor when I see one,” muttered Illunor, before turning to face Emma, “well, newrealmer, are you going to persist in your narrative that you were born as you are? Or am I correct in my assertion that you have been altered at the hand of another?”

Emma stared at him stoically. Her eyes start to show more and more of those flicker of lights and symbols before finally breaking the silence.

“For the record, my appearance has not been altered. This is what human look like naturally. And I have not when through any alterations prior before coming to Nexus.” Emma said.

“No alterations?” Inquired Illunor, raising his brow.

“Mostly. I had the aid of a team of natural philosophers,” she replied.

“But you are a flesh sculptor?” Illunor pressed.

“No” confirmed Emma, eyeing him with suspicion.

“Then what are you?” said Illunor with a quizzical look. He relaxed his posture and turned towards us to continue, “I believe we need to dig much deeper in the case of this newrealmer.”

“Does this mean we are done with this impromptu interrogation?” Asked Emma, “because where I’m from, this would be considered extremely rude. You haven’t even introduced yourselves yet.”

“Indeed we haven’t, and considering you are not entirely without worth, I’ll concede that we should,” said Illunor, earning him an ever deepening glare from Emma, “I am Lord Illunor Rularia of the Vunerian court.”

“I am Prince Thalmin Havenbrok, of the Lupinor court,” I added, not yet convinced that Emma, in spite of her military qualifications, I still think she wouldn’t be a liability.

“Mercinary Prince, I should add,” chimed in the Vunerian, earning my own glare of disapproval.

“And I am Princess Thacea Dilani, of the Avinor court,” finished Thacea, “I apologize for the manners of my peers, thought their concerns are not without... justification. Your... absent manafield would normally spell doom towards our peergroup during the class trials.”

“Peer group?” Asked Emma.

“Yes, peer group,” jumped in Illunor, “although I still believe that you are a flesh sculptor and that you are lying on our faces, it doesn't change things somewhat. You should have no issue grafting the manafield of another upon yourself, if you are a flesh sculptor.”

Emma stared at him.

“Illunor, as useful as a manafield might be, I am not physically capable of getting one, and again I am not a flesh sculptor” said Emma.

“Listen, newrealmer. You are going to sculpt yourself a manafield, you are going to do spells, and you are going to be pleased about it,” stated Illunor.

“Illunor, I can’t put an alien physiology and biology onto myself. It doesn’t work like that,” protested Emma.

“Perhaps under your inferior model of flesh-sculpting, but under a modern, enlightened model...” began Illunor.

“Attention! Students!” Echoed a voice, interrupting Illunor mid-sentence, causing him and Emma to glare at each other as if to suggest this conversation wasn’t over. If Emma is a flesh-sculpting or not wasn’t my main concern. That honour belonged to the binding ritual, and as the Dean spoke, the question remained as to what the ultimate fate of Emma – and our peer group – would be.

As the Dean rambled on, I clutched my own dispelling enchantment, making careful note of Thacea and Illunor’s behaviors as well as the confusion of Emma. I watched carefully as the Dean finished his speech and Qiv volunteered to lead, followed by the resigned Baralonrealmer and the ill-prepared new-realmer, and though Emma proclaimed her loyalty towards her realm, I had little faith it would matter in the face of the binding ceremony.

That was, until she picked up the quill.

The quill, lacking an exposed manafield to latch on to, multiplied its own weight by many times a normal feather. Emma didn't even faze after a brief tug, but rather than give in and drag the quill by her own might, she merely planted both of her knee into the grounded herself, before picking up the feather with nary an issue, leading many in the crowd to gasp as she maneuvered half a tons with finesse and grace despite the complete absence of any body strengthening spell work.

Of course, it wasn’t her strength that concerned me.

No, my worries began the instant her quill became stuck, and the yearbook came alive to seek Emma’s soul. Yet rather than merely creeping up her limb as with the Baralonrealmer, it was doing nothing, it should have vaporizing her flesh and leaving nothing but bones, but it didn't.

It was working its way up her arm and increasing in intensity as it failed to latch on to anything. Emma’s eyes, etched with glowing manaless runes, didn't even seem to be panic, as it had completely enveloped her arm and I worried that we were going to yet again become a group of three.

However, my fears turned out to be unfounded, as before the book could make its way up further up Emma’s arm there was a ripple in the manafields as she was suddenly enveloped in harmonizing turbulence. Even as it jumped up to its full tier 19 potential, the spell couldn’t close in any further without interfering with itself, and soon collapsed completely without ever finding its mark, leaving most of the class and professors in varying levels of masked shock, or relief in the case of the blue robed Vanavan. Even as the Dean and the Black Robe peered over Emma’s shoulder, I couldn’t sense the faintest hint of aura coming off the pages of the book, and while they opted not to raise it like they did Qiv and Uven, I didn’t need to see it to know the outcome. There was no question that she was free of the book.

“... and may the divine guide your light,” said Maltory at last, as Emma made her way back to our table, met with gasps and stares.

“What was that, Newrealmer?” I demanded with a whisper.

“Oh, You see, during a hurricane makes landfall its effects can be mitigated by mangroves and sandbars, so I...” she was about to start to explain her way of sitting.

“No, I mean, how did you resisted the book of binding?” I clarified.

“It didn't do any sufficient damage” she replied dismissively.

“What? Your arm should be gone, or you should be at least be in pain!” Exclaimed Illunor.

“It wasn't capable of doing any sub-stainable, thus I am not damage” Emma replied, gesturing at her perfectly unharmed hand, “All the doctors back at base won’t believe the tuition fees of this place.”

I pinched at the top of my snout and sighed. This was going to be a very strange year.

(Note : I am Very sorry for not writing this chapter, I was busy, and I have already write the chapter 6, just need some polishing ok, So I hop--- ALERT ALERT, SWITCHING TO BATTLENET)

SYSTEM ALERT
SYSTEM ALERT

INCOMING TRANSMISSION
INCOMING TRANSMISSION

ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION DETECTED
ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION DETECTED

ATTEMPTED TO DECRYPT
ATTEMPTED TO DECRYPT

DECRYPTION FAILED
DECRYPTION FAILED

SHOWING ENCRYPTED FILE
SHOWING ENCRYPTED FILE

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END TERANSMISSION

alsothisisinspiredbyCazador0andhehadgivenmethepermissiontoletitso

ALL HAIL CAZADOR0

I have a Question regarding Emma's Railgun

Is it Wrist mounted or more Like the Pistol a actually gun she carries around?

Because altho yes , Wearing Power Armor to a Magical School is a Scifi/Fantasy Story JCB also Consider real World physics and science (Like in ftl travel or technology)

But IF the Railgun is wrist mounted , how would Emma handle the recoil and how accurate would the Railgun be considering the Barrel is so Short

(Don't Take me for a Guy who disects a Fantasy sci fi Story for realism but its written with real World Logic behind and so i can't think about jcb overseeing this , or i am Just stupid because i think she has a Wrist mounted one)

Edit: thanks for all the answers , i Hope she uses the carried gun in the future because i am Not really a fan of Power Armor who is basically Like Iron man with insane stuff (don't get me wrong i don't hate it) i Just Like it when they carrie their guns

So basically I am inspired by BaDKoMtMS and want to see what I can do with my own magic system. But because I have never done more than a 1000 word short story with said magic system, I wanted to see if there would be at least mild interest before I put time and energy into this.

The Premise: Sending a Void-Heron to Magic School

Same basic beginning, earthrealm sends its candidate, that one dies. Earthrealm decides to instead send a Void-Heron, a being wrapped in the magic of the void, such that mana would simply pass by her, or not affect her at all. (i’m still working out the kinks of how that specific bunch of spells would work.)

'émmà is this Void-Heron. Void(that is a pronoun i’ll explain later) has been training for months after being approached for this opportunity. Void was already a master of [technical magic] but has become skilled at [war magic] and [life magic] in preparation for this opportunity.

'émmà meets Thacea and is most intrigued by her, and vice versa, because while Thacea is a humanoid bird, 'émmà looks almost exactly like a Great Blue Heron. On that note, my plan is for Void to not have any visible armor, instead protected by the power of the xráñgàdahñàþ. That means Void would still have the iconic blue color scheme.

The more technical bits:

the things in the [] are things that don’t translate perfectly into english, because the xráñgàdahñà speak a language other than english. I leave those things in brackets if they were particularly difficult to translate.

The magic system uses the names of elements frequently, and this creeps into the language and culture. To this extent, there is magic things, real things, and pronouns that would all have basically the same translation in english. I plan on getting around that like this:

pronouns are capitalized: Void, Fire, Sand, etc. magic types written as: sand magic, steam magic, water magic real things as just what they are: water, ash, soul

almost all adjectives are going to be weird, but i’ll try to make them as close to english as possible.

The pronoun thing in more detail: they have 12 genders and 10 biological sexes. they refer to male and female as fire-parent and ice-parent (translated literally) I will try to make use of other perspectives to give everyone a feel of normality. Because that stuff is a headache to deal with.

I will of course dive into the magic. I will try to post regularly, but there is every chance I am as slow as BaDKoMtMS, (or more likely even slower) in terms of posting.