1 Gilded

It was a faded gold, adorning it were whimsical designs it was seemingly made out of leather, but it was evident the leather wasn't dyed. Linette stared at the book with her breath held. The golden leather must've come from an ancient beast. An immensely powerful aura came off the book. Despite the aura's power it was not hostile, instead it drew people in closer.

This was the book Linette claimed from the ruins she and the Blaze Sect had found. Linette had been an integral part of discovering the ancient underground city where the book was found. Due to her achievements she got second pick. Her sister, Ebony, had gotten first choice, since she was destined to be the next Sect head.

Linette opened the book, she had done this many times before. The Golden book only had empty pages. She carefully studied the paper as if trying to find some other meaning, her father had looked at the book and used his magic to try and sense any irregularities. One could tell it was a great item by looking at it, but by any other test it seemed ordinary. Linette, however hadn't given up on the book she felt it calling for her when she entered the ruins. She felt as if the book was waiting for her. In all honestly she didn't understand where those feelings came from. The Golden, leather book was a magic tool which could alleviate her circumstances, she was sure. It would once again allow her to stand tall.

"Linette~" A gentle knock accompanied the sing-song voice. In the door way stood Ebony, the Blaze Sect's new hope.

"Ebony, come in." Linette hastily shoved the book in her desk drawer. Linette's room was located far from the center of the compound nearly an hour away from where their personal family dinner was held. Despite that the room exuded luxury. After all the Blaze Sect was the top faction in all the Sapphire Clouds Realms. They had a long powerful history, every mage was capable and they had never once truly fallen, at the same time they had never once had total control over the Sapphire Cloud Realms. Ebony was the hope to change that. She was to make them a supreme force. Linette of course, didn't really understand the full extent of her family's ambitions.

"Don't use my name, it dirties it!" The overflowing distain from her sister's eyes would alarm anyone who claimed they knew the sister pair, even their own parents. To the outside would they were a golden pair. Ebony was the emperor and Linette her compliment, together they held absolute brillance, and potential.

"I'm so glad you reserved that book for me. That was your intention right? To hand it over so I could use it." Like a serpent Ebony twisted the situation.

"Father said it's mine." Barely audible Linette whispered. When Linette looked up she saw Ebony stretching her fist towards her. The punch heavily landed on Linette's stomach. With eyes like the devil Ebony proceeded to grab Linette's hair she used it to throw Linette across the room. By no means was Linette weak she had reached a high pinnacle in her body strengthening magic, and was a genius in the fire element. She was miles away from the peers of her generation and was even competitive with some of the older generation. Of course the only exception was Ebony who was nearly as strong as their father. Linette's and Ebony's father is the strongest mage in the world. He has lived for over 500 years and rules their family clan with an iron fist.

Ebony's relentless attack continued for five minutes. After blowing off her steam she bent down to Linette who was seemingly on the verge of passing out. She had suffered considerable damage this time. Ebony's violent temper was nothing strange to Linette. Ever since Ebony had upsurped Linette's position in the family and convinced them Linette was prone to lying; Linette had been physically bullied by Ebony.

"You should just do what I say, I hate that fake innocent tone in your voice. It sounds as if I've wronged you! But you deserve this, you've stepped in my way, clouded my glorious ascent. I hate being grouped with you as the 'genius pair of sisters'. You're inferior in every way. You should count yourself lucky that your chastiy is protected." Ebony ranted. She looked at Linette again.

"I'm sorry." With her head held down Linette apologized, but a fire burned in her eyes. If her head wasn't down overwhelming hatred could be seen, her heart drummed screaming for revenge. It was her book, she couldn't allow it to be taken away. At this moment some of Linette's rationality was fading.

"It's okay." A gentle smile played across Ebony's face. The smile was fake. "Just tell father at dinner tonight you would like to hand over the book to me so I may study it. After all it's already been nearly 2 months since you got it." Linette felt cold. Her hope was gone, easily betrayed. Since Linette was taking so long to agree Ebony grabbed her chin forcing Linette to look at her. Ebony studied Linette's eyes, she could clearly see the rage and hate. Ebony smiled before seemingly coming to her own decision.

"So?" Ebony pressed again.

"I'll do as you say." Linette gritted her teeth as she spoke.

"Great! Bring it to the Northern bridge, you know what time." Ebony's tone was innocent, she seemed sincere. Linette jerked her head in understanding. Ebony quickly stood up and left the room. Linette got up and closed the door making sure the handle latched.

Linette swore and grimaced as she got up to head towards her bed. She tried to disperse some of her mana in an attempt to heal herself, but it did little. In the first place dispersing mana in the body was the first step in body strengthening magic. A mage would use their personal reserves of mana to strengthen their muscles and the physical toughness of their body. Because of this it was easy to force cuts closed and stop the bleeding. However the internal damage Linette had couldn't be healed only medicine and lots of rest could heal the injuries. Unfortunately Linette had no access to medicine and Ebony never left Linette enough time to fully heal. So she slowly has been accumulating internal injuries.

'If hurts!' Linette screamed in her head. 'I have to tell father, I must make him understand. Even if I'm humiliated again, I must make him believe.' Linette was determined to do what she must.

After sitting for a while on her bed Linette felt better she stood up normally and walked to her desk. She opened the dark wood drawer which had hand carved detail on it and retrieved the Golden book. Linette thumbed the side of the book gently stroking the pages before she opened it.

There were words on the page, Linette nearly dropped the book. She stared in amazement at the book. They were legible words, in fact they seemed as if they were written in her handwriting. The words were loopy and seemed to be noble. The whole book seemingly had words written in it, but she couldn't read the words beyond the first page. It simply said.

Three words interconnected by magic

A True mage can go to the Home world

An Apprentice mage can go to the In Between world

A Journeyman mage can go to the Edge world

An Elemental Sense mage, capable of turning the heavens, can reach the Traveler's world

But the three worlds are stuck, not connected to the rest of the universe.

People are too weak to leave for the Traveler's world

And the three worlds are too hidden to be found, we fall back

Will you reconnect to the universe, trying without lack of will till you die?

Sign with your blood to make the oath

True mage, Apprentice, and Journeyman were all stages of a magicans growth. The order went Body mage, True mage, Novice, Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Grandmaster.

A True mage was merely someone who'd formed their Magician's Heart, it was an invisible organ that couldn't be seen or touched but it allowed someone to convert outside mana into elemental magic. A Body mage by contrast was someone who had learned how to manipulate their personal mana and use it to do some basic body magic. Body magic was basically self enhancements, and at the higher levels it could influence other people's body, but most of that was pretty evil magic and it was largely outlawed.

An Apprentice mage was simply a certain proficiency in magic same with Journeyman, Master, and Grandmaster. Elemental sense was a mythical stage that was apparently far beyond Grandmaster it was a qualitative change.

Linette understood that in order to leave her current world she had to have a certain amount of strength, once she had that amount of strength the heavens would recognize her and she would faintly feel the pull of the other two planets. It was interesting because what most people call the Lower Realm the book calls the Home planet. This would mean the world that she currently resides in, known as the Upper realm, is called the Edge world. This means all the Sapphire Clouds Realms most powerful factions, and superpowers are in the Edge world. Many consider the Upper realm the center of the Sapphire Cloud Realms.

Linette didn't need to ponder her decision very long. She had every intention of trying to connect the realms to the universe. She felt like this would bring her a sense of purpose. Linette had always decided to dedicate her life to the betterment of the clan so dedicating her life to the betterment of the world wasn't really such a far stretch.

In all honestly if Linette was in a better state of mind she would have exercised more caution when signing the artifact. It could be binding to her soul, or there might be malicious intentions if she signed. A couple years ago she would have showed it to her father and gotten his opinion. However she had grown too distant with him.

Linette bit her finger and let her blood smug the paper. The writing and her blood slowly faded.

Deeper in the compound Ebony walked gracefully, she happily greeted the servants by name and her Sect members who passed by. Despite her cheery appearance she was scheming her sister's death. For a long time Ebony has planned her sister's "tragic accident". Ebony realized her sister had broken, she had thrown all caution to the wind. Reputation, and freedom Linette had set that all momentarily aside.

Ebony felt a little disappointed after all she had carefully pushed her sister into a corner so Linette would obey her, but now that'd changed. It was a little soon to kill Linette. The timing was off because she would be gaining the book, and her position in the clan as the next leader wasn't fully solidified. If her misdeeds were found out the current clan head would refuse to accept her. Ebony didn't really treat the Blaze Sect head as her father. Linette on the other hand had great respect for her father.

In her room Ebony called upon her assistent, he was Ebony's cousin, Alder, and he firmly believed in Ebony. Alder was her subordinate. Using his influence Alder helped Ebony influence the Blaze Sect members behind the scenes. As son of the First Elder Alder held considerable sway. Ironically First Elder was the position Linette was being primed to take. It held the second highest authority in the Sect.

Ebony trusted no one, but if she was going to kill Linette tonight she was going to need an alibi. Alder was that alibi.