The One Called Magus

The rain continued to pour, with no intention of stopping.

The sound of the explosion was masked by the sound of thunder and rain. Otherwise, it would have alerted the mages in the tower, making them rush here immediately.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Moses said, looking outside.

"It comes and goes wherever it wants and whenever it wishes, with not a single concern for the lives below." Even Merlin followed the gaze of Moses, staring outside the tower through the newly formed hole in the wall.

If the rain continued like this for a few more days with the same intensity, it could flood the entire city. And if that happens, the people will lose their homes, the animals will lose their lives, and the crops that feed the entire kingdom will become nothing but wastelands.

But if the same rain falls in moderation, then plants will flourish, the capacity of freshwater rivers will increase, many ecosystems will grow and bloom with life, and the lives of people will move towards the better.

It was the perfect example of how too much of something isn't always good. Doing things in moderation was always the right choice. And the same thing applies to the power one can hold.

If that power is enough for us to protect ourselves, then it is okay. If it is enough to get out of a dreadful situation by overpowering others, then it is okay. But what if it even exceeds that? The power that can almost make one invincible—a step below omnipotence?

Is it right for one person to hold this much power alone? Doesn't this make him the true dictator of this world? Does he have the right to replace God himself?

This thought was just an arbitrary opinion, in the end, a mere possibility of what ifs? We never know until that happens. Until a scenario presents itself where a single human will have the chance to hold the power that can overrule this world.

This case of possibilities in one's mind should have remained like that until the end. But the fears of premonition and the possibilities of thinking became reality when a crystal-like substance of unknown origins was discovered a few hundred years ago.

It was filled with an unknown energy that was full of mysteries. Its mere radiance was enough to make one drool over it. A power beyond imagination. Everyone knew at that time that it was a power that would topple the entire world.

Later, it was named 'Jewel of Arcana'. The jewel that held life itself.

"Do you think it is right for that thing to exist in this world?" Moses asked, turning his head to face Merlin. He was talking about the jewel.

"It is a power that is useful to people if used right, and moreover, it is kept safe within this magic tower. That's how it has been through the generations, and it will remain the same even after my time comes to an end."

"Safe? Hahaha!" The laugh in his hoarse voice sounded deep.

"That is just an illusion you want to believe, Whitlock."

Merlin didn't understand his words.

"What do you mean?" He asked him directly.

"That's something that doesn't concern you. Just give me the jewel." He asked him again. His voice was even more imposing this time.

He emitted a killing intent that spread throughout the tower in an instant. The air became thick enough for one to struggle to breathe. It didn't affect Merlin in front of him, but the same thing can't be said for the people inside the tower.

Noticing this change as he observed everything with his mana sense, Merlin made a move.

"Stop it!" He extended his arm forward, where a gust of wind condensed until it became a dense sphere, the size of a bullet.

"Moses, tell me... tell me why you are doing this?" It was a warning from Merlin. If he made a move, he wouldn't sit idly either.

Moses retracted his killing intent.

"If you are asking for a reason, I cannot give it to you. You wouldn't understand. Maybe it is for the greater good... like you said, for the betterment of people." His expression didn't change in the slightest, yet his words continued.

"Can you hand it over to me now?" He extended his palm forward once again.

"As much as I want to believe you, I cannot do that. It isn't my sole property, so I couldn't just hand it over to you on my dime. The White Magic Tower runs on the power of the Jewel of Arcana. And it also facilitates many things inside the tower."

"You mean the little tinkering you have been doing down there? It was kind of interesting, I have to say." He was talking about the things he saw on many floors while climbing the staircase to the top of the tower.

"Did you see it? Isn't that useful? And there are many more things that are yet to be made just like that. All of that is only possible because of the Jewel of Arcana. And you want that without even trying to explain your reason behind it?" It was a question—a question of choice—for Moses to explain himself.

"You want my reason? The things that are made are not always a part of development, as you think. Humans are greedy, Whitlock. They want the power that makes one bow to them. Even if you are of a good heart and the people following you around are good people, there are always weeds among the healthy, growing plants. And evil spreads faster than good. That's the thing you cannot control."

"Good and evil exist in balance, dear friend. In fear of one mishap that is yet to occur, you can't ignore the good things that are happening in front of us. And I, no, we mages exist to not break that balance by creating a new order within the society to look over." Merlin was trying to figure out his thoughts by also making him understand his own.

"You say that, but how is it any better than arbitrary dictatorship? In the end, it's still the powerful one being in control and the weak one following them. Where is the freedom of choice?"

"Moses, I am talking about rules and order here. The people still have the freedom to decide for themselves. They have the right to follow their own wishes." He was a little angry at his friend's thinking as he raised his voice.

"It is just your ideal way of thinking, Whitlock. The society outside is anything but like that. It isolates the individuals who voice their opinions. They have no choice but to bend to others' wills. The good and the bad co-exist in equilibrium, you say?" His expression became rigid as an unknown sense of longing reflected in his eyes.

"Come out of your little room and look at the streets of your kingdom with your very own eyes. Do you think people care about who is good and who is bad? They just see for their own benefit. People are struggling, the good and the bad alike."

"You…!" He couldn't rebuke his words. Even if he didn't want to agree, he knew there was truth in his words.

"And the few who are truly good can't change the bad with their idealistic principles. Idealism is nothing but blatant hypocrisy chased after by fools. Equality, justice, good, and evil are nothing but a misconception that exists to right the wrong. They were imposed by society but they themselves do not follow it? What is it if not the talking of a hypocrite?"

Merlin fell silent.

"The people live for their own benefit—you, me, the king, everyone. In the end, the one who wields enough power, the one who is above all, the one who walks with the majority, gets the right, the right to choose."

The words didn't come out of his mouth as he tried to say something.

"I know what kind of person you are. But don't you dare think the same for the others! Society is built on the walls of social classes and the filth surrounding them. One thing they don't accept is the change in the norm. You were only able to think that you were changing it for the better because those social classes allowed you. More like they didn't have a choice but to nod their heads because you held the power."

It was the truth. Who would listen to a good thing said by a person on the street? But if the same thing is said by the one who holds power and status, everyone will have no choice but to nod their heads with smiles.

"Rumble! Crackle!" The sky became even more aggressive.

"The title of the Greatest Mage that you hold is nothing but a mirage that you have deluded yourself into. Once you remove that, you will have to use brute force and spill the blood of many to maintain the so-called order that you think of." His words hit him right through the chest.

Merlin couldn't believe what the person before him was saying. From the day he knew Moses, he wasn't like this. He was cheerful, but he couldn't find that expression anywhere on his face or in his words. It's as if he believes all people are the same.

How did he turn out like this? What made him change this drastically? Did something happen? Something that could drive him to feel this much hate? All he could find in his friend's face was anger and loneliness that he was trying too hard to suppress. He wanted to ask, but the person in front of him would not listen to a few words of comfort.

"I don't know what happened to you during these years. I want to ask you about it. I want to know. I want to hear that from you, Moses. I will make you say that by yourself. Forgive me for what I am about to do." As his words finished, the condensed sphere of wind near his palm that was whirling continuously fired at a speed that was hard to react to. And the distance between them was so close that Moses couldn't even dodge.

He instead moved his wooden staff slightly, enough to be placed between him and the fired wind spell. It all happened in an instant. As soon as the wind spell touched the staff, it dissipated without a trace of ever existing.

Merlin's eyes grew larger in shock.

"How—!?"

He knew the person in front of him was powerful. In their younger years, they used to compete in mock battles, which always ended in draws. That was also the reason why Merlin didn't give Moses the chance to cast a spell. If he did that, he wouldn't know what the outcome would have been, as it has been too many years to know his current level.

But this was beyond his expectations. How did he do that? It was not his power, but the power of the staff he held. Normally, that would have been considered blocking a spell, but the thought itself was wrong.

"Where did you find it?" He asked, composing himself.

It destroyed the spell to its very core as soon as it touched it. It's like destroying a completed building. It would be much easier if you just destroyed the pillars supporting a building instead of destroying each wall one after another. That's inefficient and time-consuming.

But it was all easier said than done.

"Just a lucky companion on my travels." He smiled as he said that. But that smile didn't reach his eyes.

He was treating that wooden staff more like a person than the actual person in front of him. The act itself may be superficial, but it was right to say that's what he was trying to express.

"I think it's going to be late," Moses muttered as he looked towards the sky again.

"What do you mean by that?" Merlin had his doubts. From the beginning, he acted as if he was in a hurry, but they got into a conversation that prolonged for some time. So what now?

Moses waved his hand. The roof of the tower crumbled as it fell.

"What are you—?"

The outside was clearly visible now, as nothing was there to obstruct the view.

"You should have agreed when I asked you the first time."

He extended his arm towards the sky. The rain fell through the opening of the tower's roof. They both became wet in seconds.

"Whatever you are trying to do, as the master of the tower, I won't let it happen!" The air surrounding the place entered both of Merlin's palms. It condensed within seconds, forming two spheres that were the size of one's fists. He then immediately waved it towards Moses, whose gaze was up above.

The condensed wind spell travelled like two cannons. Its power and speed were far greater than the previous one. He didn't control his strength, as he was in a hurry.

But responding to that, Moses struck his wooden staff into the floor.

"Crack!" The entire floor cracked.

The tower shook. A thin layer of an invisible barrier formed around him, blocking both the powerful spells. His arm still faced the cloudy sky.

Even if the sound of things was masked by the rain and thunder, the things that just happened were felt by the people inside the tower. In a hurry, the hundreds of mages within tried to find the cause of the tower shaking while also panicking at the same time.

The tower was like a cocoon. If it is strong enough, it will protect, and if it is weak, the living inside will crumble to death.

Some of the head mages made their way to the top of the tower to the master's room. They wanted to know if the master of the tower was alright, or at least if he knew of the situation that was happening now.

The remaining ones came out of the tower from different exits. An extra space opened and closed wherever the mages exited.

Their eyes immediately went to look at the thing that seemed out of place. The top of the tower was missing. There was an enormous hole in the wall at the top. They couldn't get a clear picture of what was happening, but a few sounds came from there now and then, which cleared the falling raindrops in that area.

What could be so powerful that it was affecting their surroundings to this degree? They thought.

Things proceeded.

Merlin kept his distance as he fired a few more spells of different sizes and power. Spears of wind, explosions of wind, a tremendous gust. He tried every powerful attack that he could think of. He was still trying to keep the safety of the city's people in mind, but it was no excuse. The barrier didn't break, nor did it distract the attention of Moses, who was inside it.

"Stop it now, Moses!" He was having a bad premonition about where it was going.

"You can stop this yourself."

The surrounding air shook. In the next second, it stopped at its place. The wind, the rain, the tiniest movement. Everything stood silent.

"Grand Master Merlin! Are you inside?" The mages knocked on the door aggressively. But Merlin's gaze was fixed on the top. Even the mages who were outside had their gaze fixed on the sky. They knew… something was happening. Something they could never imagine being possible.

"Rumble!" The rumblings in the sky increased.

"Swoosh!" The air that stood still blew along with the raindrops that were yet to reach the ground.

The clouds above the tower roof became darker and darker. The darkness resembled the absence of light. Even the tiniest of lights got swallowed up in that darkness. It grew... bigger and bigger.

"Today will be the last day. This tall wall, based on your idealistic values, will ever cease to exist."

Merlin's mouth was agape.

"The younger generation had a way of naming their spells, didn't they? We used to do that too. This one should have a name, don't you think? At least for the terror it is going to spread, to be remembered."

All the clouds that were visible at long distances were no more. They all moved to a single spot above the tower.

"Rumble!" Now just the sound of the rumble was enough to burst one's ears.

The whole place was like an amalgamation of evil descending upon the land of humans, showing them their greatest fears.

"Let's meet again, my friend. Very soon, that is." A warm smile rose on Moses' face. This was the most genuine one. But the worry on Merlin's face didn't decrease in the slightest.

"Everyone come inside!" He shouted as the door to his room opened.

"Grand Master! What is happening—!?" Everyone entered, but before they could ask what was happening, the scene before them made them shut their mouths and open their eyes wide.

"Hick!" Someone fell to the ground as his legs became weak from terror.

"You all, it's not the time to be afraid! Form a mana shield around the entire city!" His words had a trace of mana, which echoed throughout the entire place.

"Even the people below do it now!" His voice could be heard for hundreds of miles. He had an idea of what was going to happen, but he thought it was impossible. Even now, that thought remains the same.

Everyone listened to him, keeping their fears aside. Some gave up, but they found their strength as a few others followed Merlin's command.

Seeing this, Moses spoke.

"You are still a great leader. But it's too late."

It descended. The very sky had descended. The ground covering the entire city shook because of the peer pressure above. The electrifying air that surrounded the atmosphere caused people's hair to stand on end. It was pure insanity.

"Crackle!" The crackling of thunder was now everywhere.

"Everyone, now!" Merlin gritted his teeth as he shouted.

"B-By the power of the elements and the strength of our will, we call forth a shield of mana to protect and fulfil."

They all began their incantation. Merlin, without saying a word, waved his hands, pointing both his hands towards the sky.

A huge barrier rose that emitted a faint light. It spread across the city, covering its entirety.

"Why, Moses, why!?" He gritted his teeth once again as the calamity that was soon going to befall this city continued, along with the incantation of mages that came to a close.

"Let no harm come to us or those in our care. May this barrier hold fast, strong, and fair." A few more shields of mana that emitted a faint glow formed below Merlin's shield. They were far weaker than Merlin's. It showed the difference in their skills and power.

But every one of them combined together to form another shield that covered the entire city like the one above.

Merlin waved his hand as both mana shields struggled to become one.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Waves of lightning fell as they attacked aggressively. It's as if it has its own consciousness.

"Stand strong, all of you!" He was trying to motivate everyone in a hopeless situation. That's what a leader does. It is not always about winning, but how things proceed.

Both the shields combined as their strength and the intensity of light they emitted increased exponentially.

"I told you, it's too late. Don't bother to waste your energy on a known end."

Finally, Moses made a fist, pointing his index finger to the sky.

"I will be taking this." He took out a small crystal from under his ragged clothes. It was surprising that there was any space to store things in that piece of cloth he wore. It was of a blood-red colour and distorted the space surrounding it. The power it radiated was unknown. It was the Jewel of Arcana.

Merlin's eyes shook. The thing he came here for, he already had it with him all along. So why? Why go through all this trouble? That was a thought that will be left unanswered for now.

"How—!?" The shock and frustration painted his face.

"You…" He extended his arm, pointing his index finger at Merlin, who was struggling to maintain the mana shield above. Even if he is the greatest mage who held power above all, the one thing he can't go against is his old age.

"Try to stop it." He now pointed his finger to the ground as a distant look surfaced on Moses' face.

"Boom! Crackle! Boom! Boom!" Everything came at once. The amalgamation of clouds, thunder, lightning, water, and wind. Those elements that could give life have now combined to take away that very own life.

Maybe it is the hypocrisy of nature. Too much power is really a call for disaster.

"Crack! Crack!" The mana shield cracked like a piece of glass.

"Put all your strengths!" Merlin's voice couldn't be heard anymore. That's how great the thing above was.

"Tempest. Cloud. Convergence!" Moses' cold voice sounded as the spell's name echoed throughout the entire city. The single thing that was protecting the people below finally shattered.

The people in their homes won't have an idea of how they died. The number of survivors? That was a matter for another day.

Who would have thought the bad premonition that Merlin had would come true this early?

In all of this, among the mages on the ground, there was a man who had a piece of common metal armour. He held an envelope in his hand with the king's seal on it. He came to deliver it as per orders, but he didn't expect something of this magnanimity to happen here.

As everyone was afraid and confused about what was happening above, he alone examined the situation when an old man with a staff came into his sight. He was the centre of all the calamity that was happening here.

An inadvertent smile rose on his face. It had a hint of admiration for the old man.

It wasn't any borrowed power, but his own. He was the one who truly reached the peak of magecraft. The person before him, the one called Magus.

In his admiration, a huge crumbled rock from the tower fell on him, crushing his body flat on the ground and spattering his blood everywhere. The envelope in his hand was still held tight, but his life had left his body, as no one even cared to know who he was.

His luck was so bad and fate was so cruel to him that he had to travel all the way here just to die a side-character death.

The message from the king wasn't delivered. But if the people here survived to tell the tale, that would be a blessing on its own.