206 Order And Magic (1/2)
”Saoirse, you shall serve me in the same way you serve your community. By educating people.” I informed her, beginning to hint at the idea I had in mind for her. In response to my words her eyebrows rose curiously. Behind her I watched as Brandon's lips and throat strained and yet no words came out. Earlier the man had been in his mind and thus could speak, but now he was back in the physical world and thus was still affected by the silence I had inflicted on him earlier.
”Althos... You know I have no clue how to use magic.” She told me, almost chuckling as she spoke. I could see something in her gaze though, a small amount of hope, and a twinkle of curiosity. It amused me. I looked into her eyes as I spoke the next words that escaped my lips.
”Saoirse... I know you think of gods as comparable to mortals. That deep down you think of my kind as merely extremely powerful mortals.” I told her. I was speaking honestly to her. I knew that that was what she felt, deep down. I knew every thought she had ever had.
I knew every secret she possessed. Every dream and every fantasy. Her eyes widened when she heard me say this, and though she physically moved to deny my words, she was lying and thus couldn't actually speak. The look in her eyes became confused when she realized she wasn't speaking.
”You can't lie in my presence, Saoirse. I do not allow it.” I explained, which was in and of itself a good demonstration of the powers possessed by a god.
”Gods are not super mortals. Even the very weakest of us are existences beyond what even the most creative, powerful, or well-traveled mortal could fathom in their wildest dreams. We are the lords of creation and the dukes and duchesses of destruction. We are power incarnate, and our mere proximity leaves mortals permanently changed.” I declared, speaking honestly but also proudly.
”If I wanted too I could leave this planet a lifeless, lightless rock adrift in the cosmos and it would take perhaps two hours of my time. Inversely I could turn this world into a paradise devoid of death and suffering, though admittedly that would take... a bit longer.” I told the mortal, a smile on my lips.
”Gods are the makers and unmakers of reality. The oldest myths still vaguely recall our existences, or at least attempt to remember us. They do not capture one one-hundredth, nay even one one-thousandth of our power.” I told her, my eyes beginning to flash as I spoke.
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One of the passive perks of acquiring the first tiers of influence over the domains of the basic schools of magic was that I acquired the abilities to use thousands of spells. Floating within my mind was the knowledge I needed to freely cast all sorts of precise, magical invocations that would alter reality.
Spellcasting was the lawful, almost scientific way to use magic. It was orderly, replicable, reliable magic-use. It was also the most convenient form of magic-use for mortals who had limited, often small stores of spiritual energy.
Among other things, I could conjure creatures from across the cosmos, I could create swamps, castles, and farms, using immensely expensive spells, and I could create all sorts of projectiles to attack foes. I could also heal people, alleviate discomfort, and strengthen them.
I silently cast a number of tiny spells to demonstrate the capabilities of magic. The first spell I cast created a small spark of fire above my middle finger. It hovered over my fingertip and cast a warm glow over the area in front of the doorway. I still hadn't entered the home of Saoirse and Brandon. Saoirse stared at the tongue of fire that hovered over my fingertip while I cast other magic.
I aimed a spell at her, this time not hinting that I was doing so. It was a powerful healing spell entitled ”Holistic heal”, which cost a hundred and fifty spiritual energy to cast and would heal people of any discomforts too minor to constitute actual damage to their health and any negative status conditions aside from potent ones like petrification.
My magical energy washed over Saoirse and her face relaxed as she felt pure magical energy infuse her very being. It seeped into every corner of her and I felt her internally warm up in a rather sexual and sensual way. Inwardly I grinned at this but for now I chose not to push her or it in any specific direction. Saoirse released a rather soft sounding sigh as my power defeated each and every discomfort she felt.
”Magic is... a truly powerful tool.” I explained, even as I cast alteration magic on Saoirse that gave her wings. They were spiritual wings, not ones that physically existed, but they were more than capable of lifting the woman into the air which was something that her system informed her of. They jutted out from her back and incorporeally spread out into the small hallway that she stood in. She turned her head slightly and was able to see them due to their impressive width. Her eyes widened as she first glimpsed at them.
”Magic is amazing. With magic I can even show you this.” I told her, before casting an impressive illusion on the mortal.
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Saoirse immediately felt the effects of the illusion I cast on her. Her eyes darkened and went from being their usual mortal color to being orbs that reflected a moonless night, with little dots representing stars. And what was more impressive than that was what she herself saw in the depths of my illusion.
In the throes of the illusion Saoirse's mind was taken from the small house she and her boyfriend lived in and transported to a new, nonexistent location. The girl's mind was taken to a fictional location deep in space. I took her into a spot that if it actually existed would have been in the depths of the galaxy of my birth.
Invisibly, I ”traveled” alongside her. We only stopped ”travelling” when we found ourselves in front of a truly enormous star. The star was unlike any Saoirse had ever seen or even heard of, as Htraean humans were a species that was advanced enough to know of other star systems and galaxies even if they had only begun to dabble in actual space-travel.
The star in front of Saoirse took up all of her vision and she couldn't look away from it even though she tried. It radiated an impossible violet light and Saoirse felt a fraction of the heat it gave off. She was grateful that it wasn't burning her, even though she felt quite warm.
”Saoirse... Behold, the lord of order and the soverign of the stars.” I whispered, my voice echoing into her mind. As I spoke I activated my ”Believe me” power, and I felt any resistance the young human might have had to my words fade away. She fell to her knees and her astral self, her self-perception that was with me right now, also fell.