Immortal Creed

[That night in the mayor's office]

Mayor Lundy's home was a modest but well-kept two-story house that stood slightly apart from the rest of the town. The weathered wooden exterior was freshly painted a pale cream, and the shutters, painted a deep forest green, framed the windows like a proud invitation.

The house sat on a small rise, overlooking the cobbled streets of the town, with a wraparound porch that always seemed to have a rocking chair or two swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Inside, the house was warm and inviting, lit by the soft glow of oil lamps. The sitting room smelled faintly of pine from the logs burning in the stone fireplace, their crackling a comforting backdrop to the hum of the night outside.

Worn but polished oak furniture filled the space, and the walls were adorned with simple landscapes and old family photographs. It was clear that Mayor Lundy prized practicality over luxury, but every detail carried a sense of care and pride.

That night, the town was enveloped in a serene stillness, broken only by the occasional chirp of crickets and the distant rustle of leaves stirred by a gentle wind.

The sky was a deep, velvety black, studded with stars that shone with an almost otherworldly clarity. A silver crescent moon hung low, its pale light casting long, delicate shadows across the quiet streets.

In the dining room of this otherwise modest house, Mayor Lundy was hosting the Immortal Mage this particular night. Not only that, in a show of respect he offered his lodgings to Victor and now he was serving him a feast which he hopes would otherwise satisfy him.

The feast was both simple and hearty. The centerpiece was a roasted game bird, its skin crisp and golden, accompanied by thick slices of freshly baked bread still warm.

Bowls of roasted root vegetables, seasoned with rosemary and thyme, sat alongside a creamy potato stew, its aroma rich and inviting. There was a pitcher of spiced cider on the table, and for dessert, the mayor's chef had prepared an apple tart, its flaky crust and caramelized filling gleaming under the lamplight.

He of course wouldn't be attending this meal with the Mage, he merely served.

Victor, stared at the otherwise lavish feast, although mages use mana as a form of energy and nourishment, it still couldn't replace the yearning, taste and comfort a good meal offered, so he enjoyed from time to time a warm meal.

"I have to say Mayor, you have really gone above and beyond." He said as he picked up a fork and knife, tearing into the bird.

"You jest my leash, I only wish I could offer up more but the town's constraints limit me. Forgive me!" Mayor Lundy bowed while he stood beside Victor serving as his contemporary butler. In front of Mages who wield mana, mortals can only be reduced to the state of a servant.

In a subtle manner, victor picked up that the mayor was obviously hoping for some sort of compensation.

How very brazen of him…he couldn't help but think that the mayor's actions were very brave. He was hardly angered, to him what mattered most were benefits and the mayor had nothing of interest that could satisfy him. No, what truly satisfied him was that boy.

His eyes suddenly lit up. What great fortune he found. Him meeting that boy very much aligned to what he was currently undertaking, suffice to say that fate hadn't completely abandoned him.

The mayor watched as the Mage dug in to the lavish meal he prepared. His eyes showed conflicting emotions from time to time. He as a person who is associated with politics developed a personality that only saw opportunities and this particular moment was one such opportunity.

He fidgeted, victor sensing that the mayor was about to say something interrupted with a calm but sterning voice, "No more talk, leave!"

And he left. He knew his Limits, if a mage says leave then you leave without question.

Lundy headed on to his home office. He was in a foul mood. He has always been a prideful person not content on being just an average mayor for a small town, no. He had dreams as vast as the seas and skies.

At this moment, he sat at his seat and caressed a particular jade slip. As big as his dreams were, the same could be said for the sacrifice he was willing to make. He sighed as he placed the jade slip at a secret drawer.

"If all goes as intended, then I can get out of this godawful town. I Lundy, deserve more than to be a footnote in the history books. With the plans all underway, then surely I can have all the power, mmh but none of the glory. It can't be helped sacrifices have to be made for my greater good." He gave a small chuckle as he envisioned his bright future.

Totally unaware that Victor had witnessed and heard what he said. He noticed the jade slip was a sending device, primarily used by well-off folks to communicate with each other.

Now he could've have stopped the mayor here and now, but why should he? It wasn't in his nature to be doing charity for mortals. His whole life he has been ostracized and looked down upon save to say he only cared about himself most if not all mages only cared about their advancements in life, not for wealth but for power.

As long as the mayor did not interfere with his plans, he wouldn't care what he did to this town or himself, besides with a flick of a finger he could end his life. The danger level was completely not up to par with his standards.

At this moment Victor had completed his sumptuous meal. He stood up and grabbed his magical staff. It is important to note that not all mages use magic staffs. In most cases only mages with weak magical talent need a crutch in form of a staff to make up for their mediocre ability to manipulate mana.

However, in some cases there are magic staffs that allow for an increment in the success rate of performing a high-leveled spells. This in turn implies that the magic staff itself is of a unique grade, but these types of staff are hard to find in the market.

Victor stared at his magic staff with nostalgia in his eyes. It had accompanied him for a particularly long time and had formed a unique connection between the two of them. His eyes revealed a tinge of resolve as his previous nostalgic feelings seemed to fade in the air.

He walked to his assigned room. It was well decorated, a bit shabby for a mage of his caliber but he wasn't one to be picky about material things. He pulled a chair over at his study desk, once he got comfortable, he pulled the candle at the desk a little closer too and placed a pouch on top of the desk.

He raised his hands and performed a spell sign with his two fingers. Suddenly twelve smooth stones flew out from the pouch and seemingly arranged themselves in a loose circle. Each stone bore a unique etching, its symbol intricate and ancient, seeming to shimmer faintly under the flickering light.

He reached out, his fingers brushing over the stones, and closed his eyes. The room fell into silence, save for the faint crackle of the candle's flame. Victor's breathing slowed, deep and steady, as he let the weight of the moment settle over him. The stones carried a subtle vibration beneath his fingertips, a vibration so faint it was almost imagined, yet it resonated somewhere deep within him.

One by one, he picked up the stones, holding each between his hands as if cradling something fragile and ancient. They felt alive, their energy shifting slightly with his touch, like ripples across still water. He let his mind empty, surrendering to the pull of the stones, allowing them to guide him.

As he placed the stones back on the cloth in no particular order, Victor's eyes opened, their sharp clarity softened with wonder. The symbols faced him, some upright, others skewed, as if they had fallen into place of their own accord. They formed no pattern he recognized, yet there was a coherence to them that tugged at the edges of his understanding.

His hand hovered over one stone etched with a swirling spiral, the symbol of change. Another bore the mark of a tree, its branches stretching high and roots buried deep—the connection between the seen and unseen. He traced the delicate lines of a third stone, its shape uneven but solid, etched with a tiny flame.

Victor at this moment didn't think in words but in impressions. For a moment, he sat motionless, his gaze fixed on the stones. He had gleaned at a possible future. His mind seemingly calm as though he knew the very secrets of the universe but they failed to move him.

"So it was going to be like that." He began as he released a short sigh, "Looks Like I have no other option but to employ that method. This time should be appropriate, mmh I should probably use the magic conduit too just for added effects."

He stood up and went for the window, his tall frame outlined by the faint silver glow that spilled into the room. The moon hung high above the town, round and brilliant, its light casting long shadows across the uneven wooden floor. It seemed close enough to touch, yet impossibly distant, like a silent witness to his thoughts.

His eyes, sharp and unyielding, were fixed on the glowing orb. There was no softness in his gaze, no idle wonder—only a steady, burning resolve. The lines of his face were etched in determination, the faint flicker of the candle behind him unable to soften the sharp edge of his expression.

The night was still, the world outside quiet save for the occasional whisper of wind against the shutters. But within Victor, a storm churned. Decisions had been made, and paths chosen. Whatever happened the next day he could not be blamed.

His figure suddenly started to hover in the air. He permeated and passed through the window and flew into the night sky. His destination unknown, but his plans underway.

****

Victor stood in the clearing, the moon light catching the faint etchings of the formation carved into the rocky ground.

The pattern spread outward in concentric circles; each ring filled with intricate, angular symbols that seemed to pulse faintly with a soft, golden glow.

Smaller, interlocking sigils branched out from the circles, connecting them like veins carrying mana through a living system. At the center of the formation, where Victor had planted his staff, a large, triangular rune radiated with power, its edges lined with smaller, jagged runes that crackled with faint sparks of energy.

Victor crouched and pressed his palm against the outermost circle. "Channeling Circuit," he muttered. His fingers moved through the air, forming deliberate, practiced signs with a fluidity that spoke of years of training. Each completed gesture sent a wave of energy through the formation, causing the symbols to vibrate and shift, their light growing more intense.

The formations responded, their glow rising in waves, as if inhaling mana from the atmosphere. The golden light mixed with streaks of deep azure, forming a dazzling, almost divine aura that bathed the clearing.

"This should hold," Victor said under his breath, his eyes scanning the formation. The outermost layer of the formation was a defensive barrier, designed to block all outward escape.

The middle layer, a binding layer, would slow and restrict his opponent's movements. But the core—the triangular rune—was the most dangerous. It was a conduit for concentrated energy, capable of unleashing devastating attacks if triggered.

Victor straightened, his hand gripping his staff tightly. He began another series of spell signs, his movements precise and deliberate. Each sign left a faint, glowing imprint in the air, which floated briefly before dissolving and merging with the formation below.

"Seal of Confinement, activate!" Victor intoned. The outer circle flared to life, a translucent golden barrier rising up like a dome over the entire area. The faint outline of spell marks shimmered along its surface, forming a glowing web of layered magic. The web of magic too disappeared seemingly blending in with the natural environment.

'There, with this I shall have the upper hand....' he thought as he flew away back to the mansion.