Immortal Creed

The morning sun cast shadows over the rolling hills as Victor, Noir, and Joe flew steadily toward Fervonia's capital. The mana ring vibrated faintly, keeping the two boys aloft as Victor led the way. Joe, ever curious, broke the silence.

"Sir Immortal, how much longer until we reach the capital?" he asked, his voice tinged with both excitement and nervousness.

Victor glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm but distant. "We're still a few hours away."

Noir spoke up, his tone more curious than wary. "Why didn't anyone mention you'd be conducting the magic assessment? Isn't that usually done by the kingdom-appointed mages?"

Victor's grip on his staff tightened slightly, though his voice remained steady. "I had the authority to conduct it. That's all you need to know."

Joe exchanged a glance with Noir, but before they could ask further, Victor turned to them, his eyes glowing faintly as he muttered, "Somnus."

Both boys slumped mid-air, the mana ring adjusting to keep them suspended as they drifted into a deep sleep. Victor sighed and whispered to himself, "Too many questions."

As they neared a rocky outcrop surrounded by sparse woods, Victor slowed, his staff glowing softly as he surveyed the area. This was the spot. He had spent the previous night placing the formations, ensuring they were ready for what was to come.

'Now all I have to do is wait. For my plans to be successful everything must be perfect, I need zero miscalculation…' he thought as he sensed some movement using his magic sense. He prepared himself and adjusted his state of mind.

The air grew tense, charged with an almost imperceptible energy. Then, from the shadows of the trees, Malachi emerged.

He was tall, with sharp features and a commanding presence that betrayed his strength he wore black robes and had blue almost violet hair. Unlike Victor, he carried no staff, his power flowing freely through his hands.

"Victor," Malachi said, his voice calm but laced with accusation. "You've been busy, haven't you? Coming into my home to take the assessment rights, unfortunately for you I have a curious personality, and I sensed something was up.

During the assessment I hid my presence and witnessed the entire thing. Who would have thought that one of the boys you found had the founding circuits. What great fortune you stumbled upon, could it even be called your fortune.

You knew, didn't you? You had to have known beforehand; the whole situation was way too coincidental. Which means you stole my chance at fame and glory, and I want it back. We don't have to fight afterall you are pretty weak." Malachi said with a wide grin plastered on his face as he flailed his arms up and about.

Victor met his gaze evenly, his countenance calm and imposing. "Malachi, old friend, I said I would owe you one are you not contended with that? Must you be greedy for my things. I found that mortal and now he's mine, don't blame me for your own foolishness." Victor countered with his arms behind his back and his staff rooted to the ground beside him.

'Why is he so calm, he should know the situation he is in….' Malachi couldn't shake the feeling that something might be wrong.

"So you want to be the one to guide him?" Malachi scoffed. "You want to claim the glory for discovering a founding circuit. Do you think I don't see through your scheme?"

'Oh Malachi you've always been smart, but your lack of ambition will be your undoing. Why would I want to guide an insignificant brat with blessings he clearly does not deserve. The heaven's granted me an opportunity instead of guiding I'll be the one to be guided instead by the Archmages in the central continent…' Victor thought inwardly, his expressions on the outside not giving away his inner conflicts.

Victor raised his staff slightly, the crystal at its tip glowing brighter. "This doesn't have to end in violence. Turn back, Malachi. Let this go."

But Malachi's eyes burned with greed and betrayal. "Let it go? You mean let you steal what's rightfully mine?" His hands crackled with energy as he stepped forward. "No, Victor. You've gone too far."

Without another word, Malachi raised his fingers and formed a spell sign, an intricate magic circle formed in front of him releasing a burst of searing energy. "Arcane Lance!"

Victor spun his staff, summoning a shimmering barrier just in time. "Shield wall!" The impact sent a shockwave of crackling lightning rippling through the air, shaking the trees around them.

Victor retaliated, slamming the butt of his staff into the ground. "Binding Roots!" a magic circle appeared on the ground and glowing vines erupted from the earth, snaking toward Malachi, but he leapt into the air, dodging them with ease.

"Is that all you've got, Victor? You'll need a lot more than basic spells to defeat me" Malachi taunted, firing a volley of bright blue projectiles.

Victor deflected them with a sweep of his staff, countering with a wave of fire. "Infernal Wave!" Flames roared toward Malachi, who dissipated them with a blast of wind.

The two mages exchanged blows, their spells colliding with deafening force. The formations Victor had prepared began to activate, glowing runes surrounding the battlefield and forcing Malachi into a smaller area.

Malachi's eyes narrowed. "Traps, Victor? How cowardly of you."

Victor didn't respond. Instead, he lifted his staff and pressed it into the central rune, the crystal flaring with brilliant light.

The triangular core reacted, sending beams of energy through the connecting sigils. The entire formation now roared with raw power, the symbols shifting and rotating like gears in an enormous, magical machine.

Malachi smirked, stepping forward confidently. "You think this fancy light show will stop me?" He raised his hand, forming his own spell signs in rapid succession. "Windbreaker Surge!"

The gale-force winds that erupted from Malachi's hand collided with the golden dome, but the barrier held firm. The impact sent ripples across its surface, but the formation's glow only intensified.

 Victor finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Malachi, this isn't a fight you can win. This formation isn't just defensive—it's designed to adapt. Every spell you throw at it only makes it stronger."

Malachi's smirk faded, replaced by a scowl. "You always were the cautious one, Victor. But you forget—raw power breaks all chains!" He clapped his hands together, the air around him distorting as he unleashed another spell. "Heaven-Splitting Blade!"

A crescent-shaped wave of pure energy tore through the air, slamming into the central rune. For a moment, the formation dimmed, but then the triangular rune absorbed the attack, its glow becoming an almost blinding white.

Victor let out a slow breath, lifting his staff high. "Now, let's see how well you handle the retaliation." He slammed the staff down, and the central rune flared. Three pillars of energy erupted from the ground around Malachi, converging on his position.

The older mage's eyes widened as he leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the beams. He landed heavily, his breathing uneven as he eyed the glowing formation with new wariness.

"This formation isn't just a trap, Malachi," Victor said, his tone carrying an edge. "It's a battlefield, and I control every inch of it. You taught me many things, but you forgot the first rule of magic—control the battlefield, and you control the fight."

Victor stepped closer, his staff glowing with one final spell. "This is your last chance, Malachi. Stand down."

But Malachi roared in defiance, charging forward with raw energy crackling in his hands.

Victor sighed, raising his staff high. "Heaven's Chains." Golden light descended, binding Malachi in radiant chains that sapped his strength and pinned him to the ground.

Malachi struggled, but it was no use. Victor approached, looking down at his former friend with a mixture of pity and resolve. "Greed blinds even the strongest among us. In the end, ambition without wisdom is like a sword with no hilt—it cuts both ways."

"Y-you won't get away with this, the other mages will get suspicious. The magical inquisition authority will…" Before he could even finish what he was saying the chains binding him sucked his life source aging him rapidly and turned him into dust.

Victor raised his fingers a trace of mana emerged and grabbed a translucent glowing orb from Malachi. The orb contained a mini version of Malachi. Yes, it was his soul, without hesitation he crushed it.

He looked at the battlefield one more time and cast a spell that erased all traces of the battle. He then grabbed the boys and left, this time surely making it at his destination without a hitch.