Blade Over Magic

Ben

Xander’s expression also became solemn. That was indeed something he’d been wondering about ever since Samuel mentioned it. He guessed it was either related to the Hell Gates, a war, or something equally devastating, but he was never able to figure out what truly.

”Yeah, he has, but I have no clue what it could be.” Hearing this, the princess nodded.

”That’s fair.” She hesitated slightly, then she sighed.

”If I’m being completely honest... I don’t completely know either.” Xander blinked, but she continued.

”In reality, I don’t think anyone really knows what it is or what it could be. It’s just that... fate appears to be converging in a certain direction. Not just some of it, a great deal of it. My ability to perceive the tapestry isn’t perfect, but anyone sensitive enough to the underlying weavings should have noticed this truth as well.” Her expression turned serious.

”All I do know is that as we get closer to what this thing is, more and more events will begin to occur. The Hell Gate at Landor was just the beginning. Certain things will start happening, and I suspect beings beyond our comprehension will start entering the fray as well. Like Samuel said, it’s going to get hectic. But not even he knows the specifics, only that he should prepare as best as he can, which is what he’s been doing. And I’m doing the same as well.” She took a deep breath.

”I have no interest in the throne. I am not acting under the orders of my father or anyone else. Everything I’m doing are my own preparations for whatever this massive event could be. Samuel and I... we are collaborators in this, and our goals aligned, which is why we are working together, and he also agrees that perhaps transmigrators will play a key part in whatever is to come. You are an example. You have only been in this world for a few months, yet you’ve already caused an uproar on multiple occasions, and your existence threatens to upend systems that have been in place for centuries. This is my second goal in telling you all of this.” She slowly opened her eyes, and Xander tensed.

However, there was no explosion of brilliance. The surrounding space did not tremble. No, when he looked into her eyes, all her saw were dull gray pupils. She was... well and truly blind, yet he act of opening her eyes seemed to be of great significance to her as, at this moment, she seemed to stare straight at him.

”I desire not to be helpless in this coming disaster, and I desire to help those who are helpless. That is my second desire.” Xander fell silent for a while. He read her intent lines, and she was completely honest.

A part of him suspected that she wasn’t being completely honest. That similar to Samuel, she could interfere with the Myriad Paths to an extent, and what he could see was only what she wanted him to see...

And yet call it a gut feeling, but he somehow knew that she wasn’t lying. Maybe it was the way she behaved or how she spoke. But he just... knew.

He made a mental note to ascertain what that strange instinct was, and he spoke.

”If what you’re saying is true, then I need to know who exactly I’m working with. You have quite a bit of information on me, but i have next to nothing on you. I don’t know just how much influence you carry. And I don’t know the state of this second transmigrator you say is under you. For all I know, you might have brainwashed them into agreeing with you.” The princess hummed.

”That’s fair, I expected as much.” She closed her eyes back, her seriousness fading a bit as her eyes closed once again.

She took out that amulet from before and rubbed her thumb across its surface.

The moment she did, a figure appeared in the booth with them. Xander’s pupils shrunk when he saw who it was.

It was a male wearing a white robe that obscured his face. The same figure as the one who was supposed to be behind the King below at the moment!

Xander’s hand subconsciously gripped Abscinde, but then a shocking scene played out.

This man... actually kneeled in the direction of the princess!

”Princess!” His deep voice sounded in the booth, devoid of the authority he used.

Xander’s jaw went slack.

He looked at this scene, then out of the booth towards where the king was, and sure enough, the same hooded figure stood dutifully behind the King with Archmage Irene.

Then he looked back, and the scene of him kneeling in front of the princess remained.

Xander’s brain went blank.

Just... what the hell was happening?

”Please rise, sir Finn.” She said with a calm smile, and the figure, Archmage Finn. Also known as the Runic Mage, stood at her words.

Obedience!

From an Archmage!

To the youngest princess!!!

Xander felt his worldview shatter.

The princess sensed his utter bewilderment and chuckled.

”Hm, how is this for information about me?” She teased, and Xander just looked at her, then back at Archmage Finn, then back at her.

He asked in a hoarse voice.

”Is... Is he the second...?” He trailed off, but the princess shook her head.

”Goodness no. But I can see why you’d think that way.” She faced Finn and gestured to him

”You can bring him here.” Hearing this, the Archmage simply nodded and held up is palm.

Xander watched as a collection of runes he’d never seen before formed a symbol above his palm. His expression turned focused as he stared at the symbol.

Archmage Finn... he was one of the more mysterious Archmages within the kingdom, and no one really knew much about what he could do besides what his title implied, and that was runes.

Runes were something everyone knew about and were incorporated deeply in the world. They played a crucial role in many things, and they were one of the foundational aspect one needed to learn when embarking on the path of magic.

So what exactly could someone with the distinction of Archmage, whose abilities were focused on that area, do?

Xander saw as from within the symbol, a hole appeared, but it wasn’t... a portal. At least, not in the conventional sense.

’.. A pocket space?’ That’s what it looked like, and Xander wondered how there was a pocket space inside a pocket space as from inside, a figure stepped out.

He was small. Pretty small, actually. Xander was taken aback by how young he was. He shouldn’t have been any older than thirteen.

His skin was pale, similar to Curtis, and he had matte black hair, but his eyes were a deep crimson, and Xander suddenly had the feeling that he was a vampire. His face still had some baby fat, and it held no expression, but his eyes were bright and curious.

As soon as he stepped out, he and Xander looked gazes, and something seemed to... click.

”You’re...” The boy started, his voice soft and curious.

”... from Earth.” Xander finished, and they both nodded in unison.

The princess listened with a wide smile as Archmage Finn watched this scene silently. His expression hidden by his hood.

”... How old are you?” Xander asked, and the boy hesitated before saying.

”13. But if you’re asking of my age before I came here, I was 14. What... about you?” He asked, and Xander rubbed his chin.

”17 here. I was 23 before I came here.” The boy nodded slightly, and Xander stared at him closely as...

’That’s interesting.’ He was currently staring at him using Myriad Paths, and he could indeed see the boy’s Paths...

But that’s not all he saw.

He could see more... Paths, if he could even call them that, extending from directions Xander couldn’t see, and they moved to intertwine with the boy’s own paths. They were definitely external... but they didn’t seem to be controlling his paths. If anything, it almost looked as though his paths were... borrowing?

Xander gave the boy a look over.

He was also inspecting Xander, and he saw as the boy seemed to use his fingernails to trim his other fingernails. At the same time, the way he stood, his knees were locked. It reminded Xander of something.

”You’re hypermobile... do you have ADHD?” The boy blinked, then his eyes shone as he stood straighter, hands going to his back.

”How did you know?” Xander saw as his intent lines became far more focused. Almost exaggeratedly so. Almost like... hyperfocus.

”... It was obvious in hindsight. What’s your name?” Xander found himself smiling.

”Ben. My name is Ben.” The boy, Ben, answered, and Xander sighed.

He hadn’t expected the other transmigrator to be a child. He found it a bit... tragic. That meant he died when he was 14, and the original owner of the body he was in was 13 when he died.

Xander took a breath, then he asked.

”What year was it when you transmigrated? On earth, that is.” Ben, then he tilted his head.

”2017.” Xander blinked, then frowned.

That wasn’t right. Xander died in 2025.

’Huh, now that I think about it, the founder of Solvaren appeared 1,600 years ago. Ben in 2017, and me in 2025. Does that mean time isn’t linear? I arrived a few months ago, and judging by what Ben said, it shouldn’t have been more than a year since his transmigration either. But then the founder appeared roughly 1,600 years ago. Also, she mentioned that souls that resonate to even facilitate transmigration are rare, yet there are three within the same era. So the fact that there are three active transmigrators at current is already very odd... Is it truly a coincidence?’ Xander’s eyes narrowed as the princess spoke.

”I have a guess of what you’re thinking about. But first, I think you will want to speak with Ben a bit more.” The princess hummed.

”He’s definitely... interesting.” Xander blinked and looked back at Ben who was once again fidgeting idly with his fingers, his eyes staring into nothing until he was addressed once more.

”... Alright.” Xander smiled at him and gestured to one of the chairs. He hadn’t once removed his attention from Archmage Finn, deciding that either the him here or the one behind the King was a clone. Or maybe both.

”Take a seat, Ben. We have lots to talk about.”