The First Cultivator

The night was dark. That was perfect as far as Hamal was concerned. It matched his mood. Those filthy mages had killed Toren. He would make sure they paid. Rat-kin never forgave a crime against the family. Blood could only be answered with blood. Tonight, plenty would be spilled. He just wished he had a more active role to play. At least he would have some action. He crept silently onward.

Before him was the 'bowl,' as the mages had called it. A massive pit layered with thick stone, imprisoning every kin taken from the city. At least every kin that was caught. There had to be over ten thousand. However, as impressive as the area was, the security wasn't. Typical mages. Achieve a remarkable feat in magic, only to fail to provide basic needs. Then again, the depth and scale of the bowl was security all by itself. That didn't include the mages that patrolled the perimeter. The mages kept some distance apart, each holding mage lights as they went. The effect was that a small, glowing ring appeared to rotate around the perimeter as the mages made their rounds.

A glance at the far side, near the city, revealed a newly raised stone structure. It was a simple platform covered in tents and other temporary structures. It had to have been created by a team of geomancers. A ramp leading down to ground level was in the middle of the platform. That was going to be trouble. It gave a high view of the surrounding land, and mages could safely cast spells from there.

Nothing he could do about it. Hamal's job was simple. He and his family would take out three consecutive mages. Then, magical lanterns were used to simulate the light spells, taking the mage's place in the patrol. The bowl's circumference was so large that each mage could only be seen as a shadowy figure and an indistinct light.

Other rat-kin would bring ladders and ropes to begin evacuating kin. This was the most significant debate they had. Fatania was against any further assistance to the kin beyond getting them out. Hamal and the others had reluctantly agreed. If the kin went to the cave, not only would their resources run out, but they would also make a trail that any idiot, even a mage, could follow. No. The kin would scatter to the small villages around Deepmere. Perhaps flee the entire area. It was the best they could do for now. If they were lucky, they could stay free. It was a chance, which was far better than what they had now. This was also an opportunity to strike back at the mages. The kin had to show the mages they wouldn't surrender. Hamal's job was simple. Find their friends and get them out. It was nepotism. Hamal knew that. He also knew he didn't care. He needed this. Azura needed this.

Hamal continued to creep closer, getting right behind the first wandering mage, his mage light held high. This would be the tricky part. One mistake, and he would be dead. Silently, he timed his steps to match the mages, drawing closer with each footfall. Long seconds passed as Hamal followed the unaware mage, who yawned as he lazily patrolled. Within reach, Hamal pulled a darkened blade from its sheath. Hamal lunged. His motions were practiced and smooth. The blade tip effortlessly drove through the base of the mage's skull into the brain. Death was instantaneous. So was the extinction of the mage light. Quickly, he powered on his magical lantern. A steady light shone as he continued on the path of the dead mage. Ahead, he saw a mage light wink out for a few seconds before being replaced. Another dead. Turning toward the nearby forest. Hamal opened and shut the shutters on his light several times in the prearranged signal. A dozen rat-kin raced from the woods, all carrying ladders. That was when everything went wrong.

***

Ulvandia walked above the bowl, gleefully bouncing. So many toys to choose from! Which should she take? Oh, there was a kin with curled horns and fluffy fur. Some type of sheep or goat-kin? She bet his pelt would be soft. Would it tan like normal animals? Only one way to find out. Oh! There was a female fox-kin! So cute! She would have to get that one. That one would bleed beautifully. Perhaps the fluffy tail would make a fine memento after Ulvandia was done playing with her. She was so excited!

Her excitement was so consuming that she almost missed it. A distant light went out only to come back a few seconds later. Perhaps it was nothing. She doubted the humans noticed anything. As an elf, she had far superior vision. It could be something simple. A mage might have stumbled, losing the spell briefly. Ulvandia didn't believe in coincidences. She shifted her sight entirely to the magical spectrum. She couldn't see normal light in this state, but that mattered little. The far figures instantly became illuminated. Those were no mages. Their pools were dim, unawakened. If that wasn't enough, she saw an increase in ambient mana. The mana leaking from a dead mage. What fun!

"Oh, Calvore," she called in a sing-song voice. The commander of Dageth's forces stepped forward. He was in his mid-thirties with short-cut aqua hair and a trim goatee.

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"Yes, lady Ulvandia?"

"Just call me Ulvandia."

"Yes, Ulvandia. How may I assist you? Did you want to inspect some of the kin again?"

She pressed her finger to her lips, thinking. She did want to, but the dead mages out there would probably be more entertaining.

"Later. I just wanted to inform you that a few of your mages are dead. Some imposters took their place. You might want to do something about it."

Calvore just looked at her. She had said it in such an uncaring tone that the words didn't register with him for a moment. When they did, he stiffened.

"You sure?"

"I can see it right now with mage sight. Perhaps you should look as well." Ulvandia said sweetly. She knew full well that humans couldn't use mage sight. Their eyes were not advanced enough to see the flows of magic. They could feel it well enough, but the sight was the exclusive use of the elves. One of the many reasons they were the superior magical race.

Calvore grimaced at the implied insult.

"DAYLIGHT!" Calvore chanted, and a sphere of light appeared far above the bowl, illuminating all sides. Calvore couldn't make out the individuals. They were too far away, but the ladders lowered into the bowl were a different story. So were the climbing kin climbing them.

"Escape!" He called, and his assistant sounded the alarm. Immediately, he began buffing himself.

"HASTE!"

"STEEL SKIN!"

"EAGLE SIGHT!"

Ulvandia smiled. This was going to be fun. Perhaps she could collect a few kin pelts tonight after all. Lazily, she began to chant.

"STEEL BODY."

"GREATER HASTE."

"This should prove entertaining," Ulvandia said as three mages closest to the first null started running in that direction. Their magic was easy to see despite the distance, which was why she was the first to notice them go out. Ulvandia frowned. What the…

How did that happen? There is no magic signature from an attacker. There was nothing. THERE IS NOTHING! The ambient mana was swirling at the point at which the mages died, disappearing. WHAT BLASHEMY IS THIS!?

"Who's that?" Calvore asked. Then, his tone rose several decibels. "She killed my mages! How!?"

"Who's what? I don't see anything!" Ulvandia yelled, her calm shattered.

"How can't you see her? She's right there!"

Ulvandia adjusted her sight to include the visible spectrum. She lost some magical sensitivity, but it allowed her to see both. Now she could see the figure.

A girl stood there. No, a teenage kin. A half cat-kin with blue hair and fur. At her feet were three dead mages, their mana drifting into the kin and vanishing.

"Where did she come from?!" Ulvandia cried.

"She just appeared out of nowhere. Probably some teleportation magic!" Calvore growled.

Ulvandia couldn't help but admire the kin. She was beautiful as she stood above the dead mages, her fists dripping blood. Even as she lusted after the cat-kin, she felt fear for the first time in many years. While the unknown frightened humans, it absolutely terrified the elves. She would not let such a thing exist.

***

Azura stood above the dead mages. She had hoped they could have made further progress with the plan before she had to assume her role. Now, she was the bulwark. The longer she held, the more kin they saved. The kin were shouting in the bowl as they made a mad rush for the ladders. Azura tuned it out. She had to, as a group of nearly twenty mages approached. It was time to get to work.

Barriers rose as others cast spells at her. It was easy to dodge most of the spells at this range and swat away the others. She could have used her ki for her own barrier, but condensing it in her arms was more effective. The battle would be tough. Saving every bit of ki mattered. However, she needed to be up close. Azura moved in a blur. The mages shouted in alarm, but it was far too late. She was already among them.

A mage with vivid green hair started to turn toward her, only to meet Azura's fist, which shattered his head. Before the body even fell, a second was flying backward, his body broken from the force of Azura's next blow. Channeling her ki outward from her right arm, she made a four-foot blade composed of ki with a flowing edge. Limbs flew, and any mage without a barrier was instantly cut into pieces.

They had underestimated her and died for it. Those smart enough to stay behind protective domes were the only ones left. It didn't matter. She swung her ki blade at the nearest barrier as a mage sheltering behind the barrier launched a Force Bolt. With her free hand, she deflected the magic as her ki blade sheared through the barrier and the mage within. More spells hit her, but they weren't strong enough to penetrate her ki, which she had projected just outside her body like an aura. The next barrier stopped her ki blade. Four mages were inside. Three of them directed attack spells at her. The fourth wasn't attacking but instead seemed to be reinforcing the protections.

It was a good strategy. One proven over many wars. However, these mages weren't fighting other mages. They were fighting a cultivator. Good wasn't enough.

Azura abandoned her ki blade, it was draining too much ki, and gathered her full power. She unleashed everything in a single punch. The punch reinforced with ki shattered their flimsy protection. Once inside, the rest of the force was transmitted by a shockwave of ki. The mages were liquefied as they were thrown against their own protection, like eggs in a box that someone decided to shake violently. What was left of the mages fell when the barrier collapsed, oozing down the hill. The three remaining mages fled. She let them go.

"AZURA!" A cry came from below, followed by many more as the chant proliferated. She had no time to pay attention as more mages attacked, spells flying from many directions. Azura reinforced her ki while thickening the flowing ki around her arms. She battered aside any attack that was too close while working her way closer. She was an avalanche. The mages were just helpless saplings in her way.