The Magi's Society

Mevi awoke in a strange place, though not an unwelcome one. She found herself resting her head on the leg of her mighty Sentinel. The golden-shining armor remarkably smooth, and almost comforting to touch. The others were not to be seen, save for her Sentinel that stared up towards the trap door. Her companions must’ve ascended the ladder, and were possibly readying for their continued journey.

Removing herself from the embrace of the golden metal, Mevi lifted into a stretch before smiling at her Sentinel. The creature, as was usual, didn’t seem to have any obvious reactions. Its full helm blocking any sign that it was anything more than a clever automaton, but Mevi continued to choose to believe it was more than that. After giving her protector a smile and a thankful nod, she ascended the ladder with the Sentinel following soon after.

Mevi’s companions, like she had assumed, were gathered in the small ramshackle remains of the hutt which concealed the trap door. Hellion and Saerin were quietly chatting about different things trying to prove who was more impressive, killing hordes of beasts versus unlocking medical mysteries it seemed. When Mevi emerged from the hideaway, the stress and tension of yesterday’s events seemed to have fully evaporated for the most part. Hellion quickly approached demanding Mevi’s intervention, “Little lady! Tell Saer that me single-handedly wrestling a Grey-scaled Melvit is more impressive than her, ‘science’!”

Saerin quickly retorted, “Any meathead could wrestle a Melvit, you didn’t even know what the word ‘pathogen’ was a few minutes ago!”

“S’cuse, its a ‘Grey-scaled Melvit’, they’re bigger and tougher than any Melvit you seen!”

Mevi tried to back out of the conversation, the two of them resuming their spirited debate without any of her input. Ouapi watched with curiosity, but Zelkan was nowhere to be seen. Mevi tried to search the perimeter for her attendant, but there was no obvious trace. Ouapi took notice of Mevi’s search, assuming correct what she was looking for, “Your chief attendant went ahead to ensure there were no obstacles between us and our return trip. He left some time ago, promising to return around this time in fact.”

“Thank you…” Mevi replied, worry returning after recalling last night’s conversation.

Whatever worries Mevi had were soon proven needless, as Zelkan returned in short order to find Saerin and Hellion already moving onto a new subject to be loud about. Entering from the dark shadows of the ruins around them, Zelkan stepped loudly to make his presence known. Though the Sentinel had been looking in his direction for a few minutes now already. With an exasperated sigh, Zelkan quickly reigned in the two, “If the both of you were any louder, someone would be able to hear you all the way back to the Lord Magi’s palace.”

Hellion smiled mischievously, “Welcome back kin!”

Zelkan shot Hellion a glare, but Hellion returned it with a devious look. Mevi could tell something had happened or had been spoken between them, but couldn’t guess what. Zelkan decided to ignore the man despite his small taunt. Looking to Mevi and giving her a bow, Zelkan reported, “My lady. I am glad you seemed to sleep well. I spent the last few hours traveling ahead to ensure our path would be the most direct and safe route. I am prepared to guide you whenever you are ready.”

“Thank you Zelkan, I appreciate your expertise.” Mevi smiled, hoping her words came off earnestly.

Hellion suddenly interjected, “Little lady, if you need me I could lead just as well. I aint coddled from surface luxuries. And when we get to the city, I can introduce some good folk to help us along too.”

Hesitantly Mevi replied, “Thank you Hellion. When we get closer we might need your knowledge.”

“Unlikely…” Zelkan huffed.

Mevi could almost feel the tension of the two’s apparent rivalry like a foggy heat. At some point something happened between them, and as the retinue began their travel Hellion often tried to show his own expertise in whatever ways possible. Pointing out old history, showing remarkable knowledge of material and mineral formations, explaining sounds by what creature they belonged to, and a string of other information that occupied their walk. Mevi was quietly fascinated by the amount of detailed information Hellion possessed, and the ability to spin every piece into some story relating to how and when he learned it. While Zelkan was obviously annoyed, he didn’t say much beyond showing his keen ability to navigate and avoid potential blockages and traverse over the rough terrain. The two tried to outdo each other, one used words while the other used quiet action. Mevi didn’t understand why they seemed to fight for superiority, but it passed the time quickly as they traveled.

It only took a few hours to slowly reach the first signs of living civilization again, and before long the retinue were positioning themselves protectively around Mevi as they walked through progressively denser crowds. As they traveled up the terraced streets and walkways through the Undercity, they brought much more attention to themselves this time around than they had before. Their local furs and clothes were gone, replaced by partially ragged white robes that stood out. Surprisingly people seemed to ignore the Sentinel, most of its armor having been removed and replaced by the mesh-like bodysuit with only singular large plates here and there that still gleamed with golden sheen. It almost fit in, looking like the armored and grizzled warriors and travelers that frequented the Undercity. Hellion, to no one’s surprise, seemed in his element, leading the retinue around and past the Undercity with more expertise than Zelkan, which Zelkan begrudgingly conceded.

It didn’t take as long to ascend the terraced cityscape than it had taken them to descend it initially, even with eyes drawn to their white robes Hellion snuck or talked their way through the city flawlessly. With help from Zelkan, Hellion found the mouth of the opening that would bring them towards the Legion defense. When Hellion realized where they were headed he whistled, saying, “Its’a shame.” Without further explanation.

“What are you babbling about now?” Demanded Zelkan.

“This place is Mur scavenger territory. If your little Legion is ‘ere, they prolly get raided a lot. Mur-folk aren’t nice like us normal types. Crazy too.”

“The Captain did mention raids and attacks…” Mevi said.

“That’ll be the Mur, crazy lot they are. Not ‘fraid of death neither.”

“Regardless, we must press on. We must return to carry out our Lady’s task to perfection.” Zelkan said confidently, an attempt to rouse spirits with his dedication.

Hellion chuckled, “Haha, sure, ‘to perfection’.”

Zelkan ignored the jab, and the retinue continued forward. Mevi led the way into the dark metal mouth, spiked rocky formations producing an ominous appearance as they approached. Everyone was on their highest guard, unsure what to expect after recalling the strange creatures they barely managed to avoid when they first set out, and now anticipating some crazed scavenger to jump out and ambush them at any moment on top of that.

The metal cavern was remarkably quiet. Where moisture would drip and echo the sounds of stillness, now there seemed to be less than nothing. Almost like a purposeful quiet had taken hold over the darkness. The travel through the cavern stretched extremely long, the quiet tension elongating every moment to a lifetime. To everyone’s surprise, and relief, the strange creatures that had tried to ambush them from the ceiling were either gone or remarkably passive.

As the group turned around the massive bend in the stretching cavern, an incredible explosive blast echoed in such power that it shook the ground. Around the bend were tall pillars holding the metal roof above, and each cast long shadows when blasts of light illuminated them and the surroundings with flashes like lightning strikes. Before them, in the open span, was the Legion barracks besieged by a horde of screaming scavengers.

What were clearly humanoids, scavengers, and denizens of the Undercity swarmed outside the Legion barracks. The walls held, and barrages of multicolored fire illuminated the area coming from the ramparts. The scavenger attack encircled the defenders, firing their own crude weaponry in an attempt to hit the well-hidden defenders along the wall. Their jeers and yells echoed as far out as where Mevi and her companions stood as a thunderous choir. The Sentinel was already readying for a potential fight, but without its weapons the Sentinel assumed an almost feral stance as if ready to rip and tear enemies with its bare hands.

Mevi’s heart went out to the defenders, but at the same time she couldn’t see a way to get safely into their defenses without letting a large number of scavengers in with them. Then she remembered the item the Legion captain had given her. Feeling around her hidden pockets, she found the small device, a metallic cylinder that fit snugly in her hand. She hadn’t really thought what it was for, but turned to Zelkan and showed him the object, “The captain gave me this before we left. He said to use it to call for him, do you know what it is?”

Zelkan took the item, looking it over for only a moment, “Ah yes, this is a Legion flare. A crude instrument to shed light as a projectile travels through the air, making an easy method to identify where someone was.”

“The captain said it would call him to us, should we use it? And how would we even activate it?”

“Its use is simple enough, the heat from your skin would be enough to activate it if you squeeze it tightly or give it a hard shake. If we should use it however, is up to you my lady. I don’t know the captain’s plan, but he must have something in mind.”

Mevi stared at the flare when Zelkan returned it to her, the small device apparently capable of lighting up the area and signal the captain where she was. Yet then she thought, should she? The Legion defenses were besieged, even if she activated the flare how would the Legion retrieve them? The threat of a breach seemed too dangerous to provoke, to her perspective the horde of scavengers just needed a moment of weakness to overwhelm the wounded defenders with sheer numbers.

As Mevi debated her course, she saw a behemoth of a humanoid charge from the shade of a nearby cavern pillar. The creature was easily as large as the Sentinel, and the Sentinel was more than twice Mevi’s height. The thing charged forward, being shot at by the surprised defenders, but its thick hide and large body shrugged of the attempts to stop it. The creature rammed into the front gate, an array of blasts and small explosions going off as automated traps attempted to stop it further. Charred and bleeding, the large figure began wailing at the gates. The creature was so close to the gate, only a few positions were close enough to attempt to fire their weapons at it. When one legionnaire ran to intercept it, positioning their weapon square at the creature, the behemoth leapt up high enough to grasp the edge of the wall. With one hand holding its weight to the wall, the other arm reached up and quickly grabbed the rifle of the legionnaire. Pulling the brave defender from the wall and into the dugout trench around the wall. Mevi wanted to yell, the soldier hitting the ground hard and left to defend himself against the monstrous humanoid.

Mevi acted before she processed what the smart action would be. Holding the Legion flare tightly, she pointed it forward towards the behemoth humanoid. Hoping that whatever light it produced would be enough to distract the behemoth before it descended upon the fallen legionnaire. Mevi and her retinue were easily half a kilometer away, but the flare pointed towards the behemoth suddenly shot out with only a tight squeeze. A bright white glow flew out at an incredible speed parallel to the metal ground. Brightening the cavern, illuminating the entire area for the brief moments it flew, the light shot forward and suddenly crashed into the body of the behemoth with remarkable accuracy. The incredible light buried itself into the flesh of the behemoth humanoid, and it burst into flames as the overpowering light tried to illuminate through its flesh where it was embedded. The creature flailed and writhed as the sudden attack set it alight both inside and out.

Mevi was startled by both the accuracy of her accidental attack, and the incredible heat that felt like it almost burnt her hand where she had held the flare. A call was yelled out from the scavenger’s trenches, and a small group of their attackers turned to rush towards where Mevi and her retinue were. The Sentinel was already prepared to defend against them, the creatures having such a decent distance to charge. Yet neither would engage their prospective target.

Suddenly the gates of the Legion barracks burst open. A booming yell echoed from the defenders, led by the tall captain Hez. His mighty armor burning bright with reflected fire from the still burning corpse of the behemoth. His soldiers raising weapons of all kinds high, and letting out a mighty shout, captain Hez charged forward with an escort following him into the fray.

Twenty Legionnaires followed their captain, sallying forth to fend off and destroy the attacking scavengers. Their true potential as warriors was shown as they engaged foolish scavenger riffraff in melee combat. As the Legionnaires charged out to carve a path, and also to give a distraction, Mevi was surprised by her companion’s initiative. Of all her companions, it was Hellion who grabbed her arm when the Legionnaires sallied forth, “We need to use this chance! Everyone run if you still want to reach that gate!” Hellion called as he ushered everyone forward.

Mevi’s retinue of companions raced forward to meet the Legionnaires who bravely struck out to push any scavengers they could away from the gate. Captain Hez himself charged the farthest forward, making about half the distance before he was waylaid by a group of tougher than normal scavengers. Mevi and her companions raced to meet him and his escort, closing the distance as quickly as their legs could carry them. Mevi spotted Hellion’s glare, as he pulled her forward, and realized he was watching the scavengers with an amount of hate she hadn’t noticed from before.

As Mevi ran to meet the brave escorts, a small group of crazed scavengers appeared almost out of nowhere. Yet the skilled perception and skills of Mevi’s Sentinel had already moved to engage and waylay them. The massive protector quickly dispatched the first scavenger, and moved to brawl with five others. The Sentinel’s hands were as much a deadly weapon as the rifle or halberd it once carried. Yet Mevi still worried with how unarmed her protector, and the rest of her retinue, were. Then she remembered something. Reaching into the lining of the white robe, and rifling through a hidden pocket, she produced the small sidearm that Zelkan had insisted she hold onto. Woefully unskilled in its usage, Mevi turned to the closest of her companions, and almost yelled to be heard over the din of loud combat, “Hellion! Can you use this?”

Turning, while still in mid run, Hellion grinned, “‘Course little lady!”

Without hesitation Hellion snatched the small weapon, and pointed it behind where their group had already run. Aiming towards the Sentinel, and still skillfully sprinting forward without tripping, Mevi couldn’t help but notice this was the second time Hellion had pointed a weapon at her protector. A burst of energetic fire exploded out of the small gun, the small darts of energy whizzing past and around Mevi’s sprinting companions. The first collided with a brutish scavenger clinging to the Sentinel’s waist, a second pierced the leg of one still running towards the fight, and a final dart impacted and tore apart the elbow of a scavenger raising a club to swing at the Sentinel. Two other darts flew past and disappeared, missing their targets. The confusion the shots caused in the attacking scavengers was enough for the Sentinel to rip through their small group, its movements noticeably slower and more sluggish than Mevi remembered in their encounter with the automatons. The Sentinel, despite whatever injuries it suffered, was easily able to catch up to the group just before they neared captain Hez.

As the distance was fully closed, Mevi and her companions ran up to the fearsome captain Hez mid-combat with a pair of large scavengers. The Legionnaire captain wielded a yellow-glowing sword that vibrates the air around it, creating many afterimages, in one hand. In the other captain Hez used a heavy-looking blaster that channeled red plasma through the semi-exposed tubing. With a quick strike, the vibrating blade cleanly cleaved a scavenger in half, and in the same movement he strode forward through the haze of red mist and fired the powerful plasma gun to scorch the flesh of the scavenger behind his first victim. Turning to face Mevi, the captain looked alert and alive, the dread and quiet countenance was gone and Hez bellowed, “My lady! We fight for you! Follow me through the fray!”

A quick nod was all Mevi could manage as she breathed heavily from the fast running and excitement that exploded around her. Following the captain, who cleaved and barreled over scavengers that snuck through his escorts, the group pressed forward back to the Legionnaire defenses. As the group passed the escorting Legionnaires, they fell in line with their captain once they dispatched their foes. Like a collapsing mountain’s rage, the wedge formation of the Legionnaires collapsed to regroup with the tip of their spear. Destroying their enemies with such efficiency and fury that the scavengers were already fleeing from their initial reactionary attack on the open gate. A bloody swath was cut back towards the Legionnaire gate, which all the while stood wide open, taunting the attacking scavengers who still couldn’t pierce the Legion defenses despite the door being opened for them.

When the last of the Legionnaires retreated back through the gate, the gate shut almost instantly. Mevi looked briefly around the courtyard and saw the soldier who had been pulled from the wall. The young man was safe, and was being tended to by another blood-splattered and exhausted looking Legionnaire. Mevi let out a sigh of relief, she hadn’t anticipated the flare device launching out a projectile like it did and especially didn’t think it would so badly wound the large attacker, but she was glad she had accidentally saved the Legionnaire from a potentially violent fate.

As Mevi’s retinue was finally able to rest, they each took moments to catch their breath. Everyone except Hellion at least. Hellion, wielding the small sidearm Mevi had given him, climbed up the walls and hid behind the lip. Staring over the side as if assessing the situation, he occasionally braved standing up partially to shoot back at the still attacking remnants of the scavenger horde. Hellion almost seemed… happy. A sort of satisfied confidence in himself, a confidence that this time seemed entirely honest and real. Captain Hez let loose his own heavy breaths, turning to bow to Mevi, “My lady, Apprentice. I am glad to see you returned so soon!” Looking up towards Hellion, as he naturally began coordinating with the other Legionnaires, Hez added, “And I see you brought a new addition to your retinue back with you. They’re a skilled fighter as well.”

Mevi caught her breath and tried to smile, “Yes! I am glad to have returned so soon. Our return trip was much expedited thanks to him.”

An explosion outside suddenly shook the ground. Captain Hez moved to protect and stabilize Mevi, but the Sentinel was ever ready to assist and much more quick to respond. Captain Hez looked towards the wall, a cloud of dust and metal flakes scattering over the wall and gently floating down like snow. “I must return to the fight, my lady!” Hez said, almost excited, “Your Sentinel may avail itself of our weapons, I see its equipment has been misplaced. I would appreciate whatever help you could give in our defense!”

Zelkan moved to support Mevi, and cover her from the drifting metal flakes as best he could, “Go. We will attend to our lady.” Zelkan said, nodding to the Sentinel.

The Sentinel seemed to think about whether it wanted to depart from Mevi, but another loud crash of exploding static from some electric weapon drew its attention to the wall. The mighty protector, Mevi’s Sentinel, flew into action to assist the defense. Zelkan tried to usher Mevi into one of the nearby fortified buildings, but she refused. Instead, Mevi approached the sole Legionnaire that was attending to the wounded, “Sir, I wish to assist you. Would you tell me what you need?”

Surprised, but not hesitating, the Legionnaire medic replied, “My lady! I could not ask you to help with such menial work!”

“I agree, my lady, we should return to the surface if anything.” Zelkan encouraged.

“We cannot leave the Legion to fight alone, Zelkan. I want to help.” Mevi replied, putting sternness in her words.

“My lady, I really must insist, this area is dangerous-”

“Zel, lets not be known as people who contradict a Magi’s Apprentice.” Saerin suddenly interrupted, “Besides, this is easy work compared to my lab experiments. I will show you how to help my Lady!” Saerin finished confidently.

Despite Zelkan’s complaints, and the Legionnaire medic’s trepidation, Saerin took up the effort to treat the wounded with Mevi. Searin displayed her real skill as a medical technician, flawlessly using the basic materials available to treat wounds and mend spirits. Mevi assisted Saerin throughout, giving comforting words and promises of recovery to the wounded soldiers when she wasn’t holding Saerin’s tools. The battle didn’t last much longer. The fury and zeal of the Legionnaires, supplemented by the unparalleled skill of the Sentinel, decimated the scavenger horde. Their initial charge out of the wall had already shaken the scavengers, who saw they couldn’t even win the fight when the Legion abandoned their defensive strategies. A swift victory came, announced by a mighty victory cry given out by the Legionnaire defenders when the scavengers routed and ran away from their siege.

Mevi and Saerin had spent the time helping the singular Legionnaire medic treat the wounded, mostly flesh wounds or the occasional broken bone. With the three of them working together, the wounded returned to the fight so quickly, bolstered in spirit and morale by their treatments, that by the last few minutes all their patients were patched and reentered into the fight. The Legion medic himself even departed to participate in the counterattack in the scavenger’s final push.

Yells and bellows of victory roared through the open cavern, echoing far and long. The Legionnaires celebrated their “saviors”, as captain Hez called Mevi and her retinue. Mevi wasn’t sure how to receive all the attention, but soon found herself being on the receiving end of proclamations of devotion, zealous declarations of loyalty, and a swarm of bright eyed adoration. Mevi didn’t know how to react, she didn’t feel like she did very much at all, but she smiled and personally accepted every soldier that wanted to thank her regardless. The Legion complex erupted into a prolonged celebration, taking out their finest stocks of synth-rations and giving free access to their singular food synthesizer to create drinks galore.

Despite his initial insistence that they should leave, Zelkan seemed happy. The shadow following him was pushed away for a time, and he carried himself with a noble stride again while he stood tall and proud next to his liege. Yet they couldn’t stay long with the Legion, Ouapi pointing out after about fifteen minutes after the victory, that they should return to prepare and rest for their departure for the planet. Mevi had almost forgotten her original task that this journey was a prerequisite for. While Mevi wanted to leave without disturbing the celebration, her departure was impossible to hide. Before they could escape back to the facility, captain Hez gathered all his Legionnaires that could stand and even some that were carried or propped up. Scarred, battered, but devout and proud of their service, they waited and watched for Mevi to do or say something. Mevi had unexpectedly found herself amidst some kind of ceremony, or that she was expected to give a speech before she left. Her companions stood by her, but offered no hint at what she should do or say, so she spoke honestly, “I will be truthful. You all do not have an easy life here, and I am certain I don’t even know half of what you go through. But the kindness and protection you have offered has made me realize something. It is my duty to use whatever power is granted to me to support those that need me, to give aid where otherwise there is no chance for any. I may only be a recent Apprentice to our Lords Magi, but I promise that you deserve better and I will secure whatever methods I can to ensure you receive the help you need. Just as you offered your aid to me, I will offer tenfold back to you.” Mevi stopped, not sure how to continue, but recalled the etiquette ingrained into her during her years of failure to meet standards on her homeworld, and Mevi bowed with as much sincerity and elegance as her rugged raiments and exhausted body could muster.

Zelkan seemed to almost be used to Mevi’s tendencies by now, letting out a sigh as Mevi bowed. Yet those on the receiving end, the Legionnaires and captain Hez, absorbed the scene with unparalleled pride, devotion, and slowly bubbling emotion. The weaker in the Legion quietly covered their faces, while the others stood taller and more proud than they had in months. Captain Hez initiated a salute, abruptly placing his right hand on the crest of his armor representing the word “Maphet” and his left hand placed behind his back in stiff military elegance. Captain Hez’s Legion followed the gesture in moments, the stomping of boots and banging of fist on metal echoing loud and reverberating for several moments. When Mevi looked up, to see the brave souls that had helped her more than she could have asked, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of patriotism and pride. Captain Hez suddenly shouted out, “Glory to the Magi! In the name of our Lords!” which the rest of the Legion echoed.

After the Legion’s response to Mevi’s honest words, Mevi and her retinue returned through the sealed metal portal to ascend back to the surface. She didn’t know if she could actually do anything to help them, but she swore to herself that she would return and use whatever power or influence she had to try.