Curious students paused their combat practice, watching as Alex used his staff for the first time. Calling on the Mark, he guided his mana through the fibres of powerful crystal and mana-infused wood, finding each control faster and with more precision.

He conjured elementals, devil-vipers, hell boars and flicker dogs in small packs. Elemental beetle swarms appeared in such great numbers that their buzzing droned throughout the stadium. In mere heartbeats, with staff firmly in hand, the young wizard conjured an army that would have normally taken him minutes to call if he’d been casting summoning spells while fighting the Mark’s customary interference.

He also discovered that the inner power—that strange magic that solidified his connection to other planes—worked just as well when he conjured through his staff than when he didn’t.

“Makes sense that it would,” he said to himself as he summoned a small pack of hellhounds with little more than a quick flick of mana, and his wrist. “It helps me when someone else casts a teleportation spell on me, so why wouldn’t it help me use that type of magic through a staff.”

‘Father…what about protecting yourself?’ Claygon asked.

“Oh, this staff can do that too. Take a look.”

He waved the staff, getting a little creative.

Within, he split his mana into two streams, using them to reach two controls at once. Power flared…but mana only poured into one control.

A familiar spell manifested before him: force shield, a much thicker one than he’d ever conjured himself, veritably humming with power.

“Awww,” he said. “Well, I didn’t expect I’d be able to conjure two sets of magic at once…but maybe if I hit one control after another one real fast…that’ll be something to test later. And speaking of tests!”

He turned to Claygon.

“Hey Claygon, could you do me a favour?”

‘What…is it…father?’

“I want you to hit me. Well, no! Wait, don’t hit me, if you do, I’ll turn to paste. I want you to hit my shield.”

‘Yes…father.’

Claygon brought his fist back, then slammed it into the shield.

Alex watched with bated breath as…the shield was instantly shattered.

‘I…broke it…father…’ Claygon said, a note of pride coming through their link.

“Yeah, yeah that you did. You did well…but I guess that was a bit of a poor test,” Alex admitted. “Too much power would shatter any shield. I have a better idea.”

Through his staff, he conjured another shield, then turned to his summoned creatures. “I want you to attack this shield with everything you’ve got,” he switched languages for each different creature. “Well, not everything! Physical attacks only, please!”

The shield rose, inviting his summoned monsters to test it, and with all the enthusiasm they could muster, they didn’t hold back, rushing in, snarling, biting, tearing and mauling the force spell.

Hellhounds, viper-devils, elemental beetles and hell-boars charged, ramming the shield with full force. Terrible crashes resounded through the stadium, drawing attention from curious students, but Alex—too busy watching the assault on the shield—paid them no mind.

“Yesss! It’s stronger than my other ones.” It whipped around, facing his summons. “And it even responds faster. This is good. Real good. And now…oh wait, all of you! You can stop now!”

One by one, he switched languages, calling off his summoned army, then once again, reached into the staff with his mana.

It touched a control and power raced through crystal and wood; crimson light—tinged with other hues—poured from the staff, enwrapping his body in a flexible mesh of force magic.

With a flash of light, it disappeared.

‘What was…that…father?’ Claygon asked.

“Greater force armour,” Alex said excitedly. “One of the best pieces of protection magic you can have. But we won’t know how tough it is until I test it out.”

He turned to a nearby hellhound, speaking to it in a tongue of devils. “Would you mind biting my arm?”

Alex presented his arm to the creature, it didn’t hesitate. With malicious glee—as is within the nature of devils—the hellhound chomped down on his arm…immediately recoiling, yelping when its fangs simply glanced off steely force magic.

“Holy Traveller, I didn’t feel that at all!” He cried, examining his arm in wonder. “No force got through, none at all, not even with the strength of the hellhounds’ jaws! Hmmmm…Makes me wonder…”

He glanced at Brutus, a thought playing in his head.

…just as the cerberus snapped the beef bone in half with the squeeze of one set of jaws, another head made eye contact with him, its tongue lolling out.

“You know what? Maybe we’ll uh, skip that test,” Alex said. “Let’s try body enhancement instead.”

Brutus returned to the beef bone.

Guiding his mana from one control to the next, Alex cast body enhancement magic over himself, empowering his strength, speed, and senses in mere heartbeats. “Yes, yes, yes!” He was overjoyed. “This is incredible. Okay, next thing. Claygon, could you stand still for a moment?”

‘I am…standing still…father. You…are the one…hopping from one foot to the other.’ Claygon pointed at his legs.

“Oh, I am no—Oh, shit, I guess I am.” He glanced down, acknowledging that he’d been excitedly hopping about for Traveller only knows how long.

Clearing his throat, he composed himself. “Point is, I need you to keep still for a moment, buddy.”

‘I will…father..’ Claygon replied.

With care, Alex’s mana activated another control point in the staff, and a rush of invisible magic enveloped the golem.

“Alright, now—if things worked properly—you should be able to fly. Try flying for me, buddy.”

Claygon looked down at his feet, looked back up…then slowly began to rise through the air. Soon, the golem was ascending at speed, then soaring through the stadium, lapping it once while Alex clapped and cheered.

By now, most students had already left or were leaving, watching his progress as they went. One young battle mage tracked Claygon’s flight through the stadium while cheering them on with a huge smile on his face and two thumbs in the air, caught up in their successes with the staff.

Alex nodded as he passed by.

‘Father! I flew! The staff…used flight magic!’ Claygon called, pausing to hover above his creator.

“I can see that, and that’s bloody fantastic!” Alex cheered. “No more having to rely on Isolde to get you in the air. Hah! This is brilliant.”

He felt a wave of bashful joy rise from the staff.

“Oh, don’t be modest, you’re a magic staff put together with some of the world’s fanciest materials. Of course you’re brilliant,” Alex smiled. “So…let’s see if one other thing works.”

He guided his mana one last time, activating the control for mana-ejection magic and pointing the staff at a practice dummy. Crystalline fruit flared and power erupted: releasing a small swarm of force constructs, each bleeding magic.

They swarmed the dummy, painting it in glowing lines that mimicked Elder Blodeuwedd’s symbols. Alex watched them go, watching for imperfections in the glyphs.

But, he found none.

In short order, the constructs vanished, leaving behind glowing symbols that lingered for a full minute—fed by the staff’s power—before disappearing.

“Well,” he said. “The symbols looked right. But…I won’t know if they’ll have the right effect until I use them on something with mana, and I’d rather not use that power on myself or a friend.”

‘You can use it…on me…father,’ Claygon offered, landing beside Alex.

“Oh no, definitely not.” The Thameish wizard shook his head. “You’re a construct that runs on mana: forcing you to eject it…well, I can’t imagine that’d be too pleasant for you. So, let’s skip that.”

‘Then…when will you test it?’ Claygon asked.

Alex sighed. “Ideally, I’d like to test it on Ravener-spawn or some other nasty creature, maybe something from the Barrens…but since we’ll be going to the hells soon, I don’t think I’ll have time to do my own hunting before then.”

‘Then…will you test it on a demon?’ The golem wondered.

“Looks like that’s the way it’s going to have to be, unfortunately. It’s not ideal, really—it’d be better to find out if it works by trying it on less dangerous prey—but, time is what it is. That particular power will have to be field tested, I suppose. Oh well, it’s not the first time I’ve had to do so and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

‘Maybe…you could test it…on Cedric.’ Claygon suggested.

“Well, there’s an idea, but I don’t think he’d…wait…” Alex paused, giving his golem a suspicious look. “Are you suggesting that because he punched me?”

The golem stared at him for a long moment, then slowly looked away.

“By the Traveller, you are! You’ve learned how to hold a grudge. Now, remember, all’s forgiven between Cedric and me so you shouldn’t really hold a grudge for that.”

‘...yes…father…’

“That said!” Alex gave him an evil grin. “I am very proud of you. As a matter of fact, this is a good teaching moment! On the way home, I’ll teach you about a wonderful concept…called revenge.”

‘I…look forward to learning…father…’ Claygon said.

“Oh yeah, and this is an important lesson, because—and don’t let anyone tell you any different—when used right, revenge is absolutely awesome. But you’ve got to control it. You’ve got to know who you want to take revenge on. I think Baelin might agree with that.”

‘I…see…’ his golem mused. ‘Have you ever taken revenge on anyone before?’

“Oh, Claygon.” A glint of malice shone in Alex’s eyes. “Let me tell you the tale of McHarris.”

###

“Well, you have been busy,” Baelin turned Alex’s staff over in his hands. “Very busy.” Its light reflected in the chancellor’s goat-like eyes. “This is truly a work of art, my young friend. You have done quite well using such fine materials.”

“Thank you,” Alex said, beaming and shifting his weight in the chair.

“You are most welcome, I merely am reporting what I see,” the ancient wizard said, as the staff’s light shone through his office in the Research Castle. “I daresay that our young friends will be most impressed. Well…Drestra most likely will be, in any case. Hart and Cedric should also appreciate it, but I doubt on the same level as she will.”

His eyes twinkled as he handed Alex the staff, then rose to his hooves and rounded the desk. “When they see it in action, they will be most impressed.”

“I can only hope,” Alex swallowed and standing, he followed Baelin. “They’ll be here soon, won’t they?”

“Indeed,” Baelin said. “I was told that they entered the fae roads a few short hours ago. No doubt that means they’re almost here. Come, let us gather in the classroom and wait for them. I take it our other hell-raiding friends have already assembled?”

“Yep,” Alex said. “Theresa, Brutus, Claygon, Khalik, Najyah, Thundar, Grimloch, and Isolde were heading to the classroom right after breakfast. So they should be there and ready. I’m just wondering if I am.”

“I should think so,” Baelin chuckled as he waved a hand at the double doors. They opened in silence. “You did, after all, craft a staff so mighty that you could not resist rushing to my office to show me before our briefing even began.”

“Yeah, well,” Alex muttered as they stepped into the hall. “It’s a damned good staff, but I keep thinking about enemies like Zonon-In…like the demons we fought. They were tough to beat in our world, so I have to wonder what they’ll be like on their own territory.”

“You should not be wondering.” The ancient wizard looked at him critically. “You have had quite a bit of time to research your enemy and their location. As such, should you not know exactly what awaits you?”

Alex snorted. “A Proper Wizard does their research, yeah, but they also have to prepare for surprises. Not everything’s in a book, otherwise we wouldn’t need these practical lessons in the first place, am I right?”

“Hah!” Baelin clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s a good man! It is good to see you are taking on my lessons, even when I try to mislead you.” He looked ahead as they strolled down the corridor. “You are right to worry, Alex, as long as your emotions do not dull your senses and coordination during battle. A Proper Wizard does not consider themselves invincible unless odds are truly, utterly, and completely in their favour. And even then…I have seen the powerful laid low by a lucky beast-goblin spear due to carelessness.”

As he opened the door to the stairs. “Cleave to that caution, my young friend, but do not allow it to control you.”

Alex took a deep breath. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“Good,” Baelin chuckled darkly. “Now, let us proceed with the briefing so we can discuss how we’ll be eviscerating demons. Well, once our guests arrive, that is. Hmmm…I wonder if Carey’s made it yet.”

“Carey? What’s she got to do with this?” Alex asked.

“Ah, do you remember that—as part of our negotiations—we would be sending teams to aid the Saint while the Heroes were learning alongside us?”

“Yeah?” Alex cocked his head. Then his eyes went wide. “Wait…Carey volunteered? She’s going into the field? But, she’s terrified of monsters!”

“Indeed, but oftentimes a brush with death can inspire greater fears, or greater courage,” Baelin said. “And in Carey’s case? It seems to be the latter. For the present, at least. I only hope that she will be ready for the rigours of what is to come.”

“Yeah,” Alex sighed. “She’s not a fighter. Brave or not, I don’t know how she’ll deal with monsters.”

“Oh, that I am not too worried about. The Saint will be there, and we have sent…significant forces with her. She will be quite safe, I should think and—she requested the assignment—I would not rob her of agency. No, to me, the risk comes from within. Her faith has been shaken, from my understanding, and now she goes to visit one of the strongest symbols of Uldar within your kingdom. I only hope that her spirit is fortified.”