The First Archmage

(Gavin)

"The Silver Hawk looks as good as place as any to eat lunch, don't you think?" I ask Stem, who huffs. "What? It smells good."

"You're not going to give me a say, are you?"

"You could go off and do your own thing, you know."

He huffs again, then follows me into the Silver Hawk, where we're greeted almost immediately by a big-breasted hostess.

"We don't allow pets in here," she tells me sternly.

"I'm not a pet," Stem grumbles. "I'm an ancient and powerful Demigod, and the Adventurer and Mage you're speaking to has forced me into this form."

The woman pales, then takes in my robes.

"Shut up, Stem," I tell him, then smile at her. "Ignore him, he's just grumpy because I won't let him walk around town in his human form. I'm visiting here from Jozan, and am checking out local restaurants, to let His Majesty, King Tyler, know of which ones have fine service, for if he should ever come out here and dine in the city."

"Jozan?" She lifts an eyebrow. "The coup ended that nation six years ago, and King Wesley had no sons."

"Actually," I say. "He had one, Tyler, the twin of his daughter. Tyler fled with me during the coup, to ensure his survival. He'll have his hands full restoring the Kingdom, but after ending the reign of Turas, things are a bit better, now.

"Now," I continue. "Stem and I are quite hungry, and we've chosen this establishment as the place to dine for lunch. Would you kindly seat us, or should I put a black mark beside its name and find somewhere else to eat?"

The Blood Oath Sworn by Adrian Varkle Has Been Broken

Punishment Engaged

Huh. Does that happen for all Blood Oaths, or just ones made in my presence?

"That didn't take long," Stem comments, and I look at him. "What? I can see the messages, too. It's a perk of being who I am."

"I was hoping he'd at least wait until after I met with the King to break the oath," I say. "It seems he didn't realize that a Blood Oath is truly that binding. He will enjoy the punishment I declared, for if he should ever violate it."

"Probably not," Stem shrugs. "That's a lot of pain to deal with every time he hurts someone. What do you think he did?"

"No clue," I shrug, then turn back to the hostess. "Well, Madam Boobs?"

A lady around my age bursts into laughter, and I look over to examine her. Slim figure, small chests. She's wearing a fine dress of green and blue, the colors of Isil, with several guards around her table, all of them bearing the golden griffin emblem of Isil. Judging by the rose held in the claws of the griffins, she is nobility of some sort. The Griffins of the Rose only protect nobility.

Nina Human 3 Royal 4

Hero of Ahlura

"If you have Access," she says once she calms down. "Then I presume you know who and what I am? I cannot see your information, suggesting either no Access, or Appraisal Resistance Level 5 or higher."

"Level 5," I answer. "Nina, and fellow Hero."

"Would you like to sit with me?" She gestures to the empty table. "The Demigod may join us as well."

"Thank you," I walk around the hostess and to her section, seating myself across from her. Stem sits beside me, pouting. "There is no food, nor scent of food fresh enough, to indicate that you are dining. Are you simply relaxing?"

"I was only seated a few minutes ago, myself," Nina answers. "I am Nina vul Isil, Princess of Isil. You are the light-haired Jozan I have heard rumors about?"

"Indeed, Milady," I give her a small dip of my head. "I did not expect to find a Princess out and about in the city."

"Were I not to do this," she responds. "I would drive my father and brothers mad. So they allow me to, on the condition that a dozen of the Roses join me. I heard rumors that, early this morning, an invisible snake revealed itself around your arm? May I see it?"

I hold up my arm.

"Reij, would you kindly reveal yourself to Her Highness?"

Reij lazily release his tail, looking at the princess for a few moments before biting his tail and turning invisible once more.

"He's an Ouroboros," I explain. "Of a special breed, given to me by a being that transcends Divinity itself. He turns invisible while biting his tail, and can consume nigh any magic, save for the flames of an elder Dragon, as far as I'm aware."

"A being that transcends Divinity?"

"I have the weirdest associates," I nod. "Stem here being one of them."

"May I see his human form?" She asks.

"Sure!" Stem sounds happy, transforming back into human form, his clothes wrapping themselves around him once he's back. He sits in the seat beside me, then sticks his tongue out at me. "So how is Ahlura lately? I haven't seen my little sis in… actually, a long time."

He pronounced it "Ah-loo-rah", instead of the "Uhlooruh" I thought it was.

"Your little sis?" Nina asks.

"Yeah," he nods. "She's my little sis."

There's a huff to my right, and I look over as people gasp, many of them rising to their feet, some looking on in shock, including the collared guards, all of whom can clearly sense the Divinity of the being lying on a tiger beside me.

"If Lil Sis is coming," Nies grumbles. "I have to be here to make sure she doesn't kill anyone."

"That's not very nice," a woman in her twenties appears on the other side of Stem.

She's dressed in a tunic, pants, and boots, quite odd for a female. She has on light leather armor, a rapier strapped to her left hip, a dagger and a whip on her right. She has various pouches along her belt as well, her long, auburn hair tied into a tight braid, the point of which reaches her waist, her emerald eyes glaring down at Nies.

"Oh, stuff it, Lil Sis," Nies huffs. "I'm still mad at you for kicking my Paladin back then."

"He did try to attack me," Ahlura snorts, seating herself between Stem and Nina.

The Princess immediately stands, recovering from her shock, then bows to the goddess.

"Your Divinity," she says. "Please forgive my rudeness, and thank you, for gracing us with your presence."

"Do you wanna swear a Blood Oath?" I ask Ahlura, and Stem cracks up laughing so hard that he doubles over, smacking his face into the table.

"I like your Hero, Nies," Ahlura smiles at my god, who smiles. "He cares not for Divinity. One of these days, that will get him into some serious trouble."

"As if!" Stem laughs. "Do you know of a single Divine who would dare to attack Big Brother's Hero? Especially one that Hubert personally Descended to talk to? Then there's Ekre, who also likes Gavin because he can usually calm Nies down when he gets into one of his lazy, I-don't-want-to-do-anything-but-sleep-in-your-realm moods, Aulor, who's too terrified of Nies to allow people to go after Gavin, after that little fit, Len, whose own Hero is Gavin's King. Then there's Kar, Jozan, and Kav looking out for him, especially after he took out that Demon, and so many others. Don't even get me started on Yggdrasil, Merlin, and Hitos."

Hitos? That's the only one whose name I haven't heard before.

"I'm out of the loop," Ahlura looks stunned. "What, exactly, is so special about this mortal boy? Other than having three Tier IV Classes and fourteen Titles?"

Hotness is now Level 9!

That's totally random. Speaking of Skills, I should use Divine Appraisal on her.

The Penis Pirate

"What are you a goddess of?" I ask. "I'm assuming you're a goddess-type Divine Being, since you have a Hero."

"I'm-" she starts, then narrows her gaze, looking between Nies and Stem. "Which one of you did that?"

"Did what?" Nies asks.

"Changed what my Divine Appraisal result says," she responds. "Which of you did that? I know it was one of you two."

"Talk to Sein," Stem giggles.

"It was Stem," Nies says. "He did it when Gavin's Hotness Level went up."

"Yes, he is hot," Ahlura says, then glares at Stem. "That's inappropriate."

"It's not like he'd see it," Stem says.

She's probably fixed it by now.

The Queen of Blades

Yeah, she fixed it.

"So, Ahlura," I say. "What are you the goddess of?"

"Anyone else, and I'd smite you for the rudeness," she says, then looks back at Nies. "Why, exactly, is Gavin attracting so much attention from Divine? Including you, Big Brother? You've never taken on a Hero before."

"Because he's Gavin," Nies says, then waves at a waitress. "You have Stem, two Divine Beings, a foreign diplomat, and your own Princess sitting at the table. Are you going to make us wait, or should I smite you up right now?"

"That would be work," I tell Nies. "You'd probably just glare at her."

"True," he says. "But it works. She ran off to get food."

I smack him in the back of the head.

"I'm not Stem," he says. "I actually can smack you through the wall in my human form."

"What's your STR in human form?"

"Fourteen thousand six hundred twelve," Stem answers. "His kitty form is eight times that. He's one of the strongest Divine in existence, and that's his weakest stat."

"If you were me," I look at Nies. "What would your STR be in human form?"

"Approximately twice what they are," Stem answers.

So Nies's raw stats in human form are about the same as my own raw stats, ignoring the System's bonuses. How does it work for Divine, anyway?

"What about in your true form?" I ask. "What would your STR be, using mine as a base."

"Ninety-seven million four hundred sixteen thousand, seven hundred eighty-two," Stem answers.

"How are you doing that?" I ask.

"I can easily convert any of the Stats in the System," he answers.

Probably because of who you really are, Stem.

"Because you're a Demigod?" I ask.

"Yup!"

There are so many holes in your cover, kid.

"You're pretending to be a Demigod?" Ahlura asks him.

"I am a Demigod," he looks at her pointedly. "Only one parent is a Divine, lady. The other is mortal. I am a Demigod."

She looks at me, then at the other mortals around, then nods.

"Right," she says. "Forgive me, I forgot about that, considering how powerful you are, and all the things you do."

"What's that?" I ask. "Annoy the Hero of Nies? Do you Divine mind? I was going to have lunch with a princess."

"You weren't even planning on it," Nies grumbles as two waitresses arrive with food, putting them down in front of us and giving a lot of curtsies. "None of this looks even remotely appetizing."

The entire restaurant goes silent as Nies sighs.

"Lunch first," I tell him. "Dessert later."

"I want to skip lunch and go straight to dessert," a cake appears in his hands. "That shrine you built me is so useful."

I snatch the cake out of his hands.

"Lunch first, Nies," I say, sending the cake into my ring. "Or I will not make you cookies."

Nies grumbles, but has the tiger move so he can eat the food at the table, picking at the roasted bird.

"Forgive his rudeness, Your Highness," I say. "Nies tends to forget his manners. It is good to see that you are well."

Nina is still bowing to her goddess, so I look at the Divine Being.

"Are you going to keep your Hero bowing?" I ask. "It's hard to have a conversation with her if she's like this."

"Rise, child," Ahlura tells the Princess, who stands, returning to her seat. "If Nies wasn't your patron, I'd have smote you by now."

"But he is, so you haven't," I tell her. "Nies, stop picking at it and eat it, or you aren't getting dessert."

He sighs, and takes a bite. Only he doesn't use his hands or utensils or anything, just leans forward and bites into it, chewing.

"That's one way of doing it," I look to the Princess. "So how are you today, Your Highness?"

"I am… well," she answers, still not over the shock of the presence of two Divine.

"You can ignore normal courtesies," I say. "Nies prefers it, unless you're a Divine. Then, he either just cuddles you, ignores you, or intimidates you."

"Are we having a party?" Another Divine Being appears, this one looking to be a boy around ten.

He has leaf-green hair and emerald eyes, and is dressed in brown pants, a tunic that matches his hair, and brown, soft leather boots. His ears are slightly pointed, and he has glittery cheeks.

The Fairest Fairy Who Ever Did Fare

"I don't know you," I say, and he looks at me, then at Nies.

"Is this Gavin?" He asks. "I know his name says he's Gavin, and his Class confirms it, too, but I want to be extra-extra-extra-extra sure."

"Yeah, it's Gavin," Nies takes another bite from his bird. "Gavin, this is Twist, my older brother. Ever since I made Fairies, he likes being in his Fairy form."

This is Nies's older brother? He seems a lot more cheerful and happy than I've been led to believe. They had me thinking he was a dark, brooding, moody guy who didn't put up with anything.

"Nice to meet you, Twist," I say.

"Hello, Gavin!" He sits in the seat beside Nies, then waves at the dumbstruck waitress. "Yo! Can I get some food, too? It's been aaaaaaages since I last had mortal food!"

"Just steal from Ekre, like Nies does."

"Wait, that's who you keep stealing from?" Twist asks Nies, then looks at me. "Wanna meet Ekre? I can ask him to come visit for this."

"No, thanks," I say. "I think three Divine and Stem, along with a Princess, is a bit too much for most people here. They're probably already feeling overly-blessed just by your presences."

"Don't forget the Archmage!" Twist points at me. "Don't sell yourself short, shorty!"

"Says the shorty."

"I like him!" He claps Nies on the back, then looks at me. "Did you know that Nies is the Origin of Quests and Oaths solely because he was being lazy? He didn't want to do stuff, so he started issuing Quests to people and ordering them to make oaths that they'd carry through with the Quests. It was hilarious."

Could someone please explain to me why there are three Divine and Stem here right now? Because I am completely lost. And unsure that Her Highness and I will get to talk.

"I'm sure it was," I say. "I kind of assumed as much already. What are you a god or Origin of?"

"Magic," he grins. "All magic comes from me. I thought of it, I invented it, I became it, I nurtured it, I birthed it, I farted it, I burped it, I cried it, I made it, I wove it, I am it, I was it, I forever shall be it."

I'm not even sure how to react to that. I look back to the Princess.

"So how are you today, Your Highness?" I ask.

"A bit stunned, being honest," she answers. "I did not expect to be seated with three Divine and a Demigod."

"Don't forget Gavin," Twist says. "You probably didn't expect him to show up here, either."

"She hoped," Nies takes a bite of a potato. "But didn't expect it. She felt there was a zero chance of it happening."

We eat the rest of lunch without the Princess and I being able to talk, because the three Divine do so anytime one of us tries. Once lunch is finished, Nies sighs in content, looking happy.

"Time for dessert."

"They don't serve dessert here," I inform him, and the two tigers he's not lying on start shaking, doing their best to not laugh at the god's pouting. "Here's your cake back, though."

He looks happy at that, up until I throw it in his face.

The Princess has to cover her mouth in her attempt to not laugh as Nies pouts again.

"I'm going home!" He wails, then vanishes, and Twist cracks up laughing.

"Now I know why the Divine are so interested in you," Ahlura comments. "Nies would have given you a special hell for that, normally. If he's just going to run away… you're something damn special. I should be going as well, then."

She stands, then fades out of existence. I look at Twist.

"I am taking you into my Divine Realm for a minute," he says. "I would like to speak with you about something somewhat private."

"Alright," I say.

The next moment, we're sitting at a table in a library, golems walking around, moving books or scrolls or plaques or slabs of stone or something or other. The sheer power of Divinity radiating in this place nearly overwhelms my senses, though Twist waits until I adapt, Divine Detection maxing out, as well as Divine Resistance.

Once I recover from the flood of sensations, he nods, tapping the table.

The Violet Dragon forms above it, coiled up, ready to strike. It stares at me intently.

"This is an interesting spell you've forged," he says. "When the System officially recognized it as one, I was impressed quite a bit. The violet power of your magic is intriguing, in fact. You and Eli are, quite likely, the only people in this universe whose magic is violet."

"Coming from a Divine," I say. "I'd normally think you were saying there was something special, but… you said this universe, and considering you're the Origin of Magic… are you saying that… we aren't from this universe?"

"You are," he shakes his head. "As is your father. When you came to my attention earlier, I looked into your heritage. Unlike my younger siblings, I have been in several universes, able to travel through them, much like the Rift Wolves and the Oracle, the being you met who gave you the Ouroboros. Hello, Reij."

Reij releases his tail and wiggles it at the Divine for a moment, before returning to his normal position, turning invisible once more.

"Your magic," he says. "Made me curious, as there are a few universes where it is possible to have violet magics. The woman who you and Eli know as your biological mother was not, in fact, your biological mother, and she knew it. Your siblings, on the other hand, were unaware of it. She still loved you and your brother like you were her own children.

"Your father," he continues. "Was unable to remain faithful, and slept with another woman, one time. You and Eli were the result of that union. That woman hails from another universe, coming here as a small child by way of Rift Wolf, though it wasn't intended, and nor was she aware of it.

"This," he taps the table, and the Violet Dragon fades. "Would explain why your mother did not drop the toddler she was holding to the ground and push her other children out of the way to hug a child she hadn't seen since he was a baby. That is, of course, ignoring the fact that, having lived for hundreds of years, she knew patience, and that she would get the chance to hug you later. Being old, she knew that time would pass, and the chance would arise."

"What?"

"Not much for you," he says. "But for others, who would think that she was heartless for not dropping the toddler and running to hug you."

"That's stupid," I say. "As you said, she was old enough to know patience. Plus, she probably figured I'd freak out if she ran towards me, since I'd never seen her before. As an old woman, she'd know a fair bit more than idiots. Plus, you can't honestly expect her to just hurt her other kids so she could hug one she's never really known, right?"

"Indeed," he nods. "How would you have reacted, had she run up to hug you?"

"I probably would've blasted her with my magic."

"So it was, indeed, wise for her to wait until she had a chance to hug you without it being sudden, yes?" He asks, and I nod. "Then those people are, indeed, idiots."

Twist looks off into space, falling silent for several long moments, before looking back at me.

"So," he says. "Nahor."

"Pardon?"

"The being who is communicating with you at times," he says. "His name is Nahor. I've sensed him interacting with the mortal realms a few times recently, and it wasn't until I noticed you earlier that I realized it was you he was communicating with. I'm assuming he stopped after Stem showed up?"

"He did," I nod.

"Do you know who Stem is?" He asks. "I mean his real identity, not this 'Demigod' persona he's taken on?"

"I do," I nod. "As would anyone who knew and understood my thoughts when we first met. It was kind of obvious – all you have to do is look at the way he introduces himself. Do you mind if I ask a question, Your Divinity, about Stem?"

"Go ahead."

"What's his fetish with blue things?"

"The universe may never know!" He laughs. "Stem has always been a strange one to us, and his antics amuse us all. Had I not been paying attention to other worlds and realms in the universe, I probably would've noticed you sooner, and thus, him. His smiting of the Dekami was quite amusing to me."

"Is that fetish the reason the windows are all blue?" I ask, and he nods. "Figures."

"Stem's creation of the System confused us all," he smiles. "Especially when it impacted all of us Divine as well. We are, of course, far beyond the powers of a mortal, and if we're slain in the mortal realms, we're simply returned to the Divine Realm, but Stem didn't care."

"Is that his real name?"

"It's Kulta," he answers. "I don't think he's aware that he's basically told everyone he's the System."

"To be fair," I say. "Most people would probably assume he doesn't have Access or is just a Demigod. If I didn't have a few of my past experiences and Skills, I would've only suspected it, myself. May I ask you a question or two?"

"You are free to ask whatever you wish," he responds.

"Do you know why I have Fairies as a Formshift possibility?" I ask. "And why my natural Fairy Form is the Eternal Fairy?"

"Are you asking if a Divine gave it to you?" He asks, and I nod. "No, the Divine did not. You befriended the leader of a Fairy, but it took a small while for it to impact."

"What do you mean?" I ask. "Oberon and I weren't allies yet when I noticed it."

"Noah is a Fairy," he answers. "Using a Human Formshift. It wasn't until he returned home, to his people, that he acknowledged you as a friend, and being a Fairy King, himself, well, I'm sure you get the picture."

Noah was a Fairy? That's… unexpected.

"And my natural Form?" I ask.

"Likely because of your mother," he answers. "And your power already manifesting itself as violet. The Eternal Fairies were a breed of Fairies that began as a mix of your mother's mortal heritage and Fairy lineage. Humans exist in many universes, and she wasn't the first to cross between them. Another who had mated with a Fairy, and their child was the first Eternal Fairy.

"Before I return you," he says. "To the mortal Realm, I do have one question for you."

"Okay."

"Would you like to be able to acquire Experience for your Species?" He asks. "I am fully capable of ignoring the restriction placed on you, for the Quests, and allowing you to gain Experience for your Species once more."

"Even Nies can't do that," I say. "And he's the Origin of Oaths and Quests. The trade-off for even that would be-"

"Astronomical," he nods. "However, as I stated, I can ignore it, without a sacrifice to your LIF. No trade-off necessary, as the price has already been paid."

"What do you mean by that?" I ask.

"You alerted us," he says. "To the presence of Dekami outside of their realm, and the issues that they have been causing. In addition, you have performed something few have – you crafted spells, and not just low-Level ones, but Tier VII spells. You did it not once but twice. That, alone, is enough to grant you the ability to earn Experience for your Species, if you would like for me to make the adjustment. Either of those two things. I could also do for your Bloodline, but it would be best to stick to just your Species.

"So," he says. "Would you accept?"

Would I? I would love more than anything to accept the offer, but at the same time, I made a deal with Nies. The thing is, though… I could really, really use the strongest Species I can advance to.

Ascended Human: One who has transcended human boundaries, you are more powerful than your inferior predecessors, and may, one day, achieve even greater power. +5 to all Attributes, LIF each Level

I'm not sure, but since LIF is an Attribute, and it's listed after, I think that means that I would receive 10 LIF per Level of it, not 5 LIF. A total boost of 240 LIF would be immense for me. I'm not even sure how I unlocked this option, just that it was there when I checked a couple of weeks ago.

The massive boost to, well, all of that would be very welcome.

But at the same time, I made the deal with Nies. I know that Twist is saying I have done enough to revoke part of this, but… I don't know if I'd feel right, accepting it.

"Alright," I come to a conclusion. "I've decided."