While going through the new spell technique, Raze was concentrating hard, trying to find a type of connection, but he was unable to. Whenever he tried to focus on something that was still present in Alterian, he could never get a clear image, no matter how hard he tried to focus.
That was until something strange had occurred. His mana core, the Dark mana core he had made around his heart, was reacting. The Dark Magic was reaching out, and the whole area was surrounded in darkness.
Alterian was a world where it felt like no one ever slept. There were constant lights powered by beast crystals and electricity all over the land. Large skyscraper buildings with digital adverts everywhere one could see.
It was a world full of technology, some powered by its own devices while others powered by magic. The combination had allowed for advancements beyond what technology alone was capable of.
Heavy, large vehicles with no wings were able to fly due to enchantments. Buildings were reinforced with magic, and areas were cordoned off with powerful forcefields and more.
The Alterian world was run by local governments in each of the countries, but this was more to control the general public, as everyone knew that the real world was run by the mages.
The mages had the most power, and governments would fight to obtain any contracts they could with those that were at a high star level. The number of powerful mages determined a country's strength.
Modern explosions and missiles were useless when it came to the best of mages. Missiles could be redirected and turned on the attacker. The power of explosions teleported. Shields to block the blasts and bullets.
Although everyone was able to learn magic, not everyone could learn it at the level of the top mages.
Because of their power, the mages were almost treated as a separate society, free to follow their own rules when it came to following a country's order. They made their own guilds, growing the power of even more mages.
They would increase their strength by gaining access to portals in other dimensions, increasing their wealth as well.
It was impossible for the government to keep up with the growth of all the guilds and to keep them under control. There weren't enough willing to fight on the side of justice for no benefit at all.
Which was what had led to the creation of the Grand Magus. Mages that were above even those that were the very best.
The Grand Magus belonged to no guilds, but were individuals with the great power of a 9-star mage, that had positions that influenced the world. These projects, and the positions they held, were supported by the government, and in turn, they would be allowed to use their power.
Idore the oble, crafted and enchanted items for the whole of Alterian, bettering their lives, at the same time, he had created items just for the government armies to use against difficult mages.
Gizin was in charge of medical magic, making special potions that nearly every guild needed to help the wounded, or helped with curses that would befall those in the world.
Ibrain was the head of the Mage academies. In charge and focused on all of the academies in every country, making sure of their righteous growth.
Trubin worked closest with the government, getting rid of the troublesome mages that were rising, as well as groups that would try to change the status quo.
Then there was Enaxx, a role model to the society, the face of the Grand Magus, making public appearances, and making speeches for the general public, who were largely in support of the Grand Magus and their schemes.
These five were bright, and since the system had been set up with the Grand Magus, their businesses, their name, and fame all prospered, and so did their control along with the government. Everything was perfect.
In the city of Alterian where the bright lights shined, down below in the deep underground, where the sewage system flowed, there were remnants of what was like a city.
The water and sewage would drain in the large tunnels but like a river wouldn't rise above the platforms set on land. Here there were houses that were made from the scraps that were thrown away from above.
A whole structure looking like that of a village. Bridges that went across the dirty brown river and went over to the other side. Here many people lived; they had frail bodies, next to skin and bones.
Patches covered their bodies as they walked and constantly itched. Many of them sitting on the street, holding onto a bright blue glowing liquid pen. They opened up their mouths, sucking the liquid out of the pen, and for a moment, they had relief all over and could forget about everything that was around them.
Walking through the streets was a robed figure. They ignored everything they went past; they had seen it time and time again. Eventually, they reached a larger underground building.
It was tall and had a spire, a place where many would usually gather, yet there was no one here. Walking forward, the hooded figure stretched their leg over half of the broken door and headed inside.
Up ahead, they could see another that was dressed like them. They stood on the ground next to broken wooden panels and glass from above.
"I was worried for a moment that something happened to you," a male's voice was heard from the other side that was waiting.
"I had to make sure that I wasn't being followed, my position is quite difficult," a female voice was heard from the other, as they approached the man but stayed around a meter away.
Usually, if two people were wearing robes, one would be able to still see the face of the other, but due to the enchanted robes they wore, when lifting their heads and talking, their voices were muddled and their faces were covered with a type of black smoke.
"Although we have lost a few before, it will not be the same for me," the female stated.
"I see, well, may the Dark Magus protect you and cleanse this world," the man replied, and with it, the female replied the same back. "May the Dark Magus protect you and cleanse this world."
"Very well, we shall begin the meeting and update each other on what is oc—occ—" The man had stopped speaking there for a moment, as he felt something strange.
A tingling sensation was felt over his body. The woman was going to ask if he was okay, but soon she felt the same thing as well. Before they knew it, both of them were releasing their magic, and it was covering their bodies.
It wasn't just any magic though; it was Dark Magic which surrounded both of their bodies.
"What is… happening to us?" The woman struggled to say. "Did someone poison me?"
The man was willing to think the same, that was until right in front of them, something was starting to form. A large black ball of magic was starting to spread out and from it, soon they could see a full human body suddenly appear.
Its body had a faint glow around it, and they could feel the mana coming from the intruder that had interrupted them.
'Where… am I?' Raze thought as he looked around.