The Nature of Fantasy [2/???]

Seemingly people liked the first chapter a lot, so let's see if I can make something worthy 

Because last chapter was very short, this one is longer, I hope you like it 

Without further ado, let's get right in 

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Memory transcription subject: Kai, Anir Warden

Date [standardized human time]: September 12, 2137

Today was not a good day… 

Why? Because now I was in a weird forest that I never seen, with species that I never seen 

Let me go back so I can understand where the day went to shit

I had spent the night patrolling the capital when Santiana sent me a magical message to meet her in the palace once I finished whatever I was doing 

As a warden I wasn't obligated to do practically anything, in fact only the empress could order me around, but I didn't want to leave the work I was doing

Eventually I sent a magical message to the commander of the Protectors so they sent some guards to where I was patrolling 

What are the Wardens and Protectors? That's a easy question 

The Protectors were tasked with guarding and protecting the people under the empress rule, that is basically all of the world 

The Wardens are a few beings chosen personally by the empress to make sure the sectors of the empire were safe from monsters or any other threats so they were very strong 

Me? I wasn't as crazy strong as many other Wardens, but my magic abilities and my connection with the empress grant me that rank 

You see, I was a shadow demon, in ancient times when the demon lord ruled over all demons we were usually his eyes and left hand, we were the ones that got all the information and killed important figures thanks to our mind control magic and shadow magic 

How do I know this? Because I served the last demon lord 500 years ago, and as a shadow demon, I can't die from old age 

Once the demon lord was killed by a warden (In those times they were called 'Heroes' even though their actions were everything but heroic) I wandered through the world learning about all the species until I eventually met the empress

She is a dragoness, a very powerful one, but unlike the other dragon brutes she was smart and didn't underestimate the 'Lower beings' 

Also the things that she wanted to hoard wasn't like all the other dragons who liked gold, gems or magical artifacts… She liked to hoard cities 

Despite the fact that dragons hoarding cities are one of the the most common stories about dragons

That is a very rare trait, and are only documented because they were one of the few dragons that interacted with us, 'lower beings' as they called us 

Fortunately because she was smarter than most dragons she realized that not only she could have a fully functioning city if she cared about his inhabitants

But the risk of being killed because she massacred a city would be reduced because people would liked her and the fact that she didn't killed everyone in sight 

And so with my help she created an empire, at first many of his inhabitants were demon survivors. But little by little the empire expanded absorbing more countries and cultures to the point of today where the only country is the empire 

Oh, my mind slipped. Must be the age, I'm definitely the oldest shadow demon in history 

We are few in numbers, probably in the hundreds, our birth rate is 0 because we are spawn, so technically speaking I'm a monster, I was fortunately (or unfortunate) that I gained sentience thanks to the fact that I was very good at my job under the demon lord's orders. So we usually died when the demon lord died, it was a miracle that I survived the manhunt that I suffered during those years… 

My boots resonated during my walk towards the palace, I didn't need them to be honest 

Both my hands and feet are fake, in reality under my furry cloak there is nothing but a dark void and I should be gliding over the floor, but because I make no noise whatsoever I would be scaring everyone with my presence, so after so many complaints I ended up summoning legs that looked like elf chivalry boots so I did a lot of noise whenever I walked 

I also summoned some hands to not depend always on telekinesis to more things 

The palace in the other hand is a titanic building built by dwarves centuries ago to suit the empress 

Tall walls and rooms allowed the empresa to walk through his palace without hitting anything and huge windows allowed her to land his gaze to his capital 

The building had so many windows that every citizen jokingly called the palace 'The crystal palace' 

The city itself was also designed by the dwarves by the major part, it had everything you would need 

Something revolutionary were the cleaning golems, they cleaned the city's feces of the drakos out of the streets to be used in the crops fields 

The drakos were a far away cousin of the dragons, but they were dumb as a brick, so they were used to pull carts and stuff like that 

When I eventually arrived at the palace the noise of my fake boots alerted some Protectors that guarded the palace. Still, with one look the recognized me so they allowed me to pass them 

Inside the palace I walked to the internal courtyard where I was able to find not only Santiana, but the empresa herself

His reddish scales glowed under the moonlight while his golden eyes looked with interest to whatever Santiana was doing 

Santiana in the other hand was an elf with golden hair and sorceress clothing, in his hand there was a long wooden stick with a green emerald gem stuck in it 

"Your majesty" I say cordially towards the empress 

"Kai… How many times did I tell you to call me Adalinda?" She says in an annoyed tone 

"... Many" I say looking away from her 

"Then stop calling me like that when we are alone" 

"We are not alone Adalinda" I say pointing to Santiana that was looking at us 

"Come on, she doesn't count!" 

"Hey!" Santiana says at what Adalinda said 

"Errr, you are one of my few friends, don't take it like that" Adalinda says in a defensive manner 

"Well…" I say "What did you need from me?" I interrupt 

"Oh, yeah! I'm about to open a portal to the moon!" Santiana says proudly pointing to a salt formation behind her

"The moon? Further away than the old gods realm" I say 

"Yeah! I needed someone strong in case something happened, like monsters in the other side of the portal" 

"Then why did you call me? I'm not exactly the strongest warden…" 

"But you are a warden" Adalinda says "There are barely 50 wardens worldwide and you are one" 

"Because we have known each other for centuries…" I respond 

"You aren't a warden because you know me, I know Santiana and she's not a warden…" Adalinda says, but she got interrupted by Santiana 

"Yet!" She adds 

"You are far more stronger than you realize, just because you can't beat Magin in a fight doesn't mean that you are weak" Adalinda says 

"Not even the gods could beat her, she's worthy of the rank of warden! Not me!" 

"Who defeated the seven armies and the hero 381 years ago?" 

"... Me, but it was a lucky shot that caused the avalanche"

"Nonsense, you could get that away if it were only the common soldier, but you stood toe to toe with the hero until Radisin arrived, then you both defeated the hero" 

"I only did time, he was the only one who could fight him!" 

"You have a harder head than Adamantite!" She says "Anyway, we are going to need your help in case something happens" 

"Fine! But don't blame me if I'm not able to stop whatever happens there" 

"Sorry Santiana for the show, you can continue" Adalinda spoke softly 

Because she was a dragon, many would get startled if she raised his voice 

Because there was a kind dragon, that wouldn't mean that suddenly no one would be scared of the dragons 

"Yes ma'am" She is definitely someone that isn't scared easily, probably because she knows me and Adalinda since she was little 

When she was little she would sometimes hang herself of my antlers or even sleep on them 

My antlers are not for defense or attack like some beastfolk have, mine are to storage mana, that's why they are to the sides of my head instead of my top

Santiana began reciting the magical spells that began opening up a portal 

All of the magical spells had to be said aloud with very few exceptions like very experienced mages and sorceress who could cast silently

Me? I could, not because I was an expert, but because my 'voice' was nothing more than a lie 

Because my species are born as braindeads monsters who only follows orders blindly, we didn't have voices 

I could overcome that thanks to my mind control abilities, what people hear it's just an illusion. The only problem is that unless I focus on it, everyone hears my voice differently, some will hear my voice as a deep male voice 

Others may hear my voice as a high pitched voice, it depends on how people think my voice sounds like 

Fortunately the message is always the same 

After some minutes of constant spelling and an absurd amount of mana spent in what most of the people would consider as a simple spell, the portal began opening, but instead of a clear view of the other side, it looked more like a tunnel of smoke and lightnings, it also began sucking air but it was nothing that a little spell would prevent 

I felt that something wasn't right, something like this shouldn't be this difficult 

"Santiana, cut the spell!" I order 

"I-I can't, it's sucking me dry!" 

Without any other word both Adalinda and myself began to pump mana to try and stabilize the portal 

Santiana wasn't lying, this portal was sucking a lot of mana, fortunately Adalinda and myself have very high amounts of mana

While we both pumped mana Santiana continued the spelling 

Minutes passed by, then an hour, then two more, Santiana was completely dry, but we both continued pumping until I felt how the portal stopped sucking mana and it stabilized

I was almost completely dry myself, but the portal stabilized, but it kept sucking more and more air 

"We should get out of here, I will ask f-Santiana!" Adalinda screamed

I turned my head back at the elf and I saw how she had collapsed of tiredness and was being sucked through the portal 

I immediately casted a telekinesis spell to try and pull her back… But I failed, I haven't felt this empty in centuries, I needed to recharge mana, but I didn't have time 

"I'm going for her" I say as I run towards the portal "Ask for other wardens in the meantime" 

I didn't had time to hear what Adalinda said because I was sucked through the portal 

Instead of the 'Doorway' that usual portals are, this one I felt like I was flying right through a giant serpent who had curled up on herself 

Eventually I reached the end and I found myself up in the air, probably to compensate with the mountain where the palace was in 

I quickly fell to the ground, more quickly than I should be, I also felt more heavy than usual, nothing that I should concern, it was like I was carrying two Santiana's up in my antlers, nothing I couldn't handle 

I fell through the trees and I had to use a simple spell to soften my fall, I still fell with a heavy thump in the ground 

And here is where I am right now… 

Staring at this two beings, one who I don't recognize, and another who looks like the son of a dwarf and a elf, two species that hated each other deeply 

The other being is probably his pet, it's naked and it's hiding behind the halfbreed

Even the beastfolk wear some clothes and this one is too small to be a beastfolk… 

"Hello, where am I?" I ask, but none of them respond 

How rude 

When I land my gaze upon the pet it squirms even more behind the halfbreed

"Don't worry, I'm not going to harm you" I say 

Then to my surprise they began talking in a language that I don't understand, I should be able to speak and understand every language… My translation spell isn't working? Maybe because I'm so dry it isn't working 

Well, I guess it has to be like in the old days 

I began my approach when suddenly the pet began running away. Well ñ, he wasn't my objective, I need to link my mind with the half breed, then even if we don't understand the messages, we will understand the meaning of them

I extend my hand to him and a small circle full of geographical figures appeared for a moment and the result is immediate 

The spell should link our minds, it's a ver advanced way of my mind control, while the mind control was easier and granted full control over the victim, it was a nightmare to be in the receiving end. After some test I learned that it doesn't 'turn off' the mind of the victim, it just overrides it meaning that they are trapped within their own bodies unable to do anything. And that's why I created a modified version where I just connect our minds without overriding it 

But it was obvious that it wasn't working, why? The halfbreed is screaming in pain as a copy of my antlers grow on the sides of his head, those antlers work as lightning rod's to my commands 

It shouldn't be painful, in fact I took pride in the fact that my technique not only was painless, but it was somewhat pleasant 

It should be only painful to beast without mana, for the love of the gods, even the dwarves had some mana, why this is painful?! 

I had to eventually go for the easy way with the mind control, it wasn't a full connection like I wished, but I didn't want to inflict more pain in this poor soul and if I set him free I would look like I was a wild shadow demon 

So I had to get information from whatever he has on him, with some luck he has a map and a compass, I can still definitely feel the portal up in the sky, but that's a later problem 

I walk to him now that he was standing up, there I could see how his veins bulged in multiple parts of his head, how his eyes were red and how blood was dripping down his nose 

I'm very sorry, I will pay for the damages later, but now I will search for whatever info I can get 

Under my mental commands he searches himself taking out multiple things that I do not recognize 

Something that I do note is that the quality of this objects and his clothes are excellen, maybe he's a rich… Yeah, I hope my rank as warden relaxes him a little later 

What I do notice is a weird noise in the background, like a magical alarm… hmm? What's that 

Multiple beings surrounded me from all sides, well, not yet, they are still in progress, but still… Something surprising because I don't feel their mana sources 

Because the shadows are practically my home I find a bunch of elves covered head to toe in black armor armed with some kind of crossbow without visible arrow nor string 

There were also the same kind of animal with them, and unlike the one before, they were also dressed in weird armor… 

Maybe they are intelligent and I caught the one before naked

Well, I guess I will try to speak with them through this halfbreed, I don't know if I could fight them with how little mana I have left… Where are you Santiana?