Dale shuddered, looking past the Mana, instead trying to look at what they were putting Mana into. The twin obelisks stood, one exactly the same as the other, though in reverse, as they were mirror images of the other. Slowly, brightening Runescript flowed up and around each, in so many varied and opulent ways that it was nigh impossible to find where each began and the surrounding Runes stopped. Each Inscription was filled with gold that had been poured in a single sitting, leaving not a single break, weld, or splatter along the glowing lines.
Exactly the same amount of power went into each stone and they began to hum to their own song, dulling each time the Mana reached a new gem set into the patterns. At precisely the same time on each standing stone, the gem would grow nearly too bright to look at, then darken as the Mana continued up the flowing, golden pattern. The crowd was silent, completely awestruck as enough energy was accumulated into this one spot to begin to punch through the dimensional boundaries. The power became audible, snapping and hissing, the sound of a star detonating and being reborn as a furious and colossal terror of the void.
The opening expanded, a hole of pure darkness was pulled torturously to the artificial terminus represented by pure, glowing energy. The edge of the hole in the universe extended, straining to this glowing end, finally hooking like a fish taking bait. That is, furiously and with dark intent of escape. The chanting increased, the ventablack interior shuddered before finally relinquishing to the Mages control, shimmering into a vision of another locale in the world.
Silence reigned for but a moment as the crowd tried to comprehend what they had just witnessed, some hardened men shaking in terror, before a roar of approval tore from the throat of an astonished onlooker. Then, cheering, shouting, the men praised the makers of this wondrous relic. The exhausted Mages beamed as a festival air took hold, people rushed to enlist the services of these esteemed experts.
“I want to get to the capital of-”
“I have important-”
“Please! I haven’t seen my-”
“Get out of the way! I’m-”
The rush of noise, and soon violence, was shocking to Dale. This entire event reminded him that there was more to life than training and fighting, but also the spectacular end goal you could achieve when you had been training. It was a paradox that made him freeze up, torn between rushing back to the dungeon, or just joining the melee that was rapidly spiraling out of control, just to feel alive.
“Enough!” A familiar voice sounded, laced with absolute authority. The sound reverberated through his entire being, insisting upon instant obedience. Sixty percent of the fighting men and women stopped, their bodies no longer their own to control, while the others looked like they were moving through thick tar, their motion slowly coming to an absolute halt. Some of the weaker people passed out, their lungs unable to pull in air. All then collapsed to the ground, breathing restored to the gasping group.
“Are you animals? Are you no better than the creatures you come here to fight?!” Frank was walking toward the new portal. “I am ashamed! Ashamed of my own people! Any Guild members who started a fight, go to the clerks and pay the fee for fighting with your brothers-in-arms. Any who protected another, go collect a bonus from them.”
“Any non-Guild members, if you ever want a chance at joining the Guild, go and make amends, now. It is standard that if you have attacked a Guild member outside of self-defense, you may not join the Guild! We will pardon you this one time as the majority were from my Guild!” Frank roared furiously, face an unhealthy maroon color. “I will not tolerate this! If any do something so foolish again, their Guild fee will be raised to fifty percent of all valuables gained for a year! A third time, and they are out of the Guild, and blacklisted!”
He stared around at the quaking people, and snorted in disgust, “Why are you still here?! You have your orders! Get moving!”
People scrambled in all directions, some would have been trampled if the threat of Guild expulsion were not hanging in the air. Hans walked over to Dale, standing by as they watched the ocean of motion.
“Well that was fun.” Hans chuckled glibly.
“What did he do to them, Hans? This has been so… Messed up.” Dale shuddered. “I just want to go to bed.”
“Never seen ol’ Frankie in action, eh? Not too surprising. Not too much around here calls for the workings of an A-ranked Mage.” Hans stretched a bit as he began walking to the portal.
“He’s a Magous?” Dale’s eyes widened in shock. He had been rude to Frank on several occasions...
“Ohhh yes. You don’t get to be in charge of things if you are weak, my boy! Those Mages can get pretty scary. How their power manifests is… mind numbing.” Hans expressed in a low, dark tone.
Dale agreed with him, “I saw. What was all of that? Essence seems to look pretty much the same doesn’t it? Why is Mana so different?”
“Mana is… Unique to the person who uses it. It is the true name and power of something that influences reality in the way they want it to. From what I understand, when you first say a word in that… ‘Language’ for lack of a better word, your Essence becomes a concept of reality that you have uttered.”
Dale was more confused than he had been at the start of the conversation. “How then do they do different things? Don’t they have control of just one thing?”
Hans shook his head, “Something you will have to learn is that all of reality is really one, single, event. Though the concept they interpret is different for everyone, it can affect most things equally. Dangerously. It is a terrifying power to wield, I cannot even imagine what spiritual energy looks like, never ran into an S-ranked before.” Hans nearly whispered, giving a small shudder.
“What did Frank actually do though?” Dale insisted on understanding at least one piece of this talk.
“From what he told me of the Word he uses, it seems to be the basis for movement. Really hard to explain.” Hans apologetically informed him, “Think of it like this, when you move your arm, first your muscles bunch, then leap toward your target, right?”
Dale nodded affirmative.
Hans smiled, “Right, so all of that potential movement, which builds up when your muscles are getting ready to move, is the concept that Frank’s words embody. He took everyone's potential movement away.”
“Holy…” Dale was stunned at this. “Didn’t some stop instantly though?”
“Yeah, all the Guild members he outranks. So every Guild member that was in the area.” Hans glanced at Dale, “You do understand that entering the Guild, signing that document, ensures that everyone has to follow lawful orders, correct? That is what he enforced just now.”
“Wow.” Dale shook his head. “That is just the next level up from Essence? I… cannot understand what the higher rankings would be like.”
“Guess we’re just going to have to wait and see.” Hans happily chattered, clapping Dale on the shoulder. “Feel like getting a hot meal halfway across the world? If I recall correctly, you get free access for yourself~ and friends!” He finished with a broad wink.
“Why not? You’ll show me around right? I’ve never been off the mountains.” Hans suddenly contemplated what he would be able to see soon.
“You know it! Get your money, I know just the place to bring you.” Hans grinned, a worrisome glint coming into his eyes.