Chapter 10 - Supreme (Patreon)

"In a time unknown, only a prophecy keeps hope alive in people's hearts. 'When darkness veils the world, the King of Light shall come."

- Orange Fundamentalism Bible

***

Kordillus seriously doubted that the Tevinter would try to intervene, given their internal problems and their efforts to retake the City States of the Free Marches back into their fold, which had hit them very hard.

Loss of Kirkwall and Starkhaven was a tremendous blow to the Tevinter Imperium, and they have been trying to obtain them back since then. The fact that the Cult of Andraste was taking root in the Free Marches wasn't sitting well with the Tevinter at all.

The last point was something that was probably the most troubling because large parts of the Ciriane Clans still worshipped the Old Gods or their own Gods.

The Old Gods were sleeping beings that were worshipped in the form of Dragons by a significant number of Thedosians, specifically the people of the Tevinter Imperium, thousands of years ago. Legend holds that it was the Old Gods who initially taught mages how to use Magic. The Archdemons are believed to be awakened Old Gods, tainted by the Darkspawn.

Even though the Andrastianism was spreading in these ends, it didn't really get into the depths of the Nahashin Marches and Western Approach.

So he needed to be wary of them if they were indeed hiding their power. It was highly possible that they were indeed hiding their power, because the Nahashin Marshes were an area that was mostly isolated, and news from the place was scarce.

The Western Approach could be regarded as the same thing.

Kingsglaives also served as the Intelligence Department for the Orlais Kingdom, because Kordillus placed great importance on espionage, assassination, and information gathering.

When he was implementing a lot of modern ideas into the creation of the Orlais Kingdom.

***

His grandfather was already in a place with several Mages of the Royal Magic Corps, and was discussing with them how to construct Portals that were more stable. The creation of the Portal Magic was something that could be considered world-shaking news in the continent of Thedas.

The Orlesian Portal Magic was created on two bases.

The first was the observation of Spatial Magic related to the Elder Blood, and the second was what Ciri had shown them.

Surprisingly or not, even though she didn't undergo any Magical Education in her original world, she managed to learn the Portal Spell, because it was extremely easy for her to learn it due to the Elder Blood flowing in her veins.

Portal Magic was highly problematic and had several limitations.

Depending on the type of portal, some are harder or easier to create. For instance, a portal that hangs in the middle of the air is far more difficult to create and takes more time, and thus only a very powerful mage can do so effectively. 

However easy they are to use for Mages, they do have their drawbacks: mainly, if a portal is unstable or not set up correctly, it can quite literally tear one's body in half, killing them instantly.

One can also set up a "blind" portal, but this is a gamble: if one doesn't know where they're teleporting to, it could also very well lead to their death. Mages needed to know the location where they wanted to open a portal.

For the Orlesian Mages, the Portal Magic was something new, and not many Mages mastered the Portal Magic at all. Some could open Portals to the basic locations and on short distances, but that was all.

Right now, only two Mages, Vanderin and Ostred, could open long-distance portals and transport them to the Val Foret. However, there was a way around it, which was for several Mages to join their forces and open the portal together.

Even though it was somewhat risky, because it wasn't as efficient as when the portal was opened by one skilled and powerful Mage.

"You can leave."

Vanderin Drakon dismissed three Royal Magic Corps Mages that he was instructing as they gave him a bow, before departing back to their barracks. Vanderin then looked at his grandson, who returned from the meeting with the Kingsglaive troops.

"How are they?"

Kordillus himself could open only short-distance portals to locations that he knew very well and could imagine properly. Ciri, on the other hand, could do long-distance portals with relative ease, but that was primarily attributed to the Elder Blood, which was giving her an unfair advantage in that manner.

"Not great... not terrible... Opening a portal for the fifty people or so is above the capabilities of everyone here. I would open the portal by myself."

Vanderin Drakon said, as he was the only person in the entire Orlais who was capable of opening a portal to the Val Foret, as they needed to get there as soon as possible. If they took more time, there was a serious possibility that Val Foret would fall to the rebels and then to the Cult of Andraste.

Reconquering the city would be a total pain in the ass.

Thus, they needed to act fast.

"The situation in the Val Foret is... I don't think that Governor and City Guard could last more than two weeks or so... it's apparent that the rebellion was carefully staged by the Cult of Andraste because many are wearing symbos of the Andraste according to the reports."

There was some minor information from the Val Foret that they managed to send before the city was cut off from the wider communication network. Orlais was a huge enemy to the Cult of Andraste, but the followers of Andrastianism were not unified and were spread across the entire Southern Thedas and Western Thedas.

So the best that the various Cults of Andraste could do for the time being was to harass Orlais or try to sabotage them in one way or another. Val Foret was the best example of that, because the city was only lately brought into the fold of the Orlesian Kingdom, and it wasn't completely assimilated.

It seemed that their enemies exploited this fact very well.

"Do you want to come too to the Val Foret?"

Vanderin Drakon looked at Ciri as she wasn't obligated to go to the Val Foret. 

"Yes, please... I am already getting bored in here."

Ciri was a rather hyperactive person, and she needed to constantly do something or else she would get bored rather quickly. And bored Ciri was bad Ciri as she tended to cause trouble for everyone involved or not.

"Then both of you go and change into the combat gear."

Both Kordillus and Cirilla nodded as they went to change, but only Ciri left as Kordillus remained alone with his grandfather because he wanted to talk with him about something, or rather, it seemed that his grandfather wanted to talk with him about something.

"There is something that I want to inform you about. I will be attempting to reach the Supreme-Tier and undergoing the Trial of Mastery for the Trial of Magic."

When the Classmaster wanted to reach the Supreme-Tier, there were two basic requirements for it. One was to achieve the limit of the Gold-Tier and then undergo the Trial of Mastery of one of the Paths.

Paths: Magic, Skill, Strength, and Soul.

After achieving success in the Trial of Mastery, they would be elevated to the Supreme-Tier and attain Mastery.

Mastery Magic represented the accumulated Magic Lore and Magical Might in a universal manner. Mastery Magic was the congregation of all Spells learned, all Magic mastered, and the depths of the Arane that the Mage delved into.

Mastery Skill represented not only Combat Skills, but also the ultimate of any universal ability. Skills to search for presence, skills to differentiate lights, skills to differentiate sounds and location, evasion, prejudging, mind, and even eating, running, flying, and the position when one charges up and lets out a punch during training. Everything was part of skills. They were all derivatives that involved one's physical control over one's own body.

Mastery Strength represented the pure strength, the strength that exceeded one's limitations. It was exceeding the limits of the strength of the body and achieving the true extraordinary realm of the supernatural through sheer will and determination to obtain the strongest and most powerful physical body.

Mastery Soul was the most obscure among the four, and not many things were known about them; not even Vanderin Drakon was informed much about the Mastery of Soul. This was because the knowledge of it was lost together with the Ancient Elven Empire many thousands of years ago.

"Are you confident, grandpa?"

Kordillus asked as he was aware of the implication.

If his grandfather succeeded and managed to reach the Supreme-Tier Mage, then the Orlais Kingdom would be transformed overnight into a powerhouse.

They won't need to hope for some sort of miracle in the case of Tevinter Imperium and other hidden factions, much less being said about the Darkspawn that were lurking underground.

"Yes... I also have plans to undergo the Trial of Skill soon afterward."

This is rather surprising, Kordillus, because there were actually not many Supreme-Tier Classmasters that underwent more than one Trial of Masteries. The more Masteries the Supreme-Tier Classmaster had, the more powerful they were, because every Trial was a tremendous change and increase in power.

At the same time, it was also dangerous.

"When do you plan to advance?"

Kordillus asked because the sooner his grandfather became the Supreme-Tier Mage, the better it would be for the Orlais Kingdom in the long run. Only with the Supreme-Tier Classmaster would the Orlais have some solid foothold in this unforgiving world of countless warring factions that waged wars for supremacy over the Thedas.

"After the situation in the Val Foret has calmed down entirely. After I become the Supreme-Tier II, I will watch over your advancement to the Gold-Tier, as you are already close to advancing to the Gold-Tier."

The Prince of the Orlais nodded because of the help of the Supreme-Tier Mage during this advancement to the Gold-Tier. It would significantly increase his chances of advancement to the Gold-Tier by at least another 100%, which was a lot.

"Well, if we have a Supreme-Tier Classmaster among our ranks, we would be relatively safe from the possible attacks on the side of the Tevinter Imperium."

Among the higher-ups of the Kingdom, they were aware of the Supreme-Tier Classmaster and how it would benefit them. Especially when the Kirin Tor and Cirlces of Magi would be created, as they would need some very powerful Mage that would keep the other Mages in check.

"Orsted won't be long away from the advancement himself in a few years."

With the support of the entire kingdom, it was relatively easy to gather various resources and pieces of Lore for certain Mages. This was also one of the primary motivations of Vanderin Drakon behind his decision to migrate to Val Royeaux.

Having acess to the resources of the entire Kingdom was something that he could only dream about while being in the Tevinter Imperium. This was also the main reason behind the rapid advancement of Vanderin Drakon to the Supreme-Tier and his chances of achieving Double Mastery.

Even though Orsted wasn't some kind of genius, he was very hardworking, and his talent was rather good compared to the other Mages. So, certainly, his aptitude would allow him to reach the Supreme-Tier Mage in a few years.

"It seems that the Cult of Andraste is getting restless..."

His grandfather just nodded at that, because they were getting bolder... or more desperate, one could say.

Depending on the point of view.

"Even though the Andrastianism is spreading across the southern Thedas, there are two main obstacles that they are facing. First is the increasing attacks from the Tevinter on their followers, and second is the existence of the Holy Fundamentalism Order and Holy Chantry."

Kordillus knew that the actual situation of the various Cults of Andraste wasn't really good looking at last for the future.