Earth's Greatest Magus

?1880 The Mandate

"Tell me all you know," Emery asked.

The high elf introduced himself as Nievan from the Eldamar clan, one of the most prestigious and ancient high elves. An introduction was considered a sign of respect for these people.

Nievan then began to explain that the current expedition was particularly special, as the high elves had come with great preparations. It was a mandate that had persisted for over 10,000 years, passed down through generations, even before the fall of the celestials and their complete extinction 3,000 years ago.

Their crucial task was to ensure the celestial constructs, the ancient machines, continued to function optimally. This year's expedition was a significant part of fulfilling that mandate, with their aim set on reaching the mysterious eighth layer of the expedition.

This secret had been carefully guarded by the Eldamar clan of high elves, a creed handed down by a select few to ensure that no race could dominate the celestial powers.

Regrettably, this particular year, a looming threat had been detected that sent ripples of concern throughout the Eldamar clan. It was a menace of such magnitude that the Eldamar leaders decided to assemble their most skilled members for the expedition. This included not only high elves but also efforts to establish cooperation with other elven factions and even humans, a rare and unprecedented move.

The urgency of the situation was so dire that it led to the initiation of a ceasefire proposal, aimed at ensuring the successful completion of their expedition objectives, despite the escalating conflict between the human and elven races.

The high elf leaned forward, his demeanor sincere and earnest. "You see," he continued, his voice carrying the weight of the decision, "we were the ones who actively sought to prevent any confrontation between our races. We certainly did not instigate any actions that would break the ceasefire agreement," he asserted firmly.

Emery, though partially reassured, remained cautious. The explanation was consistent with the information he had gathered from Jinkan, but trust did not come easily, especially in times of great uncertainty.

While his spirit reading ability hinted at the magus's truthfulness, he couldn't ignore the fact that high elves were renowned for their exceptional proficiency in spirit reading. Emery kept his guard up, mindful of the complexity of the situation and the potential dangers that lay ahead.

Emery's curiosity burned as he pressed further, "Tell me, then, how did it all unfold? How did the battle actually start?"

Nievan's brow furrowed with frustration. "It was indeed the elves, but it was not by our order,". He proceeded to explain that, after meticulous preparations and ensuring that most of their expedition members had reached the seventh layer, they had moved quickly to open the path,, the hole on the structure they had been guarding. However, as soon as the path was opened, groups of human magus appeared, seemingly waiting for the perfect moment, and the battle erupted without warning.

"The Oculus magus," Nievan continued, his voice grim, "there were dozens of them when the battle began. You've seen their swift and coordinated actions. They must have had some hidden agenda."

With each revelation, the complexities of the situation grew, leaving Emery with more questions than answers.

Emery's mind raced as he recalled the intense combat with the dark magus. During the skirmish, he had managed to capture the souls of a few of them, ready to be questions. However, his time was limited, and within seconds, the structure had once again shifted, thwarting any further investigation.

As the walls continued to shift and change around them, Emery extended his spirit reading, hoping to uncover any hidden clues or secrets within the labyrinthine structure. However, the high elf, Nievan, interrupted his concentration, pleading, "I have told you everything I know. Please, release me."

Emery regarded him with a determined gaze and replied, "I will release you, but only after you tell me how to escape this place and reach the eighth layer." The urgency of their mission weighed heavily on him, and he needed every bit of information available.

Regrettably, Nievan couldn't provide any specific details about escaping the structure or entering the eighth layer, other than the knowledge that the palace of the eighth layer lay deep within the core of the structure.

As Emery contemplated their next move, he suddenly became aware of a group of magus approaching. This time, it was a contingent of elves, numbering more than two dozen. Emery had no intention of instigating another battle before he could unravel the mysteries of the situation. With a quick decision, he made up his mind to make a swift escape, leaving Nievan to return to his elven companions.

Emery moved swiftly, putting distance between himself and the approaching group of elves. As he soared through the ever-

shifting maze, his mind raced with thoughts. If what the high elf had said was true, then the Oculus, the grade five faction Jinkan had mentioned, was either compromised or potentially the mastermind behind the unfolding plots.

A confrontation between an ancient high elf faction and a powerful human faction was a situation he'd rather avoid, but he knew he had a duty to inform the information and assist in reopening the ruins' gate for him and his friends.

The answers he sought lay deep within the structure, at the fabled eighth layer. Emery watched as the structure once again began to shift, an idea forming in his mind. Instead of relying solely on spirit reading, he actually could use his gravity spells to sense the path leading deeper into the core,

Without hesitation, Emery touched the golden metal structure and cast his gravity spell. With this trick Emery could sense the gravitational pull of the path that led further toward the core. Guided by this unique method, Emery made steady progress towards his destination.

After navigating several troublesome structure shift, Emery emerged into a different area. However, the sight that greeted him was far from peaceful; it was another battle between humans and elves.