Blue Mage Omnibus: 10 Book Collection: An Epic Fantasy Romance Adventure

by Eden Redd

  “I don’t want anything to do with your order or that book. Leave me to my fate.”

  The man’s eyes narrowed, “But it is your fate we very much want to be a part of. Recently we have had dreams of you. With the book appearing to us, there is a grander design in store for you. Damon Wick must be stopped and the book has chosen you to be its avatar.”

  Trystan turned his face to the robed man, “Avatar? You speak madness.”

  The man chuckled softly, “You have glanced at the Libro Nocte. You have had a taste of madness. Damon Wick is a threat not just to humanity but all of Lurth. Our order is not above death but we have deeper dealings in corruption. You cannot corrupt what is already dead.”

  “I will not help you, your order or that book,” Trystan spat.

  The man smiled, “My dear boy, you don’t have a choice in the matter.”

  Fingers moved across the book, taking hold of the black cover and opening it. Trystan turned away and shut his eyes tight. He knew he had to resist with everything he had. Dark whispers entered his mind with soothing words. Foul temptation strung along his curious mental strings. The young mage remembered his mental cleansing exercises, trying to focus and keep the tendrils from his mind. Chanting in his mind over and over, he looked away from the dreaded darkness, using his soul to light the way.

  “You cannot fight them. It is only a matter of time. Open your eyes and gaze upon terrible truths,” The man’s words echoed through the cell and Trystan’s spirit.

  The mage gritted his teeth, his calm turning into a storm. He thought of Nia and the darkness grew. He thought of Gwen and the darkness shrank back but only slightly. Calling on his love for the ink witch, he wielded it like a flaming sword. Mentally saying her name, he slashed at the maddening shadows trying to claim him. Just as he thought the darkness was retreating, it surged around him, blocking out everything. Trystan’s love turned cold and his mind went numb. The whispers started to make sense. The darkness wrapped around his shoulders like an old friend. The mage wondered why he was fighting so hard. The dark whispers told him such wonderful things. They couldn’t be as bad as they seemed. The mad truth was the real truth. Why was Trystan running from such important knowledge? He couldn’t remember. Why couldn’t he remember?

  Head turning, the young mage felt his eyelids loosen. Opening them slowly, he stared at pulsating black words and forbidden knowledge. The man gave a gentle smile as he turned the pages one by one. Trystan’s eyes opened wider, drinking in each page as they flipped, incredible knowledge spilling into his hungry mind. With each page came more and more. Trystan understood. He understood it all.

  “I look forward to our next meeting,” The man said with a genuine smile, turning page after page to Trystan’s wide and unblinking eyes.

  Seventeen

  The sun hung low in the clear sky. Light changed from bright blue to orange embers. The city of Fallen York was abuzz with excitement. Monsters of all kinds moved through the streets, making the magnificent city breath like a living thing. Creatures adorned their finest clothing and chatted endlessly of the fable wedding between Damon Wick and Theena of Draygon. Their union would herald a new era for all monster races and everyone wanted to be there at the momentous occasion.

  Castle Spire stood with mighty orbs of light hanging in the sky. As dusk approached, the massive orbs of light glowed brighter, a spectrum of colored lights illuminating the city. Classical music played from song stones erected at street intersections. At the southern side of the enormous castle, a large castle square stood, letting the denizens flood in. Stairs rose up to a second square where mighty flaming braziers lit and warmed the air. Light orbs floated as the main gates remained closed. With the entire city turning out, Spire Square filled from shoulder to shoulder.

  Long walls lined the east and west of the square, guards walking along with eyes on the crowds. Some of the larger monsters stayed to the back while more humanoid ones crowded in to get a better view. A small fence lined the bottom of the stairs so the crowds would not spill onto the wedding party themselves. An altar stood with a lone scylla maiden peering into the crowd. Colorful tapestries hung to either side of the main gate with an image of Damon to one side and an image of Theena on the other. The sides of their faces were turned to the crowd and staring at each other. A large side door lined the walls at either side of the elevated square.

  Music played on as the sun sank halfway down to the west, light painting the walls with an orange glow. Older monsters were lead through the crowd to a roped off seating area so they could sit and enjoy the wedding. The younger ones lined the small fence, teeth and smiles showing their excitement.

  The music blanketing the city ceased and the murmur of the crowd grew louder. The main gate opened and eyes of all shapes turned to it. A lone figure walked in in an ornamental robe with the hood up. Monsters chanted “Damon! Damon! Damon!” over and over again.

  The figure took center stage as the crowd continued to chant. Letting their voices wash over, the figure lifted his head but did not remove the hood. The crowd increased their chant, saying “Damon” faster and louder. Clawed hands clapped as their chorus grew deafening. Just as the crowd continued their enamored chant to the tip of frenzy, the figure grasped the edges of its hood and pulled back.

  The crowd let out a fantastic cheer, their screams bouncing off the walls and into the dimming sky. Damon Wick looked out to the crowd with a happy grin. Creatures of all kinds raised their hands and fists to the man that had delivered them from the darkness and into the magical light. The mage stared out into the crowd for long moments before he bowed to their screams.

  Seeing Damon bow caused all monsters to cheer louder. Several monsters fainted while others climbed onto the fence, wanting to rush the handsome mage. Guards rushed out along the fence, grabbing at monsters and pushing them back into the crowd. The city was on the edge of exploding and Damon stood up with kind eyes, raising his hands, the crowd quieted down, ears ready for his honeyed words.

  Damon made a quick hand signal and cleared his throat, “I hear there is a wedding tonight,” Damon’s voice boomed across the vast Square.

  Monsters let out a massive cheering roar. Damon’s name was shouted to the heavens.

  Damon put his hands up again and the crowd died down, “I want to thank you all for coming. It means everything to me for all of you to be here for such a special occasion. Before we begin, I wanted to give some great news. The Night College is finished. Starting tomorrow, every monster will be able to enroll for magical studies!”

  Another roar filled the Square and city beyond.

  Damon continued to their cheers, “No more will the human colleges tell the world how it will be run. For the first time, every monster and creature will be able to learn and study the magical arts. You all will become masters of your own fate. The humans hide in their walled cities but we will move beyond our magnificent city and bring order to the chaos.”

  Damon moved forward, making eye contact with the crowd, “No more fear. No more hunger. No more cold. Your children will have a safe place to learn. Your elderly will have a safe place to live out their days and give treasured advice. Every monster will have a purpose, not to simply survive but to thrive.”

  Goblins, orcs, trolls, nagas, demons, gremlins, dragon kind, arachnix, slimes and harpies cheered with many more monsters as Damon paced along the raised platform.

  “I cannot promise the world will welcome us. I can only promise that Lurth will know our power! The world will turn to us and see what we have to say!” Damon paused before speaking again, “Has anyone heard of Stukarr?”

  The crowd booed.

  “Mighty Stukarr, the greatest city built since the Mana Cataclysm,” Damon looked around and turned his head to the crowd, “Is it safe for me to say that Fallen York is now the greatest city on Lurth?”

  The crowd broke into fevered screaming and chanting. The fence bowed as the frenzy bled into their spirits. Guards struggled to ke
ep the masses at bay.

  Damon smirked, “From this very point in our lives and generations to come, know that this is where it all started. You will be part of a change that will sweep the entire planet and worlds beyond!”

  Damon raised his hands as the entire city exploded into unimaginable cheer. After a few long moments, the mage lowered his hands and stared solemnly into the crowd.

  “I know some have whispered I should lead us to the new era. As beautiful as that sounds, I am still human. I grew up behind the walls and never truly knew the pain you have known.”

  Clawed hands reached out while tears filled many monsters’ eyes.

  Damon tilted his head, shadows covering his eyes, “I do not deserve such an honorable title. I do not wish to be the hypocrite in your golden era. Tonight is not just a wedding. Theena is a beautiful creature and more fitting for the role then I. She can lead you all to greatness. As her husband, I can advise but she will be your queen. Can you accept her as your queen and mother?”

  The crowd chanted “Theena! Theena! Theena!” with clawed fists in the air.

  Damon looked up, “We live to serve you beautiful monsters. But the sun has nearly set and we have a wedding to begin!”

  The masses cheered on as a door to the right of the Square opened and eight monsters in traditional robes walked out in single file, smiles on their monstrous faces.

  “Everyone, the generals and politicians that will help run Fallen York!” Damon pointed a hand to the eight.

  The noise didn’t die down as the eight took their spots to the right of the altar. The door to the left of the square opened and seven scylla wearing purple dresses glided out on tentacles, bouquets in their hands. A lone red headed human was behind them in the same style of dress, wearing a collar and bouquet in her hands. The crowd turned menacing as they shouted and hollered at Nia. The fire mage kept her eyes to the tentacles in front of her, not wanting to make eyes contact with the creatures screaming for her death. The seven scylla and one human took their places along the left side of the alter, turned and faced the crowd. While the scylla looked into adoring eyes, Nia kept her eyes to the stone floor.

  Among the line of guards keeping the crowd back, Sunara, Freya, Devva and Paula looked on to the wedding party. The blue haired succubus stared at Nia while Freya adored Damon by shouting his name. In the crowd, shadow mages moved in, taking their place to see the grand event.

  Damon turned his back to the crowd and moved to the right side of the altar. The main gate opened again and music played. From the darkness, a seven-foot kraken appeared. With a white flowing dress and bolero covering her shoulders, Theena glided out, tentacles moving while the waist up remained as still as calm waters. A tiara adorned her head and purple hair flowed down behind her shoulders. Gold metal bands coiled around her arms as her hands held a bouquet of blood red roses wrapped in trailing seaweed. The kraken stood to the left of the altar, turning to face her beloved with stars in her eyes. Damon gazed at her beauty, giving her a playful wink.

  The scylla priestess raised her hands and began speaking. The crowd grew silent as all eyes watched and ears listened. The priestess spoke of the union to be while pledging their souls to each other and the Dead Sea God, Draygon. Damon and Theena stood before each other, holding each other’s hands. When the priestess finished, she turned her head and arms to Damon.

  “Do you, Damon Wick, take Theena of Draygon to be your wedded wife and queen? Will you serve her for this lifetime and many more to come?”

  Damon squeezed Theena’s hands, “I do.”

  The priestess turned to Theena with arms out, “Do you, Theena of Draygon, take Damon Wick to be your husband? Will you guide him, protect him and listen to his counsel for this lifetime and many more to come?”

  Theena’s eyes shined with deep purple velvet, “I do.”

  “Then by the might and will of the Dead Sea God, you are joined. May your union bring tears to Draygon’s eyes.”

  Damon took hold of the kraken’s waist and pulled her closer. The seven-foot high priestess knelt down, tentacles wrapping around the smaller man. Lips touched and tongues swirled. The Square went wild as all manner of monsters cheered as loud as they could. Tears were shed and monsters clapped. The crowd pulsed like one giant living thing happy for their union.

  Damon pulled back, breaking their loving embrace. He squeezed Theena’s hand once more before turning to the crowd.

  “Before we begin the festivities, we must address a great evil that has penetrated our own sacred walls,” Damon turned to the right door and nodded to the guards.

  The guards nodded back and opened the side door. Several orc guards pulled a lone man in chained manacles. The figure moved with his head down and a blank face. Nia looked over and her heart thudded in her chest. She watched as Trystan was led to the center of the raised Square and turned to face the crowd. From the door, another figure was led out in chains. Nia’s eyes watered as she watched a haggard Professor Hart walk out with a collar around his neck and a haunted look in his eyes.

  Damon moved to Trystan and put his arm around the young mage, “These intruders entered our safe place. They wanted to sneak their way on and assassinate me and my beloved wife!”

  The crowd’s demeanor changed from thrilled to charged menace.

  Damon’s face turned grave, “For our union, the Dead Sea God has demanded a sacrifice. I can think of nothing better than a human mage from Stukarr. Do you not agree?”

  The crowd raised their fists in the air and pointed their thumbs down. Eyes stared at the mage with rage and bloodlust.

  Damon glanced at Trystan and grinned, “With his death, fates will be sealed. The human monsters will come for us. They will want revenge. They will try to wipe us out. But I do not fear that outcome. We have grown strong. Our city is splendor incarnate. We will push back their evil and reclaim what is rightfully yours! We will become the new masters of a remade world! Are we in agreement?” Damon shouted to the crowd.

  The crowd pumped fists into the air and let out a roar! Damon smiled as the legions of monsters screamed their approval. The renegade mage reached into his robe and pulled out a wicked dagger from its sheath. The light gleamed off the gold metal as the mage turned it in his hands. It was then when the young mage before him started to tremble.

  Damon looked down at Trystan’s tilted head, “Don’t worry Trystan. With your death, your friends will go free to spread the word of what happened here. I will be sure to end your pain quickly. Perhaps we will meet again in another life. I look forward to it.”

  Trystan’s shoulders continued to tremble, lips twisting into a mad smile and a chuckle rising up his throat, “A perfect plan, too bad the rules of the game have changed.”

  Damon raised an eyebrow, “Trystan?”

  “We are so much more than Trystan,” The young mage’s shoulder continued to shudder.

  Damon peered at the mage as giggling spilled from his lips. The young mage stepped forward to the crowd, shadows covering his eyes but not his manic smile.

  “Damon Wick is a fool!” Trystan’s voice boomed.

  The crowd at the fence surged back as if hurt by his very voice.

  The young mage swayed in his chains as he addressed the crowd, “Genocide is for the weak. It is a tactic used by lesser beings without the power to change destiny. You mewling sheep follow a man deemed unworthy because he has misinterpreted what true power is.”

  Damon gripped the dagger but his eyes remained cool, staring at the swaying mage.

  Trystan raised his face to the light. Gasps rang out as the young man stared with black veins running along from his neck into his face. The twisted smile remained as darkness pulsed under pale skin. Tendrils of inky darkness bled into the white of his eyes as they nearly bulged in their sockets.

  Hart looked to mad mage and pulled at his own chains, “Trystan!”

  Trystan held up his chains. Metal screeched and snapped, thick metal pooling at his feet. The rune co
llar at his neck pulsed before bulging and snapping off. The leather fell onto the chains and the magic glow faded.

  “I challenge this fool! I challenge his very existence! Why destroy when you can corrupt. You have lost your way Damon Wick,” Trystan’s voice came out deep.

  “Trystan you cannot……” Damon’s entire body was struck by black lightning.

  Trystan laughed as Damon went hurdling back into the twisted altar, cracking the stone and falling to his knee. The renegade mage looked up, thankful he had his protective aura up. Moving to his feet, he glanced to Theena and the guards. The kraken eyed her husband with a hint of fear.

  “Get inside!” Damon commanded.

  “I will not leave your side my husband!” Theena said as she moved to him.

  “Get to safety! Something unexpected has happened. I need you safe.”

  Theena was about to protest when scylla and orc guards took hold of her, pulling her to the main gate, the kraken thrashed to be free and at her husband’s side.

  Trystan looked to Damon with demonic eyes, “You perverted the true teachings of the Libro Nocte. The book has chosen me to be its avatar. I am here to punish you for your transgression.”

  Nia pulled back to one of the flaming braziers as her fellow bridesmaids ran to Theena’s side. The fire mage pulled at her collar only to be met with a surge of pain. She watched helplessly as Trystan took a step toward the stunned Damon.

  The renegade mage’s eyes widened as Trystan held out a hand. Darkness flamed up and faded from view, a black book now in his hand.

  “Trystan, I know you’re in there. Give me the book and you may go free. Everyone will go free,” Damon said with eyes locked on the Libro Nocte.

  Trystan slowly shook his head from side to side, “No. You will never gaze on the sacred knowledge ever again,” The dark mage laughed.

  Mist streamed from Damon’s robe. Several figures appeared in a burst of smoke, a gray dragon woman, a black dragon woman, a fallen angel and a four-armed blue-skinned woman with flowing black hair.