"The Mahat?" An older, plump man said, shifting through the pages of a book, in his office.
"Yes." Bianca stated, in a professional tone. "That's what it calls itself."
The older man closed the book he was reading.
"Never heard of such a Relic." He said plainly.
"..."
"Erm, excuse me sir? I'm not that well versed in Magickal Relics but I assumed-"
"I am well versed in them." He clarified. "But there has never been any historical or even mythological appearance of such a Relic."
"That being said..." He said sitting down on his chair.
"This could be... A new Relic."
"!?"
"During... During the age of suffering...?" Bianca asked, slightly ajar.
"Mahat, it means great or vast, symbolising subtle or great intellect in a cosmic sense."
"Cosmic..? From what I've observed it appears to be some type of Fire elemental manipulation..." Bianca asked, curious.
"Fire is... An interesting element, it is said to be the first of the elements to be produced from Aether, the inspiring, transformative life energy that arouses the other elements into existence from the inert Aether. It thus represents the World of Causes, highest in the Tree of Life." He explained.
"A Relic of that caliber... Could it be..."
"A Mandala? I wouldn't jump to such conclusions yet, a new Relic in the modern era, the era of suffering, is already a strange discovery, we'll have to study it more." He adjusted his glasses.
"I suppose even if it's not a Mandala, it is a Relic befitting a Chosen One. But... This concerns me more than putting me at ease..." Bianca said grimly.
"Is that so?" The man replied.
"A Relic of this calibre, the emergence of Crawling Magick, the activities of The New Iteration and Fuzon Synkronos, the prophecy, the militarised Familiars... There is something big going on that we can't piece together... I shudder to imagine what it could be..."
It was clear that she was distressed.
"It'll be fine. You youngins always worry about everything, guess that even goes for prodigies like you. That boy's a Chosen One and yet he's more relaxed than you, maybe you should take a cue." He smirked at a slightly annoyed Bianca.
"He... He treats it like a 9:00-5:00 job he doesn't like doing... Not like he was chosen by The Logos to prevent the end of the world." Her tone was exacerbated.
"Cut the boy some slack now, he's had a tough life."
"That's not an excuse..." She whispered.
"But he's doing fine isn't he?" He asked.
"He's supposed to be learning about A - Theory, but I'm pretty sure he's slacking off."
"You youngins... It feels like you all have the weight of the world on your shoulders doesn't it? Things have changed a lot from the old days..."
Bianca laughed bitterly. "It has... The world is crueler."
"Maybe so, yet we still try, you still try. And I know you won't stop trying."
"..."
"Damn right I won't."
...
Andrew sat in a college-esque theater with a stage, it was for new mages to learn the basics of magick on a theoretical level; based on the "A-Theory" the unified magick theory and system generally accepted by all supernatural parties of the world
An experienced Mage, the woman who had saved him back then from those punks hired by that New Iteration agent was the "teacher" although it was more akin to a mentor like role.
"In essence the meridians are an incorporeal network of paths that channels the spiritual potency of Aether into the physical body's Od, allowing it to flow through it, allowing Mages to use spells." She explained.
"It is held together by the Kundalini, The matrix that holds Od through the body and during the exercise of Magick as the 'heart' of the Meridian's 'arteries'." She continued.
Andrew barely listened, contrasted to the much more perked up Juno and the note taking Franz.
"I don't get why we need to learn this stuff... Isn't 'think fire, fire comes out' simple enough?" Andrew mumbled
Franz quickly corrected him. "Actually it's divided into three stages Nuit, Ha-"
"Zip it dove boy, I don't care." He said bluntly.
Juno patted a flustered Franz on the back, playfully chastising Andrew.
"Speak for yourself, I think it's interesting how they combine different Theologies and Metaphysics into one coherent theory!" She huffed.
"It's strange..." Franz began "I always thought with how different their origins are, and how isolated some of these developed, they would have more differences between them, perhaps they all came from a single source of text?"
"Well..." Juno replied thoughtfully "I believe they all try to get to a single truth, uncovering the great mystery of life, if they call came to do similar answers, maybe there's some truth to it."
Franz gave a shy smile "I suppose that's what us Mages do, look beyond the distinctions to find the unity among even the most disparate elements."
"My, Franz! When did you turn so... Philosophical?" Juno exclaimed, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes at seeing Franz engage in proper conversation.
"W-Well I did meet and talk to an actual Angel so..." He replied softly.
"Right... Sandalphon, the one who delivers our prayers to Elyon..." Her voice was almost reverent
"Can you two shut up." Andrew said, a mix of tiredness and apathy in his voice. "I'm trying to zone out, and you two are not making it easy."
Juno just giggled, not taking him seriously. "Whatever you say, Mahat guy."
"Hey! I'm the one who nicknames around here!" Andrew said, also not serious.
"Um... Why do you nickname everyone though?" Franz asked, genuinely curious.
"Well... You see I am afflicted with this condition called not being able to remember names correctly... Though you guys are an exception I suppose even though I don't remember any of your last names." Andrew said, streching his sleep away.
"Ahem" The three snapped their gaze to the teacher who was looking up at them with a slightly annoyed smile.
"Now I know you're all Chosen Ones but learning the basics about Magick is key to mastering your powers... So I'd appreciate if you all pay attention..."
...
After their theoretical class, the three walk over to the cafeteria, talking as they make their way through the halls of the mansion.
"How much more we got left to learn anyways?" A bored Andrew asked.
Franz quickly took out a pamphlet from his pocket and began to read out the course.
"Basics in applied Thaumatology, Magick and the Astral Body, Basics of Celestial Thaumatology, Introduction to A-Theory, Classification of Chakras, Classification of Relics, Basics in Theoria, Introduction to the Etz Chim, Introduction to Sex Magick, Schools of thought-"
"Whoa Whoa, go back a second." Andrew interrupted. "Sex Magick? The hell..."
"O-Oh I actually know a bit about this one!" Franz said excitedly, conflating Andrew's confusion with curiosity.
Both Andrew and Juno stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening, which Franz also took for encouragement.
"Yeah, I met a guy proficient in it before I got rescued by the Order!"
"Rescued...!?" A flabbergasted Andrew let out.
Franz continued happily.
"Yeah, but he taught me a lot of things about it before they did! Stuff like-"
Andrew put a hand on Franz's shoulder, interrupting him.
"Franz, my friend. I want you to know something."
"Know wha-"
"That" Andrew cut in again. "There's nothing more cool than being hugged by someone you like, but if someone tries to touch you in a place or in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, that's no-"
"Andrew" This time Franz cut in. "I'm um... 19, I know what sexual harassment is, that's not what happened."
"Oh" Juno let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. "That's good Franz, that's good..."
"I'm not a child..." Franz said, blushing childishly.
"Hey!" Suddenly a voice rung out causing the three Chosen ones to look at its source, a bit further in the hallway.
It was Bianca, holding a bunch of papers which she was reading, her eyes concentrated slits, while she moved quickly, a guy with messy black hair calling out to her as she approached, his Hermetic coat had a large amount of badges for some strange reason.
He began rubbing his head and talking to the approaching woman "So I was wondering if we could try hanging ou-"
"No"
She didn't even glance up at him from her papers.
"So cold... Yet so hot..." He whispered to himself as she left.
When she was passing the three Chosen Ones she patted Franz on the head almost unconsciously.
"You guys mixing well with each other?" She asked, actually looking up this time.
"Heck yes we are!" Replied an excited Juno. "Drew and Franz are the best!" She pulled both close.
"Totally..." Andrew replied, half irony, half genuine.
"Well call me if you guys need something."
The guy with the messy hair stares in awe at the interaction as she leaves.
As the three continue their way through the hallway the three are interrupted by the boy with the messy hair.
"Woah Woah, did the Bianca Hyde just pet you, er... F-France?"
"I-It's Franz-"
He immediately takes Franz's hand and shakes it.
"Junger! Junger Montauk, nice to meet you Franz!" His gaze turns to the others. "You must be his friends, The Chosen Ones correct?"
"Not by choice... Not that the housing and free food isn't good..." Andrew admitted.
"Asking out Miss Bianca? You must have a lot of nerves!" Juno giggled out.
"Ah... She's so badass though, she could kick my ass so easily." He said almost dreamily.
Franz was confused "Um..."
Andrew was more blunt however. "You're weird dude, I've seen her fight... She's damn scary man... And I don't even know what her magick even is!"
"Hey I may be weird, but I know what I want!" He chuckled not taking Andrew's comment as an insult.
"Anyways." He patted Franz. "Tell me if you guys learn more about her! I could always use more tips!"
He left, down the hallway, waving back at them.
"..." Franz was confused.
"... He's weird." Andrew stated bluntly.
"He's nice!" Said a much more optimistic Juno.
"..."
"What's the next class anyways?" Andrew asked.
"After Magick Theory, there's Practical Magick, Hand to hand combat and firearms use." Franz read out from a pamphlet again.
"Finally the cool stuff!" Andrew said happily as they moved to the Cafeteria.
...
It was the night of the same day. New Iteration Agents gathered outside a low end basement bar. One where gangsters might stereotypically hang out. Yet they were hunting much bigger fish:
The Arcana Liberation Front, a Mage supremacist group that wished to enslave non Mages, who they believed were sinners not granted holy powers by Elyon for their inherent sinful nature.
They were a terrorist organisation unlike the much more ordered Hermetic Order or New Iteration, or even Fuzon Synkronos, they were an open danger that threatened to rip open the wound of Magick to an ignorant world through sheer brutality.
Although most of them had mellowed out in recent years, few extremists remained, and through intel The New Iteration learned of their meeting under the bar.
It was an older building, combined with newer repairs, having a strange mishmash of an aesthetic.
The leader of the squad moved in the bar, a scout had been sent prior, saying it was empty. The meetup likely taking place in the basement.
He signalled one of his agents who concentrated his mind, letting out a psychic ripple that moved through the building.
"There..." He pointed to a part of the floorboards, slightly rattling more than the rest of the floor.
The leader kicked it open, all of them standing guard with their firearms.
The door led down into stairs that plunged into a gorging darkness.
The scout stepped down slowly, each step ringing out like gunshots as he steps down into the darkness.
A scream rings out causing the entire squad to rush down the stairs, near the end they find a source of light as well as the standing scout, petrified in place.
The sight they see makes their hairs stand.
Dead. Half eaten.
All of the Arcana Liberation Front members were on the floor, some half eaten, others just piles of scrapped clothing.
In the corner of the room a lone figure stood, wearing a black trenchcoat and fedora. As they turned, the entire squad gasp, she had pale olive skin, piercing crimson eyes and sharp, almost shark-like teeth in her sardonic smile.
"It can't be... It's... The Maleficarum..."
"It's the Witch..."
"It's... It's..."
...
"Helga Kramer".
Rasputin dropped a dossier with information on her on the table, surrounded by other Council members.
"Ajna level atleast, a Magister Templi, skills: Dark Electricity, has a familiar."
"A familiar? Along with dark electricity? Ajna... The strongest Chakra level a Mage can achieve without being an Avatar of some God or Force, are we sure this information is accurate?" Asked a skeptic Simon.
"You'd be surprised." Answered a much more jaded Henry, stroking his wild, dark beard.
"On point My dear Whatetely! The mysteries and unlikeness of the world are nothing to underestimate." An amused Shax chimed in.
"Don't call me that, Demon." Henry replied sternly, earning a chuckle from Shax.
"Point is she wiped out a whole squad of our Agents as well as a hideout of the Arcana Liberation Front singlehandedly. She left a survivor to send us a message." Rasputin explained.
A curious Crowley asked "That message is...?"
...
"I'll dismantle The New Iteration just as I've done the Arcana Liberation Front. Tell your Elite bosses that won't you?"
She had a Sardonic smile that showed her inhumane teeth. As she spoke to the traumatized scout on his knees, screams rang out from behind them.
The other agents, magickally paralyzed screamed bloody murder as hordes of rats, their nerves and actions controlled by signals from her dark electricity, ate into them voraciously, tearing clothes, flesh and sinew alike. Chittering, sqeaks, screams and spurts of blood filled the air as the scout hyperventilated.
"Now now you little corporate mouse, you have a job to do! Get up." Her playful tone belied her horrifying actions.
"Why... Why are you doing this...?" He managed to choke out.
"Oh? Why? Well... I just hate systems y'know? Imperialism, Democracy, all of em, nothing really satisfies humanity, frankly I don't even want order... Buuuut I don't want chaos either..." She chuckled.
"That doesn't make any sense... There has to be something... Atleast chaos." He sputtered out.
"It doesn't make sense does it? That's reality for you! When you attempt to categorise nothing into something, you're not gonna make sense!"
"Then what...?"
"Hehe... You see, I wish to reach the source of all systems all contentions. Politics, history, wars, even the so called fundamentals of order and chaos, are but surface-level phenomena obscuring the primordial force of Thaumiel, the dual-aspect truth whose conflict and interplay generates all structures and systems in creation. By tearing systems apart, by slaughtering and breaking down all structures and reality itself, I will reach the root of conflict itself; duality, Satan and Molech, then and only then will humanity be finally free from petty conflict! Ahahahaha!"
"You're... You're mad..." He replied, horrified at her ideology.
"Hah! Perhaps so, but The New Iteration, Arcana Liberation Front and Fuzon Synkronos are all but veils obscuring and purposefully hiding the force of Thaumiel for their own benefit, they are but... Temporary and partial manifestations, yet they think themselves invincible... How cute!"
She raised her arms, her hands clenched into fists as she spoke:
"There has always been kings and despots, there has always been rebellions and riots. There has always been Satan and Molech. The New Iteration and Fuzon Synkronos are merely the recent most manifestations of it. I simply wish to erase it's illusory external facets and let humanity gaze at the raw primal truth of their condition."
"..." The scout was too stunned to speak.
"Now run along, I have other fish to fry..."
She undid his paralysis as the screams faded from the now corpses behind them.
"Ciao!" She left casually as if everything was normal, leaving only the scout alive to deliver the message.
...
"So there's a one woman crusade against us because she wants to... Reach the root of duality..." Sighed a tired Henry.
"Ah, The Crown of the Tree of Death, she's definitely aiming high! Most humans stop at the Painful Movers!" Said a still amused Shax.
"Regardless our issue isn't her ultimate goal, our issue is that she's targetting us, our whole organisation." Rasputin said.
"The issue with that is...? Aren't there multiple Mages targetting us at all times? How's she different?" Asked an overconfident Crowley.
"..."
Rasputin sighed grimly.
"She might succeed."