Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery stood still, observing the seven figures before him. Each was cloaked in the ethereal glow of cosmic energy, their presence radiating authority and deep connection to the land.

A beastman with grand, twisting deer-like horns took a step forward. His expression was neither hostile nor welcoming—merely calculating.

“Who are you? You are entering forbidden ground.”

Before Emery could respond, another warrior—a tall, scaled figure whose skin shimmered like the hide of a celestial serpent—spoke, his slitted eyes narrowing. “Is he the one they are hunting?”

A third warrior, covered in dazzlingly colorful feathers, studied Emery closely. “No… it’s not him… he looks completely different.”

Aside from the three beastmen, four more figures hovered in the air—members of the fairy race, their delicate wings humming with energy. Half of them pulsed with the power of two cosmos realms, their presence making it clear: this patrol was not ordinary.

Their formation alone spoke volumes of the Fey Clan’s strength.

But what caught Emery’s attention the most was the glowing runic tattoos covering their bodies. The lines and symbols thrummed with a natural energy he had only seen once before—etched into his own skin and Kaelyn’s during their transformations. There was no doubt about it: these warriors carried Fey blood within them.

Emery exhaled slowly, learning from his past mistake. He decided to suppress his aura. This was no time for reckless force.

“I am Soltz,” he said in a measured, respectful tone. “The Pardera King sent me to bring a message to the Fey. Let me speak with the one in charge.”

This was certainly a lie—Emery planned to bluff his way into the sacred place.

The warriors exchanged glances, some relaxing slightly. Yet, the deer-horned warrior remained skeptical.

“This is unusual,” he said. “We would have received word before any emissary’s arrival. And I have heard of none.”

Emery kept his voice calm. “This is an urgent matter. Please understand.”

Still, the warrior did not yield. His stance was firm, his authority unquestionable. Emery felt his body tense, readying himself to act if negotiations failed. But before he could, a sound filled the air—a melody so hauntingly beautiful that it sent a shiver down his spine.

Music.

The very forest responded, the trees swaying in unison, the ground humming beneath his feet. The melody was no mere song—it was a command. A presence so immense, so overwhelming, seeped into the air, pressing down on his very soul.

A voice, smooth and absolute, carried over the wind.

“Let the guest enter.”

The weight behind the words was undeniable. Whoever spoke them was someone beyond his reach—a supreme being.

Emery inhaled sharply. Retreat was no longer an option. He followed as the fey warriors led him deeper into the Fey Forest.

With each step, the atmosphere thickened. The trees here were ancient, towering monoliths with bark that pulsed like veins filled with liquid silver. Bioluminescent fungi clung to the roots, casting an eerie glow upon the misty ground. Strange, unidentifiable creatures lurked in the shadows—some shifting in and out of visibility, their eyes gleaming like hidden stars.

It was a realm untouched by mortal hands, where nature itself was alive in ways no human could comprehend. The deeper they walked, the more figures appeared—silent observers, their gazes piercing yet unreadable. They clung to the trees, emerged from the rivers, materialized from the very air itself, their expressions mixed with curiosity and suspicion.

And then, finally, they reached their destination.

A shrine.

It was no ordinary structure.

The ground was a perfect mosaic of natural stone, arranged in spiraling patterns that pulsed with unseen energy. Towering crystalline formations jutted from the earth, refracting the dim light into shifting rainbows. At the center, sitting upon a raised platform was a single figure.

A woman.

She had long, silvery hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes hidden beneath delicate cloth wrappings. On her lap rested a wooden instrument, its strings seemingly spun from moonlight itself. Her fingers glided across them effortlessly, producing a melody that resonated deep within Emery’s soul.

The moment he saw her, he knew.

This was no ordinary being.

Emery exhaled, steadying himself. “Are you the Earth Mother?”

The woman smiled, her song trailing off into silence. “I am not… I am the Moon Guardian.”

Her voice was gentle, but there was something behind it—an undeniable authority. A force of nature wrapped in serenity.

She tilted her head slightly, as though peering beyond his mask, beyond his physical form. “Your question reveals that you were not sent by the Pardera King… and you carry an energy that does not belong here.” Her lips curled in quiet amusement. “You are him, aren’t you? The traveler called Emery”.

Emery sighed. He had expected this. Fooling a supreme being was impossible.

He straightened his stance. “I have no intention of causing trouble. Return my daughter to me, and I will leave.”

The Moon Guardian’s smile remained as composed as ever. Her fingers delicately plucked the wooden instrument resting on her lap, the soft melody echoing through the shrine like ripples in an endless pool. “Your daughter is safe. You will see her… but you cannot bring the darkness with you. Leave it behind.”

Emery stiffened. Darkness?

Then it dawned on him—she meant Khaos.

His heart pounded. It was an impossible request.

Seeing no path through words, he let instinct take over. He expanded his divine sense, reaching out, seeking that familiar presence—Shinta. The air around him shimmered as his awareness stretched through the ancient forest, slipping past roots and vines, beyond the towering canopies, piercing layers of veiled enchantments designed to conceal. And then—

There she was.

Two thousand miles ahead, her essence flickered like a distant flame. She was within reach.

His fingers twitched, magic coiling around them. In an instant, he prepared to teleport out of the place.

And then—the shrine glowed.

Every stone, every rune, every fragment of the earth pulsed with light. Energy surged through the air, locking him in place, severing his spell before it could take form.

He was trapped.