Chapter Text
This Emerald Mox user had just passed their final test, all the other Emerald Mox users had not gotten this far due to inadequacy for the Master's standards. How desperately they had perfected everything they could manage, even dabbling in things outside of the average Emerald Users field just in case it would be on the test. Willing to do anything that would make the Master proud of them.
Yet that still does not seem the case. They strutted down the stairs in the order of their mox. The Emerald Mage was at the end of the line, with The Ruby Mage in front of them, the Sapphire user, then the great Master Magnificus. It almost made them nervous, how they had finished their finals and yet were being led back to the pupils mox assigned rooms. Wouldn't they have been inscrybed to his great hand by now? Doubt almost edged into their mind- since they had already done everything they were told to do for the great Master!! Did even more than necessary, anything for him! Such doubts were cleared from their mind easily by the smile the Sapphire Mage threw their way.
How constantly they felt blessed to have such a friend, that all three of them managed to pass. Pity resided in their soul for the Ruby Mage- as Ruby Mages, they are to be warriors. Their body to be a vessel of destruction, to kill those they love to please the one they serve. Which is what the Ruby Mage had done, though it always had a toll on her mentally. How many times she had snuck away from the Ruby Crowd she was assigned to, to be able to hold herself against them and be able to sob. This means she wasn't an ideal Ruby Mage, since they are to be emotionless and robotic in their actions. Though her imperfections as a Ruby Warrior made her oh so much more unique. Especially seeing that she ended up being at the top of her mox class. Each Ruby Mox user had to spar each other to death, and she was the last one to come out of it. No doubt after this the two would give each other a sweet warm hug and cry it out. Being made to cull the people she grew up around, even though the other ruby mages would be proud of her despite her having to kill them with her trusted spear.
Gently they reached out and touched the cloth of her cloak, tugging on it to grab her attention. Seeing her ear twitch and lightly turning her head in the direction of them.
"Need a hug after this?"
"...Definitely."
Her response was hard to pick up, whispering to one another so that Magnificus wouldn't hear. Though obvious in her hushed tone, she was trying not to cry. Perhaps not obvious to many, since the two have had several moments of needing to cry on one another's shoulder. They've learned to pick up on when she needed comfort. Though now, they passed each other small sweet smiles.
Now more reassured, all three of the mox wizards had reached the bottom of the staircase to the sapphire mox room. A familiar round orb perched on a statue stood in the middle of the empty room. The emptiness was due to the Sapphire Mages trained for wisdom, so material distractions were restricted from them. Though when the trio hung out, the Sapphire Mox user was almost always enticed by everything they could get their hands on. Though, now they were in the quiet empty room. Focusing on Magnificus, the Master was at the ageing grey statue. Slowly moving the puzzle pieces on the tower. Each click made the mages tenser.
"Now, that was not your final, my loyal students. That was to cut down to only the most worthy of the final test. A test of your wits, your weaknesses. Push you to your limits to see if you are truly prepared for the life of a card- to constantly be brought to death, pain, and to even kill for the sake of Loyalty."
When Magnificus emphasized kill, his multicoloured eye looked pointedly at the Ruby Mage. Touchy topic, her posture faltered at that- though not significantly. But they could notice the change, and it was uncomfortable. Reaching forward, they gently grabbed her hand, giving a reassuring squeeze to her hand. With her giving a much stronger squeeze, almost making them wince.
"Now is your true time to prove how far you're willing to go to be in my hand as a card. This will make you stronger. Now, Sapphire Mox user," he motioned the Sapphire Mox User forward, and forward they came, "what a lonely wizard you are. You will learn to find strength in the silence your test will provide. To become strong on your own, provide yourself with the energy you need to become a warrior. A challenger will come, for all of you. Defeating them will be the end of your test, I expect nothing more than the best from all of you in this test."
Taking out the sacred brush, the one so wonderfully used to inscrybe pupils and change cards however he so pleased. Though, swiping the brush across the sapphire mox that was perched on the statue. The dingy grey old mox on the statue glowed blue, then lifted itself off the statue. With a bright white flash making the Emerald mage wince, the Sapphire User was gone.
.
GONE?
"The Sapphire Mox user's test is the test of Sensory Deprivation, to expand their mind." The Master looked towards the two, his foreseeing eye squinting at the two remaining pupils, turning around and moving towards the next flight of stairs. "Come."
The two lagged behind the Master, as the Ruby Mage took a moment to brush her bloody-knuckled hand across the mox statue. Passing one another an uneasy glance at what was to come. "It's going to be okay." The Emerald mage squeezed her hand with a comforting smile, though the action was honestly to ease their own nerves as well. Letting go of one another's hands, they continued to walk in the ordered line behind the Master. With the Ruby Mage's floor coming next.
Unsure of what could be her test- she had already done so much! What could she possibly lose? Perhaps they were all to be banished to sensory deprivation like the Sapphire Wizard was.
"Just as the Lonely Sapphire Wizard was, the Ruby Wizard will be put through her own specialized test. To push her bodily and mental limits. While physical strength is your gift and mox speciality, you rely too heavily on your body for strength."
The subtle clicks of puzzle pieces on the ruby mox statue. Though, pausing and motioning the ruby mage forward, with the Master wielding his paintbrush. When she stepped forward, the Master reached a hand out for the spear she had always so proudly carried. To which she handed over readily, standing tall and brave, always willing to give up anything for the Master. The Emerald mage clenched their fists in excitement for the Ruby Mage- any possible positive outcome of this flooded their brain. Despite where the Emerald- the Lonely Sapphire Wizard, as Master had called them now, had been put. They could not help but have high hopes for what their treasured Scrybe would have in stock for the Ruby Mage!
Watching as the Great Scrybe of Magicks had brought the thick blue and pink paint across The spear, from the Head of the Spear down to the parts that stuck out underneath the sharp part. The technical terms for the anatomy of a spear was not at the forefront of their knowledge, unfortunately. The drippy and opaque paint covered most of the top half of the spear. Once that, he brought the brush towards the Ruby Mage- was she being inscrybed now?? How lucky the Wizard was to not need to go through whatever sensory deprivation the Lonely Wizard was sitting through as of current.
The Ruby Wizard stood still with her breath held, tilting her chin up to reveal her neck obediently as The Master brought the paintbrush slowly across the throat of the Ruby Mox User. Making the wizard gasp a little bit, surely because the paint would be uncomfortably cold against the delicate hot skin of her neck. Watching with anticipation, the Emerald Mage noticed themself holding their breath along with her.
There was silence, anticipation, with even Magnificus sitting quietly observing her. After a couple beats of silence, her body stiffens, jolting sharply. The paint on her throat was now becoming a burning, deep blackish red. Blood. Bringing her hand up to her own throat, she touched the blood that was forming where the paint had been laid. Red inky blood on her fingers, the Ruby mage opened her mouth to even just try to gasp or react in any humane way. Though all that came out was a mouthful of more blood, hitting the floor in a horrible splatter. Hardly even giving time for the Emerald Mage to react to the blood, the great Magnificus took the painted spear in both of his masterful hands and-
-Right through the Ruby Mage's skull, right on the soft skin under the jawline and neck. Impaling her head perfectly through the spear, despite the barriers on the spear made to keep such things from happening. Probably because of the paint. Though the thoughts running through the Emerald Mages thoughts were not as well-composed as this had been described. They heaved all the air out of their lungs seeing this action, from the Scrybe that they had looked up to for so long. Such doubt struck their mind once again in horrible fear.
Blood only seemed to seep from the growing wound on her throat now, with quiet choked gasps from the Ruby User. Teeth red with the blood dripping off her lips. Her shoulders slacked unnaturally before the body under the bloody gash forming on her throat collapsed onto her knees first, then the rest of her collapsed limply. Making two heavy thuds from the weight and density of her physical density and structure.
oh my god oh my godohmygod
The Emerald Wizard repeated this excessively under their breath, shock and horror rattling their soul. Taking a step back with a clack of their heel on the wooden flooring of the tower. Blood pooling around the decapitated body, very quickly, staining the floor with the heavy deeply hued blood. As well as the Spear underneath her head and floor around it getting soaked in that red chroma.
The rhythmic drips forming pools of blood around the spear and body were a tune that played a melody of panic into the last remaining Mox Wizard in the room. Chest tight like their ribcage was caught between two heavy boulders- each breath was sharp, quick and far too shallow to properly supply the oxygen to the blood in their veins. Blood. Blood just like the blood coming from the Impaled Wizards mouth, neck and lifeless body. Red, thick and getting everywhere. So cruelly shed by the person they spent their entire life dedicated towards- the same person that the Ruby mage had spent their life worshipping as well! So much blood. They wanted to vomit, the feeling was deep in their gut that felt so prominent. Light in the head from such a primal feeling of disgust, fear and betrayal.
"thats- thats so much blood, oh, oh my god-" The wizard heaved, putting a hand over their mouth with the feeling of nausea so loud to their brain that it became something to pick up in even just their voice.
Magnificus on the other hand took their brush across the bloody stump of what remained of her neck on the spear. Paint mixing with the blood and mixing into it. No look of remorse or care of the action he committed, what lives he took. How much the mage aspired to be like Magnificus, the emotional vulnerability that the Emerald user was exposing was pathetic in comparison to the luxurious Scrybe. Tears stained the young Mages cheeks, their dark cheeks more red and hot with the strong emotions in their heart. Trailed with sadness, the pitiful pattern of wet hot tears decorated their expression.
"Ruby Mage. Please. Please tell me- is is- is she- please Master please tell me you didn't kill her please-"
"Her test is to learn not to rely on her body for strength. To know to use your mind is more valuable than any muscle." He faced the mage, judgement flashing on his face before going back to the previous neutral. Quieter he spoke to them, "To become a Piked Wizard on her own weapon, that which she used to cull her own friends and classmates, is her final."
Stutters and sobs rattled their voice, even then Magnificus stayed stoic staring at the mage. The Master stamped the butt of the spear onto the bloody wooden floor, it made a dull thud with an equally pathetic splash from the blood on the floor. The action made the head on the spear grunt with pain, which was ignored by the scrybe. Though her weak grunt of pain was a small symbol of hope for the emerald mage- that she was not dead. This is what her test was. As he flicked the last piece of the puzzle into its place, the Ruby Mox perched on the statue came alive with colour just as it had with the sapphire mox. In the same pattern, it flashed a strong white with a violent flash, making them wince and stagger backwards. Just like that both Magnificus and the Ruby Mage was gone. Both into whatever realm that she was to be banished into.
In this time alone, they desperately scrambled forward in the quietest manner they could muster. Not wanting to alert the Scrybe to come back from whatever was happening in the other realm. Collapsing next to the Wizards beheaded self, sure to avoid getting blood on their uniform. Putting a hand on the poncho she had so religiously worm before, one of her perished ruby warriors she had once been friends with had made it for her. It was the only thing she had left of that fellow warrior. The front half of it was now wet and stained red with the blood. Choking back another sob they pathetically clenched a fist into the soft fabric, pushing their monocle back closer to their face so it wouldn't fall onto what was left of her. All the glorious green on her outfit underneath it was tarnished with the colour of blood. So much blood. Weak as a mouse, the Emerald Wizard brought their fingers across the palm of her hand, the only part of skin not covered by blood at this point. Putting tender pressure against the palm with their knuckles. So many memories with her were present in their mind.
"Sister..." They spoke this at a tone only audible to themself.
They were not related by blood, not at all. The bond that they- The Lonely Sapphire Wizard, the Piked Ruby Mage and themself- had formed what felt akin to a family. How the three had found comfort and protection with one another. Calling one another names ones would give to family members, as the Emerald and Sapphire Wizards were Siblings and the Ruby a Sister. They had no names, not until the phrases Magnificus had mocked them with. The Sapphire user- now the Lonely Wizard, their Ruby Sister now the Piked Wizard.
Many times had The Ruby Warrior had been injured greatly, they took it upon themself as an Emerald Mage to learn to treat her wounds. They got along through that, yet not the way they met. Such a memory prompted tears into their eyes, despite being a brute force Ruby Warrior, she saw pity in them when Magnificus had splashed their painting with bleach in front of all the other pupils. Being so viciously humiliated, the ruby wizard had held them underneath the side of her cloak for comfort. Whisper words they couldn't remember to make them feel better. Now they stood crouched over the headless body of someone they learned to see as a sisterly figure. Her hand was still warm.
Sweeping their hand across the soft fabric on her back, they felt a small shape change on the belt. Dancing their fingers across it before lifting the side of her poncho- blood dropping from the corners of it. Whispering a small sorry with a comforting pat on the deceased body's shoulder. There on the belt, few small paintbrushes, which had small ruby mox crystals decorating them. One of them was lightly wet with blood at the edges of it.
The Ruby Mox statue had lifted with colour once again, and the Emerald mage acted quickly by shoving the brushes into their back pocket. With the bristle side up, of course. Quickly staggering back to their previous place, nervous to get in trouble for being out of place. Soon after that, Magnificus returned from the Statue's Realm. The Student was now away out of sight, though the blood was still on his hand and brush. Though the master was only out of sight for a few seconds at most, not even a minute, the hasty actions and thoughts felt like a lifetime.
"Come."
"Yes sir."
A response akin to an instinct; oblige to any orders given without second thought or reason. Posture stiffened as they quickly followed after their Master. Boots hitting the floor as they tried so desperately to not take one last look at their Sister's body or the Statue that encased her into a realm of unknown lengths. As Magnificus had never told them if she was in sensory deprivation as well or not. Discomfort shrowded their soul at the thought of what she could be going through.
Wished they had been able to hold her just a little bit longer.
So many wishes.
No chance that any of those wishes to come true. Never able to hold onto the Piked Sister's body and comfort her against their weaker body. Cry with one another. Hold her callused, strong hands, in their own soft and weak hands.
Their thoughts couldn't help but wander to the Lonely Wizard next as they traipsed down this staircase. The little bundle of joy, who danced, sang, made flower crowns, had regularly grown flowers to give to the graves in Grimora's islands. The scrybe taught that taught them that kindness in the most hostile of situations would be worth it. The kindness that Grimora had taught all of them- to appreciate what life would bring forth to them. Perhaps she knew that this was what was to come and it was a warning to appreciate the glories of life outside of Magnificus.
That thought grabbed them by the throat. Were they betraying their master?
Surely such actions would be reversible- Surely!
Mayhaps this was all the work of his great holy Paintbrush! Maybe this was the part of their test- of mental patience for their test as an Emerald Mage to be ready with the mental tasks that come with being part of a card! That ones you love will be sacrificed and lost! Of course. For Master Magnificus is a Great Scrybe is and always has been, a person to look up to!
If...
If it wasn't fake, and what they witnessed, what they had touched and felt. Then surely the actions were reversible by Magnificus. To bring the only people they consider family back to health- Free the Lonely Wizard... Put Piked back together...? Surely. Surely he wouldn't have reduced her to a head on a stick and stuck her in an unknown realm- there are no benefits!
Master was smarter than that.
Even if then, he must have his reasons. The Master is a scrybe for a reason!
Though even with those thoughts in mind, the lingering feeling of the dead, limp palm of the Ruby Mage against their knuckles. The sound of her gags as she spat out blood and choked on it. How she made such a weak grunt when after being Piked, the spear was bashed against the floor. Her body hitting the floor, the two heavy resounding noises of her collapse.
It instilled fear into them.
Doubt.
The thought ended as they had finished descending the stairs. Watching as Magnificus slowly dragged out one of their easels. Taking this moment to run over to their desk, quietly. Opening their drawer full of charms and memories, things that they had held onto for memories. Seeing the wilted flowers from the Sapphire Mage, though had long died from age, had let them slip a content smile on their face. Wishing to be able to try at that activity again, as they were never good at it. Finishing the thought by reaching into their back pocket and taking out the paintbrushes. The blood was beginning to dry as a dark maroon due to being exposed to oxygen. Putting the brushes there with delicate safety. Making the internal promise to themself that they'll paint works that she would smile and tuck them under her arm with great affection. Call them a Goober before hugging them tightly and whispering about how Magnificus doesn't know true beauty when he sees it. Cradle them in her sweet embrace and speak sweet loving words. How often she had called them a Goober, it almost felt like a name. An affectionate, yet teasing, term of endearment.
While the memories felt warm to their heart, Magnificus' voice was sharp as a bullet through these pleasant thoughts. "Come," the Master's face was coated with disappointment, "you have no reason to be tampering with that desk. Your test will be at hand soon." The young mage closed the drawer in a rushed manner. Wanting to hide such pleasant thoughts from someone who could use that against them- Though with no ill intent towards the master of course with that thought, of course! It was just a simple fact that the Master liked to find facts about his pupils and use it as part of a test. There were just certain things the Emerald Wizard would rather keep safe, for happy memories.
"Yes Sir- Of course master!"
"What were you doing over there?" The Master was still adjusting the easel, it scraped across the wooden floor in an ugly manner.
They hesitated for an answer, "I was.. Master, the Ruby Wizard, she's.. Is she okay?" The obvious answer was no.
"The Piked Wizard was brought to her own realm, of heat and weaponry to accustom her needs of being tested. While that dunce of a Lonely Wizard was closed into their own realm of sensory deprivation." The Scrybe went across the room for a canvas, carelessly shoving aside some of the Emerald Wizard's other paintings. Likely damaged from the actions. It made them cringe to watch.
"Why did you.. Pike her?"
"You have no right to question me of my methods of testing, you are a student."
"Of course, Master."
Answering with haste, not wanting to be banished to the dunce realm or something of the like for being disobedient. Pushing their monocle back closer to their face and standing with patience in front of the easel, waiting for Magnificus. Tucking their arms behind their back, tilting their chin up as they closed their eyes. Trying to imagine what the Piked Wizard felt at this time. The image of her blood, her body, her pain all began to swirl through their mind like a hurricane of emotion. It made their throat hurt just thinking about it, choke up with the emotions. The clunk of the canvas on the easel pushed their brain back into the reality of what was to come. Opening an eye to see Magnificus holding the paintbrush, which was still mixed with their sister's blood.
Master had begun to paint, swiping the bloody brush across the pure white canvas- He was painting them..! Though, something in them changed. A guttural sense of wrong. Their skin began to burn as if fire ants were biting every inch of flesh along their body. Weakness formed in their legs, with the burning sensation beginning to grow and feel deeper than the skin. The pain was becoming unbearable- Weak, hot, and the agonizing feeling of their muscles being ripped apart in violent pain.
They fell to their knees.
Their hands left a red print on the floor, but they quickly clasped their palms together in a praying motion. Drips of blood fell from their nose, accompanying the bloody handprints.
"Please."
Breathing was laboured, heavy and wet. As if the blood was seeping into their lungs and making it harder to breathe, choking on every inhale. The red prints on the floor slowly changed to a greener hue. As well as the drips of blood coming from both their mouth and nose, now. It felt thick like mucus- as if their entire state was becoming akin to a sinus infection. Watching their skin lose its vibrant saturated colour, becoming ashy and darker with the different chroma in them- not even the same weight. The sweet paler palms of theirs had been soft and delicate, now it felt... so wrong. Melting. Seeping against one another as their skin loses its strength.
Hot, heavy and disgusting. Melting. Clasped palms were into one hand instead of individual. Their face wet with hot tears, yet the hot violent melting of their skin. Consistency of the paint on the canvas. Coughing, the splatter of the thick green sludge came from their mouth, dripping horribly from unstable lips.
"Your test, Emerald Mox user, is to learn to not rely on your mind or body for strength or magick."
Words not registering to the wizard, the pain louder than a tornado siren in their ears. Which were becoming gargled. Ears now covered with the drippy substance. With the monocle slowly not having a solid surface to rest on, it fell into the slowly collecting puddle of goo under their face on the floor. So much more coughing than what would be healthy, trying to hack up everything in their lungs that are being stuck in there. Managing to pry their hands apart, they collapsed with their palms on the floor. Heaving before quickly vomiting, there was so much pain that they couldn't feel themself the difference between vomiting or not.
All of it was shrieking pain across their entire self. Claws baring hell across their entirety. Sobbing between coughs, their skin was nowhere- Just the gooey green sludge- even their hair wasn't in the finely kept locs anymore, just green drips that seemed to mix with the rest of themself now. Unable to even hear the screams coming from their mouth underneath all the burning violent pain hacking at their nerves without mercy or care.
"RRHNH- PLEASEMASTER- PLEASE-"
What was meant to be a whisper of pleading came out as a warbled shriek for mercy. Looking up to the Master, with lopsided and blurred vision, which was only worsened by the slime, there was no kindness to see in the Scrybe. Magnificus was looking down at them, with an unflattering expression of disdain towards them.
"You continue to disappoint me, you pathetic slime mage." He spoke with a tone of dominance and anger. "You're a failure to my studies, I'm ashamed to call you my pupil."
The Wizard couldn't help but sob even harder, to be a failure to the person they devoted their life to. Even when passing every test, doing everything right, their master would never be proud. Such agony rattled their soul, that it wasn't even processed by them that Magnificus had turned the last puzzle piece on the statue was turned. Both physical and mental pains rattled the goo wizard that it wasn't noticed how the statue had thrown its bright white light as it had in the other mox floors.
A floor made of the same goo that took their form. All of it was so painful to go through. The most the Emerald Mox user could do was pathetically collapse onto the gooey floor and sob harder. Screams still racked near every breath that they tried to heave out.
"MASTER PLEASE- HHGHNG- PLEASE MASTER I CAN DO BETTER-" Voice was distorted with the pain and sludge in their throat, lungs and every part of their living body. "-MASTER I MEAN NOT TO DISAPPOINT YOU I PROMISE I- I I JUST WANT WANT- MASTER I'M- RUAHGN," their brain couldn't think of anything worth saying, and their mouth kept filling with the sludge. As If the world was telling them there was no use for this pleading.
Magnificus was in a whole different realm now anyways, he couldn't hear them if he tried. But it didn't stop them from the pathetic sobbing and screaming.
They wanted to hold Pike's hand. Feel her warmth. Kindness and love that always was found in her embrace. Be her sibling again, her Goober. Get hugged under her arm with teasing affection.
Lonely Wizards sweet acts of comfort through arts and crafts outside of painting had always soothed their soul. With flower crown making, or teaching them how to dance. Tend a garden with them again, and bring the blooming flowers to the graves at Grimora's.
So many things they had wanted- so many wishes and words that pleaded to become a reality. To go back and save the Lonely Wizard, go to the Piked Wizard and bring her to safety- help her. In any way possible. Just feel freedom on all their skins, be able to dance and sing with the sapphire mage.
Now they weren't even sure they could breathe anymore.
There wasn't even a heartbeat left in their chest.
If they even had a chest anymore.
Their clothes couldn't even stick onto their body anymore due to their lost shape, only a pathetic lump of slime and goo. Begging for something to never come.
For love from their master.
For their family.