Sanctum of the World

Amethyst enters the large building noticing about a dozen students and Sages performing various tasks in the learning of magic. She peers through a doorway into what looks to be an alchemy lab. Of the four cauldrons, two are currently in use. An older adult is supervising students in brewing potions. She turns as Elphaba and the two other women catch up to her.

“Welcome to our school, Mother. This is where we teach Humans the fine arts of the arcane. Since the return of our Sages, we’ve discovered about one percent of the Human population has a magical affinity. Many do not progress very far, but prodigies like our Angel here occasionally come to us with the ability to master many forms.”

“You know of my abilities?” Angel returns, surprised.

“While you’ve never been to this realm before, your family’s talents are well known, My Dear,” Elphaba smiles. “Not only do you have your father’s arcane and alchemy gifts, but you’re also a competent Bard. You are very special indeed.”

“Oh,” Angel blinks.

“We had hoped you’d come to The Sanctum to study after high school, but you remained on Earth and went to a mundane university instead,” Elphaba remarks.

“Sorry. Outside of personally teaching me, Daddy never encouraged me to reach out to others beyond our family and friends,” she apologizes. She glances at the Elf fondly, “Lyric was my teacher and muse in becoming a Bard.”

“It’s sad that your father cut ties with most of the magical community. We could use a man of his talents,” Elphaba remarks.

The Fae nods as she watches a group of students reading a large tome. Elphaba follows her gaze. “When we rebuilt this centre of learning, we started off with three primary principles of magic, basically dividing them into layers of complexity. Since then we’ve formed a few sub-schools to help certain students focus on one or two talents, rather than a full range.”

Elphaba points to the group around the tome. “This group recently found an old tome on portals. They’ve been studying the complexities of reopening the Gates to the other realms. I’ve been watching them gathering focus crystals all week. Our overtaxed High Druid suggested opening a permanent Gate to Arborea first, to help regrow land bridges and sow some of our more barren islands. She’s sadly not equipped to handle the work that’s needed between her and her few grove tenders.”

Lyric steps beside Elphaba, “Let me know when they are ready, I’ll return home and see about setting up an anchor at our end to help bridge the gap in the void.”

Elphaba smiles, “That would make our job so much easier, Thank you! We’ve been searching for a way to contact Arvandor. Your arrival is most fortuitous.”

Lyric turns and bows to Amethyst, “Milady, if my service to you has concluded, I ask for your leave. I have enough for my report to the Bardic Council. This would allow me to petition support from the Druid Council for their aid. There is much work to be done to set a dimensional anchor.” Angel returns a startled glance. “If I leave now, Sunflower, I just might make it back in time for your wedding.”

Amethyst nods. She brings her hands forward, and concentrates for a moment, moving her hands in a circular motion. A fist-sized moonstone orb forms in her hands. She twists her hands once more and the orb neatly separates in two.

“Here, you will need this to keep in touch with us. It will be powerful enough to breach the gap in the void.” She motions her right hand and half of the orb floats toward Lyric who gently receives it.

“Never before have I witnessed the creation of a Fae Sending Stone. That was incredible! I thank you for this gift, we shall wait for your instructions.” Lyric then turns to the others, “I apologize that my stay here will be brief, but, if all goes well, we shall be in touch soon.” She smiles, steps forward and offers Angel a hug, “I won’t miss your wedding if I can avoid it, My Dear. Now there’s a very attractive young man here, don’t let his charms fool you.”

Angel giggles, “I’m engaged to be married to the most amazing redhead I’ve ever met. If my costar couldn’t pry me from her embrace, I doubt some boy has anything to offer me.”

Lyric chuckles and softly punches the blonde woman’s shoulder. “She’s the first redhead you ever met, falling in love with your roommate, doesn’t make you immune to the charms of others.”

Angel retorts with a soft poke in the belly, “You’re just jealous because she’s prettier, and stole my heart from you. The next prettiest to my Eva is Rose. My bardic costar is charming, yet she only comes in as a close second to my fiancée.”

Lyric scoffs, “A Human, prettier than me? You really are smitten,” she teases. “My dearest Angel, I have known you since you were but a toddler. You will always be precious to me, as you are part of my family. When your jealous little minx learns that I am no threat to your relationship, she will be part of my family as well. I love you both you know.”

Angel smiles and steps forward for another hug, “I know. Oh, I’ve missed you! I wish you would visit more often.”

Lyric returns the hug, then steps back, slipping the moonstone into a belt pouch. “Well, if this Gate works, then the way between our two realms will be closer. I promise that I will visit more often then.”

Angel smiles, “You better, or I’ll come looking for you… remember your promise, the wedding is in one month,” she winks. “If it weren’t for your tutelage, I wouldn’t be half the musician I am today.”

“My dearest Angel, I named you such as you have the voice of a Fey choir. You have always had talent, it just needed focus. I shall rejoin you as soon as I am able.”

“Rather than take the long way around, let me help you home,” Amethyst offers. She walks to the centre of the foyer and stands in the middle of a magic circle. She hums and whispers in a strange tongue, and a purplish misty portal opens. Lyric studies the portal in stunned silence. “I’m sorry I couldn’t create this earlier, but I needed an anchor, to know where it would be safe. This gate will bring you back to where we first met.”

“The glyph you etched in the stone that day. Once again I underestimate the power you possess my small friend,” Lyric smiles. “I hope our paths shall cross again. I feel I’ve yet to know a portion of your true potential.”

“When we reach the old Gate’s grove, I’ll contact you. I enjoy travelling with you, and these people will need me more in the near future,” the Fae winks.

The Elf raises a finger, and merely smiles, shaking her head, “You always seem to know more than you let on.” She places a hand on Angel, “With this Gate home, I will definitely be back for your wedding, My Child.”

Angel beams happily. With a wave, the Elf leaves the School of Magic.

As the Gate closes behind Lyric, a middle-aged man approaches the group. Elphaba turns to him, “Ah, Simeon, so good to see you. Come, you must meet someone very important to me.”

Elphaba steps forward, taking him by the arm, “Mother, this is our Sage of Practical Arts, Simeon. He was one of the original exiles I spoke about. Simeon this is Amethyst Lilly, our elder Grotto Fae. My call for aid finally reached her!”

Simeon bows to Amethyst, “Milady, so good to meet you. We don’t receive very many non-Human guests these days. Please, if you need anything, let me know.” He then steps forward and offers Angel a fatherly hug, “My dear Angel, you have grown so much since I last saw you! So nice to see you on this side of the Gate for a change. Have you finished university yet?”

Angel returns the hug and smiles, “Just this month, Uncle. I now have a degree in computer science, and Eva focused on electronic engineering and robotics.”

Simeon looks impressed, “Magic and the sciences. That’s an interesting combination.”

Angel smiles, “Well, I can’t spend my whole life as an entertainer and musician — well… I probably could, but I wanted to do something more with my life. I’m not quite the master alchemist my father is.”

Simeon nods, “That’s your brother’s talent, he’ll be a good future CEO for the company. And yes, there are much better things in life than being an entertainer.”

Elphaba notices the undertone in his comment, “Are you still pining after my Feytouched cousin? I told you that she’s probably passed on by now, she was well in her senior years when you were dating.”

Simeon shoots Elphaba a sidelong glance, the annoyance in his eyes and tone are clear, “I can guarantee you that the woman I knew as Melodia de Riviera is still very much alive. I believe Angel knows her as well, seeing as she recently married her best friend. Meeting Penny was a marvel. She’s the most talented latent pupil I’ve had the grace of training in decades. I wish she could have stayed here under our tutelage.”

Angel blinks as she finally makes the connection. She knew Melody was special. Lyric had hinted she may be more than Human. She looks down at Amethyst. Is it possible her best friend’s new wife isn’t even from Earth?

“I don’t know what she’s done with her life,” Simeon continues. “But she looks as young as ever and the power she’s shown to us is beyond explanation.”

Amethyst pipes up at this point, “Melody? My Rune Weaver, Melody?” Elphaba nods. She looks pensive, “We could use her talents and her song in the rebuilding process. Though, as Elphaba points out, being only Feytouched, I wasn’t expecting her to live this long.”

Simeon continues, “I believe she’s beyond Feytouched at this point. Her powers were cold and steeped in darkness. Something about being the Dark half for the Light half to work for Penny. They wield ancient magic rings. Their combined power makes them one of the most formidable magical forces in the realms. Morgyn is afraid of them.”

Morgyn approaches from upstairs, his wavy blond hair bouncing as he steps, “I’m not afraid of them, just concerned for what they can do with their powers. The potential of what they are capable of is frightening.”

Elphaba counters his argument, “Adam and I have already told you more than once, Melody has a loving soul. Even back when you first met her. She couldn’t use her powers for evil, even if she wanted to. If what Simeon says is true? With Penny, they are the balance that could save the Realms and help us rebuild faster. I wish you would just trust her more!”

Morgyn sighs and rolls his eyes, “Yes, yes, they will save us all. It hints of a wonderful epic tale that I’m sure Melody would love to write…” He scans the room, “Speaking of Adam, where is he?”

“Penny summoned him, she sounded like it was something important. He’s been gone nearly an hour now,” Simeon replies.

“I still don’t commend that he’s teaching her magic and alchemy alone. She should be learning the mystical arts here, in a controlled environment,” Morgyn broods. “Lightbringers are rare, we can’t let her talents go to waste.”

“After the loudmouth stunt you pulled, do you think Melody would let any of us come close to her wife? I thank the Stars she’s allowed Adam to teach Penny. She was quite clear that she doesn’t trust you any more than you seem to trust her,” Simeon grumbles in a snide remark.

“I needed to test Melody’s resolve that she was not going to suddenly go on a rampage and destroy us all!” Morgyn raises his voice.

“You’re timing was totally off, we should have gained her trust first,” Elphaba snaps back.

Amethyst steps in, “The Melody that I sent to this realm to teach and learn would have done no harm to a living creature if avoidable.”

“Considering I suspect that she was turned by a Vampire or Warlock, do you think she would still have that softness of heart?” Simeon retorts, unconvinced.

“I… a Vampire?” Amethyst blinks startled, and he merely nods.

“She’s no longer Fey-blooded. Nor does she follow the path of the Light, that’s for sure,” Morgyn remarks.

Angel snaps. “I’ve heard enough! The Melody I have met is not a threat! She’s a compellingly beautiful, funny, loving, and compassionate creature… and a bit of a geek if you ask me. Not only did she help springboard my career. She is highly protective of Penny and would give her wife the world if she asked. Their wedding was magical — literally! In her wedding vows, Melody mourned how she had searched all over the world for ages to find her true love. I’ve seen them a few times since the wedding. They are bound by something strong, a level of love and affection I have rarely seen. They occasionally even act like silly lovesick teenagers. The love they share is pure, wholesome, and unbreakable. I don’t care if she’s not Human! Fae or Vampire, I’ve sensed none of the threat of malice that you are intending in your accusations!”

Silence falls over the group after Angel’s outburst. “What’s a geek?” Amethyst chimes, breaking the tension. She looks around, confused, as they laugh.

Angel smiles and is the first to answer, “A geek, like myself, is someone who enjoys technology, like that cellphone you showed earlier. We revel in using electronics and gadgets. The more proficient of us even know how to build and repair electronic and mechanical devices. The less social of us have a bad habit of using jargon and terms that will confuse the average layman. It was first used as an insult, but we now use it as a badge of honour for those of us who are smarter in some things than others.”

An illusion of Adam’s face appears among the group, breaking any further conversation. “Oh, good, most of you are here,” he glances around. “I’m calling for an emergency meeting of the Council of Sages. I’ll explain more at the Grand Council Chambers. There is something important for you to hear.”

His gaze turns to Angel, “I’m sorry to interrupt your first trip Home, My Dear. We will have more time later to make up for it, alright?” Angel, not sure what else to say, merely nods. His attention is drawn again to the others, “Assemble the other Sages. Meet you in thirty minutes.”