Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2006 22:29:44 -0300
From: Matt __ <blackadept@hotmail.com>
Subject: Black Adept 9

The characters and plot in this story are copyrighted by the author.

All the characters in this story are purely products of my imagination and
are not based on real people. Any resemblance is purely coincidental and is
not intended.

If you are looking for just sex this is not the story for you.

If you have any feedback I would love to hear it. You can email me at
BlackAdept@Hotmail.com

I am sorry that I am not getting much written and I will not make any
promises about getting more out faster since I don't seem to be able to keep
them. I will try but that the best I can do. I would like to thank everyone
who has emailed and gave me the motivation to get this going again. I would
also like to thank everyone who has read this story.


The Black Adept Chapter 8: A Time For Change
By Matt

Terit's POV

	I have never once wished I had been denied the honour of being Lord Adept
but now I am beginning to wish I had. I have barely slept now for days and
it seems like everything I believed was falling apart. Why did it have to be
me that led the third Academy through what could be its greatest test. I
stood before all the mages from the Academy and the nearest towns. They had
waited hours to let the last of the nearby mages to gather. Now all I have
to do was figure out what I am going to tell them. The events of the last
few days had shook the very foundation of the Academy how could anyone
expect me to have any answers? They did though, and I have to find something
to tell them.

	In the arena sat over a thousand mages maybe even one and a half thousand
all looking at me. Then I saw something I never expected to see in the
Academy, terror, it was well hidden but I could see it in every movement and
nervous whisper. It was in the moment I found the strength to address the
Aurostemptus. I was no longer Terit Aubrey or even the Lord Adept, I was the
voice of the Academy and I needed to give them reassurance. So I stepped up
to the dais which was enchanted to amplify the voice of the speaker. I added
another charm quickly and quietly to make my voice even louder then the one
already there and another to make it sound like it was coming from all
directions at once. I knew they would all recognize what I did, something
normally done only to impress regular people, but I thought the extra
display would help remind everyone who we were.

	"I, Terit Aubrey Lord Adept of the Academy of Magic have called the
Aurostemptus to session to deal with recent events of grave importance. In
the last few days alone our very way of life has begun to change. First
there was the energy burst near Hiron caused by a battle between black
mages. This triggered the sudden increase in the population of the Academy.
Last though was the great shock we have ever faced, a demon summoned into
the very heart of the Academy itself. Finally there is the appearance of a
void mage within the Academy as well. These are unusual times and
potentially dangerous ones but we are the mages of the Academy so we will
prevail no matter the threat." This caused a cheer from the assembled mages
and I could see a little of the arrogance we were known for replacing the
fear.

	"I will deal with all these but in order of how they happened. If anyone
has any comments or suggestions they will be given a chance to speak after
each issue is addressed." I knew we were in for a long day if not several
days before the Aurostemptus was complete. Addressing this many issues with
well over a thousand mages here could easily take longer then a day for each
issue unless they surprise me and behave. I have barely slept in several
days and now I will have to go a few more, since no one will leave or sleep
until this is done. Everyone will just have to expand a little energy to
keep themselves alert.

	"The first issue is the burst of energy that took place near Hiron, which
was a battle for those of you who haven't heard yet." This caused a burst of
whispers, so I figured the gossip leaks hadn't spread as far as I thought.
"The results that the investigation team brought back are not what many of
you might have thought they would be. I admit it took me completely by
surprise as well since it seems beyond the realm of possibility. It was not
an invasion of mages or the wrath of the gods. It was a battle between black
mages, two of them apparently no matter how hard it is to believe." What
followed that statement was the sound of around a thousand mages gasping at
the same time. That was quickly followed by yelling and protests saying how
impossible such a thing was.

	I gave them a minute to argue before I started to talk increasing the power
of my spell so I was overpowering the voices of the mass of mages. "I
doubted this myself but I wouldn't being telling you this if I didn't accept
it as truth now. So if you want to degenerate into screaming novices you can
or we can move on." That shut them up pretty nicely, some didn't look happy,
but they had shut up so that's what was important now. "One of the mages
involved seems to have been a demon mage most likely bonded to one of the
levels of demonlords. The evidence to support this is that Hiron had several
brutal murders for a few weeks before hand, which we believe was a demon
mage on the hunt." Everyone was deathly quiet while absorbing this piece of
news. The Academy liked to deny that there were any demon mages left in the
realm but they had always believed that no mortal could bond a demonlord no
matter what. That meant this was quite the revelation for everyone.

	"The other mage, we believe, was a void mage." This again left everyone
stunned since they were all probably making the connection to the void mage
that had battled the demon here just last night. "The evidence for this is
less reliable considering what happened last night I believe we can assume
we are probably right to assume it. Also, following the assumption I am sure
many of you are probably making now, it appears the void mage won the
battle. Evidence makes us think that he laid a trap for the demon mage and
lured them into it. What type of trap we cannot know since the scene of the
battle was badly disrupted by civilians and the Hiron guard. The only thing
else of note is that there were several strange symbols on the ground that
Adept Falhom believes may have been part of the void mage's trap don't is
not sure. Now if anyone has any ideas on this they can speak them now but I
remind you this is done and there are more pressing matters so lets not get
any more caught up on this then we have to." They actually listened; we only
wasted three hours in useless debate before I could move things on.

	The debate over how to handle all the new students was much longer. It took
almost a day and half before everyone who felt they had something to say had
contributed it and a decision was made. We decided on doing three things:
First, since we didn't have the resources to teach all the new students
without having to recall mages from all across the realm we would allow the
more advanced novices to help in the training of new students. Second we
would initiate a trial program to begin looking for those with potential in
other cities by creating bursts of magic and seeing if anyone responds to
them. Thirdly if we found that there was as large a number of mages with
untapped potential we would initiate construction of additional Academy
buildings and slowly begin to increase the population capacity of the
Academy as well as its teaching facilities. I was surprised that most mages
agreed to this easily but I guess the possibility of a new threat made room
in their arrogant heads for the idea of encouraging non noble students into
the Academy.

	"Now on to the most upsetting issue. Many of us were present when the demon
was summoned into the Academy and some here helped to defeat it. We also
need to address the issue of the void mage in our midst as well since the
issues are related. For those who have yet to hear all the facts I will tell
you. Novice Tila Veticso, Novice Rel Shar, and Novice Harintar Liegh
summoned the demon that attacked the Academy. It was apparently a twelfth
form evolution demon from what our librarians have been able to determine
from the few writings we have on the subject. The attacked left some of the
Academy damaged but surprisingly little considering scale of the battle. The
real loss has been in lives; one Adept, three Archmages, twenty eights
masters, fifty four novices, and we aren't even sure how many of those who
have came to the Academy in this recent wave of initiates, since we were
unable to begin cataloging all their names, but we assume at least fifty to
as high as seventy died in the demon attack." I proceeded to read off the
names of the mages and students that we could confirm missing most likely
dead and the few names of the newcomers we could verify.

	"This leads us to the fact of the void mage who participated in the battle.
Accounts indicate that he apparently appeared outside the south alchemy labs
as if releasing an invisibility spell and took off at a run until he came to
the north courtyard where witness report starting looking around for
something. That was when the demon appeared and the battle began. During the
battle he raised a golem that kept the demon occupied long enough for some
of us to rally and start to fight back. Then he apparently sealed the
demon's point of entry into our realm which is, as the librarians tell me is
the only way it could return to our realm. That is when he unleashed his
full power, or least what we believe was his full power, and destroyed the
demon. Even after the energies he used in the battle I could sense and I am
sure many of you could as well that he still had as much power as ten mages
easily if not more. That was when he vanished and none of our detection
spells could locate him."

	"This leads to many interesting questions that need to be examined. The
first question we need to ask ourselves is how three novices learned how to
summon a demon? Second, why they would try to? Third, who is this void mage
that walks our halls as if he has a right to them? Fourth, why did he help
us? Lastly, is he a friend or foe?" This last question led to an outburst
among the assembled mages some saying how I could even think a void mage a
potential friend and some saying who ever he was he had helped us twice we
can assume so he deserves some credit. I got tired of this screaming match
that was starting so I called the mages to order and then spoke, "If you
have anything to say on this matter that is relevant then come up to the
dais and announce your name, your rank, your seniority within the Academy,
and all positions you have held so all will know with what authority you
speak. The right to speak first will be granted to the one with the most
seniority, who wishes to speak?" My announcement was of course followed by a
very sophisticated and dignified, as befitting mages of the Academy,
childish screaming match over who should go first. I knew it would likely
take hours before everyone who wanted a say had one. That was until everyone
went quiet, not even a whisper; it didn't even sound like anyone was
breathing. That was when I realized I was no longer alone beside the dais
and then a voice filled the entire arena not even using the magic in the
dais.

	"My name is Truin, my rank is Black Adept of the Academy, and I have served
as novice, apprentice to the Black Adept, and as Black Adept for the last
two hundred and ninety three years. Lord Adept, do I have permission to
speak?"

	Terit was stunned, of course he knew that the title Black Adept had existed
in the second Academy, but he thought they were long gone. Now he knew
otherwise since he could feel in his heart that this man was telling the
truth. The Black Adept wore black robes that seemed to devour the light
around him and shadowed his face so you could only see the vaguest
impression of it. The name Truin also stunned him since he knew the story of
the boy from his grandfather's story who had mysteriously vanished. Now he
had the answer to that mystery.

      Before he had a chance to allow Truin to speak about what he wanted an
outcry from the assembly halted him. Adept Talis one of the members of his
own council yelled, "You cannot allow this black mage to speak, we should
destroy him now for the crime of black magic not listen to him try to
pervert our minds."

      With that many mages seemed in agreement and some were beginning to
stand up and chant. Terit had to react quickly or this could become
catastrophic. Weaving more of his own magics into the spell to amplify his
voice he spoke, his voice almost deafening now. "STOP THIS!!! I AM THE LORD
ADEPT BY YOUR OWN CHOICE AND I GET TO DECIDE WHAT THE BEST FOR THE ACADEMY.
I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS." At a more manageable volume he finished, "He has
asked formally for permission to speak and I will grant it and anyone who
disapproves can leave now. Anyone who tries to strike him will face
punishment" Almost all the mages standing or chanting had stopped when he
started speaking. Almost all of them don't mean that much when there are
well over a thousand mages present. Almost at once almost a hundred spells
of terrible force came flying from the surrounding mages heading straight
for Truin, and incidentally towards Lord Terit as well since he was so close
to Truin.

      Almost as soon as the spells came flying Truin's voice rose in a
chant. His voice was still amplified by whatever spell he had used to make
himself heard and was booming with horrible strength and furry. To the Lord
Adept he felt like the horrible sound of it was ripping at his very soul.
Suddenly a wall of force appeared around of such strength that it defied all
belief. The spells struck like flies against glass. No shield should have
been able to block the amount of force that had been thrown at it yet it
didn't even look damaged. A few mages sent a second spell but now almost all
of them were stunned by the sheer power they could feel coming from the
shield. Lord Terit turned to look at Truin and he stood unphased and
seemingly unaffected by the release of such a huge amount of power. He
actually looked like he was fighting back laughter.

      "Again I, Truin, Black Adept of the Third Academy requests permission
to address the Aurostemptus." In all my years as Lord Adept I have never
seen someone say something so simple and have such hidden meaning in it.
Everyone hear could hear what he was saying. This is the last time I will
ask before I make you listen.

      Terit couldn't help but wish someone else was Lord Adept right now but
he knew he had to deal with this quickly. "I, Terit Aubrey, Lord Adept of
the Third Academy grant you permission to speak." This time no one said
anything or looked to be protesting. I think everyone was still stunned by
how much power he so casually commanded.

      "I have come to give an account of a history hidden from you all, the
secret history of the Academy and the secret war you are only now becoming
aware of." With that Truin began a story of the history of the Black Adepts
and the war they had been fighting with demon magic. He explained how it had
been escalating in recent years until it is becoming something even outside
his powers to hold back. "If they are willing to send a mage bonded to one
of the higher demons this war is about to get a whole lot more intense. I
propose that it is time to change the way things are done, it is time the
Black Adept no longer works from the shadows, it is time Void magic is no
longer something shunned, it is time the Academy learns from its past.
Necromancers were once banned from the Academy now I propose void magic
become welcome too for if I am right the Academy will need all the help it
can get to face this storm."

To be continued...


If you have any comments I would love to hear them, you can email me at
BlackAdept@Hotmail.com