SPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Scholar

Alien soldiers froze mid-clash.

Both sides had clashed in a chaotic ballet of destruction, their strange appearances etched into my mind. Kuzon and Aloe stood beside me, their eyes also taking in the scene before us.

'With time frozen still, it's definitely easier to see what's happening.'

The air hung heavy with the stench of burnt metal and ozone, and an eerie silence enveloped the battlefield. I decided to walk around the area while critically examining the frozen figures before me.

'It seems two distinct alien species are locked in combat. And its a serious one for that matter.'

One resembled a humanoid bird with vibrant plumage, while the other possessed the menacing features of a fish fused with an alligator.

'I've used Magic to spread my senses throughout this entire area. None of them seem to have any habitat around here.'

Only destruction spread as far as I could tell.

'Maybe they live on other planets? Did they decide to use this place as some sort of battleground? That would definitely make more sense...'

Not only was this planet pretty much infertile, it wasn't particularly suitable for any of them in terms of a suitable environment.

"What are you thinking about? This should be simple, really. We just use our Magic to control them to stop fighting, extract the information we want, and then leave. It's that simple." Kuzon's voice echoed beside me.

He had a good point. With the aid of [The Emperor], as well as the other Arcanas at my disposal, the both of us didn't need to do too much to secure our safety and the cooperation of these people.

However...

"Have you learned nothing from our adventure in the previous world?" I smiled, shaking my head slowly.

"Don't worry. I don't plan on interfering too much in this place. We'll be in and out in no time."

Still, I had to admit... I was curious.

Time stood still, allowing me to contemplate my next move. It was clear that extracting information from the soldiers would be the key to understanding their motivations and potentially brokering a peace.

I approached the bird-like alien first, marveling at the intricate patterns adorning its feathers. Carefully, I placed my hand on its icy shoulder, feeling the coldness seep into my palm.

"Let's get their memories first." I glanced at both Aloe and Kuzon, and while the latter nodded, the former appeared a little puzzled.

'Ah, Aloe can't absorb memories.' My thoughts echoed. "Don't worry about it, Aloe."

Using Magic on the target, my mind melded with the frozen soldier, his memories unfolding before me like a surreal tapestry.

Visions of a dying homeworld, scarce resources, and the desperation that drove them to this war flooded my consciousness.

The bird-like alien had been one of the protectors of his people, forced into battle to secure their survival. It was a poignant glimpse into their struggle, and empathy surged within me.

"I see now. So that's how they see it..."

Apparently, the bird-like creature belonged to a race known as Avarians, and just as I suspected, their planet was a short distance from this one.

The Avarians lacked resources, and they needed after scouring beyond their homeworld for resources, they finally found a place. Unfortunately for them, the Gatorians, the opposing race, already claimed the territory for themselves, and they wouldn't share resources with the Avarians.

'The Avarians believe the Gatorians have no legal claim to the Oasis, as they call it, and that it's a Free Domain, as established by the Grand Federation; as such, they are simply fighting for their right.'

Still, that was only one side of the story.

With a gentle sigh, I released my grip from the still Avarian and turned my attention to the fish-alligator hybrid not too far from me.

Its scales shimmered in the frozen light, as if mocking the devastation surrounding us. "Let's see what you have to say."

I placed my hand on its arm, absorbing its memories with a newfound solemnity.

The memories revealed a history of territorial disputes and a cycle of vengeance that perpetuated the conflict. They, too, fought to secure a future for their species, driven by a desperate need to protect their home and kin.

The weight of their struggles pressed upon me, deepening my resolve to find a peaceful resolution.

"It seems the Avarians tried to take the land by force, rather than agreeing to the terms set by the Gatorians. I see..."

Even though they could have been diplomatic about it and found common ground to settle on, the Avarians believed the Gatorians had no right to claim the land, to begin with.

As for the excuse of the Gatorians, apparently the Grand Federation hadn't conscribed The Oasis, since it had naturally formed as a planet only recently, and without any proper inhabitants, and lots of natural resources, it hadn't been reported yet.

The Gatorians claimed the land as theirs, even though the Grand Federation had yet to decree it so, and the Avarians declared that the land was a Free Domain, even though the Grand Federation never decreed such a thing.

'In the end, It all boils down to the issue of the Grand Federation, eh?'

In this world, it seemed the inhabitants of the known Universe had become aware of the existence of one another, and they ventured on to create intricate networks among themselves.

Communication. Commerce. Warfare. The list of interactions between planets and civilizations had advanced to a very complex point.

'The Grand Federation is the body that supervises the known Universe, it seems.'

Without them, a lot of things would have been thrown out of whack, and the galaxies would have been destabilized. They divided solar systems and galaxies into Zones, further dividing them into Regions. They also established a common calendar for every Zone to follow, and the time ratio was adjusted to suit the functions of every Zone.

'Time is relative when it comes to the Universe, since it has to do with gravity and space. It's a huge feat that they were able to create a calendar that works.'

Still, even though the knowledge I had of the Grand Federation painted the body to be very capable in their field of competence, they weren't without flaws.

'The very fact that these two races are fighting as a result of their oversight is proof of that.'

It didn't help that neither the Avarians nor Gatorians wanted to report the existence of 'The Oasis' to the Grand Federation. They most likely wanted to keep the planet to themselves, and it was highly probable that the Grand Federation wouldn't allocate the land to either of them.