No Longer a Game Ch. 28

Habersham smiled, "I was not trying to conquer the world, my dear, just a small part of it." He cleared his throat as he had always done before he started lecturing to his classes. "As you have learned I was a wizard of great power and skill but what the books did not tell you I was one of Mystra's Chosen like her current chosen, the Seven Sisters and a few others. I was her first and granted such power upon long before the Seven Sisters were even thought of. But being a mortal containing her power was difficult and it corrupts and I soon turned from Mystra and became my own god. Mystra realized her mistake but not before I grew in power and strength and had my own followers who worshipped me. The gods of Toril need followers to exist and the more followers they have the more powerful they become. Without followers they cease to exist."

"Mystra seeing what she had done realized a mortal could not contain her magic so she took the form of an elf male and impregnated one of her elf priestesses who bore a female child...a daughter of the goddess of magic she named Viviane. Viviane was trained in the ways of magic and being a daughter of a goddess she excelled and her power soon equaled my own. She was born for one purpose and that was to destroy me." Habersham coughed, "May I trouble one of you for some water?"

Lou went into the kitchen and came back with a glass of water and put it to the man's lips. The professor drank and nodded his thanks and continued his story.

"Viviane and I battled and fought wars; me using my followers and Vivian using those of Mystra...oh how we laid waste to lands, but we both knew the only way to defeat the other was to do battle between ourselves so we fought. Our magic was devastating and entire forests burned and mountains crumbled and for days we fought and neither gained the advantage until Mystra stepped in. They chased me to the Underdark and Mystra created the portal...a portal to an unknown world where magic did not exist. She and Viviane forced me into the portal, but wanting to make sure I would never harm another Viviane followed me, much to the dismay of Mystra. Not wanting to destroy the portal in hopes that her daughter may be able to return, Mystra summoned the greatest dragon at the time to guard it."

The professor motioned for more water and then continued. "How the portal works as for where it sends someone took hundreds of years for me to explore and figure out; it seems to rotate between certain places every hundred of years or so. One time it's in Egypt, the next it's at Stone Hedge, another like it currently is here at the Ocmulgee Mounds; regardless it sent me to one location in Greece to the ruins of the Oracle of Delphi and Viviane to Stone Hedge around the early fifth century. Imagine my frustration and heartbreak that I could not do magic in this world."

"That's all interesting but how does Natalie fit in?" Christie asked.

Habersham smiled, "I am getting there, dear." He asked for another sip of water, "Well it seems we, Viviane and myself, were granted very long life spans in this world even though I could not use magic so I spent my time and knowledge behind the scenes to help those on power shape empires and conquer nations all the while researching myths and legends from around the world seeking a way back to my world. Who do you think gave Hitler the idea to research the occult?" The professor said proudly.

"And you just stood by as tried to exterminate an entire race of people?" Jason asked in disgust.

The professor laughed, "Stood by? Who do you think convinced the man the Jews were a threat? Jewish scholars and priests had knowledge of the way home for me....or so I thought at the time, and they did not share with outsiders so they needed to be punished for their refusal to share that knowledge with me. What's the life of fifty million or so people if it could get me home and to a world where I could rule with magic?"

"God, you are a fucking monster." Rain said.

The professor shrugged, "Maybe in your eyes." He moved his head to face Lou, "You know what it is like, Lou. To have that power surging though you; imagine it tenfold?" He turned back to Christie, "But the question was where does Natalie fit in I believe. Viviane was luckier than I was. She was sent to a land where just the slightest magic existed and she used her power to create an island and hide it from the world with a mist. She named the island Avalon."

"So all the myths about King Arthur are true?" Jason asked.

Habersham shrugged and smiled; he had their attention and that brought him time. Habersham was known for his great lectures in his classroom and had a slivery tongue and even he could make the most boring subjects in the chemistry he taught seem interesting.

"Some not all. Naturally like all myths and legends; King Arthur's was expanded on and a lot fabricated. He was not the real power behind Camelot nor was his knights but Viviane and Merlin; as I mentioned being a chosen of Mystra can corrupt. Oh Viviane was a noble sorceress and faithful to Mystra but in this world she no longer had contact with the goddess so she soon thought of herself as one. On Avalon she could do magic to an extent; things in Faerûn we would see as minor were considered strong magic here, but it was fading and she knew it. She decided she too could have daughters and sons and bestow on them power as Mystra had on her...her own chosen so to speak. But her plan back fired on her. Her daughters, Morgana and Morgaine turned their powers to evil and betrayed her and their sisters and their brother Merlin. After they killed Viviane all magic faded and they were doomed to live a life without magic. Natalie is a decedent of one of them, I suspect either Morgana or Morgaine due to her....let's call it Natalie's not so noble side." The professor chuckled. "And her physical appearance resembles them; especially Viviane. Natalie could be her twin sister. I suspected who she was when she took my class, even without the ability to use magic I could sense something in her and after that it was easy for me to match her DNA to her ancestors. So all in all she is a decedent of Viviane and that means a decedent of Mystra and with her DNA I was able to use her to open the portal to send you all through."

"So you just used her like you used us. You didn't give a fuck what happened to us over there did you?"

Habersham shrugged, "I needed you alive to get back...well at least one of you plus Natalie. I suspected some of you would die but your sacrifice would have been worth it. I needed just her actually. I gave you the equipment needed to easily defeat the dragon as well as make it to the portal unharmed. You had magic weapons and scrolls. Was not my fault you failed in using them?"

"They were destroyed." Christie muttered. "But why her...why did you want Natalie alive. Is she the only one who could have helped you get back?"

"No. I needed her to send you over but anyone of you could have gotten me back, provided the portal still existed. I wanted Natalie because I was going to take her back with me. She has so much untapped power and would make such a powerful sorceress that I could use to help get my revenge on Mystra...or she did before she lost her mind. Now she is useless unless she can be healed."

"She never would have been you ally!" Christie yelled at him. "She is too good of a person!"

Habersham laughed, "Oh, you think so? You know nothing about her or what she can become. With the right manipulation that girl had the potential to turn to such evil and have such power she could lay waste to kingdoms without pity or remorse. Even now sending her back without me the wrong person with extreme powers can manipulate her and use her and create a monster...a lovely moon elf monster that can conquer or destroy nations. You don't understand the power she is capable of or if not controlled the chaos and destruction she can bring. Being a descendant of Vivian Natalie can be taught to use greater power than even the Seven Sister's wield. She was to be my consort and with her help I was going to be a god again."

"Fuck you!" Christie said. "I am tired of this bullshit! You need to send us back or I swear we will kill you."

"Why should I? There is nothing in it for me now that the portal is destroyed. I can't go back."

"We can try. We can look for a way to send you back." Lou answered.

Habersham laughed, "The odds are too great. I would have a better chance of winning the lottery. My life here is coming to an end. I have maybe four or five years left before I die in this accursed world. Kill me then and be done with it. You don't know how it is to live hundreds of years without magic."

"Maybe," Jason said. "But isn't one in three million better than nothing?"

Habersham thought for a moment. "And you think we can trust one another? I could send you back and teleport you into a drow city in the Underdark or in the middle of a fire giant settlement. And what promise do I have once back to the other side you would help me."

"No promise, just our word." Jason said. "I keep my word, professor."

There was a long silence and the professor chewed his bottom lip, "Ok but you have to untie me. My supplies are in the basement and we need to go down there."

"You won't try and escape or do anything stupid will you?" Christie asked.

"Like young Jason, I keep my word even if it's not what people want to hear. I promise no funny business."

The friends looked at one another and nodded. Jason walked over to the professor and cut him loose. The professor rubbed his wrists, stood, and walked to the door in the kitchen that lead to the basement. He looked over his shoulders and smiled at the young people.

"Well come along." He told them as he turned on the light switch to bring light to the dark basement.

They followed Habersham down the stairs into the basement. It looked like a witch's lair or the shop Lou purchased his supplies needed to write spells in his spell book. He shelves where full of jars and glass bottles containing all sorts of odd things. There was a book shelf on one side of the wall filled with various books and the group could tell some were ancient. In the center of the room was a table an on the table was a map of Faerûn, but not one found in the game manuals. This map looked old and more detailed.

"God it stinks down here." Christie said as she sat Natalie in an empty chair.

"So how long will it take?" Jason asked.

"Not too long. I need to get the right ingredients for the spell. Someone needs to give me some of Natalie's DNA. Blood works the best but some of her hair will do."

"No blood. We use her hair." Christie said and pulled several strands of Natalie's hair off her head. The brunette girl did not even flinch.

The friends stood quietly as the professor gathered the ingredients he needed, ground some of the components in a stone mortar with a pestle, lit some candles, drew some symbols on the table in what the group of friends assumed was blood, and placed the lock of Natalie's hair over a candle in the center of one of the symbols he drew on the table as he held out his other hand over the map and closed his eyes.

Habersham opened his eyes after a moment and looked at Jason, "I can send you close to the shrine of Eilistraee where you took the portal to the Underdark. About half a day's journey to the settlement."

Jason nodded, "Do it but do we have to be unconscious? When we came back we were awake. I would prefer not to be asleep when we get there in case we need to fight."

The professor smiled, "Don't trust me." He taunted.

"Not at all." Christie answered. "I agree with Jason. Do you have to knock us out?"

"No I don't but the process will be painful. That's why I made you all sleep the first time."

"I'll stay awake." Jason said.

"So will I?" Lou nodded.

"Me too. Make Natalie go to sleep but keep me awake." Christie said.

The professor looked at Rain, "And you?"

"He is not going back. He is...." Jason started to answer for Rain.

"Fuck. Keep me awake also." Rain said and looked at his friends. "You all couldn't survive without my skills over there." He said with a slight grin.

"Rain!" Christie shouted and hugged him. "Thank you."

Rain shrugged and pushed Christie off of him. "Just promise me one thing. We try and find a way back. Whatever happens to us we look for a way back after Michael is brought back and Natalie is healed."

"We will, Rain. We promise." Jason said.

Rain nodded. "Ok let's do this then."

"What about our stuff?" Lou asked. "Our gear and weapons and armor and spell book? Can you send other items back as well like you did the first time?"

Habersham shook his head, "I can't. That was the truth in my letter but I will send you back with the gear you all had on your game character sheets."

Jason nodded, "That's good. It's mostly the weapons and armor we had before." He looked at his friends one by one. "We ready?"

Everyone nodded.

"Let's do this." Christie told Habersham and put her arm around Natalie and kissed her cheek. Natalie did not even acknowledge the show of affection and just stared in front of her with a blank look on her face.

The professor held the lock of Natalie's hair to the flame of the candle and started chanting some words in a language the others did not understand as he cast his magic. The room started spinning for the friends and it was not long before they realized what Habersham meant by the pain. Christie screamed first followed by the screams of her friends. Christie felt as if her body was being cut by jagged bits of glass and her skin peeled off as she was transported back to Faerûn.