Chapter 15 Is Here!

Demons, magic and owls (3)

Chapter 3: Lost in language, gained in silence

Disclaimer: Crossover. Do this for practice English. Feedback would be good. None of used names of respective canons belong to me.

Living in the Owl house was a rather pleasant experience. Otus was even feeling rather fulfilled in a position of a butler or something similar to it. If not a fact of the house being basically a living being, he could even considered it perfect. Such motivation had a source, his owl-like sleep schedule could work. The young owl woke up late and stayed all night up. That was great, as Hooty was asleep and wouldn't bother the guy with how much of a chatterbox the house-demon was.

Otus chose a tower- like's structure's roof as a place to sleep. At night he wasn't cold, usually cleaning or practicing with flight to regain his old agility and stamina. Before getting in this world the owlboy could fly with holding someone for an entire day. Now, he could only keep up five hours of constant flight. Yet it didn't matter for now. The young owl would return to his best shape eventually. With such thought he drifted once again to sleep.

But that morning started a bit earlier. Otus was called by Eda downstairs to see Luz overburdened with books.

- You and our flying guy here will go and return books I have checked from the library. Less people to share the loot with.

The owl lady said, whispering the last part of the line to King so the human girl wouldn't hear, but keen ear of an owl heard. Fortunately gor her, the guy didn't care about money as much and with a sigh, went to take half of the books from the girl.

Both left the Owl house to be shaken by some screaming behind them. Otus worryingly turned to Luz.

- They will be fine.

She replied on his silent question, not re-assuring even one bit.

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Otus was a weird guy. His sleeping past noon, near complete silence and positive attitude no matter what created something of an uncanny appearance for the human's perception of things. He wasn't gross or strange enough to be considered a casual inhabitant of the Boiling Isles, but he had enough biological quirks to show that clearly wasn't human. Occasional shedding of feathers, uncannily good hearing, surprisingly fast restoration speed and ability to turn his head to look straight behind were the most prominent ones. And that is without touching personality. He was really happy with cleaning, flying off errands, but whenever she attempted to speak with him about his past, he could only tell that it doesn't really matter now. Although, when they first met and he told a bit, those sky pirates sounded really awesome.

Besides that Otus had really twisted sense of danger. Where Luz met things with fear, he was more curious. Giant beats, especially with flight from owl cloak, were more of a small annoyance than actual trouble. While concepts of local natural disasters or phenomenons gave him uneasy feelings.

She desided to toggle that mess slowly. One step at a time

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Today was a joyful day. He was sent with Luz to the library. Back at his world there was no better time than spend the rest of the day with a good book, before he met his friends. The last thought though shook off all the positive nostalgia. The young owl missed them.

But it wasn't the best time for thinking this way, as both have reached the place. It was huge. As big as the owl's temple above the Stratos. Both actually were libraries. But here books weren't written in ancient owl language.... Come to think of it, how did he know local language. This thoughts were hard and made his head hurt. So Otus chose put them aside.

As two walked in, librarian used magic to check those books. All were late. The owlboy wouldn't expect anything less from the infamous owl lady.

- This are Eda's ones, aren't they?

Said the librarian, making Otus feel a bit of a spanish shame, while Luz handled the talking. His attention soon grabbed the beauty of the place. So much books that he could read. There was more than he could look through his entire life. If he would believe in afterlife, he would hope it was like that. So, the young owl went to fly to the top shelves to get something to read. His main targets were - history and history based literature. And there something hit him on the head.

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"What a poor excuse for a library." Veigar thought. He have spent an entire morning looking through it in hope to find some magical tomes or grimoires. But nothing. He didn't exact dared to use ladder to go upstairs for bigger selection, too confident to call for help, being too short and not exactly strongest to handle pushing those things. If Only he had more magic to be able to just get them all at once. But he could atleast try to get some history tomes. And he thought he found one. Rather big and full of knowledge HE, the dark magician and the most powerful of sorcerers could exploit.

Couple minutes of concentration and he could get a hold with magical telekinesis. Still, thing weighted a ton and was at most distance, on the very top shelf. Once it was close enough to the edge, the short magician braced for impact, preparing to catch. But instead of just the book, on him fell some guy, that book hit on its way down.

That kicked the wind out of Veigar . But the guy that book fell one was out.

- What is going on?

Asked on of the librarians, peaking from behind one of the bookshelves to see the situation.

- ... Oh. Someone once again have tried to reach the fullest encyclopedia at a date.

Said they, before leaving the two. This was extremely annoying. That flying boy was not exactly the heaviest, but cloak was creating a significant trouble getting out from underneath him. The guy returned to his senses as well and, surprisingly, started to bow as a sign of apology, as soon as both got up. Veigar didn't pay attention to the his actions, more concerned about his gauntlets and cape. This was a marvelous peaces of magical enhancement a d magical engineering. He could feel a familiar power from them. A sensation of controllable magic. This surely was something with the guy. It was time to make his play.

- Oh, no worries, young one. I am unharmed. May I know your name?

The dark magician said, as polite as his prideful demeanor could provide. Reply went in written form. From pockets of his clothes he took out a notebook and and a pen to write "My name is Otus".

- Hm. Well. Pleasure to meet you, Otus. My name is Veigar, the greatest magician and sorcerer in this lands or wherever in general.

He replied, boasting a bit with his introduction, adding some poses to that. But he ultimately was hushed at, for being a bit too loud from visitors of the library. That made the short mage angry, but it wasn't so bad, as, for his goal, he could withstand it. Yet, Otus clearly noticed annoyed expression of the mage's eyes. The rest was hidden underneath empowered shadow of his hat.

- Nevertheless, if you do wish to help me, could you get some of the books from higher shelves. As you can see this place isn't exactly suited for kind of me.

He explained. Otus nobbed, but cocked his head a bit, asking without words, what exactly does he need.

"So. Guy is mute. How awful. But that can be used."

- Nothing much I just needed some history literature. And I thought this book was the thing to start. But with you here, Otus, I could get a wider range.

Veigar suggested. The young owl happily nobbed to be of help, flew up and started gather books.

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He was happy to meet someone who would work on the same theme. They could exchange books while reading and maybe discuss things. He heard that Advent's library had a literature club, but it was a bit too far for a regular visiting. This was quite the opposite.

Veigar, on the other hand, had some different plans. That cloak. It is such a marvel. Seeing it with his arcane senses, created more and more theories. The way it moved and changed from wings to cloak and back was fascinating. Main question was, how such thing could harness power of local unstable magic. It required closer look in the future.

Otus soon returned with several books and gave them to the dark magician. He nobbed in appreciation and started to leave, but the owlboy followed along, confusing the dark magician a bit.

- Um. Is there any way I could help you with?

The sorcerer said and the young owl took out a notebook to write "I was looking for those books as well". That surely was a complication. But, not such a bad one.

- Alright, I believe this will help us get through this books faster, if we will get through them together.

The dark magician agreed as they went to a table to start looking through history tomes.

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This was incredible. Otus saw that there was a mountain that looked like a skull duaring some of his flyights. But an entire island on remains of the gigantic magical creature was fascinating. Local belief in the titan and that, rather ominous local emperor. That also opened up why Eda is wanted. But he still couldn't understand what they meant by wild magic. What the owl lady used, wasn't something destructive, unless it was an intent, but other magic users also could cause a lot of damage in ranks of a coven. Biggest question for him was what was difference between so called "wild" witch compare to one in emperor's coven. Otus thought to ask Veigar, but the dark magician looked extremely angry. He seemed to know something, but the boy desided to wait fro the short mage to calm down.

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This was outrageous beyond all recognition. Only desire for more knowledge helped him to hold back his desire to accurse this lands. This idiots were sitting on a gold pile for any artificer and mage of any kind. Remains of magical beast of such proportions could have enough materials to create an utopia. Yet they desided, like an absolute primitives they are, to worship it?! Not only that but an idiotic covenant system along with the most outrageously awful ruler he have ever heard about were fueling his rage even more. Magic never supposed to be restrained. It is a natural power, that flowed with life itself. Maybe for locals it's okay. But he was a yordle. A being who's life is dependent on such free flow of magic.

Veigar have desided. He will become the most powerful in this world, overthrow that Emperor Belos and remove those superstitions. Only question was how. After some more looking through books, the dark magician might have found an answer. This places were full of magical phenomenons caused by the power that this remains still exude. He could harness them and absorb their magic. But that required a ritual.

- Otus. May I ask a boon of you?

He said, turning to the worried owlboy.

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Messing around and pranking people with Edric and Emira was a lot of fun, but being kicked out wasn't so. Yet, Luz looked forward to what they could do duaring Wailing Star meteor shower. Otus saw her and was looking a bit judgemental, understanding that she have planned one more dangerous endeavour. He came to expect it after she and Eda agreed to a deal with a weird demon to close that portal.

- Relax, Otus. That will be just some innocent fun. I and my friends will just enjoy the time at library.

She said on their way home. He wasn't convinced. The guy knew a troublemaker and his wish just to have fun turned in to a catastrophy. She could see anger on his usually smiling or startled face turned in to squinting expression of worry and a bit of disappointment. Unable to withstand it Luz replied with a sigh.

- Look. I just want to mend up some really bad impression and have more friends. I couple times threw their sister's pride and dignity in to the mud and now everything is complicated. I think befriending them I will so be able to be friends with her.

This made Otus consider things. And with a hooting sound he made after a heavy sigh of his own, nobbed. Friends were important. The young owl knew that more than anyone as well.

As they reached their home, both found King and Eda, dealing with tiny demonic baby. Probably they were looking after it for a money, assumed the yong owl.

- Aw. Eda, you look so motherly.

Luz commented

- Say that again and you will steal your tongue.... No offense Otus.

Replied the owl lady. With the owlboy it was a bit tricky to make such jokes. He didn't take much offence, but left for a quick check if Hooty got anything weird on himself just after being cleaned that night.... And get couple things his new friend asked for.

After a bit he heard more screaming and some panicking mattering of Luz, as the girl ran back to Bonesborough. He followed along, taking some candles and chalk. He had a bad suspicion about all of this. But as owl he must take such risks and he must be able to fix them in case of failure. With such thoughts, he flew along with Luz.

If what Veigar has said was truth, that was a great chance for the young owl.

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Veigar was still in the library, hiding and waiting for librarians to leave and let him a full access to the place. He needed a perfect spot for a ritual. The room must be not too big or too small. Search wasn't going for too long, as his attention grabbed a romance section. But not books that were there, but the fact that this shelves were slightly lower than others. "Why such braking of esthetic?" He thought.

Next step was a quick magical check and it revealed what the dark magician needed. Behind this was a hidden room. If there is one, there must be a way to get in. Romance section was a door. A bit of blind guesses, he found a switch, opened the room and went it to prepare it for the ritual.

- This is going to be the begining of my glorious rise as the most feared sorcerer. Ehaha.

He said, laughing from overwhelming excitement.

- And what do you think you are doing?

Voice behind him interrupted. It was a girl with green hair and in some dark clothes he didn't pay much attention to. Many people here for some reason used dark fabric.

- None of your business. Once I will be finished - you most likely will be praising me for my greatness!

Veigar replied, firmly.

- You are really suspicious. I already have problem with that human and my siblings, so if you don't want to be one more trouble I need to deal with, please, get out from this room.

The young witch said.

- I refuse. I, Veigar, the dark magician shall claim the power of that Wailing star and restore my former glory!

The sorcerer argued, before being lifted by that girl.

- Hey! Put me down, you insufferable brat!

The sorcerer protested, trying to break free.

- ... Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds? I really doubt that you are so powerful to take power from that kind of thing. There is no spell that can do that.

She stated.

- Oh. But you do not realise. I am the greatest sorcerer and you shall not be in my way!

He said, clearly annoyed and sent a spell, making bindings of magic. That surprised her and the witchling couldn't evade that. After causing a lot of misery to the guards of the Conformatorium Veigar could get some magic back. But his signature spells still required more knowledge on this world.

- What?! How are you using magic without magical circle?

The girl shouted, struggling against the unnatural magic. He replied with amused laughter before speaking properly.

- I said to you, I am the dark magician, the greatest sorcerer and you still won't listen. Just like that brute of a warden. You both are, as well as your kind, worthless. You even can't recognise when someone controls you or manipulates with the most basic of tactics. And now, I would ask you to be quite. I shall meditate to remember the right circle for the ritual.

Amity had no Idea what that shorty was talking, but that surely wasn't something good.

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Otus and Luz arrived a bit earlier than needed, making them wait. The guy went to sit one one of the ledges at the begging of the roof of the building, watching as the girl was posing, clearly practicing a better impression on troublesome twins. And here they were, watching the human sturtle. There the owlboy made his appearance, landing silently with his owl cloak behind them.

- It says no trespassing, but - AGH!

Edrik jumped a bit, surprised to see behind him a short owl guy wit brown... Feathers?

- Oh. Yeh. This is Otus. My friend and something of a butler at our house. He insisted to watch over me in case if something gets out of hand.

Explained Luz.

- Well. I can surely tell he must be good at pranks. How do you move so silently?

Emira asked. Otus didn't reply. The owl cloak was supposed to be a secret. Even if he moved in public with it, he could blend in with just flying demons, but this was different.

- He is mute, unfortunately, but that means no distractions, right?

Luz said. That hurt Otus a bit and he angrily squinted at her. The guy was getting really fond of this expression recently.

- Oh. Well. That's great to hear. Well, if you will want to join the fun, we won't be against.

Edrik said. Otis of course would deny. He had something more important to do.

Using some scroll, they could enter via making a door out of lock. A bizarre sight, but not unusual for Boiling isles. Otus instantly would go on search of Veigar the moment he could.

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At that time, the dark magician was struggling with books that glowed. Duaring his cleaning of the room for the ritual, couple of them fell and opened, releasing it's contents.

- Such a wasteful magical anomaly. No matter. More magic for me to take.

The sorcerer said, struggling with some bestiary, as he noticed Amity's diary. The young witch was in the same room. He couldn't afford increasing the distance, as it would make him spend more magic.

- Hey! Leave that alone!

She angered.

- Or else?

Teased the dark magician, clearly feeling there was something behind it, believing it to be a grimoire of sorts, before opening. Inside he could only hear that girl's voice before instantly closing and throwing thing on the floor enraged.

- Oh come on! Is it so hard to find a proper grimoire in this library?! Even the secret stash is nothing but sentimental trash!

The tiny wizard raged.

- Wait, you were looking for something like that here? It is a public library. Anything with significance is usually in personal collections, in emperor's palace or in magical schools.

Amity pointed out.

- Well. Excuse me, but I'm not from around here. I believe my greatest invention have, unintentionally, teared a rift in space-time and now I'm here.

Veigar argued.

- So you were responsible for that scary tear in the sky?

She said, not believing that.

- Yes, I believe it was I. Yet accident left me with undesirable amount of magic. Do you know how hard it is for me to keep you like this?

The dark magician complaint.

- No, but thanks for the tip.

The girl replied with a snark, as she could release her palm to draw a magical circle behind her back and summon a small abomination, that hit the short wizard, braking his concentration. Without it spell have fizzled away and the witchling took that apportunaty to run

Veigar has angered, but wouldn't follow her, as Otus soon came, not noticing a running away girl, as the two were on different paths. The young owl presented to the dark magician items he asked for and work started. The owl would look at what the dark magician was doing, feeling uneasy a bit and his facial expressions showed that fully. The sorcerer noticed that.

- Don't worry. If it will succeed I will do as I promised.

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Amity ran. It was hard to accept but this was serious business and she needed help. Like this she accidentally bumped in to them, as the group of troublemakers had fun with books about snowballs. They noticed her and stopped fooling aroun.

- Ugh. Not again, Mittens. Are you going to try to ruin all the fun again?

Erik said, displeased. Luz would tense at the situation.

- No-no-no. There is something much. Much worse going on.

The youngest of Blight reported, panting from a run she had before continuing.

- There is some crazy guy with some unknown magic is going to, somehow take the power of Wailing Star.

That puzzled everyone.

- That sounds too cool to be true and terrifying from you.

Emira said.

- Then we need to check that out and stop if it will be necessary.

Luz agreed and the group went to yhe secret room.

There they saw Otus, standing outside, as some high pitched voice was pronouncing incantations, targeted to stars, space and powers of arcane, and a bright light of greenish hue was coming from the entrance, similar to ine from books effected by Wailing Star.

- Who is that?

Amity asked, before Luz dashed forward.

- Otus! What is going on?

The human asked, looking inside to see a dressed in purple classical styled wizard using magic that she was much more familiar with from numerous fantasy books and such. They were sitting in a circle drawn with chalk with some signs, connected by lines and on some connections were put candles. Their light was the source of that glow and their were flickering in direction of the wizard.

- Hey! Who are you and what are you doing?!

The girl said and attempted to enter. Others didn't risk to approach this ritual, but the dark mage turned to her.

- Wait! Don't -

He couldn't finish, and Otus didn't react fast enough as Luz stepped one a drawn magical circle with runes in it. That action changed shape of the magical formula, sending all three, human, shorty and the owlboy in to the bookshelf as colours from the circle started to shift to all specters of rainbow, waiting longer on green and blue.

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That idiotic human. He tried to be nice, but it went just like always. Try to play good for your own gain and then you get some heroes to open your true personality and make a critical error in the spell. But it wasn't supposed to react like that. Once disrupted magical formula should have failed and just stop working. Enraged, he turned to the human.

- YOU IMBECILE! You have disrupted the ritual. This world has different rules and now who knows what it will summon!

He screamed, grabbing the girl by her shoulders and shaking angrily, not thinking about power of his grip with clawed gauntlets.

- Ow! It's your fault why were you doing this in the first place?!

She answered with a question on a question. That was rude.

Otus would separate the two, as Luz rubbed places where spikes on his armour touched from this, while magical circle for the ritual was getting more unstable. Two spheres of magic appeared there and both flew up, passing through the roof.

After that, circle stopped glowing and there was silence.

- I think.... We should leave.

Suggested Eric and Emira nobbed in agreement, as they just left four to deal with this. And the twins did so at a perfect time, as from outside sounded loud, blood curdling shriek. Nearly instantly after that, a giant, the size two times bigger than an adult person, two headed bird broke through the window, shattering coloured glass. Its general shape resembled a raven

It's heads with glowing yellow eyes were connected to a body with two long necks, covered in blue feathers. And the most terrifying thing was that beast was speaking. They didn't know the language, none of them, and both heads were speaking at the same time.

All four ultimately desided to hide, while creature stood on top of the bookshelves, keeping on the unknown talk.

- What is that?!

Amity whispered panicking, while the rest, and especially Veigar, observed what it was doing. Giant mutant bird took with its claws one of the books, tossed it up and it started levitating above the beast, as lines of some magic went from book to to it. This process lasted for couple minutes before the book flopped down on the floor. Once full of pictures and and letters, its pages were now empty.

- By all celestial powers.... You have summoned a demon here!

Veigar screamed in horror, as the beast turned its head to their hideout, let out a loud shriek with one of the heads, while the other continued to chant something. This chant however had something repeating in it. It was word or maybe even a name. Tzeentch. Beak of the other head was still opened inside it a spell was forming, that launched a gust of air, strong enough to make all four fly away from their hideout.

At this moment all four started running. Hopefully library was big and they could find a new place to hide in its most distant sections.

- How is that thing a demon?

Amity argued, once they got far enough.

- No. Not your stupid demons. I mean real ones. Powerful beings, manifestations of the emotions and magic. We must stop it until this library is empty and that world has to deal with a huge problem

The dark magician explained.

- But how? That thing casts spells without using circles and is clearly will be much stronger if I get the idea what it is doing.

Luz said, holding her head in panic. She messed up royally. Otus would try to calm her by shaking a bit. That helped only slightly.

- Alright. We need to make a strategy. Who can do what? And what ideas you might have?

Asked the dark magician. Everyone would think. Otus put a note with "I can punch and flight" written on it.

- I can use some magic and make abominations to distract it or get something from far.

Amity said.

- I... I don't know. I can make only this.

Said Luz, getting a light glyph. Veigar watched in aw as the peace of paper crumbled and turned in to the ball of light. He felt it. That was done so easily. So purely.

- .... Fascinating. So, one of basic elements of this world is light.

He said, for the first time for all three, without inserted superiority. Yet no-one could tell what he meant about it and it wasn't the time to ask.

- Alright, human. You will be behind the strategy. I need to meditate gor a bit. We have around five minutes.

Veigar commanded.

- Wait! Why her?

Amity argued.

- She is a human. There's no beast more crafty than they are.

The dark magician said with a smile he didn't expect from himself, before sitting in a pose for meditation. Magic this time was more understandable for him. He could now identify that flow and in his hands appeared two spheres if light, similar to ones the human have created, but then he started twisting them. His arcane knowledge and natural sense of magic with just this little bit of fundamental information have opened him so much more.

And there something clicked in his head. Flow from chaotic turned more straight. Magic flowing and he could feel one of his signature spells returning to him. While this was happening, Luz, Amity and Otus discussed a plan, occasionally starting at the strange magician.

- Is everything okay?

The human asked.

- No. Everything is Great. Now, let's time to get that bird out. What's the plan?

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The demon bird was growing more powerful and knowledgeable. Blue of its feathers was spreading further, getting brighter and richer more books it was leaving empty. All four could now hear both heads talking in understandable for them speech with occasional mentioning of some term that could be only expressed on whatever the language it was using. It was some nonsensical rumble about fate, inavitability from one head and the other was saying exactly the opposite.

It would reach for one more book and there Otus came in, delivering a punch on full speed of his flight right on the beak. The beast croaked from pain and shock, flattering it's wings to catch balance

- Foolish mortal. You will pay for this.

- Mindful gods. I don't deserve none.

Heads spoke, as near it appeared a swirl of magic, that launched several specks of harmful projectiles of many colours of blue, that started following their flying target. Then demon's attention got several bolts of magic from Veigar.

- Come here, you, bird brain. I shall show you who is the true master of magic here!

The dark magician taunted.

- I significant speck. I will evaporate both of you.

- Oh great ones. You did made me.

The demon replied, conjuring a new spell.

While this was happening, Luz and Amity were using this distraction to reach behind the bird. Their target were encyclopaedias and other many books that it was protecting. Plan was to get from them something useful to defeat that thing, as, by Veigar's words, "Demons usually are highly resistant to magic and physical damage. Our goal is not to destroy, but to make it flee." That was easier said than done. As something to take on that thing would need to be powerful.

- Come on. Come on. Give me something good, big boiling isles' encyclopedia.

Luz mumbled nervously

- Be quite. It might hear us.

Amity whispered and the human nobbed.

While that was happening, the owlboy and the dark magician had a bit of a bad time. Shortness of the sorcerer made it hard to doge, making him rely on resilience and ability to withstand a beating of his armour. This raven's spells were really potent and surely would result in some nasty bruises afterwards or maybe even injuries. Otus had quite the opposite problem. He was dodging, but requirement for his cloak to be intact for a flight and in general lack of armour could lead to something really bad if the young owl would make even single mistake.

Fortunately there reinforcements appeared with couple books on human history. They opened them and chariots would fly right at the giant bird, pinning it to the ground, but the thing started to absorbed summed warriors from time of old, disintegrating them, making their pages go blank. With additional power, the thing clearly got angry, flying right to the sealing, before conjuring a powerful spell in less then a second, a burst of lightning flew in all direction, fortunately the thing needed as much books in tact, so it wouldn't cass fire. But it's precision at tracking targets was uncanny and, for some reason, most focus went to the Human.

Otus fastly pressed on a friend teleporter, catching Luz to appear in his hands, again with a hold under the shoulders, once that spell was about to hit her.

- G-great save pall....

She said, slightly terrified, before being placed on the floor. Guy would go for couple more punches, angry at the bird-demon for attacking his friend. He lost his old ones and couldn't afford more.

Unexpectedly, that made the giant thing get thrown pretty far from just the sheer power of the hit. The guy never knew he had so much strength, but that wasn't important at the moment.

- Look out!

Amity commanded and Otus flew off to be saved from a flow of huge beasts from bestiary the witchling have found. But the giant bird could doge that, flying up to the sealing once again. The owlboy would follow it to keep assaulting it.

- Enough!

- More!

Both of its head shouted and a burst of powerful magic went in all directions, sending Otus in to the nearest wall and making others drop to their knees. That was some weakening spell. They could feel their bodies getting numb, similar to a sensation after a really hard hit.

- You, insignificant specks on the cosmic scale. The universe will be absorbed by the power of changer of ways. Your destruction is inevitable, for I have foreseen it! I will make you suffer tenfold.

- I am the mightiest here. Nothing have strength to keep itself the same. My greatness is changing, as it have already happened! Yet you will meet a shift end.

It monologue, picking many books at a time to restore as much and as fast as possible. There, Veigar, with more of his natural resilience got up first.

- I.... Will not allow it.... I called ownership on this world first!

He protested, getting full attention of the giant bird. Yet it didn't use spells.That last blast took a lot and it was recovering, absorbing texts. The beast launched forward to use its claws and beaks to tear the dark magician to shreds. And that exactly what the greatest sorcerer wanted. He lifted both his arms. Purple sparks of lightning going between his fingers and their quantity was rising fastly

- Event horizon!

Veigar shouted and slammed both his hands against the floor, from which rose two pillars woth runes carved in it. Between those pillars appeared a field of sorts on the way of the demon, that was giving a purple glow. Inevitably, the bird hit it and froze in air.

For those who were conscious was obvious, the short guy was struggling. His glowing ryes underneath the darkness if his head were squinting in hiw much power he needed to put in that spell.

At this perfect timing came Luz with one of her Azura books and from there a copy of some spell that was used there sent the giant bird through a different window just at the moment when Veigar couldn't maintain the event horizon. All of the people there fell exhausted, as through the broken windiw was hered gurgling sounds of flopping wings, distancing somewhere bird-beast.

It took about a half an hour for everyone to recollect what happened. The library was in ruins. Not that it was destroyed, but many emptied books and fallen shelves will obviously appear on local news. Besides that a strange chill was hanging in the air, making atmosphere even more uncomfortable.

For Amity and Luz it was a bit harder. For them world has turned up side down. The human was more used to it still. She had a similar feeling when she first came to the boiling isles, but something so awful to appear from such a small mistake. That was daunting.

- I think... We should head to our homes and recollect what happened.

Suggested she. The green haired witchling agreed. Otus, who only just recovered from a magical blast picked up Veigar, who was powerless to move. The owlboy's worried face asked an obvious question.

- I'm... Fine.... Just. Overdid a bit... Even if I have returned some of my previous power... It is still insignificant compare to that creature.

Commented he, berely standing. There was a lot of explaining to do, but now they really should head back to their homes. For the dark magician it was more of a base, but he didn't care at the moment.

All four walked outside, but Amity would go to Luz.

- That surely was something. After all what happened at the c. , i was wondering what kind of person you was. And I think I get it better. You are a trouble magnet, Luz.

The witchling stated.

- That's... Harsh, but at this point I can't say otherwise.

The human agreed with a slight struggling smile on her face. An awkward silence hanged for a bit.

- So. I think we should return to Eda. She and king most likely already finished their business.

She continued. Amity would nob.

Meantime, Otus cane to the wizard, who was slowly shuffling away, wishing to ask for explanation and about was the mage truthful in his words. Veigar couldn't practically felt that look. He couldn't understand what he was feeling about it. Guilt? Only now after all other things he did or said?

- I.... I believe I know what you wish to ask.... I don't know how to say everything now or what to say in general. I need to rest and finish one business. After that I will tell everything.

Promised the dark magician, shuffling away. At that point, Luz and Amity would finish, making the owlboy go with the human.

.

Road to the Owl house in Otus' hands was easy and relatively uneventful. The owlboy was clearly distressed and had a lot of thoughts. And Luz wanted him to finally share.

- Why were you helping that guy?

She asked. It was an obvious question. That dark magician clearly had something bad at mind. She couldn't understand why such mindful Otus could follow that crazy guy's plan.

After some hesitation he would write "He promised to open the way back home". That explained a lot.

- But he could easily betray you and after getting power just throw you away.

Luz pointed out. He couldn't reply much, the young owl was sad and distressed. His expressive face showing a full display of what he was feeling. The guy was close to cry. Hus shaking hand gave a reply "I just thought I could see my friends again. Without much better to offer on such a reply she would just hug him.

- That's okay. I understand. We will help you the vest we can. This isn't something that you should have hide.

She said. That was a great thing to hear

The owlboy could feel comfort returning back to him like the one he had in the morning. The rest of the path was uneventful.

When they reached the place, Eda and King were with little bat demons sleeping peaceful. Then, suddenly, Hooty burst door open, scaring both younglings. Through the door came in a big demon that looked like a head with bat wings. Otus was tense, feathers up and terror on his face. He didn't want to deal sith more unknown stuff today. He didn't pay much attention to hear what were they saying, but it took little bat things and flew off, leaving chest full of coins.

Otus has ultimately desided to go sleep it off. Too much events for tonight and he was tired. Tomorrow the young owl surely will find many bruises.

.

When Eda woke up she wanted to ask where demon-babies went, but then she saw Luz in a rather rough shape. Several scrapes, scratches and a strange smell of magic around her.

- You seem to have a really rough night. What happened?

The owl lady asked, concerned. The girl would sit on a couch before breathing in and out

- That was awful. It all started good, then went bad, and then turned to a catastrophy. I met one more guy like Otus.

She said, making the witch even more worried. She would ask more, but outside something was happening.

- Hey! Who are you? Eda didn't invi-

Hooty was talking, before being silenced.

Then door opened, clearly forcefully, as sparks of purple lightning went around it. In its frame stood so familiar for Luz short dark magician, with one hand glowing, maintaining the pillars of spell.

- Owl lady! I challenge you to fight me in a duel!

Veigar shouted dramatically, pointing at Eda. There his concentration slipped from so much events today and spell disappeared. Returning Hooty to normal, who angrily used his neck to kick the short guy over the trees.

- I will comeback!

The high pitched voice shouted, flying further away, puzzling every inhabitants of the Owl House even more.

Life was getting even stranger.

Not exactly a WIP, but more of an outlet for a stray thought that bothered me for a while. It just needed to put out there for those as crazy as I am who find funny space dragon funny.

Chapter 42. The meanin of life. There is also an important question there down the post.

*Hold gently* Thank you, my friend!

ok REAL first post on tumblr; an entry for day 12 of Bug fables bugtober; mistake ! inspired by the story of @joyfullwhisp !

A slight delay on one of the projects.

No need to worry, folks. I am not abandoning "From beyond comes adventure." I am just taking a break in favor of my older ideas that I finally got around to working with.

But that also means I get to announce the soon arrival of a reimagining of my very first work! "Daemons, magic and owls" are soon to be revisioned. I have finally gotten over the idea of a cluster crossover in favor of just a few impactful elements.

That's all for now. I hope you are not too disappointed and that I could interest you in one of my older projects, which was unable to leave my mind even to this day.

Chapter 1-5 upated. (From beyond comes adventure)

Finally, after 1000 years I have done it. I am alive and I am working and that stuff. Hope quotation mark system would be more to your liking, folk!

Tis me birthday.

*Foghorn*

I don't have much. I'm just 20.

Chapter 21 is here.

It was fun to make and I finally got to the pieces I wanted to show. Hopefully, my bias toward those parts will not hinder the quality.

Demons, magic and owls (2)

Chapter 2: Sorcerer and five disasters

Disclamer: Let's make it quick. Crossover, searching for experience in both writing and English. Criticism is more than welcomed. Copyright is copyright.

Now was perfect time to recollect last events.

After launching his magical compressor, the greatest dark magician was blinded by a bright flash of light. Next instant he was falling from the skies, looking upward on tear in space-time. There was only one logical explanation.

Some moronic heroes came to his lair, launched some spells and by dumb luck hit his invention, ripping an entire universe apart. Still, Veigar was triumphant! Only he could survive such event and that proved that he was the greatest sorcerer, that have ever and will ever live. But then this idea was thrown away by the hit against the roof tops. Even armour underneath his robes couldn't help. As the matter of fact, it was making things worse with all the spikes that he had put on it.

- Where..... Is my magic?

He said in a raspy voice. It was supposed to protect him. All his strength. All that power he accumulated through hundreds of years of his life were gone. This made no sense. After his invention was launched. It was supposed to do otherwise, siphoning all the magic in to him.

No. That couldn't be. Could magical compressor fail? Then, where was he now and what was tear in the sky.... Where did it go?

This was just outrageous. A cosmic level threat phenomenon have just disappeared. He couldn't leave it like that, but first Veigar had to mend his armour and heal up.

This was no easy task for the dark magician. Arcane powers worked here, but they were..... suppressed? How could it be? He was using right formulas, even resorting to saying spells outloud. Could it be, that the dark magician fell through the tear in space-time in another universe with different laws of magic? This was even more outrageous. Now he had to do the most basic wizardly practices, that only mortals like humans did, as they had no innate understanding of arcane. But it was only due to how much of a genius he was, that the dark magician could do even a little bit of his old magic.

But the .ost awful thing was, that Veigar couldn't maintain shadows around his appearance. That was bad. All his hard work on creating the greatest of all images among sorcerers would be ruined. He already could feel his ears sticking out from underneath his hat. Why didn't he take his staff with him. It always had an emergency stash of mana.

- Are you okay, little guy?

Someone asked Veigar. Behind him was.... Creature, otherwise he couldn't describe that person. One eye, no semblance of a human proportions, but that wasn't important. How dare they!

- How dare you call me little!

The dark magician shouted, leering angrily with his glowing eyes from underneath the shadow of his big hat at a citizen of wherever they were.

- Do you not know who I am?

He continued, making guy blink couple of times.

- No and keep it down. Your voice sounds like someone is catching glass with sandpaper when you scream.

Cyclops said. That does it! He will pay the most awful pain he can possibly bestow upon them.

There Veigar noticed, person was standing on ladder. That was perfect. Even if he had to learn magic anew, there was one source of power that he always could count on. Malice.

A small dash and he pushed the guy, making him fall backwards. Unfortunately that wasn't too high. But it was enough to restore some magic to return shadow on Veigar's face. No more big stupid ears.

- Agh! What is wrong with you?

Pheasant complained.

- Ahaha! Foolish mortal! I am great sorcerer, master of arcane and celestial arts, harvester of souls, destroyer of worlds, unsto-

- Guards! Help! There's some psycho on my roof!

Veigar was interrupted, as soon some guys on light armour and strange masks with a beak run up. One of them helped the cyclops, while the other started to chase after the dark magician.

- Oh no!

Only thing that escaped from shorty's mind, when guard drew some circle in the air and then a plant sprouted, latching itself on the roof of a house. "How could they make this grow from drawing just some circle in the air?!" Veigar raged in his mind. But that wasn't time for this. He had to run.

- You will never take me alive!

Yordle shouted, jumping off the roof. Positive side of being berely two feet tall - falls till the certain point are nothing and your own robe can be used to slow the fall. Bad side of small size and having no magic to enhance the body - tiny legs are bad at running. The dark magician have never run like that in his life. An awful feeling. His breathing ragged, and tiredness was creeping too fast. Was his armour always this heavy?

But accursed rock stopped Veigar, making him stumbled and roll, to be stopped by a wall of a different house. Guard grabbed the short troublemaker by the collar of his robe and lifted up, nullifying any attempt to escape.

.

And that was how he got in, so called, Conformatorium. Without any data, as they put it, about him, it would seem Veigar was stuck forever. What he told them made an impression, that he was some psychopathic demon. How could they compare him. Him! With a lowly manifestation of magic and emotion. No matter. Fools who were building this place were the worst if the kind. It had no magical protection and had levers that control doors right next to the cells. But he needed some time before escaping. His powers were restoring slowly, as the yordle had low understanding of local laws of magic. Especially he was puzzled by the strange circles locals used. They were too simple for spells they manifested. There surely was something he couldn't just grasp.

There he noticed a window and, after some attempts on jumping, he could grab the edge of the window and peak out. There him met sight of a gloomy place, made of cold stone and iron with rare torches. Ah. It was just like home. Yet still nothing compared to Eternal bastion at its prime with Mordekaiser. He was put in a cell on pretty high floor. High enough to make fall lethal even for him and that would also mean no digging out.

After some more pondering, Veigar figured his only ticket out was to use magic. So, the dark magician would find a comfortable spot and started meditating, trying to attune to local magic source, maybe elements and, if he was especially luck,y he could get to some celestial power. But there it went to hell. All at ince. There was everything. No control and no order in magical energies. The second he opened his mind to local arcane powers the guy blew up.

.

.

.

This were hard time for Warden Wrath. Volumes of paperwork went through the roof after all escapees, humiliating defeat to them and apparent lack of interest from emperor's coven to this place. Number of their members was decreasing and remaining ones were almost the worst you can find among their coven. It looked like this place was turning to the worst. Only hope for the shape shifting demon was that it couldn't get worse.

And exactly that moment he heard an explosion and place was shaken.

- What is going on?!

Wrath roared, and stormed from his office to the source, to see a busted wall and destroyed cell with the newest prisoner, so called Veigar, the dark magician. The short demon wasn't in the best state himself. Was that an attack on him?

Remained prisoners and guards nearby didn't see him using any sort of circle. What suggested it really was a murder attempt. Failed on, he must say. The short one was really sturdy, even if the explosion knocked him out.

It was desided to move Veigar to reinforced cell. But as soon as they approached him, little psycho jumped up kicking the guard and attempted to run, before jumping on handholds in front of the pit to lower floors.

- Fools! It was the last time you saw Veigar! The dark magician and the most powerful of sorcerers!

He shouted victoriously, before attempting to jump on the lower floors. Fortunately his love for monologuing, gave Warden enough time to catch the guy mid-air.

- And where do you think you are going?

Wrath said, angrily holding the short guy as he pulled him up. The dark magician replied only with a nervous chuckle, before being thrown in a new cell.

- I will need to take a vacation.

Muttered big demon, heading back to his office...

...Until couple hours later he got report.

- That shorty is on the run again!

One of the guards sent to report shouted.

- How did he escape?!

Wrath said angrily, getting up, ready to chase that annoying psycho.

- He used magic to lift the lever of his cell, but he didn't leave the are yet.

Reported the same guard, following Warden along.

- Circle him. His tiny legs won't allow him to run much, therefore he will be hiding. Check every place!

.

This was too easy. He must admit, last attempt was failed by his own actions. Veigar was in unknown territory and needed to scout the place. The dark magician knew this attempt will fail as well. Yordle needed to get as much information as possible. This place needed to be navigated perfectly for a proper escape.

And so, holding his hat with one hand, the dark magician ran until hearing guards who were chasing him from behind one of the corners to cut his path. He needed to hide.

.

- I know he is somewhere here. I heard footsteps.

Guard one said. There were two of them.

- Boss said to check everything.

The second one replied and they looked the room around. There wasn't much were to hide, accept fro banners of the emperor's coven on the walls, but behind them was nothing. So guards continued chase.

.

Genius! Genius! He was a genius. He used some of his magic to launch himself up to the window. Fortunately that experiment with meditation gave him some more of it. There he hanged out for a bit before realising the most fearful of truths. He was stuck, unable to pull up due to weight of his armour and lack of physical strength.

- Be accursed my weak arms!

Shouted he, revealing his position to guards who were about to leave.

After some futile attempt to beat him up, Veigar was sent to the more secure chamber. No stupid levers on the walls. Now it was getting interesting. He might toy with them a bit more. This time warden of this place desided to stay to give him a warning.

- If you will try to run away again, I will make sure your stay here will be as insufferable as it can be, shorty.

He growled.

- Why you insignificant shape-shifting brut! I promise, as soon as I get out and restore my power you will be the first to suffer! Ahaha!

Veigar snarled back before going for intimidating laugh, making Wrath even angrier, however ridiculous that might sound.

- You are already doing it.

He mumbled leaving to work on even bigger amount of paper work.

.

Next attempt didn't wait for long. Next hour through place went announcement, taht he escaped by melting a spoon from brought meal with magic and making a lock-pick out of it. This escape was even more of a headache and only failed plan to use one of tapestries on the walls as a rope to go down from the wall made him get caught. At first everything went well, but when length of a rug ended he needed to jump in one of the windows and it so happened to be one in Warden's office.

But bad luck is nothing for the greatest of sorcerers. And ban on giving him any silverware in the future didn't stop escape attempts. Only delayed. His cell this time was located closer to the ground and, the next day they just didn't find him there and found only a dug up hole, covered with some moss that grew in this prison ward. Tunnel lead to storage rooms and he was found in a hole, stuck between a cave in of his own tunnel and a box, that fell on the dark magician. The guy was about to blast one of those away.

This angered Warden even more, as troublesome prisoner was sent to be tortured. Yet no bearing and no scraping of his armour wasn't braking his body or spirit. Whatever this short guy was made of, but he was unbreakable. His armour was impossible to take off . It was enchanted to be removed only by wish of an owner. Hitting his face made some effect, but crazy demon was laughing it off, telling some stories of something that Veigar called worse. And when warden tried insulting him, he replied only with rage.

So, after that ordeal for Wrath, the dark magician was locked by hands and feet and suspended by chains on the wall.

What a fools they were. Next attempt went even better, as using similar growths of moss, he made plants unlock him and break the wall of the cell. It took many hours for him to figure out local nature magic. Surprisingly for some reason it was easier than his seemingly natural celestial one. Nevertheless he was on the loose once again and outside him met all who could possibly get to prison yard. Lots of people and this time he gave them a fight. Sending his new plant servants in defence, as he started throwing wild spells around. Wild spells was one of the primordial power of a sorcerer. A really tiresome fir a body technique that called upon the magic within to guide and throw spells around. That was surprisingly effective, with couple spells not missing intended targets, but following damage was so pleasing to see, even if it wasn't intentional. But there was a limit. After injuring atleast half of their personal, warden stopped him and Veigar himself couldn't put up so much of chaotic magic through himself.

.

Wrath was beyond rage. If Eda was alluring not being caught to begin with. This. This guy was a disaster. Only pain and no charm, while being constantly cought yet he escaped every time.

- Why are you doing this?!

He roared at the shorty. Who was laughing at his max, not telling a thing. That was one sick freak in the eyes of the shape-shifting demon.

- That does it!

Warden grunted, heading to contraband chamber to lock him behind the barrier. It was forcefully removed by several specialists to make this possible. Wrath was blinded by rage, not realising or not wishing to realise that this will get him in so much trouble that he might loose his job. Only thing that mattered now is to lock up that annoying demon. One precise throw, turned back on barrier and Veigar was locked there.

.

Idiots. Fools and complete morons. That was his plans all along. A contraband room. He saw it and felt great blocking magic behind it. His plan worked perfectly. Now he has access to materials to create the moat devastating thing he could in this circumstances.

- Primitive magic of this fools won't stop me! Ahaha-AHAHAHAHA!

He laughed the most diabolical he could. That were moments he was living for.

.

.

.

It were entire three days. Thee days without any escapes. All Conformatorium went silent. Warden was on edge. This little gremlin did nothing. Did he really win by locking that menace to any society behind such barrier? It was good, but something didn't leave him. That sickening paranoia. All other guards felt it. And some constantly checked the contraband room to hear muffled laughter behind it. Was that shorty completely mad or that was a distraction. Warden didn't know. Pressure got the best of him and Wrath went there.

On place shape-shifting demon didn't hear a reported laughter. Only clicking and humming. It was similar to the humming of the barrier. But that clicking. What was going on there. Mind of the big demon was panicking, approaching closer to it and listening closer. There he noticed it. Barrier was flickering. Warden needed to stop it.

- Guards! Call Those responsible for the barrier we must-

Wrath couldn't finish, as behind him something blew up.

There he saw it. Device, that absorbed barrier in itself, made of junk and a few magical items that were among contraband . That was an absolute mistake. He was a powerful as he was speaking and they gave him everything to do what he wanted.

Warden tried to get up, but couldn't. All his power have disappeared somewhere, as Veigar triumphantly walked. Some guards ran up and tried to use their spells, but no circle appeared. Terrified they let the short mage pass. This put a smile on dark magician's face. A bright one, like a jack-o'-lantern. He went laughing all the way.

- We lost.

Admitted shape-shifting demon and started laughing at himself, unable to stop.

.

.

.

When emperor's coven came to investigate the place, they found the device. It was a brilliant masterpiece of madness and genius. It created a field where no magic could be used. Guards could catch the shorty, but the situation was truly terrifying and through panic and psychosis of an an entire Conformatorium Veigar just disappeared.

That was such a big deal, that even leader of emperor's coven visited to fix the problem and get place running again. Lilith Clawthorne saw state in which Warden wrath was basically dragged out, as magic disruption was causing a near complete drain of physical power from demons. In the Warden's office she found a message, written with ink from the storage rooms:

" This world is mine now, you fools!"

- This will be one interesting report to emperor. If what this all guards mumble about id truth, then we have someone more dangerous than Eda.

Said the witch.

.

.

.

Veigar was making a camp somewhere in the wilderness. That took a lot not ta pass out from that thing he made. Local magic was used crudely, but it still hold a punch and their inventions could be easily repurposed by his great mind. Now he needed to rest so his superior mind would work on new plans on the path to take over this world.

- That owl lady from posters seems powerful. I will surely challenge her. But I need more power. There must be a library somewhere.

He thought outloud, before falling asleep with satisfied chuckle.

Art illustration of one of the scenes from "From Beyond Comes Adventure" by @monsterhatdoodles. I thank them and everyone who supports me on this journey. I will keep improving to provide you more stories that can I spire anything like this.

I wish everyone a great time!