He liked trees. His magic was based on them, after all.
He placed his hand on the trunk of the oak, feeling the coolness of the bark on his palm.
Before Marcus could cry out or even blink, the oak tree rushed at him and swallowed him whole.
He placed his hand on the trunk of the oak, feeling the coolness of the bark on his palm.
Before Marcus could cry out or even blink, the oak tree rushed at him and swallowed him whole.
Zenith of Sorcery is a fantasy novel by nobody103 aka Domagoj Kurmaic (better known for writing Mother of Learning). It is published on Royal Road (here
), updating approximately every three weeks.
Marcus is an archmage who has spent several years in semi-voluntary exile from his homeland, but is now coming back to see how things are doing. The answer is: not well. The world is in upheaval, powerful mages are receiving divine portents of doom, and the Sacred Oak that watches over the orphanage where Marcus grew up is an annoying mystery.
Just as well he has a lot of magic to throw at his problems.
This story contains examples of the following:
- Always Need What You Gave Up: Marcus tried to use his successes as a general in the First Academy War to become the head of The Great Sea Academy. After he lost and exiled himself, the Great Sea Academy was the loser of the Second Academy War.
- King Incognito: Marcus dresses like a third rank mage, which is enough to get respect from commoners and typical mages. If asked, he admits that he's a fifth rank spirit manifestation mage (which cannot be hidden from another mage), which is enough to make him a figure of awe but he internally notes that that's a lie. He later admits to a friend that he's seventh rank.
- My Skull Runneth Over: Marcus' vision of doom is too big and too alien for him to take in all of it. The Sacred Oak, having an older and more stable mind, remembers more.
- Orphanage of Love: The caretakers where Marcus grew up were rather stern if the children disrespected the Sacred Oak, but otherwise warm and loving, setting them up for a bright future.
- Plausible Deniability: Marcus knows that the academy tower is made of materials too strong to be harmed by a teenager with a steel knife, "because of...reasons."
- Properly Paranoid: Another losing claimant to become head of the Great Sea Academy was assassinated while Marcus was in exile.
- Self-Imposed Exile: After losing a political conflict, Marcus left the Great Sea Academy.
- Sure, Let's Go with That: Titus is surprised to hear that Marcus still has hope to advance further, and asks whether he really believes he can reach the sixth rank. Marcus, who has already reached it, doesn't correct him and keeps his answer vague.
- Talking Animal: Common enough that Marcus just shrugs, although it's a surprise to muggles.
- Walking the Earth: Marcus has been doing this for the last few years. The story starts as he returns to his homeland.
- Wise Tree: The Sacred Oak is fully intelligent and very ancient.
