Chapter 8 - Atlas

Far north of the main city, there was a lake. Beneath that lake slept a fortress. Within that fortress there was a trap door. That trap door led into a Reality Marble. In the Reality Marble time moved much slower than in the outside world, allowing him to get much more work done. This did not grant him immortality, but it did greatly elongate his life span. All of these, the underwater fortress to the workshop within the reality marble was the creation of Atlas.

A mage of the Atlas Institute, he was ancient yet still appeared youthful. He would likely be the most accomplished mage of the era were he to leave this den of his. For endless years he lived and labored, perfecting his alchemy and ancient technology. He was looking to reach the pinnacle without the assistance of the root. He was the crux of his own magics, and a paragon of the institute he stood for. However, it would come to light that while he was indeed everything Atlas Institute would expect, he was missing one key note.

Several projects were scattered throughout the fortress. Atlas was relentless. Many of the works were crude, but if one were to fully investigate every one of these creations they were all treasures, perfected one after the other. The only one to admire them was a Homunculus in the underwater fortress. She served as the twentieth in her line. Atlas had long ago mastered the process of making familiars and homunculi. However, making the perfect homunculus had too many drawbacks. An ultimate lifeform devoid of aging and all powerful would have no reason to serve him or follow his orders. Even if he placed a lock of some sort upon them, if he made them impervious and immortal they would live to one day break free of that lock. So, he settled for imperfection on this craft, and she was the twentieth created to maintain the castle.

Beyond basic cleaning, Twenty was to repel intruders and maintain the bounded field that kept this mage secluded for so long. Yes, not even given a name. Twenty was not treated poorly, but had lived an unimaginably lonely existence, having only met her creator on the few occasions when he came out to place his new creations. She was still young, and had a long life ahead of her yet she had no idea what the outside world was like.

And today, he would come out again. Atlas stepped out, a shocking blue haired man that was lean and lanky. His hair was a disheveled mess that was clearly maintained by himself.

"Welcome back Master."

"Twenty. See to it that this reached the front gate." He smiled gently at her, simply proud of his work. What was the work? Only he could answer, but Twenty would not ask. It was a gargoyle. A true gargoyle. It would come to life at his order and was a deadly, nigh unkillable beast. He had many such creations but this was a truly magnificent feat. And further, Atlas had mass produced them. Twenty could count eighteen that he brought out.

Following the order she was given, Twenty placed the fearsome creatures along the walls and gates of the fortress. There were many contraptions that she was unsure of the function of, as they were far from orthodox, but she began to wonder if every brick had a different function at one point. The entire building was instilled with Atlas's being. Every hall was decorated with technology. She had believed that given time in his chamber, he would accomplish whatever he wanted really. And then, it happened.

"Well well well. Well. It appears that the Mage's Association has started using technology. But they haven't learned to encrypt anything yet!" He talked to himself. Likely a habit from having no one else to communicate with, but if he was asked why he did so he would respond with: For intelligent conversation. "The Holy Grail War is happening again. In London?! Twenty!"

"Yes Master?"

"Head to the surface. I need you to run some errands for me."

"Yes Mast- What?" The artificial being was stunned.

"Head to the surface. I need you to run some errands for me. You should have better hearing than me, you know." He chuckled.

"Right away." She was about to dash off.

"Hold it!"

She turned, smiling and excited.

"You can have fun while you are up there but don't forget we need to stay in contact."

"Yes Master!" She was so excited. She ran to the front gate immediately. She looked up at the bounded field that kept the fortress in its bubble. And without hesitation, jumped off the bridge and out of the bubble. For her, this was going to be the best day ever. Atlas, however, grinned.

"Finally, my chance." There are several issues that need to be unpacked with Atlas. To begin with, his view on technology. Most Mages avoid technology as it is foreign to them, and considered almost heretical. However there was a written theory by many mages that one day, technology would reach a point that surpassed magecraft, and would then render it obsolete. Atlas went to the next level to demonstrate it. His branch of magic that was all his own was Technomancy. A mixture of technology and magecraft to reach new heights. And with no limits in place he was free to climb so high over the years. His theory was that with the aid of technology, Magecraft would reach new heights entirely, and eventually reach an apex that neither technology nor Magecraft would reach.

Next, came his paragon status. What was he missing as an Atlas mage? Atlas himself was an epitome of all but one thing. He specialized in thought acceleration, and believed the body was a tool to use the mind more effectively. Atlas additionally had great sense for measurement and an affinity with machinery. And, he was an excellent alchemist, if not the greatest. Further, based on all the creations around, he indeed followed the creed. 'We do not need to be the strongest. We only need to make the strongest.'

What he was missing still was simple. Atlas Institute predicted that the world was going to end. So, Atlas Mages secluded themselves in study, creating weapons that could prevent the end of the world. But, those weapons were then discarded, as they were weapons that could also be used to end the world themselves. Atlas did not discard his projects. And he didn't want to just create them.

"It is time to use everything. And reach the apex I theorized." Atlas laughed heartily, feeling that this war would see his dream reach its conclusion. He sat down in the central room, the throne room of the fortress. "All my life has been for this moment. With the servant I summon, my goal will be reached." With a wide smile, the fortress began to hum to life. As though every brick was alive.