Allanon's History

Background

My name is Allanon Silver. I’m a human mage who has been augmented with some of the best technology around. Although I do not condone augmentation, I must admit the enhancements do come in handy.

Let me take you back to the earliest point in my memory I can remember, when I was only 11 years old. 

I was brought up in a wealthy family and always got everything I wanted, I guess I was just a little spoilt, but then we always had the money so I never really thought about it as a kid. 

Although my father owned several manors and holiday homes, we rarely left our current residence in the city. 

Our family lives in a huge manor fitted with the latest security defenses available to the commercial market, and the best technology and furniture money could buy. My dad worked as an entrepreneur, he owns several highly successful businesses from telecommunications, VDUs(Virtual Device Units), security, defense and more. My mum was a brilliant scientist, who also had a knack for magic, or at least that’s what my dad tells me. I've never met my mum, we don't even have any photos of her. Dad tells me she died when I was younger, too little to remember, but I get the feeling there's more to it than she died in some laboratory accident.

I had loads of toys as a kid, and like most kids I loved my toys. My favorite had to be Gurran Force. The toy was based on a popular kids cartoon around these huge robots that could transform into various vehicles and weapons and some could even combine into bigger robots. Although they quickly became unpopular when I entered high school, the big fad then was these navis that were embedded into our VDU(Virtual Dive Unit).

Often kids used their navis to fight one another, it was a popularity contest, whoever had the most powerful navi was obviously the coolest. Obviously navis weren't cheap, even the basic ones were expensive, but the custom navis would sell for more than some gliders.

I didn't have a navi until my 2nd year of high school, I guess my dad didn't want me to get bullied, though that still didn't stop them. Despite this I still managed to have a small group of friends whom we all looked out for one another. My closest friends were my childhood mate Draco, an unsocialable punk who loved to get into trouble, and popular in almost every sports club for his insane talent, though he never joined any of them. My other close friend was my neighbor, Cecilia. She was closer to a spoilt princess, for a middle class girl. She was smart, good looking, popular, knew how to cook, you could say the ideal girl, the only problem was she knew it and it often got to her head.

I didn't go to a prestigious school, mostly because there weren't many in our area. I guess the other reason was because my dad wanted me to experience a normal high school before I made my choice of high education and path. I didn't really object, as I wanted a more normal life than the luxurious one I was brought up in, but it was always so obvious to others that I came from a wealthy background. Most of the kids looked down on me, I can't really blame them. They probably thought I was looking down on them and trying to make them look bad. Draco and Cecilia are the only ones that never really cared about those things and treated me normally. 

Apart from Cecilia, I was pretty smart and decently athletic. Though I never held a candle to Draco or Cecilia.

So far most would think I'm a pretty boring guy, likes toys and games, wants a normal life rather than being rich, the stereotypical single male and female friend. But boy it weren't, apart from school, my father had various tutors come over to teach me various things. I learnt how to play the flute and piano, got taught some martial arts, heck my dad even got me to learn how to fire a gun of all things. Said all these skills would be useful in the future, yea if I'm in the army.

To top it off, the year before I went to university all the students had to take some sort of test. The reason was because somehow some idiot had self taught some magic and was going around stealing money and valuables from stores. All the students passed off as not having enough magic potential, although a few showed signs of having some potential. Somehow my test results were through the roof. You can bet the kinds of trouble that caused, of cause once my dad talked to the police and they had finished questioning me they were convinced I weren't the culprit. But my dad took it amongst himself to enroll me to the Mages guild, seriously as if I didn't have enough going on at the time. Cecilia and Draco couldn't stop laughing at what happened, and since then I've been learning magic.

Although at the time I didn't like it, and learning magic was a lot of hard work which took up a lot of spare time, I don’t regret learning magic. It's actually really useful; one of the spells I learnt early on which really came in handy was teleportation and levitation. I often used teleportation to get me onto the train/bus/class quicker so I weren't late, and levitation was always useful for washing up dishes while I watch my favorite programs. Now that I look back on it, I really did used to abuse magic, I like to think I'm more mature and responsible but I think my parents and friends would beg to differ on that.

To be honest, magic gave me something to do and learn. I never really knew what I wanted to do career wise. My dad always wanted me to inherit the business empire he built, but I always got the idea he was trying to train me for war than to lead a business. It was during the summer break before university I finally decided to take action and join the army. I had been considering it all the way through college, I knew how to fight, fire a gun, had magic on my side. What else could there be? I was already battle hardened, at least in my mind I thought I was.

Dad wasn't too happy by the decision, but he respected it. I guess he was just surprised I had gone and done something of my own accord rather than him paving the way. Dad still helped though, he managed to get me into the special Mages division of the army through a few of his defense contacts. I guess he saw how much I liked magic, he said just as I left home for the army "You're a lot like your mother you know that? Spoilt, stubborn and reckless. Just remember where your home is no matter where you end up and remember to come back home, after all you got an empire to run after me and nothing is going to change that. So I'll make sure to keep the business running until you come back." I don't know if it was just me, but I got the feeling he thought I was going somewhere very far away and weren't going to come back for a long time. It’s at that moment I realized mum must have just disappeared, and dad thought I was going to end up in the same place, I gave my dad a hug and told him not to hold his breath as I could be gone for a long time.

I was a little nervous at first, but thankfully Draco had decided to join me and enroll for the army. Although he was in a different unit, he preferred to use his physical body and use the huge Gargoyle machines for combat. They were called Gargoyles for a reason, though I never understood why. They still needed a pilot and no matter how maneuverable they were, a good mage could out smart them and take them out.

I kept that thought to myself as it was obvious that most of the army were like Draco and considered the Gargoyles the best thing for combat and considered Mages no more than a side show of idiots.

Thankfully I was allowed to still continue my studies at the Mages guild while being in the army, this became a huge asset to me as it meant all of the Mages guilds resources were available to me, rather than a portion that was provided to the army. To be honest most of the Mages guild disliked the army and how they used magic, but I guess the guild masters chose to trust me and keep a close eye on how I use my magic before they decide if I should have my guild privileges revoked.

During the cold winter of my first winter away from the warmth and luxury of my home, the Mages division got an urgent mission to aid an agricultural plant that had been attacked by bandits. At first I found it strange, why are there bandits, we live in such a prosperous and technological advanced era. And secondly why attack an agricultural plant, there’s only plants and food to be harvested here, again this did not make sense. My perspective was no one went hungry, no one had to steal for food or shelter.

Our mission was more relief work than finding the bandits. Most of the generals didn't like the Mage unit so they left them with minor duties like using levitation to clear rubble or to heal civilians wounds and to aid the local civilian outposts with their crops. Therefore our team was put to work with a local outpost, healing wounds from the attack and aiding the local farmers who were tending to the crops. Initially I wanted to question this, as I had never seen such a poor and secluded society, not once in my life did I think people lived like this. Draco knew what I wanted to say, but advised I just keep quiet about it.

At this point I knew I wanted to do something to help them, the crops needed tending to but with the harsh cold weather, it was nearly impossible to have the crops grow. I reasoned with the commanding officer who was in charge of the area to allow me to go to the Mages guild and request additional help and resources. Commander Zengana reluctantly let me go, but with an escort. At the mages guild I requested an audience with the guild masters whom I begged for some help or resources to aid the villagers. Surprisingly the escort also had orders from commander about how they requested aid in finding out the identity of the individuals who attacked the plant. It seems the commander had asked for help in the past, and the guild master knew exactly what to do.

Therefore guild master Syphadeus decided he would come with us. They provided some magic devices with internal magic supplies known as lacrima. Master Syphadeus explained they were newly developed shield modules that would help protect the crops from the harsh weather.

As soon as we arrived at the outlook, master Syphadeus got straight to work, he didn't even bother greeting the commander or generals. We setup the shield modules planted the remains of the crops and with a quick chant and a fling of his cloak, the entire area where the crops were lit in a mystical light and then faded. A few moments later the crops began to grow. The Mages knew this was not earth magic, having seen it before. I attempted inquiring about it to master Syphadeus, but he did not mention a word about it, instead told me to follow him. Puzzled why he asked only me of all the Mages to follow him, I quietly obeyed. Although this didn't stop the other Mages and villagers following him. We walked and walked until we reached the plant the attack took place at. It wasn’t particularly far, but with the constant snowfall made the trek a little more challenging, although master Syphadeus didn't seem to be effected by the weather at all.

I started to think, what kind of monster was the master? The master instantly knew with a single look exactly what I was thinking, as if I could feel his presence in my mind. He didn't mention a word and let out a small grunt at the thought and moved towards a broken wall of the plant.

Again he started chanting a few mystic words and within a few seconds a runic symbol appeared in front of him. He once done, he touched the symbol, and suddenly a flow of energy appeared like a web being spit out of a spider going in all directions, and wrapped itself around the masters hands. Master Syphadeus then touched a piece of the broken wall closing his eyes for a few seconds and then went onto another piece of the broken plant and even to some blood stains.

At this point all the Mages were puzzled at what he was doing and what he could possibly have achieved. After an hour, the master dispelled the spell cast on his hands and took out a crystal plate and started writing down something on them and handed it to the commander, but not before explaining to the group what he had done, only to satisfy the crowds curiosity so they would stop pestering him. He explained that the Mages were right to know that he did not cast earth magic but didn't feel the need to divulge details. Master Syphadeus insisted I escort him back to the games guild. While on the trip back, he explained how my mother was a well known Mage in the guild and decided to trust me with the knowledge of the magic he used was known as temporal magic, or time and space manipulation, one of the Grand magics. Just knowing about my mother was enough to make my eyes light up. He also explained how my mother knew the secrets of temporal magic, and that he was disappointed I decided to join the army.

Though I did not let this get me down, I knew I wanted to learn more about my mother and of this wondrous magic. Immediately I begged master Syphadeus to teach me the secrets of temporal magic and about my mother. His only reply was, "In due time, for now polish your understanding on magic and its different applications. When the council feels you are ready we will allow you to learn it as your mother once did".

From that point onwards I did my best to learn as much of different applications of magic, different elements and the dangers of magic. I also often went to master Syphadeus for guidance and training, and soon found myself becoming his apprentice.

Two years later, having survived many battles, raids, and explorations. The Mages guild decided that I am ready, and in their words "mature" enough to learn temporal magic. But they left master Syphadeus in charge of the teaching of the magic.

A year later, there hadn't been a tremendous amount of field work, which gave me time to practice and learn new spells. Though the lack of field work was at times frustrating, though escort missions were dull and rare, I welcomed them over the physical exercises of the army.

Heck there was so little to do at times I even got a break to see Cecilia, whom would complain profusely about my lack of communication to her.

It was the heart of spring, warm and sunny with the birds chirping in nearby trees. I received a mission for another escort. It wasn't anyone particularly important, just a group of up-market merchants. But as they were from a neighboring country, it was important to escort them safely to their border, and ensure they aren't suspicious and plan on planting explosives.

As usual, our platoon checked the carts for anything suspicious and used the Mages to use their magic to identify any suspicious materials. And so far everything checked green. We headed off on the long road. Everything seemed uneventful like the last few escorts.

It was on the 2nd day when we were around 2/3 of the way to the border, while resting in one of the armored transports, a sudden crashing sound emanated from what sounded like from all directions. The vehicle suddenly stopped, causing me to right out of my bed. And then another huge explosion sound followed by various gun fire. I rushed out to see what the commotion was. Just before reaching the door leading outside, everything went quiet, the gunfire and explosions and shouting had all stopped. As I opened the door, I heard a loud sound, followed by the door flung at me with tremendous force. It happened so suddenly I didn't have time to try and shield myself. The last thing I remember was being blown into the wall with various blots impaled into my chest and the door resting across my legs, at that moment I felt I weren't going to make it. I could barely see but knew I was bleeding heavily, and soon after passed out from the pain and blood loss, expecting to never wake up.

When I finally came around, I found myself in a hospital bed, a lot fancier then the one in my home town. As I tried to look around, I realized my eyesight was still in bad shape. Then out of know where various voices appeared and all I could see were people in white mumbling something, it was blinding. I could barely breath, as though I was suffocating, my heart started pounding as the immense pain started to kick in all over my body and soon passed out again.

When I finally regained consciousness again, I found myself in that same hospital bed as the first I woke up in. A nurse was in the room who quickly called in the doctor, and by surprise my father also was here. The doctor explained where I was and who brought me here and went into detail how I survived. He said a normal person would have died from the explosion and blood loss but I somehow managed to survive.

It seems my father had a hand to play in my survival as well, he used his money and technology to augment me with the latest technology, although augmentation wasn't new, it was never done to this extent. No one believed I would survive it. I mean seriously, augmented eyes with low light and thermo-graphic vision with magnification functions, augmented arms and legs with enhanced strength and agility/reflexes and to top it all off cybernetic dermal plating for enhanced armor. 

The Doctor explained that the bones in my arms and legs were heavily damaged and the nerves were also damaged in the explosion. Therefore they replaced my bones, augmented my nerves and muscles to provide enhanced strength and reflexes. He went on to detail the diagnosis of my eyes and how the retina was damaged, therefore they were able to keep most of the original eyes but augmented them by adding layers of some material to provide the additional functions. Lastly he explained how badly burnt my skin was from the explosion and from the heated metal of the door that had been lying on me, therefore they added a layer of dermal plating over the original skin.

Father also explained that apart from the augmentations, a new magical device was embedded into me, a Lacrima that could hold a tremendous amount of mana or magic. He mentioned that master Syphadeus was the one to install the device and said it would be important to have it. He also mentioned an additional feature of having slots in my arm to hold small lacrima which could be used to store spells into. I had heard of the concept before in the Mages guild but never had the opportunity to study it.

As a joke father also provided me with an instruction manual on all my augmentations and the lacrima, though I couldn't see the funny side.

I felt like some war machine rather than a person, father explained it was necessary to survive and I know he would have gotten into a lot of trouble for the extensive enhancements but I guess he got away with it as I'm in the army, making me the armies new war toy. I weren't too happy about it, but there weren't a lot I could do about it at this point.

Later that day Cecilia and Draco arrived, I'll remember that day, Cecilia came running in crying and gave me a huge hug. I think she forgot I was still an injured man, then again I heard from father that Draco got injured from that attack himself. He ended up needing his right arm replaced with a newly fitted augmented arm. He explained that my father funded that as he lost it defending the transport that was carrying me to the hospital.

Even though Cecilia looked happy to see me alive, I could see from her face she felt sad to see me in the state I was in. I tried to not worry her and kept a smile on the whole time laughing and making stupid jokes with Draco like old times. 

It took time but I eventually got the hang of the augmentations. Although I didn't like it, the augments did make me feel stronger, faster and just all round better. It was at this point I decided I could really use a spell that would help fix any problems with my augments and went about creating a spell that would restore physical objects.