Part 3
Neptis continued her march through the halls of the University, despite pleas from Taenya to slow down or at least tell her where they're going. Neptis was still wearing her priestly white robes, but they were drenched in blood, and her quarterstaff was on her back, almost daring someone to attempt to grab it. The divine mages who encountered her got out of the way immediately, recognizing the powerful aura she was emitting as a divine one.
"Neptis, please, where are you going?" Taenya pleaded, tugging on Neptis's robes.
"We can talk where the end began." Neptis replied, her voice echoing.
Where the end began... Oh no. Taenya finally realized where they were going. To Neptis's old quarters. But those were the quarters of the Divine Magic Professor now, Sarah Shotbolt. Taenya hoped she wasn't there when they arrived.
Taenya inwardly exhaled when they arrived to an empty room. Neptis seemed displeased at the decor of the room, however, and slammed her quarterstaff into the floor. The room rearranged itself immediately so that it appeared to be the same as when she left a hundred years ago, and she seemed satisfied. She sat on the bed, and patted it.
"Come on Taenya, You've got a lot of questions. The least I can do is answer them, far from prying eyes." Neptis said, her voice still echoing, but sounding far kinder than earlier.
Taenya gulped, and hesitantly took a seat next to the powerful Goddess. Neptis kindly draped an arm around Taenya's shoulder, and patted her head.
"My dear sweet Taenya. Crown Princess now, is it? I know you don't want that. But first, about me. Ask me anything you wish."
"I don't think I need to even ask the first one. You achieved apotheosis and became a God, didn't you?" Taenya said with a small smile.
"Yes indeed I did. The Goddess of War and Violence. Revolutions and Blood. Patron God of Vampires." Neptis said, grinning. "The power is intoxicating, oh if only you had the divine spark as well."
"Why did you come?" Taenya asked after a brief silence. "Surely it wasn't just to see me."
Neptis exhaled at those words. Clever as ever.
"You're right. I also came to warn The University. There is a new type of magic they've never seen before, thanks to my apotheosis. Vordea didn't want me to come at all, but, well, she's not my boss."
"A new type of magic?"
"The sigil I left in that meeting room is related to it. Blood magic. That's why I need to speak with Sarah Shotbolt."
As Taenya was about to ask another question, a knock was heard at the door.
"I guess more questions will have to wait, duty calls." Neptis said, getting up and opening the door, surprising the mage on the other side.
"Umm... Headmaster Lutz is requesting your presence in the meeting room." The mage said, after gathering his wits.
Neptis responded by tapping her quarterstaff on the ground, which caused the 3 of them to appear in the meeting room instantaneously. Neptis looked and saw the sigil was already partially filled with blood, and her face changed.
"Someone touched it, didn't they?" She asked, disgust visible on her face. "Far too reckless, he's lucky it only killed him."
"Ah, the mysterious visitor." Headmaster Lutz said, approaching Neptis. "Just who might you be?"
Neptis smiled. They hadn't told the Headmaster yet, it seems. She pointed at the sigil, which caused it to glow.
"I am Lady Neptis, Goddess of War. But right now, I'm visiting as another aspect, the Blood God. My birth has caused the creation of a new form of magic, and I need to warn your divine magic professor of it."
"Why are you warning us?" Headmaster Lutz asked.
"Because a long time ago, before my second birth, I was once a professor here. Come." Neptis replied, walking out of the room and towards the hallway of former teachers, Taenya and Lutz not far behind.
Neptis stopped at the portrait of herself, painted more than a hundred years ago. She looked at it wistfully for a long moment before speaking.
"Once, I was Neptis Celeste, High Priest of Vordea. This is a favour for The University I once worked at, and a favour for my dearest friend, Taenya Valmaris."
Neptis looked at the portraits of the other Professors she once worked with. Joznal Windhammer, Professor of Air Magic. Furman Miller, Professor of Displacement Magic. The mysterious Water Magic Professor, who never gave a name to anyone. And of course, Demeter Ivanovich,Varlance, Headmaster.
"In a way, I do miss them, Taenya." Neptis said, her voice still echoing, but slightly melancholy. "I'm going to outlive everyone. Yet I don't feel sad about it. Curious."
Neptis turned to look at Taenya and Lutz, who were just quietly observing the Goddess.
"Let's go back to that meeting room now, and please get Professor Shotbolt." Neptis said, turning and walking back towards the room, but much more slowly this time.