Chapter 43

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!

Thank you once again, my friend.

another drawing from @joyfullwhisp's story! maki having a go at one of the mantis lords (i gotta draw more of those hollowed bugs they're kinda cute in their creepy own way)

Chapter 13 is here

A bit of a long builder, but now it is up and ready to be seen by whoever is interested.

The bargain with powers beyond mortality made in a rush can have some very lasting consequences. One needs to be of strong will and very good graces with the powers in question to come out unscathed.

I may not have much time to draw right now, but I couldn't resist to draw Neolith observing his changed hand in the latest chapter of "From Beyond Comes the Adventure" by amazing @joyfullwhisp. Frankly, It's a bit rough (I still have much to learn), I couldn't stop myself - I liked this moment SO MUCH, and might not have another chance to do it.

Also, check out the fic itself - you may not trust my judgment, but it is the best HK/BF crossover currently existing, and a gem of Bug Fables fandom.

Chapter 33

This almost 16k-word monster took me a while, but it needed to be this big. Shootout to my good friend @longeth-dayv for helping with beta-reading it and previous chapters. they do some cool art, but I don't know if I am in any way a good advertisement, but thank you for all your hard work.

Chapter 34

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30 followers on AO3 "From beyond comes adventure."

One more milestone. A really big number. Thank you all who are these 30 and not only. I appreciate this a lot.

Chapter 19 is out.

I sai that I was back an so I ineed am.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Chapter 35.

This was a big one. Finalle of the biggest arc so far. I got not much to say.

And thanks to my friend @longeth-dayv for helping with beta-reading and finding some logical mistakes.