“Maguerite, how much do you know of demirealms and their creation?”

Wonder and horror are still mingled on her face; her answer is slow in coming.

“Enough to know that this is a blasphemy that even the Elders are unwilling to commit.”

“Unable, actually,” I correct. “But put that aside for now. Tell me what you do know.”

She shifts uncomfortably within the bubble shield protecting us both. “Not much, really. You know I had only completed one year of schooling before the. . .invasion.” The last word is thoroughly coated with venom. “After that, I focused more on practical applications, both during and after the war.”

I nod. “That’s about what I expected. So, let’s start with the absolute basics. What were you taught from the scriptures?”

“At the Beginning, the One spoke the myriad universes and the aether into being. In the First Realm, the Ancients arose. They were closest to the One in both time and power. It was they who perfected magic. They walked with the One and knew the One’s ways. The Ancients emulated their creator, peppering M-space with their demirealms–small imitations of the grandeur that was the One’s First Realm. Though the First Realm was perfect and infinite, the Ancients grew hungry for power. Together they conspired and committed a great atrocity. Their blasphemous crime was to make a true realm, to usurp the One’s place. By committing the act of Genesis, the Ancients dishonored the One. They were cast out of the First Realm and doomed to the lesser realms, each of which would eventually grow cold and fade back into the aether in time.”

I smile at her and nod. “A good summary, Maguerite. I’ve been working with demirealms for over ten years now, and I’m going to tell you some things that aren’t taught in the Temples. First of all, I have my doubts about the nature of the First Realm, given its near-mythical attributes and status. However, it is unmistakable that the Ancients did exist and did populate the aether with their demirealms.

“Over time, an unused demirealm fades into the aether, becoming almost indistinguishable from any other bit of M-space. Mages of our time lack knowledge of the techniques needed to fabricate new demirealms. However, they can coax a particular coordinate of M-space into “remembering” an absorbed demirealm. This is a relatively easy process requiring little energy on the part of the caster.”

I look at Maguerite trying to gauge her reaction. “Okay so far?”

“Yes. I think I remember reading something about that once, a long time ago. Please, go on.”

“I have always had a gift for manipulating the aether. A few weeks before graduation, I developed a way to synthesize new demirealms as part of my research. Unfortunately, we were invaded before I could finish up final testing and make my findings public knowledge. Since then, I’ve found a way to reverse the process, a way to undo a demirealm and absorb the magic invested in it by its original creator.”

I smile at Maguerite. “Recently,” I say. “I’ve been experimenting with full-fledged realms.”

“I knew it!” Her voice is loud and echoes within the tiny bubble of magic. “You have committed Genesis! You’ve repeated the Original Sin, brazenly defying the One’s will.”

“Maguerite.” My voice remains calm and level. I expected this from her, but I need to make her understand. “That’s the point I’m making to you. The One did not save us from the Elders. Neither angels nor demons have been interacted with since the early days of our realm’s High Magic period over 500 years ago. I have committed Genesis seven times and suffered no divine retribution. Either the One is gone or never existed. Either way, we’re on our own here.”

Maguerite just stares at me for a few long minutes, then speaks very slowly. “Seven times?” She radiates disbelief.

“Seven times, Maguerite,” I say, smiling. “Which leads me to this: Learning how to create demirealms led me to understand how they could be deconstructed for power. In the same way, knowing how to ignite a realm has taught me how to snuff one out. I can harvest magic from the death of a universe.”