“Can you tell me a bit about yourself?” asked Twilight as she and the Mage walked. She wanted to get to know Ryze better by a lot, and wanted to know how the strange, new magic of his worked.
“Well, I’ve already told you as much as I wished to tell about my past. Just a man seeking knowledge. Enlightenment. And that enlightenment is the knowledge of the arcane. But after I had found an ultimate knowledge, I now must protect it at all costs.” After all, Ryze was still being pursued by that uncanny Eye of the Void.
“What is it?” asked Twilight.
“I perhaps may tell you, since you seem to be a good person, and my summoner after all. But I will tell you after the war, and after destroying a certain man who is continually pursuing it. It is contained in the scroll on my back, an ultimate power I refuse to use and to allow anyone to use.” answered Ryze.
“That’s amazing! Are you sure it can’t benefit ponies.... err I mean people, though?” asked Twilight.
“It cannot,” replied Ryze. “It is only destruction, and cannot benefit anyone.”
“Okay then,” said Twilight. “What about your magic? Perhaps you can teach me how it works?”
“You can’t perform it, at least without permanently altering your body, as I have done.” Twilight was shocked when she heard this; she thought he was completely normal, for she had seen only a few people. Ryze resumed, saying: “My magic is controlled through marking my body with these tattooed runes, called Thorn Magic. I had to allow all the magic my body could contain into it, immediately after I marked the last rune. This caused me to change physically, to accommodate better. I am no longer just human, but a being whose life force is tied to the magic itself. I am, simply, Ryze.” He finished solemnly, remembering when he had to re-write and burn the rest of the scroll on his back once, as that foolish Nocturne chopped it so carelessly. Nocturne got his just desserts alright, as Ryze trapped him with Rune Prison, and casted a burst of Spell Flux to finish him.
“Wow. That’s… extraordinary." said Twilight. "I need to write this down when I get back to the castle, it’s a brand new discovery for the whole of Equestria.”
“I have an entire book back at my study in the Institute. I went to the Institute of War,” and he took out a scroll, and on it is a faded image of a building and a crest. “Where they provided me with room and board, as well as a study to conduct my magical research in exchange for assisting in arranged matches to decide political terms for the city states. And now, here I am today.”
“Is that the Institute?” asked Twilight.
“Yes. It has been my home for a while, and now allow me to ask you some questions.” The two are now on a dirt road, approaching a field. “I wanted to know how your magic works. It seems separate from magic I am used to seeing, such as the summon you performed.”
“Well, only unicorns are capable of using magic here, and it’s channeled through their horns. Magic is varied, ranging from basic telekinetic spells, teleportation, to more offensive magic such as blast and barriers.”
“Interesting… I shall take note of that. Also, may I ask for some of your past as well?” He wanted to know that as well, as he told her much of his world and past already.
“Well, I was originally Princess Celestia’s student, who is the ruler of Equestria. I moved to Ponyville and became friends with the Elements, and we have protected Equestria from several foes that threatened peace before.”
“Hmm, that seems interesting.” said Ryze. “Why wouldn’t the elements work on the enemy troops, then?”
“They take too much energy to cast, and attack a singular foe. They can’t protect us from two whole countries.”
“Well that explains why I’m here then.” said Ryze, and the two beings laughed a good deal.
“We’re here,” said Twilight, as the two approach a farm with a large apple orchard. They walk up to the door of a small farmhouse. Twilight knocked on the door, and it opened.
“Howdy Twi-” She stopped abruptly when she saw Ryze. “Well who’s this?”
“Applejack, this is Ryze. He’s helping Equestria with its new war effort.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” greeted Ryze.
“Well, it’s alway nice to have somepony new here, so why’d y’all decide to show up here?” asked Applejack.
“We need your help for a few things, including a summoning. See, Twilight summoned me using an ancient tome. The same tome has runes for a champion I believe will share a bit in common with you, and he will be indefinitely an ally. Would you mind helping us with the summon?” asked Ryze.
“Of course, I’d love to help y’all. So, Mr. Ryze, what’s gonna happen?”
“We’re going assemble a force of people, including the one you summon, to defend this nation. I hope this one will not fall.” finished Ryze.
“Very well, let’s go.”
