Chrysalis

There is an element of madness to every mage who dares to tackle dimensional magic. I'm uncertain if this has to do with the mana required, the convoluted nature of the spells, or the fiendish difficulty, but for whatever reason, dimensional mages are almost universally deranged.

My friend, the great Magio-Scholar Timus, has a pet theory that the overwhelming stimulation of receiving so much sensory input is the key factor. Tracking vectors across dimensions, feeling out nebulous, invisible boundaries, computing mana waveforms, all while attempting to cast even the most basic spell. It's a lot to take in, a lot to process in a frighteningly short amount of time. She believes that only someone quite disconnected from reality could possibly have a hope of achieving it.

Excerpt from the private notes of the Magio Scholar Arctus

Jim didn't understand what had happened. He'd tunnelled so carefully, using all of his abilities to their limits in order to remain undetected.

He just had to find Sarah. Had to talk to her.

She was being used, driven back into the very life that she had fled. The gentle, caring figure that he'd found amongst the shapers, wounded by her time in the savage Dungeon and in desperate need of emotional support, was now nowhere to be seen.

He could sense her, he'd gotten close enough for that. Wounded, close to death, her life force leaking out onto the tunnel floor as she soaked up healing magic like a sponge. Anthony had pushed her to the limit and she'd nearly died. Again.

There was no limit for that shameless creature. He would drag Sarah into every battle so he could harness her strength for the Colony until she went mad or finally fell in battle. He couldn't allow it.

When he'd finally succeeded in reaching out to her undetected, something had gone terribly wrong.

Sat safe inside his space-warping tunnel, he'd felt a strange lurch, as if something had lodged right in his gut. He'd immediately gone into a defensive thrash, but there was nothing there, at least nothing he could sense.

Panic rushed to the surface, only exacerbated by the sudden appearance of five ants next to Sarah.

He felt mind magic begin to batter at him immediately and he did his best to ward it off as he began to scramble. His long worm body twisted in and around itself as he desperately turned himself around and tried to speed away.

His whole body jolted heavily and he slumped to the floor of his own tunnel, utterly confused.

If he was panicked a moment ago, now he was frantic.

the ants

killer! Think you can get away this

of the tunnel to dig. They really did know where he was?

to flee, and when he came up against the strange resistance, he pushed against it as hard as

in place, no more of your space warping tricks. Time to pay

with mad glee, which terrified the worm even further. He pushed and pushed, every link in

me!] he shouted back. [Leave

you snuffed? The future generations of my family that you destroyed? I don't think

faster as they approached the wall of his hidden tunnel. The closer they drew, the more frantic he became, until his muscles began

tore, but finally he felt some

you don’t!] Brilliant

of the ant's mana changing in a strange way, but he didn't care. So eager to flee he paid attention to nothing else, he rushed forward now that he finally could, gaining momentum until, a moment later, he realised

tunnel? Where was the good sweet earth he'd used

you'd be able to foil my hook, but

he tried to make sense of where he was. He

am I? WHAT IS

me days to figure out how to get here and now you want to say you did it by accident?

the … air? His long body was being towed somehow

no, no, no!] he whined

same, tearing sensation, followed by a wave of heat that

do you find it a little hot, worm? Then why come?!

still wasn't away! He lunged

one and I can't close my eyes… of

He lunged again.

have width! I hardly need it to track you