The cave in which they were confined was cold, so cold that their hands were swollen, and their

fingers tainted with dark blue. They have become accustomed to the headaches by now.

Two sat on horse saddles, trembling and shrinking from the cold. The last was standing, looking

seemingly worried at the horizon towards the cave’s entrance.

“Big bro, if we stay more in this damned cave we’ll die from the cold, we gathered enough energy by

now, didn’t we?”, one of the men sitting uttered trough shuddering teeth, steam escaping from his

mouth. The standing man looked back furiously at him, “you damn fuck can’t you stop squealing like

a little girl, do you know how much money we’ll get from those containers. So get this, as long as that

magician can get us more, I won’t get out of this place. He says that cold temperature is imperative

to conserve them, and I won’t lose my sight of this treasure. If you wanna quit, quit!!”. His yell

resonated in the cave for a while, and it met no response. Huge metallic containers were staffed on

the wall next to them. “That man”, the third man who was silent till now, announced with a grave

voice full off concern, “they call him the harbinger of death. Wherever he is, death also is. I don’t

know why this should be an exception”. His tone was solemn despite the gravity of his words.

“I know what they call him, Abraham. What’s wrong with you lot? Don’t you wanna make money?

We can sell that energy to the army, it could be used to reinforce soldiers, do you get that? They’ll

never get tired. And then, then it could be used in medicine. I don’t know for fuck’s sake. why you

looking at me like that?”

“Let’s say they do give those to soldiers, they won’t feel tired, they’ll have endless stamina. But what

about the human frame then? The body will tear from the inside, it has its limits”. Abraham retorted

in his solemn voice.

His interlocuter was ready to burst out with fury, but they were all taken by the sound of distant

footsteps. “At last, he’s here”, the furious man announced, sighing in relief.

The silhouette soon became apparent for the three men, and they all stood waiting Impatiently for

him.

The tall man in front of them, looked indifferently. His white hair fell on his shoulders, and he was

only wearing large trousers, reaching his bare feet. He was slim but seemed fit and quick on his feet.

No one dared break the silence, a strange aura invaded the cave whenever he entered, and it made

them feel strangely appeased, but with an anticipation of deranging and unsettling feelings.

He waved with his right hand showing a metallic bottle and threw it at the previously furious man.

“That’s it? That’s all you got?”, the man said looking at the bottle with disbelief.

“It doesn’t always go as smoothly as I want”, his voice was cold and somewhat menacing, “by the

way, the village got a master now”. He said with indifference, but the men met the announcement

with surprise.

“A master? They exist? I thought they were only in fairytales.”

“If it’s a master we’re doomed, he’ll get to the bottom of this in seconds. Masters are fucking

invincible.”, it was impossible to discern if his intense trembling was from the cold or fear, perhaps

both.

“Shut up beck, what’s a master gonna do against our magician here, that’s if he finds our hiding”.

“Sir white, is a master a threat for you in anyway?” Abraham, in all his serenity, asked looking at the

white-haired man seriously.

He smiled, and looked deeply into his eyes. That look deranged Abraham and sent shivers down his

spine.

“I never dealt with a master before”, the man called white finally said, “but if what I heard about

them is true, I would prefer not encountering him.”, he broke into a nasty smile, and surfed his gaze

around the three intrigued men.

“Getting through this job smoothly would be appreciated, especially that it’s so close to completion.”

“Do you want us to deal with him, master magician?”

the magician looked down at him and smiled, “no, you just stay here and guard the containers, sir

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Bertolt. Leave everything else to me.”, his tone was gentle, but they all felt it was an order.

“where are you going, magician?”, Bertolt asked, having no expectation in receiving an appreciated

answer.

“Nothing that concerns you”, the whitehaired man answered, exhibiting his back to them. It was full

of large scars, all over his back, in different directions, like some abstract painting.

Now that the magician’s silhouette disappeared in the horizon, Beck and Abraham seated themselves

on horse saddles slightly lifting their shoulders from the cold. Abraham seemed disturbed by

something, and started walking back and forth nervously. He finally stopped facing them and

uttered, “that damn magician, where does he go. We all know that he does the work at night, so

what other matters could he have. Aaah it’s killing me!”, he paused and directed his gaze towards

Abraham, “I’m gonna follow him, you guard the containers while I’m gone”, he sat off running

awkwardly, his short stature bouncing up and down which each stride.

“That big bro, he’s playing with fire, that white guy is very dangerous”, Beck mumbled desperately

while shaking his head. He looked up to Abraham, silent and lost in though. “Hey Abraham, what do

you know about those masters? How much of the stories is true?”.

Abraham didn’t answer immediately, he looked intently at the opposite wall of the cave and seemed

to sink deep into his recollections. “The stories took root in the reality to some extent. Even in history

books there is mention of individuals with black cloaks, cylindric hats, and magical wounds, who had

roles in solving conflicts.”, his tone was monotonous, and solemn, Beck was completely taken by the

story. He resumed his speech after a contemplative pause. “ There were books that pretended

studying the masters and giving real aspects of their lives, but those were met with skepticism, and

there is really no way of confirming the information those books presented.

“I guess what made it even harder to have official and authentic writings about them was the fact

that, contrary to other mages, they didn’t serve in royal courts, or in the service of large countries.

They limited themselves to serving villages and small communities. Some recent archaeologic

research found more than twenty ruins of towers built all around the same era and by a unique

source. All situated next to villages. Some scholars theorize that they were made for masters, and

that they stayed there while serving the communities living near them.

“The fact that they only served small communities is pretty wise in my opinion and says a lot about

them. With their great power and knowledge playing roles in courts and deciding the fates of bigger

communities would have only led to wars and destruction. They served in villages where they knew

they could make change and actually help, although a small portion of people.

“Although there are various schools for mages around the world, none of them have any mention of

masters in their curriculum, and no formation or school for masters is known.

“The way I see it, master is not a profession, but more like a lifestyle. A path that some mages take,

not moved by some divine ideals and morals, because let’s be honest no human could have the

ideals they describe them with in fairytales, but by a great believe in humanity and a hope to make

change for the better”.

“You know Abraham, I sometimes wonder why you joined us. I and big bro don’t really know what

we’re doing. The only reason That guy agreed to work for us is because we have some connections in

the black market, and if I were to be honest, they’re quite meagre. You just popped out of nowhere

and decided to join us in this irrational work”. Abraham didn’t take his eyes off the wall, and through

his black eyes and slight smile, calm radiated.

“I have a reason to be with you, a great one”, he mumbled indiscernibly and smiled meaningfully.

Beck watched him confused and pondered about him for a while, but he waved the thought away at

once and suggested, “Wanna play cards?”

“Sure.”