White marble built upon white sands, a white town built around a massive, white rocky crag.

Winds blew powerfully on the shores of the Isle of the Wise, heralding the massive storm that was to hit soon enough. Far away from any other piece of land in all of Jericho, the old, rocky and isolated island was the closest thing in existence to a ‘Magical Town’ in the world, with many workshops and residences built on the skirts of the crag, atop of which Castle Tranquility had been built.

This was the home of the Council of Exodus, the maximum authority on magical matters. This was also the one place in all of Jericho where a population of more than a thousand mages in the same spot was acceptable, thanks to the many glyphs and rituals that had been installed in the island since time immemorial, and the distance the place had from the rest of civilization.

If Pandaemonium was to strike here, the rest of the world would be safe, or at least would have enough time to react to the breaking tides of chaos unleashed by the excess of magic.

To be allowed residence here, was to be admitted among the absolute best that the magical world has to offer, to be certified as a ‘Master of the Art’, and to be admitted in the Council that guarded the wellbeing of humanity as a whole.

Despite how important this island may seem, the place was calm and often very silent, beyond the occasional tourist or visitor.

But some mages had another name for this calmness.

Stagnation.

Yes, reality was that the progress in magical research had been advancing at a slug’s pace for the last couple of decades. Was it for lack of effort? Some may think so, but things were often much more complicated than just that.

No. The main obstacle to progress, at least in the eyes of those who whispered and complained against the lackluster Council, were the many strict rules established to keep the world in ‘Balance’.

“Balance, balance, balance… that’s the Council’s favorite word…”

A figure cloaked in black sat at the top of one of Castle Tranquility’s many towers. A blond man wearing a long trenchcoat, observing the town with disdain in his blue eyes. He hated it, he hated the situation the world had devolved into, he hated the lack of advancement, the hypocrisy of the mage world, and how boring things had turned in general.

The world was in desperate need of a catastrophe.

“Brooding all by yourself, handsome?”

A blond woman in a long, black dress appeared from the shadows, hugging her beloved husband from behind and closing her eyes with a sigh of relief. The man smiled, the world recovering a bit of its colour as soon as his beloved wife had appeared, his hands going to cup hers and hold them close as he let out a deep sigh.

“Morgana, my beautiful black rose, why do you make me wait so? Is it that you enjoy knowing how much I suffer in your absence?”

“I would never be so cruel to my other half! But you speak as if I enjoyed my time without you.”

They both gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes for a moment, smiling calmly, before focusing once again on the situation at hand. The man sighed, gazing at the town once again while his wife pouted a little bit.

“The Second Sacrifice can’t arrive soon enough.” Said the man, shaking his head softly.

“It will arrive, don’t be impatient my love.” The woman took her beloved’s hands and then watched the horizon. The Sun was already setting. “Can you imagine? The many civilizations that will rise from our ashes…?”

The man’s bad mood disappeared, as he slowly cracked a little smile.

“A part of me is sad that we won’t be able to see them but… It’s a warming sensation, knowing that a new era is finally coming…”

The couple embraced, tightly. They didn’t fear death, or anything really. Not anymore.

They knew there was nothing that could stand in the way of their plans at this point.

And with every passing second, the fruits of their labor were closer and closer to mature and ready to fall to the ground.

With the echo of roaring thunder.

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Pelafina’s poor old heart almost jumped straight out her throat when she heard Mustafá’s voice over the phone. The old alchemist was infamous in the Brotherhood, they knew how much she hated to communicate and hated even more to cooperate… and yet here she was, calling the Overseer of the Saüle District and demanding answers.

She was not ready for this, King Hamil had not prepared her for this whatsoever! Sitting on her bed while her husband slept deeply, the Overseer fumbled with her glasses before putting them on.

“I can talk, I can talk! It’s just… Your call took me by surprise, especially on my, uh, private phone…”

“The institutional phone didn’t pick up, so I figured you’d be on this one.”

“I-It didn’t pick up because it is eleven in the night, miss Mustafá…”

“Is that a problem?”

“N-No, no! Not at all.” Pelafina sighed, already hating every second of this conversation. “So, uhm. How can I help you?”

“I am aware that you have been making contact with my Pupil.”

“Your pupil?”

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

“Tav.”

“He’s your pupil!?”

“She goes by She.”

Pelafina repressed a disgruntled groan before continuing.

“Since when is she your pupil?”

“Today. But that is not important.”

“I didn’t know she was going to be your pupil, miss Mustafá!”

“Again. Not important. I need answers about a certain book that came to her hands, a book that you tasked her with translating.”

For a moment, Pelafina felt the blood freezing on her neck. How to even begin explaining that?

The old woman looked at a nearby mirror, and her reflection stared back… but her reflection did not share the overseer’s fear. The reflection smiled, a green and vibrant hue having replaced Pelafina’s natural brown eyes… she sighed in relief. Her King , he had come to her aid! The old woman relaxed, eyes glued to the mirror, and carefully began repeating the words that echoed in her mind.

“... Yes. A collection piece, sold to me by an old lady.” Pelafina nodded. “I only realized what I had in my hands after the seller was gone, this was probably by her design.”

“Did you happen to catch the name of the person who sold it to you?” Mustafá never showed emotion, and yet now the Overseer caught a hint of impatience in the alchemist’s voice.

“No.” She couldn’t just tell this woman that the item had come straight from the vaults of the Brotherhood. That would be way too much information to just give away like that. “I am sorry… But. She did mention a woman.”

“A woman?”

“A woman named ‘Humiko’. Is that name useful to you?”

There was silence on the line for a moment.

“... Yes. Thank you.”

“Oh it is nothing.” Pelafina sighed, feeling her nerves calming down.

“I will be overseeing the translation of this tome from now on. I suppose I can count on you not informing the Brotherhood of this.”

“Well—”

“I will send you a monthly progress report.”

“...I can accept those terms. Thank you, miss Mustafá.”

“I’ll contact you again. Soon. Keep quiet.”

Click.

The plan was back on track. The old lady looked back at the mirror with an excited smile, while the green hue in her reflection slowly faded. Her King looked after her, and he seemed happy with her work.

Surely, this was the way to go for his return… and with that, all the promises she had made would finally come true.

Pelafina looked down at her sleeping husband, partner of so many adventures, now in the twilight of his life… and smiled.

“Don’t worry Ricardo… we’ll all make it for sure.” She gently caressed the few hairs of the sleeping old man. “Our King will make sure of it.”

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man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): ok so

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): the plan is

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): we confront 82 and ask what the fuck happened to tav

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): and if she doesn’t answer, we rat it all out

ケンジー・イズ・マイ・ワイフ!!!: Yeah!!! ò.o!!!

Jeepers creepers man: I feel like I should be doing something to stop this.

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): but you wont cause you ain’t a narc, mort

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): you’re a real one, aren’t you?

Jeepers creepers man: either that or very lazy

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): lol

GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: I don’t like the plan but I don’t really have any alternatives… I just hope she’s okay

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: I AM ALIVE!! O_O

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): there she is

ケンジー・イズ・マイ・ワイフ!!!: TAVY-CHAAAAN TwT

Jeepers creepers man: are you okay tav?

GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: saints above you gave us a good spook.

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: I am fine, I am fine TwT sorry for worrying you all.

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: I bring news though, BIG news O.o

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: After she almost killed me, 82 agreed to be my teacher OwO!!!

GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: you’re kidding me

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: I swear it’s true!

Jeepers creepers man: congrats tav

ケンジー・イズ・マイ・ワイフ!!!: Taught by 82 herself? Nice O.o I never even thought she was real, I always assumed she was just a bot or something.

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Nope, very real ._. she’s eating my food right now.

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): aw man

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): i was lookin forward to be professor canny

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: You can still teach me stuff if you want! n.n I am open to that

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): nah girl youre fine, im messing with ya

It was all fun and games in the chat, and honestly, Gal was trying to be happy for Tav and her meteoric advance through the magic world. She was going to be tutored by Mustafá, the Mustafá, herself! And somehow she had managed to survive a close encounter with her… but why? Why her? Why not him?

No, no. Gal shook his head and got away from the computer. He didn’t want to fall prey to such negative feelings. Tav was a friend, right!? Just a poor, newcomming bastard trying to move around, learn and live a simple life, right?

But then why did Gal feel so… invaded? As if someone had suddenly come over and taken stuff that was his?

He had always wanted to somehow gain the attention of the mods. He was good friends with Mort, and had talked to Ventotto a few times, but 82 had always ignored him…

Maybe it had something to do with that book.

Yeah, the physical guide she went looking for at her local library. Maybe the key was there? She came asking about Mustafá and Giovanni after going for that damn book, maybe it had something that made them pay notice?

Again, he shook his head firmly and sighed, tapping on the computer.

GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: gotta go sleep for now

GalaxyTaco to your rescue!: take care y’all

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Sleep tight! n.n

God damn it and she was so polite too. If she was an asshole it would be so much easier to hate her.

“What the hell am I doing…?”

Feeling foolish and bitter, Gal stood up and turned off his computer, turning around to grab his black cloak.

The night was still young, Gangan was resting and the Coven was waiting for him.

Maybe he’d have some tales to tell them tonight.