A phone rang inside of an old decrepit building inside of Tathan City, Altus. The person who answered it was not a native Alter-Elf however, it was a Human woman with short black hair styled into small curtains. They held the phone up to their ear.

"Hey, it's been a while. You alright?"

..

"No leads as usual..."

...

"You're kidding..right? He's on his way??!"

..."O-Okay I'll be there soon!"

She hung up and turned to the exit of the building which upon closer inspection looked like a thieves den of sorts. As for the woman who had striking red eyes...it was Konstantine..and she was surrounded by the bodies of men.

She was wearing a black trenchcoat and boots with brown camo cargo pants. On her back were two guns. A bolt action sniper rifle and a shotgun, both of which were attached via a tight sling. On her hip was a revolver inside of a black holster.

"I'll keep hunting for you both soon enough, and from there understand the truth." She started to walk out, walking over a dead body as she did. She made her way out of the building leading to an alleyway. She went down the alleyway and onto a street that was quiet and with a lack of pedestrians and vehicles.

Tathan City was the capital of the country of Altus which was south of Homstala. It is the homeland of the Alter-Elves. Unlike the capital of Homstala, Sapianus City, it lacked skyscrapers and was a lot poorer, but this didn't mean it was filled with degeneracy. It was quite pristine and peaceful for the most part.

Konstantine walked up to a large black motorbike, attaching her guns to it in various locations. She then got onto the bike and started it, putting on a black helmet as she did. The engine roared as she drove down the street.

"...are you really returning? After half a year..why now?"

The next morning...

Konstantine made her way up through the forest path leading to the Tower of Magik in Homstala. She parked her bike just past the treeline she walked from and left her helmet with it. She brought her guns just in case she met anything on the way to the tower.

As she made her way towards the black and gold tower she locked her eyes on the entrance, pushing the heavy doors open as she did. She walked through the reception and to the elevator on the other side, pressing the button to the 12th floor. She then slowly looked to the floor and closed her eyes.

"Altara..you never bothered to say a word to us..what have you been up to? I thought you had left for good. But It seems you kept your promise from half a year ago."

Ping!

The doors to the elevator then opened and Konstantine opened her eyes, walking out with a soft exhale as she did. She walked down the corridor and to Hugo's dojo, slowly opening the door.

Inside the dojo stood Hugo, fit with his black parka. He turned around slowly and smiled as his eyes landed on Konstantine. "It's been a month since you visited, Konstantine. However..look who has just walked in."

Hugo slowly moved to the side, facing away from her and looking at Altara, who was wearing a black zipped up bikers jacket with black jeans and boots. His black hair was brushed to the side away from his blue eyes.

"Hey there." Altara said calmly to Konstantine, a slight smile spreading across his face.

Konstantine slowly started to walk over to Altara, standing just before him for a second...before hugging him tightly. Altara soon hugged back with barely any hesitation.

"Last time I hugged you was half a year ago. You were nervous that I hugged you despite our mission to Wrathak..."

She let go of him and stood back.

"..but now..your eyes are less innocent. You have no hesitation..."

Altara looked down at her, not saying anything.

"..our mission to Wrathak changed all of us..but most importantly you. You managed to kill Nero despite his power and we never found out how you did it. Did something happe-"

Altara gently placed a hand on Konstantine's head.

...

"I'm fine."

He then gently patted her, before looking at Hugo. Konstantine looked away slightly, blushing faintly.

"So..how is the old man doing?" He let go of Konstantine and faced Hugo, folding his arms. "Barely had the chance to talk to you before Konstantine walked in."

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Hugo grinned and walked up to Altara, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Nothing much to say except I missed you, Alt."

"Alt..." Altara looked down. "It's been a while since I heard that.."

Hugo grinned and chuckled. "You'll have to tell us what you've been up to though! You can't keep secrets forever."

Altara looked into Hugo's eyes for a few seconds before a knock rang out from the door of the dojo. Hugo let go of Altara's shoulder and looked over at the door. "Come in!"

A human man in a black suit walked in, they were wearing glasses. "Morning Mister Hugo, I am Karlos of the Saints here and the Oligarchy of Magik. I have been told to send a message to Altara upon seeing his arrival."

"Go right ahead." Hugo said to Karlos, the Saint walking over to Altara and handing him a letter in an envelope before leaving the dojo.

"Huh." Altara looked at the envelope, it read his name on the front of it.

Konstantine walked over and folded her arms. "Open it then."

Altara slowly opened the envelope and took the letter out, reading it out loud.

> "Dear Mister Altara, it has occurred to me that you have returned to the Tower of Magik today. It would be a pleasure to greet you and discuss your past doings. I have heard great things about you especially from Hugo Blackblood and the now deceased Kry Kenlok who gave you his office after he passed. Please meet me inside said office as soon as you receive this letter."

>

> - Sir Steelspine, Founder of the Oligarchy of Magik.

Hugo's eyes widened. "Holy shit.."

Altara looked at Hugo. "Well, it seems I've gotta meet the big man himself." He slowly turned to the exit, walking towards it.

"Altara." Hugo called out, Altara looking over his shoulder.

"Don't go anywhere, yeah?"

Altara nodded in response, looking at Konstantine give a slight wave as he walked out. He soon made his way to the top floor of the tower. The sun shined through the skylight and into Altara's office. Stood in the center of the office was an Alter-Elf man with very long white hair which trailed down his back, stopping before his backside. It's width being almost the same as his body. He had one blind eye which had a large vertical cut over it which left him with one right light blue eye. His ears poked out slightly from his white hair, both having a black helix, forward helix and industrial piercings. His skin was slightly wrinkled which showed his age, but his posture remained that of a keen leader. He was wearing a simple gray shirt and pants with light blue shoes. His eye locked onto Altara.

"It is good to see you. Please, come closer."

Altara listened to the Alter-Elf's smooth voice, walking up to him. The man extended his hand to Altara. "Sir Steelspine. You may simply call me Steelspine."

Altara shook Steelspine's hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you." Altara said confidently, looking at Steelspine's eye that wasn't blind. Steelspine was very tall, around 6'4 in height.

"Likewise." Steelspine responded as he let go of Altara's hand, starting to walk around him. Altara stood still, tracking Steelspine with his eyes as he circled him. "Half a year ago you alongside three other Oligarchists traveled to Wrathak in an attempt to sabotage a plan to invade Homstala, this plan was orchestrated by the Empire of Wrathak, more precisely Emperor Nero."

Altara frowned slightly at the mention of Nero's name.

"The exact details of his death are unknown. His body was found a day after you returned with your friends in the murky plains of southern Wrathak. He had a large blade wound in his chest alongside a shattered collar bone and neck. He was killed within seconds. News of his death spread fast but it wasn't enough to stop the civil war which is still active to this day."

He stopped in front of Altara. "According to Hugo and Konstantine they were incapacitated before you, as was Kry. Meaning that you must have been the one that killed him, yes? Hugo praised you for doing such a thing when I spoke to him a week after you came back from Wrathak. I'm just curious about the details. He told me he didn't have much chance to question you as you were all in mourning and you left a day after you came back here." Steelspine then looked at Altara, standing in front of him and folding his arms.

Altara kept quiet for a second, before looking into Steelspine's eye once more.

"He wasn't as powerful as you make out. He only had Lethal Magik that was easily avoided..he simply caught the other three off guard."

Altara frowned.

"He was an evil bastard set on genocide. Nothing more."

Steelspine and Altara looked in silence at eachother. They both felt calm but there was obvious tension in the air. Steelspine felt like Altara was hiding something..which he was.

The founder of the Oligarchy of Magik broke the silence with a chuckle, walking to the side of Altara and placing a hand on his shoulder. "No worries. I have no doubts that he simply used weaker magik than you and you overcame him that way." Steelspine then let go of Altara's shoulder, the tall elf walking to the elevator and standing inside of it.

"May we meet again, Altara Dogma." The elevator doors closed and Altara exhaled, walking to his office desk and sitting down. He looked up at the sky through the skylight.

"Do they really need to know? Do I really need a distraction in my plan?"

Altara mumbled to himself as he looked down from the skylight and at his hand which was on his desk with the palm facing upwards. "Steelspine...you are clearly suspicious of me and I don't blame you. I did kill one of the Lords of Adepta who are said to be extremely powerful..which Nero was. If it wasn't for-"

PING!

Altara's thoughts were interrupted as he quickly looked up to the elevator and saw Hugo walk in with Konstantine behind him, a huge grin across his face.

"So...Alt'..how about we go take a trip to space?"

Altara's eyes widened, his passion filling his heart once more.