Roughly one week had passed since Ivanovich’s assault on Pendragon City and his subsequent defeat. Alexander recovered at the temple, his wounds healing and the effects of the Shadow Magic vanishing from his body. He had seemingly done the impossible. He was still alive, with no apparent physical side effects. But there was something that felt…off. A nagging feeling, a strange whisper in the back of his mind. It was odd, and he didn’t quite know what to make of it.

Erika had watched over him since the battle with Ivanovich, helping to nurse him back to health. She had been a constant presence, her kindness and care bringing them closer. Alexander appreciated her dedication and the gentle way she tended to his wounds, both physically and emotionally.

One morning, as she checked on him, she noticed that something wasn’t right. He was deep in thought, wondering what this strange feeling was that lingered within his mind.

“Are you alright, my Lord?” she asked, concerned.

He replied, “I’m fine, Erika”

She wasn’t satisfied with his answer. “You held Shadow Magic in your body with seemingly no negative effects. Are you sure you’re okay?”

He didn’t want to concern her with this strange abnormality that he had discovered, especially when he didn’t even understand it himself. “It’s nothing,” he said, trying to ease her concerns with a smile.

She didn’t completely accept his answer but relented nonetheless. “If you say so, my Lord.”

He sighed, looking out the window. “I wish there was a way for us to let Master Merlin know that we won.”

Erika smiled softly. “She knows. She always knows.”

Later that day, he threw on a jacket and some normal clothes and used the gatestone to travel to Pendragon City. Walking through the streets, he saw that the recovery and rebuilding efforts were already underway for the sections that endured the vampire attacks. Most of the rubble had been cleared, and scaffolding was set up for building repairs. News stories ran on the large screens on the sides of buildings, talking about the attacks. Videos of his fight with Ivanovich played, showing various angles that had been captured from the observers.

Some people recognized him, even in his casual clothes. Some asked for his name. Some asked to shake his hand and thanked him for what he did. Some simply gave him a slight nod of approval as he passed. Regardless of whether or not they noticed him, he was happy. Happy to see everyone alive and going about their lives. They were his people, and protecting them meant everything to him.

He arrived at the Mek-Tek headquarters building. Stepping into the lobby elicited a bittersweet feeling. It was nice to be here again in a time of peace, but this place would always serve as a reminder of his life before. A life that he could never go back to. He looked across the lobby and smiled, silently bidding that old life farewell, once and for all.

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He approached the receptionist booth, seeing Lila, Veronica, and a blonde girl that he didn’t know. The blonde girl loudly greeted him before he had even made it to the booth.

“Hello there!” she called out.

Lila looked up, and a warm light filled her eyes as she saw him. “Alexander! It’s good to see you.”

Even Veronica seemed somewhat happy to see him. “Well, look who decided to drop by.”

Hearing his name, the blonde girl, Mindy, asked, “Oh! Are you the same Alexander they talk about sometimes? I saw you on the news fighting those freaky monsters.”

Veronica replied, “Yep, that’s him. Apparently, he’s some kind of wizard now.”

He chuckled slightly as Mindy smiled, clearly not understanding any of it. “The preferred term is Sorcerer, or if you want to use my proper title, World Guardian.”

Veronica rolled her eyes and then gave him a sly smile as Mindy let out a loud, “Ooooohhhh.”

Lila asked, “Are you here to see Robert and Megan?”

He answered, “Yeah, but I’m also here to see you.”

She teased him a bit, “Oh, really? And why would that be?”

He told her, “We never had our second date.”

She replied, “You’re right, we didn’t.” Before he could say anything else, she added, “You can pick me up Saturday night at 7.”

He smiled back at her. “I’ll be there.”

He thought that everything was going to be alright. His life might not go back to the way it was before, but this new one could be amazing and fulfilling in its own way. He had faced multiple trials and tribulations already. He’d battled a vampire king and held toxic magic within his body. After all of it, he’d come out stronger on the other side. Whatever came next, he would be ready for it…

Deep within the wilderness in a fortress cloaked in shadows and darkness, a man stared into a black crystalline ball. His hands channeled magic around it as he tried to peer into it, hoping for it to allow him to see what he desired. After a moment, he backed away from the ball and let out a long sigh, brushing his long brown hair out of his face. He turned to the figure next to him, a woman shrouded in a shadowy cloak and hood, his young apprentice. He didn’t say anything but simply looked at her for a moment, and a devious grin formed on his face.

Another woman entered the dark room. This woman possessed pale skin and long black hair. Her eyes were a pale yellow with serpentine pupils. Two leathery wings hung on her back, and she had two sharp fangs that slightly protruded from her mouth. The man looked at the woman and said her name, “Seraphina.”

She responded back, “Lord Balfour, why have you called for me?”

“Your father, Ivanovich, is dead. He died in battle with the new World Guardian”, he answered.

She backed away in shock, angrily gritting her teeth, which fully exposed her fangs. Lord Balfour spoke, “I suggest exercising caution. Your father’s recklessness and arrogance were the reasons for his defeat.”

She angrily growled at him. The insults about her father didn’t make her want to heed his advice, but she knew that Lord Balfour was correct, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

He continued, “I gave Ivanovich the Shadow Magic for his device, but I didn’t realize what its intended purpose was at the time. He strayed from his original mission.”

Seraphina questioned, “What is our next move then?”

“For the moment, gather the remaining vampires and assess your losses”, he answered. “You are now their Queen. I will call for you when it is time to take the fight to the World Guardian…”

THE END