The sky started to turn red, and the trees were dying by the second as if life was sucked out of them and everyone started feeling weak.

(Olaf) - I feel powerless.

(Ryuji) - Me too.

*Evil laugh*

(Sol) - It's working, it's working.

(Olaf) - What happened to you?

(Sol) - I finally got the power!

(Ryuji) - This is not power, this is madness.

(Sol) - You! You will never understand how it is to feel powerless.

Ryuji was confused by Sol's words, but the meaning was that Ryuji's powers were greater than anything they'd seen. The tome took control of Sol because he also wanted power.

(Tome) - We are almost done with the ritual.

(Sol) - What is next?

(Tome) - A sacrifice!

(Sol) - Which one, master?

(Tome) - The young one. After we devour his powers we will be invincible.

(Sol) - As you wish master.

Sol grabbed Ryuji and used a binding spell. He threw Ryuji in the middle of the circle and clouds started gathering above him.

(Ryuji) - I can't move!

Olaf tried to reach out for his sword, but he got pushed away by Sol.

(Olaf) - Stop it!

(Ryuji) - Come back to your senses already!

*Laugh*

(Sol) - Everything will end soon.

(Olaf) - Why do you think I picked you?

(Sol) - Picked me for what?

(Ryuji) - What are you saying?

(Olaf) - When I gathered you all, why do you think I picked you?

*Grunts*

(Sol) - I do not understand.

(Olaf) - Remember.

(Tome) - Silence!

Sol started remembering the first time when he met with Olaf and the rest.

*Step*

*Step*

(Hayato) - And why did you call us here?

(Kenta) - Is there something we need to know?

(Olaf) - First of all, sit down.

*Sit*

(Olaf) - You too, please.

*Sol sits down*

(Olaf) - I gathered you because I have a request from you all.

(Sol) - And why do you think we can fulfill your request?

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

(Olaf) - Because I saw potential in each one of you. Excelling every expectation in your skills.

(Kenta) - Thank you, but I am still learning. You are the most renowned paladin in the capital.

(Olaf) - Under the right guidance, you will make an even better paladin than I ever was.

(Sol) - And what does this have to do with us?

(Olaf) - I need your help with a mission.

(Hayato) - What kind of mission?

(Olaf) - I currently do not have all the details, but I know that I will need your help.

Olaf explained to them the situation, and what they have to search for.

(Kenta) - I am in.

(Hayato) - That does sound like an interesting adventure.

(Sol) - I will think about it.

*Step*

*Step*

Sol left and Olaf followed him outside.

(Sol) - Why did you follow me?

(Olaf) - I wanted to say that you are the most powerful mage that I know. And I would be honored to have you by my side in this mission.

(Sol) - I am the powerful mage that you know, we both know that's a lie.

(Olaf) - You have better results than anyone else.

(Sol) - That doesn't make me more powerful.

(Olaf) - And yet, I would rather have you.

(Sol) - I will think about it.

*Step*

The next day, Hayato and Kenta went to Olaf's house. They were preparing to go on the mission. Olaf was going around in circles outside, waiting for Sol to come. But he was nowhere to be found.

(Kenta) - Do you think he will come?

(Olaf) - I know he will come.

(Hayato) - We have to go now, it looks like a storm is coming.

*Sigh*

*Horse neighing*

They went to the first location without Sol.

(Hayato) - And we are searching for what again?

(Olaf) - A book with inscriptions on it.

(Kenta) - Why would a book be here?

(Olaf) - This is the first location we got. Maybe there are some clues where can we find them.

They searched the area and nothing. It was a deserted place with a lot of rocks and sand.

(Hayato) - At least, we will not get hit by a storm here.

(Olaf) - That's true.

(Kenta) - What is over there?

(Olaf) - Where?

Kenta pointed towards what looked like an oasis.

(Hayato) - Maybe we can find our clue there.

(Olaf) - Let's go.

*Step*

*Step*

They approached the oasis and as they were getting closed they noticed it was something strange about it. There was smoke coming out of it.

(Olaf) - I think there is someone already there.

The ground started shaking and the oasis submerged underground.

(Olaf) - Run!

It was a Sand Worm. Sand Worms were about 50 meters tall and 200 meters long. And they used oases to attract their prey.

As they were running, the Sand Worm was following them rapidly.

(Hayato) - We are done for.

(Kenta) - We can not escape it, we must fight.

(Hayato) - Fight? That thing?

(Olaf) - He is right, we can not fight it, but running will do no good either.

*Trop*

*Trop*

From behind them, a person with a cloak charged toward the Sand Worm.

(Olaf) - Come back!

(Kenta) - Stop!

The person jumped off the horse in the Sand Worm's mouth.

(Hayato) - He is done for.

As the Sand Worm was approaching Olaf and the rest, it slowed down and stopped right before Olaf. Hayato and Kenta closed their eyes.

(Olaf) - You can open your eyes now!

*Shocked*

(Kenta) - What happened?

The Sand Worm stopped moving and something was moving inside it.

(Hayato) - It can't be!

(Kenta) - What?

(Olaf) - The person that was on the horse.

(Kenta) - He took it down from inside?

(Olaf) - Looks like it.

As they were standing there in disbelief of what just happened. The person that jumped in the Sand Worm's mouth finally made it out. The acid dissolved the cloak he was wearing.

(Olaf) - I knew you would come.

It was Sol. He used fire magic to kill the Sand Worm.

(Sol) - I was not expecting such a risky mission.

*Chuckles*

(Olaf) - That means you are in?

(Sol) - After I take a long shower to get rid of this smell.

*Everyone started laughing*

As he was remembering those moments, the control that the tome had over Sol broke. Sol rushed to Olaf and cast a resistance spell on him so that he can move freely.

(Tome) - It is not possible!

(Tome) - How were you able to break free?

(Tome) - You needed my power!

(Sol) - Thank you Olaf for reminding me. I do not need your power or any other powers.

(Sol) - I already have my powers!

(Tome) - Your powers are not enough, not compared to what I am capable to give you!

(Olaf) - You have no idea of what our mage is capable of.

*Smirk*

Sol started throwing all kinds of spells at the tome, but the tome was not weak either. The tome grew stronger and stronger because it was taking Ryuji's powers. But Sol was not falling behind, he also was using stronger spells.

(Sol) - Get Ryuji out of there.

Olaf grabbed Ryuji and pulled him out of the circle. The clouds started disappearing, but the tome took just enough power from him to take a physical form.

(Sol) - Go! I got this!

(Olaf) - I believe in you!