Renee bordered one of the most dangerous places on the continent. It was filled with dangerous monsters and mysteries that had yet to be solved. Very few had even explored the surface levels of the Living Calamity. The forbidden lands were known as the Prime Forest. Known by the locals as the Longwoods, this forest had unnaturally tall trees, some even reached the sky. The permanent light fog, strange silence, and terrifying monsters all painted a haunting picture that most people would love to avoid. It took someone just as haunting and strange as the forest itself to become its manager. Denny Carter's obsessive desire of containing the forest led him to his position as its overseer.

"The activity in the forest is... strange." Denny's voice was as grizzled and jarring as his appearance. He was middle-aged, tall, with salt and pepper hair that made a sharp widows peak. His eyes were a sickly yellow that resembled a bird of prey.

"Captain Carter, isn't the activity always strange?"

Denny's eyes furrowed into a glare as he said, "No... The outer ridge of Forest Prime always has small groups of monsters roaming about, leaking from the depths of the inner region. It's rare for there to be so little activity. Usually, such little activity is a sign that a monster wave is approaching but this... feels different."

"Things are relatively peaceful, captain. Is it strange that things are so calm? We are still seeing some goblins, wolves, and earth bears, so I doubt it means a monster wave is approaching." The Red Tower mage next to Denny had three stars on his uniform and thick black glasses. He looked more like a scholar than a front-line mage battling a constant war with monsters.

"Lisk... Need I remind you that the strange calm pays tribute before the coming storm? This calm is different. It's too quiet and too calm. The fact that there are a few monsters still makes it even more suspicious than if there were no monsters at all!" Denny turned to look at the barracks before grumbling, "Monster wave... or something more."

"Captain, you can't be serious. There are more signs that a monster wave is approaching than just a monster recession. Usually, the ambient mana gets thicker, and you'll see large flocks of birds heading east from the forests depths. They always escape danger and give us an advanced warning. Since people have lived near Forest Prime, there have always been three clear signs before a monster wave. We haven't seen anything like that at all. Just fewer monsters than usual." Lisk looked at his captain with the exasperated look of someone who had dealt with paranoia for a long time.

"Don't forget, Lisk. I've been doing this for over twenty years. Strange behavior from the monsters always warrants our immediate attention! Dillon, write a report back to the Tower and inform the Vice Tower Master that I'll be investigating the Prime Forest myself!" Captain Denny looked as though he was about to rush into the forest unarmed at any second, causing a migraine for his Vice Captain.

Dillon Lisk was a 3rd Circle mage who had accompanied Denny's crusade against the forest for over a decade. He knew that once Denny got an idea in his head, nothing was stopping him from moving ahead with whatever whacky idea he gave himself. When Denny investigated anything, he usually found that his suspicions were wrong half the time. However, that meant the other half was right. Denny's excessive paranoia was the reason damage rarely occurred from monster waves.

"Yes, Captain. Don't blame me if nothing turns out again, but I'll eat my words if a monster wave comes out of it." Dillion shook his head but immediately left for the barracks to write the letter.

Denny glared into the forest and whispered to no one in particular, "Something is different this time. Something dangerous."

The city of Renee had been busy since the War for Ayes. Elion had two years of relative peace after the war. A peace that the people knew couldn't be sustainable. The people of Renee waited with bated breath as merchants came from Ayes or the Merchant's Republic, spreading the most recent news of what happened in Argon and the rest of the continent. Argon had lost badly to the Beast Tribes and had even sacrificed a bit of land like a lizard cutting off its own tail. Average citizens couldn't understand the insatiable greed present within the Empire and would watch the events with a certain schadenfreude.

A man selling Heral cream desserts from a small street vendor was talking to a merchant about the war while waving around a load of bread. "Argon's so greedy! Starting a war with the beast tribes? When they already started a war with the rest of the continent?! What's next? Are they going to attack the Merchants Republic and try to conquer the whole continent alone? Serves those filthy mutts right that they lost so much land. At this point, the Empire will collapse all on its own!"

The merchant shook his head, "I doubt it. The situation with Lome has been at a breaking point for months. I'm surprised they haven't completely collapsed yet. I've heard the draft is taking women, children, and the elderly. I suspect they won't have enough citizens to make up a country soon."

A man with red hair casually walked over to the cart and called out to the stall owner, "Hey, old man! Can I get a Heral cream bread!"

The stall owner quickly grew a smile as he turned around to look at his new customer. "Yes, yes, of course!" That was until he saw the customer in question. "Bah! Brat? What do you want?"

The store owner quickly grabbed a piece of bread from the stall and wrapped it in a thick brown paper before saying, "That'll be five bronze."

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"Five bronze? Damn, what are you selling a fancy steak?" The red-haired man took out five bronze coins from his pocket despite complaining and gave them to the stall owner.

"Times are tough, you know. I've got mouths to feed at home and troublesome customers to serve."

"Sure, don't we all." Red-hair suddenly smirked as though he had an idea as he said, "I think Argon's going to win this war. I heard you guys talking a moment ago. I'd prepare for the takeover if I were you."

The store clerk glared at the red-haired man and yelled, "Fuck off! I don't wanna hear that shit anywhere near me!"

"Haha! It's a joke, old man. I'm just complaining since you jacked your prices so much."

"It'll be six bronze next time I see you!"

"Hahaha! You're great. I look forward to it!"

"Rowan!"

"Sorry, old man! The boss is calling for me."

Rowan bit into the now steaming bread with a smile as he strolled over to the blue-haired man near an alleyway in the corner.

The store owner looked at the red hair's bread in confusion and scratched his head, "That brat's so annoying I must be losing my mind. I swear I could see steam coming from it."

"Could be a mage." The merchant narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rowan walking away.

"Impossible, I've known that brat for two years. He works at the academy as a groundskeeper. They would have tested him for magic, and he'd be a teacher or guard if he were a mage."

"Well, none of my business." The merchant looked away as though it was none of his business as he finished eating his own bread.

As Rowan got out of range of prying eyes and ears, he whispered, "What's the plan, Derick?"

Derick looked around to the left and right before replying, "The Red Tower Master has woken... I have no idea what his current condition is like, but he hasn't left his home since he woke from his coma. I don't have the exact time, but I'm guessing it's recent, within the last month or so."

"We should have just attacked them when they were at their weakest! Derick! We could have ended the Northwood family line two years ago! Now we may never have the chance if the Tower Master is recovered! I told you we should have done something!"

Derick shook his head, "You know we couldn't. His wife dealt with a 4th Circle commander and an entire Seeker unit alone. Not to mention she practically crippled Zephaias. She was even protecting her son at the time! We did our due diligence and found that she never left his room. There hasn't been a single opportunity to realistically end the Tower Master without throwing away our lives in return."

"Blue... I keep bringing it up because I think it's doable. If we focus on one 4th Circle mage with everything we have, there isn't a single one that can stand against us! Even old man Zephaias wouldn't have dared to fight two Seekers alone! He fares worst against the two of us than against the Red Lion! Even if she has broken through the barrier or there are some forces we don't know about, we can probably escape if things go south."

"I wish that were true, Red. It would make our lives way easier if it were. Don't forget we are providing valuable information just by being here. As long as we are patient, an opportunity shall arise. The Emperor must be scheming. He was never one to lie down for long."

As the two of them reached the end of the alleyway, their expressions took a radical turn. They began a random conversation as naturally as though they were talking about it just moments earlier. "Derick! I can't wait to meet your girlfriend. You better marry that girl before I give her a go."

"Row, if you get anywhere near my girl... I'll beat the shit out of you! Dalia is my princess, and I won't have you ruin another one of my relationships!"

"Hahaha! Bud, just relax. I'm joking!" They walked into the blacksmith shop full of smiles.

"Hey, what do you guys need?" A grizzled blacksmith looked up from his forge at the two men that strolled into his shop.

"Dolph, I'm wondering if my orders have been completed?"

"Hmmm. It'll be done soon. You two can't just keep showing up every day. You know I'll send someone to your workplace when they are done! Annoying."

"Calm down, uncle. Haven't you ever thought that maybe we came here just to get a good look at you? You are quite handsome!"

Dolph glared at the two men before sighing, "Tomorrow. It'll be done tomorrow. I'm rushing your order to get rid of you."

"Yes! Thanks, uncle!"

"Now get out of here before I beat you two lover boys with my hammer!"

Derick glared, "Lover boy? I'd rather you beat this shit head to death than call me that. I've got a girlfriend that I have to keep away from this womanizer!"

"Pfttt! That's none of my business."

Dolph had to work hard to keep himself from laughing at the two of them. Red and Blue left the smithy and walked a certain distance before Derick whispered, "You've been patient, Rowan. I appreciate it, but I think I have a plan. A good one that'll give us the chance we need."

Rowan rubbed his hands together while giving an exaggerated smile, "Oh... do tell."

"The kid, Darius, just got some Squires. He should be going to the Royal Academy soon. Within three years, I think.. I have two plans. Either we get an instructor position for the Squire brats which will get us an in, or we plan out an all-out assault for when the kids leave toward the capital. I need to find out when we can request reinforcements, but... I think we might be able to aim higher than just getting rid of the Northwoods if we play our cards right."

"I like it! No... I love it! You work at the academy as an instructor for young kids. You've been there for a year, so you might be able to get into the Northwood estate as an instructor! Have you been planning this since a year ago? You devilish genius!"

A smirk couldn't help but creep up Derick's face as he replied "Maybe."

"Bastard, I shoulda known! You always come through!" Rowan's smile turned into a frown, "I just wish... you told me these plans of yours in advance. You always leave them a secret until the last possible moment!"

"Operation fox in the chicken coop starts now."

"Ok, everything's good except your naming sense!"

A woman was gardening in a beautiful greenhouse filled with flowers and berry bushes when a man in black entered her greenhouse and said, "Lord Green, it seems like Red and Blue finally have a plan."

The woman didn't stop watering her plants as she replied, "Two years... Those two have been playing around for two years.

Do you know the contents of their plan?"

"I'm sorry, Lord. It is difficult following them as is without giving ourselves away. We lip-read the name of the plan, though..."

The woman briefly stopped watering a beautiful purple flower as she commanded, "Go on. Don't stop."

"Operation fox in the chicken coop."

The green-haired woman started laughing, "Hah! Blue has always had a strange naming sense. Watch them for now, but don't wait to inform me when they act. I need to know; the moment they do anything, so I can decide how to handle the situation appropriately."

"Yes, Lord!"

The man in black left the almost mystical greenhouse in a hurry, afraid of becoming fertilizer for some plant.

Green continued watering her plants unperturbed while humming a tune. If one were to look at the outside of Lily's Mystical Flower shop, one would notice greenery surrounding the shop, like the trees in a dense jungle. The Flower shop was even famous in Avia as the place young couples go to find flowers for the girls or boys of their dreams.

"I can feel a strange energy in the plants. An ancient force. Older than the bark from an Elder tree. The Longwoods are moving after a long time. Hopefully, His Imperial Majesty gets my message on time." Green's smile looked almost devilish if viewed from a certain angle.

If one were to look at the water she was pouring on her plants. They may notice it was a dark, rusty red.