ONE DAY BEFORE THE GRAND EXHIBITION of Cirque du Magique, the performers were doing their best to polish their acts. Even Sundara, the Ringmistress, who was known to tame various wild beasts, was perfecting her opening act.

The news about the incident that happened at the Northern Shrine already reached them. Everyone was worried that the recent attack of the treasure hunters would affect their show, but Lanaya ensured that everyone in the Arcanas Kingdom was business as usual and that there was nothing to worry about.

“Eduardo,” called the Ringmistress. “Where are your men that were supposed to bring the heavy pieces of equipment?”

Eduardo flinched. “Oh. Umm. Yes, about them. I actually fired them yesterday for leaving the area when we had a lot to do without permission. They have done it twice in a row already.”

“Is that so? That’s unfortunate. Can your other men handle the equipment?”

“Y-Yes, Ringmistress. We still have enough manpower for the equipment. No need to worry.”

“Alright. Make sure that the Grande Tent is completed before noon. We still have to test the lighting and do the final rehearsal.”

Alicia then arrived at the central plaza to talk to Eduardo when she saw him having a conversation with Sundara.

“Is this a bad time? I brought some fairy dust bread for everyone.”

“Ahh. The bakery manager. Thank you for always bringing us food,” said the Ringmistress.

“It’s nothing, really. Knowing that you helped someone who was once like me makes me feel warm inside.”

“Ah, yes. Well, feel free to go around. I’m sure everyone will be delighted with some delicious bread,” the Ringmistressleft as she observe the rest of her performers.

Magenta smelled the bread and quickly approached Alicia. “Ms. Alicia! It’s nice to see you again. I hope you’ll be watching our show tomorrow evening.”

“Of course, dear. I will not miss it for anything. I’ll even close my shop earlier than usual just to get a better seat.”

“I can reserve you and your employees some front-row seats. Just come by whenever it is suitable for you.”

“If that’s the case then we’ll gladly accept it.” Alicia happily agreed.

Alicia met Magenta, the girl with the lavender tattoo, a few days ago when the latter and other performers bought bread from Fairy Dust bakery. The odd subtle aroma from Magenta took Alicia's attention almost right away.

* * * * *

Years before reaching the Arcanas Kingdom, Alicia was one of the earliest victims of a treasure hunter group that used humans to experiment on artificial powers. Like Magenta, Alicia also has a tattoo of a plant --- a strawberry. But unlike Magenta, Alicia was a failure. The power never manifested and she was disposed of, left to die in a scorching, lifeless canyon.

But unknown to the people that tried to leave her, Alicia knows a few magic spells and used them to kill the hunters that tried to dispose of her and take their belongings.

Alicia escaped and wandered the Cloud Canyon in the continent of Montagna and somehow managed to survive. Her life was destroyed and her family perished because of the hunters that took them away. She vowed that she will avenge her family and kill the people behind the inhumane experiments.

Soon, she reached the continent of Aria where she learned about the Star of Arianna incident that happened a few years earlier. For months she has been learning about the Arcanas Kingdom—their culture, magic, livelihood, citizens, and of course about the Star of Arianna.

Alicia learned the whereabouts of the fragments and has been coming up with plans to steal and use them. She knows that going head-to-head with Aria's greatest mage army was a suicide. On top of that, she had to come up with a plan to get all five fragments. Then there's the issue of how to use the fragments as no one has ever managed to use the fragments for centuries.

As if it was her destiny, she got a job in Fairy Dust bakery, learned Puppet Magic, and finds out about the book of Merlin owned by Ventro Lynne herself.

“I never had an apprentice who could actually master Puppet Magic in just a few weeks,” said Ventro in awe. “You really are a talented and skilled mage, Alicia.”

“Thank you, but I still have a lot to learn,” Alicia responded as she tried to catch her breath.

“That would have to wait though.” Ventro sat down on a bench at the bakery's backyard where she and Alicia are having sparring using Puppet Magic.

“Is something the matter?” Alicia sat down on the ground facing Ventro.

“The only reason I agreed to train you is that I am leaving the kingdom. As you can see, I am the only Puppet Mage here in Arcanas. I wanted someone to inherit my craft before I leave. Also, I'm leaving the Fairy Dust bakery in your hands.”

Since then, Ventro Lynne was never heard of again.

During the time of Alicia trying to come up with her plans, she met a group of hunters outside the Arcanas Kingdom, led by Eduardo, whose members were composed of humans that were subjected to human experiments like her. Eduardo, Julian, and Pancho can use their artificial powers and Alicia managed to convince them to join her cause.

Alicia learned about the Cirque du Magique and that the circus will be performing in the Arcanas Kingdom in a few days. That's when she met Magenta who has the lavender power and finds out what that ability can do. That's it, she thought. The power that fits perfectly with her plan, the ability of Magenta is the missing piece.

The hunters that Alicia met were to pose as laborers for the circus. She took care of the current laborers with her Puppet Magic. And without laborers, Sundara had to hire a new group of laborers to handle the heavy equipment. Alicia conveniently referred Eduardo and his men, and they easily became the new laborers of the circus, infiltrating the kingdom without a hitch.

With her plans all coming together, Alicia could already envision her vengeance. With the Star of Arianna, she will have an unparalleled power to avenge her family and all the people that fell to the human experiments.

* * * * *

Inside a tent, Alicia and Eduardo talked about their plan.

“They took the bait,” said Alicia. “It seems that the guardians have already brought the fragments to the castle’s arcane vault.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“That’s great to hear,” Eduardo said in relief. “At least the life of Pancho was not lost in vain. So what’s our next move?”

Alicia looked outside and gazed at Magenta. “We need that woman.”

Eduardo looked at where Alicia is looking. “Magenta? But she’s got nothing that could help us?”

“Of course she does. Just like us, she was also part of the Eclipse Hunters' artificial power experiments. With that ability of hers, dealing with hundreds of mages all at once will be a piece of cake.”

* * * * *

Jack and the Seekers arrived at the camp on the outskirts.

“Why do you look all restless?” asked Lanatte.

The four murmured but was inaudible.

“Hangover,” Musaoi suggested. “Looks like you guys had a blast last night.”

Daisuke tried to say something but was still inaudible.

Marcactas sniffed. “Ahh. Chuckleberry wine. A traitorous drink. You’ll not feel it hit you until the next day. Hahahaha!!”

“Hey, guys!” greeted Riku. She and Geri brought a clay pot filled with water from the nearby river.

“Hi, Riku!” Musaoi greeted. “Where you've been?”

“Looks like you're the only one who didn't get drunk,” Lanatte added.

“Oh, no. I didn’t drink much since I’m not good at handling alcohol.” Riku admitted. “I just took some water for these idiots. Besides, I was waiting for Jack, but he didn’t return last night.”

“Yeah. About that. I stayed in their room at an inn last night. We talked much about the artificial powers,” Jack revealed.

“Hear this, Riku. It seems a group of hunters has been trying to replicate the plant powers of the elves five years ago. But three years ago, their operation was halted when the United Alliance and a group of Seekers seized their warehouse back at Montagna Continent,” shared Lanatte.

“We also learned that the only way to receive artificial power is still through a unique tattoo. The ink itself is made from a unique ore and imbued with elven blood and mana. The humans have basically mass-produced elven powers,” added Marcactas.

“These hunters needed the elves alive. We need to find the new location of their mass-production site and destroy it!” said Jack furiously.

“Jack, aren’t we just going on an adventure with Daisuke?” asked Riku.

“But this is something bigger, Riku!”

Everyone looked at Jack.

“Okay, fine. It’s about my sister Jill.”

The Seekers were surprised as they heard the name, Jill. Especially Marcactas who has been a Seeker for over five years now.

“Who’s Jill?” asked Musaoi.

“Jill is the missing daughter of Durant. But a few Seekers reported that she joined a special department in the United Alliance called Chasers,” said Marcactas.

“Did you know about this, Jack?” asked Riku.

“Yes. She became part of the Chasers that specializes in catching powerful hunters. She was supposedly missing in action two years ago back at Montagna. But Leon said yesterday that they’ve caught an elf two years ago as well who had the same power as mine.”

“How did you know about all of this?” asked Lanatte.

“My father told me. He leaves the island for a monthly meeting with U.A. As you may have known, we have these complicated ties with the U.A.”

“Are you saying that your sister's disappearance is caused by the people behind the artificial powers experiment?” asked Musaoi.

“It could be.”

“But you’re still coming with us, right?” asked Riku.

“I…I don’t know, Riku. If I have the chance to find my sister, then I might take it.”

* * * * *

Lanaya and Leon were spending some time at the castle’s grassy field. It’s been a long time since they were alone together. They have known each other since they were kids, and their relationship only grew stronger, in a romantic way, as they grew older.

“When was the last time that we were here? Just the two of us,” asked Leon as he walked with Lanaya, holding her hand.

“Well, we’re not really alone.” Lanaya pointed at the fairies. “So much glaizerock energy is in this river that the fairies like to frolic here so much.”

Leon looked at the face of Lanaya. “I haven’t seen that smile of yours for a long time. Is my father being too harsh on you?”

Lanaya got conscious and took her smile away. “No. But he’s the mage king. You know how heavy that responsibility is for him. And soon, it will be yours. So try to understand him.”

“And how about your sister? Mirana has been so stressed out lately, her only rest was to drink chuckleberry wine and eat roasted wild boar meat.”

“My sister can handle it. She’s the one who told me not to interfere.”

“She did?”

“The mage king wanted her demoted immediately, arrested even. But I was able to convince him to give Mirana two days.”

“You’re awesome. Awesome.”

The two laughed. They rested under a tree that used to be their meet-up place when they were still kids. Leon would then always lay her head on Lanaya’s lap.

“I miss you,” said Leon.

“Already? You haven't left for the Aeternas Kingdom yet.”

“No…Well, yeah. I mean, I miss you. We haven’t spent much time together these days. So yeah, I miss you.”

Lanaya used her ice magic to make forehead cold.

“Ow. That’s cold. Why’d you do that?”

Lanaya mischievously chuckled. “Nothing.”

“You know, you still haven’t told anyone about how you learned magic.”

“And I have no intention of telling you. Or anyone.” Lanaya watched the fairies frolicking near the river. “Those fairies. You think they’re powerful enough to wield the star fragments?”

“That’s some random thought. But I think they can’t. Just because they are powerful doesn’t mean they could wield the fragments. Anyway, are you seriously not going to tell me how you learned ice magic?”

“Hmmm. How about you give me a kiss, then I’ll consider if I’m ever going to tell you.”

The two shared a kiss as the fairies twirled and danced around them.

* * * * *

That afternoon, Mirana led a small group of mages, together with Jacob and Lisa, to patrol a small camp on the outskirts near the Southwest Shrine. Julian and Jacobo told them during the interrogation that three more hunters will come to try and steal the Obsidian fragment. As for the Sapphire fragment, one of the hunters will surely have it for safekeeping.

“I think that’s the camp the hunter was talking about,” said Mirana.

“But you said the hunters are not arriving until tomorrow night,” said Jacob. “What are we supposed to do then?”

“We should go back and confirm to Lanaya that the camp exists,” Lisa suggested.

“No. We stay here until someone arrives,” said Mirana.

Jacob and Lisa looked at each other, not sure about Mirana’s decision.

“Mirana, we have an order directly from Lanaya. No stakeouts. We’re just here to confirm and go back to report.” Lisa insisted.

“Then you and Jacob can go back. I’ll stay here.”

“But Mirana---”

“I SAID—” Mirana raised her voice, but quickly collected her thoughts. “—you guys can go, and I’ll stay. Report to Lanaya but don’t tell her that I’m staying. That’s an order.”

Jacob, Lisa, and the mages followed her order and left the area.

* * * * *

Daisuke, Raijin, Siegfried, and Brunnhilde finally got on their feet.

“Ugh. My head still hurts,” Daisuke complained.

“Here, eat this.” Riku handed over a piece of fairy dust biscuit.

Daisuke took a bite. “Thanks. How is this supposed to help though?”

“Just finish that one. It’s already evening again. You guys were all down the whole day and I just stayed here watching you all.”

“Where’s Jack?” asked Raijin. “He didn’t return?”

“He did. The Seekers were here as well. They all went back to the kingdom proper to plan out their next move.”

“They? Including Jack?” asked Siegfried.

“Yes,” Riku answered. She was anxious after their conversation early morning. “Daisuke, I think Jack is not coming with us from here on out.”

She told the group about the conversation they had. The artificial power, Jack’s missing sister, and the possibility that Jack would go with Lanatte’s team to find the hideout of the hunters that mass-produces the elves’ plant power.

“Then we should let him.” Said Daisuke.

The others were surprised by what Daisuke said.

“You’re not serious, are you?” asked Riku.

“We cannot stop him from doing what he wants. It’s a family matter and we cannot stick our noses into it. Besides, he is a Seeker. He can do whatever he wants.”

Riku sighed. She could not believe that Daisuke would easily make such a decision. But before she could say anything, they heard an explosion. After a few moments, they got stung by the frigid wind.

“Hey guys...is it winter already?” asked Raijin as snow fell from the sky.