An elf much shorter than those working shuffled to them, her golden eyes on Euness, wind blowing back her dark green hair.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” the elf cheered.

“Miss Poly?!” Euness sputtered. “But Mister Rombell and Dwindle went to rescue you!”

The tiny elf, Poly, paused, her eyes wide in disbelief. She shouted, “Red is back!?” She felt as if the roof they were standing on shifted.

“Yes, Miss Poly! He came back! But they hadn’t known you were here of all places—in the primary Produryte church no less.”

“I must go see him,” Poly enthused, her face reddening with excitement. The humble young fighter had returned. For reasons she couldn’t put to words, she felt everything would be made better with Red around. She could afford to dream again when he was near.

Before the conversation could lengthen to any amount, a demanding presence caused them to turn.

There appeared before them an angel of beauty and magnificence, their face of proportional and symmetrical excellences and their delicate, slender body an appropriate height where all who would look upon this wondrous creature needed to look up to speak with them. Silk balk robes that glittered with magic inlaid within the fabric, an innovation of human and elf magic combined, flowed from them like a mysterious shadow. The beautiful being spoke, their voice as ambiguous as their looks, medium pitched that could be deemed either feminine or manly, “My, I didn’t expect you, Priestess, to bring even more humans into our midst.”

In their uniquely pitched voice, Priestess Vilda thought she could hear suspicion and quickly explained, “Oh, my apologies, Grand Starseeker. I hadn’t known our cause had a limit to human participants.”

The beautiful person, the Grand Starseeker, heard a hint of a challenge but did not rise to it. “By all means, the more useful individuals added to our ranks, the better. I only meant that you should always be wary of who you bring.” His eyes that seemed to sparkle gazed upon Euness and Zini. “I take it these two are Hunters?”

Euness bowed respectfully and said, “Greetings, I am known as Euness Parthwright. I was once in the employ of the Hunters Guild but I am no longer.” A smile of formality formed on the Grand Starseeker’s stunning face that nearly stopped Euness’ heart before turning his attention to Zini.

“I am Zini, a mere magic user,” Zini greeted and bowed, his dark green eyes like green water washing over the Grand Starseeker’s visage, attempting to divulge truth from any divergent expression from the stranger, but he could not see past a pair of unreadable starry eyes.

“Truly, what an odd duo,” the Grand Starseeker commented with a curious tilt of their beautiful head. “I take it that you know what you’re doing,” they said, looking back to Priestess Vilda.

Vilda gave them a courteous smile with a hint of impatience. “I am doing my part, Grand Starseeker. I pray you do yours.”

“You pray often. Hopefully your gods will answer this time around.” Only if one would listen closely could they hear the condescension in the Grand Starseeker’s words, which Vilda, having known them for long enough, could hear the smarm in the person’s voice.

Turning back to the others, the Grand Starseeker bowed to them and said, “I’m sure the Priestess will inform you what is expected of you. Let me be the first to welcome you to the Star Fated Covenant.”

Vilda ground her teeth and watched as the Grand Starseeker left to join other elves strategizing at the table. “Damned dirt worshiper…” she murmured.

Poly’s head fell hearing her. Euness, in shock, spoke up instantly, “Priestess!”

Vilda looked to Euness then to Poly and blanched, “Oh, I’m sorry, miss Poly! I didn’t mean that, I promise!” She hurriedly knelt down, taking Poly’s hands into hers with a remorseful look.

“I’m fine,” Poly replied, yet her eyes betrayed her apparent hurt. She had become acquainted with Vilda recently, and thought they could become close friends. But after hearing her disparaging remarks towards the Grand Starseeker, Poly couldn’t see a path toward friendship any longer. Perhaps Red was the only human she could ever feel close to.

“You’re only half right anyways, Priestess,” Zini snorted, watching the Grand Starseeker talking to the other elves. Vilda looked to the necromancer curiously and he answered her gaze, “That’s a half-blood.”

Poly’s golden eyes widened as well as Euness, who verbalized his surprise first, “A human and elf mating? How preposterous!”

Alleviating his doubts, Poly’s reaction showed she knew enough about the Grand Starseeker to reinforce Zini’s words. “How could you tell Yulevit is half-blooded?” she asked, scanning Zini’s pale form to make sure he wasn’t a half-blood either.

“His magic,” Zini answered, his pale face turning downward to the much shorter elf, “that person’s magic is attuned with all elements at once and continuously. Only elves, dwarves and the like can communicate with Eronia in such a way. ”

“You can observe the origin magic?” Poly asked, nearly shouting. Poly thought humans couldn’t do such a thing.

Vilda became thoughtful, remembering that among the abilities known to necromancers, given that they each studied the past deeply which included the history of magic allowed them to see the nature of different forms of magic.

“All humans can,” Zini answered before his eyes fell downcast. “That was before the fall of the, uh…never mind.” He looked back at the elf with defeated eyes. “Let’s just say I’m different than most humans.” His listeners waited on bated breath for him to explain himself but they could see that prying would be rude. Vilda on the other hand, became occupied with glaring at the Grand Starseeker, Yulevit.

“So, he’s a half-blood…” she muttered, vindictively, her thoughts revolving ways to make use of such information. The Priestess’ and Yulevit were leaders of their factions here in the Star Fated Covenant and their relationship had been rocky. As the saying went, no two tigers could occupy the same mountain, if they had to, they would inevitably engage in a fierce struggle for dominance.

Euness wished he hadn’t seen this side of Vilda, making him feel uncomfortable. He much preferred the kind Priestess Hunter that spent her time questing to villages to help the poor and sick, not the Priestess who apparently was involved in throngs of politics in this strange secret group. His dark eyes couldn’t see far without his glasses, but he could see the lack of humans on the roof with them.

“Are there only elves here?” he asked.

“The humans stay on the first level,” Poly answered with chagrin. “It helps keep the peace.”

“What is going on here? Humans and elves working together here in Loderan? It doesn’t make sense.”

“They’re planning something with magic,” Zini answered, which surprised them. He pointed at the constructs of stone being created and said, “Those are Tuners of Lifeforce.”

Poly couldn’t take her eyes away from him. He wouldn’t cease surprising her.

“Tuners of Lifeforce?” Euness asked, squinting at the elves working.

“Magic amplifiers,” Zini explained.

“Do you mean like the dwarven invention, the Symbol Stacker?”

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Zini fell quiet. He had never heard of such a thing, so he stayed reserved, keeping his secrets close to his chest. Where he came from, there were no sage symbols and he only recently learned of them.

Poly chose to speak and clarified, “Those are called Seed Harmonizers now.” She pointed to what Zini had been looking at, and then looked up at the necromancer. “How did you know they used to be called Tuners of Lifeforce? Our people hadn’t called Seed Harmonizers, Tuners of Lifeforce since even before the Alwhedi founded the Ahweldi Forest.”

“What is lifeforce?” Euness asked, scratching his black and gray hair.

“It was what we elves used to call mana,” Poly replied, here golden eyes still locked onto Zini. “Mister Zini, how did you know about the Seed Harmonizers and what they used to be called?”

Zini shrugged and instead of answering, said, “The elves here have similar magic origin.” He turned to the table with the Grand Starseeker. “Those over there are different than the ones working. But there seems to be one lone elf here without anyone similar to her.” His dark green eyes traveled back to Poly’s heart-shaped face. “And her origin magic is what these ‘Seed Harmonizers’ are tuned to.”

Poly smiled, puffing out her chest, feeling proud. She had needed to share with someone her importance in this endeavor occurring on the church’s roof, like good news or good gossip she couldn’t wait to tell them.

But before she could release what she’d been holding onto, Euness suddenly sputtered frantically, “By the gods,” Vilda frowned, turning back to them hearing the name of the gods used. “Red and Dwindle! They’re assaulting the Goddess’ Lair as we speak!”

A figure with a white mask stood in the shadows of an alley, gazing at the imposing white church towering above him. His mask, fashioned after a demonic visage, had empty eyes that seemed devoid of all feeling. The thrill of the hunt coursed through his veins, sensing his prey nearby.

Sage symbols birthed in the air within the lavish red hall, shining like cold vengeful angels, bringing forth with them what felt like never ending winter. Joker the Blind Witch, their creator and conductor, stood ready to face off against the golden glowing showman and the fleet-footed swordsman, Van. As Joker's magic lowered the temperature, a frigid chill crept through the air, causing visible vapor to escape from their lips with each breath. The warriors stood poised for battle, their muscles tense and ready.

Van disappeared before arcs of silver light rained down on Joker, the expensive red carpet below tearing up. Joker slid away on a path of ice as an ice serpent erupted from a sage symbol that swam through the air and attempted to grab Van, who disappeared, dodging the attack. When coming out of her slide, Joker unknowingly backed into the showman who smiled with outstretched arms as if he were greeting a long lost friend. He grabbed at her to take her for a ride in a suplex, but she managed to conjure ice that kept his arms at bay and at the same time, separated herself from the showman in an eruption of ice.

Joker couldn’t rebalance in time before Van appeared next to her like a ghost, wielding his thin blade that glowed with silver light. “Cresting Swallow,” he murmured as two silvery lines of light cut out from his sword.

Air distortions exploded around Joker as she summoned a tower of spiked ice that grew from beneath her, sending her up to the ceiling. However, the tower toppled almost instantly as a body shrouded in golden light went through its base like a catapult boulder through a castle wall. Joker tried to adjust but silver crescent lights flew close by, nearly slicing her in four before she was able to form a sphere of ice around her to defend against them.

All of a sudden, every bit of ice fallen around the hall exploded at once, sending shards of sharpened ice in every direction. Moans and cries of pain echoed as more people fell under the barrage. Joker had left magic within each ice piece she had conjured in order to detonate them later, and now her plan had come full circle.

Joker's blind eyes narrowed as she sensed the showman using Mana Hardening to prevent injury, while Van deftly cut down any bit of ice that came close. She couldn't believe it. As an Expert Hunter with greater power than theirs, she should have been able to defeat them easily. But their unrelenting pressure prevented her from using her magic to its fullest. The wariness she felt in this battle made it seem as though she were fighting two warriors born in the fires of war or veteran monster slayers from the Hunters Guild. They had too much experience to be treated as her juniors.

Thinking how Red was a Hunter like her, she hissed, “You would protect gang members, Red?” The Blind Witch would think someone like Red, a person who would rescue a friend from a dangerous gang, would understand her plight and need for vengeance.

“No matter where they come from or who they are,” the showman responded, “a fan is a fan!” Both Joker and Van had to take a moment to look oddly at the showman.

Van soon nodded his head in realization. “I see,” he remarked, “You speak nonsense to confuse your opponents!” When they had fought, the swordsman recalled how Red had incessantly spoken in convoluted language, convincing him further that Red wielded ridiculous words as a weapon.

A shadow enveloped both the showman and Van as a wall of ice was erected before them in attempts to allow Joker to gain enough time to create more powerful spells. Reacting immediately, the showman crashed through it with golden light as Van followed along, sending a barrage of silver sword slices once they were through. Joker cursed as she was put on the defensive once again.

Van’s sword nearly cut her face in half before she managed to propel herself away, growing an ice spike from herself to the floor and launching herself off of it.

“I know this sword style,” she grunted with an irritated expression. “Sir Wakkesh…”

“You know my father’s apprentice?” Van blurted, astounded. He hailed from an isolated island east of this continent of Aleidsa, an island known for martial arts, including swordsmanship. He hadn’t known the man he considered a teacher, Sir Wakkesh, would’ve made it as far as Soalde like his brother.

“Yea, I know him. He was as annoying as you!” As she responded, Joker surrounded Van with sage symbols, each as cold as a winter’s night, casting and shrouding Van in eerie light.

“…I got distracted with talking,” Van blanched, bracing himself for impact when he suddenly became kicked away as the showman took his place, gold light growing in density around the showman’s body.

Suddenly propelled through the air, Van was quick to adjust, his dark blue eyes locking onto Joker to send more silver light coursing through the air towards her. At the same time, Ice spikes like spears grew from the sage symbols around the showman but he was able to block enough of them with his Mana Hardening.

Joker felt a cut go across the side of her ribs, causing her to cough out blood. More sage symbols appeared, this time around her, forming into an ice fort that prevented Van from following up on his successful attack.

“No fair,” Van complained, forced to a stop in front of icy walls blocking him. He slashed with silver light but the walls were quite thick and would take more than a few slashes to slice through. A sage symbol manifested near his head, nearly piercing it through with an ice spike before he tugged his head away in time to avoid it. More sage symbols birthed with glowing light above him, threatening a torrent of spikes to rain down soon. Joker had managed to create enough space and time for herself to use her most potent magic.

The showman charged forward like a raging bull and slammed into the icy walls of Joker's fortress, causing sharp and jagged shards of ice to explode into the air. Joker's blind face was filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief at the ease with which Red had destroyed her magical defenses. "Red, stop demolishing my magic so easily!" she shouted, feeling foolish thinking he would be an easy target.

Joker spun around to dodge Van's stabbing sword while a sage symbol glowed beneath her feet. Suddenly, the surface of the hall floor turned into glistening ice. Van tried to attack in combination but lost his footing and slid too far. A sage symbol was there to meet him where he ended up, threatening to unleash a spike through his head.

Joker felt a momentary rush of triumph as she saw she would improve her chances taking out one of her opponents. But her confidence was short-lived as she felt two wiry arms wrap around her, pinning her arms to her side. She gasped in surprise as she realized Red had managed to sneak up behind her. His golden aura was so bright that it seemed to illuminate the entire hall, and wherever he stepped, the ice beneath his feet melted away, leaving a trail of shimmering water in his wake.

“We’re going for a ride!” The showman's voice boomed and with a powerful surge of his legs, he launched them both high into the air. She gasped as they ascended, soaring higher and higher. Sage symbols flickered to life around them in a desperate attempt to stop their ascent, but they were moving too fast, leaving the magic symbols behind in their wake. The wind whipped through Joker's hair as they climbed, the world below expanding with each passing second.

The showman's grin broadened as he observed every awake eye still fixed on them. He deftly hoisted Joker's legs onto his shoulder and aimed her downwards, hurtling towards the ground at a breakneck pace. He was confident that nothing would win him more fans than executing a powerbomb from a staggering forty-foot height. After all, he was a seasoned wrestling professional who knew how to entertain the crowd.

Like a meteor falling from the heavens, they went downward, golden light trailing like a comet tail behind them. “Rumbling Powerbomb!” Red roared, coming up with the name on the spot. A sudden shadow enveloped him and a wooden club with metal studs went across his face, bashing him across the hall. He flipped through the air before landing to his feet and grumbled, “Who dares interrupt Red Rumble's signature move?”

Van dodged sudden incoming golden arrows with quick steps, zigzagging in a "Z" pattern to evade the deadly projectiles. When he glanced upwards, he spotted a figure in a dark green hood, holding a glimmering golden bow.

"I apologize, young man," the hooded figure spoke with regret in his voice, "but we cannot permit you to harm our companion." The ground trembled with a resounding crash. A colossal man appeared, towering over even Red in both height and muscularity. He landed forcefully on the floor next to the hooded man, cradling Joker safely in his arms as if she were a rescued princess.