People were getting everything down after Mooncaster's vision of...honestly no one's sure what it means but it unnerves everyone. The mysterious man is the only one not nervous as he walks silently toward the center building where the chief had disappeared into. The building is high doomed with branching doors as if to resemble the multitude of realities that exist. Anyone else would have been lost and confused but not the mysterious person who goes immediately to the door hidden behind some curtains marked with the four symbols of the book the building had been created to guard.

As he ascends the stairs the chief's voice echoes through the hidden staircase "You're after the book, aren't you? Mooncaster is young but his visions are powerful...why do you plan on destroying us?"

The mysterious man does not answer, and the chief remains quiet after that. When he makes it up to the top, he sees the chief standing there, staring out at the vast expanse of the mythical realm.

"I always knew someone would come to try to take the book...I saw it when I was first chosen as the new chief and the guardian of the book...however..." he turns around and stares coldly at the mysterious person "I will not let you have this book without a fight!"

Without waiting for a response, the chief attacks. He's quick and deadly but the mysterious man is able to dodge, not once lifting a finger to attack back simply dodging. The chief controls his emotions as he continues his *fruitless* attacks. A small dagger in his hand as he slices at the mysterious man who finally decides to do something other than dodge but kicking the chief in the gut sending him slamming into the wall of the tower. "Ugh!" the chief groans at the pain in his elderly back but he staggers lightly to his feet.

"Was that the best you could do?" the mysterious man asks smirking lightly.

"Hmph" the chief says before suddenly shrieking so loudly that it hurts ears nearby, if it had been any normal person he was fighting but not the mysterious man although he pretends to cover his ears.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Oh no! I can't hear! Hahahahaha" he laughs at the chief "Just kidding...it's time to get serious" he attacks. His attacks are much faster than the chief's and hurts even more but the chief is doing his best to dodge them all, until the mysterious person snaps his fingers and freezes time seconds before he stabs the chief in the chest, not quite close enough to the heart to instantly kill him, but close enough that he'd bleed to death in a matter of minutes. He then resumes time and watches as the chief coughs out blood.

"Heh...you fought well however not well enough" the mysterious person says as he reaches down to pick up the book only to stare in shock at the book which had glowed brilliantly for a second before simply vanishing from sight.

"Heh..y-you'll never f-find it...not w-where I hid i-it..." he manages to choke out before he passes away as the books temporary magic residue disappears from the world alerting all the residents of the entire realm that the book had been taken. He had just enough magic left that as he was dying, he was able to teleport the book away to keep it out of the mysterious man's hands this time.

The mysterious man filled with anger causes the building to burn as he growls lightly "You're a fool old timer...that book will be mine!" after a few seconds he adds "What...someone has my power as well?"

Meanwhile at Mooncaster's house

"Well, this is my house...sorry Kuro dragged you along." Mooncaster says to Martha who remains quiet causing an awkward silence to fall between them as Kuro has disappeared to steal the bath "......want something to eat?"

"Sure..." she answers but provides no more conversation than that. It's as he's making some food when they felt the sudden disappearance of magic yet at the same time, it doesn't feel like anything has changed for them.

"The book! Someone's stole it! They must be close by us or we wouldn't still be able to feel our magic!" Mooncaster shouts and after a hesitation he dashes toward the back door "Come on! We have to get that book!"

Martha hesitates but eventually chases after Mooncaster and she can hear Kuro right behind her, his bath already over and fully dressed. They all run out of the house looking in all directions but sees no one.

"No one's here...so then where is the book?" Kuro asks.

".......they must be fleeing toward the woods! It'd provide the best cover to keep themselves hidden!" Mooncaster says before racing into the woods followed by Martha and Kuro, unknowingly running into their future and the path that leads to either the saving or ruin of the mythical realm.