The winter in Drisco was relentless, with snow blanketing the streets and buildings in thick layers of white. Valicar, experiencing it for the first time on her own, couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for her childhood home. She longed for the warmth of the small, cozy hut she had grown up in, and the comforting aroma of Theodore's homemade soup.

“Damn, my hands are freezing. How many more drops until we're done for the day?” Sophia grumbled to Mike as they trudged through the snow.

“This is the last one, I think. Besides, this is easy work compared to that distraction we caused last week,” Mike replied, his breath forming clouds in the chilly air.

The incident Mike was referring to involved more than just stealing a wagon; it entailed a daring escape from the city guard. After stealing the wagon, they led the guards on a wild chase that ended with the wagon careening into a frozen river.

“I still can’t believe we managed to swim away. From five stars to no stars, works every time,” Mike chuckled, recalling their escape.

“It was still freezing cold,” Sophia added, shivering at the memory.

During the winter, Valicar stayed busy with odd jobs for Taylor and Jack, gradually earning a minor reputation in the city’s underworld as “Little Red Eye.” Alongside this newfound reputation came a growing coin pouch, adding a sense of accomplishment to their endeavors.

As they reached the next drop-off point, a man opened the door and extended his hand. Valicar swiftly deposited the bag filled with unknown contents into his waiting palm before hurrying off once more.

Sophia couldn't help but ponder the contents of the bags they were constantly ferrying. "Do you ever wonder what's in these bags they have us running everywhere?"

"Probably drugs," Mike replied casually. "But really, Sis, who cares? We need the money if we're ever gonna leave this city one day. And Taylor said his connections in the capital are looking for Alexandra as we speak."

“Since when were you the trusting type, Mike?” Sophia questioned.

“I don’t trust him, but what else are we supposed to do, Soph? They took her to the capital. If the digging we did is true, and from there she could have been sold to anyone in the Empire, we can’t find her without Taylor’s connections,” Mike reasoned.

“Then what about the Cave? I’ve had no time to practice. Even if it was safe to use magic in the city, could you imagine how quickly things would go bad if they found us again?” Sophia voiced her concerns.

“This summer we will have more than enough coin to buy the supplies we need, and then we can return to GG. But you know I’ve gotten pretty good at sneaking around. And as much as I hate the bastard, Jack is a pretty good swordsman to spar with,” Mike replied, outlining their plans.

“He beats the shit out of us five times a week with a wooden stick and you call that sparring,” Sophia retorted.

“How do you think boxing first went for me? Don’t you remember how I used to come home black and blue?” Mike countered.

“Fair point, fine then let’s get back to the hideout and tell them upfront we are leaving come spring,” Sophia agreed.

With their decision made, they made their way back to the hideout, the crunch of snow underfoot breaking the silence of the winter night.

As winter passed, Valicar toiled away with her tasks, while Mike honed his swordsmanship with Jack, and Sophia delved into her book in search of elusive answers about the Red Wolf Inn, but to no avail.

Taylor wasn’t thrilled to learn of their departure from his employ, but after numerous assurances of a future return, he relented and assisted Valicar in gathering the necessary gear and supplies, albeit for a small fee.

Their journey back to GG’s hideout took two weeks, during which they traveled with a pack mule laden with supplies, attracting more than a few curious stares. Despite encountering another Templar scout on the road, they passed without drawing any undue attention. Though the Templar presence in the city was minimal compared to others, the constant flow of them heading north, even in winter, remained a puzzling sight.

“Do you think they're still searching for the cave?” Sophia asked as they approached GG's nest.

“Probably,” Mike replied, “but there's no chance they'd find it. We only discovered it because GG recognized us as relatives.”

“What the hell, pipsqueak! That damn mule left tracks for miles behind you! You're lucky it was raining most of your trip up here!” GG squawked, visibly perturbed.

“Nice to see you too, GG,” Sophia grimaced, acknowledging the bird's less-than-warm welcome.

“I almost thought you'd died or run off when you didn’t come back before the winter. So, did you find your answers?” GG teased.

Sophia recounted a summary of their winter exploits, leaving out most of it, but Mike made a point to bring up the wagon they'd crashed into the river for some reason.

“Sounds like you've been busy. I figured you for a hoodlum. Although my master, Valicar, dabbled in the underworld, for they have their uses, he would never disgrace himself by joining the ranks of such filth,” GG remarked, looking at Valicar with disdain.

“Look, I didn’t have a lot of options. Besides, his connections can help find Alexandra,” Valicar explained.

“Yes, that may be so. Well, now that you are here, how about you show me what you've got?” GG suggested, his voice tinged with curiosity and expectation. With a swift flap of his wings, he took off, soaring gracefully through the crisp air, while Valicar raced along the rugged terrain below, her footsteps echoing against the rocky ground.

They traversed the winding paths and hidden trails, their journey punctuated by the rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds. Valicar pushed herself to keep pace with GG, her determination fueling her every stride as they closed in on their destination.

Finally, they arrived on the other side of the mountain, the path leading them to the secluded alcove nestled within the rocky cliffs. GG landed gracefully, his feathers rustling in the gentle breeze, while Valicar skidded to a halt beside him, her chest heaving with exertion.

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With a sense of accomplishment, Valicar reached out and plucked a feather from GG's outstretched wing. The feather shimmered in the soft light filtering through the trees, its iridescent colors casting a mesmerizing glow.

“Well done, Valicar,” GG praised, his eyes gleaming with approval. “You are making excellent progress,”

But then, his tone shifted, becoming more serious. “However, it seems you're spreading yourself too thin by trying to use too many spells for your minuscule mana supply. I recommend focusing on mastering the simpler spells you have a knack for already. With time and practice, your mana supply will grow, allowing you to tackle more advanced spells effectively.” GG's words were filled with wisdom, his years of experience evident in his guidance.

"Wait, so training actually increases my mana?" Sophia asked, intrigued.

"Sort of," GG explained, "you become more efficient with what you have, allowing you to do more with less mana. However, the process is slow, and the rest usually comes with age or some sort of breakthrough. Whether that breakthrough is forced or occurs naturally depends on you."

"What do you mean by a breakthrough?" Sophia inquired further.

“Well, sometimes during extraordinary life-threatening circumstances, mages can tap into magical power far beyond their natural limits, achieving feats that even ancient mages would envy. It's called snapping, and it's one of the reasons why humans seek to eradicate all mages, among other reasons,” GG explained, hinting at deeper implications.

“What event caused humans to fear mages so intensely?” Sophia asked, puzzled.

“Well, a few centuries ago, one mage went berserk, unleashing an explosion so massive it leveled half the capital city. It even claimed the lives of a rather high Templar and the emperor of the time,” GG revealed, shedding light on the catastrophic event. "Also, there's the matter of necromancy and souls, but that's a different story altogether."

Sophia's brows furrowed in thought as she processed GG's explanation. "Necromancy?" Her ears perked at the mention of the forbidden form of magic, recalling James's words. The emotions swirling within her were palpable, subtly reflected in Valicar's expressions.

“I guess I can understand the average person's fear of magic if that was common back then, but what about the other nonhuman races?” she pondered aloud.

“That was mostly just racism and jealousy of the other races' accomplishments,” GG continued, his voice echoing through the alcove. “The official reason was their refusal to bend their knee to the Emperor or rather that Bastard and his ban on magic, so he took control of humanity and united most of them under the Empire.”

Sophia's eyes widened, a mixture of disbelief and realization coloring her features. "Who controls the empire if not the emperor?" she pressed, her voice tinged with curiosity and apprehension.

GG paused, his gaze piercing through the cavern's shadows as Sophia's questions persisted. "And if the elves and dwarfs had magic and the humans didn’t, how could they possibly win a war against them?" The weight of Sophia's inquiry hung in the air, demanding an answer that GG seemed hesitant to give.

“That’s where you're wrong, the humans have their twisted gods' dark magic. Its golden power comes from beyond the veil, their interference has broken the balance in divinity,” GG explained solemnly.

“You can’t leave it at that. What do you mean, GG?” Mike interjected, his curiosity piqued.

“It’s a long story, kid, and I’ll tell you the whole thing eventually, but essentially, way before humans, elves, nomes, or even trolls existed,” GG continued, his voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge.

“Trolls!” Sophia exclaimed, unable to contain her surprise.

“Shut the fuck up!” GG glared at Valicar, his patience wearing thin.

“Damn, okay, go on,” Mike hurriedly urged, sensing his sister's embarrassment.

“As I was saying before the mortal races walked Caldera, there were only gods and demons,” GG recounted, his voice carrying the weight of ancient tales. “They fought a war until one day, a god turned the tide by forging alliances with a few demons. These unholy unions bore offspring, giving birth to dragons and other powerful creatures. The gods deployed these creatures in battle against the unending demon horde. After centuries of conflict, they managed to push the demons deep into the bowels of the earth.”

He paused, his eyes distant as he continued, “There, the gods united their power to lock the demons behind the veil. The construction of this barrier drained the gods of much of their power. When they bestowed power upon mortals, it weakened the veil further, creating vulnerabilities through which all manner of malevolent entities could escape. But that's a tale for another time.”

GG's gaze intensified as he spoke, “The descendants of these godly unions lost their divine heritage, becoming the mortal races we know today. The gods retreated behind the veil of heaven, while the demons were imprisoned in hell. However, the demons' mere presence is all that's needed for their return. The understanding between the races was to avoid invoking the gods' power, but the humans have defied this pact. Those who follow the human church worship the foul god Merik. He seeks to shatter the veil and unleash his demonic allies once again to wage war against his kin, he will restart the creation wars. For when the demons turned against themselves, so did the gods.”

"Incredible," Sophia marveled, her eyes wide with wonder. "How did you learn all this, GG?"

GG's feathers rustled softly as he shifted, a hint of nostalgia in his gaze. "A lifetime of adventures with my friend and master," he replied, his voice carrying the weight of past trials. "Valicar believed we could thwart the empire and church with whatever lies behind that door, but alas, we never obtained all the keys."

Curiosity gleamed in Mike's eyes as he pressed further, "How did he meet his end?"

But GG merely shook his head, his expression somber. "You've drawn enough from me for now, young ones. It's time to focus on your own paths," he murmured before taking flight, leaving behind an air of melancholy.

As spring unfurled its vibrant colors across the land, Sophia dedicated herself to honing her magical abilities. Through diligent practice and unwavering determination, she made astonishing progress, focusing her efforts on mastering fewer spells. Her efficiency grew by leaps and bounds, a testament to her dedication.

But as the warmth of summer enveloped the city, casting long shadows under the midday sun, the inevitability of winter's return loomed on the horizon. They knew they would soon be called back to the bustling streets of Drisco, where their clandestine work awaited.

"I'll be back at the end of winter again, GG. Keep my sword safe!" Mike's voice echoed through the rocky alcove as they departed for the city once more.

Four years slipped by in a blur of clandestine operations and daring escapades. With each passing season, their roles in the city's underworld deepened, their tasks growing more perilous yet undeniably rewarding. Valicar's reputation began to precede them, whispered in hushed tones among the shadowy circles of the city. Mike's proficiency with a blade became legendary, his skill unmatched in combat. And Sophia's command over her spells blossomed, her control unwavering even in the face of adversity.

Yet, just as they had settled into their roles, Taylor brought them a new job, one that would test their limits and push them to the edge of their abilities.

Valicar's voice echoed through the dimly lit room, her disbelief palpable as she processed Taylor's request. "YOU WANT ME TO ROB WHAT?"

"Calm down, pup," Taylor interjected, his tone nonchalant. "This job should be nothing for you nowadays."

Valicar's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing as she realized the gravity of Taylor's proposition. "Taylor, you're talking about the church! The Templars!"

Taylor remained unfazed, his gaze steady as he met Valicar's incredulous stare. "This guy will have information about your mom, pup."

Valicar's breath caught in her throat, her heart skipping a beat at the mention of her long-lost mother. It had been years since they lost her, and the twins had almost given up hope of ever finding answers.

"Who's the mark?" Valicar's voice trembled slightly as she asked, her resolve wavering.

"Some asshole who passed through here a few years back, around the same time when you first showed up. His name is Tyragoth," Taylor replied casually as if discussing the weather.

Valicar hesitated for a moment, her mind torn between the urgency of her quest for answers and the moral implications of Taylor's proposal. But in the end, the desperate longing to uncover the truth about their mother won out.

"I'll take the job," Valicar declared, her voice firm with determination.