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    <12/31/1962 – 16:44 | SMS Graveyard, Eldora City, Sprawn Valley Capital>


    Of all the rare days in Eldora City, it had to be this one chosen for a light rainstorm, the morning after the incident damaging Eldora Tower. Danton and Sirus had to prepare everything after the exhausting night before them. Right now, he couldn''t think of anything to say.


    Sprawn Memorial Service; the acronym people don''t often name because of its dreadful affiliation with this massive national graveyard. The SMS is both the service and location to where those citizens of Sprawn Valley go for funeral and burial processes. There are gravestones everywhere, all about five meters apart stretched over a large segment of land north of Eldora City. With the endless stormy clouds everywhere in all directions, the rain came down much lighter than you''d expect by the sight and noise from the thunderstorm.


    Danton however never figured he would end up standing here again. Kyle Danton, Brash''s father is a long walk north of here, but today, Danton isn''t in attendance to visit that tombstone. Yesterday during the sunset, a massive wall was punched through Eldora Tower''s champion chamber room, dragging the largest chunk of mangled metal to the ground and causing a small amount of damage. Luckily, nobody was injured, and if they were hit by that metal, the veil would have protected them anyway, to a degree. The reports still made public headlines everywhere, their story still uncertain.


    Destructive incident in Eldora Tower causes damage, and panic from rumors regarding the possibility of rouge mages. One elite member killed in questionable accident. Whoever did the scoop had a good way of guessing events, but nobody else knew anything about dark magic, or if there was really an attack conducted by two traitors. Whatever they want to call it, Danton couldn''t stop thinking about that moment over and over again in his head. The scene played back in his memory, the moment Vanoss was blasted by that glaring red beam of energy, drilling a hole all the way through his chest. Under normal circumstances, the beam would have phased through Vanoss, making no such mark afterwards. But instead, the hole was visible from either side all the way through, and it hit his left lung, damaging his internal organs on the spot.


    What''s more infuriating is that Kite or Gleeon both could have stopped what they were doing. Nobody needed to die yesterday, even if they were interested in the Crystal Core. Why did they not stop their attack with all of that time to charge it up? Why did Vanoss jump in front of Danton to let himself be killed?


    Danton wanted answers to all of this, but he wasn''t getting any of them right now. Instead, he listened to the eulogist standing closest to the casket. Several other people were all gathered around, including Vanoss''s family who were still broken down into tears. Many of the council member official representatives were here as well, but mostly for investigation purposes. Despite the mild rain, nobody was out of character for this sad moment.


    "And after those many graduations and achievements, Vanoss Highdrow had the honor of becoming a high member of the elite chain of Eldora structures. However, what set this young man apart from us was not his accomplishments, but rather his will of good heart. Today, we send off a man who protected the values and virtues he chose, and who protected the people and friends around him from harm. We send Vanoss with love and honor, a praise that others reach only with the reflection of the friends they''ve made. And to his family, we will always cherish and hold the memories that helped brighten the world around us..."


    It was all very sentimental. Danton knew that this expedited funeral was essential for Vanoss. There would never be a way to repay a debt weighing such a value of life. He should have never taken that kind of risk, and yet he did. Vanoss protected his friends all while knowing what dark magic was, and even after being tempted by Kite to join him in using it. He was pure; free of the weight of the world''s knowledge, to the effect it could have had on him. No matter what, Vanoss died knowing that his love for Leray magic would forever live on through other people... That kind of faith, is it right to trust in Leray magic that far?


    As the minutes went by, Vanoss and his coffin were buried ten feet under the ground, already excavated in advance. People eventually began leaving, filling the area with a chilling sound of silence. The light rain filled in that void, but the sound of the storm became a kind of silence itself in the backdrop of this shared slumber. Danton watched mage Sirus go and talk to the immediate family. For this, Danton considered himself and Sirus to be even. Having to speak to the family about how he failed to protect Vanoss would only make things worse. Danton knew he couldn''t possibly accept his own explanations...


    Five minutes after Danton was standing above the customized tombstone of Vanoss Highdrow, his solitude was intruded. He knew it was from the sound of the footsteps in the soft damp grass, but Danton didn''t turn around or look up. There wasn''t anything else to say about Vanoss, though there were plenty of questions left to answer. When Kite and Gleeon are found again, they''ll pay with their lives. The question is; will she allow it?


    "I wish things didn''t turn out this way." Mainne sounded regretful and raspy in her voice. She already sat sobbing into her hands earlier. Danton was sad about losing Vanoss too, but the guy didn''t hang out with Vanoss for as long as Mainne had. In retrospect, there was only a short period of time difference. In the process of joining the Trujima gang, Vanoss, Gleeon, and Kite were already there. Despite Mainne having slightly better skills, Vanoss seemed more like the rookie.


    But no matter how adamant he was about Leray magic, Vanoss was the guy who always knew when to take a break from it all, the kind of guy who absorbed knowledge in a careful and considerate way, and also the kind of guy who never kept his past from anyone. Everybody really knew him. For the rest of the gang, everyone kept their personal secrets, and yet the man who has never lied to anyone must be the one who pays the ultimate price? Why did he have to die?


    Danton thought back again to something Kite said earlier. Actually, Gleeon was the one who pointed it out, but Kite wasn''t studying dark magic by himself. He involved Gleeon, who then tried to involve Vanoss. There was absolutely no way for Kite or Gleeon to realize that Mainne knew about the tower''s secrets. They were never expecting that. So shouldn''t she have been approached by them earlier? "Tell me something Mainne. How much did you know about the situation of our own teammates, prior to last night''s incident?"


    Why does he think I would know that? "I didn''t know anything about it."


    "Are you sure about that?" Danton faced Mainne, eager to scope her expression for any possible lies. Surely, she would have to know something, even a tiny giveaway detail. "There weren''t any signs that our teammates were going crazy? No red flags? No suspicious questions?"


    Mainne nodded her head again to get Danton to drop the subject. "I would have told you if I thought it was suspicious, especially after all of this." Danton didn''t look like he was satisfied, but why blame anyone? "I''m serious! I offered everyone to train with me. It wasn''t just with you."


    "And?"


    "And Kite rarely accepted that invitation. About six days ago, he didn''t have any contact with me at all. I barely spoke to Gleeon, but he wouldn''t train with me either. Nothing he said was out of the ordinary or strange."


    "And Vanoss?" Danton clamped the front of his forehead just above his eyes and shifted his feet. "I''m sorry Mainne. I still needed to check every angle. And you don''t have to tell me. I know Vanoss was probably training with you every chance you offered him."


    "Every chance," she confirmed. "He really stayed true to himself all the way. I wish he didn''t have to take that shot."


    Danton''s fist balled up in rage as he thought about the scene again, only reinforcing the memory to the best detail. "Yeah. And that bastard shifted his aim directly at Vanoss when he made his decision to protect me. I was still slanted on the ground, when that beam penetrated through all living flesh. If their aim were still locked onto me, I would have been killed too alongside of Vanoss. But instead, they changed their aim even higher to lessen the chances that Vanoss might dodge."


    "How could you possible know they did that?"


    "Because I was there Mainne!" Danton didn''t mean to shout, but the details were irrefutable. Those cowards wanted to ensure that Vanoss would die, all because he wouldn''t turn to the dark side of magic, all because he would never allow himself to betray his moral principles.


    Danton really pays that much attention to the dynamics of a single moment? No, he must be obsessing over watching Vanoss getting shot. Mainne didn''t make it up to the champion chambers in time to stop it. In fact, Danton told her that the impenetrable shield of ice Gleeon trapped her inside of, weakened the moment Gleeon and Kite shot that deadly blast of dark magic. The connective link in that spell was weakened when Gleeon''s MP energy took a dive. Oddly, Danton never planned for that to happen, nor did he realize it in the moment, but Danton said that Vanoss did know about it. He knew that taking that shot would set Mainne free and allow the both of them to have a fighting chance. But did he really know he would die from that deadly beam of penetrating energy?


    Danton sighed, and placed both of his hands on Mainne''s shoulders, his eyes drying with sorrow. "I didn''t mean to make it seem like you weren''t trustworthy Mainne. This is just getting to me, more than anything else has before."


    Mainne shifted herself in closer, giving Danton the hug he needed right now, one she knew made her feel better as well. She sniffed the residual fluid stuck in her nose, and tried to take away any reason for Danton to blame himself for this somehow. "None of us knew what was going on. We couldn''t have known about this in advance." When Mainne let go of the embrace, Danton''s slumped posture let Mainne know that he wasn''t feeling any better than before.


    "This is only proof that dark magic is as bad as it gets. And to think I was worried about lunar magic instead..." Danton nodded, reassessing what he learned from the material he absorbed from Sirus. "Dark magic is powerful enough to kill an elite Leray warrior with a single shot, and as we''ve now seen, harmful enough to twist the minds of those who crave it solely for power. Those two want to use it to control our world and warp our very way of life. Even now, they''re so confused on the concept of justice and moral principles."


    "You think it''s possible to convince them to turn themselves in?"


    It was something Mainne was hoping for. Naturally, nobody wants to kill anyone for any reason. Danton knew it himself. Even after everything they''ve done, killing Kite or Gleeon by his own hands, dark magic or not isn''t something that would ever be easy, but they killed Vanoss in cold blood, and they must now realize that murder is a different kind of charge here than the use of dark magic. "I think that ship sank when they brought physical harm to Vanoss. They know that it isn''t possible to make up for what they''ve done. I wonder if they''ll ever even be capable of changing the way they see the world for what it should be, to see why people embrace Leray magic while knowing the truth. If they''re out there in hiding, they''re going to remain radicalized by their own hatred for us."


    Mainne let out a slight sad hum from her throat, pondering what this means for everyone. "I don''t know anymore. Maybe we should shut down the veil."


    Danton stared at Mainne with a focused expression of interest. Shutting down the veil was entirely against Mainne''s core principles and thoughts on the matter. Whether Vanoss knew about lunar and dark magic or not, even he believed all the way through in Leray magic and its benefits. In fact, he wasn''t the only one who did. "That''s no longer an option," Danton argued. "I already had this argument once with Sirus, but I''ll just give you the short version this time." With Mainne paying him more attention, Danton described what he felt was the whole purpose of magic for everyone involved. "A lot of research and hard work was done to invent Leray magic. People had to make magic safe to use and all without harming those who are affected by it. The founders of this system put a cap over magical energy, and sent it out to everyone for their own benefit. Despite the potential for dark magic in the same field, a larger majority of people are willing to protect the values of Leray magic and its sport with their lives. At first, I thought that using Leray magic was just something of a kind of addiction. But oddly, it''s used more often to help people in our country. People don''t love Leray magic because of all the skills or power levels, or even the dynamics of battle. They love Leray magic for the great potentials that it carries everywhere else, inside and outside of battle practices. It''s changed our very way of life, and these days it affects people as young children while we''re so impressionable."


    "But what''s the point if dark magic can undo all of it?"


    Danton knew Mainne would be subject to change her mind, but she was after all following Leray magic for a different reason, at least initially. "You grew curious about Leray magic, about why your only family hated it so much without any solid evidence that there was anything wrong with the system. But then the concept of magic''s potential grew on you, and you became a more skilled fighter. Now I didn''t guess this when I first met you out there on Route 96, but even so, I saw that suffocating spark in your eyes!"


    What is he...? Mainne couldn''t help but show her surprise. Is he just saying these things randomly? Mainne didn''t remember having a strong involvement to Leray magic back then. She was just an initiate, a gang member without any real purpose or guidance. During that time, her only job was to make money for the team, and all without making too big of an impression. Kite wanted to control the way she battled, her fighting style included.


    "You wanted to show off your magic skills more than anything. I could feel it from the distance we stood, the moment that Siriean dome first triggered around us, but I also felt you holding back. It was like you were exhausted of trying so hard to prove something. I thought at the time, that you had mixed up your concerns of winning with having fun. That''s why I said those words to you that day."


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Mainne thought back to the day, and she remembered every single word. It was weird at that time, meeting someone who wasn''t battling for money or recognition. "Whatever it is you''re doing, however you''re doing it, just remember that Leray battles are about bringing out the best of your Leray skills. All of that is supposed to be for fun. I want us both to have a good time, regardless of who wins." Those were his words. He thought the only important thing about Leray magic is to have fun while testing their own skills. Fighting Danton was hard too, and she lost, but the very last time she and Danton actually fought, just before he became the champion, Mainne actually won. Still, Danton didn''t care about the victory. He only wanted to have fun using magic. And he wasn''t the only one.


    "I wasn''t the only one either," Danton stated. "I didn''t read the others very well. It took me this long to realize how much fun Vanoss was having with Leray magic. Maybe you noticed it back that day long before I would. It seems that all everyone wants to do it play with magic in a fun, safe kind of way, while using it to improve everyone''s life style. In theory, that actually sounds like a real dream to me."


    He''s just as perceptive and sharp even after losing a team member. Still, "I don''t know." Nothing is certain anymore.


    "But Vanoss knew. He may not have known about the core, but I don''t think anyone needs knowledge of the core to grasp the concept of Leray magic. It didn''t matter to him that there was a wound in the man''s body. He still swore to me to protect Leray magic, and we all know that he was made aware of dark magic and the destructive power associated with it and Leray magic''s veil."


    "What are you saying?"


    Danton reiterated his point to Mainne. "I''m saying that our knowledge of all of this doesn''t change who we are. I think that somehow, the entire nation of people are fully aware of dark magic and its existence linked with the veil. And yet, we rarely if ever have any crime at all. People don''t want to spoil something good just because they realize that they''re suddenly capable of doing that. Still, we have hundreds of guards and agents working all over the country. They work as police officers and detectives on the clock, but also watch for any suspicious activity related to dark magic. Everyone knows that both types of magic exist, and they probably even know that just anyone is capable of using it. Yet, they resist it."


    "But Kite and Gleeon didn''t know about dark magic before now."


    "Yes they did," Danton corrected. "I remember having a conversation with Kite about it once. It wasn''t very intuitive, and I know neither of us learned anything about the concept, but everyone knows about dark magic. They know - because the law can extend immediately to a full life sentence in prison just for using it at all. I have to accept the possibility that Kite and Gleeon were rotten to the core before they knew how to use dark magic. They''ve always wanted a taste of its power; they just didn''t have the chance to experiment until they realized how many additional privileges a person receives working as an elite in Eldora Tower."


    "You really think they were bad people to begin with?"


    "I don''t know for sure..." Vanoss never changed. Maybe Kite and Gleeon were tempted by something they tried to give up on a long time ago. If that is true, what difference would the progress they made so far have been in the long run? "But I do know how certain Vanoss was about keeping Leray magic alive. Not too long ago, you wanted to keep it going too despite knowing the dangerous secrets of the crystal core. I don''t know if you really wanted to do that just to prove a point to your family, or if you wanted to protect something that other people loved instead, but I have made up my mind on this. I don''t care how difficult it will be going forward. Vanoss had a vision that we could all see from miles away. He wore it like some sort of aura, an appreciation for Leray magic that most of us see on excited young kids who are mastering magic in their early ages. Dark magic did kill him... But it couldn''t kill his ideas, his morals, not even what has always been in his heart."


    "So then, you want to protect Leray magic at all times? What happens if we get another dark magic user coming to the tower?"


    "We''ll be ready for it." Danton didn''t mean to make it sound like he had an answer for everything, but even right now, there are reconstruction teams in Eldora Tower working out the blueprints for the new design plans Danton put forward before the council. Among many changes, security and automatic detection and new security protocols designed for dark magic users are now included in this upgrade. So that just leaves Kite and Gleeon. "The only thing is, no matter how many people you have, dark magic is still far more powerful on wave levels than ordinary magic. That''s a bad thing for those who might try to take them in."


    "But that''s what I''m saying," Mainne argued. "How do you even defend against something like that?"


    "I may already have an idea... But first, we need to know where those two went. Sirus informed me earlier that Kite and Gleeon could have only teleported to a location above the Hollifax Ocean. Though it narrows stuff down, I''m still waiting to hear about the reports of the findings on search teams."


    "Okay..."


    "I don''t think there is anything to worry about."


    "Still, we should probably keep the news about their involvement with dark magic away from the public, at least until they are captured. If we don''t, it could cause a mass panic."


    "Don''t worry," Danton reassured. "We''ll securely disclose the information only after we capture those murderers. Though to be fair, I probably won''t be doing any of the hard parts. But I do have to give a speech soon on behalf of the council to the media outlets. I''ll be sure to mention the involvement in forbidden research on symbols."


    "Symbols?"


    "I didn''t let you know already? I was pressing Sirus for information about symbols the other day, trying to see why anyone would want them, but it turns out that there are more reasons than one for why symbols are highly banned in Sprawn Valley. While their effects are usually harmful to the host, they apparently operate on magic that separates from the frequencies put out by the veil. This means that symbol users could more easily use dark magic, or other techniques that would disrupt the effects of the veil towards other people. That means they can also be weaponized. I don''t think the idiots that left us realize that, but I''m going to make it public anyway. Unlike dark magic, our people know almost nothing about symbols."


    "Maybe don''t reveal it in the same speech then? Hey!" Mainne realized. "We don''t need Kite or Gleeon to know anything about being marked!"


    "Don''t worry," he repeated. "Symbols are so much harder to come by than learning dark magic, and since they often harm the hosts, it won''t be an attractive looking option for anyone. Still, from a situation Sirus described, it seems clear to me that public knowledge of what symbols might look like on skin could support the capture of anyone who might try and use them."


    "Is that wise?"


    "I say, take away the one thing that the worst criminals here have. They may have knowledge of material classified away from the public, and that could cause serious problems. In this case, it''s the same concept of people learning the horrible truth about dark magic."


    "And what about lunar magic?"


    "No!" Danton quickly shook his hands in disapproval. "Lunar magic isn''t the same kind of danger. If Kite and Gleeon learn about its existence, and how to harness that kind of power, they could easily create their own artificial magic veil anywhere they want to in the world. That veil wouldn''t have to follow the same protective rules like the one set up here."


    "That would be utter chaos."


    "Not only that, but a couple of killers desiring only power wouldn''t think twice about researching some kind of way to make use of lunar magic safer, without suffering the harmful side effects of it. If that happens, dark magic is the least of anyone''s problems. Even then, shutting down the veil would do no good."


    "So that part has to stay hush?" What a horrifying construct. How could something so delicate to the world even be allowed to continue existing? Something so fun and attractive to people could also get everyone killed in the wrong hands. "No wonder you almost lost it that day. It must have been right after Sirus told you everything. You could barely lift your own staff."


    "Yes, I remember well. But at least things are clearer than before." Danton inched closer to Mainne, inhaling her unique breath escaping her nearly shut mouth. "And after everything you''ve learned, you still stayed loyal to me, and loyal to what we stand for."


    Why so close?! Mainne wanted to instinctively bend away, but Danton''s rain soaked face was nearly too captivating to focus her thoughts. "Yes, well team Leray magic has to stand for something."


    "I want to make sure we establish something together Mainne, something that only you and I can share."


    Mainne then felt her throat tighten, her heart racing, and her thoughts all scrambling around. Danton couldn''t really be confessing to her right now? He is isn''t he?!


    "A promise between us."


    "Wait, what?"


    "I want to make sure that you and I never lie to each other about anything." Danton kept his focus on her, but also let Mainne take a step back for her personal space. "I need to know that we can trust each other as partners in this. Right now, only you and I know the truth about all magic. And I still don''t trust Sirus with the information yet. That''s why I know I''ll need your help."


    Mainne felt like her face could just sink in and dry out. Why did Danton have to say it like that?! It almost felt like a confession of love. Man is he confusing! "Yeah, fine!" Mainne turned slightly and crossed her arms.


    Why so hostile? "Okay? I guess I can take that as a yes. Didn''t mean to upset you over it."


    "I''m not upset!" Mainne only realized now that the frustration in her voice contradicted her own claim, but she soon didn''t care about it. Why does he mess around like that?


    "If you say so..." Danton couldn''t take his eyes off Mainne for long. Keeping her beauty out of his sights was difficult. She must be thinking that there aren''t any feelings like that here. Mainne couldn''t be more wrong, but that''s for the best. In this line of profession, love can also be dangerous, not to mention a complicated conflict of interest in the eyes of the mage council. Still, she''s overreacting a little. Danton couldn''t help but notice feeling a different mood coming on over this. "Thank you Mainne."


    Mainne tried to relax, and she tried to get back into her previous mood while addressing Danton. "Of course. You can trust me to keep magic or business related secrets."


    "I''ll thank Vanoss too. He''s the one who at least made all of this possible. Still..." Danton gave Mainne a curious look and pressed her one more time. "What about personal secrets?"


    Mainne could see mage Sirus casually approaching them from behind Danton, and her reply was swift and simple. "Those are going to cost you." Mainne cracked a smile and walked right by Danton, causing him to turn around.


    Danton noticed Sirus walking up to him, but his thoughts were still on Mainne. She really will play impossible to get, but that''s also for the best.


    "It really is a shame that this had to happen to such a young and pure spirited wielder."


    Danton lost the energy in his face. It always sounds like Sirus might be saying something other than the literal words coming out of his mouth. At least when Shadler did it, it was far more obvious. "Do you want to be punched?"


    "Whoa now! I''m not insinuating whatever you think I am." Sirus glanced back at Mainne, continuing to walk away, and he got closer to Danton so that his words wouldn''t be heard easily. Danton hasn''t been as stable as before, not since the incident. "Nobody blames you for what happened to Vanoss. Kite and Gleeon got involved in something deadly, and then everything just happened too fast."


    "You must realize it can''t ever happen again. I need to see action taken from you over this problem."


    "Well," Sirus explained, "I''m already getting my hands dirty with questions flying at me from the mage council. Plenty more are eager to speak to you, but this is all going to sway heavily on what you say during your speech and how you give it tomorrow morning. I''ve already made sure that ProCom makes the announcement official, that Eldora Tower''s champion events are currently postponed until such estimations can be made to fix the damages. So don''t worry about training or any of that other stuff."


    He isn''t thinking about the future. "I mean it Sirus. We can''t have anyone using dark magic enter Eldora Tower, ever!"


    "Well I''d say that you specifically have that already taken care of." Danton looked at him like he was speaking nonsense. The man has already forgotten all that he''s accomplished so far as a leader. "Those technology firms that you''ve invested in, they''re working on the plans right now for all sorts of new security features that will make sure the crystal core is untouchable, which includes the generator system and other underground facilities. I was surprised to learn that such technologies today were advanced enough to cover these specs even in theory... But you''ve got to pull yourself together and get your confidence back."


    "I''ll have my confidence back when you bring me Kite and Gleeon from the waters."


    "I need you back on your feet far sooner than that Danton. There has been a development in the search for the two suspects."


    A development? Why didn''t Sirus start with that sooner?! "Where are they?!"


    "Our search teams have combed out the entire ocean with helicopters. We''ve even sent search parties to all of the neighboring islands, searched the border edges of the barrier, and put out an APB to all local facilities in all areas. But unfortunately, neither suspect has been located. There''s no trace of them."


    They''re still missing? "But that''s impossible! You said they would have to be somewhere in the ocean, and I don''t think they would have drowned."


    "I won''t assume they went down at sea. Gleeon is too smart for that. But the fact that they''ve disappeared is highly threatening. We''ve went ahead and declared Kite Fargenst and Gleeon Miao to be public enemies, priority one. The agents are literally searching all areas for those two, even unpopulated zones where nobody else searches."


    "But you can''t find them, and if they think they want to target our vault, they might actually make it in, at least before the installments are complete."


    "I''ve put our tower on high alert for critically secure sections. On top of that, I''ve developed a shortcut method of shutting down the veil by an underground terminal linked to the generator. We are planning for disaster Danton. But even so, I''m not expecting it."


    "Well maybe you should be! They''re dangerous out there alive!" How could this happen? How do they teleport in mid-air, fall into the ocean, and live without being discovered by the authorities? Something has to be missing here.


    "I think Kite and Gleeon know how ready we are for them, and how eager we are to take them into custody. They won''t attack Eldora Tower, not right away at least. If they do later, it will be too late. We''ll be ready for them instead."


    "But why can''t we just find them now before they try?"


    "Investigative searches can only take us so far Danton. You can''t find two intelligent criminals who don''t want to be found."


    Not good enough. "You know Sirus? I can accept the possibility that Kite or Gleeon had a bit of knowledge on teleportation beforehand, and that it''s how they were able to use it while falling down from a lethal height. But dark magic shouldn''t be this easy to learn. I was with them before all of this, and they had no idea how to invoke it!"


    "Even so, dark magic still requires practice in order to master. As I said before, the invocation of dark magic is linked to heavy negative emotions, but even then does it still require the strong raw power of higher ME levels, combined with a compelling emotion of the craving for that kind of power, not to mention the concentration that would need to go into it. Kite and Gleeon were practicing to use dark magic while in Eldora Tower behind our backs. We were played by both of them!"


    Danton aggressively kicked the dirt below him, aiming though missing for a small rock. Kite and Gleeon need to be brought to justice; else their knowledge on dark magic will become a dangerous threat to society. "Yeah, and that system you bragged about before, the same one that would flawlessly watch out for dark magic users, can''t even keep the most important structure in all Sprawn history safe! Heh!" Danton exhaled, suddenly surging a new rationalization. "But you better not get used to the way things are old man. I''m still the leader of the General Army, and sub-leader to the entire infrastructure of Sprawn Valley. I''m going to make sure from now on that we live in a world free of terror. There won''t be anywhere for those losers to hide. And if they ever step foot in our tower ever again, their plans will be over before they ever realized what happened!"


    He''s so blunt and agitating... But it''s Danton all the way. It''s good to have him back after all this time. "I can help you with whatever changes you push through, including advisory work to maximize the effectiveness of any newly submitted proposal." Sirus felt with his own words he was vouching for a different title working under Danton, but it wasn''t the vibe he intended to send out. "But as hard as it is to hear now, I need your focus and attention on that speech you are giving tomorrow morning. You''ll be addressing not just Sprawn Valley, but also the whole world. Or at least, other countries that accept the outsource version of ProCom''s channels. Everyone is curious about their new leader, and also what he''s going to do about the suspected attack on Eldora Tower. So I need you to tell the public what they need to hear. Nothing more, and nothing less."


    "I''d worry about yourself if I were you," Danton reminded. "Or did you forget that a single simple spell rendered you blind and disabled for five entire minutes?"


    "I wouldn''t forget something as shameful as that."


    "It could have happened to me, or anyone! If we are put away or cast aside, you better be ready for the day should it come - to enter your secure code and shut down the veil."


    "I will work harder then, on becoming a better tower guard. I realize that I am also involved in all of this. You don''t need to remind me."


    Danton clenched his teeth in anger, and he made sure Sirus remembers what is at stake this time. "Don''t tell me. Tell my friend behind me, buried ten feet into the ground without any future in this world. And in time, tell the entire world what new safety measures we will install into our construct of Leray magic."


    Sirus couldn''t say anything, not after Danton brought up the dead guy card, but Vanoss''s death is also something everyone is partially responsible for, and he can''t deny it. Danton began to walk away, brushing Sirus''s shoulder on purpose as if it would send the message through more efficiently. Then Sirus was left alone here with his thoughts...


    What say the rest of the world? The people inside of Sprawn Valley might become sick with disgust to learn how unsafe magic really could be. The other part of the world mostly hates magic just out of superstitious fears. Give them a reason to hate Leray magic, and everything will fall apart. If there ever were a time to stop using Leray magic and burry the secrets away forever, it would be right now. Whatever happens later on will forever be uncertain. If anyone does discover the secrets of lunar magic on their own, will it be too late to stop them from corrupting everything at once? The demise of this world may already be set in stone, inevitable if things go the wrong way. If it does, everyone would either have to fight to survive, or fight to protect what''s already under threat. It would divide people, destroy nations, and wreck societal cultures. This isn''t a game. There are no retries for failure. Danton better realize that by now.


    And Vanoss? Your sacrifice meant something. Even if magic fails to help people, there are those who will never stop believing in its constructive abilities. Those are the people we should trust. Those are the people we should rely on.