《Lament of a Wizard》


 I: An Awakening

    Gwendolyn H. White was your average high school student.


    A gal that just lived life the way she liked it. Decent in class, and quite reasonable at her part time job. Lifestyle only had a little bit of spice.


    And nothing changed throughout her first year at school. Not even the appearance of a magical being named Mia changed anything.


    A small mouse-like creature that blessed Gwen with powers beyond her understanding. She was just your common background gal living their life. But when danger arises, there is only one person to save the day.


    Gwendolyn the Wizard Princess.


    Chosen by destiny to wield the cosmic magic of the stars. She along with others are the only heroes to stand against the forces of evil.


    And now she was needed more than ever.


    Lord Vanzyr''s resurrection would be completed soon in his castle. His lieutenants had gathered all the necessary items for his return.


    So our hero charged through the defenses and tore through his army with everything she got. Gwen was armed with a powerful blade gifted to her from the heavens. The Sky Shatter.


    It cleaved through monsters and vanquished humans as Gwen continued her rampage throughout the castle.


    "We should''ve called the others! You were foolish to fight the dark army on your own!" Mia scolded Gwen for her decision to go alone.


    It was indeed foolish, but Gwen had no time left.


    "Should''ve listened to the rat, girl!" Our hero and her familiar came to a stop. Before them stood one of the three lieutenants. It was Morgan the Beast, and he blocked their way further into the castle. "Blessed be my blade for I am given the honor to kill for you, Lord Vanzyr! Yes, silence the maw of this brat and I shall feed upon the carcass of this rat that dared to follow!"


    "Ugh, not this guy!" Mia said. "And I''m a mouse, not a rat!"


    "I''m ready for an eye-tingling salt!"


    "What!?"


    "I didn''t ask for your license!"


    Despite being fitted out in a heavy set of armor, along with the fact that he was armed with a sword bigger than both of them, Morgan was deceptively fast.


    Gwen barely had enough time to block his attack, the full weight of his sword sent a shiver through her body.


    "Gwen!" Mia cried out.


    He pulled back his massive sword and slammed it back down. The floor beneath them shattered as Gwen took it all. Her knees shook as the pain finally settled in.


    "Discount sales on a bloody surprise!" He roared as he went for another smash.


    But Gwen dodged this time and countered with a blazing slash. As expected, Morgan was too heavily armored to be affected.


    "Bless me Lord Vanzyr, for in your memory I shall be immortal!"


    It was practically invisible to the naked eye. His sword flew over Gwen''s head as she ducked with teeth gritted. Morgan proved to be a worthy foe, but she still had some tricks up her sleeves.


    Morgan crushed the marble floor and sent cracks along the walls. He shattered the whole room as if it was nothing.


    As their duel continued, Morgan had not noticed the whispers that came from Gwen. And it was far too late to do anything as Sky Shatter started to glow intensely.


    "My Lord?" Were his final words as Gwen smote him with the power of the stars. A pillar of light consumed him and vaporized his whole being. Nothing was left but a smoldering crater.


    "Nice work Gwen! You taught that crazy knight what''s what!"


    Gwen ignored Mia and pushed further.


    More monsters tried to stop her, but they were nothing compared to her.


    As she ran deeper and deeper into the belly of the beast, her surroundings started to change. What was once a hallway of gray bricks and fancy decorations was replaced with the coldness of shiny steel. Pipes ran along the surface of the walls with a few blinking panels here and there.


    The lights bathed them with a purple glow. As they charged forward, even the monsters and humans changed for the worse. Disfigured and disgusting, horrors hidden beneath this castle of cruelty.


    She came upon a large pair of doors soon after slaughtering more beasts. With a powerful swing, the doors broke apart like crumbling dirt.


    "You''re too late, wizard!" The witch of Vanzyr, Purpura Gladius. A nasty woman who nearly rivaled Gwen when it came to magic.


    She wasn''t alone, the third of the three lieutenants of Vanzyr stood before a large casket. He wasn''t human unlike Purpura, no, this creature was taller than the rest and had three pairs of arms. Slender in physique. His most notable detail was that his face was spider-like.


    Alexander Kincaid. And this large room¡­ was his lab.


    "As foolish as usual, Mia! You should''ve held that girl on a tighter leash! Well, I expected less from the sidekick, of course."


    "You take that back! Gwen and I will be enough to defeat all of you! I hope."


    Purpura laughed at her false bravado. "You can''t even stop shivering like a child. What use would you be, pest?"


    "Enough!" All eyes landed on Alexander. "My master cannot wait any longer! For years I''ve built his empire so that when he awakens, the world would become his! Pay attention, child, for you witness the birth of a new world!"


    The black casket, adorned with gold and priceless jewels. Hidden within was the master of darkness, Lord Vanzyr.


    Gwen felt the overwhelming malice from him. It was suffocating.


    Before the hero could act, Purpura conjured a transparent wall and prevented Gwen and Mia from attacking.


    This was bad.


    Gwendolyn chanted to her sword.


    As she did so, Alexander had begun his final task.


    It was a race.


    The two only stopped to take a short breath.


    The barrier shattered into a million pieces as Gwen finished her spell.


    Purpura couldn''t stop Gwen as she flew across the room, sword poised to strike. Her blade sunk into the casket and a blinding light burst forth.


    But when that light vanished, Gwen heard her heart roar like a rumbling storm. A gauntlet caught the tip of her sword with ease.


    He awakened.


    With a flick of his fingers, Gwen was propelled back to where she started.


    "What disappointment." Vanzyr scoffed. "This is what he sent? This is your hero, Mia? I am insulted."


    "We¡­ we are doomed."


    Just from the sight of him, all hope within Mia vanished. Faced with a powerful being of great power, there was nothing left but to beg.


    Gwendolyn had not given up.


    Defiant in the face of it all, she pushed forward. He was stronger than everyone in the room. Yet she pushed forward.


    Everything led to this moment. The final battle between good and evil. Though she was just a human blessed with magic, Gwen knew she could win.


    They exchanged destructive spells.


    None escaped their wrath as everything around them was rendered to ash and dust. Throughout the intense battle, only Gwen was damaged or injured. Her armor was both scratched and dented. Some burnt spots littered what used to be shiny and clean.


    As for Vanzyr, he was untouched. Compared to her, his armor was as good as new.


    No matter how hard she struck him, he still stood. He was invincible in her eyes.


    There must be a weakness somewhere.


    The world depended on her.


    Gwendolyn reached deeper into her soul for more strength.


    Her blade finally left a deep cut in the brow of his helmet. A glimmer of hope empowered Gwen.


    "Impossible!"


    She grinned.


    "Do it now, defeat evil once and for all!" Mia cheered as Gwen''s attacks steadily quickened as time went by.


    And with every strike, his armor started to chip away. And the fancy and ceremonial robes he wore torn bit by bit.


    His remaining lieutenants could only watch as their master slowly lost ground. Years of preparation soon to be wasted by one fatal encounter.


    Alexander wanted to jump in and help Vanzyr but knew that he was below their league.


    "How!? How could I lose!?"


    Gwendolyn said nothing. She only gave him a sly smirk. That small taunt was enough to boil his blood. And he couldn''t do anything about it.


    Finally, after minutes of humiliation, Gwendolyn swung her blade in an arch.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    With that, Vanzyr''s head was lopped off his shoulders. Finally, a great evil was vanquished into the void.


    Vanzyr could only watch as his life slowly faded away. He stared at the victor of their battle and strangely felt¡­ content. As if his worries went away the moment he lost in that duel. Was he satisfied? Satisfied that Gwendolyn defeated him?


    His eyes started to feel heavy.


    This was for the best. No point in conquering a world without all of his lieutenants present. Only a few of them were around to witness his return. So Vanzyr believed that Morgan had died long before he awoke. Many others weren''t present as well. Faces upon faces, even those he couldn''t recognize flashed before him.


    What would he even do once he ruled the world? Too many things to manage, too stressful.


    This was for the best.


    "Pay attention, child, for you witness the birth of a new world!"


    Just as he closed his eyes, Vanzyr snapped them open when he heard Alexander.


    The light nearly blinded him as the world returned. Confused, he stood there and gawked at his surroundings. It was Alexander''s lab, untouched by the wrath of both Vanzyr and Gwen.


    Despite things being a bit blurry, he noticed that there were five other people in the room. Wait, five?


    Vanzyr rubbed his eyes clear.


    Now that he could see better, everything confused him more.


    A man with crimson armor stood next to Purpura. The strangest part of him wasn''t the massive sword in his hand, no, it was the fact that this man was shirtless. All that armor and this man decided to go without a chest plate. Like he was asking to be killed.


    There was also another person, this one stood a few feet from Vanzyr, just to the left. This guy at least had the decency to wear proper clothes. A fancy one too. The only odd part about him was the mechanical pair of arms that sprouted out his back.


    Out of all them, Purpura he recognized. But she looked a little different than before.


    Wait, that man in red.


    "Morgan?"


    "Praise you, my lord! You''ve returned to finally wreak havoc and free me from my prison!"


    "What?"


    Impossible.


    This was the moment of his resurrection.


    The same lab he woke up in. Again.


    Vanzyr looked around more. Everything was just as before his final battle with Mia''s hero.


    The well-dressed man laughed. "Fools, with Lord Vanzyr awakened, this world shall experience a new reign of darkness!"


    "Pause!" He demanded. "Pause for a second! I need to think!"


    Everyone stopped the moment Vanzyr ordered it. Even the other two of the five people. They were just there at the entrance.


    Now that he remembered them, Vanzyr looked at them a little closer.


    As if it wasn''t already weird enough, there was a young girl in a very pretty and colorful dress. In her hand was a golden sword with gems that decorated the crossguard. Runes written on both sides.


    The next was a creature of sorts, only half the height of the girl next to it, which certainly made them even smaller than Vanzyr. Miniscule even. If anything, this thing barely reached his knees.


    As for what it was. Vanzyr guessed that the creature was a pudgy and human-like mouse with faded green fur. This thing wore clothes that would''ve made it cute if it was¡­ thinner. Wait, he knew this creature.


    "Mia?"


    "Lord Vanzyr!" It was Mia, which certainly shocked the dark lord. "Your evil ends here! Rebecca and I shall put a stop-"


    "Why are you ugly?"


    Everyone in the room stared at him. Vanzyr had just insulted Mia out of the blue, and her little monologue was rudely interrupted just as it started.


    "Hey¡­ that''s a little mean."


    "You look like a pear that grew legs." He stated. "I mean, no offense, but why are you dressed like that? Did you seriously think it was even a good idea?"


    She looked down at her clothes. Mia wore shorts and a shirt with a small stain on it. If anything, that wasn''t what Vanzyr remembered. It was more adorable. Was that not a vision of the future? Why was everything different?


    "I forgot to do my laundry¡­" Mia admitted.


    "You''re shaped like an eight."


    Even Purpura started to feel uncomfortable with Vanzyr''s comments.


    "Weren''t you brighter in color? Like lime? Now you''re just moss green."


    Mia couldn''t even look him in the eyes anymore.


    "What have you been eating? Certainly, your lifestyle has ruined your small body more than that time I set you ablaze."


    This girl who was now known as Rebecca could only watch with pursed lips as Vanzyr continued his verbal abuse.


    "Yeesh, is that a stain I see? Disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. And pull down that shirt will you? I don''t like looking at the pouch you call a stomach."


    "P-please¡­" Tears threatened to fall as Mia did her best to fix her image. Sadly, she was failing at that too; her shirt was too small to pull down.


    "My Lord¡­ I understand that your evil has no bounds, but could you refrain from any more rude comments?" The fancy man requested.


    "Who are you?"


    "My Lord, it is I, Alexander Kincaid."


    "You? You''re human!" Disbelief laced his voice.


    "I''ve always been?"


    Vanzyr raised a hand at the imposter. "Lies! Kincaid was an arachnid. You dare steal his name and make a pitiful attempt to deceive me!?"


    "Wait!" Purpura stepped in his way. "He is telling the truth, my Lord! I''ve witnessed him revive Morgan!"


    "Out of hell, buy some blood!" Morgan said.


    "I¡­ I don''t understand!" Vanzyr snapped. "You!"


    He pointed his finger at Rebecca.


    "Where is the girl in the armor!? Who are you!?"


    Rebecca said nothing.


    "Very well, if you do not answer, then I shall-"


    His head flew off as Rebecca sliced through his neck.


    But the moment she did so¡­


    "Pay attention, child, for you witness the birth of a new world!"


    "What!?" Vanzyr screamed as his hands grasped his neck.


    He wanted to glare at Rebecca but found no sign of her. Only his lieutenants, Mia, and some girl in a strange red dress were present.


    "I¡­ What is going on!?"


    "My Lord! These fools dared to attack us during the greatest day of our lives! Smite them so we can focus on the rest of the world!" Alexander said.


    "Kincaid, you''re¡­ not human anymore."


    "What do you mean, my Lord? I''ve always been a demon."


    "Wait¡­ I had my head chopped off¡­ Where is she!?" Vanzyr pointed at Mia as he demanded an answer.


    "Who? Angelica?"


    "No, Rebecca! How dare she attack me while I was distracted! Such dishonor will be punished!"


    "I have no clue who you''re talking about."


    "I will not be denied! My vengeance shall be swift!"


    He promised, but then he heard those words again.


    "Pay attention, child, for you witness the birth of a new world!"


    "What!?" Vanzyr was utterly confused.


    "Lord Vanzyr! You''ve awakened!"


    "No¡­ this can''t be¡­ I died¡­ Yet, how am I here?"


    Were they dreams? Perhaps it was indeed a vision of the future? But it does not explain the changes.


    "You¡­" Vanzyr glared at Mia and her companion. "What is the meaning of this!?"


    "I don''t understand!" Mia said.


    "We''ve been here before¡­ What spell did you cast upon me, you wretch! Answer me or your death shall be painful!"


    The girl wasted no time and attacked, Vanzyr defended himself. But just like before, after a destructive battle between the two, Vanzyr was defeated.


    He woke up once more, this time, everything was silent. No shouting, no monologues. Nothing.


    Vanzyr was still in Alexander''s lab.


    A barrage of questions pounded in his head. Confused and tired, Vanzyr sat up and discovered that he was sleeping in a casket.


    Everything felt so real. It couldn''t have been a dream. Every time, things change. All of it had one thing in common, Vanzyr woke up in a lab.


    He stood up and started investigating.


    The whole aesthetic of this lab was for some mad scientist. Monstrosities held within test tubes. A surgical table complete with all equipment needed to save or ruin a life. Cages filled with people and animals were kept for projects that wouldn''t be humane. Vanzyr didn''t care much about them, Alexander was free to do as he pleased, as long as it benefited Vanzyr.


    For a moment, he stared at them. He felt no remorse, but only some hint of pity.


    His hand reached for the brow of his helmet. Clean as if it was first placed on his head. But he remembered it so well, how Gwen''s sword sliced through years of hard work. The look in her eyes was so real. Filled with so much determination that it rivaled his. In the end, she came out as the winner of their duel.


    An explosion shook the lab, some instruments nearly fell off the table but Vanzyr caught them with his magic.


    Curious, Vanzyr activated a small surveillance spell.


    His vision filled with locations throughout the castle, one stood out. Out in the courtyard was the aftermath of a massive war. Three stood amongst the dead, and Vanzyr recognized Morgan and Mia.


    His crimson knight was still shirtless. The only noticeable difference now was that he looked shorter.


    As for Mia, it was far worse than the last time he saw her. The little mouse looked exhausted. She was slouching and her arms drooped from her bare shoulders. She wasn''t even wearing a stained shirt, just a tank top with some cutesy mascot on it. At least it was a clean one this time. Her hair was unkempt and frizzled. Her fur was a faded shade of green. So much so that she looked grey. At least her hair was still a noticeable green, albeit darker.


    She was more of a sloth than a mouse with the way she acted.


    Finally, the girl.


    If memory was correct, then this was Mia''s chosen hero.


    The sword was in her hands.


    Sky Shatter.


    She was young, yet her eyes showed years of experience. No doubt about it, within this girl was Gwendolyn. For what reason she took a different form, Vanzyr does not know.


    Gone was her armor, replaced with a frilly and colorful dress. Impractical, but Vanzyr knew that she didn''t need any protection if she could bend the will of magic itself.


    "My spine broke before dinner!"


    Vanzyr cocked a brow.


    Morgan was spouting nonsense after nonsense. It confused the wizard greatly.


    He watched as the crimson knight battled with the hero. It was intense, but Vanzyr knew that Morgan was fated to lose. The girl was just on another level.


    His vision shifted over to Mia, he had expected the small rodent to cower in fear. But instead, she was on her rear looking at the fight with disinterest.


    "We must hurry!" Vanzyr returned to the lab as the doors flew open.


    Two figures rushed in after.


    It was a young Purpura and some small flying black cat.


    "Morgan will not be able to keep her out any longer," The cat said. "We must hurry with the ritual and awaken our master! Only he can defeat Sam and that filthy rat, Mia!"


    "Alexander, the coffin¡­"


    The two panicked the moment they realized Vanzyr wasn''t there.


    "How is this possible!? Did her friends sneak in while we were distracted!?"


    Purpura clenched her fist. "Those annoying fools will pay!"


    "Fear not, I am here." He made his presence known.


    Once again, Alexander Kincaid changed. Everything around Vanzyr shifted again and again. It wasn''t a dream, Vanzyr concluded. He didn''t know what they were exactly, but he would get to the bottom of things at a later time. For now, he must address his subordinates. One of whom was a talking cat.


    "My Lord!" The two kneeled before his greatness.


    "How could this be, the ritual has not even begun!"


    "Purpura you fool! He is Lord Vanzyr! Of course, the master would awaken himself at the first sign of danger! What are your orders, master?"


    Vanzyr was silent. He examined both of them as he was deep in thought.


    One glance, and you''d mistaken Alexander as an ordinary house cat. But if you looked into his eyes you''d see an unreasonable amount of pupils. The smile on Alexander was impossibly long, from ear to ear.


    It was strange.


    Vanzyr remembered before his fall, Alexander was an arachnid-like being with a dangerous intellect. And throughout his visions, Alexander changed every time. If anything, the visions told Vanzyr that only one of his lieutenants changes.


    "Yeah¡­ get him, Sam¡­"


    His attention returned to the courtyard. Mia was cheering the girl on with the enthusiasm of a rock.


    Sam, so that was her name. This girl who was destined to battle him for the future of this world.


    "Wait here." Vanzyr ordered his lieutenants.


    They couldn''t question him as he disappeared from the lab.


    Morgan fought ferociously as he was backed into a corner. His sword started to feel heavy despite his amazing strength. His opponent looked flawless after all this time. He had delivered a few blows, yet none left a scratch. If he was to die here then he would gladly do so. If it meant that his master would awaken without disturbance, then he''d die a million deaths.


    Sam raised her blade and aimed for his exposed chest. He was a fool because his chest was exposed.


    Only for her sword to hit nothing.


    Confused, Sam stared at the spot where Morgan was.


    "What happened? Where did the idiot go?" Mia questioned. "Oh, great. He woke up! His ritual is complete. Sam, you go deal with him, I''ll just stay out here."


    The girl gave Mia a nod and moved on. There were still monsters and cultists that needed to be dealt with.


    Morgan was surprised to see that he was in the lab. He would''ve questioned it but his eyes caught the sight of his magnificence.


    "My Lord, you''ve awakened!" The knight nearly tackled Vanzyr in an attempt to hug the dark lord but was kept still by Vanzyr''s magic. "Long I''ve endured a thousand steps to bathe in your glory! To taste just a fraction of your power, and learn the secrets of eternal life! For in your memory, I shall be immortal!"


    "Is he always like this?"


    "Only when he speaks about you, my Lord," Purpura answered. "But most of the time he only speaks nonsense. Isn''t that right, Morgan?"


    "Purple spits only detergents!"


    "See?"


    "Forgive my disgrace!" Alexander bowed before Vanzyr. "But we must acknowledge the problem at hand! Our forces will not be able to keep Sam distracted long enough! So I must ask you, Lord Vanzyr, what is your brilliant plan!?"


    Vanzyr chuckled. "My plan? This Sam girl, she is nothing compared to me! With our strengths combined, we will send her to the depths of oblivion-"


    That''s when he realized. If the visions were all true, then this would lead only one way.


    Death.


    When he first was defeated by the one who placed him in the casket, Vanzyr survived the final hit. In all of his visions of the multiple futures, he dies in all of them. But still, it didn''t explain the changes in everything.


    One thing for sure was that there was no way out of it.


    For once in his life, Vanzyr felt something he had long forgotten. It was fear. He felt it coiling around his neck, and it threatened to pop his head from his shoulders.


    It was inevitable, he was destined to die. And he was scared.


    "On second thought, I do believe we must retreat and regroup."


    "But what of our initiates? The Cult of Vanzyr cannot be left behind!"


    Alexander was silenced with a single glare.


    "Do not question me, Kincaid."


    The small monster could only cower before him.


    "Purpura, tell me the status of our influence. How far does my power reach?"


    "Forgive me," She lowered her head in shame. "Months have passed since Sam had awakened before you, my Lord. And she along with others destroyed our bases all over the world. This castle, our headquarters, is the only remaining base we have left."


    "I see, so there''s no choice." He waved his hand and the three felt nauseated. The world around them melted and merged.


    It was as if it was simply all a dream. The cold stone surface of Alexander''s lab shrunk away as, and everything he owned vanished.


    The ceiling ripped apart which slowly revealed the open blue skies before trees shot up from the ground and over their heads. Soon enough, they were blanketed under a layer of green.


    "W-where are we?" Purpura took a step forward but Morgan kept her in place. Her heart raced as she realized the cliff before her. And she was about to fall right off if it weren''t for Morgan. "Oh, that was a close one. Thanks for that-"


    "I got scurvy!" He said as he slammed Purpura into the ground.


    "Hilarious," Alexander noted.


    "Enough!" Thunder erupted despite the clear weather. Vanzyr brought their attention over the cliff. "I''ve brought us somewhere I''ve felt great magic residue. A familiar one at that, almost the same as yours, Kincaid."


    "This¡­" Purpura gasped. "This place is Goldcrest! Morgan, it''s our hometown!"


    "This is where you were born?" Vanzyr asked as his curiosity grew.


    "Yes, master," Alexander confirmed. "This is the place where I awoke your lieutenants after my thousand-year sleep!"


    "I see, that explains the magic in the air."


    The town below, just miles away, was fairly large. It seemed to be far from the nearest city. Secluded enough for his standards.


    "This shall be where our foundation will be built! First, I must admit something to you, my faithful servants."


    The three waited in silence.


    "I am scared." He was honest. Vanzyr wanted them to know his reason. "Mia has chosen wisely with Sam. She is the only one in my way of fulfilling my lifelong dream."


    Though he had expected them to shun him, it seemed that the three understood. Of course they did, they''d been battling Mia way before he had awakened. Sam was a metaphorical goddess compared to them. He''d seen Mia''s hero unleash the power of the sun before.


    Did he?


    Vanzyr clutched his head as pain brought him to his knees. It felt like someone shoved a dagger into his skull and stirred it like a drink.


    A vision once again, flashed in his mind and delivered a clear picture.


    "My Lord!" They rushed over to his side.


    He was in distress and pain. His head felt like cracking open, but whoever was the cause of it was a sadist.


    "My mind¡­" Vanzyr muttered. "We need safety¡­ Mia can trace my magic. If we do not seek shelter soon, they will find us here in the open."


    "I know a place," Purpura claimed.

 II: Foundation in Goldcrest

    The door rang as a couple of kids entered. The cashier eyed them carefully as the youths browsed the products.


    She wouldn''t have minded them as much, but Tracy couldn''t trust the two that easily. Teens especially. A lot of them were troublemakers that wanted to feel special, to be unique. Or simply they thought that the world revolved around them and that they could get away with it.


    Around this place, she couldn''t afford to be careless.


    Only when they left with some snacks did Tracy relax.


    Nothing eventful happened after.


    Time was spent stocking shelves.


    She was alone since her fellow employee was a no-show. And the owner of the place was busy in their office.


    So everything could only be done by her. Mop the floor, restock the shelves, do the inventory, and so forth. As of now, she was the backbone of this convenience store. And honestly, she was proud of it.


    There were some perks with this particular job of hers.


    "Hey, I gotta close up early!" Suddenly, her manager walked out of his office. "Daughter has an appointment early in the morning, so I''ll have to leave for tonight."


    "I can watch the fort while you''re gone, boss."


    "No need, today is a slow one, and it isn''t like we''re gonna lose too much money."


    "Well, alright!"


    "Oh, right! Left a treat for you in the break room."


    "Thanks, Ricky!"


    Ricky was a middle-aged man. The pushover kind, but Tracy didn''t take advantage of the fact. He was a good guy that needed all the help he could get.


    She hurried to swap her employee red vest with her hoodie. Tracy checked the table and noticed a pack of beer ready to be taken. This was a perk of her job. Ricky always pleased everyone, his own staff especially. Even if it made him look like a chump.


    The bottles clinked together as she picked them up.


    It was a brand she hadn''t heard of before, but Tracy wasn''t picky, all she needed was the feeling.


    After saying goodbye to Ricky, Tracy went straight home.


    This town, Goldcrest, was a dangerous place. All types of scum hid in the corners and shadows. They waited for an opportunity, for any vulnerable targets.


    Tracy didn''t trust people easily, especially so when the sun was down.


    Her apartment building soon towered over her, a rundown place with a few abandoned rooms. The landlord just didn''t bother anymore.


    Tracy''s place was decent at least, though she hadn''t seen her neighbor''s before.


    Enough size for a single person, and she wasn''t the interior decorator type, so her apartment was left the way it was after the last owner.


    Not much to dwell in.


    Tracy had plans for tonight, and it was about her little treats.


    Dinner consisted of a couple of plain sandwiches she made this morning. A good old slice of ham in both, complemented with ketchup and mustard.


    Everything was the way she liked it. Just her, dinner, and drinks to wash it all down.


    Sadly it all stopped there when someone knocked on her door. Disgruntled, Tracy got up to answer.


    And just as she was about to enjoy the night off, a certain undesirable character was at her door.


    "Hey, Tracy! Guess who got two tickets to Jam''s!"


    "For the last time, I ain''t going anywhere with you."


    He pouted. "Aw, come on. It''s gonna be fun! Drinks are free, and the music is good!"


    "I already got free drinks, no need to go look for more." She argued.


    "Yeah, but are they good enough? They got the drinks that would hit you hard."


    "I''m looking to relax, not party." He stopped her just as she was about to close the door.


    "Tracy, get out of there for once and see the world. You''re missing out on some awesome stuff."


    "Like what? If I''m looking for something I''d look for it. Right now, though? I''m gonna enjoy a couple of sandwiches and some TV." With that, Tracy closed the door.


    But after a few steps, the knocking started.


    Tracy growled as she marched back to answer. "Damian you deaf- Jessica?"


    It wasn''t her annoying neighbor, but her sister, Jessica.


    "Hey, what are you doing here? And what''s with that get-up, some kind of cosplay?"


    Her sister Jessica was dressed like a fantasy witch, complete with a large brimmed pointy hat. Purple in color which seemed to be the main theme of the whole costume. What really added to it was the cat that was on her shoulders. It looked so real as if it was indeed alive. Well, why would it? The thing had strange eyes that didn''t belong to any normal creature.


    "Sister," Jessica said. It was strange for her to address Tracy that way. "This is an important matter, and I do believe that we should converse in private."


    "Jess?"


    Jessica said nothing and pushed her way in.


    "What the hell, you can''t just walk in here! And weren''t you on some camping trip with your friends? Does mom and dad know about you being back in town?"


    "No to all those." Jessica glanced at the coffee table where Tracy''s food and drinks were. "You''re here early. Usually, you would be working until midnight."


    "I''ll be the one asking the questions here, brat! What are you doing here? Is it a school problem? It''s the costume, isn''t it? God, are you getting stalked or something? Tell me who it is and I''ll call the cops."


    "Unnecessary," Jessica, or by this point, Purpura had deemed the situation unfit to call the authorities. Of course, because it wasn''t the kind you''d call for. "Sister, I have no time to pretend. We are in dire need of help, but not the kind your puny mind believes."


    Before Tracy could push further, the door flew open and another person walked in with something massive in his arms.


    "Jess, what is this? Hey!"


    The shirtless man kicked her coffee table across the room, luckily she caught her sandwiches.


    He laid the giant onto her couch once cleared of any obstructions.


    "Last chance, Missy! You tell me what is going on with you, shirtless, and the basketball player!"


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Tracy wasn''t exaggerating about that last one. This man in a fancy robe and armor could be at least ten feet tall. He could barely fit in her couch and his legs went over the armrest.


    "Our situation has us at a dead end, so I must request that you house Lord Vanzyr until we can start rebuilding."


    "Rebuilding what!? You still haven''t explained who these guys are!"


    "Are you sure Jessica''s blood relative is our only option?" The cat spoke in perfect English.


    "Woah, how did it do that?" Tracy''s priorities changed the moment a talking cat was added to the equation. "Did you make it, Jess?"


    "Make me? If anything, I was the one who made Purpura! Mortal, do not underestimate me, for I am Alexander Kincaid, the Scourge Chemist of Koruk Uzgobog! You will do well to respect me!"


    "Wow, did you get a voice actor for that? It sounds so real and honest."


    "Sister, I know I''ve been ignoring you a lot these years, but I request that you allow us to stay here until we''ve gathered our bearings."


    "Jess, right." Tracy remembered the situation. "Just tell me what is going on, please."


    "There''s something I haven''t told you before, a secret I kept for the past few years now. I am not your sister, Jessica, I am Purpura Gladius. Awakened by Alexander Kincaid to follow the will of Lord Vanzyr!"


    Tracy could only stare at her sister oddly. Purpura''s claims were so absurd that Tracy was worried. Jessica didn''t have a fever or anything, and she seemed responsive enough.


    "Did you hit your head?"


    "A proof of my power is required I see."


    Before Tracy could even question, Purpura''s eyes lit up with an intense blue. The whole room shook as if a stampede was running by the building. Tracy''s eyes widened when she witnessed her furniture start to float.


    "See now, sister! This is the true self! I am Purpura Gladius, the Witch of Vanzyr!"


    Only for an explosion to erupt.


    Tracy stared at the remnants of her apartment, reduced to smoke and ash.


    And something far worse suffered the same fate as her home. Her sandwiches.


    She fell to her knees as she wept for her dinner. The only thing she looked forward to this day, gone.


    And there was only one guilty of this heinous crime.


    "That was my dinner!" Tracy wrapped her hands around Purpura''s neck.


    "You dare- okay, that hurts actually." Purpura''s face started to change in hue. "Sister, I cannot breathe."


    "Aren''t you gonna help her?" Alexander asked Morgan.


    "You''re just a Frankenstein of genres!"


    "Forget that I asked."


    "Sister, it''s getting darker¡­"


    "I used my allowance for that good ham, and you just had to blow it up! When this is over I''ll turn you into ham!"


    As the two fought over the loss of one, Vanzyr was lost in the abyss.


    His mind brought him somewhere no light could ever guide him.


    He wondered about where he was, and why he was there in the first place.


    "Strange, isn''t it?"


    Vanzyr glanced at a mirror that appeared from nowhere. The reflection was off-colored. Added to the fact it spoke to him, Vanzyr concluded that this wasn''t a mirror at all.


    "We were always clever," His reflection chuckled as he crawled out of the object. "Our eyes cannot be deceived so easily!"


    "Who are you?"


    "Are you blind?" His head was not attached to his body. "I''m the past."


    "The past? Then my suspicions were correct. This isn''t some kind of loop¡­"


    "Right you are! Now, to avoid confusion, you can call me¡­"


    "Ego,"


    Ego smiled beneath his helm. "Try not to lose your head with this one."


    Vanzyr arched his brow. "Very humorous¡­"


    "Well, let us continue at another time, it seems to be that you''re waking up."


    "Wait! I have questions!"


    "You can answer that yourself, after all, I''m you."


    The shadow was chased away as the light returned to his eyes. Vanzyr shot up from his sleep but went unnoticed by the others.


    "Are you sorry!?"


    "Please forgive this humble soul! I did not mean to commit such heinous crimes!"


    Tracy scoffed at Purpura''s apology. "And enough with the ye old language! Talk like a normal person!"


    She felt a heavy hand upon her shoulder so she snapped at them.


    "What do you want!?" Only to be silent the moment she laid eyes on the owner of said hand.


    Vanzyr towered over them all, his head nearly touched the ashy ceiling.


    See, Tracy had an interest in history, so she couldn''t help but notice the type of helm Vanzyr wore. And she was truly enamored by the piece of glorious metal.


    "Is that a Corinthian-style helmet?" She was in awe of such amazing craftsmanship. So much that Tracy hadn''t realized that she pulled Vanzyr by the gorget and brought him down to her level. "And this chestplate! Is that hole from an actual durability test!?"


    She couldn''t control herself as she inspected his gear closer. Though it was a bit of a mix, she couldn''t deny Vanzyr''s choice of armor was amazing. From his shiny chestplate with golden accents and trims to the spectral flaming plume of his helmet. Overjoyed by the historical armory, she was ignorant of the killing intent that Morgan exuded.


    "Such impertinence!" Alexander was appalled by Tracy''s disrespect.


    "It''s alright," Vanzyr told the chemist. "Mortal, I am Lord Vanzyr of house Zokius, former Arch Wizard of Valor, the Deceiver of Whitefall, and Master of Darkness!"


    "Cool,"


    "Cool?"


    "Yeah, cool." Vanzyr was quite disappointed by Tracy''s reaction. He expected some excitement from her, but he was only met with a disinterested girl who was focused more on his armor.


    "Do you not comprehend the situation, child? I am a being of great power, and yet, you are somehow¡­ casual about it."


    "I''m not really into magic, but your armor on the other hand? I''m very interested in historical weapons and armor." Her eyes switched over to Morgan. "You¡­"


    "This product is off the shelf!"


    "Come on, let me see that just for a second!"


    Morgan raised his sword defensively which only made things worse. "Everybody has a gimmick, and I''m Gordon Ramsey!"


    "Is he always like that?"


    Vanzyr sighed. "Please take this seriously, child, I require shelter while I¡­ study my situation. There''s a problem that needs to be dealt with."


    "Wait, you said that you''re a Master of Darkness, right? Are you evil?"


    Vanzyr''s eyes lit ablaze. "Is that a problem?"


    "Honestly? I don''t care." She admitted. "Besides, my sister works for you, so I''m sure my family and I are safe. But I am curious about the damages you''ve made."


    "Am I hearing things wrong? What could I have broken?"


    She raised her hands at the ruined apartment along with the culprit behind the destruction.


    "Hm, well, as the master of Purpura, I will accept full responsibility."


    Alexander shed a tear. "Our Lord, so kind and reasonable!"


    "Alright, you guys can stay. Still gotta ask the landlord first thing tomorrow morning." Tracy said. "But, someone better clean this up."


    Vanzyr was faced with a feeble problem. So his solution was to send the ash and dust elsewhere. And before they knew it, everything was clear of filth, and Tracy was taken aback by how much better her apartment was before they showed up.


    "Woah! How did you do that!?"


    Vanzyr smirked. "I can bend the will of all elements! If I so wish, I could send the ocean to the moon!"


    "Amazingly done, my Lord!" Purpura said.


    Alexander watched with a proud look in his eyes. "Truly, not even the smallest speck is beyond your power!"


    Vanzyr waited for a moment as he basked in their praises. He then realized that something was missing. "Wait, where is Morgan?"


    "He left a few minutes ago," Tracy answered.


    "Ah, yes," Alexander hummed. "Just like Purpura, Morgan has a life and a family to return to. He is always busy with his personal life."


    Vanzyr nodded. "Ah, I see¡­ How old is Morgan? His body, I mean. He is shorter than I remembered."


    "He is sixteen, still in high school," Purpura explained. "Oh no! I have school tomorrow!"


    Purpura rushed to the exit once she realized how close to midnight it was.


    "Sister! I must ask that you take care of Lord Vanzyr! Please give him your utmost respect or suffer by my hands!"


    "Don''t just run off like that!" Tracy wanted to chase after Purpura but knew that there was no point to it. "Great, drop off some weird magical cat and an old wizard then leave as soon as possible."


    She turned to the dark lord and the talking cat.


    "Alright, house rules: Don''t make a mess, don''t bother the neighbors, and don''t take my food, they''re mine."


    "You need not worry, child, we shall honor the host," Vanzyr assured him. "For now I must speak to my lieutenant, Kincaid."


    "Fine, I''m going to bed." Tracy made sure she hadn''t forgotten about her beer bottles.


    Alexander waited for Tracy to be out of the room before he faced his master. "Something is bothering you, my Lord. Pray tell, I am willing to hear your woes."


    "They are so young¡­ Morgan and Purpura I mean."


    "They are the reincarnation, so there''s no telling what their appearance would be."


    Vanzyr remembered every single detail of the two. They were both of similar age. But their powers were still the same as he recalled. The two were just two sides of the same coin, with Purpura being the power of the mind while Morgan was the body.


    His strength was unmatched, and his fury alone could turn the tide of battle.


    "You know of this, correct?"


    "Of course, I have sent Morgan to battle those pesky girls and Mia ever since he awakened. None could compare to his wrath. Well, none but Himiko."


    Vanzyr cupped his chin. "One of Sam''s friends I assume."


    "Indeed, and quite the fearsome one too. Only a few of my minions ever posed a threat to them, but Morgan would be enough to keep her at bay. My Lord, what exactly is your plan?"


    "I¡­ There''s something wrong here, Kincaid. Tell me, were you a cat from the beginning? Before my defeat at the hands of the Wizard King, you were a humanoid arachnid. That is what I remembered as clear as day."


    "What does this mean then? I was reincarnated into something else? That is a bit strange, for I remember it differently. As far as I can recall, I have always been the same, even after I returned to the living."


    "So did the others¡­" A memory flashed in Vanzyr''s mind. "One point¡­ you were my clone."


    "So you are saying that we are in some kind of loop? Also, that lucky wretch."


    Alexander was always the brains of three; mostly the reason why Vanzyr chose him as his right-hand man¡­ well, cat.


    "Does this mean you''ve been resurrected before?"


    "Yes, and every time I awake, whoever is the hero vanquishes me no matter what. My most recent defeat¡­ I remember battling with Mia''s hero. But something strange happened. It was as if¡­ my eyes were ripped open. One moment all was as it should be, the next, I was assaulted with faces that I can''t recognize. And names that are alien to me. Do you know who Ivory is?"


    "Can''t say I do, my Lord."


    "Until we can solve this matter, I will postpone my plans of world domination. Until then, I am curious about the strange box." Vanzyr said as he pointed at the television.


    Meanwhile, as this was happening, Mia waited outside of Vanzyr''s castle, eyes glued on her phone.


    She wore a goofy smile with a hint of red on her cheeks.


    "Oh Ronaldo, I truly know how you feel!" She gushed as she tapped away on the screen.


    Just then, Sam emerged from the entrance and joined Mia in the courtyard.


    "Hey, you''re back!" Mia tucked her phone away and smiled. "Guess the job is finished? Well, kid, it was great working with you! This is where we finally part ways and enjoy a saved world!"


    Mia summoned a couple of luggage bags and a pair of sunglasses. She looked ready for a tropical vacation, sadly it just wasn''t meant to be.


    "Wait, what do you mean he isn''t there? How''d you miss a ten-foot-tall guy decked out in armor and a fancy robe? That''s strange¡­ Wait, this isn''t right! I should be halfway to Tahiti by now! Go find him so we can live a peaceful life!"


    Sam crossed her arms.


    "Yeah I know I have responsibilities, but we''ve been going at it for a few years now! I deserve a vacation. You didn''t notice all the hard work I did? Now you''re just making me feel bad. Ugh, let''s just go look for him, he couldn''t be far."


    Mia sent her belongings away as she soured a little.


    "You know what? Let''s go home. Better to just sleep it off and worry about Vanzyr tomorrow."


    Mia channeled her magic and opened a rift back home. Once through, the two started their way back to Sam''s place.


    "Yeah, guess it is kinda late. Did you do your homework? Good. Hey, we should celebrate destroying another Vanzyr''s bases! Tomorrow night, I''ll set up a pizza party and call the girls. Maybe we can spin the story and try to get that Mike guy-"


    Sam flicked at Mia''s forehead with her fingers.


    "Fine, business associates only," Mia said as she rubbed the pain away. "Weird, I can''t find even a single trace of Vanzyr. Do you think he''s planning something? Well, of course he is. I remember back in the day when the Wizard King first fought him. You should''ve seen how bad things were; the world was falling apart I tell you. But in the end, good always wins."

 III: Waking Up In a New Dawn

    Tracy''s phone screeched its harmonious music. Signifying the perfect moment to wake up. Five in the morning. Reluctantly, she sat up on her bed with the eagerness of a sloth. The crisp morning air greeted her thanks to the small crack in her window. She would''ve gotten some sunlight if it weren''t for the fact her apartment was located deep in an urban area. Phone in hand, she made her way to her kitchen.


    Some days she wondered if she made the right choice. As of now, she was making breakfast at five in the morning despite having no plans until noon. Tracy couldn''t really understand herself for doing something like this at all. Now she''s barely awake and about to have some cereal. She should''ve opted to sleep in.


    "You surely are not about to eat such garbage food, are you?"


    Her brain woke up as fast as she could reach for a knife.


    Her eyes snapped around for the intruder but found no sign of another person, only a black cat on her table. At first she believed that it somehow got into her kitchen. Then it hit her like a sucker punch. Everything that happened wasn''t just a dream.


    Magic was real.


    The fact itself was unbelievable at first. But everything changed for her that night. All her life she lived ignorant of the truth, simply believing how absurd it was. But now she saw past the curtains and bore witness to a new world. Sadly, she was barely affected by the information.


    "Right, Alexander, was it?" She returned the knife where it belonged. The cat with an unnatural amount of pupils stared at the kitchen tool, undeterred by the fact she pulled a weapon at him. "Got a problem with my breakfast choice?"


    "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Why even settle with such sugary rubbish when you could whip up a proper meal?"


    "A proper meal? Sorry to burst your bubble buddy, but I haven''t bought any groceries since last month. You''re welcome to use whatever is in my fridge to cook yourself a slice of ham."


    Alexander gave off a look of disapproval.


    She watched as the monster disguised as a cat floated away from the table. His journey was short as the destination was her fridge. Tracy expected him to get the ham from the freezer, but then Alexander opened the fridge.


    Somehow, Alexander had stocked up on provisions.


    She couldn''t believe her eyes. What was empty was now filled with all kinds of food.


    "Where did all of this come from?"


    A sly smirk appeared on Alexander. "I still had some funds, and Lord Vanzyr requires only the best a proud chef could offer. Which is me. So I''ve stocked up on everything I need to prepare an excellent meal."


    There was a starving look in Tracy''s eyes. As if she was trapped in a desert and an oasis was just over the horizon.


    "Oh? Well, seeing as you are our host, I''d gladly prepare something. Think of this as payment for your generosity."


    "Really!? I mean. Sure, I could definitely go for some good stuff. Don''t wanna be a picky eater though; I don''t like broccoli."


    He nodded, and the bell on his collar chimed as his head tipped down. "Noted."


    Before she knew it, everything around her was covered in a strange aura. Alexander''s pupils shifted in one eye. Everything about him just spelled unnatural. Other than the fact that he acted like a human, Alexander was just an insult to reality. As if her apartment was haunted; objects and ingredients started to float around.


    "If you mind, I''d prefer that you leave this kitchen so I can focus."


    He said, not moving his eyes away from the buttered frying pan.


    Alexander wanted no one around when he was cooking it seemed. Not wanting to be an obstruction to his work, Tracy walked out of the kitchen and looked for a distraction.


    She found another odd scene when she entered the living room. Right on the couch sat a ten-foot-tall man. Eyes glued on her television, and watching the shopping channel.


    He was so focused on the machine, that he didn''t even register her sitting down next to him.


    He was tall, and despite being average in height, Tracy felt smaller than usual when she was next to the man. Her eyes scanned over him for every detail. From the majestic ceremonial robe to his mystic helm and its fiery crest. Magic did not interest her, but the helm did. Despite being a being of ancient power, he looked as if he had just recently worn his armor.


    Tracy turned her attention shifted over to the television and saw that he was watching a man present a fancy mop. It had a self-drying action and was easy to change between mop heads.


    As much as convincing the salesman was, Tracy didn''t see anything else other than the fact it was a normal mop.


    Perhaps there was just something else to look out for. Maybe she could go for a new pot or pan. She looked back to her kitchen. There was a lot of nonsense going on in there. With floating ingredients and utensils. What a change in her life this was. Tracy was your average store clerk. She was finishing up her shift before she met them. From scanning products to meeting wizards and a shirtless lunatic. Life couldn''t get any crazier for sure.


    That sounded a little too ominous.


    Oh, look at that. The salesman was presenting a nice juicer.


    "Curious," Tracy nearly had a heart attack when Vanzyr spoke. It came out of nowhere and his voice echoed in her head.


    She had thought he was too absorbed in the television to even notice her.


    "During my long sleep, humanity has advanced far more than I''ve envisioned." He swapped to another channel where it showed a documentary about weapons of old. "War¡­ It always did inspire progress. I''ve seen men create monsters when it is needed. And these monsters would either serve only on the battlefield, or help a civilized society."


    From primitive blades to muskets. The documentary talked about how far people had gone with these inventions.


    "History¡­ How strange. What happened to the orcs, the elves, and the dwarves?"


    "Those exist?"


    He looked at Tracy as if he was amused by her answer. "They should. But after setting up a series of magical nodes, I''ve seen or sensed no sign of them. As if they didn''t exist. I cannot even recognize the world we live in now."


    "Wow, to think there were more civilizations than just humans. What were their weapons like?"


    "As you expected from them. You see how far we''ve gone with our weapons, and we aren''t that different from the dwarves."


    "Are you actually human? Why the heck are you so tall then?"


    He found it amusing that her question related more to his height than the other races.


    "That''s a story for another time. I must thank you for allowing us refuge in your home, honorable host. We were out of options and I found myself lost in this world, things were simply alien to me. If I ever succeed in my plans, perhaps you have a place among the elites."


    "Don''t sweat it, big guy. Hey, if it pays off in the end, I won''t regret this whole situation." Her palm cupped her chin as she remembered something. Tracy heard about a person called Sam. She didn''t mean to eavesdrop on their conversation last night. Really, Tracy was hungry so she went to get some food from the fridge and that was when she caught a few names. Now the question was whether or not she should ask.


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "Something bothering you?"


    Tracy scrambled to make herself presentable. "Nothing! Everything is honestly fine. I was just thinking about last night, and how my life basically changed. But¡­ I''m curious about these people you''re fighting against."


    "You need not worry, they are not your concern now and forever."


    She arched her brow at that statement. "Is it? Seeing as how you guys forced me to look behind the curtains, I''m pretty sure whatever it is you all are doing I would be caught in the middle of it."


    "Perhaps you''re right. But this is not your war. Just know that I am indebted to you and that I will not allow any harm upon you or your family."


    The two went silent as the conversation died. Their attention switched over to the television which showed another cleaning product, a roomba that could clean every corner of the house. Bold claims since it looked no different than your usual roomba.


    As the two sat there, Tracy couldn''t help but examine Vanzyr once again. It seemed they were back at square one where the great wizard was focused solely on the television. But she knew better than to doubt. This man was aware of his surroundings, and she started to doubt that he''d be easily caught by surprise.


    She wondered how much stronger he really was. If he could bend the stars to his will, then perhaps he could easily split the ocean. Command it to freeze even. Only time could tell her, and if she stuck around, who knows, she could learn something new. Something related to her hobby of course.


    ******


    In the suburbs of Goldcrest, you''d find a small home. This in particular looked no different than the rest, not even special by design. But the only thing that made it unique was that it housed a very important character. Two to be in fact. And they are Sam and Mia. The heroic duo of Earth, enemies of Vanzyr, and symbols of peace.


    Mia, the familiar of Sam, was hard at work in finding Vanzyr. But her efforts were met with disappointment as she couldn''t find a single trace of him. As if he didn''t exist at all.


    Sadly, she knew the truth. There were many magical nodes all around, but Mia knew that these were decoys meant to distract her or lead them away. In the end, she would find him. All she hoped was that it wouldn''t be too late.


    Just then, Sam entered the room, backpack in hand and ready for the day.


    "Oh, good morning, Sam! Grab some breakfast, we''re having leftover pizza!"


    Sam sat down at the table and looked at the reheated pizza. It was the same one from last night. Ordered from a nearby pizza parlor since the two didn''t have time to prepare a proper meal for dinner. They''ve forgotten to defrost any meat beforehand. Now they''re eating the same pizza because Mia was far too busy today.


    "Man, I am not seeing any signs of Vanzyr anywhere! This guy must be so scared that he''s hiding in some cave or something."


    Sam said nothing and reached for a packet of hot sauce.


    "Right, I worry about him and you worry about your social life. Anyway, need a ride to school? Oh, that''s cool. I can stay here and work. Hey, how are your parents?"


    Sam bit down on her slice of pizza, savoring it with every bite.


    "Still stuck at work, huh? Guess it''ll just be us until then, and I can provide for the both of us just fine. Until they send you your allowance, of course. Oh, you''re heading out now?"


    Sam finished up her unhealthy breakfast by washing her hands in the sink. Once done, she made her way to the bus stop after giving Mia a short goodbye.


    As for Mia, she continued her little job of tracking magic energy.


    ******


    "Bon app¨¦tit,"


    Tracy couldn''t believe her eyes. Moments ago, the table was empty, but now a proper meal was present. Alexander outdid himself today. Her plate was filled with a nice stack of waffles complemented with all sorts of berries along with an omelet. And he was quite generous with the spices. She could taste the basil and parsley already. Even with the asparagus, she knew she''d enjoy the meal. And best of all, there was whipped cream and syrup on the waffles. She couldn''t ignore the poached eggs that were perfectly made as if it was the very gods who poached it.


    But it wasn''t just put together carelessly. No, Alexander made sure that it was presented as if it was a work of art. Everything was arranged perfectly on her plate. As if it came out of a show.


    "Your lack of comment gives me pride," Alexander said smugly.


    It was clear to him that he impressed Tracy with this simple breakfast. Alexander took pride in this. Despite knowing that someone was insignificant she was.


    "Is it to your liking, Lord Vanzyr?"


    "It¡­ I cannot lie, my old friend. This all tastes different from what I remembered."


    Tracy hadn''t realized that Vanzyr had already taken a few bites from his meal. He kept his helmet on, and it was quite an amusing scene. There sat a mighty wizard enjoying a nice little breakfast served by a cat. Somewhat comical. The way Vanzyr dealt with the meal was so, in layman''s terms, fancy. He was the picture of sophisticated grace.


    Even then, it seemed that this breakfast didn''t meet his expectations. Something Tracy does not know the context.


    Alexander dipped his head down in defeat. "Forgive me, my Lord, that I did not meet your standards."


    "Raise your head high, Kincaid. This is no fault of yours, and be proud of what you''ve achieved today. Come, let us all eat and enjoy this bountiful breakfast."


    "Oh, right!" Tracy stuttered as she remembered the plate in front of her.


    She raised her fork and stabbed into the first thing she laid eyes on; the tasty stacks of waffles with a good coat of syrup. It was a new world of flavor after she tossed it into her mouth.


    One magical cat had just impressed her greatly with his cooking. It sounded like something from a work of fiction. Then again, magic itself wasn''t common, true magic and not those street performers she''d see on the way home. If she didn''t know better, perhaps Alexander did a few spells just to make the food amazing.


    Tracy felt like she was in heaven.


    It was doubtful that this magnificent breakfast collection didn''t reach Vanzyr''s expectations. But you know how the saying goes: The customer is always right, in matters of taste, of course. So she couldn''t exactly relate with Vanzyr''s little conundrum. He can be dissatisfied and confused all he wants. Tracy on the other hand would rather enjoy Alexander''s cooking for the rest of her life. Hopefully.


    Suddenly, her phone rang.


    "Honorable host, your strange trinket sings?" Vanzyr asked curiously.


    "It is a mobile smartphone, my Lord." Alexander answered.


    "Sorry, it''s my boss. Gotta take this," She grabbed her phone and walked out of the room for some privacy. "Hey, Rick, what do you need?"


    "Yeah, I''m sorry for calling, but do you have the keys? She lost hers and I don''t have time to help."


    "Really? Fine, I''ll go and open the store. Be there in a few." She returned to the kitchen knowing the fact she wouldn''t be able to finish her breakfast. "Hey, I gotta go to work. My co-worker lost her keys and can''t open the store."


    "It is no problem, honorable host," Vanzyr said. "Your breakfast shall remain warm until your return." He promised.


    "Magic sure is useful, ain''t it?"


    With that, she said her goodbyes and left for work. It wasn''t much trouble getting to work. No one bothered her early in the morning. Which she was grateful for once. Tracy didn''t like interacting with strangers unprompted unless it was important.


    Rick accompanied his daughter with an appointment, so that meant the only person who could open the store other than him was her.


    As Tracy grew closer to the store, she took out her set of keys. She noticed someone waiting, and it wasn''t her coworker. This person was short, about half her height. A bit plump, but Tracy wasn''t one to judge easily. Though, judging by the height, this must''ve been a kid. This meant that this poor child had irresponsible parents seeing how round they were. What really caught her attention was their strange hoodie. Two large ears on top. And Tracy swore they were moving. Not with the wind, but much more precise.


    It even slightly pointed toward her as she walked up to the doors.


    She didn''t know who this was, but Tracy assumed that they were a customer waiting for the store to open. Now the biggest question was: Where was Mia? Is she waiting at the back? Tracy would look for her after opening the store.


    "Sorry about this, Tracy, I forgot my keys."


    Tracy froze just as she was about to twist the lock open. Slowly, her head swiveled to the kid, or so she first believed was one. That voice belonged to only one person, someone she had known for a long time now.


    A furry face stared back at her. Tracy could only stare back with a look of utter dread. She wanted to scream out in disbelief but kept her mouth pursed.


    Mia confusingly looked at the ground beneath her. "Huh, what are you looking at?"


    "Y-you¡­"


    "What? Is there something-" Their eyes connected, and it was then that Mia knew something was truly wrong. "Oh gosh! Is my spell not working!?"


    Tracy felt her little hands push against her thighs with great urgency.


    "Open! Open the door!"


    Rushed through the store and into the break room, Mia went straight over to the nearest mirror and inspected herself.


    "Huh?" To her surprise, a different person stared back.


    In the mirror stood a fair-skinned woman of average height. Auburn hair with green highlights. And eyes that resembled a shade of olive. So all in all, she should be seen as human. But somehow, in some way, Tracy saw Mia for who she truly was.


    Tracy stood behind her and examined the mirror. She saw the face of the Mia she knew.


    "My spell is still active." Mia said as she furrowed her brows. She sent a suspicious gaze to Tracy. "So how can you see through it?"


    "I don''t know!"


    "What are you hiding?"


    "Mia, we have known each other for over three years now. I have nothing to hide!"


    "Right, right¡­ I''m sorry." With a single hand, Mia caressed her head gently. She looked absolutely tired and defeated, unlike her human form. Disguise? It seemed to be the better word for the situation. "I''ve been a bit stressed out since last night. Thought I could finally spend the rest of my life on vacation or something. But things just didn''t go the way I wanted it to. Please, I know that whatever it is that caused you to see through my spell, it is related to my problem."


    "I don''t get it, how exactly does it even concern you?"


    "Did something happen last night, Tracy? Seen anything out of the ordinary?"


    If you didn''t count the whole event last night, where her eyes were ripped open and the hidden secrets of her world were revealed to her. Then no, nothing happened. But as much as she wanted to be upfront with Mia, someone she considered a friend, it would certainly cause a lot of trouble.


    If Vanzyr was the Lord of Darkness, then that would mean Mia was part of the good guys. It made sense, the small and a bit unhealthy-looking mouse-like woman was an uncommon sight. Not only was she magical, but she was always a kind-hearted gal. Big heart indeed.


    "Two big ones¡­"


    "Tracy! Eyes up here!"


    "Sorry!" Tracy turned away as she was caught being inappropriate.


    "Focus, I need to know!"


    "I¡­" Well, there was only one option left. "I saw a cat last night, and I went to pet it. But then I saw its eyes. It was¡­ crazy. Just isn''t natural, I mean. But the thing I remember the most is that it talked. It scolded me for petting. Then I ran, and that''s about it."


    "Alexander Kincaid," Mia said. "You were lucky to be here right now. That monster would''ve done terrible things to you."


    Indeed, making breakfast was such a sadistic act.


    "I''m guessing you caught him putting some nodes around, and you got affected. I''ll need you to take me to the spot later."


    Both went silent. Tracy continued to stare at Mia''s form. She was greatly different from her human disguise. Aside from looking like a mascot, Mia was round in the right places. She inspected herself in the mirror and compared them together.


    "Small¡­"


    "I''m not small!" Mia hissed.


    "I wasn''t talking about you."


    "Well, I don''t have time for this, listen. I''ll call you soon after my shift. Be safe out there, there''s no telling what Vanzyr is plotting right now."


    "Who?" She was playing the oblivious character quite well. If she could, she would''ve patted herself on the shoulder then and there.


    "Big bad, typical philosophical villain type. And hey, I''m actually happy that we finally met like this. You were always a good friend, Tracy."


    As she smiled, Tracy couldn''t help but feel disgusted at herself. Here she was, lying to her friend. It was a terrible feeling. So much so, that she wanted to drown in shame. But that didn''t matter. Perhaps she could convince her sister to talk with Vanzyr and spare Mia. That wouldn''t be enough though. In the end, there would always be a fallout between them.


    As Tracy said goodbye and left the store. She couldn''t help but feel regret.

 IV: The Heroes

    Goldcrest was just like any other. People of all kinds lived in this town with a great sense of community. Half of the population knew each other enough that you could tell someone wasn''t here.


    Sam greeted others coldly as she walked by. Faces she and her family recognized. People Sam knew since she was a child. But even then, she tried to distance herself from these folks. A sense of responsibility kept her from mingling with others. Ever since she was awakened by Mia, Sam grew suspicious of others. For years now, Sam fought countless foes that emerged from the shadows of the world.


    When duty called, it was her who answered. Showing them all that she was not to be reckoned with. Her skills even brought her to new challenges. Battling the fearsome lieutenants of the vile Vanzyr. But she was not alone. Three followed her path and joined her quest to vanquish evil.


    The brawn of the four: Himiko! A transfer student from distant lands! She first believed that her life wouldn''t be so different when she enrolled at Goldcrest High, but she thought wrong. Mia, the proud familiar of Sam, awakened the foreign student and granted her power beyond her wildest dream. And bestowed to Himiko the hand of the Wizard King: Desolation Torment. A mighty gauntlet imbued with great magical energy that gave her the strength of several giants.


    Born in a wealthy name, Cassandra Wallace. The only child with only a few friends. Despite her origins, she was not your stereotypical rich girl raised with a silver spoon. She was a dependable and trustworthy friend, who placed everyone''s safety before hers. And when the opportunity to save more lives arose in the form of Mia, Cassie was not hesitant to accept. Now she wielded the Immortal Loyalty, a mighty shield that could protect her friends from all attacks.


    Then there was Penny, the strongest, bravest of them all! There was no need for introduction.


    These four heroes kept the world safe from Vanzyr¡¯s wrath. Together they save millions. And with the power of friendship, there was no challenge they cannot beat.


    Despite it all, she could only trust herself. That''s why she went alone to face the final boss without asking them for help! Such a selfish decision-


    ¡°Cut that out!¡± Himiko slapped Penny on the back of the head. ¡°Just because you wanted to join in on the action, doesn''t mean you can make Sam feel bad about leaving us behind!¡±


    Penny rubbed her head as she followed Sam and the others on the way to school. ¡°Oh come on! Aren''t you just as upset as me? We spent the whole day worrying if she was ever coming back.¡±


    ¡°But everything went fine, didn''t it?¡± Cassie argued, but her voice was almost just a whisper. ¡°We should just be glad that Vanzyr is weakened. The next time we encounter his minions, we will have the upper hand.¡±


    ¡°You''re right and all, but I wanted a taste! She had all the fun to herself! Can you imagine? Us, charging into the castle of the final boss! Risking it all to save the world!¡±


    Sam ignored the three as she focused more on walking. Penny grew distrusting toward Sam after her little stunt. Or simply that she felt left out when Sam faced the last bastion of their enemy.


    Penny was always the hot blooded fighter. It even showed with the way she dressed. A leather jacket with spikes on her shoulder. Her wild hair dyed red with a purple streak. Chains around her belt. Steel toed boots with more spikes. Penny was like a punk rockstar. Even her shirt had the word ¡°Rebel¡± on it. It was also noted that she would pick a fight with a lot of people who she disagreed with. But she''s lucky that she had her friends to hold her back.


    Himiko was the shortest of the four. Raven black hair styled in a bob cut which was kept short. She dresses far more modestly compared to Penny. A simple pink bardot top and a black skirt. Of course her style wasn''t complete without her handbag. The only thing that clashed with her clothes was the knapsack she carried for school. Himiko was a no-nonsense kind of girl. She would always be the responsible of the four. Sometimes she even acted as the leader if Sam wasn''t in the mood.


    Cassandra was simpler with her choice of attire. Ankle long skirt. A sweater. Hair neatly tied to a bun. She was a shy girl, the oldest of them all as well. She mostly kept to herself when she wasn''t around friends. But don''t let her demeanor fool you, she was the kind of person to jump into danger if there was a life at stake.


    Sam on the other hand only wore a grey hoodie and a black skirt. Long wavy blonde hair tied behind her back. Face remained expressionless as she walked with her friends. Her eyes showed no interest in the subject as she focused on walking to school.


    As her friends walked and talked, someone suddenly stood in their way. ¡°Well, well!¡±


    Everyone but Sam took on a battle ready stance as they encountered someone they knew was a danger to humanity. Purpura. Or her secret identity: Jessica. Gone was her fancy witch attire, replaced with an even fancier set of clothes that showed off her wealth. Her red hair free to flow with the wind.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you losers here!¡±


    Penny shoved her face close to Purpura¡¯s, and invaded her personal space. ¡°Can it, Purpura! If you hadn''t noticed, we have you and your boss on the run!¡±


    Himiko crossed her arms as she eyed the witch carefully. ¡°And I doubt you and your forces have enough to take us on. Now that Sam destroyed the last of your bases.¡±


    Penny chuckled mischievously. ¡°Yeah! Guess the cat can''t send anymore monsters to fight us! What will you ever do?¡±


    Purpura growled. Her eyes then spotted a boy walking by and quickly snatched him by the collar of his jacket. ¡°Morgan! Where are you going!? Don''t you leave me to fight these four alone!¡±


    ¡°Fight?¡± Morgan questioned in a hush voice. Gone was his chaotic personality.


    Morgan acted as if he didn''t know what was happening. Or perhaps he was completely a different person. Throughout the years they''ve known him in school, Morgan, or James, was always a recluse. Kept to himself when he wasn''t needed in a fight. The boy even grew out his bangs just to avoid eye contact.


    ¡°But¡­ Jessica, we have class.¡±


    ¡°That can wait!¡± She hissed. ¡°We can''t disappoint our Lord Vanzyr!¡±


    ¡°Are you bunch larping again?¡± Another voice joined the conversation. And from out of nowhere, a boy appeared between the two opposing forces.


    Everyone but Sam and James collectively groaned.


    ¡°Nerd. Can you stop interrupting us?¡¯ Penny asked politely.


    ¡°Boy oh boy! If you guys need a max-leveled wizard, I''m your guy!¡± They called this boy nerd, but his real name was Albert. There was nothing special about him as he was just someone who didn''t mind his own business. Especially around this particular group. There was nothing notable about him. He dressed like a geek, acted like one too.


    Purpura growled as she glared daggers at Albert. ¡°You just ruined the mood. Let''s go, Morgan.¡± Purpura dragged her partner away.


    ¡°Hey, wait!¡± Albert gave chase. ¡°You definitely need me if you''re going against those four! I heard Himiko is a powerful fighter!¡±


    The four sighed in relief as they watched their enemies and Albert walk away. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Making a lot of noise so early in the morning.¡± Penny froze when someone else spoke. A familiar voice the four recognized well. ¡°You girls sure are a bundle of fun.¡±


    ¡°Mike!¡± Penny straightened her posture as she greeted the tall boy. ¡°Funny meeting you here!¡±


    Mike was a brunette with a kind heart. Always wanted the best for everyone. The kind of guy people would depend on as he was the type of guy to help without asking for a reward. The three girls couldn''t help but admire the boy for his past deeds. Not only was he known by almost everyone in town, he was popular at school. Guys wanted to hang out, girls wanted to know him better. This was the kind of guy you''d find in a movie.


    ¡°Just heading to school, like everyone else is.¡± Mike smiled warmly. ¡°To think, it¡¯s our last year. It feels as if it was just yesterday when Penny pranked the whole school by stealing all the chalks and turned the parking lot white.¡±


    Penny laughed awkwardly. ¡°Yeah! Good times!¡±


    ¡°Penny was such a racal, wasn''t she?¡± Himiko added as her face turned into a shade of red.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Cassie whispered. ¡°Our little trouble maker.¡±


    Sam said nothing as she coldly stared at Mike.


    ¡°You girls should get to class soon. This is our last year, and we better make the most of it.¡± He waved them goodbye as he walked away.


    The three watched as Mike vanished around the corner. Once they were sure Mike was gone, they swooned. Sam merely stared ahead.


    ¡°I can''t believe it! Mike talked to us!¡± Penny smiled as she felt her heart flutter.


    ¡°He always talks to us, idiot.¡± Himiko reminded the punk girl. ¡°And¡­ I like it every time.¡±


    ¡°Sam is leaving.¡± Cassie told the other two.


    Penny sighed tiredly. ¡°Sam''s right. We gotta focus on school. I need to get some study in since it''s our last year. Don''t want dad to scold an ear off.¡±


    The three followed after their leader. Cassie fiddled with her thumbs as she brought up a question. ¡°So, where will you girls go for college?¡±


    Meanwhile, Tracy was back home in her kitchen, eating her breakfast which was kept warm by Vanzyr. As she did so, Tracy informed the two of the events that happened when she went to help her fellow employee, and who it was. She still remembered how strange, and shocking it was to discover the person she considered as a friend turned out to be a mouse. A talking magical mouse to be in fact.


    Ever since last night, her world had turned upside down.


    Everything about this world unraveled to her. The discovery of magic was something she never would have thought possible. Much more, the fact she practically aligned herself with evil. She had no choice, not like she cared about it that much. Tracy wasn''t really one for the battle of good and evil. She had a life to live. And right now, that was under threat.


    As she ate her delicious meal, Kincaid floated about, deep in thought as he assessed the situation.


    As for Vanzyr, the giant was occupied with a book he found in the apartment.


    Tracy, for a moment only, peered at the cover. It was one of her romance novels she kept as a paper weight. The genre barely interested her at all, so she hadn''t really read the book. Though it was Mia¡¯s Christmas present, which bothered Tracy a little since she didn''t give the time and day to appreciate the gift. The book that was given to Tracy by her friend who she cherished despite current circumstances.


    The young woman flinched when Vanzyr slammed the book close. ¡°Quite an ending.¡± He commented.


    ¡°No way you already finished that!¡±


    Vanzyr chuckled at her accusation. ¡°My speed is far superior to a mortal¡¯s. In a matter of a day, I will be able to read your collection.¡± She can''t help but believe him. He was extraordinary and beyond her understanding.


    ¡°My Lord, we must focus on the task at hand.¡± Kincaid reminded them of their next hurdle. ¡°It won''t be long before Sam and her friends will find us. Considering how close we are to Goldcrest High, the moment they learn of our location will be catastrophic.¡±


    ¡°He''s right. I''m gonna have to follow a mouse later to investigate my lie!¡±


    Vanzyr shook his head. ¡°This is a trivial problem. There is no need to be concerned as I have already devised a plan that will throw Mia off our trail.¡±


    As Vanzyr explained his plan to the two, Sam was at class staring out the window. She didn''t listen to the teacher, and instead lost herself within her mind. A daydream of a world beyond this one. Free from the shackles of duty. Free to live and choose. Sam couldn''t help but scowl. Everything was not how she wanted things to go. Stuck in this classroom. When she could be out there, fighting. Facing down the tides of enemies Kincaid dared to send.


    Slaughtering them.


    Her hand started to shake as she imagined herself amidst the chaos. Blade slicing through the air as she strode through the barren world of what was once alive.


    ¡°Sam!¡± Penny snapped her out of it. ¡°What''s the answer for-¡±


    Sam said nothing as she shoved a crumpled up paper into Penny''s hand. It seemed the girl had the foresight to expect Penny to ask for answers for the test.


    The punk girl grinned wickedly as she began cheating on the test she didn''t study for. As for Sam, she went back to daydreaming.


    Soon enough, the bell rang and the students filed out one by one. Of course the four stuck together, especially when danger lurked around the corner. It had always been like that ever since Mia showed up in their lives. Gone were the days of mundane and regular. Now they swore to protect this world from the clutches of evil.


    The four entered the cafeteria and lined up for lunch. Once they had what they wanted, the girls sat down at their usual table. Funny enough, no matter how crowded the cafeteria was, this particular table was always empty. Which gave them their own little corner away from their peers.


    ¡°Man, days are getting longer and longer! I felt like I was trapped for years in that class!¡± Penny said as she munched on a slice of pizza. ¡°It''s like cardboard, but tastes amazing.¡±


    The other three continued with their meals.


    Himiko cleared her throat and caught everyone''s attention. ¡°Listen, I know this is a little too early to ask. But this is our last year. So, I want to know what career you three will go for?¡±


    ¡°In pursuing my goal to be the best rockstar in the country!¡± Penny announced proudly. ¡°Everyone''s gonna be hearing my music on all devices!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re being real here, Penny. I''m talking about college.¡± The foreign girl frowned. ¡°A music career is good, but you need an education to fall back to.¡±


    ¡°Big whoop.¡± Penny rolled her eyes. ¡°All I need is to get out of high school and I''m all set. I can work at my aunt¡¯s car shop if I need cash. You think I''m dumb? Sorry to burst your bubble, but this girl has it all figured out!¡±


    ¡°I can help if you want. My dad has a lot of businesses¡­¡± Cassie suggested.


    ¡°See? Cassie has my back! With her help, I can make it big!¡±


    Himiko rolled her eyes. ¡°As for me, I''ll be studying archeology.¡±


    ¡°You just wanna be a licensed grave robber?¡± Penny tilted her head to the side.


    ¡°Yes. Sure.¡±


    ¡°What about you, Cassie? Any big plans once we get out of this place?¡±


    The shy girl looked away. ¡°I''m not exactly going to college or anywhere.¡± She confessed to them. ¡°My dad is gonna give me a manager job at one of our branches in town. And then when he thinks I''m ready, I''ll be inheriting his company.¡±


    Penny frowned. ¡°Right. The princess has her supportive family to keep her afloat. Hey, you offered help earlier, so you better not chicken out.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t! What are friends for?¡±


    Himiko faced their fearless leader. ¡°What about you? Any plans?¡±


    Sam takes a moment to finish her food before answering.


    Penny arched her brow. ¡°Really? You''re just gonna join the police force?¡±


    ¡°Am I the only one in our group who is leaving this town?¡± Himiko questioned.


    ¡°Well, Sam is always the heroic type. Doesn''t surprise me.¡± Cassie commented.


    Penny waved a dismissive hand at the shy girl. ¡°Or Sam just wants the thrill of a fight. You''re always so gung-ho when there''s a monster. Especially if we found the bad guy''s bases back then. And I thought I was the hot blooded fighter of our team.¡±


    ¡°This reminds of the time Sam turned a monster into dust with just a flick of her finger.¡± Himiko reminisced about a moment in their past.


    The three remembered it so vividly. A creature of iron was terrorizing a steel mill, sent by Kincaid in order to steal raw materials for his dastardly plans. The four, of course, arrived to deal with the problem. But something that day was different. In particular, Sam was acting differently. The moment they appeared ready to fight, Sam marched up to the golem and turned it into dust.


    This solidified why Sam was the leader. She not only had brains and the tactical superiority over them, but she was far stronger as well. There were times they knew she was holding back just to prolong the fight. After that encounter in the steel mill, they realized how much of a war freak their leader was despite her quiet nature.


    The four continued with their meal, when suddenly someone else took a seat at the same table. Two of them as well. It was none other than Purpura and Morgan. The former grinned wickedly as she faced the heroes, showing them that she was not scared despite her master hiding from Sam. As for Morgan, he waved to them hello and went on to eat his lunch.


    ¡°Well, talking about your future? As if, the moment Lord Vanzyr executes his master plan, there won''t be a future for you four.¡±


    ¡°Can it, witch!¡± Penny sneered. ¡°Whatever plan your boss has, we can stop it!¡±


    ¡°Actually, I''m curious about your plan b, Purpura.¡± Himiko said. ¡°What if your master is defeated? Where will you go?¡±


    ¡°As if! But if you must know, I am going to inherit Kincaid¡¯s oil business. We have it all planned out in case this whole evil stuff doesn''t work out. Even then, I''m sure Lord Vanzyr would make quick work of you four.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Lord Vanzyr.¡± Morgan said between bites of his sandwich. ¡°I actually want to go into a medical career if I''m being honest.¡±


    ¡°Why medical? We''ve seen you without your shirt; you''re more fitting for some sports team. Maybe football?¡± Penny suggested.


    Morgan blushed. ¡°You''ve seen me what?¡±


    ¡°I really prefer this version of Morgan,¡± Himiko said. ¡°More manageable for sure.¡±


    ¡°We''re not here to talk about college!¡± Purpura reminded them. ¡°I am here to gloat about our upcoming victory over you and the rat.¡±


    ¡°Mouse.¡± Cassie corrected.


    ¡°Tomato tomahto.¡±


    Morgan stood up. ¡°Listen, I need to study today, so we can play next time.¡± The girls watched as he left, finished with his lunch and eager to fill his mind with knowledge. Despite still having time before the next class.


    ¡°Anyway!¡± Purpura pointed an accusing finger at Penny. ¡°Where''s my book you borrowed!? It''s been weeks!¡±


    ¡°I''m not done yet!¡± Penny told the red head. ¡°I''m only at chapter 3!¡±


    ¡°Why do you even read!? Stick to being the dumb one!¡±


    Penny bared her teeth as she cracked her knuckles. ¡°The dumb one? You want your book!? Then fight me for it!¡±


    ¡°I will wipe the floor with you!¡±


    ¡°Girls!¡± Himiko pulled Penny back into her seat. ¡°Behave or I call the teacher.¡±


    Purpura sat down as well. ¡°Fine. I better see that book back in my hands, or I will curse you with itchy bones.¡±


    ¡°Ha! As if your magic can do anything against me!¡±


    The two argued, but Sam chose to ignore the commotion as she finished up with her lunch. She said goodbye to her friends and Purpura first before she went off on her own. As she exited the cafeteria, a lunch tray flew across the room as Purpura and Penny began brawling. She paid them no mind knowing the teachers would soon break it up.


    Classes went by like a blur, and Sam was already on her way home. She tried to take a scenic route, but her friends kept her from doing so.


    She walked the sidewalk she was so familiar with. Her memory of her surroundings was so accurate, that she didn''t need to look where she was going. Her eyes are merely glued to the red clouds above.


    One by one, her friends separated from the group as they headed home. And once they were gone, Sam stopped in her tracks. She kept staring at the sky. Not caring if someone saw her in her oblivious or distracted state. Some would think she was daydreaming. But in truth, she was staring back.


    High above the stratosphere was an eye, floating beyond the reach of mortals.


    Sam raised her hand and pointed at it. To a human, it would be impossible to see such a thing. It was too far for anyone¡¯s range of vision. Yet here she was, staring right at it. With a whisper, a flash of light escaped her fingertip. The eye couldn''t evade the attack as magic turned it into dust. With that, Sam continued her way back home. It wasn''t a proper fight, but she felt satisfied with her actions.


    Vanzyr took a moment to compose himself as he lost vision of Sam. It was foolish to believe he could just spy on his archenemy. This was a troubling situation. And to think, he was bound to fight her one day. As it was his end, no matter the change. But he would simply surrender to fate. Vanzyr vowed to change it and escape this mysterious prison he found himself in. This unbreakable loop. There must be a way to finish it.


    Or else he shall suffer the same fate as his previous life cycles.