She didn’t waste time after they were done with their honestly belated honeymoon. Natalya was in a constant perpetual good mood if it wasn’t for the changes in the environment. It was like she was braver than usual, bolder in her steps, and in a way Mavin’s presence was a sign of the days where she was simple. Before the nightmare. She was still a soldier who was good at sniping people from afar.
Her helicopter took her back to the place where the Magi gathered. It was an old granite infrastructure located in the Nation of Hith, in the Capital of Haymouth with six million people living on it. Hith was a strange city with gray brick buildings with hip roofs. It was clear that the boom of industry had made it prosperous.
There were no farms nearby because Haymouth was in this basin-like position. Entry in the city is done through the roads that were constructed. Westward district where most of the goods and items enter. Sunset Gate has two main roads where the cars and trucks enter. In the middle of Sunset Gate, in the center of the city, there is a Citadel where the Old Magi gather.
The helicopter closed in and she saw the tower where the Old Magi gathered. It was a tall red brick building with a giant clock that told the time and rings the bell to signal the city folk. Below the helicopter there was a curious amount of interconnected roads. Because of the elevation of the City itself, there were dark spots around the city of Haymouth.
The helicopter they were riding on slowly descended to the landing pad located in the middle of the castle. The pilot started to check for permission and since they came here without any escorts. The pilot and the gunner that was assigned to the helicopter was their only way out of this city. She doesn’t expect anything to happen to them. And since she was with her husband. She truly felt bolder than ever.
“Your quietness is disturbing.”
She called him. Mavin wore a simple black suit with white undershirt and red ties. Natalya wore a red skirt suit with black stockings and black knee-high boots. She also wore a gray shawl draped over her shoulders and a chestnut-brown coat. Lastly, she wore a red-colored lipstick that matched with her complexion. Her hands were covered with black gloves.
When they stepped out she noticed the awful amount of soldiers nervously waiting. A man in traditional Hithian robes and shoulder mantle approached Natalya and Mavin. His eyes went to her husband, but he naturally gathered his eyes on her. She smiled gracefully, a cold one.
“Lady Natalya,” he greeted with a heart on chest. “And this is?”
“Please, enough of the ‘who is this’ Najee. Obviously, this is my husband.”
“Mavin Tomas,” said Mavin. He was using his heavy voice. Her husband could produce such a booming voice sometimes. He was tall and wide-shouldered as well, making his presence intimidating to lesser men.
“I am Najee Ostra,” he introduced himself. “Perhaps Sir Tomas had heard of me?”
Mavin stared at him. He sweated under Mavin’s gaze. Natalya steps forward before her husband could intimidate the poor man further.
“Pardon my husband, he’s quite grumpy after… such a long rest.”
“Yes, it truly surprises me that the master of the Hounds is still alive.”
Mavin didn’t say anything. He stood straight with his jaws set and eyes settled on Najee. Natalya almost wanted to laugh at his behavior, but she let poor Najee guide them to the transport vehicle. Although they landed in the middle of the city directly, there were still a few minutes to go before they reached the center of the Old Magi.
Natalya entered the limo and they stayed in the back while Najee occupied the front seat with the driver. Natalya scooted on the side while Mavin closed the limo doors. He scanned the limo and stared down the driver who slid the covers close.
“Oh my, aggressive today, eh?”
Mavin rested his hand on his thigh. “Hmm, Hith is quite urbanized more than I thought it would be.”
“Hmm, it is the center of power of the Magi. We may have quite the power in the Westernmost, but here in the Center of the Known Continents, we have so little because they are quite conservative. Holmia is the center of the Nullers Sect, and thus it was easy to subvert it, but here in the center of the Magi… they are quite resistant. Even during the days where they lost the sparks, they did nothing but search. Minerva, she was quite the mind, being able to deduce another method to use it.”
“I see. That Minerva, was she that one?”
“You fought in Holmia? Yeah, she was holding Kismet’s artifact. That reminds me, have you gotten rid of all the artifacts?”
“I did. It’s better if they are gone.”
“Good.”
The artifact was a nuisance. She had gotten most of the artifacts but the Old Magi have been keeping some of them. She had an idea on what he might do with them, but she trusted him enough… no she choose to trust him so that he may trust her. Unfortunate for the world, she had become bias to her husband, and she would probably see him with gilder colors and appreciation. Fifty-seven years of loneliness can do that. Then again, the last days have been rather dream-like to her.
Careless, aren’t I? Natalya thought to herself. This indulgence was something she’d usually be wary. Oh how everyone would laugh at her acting like some love-stricken teenager. Not that she cared about others opinion unless they were named Velna or Velia.
Poor Silica wanted to come and serve us, she thought of the maid serving the house. Too bad that I can’t take you along, Sil, this is not a place for those who don’t have the face to endure other’s pride.
***
The limo took them to the center of the Magi’s learning. The car was parked inside of the compound. The eyes of the Magi’s gathered immediately at the black limo. The first one to step out was Mavin who took a step out. The others looked at him, wondering what this man was. It was then that Natalya followed after. Her appearance made quite a noise among the male and female ‘students’ of the center of the Old Magi. This ‘castle’ was one of the old towers made by the Old Magi’s. There were students who gathered to learn the sparks.
Mavin scanned the area before resting his in front. Natalya looked sideways and told Najee with her eyes to lead on. The crowd that gathered was quite amusing to Natalya. In the side of the Magi, there wasn’t really any indication of her liking anyone or being close to. So finding her escorted by someone instead of alone made quite a commotion.
“Is that her bodyguard?”
“Fool! Don’t you know?”
“What?”
“That’s her husband.”
“Her husband? I thought--”
“Tsk, you don’t know this, but there were rumors that her husband didn’t really die. Have you not paid attention to anything?”
Hearing them she was amused and at the same time a bit angered. She hated the Magi when they were loud and noisy about her private affairs. If she could, she would have told them to mind their own business. If it wasn’t for their prying eyes she would have done more than stay in the hotel with her husband for weeks.
Ignoring the students, they entered the premises. She saw that her husband was acting like her bodyguard and was calmly eyeing anyone with his gaze. It was a nice change to have someone protect her. Although she was confident that she could raise her shields. To have someone do the watching was comforting. Other than the times where she’s with her students, she rarely feels secure.
They entered the main lobby where Najee led them. Another man in Hithian clothing approached them. This time his mantle was gold-lined. He held quite a proud chin. He sized up Mavin and approached forward and tried to reach out for her hand, rudely.
Natalya stopped and didn’t offer her hand. She calmly glanced at Mavin who stared down the man who felt the fear of God.
“Yahir,” Natalya said calmly. “I see that you have not noticed that my husband is with me right now. Be careful, he might just crush your hand if you choose to be rude to me this time.”
Yahir swallowed and shook his head. “Pardon my rudeness, it seems that the rumors are true. It seems the Masters of the Hounds and the one who crippled and tore the sparks from us are here in the center of the Magi. Very brave of you to do so, Lady Bellatrix.”
Mavin and Natalya remained expressionless while the students were quite shocked. I guess they aren’t going to hide it. Not that it matters when they’ll know later on.
“Do you want me to rid you of the sparks as well?” Mavin said coldly. “Not that it’d matter when yours can barely make a threat to me.”
Natalya looked at Mavin and then to Yahir whose shoulders sagged at that. Mavin took a step and looked down on the man. He towered him and his presence made him feel small. Natalya looked around and saw that the students didn’t do anything. Even the Magi trying to leave did nothing.
It was the worst combination after all. Those who are not ignorant of her husband would know what he had done. How instrumental he was in the tripartite war and the killings that happened during the Great Silence fifty-seven years ago in Arkadia City.
There was barely anyone who matched her and her husband in terms of shooting people’s heads from a distance. She was a dangerous Magi who once held the Imperator’s Mark, and he was a Ghost, a Magi Slayer who killed Magi and Null alike.
The one who introduced the green winds to the world.
The bastard who funded that weapon that could wipe a city in an instant.
“Please, calm, calm,” Najee stood in the middle. The poor man was starting to melt. “Let us be civilized men, come on.”
“I am being polite,” Mavin said. “However, it seems that my friend here has no intention of doing so.”
“Yahir, please, not now,” Najee begged Yahir. Yahir looked away and walked with contempt and shame. Mavin settled down his gaze and became expressionless once more.
“Please, let us head to the master’s tower, yes?”
“Yes,” Natalya signaled Mavin.
Yahir started to lead them out of the lobby. Natalya walked next to Mavin closely and said. “Nice job, did you know him too?”
“I have an idea how to deal with him,” Mavin said. “Though I’d probably falter if the person we’re meeting is her.”
Natalya looked away. She didn’t want Mavin to see her face. They continued climbing the building until they reached an elevator leading up just below the main office where the grand master of the Magi was.
They arrived. She took a step out and immediately spotted a familiar face. She frowned. “Nano, it seems you’ve been waiting for us.”
“Hello, Bellatrix,” Nano greeted.
“Nano,” she almost spat her name. “Is she waiting?”
“She’s just ahead. Mage Lient and Mage Egan are not currently in the city. Good luck.”
Nano passed them and entered the elevator. Natalya took a step forward and found herself hardening her face. As they got closer to the circular hall that was usually used by the Magi Circle to make discussions. Natalya saw Lady Cassowary stand in the middle of the circle wearing her Magi robe accented white and blue with frills and laces.
Golden eyes and pale skin.
Natalya found her eyes on Mavin’s face.
There was a somber expression on him for a moment before he pressed a hand on his chest and greeted with the softest voice he had made ever since they had reunited.
“Greetings, Lady Cecilia Athesia.”
She didn’t waste time after they were done with their honestly belated honeymoon. Natalya was in a constant perpetual good mood if it wasn’t for the changes in the environment. It was like she was braver than usual, bolder in her steps, and in a way Mavin’s presence was a sign of the days where she was simple. Before the nightmare. She was still a soldier who was good at sniping people from afar.
Her helicopter took her back to the place where the Magi gathered. It was an old granite infrastructure located in the Nation of Hith, in the Capital of Haymouth with six million people living on it. Hith was a strange city with gray brick buildings with hip roofs. It was clear that the boom of industry had made it prosperous.
There were no farms nearby because Haymouth was in this basin-like position. Entry in the city is done through the roads that were constructed. Westward district where most of the goods and items enter. Sunset Gate has two main roads where the cars and trucks enter. In the middle of Sunset Gate, in the center of the city, there is a Citadel where the Old Magi gather.
The helicopter closed in and she saw the tower where the Old Magi gathered. It was a tall red brick building with a giant clock that told the time and rings the bell to signal the city folk. Below the helicopter there was a curious amount of interconnected roads. Because of the elevation of the City itself, there were dark spots around the city of Haymouth.
The helicopter they were riding on slowly descended to the landing pad located in the middle of the castle. The pilot started to check for permission and since they came here without any escorts. The pilot and the gunner that was assigned to the helicopter was their only way out of this city. She doesn’t expect anything to happen to them. And since she was with her husband. She truly felt bolder than ever.
“Your quietness is disturbing.”
She called him. Mavin wore a simple black suit with white undershirt and red ties. Natalya wore a red skirt suit with black stockings and black knee-high boots. She also wore a gray shawl draped over her shoulders and a chestnut-brown coat. Lastly, she wore a red-colored lipstick that matched with her complexion. Her hands were covered with black gloves.
When they stepped out she noticed the awful amount of soldiers nervously waiting. A man in traditional Hithian robes and shoulder mantle approached Natalya and Mavin. His eyes went to her husband, but he naturally gathered his eyes on her. She smiled gracefully, a cold one.
“Lady Natalya,” he greeted with a heart on chest. “And this is?”
“Please, enough of the ‘who is this’ Najee. Obviously, this is my husband.”
“Mavin Tomas,” said Mavin. He was using his heavy voice. Her husband could produce such a booming voice sometimes. He was tall and wide-shouldered as well, making his presence intimidating to lesser men.
“I am Najee Ostra,” he introduced himself. “Perhaps Sir Tomas had heard of me?”
Mavin stared at him. He sweated under Mavin’s gaze. Natalya steps forward before her husband could intimidate the poor man further.
“Pardon my husband, he’s quite grumpy after… such a long rest.”
“Yes, it truly surprises me that the master of the Hounds is still alive.”
Mavin didn’t say anything. He stood straight with his jaws set and eyes settled on Najee. Natalya almost wanted to laugh at his behavior, but she let poor Najee guide them to the transport vehicle. Although they landed in the middle of the city directly, there were still a few minutes to go before they reached the center of the Old Magi.
Natalya entered the limo and they stayed in the back while Najee occupied the front seat with the driver. Natalya scooted on the side while Mavin closed the limo doors. He scanned the limo and stared down the driver who slid the covers close.
“Oh my, aggressive today, eh?”
Mavin rested his hand on his thigh. “Hmm, Hith is quite urbanized more than I thought it would be.”
“Hmm, it is the center of power of the Magi. We may have quite the power in the Westernmost, but here in the Center of the Known Continents, we have so little because they are quite conservative. Holmia is the center of the Nullers Sect, and thus it was easy to subvert it, but here in the center of the Magi… they are quite resistant. Even during the days where they lost the sparks, they did nothing but search. Minerva, she was quite the mind, being able to deduce another method to use it.”
“I see. That Minerva, was she that one?”
“You fought in Holmia? Yeah, she was holding Kismet’s artifact. That reminds me, have you gotten rid of all the artifacts?”
“I did. It’s better if they are gone.”
“Good.”
The artifact was a nuisance. She had gotten most of the artifacts but the Old Magi have been keeping some of them. She had an idea on what he might do with them, but she trusted him enough… no she choose to trust him so that he may trust her. Unfortunate for the world, she had become bias to her husband, and she would probably see him with gilder colors and appreciation. Fifty-seven years of loneliness can do that. Then again, the last days have been rather dream-like to her.
Careless, aren’t I? Natalya thought to herself. This indulgence was something she’d usually be wary. Oh how everyone would laugh at her acting like some love-stricken teenager. Not that she cared about others opinion unless they were named Velna or Velia.
Poor Silica wanted to come and serve us, she thought of the maid serving the house. Too bad that I can’t take you along, Sil, this is not a place for those who don’t have the face to endure other’s pride.
***
The limo took them to the center of the Magi’s learning. The car was parked inside of the compound. The eyes of the Magi’s gathered immediately at the black limo. The first one to step out was Mavin who took a step out. The others looked at him, wondering what this man was. It was then that Natalya followed after. Her appearance made quite a noise among the male and female ‘students’ of the center of the Old Magi. This ‘castle’ was one of the old towers made by the Old Magi’s. There were students who gathered to learn the sparks.
Mavin scanned the area before resting his in front. Natalya looked sideways and told Najee with her eyes to lead on. The crowd that gathered was quite amusing to Natalya. In the side of the Magi, there wasn’t really any indication of her liking anyone or being close to. So finding her escorted by someone instead of alone made quite a commotion.
“Is that her bodyguard?”
“Fool! Don’t you know?”
“What?”
“That’s her husband.”
“Her husband? I thought--”
“Tsk, you don’t know this, but there were rumors that her husband didn’t really die. Have you not paid attention to anything?”
Hearing them she was amused and at the same time a bit angered. She hated the Magi when they were loud and noisy about her private affairs. If she could, she would have told them to mind their own business. If it wasn’t for their prying eyes she would have done more than stay in the hotel with her husband for weeks.
Ignoring the students, they entered the premises. She saw that her husband was acting like her bodyguard and was calmly eyeing anyone with his gaze. It was a nice change to have someone protect her. Although she was confident that she could raise her shields. To have someone do the watching was comforting. Other than the times where she’s with her students, she rarely feels secure.
They entered the main lobby where Najee led them. Another man in Hithian clothing approached them. This time his mantle was gold-lined. He held quite a proud chin. He sized up Mavin and approached forward and tried to reach out for her hand, rudely.
Natalya stopped and didn’t offer her hand. She calmly glanced at Mavin who stared down the man who felt the fear of God.
“Yahir,” Natalya said calmly. “I see that you have not noticed that my husband is with me right now. Be careful, he might just crush your hand if you choose to be rude to me this time.”
Yahir swallowed and shook his head. “Pardon my rudeness, it seems that the rumors are true. It seems the Masters of the Hounds and the one who crippled and tore the sparks from us are here in the center of the Magi. Very brave of you to do so, Lady Bellatrix.”
Mavin and Natalya remained expressionless while the students were quite shocked. I guess they aren’t going to hide it. Not that it matters when they’ll know later on.
“Do you want me to rid you of the sparks as well?” Mavin said coldly. “Not that it’d matter when yours can barely make a threat to me.”
Natalya looked at Mavin and then to Yahir whose shoulders sagged at that. Mavin took a step and looked down on the man. He towered him and his presence made him feel small. Natalya looked around and saw that the students didn’t do anything. Even the Magi trying to leave did nothing.
It was the worst combination after all. Those who are not ignorant of her husband would know what he had done. How instrumental he was in the tripartite war and the killings that happened during the Great Silence fifty-seven years ago in Arkadia City.
There was barely anyone who matched her and her husband in terms of shooting people’s heads from a distance. She was a dangerous Magi who once held the Imperator’s Mark, and he was a Ghost, a Magi Slayer who killed Magi and Null alike.
The one who introduced the green winds to the world.
The bastard who funded that weapon that could wipe a city in an instant.
“Please, calm, calm,” Najee stood in the middle. The poor man was starting to melt. “Let us be civilized men, come on.”
“I am being polite,” Mavin said. “However, it seems that my friend here has no intention of doing so.”
“Yahir, please, not now,” Najee begged Yahir. Yahir looked away and walked with contempt and shame. Mavin settled down his gaze and became expressionless once more.
“Please, let us head to the master’s tower, yes?”
“Yes,” Natalya signaled Mavin.
Yahir started to lead them out of the lobby. Natalya walked next to Mavin closely and said. “Nice job, did you know him too?”
“I have an idea how to deal with him,” Mavin said. “Though I’d probably falter if the person we’re meeting is her.”
Natalya looked away. She didn’t want Mavin to see her face. They continued climbing the building until they reached an elevator leading up just below the main office where the grand master of the Magi was.
They arrived. She took a step out and immediately spotted a familiar face. She frowned. “Nano, it seems you’ve been waiting for us.”
“Hello, Bellatrix,” Nano greeted.
“Nano,” she almost spat her name. “Is she waiting?”
“She’s just ahead. Mage Lient and Mage Egan are not currently in the city. Good luck.”
Nano passed them and entered the elevator. Natalya took a step forward and found herself hardening her face. As they got closer to the circular hall that was usually used by the Magi Circle to make discussions. Natalya saw Lady Cassowary stand in the middle of the circle wearing her Magi robe accented white and blue with frills and laces.
Golden eyes and pale skin.
Natalya found her eyes on Mavin’s face.
There was a somber expression on him for a moment before he pressed a hand on his chest and greeted with the softest voice he had made ever since they had reunited.
“Greetings, Lady Cecilia Athesia.”
