The Wielder of Death Magic

“Nothing,” he rose from within the tightly arranged chair and table, the lofty atmosphere was too preoccupied with Fenrir’s sex appeal despite the blatant demi-human features. Envy and lust practically drooled from the geezers’ eyes and mouths, “-I need a break, don’t worry,” he said, the doorway closed onto a populated street. Spun to the side, hands in the pockets, and cigar in mouth, he headed into the vague direction of the hospice which could be seen over the disorderly arranged buildings.

Where one side fell into total anarchy, the other, whelmed at the prospect of the possible damage, stood elated at the idea. An outline of a man, recognized by many, stood in the shadows of a closed shop, the shutters boldly gathered dust – to a point of inhabiting insects.

“It’s worked,” said another figure ambling through the crowd.

“Let’s take a walk,” replied the stranger figure, he took off his top hat, pushing close to his chest, “-my lady, I hope my information was helpful.”

“Very helpful; you’re a genius, my friend, we followed the money and found a lot of interesting facts. The money’s been transferred to your account,” she said, hiding her laughter behind a hand fan.

“If I may be so bold,” he strained the casual banter, “-there’s someone who needs to be watched out for. Phantom didn’t reach the peak from merely being talented, I’ve seen lady Elvira’s judgment, she’s unmatched in ways of doing business, none in the world, I dare proclaim, can ever come close to her abilities. Luck of the draw,” he said, they pulled around a corner onto Oatway street, advertisements ran rampant – traffic, on foot and on the road was densely packed.

.....

“No, I wouldn’t dare leave the matter frivolously in the hands of incompetent planners. Hence the reason for our meeting, I want to employ thee to see the plot through, do what is necessary, I’ll have my team and a large budget allocated in the destruction of the current monopoly. If need be, I could have my associates artificially raise stock prices, corporate raiding at its finest. What say you, interested?”

“Fighting in the business world has never been my forte,” he said, casually passing the incoming waves, “-scheming, on the other hand, isn’t farfetched. I’ll work in tandem with law enforcement, they’ve wanted dirt on Phantom for a long time, now is the best moment.”

“Very well, here are the contact information, lawyers, actresses, anything, and tis there. I have high hopes.”

“No pressure,” he snarled sarcastically, ‘-a shrewd woman, shoving the crucial job on another, if I fail, the blame lands squarely on my lap. I should have stayed home, still, the thrill I’ve experienced here can’t be rivaled. Look forward to it, underworld leaders; your secrets are mine; I’ll start with Apexi to send a message. If you get involved,” he crushed the piece of paper, ‘-get ready.’

Trickles of blood sprinkled the floor, heavy inhales charged the room in erotic sparks, “-Elvira ma’am,” said a worker, “-I have urgent reports from our sister company.”

Flushed cheeks exhaled, a child laid in her grasp, “-is that right,” she kindly wiped the girl’s neck, “-thank you for today,” she said, “-ask for my secretary, he should have the payment ready.”

“Thank you, madame,” said a strangely toned voice to which scurried into the ajar door

The worker watched with a perplexed look, “-ma’am?”

“What’s the matter,” she smirked, “-have thee never seen a nightwalker before?” her fingers gestured menacingly, “-take a seat.”

“W-Will d-do,” she obeyed, the office chair strained, “-ma’am, have I offended in some way?”

“Yes,” replied a dead cold stare, “-knock before entering. I’m willing to overlook the blunder if the matter is serious, if not,” she casually sharpened her canines and nails, “-I dare not say what is to happen.” Quick to gather the papers, they flipped one by one, her gaze sprinted from left to right, “-I understand,” the stockpile papers laid heavy, “-one of our offshore companies being targeted for an audit. The official’s been tipped off,” she relaxed in her chair, “-I wouldn’t be worried,” her fingers nonchalantly searched for a number then called, “-good evening, Elvira speaking. I need to ask a favor, there have been dogs snooping around our companies, is it possible to silence them?” silence waned in-between sentence, “-it’s already been handled, right, thank you for the support, I never expected the situation to be resolved so easily. Have a good day,” the call ended. “-Now,” her murderous gaze sharpened, “-are you a virgin?”

“Excuse me,” choked the lady, “-is such a question necessary?”

“You interrupted my snack, reason says-”

“I understand,” she exhaled, “-I’m a virgin,” she rose to kneel at Elvira’s stead, “-about Apexi, have you handled their problem?”

“No, someone’s trying to mess with Phantom’s trades. Unless the conglomerates boldly get involved, we’re backed by the Elon Dynasty, thus, our standing is greater than anything currently in Hidros. Any more questions,” she bit, “-and I’ll make sure your employers’ hunted like dogs.”

“Sorry?” her face washed in terror.

“Little spy,” said Elvira, “-are you daft; fighting Phantom with spies is a bad idea,” heavy steps stormed the entrance, “-we have a special area for traitors, bid thy life forfeit. The poison pill stacked in thy teeth won’t help,” she snickered, “-who are your employees?”

“The truth is out. I won’t speak, no matter the torture.”

“Don’t worry,” she said calmly, “-we’re not going to torture, instead, we’ll drive thee into hysteria. The worse pain is uncontrollable laughter – there’s a point where pleasure turns misery. Look forward to it.” The doors opened, soldiers in black armored suits entered, “-here to report, ma’am,” the leader saluted.

“Take her away,” the grip of her teeth eased. They took no trouble roughly handcuffing the spy and leading her down the hallway, Elvira followed the guards’ combatants till the door, there, another figure laid against the wall.

“My hunch was right,” said she.

“Yui, the training éclair gave seems to have worked fine.”

“It was torture, let’s not get into details. For now, I’m stationed to clean our company, there have been leaks, and we have yet to learn of the culprit.”

“The sister systems been working great,” she complimented, “-the different departments stand on the same page. What are the following orders?”

“No idea, éclair’s told me to vet the company, apart from that, I don’t know. We’ll see when the time comes.”

“Right, if there is anything you need, feel free to ask. I’ll have a plane and transport ready for when thee fly overseas. I’d like for a check at Phantom’s embassy in Elendor, the leadership there seems to be rather convenient.”

“Understood – I’ll open a log just in case, foreign land, foreign people, too many variables.” Ploys went into effect, an unproven gut feeling of many world leaders told of one thing, the Federation’s summit. Counting among the current superpowers, Wracia Empire, Alphia, the Federation, and the Union of Independent nations. Each shared an equal in stakes finances, trades and peace benefited each until the destruction of Arda under the Empire’s rule – there led them to be ostracized from the four-way nonaggressive pact. The foundation of the current peace laid on the Federation as they have Phantom, a military powerhouse, ranked first in technological advancement, graciously back Hidros. The emergence of an evolved Cobalt Unit’s added fuel to the fire – in more ways than one, the turning point of the century relied on the summit’s outcome.

A hardened, dirtily stained white panel of paint, the hospice, laid active. Ambulances, refitted pickup trucks, sprinted from the tower and back, casualties grew in numbers.

‘Here we are,’ skipped past the wounded lair, ‘-the training academy,’ written across a wooden sign, ‘-seems to have stood the test of time,’ he examined, scorch marks, exploded tree barks, and the lingering aroma of iron, ‘-a miniature battlefield,’ he thought, a group of returning adventurers, opposite his direction, caught his attention. They chattered, the leader, firm in the center, carried a giant sword. He halted at the gate, shot a rather crude stare towards Igna, and moved into the shabbily cared yard.

‘A green tag,’ he followed, ‘-must be strong.’

“Greeting’s adventurers,” said a lady behind a gated counter, “-today’s request’s been arranged onto the noticeboard. Please bear in mind, high-ranked adventurers can only accept quest two ranks down from theirs – give the newbies a chance.”

“Shut it, woman,” fired a rough mouthed beastman, “-we take what we want and how we want,” he stormed her counter and slammed, “-what say we take thee instead?” the group laughed, everyone, no exception, ignored the bolstering fighter in favor of the quests. The assistant had her face filled with terror, “-ay, come ‘ere, there’s an interesting job,” hailed the party.

“Coming,” he winked, an unsightly image then left.

*Sigh,* hands firmed her chest,”-I thought I would have died.”

“Excuse me,”

“Y-Yes?” she stared, ‘-well mannered, no tags, a visitor?’

“Might I know the whereabouts of a lady named Viola?”

“Our guild leader, the lady’s upstairs, she’s in a meeting with the tower’s conqueror.”

“Could I send a message?”

“Sure, I don’t promise it’ll reach her anytime soon.”

“I’ll wait,” he smiled, “-tell her, Igna Haggard’s here for a visit.”

“Understood,” bafflement froze the timid regard, ‘-strange man,’ she thought while he disappeared into the next-door tavern.

‘Things never change, where there are adventurers, there’s booze,’ he settled into the quieter part of the pub, the barman gestured to say, ‘-don’t sit there, which he brazenly dismissed. Similarly, stricken by the courtesy and respect shown, the message-headed guild leader was without delay. *Knock, knock,*

“Enter,” she said, Achilles’ sheer aura blew as if a typhoon.

“I apologize for the interruption,” cowered the messenger, “-I have a message from the guild assistant, she said to relay this, ‘-Igna Haggard’s here to pay a visit. The room sunk, ‘-have I messed up?’

“Have the man brought to my office!” she yelled till the echo snuck into the cacophonous hall.

“Lady Viola wishes to see you,” relayed another assistant.

“Fast,” he observed, finished the drink, and made for the office. It reopened to familiar faces, a few steps in, the entrance locked, rather, gave said impression.

“Long time no see, Undrar,” he smiled.

“IGNA,” she vaulted over the desk and ran to his side, “-never thought we’d meet here of all places.”

“Viola,” strained Achilles, “-remember what I told you,” her gaze narrowed, “-he’s the enemy, don’t trust him.”

“You still angry about the duel, the tower’s conqueror sure knows how to hold a grudge.”

“Don’t patronize me,” she argued, “-We lost so much, does this look funny?”

“The strong decide the future,” returned coldly, “-adventurers are weak, the strongest platinum ranked barely scratched the surface of the tower’s true terror. There won’t ever be a second Achilles, the strength they have shown will be a benchmark, an unreachable height the later generations won’t ever reach.”

“Igna,” called Viola, her unblemished blue eyes watched in woe, “-do you not care about the people?

“Time moves, people change, my priorities have been set in stone. Radahl’s but a mantle, a name for fighters to set their sights on, the true Demon King of the Monsters.”

“Tis true,” her shoulders slumped, “-we can’t be considered allies anymore, can we?”

“Saying it be the opposite will insult us both. I can promise this much, I won’t launch arbitrary attacks on the land without reason. The monsters fight for a single purpose, to get strong – the adventures fight for the rewards, we mutually gain from the exchange.”

“As the head trainer and leader of the training academy, I need to say this, you grossly underestimate our fighters.”

“No, I haven’t,” he returned logically, “-I’ve observed their behaviors earlier, they don’t care about respecting others, most haven’t the slightest idea of fighting for one’s life. I came to say hi, suppose the new results made our relation adverse, I’ve outstayed my welcome. Have a great day, Viola, I’ll have Fenrir pay a visit later, till we meet.”