The Seear summoned the Zeta Squad to the Regal Palace, early hours of Wednesday, 9th of August 2006. Marcus arrived rushing in at 7 a.m. As he entered the hallway leading up to the Seear’s Hall, he saw Camille and Hugo waiting at the entrance of the Hall.

  He stopped for a moment. Hugo smiled and waved. The Sokidu smiled back, shook his head, and slowly walked up to them.

  “You’re early,” Hugo said, giggling.

  Marcus did not reply. He just dropped his head and stood silently with his hands in his pockets for a few moments then asked, “Master Seear not here yet?”

  “Nope.” Hugo looked away. “Busy man…”

  As Camille chuckled, Marcus looked up. But his gaze dropped again quickly. A faint, awkward smile tugged at his lips as his shoulders slumped and he gave a small nod. His eyes flicked up at Hugo a few times only to fall away again. There was regret written all over his face. “Look, about the other day…”

  The Zaatsu looked over. “What about it?”

  Rubbing his palms together, the Sokidu finally looked up and said, “I’m sorry, Master Baylis. We were being jerks.”

  “Oh, it’s fine.” He turned away once more.

  “No, really. You’re our captain and my teacher, and we should trust you more.” He paused. His jaw flexed, as though he wanted to speak more but could not quite form the words.

  Hugo turned back to face him. “It’s understandable,” he politely said. “You guys were frustrated, even felt betrayed, and that’s natural. I would’ve felt the same way.”

  “No, Master, that’s not it! I don’t know about the others, but I… I’ve been… I’ve been feeling wrong this whole time, man. If we were betrayed, then we were all betrayed. It’s not like you knew about it, Master.”

  Embarrassment had softened his features, the usual sharpness in his eyes replaced by quiet remorse. “I’m sorry, Master Baylis,” he said. “I look up to you and I never want to disrespect you like that.”

  Giggling, Hugo put his hand on the fire-breathing Sokidu’s shoulder. “Relax, Marc,” he said. “I’m not the kind of guy who feels disrespected by questions from my students. I prefer it when you guys speak your mind freely in front of me.”

  Squeezing hard, he added, “You’re a good kid, Marcus. You’ve got a kind heart. Best keep it kind, alright? We need people like you. We need people to lead us out of the darkness.” Tilting in, he chuckled and said, “Chin up, man!”

  Marcus finally smiled and looked up. Hugo patted him twice and looked at Camille. “Where’s your brother?”

  She shook her head. “Don’t know. He hasn’t come home since we returned from the mission.”

  A few minutes later, they saw the rest of the squad – Ella, Gina, and Neil – entering the hallway. Camille moved a step closer to her brother.

  “Hey, could you try and talk to him, please?” she asked, whispering. “He’s upset, bro.”

  “Ah.” Hugo looked down. “Not my strong suit…”

  She gently elbowed him. “At least give it a try!”

  “Sorry if we’re late, Master Baylis,” Gina said.

  Hugo shook his head. “Not at all.”

  Before they could converse further, doors of the Seear’s Hall came open and out walked the cream of the Eye – Seear Master Renekom Mujin, Primarch Master Obadiah Moore with four other Zaatsus, and the senior most four members of the Parliament.

  While pleasantries were exchanged, Faris Naji also arrived accompanied by the Seredums Erina, Eila, and Eira.

  The courtyard outside the Seear’s Hall buzzed with restrained energy; operatives paused mid-step, their chatter dimming as the leaders of the Eye converged.

  “I see we’re all here,” the Seear said. After a slight pause, he added, “Now, we must deploy on our next mission immediately.”

  Hugo’s gaze widened. “Next mission?”

  “Yes, son,” said Michael Brown, one of the oldest Zaatsus still in service at the Palace. “We have too many loose ends here and they need to be tied immediately.”

  Upon Renekom’s request, one of the strongest Parliamentarians, Dustin Flores, explained. “Our resources are already occupied by the renewed tension amongst the Cultists. Operatives must also strengthen the outposts, especially after the recent most attacks. So, it is up to us to bring this matter to a close.”

  “We will split up in groups and hunt down the absconder,” the Seear added. “I will personally lead this mission to make sure no stone remains unturned and no operative goes rogue. Everything will be done by the book this time.”

  “What about the Palace and the city?” Hugo asked.

  “I am leaving Hedish in charge here. Master Fiona Bennett will oversee the border security. Defences around the city have been strengthened and a Mystic such as herself will make sure the place remains absolutely impregnable.”

  Zaatsu Master Kenji Masaki leaned forward. “Hugo, we were just discussing the Alchemist’s abilities. What exactly did you face out there?”

  “Basic alchemy,” Hugo said with a shrug. “Nothing that a trained fighter can’t work around.”

  Renekom narrowed his eyes. “Then why couldn’t you defeat him?”

  Hugo sighed. “Because he stacked artifacts. The Minotaur pendant and those Charms of Zeke turned him into a walking fortress. The defensive charms absorbed every Ki-charged strike, and the pendant kept feeding him atmospheric Ki. Anyone would’ve had trouble with that.”

  He left it at that and deliberately did not mention his real advantage – the subtle Amazonian methods that allowed him to counter Alchemy better than almost any of his peers.

  Faris chuckled. “And you know what they say about the Minotaur – he who uses its powers shall not live for seven days more…”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Everyone quietly observed the duo. When the silence grew too uncomfortable, Faris added, “But the fact that he had inside information makes the Alchemist even more dangerous. He knew the outpost was empty. I mean, had you not called me to spend the day there, it would have been curtains for these poor kids.”

  A murmur rippled through the small crowd that had gathered at a distance – scholars, aides, junior Zaatsus, Mystics, and Sokidus – all pretending to be busy but clearly listening.

  “Yes,” said Renekom. “And that is exactly why we need to wrap this up as quickly as possible.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Hugo, I want you to take your squad and look through the black markets. Take Faris and the Seredums along as well.”

  “What about you?” the Zaatsu asked.

  “We will go directly to the source.” He looked at Obadiah and the others. “I believe Fallon’s arcane establishments are the best place to start.”

  Erina, the eldest Seredum sister, stepped ahead. “Fallon?” she said, surprised by the Seear’s comment. “Why would you go to him? Finding a trace of the Alchemist is most possible from the battle ground itself.”

  “The Alchemist is not our priority right now, miss Seredum.”

  “What?!”

  Faris scoffed. “Unbelievable,” he whispered before saying, “Then what in the blazes are you after?”

  The Seear glanced at Hugo and then looked at Faris. “We have to clean the mess created by careless actions and blind trust – we have to find the White Bolt.”

  “Oh my God,” Hugo whispered and looked away.

  As he stood arms akimbo, one of his old teachers from the academy, Zaatsu Master Hannah Campbell, crossed her arms. “I’m afraid the White Bolt has become Ambris Ferrer reincarnated.” She smiled and added, “We cannot allow another war like the ’90s, Hugo. You should be even more worried. We lost our good friend and your team leader during the war just like so many others.”

  Hugo understood the reference – Marion Von Bergen. He chuckled and dropped his head but did not reply.

  “Unbelievable,” said Faris. “That boy has nothing! Derek has the remnants. In fact, there is every chance he has all of the stolen ones. He should have half the Diamond by now and that may just give him the means to wipe you off the face of the Earth!”

  Renekom put his hand out. “Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment, Faris. The Alchemist can try, but he cannot succeed.”

  Hugo sighed. ‘There goes diplomacy,’ he thought. ‘He’s gonna torch another bridge.’

  “Fuck emotions!” Faris’s eyes narrowed, a cold anger flashed behind them like a knife’s edge. With flared nostrils and curled upper lip, the Mystic lashed out at the Seear. “You’ve wasted resources in places where there is no need! You’ve reprimanded innocents creating needless enemies! And now you’re trying to mar an honest man’s reputation?!”

  “Oh, so White Bolt is honest now?”

  “No, you idiot!” With a finger pointing at him, Faris yelled, “Hugo Baylis! You hung him out to dry in the forest, no backup, empty outpost, who the hell are you trying to fool? You just want to go after the bounty hunter to sway the public’s opinion! You think we’d fall for that too?!”

  Renekom did not answer. Crossing Faris in public would win no allies and cost too many. Even a Seear knew better than to make an enemy of a legend. Reverence still clung to the disciples of Mustaqeem, and to defy one was to defy the Eye’s own history.

  A few onlookers shifted uneasily; one young operative dropped his file but did not dare pick it up.

  Suddenly, Neil moved a step ahead saying, “Calm down, Master Naji.”

  Faris stopped. It felt as if someone had frozen him still. His gaze widened; he slowly turned his face towards the young Zaatsu. Most of the others shook their heads or closed their eyes.

  “I know your daddy’s dead and you hate your brother, Poindexter,” the freelance Mystic said, in a near-whisper. “But if no one taught you manners, then let me remind you.” His finger now pointed at Neil. “When elders are having a chat, young’uns need to shut the fuck up. You hearing me right now, boy?”

  The entire place fell into silence. People in the background stopped and stared, intimidated.

  “Do you know who this is?” Faris pointed at Hugo. He looked at the Seear and others and once again asked, “Do you know who this is? Warren hand-picked him as a disciple, Marion hand-picked him as a partner, and you hand-picked him as the Zaatsu to take care of the outposts after the fallout of the 90s. Disrespect him again and I’ll rip your guts out o’ your throats!” Leaning back, he added, “You wanna waste resources? Fine. But don’t try to blame a great operative for your own oversights.”

  As Faris spoke, defiant yet composed, Erina felt a flicker of awe. ‘He carries truth like a torch,’ she thought. ‘And doesn’t flinch when it sets the world alight.’

  Renekom was smiling. “If you didn’t have that potty mouth, Faris, you’d be one of our greatest assets right now.”

  Mystic Master Jessy Cardoso, Faris’s contemporary and academy friend, explained, “Our resources are stuck dealing with Cultist skirmishes, capturing fugitives, and addressing the wounds of the past, as I am sure you will be well aware of, Faris. And don’t tell me that all that is wasted effort. After 50 years of turbulence in the arcane world, Master Mujin has finally achieved stability with his uncompromising decisions and austere policies.”

  “Besides, the Alchemist has only stolen eleven remnants – that’s half of the Diamond,” said Obadiah. “We have several remnants right here with us, thanks to Hugo. Therefore, we need the Palace to be strongly guarded at all times.” He chuckled, saying, “Please think rationally. We don’t want to be divided right now.”

  Faris asked, “Do you know what an alchemist can do with just eleven remnants?”

  “Do you?”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “No one knows, Master Naji.” Renekom looked away. “Now knock it off. We’re not wasting any more time. What he can or cannot do, what he may or may not do, it doesn’t matter. We’ll deal with him later. Right now, the White Bolt is our priority number one. No more questions or discussions. Hugo...”

  Hugo finally looked up. “Hmm?”

  “Take your team, son. And take our angry Mystic and the Seredums as well. We need all the resources we can get. Infiltrate the black markets and see if you can’t find a clue about the bounty hunter’s whereabouts. Understood?”

  “Yes sir. We’ll move out right away.”

  Somewhere in the back, a Sokidu coughed – too loud – and was promptly hushed.

  The two groups gathered in two circles thereafter. While Obadiah led the teleportation spell in his group, Erina stopped Hugo saying, “Please, allow me…”

  For a brief moment, as the teleportation light gathered, the entire courtyard shimmered – a constellation of Ki energy flared and vanished into nothing. The Seear’s team was away.

  Then the Seredums created a Ki bubble engulfing the Zeta Squad, Faris, and the Seredums themselves. To the viewers nearby, it looked as though the bubble caved in and dust residue fell on the ground after. In the blink of an eye, the group had arrived near the Spanish outpost of the Eye. It was still night out in the forest, just an hour past midnight.

  “My apologies, Master,” said Erina. “Your group can move on from here, but we must find the Alchemist. Whether he attacked our Lord Keeper or not, he most certainly knows who did. So, we must find him.”

  Hugo nodded. “Sure.”

  Then he asked his team to form the teleportation circle again.

  “Master Baylis,” said Erina.

  “Yes?”

  “Can you spare the Mystic? Our spirituality is an extension of Mysticism. His strength will be most beneficial for us in our search.”

  Hugo looked at Faris, who shrugged saying, “Yeah. Makes sense. I wanted to find that bastard anyway.”

  As he walked out of the teleportation circle, Ella moved a step closer to her captain and asked, “Can I go, please? I’m a Mystic too…”

  The Zaatsu looked at the Seredums who nodded. “Sure,” he said. “You can go.”

  “Where’ll you go?” Faris asked, looking over. “Are you actually gonna listen to that old geezer?”

  Hugo giggled. “I’m afraid so. Gotta go to a black market.” He sighed. “I think I’ll start with the moving one…”

  “Oh, so that’s why… you jerk! You should’ve said something earlier.”

  Camille leaned closer to Hugo. “Where are we going?” she asked. “What’s the moving one?”

  Smiling, her elder brother replied, “Buckle up… we’re heading to the Moving Bazaar.”