The carriage starts its journey back to the royal palace. Selene watches as the scenery outside changes from the Golden District’s lush gardens to the planes’ flowing greenery. Azarath looks around the carriage, a little disappointed. For a king’s carriage, it was less lavish than Azarath imagined. Azarath then looks over to Blake, who is meditating.

  [Azarath: Why are we even still taking carriages?] Azarath says with a sigh. This statement piques Blake’s attention.

  [Blake: What do you mean?]

  [Azarath: Well, we have two neighboring countries. The Gothic and frankly creepy country of Nocturnus. The other is the technological hotspot of the world, Aurorium. Both of them have a technology called “cars.” This allows them to move at the power of over 70 horses! I don’t understand why we don’t have those!] This causes Blake to think for a second.

  [Blake: From my understanding. We don’t have the means to mass-produce cars right now. Aurorium has the best scientists in the world and created electric vehicles. Aranthias scientists are still figuring out how to mass produce electricity without magic. Nocturnus uses gas-powered cars because they have oil rigs spanning worldwide. We don’t have that kind of reach. For now, making cars is a thing of the future.]

  Azarath just sighed; he retained only the last part of the statement. They arrived at the royal palace. Azarath entered and looked at the king. Azarath bows. King Valerian just looks at him before opening his mouth.

  [King Valerian: Azarath, You will be a great asset to this team. I look forward to your results.] Azarath looks down and backs up.

  [Azarath: Thank you for this opportunity, King Valerian!]

  With that, Blake leaves back to his quarters. Selene decides to show Azarath to the meeting room. As Selene and Azarath are walking around, Bracken finally gathers enough energy to reform himself. He appears in front of them. Bracken explains his fight with Azarath to Selene before challenging Azarath to another battle. Azarath just looks pitifully at Bracken, who talked about the fight like he won it.

  [Selene: So wait, you were about to kill a kid???]

  Bracken just looks at her as Selene side-eyes him.

  [Bracken: I ain’t Meek Mill, son. I don’t fuck with kids like that, on god.] Bracken defends himself, and Selene just gives him a stare. Without pressing the issue, Selene opens the door to the meeting room.

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  [???: Why the hell would you fight him?!?] A female voice rings out in anger as they look on. Another voice just responds [Ok, I’m sorry!] Selene looks on as a pair of blue and yellow eyes meet them.

  Elysia is in the room lecturing Pax, who has bandages all over his body. Upon being questioned, Elysia tells about how Pax was absolutely decimated by Aric. Pax is about to tell his side when his eyes catch a new person in the room, Azarath. [Noble bastard.] He says under his breath, but it didn’t go unheard by Azarath. Who quickly retaliates.

  [Azarath: If I didn’t trust the King’s judgment. I would have called him crazy for allowing a rat like you into the team.]

  Upon hearing this, Pax immediately gets up and meets Azarath’s gaze. They both start throwing insults at one another until they are on the brink of fighting. Elysia immediately steps in and stops the both of them. She looks at Pax.

  [Elysia: No fighting, at least for the time being, Pax. Your wounds are deep and might reopen.]

  A message summoning Pax and Elysia is given over the magic speakers as if on queue. Elysia grabs Pax and drags him over to King Valerian. When they get there, they both bow to the King.

  [King Valerian: You two are the ones I choose to recruit our next vassal, Peak Whitlock. He lives in a village north of here called Glimmering Heights. It is a perpetual blizzard in Glimmering Heights, so I have some winter clothing prepared for the both of you. Put it on and head out immediately.]

  Elysia immediately speaks up.

  [Elysia: With all due respect. Pax is currently in no condition to do missions. Having him sit this out is probably a good idea.] Elysia clearly and concisely states her view.

  [King Valerian: I respect and value your input, but let’s hear what Pax has to say. Pax, do you want to go on this mission?]

  Pax looks up at the King with a smile.

  [Pax: You said I needed to prove myself, right? If I let a little damage stop me from that, then who is going to take me seriously?!?] King Valerian smiles at this response and looks back at Elysia.

  [King Valerian: If that’s how Pax feels, then I see no harm in permitting him on this mission.] Elysia just responds with a [Geeze…] Before they both leave to change into their winter clothes.

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  A man is running through the snow with a large bag filled to the brim with money. He just came from robbing a bank and is trying to make an escape. However, something is swinging its way above him. The man runs into an alley to escape the cold snow. As he starts to relax, he hears something behind him. It is a youthful, wiry man in his early twenties with a contagious smile and bright, expressive brown eyes. His curly hair is a mess of dark brown.

  The robber quickly pulls out his gun and aims it at the man.

  [I will shoot! Don’t test me!]

  The smile on the man gets bigger as he starts to stretch. Revealing sleek muscles under his tight-fitting attire.

  [???: What do two walls say when they are about to meet?]

  The robber is not having this. He is angry that this man is not taking him seriously. [I told you I would!] The robber shouts as he shoots. The man immediately jumps, avoiding all bullets as he shoots what seem to be webs from out of his hand. The webs swipe the gun from the robber’s hand, and a second web sends him into the wall at the end of the alley, sticking him to it.

  The man smiles as he walks away, and the police arrive.

  [???: “I’ll meet you at the corner!”]