**The drive back to the Valley Kingdom**
I awoke from my short nap and sneezed.
We rode along the edge of a cliff. Beyond it, vast plains stretched toward a distant city. So large that, even from this distance, it felt close enough to touch, but it had to be at least fifty or so miles away still.
The city was wrapped entirely by a large wall that separated the outer plains from the bustling streets just on the other side of it. From our height, we could even see inside the walls.
Tall buildings of steampunk metal and pipes that blew out smoke could be seen deeper within toward the center of the city. Beyond that, it became harder to see—as the city seemed to stretch endlessly, and its colors blended into the sky.
We finally made it back home to the Valley Kingdom.
Flying vehicles and airships could be seen in the skies within the city as well. Some similar to the one we had rented. That classic yet futuristic look about it. The one thing that could not be seen but could be sensed with mana was the invisible dome wall that covered the city from above and draped down toward the walls—protecting it and all its residents at all times.
The dome was there—unseen, but undeniable. At least, from what I've been told by my crewmates and other mages.
If you were licensed in the Kingdom, you could enter and exit freely; even from underground passageways that led within.
I simply hung low in the background as Ophelia and Havoc argued about the Keeper knew what… I just kept my eyes on the city and then the sky.
The metallic hum of machinery filled the air as we entered the Kingdom through the West Gate, we were met with lines of people and vehicles extending from outside the walls—coming in and out. And there were few guards stationed throughout city walls because of the city's barrier.
We navigated the city, dropping off our rented vehicle, then headed to a teleportation waypoint that linked to others throughout the city for a quick get-around.
Only one of us out of the Black Wolves could teleport, and he was back at our home; not here with us currently. These waypoints were a useful way to get around this huge Kingdom.
I laid a hand on it, and it lit up, casting a sigil on the ground around us. One didn't need mana to activate these as they operated on their own. In a few seconds, we warped to the opposite side of the Valley Kingdom to the East Gate.
Just beyond that was our home. Once we passed the gate, we were met with grass fields and a grove of trees in the short distance.
From here on, we had to walk. Usually. But I didn't feel like it, so I had Ophelia use her magic to send us there. She used Ghost magic. Or more properly described as Full-Body Ghost magic. Her ability let her pass through anything—matter, people, even the ground itself. She could even use it on others so long as she was touching them, and her magecraft had other characteristics, too, aside from that.
"Okie-dokie, you boys ready?" she said cheerily, placing one hand on each of our shoulders.
In an instant, we fell through the ground as if it didn't exist and disappeared beneath it.
She then took control and flew through the underground as if it were clouds.
As we sped to our destination, getting closer, Ophelia slowed us down, and we emerged from the ground, still in motion, until we were on our feet. Once we were fully emerged, she dropped her hand from our shoulders and let us walk normally in that same direction, as if we had walked up a nonexistent flight of stairs.
We walked a short distance past the trees, where the grass gave way to a dirt clearing dotted with patches of green. Tall, aged, and worn stone pillars were lined up to guide us to the gothic, steampunk-looking castle that waited ahead of us.
The castle was not wide but fairly tall. It was all shades of dark colors like black, charcoal, and dark gray with hints of red. It had metal plating bolted on and some machinery all over it on random parts of its structures.
The structure had seen better days, but regardless of its wear and tear, it was still cleaned regularly and kept up to living standards. It was as if it was perched in the center of the clearing, groaning softly with the wind as metal plates creaked like it was still alive.
This was our home, the Wolves Den.
I walked in front of both Havoc and Ophelia, who were trailing behind me on each side. Hands in my pockets and slightly hunched over, I casually walked toward the giant double front doors of the Den. They were closed, and a giant wolf's head holding a ring in its mouth was at the center of it, as if welcoming us.
A male figure was standing outside, leaning back on one of the pillars closer to the entrance, legs crossed casually. His fur trimmed hood was over his head with a white curved bill hat and a black wolf logo on it. His hair peeked out from beneath—medium-short, white with black-tipped ends. He wore gray, slim, round glasses that were fairly thin on the temples, rims, and bridge—like it was close to falling off his face. The jacket—Black Wolves. Pants, dark and tattered. And signature black boots complemented the similar uniform we all wore. He was also more tatted than myself.
His eyes remained closed as we walked past him to the Den, like we didn't see him—or rather, we were ignoring him.
Once we were a few feet past him, he slowly removed his hand that was holding the cigarette and flicked it in front of himself. His hand formed a snapping gesture. I took another step, and just before I could complete it—
Snap...
In a blink, I disappeared and reappeared instantly right back in front of him, where the cigarette was flicked. The cigarette was now where I originally had been in front of Havoc and Ophelia, having switched places with it.
Ophelia caught it effortlessly. She never used to smoke, but that vice came from someone else...
I stayed motionless for a second. Mind taking seconds to catch up.
And then he spoke, "You just gonna ignore it again, aren't you?" Sternly, almost agitated. His voice was raspy and low, as he looked at me with his light gray eyes that looked almost blue. There were slight bags under them. He was only a year older than me.
Havoc, unfazed, continued walking toward the double doors as if that hadn't just happened—fully aware that it did, he just didn't care. Ophelia, now smoking, just stood there, trailing behind and pretending not to pay attention to the male and me having this conversation.
"Well?" the male added, raising his voice slightly.
"I already told you—"
"It's not up for discussion anymore. We have to do it this time," he interrupted, now standing up straight, no longer leaning against the pillar.
"Then my answer is still no."
"You damn fool," he snapped and then raised his right hand as if to hit me. But instead, in his palm, he held a small charm within it. He made that gesture with his other hand and he snapped his fingers once again.
A digital scroll appeared in his raised hand, the charm gone.
"Go on. Read it," he demanded. The arm that held it extended to me.
I sighed and looked up at the sky like it was a drag, then slowly made my way to him, hands still in my pockets.
Once I made it to him, an arm's reach away, we glared at each other for a few seconds before I snatched the scroll from his outstretched hand. His arm remained even after I took it and began reading, before finally letting it fall back to his side—still glaring at me all the while.
I read in silence. And when I finished, my eyes widened. For the first time since we arrived, the world around me went quiet.
"By the fucking Keeper…" I ground out.
From what I read, the very bottom of the letter said:
Attendees: Black Wolves - Acting Captain Greed, Vice Captain Code, 2nd Executive Ophelia. Failure to attend will result in Guild abolishment. This is a final warning.
"We don't have a choice anymore. Besides, the attendees got leaked and they're choosing to roll it out anyway," he said, calmer now, sensing I now understood the situation we were in.
Ophelia still stood there, a little bit ahead of us, smoking, pretending she wasn't listening.
I closed the scroll and tossed it back at him, turning away after, and continued toward the direction of the Den.
"Fine." I said, throwing my hands in my pockets.
He kept his eyes on me as I continued walking, my back facing him now. He sighed and fixed his glasses with his middle finger. "You hungry?"
I stopped in my tracks again, trying to play it cool. The answer couldn't have been any more obvious, but of course that's when my stomach decided to grumble.
Ophelia snickered and laughed, "Man, you are so easy to manipulate."
"Shut up," I said to her jeeringly.
The male behind me walked in my direction, hands in his pockets, and kept walking until he was just a bit ahead of where I stopped. He turned around and said, "Come on, I'll make breakfast."
"Thanks, Code."
As we all headed toward the Wolves Den, Havoc, who was the closest, neared the double doors. Code, Ophelia, and I followed a couple of feet behind after our interaction. Havoc stuck out an arm to open the doors and then—
The doors flew open, sending him back and on his hind. A body flew out from the double doors right over him, wearing a Black Wolves jacket. He flew over Havoc and landed just before the rest of us.
A sinister female's laugh invaded our hearing. Her silhouette stood framed in the doorway—still and confident, like she was untouchable as she spoke like she owned us all,
"You poor fool... Pathetic. I almost feel sorry for how weak you are!"