The forest was bathed in a serene and peaceful atmosphere, with the warm, afternoon sun rays filtering through the clouds and casting a comforting glow over the landscape. Viewed from above, Horkii rainforest was a marveling spectacle, a literal dreamscape that stretched as far as the eye could see. The trees and undergrowth sported an incredible array of leaves and fruits of every conceivable colour, which blended together in a breathtaking display that defied the mundane. It was a marvelous showcase of Kreete's natural beauty.
Deep within the western reaches of the dense forest, six figures clad in dark-red and black robes made their way down a gentle slope, surrounded by the moist swampy scent and the gentle gurgling of a nearby stream. Simultaneously, in the distant southern region of the forest, a trio of boys were engaged in a lively playful dispute, snapping photos of each other as they bantered in loud voices. The two groups were oblivious to each other's presence, separated by a considerable distance.
The group of six, comprising four women and two men - with the taller man leading the way - proceeded cautiously towards the center of the forest, their footsteps quiet on the terrain. Following a lengthy, arduous hike that lasted most of the afternoon, they finally reached their destination - the stream that ran through the midsection of Horkii rainforest. Exhausted, one of the women settled onto a nearby boulder, exhaling heavily. "I'm beat," she remarked, retrieving a water bottle from a small bag. Her sentiment was met with murmurs of agreement from the others, and soon they all gathered on the large rock, seeking respite.
"No one rests until I give the word," said the tall, handsome man with a well-groomed moustache. He had a cunning glint in his eyes and he gave off an air of authority. He seemed to be the leader of the group. However, faced with the group's weary stares, he relented, "Fine, take a break."
The young woman, who had first sat down on the rock, took off her robe, revealing a striking black and red outfit that hugged her slender frame, accentuating the contours of her body. Her dyed red hair added a pop of color to her overall appearance, making her stand out as a stunning and charming 18-year-old. She felt her phone buzz in her pocket and pulled it out, and as she scrolled through it, her eyes widened with astonishment and thrill.
"Hey everyone, check this out!" she exclaimed, holding up her phone for the rest of the group to see.
"What's it now, Cindy?" one of the girls, who bore a striking resemblance to her and appeared a few years older, asked with a playful tease. "Your new boyfriend get back with his ex?" The group gathered around the girl, gazing curiously at her phone.
"No sis, if that happens, your One-eyed barrel vulture is in for a real treat," the girl replied with a laugh. "But you guys have to see this!" The group leaned in, their eyes fixed on her phone.
"Who the hell are those boys?" The tall man asked, his moustache accentuating his interest and giving him an evil appearance.
"According to Black Aetherius Zendors, these images were just uploaded on Worldpage by someone named Zack," the girl explained.
"So..?"
"And do you know who those two boys in the pictures are?" she asked, building suspense.
"Hmm, a couple of guys lost in the woods?" Tall mustache man ventured.
"No, High Luminary Fierau, The Black Aetherius has identified them as the ones possessing the Earth and Ice Ancestor souls - the very reason Shadow Mistress Vixen intends to destroy all of Axille this year!"
The group's eyes widened in unison as they drew in a collective gasp.
"And there's more!" she added, pausing for dramatic effect.
"What is it?" the group asked, almost in unison.
"Black Aetherius Zendors traced the device that uploaded the image, and you won't believe where he located it - the southern region of Horkii Rainforest - this forest!" The group's eyes grew even wider as they gasped again, their astonishment palpable.
They had received direct orders from the Shadow Mistress to conduct operations in the rainforest, aiming to execute her plan to destroy Axille unless Mayor Wills surrendered to their demands. Ironically, the targets of their demands - the two individuals who held the key to Axille's fate - were also present in the same forest. If they succeeded in capturing and bringing the boys back, they would most likely earn the Shadow Mistress's utmost pleasure, and a substantial reward!
The Krax' Ixar, notoriously known as the Black Fraggers, operated under a rigid hierarchical structure, with distinct ranks and responsibilities. At the bottom rung were the Khaos Agents, tasked with carrying out minor, diabolical tasks. Above them stood the High Luminaries, who oversaw groups of Khaos Agents and held positions of greater authority than them. In terms of magical prowess, Khaos Agents typically ranged from 5th rank Common Wizards to 4th rank Mystic Wizards, while High Luminaries spanned from the 4th rank of the Mystic Realm to the 9th rank. The Black Aetherii occupied the next echelon, serving as intermediaries between the Shadow Mistress and the rest of the organization. They received directives from the Shadow Mistress and Blood Master, then relayed them to High Luminaries, who in turn mobilized their Khaos Agents to execute the orders.
On occasion, orders would prove too daunting for a High Luminary and their agents to execute, necessitating the direct intervention of the Black Aetherii, who were usually powerful Legendary wizards ranking between 1st and 4th rank. The enigmatic Blood Master, the supreme leader of the Black Fraggers, remained anonymous, with only the Black Aetherii privy to their existence. The Blood Master was rumored to be possessed by an Ancestor soul. Meanwhile, The Shadow Mistress, popularly known as the Vixen, was a mysterious figure, whose true identity and appearance remained unknown - she could be anyone, from an elderly woman to a captivating young beauty, or even a seemingly innocent child. Her strength and abilities were equally shrouded in mystery, though she was known throughout the wizarding community as an extremely powerful individual.
"Should we proceed with our task or go after them?" One of the females queried, and the group looked up to the moustachioed man; High Luminary Fierau.
Fierau, cautioned, "We need to be careful; this could be a trap. Manhawk wouldn't let those two venture into a place like this without an ulterior motive. According to Black Aetherius Zendors, they're heading east, and he's tracking the phone of the individual who took the pictures. Our priority is to complete our task expeditiously, then we'll investigate and determine if it's a trap. If it is, we'll retreat; if not, we'll apprehend them. But I'm certain Manhawk is behind this."
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"I'm not behind any of this!" Manhawk exclaimed, the hotel room he was in appearing to tremble, upon being confronted by Mr. Charles Currie with the photo of Robert and Oliver in a dense forest. His face was contorted in outrage.
"I've traced the location of the device used to upload the pictures, and you won't believe where they are." Charles said.
Manhawk's eyes widened in apprehension. "The Reptilian Island?"
Charles chuckled, "No Simon, they're in Horkii Rainforest, behind Axille's borders. If they were in the Reptilian Island, they wouldn't have even had the chance to take a picture, let alone upload it."
Manhawk banged his hand on the reading table, "Damn it! Damn it all! This is a catastrophe, a complete disaster!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with panic as he paced back and forth across the room, his green robe fluttering with each agitated step. "The Black Fraggers have already amassed so much power with just two Ancestor souls, just two; if they were to acquire two more...! I'm certain those imbeciles are already hot on their heels - this is utter madness! What could those boys possibly be searching for in that forsaken place crawling with magic beasts?!"
Manhawk had every reason to be troubled. For one, he was currently in Higlar, a continent far from Comset - the continent where Heiss was situated. The daunting challenge for him was the vast distance, but a solutions popped into his mind, an unfeasibly swift solution - using at least 600 teleportation scrolls to get there as quickly as possible and get Robert and Oliver out of Horkii rainforest. The cost was ridiculously expensive, with each scroll priced at 5000 gold coins, totaling a staggering three million plus gold coins for the over 600 scrolls needed. Moreover, finding a magic tech store with such a large inventory of teleportation scrolls was a totally futile quest.
Teleportation scrolls aren't simplistic charms - like you're probably thinking right now - but rather sophisticated devices composed of millions of Light and Space magic particles meticulously arranged in a precise configuration, typically manufactured in a compact, scroll-like form by magic technologists. These particles work together in a complex process to capture the user's form, determine their desired destination, and teleport them accordingly. If the desired distance surpasses the scroll's limitations, the user will typically be teleported to the closest possible point near their intended destination. The scroll's quality and range depend on the number of magic particles it contains. Magic technologists collect these particles from used spells, using a device to store them before they disperse. The particle's element is determined by the caster's elemental affinity, requiring technologists to find wizards of specific elements to cast spells and collect the corresponding particles.
The quantity of magic particles a wizard could generate was directly tied to the strength of their spells, leading most magic technologists to seek out the services of Mystic wizards. While Common wizards were plentiful, their magic output was too meager to be of use, and Legendary wizards, though highly sought after, were rare and prohibitively expensive to commission. Mystic wizards, though not as plentiful as Common wizards, offered the ideal balance between output and affordability, though quite costly to hire. As a result, the production of teleportation scrolls was limited. They were usually reserved for emergency use, such as escape and evasion by wizards in dangerous situations, allowing them to instantly transport themselves a considerable distance away from danger, rather than relying on the scroll as a means of ordinary transportation.
Manhawk rubbed his forehead anxiously, weighing his options. He considered flying to Axille on Goldie, but the crucial meeting he had come to Higlar all the way from Guagazl to attend just couldn't be missed. Also, the time it would take to reach Comset on Goldie was discouraging - at least a day... He still had to make his way to Heiss, which was situated in the distant southwestern reaches of the Comset continent; a great distance from his current location.
The world of Kreete comprised five distinct continents: two polar ice caps, and three landmasses - Comset, Rosern, and Higlar. The Magic Council held sway over Comset, with their headquarters located in the northern city of Guagazl. The Illumination Temple oversaw Rosern, and the Higlar continent was governed by the royal family from which it derived its name.
Manhawk scratched his head, racking his brain for a solution.
"If they were to come under attack, the Ancestor souls should be capable of defending themselves, shouldn't they?" Charles asked. "You once expressed your confidence in their cunning and their power."
"That's true, I did. The Ancestor souls indeed are quite crafty and powerful," Manhawk mused, "so they should be able to hold their own for a while, still I'm not taking any chances. As soon as this meeting concludes, I'm flying straight to Horkii rainforest on Goldie - but, remind me, I need a quick talk with the King himself."
"Alright," Mr. Currie nodded.
Manhawk adjusted his robes. "Continue tracking the boys' location, and see if you could find any other human presence in the forest besides theirs. The Black Fraggers are unpredictable and dangerous, and I have a gut feeling they're already closing in on the boys. And who in the world is this Zack person?!" He exclaimed, walking out of the hotel room with Charles, the door slamming shut behind them.