THIRD-PERSON POV:
The alarm was sounded. Intruders had arrived. The mages were getting their weapons ready for battle.
The head-mage, Sullivan Wess was seated in his chambers, seemingly unperturbed.
A mage ran into his office.
"Master, the fort is under attack. We need reinforcements".
Another ran into the room.
"Master, you need to leave with the sarcophagus artefacts".
Sullivan sighed and shook his head.
"We can't stop them. It's the Thaguri coming. Abandon the fort now".
He went to the wall and touched it, chanting a spell. The wall became transparent. The sarcophagus was visible to them.
"Even if they take it, they'll need a powerful divine to open it. It's not worth your lives".
Soon, cracking sounds were heard. The bones of the novice mages were being divided asunder before it ended with their wind-pipes.
Wiccian soon walked in and sat on the seat.
"Your mages are weak compared to the others".
The wall turned back to stone.
He looked at him in a sinister way. Soon, bones started coming to bones for him.
He groaned and winced heavily. Veins stuck out on his neck like they'll snap soon.
"Give me the sarcophagus or die".
"Giving it to you won't make any difference" he said, as life was slowly kissing him farewell.
"As you wish!".
His finger bones broke. Sullivan grunted, swallowing the pain. He wouldn't want to give Wiccian the satisfaction of watching him die in pains.
Soon, his hands were forced to the floor. They started drawing symbols tirelessly.
Blood dropped from the torn flesh of Sullivan, giving power to the symbols.
Soon, a soft chime was heard as the necklace from Sullivan's neck fell.
"How...did you do...that? It...was...a...mage secret!"
"What can I say? Your blood gave you away".
Sullivan lost his cervical vertebral alignment as Wiccian got up to leave.
"You know what to do, Mikhail".
"Yes, master".
Wiccian walked away from the room.
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Qoora walked into the room. She bowed before him.
"The fifth signal was sounded moments ago".
"Make that six".
Soon, another flare went up in the sky.
He dropped the Book of Mages on the table.
"I don't understand. Why the massacre of mages?".
"Don't you see? It's a definite pattern!".
"Why would any group attack mages?".
"The mages that were attacked were in possession of deadly artefacts. Sizzetov is the link between all attacks".
"You mean...?".
"Yes. They're all Sizzetov's generals. They can't bring him themselves. They need Sizzetov's caucus to do it".
He got up from his seat and turned up his sleeves. He went to the fireplace and sat down.
"The pureblood is but a child. What better time is there to strike than now?" he added.
"Even the Thaguri won't want Sizzetov's return. Why try?".
He suddenly got up and rushed at the book again.
He flipped the pages frantically.
He gasped in self realization.
"Would you look at that?" he exclaimed.
"They don't want Sizzetov yet. They want something else".
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ACE POV:
I was walking towards the back of the school. Xiao's memo led me there. He wanted to tell me the truth alone.
I was all kinds of suspicious, but I decided to go.
I got to the place and waited for a minute.
A shadow was approaching from my rear.
"What is it that you wanted to tell me?" I said without looking back.
"I'm sorry, Ace! I've got to give you up. It's the only way!".
"What do you mean?".
I turned back to him, only to be greeted by a pair of glowing eyes.
I stood as if electrocuted. I felt my body becoming heavy, transforming to stone.
As I tried to freak out, I petrified and lost my senses.