Royal Guard Outpost near the southern border of Celestia, near the town of Klingston, the outpost was a large conglomeration of low-lying quadratic surveillance buildings, plus a sleeping area and special mess hall in special and beautifully decorated buildings, there were antennas and satellites. Alister and Ethan had gone to check on things there, a routine inspection, in that border division there were five captains, 15 Paladins, 45 neophytes, and 5 sages.
The place was headed by Royal Guard captain Raquel Boulder, 36, her eyes were brown, her hair was in long, full dreadlocks, her black skin, her magic was that of the earth. Everything was in perfect order, until a crash broke out, it was an enemy attack coming from Merciolos, a Latin country that had a questionable security and humanitarian condition.
It was an attack and Aron and William were leading the attack fiercely, they had 100 warriors at their service. Alister and Ethan were soon in position.
– Raquel, you and the others get rid of the subordinates, we take care of the leaders. – Alister said.
– Sure, good luck. – Rachel said.
– Same, friend. – Said Ethan.
Ethan and Alister went to meet the leaders, as the place was arid and without much around, they could loosen up, the master mages were surprised to see an old companion of the Royal Guard beside Madame Stroika.
– Aron, what does that mean… We all thought you… were dead. – Ethan said stirred.
– Let's say I found someone who values me more, the Royal Guard is a rotten and corrupt group, it only benefits the nobles and theirs... I'll help destroy this corruption, you were neophytes at the time, you don't know how people sacrificed and everyone only knows how to drool over those Astaroth students. – Aron said irritated.
– Do you have a preference for killing any of them in particular? – Guilherme asked indifferently to his opponents.
– The Gallard, I kill the one who represents the rot of Celestia. – Said Aron.
– This litany is getting old. – Ethan said, he was preparing for the fight.
***
Guilherme and Alister were already fighting, they got into a furious clash, Guilherme showed himself to be a great fighter.
– I wonder what drives such a strong young man to fight for a corrupt and unjust world. – Guilherme said, he was launching a series of lava shots.
– I'm just not trying to destroy the world using the power of a crazy goddess just because I disagree with the political system. – Alister said, who punches the ground causing strong shock waves that destabilize Guilherme on the ground.
– I understand, you still live in the illusion of your perks, but you don't see that many suffer, why do you think Merciolos is the way it is? Lava Geyser. – Conjured Guilherme that caused a powerful lava geyser emerging right under Alister that threw him far away.
– Merciolos is not Celestia's fault, they had their own problems, of course compared to us we will be the villains, but we do what is necessary for our nation, if they wanted to copy us and went wrong, it is not our responsibility... Ascending Meteor. – Conjured Alister who touched the ground and from it he Conjuredfive ascending meteors that hit Guilherme from the bottom up.
– If that lets you sleep peacefully at night... Lava Shower. – Conjured Guilherme with sarcasm that from high up on one of the meteors that hit him from the bottom up, he released a shower of lava against the Taurus mage.
Alister defended himself with an Aurum Guard, but soon Guilherme was there to fight more, and both were eager for the battle. Alister attacked Guilherme, gave some punches and violent kicks, grabbed his opponent by the hair and threw him on the ground with hatred and was about to step on him, he was physically stronger, he was one of the strongest in this regard.
– You seem more like one of those fanatics who want to put the blame for everything on our backs, the world is not fair, but it is no excuse to judge others for their losses. – shouted Alister who was about to step on his foot to crush it.
– Or you who are the fanatics who do not see the evils it spreads… Melting Lava Dragon. – Guilherme conjured that from the submissive position he was in, he launched a scalding lava dragon straight into Alister's chest, if not for the uniform, it would have been fatal in that situation and proximity.
Alister hadn't liked taking that blow, he was rising to his feet, emanating a powerful magical aura.
– You're brave, older and more experienced, but don't enrage Taurus if you can't handle him... Taurus: Burst Of Taurus. – Conjured Alister with fury, he realized that the enemy was dangerous, give him damage like that using a relatively "basic" spell, he was very powerful. This spell counts down Alister's magical energy and unleashes a herd of violent and tough 4 meter bulls made of magical shockwaves condensed into Taurus forms.
Guilherme was trampled, pierced by horns, kicked and everything that a bullfight could do to someone, Alister had been really pissed and demonstrating why he was a master mage. Guilherme gets up and goes to fight again with lava projectiles, Alister didn't give a break.
***
Ethan and Aron were in their fight, it was a tense situation and mages of very different specialties, Aron conjured steel razors from magic seals that were launched at high speed, Ethan proves to be one of the most agile of the 12 master mages, he was really a young man of many talents, but that was not his specialty, he had to be very careful not to get hit.
– You were a respected mage, you did great things in World War VI, why work for the enemy now? – Ethan said, he was escaping from another shower of razors.
– Boy, can't you see? We are just pawns, those linked to the nobility are elevated, the rest are discarded... I tried hard, I committed myself, but the glories almost all for the 3GLWM. – Aron said convinced and angry.
– The history is not quite like that, in the Royal Guards people still talk about you and your deeds, but don't think that changes that I'm going to fight for my nation... Doppler Effect. – Conjured Ethan, it was a sensorial manipulation spell, Aron now saw several Ethans on the battlefield.
– A sensorial mage and not only tracking, but manipulator, I know how to deal with types like you, this spell I've dealt with him several times... Cross Razor Blades Storm. – Conjured Aron who Conjuredrazors in the form of a cross of 1 meter blade vertically and horizontally, there were several that flew aerodynamically around Aron and managed to hit one of the razor-crosses on Ethan's arm, the illusory spell seemed to have stopped working .
– No wonder you are remembered to this day by your colleagues of your time, if not for my agility and the illusion I could have lost my mind... Although I also have my knives... Hearth's Crossroad. – Conjured Ethan who trapped Aron in a state of sensorial manipulation to leave him emotionally paralyzed, to render him helpless. At the same time he pulls out of his tactical pants two knives with the cancer symbol on the blade of the knives, they were shaped like crab legs, but with a sharp cutting edge and lethargic poison.
Ethan moved fast going to Aron and landed some cuts followed by a kick with his absurd force sending him away, but on the way he woke up and threw some razors, three hit, one in the thigh, one in the shoulder and one in the belly, the uniform he was very tough, but the blades were as sharp as the summoner's magical refinement, and he appeared to be a master mage level mage, he was a dangerous opponent.
– You made a very good move, but it's not enough, I'm glad mine remember me, but it doesn't change the fact that I saw the truth, Madame Stroika is the salvation of this world, showed us the way of the salvation of this world... Flourish Of The Razor Flower. – Conjured Aron who made a rose made of giant razors "blossom" right under Ethan.
Ethan almost got caught in the razor-sharp razor, but the Cancer mage moved nimbly with his daggers dodging blades. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to do this for a long time, he managed to get out of the radius of the attack.
– I'll have to use that… Mythical Tamer: Siren. – Conjured Ethan using one of 15 divine techniques casting a battle summon, a combat Mermaid.
Meandra, warrior mermaid, she had a long blue tail that had a rainbow reflection, from the waist up was a beautiful black woman with long curly hair and amber eyes, on the chest she wore an armor with shell graphics in the region from the bust, she carried a scepter that had a "mini Harp" on top, Meandra was floating in the air with a particular wave of water to move there.
– Needing help, Ethan? – Meandra laughed.
– Leave him without visibility, I'll take care of the rest. – Ethan said more seriously with the battle.
– Understood. – Meandra said that begins to play the scepter harp releasing a mist that seemed to take the visibility of Aron and Ethan was hitting several more blows with his knives.
The fights between Ethan and Alister were mixed, they were facing their opponents, but Guilherme and Aron saw that it was not possible to continue, they would need to retreat.
– I can't believe I'm retreating to a child. – Said Aron annoyed.
– We will have our revenge! – Guilherme said.
The two mages left with an emergency seal.
– Ethan, do you need my healing service too? – Meandra asked.
– I would appreciate it, friend. – Ethan smiled.
Meandra then used her healing melody to heal the wounds of the two master mages.
– If you don't need me anymore, I have things to do in the mythical dimension, when you need it, just call! – Said Meandra who gives a wink, then a mortal and falls head over heels in the wave itself and returning to its dimension.
– I always thought your summoning was amazing, an incredible support, Meandra is much nicer than Bass. – Alister commented thinking about his invocation.
– Your mythical invocation is one of Colchis bulls made of divine bronze, sensitivity is not his strong point. – Ethan laughed.
– Let's talk to Raquel and then go back to the tower? – Alister asked.
– Yes, I still have to see the preparations for Mom's jubilee... You want to stay and help, right? – Ethan assumed.
– Yes, they'll come back, there's at least me here, I'll come back tomorrow at the latest... I love you. – Alister said giving a goodbye kiss.
– I love you too. – Ethan smiled, who soon after teleports to the Royal Guard tower using one of the teleportation seals.
***
Otrera's office in the Royal Guard tower, the Grand Mistress was listening to the report on the run in the border region.
– I understand Ethan, it must have been quite a fight... Aron Steel, I swore he was dead, but his complaint is not that uncommon, many complain about not having received as much glory as I or the other two 3GLWM. – Said Otrera looking at the situation in the most analytical way possible, she could not weaken, even though Aron has been a great friend in the past.
– But you've done so much more and gone through so much more than anyone else. – Ethan said that he remembered how it was that time of glory and honor to legendary mages.
– It is no justification for forgetting others, I will make a new memorial to those heroes who died in the war and to the still-living mages who gave their all, it was this lack of spotlight for the people that made many resent it... But focusing on our problem, Stroika already knows that the tokens are in Celestia... Aria commented to Valtor about the tokens being in Celestia? – Otrera asked.
– Yes, she said, but do you think he has anything to do with it? – Ethan asked, who also didn't trust his brother.
– All attacks, attacks and problems related to Helloise were confidential incidents in which Valtor was aware of the plans or location, it cannot be a coincidence, but we need to be calm and have proof to accuse him, otherwise the queen will not believe. – Said Otrera thoughtfully.
– I can get into his mind and pull this information, my brother was never the most trusted person in the world. – Ethan laughed.
– He could claim memory manipulation, calm down Ethan, we'll make it, but for now, you need to be discreet, and do good neighbor policy. – Said Otrera thoughtfully.
– By the way, have you already chosen your dress for the jubilee? – Ethan asked.
– I was thinking about wearing that draped purple. – Otrera said, she had changed to a lighter subject, there was not much to be done at that moment about Valtor.
– It's one of your best dresses, an original Jean-Henri. – Said Ethan.
– I'll use it then. – Laughed Otrera.
– It's not the better, it's what suits you the worst. – Said Ethan.
– Is it my best dress or what suits me worst? – Asked Otrera who had been confused.
– Both. – Ethan laughed.
– If you say. – Laughed Otrera.
– Go with the green neckline cold knit from shoulder to shoulder, you look cute in it. – Ethan said with an innocent wink.
– Noted! – Said Otrera.
Life in Royal Guard was like that, from moments of life and death tension to gossip and beauty tips, not out of vanity or futility, but to remember that life has its light moments, they already have to deal with so many serious things, heavy, stressful, they had to trust each other and know how to play and play with each other, otherwise it would be more difficult to deal with the heavy routine.