John was waiting in the spacious lounge of an expensive mansion. The floor was covered by a lavish crimson carpet, the walls had an extravagant gold finish and all furniture either had gold on them or looked like antiques.
John was dressed officially, he wore a jet black suit with a white undershirt and red tie. His hair looked well groomed and tidy but he still had a persistent stubble.
"John, John, John. I didn't think you'd come by here. What brings you to my humble abode?" A man said. He had very well kept long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a royal blue three piece suit that had flower patterns sawn in gold spanning across it. He also brandished an expensive golden watch on his wrist.
"You were late Midas." John stated, making his annoyance clear.
"My, my. I didn't know we were using our nicknames. I deeply apologize it is my fault, Rakshasa." Midas replied with a delay before his last word.
"You do know why I came here right?" John asked
"For you to be asking it isn't just because you missed me is it?" Midas replied.
"This isn't time to play games Trevor. They hurt one of my boys." John said.
Midas seemed to be taken aback by what John revealed. His demeanor instantly changed, letting his carefree facade melt away.
"Which one? Is it Jack or Danny?" Midas asked, his eyes lighting up with malice.
"It's the new kid." John replied.
"The new kid? The cripple? Why would they do that?" Midas continued.
"It's because of the rumours I spread. I needed to buy him some time but apparently I have snakes hidden within my ranks." John said
"And what do you want from me?" Midas asked.
"The list of the ones that did it." John replied coldly
"I can have a list of the captains that schemed against you before dinner. As for the others, it will have to wait until tomorrow. As for our fellow executives, I think you very much know the ones but I can have that info ready by the weekend." Midas said.
"Thank you Trevor. I owe you one."
John departed from the mansion and started hastily making his way back to his headquarters.
"What kind of fool would poke at a sleeping dragon? I guess Rakshasa has woken up once more." Midas mumbled.
-
John was sitting at the head seat of a small dining table. There were 12 other seats each filled by a different person. They all wore plain white masks and waited for John to speak, in complete silence.
"We all have quite a long past. You are my captains after all. We've fought together, killed together and died together. But something has come to my attention. Some of you have betrayed my trust and some of your subordinates have betrayed both our trusts." John said, the group not speaking a word.
"I get it that some of you might be mad that I'm not actively engaging in the politics of Eclipse. I have heard people say that I have grown soft just because I decided to take care of the two children left orphaned after that day."
"You think I don't fight for you, that I've forgotten about you, that I got lost trying to play family with kids that aren't mine. But in reality I was just sick of the pointless games. But this, changes today."
"Someone tried to kill the new kid because of the information I have given to you and you only. So it just has to be that one of you leaked it. And unfortunately for the traitor, I know who you are." John concluded.
The masked people struggled to maintain their emotionless demeanors as John stood up and paced around the room.
"Suffocate" John said.
The moment John cast the spell seven of the masked figures dropped. They started thrashing around like fish out of water, attempting to breathe but failing to do so. They desperately tried everything they could yet in a few short moments they were no more.
"Take off your masks. I don't think secrecy will work anymore. We have to be more united that before. We have to be born anew." John said, the masked people complying.
After the massacre that had just taken place there were just five people left on the table excluding John.
A tall redhead with bright green eyes, Circe. A short bald European man with brown eyes, Chyron. A massive Scandinavian with long blonde braided hair and brown eyes, Fenrir. An unassuming youngster with neon yellow hair and ink black eyes, Styx. And an old lady with long silver hair and brown eyes, Baba.
Kyrke, Chyron and Fenrir all looked to be in their early forties. Styx looked to be in his early twenties and Baba looked like she was nearing seventy.
"You are the only ones that didn't get your hands dirty. I am glad I chose right even those few times. Thank you. Go inform your subordinates of what happened. You will be assigned new members, territories and responsibilities by dawn so prepare yourselves." John said.
"Yes sir Rakshasa." The captains replied.
"Very well. You are free to go." John said, concluding their meet.
-
The hospital room was loud, Danny had made sure of that. He was playing music loudly through a portable speaker while eating potato chips by the tenfold.
"Man, I heard that guy's brain melted off." Danny said
"What, really?" Valentine asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I heard even the cleanup crew didn't know what hit 'em." Danny continued
"How did John find me anyways?" Valentine asked
"He infringed on your privacy by casting a spell on you. It tracks you and your vitals. We got it on us too. He said if we can dispel it then it's fair game but we've had no luck this far sooo." Jack replied.
"Damn, should I be mad or should I be glad about that?" Valentine said
"Eeexactly" Danny and Jack replied simultaneously.
"Guys, I have a favour to ask of you." Valentine said.
"What is it?" Danny asked.
"Can you two heal me?" Valentine said.
"You are a nutcase man. You're forgetting the whole being mana hypersensitive and also halving half fried your mana circuit part." Jack replied.
"I'm resuming training tomorrow and I just don't want to be bed bound while doing it. The pain is not much and my mana circuit will be just fine. Just hit me with it." Valentine said.
"Fine. Danny, cast silence on the room." Jack ordered
"But-" Danny tried to say.
"Our squadron owns this damn place. Just cast the spell." Jack cut him off.
"Okay, silent bubble" Danny casted the spell. The sounds of the room did not get duller but anyone out of the room could not hear what was happening inside.
"Thanks, just silence would have done the trick though. Heal." Jack said.
The pain was extreme, so much so that Valentine's entire body started to tremble. He tried to contain the screams of pain but he did not last long before letting out a powerful scream.
"This is worse than last time" Danny said
"Yeah, it really is. He does have more injuries though so that's that." Jack replied.
Valentine's screams of sheer pain continued for a while but once the pain faded away Valentine let out a sigh of relief.
"This was worth it. I think?" Valentine said.
"Dude, you know what would be funny? Setting up your mom with John." Danny said, his face immediately being met by a half full bottle of water.
"I'm gonna magic missile the hair off your ass if you don't take it back right this instant." Valentine said
"Whoa there dude, I was just joking. JOKING. No need to go that far. Chill." Danny replied
"I wasn't." Valentine said with a dead stare.
"Wait, what do you mean you weren't joking?" Danny asked
"Exactly what you think I meant." Valentine replied.
"Okay man, I take it back, sorry." Danny conceded.
"That is quite the threat Valentine." Jack said, losing himself in laughter.