The stranger, cloaked in white from head to toe, with a strip of cloth concealing most of his face, surveyed the burning ruins around him. Smoke curled into the air as charred debris smouldered in the distance. He scanned the area carefully, searching for any signs of life. Nothing stirred. The blast of black fire he had unleashed earlier had obliterated everything in its path, and judging by the silence, it seemed his target, John, hadn't survived.
Satisfied, the stranger reached beneath his robes, withdrawing a small metallic device. As he activated it, a shimmering blue projection flickered to life. A figure appeared, dressed in similar attire to the stranger but with distinct red stripes running across his cloak. The projected man had his back turned, seemingly in the middle of a conversation.
"Sir," the stranger said firmly, standing at attention as though reporting to a superior.
The projected figure turned abruptly, irritation flashing across his face. "How many times have I told you not to contact me on this line?" he snapped, slamming his hand on a nearby table.
The stranger hesitated, momentarily thrown off by the reaction. "Sir, it's me... the one you sent to find John," he said, his voice steady but tinged with confusion.
Realizing his mistake, the man in red stripes softened his tone, waving a dismissive hand. "Ah, right. Sorry about that." After an awkward pause, he cleared his throat, trying to regain some composure. "So, how did it go?"
The stranger cast one last glance at the burning town before turning back to the projection. "It was easy. One blast, and he was gone," he said flatly. "But…" He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Was there supposed to be a child with him?"
The man on the other end frowned, puzzled. "A child?" he repeated, his voice laced with curiosity.
"Yeah… a kid. Couldn't have been older than ten," he said quietly, his voice steady but laced with something hard to place, guilt, maybe, or doubt. "He was holding two bodies in his arms, crying."
The man on the other end of the projection paused, as if weighing the weight of the words. His expression didn't change, and when he finally spoke, his voice was cold, devoid of any trace of sympathy. "Don't think too much about it. You did what you had to do." There was a brief pause before he added, "Return and report to the council." With that, the projection flickered and vanished.
Left alone in the dim light, the stranger stood motionless, the silence pressing in on him. He closed his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to push away the thoughts that threatened to surface, the image of the boy's tear-streaked face, the bodies in his small arms. He couldn't afford to dwell on it.
After a long moment, he opened his eyes, his expression hardened once more. Without another word, he took flight, the weight of the moment left behind… or at least buried, for now.
As John drew closer to his hideout, the child in his arms clung tightly to him, his small body trembling with lingering fear. The horrors of the village were still fresh in the boy's mind—the images of everyone he had ever known, gone; his home reduced to ash and ruin. Those terrible memories had carved themselves into his thoughts, refusing to fade.
Looking out over the endless expanse of flat, snow-covered plains, the boy couldn't help but wonder where they were headed. The landscape stretched in every direction, a sea of white with no landmarks in sight. He glanced up at John, uncertain but too tired to ask the question gnawing at his mind.
Finally, John touched down softly on the snow, his boots crunching against the frozen ground. He set the boy down gently, taking care to ensure the child could stand on his own. "We're here," John said quietly, his voice steady and calm.
The boy, Arcos, scanned the empty plains around them, his brow furrowing in confusion. There was nothing but snow, no trees, no buildings, not even a hint of shelter. He shivered, pulling his thin cloak tighter around his shoulders. "But... there's nothing here," Arcos said, his voice tinged with bewilderment. His wide eyes searched John's face, hoping for an explanation.
John's lips curved into a slight, knowing smile. "Is that what you think?" he said, his tone teasing but kind. Without another word, he took a few deliberate steps forward, then stopped. Raising one arm, he reached out into the air as though grasping something invisible. With a firm tug, he pulled downward, as if unveiling a curtain.
"Welcome, Arcos," John said, stepping aside to reveal what lay beyond. "To my place."
Arcos gasped, his eyes going wide with wonder. Where moments ago there had been only a frozen wasteland, now stretched a lush, vibrant valley. The grass was green and soft, shimmering under the warmth of a golden sun. A cluster of small houses, six or seven at most, stood in the distance, smoke curling lazily from their chimneys. The sky was a perfect blue, with not a single cloud in sight.
He took a hesitant step forward, then another, his feet sinking into the soft, warm earth. It was like stepping into a dream, a hidden paradise untouched by the cold and cruelty of the outside world. For a moment, Arcos forgot the terrible images burned into his mind. He turned to look at John, who followed a few steps behind him, his expression unreadable but gentle.
"How... how is this possible?" Arcos whispered, awestruck.
John smiled, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Sometimes, the best places are the ones you can't see right away," he said. "Come on. There's a lot more to show you."
Arcos peered into the distance, his eyes narrowing as he watched six small figures moving about energetically. They seemed to be around his size, their bodies small and agile like his own. "What's going on over there?" he asked, his voice soft but curious as he turned toward John, their eyes meeting.
John followed Arcos's gaze, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Oh, those are my students. They're training," he said gently. "Would you like to meet them?"
Arcos hesitated for a moment, considering the offer. Then, with a small nod, he stepped closer to John, following him but keeping himself partially hidden behind the taller figure.
As they approached, the group of children noticed John and immediately stopped what they were doing. Excited shouts filled the air as they ran toward him, their faces lighting up with joy. "Master, you're back!" one of them exclaimed eagerly.
John chuckled at their enthusiasm, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "Hello, students. I hope you didn't get into any trouble while I was gone," he teased, his tone light and playful.
A chorus of "No!" erupted from the group, their voices overlapping in a cheerful denial. None of them seemed to notice the shy boy trailing behind John, none, except for a girl named Phoenix. Her eyes widened slightly when she caught sight of the unfamiliar figure peeking out from behind John's side. Curiosity sparked in her gaze as she pointed toward the boy. "Master… who's that?" she asked, her voice tinged with both interest and surprise.
The other children turned their attention to Arcos, who froze under their collective gaze, his cheeks flushing with discomfort. He shifted nervously, unsure of what to do with so many eyes on him.
John glanced down at Arcos, offering a reassuring smile before placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce him," John said, turning back to the group. "This is Arcos. He'll be living here with us from now on, since… well, his home was destroyed." His voice softened at the mention of Arcos's loss.
Arcos lifted a timid hand and gave a small wave, his fingers barely moving. "So, be nice to him," John added with a smile, his tone encouraging yet firm.
The children exchanged glances before Phoenix stepped forward, a friendly grin spreading across her face. "Hi, Arcos," she said, her voice kind and welcoming. The other kids followed her lead, offering waves and greetings, their initial surprise melting into warmth.
Arcos managed a shy smile in return, feeling a little less alone. He didn't say much, but something about the way the other children welcomed him made him feel… safe.