“They could use mana without rings?” I whispered in pain from the heavy pressure keeping me at bay. 

Another figure showed, it was the one on the left, the arrogant voice was a guy in his twenties, orange hair, and black eyes. “I got a message that the other two are having trouble controlling the young master's magic.” said the orange haired guy looking at the yellow eyed. 

“Is that so then we should get going… but before that.” The old guy said looking at me, “Undo your spell on the human with black hair and blue eyes.” The blacked eyed man looked at the old guy confused but then did what he was asked to do. 

The pressure was being lifted up from me, it took me a second or two for me to regain my composure. 

Upon standing up the old guy had asked me a question. “Human, what are you from the young master?” His question seemed to confuse me. 

“Young master? No you seem to misunderstand here, I am Alter’s disciple, the one whose body was taken control of by what you call ‘Young master’.” The old man seemed to narrow his eyes into me, he had opened his mouth when a sudden explosion near the mana tornado. 

Without caring about the two men, I started to run in the direction of the tornado. Using the last bit of mana, I activated my ring phase making me a little bit faster. The explosion kept on getting louder and louder. When I arrived at the scene, there were two more men dressed on white military attire. On the other hand there was Luna, fifty feet in front of the two military men. 

She was holding her blade with her right hand while her left arm was too injured for her to move. “What do you guys want with Alter!?” Luna yelled, giving the two men blood lustful eyes. 

The two men did not answer her question which then she answered with a stance ready to attack but I stepped in to stop her from doing anything rash.

Stretching my arms out trying to stop Luna, “Luna, stop, they aren’t going to harm Alter.” Luna stopped two feet away from me, her mid swing stopped two inches away from my face. “Julie, wait are you here?” The Espion retracted her blade, I too put my arms down.

“I was fighting the other four Espions while you fought Ukhac… In between those moments, these men appeared using a magic spell to immobilize me and the other Espions.” I said pointing at the old guy and the arrogant one. 

The old guy came up to both of us including the other three military men, “Human girl, what are you from Alter?” As Luna opened her mouth, I spoke over her, “She’s the second disciple of Alter, Mister Chuzeoth.” 

Chuzeoth looked at me cautiously, “You may call me Chuzeoth Human.” He answered in a light voice. I stood straight and introduced myself and Luna, “I’m Juliette Riley, a former Espion of the Human Kingdom and this is Luna Lyric my colleague, she’s also a former Espion from the Human Kingdom.” My tone was friendly since the mood between us was awkward not knowing what was going on. 

As seconds passed, the mana tornado sent a force wave sending Luna and I flying but the mysterious men had grabbed us. “Cover yourselves in mana.” Said the orange man holding me. 

With my phase activated I called the motes of color to my aid and they responded, covering my body with mana the force wave was a little less intense. 

I looked around trying to thank the black eyed guy. But instead I found him kneeling towards the mana tornado and so did the other guys. I faced Luna trying to understand what was happening but she seemed as confused as I, then a pressure, stronger than what I have withstood, even stronger than the orange haired man. 

I turned to the direction of the pressure, coming from the mana disaster, an outline of what appeared to be human, walking in our direction. The outline became more and more apparent, as I focused my attention to its appearance I noticed small purple horns on its head. 

The silhouette came out of the tornado revealing itself. My eyes widened as I saw who it was, my vision became blurry as I felt hot water running down my face. 

“A-Alter…” I said as I stood there, in front of him not moving. I saw as Luna ran into him, hugging him while she cried. Walking into his direction , I looked at him while the streams of tears flowed down my cheeks. 

“I was gone for a while just for you girls to turn into the crybabies I teached.” Alter said, patting both of our heads while we hugged him…

“Have you two calmed down?” Said the red eyed man. “Yes,” said Luna while I nodded. Alter turned to Chuzeoth while the old man and the others kept kneeling before him, “You may stand.” His voice sounded more confident, more relaxed, his poster seemed that of royalty. No that is not the correct answer, he was above royalty.

“Chuzeoth, open up the portal to Ezar.” Alter seemed fixated in ‘Ezar’ or more like what was going to happen when he set foot there. The arrogant man 's eyes opened in amusement, “You’re coming home Young master?” 

Alter nodded to his response, “Yes I am since it appears like it can’t be avoided.” His tone sounded disappointed with the topic. The other two military guys came closer and kneeled, “Young master I believe that we haven’t introduced ourselves yet. I’m Freomal.” Said the purple haired man. “And I am Someissoa,” Said the red haired man.

Alter touched his chin with his right hand as if trying to memorizes their names, “Freomal and Someissoa, Alright I got it,” Alter stretched out both of his hands to the men. “I look forward to working with you guys.” Giving them a bright smile, “Y-yes Sir.” said both of them surprised at his reaction.

“By the way Aidryss, has there been anything strange going on the castle?” Alter said, “What do you mean by that young master?” said the black eyed man. “Like have there been any emergencies as if there was a war about to start?” Alter’s question surprised Aidryss that his face contained some sort of worried emotion. “Y-yes, there was an incident similar to that young master. Couple of months ago there was a messenger of Inoxis, he had stated that they wanted the whereabouts of the young master which we obviously had to refuse since we didn’t know either until now, when the soul blade was called to you.” 

“Then what happened?” Alter worried about the route this incident took. “The messenger offered aid to Ezar if we told him where you were residing, but King Millguard refused his offer and the messenger had stated that we should rethink his offer that Lord Dimgaze gave us. But Lady Millguard had refused not once but twice, saying that what was their reason to know your whereabouts. The messenger said it was a matter between the young master and Lord Dimgaze, then he continued to say that if we would keep on refusing his offer that Lord Dimgaze would declare war on Ezar.” 

They would start a war just because they won’t reveal Alter’s or Onyx whereabouts, I thought. I gazed at Alter as he heard this, I saw how he clenched his fist, his anger leaked into his aura making it rage violently like a wildfire in a forest. “How did Onyx’s parents take it?” He asked gazing at the stars, “The Lord and Lady said that if Lord Dimgaze wants answers, he will have to make them talk.” Aidryss avoided eye contact with Alter, looking away from him. 

“That is enough Aidryss, don’t make young master worry when he just finished a war that those damn basilisks started.” Chuzeoth said in a hatred tone that seemed directed to the basilisks, “Young master, the portal is ready. We should depart now.” 

Alter seemed to have calmed down his rage and nodded to Chuzeoth words. Turning to face me and Luna, Alter gave us a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “What are you girls going to do now?” He asked, “W-what are you going to do?” Luna said, hugging Alter as if saying goodbye. He hugged her back, “It appears like I’m going to war, again.” 

How many times is he going to be dragged into war because of someone else’s greed, I said in my mind. Holding my left arm with my right, biting my lip, I spoke up. “I wanna go with you.” I witnessed how my master’s reaction changed to surprise as if my words caught him off guard.  

“Y-You can’t… I don’t want you girls to be involved with war not again.” He said, I could tell in his voice that he felt guilty for involving us in the war six years ago. “Then how come you are going into one then?” Snapping to him, “That’s because this war has already involved people who Onyx cares about and I can’t involve people that I care about into this war.” 

“That is not fair, you just can’t go into a dangerous thing and not expect us to follow you when you were the only one who believed in us, you gave us a meaning to life. Every Mistake we made no matter how bad it was you never got mad at us, you just told us that it was in our nature to make mistakes and to learn from them.” I felt a tightness in my chest but I had to say it now before it was too late.

“Young master if I may, would your worries be at ease if I personally trained them to be more than fit for fighting alongside you?” Said Chuzeoth in a nonchalant tone, “Chuzeoth, are you sure you want to do this?” Alter asked, the old man gave Alter a low bow before answering. “Yes, I would be more than happy to help the young master’s disciples to at least keep up with him in the future, after all it appears like the young master has more plans after the war.” 

Alter told Luna something before she stopped hugging him and stood next to me, “Then answer me this general, would you help these girls achieve their own corresponding ring?” I knew, mostly everyone, that Alter was giving Chuzeoth a one sided answer. “Yes, if that is what the girls and the young master want then yes I would and I will even help them with mana manipulation with a ring.” His voice sounded as confident as he looked, no fear of not achieving the impossible. 

“Then I leave you to it.” Alter responded as he let out a sigh, then he turned to face us giving me and Luna a slight smile making us know that he had been relieved of some problem he’s been cautious about. “Are you girls okay with this?” He asked, without thinking, both me and Luna ran up to him and gave him a thankful hug. “Y-yes,” we answered. 

“Shall we get going then?” Aidryss said going into the portal as Fremoal and Someissoa followed behind him, and so did we hoping for whatever obstacle there was in our path was overcomed by us and our hard work.