The Mallory Estate’s backyard was probably larger than Marvin’s house.

A large backyard with enough flat space to fit an entire platoon, although there was nothing on it at the time, allowing the vibrant green grass to pop, and it also had trees that hid it completely from the outside with beautiful looking flowers in front of them.

It also had Marvin Perlie desperately dodging Marly Mallory’s blade and counterattack, all without damaging the property. Quite easy really.

“Aspis tou Aiax.” he said, the golden glow he’d gotten used to engulfing him once more from his leg upwards, and the mighty shield forming from a heptagram on his arm.

It’d been quite a while since Kara’s death and Ava’s rescue. Summer had rolled around, its heat making these sparring sessions even more tiring than usual. His training had continued under Ava with twice as much work being put into it as per his request.

To be a sorcerer worthy of having been Kara’s apprentice. That was his goal, and he wouldn’t give up. Results had been showing already. Where before Marvin would have to remove the shield so as to not cause himself exhaustion or to cast another spell, he’d now been able to carry it around.

After once again blocking Marly’s attack, he unsheathed a sword that had been given to him by the heterochromatic girl. Holding it in his right hand and the large shield on the left, he went on the offensive, he thrust at her, but her superior reflexes and training let block that easily. Their blades locked for a moment before Marly stepped back and swung her sword to his right.

He blocked it once more. His breathing was heavy and he realised her strategy. To tire him out. She had far greater endurance for combat, combined with the mental and physical exhaustion spells created, she’d beat him easily. Again.

Marvin’s breathing was sharp and shallow, even more so than normally. He could feel the sweat building on his forehead while Marly appeared to be barely fazed at all. In spite of its size, the Mallory backyard wasn’t beneficial for him to use his bow and arrow, and any elemental spells were out of the question in regards to damage but that didn’t mean he was out of the game.

“What’s wrong Marvin?” said Marly as she twirled her sword. “Shall we make the score one bazillion to me and keep you at zero?”

Through his training he’d become quite good at drawing spell circles quickly, although he was looking forward to a time they’d become obsolete for him. He needed to distract her for the precious few seconds he needed to draw Gleipnir.

Marly held her sword in front of her with both hands, seemingly waiting for Marvin to attack.

Marvin himself recalled the shield, making it disappear in a soft golden glow. Whatever exchange they had now, he had to come out on top.

“Enough!” came the voice of James Mallory from the house. Turning towards the building, the dueling teens saw the man walking with a casually dressed Ava on his tail.

The Commander was wearing a white button up shirt tucked in black pants and gardening gloves, perhaps the most casual Marvin had ever seen him look. Even then he had a sword sheathed at his side, a golden rapier hilt with a purple red stone at the center of its guard shining in the sunlight.

“Cease your fighting immediately!” said the old man. “I won’t have you risking your life like this, Marly. If young Perlie needs to train in the use of a sword there are plenty of teachers capable of teaching him.”

“We were sparring grandpa!” said Marly. “I’m not made of glass, you know.”

Marvin wanted to say something, add to the conversation. Even if he did think that to be a more private matter, he just-they just needed to continue training.

“Sir.” said Marvin weakly, drawing the attention from all the Mallories. “I promise you that, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t hurt Marly.” He tried to reassure the old man, the tiredness he was sure he radiated would convince the head of the Mallory household.

“Marvin.” said Ava. “I wouldn’t get involved in this if I were you.”

“I-I’m sorry if I overstepped any-any boundaries.”

“Don’t worry about it.” reassured the blonde woman. “How about we get you fixed up?”

At this, Marvin found himself promptly confused. Sure he was tired and probably too sweaty for his own good, but he felt fine otherwise.

“You need a shaving boy.” said James Mallory. “And from what I gather, a good few hours of sleep. We can’t have you at a Mallory Estate gathering while also looking so shabby.”

Touching his face Marvin realised that he did actually have a bit of facial hair that most certainly didn’t look good. In his hurry to improve himself, the dark haired teen had neglected some minor things. Things like shaving, cutting his hair while trying to cover it up in his ever growing bun, or sleeping.

It took a moment for the rest of the elder man’s words to register.

“A Mallory what?” screamed both Marvin and Marly, in not-so-perfect sync.

“My elder granddaughter has returned.” smiled James Mallory as he looked at Ava. “Of course I’m going to celebrate. A week from now, we shall feast like kings! And all guests will remain here for that night.”

“I talked with Adam and CB and unfortunately they won’t be able to make it. It’s a shame. The two were always like little brothers to me. And I’ve barely seen them since I came back, especially Adam.” said Ava, looking genuinely sad at that fact.

And Marvin would have felt sorry for the woman if not for the fact that he knew the reasons for Adam’s hesitance. He still didn’t trust Ava Mallory completely, but he truly thought that she wasn’t a bad person.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it.” said Marvin as he scratched the back of his neck. “My grandma gets worried you see.”

“Worry not, young Perlie.” said the commander. “I shall come and talk to your grandmother personally. I’m sure we will be able to reach an agreement.”

“What about the principal?” asked Marvin before he could stop himself. In all honesty, he wanted to interact as little as possible with James Mallory, but Eobard Kon had been missing since the battle at Blood Mountain.

Apparently he was ‘deep undercover’. Still, Marvin wished he could see the man, talk to him. He was the only one that could have related to the loss of Kara and the dark haired teen just wanted to talk to him. He had saved his life long ago and was a source of inspiration for Marvin.

He wanted to become better, to become the best, not only to honor his mentor’s memory but also because he wanted to show Eobard that he made the right call in saving him.

“Live Marvin. For those that gave their lives, for those around you, but most importantly, for yourself.” That was what Eobard had told him months ago. And he would follow those words. He would make his life one of worth.

“I’m afraid the man is still on mission.” said James Mallory. He turned to look at Marvin, Marly and Ava. “We are in unprecedented times. War between us and the Vampires with their Hybrids is closer than ever in our vast history. In these trying times, the mission he is on is one of crucial importance.”

A heavy silence hung over the sunny backyard. Eobard and Kara had mentioned the severity of the situation once before, during their so-called Circle of Trust meeting. Just what was coming? And could they do anything to prevent it?

“But that’s not really pressing right now.” said Ava in a manner too cheery to be genuine. “We have a party, although I hesitate to call it that, next week and you-” she pointed at Marvin, “-will be moving to the next phase of your training tomorrow.”

“Next phase?” asked Marvin in bewilderment.

The smile that overtook Ava’s face wasn’t one that Marvin particularly enjoyed. “Let’s just say your journey in this world has only begun.”

–

Eobard Kon hated the situation he was in.

“Give me a status report!” he said as he slammed his hands down on his desk, careful to not let the white glove on his prosthetic hand fall off. It had been upgraded with magic before he left for this mission in order to function close to what his regular arm would be. Unfortunately, the trade off was that he could only use it for five hours a day like that before it became a useless prosthesis.

“They’re pushing through!” said one of the technicians in front of him, not taking his eyes off the screen of the computer he was sitting in front of.

“We’re counting twenty-three regular humans, seven werebeasts and three sorcerers.” added another.

Ever since word of the battle of Blood Mountain had spread, many other factions that opposed the IDA, some even originating from within the Association, had been making their move. And while he despised the IDA with all his might, most of these groups were even worse than it.

His job had been simple: infiltrate the largest of those organizations. And in order to ensure that James Mallory and the rest of the higher ups didn’t catch on to him he accepted it. Which was why he currently found himself at the losing end of an Association raid on the base of said organization.

The base itself was hidden within a mountain in the Alps. According to the commander of this unit, who was standing behind him, the base had stood there for a hundred years waiting for use, while they had only moved into it in the past year. And what a base it was.

The command center was the size of James Mallory’s living room, and all it had to show for it were a dozen computer screens connected to the security cameras, and the desk he sat behind. The only other rooms were separate changing rooms for men and women, training and storage rooms, as well as the armory. Their numbers were small and comprised only humans that weren’t even sorcerers.

Not that he underestimated them because of that. He was just like them and he had stood against many powerful opponents in his time like many of his comrades. But against an army like the Association’s, not to mention the Vampiric forces, you needed more than that.

Looking at some of the footage in front of him, his fears were confirmed. A single sorcerer taking out tens of their troops, dhampirs and large werebeasts, comprised mostly werewolves and other powerful werebeasts taking them out with ease.

“Having doubts about joining us, Mr. Kon?” asked the commander in her accented voice. And he could almost picture her smile even though she was behind him.

“Not at all ma’am. Although I am a bit concerned.” he said as he turned to look at the woman behind him.

Her skin was pale and her hair and eyes a dark brown, a bit stereotypical Japanese appearance.

But it was her dressing that always managed to catch his attention. She apparently wore dark red pants suits with white gloves, and she always managed to have a calm and confident air around her at all times. Both ‘calm’ and ‘confidence’ were things that he struggled to find after everything he had seen, but he had to push through.

For Kara. For Marvin.

“And here I thought I’d told you to call me Yui. But you are nervous. And here I travelled all the way from my homeland to get you properly initiated. Or are you doubting our organization?”

Eobard couldn’t help but smirk at the woman.“I appreciate your efforts, but I don’t even know the name of the organization you ask me to place my faith in. And I’d rather not return to the Association now that I am a traitor.”

He’d be lying if he said that this banter didn’t remind him of his and Kara’s conversations when it came to magic. She had so much pride in her work. The major difference being that he knew that it was warranted then. He wasn’t so certain now.

“I suppose you have a point.” she said as she removed the glove of her left hand and the one on her right.

“What in the name of holiness itself?” said Eobard as he looked at what was hidden beneath them.

Both hands had small heptagrams inscribed in circles seemingly burned on their backs with small unreadable symbols surrounding them.

“A demonstration.” smiled the commander-Yui he corrected himself.

“Dōshi to tsūshin suru!”

The heptagrams glowed and from her wincing, Eobard could clearly tell that using whatever spell she did hurt her.

“Soldiers! Activate Contingency E!” she said, before she clutched her chest with heavy breathing.

“Commander!” Eobard rushed to her side.

“I said call me Yui, and I don’t like repeating myself.” said the woman once more. “We have to evacuate the base.”

“Why? What’s Contingency E?”

“We’re going to bring the whole base down.”

“What!?” Eobard nearly shouted. “There are villages above our base. Not to mention the sheer damage you could do through-”

“The villages are inhabited by our agents. This base is expendable. And any serious and permanent damage will be handled by our, as they call themselves, sorcerer powerhouses.

“The exits themselves are made so only our people can pass through them. Granted the werebeasts and sorceres will protect their comrades from any serious damage, but we’ll send a good enough message.”

Eobard’s eyes widened as he realised that she had planned this whole thing. Was she on to him? She couldn’t be. He hadn’t leaked any information to the IDA, not yet at least, or given them any reason to suspect he was a mole.

“And yes, I know you’re working with them.” Yui added. “But I hope that I can show you the truths of the Association. Then you can choose your side.” she said, straightening herself and extending a hand out to Eobard. A hand that had currently glowing Heptagrams on it.

“What’s going to happen if I accept?”

“You’ll get teleported with me and everyone else in this room to our nearest outpost where the rest of the organization will meet up. There I will explain everything.”

Looking at her extended hand and back to her face one more time, Eobard thought back to Kara and Marvin. Back to every comrade he lost.

And he accepted.