“So it’s you the one they call Xavier,” The prince said as he fell to his knees. The pressure became too much for him. The number of boulders increased to four. They crushed him from all four sides. That is how it felt to the prince.

“I’m honored that the prince of dawn knows me,” A man wearing a green dress spoke as he walked out of the shadows. There were two men behind him. Both had armors made of steel and held a shield made with the same material on their backs. Their swords hanging from the sides. The blades were silver while the handle black.

“Elemental users? Why would you fools’ serve this man?!” The prince demanded. It made no sense. Why would people with magic help those without it? Those without magic were worthless. Nothing less of scum. Yet why were people who knew and used magic helping those who knew nothing of it?

The prince got no answer from the two instead it was Xavier that answered.

“See, this is the problem with you,” he said while walking over to the prince. “you have no respect for us. To you, we are nothing less of scum. That is why I’m happy seeing you like this because now I will teach you the lesson that your family failed to teach you.”

“YOU, I don’t care about your lessons release me at once!” The prince demanded.

“And what if I don’t?” Xavier fired back.

“Then, once my father finds out, I’m missing he will kill every single one of you,” The eyes of the prince burned with rage.

“Foolish. See that is where you are wrong. I want your father to find out. In fact, I will tell him myself. You are now a bargaining tool for us,” Xavier answered as his feet stopped outside the fifth white circle.

“So you knew I would come? Tell me who gave you this information?!”

“I knew someone would come, but I never expected it to be you. Anyway, it is good for us,” said Xavier, “That’s it, Make him black out.”

As Xavier spoke the five circles in the air shot towards the prince.

The prince could only watch as the five circles entered his body. When they did his body became as light as a feather and he fell to the ground.

“Take him underground and make sure to not forget the runes,” Ordered Xavier.

The surrounding people nodded. Two of them walked towards the unconscious prince and picked his body. They then left for the city.

Another step was now complete. First the spreading of rumors. Second, establishing the new city. Third building an army. Fourth is securing a bargaining tool. Now it became time for the fifth step and that was using the bargain tool.

He had to do it in secret because though they had no magic the Grand Elders still protected them. He would need their protection to fight against The House Of Dawn. In fact, their protection played a key part in his plan so he could not destroy it by spreading this matter.

But before that, there was something he needed to stop. The Shadow Claw Organization. Most people did not know as they think it’s an organization built for helping those in need. That is true, however, the needs of those people are killing, torturing and kidnapping.

From what he got to know they would send four squads. Squads of four. The members of those squads were teenagers so that makes it easy. All he needs to do is trap them in the runes and it would be their end.

But he could not do that as what he wanted now was power more than anything. So he needed to capture them and turn them into his side. For that, he would go to any ends even if it meant torturing them.

The men who were chopping the trees had left with the body of the prince, but the two that stood near him had not left.

“You know what to do right? Capture them and make them join us. Be gentle at first, but if they don’t comply use any means necessary got it?” Xavier’s voice turned into a deep one as he spoke.

“Of course” The one on the right replied while the other nodded.

---

The light came into the room through the windows. There were two. They had grills made of steel to prevent burglars from entering. The curtains were open and kept to the sides.

In the room towards the right corner, there were four chairs. Four figures came into the room and made their way to the chairs. It was Mia, Leo, Xander, and Emilia.

Xander dropped to one chair. “Is this the place where everyone has to come? If so, why are we the only ones here?”

Mia answered as she pointed towards the spot where she met uncle Zek. Which was near the only door of the room. “This is the place all right. I came here yesterday to check on some things and met uncle Zek here. He told me this would be the meeting place for the mission.”

Emilia asked after she made herself comfortable. “How is he doing?” All of them knew about uncle Zek, but they did not know how he had lost his arm as only a few of the grownups knew. They would ask, but the grownups would say they need to grow older to hear the story. Were they not old enough? Emilia thought.

“He is doing well from what I know. Must be hard to live without an arm and an eye,” Said Mia with slump shoulders.

“True,” Emilia replied.

As she finished speaking footsteps rang in their ears. Then four people entered the room. Three males and one female.

The person who stood at the front smiled upon seeing Mia and approached her. He had light brown hair accompanied by a sharp face and brown eyes. The others followed him. From the looks of it, this was their squad leader just like how Mia is the squad leader of Leo’s squad.

“It’s been sometime Mia,” The one who approached them said.

When she saw the person in front approaching Mia stood up and walked towards him. “Yes, it has been a while, Ike. I see you found a replacement for me.”

Ike put his hands towards the back of his head. “Well, we could not function without a fourth.”

It was now that the only girl in Ike’s squad came forward. She has short white hair and the same colored eyes. Also, she was short compared to Mia and Emilia. “Well, if it isn’t Mia. The sweet and charming young lady who used her father’s position to become a squad leader.”