Ariel threw open the back door of the manor and sprinted in, startling a maid dusting nearby. His mind painted images of Jasper in need, ranging from a tight jar to a missing limb.

“Have you seen the Young Master?” He asked the shaken maid who seemed to be recollecting herself.

She nodded and pointed to the staircase.

Uttering a quick ‘thank you’, Ariel dashed towards and up the stairs in a hurry, Jasper’s name burning in the back of his throat. Almost tripping over his own feet multiple times, Ariel managed to arrive at the door to Jasper’s room. Without bothering to knock, he pushed the door open.

“Jasper!” He cried as he spotted Jasper’s small frame inside the room.

“Excuse me?”

Ariel froze as he recognized the voice of Jasper’s father, who happened to be standing next to Jasper.

“Um…” Ariel panicked internally, trying to formulate an excuse for his casual attitude.

“Father… It’s alright,” Jasper began softly, but his father dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Like a hunter cornering its prey, the Master of the House stalked towards him, his eyes burning with a darkness that left Ariel petrified.

“Listen, witch,” he began. “I thought we already had this talk when you were purchased.”

“Well… uh…” Ariel struggled to find his words.

“My son is your master,” he leaned in closer and Ariel was afraid to look away. “Not your friend. And while he may treat you kinder than you deserve, don’t you dare get too comfortable.”

Ariel lowered his head and whispered, “My apologies.”

The Master raised a hand as if he were about to strike him, and Ariel prepared himself for the blow. However, instead of hitting him, the Master dropped his hand and huffed in aggravation.

“This is your last warning, witch,” he growled before pushing past Ariel to get to the door. He paused and turned once more to look at Jasper.

“Keep him in line.”

“I will, Father,” Jasper responded softly as he father stormed off.

Once the coast was clear, Ariel smiled at Jasper warmly.

“That was close. Anyway, what did you need me for?”

Jasper shook his head and rubbed his temple.

“Resilient as ever, Ariel,” Jasper sounded both exasperated and amazed. “Um as for what I need you for, we’ve just received a call about a rogue mage.”

Ariel’s heart sank. “Oh… What are we dealing with?”

“They didn’t specify, however, the police said they couldn’t handle it on their own and they’ve requested our assistance. The situation is pretty urgent so we need to go now… and… you aren’t wearing a shirt…”

Ariel rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah… I took it off for training and I hurried over here without putting it back on.”

Jasper groaned, his cheeks tinted pink. “Just hurry up and get another one. I’ll meet you at the carriage.”

The two parted ways and Ariel replaced his shirt in the servant’s quarters. Once he deemed himself proper, he made his way out the front doors of the manor where Jasper was already seated in the carriage. Without glancing at the coachman, Ariel hopped in and, within a matter of minutes, they were on their way to face another mage.

His stomach twisted in anxiety with each jostle of the carriage, and the uncertainty of the situation did little to ease his worry.

Jasper was quiet, probably still shaken up by the scare with his father earlier. It wouldn’t have been the first time his father took punishing Ariel into his own hands. And Jasper was a sensitive soul; seeing others in pain often pained him.

He’s not cut out for this job… But he is his father’s son…

Ariel sighed and peered out the window of the carriage, watching the city move past.

If the police weren’t able to handle this situation, this must be a powerful mage… This won’t be an easy task… I might get my ass handed to me or worse…

The carriage came to a halt quicker than Ariel’s anxiety would have preferred, and the door was opened. As they exited, Ariel realized that he was in a familiar part of the capital.

I grew up around here…

It was a poorer district of the town where lower income families usually made their homes. Ariel knew the area well and a pang of nostalgia hit his heart.

However the reminiscent moment faded quickly as Jasper was approached by a officer garbed in the police force’s uniform.

“Mr. Kaula, it’s an honour,” the man smiled.

“I hear you have a mage problem?” Jasper asked.

The officer nodded. “We found a whole coven of witches in that house over there.” He pointed to small building. “We took out two of them, there’s just one more of the bastards giving us a problem. We were hoping you could help us out.”

“It is my job, I’ll see what I can do,” Jasper responded flatly.

Pushing past the officer, they found themselves in front of a small house. The windows were covered and a crowd of nervous humans were strewn across the property. Once Jasper approached, they let him through.

“Be careful, it’s dangerous,” One human whispered. Jasper nodded in acknowledgement before stepping up to the wooden door.

“Be ready, Ariel,” Jasper whispered to him, turning his ring a few notches. Ariel shivered as the sensation while Jasper pushed open the door. Ariel entered first, readying himself for any conflict. His eyes darted around the room, taking in as much as he could as fast as he could.

The home appeared to be more of a single large room instead of various smaller ones. It was drab, and barely decorated. A mattress laid in one corner, and a small table in another. A few feet in front of Ariel laid two fresh corpses, their wounds still oozing blood. It didn’t take much for Ariel to figure out they were Magi; one male and one female. The male had a single bullet hole in his forehead while the female seemed to be riddled with them.

Ariel’s stomach churned, and he forced himself to tear his gaze away.

As he looked about, the sound of quiet sobs reached his ears. It didn’t take long to find out from where.

Further past the bodies, against the wall sat a small, weeping figure, curled up tightly.

Ariel’s heart stopped as his eyes rested upon the figure.

“Sweet Goddess…” Ariel breathed in horror.

They had been sent to apprehend a child.