“I want that little cretin found! You told me you would find him! Damnit!” High wizard Libor shouted at the top of his lungs as he slammed his large fists on the already rickety desk, sending quills and magic ink flying everywhere.

Libor was a man who was quick to anger and who did unspeakable things. Yet, he had a happy and prosperous city under his control. He waged wars, and campaigns and won - at all costs. 

“High wizard Libor, he has, well, disappeared, there were some unsubstantiated claims he was spotted in the great earth protectorate of Gaia. Some troops are on their way there now!” said the young warlock Dregen calmly. Dregen was Libor’s third in command but was almost the complete opposite in his ruthless ways.

“He better be found, and when he is, I will come for him myself! Remember, I had that kid locked up so we could study him and get as much power from him as possible! Not so that he could just disappear! Get out there and find him! Send your people to every corner of this world! IMMEDIATELY” Libor looked as if he was about to pop a vein, as he spoke. 

“Yes, High wizard. You haven’t said before, but what is the importance of this young man?” Dregen asked, somewhat tentatively.

Libor’s eyes glazed over as he recalled some long distant memories, he got up and gazed out the large window at the grand statues and manicured gardens of the palace’s grounds of the old King and Queen. Speaking softly this time, he sounded like a different person, like a kindly grandfather. 

“He is, special, for he is all that remains -” he trailed off, beginning to get lost in some deep forgotten happy memories, but continued on, “if the people, and him, know what I did all those years ago,  I would be 6 feet under by now, or worse. This, is why he must be found and must never know the truth.” Shaking these thoughts away, he turned back to Dregen and asked “anyway, where is Cassius?” 

Cassius had not been heard from nor seen in a few days and people were beginning to talk, rumours were starting to swirl like vultures.

-_-_-_-_-

“You sent for me, my lady?” Came a cold, monotone voice, tortured and twisted from many years of loss and grieving. 

“Yes, Harry, welcome my darling boy. I have a little…erm, job, for you.” Nuria stated seductively as she turned around and stared intensely at the young man, who had served her well for many years, where she could keep a close watch on him.

Putting down the glass of fine red wine on the smooth oval onyx table, she edged ever closer to the boy; the lust to bend his powers and will to her own was evident in her burning eyes.

She stared into Harry’s eyes; they shone brightly reflecting the roaring fire. It was the fire that burned deep from within his soul before his life had been destroyed, all those years ago. It was still there, no longer a happy, life-giving and warmth-providing fire, but an angry flame of death and destruction longing for vengeance.

“What is this job?” Harry spoke again, cold, but strong and ever so enticing to Nuria. 

“Oh! So formal, such riveting conversation I get from you Harry, as usual” Nuria sighed as she walked back to her desk and proffered a folder to the boy.

Ignoring Nuria’s sarcastic comment, Harry scanned the document in silence, eyes catching on the large photo.

“This young man, there is something about him I find, unsettling, shall I say? I would like you to take care of him please.” Nuria said as she demurely sipped her wine, whilst eyeing Harry carefully.

“This guy, this…” He scanned for a name, “Will Southern, if I deal with him, won’t this cause trouble for Onyx? He is obviously from the Sanctum, and with these robes he must be fairly high up, or at least someone special.” 

“Pah!” Nuria swapped the idea away with her dainty hand, “Yes, but WHAT does he want here though?” She stated. Harry replied with a wry smile, “I mean, he could just be travelling. You know, sightseeing?” Harry suggested.

Nuria, for the first time in a long time, laughed out loud, long and hard, throwing her head back and nearly falling off her seat.

“No, no, my dear boy, no one from the Sanctum ever just visits, unless they are citizens or merchants and the like, but he, he is surely a spy or something like that. Hmph, they like to think they are better than everyone else, floating high above everyone, lauding it over the rest of us.” Nuria said somewhat bitterly as she swirled the blood-red liquid in her crystal glass, whilst gazing out the window at the large anchor chains from the port to the Sanctum. It was hidden by a mix of distorting winds and clouds. After a few moments of being lost in thought, she continued, “Okay, fine. I can see you don’t want to deal with him, so, instead, first offer to be his tour guide or something and see what he's really here for? If that makes you feel better, sensitive kitten?”

“Yes, I will try that first, Mistress Nuria” Harry bowed a little, then made his way for the door. He always hated being around Nuria, she made his skin crawl for some reason, but he wasn’t entirely sure why.

Nuria sat there with her wine, mulling over some thoughts and smiled to herself.

“Oh yes, Harry Lee, you are really my little lapdog, aren’t you? Hahaha my little fire burner! But how to make him do more? I wonder. Too stubborn, I need to break him, again, and again if I have to!” Nuria thought out loud with a heavy sigh.

-_-_-_-_-

“You know, it’s so nice being around you, Li, you make me feel, something more! I feel comfortable and calm around you.” Damian said shyly as he kissed his girlfriend tentatively, earning a shy smile and giggle in return. 

The pair had spent the day together. First, they had lunch overlooking the Mullian Riviera, then went to the market and finished the day with some drinks in the bar where Kalendra worked. Now, they were lying next to each other, holding hands on the grass of one of the large parks, the sun was getting low and the heat of the day was starting to retreat into the coolness of the evening and nighttime.  

“It’s sometimes quite fun that you can read my mind sometimes, I just have to think it and you would know! I’m glad that you are here beside me, helping me and loving me.” Damian said breezily.

Damian still secretly found it somewhat of a novelty that he could touch, kiss and hug Li, or even anyone else for that matter, without drenching them in water, nor feeling any burning or stinging.

‘With Harry, I, I could never do this, but he held my heart and kept it warm, while I kept his cool…no, there’s something wrong with all this, I’m sure of it!’ Damian was lost in his thoughts staring up at the cloudless skies. “I, I’m sorry Li, for talking about Harry.” 

Li interrupted his thoughts: “Darling, it’s okay, you two share a deep connection, I understand. Look, I gotta go, there’s something I need to attend to….I…I’ll miss you.” Li gave Damian a quick but deep kiss as she got up and sprinted off someplace in a hurry, which was unlike her. Damian thought it odd as he waved her off, but soon he went back to staring up at the cloudless sky.

-_-_-_-_-

On the Glittering Sea, in the Glittering Isles, a long elegant corridor echoed with the sound of footsteps of a tall being, their high-heeled knee-length boots were made of a type of magic glass, which stretched and wrapped around their legs perfectly. Their long flowing multi-coloured hair was wavy and parted to one side; their strong bare chest was framed perfectly by a skimpy shoulder back top in deep purple silk, which trailed down and wrapped about their waist, forming a kind of wrap dress.

Ezra was beautiful, like nothing else in the world; the beauty of the perfect female while still being a handsome strong male. Ezra’s realm was a realm of pure and wild hedonism, a place where anything goes and love, lust, sex and violence all in the persuit of one’s own pleasure was all there was; those who are from there and those who were enticed there chose to stay because everyday they feel hypnotised, drunk and high on the atmosphere. This is why the mainlanders call them ‘the celebrants’ out of jealousy and disdain in equal measure.

Their perfect hands pushed open the large doors. Almost blinding light flooded out of the great hall, bathing Ezra’s toned abs in a golden glow. Moving swiftly through the scantily clad men, women and creatures, Ezra made their way to their seat of power and waited for the slave to be brought forth before them. 

Their voice was slow, melodic and magical, “You….what have you to tell me…what have you discovered?”

The creature cowered a little but spoke up. 

“I, I have discovered. Oh beautiful one, humans, humans of power, the fabled and foretold elementals! As beautiful and handsome as powerful!” the creature sniffed.

Ezra raised their perfect eyebrows, deep in thought, ‘Hmm I must consult the mirror about this, they could prove useful to me, they could be a worthy set of prizes.’ 

Remembering where they were, Ezra flicked their elegant wrist at the slave to leave.

Ezra got up to retire to their chambers to consult this magic mirror. Ezra turned back to the large crowd who were still kowtowing and said happily: 

“This! Is a party! Now dance! Feast! Make merry! And indulge! Hahaha” they cackled as they wafted off towards their cambers in high spirits, drunk on the possibilities before them.