Six months later…

A group of children were playing happily in the city’s central park, a large area right in the heart of Mendraria, with cobblestone flooring and a small pond in the middle, iron benches all around, as well as bushes and flower beds. It was lively no matter what time you passed by.

The food stalls were open until late at night, with their many different and inviting aromas beckoning people; the relationship between the citizens was very close as if they were all part of the same family.

― Will they ever treat us like this? ― Ace asks, bending over the counter of his newly opened patisserie.

― Maybe… If we compare it to when we first came here, we’re not so hated… ― Moon laughed.

― I think they fear us more than they hate us… ― Ace sighs. ― Taking advantage of the fact that we’re not very busy… and that it’s been a while since the catastrophic events in Berkshire… I wanted to ask you a few things…

― You took your time, huh?

Ace shakes his head, laughing.

― Back at the Atlantis Hotel, when you tried that magic to find Hux and Caelan… What did you see about Caelan?

Moon lowers her head and starts playing with her hands in her lap.

― I didn't see him. But he saw me, somehow… And he tried to take me by force… The mark on my neck was probably the ring he was wearing hurting me…

― A ring?

― Yes, with a strange symbol, even… But that’s no big deal…

― Okay… ― Ace nods and walks over to where she’s sitting. ― How have you been? Have you felt any… sparks of your powers?

Moon bites her lip, sighs, and takes off her coat, showing her hands, arms, and neck.

― The kids think I’m cool because they think it’s a tattoo… I’ve been waking up with completely black eyes… I feel my powers coming back, but they’re… different.

― So maybe Patricia was right… ― Ace comments. ― Noira wasn’t a demon, but a part of you.

― Yeah… But I don’t know if that’s a good thing…

They look out over the park and watch the children playing. From time to time, one would stop in front of the bakery and wave to the wizards; Ace and Moon might be feared by adults, but they were adored by children.

― There’s something else… It’s not exactly a question… or maybe it is… ― Ace crosses his arms. ― You didn’t feel anything different about Gray when you brought him back?

Moon laughs.

― Has he discovered that he’s no longer a vampire? That he’s back to being a dynami?

― Probably. The guy’s not stupid, is he… ― Ace leans against the table, leaning closer to her friend. ― But you know what that means? That you no longer have any reason to run away from him…

Moon points to herself.

― Those symbols are the reason, Ace. My brother isn’t strong enough to control me if I lose control. No one can do that but you.

― I’m awesome, I know… ― he laughs. ― Speaking of controlling you… Didn’t you have to meet Josiah?

― Shit! ― Moon hits the table and gets up. ― I’m late… If anything happens, call me!

Josiah not only lived but spent most of his time in a camp in the northwestern part of Mendraria. As the leader of Mendraria, his main duty was to keep the citizens safe. And the northwestern part, where the only entrance to the city was located, was the ideal place.

Huxley and Ada, who had only planned to stay for a few weeks, ended up staying in the city.

Because he had a great fondness for his niece, Josiah didn’t think twice about agreeing to house Moon and Ace, despite what they were. Although many people didn’t like the decision, they accepted it out of respect. But what really allowed the wizards freedom and acceptance in Mendraria were their actions in a recent raid on the city.

During the raid, Ace helped get all the elderly and children safely to the south camp; once they were safe, Ace even helped secure the perimeter of the small hospital. Moon, on the other hand, although powerless, had her deep knowledge of herbs, which was of great help to the wounded.

During the six months they’ve been in Mendraria, Moon has spoken to her brother less and less, and not for lack of interest on her part. With each call, Gunner has become quieter and quieter; she doesn’t know if it’s because of her or if Griffin has messed up once again.

What’s more, she could no longer find any excuses as to why she wasn’t going back to Berkshire and, personally, she didn’t really feel like it. She knew she had hurt a lot of people by being selfish and running away.

Moon crossed the central park and, arriving at the back street, turned left up the slightly steep road, lined with farms. After a few kilometers, she spotted the camp, full of men and women who looked more like soldiers on alert, moving around, reorganizing ammunition, maps and supplies.

― There you are! ― Ada calls out, sitting under a tent, playing with a magic cube. ― Ace didn’t come?

― No. Josiah asked me to come, but he didn’t say anything about Ace.

― That coward. I told him to come along so I could teach him a few things…

Moon bursts out laughing.

― Ace is scared to death of you, Ada. Even though he can handle death with the kind of power he has, he finds you more frightening.

― Coward… ― Ada laughs. ― Josiah is in the medical ward, waiting for you.

― Thanks.

Moon followed a path of petals and leaves, all fallen from a large tree in front of the medical ward.

Huxley was standing in the doorway, expression serious, pacing back and forth, shouting angrily at someone on the phone; blaming whoever was on the other end of the line for some situation that was still unknown to her.

― You… Moon, you need to sort this out as soon as possible. ― Huxley spoke quickly, turning his attention back to whoever was on the other end of the line.

― What’s wrong? What happened?

― I don’t know how they found this place, but they can’t stay… They need to leave. As soon as possible.

Moon looked at him in confusion. Who was there? And what did this have to do with her?

She tried to ask Huxley, but he dismissed her. Moon then climbed the stairs to the hut, a large one, with white painted boards and a green main door, with a silver sign indicating that it was the ‘Medical Area’. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Dr. Evans sitting at a small table to her left, writing something down on a chart.

― Doctor… Why did Josiah want to meet me here?

― Not here, exactly… But you have a visitor. ― he pointed to a closed blue curtain around a stretcher. ― The A-Team found the two of them on the road near the river. They’re slightly injured, I’m sure they’re not used to walking through dense forests like ours… The taller one seems to be younger, and he’s giving off a smell that isn’t his… He asked us to call for you… The other one seems to have been forced to come. Anyway, sort it out.

― And they haven’t said who they are?

― No, they haven’t said anything. They just asked for you. If it helps, I think one of them is a wizard. ― replied the doctor. ― Moon, another one here could cause us problems…

― Another wizard? ― Moon suspected, but prayed she was wrong when she pulled back the curtain.

― He used a spell on me. It’s not my fault!

― What the fuck? ― Moon said out loud. ― How did you find this place?