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Malacaster: Awaken

Night's Angel

Chapter 1

Dawn breaks over a raging battlefield. Where soldiers dive for cover behind anything they could find: broken and burning vehicles, the bodies of fallen friends and foes alike. Orders are barked and shouted across both sides.

Gunfire and explosions rain down flooding the battlefield with fire and blood. Casters call upon their powerful spells to drive back the battle. Somewhere apart from the chaos of war. a woman's voice speaks clear and calmly, drowning the battle into the background.

“Before the war, magic and science were used for the betterment of all walks of life. Even to this day no one knows what started a war that would last a hundred years. But what is known, the great casters of old refused to take part in such meaningless bloodshed.”

The rumbling and hisses of drop ships echoed overhead as new orders were given out. Armor soldiers jumped freely into the early morning sky. “We got MAGES on incoming” soldiers shouting as many threw down their rifles and ran for their lives.

Spears of ice rain down from one of the falling armored soldiers. The casters used what little power they had left to shield their allies and make their escape. “Many casters were unwilling to take up arms and fight for a cause they did not believe in.”

Screams echoed across the battlefield. “But in the end many were made into living weapons called Mages. Their bodies ripped apart and rebuilt to maximize their power and rob them of their free will.” A battle turned to a bloodbath.

“Magic was soon outlawed. Any user was to be captured and forced into the service of the queen.” One caster remained his power matching that of any of the mages. The mages crashed into the battlefield throwing ally and enemy like.

Three heavily armored figures stood across from the lone caster. “Capture target, terminate the rest” the cold metallic voice of the lead mage spoke before making a B-line for the caster. What few Broken soldiers remained with the caster threw their lives away only to fail.

The mage made quick work in killing them, not even caring enough to overpower them with its own magic. “David RUN!!” were the last words of sacrifice from his allies. “I'm just a healer, I mean nothing to you” the dark fur fox said with tears running down his face.

The fox could hear screams of friends that didn't make it in time. “David Malacard, you are under arrest for the illegal use of magic as dictated by law,” the lead mage spoke, its metallic voice clear as day over the fading cries.

“Screw your laws” the fox yelled. “Surrender, peacefully and you will not be harmed” the mage continued. “I would rather die than join you” the fox answered, calling forth all of his power for one final attack.

“In the end. A caster can only choose to die or become a monster.” The lead mage charges its own power to counter the attack. “Cornelius, I'm sorry I can't be there for you, my son, be good to your mother.” David Malacard said before the world turned white.

As his ears were blasted with ringing Cornelius shot up in his bed. The silver pads of his hand rubbed the remaining sleep from his icy blue eyes. Restless and uneasy the dark fur fox spoke “Turn off alarm, turn to music channel five.”

“Yes master” a soft female voice answered as the alarm cut off. The music turned on with an energetic beat. “Master,” the voice asked, “are you ok?” “Yeah, I'm fine,” he answered. “You don't seem that way,” the voice said.

From a small gemstone resting in a wristband came a small green ferret. Cornelius turned to get out of bed. “It's nothing to worry about Fey,” he answered. He rubbed the scar that had been burned into his chest to the point his dark fur couldn't grow back to cover it.

He sighed as he picked up a mana extractor. “Master, you should really be using the numbing agent” Fey the ferret said “it should ease the pain.” “Fey, you know it doesn't work that way. They want clean cells. The agent they give out contaminates the cells and we don't get anything out of it” he answered.

“Master, you have an incoming call,” Fay said before Cornelius could use the extractor. “It's Mister Bob Bill.” he set the item aside and said “put it through.” “Yes Master” she answered. “Hey kid, you need to get down here now,” the voice of an old hound dog spoke even before the com screen opened.

“There are double the number of Mages out and about, and I can't cover your ass if you're late getting through those checkpoints again.” “I know, I know, and you know they stop me every time because of my mana levels,” he answered.

“Don't tell me what I know kid,” the old hound chided “so get your ass moving.” the com screen cut out with a small flash. Cornelius got dressed and ready to go, grabbing Fey's wristband and putting it on. The small green ferret retreated back into her stone as her master left his small one room home.

It was early morning when he reached the first of four checkpoints he had to get through to get to the job site. It was never this slow and third class citizens almost never got through with any ease. It was a cold morning and seeing any number of people wearing hoods was not uncommon.

But seeing one crawling around looking for something. “Where is it?” he asked himself over and over again. Cornelius stopped when he saw an I.D. tag laying on the ground a few feet away. “No good deed” he said to himself and picked up the tag.

He then went over and tapped the man on the shoulder. “Sir, did you drop this” he asked. The man stood up. “Oh, guess I did, thank you,” he said. His hood was drawn over his head, and oddly too dark to see his face. But he held out a bald pale hand.

Cornelius turned the tag back over to its owner. The man held out his hand again. “I was looking for the lighter I dropped” he added when the dark fox took his hand “but no matter, can't lose this damn thing.”

Cornelius jerked his hand back after feeling a jolt from the man's hand, but in seconds his hand felt numb and almost useless. “Tell ya what laddie,” he said with a flick of his wrist “come find me, and I'll repay you.”

Before the dark fox could answer, the man walked away. “Yeah, I'll learn magic before I ever see you again” he said to himself walking through the checkpoint. The guard wasn't the same old dog who thought he was better than everyone else.

No, she was a young vixen, and really cute. Cornelius smiled as he scanned his tag and moved to the spot where they would check his mana levels and a pat down. And the little vixen did her job, and made sure to check “everywhere” on him before slipping something into his pocket and having him move on.

He checked the time starting to rush to the next checkpoint. Cornelius had never seen one before in his life, but after hearing some of the many stories about them. He never wanted to run into one. He reached the check point only to find two Mages, one on each side of the checkpoint.

They were big, heavily armored colored to match their form of magic. What made the dark fox so uneasy about the way they looked was the lack of eyes, or just something to make them look more like a person. However the guard simply smiled and said “morning Cornelius.”

Cornelius answered back “Hey Jim, what's going on?” He nodded to the machine behind him. “You don't check the new feeds” the squirrel answered “the queen is in the city and rumor has it The Warlocks are here looking for something.”

“Yeah, you think they're going after the crown,” the fox asked. “Oh, hell no,” the squirrel answered “their looking for the Malacaster.” “The Malacaster,” the fox asked “you have to be kidding me, why would they be after some urban legend folk hero.”

“Man, you are out of touch with the rest of the world,” Jim said. “Look I got to get to the job” Cornelius asked “can we get this over with?” “Man, you need to lighten up,” Jim said “you need to get you some tail, bro you know what I mean.”

“What like that vixen that was running Post Three One Eight” he asked. “Dude, Lin Ma has you out classed,” Jim answered “she wouldn't even look at you. I would even bet my breakfast on it.” The fox smiled and asked “what you got?” He pulled out the note the vixen gave him.

The squirrel read the note out “off at five, call me.” then turned over his breakfast. “Well played, good sir.” “Thank you” The fox answered, claiming his winnings “I'll catch ya round.” he continued on still feeling uneasy.

Cornelius was feeling pretty good about the day he was having, he made it through two checkpoints without a hassle, and got a girl's number and a fish sandwich. Things were looking good. Cornelius made it through the last two checkpoints and made it to the job site on time.

“Kid, you're on crane three,” the old blood hound said pointing his thumb over his shoulder to a hover jet crane with a group of workers around it “when Johnson can get it running.” “Sir,” the young fox spoke up. “Don't start kid,” Old Bob cut in, “he needs you to manage the power system.”

Cornelius shook his head and walked off talking under his breath. “Crazy old dog is trying to get me killed.” “He knows Johnson doesn't like me and wants me to fuck up.” “Hey Malacard,” Johnson called.

Everyone knew him because he was the only human the old blood hound had on the crew. And he was one of the best techs they had. “Johnson,” Cornelius answered. He had just finished bolting down a makeshift control panel and seat. “Check this out,” he said.

“You bolted a folding chair and switchboard to the outside of a crane,” the fox pointed out. “Yeah,” Johnson answered, “I wasn't going to make you stand on here all day.” “And here I thought you'd just throw me off it,” the fox added.

“Nah, you're too cute for that” he tacked on before adding “you’re the best one to keep track of the system and it's really easy to use.” Ten minutes later Cornelius was sitting in the chair watching the interface scroll out the system readings and command proms.

It was slow getting the interface running at first but soon enough it was up and running. The dark fox still wasn't sure why he was picked for this task when anyone else would be better. “Malacard, jet three is running slow,” Johnson said over the headset “bring the RPMs up to forty-four, and open the the drag vent on jet two.”

the interface was easy enough to follow, just touch the layout for an input menu and follow up with the commands. Minutes later the dark fox saw something he had never seen before. The skyline of the city. The air even looked clearer from where he sat.

“Enjoying the view?” Johnson asked. “Yeah, it's the first time I've seen the city like this,” he answered. “Alright, just keep an eye on the system,” Johnson said. Cornelius still having an uneasy feeling in his gut. Something wasn't right. He watched the crane lift a hex beam into the air.

It would be set for the landing a level lower than the floor at his eye level at the time. But a flashing light caught his eye. It was hard to make out what he saw but it looked like two flashing dots were bouncing off each other some ways off.

“Boss,” he called through the headset. “What now?” the old hound answered. “I think we need to bring the cranes down for a bit. Something in the air doesn't feel right” Cornelius said. “Too bad we're on a deadline, and ...” the old hound answered before the dark fox cut him off.

“Sir, just please trust me on this, we need to bring the cranes down just for a few minutes, if I'm wrong you can fire me and withhold my pay, just call the cranes down.” he begged. “God, you are so much like your father” the old hound answered “Alright, Jax, Johnson, Jumper, bring them in, we got high winds blowing through.”

The first two cranes lowered safely to the ground as Johnson started lowering the payload first to make it easier to land. The flashing lights the dark fox saw moments ago had drawn closer and seem to be heading right at them.

“Boss, you knew my father?” Cornelius asked. “Kid, shut up, you made a good call, just got word there's a caster in the middle of a dogfight with a Mage unit and I'm not taking any risks” the hound answered. But it was too late.

Chapter 2

A crashing sound followed by an explosion in the hover jet right in front of the dark fox knocked him off the crane. In the moment of free fall he looked around. The crane, the hex beam and bits of the destroyed engine followed him to the ground. Below all that, half of the crew was standing in the way.

His hand felt like it was on fire, he felt like his blood was boiling. If he could just buy them some time no one would get hurt. Following his gut the dark fox turned his right hand to the mass of metal falling from the sky and screamed “STOP!”

He blacked out a second later, only to wake safely on the ground. The old hound dog sitting him up. “Come on, Cornelius, wake up” he said “damn it, kid wake up.” the dark fox opened his eyes slowly. The old hound laughed, “you are your father's son.”

The fox blinked trying to get himself moving. “What happened?” he asked, looking around. Everyone was safe but the site was a wreck. “You're a caster?” Johnson asked. The fox shook his head “No. I'm not a caster.”

“I don't know, that was a pretty powerful spell you just used to stop the crane and all from killing everyone” the human said. “Kid you got to run” the old hound said “it doesn't matter how it happened. But it did happen and now every Mage in the city is going to be looking for you.”

“The day we lost your old man to those damn Mages, I promised myself to pay him back some day.” Old Bill said “he gave his life so the rest of our unit could escape the Mages. And it looks like I can finally repay my debt.” Cornelius' head was still spinning as he got to his feet.

“Let's just hope the warlocks find you first” Old Bill added “good luck, now go.” There was a crowd starting to grow outside the site trying to see what happened. The dark fox tried to run but could only get far enough to hide out of sight in one of the dumpsters just outside the site.

He peek out just long enough to see two mages drop out of nowhere in front of the old hound dog. One was a tall blue and white modal that looked somewhat like a canine. The other was a small red and gold lizard of some kind.

The lizard took off but the canine just looked around. “Wait for an opening master,” Fey said, "Then take the back alley for three blocks then turn left. We should find help there.” The green gem flashed as Fey spoke.

“My lady's enchantments should give you enough cover to get past the lost casters.” “My lady, lost casters,” he asked “what is going on?” “No time, go now” she answered. The dark fox looked back over to the Mage that had just turned away.

It was looking at the wrecked site, and seemed to be scanning it for something. The dark fox jumped from his hiding spot and ran to the back alley just a few feet away. He kept low and tried to stay out of sight.

“Great, this feels like one of those bad ideas you see in movies,” he said to himself checking the sky above him. The dark fox got two and half blocks before making the mistake of looking back. The blue and white Mage he saw at the job site, just spotted him running down the alley.

And it started to close the gap. “Shit” Cornelius said before bolting as fast as he could. Between the fact the Mage was built for this and he himself was still feeling weak. the Mage caught up to him at the edge of the alley.

Cornelius felt his back hit a wall as the Mage pinned him down with one armored hand. “Cornelius ...” it said in an electric voice “Malacard, … you have been found … using illegal magic … surrender … peacefully … and you won't be harmed.” His heart was racing.

There was no way he could fight his way out of this. And he wasn't a caster, how could he fight back. “Alright, you win,” he answered. “Not going to happen” a second voice said as a red and silver fist clocked the Mage in the side of the face.

The blue and white Mage was knocked back enough to drop the dark fox. Cornelius looked on in horror when the Mage looked back at them. Part of the face plating covering the Mage's left eye was just gone. And underneath it was a living face with an ice blue eye and black fur around it.

The dark fox looked at the owner of the fist. It was another mage. But this one looked feline in red and silver colors. “If you don't want to join them,” the Red Mage said, “run.” “Who are you?” he asked.

“Rouge Unit one, one, four, seven,” the Mage responded, “you are to be taken in for disassembly and termination.” “Not going to happen,” the Red Mage answered. The Blue Mage was becoming jerky, like it had a glitch.

The Blue Mage's eye turned back to the dark fox. There was a warmth in that eye, like a soft smile. The Blue Mage reached up to its own neck. In one motion half of the fake throat was gone. Blood and oil drained from its neck.

It spoke three last words in a man's voice “protect him please” before falling to the ground. There was a long pause between them. As if the Red Mage knew the owner of the eye. “Target acquired,” the Red Mage said.

“All Warlocks fall back to base” it said before turning to him and picking the dark fur fox up. “Cornelius Malacard,” it said “I am Novabell.” it set him back on his feet and led him to a manhole cover. The Red mage opened it. “Get in,” it said. “No, not till I get some answers,” he said.

“This isn't a movie,” it said “now go.” Before he could even try to put up a fight the Mage grabbed him by the shirt and dropped him down the hole then followed after. Cornelius hit the dirt hard. After a near-miss with Novabell's feet he sat up and started dusting himself off.

“Wait, dirt, what the” he asked looking around. A bright light clicked on blinding the dark fox for a moment. “You sure it's him?” a man's voice asked. “Yes, all prerequisites have been confirmed,” the Mage answered. “He don't look it,” the man said.

“Ok, will someone tell me what's going on,” the dark fox asked, trying to pull himself to his feet. “Answering your questions would be a waste of time,” the Mage answered. “Hun, don't be like that,” the man added his dark skin hand reaching out to the fox “his whole life just got fucked. He needs some support.”

“Fine,” the Mage spat “but we need to be moving.” Cornelius took the large hand and felt his whole body move before he could react. “Woh,” he answered. “But she is right,” the man answered, “we need to get gone.” Three set down a small dirt path that seemed to close behind them.

“First off, don't mind her,” the man said “she's always like this.” Cornelius looked ahead to the Mage. “Second, I'm Jonathan,” the man continued “and third, about half of what you know is wrong.” “Master, maybe I can be of some help” the little ferret said, popping out of her gem stone.

“Fey, are you part of this too?” the fox asked. “Yes and no master” the ferret answered “I am your mother's codex.” “Yeah I knew that,” he said “you're a log book and personal planner.” “No Master,” the ferret said, “I contain all the knowledge she had on magic.”

“No, my mother wasn't a caster,” he chided, “and if that was true then next you're going to tell me that Mage that ripped out its own throat was my dad.” “It was,” the Mage answered, “just like that same Mage was the former Malacaster.”

“No, Mages aren't people, their robots made to look like people” the fox said “there is no way that was my father.” The Mage stopped and turned back to the fox who stopped and took a sharp step back. The Mage grabbed the fox by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

“That robot, was your father,” it said “because I was the one that dragged his ass to the fucking labs that made him into a monster just like me.” The Mage threw the fox down before adding “And that son of bitch turned me against them.”

“His last words before he was put on the line were, to find my son, and then gave me the Delta Codex” the Mage added before turning away and almost stormed off. “Tell ya what, son,” Jonathan said “let's get to where we're going and then you can have a meltdown.”

“Master, please,” the ferret asked. “Not now,” he answered “I can't.” “You got a will to live,” the man asked. “I don't know anymore,” the fox answered, throwing his hands up in the air. Before Cornelius could start he heard a clicking sound.

He found himself looking down the barrel of a really big gun. “Boy, you get your ass going now,” Jonathan spoke. The fox turned and started walking as fast as he could. “That's better,” Jonathan said, putting his gun away and closing the path behind them.

“David Malacard was a powerful caster, and a good man,” Jonathan added. “You knew him,” the fox asked. “Yeah, he's the one that started the Warlocks to fight off the Mages and the Queen's forces,” Jonathan answered “his real skill was in healing magic.”

“Not to say he couldn't throw down when he had to.” The fox looked down at his hand, feeling a numbness in it. “Master, I'm sorry I couldn't share the truth before now,” the ferret said “but my Lady asked me not to say a word about it.”

“If I knew, maybe I could have done more,” he said rubbing his chest where his burn mark was “or just have done something.” “There's no point in living in some “what if” world,” the Mage added “you're here now, so deal with it.”

“Easy for you to say,” the fox spat “and all this shit happens over a fucking badge.” “A badge?” Jonathan asked. “Yeah, I had to get to work early. And ended up running into some guy trying to find his lighter but dropped his badge. I found it. gave it to him.

He shook my hand and put a spell on it or something. Then all this shit goes down, and now whatever life I had is gone.” Cornelius said. “Tiraroot, don't tell me, you think he had something to do with this” the Mage asked before knocking on a rusty bulkhead.

Cornelius heard something hiss from behind him. “she can't say,” Jonathan answered “if he is then he's up to something.” The bulkhead opened before the fox could ask. “Switch, Bliss,” the Mage spoke entering the room followed by the fox and the human “we have the target.”

“They're not back yet” a girl's voice answered “they're making a supply run.” “Priestess, where's Wisp?” the Mage asked. “Behind the cutie you have with you” the girl answered. The fox looked back slowly to find the tip of a pulse rifle sitting on the back of his neck.

“Question” the fox asked. “What now?” the Mage answered. “Do I still get that meltdown?” he asked. “Do what you will, just don't leave this place” the Mage answered as she started to walk off. “Novabell,” the fox called his tone dropping “you said when we got here I could ask all the questions I wanted.”

The Mage stopped. “I have nothing more to say to you,” she answered “not till the Delta Codex calls for you.” “You said you're the one that turned my father over to them” he said. “Correct” the Mage answered. “My only question for you is what happened?” he asked.

“You're not ready,” the Mage answered. “Like hell I am,” he spat, “You tell me what happened to my father. The whole story or I walk out of here and find out first hand.” “Why does it seem like I always walk in at the wrong time” a girlish voice said as the bulkhead closed.

“Wisp put the rifle away,” a second male's voice followed, “he's not going to hurt anyone but himself.” The rifle came off the fox's neck then a short dark green and red swallow stepped out from behind him. She darted off after the fox turned to look at her.

Cornelius turned his eyes back to the Mage. “Ask yourself this,” The Mage answered “what will you do after the fact?” “I don't know,” he answered “I have all this happen at once. Just to find out my father was still alive long enough to see him rip his own throat out.”

“What should I be thinking? That should be glad I'm still alive. That I got to see him one last time after twenty fucking years.” The fox stomped up to the Mage arms out. “That some nameless asshole threw my life under a bus just to get away?”

“or the fact I've been lied to, for so long that I think you're all full of shit.” “Are you finished?” the Mage asked. “No, far from it,” he answered, “just catching my breath.” “Show him the feed” the Mage answered. “On it” the male voice answered.

A feathered reptile with cybernetic limbs came up next to the fox and showed him a video from a camera that caught the whole thing. The whole scene took less than a minute. The engine exploding, the fall, the hex beam and the crane and the larger pieces all slowing down, people running. Then at the end of the clip he saw someone standing over him. Then it ended.

Chapter 5

Cornelius had to watch it again. But slowed down to just a few frames per second. He watched as a green Mage and something with large wings crashed into the engine of the crane before it exploded. Himself being knocked off the crane before the blast could fry him.

Him falling, and him looking around. But what he could see this time were his eyes glowing as some kind of light shot from his hand. The winged thing diving after him. It caught him and landed smoothly like nothing happened.

It set him on the ground and seemed to take the light out of his hand. Controlling the rest of the crash. The old hound dog running over to him and yelling something at, what he could only call an angel. Then it was just gone and the clip ended again.

“What the hell?” he said as the screen shut off. “That was what we can only assume to be the Caretaker” the Mage answered “something very old and very powerful, we believe it was also the one who made this.” The Mage took part of her shoulder guard off and cased it down to the fox's feet.

It was a highly polished piece of black metal with a purple triangle gem set in what looked like an “M” shape. Cornelius reached down, eyes fixed on the guard piece. “We were dropped into an open battlefield to catch known casters working with a rebel faction.” the Mage spoke “David Malacard, Jonathan Forlan and two others who were already KIA.”

Cornelius stopped to look up at the Mage. “Orders were to terminate anything that got in the way.” She continued “there were three of us sent, I'm the only one to make it back.” “Both your father and Tiraroot took down my commander and his second.”

The mage paused as if to sigh. “I caught your father after he had used most of his power to kill my commander. I took him into custody for modification and reconditioning. He woke shortly before he was to start the program.”

“He grabbed my arm when I pulled that artifact off his arm and said “find my son.” The Mage turned away as she finished her story, “The codex took the request as an order and fried my control chip and gave me back my free will and power.”

“The codex hasn't made a sound for twenty years. Till you used a titan level spell.” The tone almost had a hint of pride to it. The fox shook his head as he recalled that last time he saw his father as a kid. And seeing the guard piece on his father's arm.

Cornelius picked the guard up and held it in his hand. He looked around to everyone in the room. The shared look between them went unspoken. He stood up holding the guard piece out to the Mage. “Even if your story is true,” he said “I'm not the Malacaster.”

“It doesn't matter,” the mage answered, “my mission is over.” “What,” Cornelius spat “That's it, a story and a broken piece of armor?” “My mission was to find and give you the codex,” the Mage answered “that's it. What happens to you now is not my concern.”

“Well to hell with all of you” he said and threw the piece of metal at the Mage. The guard flew across the room to the Mage before stopping just inches away from the Mage and darted back to the dark fox. It smashed into his chest and knocked him back on the ground.

The impact knocked the wind out of the fox who just laid on the dusty floor. “Master” the ferret spoke. “What is it, Fey?” he answered. “Kid, you have a lot to learn about magic and how it works” the girlish voice said, stepping into view, crouching down beside him.

The voice was owned by an otter colored completely in pink and blue. His looks were that of a teen aged girl, but his dark brown eyes looked old and out of place. “Magic is like anything else in life, it comes with a cost” he said as he smiled.

“Yeah, and aside from my life I have nothing to give” Cornelius answered “and will you stop looking at me like that. It's creeping me out.” “Nah, it's what you're feeling about the way I look that's creeping you out,” the otter added “I'm Winston Springwell, but that one calls me Bliss.”

The otter nodded to the Mage as he spoke. “Yeah, let's not go there,” the fox answered. “Tell you what,” the otter said, standing up and offering to help the fox up as well, “sleep on it. I know right now that's what you need, and we will start when you're ready.”

“Ready for what?” the fox asked, taking the otter's hand. “You'll see,” the otter answered, leading the fox by the hand to another room down a small hallway. Once in the room the otter let go of the fox's hand.

“Here we go, you can sleep here for now,” the otter answered “and if you need “any” thing at all just ask me.” “That's nice and all but,” Cornelius said “but I'm not into guys.” “Again you have a lot to learn about magic” the otter smiled with a wink.

The fox blinked as the otter trotted off with more of a womanly form than before. The fox had to shake it off a few times to get the sight out of his head. The fox looked around the room, seeing a bed and a table and a few chairs.

It was more room than what he was used to. But he wasn't going to be there long, and was hoping to find a way back to his old life. He set the guard piece down on the table and set Fey's band next to it. “Fey,” the fox asked, “you knew my dad right?”

“Yes I did,” the ferret answered “you are just like him.” “Not what I mean,” he said. “Master Cornelius,” the ferret said, “he wasn't a very powerful caster, but he didn't need to be.” “Yeah, but he was the Malacaster” the fox added.

“Delta's power doesn't work like that” the ferret pointed out, “and he did tell me how it works. His codex is nothing more than spells and castings and most of them are weak at best.” “Then what makes the Malacaster such a threat?” he asked, laying down.

“It's the caster,” she answered “I can't tell you how to awaken Delta … You're asleep already, Good night Master.” Cornelius had fallen asleep just seconds after he laid down. His dreams were confusing and unsettling.

Seeing his father and the Mage that killed itself. A large wolf with black and purple armor. The hooded man with the lost badge. None of it made scents even if it was all connected. But recalling the last time he spoke with his mother before she died.

She was ill but she wasn't sick. The doctors said she just didn't have the will to live. Her last words to him were “Just know we both will always love you.” The fox jumped, wide awake when the hatch to the room he was using, opened with a heavy thud.

“Glad to see you're up already,” the Mage said, stepping into the light “you have a choice to make right now.” “What the hell?” the fox answered, “and what are you talking about?” “Long story short, we're leaving,” the Mage answered.

“What” he asked “I thought this was your base?” “Don't be stupid” the Mage added “Do you think we would bring you right to our base?” “Fair point,” he answered, “so let me guess, this is where you tell me my choice is go with you or go back and hope I don't die?”

“No,” the Mage answered, “you do as you're told or I'll kill you here and now.” “Not the best way to win a guy over you know,” he answered. “This isn't a game or some stupid movie,” the Mage chided, “and if you continue to treat it as such, I will kill you.”

“But why would you kill me?” Cornelius asked, “When you can just leave me to die on my own?” “To protect you” the Mage answered. “You're kidding, right? How is that protecting me” he asked. “There are fates far worse than death,” the Mage answered.

“Yeah, like you would know,” he spat “fucking robot.” The Mage closed the gap between them grabbing the fox by the neck, her other hand engulfed in flames. “I'm done playing games with you” the Mage spoke “And I'm not going to let your stupid games get these people killed.”

The Mage drew back her fist with a clean shot for the fox's head. Before Cornelius could act the Mage leashed out. A bright green flash exploded right next to the fox's head, knocking the two back and away from each other.

“Don't you ever touch him again” Fey's voice spoke coldly from his shoulder. The green ferret stood there glaring at the Mage. “He is young. He doesn't understand” the ferret continued “My Mistress killed herself to seal his Magic. To give him a life away from the Malacard curse.”

“That is not my problem” the Mage answered, recoiling from the counterattack. “Delta hasn't released you yet has he” the ferret asked. “The Codex only wants to find the next Malacaster,” the Mage answered, “And the former had only asked to find the boy. not the Malacaster.”

“What the Hell, are you two talking about” the fox asked looking between the two. “Novabell,” a voice called from the hall. “We just lost contact with HQ, and the final message sent “disband and go off world.” “Inform the others we're leaving in ten minutes” the Mage answered.

The mage turned back to the fox. “The choice still stands,” she said “and for your sake. I hope you make the right decision.” “Give him a minute,” the ferret asked “please?” “You have three minutes before we seal this place and flood it,” the Mage answered.

The Mage left without another word. “Didn't she just say they were leaving in ten minutes,” the fox asked. “That was if you're not going with them. Then they were going to kill you” the ferret answered.

“Not helping,” he said. “Master please,” the ferret asked, “I know I am asking a lot of you. And I know I lied to you. But please trust me and go with them.” “Fey,” he asked, wiping his face with his hand. “Yes Master” she answered.

“You think that one ship is at the docks” he asked “you know the one that always comes and goes. And no one seems to know anything about it?” “It is about that time in the month that it would be here” the ferret answered.

“Good,” the fox added, “I think I have a plan.” without a second to lose he bolted from the room and out into the main room where they were all packing and breaking things. “Okay, what's your plan to get us off this rock?” he asked.

They looked at him. “Let me guess,” he added, “get to the port and steal a ship?” “And you have a better idea” the Mage asked, setting what looked like runes into the walls. “Yeah, in short there's a ship down in the docks that is always here this time of the month like clockwork,” the fox answered “and there's never anyone working near it.”

“The docks are farther than the port,” the otter pointed out. “Yeah, but fewer guards and people to get in the way” the fox added “and top it off I know a few people there that would turn the other way and not see anything.”

“That's good and all but how are we going to get there?” the feather reptile asked. “She has a point, there is no way we can all make it there as a group and splitting up now will just make it harder to time it right” the Mage added.

“Well, I'm out of ideas” the fox said “I mean it's not like we can just ask that Caretaker guy to throw them off.” “Or you just pull more high level magic out of your ass” the Mage laughed. “I can't but,” the fox said with an idea popping in his head “but maybe they can.”

He held up the piece of metal and pulled his sleeve back. “You're joking right?” the Mage asked. The cybernetic reptile was still kneeling as if in prayer. “Have faith in the boy,” he said. “I'm with Switch on this one,” the otter added “Plus, we all can use magic in some form or another.”

“I'm with Novabell on this,” the younger feathered reptile piped up, “Faith has not done any good, brother.” “Aithenas,” Switch said, “Let the Gods work in their own time.” “You and your stupid Gods got our people killed. We're all that's left” she spat.

The little swallow popped the human on the arm with her wing. He nodded and said “Nevermind all that, we're going to break up into teams. It's not a race to see who gets there first. We move just like any other mission.”

“That sounds better than anything I could come up with,” the fox added. “Kid, shut up” Johnathon said “Winston, you're on point.” “Got it,” the otter answered. “Switch, you and Aithenas got the lead” he continued. “Understood,” Switch answered. The younger reptile huffed.

“Melody, you're with me” the human finished. The swallow nodded. “Dumb question,” the fox asked. “Bliss uses high level hydro magic and can turn himself into water, making him uncatchable. Avatiles are fast runners and can cover a lot of ground in no time, plus Switch is a lightning caster, and can fry any system in his way.” The Mage answered, “Wisp and Tiraroot work well together so no one has to worry about them.”

That's all well, good and all” the fox said “but what should I do?” “You could stay here and die, or you do what I say when I say” the Mage answered “And unless you can pull off some more high level spells you're useless in a fight.” Cornelius' ear twitched.

“Fare point” he answered and waited for the Mage to start bossing him around. The otter left first, somehow driving into a sink with running water. The rest of the group left the site together. It took them twenty minutes to reach the underground rail station.

The whole time Switch was talking to himself. The cyber avatile went on ahead into the station. What light the fox could see cut out after a long high pitch buzzing cut off. There was a tapping sound then the young avatile darted off to catch up with her brother.

The mage grabbed the fox by the collar of his shirt and pulled him along. “Once we hit the street, run.” the Mage said, releasing the fox's shirt. “No time for regrets” he answered, minding his way up the steps. The Mage climbed the steps scanning the street above.

“Clear, go, now” she ordered. Without a second thought the fox bolted up the stairs and out into the night. There was an uneasy chill in the air as Cornelius raced down the dimly lit road. He didn't know the area very well, mostly because he was running down the street in a class one district.

Minutes later he was forced to stop. Breathing heavily he looked around. “Don't tell me, they ditched me” he asked himself seeing no sign of the others. He could see the lights of an aircraft. At first he thought nothing of it and started walking.

He was waiting for his lungs to reach a point where he could start running again. He looked up to see if the aircraft was gone, Just like anyone else would. But it wasn't. The lights were getting bigger. The fox started jogging to at least find a checkpoint or something to tell him where he was.

Then he heard it. The heavy impact of something hitting the ground. Without looking back the fox bolted as fast as he could. He could hear them coming. Still running he felt something grab his leg and pull him down. Before he could fight it off he saw a flash of light jet over him. After hitting the ground he looked back.

Five masses that looked like people had stopped once the flash of light had passed. “This can't get any worse,” he said. Just as he spoke the ground gave out from under him. Before he could even think he found himself floating in the air over one of the city walls.

“Spoke too soon” he thought watching himself about to die. “You're really lucky” he heard the Mage's voice and felt himself slow down. The Mage landed safely on the other side of the wall. They were met by the two avatiles.

“What the hell is going on?” he asked, feeling his feet hit the ground. “Just a test” the Mage answered. “We'll talk later,” Switch said, “but we need to go now.” “Take him, We'll meet you there” the Mage answered. Switch nodded.

Cornelius got on the cyber reptile’s back as the other took off running. “Hang on,” Switch said, taking off after his sister. it took less than a breath before the two were side by side. “Incoming” the female avatile yelled, pushing herself out of the way.

The cybertile stopped. “Run, we don’t have time to fight about this, just run,” he said, setting the young fox on his feet. Cornelius took off sighing. “Fey, Fey, Fey do something” he commanded. “Discharging a shield earlier drained most of my power, Master.” Fey said.

“It will take another twenty-three hours to recharge.” “Can’t you just charge off of me?” the fox asked. “I can’t, Master,” she answered, “I can’t overpower my programming.” “Let me guess,” the fox said “Mom ordered you to not break the seal. and tapping into my power would do just that.”

“Correct, Master,” Fey answered. “Damnit,” he said, turning down an alley to hide for a few seconds. “I’m guessing this thing has no power,” he said. “Correct, Master,” Fey said, “Delta can only draw power from his master or his maker.”

“So, we have to find the Caretaker to charge it up,” the fox said. “Impractical, Master,” Fey said “The Caretaker is a being beyond our understanding.” “Yeah,” he said, “and getting out of this would take an act of a god.”

There was a rattle of bangs. “Fey, I need a map of the area,” the fox said, looking out into the street. “Master, the next checkpoint is four blocks down the street.” the ferret answered. Cornelius ran as fast as he could between the shadows and alleys.

He got to the checkpoint. He hid from the guard. From where he hid he could see the battle back at the other checkpoint. “Think damnit,” he said to himself. He looked back at the guard post. It was the Vixen from the other day.

“Yeah that’s a dumb plan” he said to himself before running up the window. “Hey” he said. The vixen turned eyes wide. She drew her sidearm. “Look, I know how this looks,” He said, holding up his hands. She paused before reaching for her com.

“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t call,” he said. “If you saw the news feeds. I’m not in a good place right now.” “Why should I help you?” she asked. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry,” he answered. “You know I can’t just let you through,” she said.

“I know,” he said, “Honestly, I don’t have a plan.” She looked down to the other checkpoint. “You are so lucky you’re cute,” She said “Go, I’ll just say you casted a spell on me.” “Thank you,” he said and bolted through the checkpoint.

He got a block away from the checkpoint before alarms started going off. “Thank you,” he said, “Now how to get to the docks from here?” “You are two thousand four hundred and fourteen point zero twenty- five meters from the docks.”

“So fifteen minute run.” he said. “Master, I have disconnected from the GPS.” the ferret said “I am detecting a tracer program.” “Right, good thinking,” the fox said, darting back between alleys. After a few minutes the fox’s legs cramped.

he fell over into the next alley. He dragged himself behind whatever cover he could find. “Please” he said to himself, “Please whichever god is listening. Please help.” he looked back at the street when he saw something move.

“Who?” an unspoken voice said. “What?” the fox asked, looking for the voice. “Who are you asking to help?” the voice asked, “Help you? Help them? Help that cute vixen that helped you?” “I don’t know?” he answered “Help them, and her if you can?”

“Oh, boy,” the voice said, “Can tell you one thing. You’re the one that needs help.” “It’s just a cramp, I’ll be fine,” he said. “Why did you save them?” the voice asked. “Who?” he answered. “You could have saved yourself.” the voice said.

“The crane?” he asked “I was as good as dead when you hit it. I didn’t think, I just acted.” “Even without the spell you would have tried?” the voice asked. “I didn’t even think I could do anything,” he said “But I couldn’t just do nothing.”

“She bought them some time.” the voice said, “They will meet you at the docks. But if you don’t get moving, someone will die.” The fox pulled himself to his feet. The mussels of his leg protesting.

“Unless you plan on flying me there,” he said “I’m not going to make it before those things catch me.” “Now, what’s the fun in that be?” the voice answered. Using the wall the fox started moving. “Oh, so you’re going to walk then?” the voice asked.

“If you’re not going to help, then I have to do it myself,” he said. “That’s the spirit, laddie,” the voice said. The next few steps a cramp in his other leg took him down again. “Delta, come on boy wake up,” the voice said, “Come on, nap time’s over.”

A soft purple light glowed from the gem on the fox’s arm. Cornelius’ eye went wide as a form twice his size stood over him. heavy black metal plates move like skin across the form. it looked at him with purple lights for eyes.

“DELTA” Fey yelled. “Delta?” the fox asked, trying to pull himself back to his feet. Its head tilted as the metal tail gave a wag. “You have grown since last we met,” the beast said. “I don’t remember,” he said.

“Aww, cute. You have enough power to get him to the docks.” the voice said, “Now move.” The beast stepped closer to the fox. The fox pulled himself onto the beast’s back. Once Cornelius was seated the beast took off.

“You were just a kit when we met,” the beast said, without breaking its stride. “What was he like,” the fox asked. “He left a message for you,” the beast answered, “But I can’t share it with you now.” The fox sighed.

“You have his eyes,” the beast said. Buildings and streets zipped past. The fox could see the docks a few minutes into the trek. “Stop,” the fox said several blocks away from the docks. The beast stopped as if it had been walking the whole time.

A gust of wind blew across the fox’s back as the air closed their wake. “I can walk from here,” he said. “I shall rest till I am called upon again” the best said, blinking out of existence with a purple flash. Cautiously the fox walked to the entrance.

A manhole cover several meters away blew up into the air, lost in the dark. One by one the warlocks pulled themselves from the pipes. “Well hello there cutie,” the otter said, “fancy meeting you here.” The Mage lay on the ground covered in dark fluids.

“What happened?” the fox asked. “A lot,” the otter answered, “we need to get moving.” The human pulled the mage to her feet. “Come on darling,” Jonathan said, holding the mage up with his one arm. Cornelius used what credits he had left to get them past the guard.

“Here, get her onto one of the carts” the fox said, throwing on a dockworker’s jacket and hat. Jonathon set the mage down on one of the carts covering her with a tarp. “Ok where’s this ship?” Bliss asked. the fox looked around.

“I don’t know,” he said, “I’ve just seen it a few times.” From Fey’s gemstone came the image of a dragon crossed with a dragonfly. Bliss smiled. “I can find her,” he said, “just keep moving.” The fox started pushing the cart through the docks as the warlocks hid themselves.

Chapter 6

The ship itself looked like it should have been at the port. The design was that of a large dragon crossed with a dragonfly. One would think it a real dragon had the mouth not been open like a ramp. Cornalius had only seen the ship a few times but never this close.

“Come on,” Bliss said. waving the others onboard. Sitting on a chair just to the side of the ramp was a small winged snake that looked oddly like a sword and a small silver bird. Nothing was said as they loaded onto the ship.

Jonathan and Cornalius went to discard the cart when the bird spoke. “Load the shipment please,” it said in a soft chirping voice “as payment for transport.” They nodded and fulfilled the request.

No sooner had they finished another voice spoke across the ship. “Nebs’ I want us off the ground in two minutes. Rift, power up the core. We’re going to have company and I don’t want them to get any shots off.” the voice said.

The fox looked at the figure that boarded the ship. Same dark robes and hood. And that voice he heard was so clear in his head. “Toolton, open the med bay and get the guest quarters ready” the figure said walking right past the fox.

Cornalius shook from the figure’s presence alone. with one bald pale hand the figure lifted the damaged mage like she was nothing. Before he could move, another pale hand trapped the fox by the collar of the jacket.

The figure threw the fox into a seat next to a bed in the med bay. But it took care to set the mage on the bed as if she were a small child. “Her systems are damaged beyond repair,” another voice hissed. “Fine, put what’s left of her on life support and remove all the damaged systems” The figure order.

Cornalius watched in horror as robotic arms began removing armor. Her left arm from the shoulder just fell to the floor. Matted and burnt patches of golden fur covered what wasn’t marred by metal or scars.

Both of her legs just above the knee were removed and discarded. The dark mix of blood and oil spilled out onto the floor. “There are far worse fates then death” the mage’s voice called from the back of the fox’s mind.

The sight of the smiling icy blue eye and the rasping broken voice called back to him again. “Can you help her?” he asked the figure. “Not without a price,” it answered. “Name it,” he said, taking the mage’s living hand.

It was weak and he almost missed it. But her fingers squeezed back. “Please,” he asked, “No one should have to die because of me.” One of the robotic arms lowered next to him. The end of the arm was a mana extractor.

“A life for a life,” the figure said. The fox removed the two codexes, the jacket, and his shirt. The angry scar from his mana extractor caught the figure’s eye. “You never kept the money?” the figure asked. “A lot of kids needed help,” he answered.

He took the extractor, opening its prongs. “It wasn’t much,” he said, “but they at least got to eat.” Without a second thought the fox slammed the prongs into the scar. The scar burned as he screamed.

The figure stood unmoved as the fox screamed. The broken body of the mage glowed with a soft white light. “Show me,” it whispered. As bone, tissue, mussel, organs, and flesh grew. Healthy strong lungs drew a sharp breath and screamed.

The door sealed behind the figure. “Toolton, hold her down,” the figure said. “The boy’s heart rate is critical.” hissed a voice, “any longer will kill him.” “Is she stable yet,” the figure asked. “Yes and the overflow can finish the remainder of the regeneration.” the voice hissed.

“Cut the transfer,” the figure ordered. The figure moved over the fox pulling the tool from his hand, holding him down. “Look at me.” the figure said, “Look at me. Focus Laddie. And just look at me.” Cornalius tried to focus on the voice and look at the figure.

“Just breathe,” the figure said, “I need you to breathe.” Harsh and heavy gasps Cornelius breathed. His eyes found focus looking into the golden eyes under the figure’s hood. The color wasn’t gold. The eyes themselves were gold and silver.

The left eye held a cat slit pupil. As the right eye had a plus shaped cross. Both held a timeless depth to them. Both longing for sleep. “Toolton, open a second bed,” the figure said, lifting the fox as if he were just a kit.

“Rest, you did good,” the figure said, laying the fox on the bed that opened from the wall. “She’s not going to be happy,” the figure added, “but she’ll live.” Still gasping, the fox tried to speak. “Shh,” the figure said, “sleep, you need it.

darkness took the fox. As flashes of a life filled his mind. “Joana” he gasped, sitting up right. dim light slowly brightens letting the fox see. “Good morning, Cornelius,” the chirping voice said. “Where?” the fox asked.

“In the med bay of the Nebula,” the voice chirped, “Please remain still.” “What happened?” he asked, slowly laying back down. “You overtaxed yourself with the mana transfer,” it chirped, “But it was a success, and she is resting.”

His scar still burned. He looked down at the burn. the blackened scar had changed to a soft silver. “How?” he asked. “You have been unconscious for two days.” it chirped “I will request one of the warlocks bring you something to eat.”

He looked around the room. His stuff was where he left it. The mess was gone. No blood or oil. No broken cybernetics. Just a sleeping feline in a clean bed. The breathing mask over her face fogged with every breath.

Bliss entered the med bay with a tray. “Hey there cutie,” the otter said, setting the tray on the table. “You had us scared there,” the otter added, their figure shifting. The bright pink and blue color drained to a dark brown.

As his figure became a lean but tall male otter. “Yeah, thought so.” the otter said, his voice dropping a few tones, “Look, you had the old man out there scared.” “How bad is she?” the fox asked. “You did a number on her.” the otter answered.

“How bad?” the fox asked again. “If they didn’t cut you off she would have been fully healed,” the otter answered, “she’s missing an ear, one eye, her left arm and both of her legs.” “You said I all but fixed her” the fox said.

“Yeah, you did,” the otter answered, “lungs, heart, spine, stomach, ribs, skin, fur, even her full reproductive system.” “I couldn’t have done all that,” the fox said. “Cornalius,” the otter said “You gave her, her life back.”

“Sexy scar by the way,” otter added. “Could you hand Fey,” the fox asked, “what was your name again?” “Winston, Winston Springwell,” the otter said “But everyone calls me Bliss.” “Why do they call you Bliss?” the fox asked.

The otter sighed, picking up the tray holding the two codexes. “Because no matter what happens,” the otter answered, rolling his eyes “I’m always in a state of bliss.” “Can’t be easy,” the fox said. The otter smiled.

“True, but that’s why they call me Bliss,” the otter said, setting the tray on the fox’s lap. Then slid his hand up the fox’s chest running his fingers through the fox’s thick fur. “I can also put others in a state of bliss.” the otter said.

Cornelius panicked with the otter a breath away from his face. “I’m not into guys,” the fox said. “Well,” the otter said “I don’t have to be a guy.” In a wave of pink and blue, the otter shift forms. His hips grew wider and lowered his height.

“Do you have a type, maybe species?” the otter said, growing sizable breasts. their size tested the fabric of his shirt. the fox’s heart raced. “You really don’t have to,” Cornalius said, pushing himself into the bed.

“And here I thought you were going to melt once you saw me again” the hooded figure said from the door. “Sorry love,” the otter said, shifting back to the first form Cornalius saw the otter in. “But the look on his face was too cute.”

“Don’t mind this one,” the figure said, giving the otter a quick slap on the rear. The otter moaned. “We’ll play later,” the figure said playfully, pushing the otter from the room. “So, are you the guy I met the other day?” the fox asked.

“Call me Chartun,” the figure said. “Carton?” “Chartun.” “Chartun.” “Good, as fun of a game as this is,” Chartun said “you going to pull off any other tricks?” “Excuse me?” the fox asked. “You get a spell that could have save your ass.” Chartun said.

“And you use it to save a group of people that barely liked you.” Cornelius looked down at the codexes in his lap. “I’m sorry by the way,” Chartun said “I’m really sorry that was the way you met your father after so many years.”

The fox shook the image from his mind again. “Then you risk your ass,” chartun continued, “to save a bunch of nutjobs like Bliss there.” The fox gave a small smile. “Then to top it off,” Chartun finished, “You almost killed yourself powering a machine and gave a poor girl her life back after forty years of being a monster.”

The figure moved the tray and helped the fox to his feet. “Easy now,” It was just a few steps. Cornelius got his first look at the feline on the bed. she didn’t look like the dead body he saw the other day.

She looked so young. even with missing an ear and eye, she was beautiful. thin golden fur with deep rich spots. The empty joint of her shoulder wasn’t scared and looked clean. her breath was slow and deep.

Modest breasts raised and fell with each breath. Chartun drew back the blanket. Her stomach look healthy and lean. and her golden fur covered every part of her. Chartun replaced the blanket. Cornelius took her hand.

Her grip felt stronger than the last time he held it. “Am I that ugly,” a weak but soft female voice spoke. her eye opened. She had a dark leaf green eye. “Joana,” the fox said. “I never told you that name,” she wheezed.

“How does it feel to breath again?” Chartun asked. “Hurts, everything hurts,” she said. she pulled her hand away resting it on her stomach. Her eye went wide. She ran her hand across her body. tears welled up in her eye.

She balled up crying. Cornelius put his hand on her shoulder. It was hard for her to reach but she took his hand. “Cornelius, I can’t,” “Then don’t,” he said, “just rest.” “Alright, alright back to bed” Chartun said gently moving the fox back to his own bed.

The fox sat on the bed. He took the tray food and started eating. It could have been he hadn’t eaten in almost four days. But whatever he was eating was good. He layed back down. picking up the band that held Fey’s gem.

He put the band on. “Hey Fey,” he said “How are you feeling?” “I am fully changed, Master,” the green ferret said as it formed on his lap. The fox watched the ferret roll around his lap before she looked up at him.

“Fey, how do I break the seal?” he asked. “I can’t Answer that, Master,” she said. “Program?” he asked. “Program,” she answered. “So you are the Malcaster,” the feline’s voice. the ferret’s head turned to the voice.

“Who are you?” Fey asked. “Just another monster” the feline answer. “Um, is there a voice in here?” the fox asked. “Yes, Cornelius,” the chirped returned “You can call me Heartnea. the image of a large silver woodpecker formed sitting at the end of the bed.

“How may I be of service to you” it asked. “Do you have a mirror?” he asked. “Yes I can get a mirror for you.” the bird answered. The fox held a finger to his lip before pointing to the feline. The bird tilted its head.

Fey hopped over to the bird. A second of contact between the two images, the bird understood. “Novabell,” the fox said, “When you asked me if you were ugly.” “What about it?” she answered. “the answer is no, you’re not.” “A mirror as requested” the bird answered, moving to the feline’s bed.

“Mirror?” the feline asked, pulling herself up. A robotic arm raised a mirror for her. It was her face looking back at her. “There is no way this could be real?” she said. She held her missing arm. “Yeah, it’s real,” the fox said, “I’m sorry.”

“What could you possibly be sorry for?” she said, forcing herself to turn. “Because I couldn’t do more,” he answered. “The transfer system is badly damaged due to overload” the bird stated, “your body and the system would not be able to handle that level of use again.”

“Well, that answers how you knew my name,” she said. “Sorry about that too,” he added. “No, it’s fine,” she answered, “I didn’t think I would get to hear it again. Much less feel another person’s touch. Oh gods I can’t wait to eat again.”

“We should have you back to eating solid matter in no time,” the bird answered, “Just please take it slow.” The feline fell back onto the bed kicking the stubs of her legs. “All the things I missed being in that can,” she said.

She flexed her fingers drawing in power. A flame the size of a match head sparked to life on the tip of her finger. but the second she looked into the flame it died out. She covered herself with the blanket and balled up.

“Novabell please relax,” the bird said “you have not fully recovered.” “You should have left me to die.” she cried, “After everything I’ve done.” Cornelius recalled the flashes he saw. The countless lives taken by the machine.

The bird had something happen, and the cries and sobs died off into snores. “Get some rest, Master,” Fey said, her image fading. The fox closed his eyes. “In for a penny” he said letting sleep take him again.

Chapter 7

Cornelius awoke to a horn blowing, the small med bay brightly lit. His eyes burned as he tried to focus. “What the hell?” he said, sitting up. The trumpet call was coming from Chartun. Human in form. The being stood a hair taller than the fox.

His pale skin held a metallic shine, matching his gold eyes. long bronze hair hung about his head. The stubble across his jaw looked like raw iron. In front of him was a wheelchair, with real wheels. The trumpet sound, cut off before he spoke.

“Alright Kits and Cats” he sang, “We need to power down the med bay and service it.” Rolling the chair next to the feline’s bed side. The fox stood up rubbing the light from them. “Also, you two stink, go shower.” The metal human said to the fox.

Cornelius reached for Delta’s armor piece, when it zipped into Chartun’s hand. “Nope that belongs to the Malcaster” Chartun said, Novabell was quiet, awake but quiet. “Did you not hear me laddie?” Chartun said, as an unseen force pushed the fox out of the room.

Heartnea’s image flew next to the fox. “This way to the shower.” it said, leading him. Before the fox entered the shower room, he saw what looked like a number of robotic beasts fighting over pieces of Novebell’s armor.

“They’re working” the bird said “please cornelius go bathe.” After a long shower and fresh clean clothes, the fox found the small mess hall. “The hero lives,” the dark skinned human said. Jonathan stood a head shy of two meters.

His whole right arm was gone. On the stump of his arm was a tattoo of vines and leaves. and resting on the side of his neck was a small green snake head. He was cooking with the help of the small green bird.

Wisp was a green feathered swallow. She was a head and a half shorter than the fox. She had just at the base of her neck, cutting into her throat was a small black box. The sounds and smells did nothing but enrage the flashes the fox had been seeing.

“You two casters as well,” he asked. “Melody, doesn’t like to talk about it.” the man said, “And no, I’m not a caster.” “Then who was moving all that stone and rock around?” the fox asked. “That would be Tira here,” Jonathan answered, “Tiraroot, she’s an earth spirit.”

“So, magic snake?” the fox asked. Jonathan nodded. “Fun,” the fox added, “Any coffee?” “Yes, sir,” the man answered. The little bird came around the counter with some of the true magic brew. Cornelius drank it thoughtlessly.

The coffee burned his making him yelp. the small bird dropped to the floor backing away from the fox. She covered her head with her arm fanning out her wing to break line of sight. “Cornelius,” Jonathan said, “Be still.”

The fox froze in place. “It’s fine, the coffee was just hot,” he said. After a minute the swallow closed her wing looking around. She was shaking. Cornelius felt his heart sink. “It’s ok,” He said, keeping his voice low and soft, “it’s ok.”

He held his hands out palms up and open, and where she could see them. He moved slowly, staying low. “May I help you?” he asked. The swallow blinked a few times, and flitched once when the fox was close to her.

After a few seconds she took the fox’s hand as he helped her to her feet. The swallow mouthed something akin to “I’m sorry you had to see that.” “Yeah, I’m sorry I scared you,” the fox answered. She gave him a beaky smile.

“Hands off my girl,” Jonathan said. Cornelius pulled away. “Sorry, just trying to be nice,” he said. The Swallow shot the human a look. The human laughed “I know, love.” she rolled her eyes with a soundless sigh.

The fox took it as the swallow saying “What am I going to do with you?” “Dating?” he asked. the swallow held up a hand. on one of her taloned fingers was a small gold band. “Married, got it” he said.

“Sit, eat” the big man said, setting a plate of food on the table. Cornelius ate two full plates of food. before sitting back with a loud blech. “Feel better?” Jonathan asked. Melody playful patted her stomach as remark to the fox’s state.

“Love don’t tease the poor guy,” Jonathan said “he hasn’t had a good home cooked meal in years.” “I don’t mean to be rude,” the fox asked. “Oh, about the arm?” Jonathan asked. the fox nodded. “Grandpa’s tracker took a bite out of me as a kid.” the man answered.

“Everyone come to the main deck,” Chartun’s voice said over the intercom “Now please.” “Wonder what he wants?” Jonathan said, heading for the door. The swallow shrugged, following after. The fox sat there with an off hand thought.

“That means you too, laddie,” the voice rang in the fox’s ear as if spoken to from behind him. “Dear gods,” he said, falling from the chair. After a second he got up and followed the others. Novabell sat in the wheelchair, looking at the floor.

They each stood outside a ring drawn on the floor. Chartun sat on a crate, kicking his feet. “About time,” he said. Fey’s image formed on the fox’s shoulder. “What’s going on?” he asked. “A ceremony” Chartun answered.

“Ceremony?” he asked. “Your power is still sealed away. Delta is without his master. And this ceremony will get you up to speed in no time.” the metal human said. the little green ferret lept from her seat into the ring.

“It is time Master,” she said, “there is nothing more I can do for you.” “What are you talking about Fey?” Cornelius asked, stepping into the ring kneeling before the ferret. “What she is saying, Cornelius” a woman’s voice said as the image of a tall vixen coated in green light stepped into sight.

“Is It is time for you to find your own path,” the vixen said, “I wanted to keep you from the same fate as your father, his father and so on. But the galaxy needs the Malcaster. And you, my son, must make the choice.”

“Mom?” he asked, “What did you do to Fey?” The fox looked past the vixen to the pale metallic human still sitting on a crate. “No, Cornelius, I am the last ghost of your mother. meant to answer The Delta codex when it came to find you.”

The image rested a hand on the fox’s cheek. “To break the seal,” she said, “three things must be done. First, you must know the danger magic imposes to the world.” “In saving her life,” Chartun said “You relieved her life as she did your’s.”

“Second, you must be willing to risk everything you are for those around you,” she continued. “Three times you almost got yourself killed saving this lot,” Chartun said. “And finally,” the vixen said, pausing to look down at the ferret.

The ferret nodded once. “You must offer, My codex to the Delta codex to awaken it under your command,” she said, “But this choice must be your’s to make. Not even the Caretaker can force your hand.” “True,” Chartun said, “I can’t force you to do anything. I can only ask.”

“Just know,” the vixen said, her image fading slowly, “I still love you and accept your answer.” “Mom,” the fox said, a few tears forming in his eyes. “Master,” the ferret said, “please know, I want to join my love, and add to his knowledge.”

There was a long pause. Till the Caretaker stood, with a few steps stepped into the ring before the fox. “You planned this didn’t you” the fox asked. “Even if I did, there are things I can not control,” the Caretaker said, “It wasn’t my command that your father be the one to hunt you down.”

Cornelius looked away. “It was your choice to cast a spell to save your coworkers.” Chartun added “Your choice to draw the mages off this lot. That vixen’s choice to help you. Also I forgot about the damn badge.”

“The point.” he said “I had only given you options. You made the choices that lead you here.” Cornelius thought. “And if you say no,” Chartun said, “I will find another to take it. You are not the chosen one. YOU are the one with a choice.”

“My Dad left a message for me with Delta,” he said. The Caretaker took the small piece of armor from his robes. “Delta,” he said. In the same breath the metal wolf stood before the fox, its purple eyes glowing softly.

the beast sat and lowered its head. again the image of a lean fox stood before him casting the same purple light. “Thank you Delta,” the fox said. The flash of the fox’s eye and voice hit Cornelius hard. “Dad,” he said.

“Hello Cornelius,” the Fox said “You have grown. I know, I’ve been gone for too long.” like a child, Cornelius reached out to touch the image. Only to have his hand pass through it. “David,” Jonathan said quietly.

“Yes, Jonathan,” the fox said, “I’m a ghost left with Delta should he find my son.” “Dad,” Cornelius said, pulling himself to his feet. “Cornelius, I know you have thousands of questions for me,” the fox said “Just know, I can’t answer them.”

“Then just one,” Cornelius said, “Why did you do it?” “Because it was the right thing to do,” the fox answered. Cornelius’ mind raced with questions. The image of the fox moved to kneel before the feline. “I know, this hasn’t been easy on you,” he said “But you have my thanks.”

Novabell looked past the image to the younger fox. “If you don’t want him to take up the codex just say so” the image said. She looked away from both of them. “I don’t want my fate to be his,” the image said, “So please say your peace.”

She sighed, “monster.” “You say that, but once you were free of their control,” the image said “How many did you save?” “Not enough,” she answered. “I understand,” the image said, raising and returning to the younger fox.

“I won’t tell you to follow in my footsteps,” the image said, “or to cast this all away. just that you should follow your heart and do what you think is right.” Cornelius looked at each of them. He closed his eyes. He took a long slow breath.

“Right, wrong, or I might just be stupid,” the young fox said, “How do we do this?” The feline’s eye turned to the fox. Flames of emotions raged within her. as did the flashes of his life. a lost child, caring more for those around him.

The blackened scar he burned into himself for others. Him risking himself for her. His hands, now bloody from touching her’s. His hand being the first living thing to touch her in years. “Remember the monster,” she said “And how it will always touch what you do.”

“Before we do anything else,” the Caretaker said, “know this, Laddie. Delta will serve you, but the day you misuse him he will kill you.” the fox nodded. “Alright, places everyone,” Chartun said, waving the others to the far side of the ring.

The form of Delta and the Image of David remained. The Caretaker opened his wings. The wings were large coated in plates of burning silver feathers. His dark robes color the night sky. The beasts they had seen about the ship adorn themselves across him like armor and weapons.

As an eclipse the human form stood a force of nature given shape. The armor piece flew to the image of David who held it in his hand. David turned to Delta. “Normally, Delta would only copy another codex into itself,” David said.

“But Mom made it so it would cost more,” Cornelius added. “I am happy to get to join with Delta,” Fey said, still sitting in front of the metal wolf. “Delta, the oath,” the Caretaker said. “Cornelius Malacard speak these words with your heart and only in truth.” The metal beast said.

Cornelius nodded. Delta recited the oath. As Cornelius said the oath the image of his father mouthed the words in time. “I, Cornelius Malacard, swear by this oath.” he said, facing the beast, “That I will not willingly bring any innocent to harm.”

“That I will have mercy for my enemies. That I will give aid to those I can.” he said, he felt the scar on his chest starting to burn. “That I will give all that I can to save friend and foe alike.” he paused holding his chest.

That burning feeling grew across his whole chest. The fox felt like he was boiling in his own skin. “Finish it,” the Caretaker commanded. “I swear this oath with my last breath.” he said, gasping, “I swear the oath of the Malcater and the Delta codex.”

Cornelius’ knees caved, he fell to the floor clutching his chest. The pain and burning choked the breath from him. “Present the offering” the Caretaker commanded. “Please Master,” the little ferret asked, “Please finish it.”

The fox’s head spun as he tried to force himself to his feet. He pulled Fey’s band from his wrist. “Repeat after me” the image of his father said. Cornelius focused on his father’s voice. “I offer my mother’s codex, her knowledge and power, to the Delta codex,” he said, holding out the band.

The green gemstone dimmed as the image of the ferret became more detailed. The image of the vixen stepped next to the image of the fox, putting her hand on his arm. “I understand my love,” Fey said, “we will get to be together, and that is more than I ever could wish for.”

Delta the metal wolf raised its head, opening its jaw. The little ferret jumped up to meet the jaws. The jaws snapped closed and the ferret was gone. Cornelius watched as the images of his parents faded. The fox dropped the band as his eyes turned to the beast.

The soft purple light the wolf gave off went dark. Its growl was a metallic grinding. he turned to run as the beast lept at him. He had only enough time to turn his back to the beast. As the beast lept its form opened.

The hollow cavity of the beast enclosed the fox. Filling and shaping itself to his form. Cornelius opened his eyes, seeing nothing but darkness. “Hello,” he thought to call. “Hello Cornelius, Sir.” a voice spoke. It was not as deep as the voice of the metal wolf But held the same tone.

“I am the Delta codex,” it said, “please return to breathing.” The fox took a deep breath. “Once you are ready,” it said, “we will begin your training.” The fox took another deep breath. “This is going to hurt,” he thought.

“Yes Sir,” Delta said, “We do not have the time for you to ease into such training.” “Alright,” he said, “let’s get this over with.” “Biological development training system beginning now.” Delta said. The burning feeling he felt a few minutes ago came back ten fold.

Cornelius wanted to scream but couldn’t. He could even move from where he was. It felt as though every bone, mussel, tendent, ligament, joint, blood vessel, and nerve were on fire. After what felt like hours the pain was gone. Leaving a soreness as if the fox had trained for every sport possible.

“Biological development training system complete.” Delta said, “Please try to relax.” “What just happened” Cornelius thought. “Your biological system was not ready to handle magical, tactical, and combat training” Delta answered.

“Great, I’m an athlete now,” he said, thinking he was rolling his eyes. “Yes Sir,” Delta answered, “I also increased your development in other traits, for better recreational uses.” “Wait,” he thought, “I don’t want to know.”

“However the scarring from miss using mana exactors could not be reversed.” Delta answered, “when you are ready, we will begin the next training system.” “And that would be?” he asked. “Magical development training.” Delta answered.

After what felt like days, Cornelius blinked seeing a lens screen in front of his eyes. a number of systems showed and would slide around keeping his main view clear. He was looking at the warlocks, their eyes fixed on him.

“Sir,” Delta said, “your training is complete. So I have developed your suit to fit your fighting and casting styles. Additional training systems are ready should you choose to take up weapons or other trades.” “Additional trades?” he asked.

“Your father trained as a medic. His father trained a crafting skill. Your great grandmother trained in tailoring.” Delta answered. “Ok. Ok, I get the point.” Cornelius said, “Is there anything else I need to do right now?”

“No Sir,” Delta answered, “Your suit will change to fit your needs when you summon it.” “Then can I get out of this thing already?” he asked. “There is one last request I have” Delta asked “Are there changes to my Identity you wish to make?”

“What? Like a name change or something?” he asked. “No, my name cannot be changed without deleting the codex as a whole.” Delta answered. “Is there anything you want to change?” he asked. There was a long pause.

Chapter 8

Watching the fox being enclosed in the metal wolf was unsettling. But remaining still for a full five minutes was more nerve racking. “Is he dead?” the young Aviatile asked. The form moved and shifted icy blue light filled the trim work. The same icy blue light burned where the blank eyes were.

“Finally,” the Caretaker said, withdrawing his wings. Cornelius moved, turning to face the winged human. “Sexy,” the Caretaker said, “Did you pick the “X” mark or did he?” The fox looked over himself.

A mirror opened up as he looked. Even with how tight the armor was to him, he almost couldn’t feel it. Across his chest right over his scar was a mark matching it. Even in the same silver coloring. “Now don’t play with it too much,” the winged human said, “you might go blind.”

“Delta,” the fox said. Within seconds the armor opened and unfold and refold back into the wolf. It was now taller and leaner, still wearing the same icy blue. “Cute, your eyes match” Chartun said his wings folding back into his form.

Cornelius looked down to his feet. There on the floor a step away from him was fey’s band and gemstone. He reached down and picked up what was left of his oldest friend. “Sir,” Delta’s thought entered the fox’s mind, “Fey made a choice, and everything she was is now part of me.”

“Still,” he let his thoughts fill their link, “She wouldn’t be the same fey I knew.” “I understand Sir,” the wolf answered. “Um,” he said, “Chartun?” “Yes,” Chartun answered, drawing the word into a playful hiss.

“Could you tell me,” Cornelius asked. The metallic human took the band gently, waiting for the fox to release it. “The sprite is still there,” he said, “but there is nothing left of who she was.” Cornelius released the band, tears flooding his eyes.

The metallic human rested a hand on the fox’s shoulder. “She is gone,” he said, “but never forget her.” Cornelius nodded. “Nebs, Rift, Drake, Nagaga, Hearthnea, Tooltun, and Marks, status reports,” Chartun said, letting the fox grieve.

Each of the beasts answered in turn. as they answered, Chartun left for the control deck. The other warlocks followed. After a few minutes Cornelius got hold of himself. When he turned, Novabell was still sitting there.

She wasn’t really looking at anything. The fox walked over to her, releasing the breaks. The feline touched his hand. “I’m sorry” she said, “I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.” “It wasn’t your choice to do those things” he said, taking her hand.

“It’s still my fault,” she said, “you had to go through all of this.” “Now who’s quoting bad movies,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze. She looked at him dumbfounded. “You know the whole sins of the old soldier and the whole works,” he added, waving his other hand.

“Delta said the copy of our memories will fade into a dream,” he said, “you won’t forget them, over all. But they won’t be so sharp in your mind after a few days.” “So, I get to keep a bad dream,” she said “And you get to live with a nightmare.”

“Well we both do,” he said, “and I was warned that such a bond can affect how we think.” “Warned about how we think?” she asked. “Yeah,” he answered, “like, what did you think of me a few days ago?” “You were being a stubborn child,” she answered.

“And what do you think of me right now?” he asked. She paused to think. “Yeah,” he said, “I’m seeing the same thing.” “I can’t say it’s solely just that,” she said, “it had been so long.” He blinked. “I hadn’t felt the touch of another person in so long,” she said, more tears flooded her eye.

“As I lay dying on that table, I felt you holding my hand.” she said, “I had nothing else to hold onto.” “I know,” he said, tapping the side of his head. She paused looking away from the fox. “It’s a mess,” he said, “I know. I don’t like it either.”

“How come you’re taking it so well?” she said. “Stuck inside my own head with Delta for what felt like days or even weeks,” he answered, “It kinda faded.” “That doesn’t help,” she spat. “I don’t know what to tell you,” he said.

“Then just tell me something,” she spat, “That you hate me or I’m ugly, a monster or anything.” “After what you have gone through,” he said, “it will take a long time for you to heal.” She wanted to swing at him but he was too far.

She unchipped the belt of the chair. then with everything she had she threw herself at him. The fox didn’t move. As the chair rolled out from under her and she flopped onto the floor like a fish. The stumps of her legs kicked uselessly.

Cornelius reached out to help her. She hissed, curling up. “Don’t touch me.” The fox rested his hand on her arm. “After so long of being that thing,” she cried softly, “and the first piece of comforter I get, you tell me isn’t real.”

“I’m only telling you what I’ve been told,” he said, “and if it is real.” He paused. He picked her up. She felt so light. He could feel her heart racing. The confusion and pain in her eye. He lifted her up to his eye level.

Her eye shifted between his two. “IF it is real,” he said “I want us to be on the same page.” The feline glazed between his ice blue eyes. She wanted to scream. Claw out those eyes. To rip him apart. But what she did shocked them both.

She kissed him. Her growls of rage and pain melted into a needful pur. She pressed her body to his. Just the feeling of being held. She didn’t care anymore. What she wanted. what she needed. To be held, to be touched, kiss, anything, everything to make her feel alive.

He didn’t stop her. He didn’t fight her. Real or not. He wanted it. This passionate moment broke with a “Aww,” followed closely by a loud smack and a moan. They turned to see the otter watching them over a rail. And the Caretaker slapping the otter on the rear again.

“Harder Daddy” the otter moaned. The Caretaker just flipped the otter over the rail and let him fall to the floor below. “Oh shit” the otter stammered before landing with a bone cracking thump. “Hard enough,” the metallic human said, looking over the rail.

“A bit much,” the otter said sitting up. “Play later,” the Caretaker ordered, “We’re about to jump.” Cornelius helped get Novabell back in the chair and belted in. The three rushed up to the deck. Delta trotted up after.

“Now exiting the system” a girlish voice said. “Where’s the gate?” Aithenas asked “I thought we could only jump using a gate.” “We can’t use it anyway,” Chartun said “They would have locked them all down.”

“Boys and girls,” the otter said, “This ship doesn’t need a gate.” “Is it the same reason we haven’t been blown apart already?” Aithenas asked. “Yep,” the otter answered, “This ship has a Pulse Sonic Rift Generator.”

“Oh shit,” Cornelius said, “You know those are illegal?” “To half the galaxy, I’m a god like being,” Chartun answered, “Do you think I care about mortal law?” The fox eyed the metallic human. “Don’t look at me in that tone of voice,” he added.

“Rift opening in thirty seconds” a child’s voice spoke. “Powering down all systems,” the girl’s voice said. “There’s enough breathable air on the ship, you won’t die,” he said, “It’s not going to be off that long.”

“Save the shield for last Nebs” he said “Let them give us a push.” no sooner he spoke when the space ahead of them ripped open. something hit the ship causing it to roll into the wormhole. the systems powered back up seconds after everything stopped moving.

“Thank the gods I didn’t eat yet,” Novabell said, followed by a loud belch. Cornelius fell to his knees as his stomach emptied onto the floor. “Don’t worry,” Chartun said, “we’ll get that cleaned up.” The other all seemed fine.

They all looked at the fox on the floor. “They both undergone body reconstruction,” Chartun said “Shock it took this long to catch up with them.” “I shouldn’t have had seconds,” the fox said, rolling to his side.

“Good stay there,” the metallic human said, “we still have two more jumps to make.” “Two more?” the fox asked. “Yeah,” Chartun said, “unless you want to be stuck in a black hole?” “Nah, I’m good.” “Why the runaround?” Novabell asked.

“It will take them at least a day to find that rift, and two more throwing drones into a black hole before they find the next one.” he added, “And the last one will be gone before they even know where to look.”

“Fifteen minutes till cooldown is complete,” the child’s voice said. “Hey, old man,” Bliss said, hugging the metallic human, “We got time for a quickie.” “A quicky for you takes an hour,” Chartun answered, “and you like getting spanked too much.”

“Hey, I’m not the only one with kinks,” Bliss said, running a finger across Chartun’s chest. “Easy there Bliss,” Jonathan said, “We don’t need you opening that can of worms.” The swallow mocked an action.

“Later baby,” Jonathan said, “Don’t get him worked up right now.” The swallow rolled her eyes before giving Jonathan a peek on the cheek. “I really need to get a boyfriend,” the young avatile said. Switch answered with a wack upside her head.

The two jumps took almost an hour to finish. by the end of the second Novabell and Cornelius could hold their stomachs in place. “Alright people,” Chartun said, “We’ll be reaching our destination in four days. so rest up.”

“You go eat,” he added, pointing to the fox. The metallic human turned to the feline. “You,” he said, “we got a lot of work to do.” Cornelius turned to ask a question. “We’ll talk later, Laddie,” Chartun said, “But first she needs to be fitted.”

The fox nodded. He touched her shoulder as he left. “It’s ok, we’ll get through this,” he thought. She held his hand for a second. Her thoughts were a storm of emotions. Delta faded back to the armor piece on the fox’s arm.

The fox left. The feline looked away from the metallic human. “What he told was true,” Chartun said, “right now, what you’re feel is a mix of emotions.” She turned her eye to him. “You’re free now,” he said, “and with everything you and him have been through over the past few days.”

“You’re saying, my feelings aren’t real,” she said. “No,” he answered, “just rushed.” She looked at him. “Give it a few days,” he said, “that’s all that is being asked of you.” She looked away again. “It doesn’t mean much coming from me,” he added.

He took her cheek, drawing her eye back to him. “I know what it’s like to be in a cage for so long,” he said, “I’m still in my cage.” “How can a god be in a cage,” she said. “Later,” he said, “let’s get you on your feet.”

She looked down at the stumps of her legs. “You know what I mean,” he said. He took control of the chair, rolling it down the ramp and back to the med bay. Her armor stood just outside the med bay. She looked at it with disgust.

Cornelius sat in the little mess hall. A small bowl of soup in front of him. “Delta, could you do a video search for Joana Novabell,” he said between spoons of food. “These are all the videos I could find, Sir,” Delta answered.

Most of the list was news videos of the feline’s capture, and the fight that led up to it. But there was one. “Novebell, the Flame Enchantress, Breath of fire.” was the title. He played the video. He watched the unbroken feline perform.

Her outfit had no modesty to it, adding to every curve and clef. She moved with such grace one would think she was made of the same flames she commanded. Flames of desire made flesh. Her green eyes burned with a lustful passion.

A flash of the dream hit recalling this show. He closed the video before it consumed his mind. “I was watching that” the young avatile said, “She was beautiful.” “She still is,” the fox said, “scars and all.” “But you’ll never get to see that sex goddess in this life,” she said sitting across from the fox.

“In a way, I can,” he said, “Till I forget the dream.” “Personally I think it’s all bullshit,” she said. The fox ate his soup and just listened. “You wouldn’t know anything about my people,” she said, “but magic is our life’s blood.”

She sighed. “Was our life’s blood.” She looked at the wall behind the fox. “Ten years ago,” she continued, “there was the tribe war.” The fox nodded hearing about it. “It wasn’t a war,” she said. “Enough casters to raise an army of mages,” the fox said.

“And they called it a war to keep everyone out of the way.” she said.