Dark Magus Returns

Inside the tunnel, crystals were lodged into the side of the wall lighting up the area. The cave was wide, allowing for a large number of people as well as supplies to go through the area.

What somewhat came as a surprise was it didn't include the watch of guards or those belonging to one family or the other. Inside there were only those travelling, making it act more like a neutral zone more than anything.

The Alter group were peacefully making their way through the area, somewhat looking back at what had just happened.

"My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my throat." Tanya held her chest. "We already had a number of worries, with the weapons we were carrying and being outsiders, and I don't know if you noticed but he looked at our emblems a lot longer than the others."

"I did notice that." Marcus said, holding up the emblem himself. He had seen the real thing a few times, but to his eye he couldn't tell the difference. "Whatever the reason, whether these are real or fake, they let us through, and we aren't planning to return to the place."

"You're going to say no next time right?" Ponyo asked. "I mean, I understand why we had to agree this time, but we've kind of done our service. In the first place, I use Dark Qi, so I was always worried every time I fought."

"They should think about it a bit more. When they do these things, we have been sent away so we've done our duty, a new team can deal with the Demonic Faction if need be."

That's when Marcus turned to look at Raze who was trodding along the back, walking with Barlan, although the two of them had been silent, not saying anything.

In Raze's head he was making several plans, of how things could go once he reached the Lethal Bite Clan base, and what would happen onward from there when he was passed on from there.

"Unfortunately for you, we are just escorting you." Marcus claimed. "Who knows, maybe Himmy and the rest of your group will be called to head to the Demonic Faction, so even though you have been here, you might have to return."

"I thank you for helping me out, when the time comes, then I will deal with the situation." Raze answered politely and shortly.

He was quite pleased that his time was coming to an end with the current group. Further, the matter where they had their disagreements, Raze felt like it was only a matter of time until they found out his identity, or that he would have a clash with them, and the time wasn't right.

He hadn't gained new found strength, learned about Alter, or gained more items either.

Barlan raised his hand and clicked his fingers, when he did there was no sound heard. Raze knew what this meant immediately, he had used the silence spell and now wanted to speak to him without the others hearing.

"I wanted to talk to you about the pills that you had given me." Barlan explained. "They might have saved me back there, and saved a lot of people because of their power, but you never mentioned to me about a drawback when using them."

"I didn't?" Raze replied. He honestly wasn't expecting Barlan to be using them so soon, and if he told him the effects he just thought that maybe there would be more questions he needed to answer.

"You're quite the trouble maker aren't you. Anyway, I wanted to warn you about these pills. You see, the drawback, I don't know if you know, but most potions that are created don't have a drawback."

"They just do what is intended to do with the materials that have been used. Enough power is drawn from them, but this isn't the case when items or portions are enchanted with Dark Magic."

"We were informed of this by Enaxx. If that is the case it means the pills that you handed me are cursed pills. Now these ones aren't so much of a problem, but you never know what items will be a problem."

"If you can help it, I would avoid items that are made by the Dark Magus."

"These items are made by the Dark Magus?" Raze asked while turning his head away. He was afraid he might be making an expression that he couldn't hide. He could feel the corner of his cheeks rising a bit.

"Yeah, I mean the Alchemist Dark Magus in Pagna, with the markings and stuff, I put two and two together, and I have a suspicion that it might be the actual Dark Magus as well."

"Really!" Raze asked with his voice, and his head still pointed away, trying not to make eye contact.

"It sounds like you're holding in your laughter a bit." Barlan complained, sounding a bit annoyed. "Think about it, it's not outside the realm of possibility. Mages come here from Alterian all the time, and what if the Dark Magus came here?"

"He might be selling his cursed pills to try and make a move and take over all of Pagna, if that is the case, then I have to report this to Alter as soon as possible."

Taking in a deep breath, Raze needed to calm himself, it was hard to hear someone talking about himself when he was that person and was really right there, but the last line by Barlan he needed to avoid that.

"There is one hole in your idea though." Raze said, facing him this time. "You probably don't know this, because you came here a lot earlier than I, but just before I came here there was news, the Dark Magus is dead."

Instantly, Barlan had stopped in his footsteps and was just staring ahead. It was words that he couldn't believe. He was part of the Glory Guild. Him along with Enaxx were given the task to take out the Dark Magus.

At some point, Barlan thought he might be able to return, and in doing so he could help them take out the Dark Magus.

"You can't be serious, how did it happen, who was responsible for taking out the Dark Magus, which of the Grand Magus did it." Barlan asked.

Raze had continued to walk up ahead trying to catch up with the gorup as he gave his answer.

"It was all of the Grand Magus. It was stated that they were all there that day, to face a single target, and they had successfully defeated him together." Raze answered.

Since he hadn't heard the reports himself, and only knew that he was here and not in Alterian, he had to make something up that he thought they would report. It was the truth that all five were there, but the Grand Magus would never report the fact that Raze had killed himself.

"I see, I guess that's the only way they could take out such a foe. Regardless, I think you should still be careful of the pills and this person. It could be someone following in his footsteps who has been sent here." Barlan informed.

After finishing their conversation, they continued through the cave, and could finally see the bright light at the end of the tunnel, shining in their eyes.

"It's time." Raze said.