"There’s a reason I ask this question," Varkos said, his voice calm but steady, eyes fixed on Raze. "From what we know, you and your people are not from this world. For a mont, let’s say I believe that you are indeed the Dark Magus. That being the case, then the creation of the Dark Guild must have taken place while you were absent from Alterian. Unless..." He paused, letting the thought linger. "Unless you always had the ability to travel freely between worlds.
"Regardless of which it is, I’ve heard troubling things about the Dark Guild. Stories of cruelty, stories of bloodshed. Of course, I know that rumor and truth can easily be twisted, especially in tis like these. But there is sothing else that concerns . To practice Dark Magic, one must kill. That is a requirent of its affinity. So I must ask, is the Dark Guild truly an organization we can trust? One that we can work side by side with?"
The question lingered in the room, heavy and sharp. For many, it might have seed too personal, too direct, especially now when they were preparing to enter into a delicate alliance. Everyone assud that the Dark Magus was the true leader of the Dark Guild, and now, here was a man essentially questioning the worth of that entire force.
Raze, however, did not flinch. He t Varkos’s gaze without hesitation. "I understand your concern," he said evenly. "The Dark Guild is a creation that I set into motion. What it has beco, what it is today, exists because of . They follow my word, and many of them would follow it to the very end."
He let the words sink in before continuing. "But your worry is not misplaced. Not every practitioner of Dark Magic walks this path for the right reasons. Even I..." He paused, the air seeming to grow heavier. "Even I am not doing this for justice in the way you might hope. I am after the Grand Magus because of revenge. Nothing more. That is the truth."
His voice did not waver as he continued. "There are many in the Dark Guild who are criminals, people who had nowhere else to go. To them, following feels like rebelling against a world that has already cast them aside. There are also those who misuse my na, who twist my will to justify their own selfishness. That, too, is inevitable in an organization of this size.
"So yes, if you compare the Dark Guild to other factions, the chances of finding rotten apples among us is far higher. But tell , wouldn’t that make this the best possible use for them right now? If their strength and their hatred can be directed against the Grand Magus, then is it not better to turn their chaos into a weapon rather than let it fester uncontrolled?"
Varkos had not expected such an answer. He had expected denial, or perhaps empty reassurance. Instead, Raze laid it all bare, exposing the flaws of his own people and still presenting a compelling argunt for why they should be used. From the way he spoke, it was clear, even Raze himself understood that once his vengeance was complete, the Dark Guild might one day beco its own problem. But for now, they were a necessary piece of the ga.
"I see," Mordain said after a long silence. His arms were crossed, but his voice carried a note of reluctant acceptance. "Then it seems our situation is what it is. Since you’ve spoken honestly, I will do the sa. We don’t like this. It feels as though we are teaming up with the lesser of two evils in order to defeat one greater evil. And yet..." He drew in a slow breath. "And yet, you have our support.
"But I must make one thing clear. Our people, the ones under our command, they are not the type to look away if they see sothing they cannot condone. If they witness the Dark Guild commit an atrocity, they will not be silent. Nor will they stand idle."
Raze nodded once, his expression unreadable. He respected their stance. If such a situation arose, then they would deal with it when the ti ca. For now, what mattered was the alliance forming here, in this mont.
Between the squads of Mordain and Varkos, along with the other officers that Alen had gathered, the combined number of soldiers stood at nearly two hundred. It was not an army, but it was no small force either. With their loyalty and their training, they could overwhelm guilds, dismantle strongholds, and even serve as the distraction needed to hold back one Grand Magus while Raze and his closest allies struck at another.
Still, Raze knew the truth. Two hundred was impressive, but it was not enough to match the forces that Gizin commanded, nor those under Idore. Their enemies had roots that extended deep into Alterian, into the guilds, the corporations, and the political web itself. Even so, this force would be invaluable.
Before they departed, Raze made his preparations. He had already asked Alen for several items, things that a man of his influence and position could obtain without difficulty. Now, as he stepped outside the manor, he saw the groups lined neatly in formation beside their hovering crafts. The plan was simple. They would fly to the city first, then make use of local transport to blend in before reaching their final destination. Raze and his companions would travel in Alen’s personal magical craft.
"It is best," Raze said, his tone carrying across the courtyard, "that unless you act openly under the banner of the military, your faces remain unseen. You will know the ti when it is best to show yourselves, and when it is best to stay hidden."
As he spoke, dark energy flickered across his arms. From within the shadows of his cloak, a familiar sight erged, the Blazer masks. One by one, the blackened masks floated into the air, gliding silently toward each of Alen’s allies.
For many, it was the first ti they had ever seen Dark Magic perford so openly, so casually. Even though they had pledged themselves to this alliance, the sight sent chills racing through their veins. It was a reminder of what the Dark Magus truly was, and what kind of power he commanded.
So hesitated as the masks hovered before them. Was this a trick? Was this so form of binding magic, a trap that would turn them into thralls? Suspicion wavered in their eyes.
Alen, noticing the hesitation, reached forward without pause. He pressed the mask to his face, allowing its magic to veil his appearance. His features shifted instantly, hidden beneath the enchanted disguise. "It is safe," he said firmly.
One by one, the others followed, their doubts quelled when Mordain and Varkos each donned their masks with no hesitation. The change in their faces was imdiate. Now, every man standing there wore the sa shadowed guise, indistinguishable from one another.
"Good," Raze said at last. His voice cut through the silence, cold but commanding. "Then it is settled. We leave now. It is ti to et the Dark Guild face to face, and together, we will descend into the Underside."
****
**
For updates for MWS and future works, please follow on my social dia below.
Instagram: Jksmanga
Patreon*: jksmanga
Reviews
All reviews (0)