"Don't interfere!" shouted Whisper of Nature from the ground. He hastily made the stone shell around his knee to stabilise himself and stood up.

  "Or what? I saw the kid beat you, don't you think you can go against us in that state," said the bald man as he approached Sirius. He looked down with a nasty grin and began jeering "Look who we have here, a terrorist's henchman! Or should I say a hench-child?" he laughed at his own joke, completely ignoring Whisper of Nature's glare. "Gods saw your crimes and sent us to take care of you. No longer will you help Crimson Crusade to spread their foul demonic ways!"

  "What are you talking about?" Sirius was genuinely confused.

  "You can deny whatever you want, but the holy Silver Order will uproot your cursed organisation from this world!"

  "I am not with them. They want me dead because I was the Child of Prophecy."

  "Huh, lies again! The true child of Prophecy is in the capital, at the Holiest cathedral of Kingdom!"

  Sirius looked incredulously at the man and began giggling, "No way you all believe that. What else the Order said to you? That druids are barbarians, right?" Sirius sked with ridicule, hoping to turn Whisper of Nature's rage towards the churchman.

  "Our glorious Kingdom will bring everyone to the light of truth, however long it takes."

  "Do you know that Child of Prophecy is not a single person, but a phenomenon? Those who are talented from birth?"

  "THE Saviour has already been born, you ignorant fool. Now, pledge loyalty to Twin Gods and disclose your plans, or..." the man pulled away his sleeve, revealing the geometric tattoos around his wrist. He closed his fist and the lines glowed, materialising the iron bracelet with long claw-shaped blade. He pointed the blade at Sirius and continued, "I have different ways of persuasion."

  Sirius gulped. He tried to come up with any escape plan, but the man was too close for any route. He knew that people would arrive soon, attracted by the manastorm he caused, so he decided to drag the time, "Fine. Do you have the truth detection spell at the ready? I know Order has one in addition to the cloaking you used to hide your presence."

  The man lifted his brow in surprise and answered with the same nasty grin, "If you wish. Now, tell me about the Crimson Crusade and what it wants."

  "The Crimson Crusade has been on this World since the dawn of magic. Even hundreds of years ago, when the first mages grasped at the secret arts," Sirius began describing with grandiose, carefully observing the man's face, that was losing its smile.

  "Continue."

  "Back then people were afraid of mages, who only got the Mythos' gift. They waged wars against them, called them demons. But over time red witches, that's how they were called, became stronger. Simple man could no longer resist them, and the Empire of Man was wiped out."

  "Closer to the point," churchman nudged Sirius with a blade.

  "That's when the Crimson Crusade stopped terrorising common folk and founded a country. No you know the name of it? I am sure you do."

  "No. Say it."

  "NO, I want you to come to the conclusion yourself. They lay low and created a facade. A facade that would be much more appealing to folk. They decided to spread their Gods and gather followers under a new banner." Sirius paused. "That country exists now. They have a pope and a ruler..."

  "Lies," the churchman interrupted.

  "What, don't you recognise your own Kingdom?"

  "You are lying."

  "What does the spell tell you?"

  Stolen story; please report.

  "It can be wrong if you genuinely believe what you say. You avoided my question: What does Crimson Crusade want in this city outside the Kingdom?"

  "They are searching for me."

  Sirius' heart was pounding. He locked gazes with the bald man, not saying anything else. The churchman's face was stiff and eyes narrowed with suspicion, but he didn't act.

  "Why are they searching for you?"

  "I am an anomaly. They are afraid I will come back stronger and seed chaos."

  "You stole their art of magic diagrams."

  "I reverse-engineered it with my own skill."

  "You refused to join the Silver Order."

  "They threatened to kill me many times before that, what do you expect me to do, ask for forgiveness?"

  "You attacked the Silver Inquisitor."

  "I protected myself. Anything else on my list of crimes?"

  The man got tired from senseless back-and-forth and kicked Sirius in the side, "Shut up you runt! They are paying for your head, the intel is but a bonus."

  "That was not our deal!" shouted Whisper of Nature, but the man pointed his hand at him, causing a strong gust of wind to throw him away.

  "Silence, barbarian!" Churchman turned back to Sirius, "The Gods will judge you personally." He drew back his right arm, and prepared to stab Sirius in the throat.

  Sirius felt the Astral World pulse.

  Ethereal voice began humming from all around them, "Hmm-Hmm... Hmm-Hmm..."

  The man growled, "What is that again?" His weapon was dancing around his arm.

  The vibrations intensified, making the world shiver. The voice intensified, becoming layered and unnatural, sounding like windchimes. The words became discernable amidst the ringing:

  "*When you will grow older

  And World's tests overcome...

  Hmm-Hmm... Hmm-Hmm...*"

  Ice shield in the middle of magic diagram cracked, the loud sound reverberating in the Astral World. Man's weapon began flaking, sharp metal layers digging into his hand, as he frantically tried to pull it off. Sirius felt his restraints weaken and pulled away his arms. He forcefully tugged at man's pants, making him stumble and fall. All the sounds were quiet, replaced by the powerful song that shattered their eardrums like thunder.

  "*The mighty World Shaper

  You may become!*"

  The song ended with a bang, coming from inside the ice shield. Ice layers flew in all directions, revealing Daughter of Whisper sitting in the centre. She smiled with her eyes closed, the radiant blue light emanating from under her eyelids, as she continued to hum the song. Sirius made use of everyone's confusion and pulled at the mana in his staff, grabbing it from the air. He stood up and pinned the churchman's arm, his staff raised high in the air.

  The song ended and Daughter of Whisper stood up. She radiated happiness with all her being as she walked towards Sirius. Now that the battlefield was quiet, they heard shouts. Terrified, surprised, angry shouts, coming from the road. Sirius glanced in that direction without lowering his staff and saw people running towards them.

  Whisper of Nature sat on the ground in deep shock. He did not anticipate this outcome, and was, understandably speechless. Sirius felt his glare drill into his side, but did not pay him any attention. It's not like he will attack with all these witnesses. He valued his image more than he hated Sirius.

  People approached and began bantering over each other, trying to understand what happened. They took Sirius under his arms and pulled away from the churchman, completely ignoring Whisper of Nature and his daughter. Suddenly the crowd parted and Rain of Fire walked in. Her domineering gaze scanned the battlefield, before locking onto Sirius.

  She frowned and strictly stated, "You again. I knew you had to be banished long ago."

  Sirius scoffed and smiled, "Do I have a chance of explaining things or no?"

  "You do. But not until at least two more Elders arrive."

  "Sure-sure. Can you release me please? I think I have a broken rib or something," Sirius asked, adrenaline making him more brave in front of confused crowd. The men who held him exchanged glances and after a nod from the Elder freed Sirius' arms.

  "Banish..." muttered Whisper of Nature.

  "Oh, you are here too? Are you involved in that as well?" scoffed Rain of Fire.

  "Banishment is not enough... Death is not enough," he began getting up and walked towards Sirius.

  "Hey, stop that!" Rain of Fire shouted at Whisper of Nature, but got completely ignored, as he continued ranting.

  "You, alien soul! We gave you shelter, and you decided to uproot the very foundation of our culture!" He stood in front of Sirius and shouted at him, while pointing his finger, "You came with your corruptive ideas and decided that you can act as you wish! Everyone, listen! That outsider led my daughter astray from the Path!"

  Someone in the crowd gasped and murmur spread around people. Sirius began feeling nervous, now that not everyone was ready to protect him.

  The Whisper of Nature continued, "He used his foreign magic to force my daughter away from our family! And now, he defiled her Spirit!"

  Sirius felt the anger build towards him, and could not stay quiet, "And you forced her to train using your traditional techniques, even if it meant she would die!"

  "And you know better right!?" exclaimed Whisper of Nature.

  "You won't let your daughter carve her own Path, even if it means death?"

  "You don't know anything! You have no roots to value!"

  "And you said to Calmness of Storm that you will disown her!"

  The murmurs intensified, and people became agitated. The situation got heated and some men began rubbing their fists, when the silvery voice shattered the air, "Everyone stop!"