The Coming Darkness

Maya sighed, just wanting to leave. As much as she liked her team, being with them was a constant reminder of the danger they had been in earlier and the terrible emotions she had felt. Just being back in this world made her feel as if she couldn't trust anyone. Sorcerers, as Ling said, was probably very different too. Was it even worth going back to?

Maya stood up, her back aching from the fall. She looked around at the crowd and wondered if they would let her through. Slowly, a dangerous aura could be felt miles away. What?... It was coming for them, no, her, at top speed. Feelings, thoughts, and sights gradually made themselves known in her mind. Ryuu! He's...

Silver had landed a little while ago and stood there, simply watching the others. She eyed Ling and watched Enzo and Voltaire go off to talk. She looked to Enki, who looked worried, and back to the others again. Everyone seemed to be okay.
She sighed and continued to stand there, waiting for someone to tell her to do otherwise.

"Well...if you haven't noticed, Montesque has been popping up every now and again. If not, then you must've felt his presence, correct? Well, I gotta go away to handle a few things for a while and I may not be back. So I pulled you out to tell say my goodbyes to everyone for the time being. But, you know what became of me if I don't return after a while. Also, stay out of this one...if I do come back I'll have a bunch of info you'll want to know. But would not want to see in Ling or Joanne's hands. Well, I gotta tell Eos I'll be leaving as well...that won't be easy." He kept his hands in his pockets getting his goodbye off his chest. That was one down, another to go.

As time passed, and everyone began talking with the one now known as Ling, things weren't getting as easily worked out and explained as she hoped. Eos didn't jump to apprehension as quickly as the others did though, what she was feeling was worry. Were they in trouble?

Her hands began to fidget, feeling even more nervous when Ling addressed her. He seemed friendly, but everything he said led her to believe he held some of their fate in his hands. Her eyes began to dart around, and she backed up a bit now that the men surrounding him were being dismissed. Maybe nobody would notice if she slipped away...

"Going away..?" Enzo muttered. To lose Volitaire is to lose a valuable asset. One he couldn't replace. Whatever Volitaire was about to do, it would have to be dangerous, if it risked him coming back. He nodded slowly. "A-alright." Before walking back over to the others.

JD circled his arms around his own sister when he arrived and was immediately greeted with unfamiliar faces. Truth be told he should have been used to such surprises but his nature had enforced a sort of barricade between him and his family.“E. What the hell,” JD spoke up as he glanced about- still holding his sisters’ hand betwixt his own.

Ling noticed Sasha started to interrogate him like a private eye detective in noir film. "Feisty aren't you Miss Vetochkn or would you like it if I call you Sasha. Either way I guess I can at least explain to one of you. If you want to tell this to Enzo after his talk with Voltaire then you can do so. He'll still learn about it when he meets with Headmaster. It's been one whole month since Enzo and Team Valor have disappeared from the face of the Earth. Where ever you gone, it was sure a long vacation time. In that span of time, Sorcerers went through some changes here and there to accommodate the new reformation plan passed by the Magic Council. Sorcerers is now something of an experiment for those old folks in higher ups. What you see around you, the student with weapons. That Sasha, is Sorcerers." One of the squad members walked over to Ling. "Sir, we got cars ready to take them to Sorcerers." Ling turned back to Sasha. "If you can be a dear, once Enzo finishes his talk, tell everyone to get into the two black cars over there. They will take you back to Sorcerers. Also Enzo is to get into that on over there. Master Boone is waiting for him. I have to settle this mess with the portal and all. This one was not the first to appear in the last couple of days."

As Ling relayed the details of Sorcerers back to her, Sasha's eyes grew wider and wider.

What the hell?! One month?!

Sasha wasn't even part of their team thing; she had simply gotten invited to the fake prom with Enzo.

His remark at the students with weapons scared her more, and instantly, the droplets around her evaporated.

Sasha listened to the rest of the man's calm yet eerie speech, her shock turning into anger instead, " How the hell can so much change in a month?" she yelled angrily, the drops beginning to form again.

Maya noticed Silver standing boredly by herself, and decided to bring up a conversation. "Something bad has happened over the month we've been gone," she said to Silver. Maya looked around at the dispersing crowd, who weren't going away fast enough, in her opinion. "Also, remember Ryuu? The dragon you named?" She looked around anxiously. "I can sense him a few miles away, and I think he's dangerous now."

She heard Sasha's loud remark and turned her head. "We've been gone a month?"

He exhaled and watched Enzo walk back to the others. He saw JD around Eos and wasn't sure if now was a good time to pester them. He hung his head and slipped away, going back to meet his Stepbrother and prepare.

One lazy time skip later~

Volitaire had made inside the bunker, but Artizle wasn't found nearby. He peered through the windows of the training halls and barracks. Discouraged to see he wasn't around, he had one last option. The Mess Hall. He opened the large double doors and saw Artizle eating a pretty large meal. "Oi! Volitaire!" He said with his mouth full and waved at him to come over to the table. Volitaire walked over and took his seat across from him. Artizle pointed at the food, but Volitaire shook his head. "So I heard you were in the afterlife for a day. A lot has happened down here buddy." "Montesque?" "Yes. He kept me up to speed while you were away. So you need some rest, hmm? I do have some manna tonic stowed away that you can use. Help speed up the process. Have you feeling better by tomorrow. 100%, I promise." "Thanks...I waited long enough for this, and it's about time I start. But what if I don't come back?" "Voli. The only thing hindering you is this Virus. You're plenty skilled, but you have a major weakness, and that weakness is yourself. Venciersio is poweful, but he doesn't know of yours. I also understand you had a hard time up in Gaze. You need to really show what you've got under that mess of hair. Make him feel what you've felt all these years." Volitarie nodded. "I'm sad you can't join me. With him knowing who you are, it would sort of ruin this whole plan." "You want this to be your battle. I understand that. But I will be there when things get too hectic. I won't leave you alone on this."

It was obvious to Silver that something had happened, and she nodded as Maya was talking to her. When she brought up Ryuu, Silver felt a kind of warm feeling inside over the fact that she had gone with the name she suggested so long ago. He was dangerous? That sweet little dragon? "Don't you have some sort of control over him though?.." That was what Silver thought, though she could be totally wrong.

Silver noticed Voltaire looked uneasy as he was talking to Enzo, and Enzo also looked disappointed after they had finished talking. She held up her finger to Maya, gesturing that she would be a moment, though it seemed she had gotten distracted by someone else's comment, and she strolled over to Enzo and elbowed him lightly. "What was that about?"

After a moment of silence, Sasha's glare became more fiercer, "You can go tell everyone else what to do," she spat, " I'm not going to do your work for you." And with that, Sasha held the glare, her separate colored eyes attempting to peer into those closed eyes of Ling.

"Oh.. Volitaire's leaving.. again." He said, disappointed. He looked back and realized he was gone. "It's really not something we should get into."

"Leaving? Like hell I'm not getting into that." He couldn't leave yet. She sighed. Enzo was disappointed, and she could see it on his face. Hesitantly, she put her hand on his shoulder. "He'll come back, don't worry." She looked back to where he was before, only to see that he was already gone. Silver huffed and crossed her arms.

Ling let out a chuckle at Sasha fit of rage. "Well if you say so." Ling walked over to Enzo after his talk with Voltaire. "Are you ready to leave. the cars are waiting to take you back to Sorcerers?"

Enzo turned to Ling, and nodded. "Beats walking." He said. Kenji hopped onto his shoulder, and they both went into the black colored vehicle. Enki and Red got into another one quietly, while Kyoya just.. left.

Why was Ling so calm? Sasha would never understand men like him, nor would she try. She didn't get into a car either; she just stood there, arms crossed, drops hovering.

Sasha knew her way around town okay; so she decided to go by foot. While walking, Sasha noticed many things. People stared at her, pointed. Whispers of, "Is she from Sorcerers?" echoed across the streets, to which Sasha responded to with a harsh glare.

She continued walking, hands shoved in her pockets, passing the restaurant where she had first met Enzo and the others. It looked different now; more run down.

Ling got into the passenger seat of Enzo's car. "So what were you doing for a month Enzo? You had everyone worried." Ling did not bother looking back, just directing the driver the best direction to the academy. "Aleister and Boone had to do a lot of string pulling in order to get you off the hook. We told them you were gone on a secret mission under Boone's order. He took it hard from the Magic Council. You know they're still wary about your existence Enzo." He looked at the mirror to look at the three sitting together. "We've arrived." There were already students outside of the school gates opening the car door for all of them. The building exterior barely changed but everyone inside was a heck lot different. An oppressive aura was emanating from the students. Students were in newer military-like uniform. Groups were walking the halls in many various fashion, some militant, other punk-like, other were skittering around like scared mouses. Whispers and gossip were now spreading as they saw Enzo walk down the hallways of the academy. As they turned the corner, there was a blatant display of bullying happening in the eyes of the group. Three guys surrounding one frail looking boy. "So I heard you ranked low in the aptitude test. We don't need weaklings like you." "But you know, if you pay us a hefty sums, we can teach you some ways to better yourself. Hey maybe you might even join out ranks too." Ling walked passed the group of harassers. "Don't mind them. This is not a rare sight in Sorcerers."

Silver exhaled slowly as she watched everyone leave. Where was she to go now? She glanced around, and decided to walk back to school to see what was different. She took a slightly different route than Sasha, going through a forested area instead of walking through the streets. It was sort of a shortcut for her, and she'd rather not deal with others right now, anyways.
She had come here a few times while they were at the school, just to think about things. It was a calming environment for her, and before she knew it she was through it and arrived at the school. She saw the cars that the others arrived in, and wondered where they had gone. When she looked to the school, she felt an uneasy feeling inside, knowing it was much different than before.

Sasha stated at the restaurant one last time, then continued on, finally reaching the school. Sasha hadn't been there too long, but since Enzo and his group's reputation had spread, Sasha's had as well. She heard males whispering, "That's the Russian Tiger, she's less threatening than I thought she would be. "

The Russian Tiger had been her infamous nickname back at home; after people had found out about the incident with her brother. Someone here must have gotten hold of that information, and spread it around Sorcerers after figuring out that she was part of the group that got sent into The Gaze.

"I heard she's very feisty, but she seems like an ordinary girl," someone commented. Sasha whirled around to meet the eyes of the person who had spoken; another male. She glared at him, as if to say, 'Wanna find out?'

The male immediately backed away, and Sadha continued onwards.

Enzo had never felt so alienated in Sorcerers before. It felt completely different. Like it all went to hell and back. He watched in horror as the student was bullied. He wanted to help, he really did, but fights weren't permitted in the school. Instead, he continued to follow Ling. "I'm guessing that's not the only thing that changed." He said, looking at him.

Ling lead him to the headmaster's office as it opened up only to reveal Aleister sitting in place of Boone. "It is so good to see you gain Mr. Ferrari." His white gleaning suit still shining without a single dirt mark on the perfect white surface. "Come sit we have much to discuss." Ling stood by the doors and closed it behind him. "Now Enzo, tell me. Where have you been in the past weeks? Both Ivan and I searched very hard for you and your group after the incident." Aleister got out of his chair to open up the windows, using the natural light to illuminate the room and getting some fresh air into the office.

Enzo, still bearing the cast and ripped clothes from the Gaze, sat down at the chair that was infront of the desk. He listened to what Aleister had to say. I'm not sure if telling them about the Gaze is a good thing... He looked down. "I didn't really understand where I was myself." He looked back up to him. "It's hard to explain." He clenched his fist, feeling both his glove ring and his Sky ring.

Aleister just let out a deep sigh. "Well, we do not need much probing into that matter. As long as you are safe back in Whiterun, the Magic Council will get off of Ivan's back. Your disappearance spurred up a lot of problem here at Sorcerers. The Magic Council were worried that we let you run free. Fearing that you would lose control like what happen at Battle Royale. Of course Ivan pushed hard on protecting your image with. I helped along. But with the constanct pressure on Ivan, they put me in charge of Sorcerers. That is why I have became headmaster once again and made Boone step down. Pity, he would have done a good job implicating the new reform on the school. As you can see, Sorcerers have gone through many changes. New uniform, curfew instated, new classes and disciplinary practices. That was just only the few example of change magic schools went through." Aleister walked over to Enzo and sat across from him. "You see Enzo, in order to ensure that we can be more disciplined to the mortal's eyes. We placed in a disciplinary committee to uphold a 'just' school system. It worked out really well. We see good results from the students, the Magic Council are happy, and the rest of society believe that our students are well mannered. However, the problem still remains and that is your reputation, everyone still holds a very bad view on you. So now that you have come back, we can start on our mentorship."

Enzo was brought back to life at his last sentence. "Mentorship? But.. Kenji is my mentor." Enzo didn't want to switch. Even though Kenji wasn't a member of the school in any way, he still trained with Enzo. The thought of being mentored by someone else made him feel bad, made him feel as if he'd abandon his longest friendship.

Enzo sighed. "Who will be my mentor?" He asked the man.

"I will. That is what I have told the Magic Council since day 1. I did say that we should get along when we first met. You see, I have mentored a lot of people in the past. Ivan was just one of them until he became headmaster of this academy until of late. You will be guided under my wing and who knows, maybe you might be the next headmaster of Sorcerers in the future." Aleister walked over to grab onto a package. "We know that Kenji have been the one training you from the start, but we believe that under my guidance I can train you into someone very superior. However this is all your decision." He handed Enzo the package. "Inside this package will be a special uniform only for you, an upgraded glove specify for your skills, a badge of authorization, and every books you need for my teachings. Hold onto that. If you feel like joining me in my studies then you may seek me out anytime. I'll be here waiting for your answer." Aleister gave him a calming smile. "Now Ivan would like to see you in his office. It would be a good idea to check up with him. He have been the most worried out of everyone for your well being." Ling opened the door for Enzo. "You know Enzo, it would be great if you could work with us. We can spend our happy school year together."

JD had piled into the car with Eos, and he was a bit dumbstruck to learn that they had been gone a month. Something informed him in the back of his mind that he shouldn’t have been so surprised by such things- they had been in an entirely different dimension altogether. Those lips were pressed into a thin line the entire ride back, and he leaned into Eos a bit and informed her that they needed to talk privately when they got a chance.

When they reached the school- JD was a bit confused. Honestly this place didn’t seem like the Sorcerers they left. “Why hello Nazi regime- good thing I sprechen sie Deutch.” JD grumbled under his breath as his lips curled at the new uniforms. “Ugly little bastards those are. E is going to look frumpy, and I’m going to look too well manicured.”

Everyone dispersed shortly afterwards, and the new chap (well new to JD) ferried Enzo away for a chat. He was happy that the others had made it out in one piece, and didn’t feel the slightest twinge of remorse for leaving without them. This branched from the assurance that they could take care of themselves, and babying the lot of them would only end up in stiff glances. JD didn’t like to be told he was weak when he was probably the strongest member in their group- physically anyway. Silver eyes glanced about as he made his way rather cautiously back to his room to get changed- he had been wearing the same outfit for the past few days- err month.
He needed to get properly dressed, and by properly he meant not in school uniform. If anyone asked him about it- he would just plead innocence- he was the new student and more so he hadn’t been around in quite some time. Though truth be told there was nothing innocent about him except maybe his eyes- they were a bit clearer than they should have been for someone who spoke so many half-truths.

On the way out, Enzo looked away from Ling, but replied "Yeah.." before he left out for Boone's office. The place felt more like a military base then a school. Was it the effect of Boone standing down? Enzo walked into his office, passing by the door with the word Principle on it. Boone was again staring out of the window.


"Ah, Enzo.." He said, he had somehow known it was him, without looking back. The time I felt your presence was back when the fake Prom Night happened." Again, Enzo had forgotten for a moment that it had been an entire month since then. "Yeah, that.." Enzo replied, still feeling alienated. "I take it the.. headmaster told you everything you needed to know?" "Y-yes." "I also know that you didn't tell him about where you went, correct?" Enzo stayed silent. At this point, he didn't know who to trust, as everyone seemed shady. Even Ling.


Boone turned around to face him. "Understandable. The world of magic now is mysterious.. I don't expect you to tell anyone right away, though the more we know, the better." Enzo, still silent, looked down, remembering the troubled, panicked faces of what was once peaceful souls living in harmony, until they came. "I won't trouble you any longer, I'm sure wherever you were, it was tough. You may leave." Enzo turned around and quickly left the office, and then, the school. He made his way over to the dorms.

After a while, Sasha had grown bored and tired of intimidating other students. She slowly made her way back towards the dorm area, and spotted Enzo. Before she knew it, Sasha found herself walking towards him, and heard her lips utter out his name, " Enzo. H-hey," she said, hoping that she didn't conjure up that awkward atmosphere like when she went to bring him tea.

Sasha put her arm behind her head, not really sure what to say at the moment without making herself sound scary. Wait. She wanted to be scary. Why was she trying not to be?! Sasha inwardly groaned; this was all so confusing.

Enzo hadn't heard her the first time, but once she got close, Enzo nearly choked on his own words. Uhh, Sasha! H-Hi!" He tried to hide his depressing mood from her, and act as if things were still light-hearted. "What are you doing out here?" Ugh, that's a stupid question, these are school grounds, and she's a student..