The pieces for the Council were all moving.

Morgana had arrived at Vlad’s base.

She knew the role she had come to play, and she was committed to fulfilling it.

She made her way to Vlad’s office.

A couple of individuals greeted her on the way.

She was a very notable person in society.

There was no need for secretary clearance.

A knock was heard at Vlad’s door.

He ordered her to come in.

He was surprised to see her.

"What brings you here, daughter?" he asked.

"You know why."

"You knew I would come."

"Merlin, he’s acting too rashly these days."

"My people and I have figured out something we can use to counter him."

"Is that so?"

"So what if I said I had a plan of my own?"

"So what if I said I didn’t want an alliance, daughter?" he asked.

He wasn’t budging.

Morgana noticed.

"We can take one of them."

"We can shut Merlin down."

"Slow him down at least," she said.

"Is this why you came here?"

"Duty?"

"I don’t think so."

"You know, I just saw your brother."

"Good fellow he is now."

"More rude than I remember, but a good fellow."

"He’s strong."

"Much stronger than you are right now."

"You know why?"

"One word."

"Merlin."

"Well, it’s really a name, but it’s also a word."

"You get what I mean."

"I don’t like to think of Merlin the same way you stuck-up people do."

"I believe Merlin is a necessary force."

"His actions push me to better myself."

"Unlike you and your people, I’m not operating from a place of fear."

"Everything I do is for the thrill of competition."

"I’ll win my play on my own terms."

"If that’s really all you came here to say, then you may leave," Vlad ended.

"You saw Lot?" she asked.

He simply nodded in response.

"Well, how was he?" she asked.

He didn’t respond.

"Speaking of Lot."

"He’s part of the reason I’m here."

"We plan to run a case by the Three Wise Men."

"We need you in attendance to possibly testify."

"Lot would also be there."

"The chances are rather high."

"I came to not only notify you but plead as well."

She spoke. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Her argument still wasn’t convincing.

Vlad was barely interested.

"Is that all?" he asked.

"Is that all?" she repeated.

"You’re not going to respond, Daddy?"

"Will you be there?" she asked.

She was clearly trying to appeal to his fatherly instincts.

It was either going to work or not.

She thought it was worth trying.

"Well, daughter..."

He paused.

"I’ve already set something in motion."

"You’re only going to disrupt a possible alliance I’ve started fostering."

"Please," she simply said.

He smiled.

Not because he was going to help.

An idea had come into his head that would inform his next action.

"Should I agree to testify..."

"Should you win..."

"I ask you again."

"Is that all you came here to say, daughter?"

She stammered in response.

"Well..."

"Well, there is something else."

"They may invoke the Code of First Combat."

"Solomon might be there."

"Could you—"

"Hahaha!"

He stopped her there.

"Solomon?"

"Don’t you have anyone on your end who can handle that chump?" he said.

’Chump?’ she thought.

"The kid’s good."

"That’s all he is," Vlad noted.

"If you want me to, I will."

"Now I ask you again."

"Is that all?" he followed up.

She just nodded.

That was all.

She had stated her purpose.

Now she needed his answer.

She needed him to cooperate.

"Well, now."

"What are you going to do for me?" he asked.

"Oh, I know."

He barely gave her room to respond.

This was deliberate.

"Should your Council members succeed with your little plan, then I demand I be the one to claim the spoils."

Morgana gave no response.

She knew what he was saying.

She understood.

She just couldn’t respond.

"You know what I’m saying, daughter."

"I’m saying you hand over whichever of the two boys comes your way."

’Elijah’s already promised Arthur we would pull through.’

’He’s already told him he would have someone to spar with,’ she thought.

Conversations were heard.

Arguments from both sides.

Mostly one.

The one with the losing argument.

Ten minutes later, an agreement was reached.

Morgana left the office.

She would make her way back to their base.

---

"I can’t believe the barrier didn’t hold up," Elijah thought.

"I’m guessing there’s at least an A-rank boss who broke through it."

He summoned his staff.

He couldn’t face the monsters right now.

They weren’t the priority.

He flew up into the sky.

He activated a restoration spell, healing the damaged part of the barrier.

Restoration spells for barriers were some of the fundamentals.

Every mage needed to know them.

He was done.

The barrier crack was now sealed.

He noticed the rift hadn’t been detected on time, so no mages could make it out there to tackle the monsters.

This was the reason the A-rank could penetrate the seal.

He descended.

Most of the civilians who could had already evacuated.

Elijah — A-Rank Mage — Magma Talent.

"Magma Talent No. 1."

"Enveloping Liquid."

He chanted.

The ground beneath the monsters liquefied in seconds.

They began burning from the legs up.

Elijah solidified the magma.

Instantly, he had already charged up a mana beam with his staff.

He released it.

The monsters couldn’t evade.

They were all stuck in place.

What remained after the attack were the feet of monsters.

Rock-hardened feet.

One was still standing.

This one had only been charred by the attack.

He sighed.

"There’s always that one," he noted.

He walked up to it.

"I’m guessing you’re the boss."

"I don’t have time for a long one, so you’ll have to forgive me."

"Magma Talent No. 999."

"Earth Core."

The ground below the boss immediately swallowed it whole.

The only thing seen afterward was a splash of magma.

The spell summoned lava from the Earth’s core to drag its target downward, where it would probably die before it even reached the lower levels, let alone the center.

Elijah cleaned his hands.

"I’ll have to wash up when I get home," he said.

"Road construction also has to be notified."

"I’ve made a mess."

He walked back into the restaurant.

Everyone had abandoned it.

His ice cream had begun melting.

It still had a little form left.

He hurried over to it.

"Ha."

"That was nice now, wasn’t it?"

He stood up and made his way home.