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“Raphael, handsome and able at your service,” smugly returned.

“Able of what?” inquired promptly.

“Able of various tasks,” said a devious remark.

“Enough babble,” the interesting conversation halted, the trio, out of the police station a few minutes ago, found themselves promenading along the altered Rotherham. The place expanded, building rose to extreme heights, the populous wore smart-casual clothes, no expense was spared on advertisement. One who was stuck in a desolate cradle, the underworld, found the mind blown on plenty o’ occasions. Flying vehicles, moving displays, holographic smartphones abled to project the screen, counting among a few things. Large sidewalk routed adjacent to the expanded roads, halted at the populated intersection. Loud chatter through their phones, laughter from casual banter, and the constant checking of time, “-master,” said she in the cacophony, “-a lot has changed in the past year. First order of business, acquire new attire. What of him?”

“Raphael,” a scattered look behind revealed one lost to the novelty of a technologically advanced realm; stood taller than the average height, the neck strained to gawk the sky, a bloated vein flowed down inside the shoulder, “-he’s a companion of mine,” returned he unimpressed, “-he’ll do just fine.” ‘I hope.’

“You said something?”

.....

“No,” the crowd shuffled forth, “-let’s go,” he grabbed her arms, which in turn she grabbed Raphael’s. Steps increased through the vexingly arranged layout of the streets. Traffic grew to be an issue. Communities settled quite a way away in hopes of taking advantage of the evolving railway – most unbound by family and relations often took residence in either the suburban part of Rotherham or moved to Castella, southwest of the city, a thirty-to-forty-five-minute train ride away. Cost of life here greatened, whilst Castella suited most normal office workers. Indirectly, Rotherham’s advancement towards Magiology and other fields, brought prospective talents to work and strive for greatness.

“Here we are,” commented Alta. An apartment complex rose before the trio – expectation to stay at the commonplace abode, stood closer to the three pillars, was replaced by an even taller complex that stood directly next to a circle-shaped mall. The circle-shaped description is one liberal and without much stock – a downward view in fact showed a circle, alas, from the ground, there laid various smaller shapes(not circular) intertwined, either an architectural marvel or the worse building to be made. A fake-hill and forestry were added to give the construction flare, and for it to stand above the rest, ‘-the jewel of Rotherham,’ said papers upon the announcement of the project. Center, the mall, diffused from modernness to nature, akin to a water droplet on tranquil water, the radius expanded until the seamless change into meadows of scrawny trees. In order to reach the complex, one had to amble through the well-tendered park. Whoever built the whole infrastructure was either a genius or a fool. Such being said, upon an extensive upward walk arrived the apartment building, rather, buildings. See, the community at first glance told of rich and elite. Four similarly shaped, rectangles were placed in four corners of a massive square plot, the paths linked at the center, a smaller plaza filled by idyllically decorated lanterns, tables, cottage-styled buildings, and a cozy atmosphere. To say the buildings were mere rectangles would be an affront for it did harbor balconies and stone bricks to accentuate the air of grandeur, “-the residential complex of the rich.”

“Really?” commented Igna, “-you say rich without tact, the whole aura screams of rich.”

“I know,” she winked, “-why hide the truth,” headlights swept against the stone-cold lamps and revved, “-see,” the visage kept a smile, “-rich people,” she said.

“Suppose it’s alright,” he shrugged and followed, the outfits weren’t much to applaud – spare white-shirts and baggy trousers stolen from the officers. Building A, B, C, D, the order descended from most expensive to least – still, even the cheapest would cost the same to a manor. Surely enough, upon reaching the square, she took a sharp left. Those in smart clothes sat with an easeful glee and enjoyed breakfast, parasols added to the cozy esthetic.

“Pardon my asking.”

“What is it?”

“Lady Alta, might I know of the relation between you and lord Igna?”

“Igna for short,” he interjected.

“Lord Igna then.

“The master and I are, let me think.’

“We’re companions, family,” he proclaimed, “-Alta here is my stewardess charged to overseer Glenda.”

“Family?” she stopped shy of a greatly wide flight of steps, “-I’m touched.”

“Don’t get melodramatic,” said a snarly comment.

“Sorry,” she grinned childishly. Building A, especially the penthouse, gave straight onto the lively cityscape and the humorously named Halo Mall. The reception was most welcoming, personally greeting Alta and a top-notch display of hospitality.

*Ding,* “-Alta, you said tis an apartment, the service and reception below feels more akin to a hotel, an expensive one at that!”

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” they stepped out the hall, “-the whole top floor is ours, do what thee may, there’s room to spare, a private pool, library, cinema, and unrestricted access to the helipad. A slide of the card gave inside a marvel of interior design.

Alta stayed a short while before leaving, her words being, “-private matters need my intervention. Under no reason are you to leave the confine of the apartment. Please understand where I’m coming from, master, we don’t want a repeat of last night.”

“Sure, sure,” they replied like children being lectured by their mother, the expansive door sealed shut. That was an hour ago, the time displayed 09:00 – Igna and the flushed-faced Raphael took to the balcony where the wind viciously blew. An automatic invisible barrier deafened the sound alongside the gust, to them, at that height, felt little more than a day at the park. Comfortable lounging seats sprawled atop a shiny wooden floor. They laid, feet kicked up, and drinks at reaching distance.

“Tell me, Lord Igna, how wealthy art thee?”

“No idea,” he shrugged and sipped, “-I earnestly have no idea. We were stuck for ten years inside the Underworld and here, a year has passed; technology advances ridiculously.”

“The city is amazing; I can barely imagine what the sight is like at night. Renting such an abode speaks of thy clout. Igna Haggard, I imagined us to live in a shack inside some densely thick forest, where food is acquired by fishing, hunting, and scavenging. The fear of monsters looms around every corner; how scarily awesome would that be?”

“A life of a hunter, live off the land and conquer the inner weakness. Sounds very good on paper, reality is, hunting isn’t rewarding nor is fishing; mother nature isn’t kind as is thought to be.”

“So pragmatic...”

“No need for sarcasm,” they sipped, “-monsters are the least of our worries. The world is riddled by schemes, humanity, and I use the term inclusive of every race, are out for each other’s throat. No one is truly there to help, they’ll plot, act, and fulfill vices. Death is anyone’s threat, life perishes, regret and malice hangs, eventually culminating into physical form,” he stopped, “-I’m ranting again.”

“No need to stop, I don’t mind listening. The city’s advancement came at the price of nameless bodies, sacrificial lambs for a greater purpose.”

“Yeah, boldly speaking, true,” a whiskey glass rose to eye level, casting a reddish-orange hue through the distorted lens, “-a year is a long time to be away, I shudder at the thought, what’s changed, who’s new, and most importantly, are we afloat or has the ship sank into the never-ending depths of ill-fortune.” The more they drank, the warmer the inside grew, a grin locked the lips in an approachable mien.

“-hence, I say, the very idea of Magiology impacting the world’s advancement to be real and without adversaire. Raphael?” a twist to refill the glass, ‘-passed out,’ he exhaled, ‘-archangel, what a joke, the man can barely hold the liquor. Matter of fact,’ one hand the glass returned to the table, the other, grasped its long fingers about the bottle’s neck, ‘-I barely feel the effects,’ mouth to mouth, the liquid guzzled, he gulped. *Click,* “-ahh,” a warm exhale led into a burp, ‘-that hit the spot.’ Shadows stood in the entrance, ‘-I heard a click, the door opened?’

“C-C-Cousin?” a desolately scarred Julius, muddied hair and oily visage, watched under much stress. Beside him was another, éclair, “-why would...”

“Sorry,” the liquor settled warmly inside, “-I don’t know.”

“Honestly,” grunted éclair, “-you two are the same,” he knelt and wiped Igna’s mouth, “-prince Julius fell into woe following the incident, the whole of Phantom shook to their core. Lady Elvira fought tediously to keep the forces afloat and I did my best to keep us advancing. Apexi suffered much torment, the agency can barely turn a profit; who would have thought the disappearance of two people, lady Courtney and master Igna, to bring such woe and despair. Master, I arrived the moment we heard the news. Asmodeus, Kul, Midne, Starix, and Mammon are trapped in Odgawoan due to the plague, they sent their best regard,” a leather briefcase rose to the table, “-I’ve brought supplies. Master, take a shower, a suit’s been readied.”

“Forget about that,” he leaped into the butler’s arms, “-I’ve missed you, éclair.”

“Master?” the sudden shower of affection warmed the heart, “-I did too,” said he softly, “-welcome home.”

“It’s good to be back,” the lostness rekindled into motivation, “-cousin,” he wrapped about Julius’s unbefitting status, “-you stink of sweat and alcohol. Mother’s back; might have been a year late, however, I’m here to celebrate thy wedding.”

“What wedding,” the chin held low, “-everything ended two months ago. She and I separated; I was too absorbed into my woe that I felt to sense her pain. She left on good reason, I-,” he dropped on the seat, “-I c-can’t a-anymore.”

“You idiot,” said Igna in jest, “-let’s freshen up,” turned to éclair, “-have some high-tier rejuvenation potions brought to the apartment. Also, I need Malley’s contact information, there’s a marriage to plan,” he confidently strolled inside, leaving the outside with warm smiles.

“What did I say, Alta, the master will always do his best for the sake of those he cares about. The trying long year has ended, Lady Courtney’s on way to a healthy recovery. Next problem is this fellow,” he sharply regarded the new face, “-I sense great strength from him, any idea?”

“Master said the man to be named Raphael, companion by the looks of things.”

“If the master approves, who are we to argue,” turned to the visibly conflicted Julius, “-my lord, lady Eira and thy lady mother have been deeply worried. They’ve said time and time again, the fault isn’t thine to bear alone. Drop the self-sympathetic act and face the music, forgive my tone, however, does such a display befit a prince. Your slump has affected the lives of many, even my master said the fault isn’t yours. Get up, have a shower, shave, dawn the suit, and smile. Despair is only effective when one has to face the pain alone – everyone knows the bond you and my master share is deeply rooted. Rise and walk for the man thee calls cousin has returned.”

“I guess it’s for the better,” he stood and sniffled, “-a warm shower might do some good,” the posture sloppily clambered inside.

*Connection established,* “-yeah, hello?”

“Lady Elvira, lord Julius, and my master will be ready shortly.”

“Good, I’m currently stuck in traffic. Have them at my office at noon, sharp, there’s much to be discussed, the situation at Elendor is about to boil over. Have the ambassadors reach out to the leaders, the Federation is calling a meeting, I want Igna to be present, schedule it for tomorrow, understand?”

“Yes my lady, it will be done.”

“Good work on handling affairs for the past year. éclair, the sister system is ready for deployment, starting today, you’re officially dismissed, return to thy master. Claire will act as an aid to the whole of the company, good luck.”

“The words are very much appreciated, good day to you, lady Elvira.” *Connection Ended.*

‘We’ll make it just in time,’ he exhaled, ‘-master, you sure like to play close to the fire.’