''Macy.''   The little girl's name was enough to surprise the four ladies. All heads turned at the sound of the wooden doors opening at their back and in stepped a girl who had her golden hair in a bun and her fierce grey eyes roamed around the room as if ready to devour anyone--a miniature of Aegis' First Lady, though with a much childish expression.   ''M-macy? Is that...''   Aura's voice trailed off. Macy looked at her from head to toe. Macy waved her hand without a smile at their direction, making everyone look at the red feather mark burned on the back of her right palm.   ''Hello, Aegis.''   Her voice was casual but it sounded like they didn't know ea

Though Leison and Nique asked everyone to keep the news low, word travelled faster than they could stop it from spreading. Leison got numerous calls congratulating him, some hollering in laughter, but mostly were happy. News of their contract was like a ray of sunshine amidst all the pressure from Hearth's presence. Not only was it a break in the air, but it was an ace card on their side. Now, the enemy couldn't just attack from all sides because wherever Nique and Leison was, they could detect each other. Leison didn't just have the power of the brains, which was already fearsome enough, but he was also known for his long-range telecommunication skills. That power of his and along with Nique's superb teleportation ability, they were the worst combination for the enemy's favourite tactics which was surprise attacks. Having such a powerful duo would no longer surprise them if ever Hearth would attack again. Leison said that it was just a theory but it worked. There were no more movem

It was chaos inside. If Raeya hadn't called for the immediate locking of the doors of the building, they would have been dead by now, assuming the outside guards were the only ones affected. No one knew how Hearth did it. They were surrounded. The controlled guards outside were making noise on the building entrances, firing guns, banging at the metal doors, and trying to electrocute and fry the security system. Ayden approached Raeya panting heavily. ''How many?'' she asked. ''Fifty of us are here. Half are able to fight and the others are just teens--young assistants.'' His voice was tight as if there was no hope left. Raeya looked outside and saw the swarm of guards. Raeya banged her fist on one of the poles of the windows. It hurt but she didn't seem to care. Hearth did it again--their very mistake that caused the war a year ago--brainwashing. If worst comes to worst, it would be twenty five versus a hundred. Hearth knew security was tight in the headquarters of the Triad

Raeya was about to dress up for the festival until she heard a familiar knock at the window glass. Raeya put down her comb and swiped the red curtains. It was already dark outside but Ryder's grinning face didn't seem to care. She sighed, opened the window latch and let Ryder in. He slid in one smooth jump and landed inside perfectly as he has been doing it a lot of times before. Raeya again closed her window immediately, making sure that no one of the busy folks outside preparing for the festival saw. ''What do you think you're doing? If they saw you there...'' Her troubled voice was silenced by his smile. She then noticed his appearance. ''You're not dressed,” she noted. ''Like you,'' he answered, as if teasing her. Raeya looked at her long dress at the bed. It was colored black with a lot of slits--too fancy for her taste and too fashionable for a seven year old. Though she knew it was an ancient clothing weaved by the talented women at their village, she just didn't feel lik

''What do you mean.. time is five times faster?'' The conjurer laughed like a witch. It was slow at first then became louder and longer gradually until she was holding her stomach like it was so funny. ''I guess you won't answer kindly,'' Ryder said, unsheathed his sword at lightning speed, and charged at her. The conjurer's eyes twitched like she was annoyed her moment of laughter was about to be disrupted. She clapped her hands in a prayer and Ryder knew she was about to chant some nasty Hearth spell. He saw it coming except for the size. The woman produced a purple ball charged with lightning and Ryder was already too near her body to back out. So he met her attack. Ryder quickly gathered for power and he glowed in a bluish green color. Ryder faced the ball of energy head on and sliced through the middle. Electricity coursed his body and when their attacks dissipated, Ryder felt his energy go down and he had to stick his sword on the ground and lean on it for support. ''Hmph.