-Magnus Carlyle (Empyrean Beaureaucrat)-
"I can't believe this!" I exclaim, my attendant reading out the report of Haienna's cleansing. "They sent out but a single mage to a village that was under our rogue actor's aegis!" What a folly it is, that they'd underestimate the Mage Breaker. Moreover, those mangy pack rats withheld information on my guild's lost top performer. Sebastian going missing on one of his usual requests was something none of us would have expected. Yet two years after the fact, we finally learn of his whereabouts, and it's in a report on a failed cleansing of an elven village. "How ironic indeed that they would dare to test Sebastian. Did they think he succumbed to the Great Order of Things?"
"That must have been the only explanation, sir. There is no one in Brook who would think so lowly of Sebastian." He takes the report back.
"Go and tell the Guild leader about Haienna's failure. It will bring a smile to her face. And have my company look into that village our Mage Breaker is residing in. I doubt he'd be held captive there."
-Wren Altous-
Magic in this world is similar to our concept of logic models on Earth. Spells have roots and are modulated by conjugations as dictated by Manaspeak. One of those conjugations tell the caster which domain the spell originates from. Tuhui-, meaning Anima, is no doubt in respect to the Winds of Tuhuaili, or the Original Actor's Gale. In Elven culture, the Winds are considered the breath of Aelus himself, the energy of motion and freedom spawning life into the world.
"How did you use wind magic to stop my flames, Wren? My fire should have been stoked rather than snuffed." Cecilia lays on her stomach, resting her chin on her crossed hands.
"It happened for the same reason that fire goes out when it is smothered."
"It was blanketed by wind?"
"No, the air was removed entirely. I used wind magic to forcibly move all air out of the space in which the flame would burn." I mime a box of space.
"But flame magic burns Mana."
"... I assume the air is still necessary for it to burn. You can't use flame magic in water, right?"
"You're right. So even with Mana as fuel, flames can't exist on their own?" She rolls on her back, jumping to her feet. "I want to try it."
"Try what exactly? You're not allowed to use magic, you know..."
"Whatever. I'll imagine it, then. Trying to make something so hot it burns the water."
"Such things already exist."
"You don't take me for an idiot, right? I mean with magic." She glares.
--
Human scouts have appeared on the outskirts of Altous. I have run into them a few times when hunting with Ren. Because we are practiced in stealth hunting, they are very surprised to see us tracking them in return. It seems that another group of humans is trying to keep tabs on Altous: Empyr, the guild that my body– Sebastian– belonged to.
When it came to Sebastian, I was originally hesitant to learn about him. Cecilia seemed to hold him in high esteem, much like on Earth, where we have our idols and celebrities. The Mage Breaker isn't just a fearsome name, it's an earned title bestowed by the Guild itself. Being adept at taking out mages as a warrior is a massive feat, one that many fighters would aspire to become. Sebastian had a ruthless efficiency to his jobs, and had a hobby of running low-level hunts, apparently. It really makes me wonder how he would have acted, what his personality was like. Now that I've learned more about who "I" used to be, I feel a small amount of pride in inhabiting this body... though I lack the warrior skills Sebastian once held.
Today, I am taking a long break from my duties. No prisoner watch, no lessons, and no hunts. Just an afternoon to myself... that is what I resolved to myself before I was finally approached directly by Empyr.
"Sebastian, we'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind." A man in a rounded cap and a shorter man stand side by side.
"Might you come some other day?"
"I'm afraid not."
"I don't like that answer."
"To be honest, I don't either." The man sighs.
"Alright. You can join me on this stroll."
We step through the trodden trails of the forest, spring beginning to rear its green buds across the formerly dessicated grass. "I go by Wren now. Sebastian is no more. I'd prefer if you considered me a different person rather than the one I used to be."
"You know we can't do that."
"It's only a preference, in the end. Make it clear to me what you want. Is it Cecilia?"
"The Flame Mage is not vital to Empyr, but if she is still alive, we'd like to see her return healthy once more. She is a valuable mercenary."
"Really? You don't look down upon mercenaries for their lack of loyalties?"
"No... mercenary work is important. You should know, having interfaced with them regularly."
Interesting. It is often the case that mercenaries are seen as unfaithful cannonfodder who worship money... at least in Earth's history.
"Let us make it clear what we want from you, Sebastian. We need you to return to Empyr. At the very least, to make a statement to the Guild. There are many people who lost stakes in Empyr because of your disappearance." The shorter man speaks for the first time.
"You don't expect me to care for people I've not met before..."
"No. But now that we know you are alive, they feel like they were duped, and they're making it everyone's problem. We may be here on official business..." He clears his throat, eyes darting around. "...but we have had enough of the unreasonable requests made of us affiliates. For myself, this will be the last before I leave for another company."
"I see..." I stop, realizing that the pair has been trying to keep pace with me, wearing themselves out. "Let's sit." I kick loose dust off of a small patch of flat ground, sitting on it. "I can understand that pain. Being stuck in a company that doesn't care for the people who bleed for them."
"Thank you for understanding, Sebastian." The tall man sits on the grassy floor, picking away sharp blades of dried grass.
"I will return Cecilia soon... and I will come with her to make that statement you need me to make." I really said it. I will be going to a human town for the first time since my time in this new world...
"We will look forward to it, Sebastian... and again, thank you for standing up for us."
"I'm not so noble. I just want peace for my village. So long as I run away from that past, they will not be able to sleep during the day."
"That sounds quite noble to me."
"I suppose it does, as a matter of fact."