Chapter 19

6 Months Ago

The Magister stood on a street corner in LA, playing a violin. A small crowd was gathered, listening to the beautiful music e played. When he finished, he was met with applause. Then, some of the people there threw some money into his violin case before going on their way. Only one man remained, dressed up in a black business suit and holding an unlit cigar in his hand.

"Hello, Deceit," the Magister said, gathering his night's earnings into his wallet before packing up his violin. "Need me to get that for you?"
"Sure," Deceit said.
"Edo Teltre!" the Magister said. A spark of flames shot from his hand, striking the end of Deceit's cigar.
"Thank you," Deceit said.
"I still don't see why you don't just carry a lighter," the Magister said.
"I don't trust those things," Deceit said. "Almost burnt my hair off once."
"Yeah, and asking a magician to throw fireballs at you is so much safer," the Magister said. "So, what's your business?"
"It's almost time," Deceit said. "Jonathan Calwar will be turning 18 soon." 

Present Day

"So, we're should we go first?" John asked. They had just arrived in Los Angeles.
"I think we should split up," David said. "I'll take Kasier and go this way."

"I'll take Xavier," Hera said. "I wanted to talk to him about something."
"We should check around Hollywood," Xavier said. "He could be anywhere in the city, but that's the last place I saw him."
"Okay," Anthony said. "The rest of us will search around this area. We'll call you guys in a hour to see how we're all doing."
"Got it," Kaiser said.
"Hold on a second," David said.
He unlatched the horse trailer, then left it open just a crack.
"If there's any trouble, call your horse," he said to John and Hera. "They can hear you no matter how far away you are."
"Alright," John said. "Mine's name is Myrie, right?"
"Yes," David said. "And Hera's is Shroud."
"What about some of our weapons?" Hera asked. "John and I can hide our, but what about everyone else?"
"If anyone asks, just say we're on our way to a convention," Xavier said. "That usually works."
"Oh yeah, almost forgot something," Anthony said, reaching into his pocket, then tossing a couple of the Elixir candies to Xavier. "Just in case."
"Thanks," Xavier said.
"You guys want some?" he asked David.
"No thanks," David said. "I still have some Elixir left."
"Okay," Anthony said.
"Let's get going," Hera said, as she and Xavier left.
"See ya later," David said, leaving with Kaiser.
John, Damien, and Anthony stayed to check out the area they were in. They asked around for a while without finding anyone going by Magister.
"Well, this is getting us no where," Damien groaned. "This street's practically empty."
"Yeah," Anthony agreed. "And if we go much further we'll be stepping into one of those bad neighborhoods."
"Are you looking for someone?" asked a voice. John spun around to find himself face-to-face with a long haired man with an eyepatch. A long scar ran down the side of his face underneath the patch, and his remaining eye was dark brown. He carried a violin case in his hand.
"Um... do you know anyone called the Magister?" John asked nervously.
"Can't say that I do," he said, opening up his violin case and pulling the instrument out. "How about a song?"
"I don't think we have time to be sitting around listening to some weird guy play music," Damien said.
"We should get moving," Anthony agreed."
"Let's listen to him," John said.
"Um, why?" Damien asked.
"I don't know," John said. "But we can afford a short break, can't we?"
"Well said," the man said, pulling his bow across the strings.
The sound of his music filled the air. Music that melted away everyone's negativity, filling the world around them with joy and peace. The music was beautiful. Inhumanly beautiful.
"Who are you?" John asked, as the song came to an end.
"I'd be glad to tell you that in just a moment," the man said. "But first, why don't we discuss who you are?" Then, in a low voice, he whispered "War."

John tapped an opal on his belt, and a pickax appeared in his hand. He lifted it up to the man's face.
"How do you know my father's name?" he demanded angrily.
"Your father's name?" the man chuckled. "You inherited that name when you inherited his power. You. Are. War."
"Just who the hell are you?" John demanded.

Meanwhile, Several Miles Away

"So, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Xavier said.
Hera glanced behind them. There was a ghost there. A man with black hair wearing a blue sweater. He had been with them since they had left the church.
"Did you know you're being followed?" she asked.
"Dark hair, blue sweater, right?" Xavier asked.
"You do know?" she asked him.
Xavier turned around, raising his left hand. He wrapped it around the hilt of the longsword across his back.
"Yep," he said. "That's him."
"You can see ghosts?" she asked.
"Only that one, and only if I'm holding the sword," Xavier replied.
"Why is he here?" she asked.
"I'm the reason he's dead," Xavier said, releasing his grip on the sword's hilt
"So, is he haunting you?" Hera asked.
"Not exactly," Xavier said. "He forgave me a long time ago. I just haven't forgiven myself yet."
"So why does he follow you?" she asked.
"He's  drawn to me," Xavier said. "As long as I carry this sword."
"What's so special about that thing?" she asked.
"I don't wanna talk about it," Xavier said.
"Okay," she said. "I'll drop the subject. So what does the Magister look like?"
"Long haired violinist with an eyepatch," Xavier said. "In hindsight I probably should've told the others that."
"Wanna call them?" Hera asked.
"Sure," Xavier said, pulling out his cell phone. "I'll call Anthony first, then I'll need you to give me that David guys number."
Before Xavier was able to call anyone, several strings wrapped around his phone, yanking it from his hand.
"What the fuck?" he asked.
They both turned to see a woman made of solid wood standing down the street from them. The strings were extending from he outstretched hands. The strings withdrew, pulling Xavier's phone to her. She proceeded to crush it in he hand.
"I'm afraid I can't have you calling anyone, Horseman," she said.
"Who are you and how do you know I'm a Horseman?" Hera asked.
"My name is Manny Kinn," the wooden lady said. "I'm going to drag you back to Netherworld on the behalf of Conquest."
"Like hell!" Hera said, raising her scythe.
Before she could move, Xavier stepped in front of her, facing Manny with his katana drawn.
"Leave her to me," he said.
"But-" she said.
"This wood bitch broke my phone," he said, angrily. "Now, I'm gonna fucking kill her."
Xavier charged at Manny. She lashed out with her strings, but he ducked under them and swung his sword, hitting her in the face. She stepped back in alarm, raising a hand to the place he had hit.
"You chipped my face!" she snarled.
"You broke my phone!" he yelled back.
"That's it!" she yelled. "I'll show you what happens to those who cross Manny Kinn!"

Meanwhile, Several Miles Away

"Has he found anything?" David asked, as Kestrel landed on Kaiser's shoulders.
"Nothing," Kaiser said. "Kestrel hasn't seen any traces of magic yet."
"And so far, asking around hasn't yielded any results," David said.
"I'll send him out again," Kaiser said, as Kestrel took to the skies. "If he sees anything unusual, he'll let us know."
"Okay," David said. "So, I was wondering something."
"Yeah?" Kaiser asked.
"If we find Magister, and he opens up a door, Me and the others will be going through," David asked. "What are you gonna do then?"
"What do you mean?" Kaiser asked. "I'm going with you."
"But what about that cult you're after?" David asked. "Aren't they here in the human world somewhere?"
"Yeah, but I think there's more important things going on right now," Kaiser said. "My business with the cult can wait."
"Okay then," David said. "Hey, looks like Kestrel's coming back."
Kestrel landed on Kaiser shoulder and started squawking.
"Uh-oh," Kaiser said.
"Why uh-oh?" David asked."What are you uh-oh-ing about?"
"That," Kaiser said, looking straight ahead.
There was a small group of Towerborn approaching them.
"Shit," David said. "These guys again."
"Come on," Kaiser said. "Kestrel!"
Kestrel changed forms into a large talon, while David drew his morningstar. The Towerborn started attacking them, and they fought back. Kestrel shifted frequently between the forms of a giant talon, beak, and a wing to fend them off, while David swung his mace with all his strength. More and more Towerborn began showing up.
"This isn't good," David said.
"We'll need to give this everything," Kaiser said.
"You're right," David said, gripping his weapon's handle tightly.
"Kestrel Feather Storm!" Kaiser yelled, as he fused with Kestrel and sent a barrage of razor sharp feathers flying at the Towerborn.
"Take this!" David shouted, smashing his morningstar into the ground, causing the pavement to crack apart and bring all of the Towerborn down.
"Good job," Said a voice from above them.
David and Kaiser both turned to see Krysix standing on a rooftop above them.
"That was awfully impressive," Krysix said, looking at David. "But not nearly as impressive as the other you."
"Krysix!" David said.
"This guy again?" Kaiser groaned.
"Nice to see you two again, Kaiser and Kestrel," Krysix said. "I'll have fun fighting you again."
Krysix drew his laser sword, pointing it down at them.
"Be on guard," Kaiser said.
"I know," David replied.

Meanwhile

"I'm gonna ask you again," John said. "Who are you!?"
"Fine," the man said. "I'll tell you."
He reached up to his good eye with both hands. He held his eyelid open with one hand and touch the eye ball with his other.
"What are you-?" John started to ask.
The man yelped a bit as he pulled a small porcelain dome out of his eye. It was an opaque white, and in the center was a black spot with a brown ring around it.
"A colored contact lens?" John asked, as the man rubbed his eye.
"God, that thing stings," the man said, opening his eye slowly. A soft light emitted from it.
"What the hell?" John muttered, taking a step backward.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he said. "I am-"
"Magister!" A voice from behind him shouted.
"-Being interrupted...," the man said, turning around to face thee cloaked figure behind him. "Gambler! It's been a while! Gas'eo Edo Teltre!"
A large ball of fire shot from his hand straight at the Gambler. The Gambler conjured a long black sword from smoke and deflected the Magister's flames.
"Kyeniri Aivah'e hozaotl cantra fiore banzen hande maloravestra!" the Magister said, as a sword of silver light appeared in his hand.
"You're the Magister!?" John asked.
"That's right," he replied, charging at the Gambler.
John raised his weapon and tried to follow him, but another man appeared, blocking his path. He was holding a short, one handed staff, and had a tattoo of a question mark under his eye.
"Who are you?" John demanded.
"My name is Abdalin," he replied. "I am the Gambler's right hand."
John touched one the orbs around his wrist, and his pickax was replaced by a new weapon. It was a short pole, only a couple feet long, with a chain attached to each end. The chains were both attached to a large metal disk hanging from the pole.
"What even is this?" John thought out loud.
"Whatever it is, it won't help you," Abdalin said, swinging his staff.
John blocked the attack with his weapons pole. Damien drew his falcion, preparing to jump in, but a woman in red clothing appeared in his way, wielding a pair of butterfly daggers.
"And you are?" Damien asked.
"I am the Gambler's left hand, Cleopatra," she said, looking at both Damien and Anthony. "I will be both of your opponent's."
Anthony tried to tackle her, but she snap kicked him with enough force that he went crashing into some nearby trashcans.
"Or maybe just one of you," she said.
"Bring it," Damien said, raising his falcion.
A few yards away, the Magister and Gambler clashed blades.
"I see ye've improved yer Chaos Sword," the Gambler said.
"Improved is an understatement. "Kaisyata monjurei!"
A blot of lightning flew from Magisters hand, striking the Gamble in the chest and pushing him back a few feet. He then stabbed his blade forward, but the Gambler vanished. TheMagister looked up to see him standing in the air high above him.
"Yer gonna 'ave to do be'er than that," the Gambler said.
"You haven't seen anything yet," the Magister said.