Michael, Joseph, Lena, and Roy sat in the common room of the barracks. It was about midday, the sun almost fully risen above the city. Michael sat there meditating, seemingly working on his magic. Roy and Joseph watched the television, with Roy being much more interested in the program than Joseph, who laid back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Lena simply read a book in the corner.
As they were all going about their own things, Joseph's voice suddenly rang out, "Can we get some food or something? My stomach is killing me."
Michael replied, "We shouldn't be going out, since we have a job today. There's stuff in the fridge, right?"
Joseph groaned, leaning up, "Yeah, but if I get something from the fridge, then you'll all want something."
Roy got up, turning the television off, "I get it, Michael, but it aught to be fine to get some food. After all, it is in the evening."
Lena continued off of Roy, saying, "I could go for some food too."
Michael paused for a second before saying, "Alright, we can go. Make sure to dress appropriately, as it's nearing the end of autumn, and I wouldn't want any of you performing poorly on the field because of it."
They all prepared quickly and eventually left the building. The surrounding area was a part of a residential area that mostly housed government officials and workers, such as themselves. A cool breeze blew throughout the city as the group walked the sidewalk. Various foliage planted near the sidewalk sent orange leaves fluttering from them as the wind whistled through their branches. The sidewalk wasn't populated due to the colder weather and the fact that it was a weekday.
Joseph smiled, "Sometimes I forget how nice the city can be, especially in the latter months of the year. Other than the cold, of course."
Michael said, "Mhm. To me, it serves as a reminder of what we're fighting to protect."
Roy added, "Gives me a bit of nostalgia too, since this isn't too far from where I grew up."
Lena said, "Guys, while I'd really hate to ruin this walking and talking thing we have going on, we still haven't found a place to eat."
Michael replied, "Well, while we're out, there is this one Vaelian place that I've heard of. They serve good pasta, it seems."
Joseph said, "Sounds good! Where's it at?"
Michael thought for a second, "Let's see here, I think it's just up the road."
As they kept walking on the road, they suddenly heard a woman yell.
Running down the sidewalk was a woman who yelled, "Get away from me, jerk!"
Michael and Lena, who were in the middle, took a step out of the way to let her through.
As they did, the apparent jerk was running after her. He was a man with short, brown hair, a black mage robe, and a pearl necklace around his neck. He also had a very out-of-place backpack, the backpack itself having a camouflage pattern, and seemed a bit beat up.
As he neared, Lena stepped in front of him, letting the jerk hit her and fall back on his butt.
Lena asked, "Why were you chasing that girl?"
The jerk rubbed his head, "Because she was my date! Now if you wouldn't mind..."
He got up in an attempt to continue his chase, but Lena quickly grabbed him by the hood of his robe.
Lena said, "Must've been a pretty shoddy date. I'd give it up, dude."
The jerk replied, "It wasn't my fault! Well... not all my fault, at least. Can you at least let me go?"
Lena said, "Only if you have a good reason for chasing her."
The jerk said, "Well, you see, it was all going good, but then she asked me about how much money I had. When I told her that I'm broke, she yelled at me and ran off."
Joseph interjected, "I don't see how that would make it not all your fault. I mean, it seems like her fault, at least."
The jerk, who has now been instead recognized as just the man, said, "I mean... I kinda did get the wrong idea across to her, since I'm wearing all of this, and I didn't bother to correct that idea."
Lena shook her head and dropped him, "I'd just give up on it, plenty of fish in the sea and all that."
The man dusted his pants off and got up, "I guess you're right, but I did spend a pretty penny on her."
Roy said to the man, "If you're struggling with money, why don't you sell some of the bling?"
The man literally clutched his pearls, "Never! It's a part of my outfit! I would never part with it!"
As the man got up and got a better look at the group, he recognized Michael and said, "Oh! You must be Michael, correct?"
Michael replied, "Yeah, why?"
The man smiled and said, "Well, I'm actually here due to a matter of delivery. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Evan, wandering Magician, specialist in Gemstone Magic, and Sixth Rank Magi of the Round. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance!"
Joseph blurted out, "Magi-what now?"
Lena looked at Joseph, then looked at Michael, "Do you just have this guy around for show? Because clearly his brain isn't the reason."
Michael said, scratching his head, "That's my bad, mostly."
Evan said, "I have a letter directly from the Arch-Magi themselves. It is yours, I believe."
Evan set his bag down and started rooting around in it before eventually pulling out a letter and handing it to Michael. Michael got the letter and confirmed that it did indeed state his name.
Michael said, "Thank you. Is there anything else you need?"
Evan smiled, "No sir! I just gotta get out of this city as fast as possible. You see, I booked my quarters for this trip in the next city over, and if I don't get there by midnight, they won't let me stay."
Evan began to run off, and as he did, Lena yelled, "Get there safe! Make sure to get a better date while you're there!"
Evan yelled back, "Don't worry, I will!"
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Lena, Michael, Joseph, and Roy were finally seated at the restaurant. It was almost 3:30 now, as it took them a while to find the restaurant and get seated, as it was surprisingly packed. The restaurant was near the harbor of the city and had soft, warm lighting. It smelled of wine and spices, and one could hear music throughout the restaurant from a band that was playing there.
"So," Lena asked, "how does he not know about the Court of the Round?"
Michael shook his head, "His parents are gunsmiths, so he wasn't around magic that often."
Joseph said, "I'm right here. But, while you're talking about it, can you explain it to me?"
Lena told Joseph, "Well, it's a group that manages magic and Magicians worldwide. Most above-average mages have to register with them at some point, but one can become a formal Magician and be directly supported by them. They're pretty apolitical, though they've been known to condemn certain acts during wars and have moved to protect their members and bases before. There's ten ranks to their Magi System, from least notable at ten to most notable at one. Then, there's the Arch-Magi, who manage the whole organization. They have four ranks, going similarly to the Magi. Finally, there's the Three. The three at the top of the organization are often considered to be, if not the strongest, then some of the strongest of the era that they hold that position for."
Joseph said, "I get it. I guess you and Michael are a part of that?"
Lena and Michael both nodded.
Joseph said, "Cool! Do you get access to some hidden member stuff?"
Michael said, "Not really, at least I don't. I just registered."
Lena said, "Ditto."
Roy rubbed his chin, "Not sure if it's still true, but at least ten years back, there was a big event when one of them died. Older Shadow Magician fellow, I think, but I mainly remember it due to the number of people obsessing over it. I mean, some people treated it like it was some kinda sports event. People thought of dudes like Jagger, Armstrong, or even Violetta. From what I remember, it went to some random, right?"
Michael said, "It was Laine, who specialized in Body Manipulation Magic. He's one of the fastest rising Magicians in the Magi's history."
Lena then asked, "Roy, how do you know all of that? You didn't strike me as the type to be interested in that stuff."
Roy said, "Like I said, it was like a sports event. People were having debates in the mess hall over this junk, I would have had to have been deaf to not process some of that."
As the conversation ended, the waiter brought them their food. Michael had ordered a steaming-hot spaghetti with meatballs, with some parsley sprinkled on top. Joseph had a Parmesan chicken, emphasis on the Parmesan. Lena had carbonara, with a side soup that had plenty of seafood in it. Roy chose Fettuccine Alfredo as his choice for a meal. They all began eating their food, some faster than others. Joseph and Michael tended to eat a bit faster, with Joseph holding a strong lead in speed. They all seemed to enjoy their food under the warm lighting of the restaurant. Michael could see faint signs of mana on the food, clearly having a part in its preparation.
Joseph, in the middle of a bite, said, "This is pretty good, Michael! Thanks for taking us here!"
Michael smiled, "You're welcome!"
As they wrapped up eating, Lena looked out the window, noticing that it was getting darker outside. She also realized that this was not due to the time, even though it was getting later in the day. It seemed a storm had arrived.
Lena turned to Michael, "It's gonna get pretty bad soon. Any news on that job?"
Michael opened his mouth to say something but was suddenly interrupted by a buzzing sound. He pulled a small radio out of his pocket and turned it up so he could hear.
Ken's voice broke through, saying, "It's time. Come over to the third loading bay of the harbor, I'll be there. Only bring Joseph, though."
Michael asked, "Why only Joseph?"
Ken replied, "Lena and Roy are needed elsewhere. Send them to Warehouse #4 on the harbor. I would recommend for them to come a bit fast though, as they are needed as fast as possible. Is this clear?"
Michael said, "Mhm. We'll be there."
The radio turned off. Michael put enough money on the table for the group, and they got up. As they walked out of the restaurant, rain sprinkled around them, and wind blew forcefully under the darkened sky. They briskly walked through the cleared streets, not too fast as to get attention.
Michael groaned, "No one left anything major, right?"
Joseph said, "Nope. I got everything I need on me."
Roy and Lena both affirmed this. As they neared the harbor, the time came for them to split up. They gave their goodbyes and wishes of success to each other and went on their ways. However, it was getting clear that their jobs were not equivalent, as Lena and Roy soon found out. The warehouse had a giant police presence there, with many vans and cars in the parking lot, almost in a defensive formation. There was even a van with a machine gun mounted on top. As Lena and Roy approached, an officer ran up to them.
"Thank goodness for some backup! I'll take you to the entrance!" The officer said. The officer proceeded to, with a bit of force, drag them to the entrance of the warehouse, which had a few officers placing magical runes on it.
A higher-ranked officer came up to Roy and Lena and said, "I assume you're the two that Ken sent?"
Roy replied, "Mhm. What can we do to help?"
The officer said, "We need to break through this thing. The mages are having decent work breaking through the door, though not fast enough for my liking."
Lena asked, "Why not just jump over the wall around the place?"
The officer replied, "No-can-do, there's a rune in there that's effectively a dome. You two can take the sewers, there should be an exit in the warehouse. We've sent a couple teams down there already."
Roy said, "How have they fared?"
The officer grimaced, "None have returned. If you two can go down there, see what happened to those boys, and break that rune, it would help a lot."
Lena groaned, "While I wouldn't like to crawl in the sewers, I'll do it."
Roy affirmed, "We got it, sir."
The officer had a slight smile, "Thank you, both of you."
As Lena and Roy turned around to find the sewer entrance, a mage working on the door yelled out, "We got it open!"
Lena and Roy turned back to see the door slowly turn open. As it did, a beam of light slowly shone through the door before a gunshot cracked through the air. The former mage who opened the door had a hole through his torso, annihilating his chest. After the smoke cleared, they could see a Mech in the center of the Warehouse, holding a rifle clearly capable of the bullet that killed the mage. Bodies coated the warehouse itself, clearly showing where the scouting teams went. Lena and Roy readied themselves for a long fight, as the rain intensified.