Many foreigners believed Bosco to be a desert land, with nothing but sand and wind to offer travelers.
This belief had been true for a while, Bosco ever since the trade wars had been a desert waste. With the nation serving as nothing more than a hub for dark wizards and their skirmishes with the magic council.
Of course, the royal family of Bosco and their supporters planned to end this. They sent a messenger to the magic council, giving them full permission to start building outposts within their country. No more would dark wizards run rouge within their land, no more would the innocent suffer in fear, the council would instill order.
That was if the message had been delivered.
Unfortunately, only days after the announcement was made by the King of Bosco, was the body of said messenger found in the city square, headless with the message he was to deliver. Later the same night dark wizards would break into the capital of Bosco and bring the city to its knees, they would be led by a single man.
Baren Fuse.
It was that day years ago when the dark guild Kingswood was founded and the Kingdom of Bosco was destroyed.
---
[Kingdom of Bosco]
[Capital City]
[Year X755]
Louis knew that today he was going to die.
He walked through the city's narrow streets looking back behind him every so often, making sure that he wasn't being followed.
It was already a miracle that he'd survived this long within Bosco, but it seemed that his miracle was running out.
Today was supposed to be a big day for the Kingdom, the monarch himself was going to give a big speech about the future of the nation and what was coming for the people. All exciting stuff if the monarch wasn't a gluttonous pig and the kingdoms days were numbered.
After the previous King's execution, the dark wizards of Kingswood had placed some random noble on the throne. That King had lasted only a week before getting himself killed, now they were onto a third King in less than ten years. However, this King proved to be unfortunately smart and good at taking orders
The third King of Bosco, Ronald Cerin was perfect for the dark wizards, he did whatever they said, didn't ask questions, and made the lives for the regular people terrible. Though what made this King so much worse wasn't just his title, the Pig of Bosco, but the fact that he stole from others, food, wine, money, and worst of all women. For whatever the King wanted he got; the dark wizards made sure of that.
A sharp turn brought Louis to a dead end of the ally, he smiled.
Finally, he was here.
He walked up to the stone wall then placed his hand against it, then he muttered words under his breath.
"At dawn I walk upon four legs, at noon upon two, and beneath the evening moon I walk unseen."
For a moment nothing happened. Then the brick wall shook and Louis hand disappeared, his body right behind.
The wall shook a second time then stilled back to solid stone.
The alleyway was quiet.
All except a small puddle feet away from the brick wall, oddly enough the reflective puddle seemed to be shaking...then it flashed white and a figure stepped out of the puddle.
--
Louis opened his eyes to a wooden wall.
Slowly he turned his body still getting used to the sudden change in scenery and magic that had just been used on him.
He was in an old basement, one underneath a house which shouldn't have one, but did thanks to magic. As he turned to look around, he found a few people standing staring at him. He hadn't been to this outpost before, so these people probably didn't recognize him.
A second later and everything went back to normal, people turned away and kept on going about their day. Louis knocked out of his stupor realized what he needed to do and made his way slowly through the outpost. Looking for signs of where he might find...
'Well hello their friend!" A voice boomed out from behind him and Louis jumped in surprise.
Louis turned to see a large dark-skinned man standing inches away from giant brown eyes looking down at him. He hadn't heard a sound from the man, how had he gotten so close without not even the floorboard creaking?
Magic?
Well, it had to be, but what kind...
A cough brought him back to reality. Louis just realizing that he'd be quiet for an awkward amount of time mumbled out nonsense about being late before taking in a breath.
The large man just looked at him, confused.
"Everything alright friend? You don't look all well, something happens on your way here? You weren't followed, were you?"
"No!" Louis yelled out nerves running wild through him.
What was going on with him?
He was acting like a child, had he lost his cool just by being in a new outpost? No, he'd been through hell before and hadn't even broken a sweat, no way he'd be nervous from a new place of scenery.
"I uhh, I wasn't followed if that's what you're asking. I made sure, just nervous...from you know."
The other man nodded and clapped him on the back.
"It's all good friend, today's a big day after all...you've heard the news, right?"
Louis nodded.
"Yes, about the announcement. Do you know when he's going to make it?"
The large man paused.
"Huh? What announcement? What are you talking about?"
Louis cocked his head.
"The announcement? The King, he's going to give a speech today."
"He is? I didn't know that."
The other man paused thinking then smiled.
"Wait, that means you don't know then. You haven't heard the news, have you?"
Louis looked at him still confused.
"What news?"
His voice was hesitant, what was this man about to sa-
"The magic council of course, their coming to Bosco!"
Louis jaw dropped.
The magic council was coming to Bosco? Here? He didn't believe it, no way in hell would the council come all the way to Bosco. Their nation had been written off years ago as unsavable, a lost land to the dark wizards. Now this man was saying the council was coming here!
"That's...that's not true...it can't be."
The man smiled at Louis.
"It is my friend, we got word only yesterday, they'll be here shortly. You'll have to see for yourself, actually they might be here earlier then I think."
Louis had so many questions, where were they coming from, how many of them, what was there plan. His face was probably red with joy, but it didn't matter. He needed to know.
"So how many are coming? When can we expect them? Where can we expect to meet with them? Do they have a plan?"
"Wow, wow, calm down my friend," A smile spread across the man's face this one far bigger than his last. "Let me show you something."
He turned and started walking into the deeper part of the basement. Louis not wanting to be left behind jogged up to catch pace with him.
"I didn't get your name, did I?" He asked
"No, you didn't, but it's nothing special just Jami, I'm from the eastern side. You?"
Louis paused. "Western? Though I haven't been there in years, actually I was in Fiore for a lit bit, my father was an informant for the council awhile back, he was captured a few years ago."
Jami looked at him surprised.
"He was a brave man then, I heard what the bastards do to rebels but informants, well. Let's just hope that your father effort won't be forgotten. He tell you anything useful?"
Louis shook his head.
"Not really, but he did get me in contact with someone from the council, an old friend of his from back when he was a guild mage."
Jami nodded.
"Good, hopefully that can prove useful down the line."
The two of them stopped before a large room, Louis having not been looking turned to see a stunning sight. The room was giant, entirely made out of smooth stone with little to no wood. Men and women walked all about talking to each other, reading books and holding wands...they were all wizards.
"How did you get so many wizards?"
Jami laughed.
"They're not wizards really, they just have items that are magical, though not bound to them like some out there. All of them were either scholars, teachers, or some sort of smart person that wanted to help out the rebellion. So here they are with us."
Louis murmured a prayer to the Feathered Lady; this was really a giant miracle. Then he paused looking at the large item in the center, well not item, but platform...a giant stone circle...there was some form of writing on it.
Runes?
"What is that thing?" He asked.
Jami looked at him and laughed again.
"That is how the council is coming to us."
Louis tried to not look stupid but couldn't help himself, his jaw dropped. It was a teleportation circle, of course, they weren't going to meet up with the council, nor would the council travel all the way here on foot, but instead they were going to come to them through magic.
"That's insane, how long has this...project been going on for?""
"Little over a month, we've had to secure our hands on specially place drop off spots to build this thing, it wasn't easy but...it's going to be worth it."
Louis nodded...because it really had to be. The council would never do this again, even if they failed at taking down the entire dark guild if they could take down a few, maybe even some key figures...it would be win in his books.
"So, when are they goanna get here?"
Jami shrugged.
"Soon probably, let me ask really quick, just to make sure everything's going well." The large man walked away leaving Louis alone staring at the teleportation platform.
He smiled, then turned around walking back to where he'd come in from. He needed to get some water, he felt thirsty. His head also felt a little light, after this mission was over he really needed to get some rest. A slight ringing in his ear and he twisted his head in annoyance, damit!
What was going on with him.
He walked over from where he came from, staring at the wall he thought he noticed something strange. He coughed for a moment then looked down.
He was bleeding.
How?
He looked up, then turned.
Jami was standing behind him staring down at him, his expression was not kind.
"Huh, what's going on Jami." He asked confusion spreading across his face.
Jami looked at him.
"Why don't you tell me, your head lad?"
What?
He reached for his head, where the slight pain was coming from, he felt something...something was off. What was that, he gripped something then pulled. His head ached for a second, he looked at his hand.
It was a dagger, covered in...blood.
Was that his blood?
"I am confused. What is happening? I am just thirsty for water."
Louis turned trying to get water and put his hand onto the brick wall, then his hand disappeared. No, it hadn't disappeared, it'd been severed. Anger flooded into him.
He was not going to fail his mission, he turned and Jami grabbed him lifting him up into the air. He was not happy.
"What are you?" He growled out.
"I-I'm Louis? From western Bosco?" He said fear in his voice.
Jami stared at him.
Then Louis acted, his other hand slammed into the brick wall and he recited the code.
"At dawn I walk upon four legs, at noon upon two, and beneath the evening moon I walk unseen."
Jami threw him to the side and looked towards the vibrating brick wall, for a moment nothing happened, then a figure stepped through and into the outpost.
"My, my, my, what work you have done Louis. I never doubted you, not even for a second." The high-pitched voice spoke.
Louis cocked his head.
"Huh, who are you?"
The man, tall, slender, and pale skinned laughed. His finger traced through his white short hair, then he stretched outwards.
"It seems I made you even better than I had realized, well anyways. Return back to papa."
Those words hit Louis like a bell, and he immediately made his way back to papa, a smile on his face. As he did, he felt himself slowly being lost...like he was being taken away by the wind. Then he realized he was being taken, but not by the wind, by papa.
By his creator.
All his memories came back now, he was not Louis, well he was. Not the real one though, they had killed the real one and he had been a copy of him. A reflection. He had been sent into this place to sabotage, to be a spy. He'd succeeded by letting papa inside, that was good, when papa was happy that was always good.
As he felt himself disappearing, he wondered who he'd be next or what he'd be.